269: Chapter 269 Lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own foot

Liu Zaiyong even put his arm around Qin Chuan's shoulders, appearing very affectionate.

In the eyes of others, one might think that Liu Zaiyong was a truly decent person, or at the very least, broad-minded, showing no ill will whatsoever over his drunken embarrassment last time.

Since the other party was acting this way, Qin Chuan naturally feigned a similar show of affection, all while remaining on guard in his heart.

After these few days, he had fully realized that Liu Zaiyong was the type of person who acted one way to your face and another behind your back, a master of pretense.

Even when he hated you to death and wished he could stab you twice, he would appear like an old friend, always laughing and chatting with you.

The group of nine arrived at the restaurant, which wasn't far away, located diagonally across from the Central Party School; it was only a ten-minute walk.

Since it was Friday, there were quite a few people dining there. Even though it wasn't yet six in the evening, many of the private rooms were already full, with a large portion of the patrons being students from the Central Party School, including some from the provincial and ministerial-level training classes.

Liu Zaiyong had prepared well in advance.

Everything was thoroughly prepared; the choice of this restaurant was also quite deliberate. It was close to the Central Party School, so if anything happened, the Party School would know about it quickly. Crucially, many people from the Party School were dining there.

After sitting down in the private room, Liu Zaiyong acted every bit the host. With a wave of his hand, exquisite dishes were brought out, and the waiter also delivered several bottles of moutai.

Liu Zaiyong personally opened and poured the wine.

Someone nearby quickly said, "Comrade Liu Zaiyong, let me pour the wine. Let me do it. How can we let you pay for the treat and serve everyone as well? That's just not right."

Liu Zaiyong replied nonchalantly, "It's nothing. Between classmates, there's no need to stand on such ceremony."

As he spoke, he lined up all nine glasses and began pouring the wine one by one, while also saying to Fang Xueqing,

"Comrade Fang Xueqing, you'll drink baijiu just like the rest of us, no problem, right?"

Any woman who works within the system can hold her liquor, and Fang Xueqing had an especially high tolerance. She nodded and said, "No problem, no problem. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I'll be the same as everyone else; I can't expect special treatment."

After all nine glasses of baijiu were filled, Liu Zaiyong distributed them one by one, one for each person. He kept the last two glasses, intending one for Qin Chuan and one for himself.

Qin Chuan gave a cold, mocking laugh in his heart.

Although Liu Zaiyong's movements were very subtle, who was Qin Chuan? Not only was his sixth sense extremely keen, but his eyes were also sharp.

Others didn't notice and wouldn't have even thought in that direction, but Qin Chuan saw it. Just now, while pouring the wine, Liu Zaiyong had used the wine bottle to shield his actions and block the view; it seemed he had something hidden in his hand and had dropped something into one of the glasses.

This was a type of imported drug, even smaller than a medicinal capsule, with high concealability. Since this wasn't his first time doing such a thing, Liu Zaiyong's movements were very practiced.

Taking the opportunity while pouring the wine, he pinched open the small capsule hidden in his hand, and the powder inside was poured into one of the glasses.

Once the powder was poured in, it dissolved rapidly; it was colorless, odorless, and highly concealable.

The effects of this imported drug were also very potent. After consumption, it induced extreme agitation, especially when combined with alcohol, which would amplify the effects exponentially. Anyone unaware would just assume the person was drunk and acting out.

Truly insidious; to actually resort to such tactics.

Unfortunately, Qin Chuan had already noticed and seen through his trick.

As for the last two glasses remaining, there was no need to guess; they were clearly meant for the two of them, and the drugged glass would be given to Qin Chuan.

Since he had seen through the trick, Qin Chuan would not fall for it. He deliberately spoke up, "Comrade Liu Zaiyong, aren't these glasses a bit small? Should we switch to larger ones?"

When filled, this type of glass held about 1.5 taels; for drinking baijiu, it wasn't exactly small, as there were even smaller five-qian glasses available.

Liu Zaiyong quickly said, "No need, no need. Let's just use these glasses, right everyone?"

Someone immediately agreed, "The wine is already poured; there's no need to switch now."

"Monitor, if you think these glasses are too small, you and Liu Zaiyong can use larger ones. We'll stick with these."

The drug had already been added; how could he possibly switch the glasses? At the very least, he had to wait until Qin Chuan finished that "laced" drink first.

"Comrade Qin Chuan, there's no need to change the glasses. Come, let's two have a toast first to congratulate you on becoming our monitor."

Qin Chuan smiled slightly, picked up his glass, clinked it gently, and then drained the moutai in his glass completely.

Seeing this, Liu Zaiyong was ecstatic, knowing the matter was settled. Now, all that was left was to wait and watch the show.

The effects of this imported drug were very good; it would start working in about ten minutes, and the effect would last for a long time, at least two to three hours.

With such wild joy in his heart, a look of happiness inevitably appeared on his face, "Comrade Qin Chuan is so forthright, finishing it in one gulp; I can't be casual about it either."

Under everyone's gaze, Liu Zaiyong downed his glass of wine in one go.

He couldn't suppress the ecstasy in his heart; the joy was so overwhelming he couldn't contain it. He thought to himself, 'In a moment, when Qin Chuan starts acting drunk and causing a scene, he definitely won't be able to keep his position as monitor. The monitor position will still be mine.'

However, Liu Zaiyong was clearly celebrating too early.

Just a moment ago, when Qin Chuan deliberately said the glasses were too small and suggested switching to larger ones, his only goal was to distract everyone, including Liu Zaiyong.

Taking advantage of when no one was paying attention, with movements both swift and subtle, he had already swapped the positions of the two glasses. The glass Qin Chuan drank from was the normal one, while the one Liu Zaiyong drank from was the one that had been "laced."

Qin Chuan's physical fitness had already broken through the ceiling of human potential. Not only was he strong, resilient, and enduring, but his mental fortitude was immense, his learning ability was sharp, his reaction speed was fast, and his movements were agile. Swapping two wine glasses was a piece of cake.

After finishing the first glass of wine, Qin Chuan said, "These small glasses still aren't satisfying. Comrade Liu Zaiyong and I will use larger ones. What do you all think?"

"Great, I raise both hands in favor of that!"

"Sure, sure. We won't switch to large glasses, but you two can use them. I have no objections!"

Liu Zaiyong was ecstatic; this was exactly what he had in mind.

Drinking from large glasses, if Qin Chuan went crazy after a few drinks, everyone would only assume it was because he was drunk, not that he had been drugged.

"Good, Comrade Qin Chuan's suggestion is accepted. Waiter, bring two large glasses!" Liu Zaiyong shouted happily.

Soon, two large wine glasses were brought over. Although they weren't the type that held half a catty, they could still hold over three taels; one bottle of wine would probably only fill three glasses.

Liu Zaiyong was delighted. He personally poured the wine again, one glass for each of them.

"Comrade Qin Chuan, I'll toast you again. I'll down mine in one gulp; you can drink as you please."

Having said that, he couldn't wait to down the three-plus taels of baijiu in one go.

Qin Chuan smiled and also downed his glass in one go.

The others understood; it looked like there would be another fierce drinking battle between the monitor and Liu Zaiyong. This time, who would end up drunk?