Two years ago, Jiang Cuo abandoned her without leaving a single word, easily dragging her into the mire. Two years later, he returned to the country in a high-profile manner, yet he seemed to have abandoned all dignity and clung to her.
Logically speaking, Jiang Cuo should have just casually made such an ordinary token to fool her, but he never expected that she would keep it all this time.
She had already thrown the little bracelet she was wearing into the rain that rainy night.
After that heavy rain, she had nothing left. Even after school started and the useless system reappeared, it was like that cute little Samoyed puppy she had lost before—it never came back.
Some things, once they happen, can never be undone.
Why can't Jiang Cuo understand this principle?
Su Qianqian suppressed her thoughts and forced herself not to think about them.
I'm having lunch with Song Yaxing this afternoon. I've met Song Yaxing twice already. She's a bit introverted, but despite her talent, she's humble and low-key, which is a very likable personality. She has a delicate and pretty face, and just looking at her makes you feel comfortable and calm, just like her singing voice.
Unlike someone who, despite being excellent, is arrogant and stubborn.
Around 5 p.m., Su Qianqian and Song Yaxing met at the restaurant entrance.
Su Qianqian wasn't wearing formal attire; she was dressed casually in a white T-shirt and light-colored jeans, with her hair tied in a loose ponytail.
Song Yaxing was a little stunned, because Su Qianqian usually wore a mature suit and was serious and composed.
It's easy to forget that Su Qianqian has just graduated from university and is in the prime of her youth, with a face full of collagen. Dressed like this, she doesn't look like an aloof CEO at all; she's clearly a girl next door.
Song Yaxing graduated three years earlier than Su Qianqian and is four years older than Su Qianqian. Su Qianqian's outfit made her look much younger, which eased Song Yaxing's initial nervousness.
"Ya Xing, how come you're here before me? Didn't I tell you you didn't need to come early?" Su Qianqian greeted Song Ya Xing.
Song Yaxing was a little shy and didn't know how to reply, so she helped Su Qianqian open the door, and the two of them went into the restaurant together.
This restaurant only accepts reservations, and all dishes must be ordered in advance.
Song Yaxing sat properly opposite Su Qianqian, looking a little reserved. Su Qianqian smiled and said, "Yaxing, you don't need to be so nervous. I invited you to dinner not to talk about work, but simply to make friends with you. Your reserve makes me wonder if you dislike me."
"No, no, how could I possibly dislike President Su?" Song Yaxing quickly looked up, waved her hands, and immediately explained.
She comes from a family with no special background, and she rose to fame as an internet celebrity, making her less influential than other stars and artists.
Although she has gained some fame and is receiving better treatment than before, she knows that other celebrities are unwilling to get too close to her, secretly envying her good fortune and looking down on her.
Therefore, she was self-aware enough not to associate with those people. Su Qianqian was an exception, though. She was clearly the president of a company, yet she condescended to become friends with her.
"I... I'm just a little surprised. I don't know why President Su would take a liking to me. After all, I..." Song Yaxing saw that Su Qianqian's gaze was open and honest, without the contempt and disdain in other people's eyes, and she lowered her head with some self-consciousness.
Su Qianqian chuckled, propped her elbow on the table, rested her chin on her hand, and tilted her head to look at Song Yaxing. "I've seen your stage performances. It's strange, but when you sing, you're so confident, radiant, and your eyes are so bright. Yet, in private, you're so humble and down-to-earth."
Hearing Su Qianqian's praise, Song Yaxing felt a little shy. "Actually, I'm just lucky. There are many people who sing better than me."
"You don't need to belittle yourself. I think you're very talented. Although you keep calling me President Su, I really don't deserve that title. Our company has only been established for a few months. Although I'm rich and spend lavishly, making a big splash, I know that many people in the industry think I'm just a rich second-generation who throws money around on a whim. They're all waiting for me to lose everything and laugh at me. But after getting to know you, I found that you're very sincere. You truly love songs and don't seek fame or fortune. I think we get along very well."
Song Yaxing was so flattered by Su Qianqian's praise that she could hardly lift her head, and her face slowly turned red. "President Su, please stop. I'm not that good. I don't have a company contract. I run my own business. If it weren't for the support of my fans, I wouldn't be where I am today. If I didn't make money, I would have starved to death in this industry long ago. Who can be so clean and say that they don't care about fame or money at all?"
Su Qianqian raised an eyebrow, surprised that Song Yaxing was so naive. It seemed that she would need more patience to entice her into her company.
“A gentleman loves money, but he earns it in a proper way.” Su Qianqian shrugged. “I don’t think making money is shameful. As long as you feel that you are in the right with your conscience, there’s nothing wrong with it. There’s no need to feel ashamed. The five artists in our company are all young kids. Their singing and dancing are just so-so. Once I went to see them perform, and one of them, whose singing was so bad, had already gone to the outer ring.”
Hearing Su Qianqian's talkativeness, Song Yaxing gradually relaxed and laughed along with her. "President Su, don't worry, tone of voice can be mastered later. Of course, if President Su doesn't mind, I can also give some advice to the artists in your company."
Su Qianqian's eyes immediately lit up. "How could we possibly mind? You're their senior, and they respectfully call you Teacher Song. Don't call me President Su, it's too formal. I'm younger than you, so just call me Qianqian."
Song Yaxing was somewhat flattered. Looking at Su Qianqian's sincere and radiant face, she felt a little embarrassed and stammered, "Qian..."
Just as Song Yaxing uttered those two words, a waiter suddenly pushed a small cart, placed two dishes on the table, and interrupted Song Yaxing.
However, Su Qianqian frowned. Although the dishes were covered by the delicate pot, she could still smell the aroma. She didn't think she had ordered these two dishes.
The waiter, being from a large restaurant, possessed exceptional composure and calmly opened two dishes. "Hello, sir. These two dishes were a gift from the ladies at the table to your right. They are celery stir-fried with cilantro, chives stir-fried with spinach, and romaine lettuce stir-fried with lettuce. They will be served to you shortly."
High-end Western restaurants use very little oil; it's as if the oil is just briefly placed in the pan and then taken out untouched. In short, the table is now covered in green oil.
Su Qianqian looked suspiciously in the direction the waiter had indicated, and saw those phoenix eyes staring at her with a gloomy expression.
Jiang Cuo's face was so gloomy it seemed to drip ink; if one were to write calligraphy, one could simply place a plate under her face, dip it in ink, and write.
Song Yaxing was stunned. "President Su, what?"
Su Qianqian gritted her teeth, why is Jiang Cuo's ghost still haunting her?
At this moment, the waiter left and then returned, saying, "Hello, guests, it's still the same lady who brought you the lettuce juice and celery juice."
Su Qianqian looked at the table covered in greenery and felt so angry she wanted to laugh.
Jiang Cuo still doesn't realize his own limitations.
Su Qianqian smiled and said to the waiter, "Could you please thank the lady who delivered the food for me, and I also hope that the kitchen can cook a few dishes for me?"
The waiter looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry, ma'am, all the dishes in our kitchen are prepared in advance by the chef and need to be ordered in advance. We cannot accept specific products."
Su Qianqian pulled the black card out of her pocket and placed it on the table, glaring at the waiter. "Is this alright now?"
The waiter immediately replied, "That's fine, ma'am. What would you like? You can write it down on this piece of paper."
Amid Song Yaxing's confusion, Su Qianqian wrote a long passage with a flourish of her pen.
“You can swipe the card anywhere without a PIN. As long as I write it down, I can do it.” Su Qianqian held the slip of paper between her index finger and thumb and placed it in front of the waiter.
"Okay, sir, please wait a moment. The dishes you originally ordered will be delivered shortly, and we will remove them from your order at that time."
Song Yaxing also craned her neck and, through Su Qianqian, saw the lady who had delivered the dishes that the waiter had mentioned.
Song Yaxing was startled. This was not Jiang Cuo, the newly returned elite and president of Buwangyi Entertainment.
Song Yaxing opened her mouth, "President Su, you and President Jiang..."
Su Qianqian raised her face again, her expression immediately changing. She put on a smile, completely different from her previous demeanor. "I have nothing to do with her. Maybe she gave it to the wrong person. After all, we might cooperate in the future, and I can't let President Jiang suffer a loss, so I kindly returned it to her."
Song Yaxing didn't dare to ask any further questions.
Su Qianqian's purpose in coming today was not only to build a good relationship with Song Yaxing, but also to hope that Song Yaxing, as the vocal coach of the seven-member idol group, could be stricter and more sincere in teaching the company's artists.
Jiang Cuo almost ruined the situation, so Su Qianqian immediately changed the subject and started talking to Song Yaxing about the artists in their company.
Jiang Cuo sat in his seat and watched Su Qianqian and Song Yaxing chatting and laughing. He almost felt a pang of jealousy.
She arrived at the restaurant half an hour early and sat down to wait, afraid that Su Qianqian would arrive and she wouldn't be there, leaving Su Qianqian disappointed.
But to her surprise, after waiting for a full 25 minutes, she saw Su Qianqian smiling and entering the restaurant with others.
Moreover, from the moment Su Qianqian entered the restaurant, it was as if he didn't see her at all; his gaze was fixed on the so-called singer, Song Yaxing.
She started fidgeting and coughing and tapping the table as soon as Su Qianqian came in, but Su Qianqian didn't hear a thing.
Song Yaxing is so likable, she can't stop smiling.
Finally, Jiang Cuo ordered a few specific dishes, intending to give Su Qianqian some pointers. Unexpectedly, Su Qianqian responded indifferently, glancing at her before immediately looking away, as if even looking at her again would be a waste of time.
Jiang Cuo was now extremely curious about what Su Qianqian had written on the note she asked the waiter for, and what she had handed him her bank card.
Could it be that, like her, she also asked the waiter to have the kitchen prepare a few extra dishes, intending to give them to her?
Jiang Cuo had already imagined several dramatic scenarios in her mind, and finally concluded that Su Qianqian must have specially ordered the dishes for her, even if it was just to make her quiet down, but didn't this also prove that Su Qianqian still cared about her?
Jiang Cuo was indeed a bit too honest, but the waiting time was too long, and she didn't have Su Qianqian's contact information.
It's been almost two months, and Su Qianqian still hasn't given in. Jiang Cuo has tried to get her to agree several times, but to no avail.
Jiang Cuo was extremely anxious, so he had no choice but to take out his phone and send a message to Wang Sisi.
Wang Sisi told her what liking someone meant at noon.
When Wang Sisi said that she received a friend request on her phone, the first person she thought of was Su Qianqian.
So, does her ordering food for Su Qianqian mean she likes Su Qianqian?
Wang Sisi: [President Jiang, it has nothing to do with you whether President Su of Weicuo Entertainment meets with Song Yaxing. Regardless of who President Su meets with—Song Yaxing, Wang Yaxing, Zhao Yaxing, or Li Yaxing—you have no right to interfere. You have no relationship with President Su and cannot restrict her personal freedom. Also, a friendly reminder, President Jiang, the show starts recording on Monday. Please don't let the media take pictures. Since you don't let me be by your side, I won't be able to handle things immediately if something happens. Be careful that the media doesn't dig too deep into your background; that would be detrimental to us.]
Jiang Cuo turned off her phone with a cold expression.
Of course she knew what Wang Sisi was saying; she had never forgotten what she needed to do.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have chosen to go abroad so resolutely back then, and she even stopped Su Qianqian because she was afraid that Su Qianqian would disagree.
She was also afraid that she might change her mind if she softened her heart, so she didn't reveal a single word and left without telling anyone.
She certainly wouldn't do something so foolish as to shoot herself in the foot.
Jiang Cuo stared intently at Su Qianqian's profile. Seeing Su Qianqian's radiant smile, as if she had a great fondness for Song Yaxing opposite her, Jiang Cuo felt a hundred claws scratching at her heart. It was as if someone was deliberately pricking her heart with fine needles, making her feel extremely uncomfortable and even restless.
Su Qianqian was dressed casually today, completely without her usual airs, and without the coldness and aloofness she usually showed towards her.
Su Qianqian actually showed her most innocent and adorable side to another woman.
Jiang Cuo felt his tooth roots were uncomfortable and unbearably itchy.
Wang Sisi's silver tongue used to be so sweet; she loved hearing everything she said. But today, not a single word came out that she wanted to hear.
Wang Sisi: [President Jiang, please don't pretend you didn't see this. Please be rational and think carefully before you act.]
Jiang Cuo simply flipped the phone face down.
At this moment, the waiter pushed a small food cart towards Jiang Cuo. Jiang Cuo immediately perked up and looked expectantly at the dishes on the small table.
However, Jiang Cuo's gaze was entirely focused on the dishes covered by the exquisite iron basin, and he did not notice the awkward expression on the waiter's face.
The waiter cleared his throat, maintaining his service attitude, "Hello, ma'am, this is the special dish that the lady just ordered for you."
The first dish was a pickled fish dish made with black carp carefully selected by our chef and using exquisite knife skills developed over 18 years. The lady also gave her a note saying that after eating this dish, she would definitely not find it too sour, too bland, or too superfluous.
The second dish was braised chicken made with free-range chickens that had roamed the countryside for two and a half years and pure natural potatoes that had grown for six months in pollution-free, pesticide-free soil. The lady offered you a piece of advice: "May you not be yellow, stuffy, and garbage."
Jiang Cuo: "..."
Jiang Cuo's mind went blank, and he froze.
The waiter continued working solely on his five years of experience.
Jiang Cuo asked through gritted teeth, "Is there anything else?"
The waiter, trying to remain calm, brought out two more plates of dumplings from under the food cart.
Jiang Cuo's mood had just improved a little.
The waiter continued, "These dumplings are made with dough made from carefully selected high-quality wheat flour. The important thing is that the lady thoughtfully provided you with six kinds of vinegar: aged vinegar, white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, grapefruit vinegar, rice vinegar, and plum vinegar."
Jiang Cuo's expression had cracked.
After putting on sterile gloves, the waiter took out a fresh lemon, cut it in half with a knife in front of Jiang Cuo, and began to squeeze the lemon juice.