Faint laughter drifted over, and Xu Yanzhi then put on his coat, followed by slowly fastening his cufflinks, the deep sea blue gemstone buttons gleaming with a bright luster.
He didn't need to socialize at all; the moment he appeared at the banquet, everyone who knew him turned their attention to him. Those who didn't know him could glean a lot from the handshake alone, such as the way the other person extended both hands and unconsciously bent their waist.
The man's smile remained polite and considerate throughout, but never went too far.
Someone whispered in my ear, "Who is it that the TV station director is treating so respectfully?" Someone nearby replied—
The eldest son of the Xu Group.
The Xu family has expanded overseas, but almost all private hospitals in Kyushu belong to them. It's not that others are ignorant; after all, the only public appearance Xu Yanzhi made a few years ago was so sensational that the Xu family ordered its recall.
Cen Dong stepped forward and bumped fists with him. "It's been so long since you've been back to China. How does it feel to be back in Kyushu now?"
"It's alright. After spending so long in Ireland, I was a little overwhelmed to see the sunshine when I came back."
Xu Yanzhi smiled casually, "It's just that Dooby doesn't seem to like it very much."
Dobby is a thoroughbred English horse he bought, used to galloping across the vast grasslands. Now, he's allowed to roam the lawn behind his villa, and even though it's much larger than a golf course, he still seems unhappy.
Cen Dong said, "What a coincidence, I happen to have a horse farm, and I'm looking for a responsible owner like you."
Xu Yanzhi curled his lips into a smile, his tone carrying a deeper meaning, "So you were waiting for me here?"
Cen Dong burst into laughter.
Meng Jiuyi and Tan Ni were on the garden stepping side, and with young ladies coming over to greet them from time to time, they were unaware of what was happening on the other side. Meng Jiuyi noticed that she kept turning her head to look back, looking somewhat absent-minded.
Who are you waiting for?
Tan Ni's eyes widened. "No...of course not!"
"Your thoughts are practically written all over your face," Meng Jiuyi said, suppressing a laugh and drawing out an "oh," which made Tan Ni furious.
Just then, a commotion arose behind her. It was obvious that a distinguished guest had arrived at the banquet. Tan Ni excitedly ran over after recognizing who it was, nearly bumping into the guest's wine glass as they passed.
"Brother Yanzhi, why are you only arriving now?"
Meng Jiuyi gripped her glass tightly, narrowly avoiding the embarrassing situation of spilling red wine on her dress. She turned her head, wanting to see who could make Tan Ni act so rashly.
The light shone obliquely into her eyes, the overexposed light making her vision blur for a moment, before fading away. In the crowd, Meng Jiuyi saw Tan Ni clinging to the man's arm, seemingly acting coquettishly.
Someone was blocking their view, so all that could be seen was the man's suit gleaming like mist under the light.
Whether it was because the other party was too perceptive, or because her eyes were obviously gossipy and inquisitive, as she shielded her face and left, the man inadvertently glanced back at her.
Without bias, their gazes collided.
Meng Jiuyi's breath hitched.
The wind surging from the mountaintop suddenly became rapid, easily shattering the mountains she had climbed over the past six years, carrying the damp scent of last night's rain, and instantly choking her breath.
When her confession was rejected and she was heartbroken and couldn't sleep, she also naively hoped that things would turn around in the future.
When she rises to prominence and shines brightly in the future, Xu Yanzhi will have his day of regret.
However, her perception was wildly wrong. Time is a fine sculptor, melting his sunny and gentle nature into a calm and unassuming demeanor. Now, just by standing there, he seems unapproachable.
Six years ago, her naive and fragile courage to get closer to others had long since faded after being tempered by the world and gaining a clearer understanding of herself.
There is more than just a chasm between them.
After a few seconds of eye contact, his gaze lingered on her face, as if veiled by mist, as if he had forgotten who she was.
There was no time for him to reminisce afterwards. Tan Yuchen slowly walked up to him, and the two hugged and bumped fists, laughing and catching up.
Meng Jiuyi placed the wine glass on the table, turned around, and felt the astringent taste of the red wine on his tongue.
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