HYAT - 25

Shen Qianzhan tossed her phone aside, cursing and about to list Ji Qinghe’s top ten crimes as a “dog man.” She looked up to see Su Zan staring at her expectantly.

After a few seconds of stalemate, she resignedly picked up her phone and got straight to the point: “I wonder if Mr. Ji is free tonight? I’d like to invite you to Kunshan Cottage for dinner.”

Ji Qinghe didn’t reply.

Shen Qianzhan pondered Ji Qinghe’s instant reply earlier, guessing that he wasn’t busy at the moment. After thinking, she added her intention: “My assistant inquired with you about Xiang Qianqian’s endorsement this afternoon. To be frank, our company has encountered a small issue. If you don’t have time, I can explain the problem directly, without wasting your time.”

After sending the first half, she diligently added the second half: “Mainly, after signing the contract, I haven’t had a chance to thank Mr. Ji in person. Coincidentally, I have a request this time, and I’d like to have a small gathering with you to show my sincerity.”

People in high positions usually have their time fragmented.

Ji Qinghe was no exception.

He finished approving the documents Ming Jue handed him, then took a moment to scan WeChat and replied: “Very urgent?”

Shen Qianzhan interpreted this as an agreement, her eyebrows raised, and she was in a good mood: “Depends on your time.”

Ji Qinghe said: “Tomorrow night at six.”

Putting down his phone, he twirled the pen between his fingers, the pen cap tapping lightly on the document, making a dull thud.

He looked up at Ming Jue, his eyes behind the lenses deep and unfathomable: “Go find out about the endorsement matter. Also, postpone tomorrow night’s dinner by two hours; someone’s cutting in line.”

Ming Jue observed with his eyes and heart, pretending not to know that the person cutting in line was Shen Qianzhan, and nodded in assent with a serious expression.

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The next afternoon, as soon as it hit four o’clock, Shen Qianzhan, who had been eagerly waiting for an early dismissal, dragged Su Zan along and openly left work early.

Kunshan Cottage Japanese restaurant was close to Buzhongshui’s Beijing branch office. It was a charming two-story courtyard with exquisite decor.

Two cherry blossom trees were planted in the courtyard. Although it wasn’t the blooming season, the ground beneath the trees was still covered with artificial petals, exclusively for diners to take photos and post on their social media.

When Shen Qianzhan arrived, there were young girls who had rented kimonos, posing on tiptoes under the trees for photos.

The setting sun’s afterglow fell into the small pond next to it, casting a warm glow over the entire courtyard, as if it were late afternoon, the hour hand had stopped, and the pace of time had suddenly slowed.

Shen Qianzhan only took one glance, then immediately inquired about the auspicious koi in the pond: “Boss, can you scoop out two of your koi for me to take home? They look like they bring in a lot of money.”

The guiding boss’s face was pale: “Every time you come, you don’t forget to eye my koi. Is there no humanity left? No discounts today.”

Shen Qianzhan smiled, completely unfazed.

She wasn’t paying today, so whether there was a discount or not, she never felt bad about other people’s money.

________________________________________

Up on the second-floor private room, there was still half an hour until the scheduled time.

The boss personally served a few small plates of snacks to keep her entertained.

Shen Qianzhan was a regular at Kunshan Cottage, the kind of regular who would be personally attended to by the boss whenever he was in the shop.

When Kunshan Cottage first opened, it was deserted. Not only was the promotion lacking, but the location was also too remote. Even with a good dining environment, it couldn’t overcome being in a deep alley where diners couldn’t smell the aroma of sake.

The year Shen Qianzhan was on a film set, the production manager had ordered bento boxes from the boss. Because the prices were affordable, the ingredients were good, and the taste was nice, they eventually signed a long-term cooperation.

Later, the boss opened Kunshan Cottage as a Japanese restaurant, and Shen Qianzhan even brought a whole department to support it.

Unfortunately, the restaurant was poorly managed and gradually lost customers. When it was on the verge of bankruptcy, Shen Qianzhan would frequently bring Xiang Qianqian and industry friends to dine there. Her soft marketing not only revitalized the restaurant but also helped turn Kunshan Cottage into a popular online check-in spot.

Truly a walking living god of wealth.

________________________________________

Dusk approached.

The light in the courtyard gradually dimmed, and the string lights wrapped around the tree branches and walls lit up one by one.

Shen Qianzhan sat cross-legged in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, her elbows resting on her legs. Her long hair, following her slight lean, fell casually, revealing one side of her long, fair swan neck.

Seeming a bit bored, she rested her index finger on the window, counting the ambient lights under the trees one by one. Her expression was melancholic, as if out of sync with the world.

When Ji Qinghe arrived, this was the Shen Qianzhan he saw.

He stood at the doorway, and the surroundings seemed to quiet down, almost becoming silent.

Shen Qianzhan hadn’t heard any movement for a long time and turned to look.

Her long hair swirled in an arc with her turning motion, her profile half-exposed, her bright eyes and white teeth adorned by the lights like a fairy in a painting, her features picturesque, her gaze radiant.

Ji Qinghe’s eyes deepened, his heart stirred.

His profound gaze lingered on Shen Qianzhan’s face for a few seconds. Only when their eyes met did he slightly restrain himself, composed and reserved.

He stepped forward, took off his shoes, and stepped onto the tatami, his demeanor as calm as if nothing had happened.

His overcoat, carrying a cool chill, was hung on the hanger by Ming Jue. He wore only a dark black suit and sat opposite her.

As soon as he sat down, he saw her face showing difficulty, as if she had something unspeakable.

Ji Qinghe slightly raised an eyebrow, silently asking with his eyes.

His sharp eyebrows and starry eyes were truly handsome. Shen Qianzhan looked at him for a few more seconds before saying in a muffled voice, “My leg is numb.”

Ji Qinghe’s gaze lowered slightly.

Across the table, he couldn’t actually see what was happening beneath it. But he had a vivid impression of Shen Qianzhan’s legs, and could imagine them clearly.

He nonchalantly unbuttoned his suit jacket and asked, “Need help?”

Shen Qianzhan glanced at him, not answering.

But her expression was incredibly clear, so clear that one could instantly see her undisguised, silent disdain.

Ji Qinghe smirked slightly, loosened his tie, and unbuttoned a few more shirt buttons before finally feeling less agitated in his chest.

He looked up and saw Shen Qianzhan’s brows furrowed in concentration, as if in meditation. He picked up the teapot and poured her a cup of warm tea: “Been waiting long?” As he spoke, he glanced at the scattered empty plates of snacks on the table, not caring how she answered.

“Waiting for you isn’t waiting,” Shen Qianzhan recovered, picked up the teacup, and took a sip of the tea poured by her investor dad. She smiled sweetly: “It’s cultivation.”

Ji Qinghe turned his head, a slight curve on his lips, uncharacteristically not retorting.

He yielded, and Shen Qianzhan, understanding, rang the bell for the waiter to start serving dishes.

Ji Qinghe was in formal attire, which clearly indicated he had another engagement later. She slightly changed a few dishes and quietly asked him, “Should I order something hot to line your stomach? If I had known you had plans later, I wouldn’t have scheduled it here, making you eat these cold Japanese dishes.”

Su Zan and Ming Jue exchanged glances, unable to interject, and wisely remained silent.

Soon, waiters began serving dishes one after another.

Shen Qianzhan directed the serving of dishes while asking, “What time does Mr. Ji plan to leave?”

“No rush,” Ji Qinghe swirled his teacup, his tone gentle: “I’ve left you plenty of time.”

Shen Qianzhan was used to making suggestive jokes and subconsciously wanted to retort, “Mr. Ji, don’t underestimate your stamina.” Her gaze lifted, and she caught sight of Ming Jue sitting beside him. Her mind buzzed, and she immediately stopped herself.

She internally grumbled about how out of control she had been lately. She sternly admonished herself, pondering whether to find a master at a temple someday to learn some calming mantras. Being clouded by lust was too detrimental to business.

The conversation thread broken, she found a new one: “It’s New Year’s Eve today, does Mr. Ji have another engagement?”

However, this topic wasn’t opened very cleverly. Ji Qinghe almost immediately gave her an “you’re asking the obvious” look, implying: “Don’t you know the extra workload you’ve given me?”

Shen Qianzhan chuckled awkwardly, then prodded Su Zan: “Mr. Ji is here, aren’t you going to ask?”

Su Zan felt wronged.

You two were having an online chat back and forth. Where did he fit in?

Su Zan had dined with Ji Qinghe a few times and knew he didn’t drink alcohol. At the moment, he wasn’t sure whether to toast with tea. Before he could figure it out, Ming Jue, receiving a cue from his boss, quietly asked, “Has your company’s artist endorsement matter been handled by Star Ocean Agency?”

He subtly pointed out the power behind Xiang Qianqian. Seeing Su Zan deny it, he was not surprised: “Buzhongshui’s brand image ambassador is about to change, and several relevant department executives have been quite busy recently.”

Ming Jue’s implication was that Ji Qinghe, as management, didn’t handle such trivial matters.

If Su Zan’s intention was to secure the endorsement, unless Ji Qinghe deigned to intervene, then this small matter shouldn’t be brought up to avoid being disliked.

Shen Qianzhan reasonably suspected that a man as cunning as Ji Qinghe would think she was there to secure resources for Xiang Qianqian, so she simply remained silent and listened quietly.

Su Zan’s original intention was just to find out what power was behind Xiang Qianqian. He couldn’t expect more in-depth news from Ming Jue, the president’s assistant. Therefore, he simply asked about the situation and didn’t press further.

Ji Qinghe had very little involvement with the entertainment industry and wasn’t clear about what had happened with Qian Deng recently. Seeing Shen Qianzhan act like a hands-off boss, and Su Zan only inquiring about Star Ocean Agency, he pondered briefly and guessed roughly: “Is Qian Deng planning to give up on this artist?”

“It’s not Qian Deng giving up on her,” Shen Qianzhan chose her words carefully, “It’s her who first betrayed Qian Deng.”

She forked some noodles into her plate and said, “Of course, if Mr. Ji thinks Xiang Qianqian is very suitable to endorse Buzhongshui, you can completely disregard Qian Deng’s position.”

Ji Qinghe hadn’t touched his bowl of noodles much. Seeing her eat with relish, he also took some: “When did I say she was suitable?”

The noodles had a slightly sweet, milky flavor. He tasted a bite, found the taste somewhat unfamiliar, put down his chopsticks, and took a sip of tea: “Ming Jue should have informed you, I don’t like it.”

Su Zan and Ming Jue’s voices suddenly dropped a few decibels.

Shen Qianzhan acted as if she hadn’t noticed the two gossiping men eavesdropping. She smiled and asked, “Then how was Chu Sisi decided on last year?”

Ji Qinghe put down his teacup, picked up his phone, and pretended to make a call: “You want to know that badly?”

“I’ll ask for you.”

“No, no, no,” Shen Qianzhan immediately chickened out: “Who your brand ambassador is has nothing to do with me. Why are you making such a big deal out of a little gossip?”

Ji Qinghe chuckled softly. The warm air in the private room made his eyes appear clear and bright, like wells of water, initially chilling to the bone, but unfathomable upon deeper inspection, impossible to discern.

He said, “If I’m not serious, you might question my taste.”

Shen Qianzhan was selfish and narcissistic, often lost in reverie, dreaming daily that she was the most beautiful woman in the universe. When Ji Qinghe looked at her and said this meaningfully, her thoughts drifted, and she imagined even more.

This little daisy of hers always talked a big game but chickened out when it came to practical action. While she wasn’t a beautiful, unresponsive slug, her thoughts were as explicit as her reality was weak.

Yet, she could still leave such a lasting impression and be savored for a long time?

Shen Qianzhan felt there wasn’t much to be proud of in this matter, but to be so fondly remembered and constantly protected by Ji Qinghe, that “piling machine,” actually gave her a sense of accomplishment.