Zhang Family Gala
You Jiale buried herself in the soft, warm blankets, as if trying to bury herself completely, wishing she could shut out all her worries, especially Zhang Xiande's scathing words, "I want to be your man." Those words felt branded onto You Jiale's heart, impossible to erase.
He buried his face in the pillow, trying desperately to banish the chaotic images of that night from his mind. But those fragmented memories—Zhang Xiande's aggressive gaze and his arrogant final words, "You can forget about getting married in this lifetime"—replayed in his mind like a revolving lantern.
He was furious. He kept telling himself that what happened that night was just an accident and that it would never happen again.
He decided to completely erase that night from his mind, leaving no trace whatsoever.
For the next few days, You Jiale locked herself tightly at home, even remotely directing operations at "Leji" over the phone. She deliberately avoided any situation where she might run into Zhang Xiande, and even had Qin Zheng take over "Leji's" routine reports. Now, the slightest movement from Zhang Xiande would startle her.
You can dodge the first day of the month, but you can't dodge the fifteenth.
"Leji" is doing well, thanks in no small part to the support of the Zhang Group. The annual Zhang Group year-end party is like an inescapable vortex, drawing in everyone connected to the Zhang Group.
"Le Ji," a rising star in the catering industry, with its innovative spirit and impressive performance, naturally deserves the attention of You Jiale, the leader of the chain. It is said that "Le Ji" will be awarded an annual outstanding project award.
You Jiale initially thought that Qin Zheng could go in his place, but Qin Zheng tactfully said that for this kind of occasion, You Jiale should be present in person to show that he valued "Leji" more.
You Jiale had no choice but to reluctantly agree. She was secretly worried that she couldn't avoid this trap.
The banquet hall was blindingly bright, filled with the scents of various perfumes, and the sounds of clinking glasses and conversations mingled together, creating a lively atmosphere. You Jiale tried to move to a corner, exchanging a few polite words with a few nodding acquaintances, but her eyes kept involuntarily glancing in one direction, hoping she wouldn't bump into that big shot.
Yet, You Jiale felt a chill run down his spine, as if a burning gaze was constantly fixed on him. Zhang Xiande, surrounded by a group of people, exuded an imposing aura that was impossible to ignore.
If I can't afford to mess with you, can't I at least avoid you?
Turning around, she headed straight for the bathroom to calm down. Looking in the mirror, You Jiale felt that her tie seemed a little crooked. Just as she was about to fix it carefully, the bathroom door was pushed open with a "bang".
Before he could turn around, a tall figure stood behind him, Zhang Xiande's angular face reflected in the mirror.
"After hiding from me for so many days, you've finally shown up today?" Zhang Xiande's voice carried a hint of mockery, his warm breath brushing against You Jiale's ear.
You Jiale's hand trembled, almost pulling off his bow tie. He took a deep breath, turned around, deliberately took a step back to create some distance, and said in a slightly aggressive tone, "Knowing I'm avoiding you, why are you still coming up to me? Have some free time?"
Zhang Xiande took a step forward, instantly closing the distance between them. He lowered his head, staring intently into You Jiale's eyes, his voice deep and captivatingly magnetic: "Let's see how long you can hide."
Perhaps it was because he hadn't seen You Jiale for several days, but today he was wearing a dark blue suit, the fabric of which fit him perfectly, highlighting his waistline beautifully. Zhang Xiande stared at him for a long time, his throat getting a little dry. This kid, he's so charming.
Yu Jiale felt as if she had been electrocuted by the stare, her face instantly turning bright red as if it were burning. "What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen a handsome guy before?" Forgetting about straightening her clothes, she tried to run away with her face still red.
Yu Jiale's chest was still pounding. Just as he turned around, he heard staff members urging him to go on stage.
As soon as he stepped onto the stage, a spotlight shone on him, so bright that it made his vision blur.
Below, a sea of heads and applause filled the air. A sense of accomplishment and satisfaction welled up within You Jiale.
It's truly remarkable that "Le Ji Delivery," a business he created himself, has been seen by so many people and publicly praised by the Zhang Group.
This feeling of striving for a goal, this feeling of being respected—it was all worth it! It wasn't a wasted trip after all!
Although the audience was packed with people, he could feel that Zhang Xiande, sitting in the first row, was staring at him intently, as if he, You Jiale, was the only person in the entire hall.
You Jiale took a deep breath, regained his composure, and began his acceptance speech into the microphone.
He expressed his gratitude to the Zhang Group and also mentioned the efforts of "Leji" during this period and its future plans. He tried to keep his voice steady and exuded a confident and refreshing aura.
However, no matter how hard he tried to concentrate, he would occasionally steal a glance at a certain spot and then meet those encouraging eyes, which would make his heart skip a beat.
From the moment he stepped onto the stage until he bowed and stepped down, Zhang Xiande's gaze almost never left him. His focused yet slightly aggressive eyes were just like those of a hunting leopard, never letting go once it had set its sights on its target.
After the awards ceremony, Zhang Xiande stepped forward, extended his hand to shake You Jiale's, and offered a congratulatory greeting with a smile. Just as their hands touched, Zhang Xiande's fingertips seemingly casually brushed against the back of You Jiale's hand. The subtle touch, like a feather, gently tickled You Jiale's heart. He resisted the urge to pull his hand away, glared at Zhang Xiande, and wanted to leave as quickly as possible.
After the awards ceremony.
"I'll take you home."
Without turning her head, You Jiale said, "No."
Zhang Xiande acted as if he hadn't heard him, picked up his coat from the chair, and followed him out. "It's so late, it's not safe for you to be alone, and it just so happens to be on the way."
The train moved smoothly, and the carriage remained quiet for a while. Zhang Xiande was the first to break the silence, his voice carrying a hint of nonchalance: "That railway project, before you... lost your memory, was always the one you were following up on."
You Jiale paused for a moment, then nodded: "I saw the schedule, yes... What's up?" He wondered to himself, why did this old fox suddenly bring this up?
Zhang Xiande's eyes glanced casually at You Jiale, his tone tentative: "I know you might not remember everything clearly. If you have any thoughts, or need any help, feel free to tell me." His words were polite, but You Jiale felt a little uneasy. Was he trying to win him over?
“Of course,” Zhang Xiande seemed to see through his doubt, a subtle smile curving his lips, his tone carrying a hint of confidence in control, “If you’re willing, I can offer you some conveniences. After all, you’ve been in charge of this project all along, so you should be quite familiar with it.” As he spoke, Zhang Xiande observed You Jiale’s expression, a hint of expectation in his eyes.
Yu Jiale's mind raced. Zhang Xiande's words were loaded with meaning. Had he sensed something? Did the old man know about his involvement with the underground party? But then again, it seemed unlikely. Perhaps it was just a test, or… maybe he really wanted to help him?
His mind was a complete mess, but he forced a slightly ingratiating smile and mumbled, "I understand. I certainly won't hesitate to help if needed." He'd just laugh it off for now and then report this to his superiors later.
Soon, the car arrived at You Jiale's building. Zhang Xiande parked the car, unbuckled his seatbelt, turned to look at You Jiale with a half-smile, and said, "Aren't you going to invite me up for a bit?" His tone was slightly mocking, "I've never been inside even once."
Yu Jiale's alarm bells were ringing. What was this old fox up to? A lone man, in the dead of night—what would happen if he were let in? "Would it be okay if I let you in now? I'm not that stupid. You'd better leave."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiande raised an eyebrow, a glint of something unreadable flashing in his eyes. He leaned forward slightly, "Then kiss me, and I'll leave."
Upon hearing this, You Jiale hurriedly opened the car door and was about to get out, throwing down a sentence without turning her head: "Don't go, get out of here!" After saying that, she rushed into the building, afraid that if she was a step too slow, she would be entangled by Zhang Xiande. Behind her, she heard Zhang Xiande chuckle softly.
"That old fox is shameless."
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