Uncle, we've met before.
The surrounding area was filled with congratulatory cheers, and the scene was grand. The largest restaurant in Pingyang had been booked out for the day, and the red carpet stretched from the lobby all the way to the bustling roadside.
"Hello, Uncle."
The woman with the soft voice was holding her nephew's hand, looking at him meaningfully.
Jin Yanzhi's body trembled. Amidst the clamor of voices, his mind was filled with the scene from the gym a few days ago.
The woman standing opposite him that day was also this woman; she had secretly hung the iron plate she couldn't lift on his equipment to save trouble.
When he was told to rest before putting in more effort, he suddenly swore.
"We've met before."
He abruptly interrupted his nephew's introduction of his girlfriend, gave the woman a deep look, brushed past her shoulder, and walked towards the seat in the center.
The scene before him, though uncomfortable, was also reasonable.
It turns out that her disdainful sarcasm at the gym a few days ago was genuine. The reason this screenwriter, who struggled to make a living in Pingyang, could appear in such an expensive place wasn't to seduce him and attract the attention of a big shot, but because she already had a powerful backer.
"Did he teach you that if you get into trouble outside, you can just make a few excuses and run away?"
The couples who were toasting him had already reached him, and he bowed respectfully, placing his glass beside him.
Looking at the face he had been longing for for days, Jin Yanzhi felt displeased. While his nephew was exchanging pleasantries, he turned his face away and whispered something in the woman's ear.
A few stray hairs still clung to her ears, brushing softly against the tip of her nose. A faint scent of musk mixed with the smell of alcohol emanated from her delicate collarbones as she bent over, making his throat feel a little dry.
Those eyes, so like a deer's, blinked innocently, finally settling on the man's bobbing Adam's apple, and she answered softly:
"It was my fault that day, Uncle, please don't hold it against me."
"It was my fault... I was blind to your greatness."
The nephew in front turned his head curiously. The two, each with their own ulterior motives, clinked glasses, tacitly retreated to their respective seats, and smiled as if nothing had happened.
Today's birthday boy is his nephew. With his support, the boy has done quite well in the past two years, making good use of the resources at his disposal. His new work has just received nominations at two film festivals.
Everyone at the table seemed eager to congratulate the rising star director, but secretly they all longed to get closer to the true tycoon who owned the entire Jin Group. So much so that when Jin Yanzhi finally managed to leave the table, he was already somewhat drunk.
But at this moment, his mind and eyes were filled with the woman who had just left the table and gone outside. Even though his steps were a little unsteady and he saw her figure flash by the door, he still strode out to chase after her.
But once outside, when the woman who had taken out a mirror to touch up her makeup turned around, he suddenly tensed up again. He loosened his slightly tight tie and placed his hand against the wall to block her path.
"Lin Zhen'er, my hand still hurts today."
The person who was blocked was petite, and her dress was form-fitting. When he looked down, he could see her white breasts supporting a teardrop-shaped necklace pendant, which rose and fell nervously under the satin.
Damn it, the moment she looked up, even her ears started to burn.
"Then, Uncle, what do you want to do?"
I thought that with your robust build, a few dozen kilograms of iron wouldn't be a problem; I was wrong.
She wasn't afraid of him; in fact, she was not only unafraid, but also somewhat provocative.
Her eyes, slightly tinged with drunkenness, shimmered with a hint of moisture. Her chubby little mouth was slightly pouting. Lin Zhen'er, tilting her head, took a step forward. Just as her forehead was about to touch his chest, she mischievously looked at the 1.9-meter-tall CEO Jin and hurriedly took a few steps back.
"Give me your contact information, and I'll take responsibility if I really hurt my hand later."
Jin Yanzhi's voice was a little stammering, but the person opposite him lowered his head and laughed.
She quickly pulled out her phone, held it up in front of him, paused for two seconds, and then surprisingly reached out and grabbed his hand, which was hanging down due to nervousness, and tapped his phone: "Scan me."
Losing his composure, President Jin hurriedly scanned the code and fled back to the private room. He had spent the first half of his life dominating the business world, decisive and ruthless, and was known for his cold-heartedness and ruthlessness. But at this moment, the loud thumping in his chest almost pierced his eardrums.
He had no recollection of what happened during the rest of the banquet. He just sat there blankly until the party was almost over, then got up amidst the sounds of fireworks outside and walked out with the crowd of onlookers.
On the lawn in front of the hotel, the woman who had been nagging at his heart was seeing off guests, arm in arm with her nephew. Seeing him emerge, she rushed over before the driver could, supporting him as he, his face flushed red to his neck, appeared utterly drunk.
"Uncle, go back and get some rest."
If your hand still feels uncomfortable, please contact me.
Lin Zhen'er held onto the car door, looked down at him, and politely said goodbye.
Her hair shimmered slightly in the light from the fireworks and lamplight behind her, and the long tassels on her earlobes swayed gently with her face. The man nodded and closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep to hide the restless emotions stirring within him.
He didn't open his eyes until the car had driven quite a distance, and he eagerly pulled out his phone to check her WeChat Moments.
Scrolling down reveals little content, but her pinned photo features a chubby dog huddled with its round face in a fluffy octopus blanket. It evokes a strange sense of warmth. Further down, besides work-related complaints, there's only one other post:
Amidst a jumble of empty bottles on the floor, a person sat on the carpet wearing only a large sweater, their white shoulders and small feet exposed.
In the photo, Lin Zhen'er playfully closes her eyes and makes a peace sign, while the man holding the phone is insanely jealous. It's his nephew's house, a place he's been to.
He turned off the screen, looked out at the bustling traffic, and took a deep breath. His phone suddenly vibrated several times; the message was from the woman he hadn't seen recently.
Several messages popped up in the chat box:
Uncle, I was wrong that day.
I feel really bad to hear that you are still feeling unwell today.
If you wish to go for a checkup, I can accompany you, and I will cover the expenses.
After saying all that, she sent a cute little fox emoji. The little fox, shaking its head, raised its fluffy paws to its face and gently waved forward, making Jin Zixiao's heart flutter.
He stared at the message, suddenly feeling a restlessness he'd never experienced even in his youth. It took him a long time to gather his thoughts:
Why didn't you apologize to me a few days ago? And why haven't you gone to the gym these past few days? Are you avoiding me?
Jin Yanzhi regretted it as soon as the message was sent; it was too easy to betray his own heart.
It's just a minor strain; is it too obvious to keep an eye on whether the other person has been to the gym for several days?
But it's already like this, there's no point in pretending anymore. He opened the chat box and added another sentence:
[Tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM, Raffles Hospital.]
This hospital is private, and it's usually deserted except for family members and a few close friends. It shouldn't take up much of her time. Even though tomorrow is a workday, he desperately wants to see her again.
"Okay, see you tomorrow, Uncle." The reply came quickly, and he breathed a long sigh of relief.
"I'm going to the hospital tomorrow morning because my muscles are a little sore."
I drank alcohol again that night, and I feel a bit unwell.
When did that guy, Chao Sheng, start dating? How come I'm only finding out today?
Although these words were completely unrelated, they were the most natural way he could come up with.
The person holding the steering wheel looked like a driver, but was actually his trusted confidant of many years. This young driver, Xie, had handled many matters for him within the company. At this moment, he was observing Jin Yanzhi, who had suddenly become weak and unable to take care of himself, with amusement in the rearview mirror out of the corner of his eye.
"It's alright. Without your and the family's investment, he wouldn't be where he is today. The real director of that film is a talented guy we've met before, but unfortunately, he comes from a poor background and can't get investment, so he can only be a ghostwriter behind the scenes."
As for Jin Chaosheng, he's just like your uncle in his younger days. He certainly had his share of partying around. I wonder if this girl knows that.
Holding the steering wheel, Xiao Xie spoke seemingly casually, yet every word pierced his heart. The man, who appeared drunk, coughed twice, raised his hand to cover his mouth which he couldn't suppress, swallowed, and said righteously:
"Then investigate these things about him, but don't let it escalate into the company and damage his reputation."
"If this girl remains in the dark, and then does something drastic, what if this film was just nominated, and all the money I invested goes down the drain?"
His brother gave a soft "hmm" in response to his words, but Jin Yanzhi felt a dampness creep down his back. He thought his words had been perfectly flawless, but he wondered if the inexplicable sense of pleasure he felt betrayed him.
He couldn't stand it, he couldn't stand seeing her with other men. He didn't want to be her elder, to be Lin Zhen'er's uncle who had no blood relation to her. Damn it, let whoever wants to be that, be that.
As the car was about to drive into the garage, he casually scrolled through his WeChat Moments. The profile picture he had starred had just finished posting nine fresh photos: a tall champagne tower, a fountain with water droplets splashing everywhere, and the one in the very center, a huge cake, with his nephew and her smiling faces in the lights.
Jin Yanzhi zoomed in for a few moments, frowning as he stared at the screen. But after the car door opened, he took a deep breath, turned his back to his brother who had tacitly watched the spectacle all night, and spoke:
"Who do you think is more handsome, me or Chaosheng?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xie just smiled and remained silent until President Jin fled in disarray, without offering any reply.
The next morning, when he saw Lin Zhen'er at the hospital entrance, he gave his boss a meaningful look before turning around to park the car.
Fortunately, the orthopedic surgeon dared not neglect the biggest client. After a whole morning of ultrasounds and various procedures, he finally handed over a stack of reports, informing Mr. Jin that he was fine. Lin Zhen'er followed obediently behind him the whole time, and it was impossible to tell whether she was impatient or not.
Since there was no reason for him to keep her around, he had no choice but to walk with her to the hospital entrance.
"I'm alright, I'll give you a ride to your company since it's on my way."
The woman with the high ponytail didn't refuse; she nodded and naturally got into the car, giving the company's address.
Although the journey to that subsidiary was not far, President Jin seemed to be having a very difficult time in the car. He secretly glanced at Lin Zhen'er sitting in the passenger seat, and went through all the topics in his mind, but still couldn't find a suitable one.
It was Xiao Xie, who was driving, who noticed his unease and spoke up calmly:
"Mr. Jin, the hospital said you're alright, right?"
Lin Zhen'er, who had been sitting silently in the passenger seat, head down playing on her phone, suddenly spoke up, answering crisply:
"We arrived too late; Mr. Jin's injury has already healed."
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