Chapter 49 Hot Pot

Yu Bai's report on the difficulties in extending tactile paving to barrier-free facilities has generated a great response and sparked heated discussions. The Nancheng Municipal Government even invited Yu Bai to further improve and optimize the construction of tactile paving in Nancheng.

For a time, Yu Bai was the most popular person in the magazine. The public welfare section, which had always been in the "northern cold zone," was also eagerly sought after by his colleagues. Compared to promotions and raises, Yu Bai was happier about this, feeling a sense of spiritual accomplishment.

Although the interview with Jiang Jizhou was verbally agreed upon, there was no follow-up. Yu Bai thought of that rainy night when she saw Jiang Jizhou and Su Yin side by side. She figured the interview would probably end up going to Su Yin anyway, so Yu Bai stopped thinking about it and just focused on her work.

Unexpectedly, even though the interview and follow-up work had ended, Yue Sinian would still frequently send her messages, subtly inquiring about Yu Bai's relationship status and asking her what she was doing from time to time, trying to get closer to her. Yu Bai, out of consideration for his contribution to the report, couldn't ignore him, but she kept drawing a line between herself and him in her words.

[Xiao Yu, what are you doing?]

As luck would have it, Yue Sinian sent Yu Bai a message right after Yu Bai got off work.

Yu Bai replied.

Just got off work.

After receiving no further messages, Yu Bai turned off his phone and walked out of the office building.

One autumn rain brings a chill, and the cold wind outside is biting, making the branches of the sycamore trees sway and whistle. Yu Bai pulled his coat tighter around himself.

Yu Bai's phone vibrated. He opened WeChat and saw that Nan Kui had sent a message in the group chat.

Plant a sunflower: Sisters, wanna go for hot pot? The weather's perfect for it today!

When Yu Bai saw Nan Kui's message, he couldn't help but laugh. Nan Kui really was a hot pot fanatic. She had just finished eating hot pot two days ago, and she remembered that she still had hot pot base and some leftover side dishes at home, so she sent the message.

White Rabbit Candy: Sure, you can buy some of your favorite side dishes on the way and come to my house to eat.

Plant a sunflower: Okay, as you wish.

Su Su: Okay, I'll go there after class.

Plant a sunflower: Tell me what you want to eat.

Su Su: I'm fine with anything.

White Rabbit Candy: Either is fine, just remember not to buy the beef rolls, we have plenty at home.

Plant a sunflower: OK, I'll get right on it.

Yu Bai smiled, put his phone in his pocket, walked down the steps, and prepared to leave.

But he stopped at the sound of an arrogant voice, "Yu Bai."

Su Yin walked over from behind in high heels. She was already slender and beautiful, and her Chanel-style outfit made her look even more refined, like she was going on a date.

"What's wrong?" Yu Bai asked her, puzzled.

Su Yin crossed her arms over her chest, tilted her chin up like a proud swan, and said, "Congratulations, that report was indeed very good."

Although it was meant as congratulations, the tone was arrogant and full of dissatisfaction.

Yu Bai smiled, not taking it to heart, and said, "Thank you."

After saying that, she prepared to leave, but Su Yin stopped her.

"etc."

"Is there anything else?" Given their relationship, Su Yin was definitely up to no good. Yu Bai had no idea what kind of trouble Su Yin was up to, and she didn't want to continue arguing with Su Yin, so she wanted to leave directly.

But Su Yin said, "You saw it last time, didn't you?"

"What?" Yu Bai didn't react for a moment and looked at Su Yin in confusion.

"Me and President Jiang." Su Yin revealed a victorious smile.

Yu Bai asked calmly, "Oh, so?"

Su Yin said slowly and deliberately, "President Jiang took me to a banquet and introduced me to many celebrities. He likes me very much. Don't even think about his interview."

"By the way, I'm going on a date with him now."

Yu Bai smiled and said, "Oh, congratulations then."

“Yu Bai, I know you’re jealous of me, but you don’t need to compare yourself to me. Soon we won’t be on the same level anymore,” Su Yin said to Yu Bai with an air of certainty.

Yu Bai chuckled, about to speak, when Su Yin said, "He's here."

Su Yin shifted her gaze to the newcomer, her expression changing to one of blushing.

Yu Bai followed her gaze and saw Jiang Jizhou standing in front of a black Rolls-Royce, looking handsome and aloof in a suit.

"Ji Zhou." Su Yin ran over with a smile, and Jiang Ji Zhou also walked towards her. She took Jiang Ji Zhou's arm, and Jiang Ji Zhou did not push her away.

“This is my colleague, Yu Bai. You should know him.”

Su Yin then looked at Yu Bai with a provocative gaze, "Yu Bai, this is President Jiang of Tingbai Technology."

It turned out that Su Yin had stopped him because she wanted him to see that her date was Jiang Jizhou. Yu Bai rolled his eyes inwardly, but his face remained calm.

Jiang Jizhou stared down at Yu Bai's face, trying to find a trace of other emotions, but she remained completely indifferent. Jiang Jizhou pretended to look away nonchalantly, and said in a cold voice, "Not familiar."

Yu Bai looked up at him, expressionless, and said in a low voice, "Yes, then I'll go first and won't disturb you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yu Bai ignored the two of them and turned to leave on his own.

Jiang Jizhou broke free from Su Yin's hand, stepped forward, and grabbed Yu Bai's wrist. Yu Bai turned to the side, glanced down at her wrist that was being held, then looked up, her eyes still indifferent, "Is there something you need, Mr. Jiang?"

Su Yin also walked over, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes.

The wind grew stronger, giving the impression that a storm was brewing.

Their hands clenched tighter and tighter. Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou looked at each other, one cold as ice, the other lonely and desolate.

After a while, Jiang Jizhou released Yu Bai's hand, his face slightly pale. "It's nothing."

Yu Bai didn't look at Jiang Jizhou again, fearing that he might do something bad again, and left in a hurry.

Jiang Jizhou's hand fell limply to his side, his palm seemingly still warm from Yu Bai's skin, but the wind chilled him to the bone.

Yu Bai returned home and prepared the remaining hot pot ingredients. After Nan Kui and the others arrived, he started cooking the hot pot.

A cold wind was blowing outside, but it was warm and cozy inside.

The aroma of hot pot quickly filled the entire living room. Nan Kui picked up a slice of fatty beef with her chopsticks, dipped it in sesame sauce, and took a bite. The aroma was intoxicating.

"So delicious!" Nan Kui exclaimed repeatedly as she stuffed food into her mouth.

"Come on, let's drink!"

The group raised their glasses, filled with beer, and clinked them together. Nan Kui took a picture.

Yu Bai also took a picture and sent it to Chi Qinghe, who replied with an envious emoji.

I also want to eat hot pot with Bai Bai.

Yu Bai smiled.

[We'll eat here every day when you come to the south of the city.]

That won't work either, it will cause internal heat.

When Chi Qinghe saw Yu Baifa's two messages, he imagined the look on Yu Baifa's face as he pondered the messages. He thought it must be very cute, and the corners of his lips unconsciously curled up as he thought about it.

I'll come to see you in the south of the city in a while.

"You're texting your boyfriend, looking all smug!" Nan Kui teased Yu Bai.

Yu Bai looked up, smiled, and glared at Nan Kui. "Hurry up and eat."

Nan Kui swallowed the chrysanthemum greens in her mouth, put away her smile, and looked at Yu Bai with a serious expression.

"Bai Bai, I have something to tell you."

Yu Bai blinked at her upright posture and asked, "What's wrong?"

I saw your ex-boyfriend again today.

Yu Bai paused in his chopsticks, and Nan Kui continued, "The girl next to him is the same one we saw the other day. They really are a couple."

Yu Bai said calmly, "Right? Why are you so gossipy?"

Nan Kui chuckled and excused herself, "Gossiping is human nature."

Yu Bai's heart stirred with a subtle ripple, and her wrist was still slightly red, a mark left after Jiang Jizhou gripped her wrist tightly.

—

With Su Yin's deliberate encouragement, the rumors about her and Jiang Jizhou quickly spread throughout the magazine.

When a colleague asked Su Yin if it was true or false, Su Yin just smiled shyly and didn't answer directly.

But sometimes luxury cars would come to pick up Su Yin, and bouquets of flowers would often be delivered to the company...

Therefore, everyone was convinced that Su Yin was indeed with the president of Tingbai Technology.

The editor-in-chief was also puzzled. She thought Jiang Jizhou was interested in Yu Bai, but she didn't expect that his real intention was not Yu Bai, but that he had actually taken a liking to Su Yin.

Su Yin, spoiled and arrogant, started to act domineering towards An Ya. She spoke rudely to An Ya at the meeting as retaliation for An Ya's actions of making her withdraw from the competition and giving the interview to Yu Bai.

Anya was furious, but out of respect for Jiang Jizhou, she dared not do anything to Su Yin.

After the meeting, Anya called Yu Bai to her office and vented her anger on him.

"Yu Bai, you really disappoint me. I even took you to a dinner party, how come you didn't get an interview?"

Yu Bai listened quietly to Anya's reprimand without saying a word. After Anya calmed down, she assigned Yu Bai a task.

"There's an interview coming up in a while, it's out of town, you go ahead, I'll tell you the details later, you can go now." Anya rested her forehead on one hand, looking quite angry with Su Yin.

"Okay," Yu Bai obediently agreed, then quietly left the office.

Lin Min, a colleague who liked to slack off, comforted Yu Bai, "Did the editor-in-chief scold you? It's okay, she just doesn't dare to talk about the future president's wife, so she can only take her anger out on us ordinary employees."

His words contained complaints about the editor-in-chief.

Yu Bai smiled and said, "Yes, it's nothing."

Although Su Yin and Jiang Jizhou are not yet officially engaged, she is already behaving like a future CEO's wife, and is even more domineering than before at the magazine.

She would still pick on Yu Bai sometimes, making sarcastic remarks, but Yu Bai would always ignore her.

Yu Bai felt that going on a business trip to another city was a timely help, as it prevented him from seeing Su Yin.

Yu Bai called Chi Qinghe to tell him about his upcoming business trip to another city, and Chi Qinghe asked Yu Bai about it with great concern.

"When?" The voice was gentle, full of concern.

Yu Bai felt a warmth in her heart. "I don't know, it should be in a few days. The editor-in-chief hasn't said anything yet."

"Okay, I'll be done with my work here once you're done with your business trip."

Yu Bai nodded and smiled, "That's good."

"Be careful on your business trip," Chi Qinghe said with concern.

"I know, I used to travel around a lot." Yu Bai said in a reassuring tone.

After chatting for a while longer, Yu Bai noticed that it was almost midnight, so she said goodnight to him and hung up the phone.

Although it was late, Yu Bai was still not sleepy and lay in bed for a long time without being able to fall asleep.

The moon hung high in the sky outside the window, casting a dim light into the room.

Yu Bai picked up her phone to check the time, only to see that Yue Sinian had sent her a message.

Bye-bye, I miss you.