Chapter 18 How could she dare not speak properly? She knew better than to be disrespectful.

My phone vibrated.

It's Lin Zaoyi's phone.

She bent down and unfastened the clasp of her handbag. There were many business cards inside, and in the process, they all spilled out, fluttering and scattering onto the chair cushion and the floor. A few also floated over his side.

She bent down to pick up the nearest item while continuing to listen to her mother's phone call.

"Zaoyi, why aren't you replying to my messages?"

"I put it on vibrate, I didn't hear it."

Mom asked again, "Did someone you know take you in?"

There was confusion in her eyes. "Mom, wait a minute."

I quickly glanced at the few unread messages and deduced from the text that the manager from before was not someone my mother had hired.

That is...?

He turned his head to the side, not just by chance, but because Tan Zhaojing had been staring at him the whole time.

I turned my attention back to the phone call. "Yeah, I ran into someone I know, Mom. I'll be at Xiyuan in twenty minutes."

It was too late to think about it, so I didn't deliberately hide it. "I'm with Brother Zhaojing. You should get some rest."

Mingxian was relieved. "Okay, I'm going to sleep now."

Before Lin Zaoyi could even ask a question after the line was cut, Tan Zhaojing's voice came through, "Can't you speak properly?"

"..."

She wouldn't dare to speak rudely; she knows right from wrong.

"Mr. Tan, I apologize. I may not have been careful with my tone just now. I will pay attention in the future."

Both his tone and attitude were measured and appropriate.

However, the man fell silent again.

I'm either tired or too lazy to bother with her.

She wanted to be perceptive, but now there was a problem, so she asked tentatively, "Manager...did you arrange this?"

This time, he responded, "Otherwise what?"

"...I wonder who's not speaking properly."

Even though he mumbled softly, Tan Zhaojing heard him clearly, and pretended to be unaware, "What did you say?"

Lin Zaoyi forced a smile, "I was just saying you're a good person."

She pointed to the few business cards that were left on his side, "Could you help me with that?"

Tan Zhaojing glanced at the item as he picked it up and handed it to her, "Not going to throw it away?"

"They're useful." Lin Zaoyi neatly folded them and put them into her handbag.

"What's it for?"

"These will all be my KPIs from now on."

Tan Zhaojing: "..."

Half an hour later, the car stopped at Xiyuan, a garden nestled against the mountains and beside the water.

"Give me the car keys." A low voice sounded in my ear.

Lin Zaoyi turned her head. "Hmm?"

"I'll have someone arrange for you to charge your phone."

Seeing that she didn't move, Tan Zhaojing frowned slightly. "What are you standing there for?"

Lin Zaoyi reacted a beat late, said "Oh," and took out her car keys to hand to her assistant, "Thank you."

Assistant Shao glanced at his boss subconsciously. He could tell that there was dissatisfaction in her eyes, but the girl didn't seem to understand. She put away the keys, turned her head back, and refused to look at him.

There was movement in the back seat, and the two people got out of the car one after the other. He also opened the car door and took out his suitcase from the trunk. Before he could even warm it up, it was picked up by President Tan.

Lin Zaoyi hurriedly stepped forward to take it, but Tan Zhaojing didn't give it to her. Instead, he stretched out his hand to her and said, "Give me the phone."

What's the point of asking for a phone number?

She was never a slow-witted person, but she kept making mistakes when it came to Tan Zhaojing.

"Is...is there something you need?"

Tan Zhaojing: "How can I return the car to you if I don't have your number to contact you?"

"Oh right."

He glanced at his assistant and said, "What's your number? I'll call you."

Assistant Shao: "..."

Good heavens, President Tan clearly wanted yours.

He immediately made an excuse, "Please contact Mr. Tan. I have something to do, so I'll be leaving now!"

He jumped into the car as fast as he could, started the engine, and disappeared from their sight in a matter of moments.

Lin Zaoyi, standing still: "..."

It's just a number, why the rush?

He could only turn around and chuckle awkwardly, "What's your number? I'll write it down."

Tan Zhaojing handed over the screen, which displayed a WeChat QR code.

Seeing this, she couldn't help but ask in surprise, "You still use WeChat?"

Realizing the ambiguity of his words, he explained, "I meant you're so busy."

Tan Zhaojing's voice was clear and calm, "There's no conflict."

Lin Zaoyi scanned the QR code, and the screen redirected. His WeChat name was simple, consisting only of his surname: 【谈】 (Tan).

Compared to that, hers is quite abundant; [Zao Yi is going to get rich quick]

The man asked, "What happens after you get rich?"

"...squandering."

The conversation started off absurdly and ended abruptly.

Fortunately, Lin Zaoyi was used to his silence.

At the entrance, she reached out her hand, "Brother Zhaojing, give me the box."

Thank you again.

Tan Zhaojing's gaze swept over those watery eyes, "Besides thank you, what else can you do?"

Lin Zaoyi wanted to say, "I'm much older."

I won't argue anymore. She doesn't play mahjong, so how could she win by drawing a tile?

She gave a slight smile and said, "I'm going upstairs."

Carrying her suitcase didn't diminish her desire to get away.

As his figure disappeared at the top of the stairs, Tan Zhaojing's dark eyes gradually blended with the night, and after a moment, he gave a slight, subtle smile.

...

It was late at night after Lin Zaoyi finished showering. Just as she was about to close her eyes, she suddenly remembered that if Tan Zhaojing didn't have her number, how did the manager contact her?

After thinking about it for a moment, could it be that my previous action was just to add her on WeChat?

Won't.

It's possible for others, but if it were Tan Zhaojing, the probability would be almost zero.

He must have received too many calls from strangers, and since he hadn't saved her name in his contacts, that's why he asked for her WeChat.

This inference makes sense.

He reached out and grabbed the phone from the bedside table. Tan Zhaojing was currently listed first among his contacts. He opened his Moments, but it was completely blank.

With a flick of my finger, I changed his access settings: I can't let him see me.

It was an unnecessary undertaking, but I felt much better afterward.

At the same time, the man who was browsing his WeChat Moments watched helplessly as all the posts disappeared from his screen.

?

He took a screenshot and sent it to his assistant: 【Why is the screen suddenly blank?】

Assistant Shao glanced at the WeChat contact name: Zaoyi

The background check revealed that the wife's daughter is named Lin Zaoyi, which must be her, the one we saw tonight.

As for the sudden blankness—

He phrased it thus: "Mr. Tan, Ms. Lin may have accidentally blocked you by mistake."

Half a minute later, the boss replied: "Your speech is becoming increasingly sophisticated."

Assistant Shao: "..."