Returning - Chapter 34
Chapter 34: The Engagement
"Ahhh, I've finally been officially converted!" Watching the notification in the system, Xia Nan was so excited she practically danced at her workstation. "Sister Zhao Yu, thank you so much! I absolutely adore you."
Zhao Yu couldn't help but laugh. "Conversion is just standard procedure, I didn't really do anything to help. Why thank me?"
"For all the guidance you usually give me! Anyway, I owe you thanks. How about I treat you to dinner after work tonight?"
Zhao Yu shook her head regretfully. "I have plans tonight."
"Oh, I get it." Xia Nan immediately gave her a meaningful look. "A date with President Xue, right?"
The situation between her and Xue Zi'ang could be hidden from the rest of the company, but it was impossible to conceal from Xia Nan, who worked with them every day. However, Xia Nan understood boundaries and would not go spreading it around.
That said, Zhao Yu's plans weren't with Xue Zi'ang, but with Shi Yu and her son. There was also the possibility of seeing Ji Sui.
Today was Shang Lu and Miss Zheng's engagement ceremony. Xue Zi'ang still had to attend. He had mentioned bringing Zhao Yu along, but she had refused.
The reason she'd dared to attend Shang Lu's stepmother's birthday ball last time was because it was merely a private event within the circle. As long as she didn't run into Zhuang Yiqing there, her risk of exposure was practically nonexistent.
However, this engagement party involved several major business collaborations behind the scenes. Many media outlets would be present, broadcasting widely. Even if Zhuang Yiqing didn't show up, Zhao Yu was very likely to be caught on camera.
Besides, she was utterly uncertain whether Zhuang Yiqing would attend tonight. If they happened to run straight into each other, all her previous efforts would be completely wasted.
There was a physical document requiring Xue Zhan's personal signature, so Zhao Yu headed to the top floor. Just as she reached the secretarial office, she saw Wang Qi frantically gesturing at her with her eyes.
Zhao Yu walked over to Wang Qi's station and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"
Wang Qi jutted her chin toward Xue Zhan's office. "Someone's inside. The boss is handling personal matters. Wait a moment."
Zhao Yu guessed instantly. "Another potential match?"
"Exactly. Dressed to the nines, utterly ostentatious. Said she's accompanying the boss to some engagement ceremony tonight."
At this point, Wang Qi couldn't help snickering. "You came up too late, missed the boss's live display of venom."
Zhao Yu grew curious. "How was he venomous?"
Wang Qi leaned close to her ear and whispered with a laugh, "The boss said that young lady was wearing several villas worth of clothing, and if she went to the venue, she'd collapse the hotel. He also said the young lady's necklace was far too dazzling, worried it might reflect the camera flashes so badly the media wouldn't be able to live stream."
Hearing this, Zhao Yu couldn't help letting out a low chuckle as well. She hadn't known Xue Zhan possessed this side to him.
"So, judging by this, tonight's young lady doesn't have the same status as last time's Miss Yu, right?"
After all, the previous one was someone Xue Zhan hadn't dared offend casually, while this one was being given absolutely no face at all.
Wang Qi nodded. "Not even close. Last time's was a true heiress from an established family, just had a rotten temper and could only look down on people through her nostrils. This one? A textbook nouveau riche, and completely tactless on top of it. Dressing that ostentatiously for someone else's engagement party, practically afraid she might not upstage the female lead."
While the two were talking softly, the office door was suddenly yanked open. A woman dressed in a luxurious gown, holding up her skirt and tapping in high heels, stormed out furiously. Upon seeing the secretaries outside, she even shot them a vicious glare.
Wang Qi pursed her lips, dialed for instructions and finished asking before telling Zhao Yu, "Hurry in. The boss needs to leave work soon to attend the engagement ceremony today."
The office door was open. Zhao Yu knocked on the door frame and only entered after hearing Xue Zhan's permission. From a distance, she immediately spotted tea stains and water marks all over the floor, though the cup itself still rested steadily on the desk, unbroken.
It was only when she reached the desk that she discovered—tea leaves were actually clinging to Xue Zhan's head, and the hair on his forehead was slightly damp. Looking more closely, his white shirt, from chest to abdomen, was also soaked.
Clearly, he had been splashed with tea directly in the face by that young lady just now.
Picturing that scene in her mind, Zhao Yu couldn't help sighing inwardly. That young lady was surprisingly bold. Besides her, presumably no one else would dare treat Xue Zhan like this.
Xue Zhan, however, showed no sign of embarrassment whatsoever. He still sat there as composed as ever. Before Zhao Yu could even speak, he took the document first, glanced over it casually, and picked up his pen to write his review comments.
Looking at the tea leaf on his head, Zhao Yu hesitated for a moment, then discreetly reached out a hand to quietly remove it.
But Xue Zhan noticed anyway.
Like a fierce beast suddenly attacked, he abruptly raised his head to look at her. His gaze was so sharp, she involuntarily stepped back, not daring to say a single word.
Then, he spotted the tea leaf between her fingers.
Zhao Yu saw him stare blankly for a good two seconds before immediately lowering his head to continue writing, quickly signing his name.
She spoke her thanks, retrieved the document, and prepared to leave. A low, deep voice came from Xue Zhan behind her: "Don't tell anyone."
He paused, then added: "Especially Xue Zi'ang."
Now Zhao Yu understood. Not only did Vice Chairman Xue dread matchmaking, he dreaded losing face.
Perhaps this had already been the most wretched moment of his life. If Xue Zi'ang found out, there was no telling how long he would laugh about it.
Still, who told him to be so venomous toward her?
Those two words—"serves you"—Zhao Yu naturally didn't dare voice aloud. She could only reply respectfully, "Yes, Director Xue."
After work, Zhao Yu went straight to the meeting place she'd arranged with Shi Yu. Unfortunately, her hopes proved vain. Ji Sui did not join her and Qu Sixiao for dinner.
Shi Yu said he had gone to attend someone's engagement ceremony. Zhao Yu could then be certain—he had accompanied Zhuang Yiqing.
Because Xu Chengyan was on a business trip and not in Donghai, and Ji Sui, nominally Zhuang Yiqing's younger brother figure, could accompany her in public settings without damaging Xu Chengyan's pride.
The two finished dinner and played with Qu Sixiao for quite a while. Sometime past nine, on her way home, Zhao Yu received a call from Xue Zi'ang. He wanted her to pick him up. It was immediately obvious from the sound of his voice that he'd drunk quite a lot.
Zhao Yu drove to the hotel's underground parking garage and notified Xue Zi'ang to come down himself.
A few minutes later, she received a call from an unfamiliar number.
"Hello."
"It's me."
Shang Lu's voice.
She was a bit surprised. "Is something the matter?"
"I'm engaged."
Like Xue Zi'ang, his voice was also somewhat hoarse, probably due to drinking too much. But Xue Zi'ang used alcohol to throw tantrums, whereas Shang Lu just sounded utterly exhausted and weary.
Zhao Yu fell silent for a moment, then said calmly, "I know."
There was no sound on the other end again.
Neither of them hung up, yet neither of them spoke either. They simply remained in mutual silence.
The car door was suddenly yanked open. Xue Zi'ang, reeking of alcohol, dropped heavily into the passenger seat. Zhao Yu, whose thoughts had drifted away, jumped in shock, instinctively trying to hide her phone against the seat.
Thankfully, Xue Zi'ang wasn't very clear-headed right now and didn't notice her odd behavior. He merely leaned his entire body over her, kissing her while frantically tugging at her clothes.
"Xue Zi'ang… mmph…" Zhao Yu could sense it; his mood was off, seemingly tinged with fury.
After chewing and sucking at her lips like a wild beast until they were both nearly out of breath, Xue Zi'ang slowly pulled back.
Looking at his reddened eyes, Zhao Yu asked, "What's wrong with you?"
"I want you. Right now." His breathing came in ragged gasps. "Come over."
As soon as Zhao Yu crossed into the passenger seat, he pulled her straight onto his lap, her back facing him, and continued urgently undoing her clothes.
She didn't struggle, letting him kiss the back of her neck, caress her breasts and the core between her legs.
When his burning desire entered her body, she trembled all over and moaned, throwing her head back.
Her sight passed through the windshield and landed on a shadowy spot not far away. Only then did she discover, standing there was a man.
It was Shang Lu.
She turned her head to glance at the phone on the seat. Only then did she realize the call had just been hung up at this very moment.
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