HGG - 47

Thus, Chi Zhao and Song Yi repeated the phrase “the sky has no limits” about three hundred times while riding the Ferris wheel high above the city.

When they landed, Song Yi stood up first. The ceiling of the Ferris wheel cabin wasn’t high, and she stumbled, losing her balance and falling forward.

Chi Zhao immediately rose and caught her in his arms.

Chi Zhao carried the fresh scent of detergent from his favorite dry cleaner. Leaning on his shoulder, Song Yi inexplicably marveled at the fact that she was intimately touching a man.

The last person she hugged might have been Liu Jun. She remembered not thinking anything at the time. But now, as she fell into Chi Zhao’s embrace, many thoughts swirled through her mind.

Men were undoubtedly a different species to women.

Broad shoulders, strong arms, an Adam’s apple, a crisp and pleasant voice when speaking, and a lazy yet beautiful smile. Chi Zhao was different from other men.

He was like a toxic organism—once you let your guard down, he would paralyze and devour you without you even realizing it.

“I’m sorry,” Chi Zhao apologized first, even though he had only intended to stop her from falling.

“It’s fine,” Song Yi said, steadying herself with the handrail. “I lost my balance. I’m sorry.”

They walked toward the car, but Song Yi noticed that Chi Zhao had arrived in an unfamiliar vehicle.

Neither the style nor the brand suited his tastes, and Song Yi immediately guessed it belonged to someone else. “Did you borrow someone’s car?”

“Mm, from a young colleague in the planning department.” Even holding someone else’s car keys, he habitually swung them between his fingers. “When I answered your call, I was downstairs and didn’t feel like going back up for my own keys.”

Song Yi fell silent. She asked, “You didn’t rush over, did you?” That’s why he arrived so quickly.

“Yes,” Chi Zhao admitted without hesitation.

“Why? It wasn’t work-related or anything.”

Chi Zhao replied, “...I thought you were crying.”

He suddenly stopped walking, standing motionless on the concrete ground. Turning back to look at Song Yi, his face bore no extra expression.

Song Yi momentarily lost focus. When awareness returned to her body, she found herself asking again: “Are you worried about me?”

In the night, Chi Zhao’s sharp features softened unconsciously. “Of course,” he replied. “Because it’s Song Yi.”

His silent profile as he turned away held Song Yi’s gaze.

Just as she was about to say something, the phone rang. As Song Yi reached for her waist, Chi Zhao already pulled out his phone. He glanced at her for permission before answering.

It was an unfamiliar landline number. Once connected, a familiar voice blared through.

“President Chi!” Wu Qiuxiu’s voice thundered through the line. “Vice President Zhan is currently leaning on my lap. Where should I send him?”

Chi Zhao frowned, sensing this wasn’t simple. “At this hour, where did you say he was?”

Based on Zhan Heqing’s usual routine, by this time, he should’ve already finished exercising, drunk a cup of warm soy milk, and been lying in bed reading the digital version of Reference News .

What was this man doing?

Feeling something was off, Song Yi quickly stepped forward. Chi Zhao raised his hand to signal it was fine. He asked, “Did he drink too much with your dad?”

After all, Zhan Heqing was a seasoned veteran of many business banquets. To ensure others didn’t take advantage of Chongyou, his alcohol tolerance was quite high.

The last time he’d seen him drunk was during Jenny’s master’s graduation celebration dinner, when he had tearfully cried. And the culprit who got him drunk—his father, Zhan Luo—had been fresh as a daisy, later heading to the club to play billiards.

In short, Chi Zhao questioned Wu Qiuxiu thoroughly about what happened. The gist was that Zhan Heqing had gone to their house for dinner, and Wu Qiuxiu’s dad, overly happy, drank a bit too much with him.

Though Chi Zhao didn’t ask, “How did he end up sleeping on your lap?” he still pondered it for a moment after hanging up.

He instructed Wu Qiuxiu to stay put while he and Song Yi went to pick up Zhan Heqing.

However, clearly, Wu Qiuxiu hadn’t just called Chi Zhao.

As they neared Wu Qiuxiu’s neighborhood, they watched a bright pink five-door Mini Cooper speed past recklessly.

Chi Zhao hit the brakes, stopping in place without rushing to move. Song Yi had ridden in Jenny’s car once before—it was hard to miss her limited-edition, custom-painted 60th-anniversary model.

Chi Zhao decided to wait a bit longer before going in.

Sitting silently in the unfamiliar car at night, the silence became awkward. Song Yi broke it first. “Are you used to driving automatic?”

“Mm,” Chi Zhao nodded. “Nothing special.” His several sports cars were all manual performance vehicles specially imported from abroad, showing his clear preference.

Song Yi didn’t ask further. Unexpectedly, Chi Zhao suddenly spoke. “Song Yi.”

“Yes?”

“Did something happen tonight?” Chi Zhao withdrew his hand, staring motionlessly at the steering wheel.

She wouldn’t go to an amusement park alone.

Song Yi smiled quietly. “Nothing happened.”

“Song Yi,” he said again, “depend on me occasionally.”

His words left no room for refusal, as if issuing a directive to a subordinate.

“I’ll handle anything manageable for you.” Chi Zhao closed his eyes, letting the shadows of the night envelop him.

After returning home, Song Yi remained restless, unable to shake off Chi Zhao’s words.

She could vaguely sense this was Chi Zhao’s unique way of caring.

To put it frankly, she felt honored.

But the question was—what position was he standing in when offering such concern?

Song Yi suspected she was being greedy. She lay in bed until dawn, feeling as if she hadn’t slept at all. Her neck and shoulders ached, and the atmosphere was unusually oppressive as she cooked breakfast for Grandma.

Grandma, however, was thriving in her social dance class, refusing numerous gifts. Rumor had it that an elderly gentleman even wrote her a love poem.

“Though I don’t like your mother, she’s undeniably beautiful. Song Yi, in terms of looks, you’ve inherited the best traits from two generations,” Grandma said while sipping porridge. “Why haven’t you found a boyfriend yet?”

Song Yi ate her pickles absentmindedly, pausing for a few seconds before lowering her head. She replied, “I don’t have any plans for now.”

The previous evening—

Jenny had never been to Wu Qiuxiu’s neighborhood and nearly got into a shouting match with the electronic map’s navigation. After tirelessly finding the correct route and arriving at their building to pick up Zhan Heqing, she really wanted to slap him twice.

“How much did you drink?! You’re so heavy!” she complained as she shoved Zhan Heqing into the passenger seat. “If you need to throw up, tell me.”

Turning her head, Jenny saw Wu Qiuxiu’s shining, hamster-like eyes.

“Sorry to bother you today,” Jenny said.

“Not at all!” Wu Qiuxiu replied. “So you’re Vice President Zhan’s sister? I’ve wanted to say this since we first met—you’re so pretty!”

Flattery always made a woman feel giddy, no matter how much of it she heard. Jenny forced a smile. “Thank you. My brother was so worried you’d misunderstand last time—he was pacing around anxiously. Did you clear things up today?”

“Mm!” Wu Qiuxiu nodded vigorously, her face quickly reddening as she thought of something.

“You…,” Jenny tilted her head, observing Wu Qiuxiu’s increasingly lowered head, “didn’t confirm your relationship, did you?”

Though Wu Qiuxiu didn’t respond, her expression said it all.

“Well, if it’s you, you probably won’t bully him,” Jenny said. “Hold on tight and don’t disappoint me.”

With that, she got into the car and drove off.

Zhan Heqing was deep in a drunken slumber. When the car wheels crossed uneven steps, the alcohol and dreams took hold, and he suddenly muttered, “I’m so happy.”

Jenny glanced at him.

Taking a deep breath, she calmly stared ahead. The traffic lights were still working. At a crossroads, as the car stopped, Jenny suddenly spoke as if to herself.

“Brother,” she said, “will you get married?”

Zhan Heqing didn’t wake up, so he couldn’t answer.

“Will you become very happy?” Jenny continued. “Eating dinner with someone else and forgetting about Dad, Mom, and me.”

Only her voice filled the car. Jenny gripped the steering wheel, the dazzling light of the traffic signals filling her vision.

Her eyes finally stung, forcing her to raise them.

“Brother,” she said, “I’ll always support you. Good luck.”

The green light lit up, and as the car moved forward, the man in the passenger seat muttered again in his sleep: “Little Red, it’s time for dinner.”

Several weeks later, Zhan Heqing solemnly announced, “The meeting regarding Woo Joojoo’s dating matters officially begins.”

“If you want to clown around, I don’t care,” Chi Zhao said, tapping away at his keyboard, “but don’t do it in my office.”

This scene was too familiar. Passing by with scanning documents in hand, Song Yi busied herself without looking, saying, “We’re still working. Would you like something to drink? You can return to your office and have your assistant prepare it.”

This time, Xia Fan was overwhelmed with editing interview drafts and couldn’t intervene. Zhan Heqing grumbled as he stood up. “What have you all been busy with lately?”

“Our schedule is packed. A magazine crew is coming in half an hour,” Song Yi gave a polite smile devoid of emotion. “Please make sure to return soon.”

Kicked out, Zhan Heqing eventually left.

Back in his office, Jenny was peeking through his blinds at the assistant working in his cubicle. “New guy? Not bad, give me his number.”

“Don’t bother. If you dump him, I’ll have to find a new assistant.” Used to his sister’s antics, Zhan Heqing sat down indifferently.

Jenny promptly dropped the topic, turning her head subtly. “A few days ago, Song Yi asked me about Gao Jie.”

Zhan Heqing paused briefly but didn’t seem alarmed.

“That woman is disgusting,” Jenny spat, turning her head to look at the ornaments on the shelf. “I rarely dislike anyone this much. How to say it—she tries too hard, doesn’t hesitate to use any means necessary, and lives entirely in her own world… When she works hard, it feels a bit like Song Yi.”

Zhan Heqing looked up, his eyes glinting with cold, piercing light. After some thought, he spoke: “A bit.”

Though mostly different, Gao Jie and Song Yi did share some similarities.

“But they’re still different,” Zhan Heqing consoled.

“Mm.” Jenny nodded. “After all, I don’t dislike Song Yi.”

Meanwhile, in the president’s office, Song Yi glanced at the schedule. It was a fashion magazine. Though focused on clothing and cosmetics, due to the popularity of games like ACDF , Chongyou had also become a trending topic.

The phone rang. Reception informed them, “Apparently, the executive editor is coming personally as a last-minute change.” Song Yi responded, greeted Xia Fan, and went to the elevator to meet the visitor.

The elevator doors opened.

True to her name.

She wore an immaculate white suit, her short hair curled and resting neatly by her neck, a poised and unapproachable smile on her face. Elegant, pure—these impressions radiated from her.

“Hello, I’m the executive editor of NNI ‘s A edition,” she introduced herself with a nod to Song Yi. “My name is Gao Jie.”

That name struck Song Yi like an arrow, piercing through her thick defenses in an instant.

Without exchanging more words, Gao Jie strode directly toward the door at the end of the corridor.

Her smile grew warmer as she entered. Chi Zhao, engrossed in reading a Japanese manga, looked up at the sound of delicate high heels clicking against the floor.

Gao Jie pulled a small box from her white handbag and placed it calmly on his desk. “Little Zhao, long time no see. This is a personal gift from me—a limited-edition Kirby doll sold to ten lucky winners in a campaign.”

She knew Chi Zhao’s preferences well.

Not only Song Yi but even Xia Fan, standing aside, was taken aback. As an assistant, he couldn’t help but glance at his colleagues for a reaction.

However, unlike usual, today Song Yi failed to respond in time.

For some reason, her usually brisk legs felt slightly weak, and something blocked her throat.

She watched as Chi Zhao raised his head.

He slowly revealed his signature smile, just as he always did.

Chi Zhao stood up, extending his hand toward Gao Jie. His smile was dazzling enough to mesmerize.

Ripples seemed to form in Gao Jie’s steady eyes as she shook his hand.

Chi Zhao said, “Do we know each other?”