Chapter 123 Yu Li's Side Story: I heard you've been looking for me all night?

S City Bailiwan Hotel.

"Zhenzhen, don't worry, I'll take good care of Tuantuan. Just stay home and wait for me to come back so I can treat you to a big meal!" Jiang Yu held her phone in one hand and led Tuantuan into the venue with the other.

In the hazy night, a light rain drizzled down on Jiang Yu, leaving her long hair damp and making her shiver slightly. She unconsciously quickened her pace.

Inside a car on the street corner, a woman leaned back lazily, her eyes slightly narrowed, her beautiful phoenix eyes displaying her usual carefree spirit. A touch of scarlet gleamed on her slender fingertips as she occasionally tapped the car window.

"Mr. Zhong, you'll be presenting the award to the first-place winner of our competition later. This is the speech; would you like to take a look?" The assistant continued chattering on. Zhong Li was going to present the award later, but he didn't seem to care at all.

Zhong Li didn't even look at what he was holding, just gave a faint "hmm," but her eyes were fixed on the slender figure. Long curly hair, a red high-slit dress, the whole person was shrouded in mist, pitiful yet full of vitality, just the back view alone was enough to make people's imaginations run wild.

Zhong Li clicked her tongue. It seemed to be her type—bright and passionate.

Seeing that Zhong Li seemed a little lost in thought, the assistant whispered a reminder, "Ms. Zhong? The awards ceremony is about to start, when... should we go in?"

Zhong Li pinched the bridge of her nose, her thin lips pressed into a line, and deftly tossed the cigarette out of the car, feeling somewhat irritated.

Yu Shu doesn't want to participate in these activities, but they're forcing her to come. Ugh! She also has to go out for a social event tonight. Just thinking about it is annoying!

Zhong Li snatched the plaque from her assistant's hand, glanced at it, and said, "Let's go." Her voice was completely flat; she could still remember those award speech lines very well!

...

Jiang Yu sat nervously with Tuantuan in her seat. This dance competition was sponsored by the Gu family and organized by the S City Culture and Tourism Bureau. It was a very prestigious event, and she needed this honor.

Eighth place.

Seventh place.

Sixth place.

Fifth place.

Fourth place.

Third place.

Second place.

As the rankings were announced one by one, the light of hope in Jiang Yu's eyes kept fading. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of her mouth, and her palms were already covered in fine beads of sweat. She clenched her fists and then loosened them, then clenched them again.

I both look forward to the announcement of the first place winner and fear that I will get nothing.

Jiang Yu stared eagerly at the big screen on the stage, not listening to anything the host was saying, only wanting to see who the first place winner was as soon as possible.

"Jiang Yu!"

A deep, mellow voice rang out, like a clear mountain spring flowing into one's heart. The nonchalant tone made Jiang Yu turn to the speaker.

In the bright center of the stage, under the spotlight, the woman shone with light. Her face was extremely alluring, so beautiful that it took one's breath away. She was tall and slender, and her deep V-neck black dress revealed glimpses of her figure. Her eyes were languid and dreamy, as if they could bewitch people.

Jiang Yu later thought more than once that she had lost from the very first glance. Her heart pounded wildly at that moment, and she was stunned.

"Which one of you is Miss Jiang?" Zhong Li held the microphone, raised an eyebrow at the audience, and smiled faintly.

"Aunt Yu..." Tuantuan carefully tugged at Jiang Yu's sleeve and called her softly. Everyone was looking this way, and Jiang Yu was staring blankly at the stage without going up to receive the award. Could it be that Aunt Yu was overjoyed?

Jiang Yu finally came to her senses, her beautiful fox-like eyes instantly regaining their clarity. She calmly swept her long hair behind her head, swayed her hips, and walked towards the stage, showing no embarrassment at being watched by everyone, but rather confidence and composure.

Zhong Li smiled knowingly. "It was the girl at the door just now. She was indeed quite beautiful."

Jiang Yu stood next to Zhong Li, leaned forward slightly, and bent down to accept the trophy, her delicate white fingers deliberately brushing against the back of Zhong Li's hand. Their eyes met, and Jiang Yu's eyes held a hint of coquettishness, burning with a fiery intensity.

Zhong Li remained calm and collected as she withdrew her hand. A faint, pleasant jasmine scent lingered around her nose.

Jiang Yu was already screaming in her heart, "What kind of fate is this? The award presenter is such a beautiful woman! God is so kind to me, the red thread has already been tied here, if I, Jiang Yu, don't hold on tight, it would be a real shame!"

Jiang Yu gave a perfunctory thank-you speech and then sat down with the trophy, her eyes fixed on Zhong Li as he walked down.

"Aunt Yu, are you hot? Why is your face so red?" Tuan Tuan placed her soft hand on Jiang Yu's face and asked in confusion.

Jiang Yu stopped the fidgeting little hand and gestured towards Zhong Li with her lip, "See that? That beautiful girl over there will be my girlfriend from now on."

Tuantuan's little face immediately scrunched up, and she said hesitantly, "Auntie, isn't this a bit much? Giving you an award and then expecting me to be your girlfriend? That auntie is so pitiful."

Jiang Yu pressed down on Tuantuan's little head and gave it a good rub, then gently scolded, "You little brat, what do you know? Beautiful women should be with other beautiful women!"

Tuantuan rolled her eyes, ignoring her. "How do you know that auntie likes pretty girls?"

Jiang Yu bent down, her eyes sparkling with excitement, and placed her index finger on her red lips. "Shh... this is our intuition..."

Tuantuan blinked her big eyes, puzzled, brushed her hand away, turned around, and sat down. She was already used to Jiang Yu's nonsensical behavior and didn't really want to pay attention to her.

After the awards ceremony came a boring banquet.

All night long, Jiang Yu dragged Tuan Tuan through the crowds, trying to find that beautiful woman. But no matter how hard she searched, Jiang Yu only managed to find out that her name was Zhong Li and that she was a senior executive at Gu's Group; she couldn't even spot Zhong Li herself!

Jiang Yu refused to give up. She clearly saw Zhong Li at the venue, so how could she not find him? She muttered to herself, "Jiang Yu and Zhong Li's names are so compatible, their fate must be predetermined. How could I not find him? Where did he go? You little rascal, don't you think so?"

Tuantuan plopped down in the dessert area, looking utterly hopeless. "Aunt Yu, I don't know if your destiny is predetermined! I only know I haven't eaten all night, I'm starving! I want to eat here, you can go find something yourself!"

Jiang Yu looked around, then squatted down and coaxed, "Tuantuan, come help Auntie look! I'll give you a reward if we find it!"

Tuantuan stuffed a piece of cake into her mouth, her eyes pure and innocent, her cheeks puffing out adorably. But what she said almost gave Jiang Yu a heart attack: "If you keep forcing me to stay with you, I'll call you Mom when we find you!"

Jiang Yu pinched Tuan Tuan's little face hard. "Hmph! You win! I'm going to the bathroom first, I'll come find you later!"

The corridor leading to the restroom was dimly lit. Jiang Yu stopped in her tracks before she reached the end. Zhong Li was leaning casually against the wall, his posture relaxed and relaxed.

Upon hearing the voice, Zhong Li looked up, squinted, and gazed over. When she saw who it was, her beautiful eyes lit up with a smile, a hint of amusement in them, and her red lips parted slightly.

"I heard you've been looking for me all night?"