HYAT - 47

What happened next was a blur, a chaotic mess with no clear memories.

Shen Qianzhan couldn’t remember if she had obeyed and closed her eyes or when Ji Qinghe had taken pity on her and let her go.

The next thing she remembered, she was sitting at the dining table. Meng Wangzhou was holding a bottle of Lafite and asked her, “Producer Shen, would you like some?”

On the long table were all the freshly prepared dishes. It wasn’t limited to Chinese food; there was also a mix of salad, bread, and other Western dishes.

Meng Wangzhou had just poured wine for Ms. Meng and was now looking at her expectantly. Seeing her hesitate, he pointed to the vintage wine next to Ji Qingzhen: “Or would you like to have a drink with Old Master Ji?”

Shen Qianzhan’s familiar table etiquette was to accept all offers. Hearing this, she put on a show of slight hesitation, and just as she was about to perform the act of being reluctantly persuaded, Ji Qinghe reached out and blocked Meng Wangzhou’s attempt, saying without question, “Give her juice.”

Shen Qianzhan, whose performance had been interrupted, was speechless.

She slowly turned her head, attempting to convey her anger.

She had just turned her head and before she could fully express herself, Ji Qinghe spoke first: “If you want me to drive you home, you can have a drink.” Confident that she wouldn’t dare to ask for wine in front of everyone, he subtly raised his eyebrow and added unhurriedly, “My family doesn’t have a custom of toasting. How many times do I have to emphasize that before you remember?”

His tone was not deliberate, but the more natural it was, the more it led to wild speculation.

Shen Qianzhan noticed Ms. Meng’s gaze, which felt like a physical weight, fall upon her from some unknown place, making her heart feel heavy.

She subtly took a deep breath, and instead of troubling Meng Wangzhou to pour her juice, she stood up gracefully and poured it for herself.

The flower arrangements and candle holders on the long table had already been moved to the end of the table. She poured her juice, placed the glass bottle next to her, and explained calmly, “CEO Ji is thoughtful; I almost forgot I drove here.”

She raised her glass, politely thanked Ms. Meng for the meal she had personally cooked, and expressed her gratitude for the pleasant and insightful conversation with Old Master Ji. Only then did she sit back down with perfect poise.

Meng Qiongzhi liked well-behaved juniors. Shen Qianzhan’s actions clearly earned her a lot of goodwill. She smiled faintly, motioned for everyone to start eating, and found a topic to chat with Shen Qianzhan about: “We don’t have many rules here. You’re a guest, so just make yourself at home.”

“I’ve lived abroad for many years, so my eating habits are very casual. There’s nothing to be particular about. I hope you find the food to your liking.”

Shen Qianzhan smiled, complimenting her subtly: “If you’re particular about everything, life can get boring.”

Meng Qiongzhi pursed her lips and tore off a piece of the bread: “Qinghe has a boring personality, but he met someone as interesting as you.”

Shen Qianzhan didn’t respond immediately. Her chopsticks trembled slightly. The images that flashed in her mind were either of his eyes with their deep, fluctuating desires or the final moments before he kissed her.

She steadied her hand and said in a calm voice: “CEO Ji is different from me. He’s in a high position, so he has to be steady and serious. In my line of work, you have to be adaptable. Who would want to invest in someone who is too boring?”

Ji Qinghe slowly peeled a shrimp, not even looking up: “How am I different from you?”

After removing the vein from the shrimp, he spoke again, a playful laugh in his voice: “Do you really enjoy distancing yourself from me like this?”

This scumbag’s habit of arguing would flare up from time to time. Shen Qianzhan gave him a half-smile as she turned her head, but unexpectedly, she met his sideways glance. In the sudden eye contact, she was the first to back down from Ji Qinghe’s teasing look.

Before this, Shen Qianzhan had always thought she had a thick skin.

She could handle Jian Xin’s open insults and sarcasm and still give her a smiling thumbs-up to show her generosity. She could also ignore the boycotts when Xiang Qianqian’s fans turned against her and find her own amusement. Even when she occasionally went on shows and the hosts made jokes about her private life, she could calmly laugh it off.

Yet now, as soon as this scumbag got close to her, her limbs would go weak, and she would feel dizzy and tired. If he even glanced at her, she would blush, and her mind would be filled with inappropriate thoughts.

Was she too starved for attention and affection lately?

After coming to the conclusion that she was “physically hungry,” Shen Qianzhan felt a bit off.

To make matters worse, Meng Wangzhou’s intermittent curiosity steered the conversation in a strange direction.

Meng Wangzhou asked, “I didn’t see you two when I came out just now. Where did you go?”

He seemed genuinely clueless, with a slightly inquisitive look in his eyes that made him seem utterly foolish.

For some reason, a very dangerous and immoral thought popped into Shen Qianzhan’s head—Meng Wangzhou was so naive that he wouldn’t even know if he was being cheated on.

Of course, Shen Qianzhan wasn’t going to answer that question.

She quietly crossed her legs and kicked Ji Qinghe with her foot, hinting for him to answer.

Ji Qinghe turned his head, gave her a subtle glance, and the corners of his lips curved upward. He didn’t speak immediately.

His smile was so noticeable that Meng Wangzhou was the first to be offended, and he grumbled: “Now you’re just ignoring me when I ask you a question. You have no manners at all.”

Shen Qianzhan lowered her head and stayed silent, pretending to seriously taste her food.

As long as there was no eye contact, she could pretend not to have heard!

Meng Wangzhou now had a backer. He complained to Ms. Meng with a hint of resentment. It wasn’t until Old Master Ji and Ms. Meng both paid attention to the topic that Ji Qinghe slowly said, “I took her for a walk around.”

He then looked at the screen, his gaze lingering for a moment, and added meaningfully: “After all, it’s not convenient when there are a lot of people.”

Shen Qianzhan, who knew exactly what he meant by “inconvenient,” was flushed with embarrassment: “...” Just shut up.

________________________________________

After dinner, Shen Qianzhan politely announced her departure. Ms. Meng thoughtfully accompanied her and Ji Qinghe to the door.

Ms. Meng was no longer young, with a head full of silver hair, but she was full of spirit. She didn’t hide her affection for Shen Qianzhan and expressed regret that she had to return to Xi’an tomorrow, hoping Shen Qianzhan would visit often.

As it was time to say goodbye, Shen Qianzhan’s tense nerves relaxed, and her smile became more genuine: “There will be opportunities. I borrowed some clocks from Old Master Ji, so I will have to trouble you again when I go to Xi’an.”

Ms. Meng knew exactly what Ji Qingzhen’s plan was, and since she wasn’t very fond of the old man’s treasured clocks, she didn’t even frown. She simply gave Shen Qianzhan a hug: “You’re welcome in Xi’an. Qinghe will be staying in Xi’an for a while soon, so you can come with him. Otherwise, with the elders and the little ones at home, we might not be able to entertain you properly.”

Shen Qianzhan smiled, understanding that both Old Master Ji and Ms. Meng were being so warm and friendly to her for Ji Qinghe’s sake. She readily agreed.

Ji Qinghe remained silent throughout, leaning against the door frame, watching her go through the formal pleasantries. It was surprising that many behaviors and actions that he would find intolerable in others seemed to have a unique charm when Shen Qianzhan did them.

He glanced at his watch—it was eight o’clock, and Beijing’s traffic was just beginning to ease.

Ji Qinghe stood up straight.

He was tall and lean. When he stood on the stone steps, the lantern tassels hanging above his head were almost touching him, making Ms. Meng next to him appear particularly petite.

He gently squeezed Ms. Meng’s shoulder, subtly ending the five-minute farewell: “The wind is strong at night. You should go inside. I’ll drive Qianzhan home, so don’t worry.”

Ms. Meng was well aware of Ji Qinghe’s intentions. She glanced at both of them and, knowing better, let them go: “That’s good. I’ll be more at ease knowing Qinghe is driving you home.”

Shen Qianzhan was slightly taken aback and glanced at Ji Qinghe.

His thoughts were always well-hidden, and it was harder to read his face than to dig up gossip in the entertainment industry.

Shen Qianzhan was very perceptive and knew her skills were not yet a match for Ji Qinghe. She didn’t immediately reject his offer. It was only after they were out of Ms. Meng’s line of sight that she said, “I didn’t drink, so there’s no need for you to drive me.”

Ji Qinghe turned around, his dismissal of her refusal quite perfunctory: “Do you have to drink to get a ride?” He tilted his head, motioning for her to get in the car first: “Next time you come, don’t drive. I’ll pick you up.”

Shen Qianzhan’s face was full of questions.

The spot where she was standing was half-covered by the shade of a tree, and her face was half in the light, half in the dark, giving her expression a strange and mysterious look.

Ji Qinghe smiled, reached out, and held her chin, turning her face toward the light.

This move was sudden, and Shen Qianzhan was completely unprepared. When he turned her face to him, she asked in a muffled voice, “What are you doing?”

“I wanted to get a closer look,” he said, letting go. His gaze fell on her lips, and he scrutinized them: “I wasn’t very restrained when I kissed you. Your lipstick is smeared.”

With one sentence, he instantly triggered perfectionist Shen Qianzhan. She instinctively covered her lips, pulled out her car keys, and went to the passenger side to turn on the vanity mirror light.

Shen Qianzhan found Ji Qinghe’s words absurd. Even if she couldn’t remember that moment behind the screen, she remembered that he had only given her a gentle kiss. Despite this, she was still swayed and wanted to see for herself.

Her lipstick was indeed a little smeared; the edges were subtly blurred. It wasn’t from the kiss, but from wiping her mouth with a napkin after dinner.

Shen Qianzhan felt a strange sense of relief.

She had been through a lot today, with her mood swinging up and down. Now, sitting in the car, as her nerves relaxed, she suddenly felt tired. She leaned against the car window, stared at Ji Qinghe for a while, and finally hooked her finger, signaling her agreement.

________________________________________

On the way back, there was none of the awkwardness Shen Qianzhan had expected.

Most of the time, Ji Qinghe was silent, while she stared out the window, counting the streetlights they passed.

It was Shen Qianzhan who spoke first: “You have to take Old Master Ji and Ms. Meng to the airport tomorrow, right?”

“Yes,” Ji Qinghe looked at her: “I try to do things myself whenever I can.”

Shen Qianzhan nodded: “Ms. Meng is a little different from what I imagined.”

“She’s only like that with you.” Ji Qinghe turned down the music in the car to make it easier to talk: “Next time, I’ll take you to a fashion show to see her, and it will probably subvert the impression you have of her today.”

Shen Qianzhan was moved by the second half of his sentence and turned to look at him: “Old Master Ji told me a lot about you tonight.”

Ji Qinghe wasn’t surprised. He steered the car with one hand, making the last turn off the exit ramp. The light from the streetlights made his eyes as bright as a star-filled sky.

Shen Qianzhan saw him smile, but it was fleeting and too quick to catch. She automatically interpreted it as a signal for her to continue. After thinking for a moment, she said, “We talked about your attitude toward clock restoration. He also mentioned that you stayed at the clock museum for two years, and his words were full of praise. But I really agree with what the old master said: for some crafts, talent and passion are indispensable.”

Ji Qinghe chuckled lightly and said, “It’s their good breeding that they didn’t ask me to propose to you.”