STYL - 11

Jiang Chengyu’s video conference lasted nearly two hours before concluding, and he arrived at the hotel where Yan Heyu was staying.

Only then did he notice Tian Qinglu’s message from the previous night: [Are you coming tomorrow?]

The business negotiation today had been arranged through Tian Qinglu’s connections.

Jiang Chengyu replied: [Sorry, I just saw this.]

Moments later, Tian Qinglu called. “I saw your car—I’ll see you in a bit.”

Jiang Chengyu glanced out the window and spotted Tian Qinglu standing on the steps in front of the hotel, gazing in his direction.

She wore a simple yet elegant outfit—a sleeveless white blouse paired with a misty blue long skirt. Her makeup was subtle but meticulously applied.

Tian Qinglu felt like she might be losing her mind. Why had she spent over an hour getting ready just to meet Yan Heyu?

As Jiang Chengyu approached, Tian Qinglu smiled. “You didn’t reply for so long—I thought you weren’t coming.”

Knowing Jiang Chengyu disliked beating around the bush, she got straight to the point: “Tonight, Chairman Xiao is hosting dinner. He has high regard for you.”

Chairman Xiao, at eighty-two years old, had yet to step down as chairman of the board. A legendary figure in the business world, his decisions were decisive and ruthless, and his family’s business had expanded globally.

Jiang Chengyu glanced sideways at her. “Are you close with Chairman Xiao?”

Tian Qinglu shook her head. “I’ve never met him. His youngest daughter is one of my company’s investors.”

Chairman Xiao had two sons and a daughter. The youngest, Xiao Zhen, despite being forty-seven years old, married with two children, was still regarded as the apple of her father’s eye.

Xiao Zhen had always been the most pampered child in the family and reportedly the most troublesome for Chairman Xiao. It was rumored that when she was in her early twenties, she had a major falling out with her father.

Whether this was true or not was impossible to verify.

What was known was that Xiao Zhen had abandoned her graduate studies for reasons unknown and never pursued further education.

In the past decade, Xiao Zhen had invested in numerous enterprises in Shenzhen, including Tian Qinglu’s company. When Tian Qinglu left Beijing to start her business in Shenzhen, Xiao Zhen had provided the initial angel investment.

Though Xiao Zhen had invested significantly in her company, she never interfered with its operations. All communications were handled by Xiao Zhen’s secretary and investment team.

Tian Qinglu wasn’t particularly close to Xiao Zhen.

Yesterday morning, Xiao Zhen personally called her, saying her father wanted to collaborate with GR Capital and asked if she could facilitate the connection.

It was rare for Xiao Zhen to ask for help, so Tian Qinglu naturally agreed without hesitation.

GR Capital was one of Jiang Chengyu’s holding companies, with three major shareholders: Fu Chenglin, Yan Heyu, and Jiang Chengyu himself.

As they arrived at the elevator, Yan Heyu’s secretary was already waiting for them.

The secretary swiped his card but didn’t accompany them.

When the elevator reached Yan Heyu’s suite floor, Jiang Chengyu waited for Tian Qinglu to exit first before following.

Tian Qinglu gestured toward the lounge area. “I’ll go make a call over there.”

It was partly an excuse—she didn’t want to be present while the three men discussed business. Another reason was that she suddenly felt flustered at the prospect of seeing Yan Heyu and needed a moment to compose herself.

________________________________________

Yan Heyu, bored and restless, was brewing coffee.

Fu Chenglin was also there, having arrived a few minutes earlier than Jiang Chengyu.

He brought out three coffee cups and said to Jiang Chengyu, “Tian Qinglu mentioned she’d be here this morning.”

Jiang Chengyu: “She’s already here—I ran into her downstairs.”

Anticipating Yan Heyu’s question, he added, “Tian Qinglu went to the lounge to make a call.”

That explained why she wasn’t present.

Yan Heyu brought over the coffee, handing each of them a cup.

Jiang Chengyu accepted his coffee, while Fu Chenglin sat cross-legged on the sofa, leaning back with his eyes closed, looking utterly exhausted.

Jiang Chengyu eyed Fu Chenglin. “Did you come here to sleep?”

Yan Heyu chimed in: “My niece called me last night to inquire about your romance with Shen Tang. You know I’m not one for gossip, so I let Fu Chenglin handle it.”

“And then?”

“Who would have thought my niece could talk so much? She dragged Fu Chenglin into a conversation that lasted over three hours. It only ended when her phone died and shut off automatically.”

“…”

Jiang Chengyu couldn’t fathom what about his relationship with Shen Tang warranted such a lengthy discussion.

Yan Heyu steered the conversation back to business. “We don’t know what Chairman Xiao is up to, but he’s extended an olive branch for collaboration. This partnership will be a guaranteed win for GR.”

Jiang Chengyu disliked mixing emotions with business. Chairman Xiao’s gesture of goodwill was clearly a favor extended, but favors given always came with expectations of reciprocation. “Chairman Xiao has never made a losing deal in his life.”

Fu Chenglin, who had been resting with his eyes closed, interjected: “For tonight’s dinner, Yan Heyu and I can go. You don’t need to attend. If all three of us go, we’ll have no bargaining chips left.”

Jiang Chengyu agreed. As the CEO of GR, Fu Chenglin’s attendance was necessary, and Yan Heyu’s presence as another major shareholder would suffice to show respect to Chairman Xiao.

“Who else will be at tonight’s dinner?” Jiang Chengyu asked.

Yan Heyu: “Not many people. Besides Chairman Xiao, his daughter Xiao Zhen will also be there. They’re considered our elders.”

Jiang Chengyu nodded. He had never dealt with Xiao Zhen and wasn’t familiar with her.

Just as they finalized their plans, the doorbell rang. It was Tian Qinglu.

Jiang Chengyu, seated closest to the door, rose to open it.

Tian Qinglu’s heart, which had been racing, sank slightly when she saw Jiang Chengyu opening the door. She forced a smile.

Yan Heyu, ever the gentleman, politely asked, “Tea or coffee?”

“Coffee, thank you.” Tian Qinglu responded gracefully, not deliberately avoiding eye contact. Their last encounter had been during the Lunar New Year when they briefly exchanged greetings on the street.

Seeing him again stirred something within her.

Maintaining her composure, Tian Qinglu sat beside Fu Chenglin.

Chairman Xiao’s desire to collaborate with GR had prompted her to contact Fu Chenglin first. Given the significance of the matter, all three shareholders had gathered. Otherwise, Yan Heyu wouldn’t have had any reason to interact with her.

Tian Qinglu wasn’t sure if they all planned to attend the dinner, so she cautiously asked, “Should I inform Chairman Xiao that you’ll both be attending?”

Fu Chenglin: “Yan Heyu and I will go. Jiang Chengyu has another engagement.”

Tian Qinglu nodded. “Alright.”

They had their own considerations, and she knew better than to interfere in business decisions.

________________________________________

After finalizing potential solutions to issues that might arise during the collaboration, Jiang Chengyu began his return journey at 2 PM.

Midway, he called Shen Tang. When the call connected, the sound of waves and chatter came through the line.

“Are you playing by the sea?”

“Yes. I couldn’t focus on reading the script.” Shen Tang was wading in the water, occasionally lifting her feet to splash. “Are you done with your meeting?”

Jiang Chengyu glanced at the road sign outside the window and told Shen Tang where he currently was.

The wind was strong, and Shen Tang held onto the brim of her sun hat. “Then it should take about forty more minutes to get home. I thought you were calling for something important.”

Jiang Chengyu rested his elbow on the car window. “No, nothing important.”

In the past, they never called just to chat. If he called, there was always a reason, big or small.

He recalled her earlier comment. “Why couldn’t you focus on the script?”

Because of Chen Nanjin. Because of the past.

Shen Tang swallowed the truth that almost slipped out. “Without you by my side, I can’t settle my mind.”

Jiang Chengyu chuckled. “That sentence of yours—eleven words, not one of them true.”

Shen Tang’s hearty laughter came through the receiver, along with the clearer sound of waves.

Jiang Chengyu said, “If you can’t focus, then don’t read it for now. Wait until I return, and you’ll feel more at ease.”

“That’s exactly what I meant.” Shen Tang was wearing shorts today for convenience while wading. She ventured deeper into the water.

Neither hung up. They continued chatting casually, jumping from one topic to another.

Shen Tang suddenly remembered something. “Oh, right. I’ve already explained to Grandpa that you came to Haitang Village to pursue me, but I rejected you because I don’t want a relationship. Grandpa doesn’t pry—he probably won’t ask you about it again. You don’t need to explain anything when you return.”

She had solved a minor issue for him.

“When I get back, I’ll rehearse lines with you.” Just as he spoke, a work-related call came in. Before hanging up, he reminded her, “Stay in less crowded areas when wading. Don’t let tourists recognize you.”

“Don’t worry, I’m fully covered.”

Fate works in mysterious ways. Her confident assurance was soon proven wrong.

It was getting late, and Shen Tang walked along the beach toward home. While looking down at her phone, her hat was blown away. Even in this relatively unknown scenic spot, someone recognized her.

________________________________________

Onshore, Grandpa was sitting under the umbrella by the gate, enjoying the sea breeze as usual after his ride around the village.

The two black cars that had left earlier slowly pulled over to the roadside. Jiang Chengyu stepped out.

Grandpa’s wrinkles softened, and his eyes twinkled with a smile.

“Mr. Jiang, it seems Miss Shen has been surrounded by tourists,” one of the bodyguards noted, spotting the unusual commotion by the sea.

Jiang Chengyu immediately looked over. Two bodyguards were already rushing toward the beach.

“Grandpa, I’ll go check on Shen Tang.”

“What happened to Tangtang?” Grandpa was confused.

“She was probably recognized by tourists.” Jiang Chengyu hurried forward, taking large strides down the steps.

Once on the sand, his leather shoes quickly filled with sand.

Ignoring the discomfort, he headed straight for Shen Tang.

Someone on the beach shouted Shen Tang’s name, and the crowd surged forward. Even those who weren’t her fans wanted to catch a glimpse of the celebrity up close.

Jiang Chengyu was pushed along by the crowd, his sand-filled shoes sinking into the water.

A wave crashed over, soaking his pant legs.

“Oh my god, Shen Tang’s skin is so fair!”

“Her legs look photoshopped. I’m dying, don’t save me.”

“Everyone, stop pushing! I can’t see anything! Ahhh!”

Excited screams and shouts filled the air.

Jiang Chengyu found himself unable to move freely, surrounded by people. For the first time, he experienced what it was like to be a fan chasing a star.

Thanks to his height advantage, he spotted Shen Tang.

Shen Tang stood by the water, holding her sun hat and posing for photos. Tourists filmed videos while vying for selfies with her.

Two bodyguards pushed through the crowd to her side, escorting her toward the shore.

Shen Tang was led out of the crowd by the bodyguards. The tourists didn’t follow—they hadn’t intended to disturb her, just take photos from afar. But once the crowd grew, the situation spiraled out of control.

Shen Tang thought she glimpsed a tall figure earlier, but with so many people, she wasn’t sure if it was Jiang Chengyu. She reasoned it was probably her imagination—he wouldn’t venture into the sea in formal attire and leather shoes just to follow the crowd.

After walking a few steps, curiosity got the better of her, and she turned her head.

The crowd hadn’t dispersed yet. Jiang Chengyu, wearing sunglasses, stood out like a crane among chickens, staring directly at her.

Shen Tang waved to the crowd and made a heart gesture with two fingers.

A male tourist shouted, “Shen Tang, I love you too!”

The driver pulled the car over, and Shen Tang and the two bodyguards got in and left.

Soon, the crowd dispersed, and the beach returned to normal.

Jiang Chengyu wrung out his pant legs, rolled them up, and carried his shoes as he walked back. This was the first time he had ever been so disheveled.

Seeing this, Grandpa stood up with his cane. “How did you get so wet?”

“It’s fine.” Jiang Chengyu helped Grandpa sit down. “Shen Tang took a car to circle around first. She’ll sneak back through the back door when no one’s watching.”

Grandpa urged him, “Go back to your room and change your shoes quickly.”

Jiang Chengyu didn’t rush off. He stayed to chat with Grandpa a little longer.

Grandpa knew Jiang Chengyu was pursuing his granddaughter and was genuinely delighted. He reassured him not to worry.

Jiang Chengyu smiled. “Grandpa, do you think I can win Shen Tang over?”

Grandpa meant to compliment Jiang Chengyu. “Yes, I think you can. Our Tangtang likes good-looking people.”

Jiang Chengyu: “…”