Chapter 23: Relationship Not Clarified

Lin Zaoyi woke up in the evening. The room was filled with the glow of the sunset. She felt a sense of disorientation, not knowing where she was. She sat up on the sofa and looked around.

Ah, Tan Zhaojing's office.

Tilting his head, Tan Zhaojing was still working at his desk. He was usually quite serious, but he was even more so now, and his dark shirt added to his aloofness.

The sound of turning pages suddenly stopped. The man who was looking down at the document looked up without warning. She didn't even have time to look away before they bumped into each other.

Embarrassment spread across her cheeks; trying to look away at this moment would only make it more obvious.

He didn't say anything, but nodded towards the inner lounge, "Go in and wash your face when you wake up."

"Um."

She apologized for falling asleep, "I'm sorry, Brother Zhaojing."

He said, "It's good that you know."

"..."

This person really isn't suited for polite conversation.

Lin Zaoyi folded the cashmere blanket and walked inside in the direction he gave her. She pushed open the door, and a faint scent of wormwood wafted into her nostrils.

It's not the first time I've smelled it, but every time I do, I want to exclaim how wonderful it smells.

I neatly placed the blanket at the head of the bed and went to the inner bathroom.

In just one minute, two more people appeared in the office: Assistant Shao and a woman in business attire, who was probably his secretary.

Assistant Shao's reaction was rather indifferent, but the secretary looked over with extreme surprise.

To avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings, she seized the opportunity to interject, "Brother Zhaojing."

He deliberately emphasized the word "brother" at the end, "Could you please give me the key?"

Tan Zhaojing: "Wait a moment."

After a brief handover, the secretary and Assistant Shao went outside. Unable to contain himself any longer, he asked, "Who is that girl...?"

Assistant Shao is currently unsure, but considering that Miss Lin blocked the boss, and what he saw today, he'll have to call her "sister" from now on, no matter how high or low she is.

It was almost six o'clock when Lin Zaoyi finally waited for Tan Zhaojing to finish his work. She moved to the desk and said, "Brother Zhaojing, the keys."

He calmly reached into his pocket and took something out.

This made her eyes widen in surprise. "Didn't you say it wasn't my car key?"

He glanced at me indifferently. "Are you implying that I deliberately hid it?"

She thought it was unlikely.

He must have put the previous key back in the drawer and put hers in there.

He took it with both hands, saying, "Thank you, Brother Zhaojing. I won't trouble you any further. I'll go to the hotel to get the car myself."

"No trouble at all, I'm on my way."

Halfway there, Tan Zhaojing received a phone call. Duan Lin asked him when he would arrive, as he and Ji Baishen were the only ones missing.

I almost forgot, "in a bit."

He ended the call and glanced sideways. "Duan Lin's calling for dinner. Come with me."

Lin Zaoyi felt it was inappropriate and shook her head.

"Don't care about KPIs anymore? Any one of these is better than that stack of business cards you had last time."

It may sound harsh, but it's the truth.

She seemed interested, but hesitated, "Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

"What's wrong with having a meal together?"

The way they're talking about it so casually suggests it's not a business dinner.

"Okay."

...

Half an hour later, the car stopped at the Yulan Club.

Lin Zaoyi had unpleasant memories here. She took a couple of anxious breaths and said, "Brother Zhaojing, I won't drink later."

Tan Zhaojing led her into the elevator, saying, "Unless you do it willingly, no one will force you to drink."

Lin Zaoyi was relieved.

The elevator went up floor by floor.

They were the only ones in the elevator; the quiet space felt oppressive, and even breathing became slow and deliberate.

Tan Zhaojing suddenly spoke up, "What's the reason you don't drink?"

Caught off guard by the question, she froze.

"What?" He turned to look at me. "That's a difficult question to answer."

The man's eyes were already deep-set, and the cold, strong light from the elevator made them appear even more piercing.

That night, he seemed to stare at her for a long time, even though he was already confused. She remembered those eyes.

She glanced away casually at something, trying to remain calm. "What's so difficult about this? I'm allergic to alcohol; it gives me rashes as soon as I touch it, it's awful."

This impromptu fabrication was perfect; it not only explained the situation but also completely absolved the suspect of foul play.

Tan Zhaojing smiled. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would have almost believed it. "Then we need to be careful."

"Of course."

As they were talking, the two got out of the elevator.

My footsteps stopped at the door of one of the private rooms. I pushed the door open and didn't smell any thick smoke that would make me frown. Instead, I was filled with the fresh scent of lemon.

Moreover, the waiters walking around the private rooms were well-dressed and polite.

Lin Zaoyi liked this but was also surprised by it.

She had glimpsed through the half-open door that the waitresses were dressed provocatively and performed kneeling services, which made her physically uncomfortable just by looking at them.

Several people stepped forward, seemingly surprised by Tan Zhaojing's appearance, and asked, "What brings you here today?"

He squinted and glanced quickly at her and Tan Zhaojing, then smiled, "You specially brought your girlfriend to meet me?"

"..."

Lin Zaoyi was about to deny it, but she held back in the end. In this situation, it wasn't her place to speak. She waited for Tan Zhaojing to explain, but unexpectedly, this person introduced her profession instead: "Lin Zaoyi, reporter for CBN."

"?"

Brother, aren't you going to explain?

He turned his head. "What are you standing there for?"

She looked quite bewildered. "What?"

"Take out your phone, interview whoever you want."

friend:"……"

So they're using them as a performance indicator.

They exchanged a glance, smiled, and took out their phones.

Lin Zaoyi didn't have time to ask him to clarify. She hurriedly took out her phone and just as she opened the QR code scanner, she heard Tan Zhaojing say, "Let them add you. Aren't you tired of scanning them one by one?"

Several people nearby laughed in exasperation.

In just two minutes, Lin Zaoyi's contact list had grown by seven or eight big shots. After they finished exchanging pleasantries with Zhao Jing, she waved her phone and said, "Thank you, Brother Zhao Jing."

He didn't forget to remind her, "Explain it later."

"Explain what?"

"It's a relationship. People misunderstand and think I'm your girlfriend."

He looked indifferent. "No need."

"That's not a good idea."

The man said in a nonchalant tone, "If I don't mind, why should you?"

"..."

What kind of talk is that?

Before she could even get angry, Duan Lin waved to her from the mahjong table, "Zaoyi, come play a couple of rounds."

She wouldn't dare; a casual fling could wipe out a month's salary. "You guys have fun."

No sooner had she refused than Tan Zhaojing led her over, saying, "Win some pocket money."

What if you lose?

“Even if we lose, we won’t have your brother Zhaojing to rely on,” Duan Lin said.

Just as the game ended, Meng Henian stepped aside, saying, "You guys take your turn."

Lin Zaoyi shook her head vigorously.

“Go ahead,” Tan Zhaojing pressed her into her seat, “Why not win Duan Lin’s money?”