Choi Ji-yeon placed the bag on the table, and Jiang Shu reached out to open it, revealing a bottle of romanee-conti and two wine glasses inside.
Jiang Shu reached out and took out the romanee-conti.
"I told you to just buy any bottle, but you got romanee-conti?"
The large label made Jiang Shu feel a bit helpless. He just suddenly wanted to drink romanee-conti, but he didn't understand romanee-conti, and she went straight for something so high-class?
"I contacted the wine merchant who provides banquet drinks for our company. They heard that it was Chairman you who wanted to taste romanee-conti at the New Year's Eve party, so they sent this bottle of romanee-conti," Choi Ji-yeon explained.
Jiang Shu took out the retail card from the gift box.
"Oh, this is still here." Seeing the price of fifty-eight million korean won marked on it, Jiang Shu said with a smile.
Choi Ji-yeon showed a helpless smile; such a method was indeed a bit childish.
"Thank him for me. Then I won't be polite." A bottle of fifty-eight million korean won romanee-conti was not worth a favor; it was simply a gift. Since it was sent, Jiang Shu would not decline it.
"Okay." Choi Ji-yeon bowed to Jiang Shu and then exited the office.
Jiang Shu repeatedly played with this bottle of romanee-conti worth thirty million renminbi, then casually placed it aside.
Since he was drinking romanee-conti, how could he not prepare some snacks?
...
Night fell, Red Velvet practice room.
Bae Joo-hyun reached out and wiped the sweat from her forehead, then walked over and turned off the practice room's stereo.
On New Year's Eve, she was the only one in the large practice room. Compared to her members, as the oldest, after experiencing a sudden enlightenment, she cherished her current strength especially. As a result, whenever she had free time, she would spend it in the practice room. If she could extend her current level by one minute, she would.
It was hard-won.
Only by experiencing that feeling of powerlessness could one truly realize how hard-won her current strength was.
Bae Joo-hyun didn't want to waste this opportunity and cherished her current life.
She took a wet wipe, wiped the sweat from her body, and prepared to go to the first floor to take a shower, then return to the dorm to celebrate New Year's Eve.
She packed all her belongings into her backpack, turned off the practice room lights, locked the door, and went down to the first floor to wash up.
Due to the presence of shower rooms in the gym's facilities on the first floor, many employees would take a shower at the company before going home, which effectively reduced living expenses.
Exploiting the company's resources was an essential skill for every employee; electricity and water bills in Seoul were quite expensive. Saving a little every day would add up to a considerable amount over time.
Bae Joo-hyun didn't lack the money, but she felt uncomfortable all sticky after practice.
After showering, Bae Joo-hyun emerged from the washroom with her freshly blow-dried, particularly fluffy hair, wearing only a close-fitting sweater.
Not far from the gym was the cafeteria. Usually, at this time, the cafeteria would have already closed unless there was a high-level meeting; otherwise, the cafeteria did not provide dinner.
Most employees were off work before six o'clock. The number of employees working overtime or night shifts was too small, so there was no need to open the cafeteria; they were given meal allowances to order takeout themselves.
However, on this New Year's Eve, the cafeteria was still brightly lit.
She hadn't heard of any high-level meetings today?
Bae Joo-hyun looked at the cafeteria in confusion. She wasn't qualified to know what was discussed in high-level meetings, but she would know if such meetings were held. She hadn't heard of any meetings today?
As Bae Joo-hyun pondered, a woman in a chef's uniform pushed a dining cart out of the cafeteria. Seeing Bae Joo-hyun standing at the entrance, she recognized her.
"Irene xi, are you still not off work?" The female chef asked, surprised, looking at Bae Joo-hyun.
"I'm leaving now." Bae Joo-hyun nodded at her and replied.
"This is...?" Bae Joo-hyun asked, looking at the dining cart in front of her.
"The Chairman wants to celebrate New Year's Eve at the company, so he asked us to prepare steak. The appetizers are ready, I'm taking them up to the Chairman first," the female chef explained.
Bae Joo-hyun nodded in understanding.
"Is the Chairman with other company executives?"
"It should just be the Chairman alone; he requested a single serving," the female chef speculated.
Bae Joo-hyun's expression shifted.
Is the Chairman celebrating New Year's Eve alone again this year?
"I'll help you." Bae Joo-hyun pointed at the dining cart and said.
The female chef was stunned, looking at Bae Joo-hyun in confusion.
"The Chairman's meal isn't ready yet, right? I'll help you take it up, and you can just wait downstairs for the dining cart. That way, you'll save yourself from running up and down," Bae Joo-hyun said with a smile.
"That would be a great help." The female chef didn't know what Bae Joo-hyun wanted to do, but what she said made sense.
It was New Year's Eve, and she also wanted to finish up early and go home to her husband and children.
"You're welcome." Bae Joo-hyun cheerfully pulled the dining cart towards her and then walked towards the elevator.
The female chef watched Bae Joo-hyun's figure disappear into the elevator area before returning to the cafeteria.
Fifth floor.
When Bae Joo-hyun appeared on the top floor pushing the dining cart, although the lights were still on, only two on-duty employees were sitting in front of their computers, grinning widely, looking at something—definitely not working.
"Irene xi."
Both greeted Bae Joo-hyun upon seeing her. As a favored person in the Chairman's eyes, Bae Joo-hyun still had influence.
Pushing the dining cart, she arrived in front of the Chairman's office. The office seemed quiet, but listening carefully, some sounds could still be heard; it was just that the soundproofing was good, making it difficult for the sounds to fully escape.
She raised her hand and knocked on the door, then opened it a crack, making it easier to hear Jiang Shu's voice.
"Please come in."
After getting permission, Bae Joo-hyun fully pushed the door open.
Upon opening the door, Bae Joo-hyun finally saw the situation inside the office.
Wow, he's singing?
Jiang Shu was sitting on the sofa in front of the desk, holding a microphone. Directly opposite him was a lowered large screen playing a music video Bae Joo-hyun didn't recognize. Next to it was a stereo, and music echoed in the office.
"Bae Joo-hyun?" Jiang Shu looked at the newcomer in surprise, picked up the remote control from the coffee table, and paused the music.
"Why are you here?" Jiang Shu asked, surprised, pointing at the dining cart Bae Joo-hyun was pushing.
"I just hadn't left yet. I saw the cafeteria was busy, so I asked what was going on and offered to help," Bae Joo-hyun explained with a smile.
As she spoke, she took the meal trays from the dining cart and placed them on the coffee table.
"You didn't go celebrate New Year's Eve?" Jiang Shu asked Bae Joo-hyun, confused.
"No, I didn't make plans with anyone for New Year's Eve. I planned to just spend it alone this year," Bae Joo-hyun said with a "bitter smile" on her face.
Jiang Shu looked at Bae Joo-hyun upon hearing this.
"Then let's pair up, just like last year, and celebrate New Year's Eve together?"