Chapter 1: My Ex-Boyfriend is Actually a Rich Kid in Beijing's Social Circle

Beijing City.

Yujinyuan Private Kitchen.

"The Crown Prince has arrived at the door."

Li Mai stood up to greet them, along with everyone else in the private room.

I've heard that the young master is incredibly capable, low-key, and mysterious; very few people can get him to come out.

Li Mai came here today with her boss, Ji Wangyu.

Ji Wangyu has just returned to Beijing and joined the head office, and he needs to build his own network of contacts.

Today's dinner party is a gathering of Ji Wangyu's friends.

He also benefited from his friend's influence.

...

The heavy, carved gate was pushed open from the outside.

Li Mai stared in astonishment at the tall, imposing figure who entered.

Zhou Songyan?

Her ex-boyfriend.

She searched for him for five years.

Unexpectedly, he was the mysterious heir of Beijing's elite circle.

No wonder she asked so many people but couldn't find Zhou Songyan. They're not in the same social class, how could she find him?

Li Mai had been living in Suzhou and was unfamiliar with Beijing, let alone having heard of any "princelings" in the Beijing elite circle.

After arriving in Beijing with her boss, she learned that there was a particularly powerful and wealthy family in Beijing's social circle.

The Zhou family.

The Zhou family is very low-key and rarely appears in the media.

This young master from the Beijing elite circle is the only son of the Zhou family and has never appeared in the media.

People know very little about him.

Li Mai did not ask the prince's name before he arrived.

She never associated her ex-boyfriend with the rich kids in Beijing's elite circles.

When Li Mai looked at Zhou Songyan, he also looked at her.

His dark eyes widened slightly, as if he were somewhat surprised.

But only for a moment, and he quickly looked away and started talking to the others.

Li Mai was somewhat disappointed.

Has Zhou Songyan already forgotten her?

...

After taking their seats.

People started toasting and talking about stocks and global economic trends...

Li Mai sat in the corner, her heart churning with a mix of emotions, her eyes involuntarily scanning Zhou Songyan.

The man wore a well-tailored bespoke suit, exuding an air of nobility.

He appeared to be talking and drinking with people, but his expression was one of indifference and aloofness.

It's colder than it was five years ago.

Li Mai clearly sensed the distance between them.

...

Li Mai heard them talking about Zhou Songyan's training at a branch of Rongzheng Group.

Rongzheng Group is a business owned by the Zhou family.

Her first job after graduation was at Rongzheng Group's branch in Suzhou.

She also met Zhou Songyan there.

It turns out he was hiding his identity to gain experience at a branch office.

However, even though they had been together for over a year, Zhou Songyan hadn't revealed a single thing to her.

He probably wanted to test her.

Unfortunately, the test results disappointed him.

So he erased all traces of himself and disappeared from her world.

...

At the introduction of a friend, Ji Wangyu stepped forward to toast Zhou Songyan.

"Mr. Zhou, my name is Ji Wangyu. I have long admired your name. I respectfully greet you."

Zhou Songyan raised his wine glass as a gesture of respect.

There were many people today, so Ji Wangyu didn't think much of it.

After a brief exchange, we called it a day and returned to our seats.

Zhou Songyan's gaze fell on Li Mai.

Suddenly, he spoke up: "Second Young Master Ji, Miss Li is yours..."

Zhou Songyan asked half of the question.

Ji Wangyu was taken aback, wondering how Zhou Songyan knew about Li Mai.

"She is my secretary."

"Secretary Li, serve tea to President Zhou."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Zhou, my secretary is allergic to alcohol."

Since the Crown Prince had brought up Li Mai, he wasn't going to let the opportunity pass.

He just didn't expect that Li Mai and Zhou Songyan actually knew each other; he had never heard her mention it before.

Zhou Songyan narrowed his eyes, and the atmosphere around him became more oppressive.

Li Mai stood up nervously, about to pick up her teacup.

Zhou Songyan said, "No need."

The moment those two words were uttered, the air in the private room seemed to freeze.

Li Mai stood there awkwardly, unsure whether to sit or stand.

Zhou Songyan leaned back lazily in his chair, one hand resting on the table, his fingers pinching a transparent glass of white wine.

The glass of baijiu spun between his fingers.

"Miss Li, didn't you want to marry a rich man? Have you married yourself off yet?"

Li Mai: "..."

Her face was flushed, her mind went blank, and she bit her lip, unable to utter a single word.

Is Zhou Songyan retaliating against her?

The people in the private room looked at each other, seemingly sensing something significant, but dared not ask.

Don't let his unassuming appearance fool you; this young master is a formidable character.

Clearly, the young master has a problem with his secretary, Ji Wangyu; it's best if everyone stays out of it.

Ji Wangyu frowned, about to speak.

Li Mai forced out her signature smile: "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Zhou. It'll be ready soon."

Zhou Songyan stared at her for a long time, his eyes unreadable.

Ji Wangyu smoothed things over, saying, "Secretary Li, could you please go buy me a pack of cigarettes?"

Li Mai stopped looking at Zhou Songyan, grabbed her phone, and quickly left the private room.

As Li Mai stepped out of the private room, tears she had been holding back for a long time finally fell.

A passing waiter looked at her strangely.

Li Mai walked out of the private kitchen and stood at the door for a while.

There are shops on the street outside.

Li Mai bought a pack of cigarettes and walked back.

Standing at the door of the private room, Li Mai didn't have the courage to go in.

She lingered in the bathroom for ages.

When they came out, they ran into Zhou Songyan.

Zhou Songyan leaned against the bathroom door, a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

Depressed yet ascetic.

Li Mai hesitated for two seconds before walking up to him.

Looking at the face so close to his.

Li Mai called out softly, "Zhou Songyan."

Zhou Songyan was much taller than her. He glanced at her, exhaled a smoke ring, but didn't say anything.

"Zhou Songyan, I've been looking for you for so long."

Are you still blaming me?

Zhou Songyan threw the cigarette butt into the trash can next to him, turned around, and revealed a mocking expression.

"What, Miss Li, are you regretting it now that you know who I am? Trying to use this trick to get closer to me?"

"Miss Li, you're overthinking it. My past with you is just a small episode in my life. If you hadn't appeared, I wouldn't even remember you."

Tears welled up in Li Mai's eyes, and she could no longer utter the words that were stuck in her throat.

She wanted to explain what happened back then.

She wanted to tell Zhou Songyan that they had a child.

But it's meaningless now.

She took a step back, smiled, and said, "I'm sorry, I was presumptuous."

Li Mai dared not look at Zhou Songyan again and turned to walk towards the private room.

Two minutes after she returned to the private room, Zhou Songyan also returned.

Li Mai lowered her head and hid in the corner, trying to minimize her presence.

She hoped the dinner would end soon.

She had been searching for this person for five years, and now she had finally met him.

But she longed to escape.