Princess Syndrome - Chapter 5
Chapter 5: The Past
Su Lingyue returned with the wine. Zhou Yan was no longer there, but she heard someone whisper, “How shameless of Zhou Yan, asking Ji Zhiyi to give him face.”
“Su Lingyue offended Ji Zhiyi so badly. Did he really think that he could make up for it with just one meal?”
“Serves him right, he really thinks he’s something!”
“He still thinks that Chairman Su is around, and everyone has to give him face.”
The disjointed chatter seeped into Su Lingyue’s ears. She calmly walked to Ji Zhiyi and handed her the wine. Ji Zhiyi didn’t take it, just looked at her. Su Lingyue understood, and she held the glass as she walked behind her.
There were many people who came to offer a toast. Su Lingyue blocked the drinks, downing one glass after another. She used to enjoy going to bars with friends, so she didn't have any problem with alcohol. However, she did have to go to the bathroom twice.
As she was leaving the bathroom, she received a call from Chu Yi.
Chu Yi had just gotten off work. Having not heard from Su Lingyue, she was a bit worried. As soon as she got home, she called Su Lingyue. Su Lingyue stood by the window. Behind her was a hallway. Beyond the hallway was the reception. The sounds of high heels on the floor were incessant. She massaged her temple, hearing Chu Yi ask, “Where are you? It’s so noisy?”
Su Lingyue said, “I’m at a reception.”
Chu Yi was surprised. “A reception? Which one?” Then she realized. “The Lin Group’s summer launch?”
Su Lingyue said, “Yeah.”
Her tone was indifferent.
Chu Yi asked, “How did you end up there?”
Su Lingyue said, “I came with President Ji.”
Chu Yi understood. “She didn’t make things difficult for you, right?”
Su Lingyue thought for a moment. Ji Zhiyi hadn’t really made things difficult for her. Everything she had done so far had been within the scope of an assistant’s duties. Chu Yi whispered, “What is she trying to do?”
Su Lingyue said, “I don’t know.”
Hearing the dejection in her tone, Chu Yi tried to console her. “If she keeps this up and doesn't target you—" Although it was unlikely. To promote and transfer your old enemy to a new job and not do anything? Was Ji Zhiyi a great philanthropist? But.
Chu Yi said, “It’s better than you resigning now.”
Who didn’t know that Zhou Yan was waiting like a tiger, ready to pounce?
Su Lingyue softly said, “Yeah.”
Hearing the softness in her voice, Chu Yi asked, “When will it end?”
Su Lingyue said, “I don’t know.”
“Why did Ji Zhiyi go to the launch?” Chu Yi exclaimed, “Oh, I remember, she must be going to see Yang Zhizhi.”
Su Lingyue’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. “Who?”
“Yang Zhizhi.” Chu Yi said, “You don’t know how popular she is now. She just won the Golden Magnolia award last month, and now many companies are looking for her to be their spokesperson. I heard that Ji Zhiyi's company also approached her. Don’t tell me you don’t remember her?"
Su Lingyue said, “I remember.”
She had gone to see Yang Zhizhi’s first movie premiere. The plot was a mess, and her acting was poor. She had fallen asleep before finishing it. When she woke up, her friend had asked, “How was it?”
Without hesitation, she had said, “What a terrible movie.”
Then she glanced to the right and saw Yang Zhizhi sitting there with a stiff expression.
It had been several years ago. Later, after Yang Zhizhi had become famous, she had refused any endorsement deals with the Su Group.
Ji Zhiyi wanted to collaborate with Yang Zhizhi?
Su Lingyue held her phone tightly. “Are you sure?”
“The news is out,” Chu Yi said. “But it’s still unusual for President Ji to personally negotiate a collaboration, right?”
Who knew?
She couldn’t guess Ji Zhiyi's intentions at all.
Su Lingyue said, “I have to go back to the venue.”
Chu Yi urged her to be careful, as if she were going to confront a powerful demon. Su Lingyue remained silent, then hung up the phone and returned to the venue.
Looking more closely, Ji Zhiyi was sitting on the sofa in the middle, with a woman in a light blue evening dress sitting next to her. With long, brown curls and large silver earrings, Su Lingyue recognized her when she turned to speak.
Yang Zhizhi.
Thinking about what Chu Yi had just said, Su Lingyue picked up her bag and walked over.
Yang Zhizhi looked up at Su Lingyue. She had known about Su Lingyue before she had entered the entertainment industry. Though not in the industry, her face had made the search engines a few times. She was called "a beautiful face, a brainless beauty,” and that she was a “human doll.” But her fame was fleeting. Since she was not someone in the industry, attention for her was far less than for celebrities. She remembered Su Lingyue because of that premiere. Su Lingyue had said it was a terrible movie. Some marketing account must have overheard it, and then it had spread like wildfire, with headlines like: #Su Lingyue says it’s terrible, how bad is it# and #Su Lingyue predicts it: a terrible movie#. Later, the movie bombed without a trace, and the words “terrible movie” haunted her and made it hard for her to breathe for a time.
She knew Su Lingyue, as a member of the audience, had the right to have an opinion.
But she also had the right to dislike someone.
She disliked Su Lingyue.
Su Lingyue walked closer, stopping beside Ji Zhiyi. Yang Zhizhi raised an eyebrow. “President Ji, this is…?”
“My assistant.” Ji Zhiyi tilted her head. “Say hello to Miss Yang.”
Su Lingyue’s expression was calm. “Miss Yang.”
Yang Zhizhi looked at her.
This was new information. Of course she had known that Chairman Su had died in a car accident, but she hadn’t known that Su Lingyue had become Ji Zhiyi’s assistant. Thinking about how arrogant and unyielding she had been, Yang Zhizhi said, “President Ji has quite a knack for finding talent.”
It was obvious that this was naked sarcasm. Su Lingyue didn’t budge, remaining silent.
Yang Zhizhi said, “I’ve heard that Miss Su can drink a lot. I wonder if I can witness it today?”
She looked at Su Lingyue.
Su Lingyue looked at Ji Zhiyi.
The atmosphere here was unlike anywhere else in the venue. Eyes from all directions were drawn to them. Ji Zhiyi sat there impassively, lifting her eyelids to look at Su Lingyue. Su Lingyue was very perceptive, and she said to Yang Zhizhi, “Of course. My mission today is to make sure Miss Yang is well taken care of.”
Yang Zhizhi looked at her smiling face.
She had only known her to be arrogant and bossy, but hadn’t known she could be so flexible.
She wanted to see how long Su Lingyue could keep smiling.
Yang Zhizhi raised her hand. An assistant stepped forward. She whispered something, and the assistant glanced at Su Lingyue and walked out. A moment later, the assistant returned with a tray holding twelve glasses of wine, vibrant in color and rich in aroma.
The reception was drawing to a close, and many people had already left. The remaining people were either sitting or standing, holding their glasses as they looked this way. They didn't dare to get closer, just observing the scene from afar.
Su Lingyue suddenly understood why Ji Zhiyi had brought her to the reception.
To use her as a way to vent Yang Zhizhi's anger.
After releasing her anger, they could start the negotiation.
She was the sign of sincerity.
A good plan.
Punishing her while also letting her business partner vent their anger. No wonder Ji Zhiyi’s business was so successful. Her brain was just that sharp.
Even though Su Lingyue had guessed her intentions, she didn’t reveal it. Standing was too obvious of a target. She sat next to Ji Zhiyi, which greatly reduced the pressure of the gazes upon her. After Yang Zhizhi had her assistant send over the wine, she raised her hand. "Please," she said to Su Lingyue.
The gazes around them were intense.
Su Lingyue picked up a glass, smelled it.
Qianzhizui (A thousand layers of drunkenness). A strong liquor. She toasted Yang Zhizhi and then tipped her head back, drinking the whole glass in one go. Unlike the mild wines served at the reception, the stimulating aroma exploded on her tongue. It was like swallowing a thousand needles. The burning sensation spread from her tongue to her stomach, twisting before surging back up. Her whole body felt like it was on fire, and her temperature skyrocketed. Su Lingyue bit her lip, and tears welled up in her eyes, bright and glistening. Her face flushed crimson, like a peach blossom covered with rouge, delicate and enchanting. After drinking one glass, Su Lingyue's consciousness became somewhat hazy, and she remembered the past, her movements becoming somewhat lazy.
She picked up the second glass, looking at Yang Zhizhi.
Her once clear, calm eyes were now filled with tears. Her gaze was languid, alluring, and a little reckless. But they contained no timidity.
As Su Lingyue toasted Yang Zhizhi, she smiled. Yang Zhizhi’s expression turned even darker.
She stood up abruptly as Su Lingyue drank the second glass.
Gritting her teeth, she said, “President Ji, another time.”
Ji Zhiyi gestured for her to do as she pleased. Yang Zhizhi left the venue in her stilettos. As Su Lingyue went to pick up the third glass, her wrist was grabbed. Ji Zhiyi took the glass from her hand. Su Lingyue turned her head. Ji Zhiyi’s features were close, clear and bright, but expressionless, always cold and distant. She curled her hand. Ji Zhiyi released her and said, “Let’s go.”
She got up, following Ji Zhiyi.
She watched her say goodbye to Lin Shu and the others, then leave the venue. A car had been waiting outside. Su Lingyue was obviously in no condition to drive. Ji Zhiyi said, “Get in.”
She thought for a moment, then opened the passenger door and got in. Then, Ji Zhiyi got in next to her.
Ji Zhiyi was going to drive?
That made sense. She hadn't drunk anything all evening. The driver hadn't come. She wasn't going to let a drunk like her drive, was she?
Su Lingyue suppressed her surprise and leaned back in her seat. Seeing that Ji Zhiyi wasn’t starting the car, she turned her head. Ji Zhiyi was looking at her. Although Su Lingyue wasn’t completely drunk, her mind wasn’t entirely clear. She tilted her head slightly. “President Ji?”
Ji Zhiyi’s tone was cold. “Seat belt.”
Oh—
She pulled the seatbelt, pulling too hard, the seatbelt got stuck. She frowned and pulled harder. The seatbelt didn't move. A hand reached over. The slender wrist wearing the watch, and something seemed to have been scented on the inside. A clear fragrance washed over her, mixed with the smell of alcohol. Su Lingyue’s eyelids felt heavy. She wanted to sleep. She leaned back. Ji Zhiyi pulled the seatbelt and buckled it, the clear sound snapping Su Lingyue awake for two seconds. She turned her head to look at Ji Zhiyi.
Ji Zhiyi’s profile was as beautiful as a painting, each stroke perfectly rendered. Her eyebrows had been penciled by her, her eyelashes had been curled by her, and her eyeshadow had been applied by her. Although her hands had touched every part of her face during makeup, it felt different now than when she had been doing her makeup. Was it because of Ji Zhiyi’s aura?
Was it so cold that it overshadowed this beautiful face?
What was Ji Zhiyi like back in school?
Why didn’t she have any impression of her?
Her memories were becoming more blurred.
Seeing that Su Lingyue was staring at her, Ji Zhiyi couldn’t help but ask, “What are you looking at?”
Su Lingyue’s drunkenness was evident. Her face was flushed, and she leaned slightly closer to Ji Zhiyi. "Why didn't I realize before that you're actually quite good-looking?"
She finished speaking, then looked at Ji Zhiyi intently, as if waiting for her answer.
Ji Zhiyi was stunned for a moment.
She locked eyes with Su Lingyue, her jaw tight. She gripped the steering wheel tightly with one hand, turning her body slightly to face Su Lingyue.
Why didn't I realize before that you're actually quite good-looking?
Because before.
You never looked at me.
Ohhhhh Ji Zhiyi is interesting
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