Her tone was calm, so calm it was almost cold.
They were clearly extending an olive branch, yet they seemed completely indifferent, stating the crux of the matter bluntly and objectively. Their meaning was clear: if you're going to come, you'd better think things through carefully, or you'll hesitate, act coy, and cause a bunch of trouble later.
Zhao Xiyin thought for a moment and asked, "Teacher Su, have I put you in a difficult position?"
“It’s not difficult. You’re welcome if you come, and I understand if you don’t.” Su Ying’s attitude remained consistent, proud and self-assured, detached from worldly affairs, sitting silently under the tree. After a while, she added, “I know Teacher Dai is preparing for a movie, but never mind, I didn’t have high hopes anyway, so pretend I didn’t say anything.”
Zhao Xiyin smiled and said, "Teacher Su, you look just like my aunt."
Su Ying's eyes flickered slightly, then turned even colder. "How old is your aunt?"
"Fifty-two years old."
Su Ying's face turned green with anger. She turned to her assistant and ordered, "Don't order lunch for her. Make her watch us eat!"
Zhao Xiyin regretted biting her tongue and said pitifully and aggrievedly, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean you, sir."
Su Ying pretended to be stern, turned around, but a tiny smile appeared on her lips.
After watching two rehearsals, Zhao Xiyin didn't head back to the city from the arts center until after 4 PM. Her pearl-white Audi TT sports car was quite eye-catching on the road. The red light at the intersection ahead was taking a while, so the driver in her black Mercedes put it in park.
The weather in Beijing is nice today, with bright sunshine and the sky still bright even as evening approaches.
Zhuang Qiu had just finished a phone call, and his phone was still hot in his hand. He slid down half of the car window to let in some fresh air, and when he looked out, his eyes froze. Inside the Audi, Zhao Xiyin was looking down, perhaps replying to a text message. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, and her profile was pleasing to the eye.
Zhuang Qiu watched with great interest, legs crossed, hands folded, his gaze direct and undisguised. Zhao Xiyin noticed and subconsciously looked over, then paused, surprised to see it was Zhuang Qiu.
Zhuang Qiu rolled down the car window completely and waved to her with a smile.
Zhao Xiyin nodded slightly, then closed the car window expressionlessly.
The light turned green, and the sports car sped off.
"Wow~" Zhuang Qiu exclaimed in admiration, then picked up his phone again. After answering the call, he spoke with a honeyed tongue and a barbed tongue, "Teacher Dai, I just came from Shangwan. Guess who I met?"
Dai Yunxin was naturally familiar with this place name; Su Ying's art center was located there. Her tone was slightly displeased, "President Zhuang, who did you see?"
"Little Zhao," Zhuang Qiu said with a smile.
Dai Yunxin couldn't help but make the connection. After a few seconds of silence, she abruptly hung up the phone.
Zhuang Qiu muttered to himself, "Why are you putting on airs with me?"
His secretary, sitting in the passenger seat, turned around and asked, "Don't get angry. Teacher Dai is still begging you to invest in her movie. Show her a little attitude later."
Zhuang Qiu scoffed, "No rush, I still have a use for her."
——
Zhao Xiyin called Zhou Qishen on the way. He answered quickly, with a soft "Hmm?"
Where are you?
"The company," Zhou Qishen replied, then said to the person next to him, "Send the project proposal to Asia Pacific tomorrow and have Chief Engineer Lin conduct technical discussions with them."
Zhao Xiyin immediately lowered her voice, "Are you in a meeting? Then I'll hang up."
"It's nothing," Zhou Qishen asked, "Are you done with your work?"
"yes."
"Then come over here and wait for me to go home together."
Upon hearing the word "home," Zhao Xiyin unconsciously smiled. Looking ahead, even the red lights that had been blocking her path seemed exceptionally endearing.
Upon arriving at Jingmao, Zhao Xiyin took the elevator to a high floor and then quietly pushed open the door to his office.
Zhou Qishen sat behind a large mahogany table, with four or five people sitting opposite him. Secretary Xu sat behind Zhou Qishen taking meeting notes. Zhao Xiyin moved very quietly, minimizing her presence. Zhou Qishen raised his chin slightly at her from a distance.
Zhao Xiyin gave an "OK" sign in tacit agreement, and then sat down in the reception area five or six meters away.
The office was spacious and bright. Zhou Qishen paid special attention to his personal belongings; even the brand of this reception sofa alone cost over 200,000 yuan. Zhao Xiyin sat properly, occasionally glancing over there.
Zhou Qishen took off his coat, revealing a thin, dark gray cashmere sweater clinging to his body. Most of the time, he listened more and spoke less, but his expression was extremely focused, and he habitually looked the speaker in the eye. There was a cigarette case on the table, but since Zhao Xiyin came in, Zhou Qishen had consciously put it away in the drawer.
The boss stopped smoking, and everyone else followed suit and put out their cigarettes.
Zhao Xiyin played on her phone for a while. She had spent the whole day at the art center and had been exhausted by this man last night. As soon as she had some free time, she felt tired and slowly fell asleep with her head tilted to the side.
"The latest model can only be produced by us, and the maximum vertical lifting height is..." The technical supervisor was reporting when Zhou Qishen suddenly raised his hand, signaling a pause.
He stood up, picked up his suit jacket draped over the back of the chair, and walked over to Zhao Xiyin in front of everyone.
Zhou Qishen bent down and gently draped his suit jacket over her.
Zhao Xiyin closed her eyes and unconsciously moved her body. He immediately patted her gently until she was settled, then returned to his desk and gestured to the technical supervisor, "Continue."
When Zhao Xiyin woke up around six o'clock, everyone else had already left.
Zhou Qishen sat opposite her, legs crossed, arms crossed, eyes closed, resting.
Hearing the noise, he opened his eyes. "Awake?"
Zhao Xiyin rubbed her eyes, "So sleepy." Then she reached out her hand, "Zhou-ge'er, give me a hug."
Zhou Qishen smiled, stood up, and walked over. He had barely stopped in front of her when Zhao Xiyin wrapped her arms around his waist. Her face was pressed against his stomach, her nose itchy, and she kept rubbing against him. Zhou Qishen clicked his tongue, "Don't cause trouble."
Zhao Xiyin gently pinched his waist, "Zhou-ge'er, you smell so good."