Chapter 76
The soft light in the studio spilled across the floor like a thin layer of gold dust, settling on everyone’s shoulders.
From the first hint of dawn to the slanting afternoon sun, the entire day’s shoot finally wrapped.
The moment the last take was called cut, the crew let out a collective sigh of relief. Scattered applause rose in the studio, mixed with the clatter of equipment being packed away; it was lively and exhausted.
Jiang Linyue stood at the center of the set and slowly let her posture relax. The moon-white practice uniform made her look crisp and upright; when she lowered her hands, her sleeves swayed lightly, like a stretch of green bamboo stirred by the wind.
She lowered her eyes to steady her breathing; a thin sheen of sweat beaded at her temple.
Just then, a hand was extended toward her.
Song Yao stood beside her with a thermos cup. The lid had already been unscrewed, and the water was at just the right temperature. “Senior, have some water.”
The girl’s voice was soft, carrying a careful, almost timid eagerness to please.
Jiang Linyue took the cup, lowered her head, and took a sip. The warm water slid down her throat, smooth and soothing, with the faint sweetness of honey.
She looked up at Song Yao, a small smile touching her eyes. “You added honey?”
Song Yao nodded; the tips of her ears quietly turned red. “I saw your voice was a little hoarse this morning, so…” She paused, her voice growing smaller and smaller. “So I added a little on my own. Do you not like it?”
“I like it.” Jiang Linyue curved her lips. “It’s very sweet.”
Song Yao’s face went even redder.
Zhang Qingchi had just finished a performance run and happened to come by to visit the set today.
Seeing this scene, she popped out from the side, hooked an arm around Song Yao’s shoulder, and lowered her voice by her ear. “Yao Yao, your feelings are way too obvious.”
She waggled her brows deliberately. “You’ve even prepared honey water; what’s next, making soup yourself?”
Song Yao was both embarrassed and anxious at being teased. She lifted a hand to cover Zhang Qingchi’s mouth. “Qingchi!”
Zhang Qingchi laughed and dodged away, then winked at Jiang Linyue. “Senior, our Yao Yao isn’t usually this considerate. You’re getting special treatment, one of a kind.”
At that, Jiang Linyue glanced at Song Yao. The girl, caught under her gaze, immediately looked flustered, clutching the hem of her clothes with her fingers, like a little rabbit whose thoughts had been laid bare.
Jiang Linyue gave a soft laugh and tucked the loose hair at her temple behind her ear. In a gentle voice, she said, “Is that so? Then I’m very lucky to have met such a thoughtful girl.”
Zhang Qingchi immediately started jeering and teasing, making Song Yao’s ears burn so red it looked as if they might drip.
Wen Yan walked over from the corner and happened to catch this scene, instantly a little surprised.
What was going on?
Why did it feel so strange?
She couldn’t quite make sense of it, so she went to Jiang Linyue’s side and said, “Senior, you worked hard today.”
Jiang Linyue looked up at her; her expression was warm when she heard that. “You too. You shot another full day today; are you still holding up?”
Wen Yan smiled. “It’s fine. I’m young.”
Jiang Linyue was amused by that. “That’s true. Compared to me, you are very young.”
While the two of them were talking, Zhang Qingchi waved at Wen Yan. “Little brother-in-law, you worked hard too. Don’t rush off after wrap; I’m treating everyone to dinner. Come along?”
Wen Yan was just about to decline when footsteps sounded at the broad, empty entrance to the gymnasium.
She turned and looked over, only to see Jin Zijin and Ye Jianlan walking in side by side.
Zhang Qingchi’s eyes lit up the moment she saw them. “Oh, my sister came too.”
“Sister, Jianlan-jie, good evening~”
Ye Jianlan and Jin Zijin walked over together and nodded. “Good evening.”
They came to a stop in front of Wen Yan and Jiang Linyue. Ye Jianlan’s gaze paused on Jiang Linyue for a moment, then turned and finally settled on Chi Chunxin, who was busy among the crowd. She called out, “Chunxin, done yet?”
“Done, done! I’ll be right there!”
Chi Chunxin greeted them and trotted over. “Okay, okay, I’m almost finished editing.”
Then she looked at Ye Jianlan. “Why are you here too?”
Ye Jianlan smiled, her gaze falling on Jin Zijin.
Jin Zijin had originally been speaking softly with Wen Yan, asking whether she was tired today. After feeling her friend’s gaze, she immediately explained, “Oh, I happened to be accompanying Grandma Ye to meet some people today. She heard I was coming over to find you, so she came along too.”
Chi Chunxin immediately dragged out the word. “Oh?”
“You came specially to see me? Then I’ve got a lot of face, Lao Ye.”
As she spoke, she nudged Ye Jianlan in the lower back, grinning wickedly. “What, you haven’t seen me for just a few days and already miss me that much?”
There was a pointed meaning in her words, but Ye Jianlan couldn’t be bothered to deal with her. Smiling, she said, “It’s rare for everyone to get together like this, so let’s have a meal together. Don’t refuse.”
She paused, then her eyes swept over Jiang Linyue as her smile deepened. “Senior Jiang, do me the honor and have dinner with us?”
Jiang Linyue couldn’t think of a reason to refuse, so she nodded. “Mm.”
Zhang Qingchi immediately said, “Perfect, since there are so many of us. I booked a private kitchen, so let’s go to the place I arranged.”
Since the little kid had planned everything so thoughtfully, no one really had a reason to refuse. With generous hospitality hard to turn down, the group followed Zhang Qingchi to the private kitchen she had booked.
——————
The private kitchen was tucked deep inside a side alley. Its storefront was unremarkable, but inside was a different world entirely.
Passing through a moon gate, the view suddenly opened up. Blue bricks and gray tiles, bamboo shadows swaying; several lanterns hung under the corridor eaves, casting a warm yellow glow into the dusk.
The private room itself was elegant and tranquil. The wooden table and chairs had been worn smooth by time, and an ink-wash landscape painting hung on the wall.
The atmosphere turned subtly strange once everyone sat down.
Zhang Qingchi plopped down in the seat beside the head position and waved Jiang Linyue over. “Senior, sit next to me!”
Jiang Linyue complied and took her seat.
Song Yao almost reflexively sat right next to her.
Ye Jianlan paused mid-step, her gaze moving over the two of them. Then, without a word, she sat on Jiang Linyue’s other side.
Zhang Qingchi called out to Wen Yan again. “Little brother-in-law, you guys sit over there!”
Chi Chunxin looked at the four of them crowded together and decisively pulled Jin Zijin and Wen Yan to the other side of Zhang Qingchi before sitting down.
As she settled in, Chi Chunxin even looked back with a bit of schadenfreude. “Oh, tonight we get to see Lao Ye make a fool of herself~”
Jin Zijin lifted her teacup and gave her a flat look. “Quit talking nonsense.”
Chi Chunxin pouted and shut up.
The dishes were served quickly, all bright in color and full of aroma.
Zhang Qingchi picked up serving chopsticks and put food into Jiang Linyue’s bowl, her eyes curved with a smile. “Senior, this private kitchen is run by my classmate. The food is amazing.”
As she kept serving food, she introduced the dishes one by one. “This is scallions-braised sea cucumber; it’s their signature dish. This one is drunken fish fillet, made with yellow croaker—super tender. And this one…”
Jiang Linyue looked at the pile of food gradually forming in her bowl and softly thanked her.
Zhang Qingchi turned and tapped Song Yao’s arm. “Yao Yao, what are you spacing out for? Hurry up and introduce the dishes to your senior. Haven’t you been here before?”
Only then did Song Yao come back to herself. She picked up the serving chopsticks and carefully placed dishes into Jiang Linyue’s bowl, softly reciting the details of each dish. “This drunken crab was marinated with their ten-year-aged Huadiao wine; the aroma of the wine is rich, but it isn’t overpowering. This stir-fried seasonal vegetable was freshly picked this morning from a farm on the outskirts…”
As she spoke, she noticed Jiang Linyue looking at her, and her voice broke off.
“What is it?” Jiang Linyue asked.
“Nothing, n-nothing.” Song Yao lowered her lashes; the tips of her ears quietly reddened.
At the side, Ye Jianlan suddenly smiled and said, “Little Song Yao is way too biased.”
She propped her chin in her hand, her gaze moving back and forth between Song Yao and Jiang Linyue. Her tone was full of teasing amusement. “You’ve got a new older sister and forgot your old older sister. You’re only introducing dishes to Senior Jiang; why don’t you introduce them to us too?”
Song Yao’s face instantly flushed bright red.
She lifted her head in a panic, instinctively looking toward Jin Zijin.
But Jin Zijin was lowering her head and whispering to Wen Yan, completely oblivious to this side.
“I’ve been to this private kitchen before.” Jin Zijin’s voice was very light, carrying a smile. “The chef is an interesting little kid.”
Wen Yan tilted her head curiously. “Little kid?”
“Mm, she could toss a wok when she was eight,” Jin Zijin said. “Her cooking is first-rate.”
Wen Yan’s eyes widened. “Toss a wok at eight? Is it family cooking passed down through generations?”
“Half and half, I suppose.”
“Then what’s the other half?” Wen Yan pressed.
Jin Zijin looked at her with a tenderness that was almost too much, the corners of her eyes curved, but she deliberately kept her guessing. “Come a few more times and you’ll know.”
Wen Yan blinked and muttered softly, a little aggrieved, “You’re doing that again.”
Jin Zijin laughed softly and gave her hand a gentle squeeze under the table.
Song Yao watched this scene, the light in her eyes dimming slightly for an instant.
She quickly looked away and stopped getting distracted. She stayed by Jiang Linyue’s side, carefully and wholeheartedly serving her; she handed over napkins, poured tea, and attended to everything diligently and meticulously, like a little squirrel guarding a treasure.
Jiang Linyue let her do as she pleased, occasionally glancing at her, her eyes full of unconcealed indulgence.
Ye Jianlan watched all of it, the corners of her mouth lifting in a knowing smile.
She lifted her teacup, took a slow sip, and suddenly asked, “Little Song Yao, when does your tour end?”
Song Yao froze for a moment, then answered, “It’ll end next week.”
“Perfect.” Ye Jianlan set down her teacup. “Then if you’re free, I’ll treat you to a meal to thank you for helping my friend with choreography last time.”
Song Yao quickly waved her hands. “No, no, it was just a small favor…”
“That won’t do.” Ye Jianlan cut her off, smiling. “I hate owing favors the most. Besides…” She paused, her gaze drifting almost casually over Jiang Linyue. “We can invite Senior Jiang along too. The more people, the livelier it’ll be.”
Jiang Linyue looked up at her.
Their eyes met; Ye Jianlan showed no sign of avoiding it, and the smile in her eyes only deepened.
Jiang Linyue said nothing, took her gaze back, and continued eating.
Song Yao looked left and right, feeling that something was off, but she couldn’t say what.
Halfway through the meal, Chi Chunxin slumped and complained, “After New Year’s Day, we still have to wait a month and a half for New Year’s Eve. That’s way too hard to endure.” She poked at the rice in her bowl, looking utterly listless. “Why is there an extra month this year!”
Jin Zijin looked up at her. “Your project is wrapping up?”
“Pretty much, once I finish what’s on my plate.” Chi Chunxin shrugged. “Now there’s only post-production left, nothing major.”
Jin Zijin then looked at Ye Jianlan. “And Lao Ye?”
Ye Jianlan lifted a brow, smiling. “I don’t have fixed holidays; if I want time off, I can have it.” She paused, then smiled more deeply and glanced toward Jiang Linyue. “Are you asking me out?”
Jin Zijin ignored her teasing and said matter-of-factly, “If you’ve got nothing to do, why not go skiing together?”
Then she turned to Jiang Linyue. “Senior, how’s your lab project coming along?”
“We’ve been in contact the whole time.” Jiang Linyue put down her chopsticks. “The lab location is basically settled; we should be able to start after the New Year.”
“In that case, let’s make time to get together,” Jin Zijin said. “No going abroad; let’s go to the Greater Khingan Range. What do you think?”
Chi Chunxin immediately raised her hand. “Me me me! I’m going!”
Zhang Qingchi joined in the fun as well. “Count me in!” She turned to Song Yao. “Yao Yao, your tour ends then, too. Come along?”
Song Yao hesitated slightly.
If this had been before, she would have used all her energy to stick close to Jin Zijin. But now she had already made up her mind to keep her distance. She pressed her lips together and was just about to decline…
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jiang Linyue.
She looked up at the person beside her, her eyes pitiful and careful, carrying a tiny glimmer of hope.
Jiang Linyue froze.
Looking at the expectant eyes of the girl beside her, like a small animal waiting to be fed, she couldn’t help but curve her lips. “Then I’ll go too.”
Song Yao’s eyes lit up at once.
She nodded hard, her voice carrying undisguised excitement. “I’m going too!”
Jiang Linyue looked at her, the smile in her eyes deepening.
Ye Jianlan took in the whole scene. She lifted her teacup, took a slow sip, and said nothing, only her gaze flickering faintly.
Chi Chunxin leaned close to Jin Zijin’s ear and said in a low voice, “Why do I feel like this meal was just a palace scheming drama?”
Jin Zijin gave her a sidelong glance. “Less talking, more eating.”
Chi Chunxin pouted and silently shoved a chopstickful of food into her mouth.
——————
Dinner ended, and everyone stepped out of the private kitchen.
The winter night wind swept over them with a clear chill, dispersing the warmth from inside. Red lanterns in the alley swayed softly in the darkness, stretching everyone’s shadows long and short.
Zhang Qingchi linked arms with Song Yao and looked at Jiang Linyue. “Senior, see us off, me and Yao Yao? We’re going the same way.”
Jiang Linyue nodded.
Song Yao followed her toward the parking spot, but after a few steps she turned back and waved at Jin Zijin. “See you later, Sister Zijin.”
Jin Zijin nodded. “See you.”
The three got into the car. The engine started; the taillights turned around the alley mouth and quickly vanished into the night.
Jin Zijin, Wen Yan, Ye Jianlan, and Chi Chunxin stood where they were.
Chi Chunxin bumped Ye Jianlan’s arm and raised her brows in a knowing look. “It’s over.”
Ye Jianlan lifted a brow. “What is?”
“You’re too old.” Chi Chunxin said solemnly. “Senior Jiang likes younger girls. Look at how she was with Song Yao—serving dishes, smiling like that; she’s already crossed you off the list!”
Ye Jianlan gave her a calm sidelong glance. “Not necessarily.”
She paused, then curled her lips into a smile. “Just wait and see.”
Wen Yan, standing nearby, heard everything clearly and turned to look at Ye Jianlan in surprise.
No way?
Ye Jianlan winked at her and waved. “I’m heading back. Bye-bye.” With that, she turned and left; her figure quickly melted into the night.
Wen Yan stood frozen for a moment before turning to Jin Zijin, her tone full of novelty. “Did I hear that right? Jianlan-jie likes my senior?”
She paused, her brows knitting slightly. “Since when? How come I had no idea at all?”
Chi Chunxin was even more shocked than she was. “It was that obvious; you really couldn’t tell?”
She tilted her head, full of confusion. “Your senior is already avoiding her like the plague, and you didn’t notice?”
Wen Yan laughed helplessly. “Let’s walk and talk.”
She took Jin Zijin’s hand and walked toward where the car was parked, explaining patiently as she went, “My senior has a cold personality. If she really dislikes someone, forget sitting together for a meal; she can’t even stay in the same space with them.”
She paused, remembering something. “Back in school, there was a guy who pursued her relentlessly and blocked the entrance to the lab every day. Senior got so annoyed she switched labs and didn’t say a single word to him for six whole months.”
“So?” Chi Chunxin asked.
“So…” Wen Yan curved her lips. “Jianlan-jie can sit so close to her and even eat beside her. That means my senior doesn’t hate her at all.”
Jin Zijin raised a brow. “Then, based on your understanding of your senior, does Jianlan have a chance?”
Wen Yan thought about it and answered honestly, “I don’t know.”
She looked toward the direction Jiang Linyue had left, her voice softening. “Senior has never dated. From school until now, she’s been completely focused on academics. I don’t know what kind of person she likes.”
“But…” She paused. “If Jianlan-jie is sincere, I think there’s still ten percent hope.”
“Ten percent?” Chi Chunxin’s eyes widened. “That little?”
Wen Yan smiled. “My senior values sincerity the most. As long as it’s genuine enough, there’s a chance.”
Chi Chunxin and Jin Zijin exchanged a glance, then both looked back at Wen Yan.
Chi Chunxin muttered under her breath, “Isn’t that just you?”
Wen Yan didn’t catch it. “What?”
“Nothing, nothing.” Chi Chunxin quickly waved a hand, grinning in a sly way. “I was praising you, Teacher Wen.”
Wen Yan gave her a suspicious look but didn’t press further.
The three of them soon reached the parking area. Just before getting into the car, Jin Zijin suddenly asked, “Who do you think Senior Jiang will choose?”
Wen Yan froze, then thought seriously for a moment. “I don’t know.”
She opened the car door and let Jin Zijin get in first; then she went around to the driver’s seat. As she started the car, she said softly, “Matters of the heart are not something outsiders can see through.”
In the back seat, Chi Chunxin made an “oh” sound at that. “Outsiders can’t see through it? Then what about you and Zijin?”
“True love at first sight, marriage first, love later?”
Wen Yan laughed helplessly, then answered with certainty, “Of course.”
“We were destined to marry.”
Chi Chunxin’s teeth hurt listening to that, and she couldn’t help but click her tongue.
——————
The next day was January 3.
According to the original plan, Jin Zijin accompanied Wen Yan to the family compound of Peking University to visit Dean Wang Fu and his wife.
Jin Zijin had prepared a pile of gifts in advance. Tonics, tea, fruit, and two excellent cashmere scarves—one dark gray, one camel-colored; everything was wrapped neatly and properly.
Wen Yan looked at the trunk stuffed full of things and couldn’t help laughing. “Are you moving house?”
“This is my first formal visit; I can’t be rude.” Jin Zijin straightened her coat collar, unusually a little tense. “What are Master and Madam’s personalities like? Do they prefer juniors to be respectful, or more likable?”
Seeing her like this, Wen Yan’s heart softened completely. “You don’t need to be nervous. Master and Madam are both very nice.”
“I know.” Jin Zijin took a deep breath. “But I’m still nervous.”
Wen Yan squeezed her hand. “You’ve got me.”
The car drove into the family compound and had just come to a stop when Mrs. Wang came out smiling to greet them.
She was wearing a dark red sweater, her hair neatly combed, her face alight with an unmistakable smile. She recognized the distinguished-looking Jin Zijin at a glance, took her by the hand, and looked her over from top to bottom; the more she looked, the more satisfied she became.
“You came, and you still brought so many gifts? What for?” she chided, though her eyes never left Jin Zijin’s face. “So this is your wife, then? She’s really lovely!”
Wen Yan smiled and nodded. “Yes, Madam. She’s my wife.” She paused, her voice softening. “Her surname is Jin, name Zijin. Zijin from ‘Green, green are the yo-yo vines, and my heart is full of longing.’”
Mrs. Wang quickly went to hold Jin Zijin’s hand and smiled as she patted it. “What a good name! Zijin, what a good name!”
Jin Zijin curved her lips and obediently said, “Hello, Madam.”
“Good, good, good!” Mrs. Wang smiled so widely it was hard to close her mouth. “Come in quickly; it’s cold outside!”
The two followed Mrs. Wang into the living room, where bursts of laughter could already be heard.
Mrs. Wang said with a smile, “What a coincidence; your Senior Song Yu and Senior Zhang Sheng are both here too, and they brought a friend as well. They said she’s the technical director from Hengxing Technology.”
Wen Yan responded with a nod.
When they entered the living room, they saw two men and a woman seated on the sofa, all gathered around Wang Fu in conversation.
She recognized both men.
One was Song Yu, second-in-command of the orthopedic materials lab at Peking University, wearing glasses and looking refined and scholarly. The other was Zhang Sheng, from the same department, who was speaking at that moment with evident enthusiasm.
And the woman…
Wen Yan paused slightly.
It was Zhou Jinzhi, the head of the medical device R&D department she had seen at Hengxing’s gala.
Their eyes met, and Zhou Jinzhi abruptly stood up, looking at Jin Zijin in surprise. “President Jin?”
Jin Zijin smiled and nodded. “Hello, President Zhou.”
At once, everyone in the living room turned their eyes to Jin Zijin.
Wang Fu also recognized her. After a brief pause, he looked at Zhou Jinzhi in surprise. “Miss Zhou, and this is?”
Zhou Jinzhi immediately introduced her. “Dean Wang, this is our Hengxing Group president, President Jin Zijin.”
She glanced at Wen Yan, the smile in her eyes deepening. “What a coincidence; your beloved student, Dr. Wen Yan, is President Jin’s partner.”
The moment those words landed, Zhang Sheng’s expression twisted.
He froze in place, his face full of disbelieving shock, as if someone had dumped a bucket of cold water over his head. His mouth opened, but no words came out.
Song Yu reacted quickly, standing with a smile. “So it’s President Jin. I’ve long admired you.”
Jin Zijin returned the greeting politely.
Wang Fu, meanwhile, suddenly understood, his face lighting up. He patted the sofa beside him and waved Jin Zijin over. “So you’re the girl who managed to steal our Yanyan away! Come, come here and let me take a proper look.”
Jin Zijin answered with a good-natured “Okay” and obediently went over to sit down.
Wang Fu studied her, the more he looked the more satisfied he became. “Good, good.” Then he turned to Wen Yan. “Yanyan has good taste.”
Wen Yan curved her lips but said nothing; the smile in her eyes was impossible to hide.
Seeing this, Zhou Jinzhi took the opportunity to state her purpose. “Dean Wang, I came today specifically to discuss Hengxing’s medical AI project.”
She straightened, her tone turning serious. “We’re developing an intelligent diagnostic system, but what we lack is clinical experience to support it. During this period, I’ve traveled across the country inviting all the retired senior doctors I could find, hoping the elders can guide us and help refine the AI’s logic.”
She paused, then looked at Wang Fu with sincerity in her eyes. “You’re a giant in orthopedics; you’re the expert we most want to bring on board. I never expected to run into President Jin and Dr. Wen here today. It really is a coincidence.”
Wang Fu nodded happily at that. “Medical AI is a good thing.”
He smiled and waved a hand. “I can’t sit idle after retirement either; if I can help, I certainly won’t refuse.”
Zhou Jinzhi was overjoyed. “That’s wonderful! Dean Wang, I’ll have someone bring over the detailed materials another day so you can take a look first.”
“Good, good.”
They chatted a while longer, and then Wang Fu’s attention shifted entirely to Wen Yan and Jin Zijin.
He carefully reminded them about work and life, asked what Jin Zijin usually liked to eat, whether work was tiring, and whether Wen Yan was bullying her. The old man was chatty and thorough, full of the concern of an elder.
Jin Zijin answered every question; there wasn’t a hint of impatience in her brows or eyes, only obedient gentleness.
“Zijin,” Wang Fu suddenly asked, “what do your parents do?”
Wen Yan tensed slightly and looked at Jin Zijin.
Jin Zijin’s expression remained unchanged, her tone calm. “My parents are both artists. They travel the world on tour and aren’t often home; I live with my grandmother.”
Wang Fu nodded and didn’t press further, only saying, “Then it can’t have been easy for you to support such a large group on your own.”
“It’s alright.” Jin Zijin smiled. “Now that Yanyan is with me, no matter how busy I am, I won’t feel tired.”
Wang Fu looked at her, his eyes full of relief and approval.
By then, Mrs. Wang had already brought out a full table of home-cooked dishes.
Braised pork, sweet-and-sour ribs, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, crucian carp tofu soup… all the dishes Wen Yan loved were laid out steaming hot across the table.
“Enough chatting, come eat, come eat!” Mrs. Wang called everyone to sit.
At the table, Wang Fu kept putting food into Wen Yan’s bowl.
Her bowl was piled high, and he still thought it wasn’t enough; he added another chopstickful of sweet-and-sour ribs. “Yanyan, you’ve been working overtime every day and you’ve lost weight. These are all made specially by your Madam. Eat more.”
“Thank you, Master. Thank you, Madam.” Warmth wrapped around Wen Yan’s heart, and she obediently nodded.
Wang Fu then put food into Jin Zijin’s bowl. “Zijin, you eat more too. It’s your first time here, so don’t be polite.”
Jin Zijin curved her lips. “Thank you, Master.”
This scene, however, stabbed at Zhang Sheng’s heart.
The hand holding his chopsticks tightened silently; his knuckles turned white. As he lowered his head and shoveled rice into his mouth, jealousy and unwillingness churned in his eyes, but he couldn’t say a word.
Song Yu glanced at him and let out a soft sigh, saying nothing.
After dinner, it wasn’t proper to keep disturbing them, so everyone got up to take their leave.
Zhou Jinzhi first finalized a time with Wang Fu for a detailed discussion of cooperation, then left.
Song Yu and Zhang Sheng accompanied Wen Yan and Jin Zijin to the entrance of the building.
“Junior Wen,” Song Yu said with a smile, patting her shoulder, “come back and sit with us when you have time. Master and Madam miss you.”
Wen Yan nodded. “I will. Thank you, Senior.”
Song Yu also nodded at Jin Zijin. “President Jin, until we meet again.”
Jin Zijin returned the greeting politely.
Zhang Sheng stood to the side, never saying a word.
Watching Wen Yan and Jin Zijin’s car slowly drive away from the family compound and disappear around the corner, Song Yu suddenly spoke. “Junior Zhang Sheng…”
Zhang Sheng glanced at him. “What is it?”
Song Yu sighed, dragging out his words. “Look at our little junior sister. Her life really is good.”
Zhang Sheng didn’t respond.
Song Yu went on by himself, his voice turning more and more mocking. “Born into wealth, with Master pouring all his effort into cultivating her.” He paused, a cold smile tugging at his lips. “I used to think that because she was a woman, she wouldn’t amount to much in the long run; who knew…”
He gave a leisurely sigh. “She went straight and latched onto the head of Hengxing, and ended up eating such a huge bowl of soft rice.”
Zhang Sheng’s expression froze at once.
Song Yu sighed again, patted his shoulder, and said slowly, “Junior Zhang, everyone has their own fate. Wen Yan’s medical skill was already top-tier. As for the deputy director position in the department, Master probably has his own considerations…”
“You’d better not think about it.”
Considerations?
Zhang Sheng suddenly clenched his fist.
He stared fixedly in the direction the car had disappeared, his knuckles cracking as he squeezed them; the hatred in his eyes was almost spilling over.
Wen Yan.
He ground the name out in his heart.
Why!
Why!
You’re just a woman; why do you get to climb higher than me!