When Shen Zhiyi arrived, Secretary Qin was just coming out to greet her. The timing was perfect. He took the bag containing her clothes from her and led the way to the private room they had reserved. "Dinner is already prepared. Miss Shen, please go ahead and start your al. Chairman Pei will probably need another half an hour to finish up," he said.
Before Shen Zhiyi could say anything in refusal, Secretary Qin added, "Miss Qin is in the next room, and she asked to tell you she’ll be right over,"
Looking at Xiaodong, who was following behind Shen Zhiyi, Secretary Qin smiled slightly, "We also booked a small private room downstairs. I’m afraid it’s a bit of trouble for Miss Dong to take another detour with ."
Xiaodong was shocked: "I get to have dinner too?"
This was just too great!
With the prospect of a al, Xiaodong wasn’t inclined to think much more about it. She waved to Shen Zhiyi and cheerfully followed Secretary Qin downstairs, without giving any thought as to why she had to go to the downstairs private room instead of dining with Shen Zhiyi.
Because she left so quickly, Shen Zhiyi, who wanted to call her to eat together, couldn’t stop her in ti and had to enter the private room alone.
Qin Xiaoran was still next door, putting up with her future mother-in-law, occasionally sending Shen Zhiyi ssages complaining about how picky her mother-in-law was.
After settling Xiaodong in as well, Secretary Qin returned to the upstairs private room. He spoke a few words to the waiter in the outer area, handed over the bag of clothes, and then made his way around several screens to the inner area, where several corporation presidents were in conversation. President ng Qiming from CN was also there, skillfully mingling with those around him.
"Chairman Pei," Secretary Qin approached Pei Yu and whispered, "Miss Shen is dining."
ng Qiming, who was nearby, seed to sense sothing and slightly lifted his eyes.
Pei Yu nodded slightly, signaling that he understood. He set down his wine glass and stopped soone from pouring him more wine.
That person asked, "Chairman Pei isn’t drinking anymore? Don’t like the taste of this wine?"
ng Qiming, who had brought the wine, also looked over upon hearing this.
"I don’t wish to drink too much," Pei Yu said lightly, not elaborating.
No further questions were asked, and the conversation shifted to other topics. Thanks to ng Qiming’s easy-going nature, the conversation swiftly turned to him.
"Heard that President ng has been considering marriage? You bought a new house in Australia recently, supposedly to serve as a marital ho."
"Word does travel fast," ng Qiming replied with a smile, his deanor gentle. Unbothered by the personal jibe, he said, "I’ve been thinking about it, and I’ve reached the age too."
"You’re still young, President ng," another person interjected. "Chairman Pei is about the sa age, and he hasn’t considered these things yet, so there’s no rush for you either."
Not long ago, when going out for leisure, soone had indirectly inquired Pei Yu when he would consider marriage, but they failed to get any information and instead irritated him, causing him to leave the event early.
It seems he truly had no intention to settle down just yet.
"I’m different from Chairman Pei," ng Qiming replied with a smile in his voice, his tone gentle yet sohow profound, "I have soone I fancy, and so thinking about marriage is an uncontrollable desire."
The phrase "uncontrollable desire" made Pei Yu glance over, his gaze cool. He leaned back in his chair slightly, smoothing a wrinkle on his sleeve cuff nonchalantly, "Marriage is a matter between two people. President ng’s one-sided wishes cannot be taken as final."
Although nothing particularly special was said, the atmosphere between the two n beca subtly charged, and the others, unclear on the situation, wisely remained silent.
"Chairman Pei need not worry about my affairs," ng Qiming still smiled as though he hadn’t detected the hidden aning behind Pei Yu’s words. "I indeed still have to make an effort, but it’s not bad to be prepared in advance, as long as she agrees. I can imdiately arrange everything properly."
"Hard work is good, but too much pestering only annoys people," Pei Yu’s gaze was low, the glass of wine before him still halfway full, and to avoid taking in too much alcohol, he no longer touched it, "If the other party refuses, ng should know better."
"Seems like that’s sothing Chairman Pei should be saying to himself, isn’t it?"
ng Qiming looked at him, the smile on his face gradually cooling off. He was skilled at socializing, excessively polite to everyone, and particularly careful and courteous in his few encounters with Pei Yu; but today, his rationality was sowhat offline, ignited by Pei Yu’s few words.
When it ca to the woman he liked, even the most refined person couldn’t maintain their composure.
"?" Pei Yu lifted his eyelids slightly, a light smile on his face, "Do you think you can compare to ?"
He was referring to their respective importance in Shen Zhiyi’s heart.
The others, not knowing the full story, changed their expressions at Pei Yu’s words, fearing that today’s eting would end in discord, and hastily tried to smooth things over, "Matters of the heart are unpredictable, I think both gentlen have the chance to win the beauty over. Speaking of which, the house that ng picked is really nice. If you set a wedding date, be sure to invite us."
They had originally wanted to inquire about the woman ng Qiming liked, but the atmosphere didn’t seem right to bring it up now, so they dropped the subject.
ng Qiming smiled and moved the conversation along swiftly, but he wasn’t as indifferent as he appeared. His fingers gripping the glass tightly, he pondered over Pei Yu’s words again and again.
To the outsider, there seed to be no difference between him and Pei Yu; both were the ones actively pursuing, but ultimately he was a step behind. Pei Yu had been together with Shen Zhiyi and knew her better, naturally holding greater weight in her heart.
There were many aspects in which he couldn’t compare to Pei Yu, and it was frustrating to him that even in matters of the heart he was still being outdone. ng Qiming downed the wine in his glass in one gulp.
Half an hour later, when it was ti to disperse, ng Qiming stayed till the end and saw Secretary Qin receive a shopping bag from a waiter beside Pei Yu.
He thought of the casually overhead "Miss Shen" and wasn’t sure if he had heard wrong, so he sent a ssage to Director ng.
His understanding of Shen Zhiyi’s schedule was mostly guesswork, sotis with so information from his father. Shen Zhiyi should still be on set filming.
Soon he got a reply, Director ng said Shen Zhiyi was not at the set right now.
He put away his phone and stepped forward, "Chairman Pei."
Although still very polite, his gaze was no longer as gentle. ng Qiming asked directly, "Is Miss Shen here too?"
He couldn’t help but suspect that Shen Zhiyi’s presence here had sothing to do with Pei Yu.
Pei Yu pressed the elevator button, not going to the underground parking lot but to another floor, indirectly confirming ng Qiming’s suspicion, "So what if she is."
ng Qiming’s brows furrowed, "What excuse did you use to get her to co out? Chairman Pei, Zhiyi has her own career, and it would be despicable to coerce her with the very career she loves."
He knew how Pei Yu operated; with his status, getting soone to do sothing was all too easy, but his thods were often underhanded.
Glancing at him lightly, Pei Yu wasn’t angered by these words, but instead, a smirk appeared on his lips, "You worry too much, Secretary ng. She ca to deliver clothes for —they were accidentally left at her place last ti."
This excuse was ambiguous and led one’s thoughts astray, leaving ng Qiming speechless, his frown deepening.
The elevator doors opened and Pei Yu stepped out, leaving a parting shot as he turned around.
"I know how to please her, no need for your advice, Secretary ng."
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