Jiang Hexi sat in the rooftop garden, lost in thought, not paying attention to what Yu Xiangwan was saying beside her.

"The interview time for 'Listening' has been set for this Friday."

Yu Xiangwan joked, "Shen Yingyu had urged us about this before, but the producer hadn't set a time yet. After our red carpet appearance went viral, the producer started urging us to record the show."

After she finished speaking, seeing that Jiang Hexi had no reaction, she immediately raised her voice and said:

"Xi-mei, are you even listening to me?"

“I’m listening, please continue,” Jiang Hexi said sincerely, snapping out of her reverie.

Yu Xiangwan noticed a flaw in her expression and pressed her for an answer:

"Didn't you feel really good yelling at your deskmate in the outer hall before? What's wrong with you now?"

"It was so satisfying to yell at him that I'm now feeling troubled."

Jiang Hexi frowned in annoyance. "Do you know what Yan Jie's maternal grandfather does?"

Yu Xiangwan: "What do you do?"

Jiang Hexi raised her finger and said with great concern, "I don't know the specifics. Those people were all vaguely mentioned, but they must be in high positions."

Yu Xiangwan understood what she meant, "You owe King Yan such a huge favor, and you feel burdened, not knowing how to repay him?"

"It's not just a matter of owing favors."

Jiang Hexi saw through the facade and had no choice but to confront him, saying, "Wanwan, do you know what it means that Prince Yan took me around in front of those people?"

Yu Xiangwan chuckled lightly, "You're only realizing this now, but outsiders have already figured it out."

Jiang Hexi asked in a daze, "What?"

Yu Xiangwan: "Even a blind person could see that the King of Yan likes you."

The rooftop garden is filled with vibrantly blooming hydrangeas.

Jiang Hexi sat on a bench nestled among the flowers, her forlorn expression so striking that even Yu Xiangwan couldn't bear to look at her.

"You're such a silent coward, you haven't said a word all this time. Whether it works or not, at least give me a shout!"

"No, that won't work."

Jiang Hexi insisted, "He doesn't meet my basic requirements for a boyfriend."

What are the requirements?

"He has to treat me like my brother and my dad do."

"Yan Wang did fall short in this aspect. Couldn't you give him a chance to perform well?"

"cannot."

Jiang Hexi said soberly, "If I give him a chance, Director Chen won't give me one."

Yu Xiangwan didn't react for a moment, "What do you mean?"

"Director Chen has declared that farming variety shows cannot become dating variety shows. If the Yanxi CP becomes a real couple, then it's a choice between the two of us. I and Yan Wang must go."

Jiang Hexi said in a low voice, "I definitely have to stay and farm, and Yan Wang can't leave either."

Yu Xiangwan belatedly realized why Xie Wanyi couldn't return to the stage.

"So what do you plan to do?"

"Keep pretending."

Jiang Hexi made up her mind: "As long as Yan Wang doesn't say anything, I'll pretend I know nothing."

The charity gala ended at nine o'clock.

Jiang Hexi stood with her arms crossed in the passageway, waiting for Jiang Wenze to drive over and pick her up.

Suddenly a jacket was draped over her shoulder. She turned around and saw Yan Jie standing behind her. For a moment, she didn't know what to say, and all she could think about was that her brother would come over quickly.

"You're cold, why don't you stand in the lobby and wait? What are you doing here in the wind?"

"I didn't bring my phone, I was afraid my brother wouldn't be able to find me."

Yan Jie moved to her side, blocking the cold wind from blowing in her face. "Go inside. I'll keep watch for you. I'll call you when your brother arrives."

"My older brother doesn't know you."

Jiang Hexi watched his car drive up and moved aside to let him pass. "You can leave now that the car's here. I'll return the jacket to you later."

Since Yan Jie is already here, she has to make an appearance in front of her older brother before she can leave.

He instructed the driver to drive the car out and wait by the roadside, then stood back beside Jiang Hexi, shielding her from the wind, and said:

"We didn't know each other before, but since this is a rare opportunity, please introduce me to your older brother."

There was no further conversation between the two.

Jiang Hexi saw the ambiguous little bubbles rising all around her, and she broke the romantic atmosphere by popping them one by one:

"King Yan, how old are you?"

"Twenty-seven, why are you suddenly asking about this?"

“When my dad was your age, my older brother was already old enough to run errands.”

Yan Jie looked at her dangerously and said, "So, what do you mean by that?"

Jiang Hexi spouted nonsense: "When I look at you now, you're twenty-seven years old, I'm reminded of my older brother who was only three years old when he was running errands. Do you know how mentally fractured I am?"

Yan Jie's lips twitched. She really could kill a conversation with just a few words.

The stretch Lincoln slowly pulled up in front of the two of them.

The car door opened, and Jiang Wenze stepped out. He took off his suit jacket and handed it to Jiang Hexi.

Jiang Hexi, understanding the implication, returned the jacket to Yan Jie and took his suit, saying:

"Brother, this is Yan Jie. He's the one who helped me out of that awkward situation at the banquet tonight."

"Thank you for taking care of Ah-Xi. It's too late today. I'll treat you to dinner next time if there's a chance."

Jiang Wenze thanked him politely, but he stood aloof on the steps and did not take the initiative to shake hands with Yan Jie.

Yan Jie saw all of this and said, "President Jiang, you're too kind. Given my relationship with Xi Mei, it's only right that I help her with this little thing."

"It's getting late, let's head back now, see you next time."

Jiang Wenze opened the car door and invited Jiang Hexi into the car. He glanced indifferently at Yan Jie, then bent down and got into the car.

Yan Jie stood in the aisle, watching the car drive away, and inexplicably felt that Jiang Wenze was very wary of him.

The extended Lincoln drove smoothly through the night.

Jiang Wenze looked at Jiang Hexi, who was curled up in the car seat, and said:

What is your relationship with Yan Jie?

"Friendship".

Does he like you?

"Brother, I don't know, you'll have to ask him."

Jiang Wenze stated bluntly, "I don't object to you having a boyfriend, but Yan Jie is not an option."

Jiang Hexi didn't know where his hostility came from. "Brother, you've only met Yan Wang for the first time. What did he do to offend you that makes you have such a strong prejudice against him?"

"Do you know what it means to be a lamb entering the wolf's mouth?"

Jiang Wenze comforted her, saying, "With his intelligence, he could easily manipulate you."

Jiang Hexi missed the point of the conversation. "Brother, are you calling me stupid?"

Jiang Wenze turned to look out the window and suddenly fell silent.

"Brother, what's wrong with being smart?"

Jiang Hexi spoke up for Yan Jie, saying, "You haven't even learned anything about him, yet you've made such a hasty conclusion. You're just prejudiced against him."

"I don't need to understand him as a person."

Jiang Wenze said forcefully, "Once I've seen his matches and know how reckless he can be on the field, I will absolutely not allow you to be with him."

Jiang Hexi was speechless.