Ning Guiwan gazed at the pair of impeccable, black, handcrafted leather shoes. The light from above reflected a brilliant sheen off them.
Her gaze traveled up the straight crease of his suit trousers, past the silver tie secured by a tie pin, and t a pair of deep brown eyes. The man had his head slightly lowered, watching her unabashedly in the interplay of light and shadow.
Ning Guiwan belatedly realized her earlier behavior had been rather petty.
Yet, she didn’t know why her usual effortless composure and skill, so readily displayed before others, vanished completely in front of this man.
"Mr. Quan." It was Song Changfeng who spoke first.
Ning Guiwan turned her head in surprise to look at him.
Respect was evident in Song Changfeng’s voice and on his face. He smiled in response to her puzzled look. "Mr. Quan is a prominent figure in the business world," he explained. "It’s hardly surprising that I recognize him. It’s just that Mr. Quan doesn’t know ."
Ning Guiwan’s doubts dissipated.
Over there, the two n had already shaken hands. Quan Yu responded patiently, exuding a gentlemanly deanor.
Tan Xi returned. Seeing the unexpected addition to their group, his eyes lit up with surprise. He started to extend his hand for a handshake but withdrew it halfway. Instead, he clasped his hands respectfully before his abdon and perford a solemn, ninety-degree bow. "Mr. Quan, I’ve long admired your renown!"
He looked completely flustered.
"We’re going to dinner later," Tan Xi proposed. "If Mr. Quan has ti, perhaps you could join us?"
He probably doesn’t have the ti, Ning Guiwan thought. And even if he did, he likely wouldn’t want to spend it on two strangers.
Unexpectedly, Quan Yu said, "I hope I won’t be disturbing you."
Tan Xi hastily waved his hands. "Not at all! Not at all! It would be our honor to have dinner with you."
Ning Guiwan had called Song Changfeng and Tan Xi back, intending for them to help manage Tianchi Group. Since they would be operating under the pretext of being dispatched by Ruiyin Group, they were bound to et Quan Yu sooner or later.
Thus, she said nothing.
A bodyguard stepped forward to take Song Changfeng’s luggage. Song Changfeng, clearly flattered, initially demurred a couple of tis but eventually allowed the bodyguard to take it.
He and Tan Xi flanked Quan Yu, one on each side, completely forgetting that Ning Guiwan was their friend.
It was understandable. People often defer to status first; opportunities to connect with soone like Quan Yu were rare, whereas they could contact her anyti. Had she been in their position, she would have done the sa.
Song Changfeng and Tan Xi got into Quan Yu’s car.
Ning Guiwan drove behind the Cullinan, with another black car following hers. As they passed through a green light, an SUV tried to cut in between her car and the black car following hers. The black car didn’t yield; it accelerated, struck the SUV, sending it spinning, and then resud its position.
Ning Guiwan watched this in her rearview mirror, astonished by the black car’s aggressive arrogance.
Just like that man...
In the hotel’s private dining room, Ning Guiwan was about to sit next to Song Changfeng. She then saw Quan Yu take off his overcoat and hand it to a waiter. As he sat down, he pulled out the chair to his right and patted it. "Sit here."
He appeared travel-weary. After those two words, he fell silent, simply fixing his gaze on her. He leaned back against the chair, his posture sowhat languid.
These were the first words he had spoken to her since they t. Simple words, yet they hinted at an unusual connection between them.
"Xiaowan, what are you standing there dazed for? Co over!" Tan Xi urged. "This is a good chance to discuss the tasks Changfeng and I will be handling."
Over the phone, Ning Guiwan had already explained the Tianchi Group situation to them in ticulous detail, omitting only the deal she had struck with Quan Yu.
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