Chapter 99 "Xia Zhiyao's..."
Several investment partners had already arrived. Zhang Luyuan smiled and shook hands with each of the partners, his words revealing familiarity. Xia Zhiyao also nodded quietly to everyone, a professional smile on her face.
Inside the private room, on the surface, there were warm greetings and wine swirling in glasses, but underneath, a contest of numbers, capital, and power was taking place.
As she sat down, she caught a glimpse of Zhang Luyuan raising his glass across from her. His expression was gentle, but there was something else in his eyes.
My phone vibrated. I opened it and saw a message from Zheng Xiaotian. He was on a business trip in the US, and judging from the time, he must have woken up in the morning: "How's your day?"
Xia Zhiyao briefly summarized the situation at the meeting, and then added a few words: "[I'm currently at a dinner with Zhang Luyuan and the investors.]"
The reply came almost instantly: 【You actually went?】
Xia Zhiyao looked at the line of text, a slight smile curving her lips, and typed: "If I don't go, are you going to fly back from America?"
Zheng Xiaotian sent a really ugly emoji, followed by: 【Then I'll have to have Zhou Yue pick you up.】
Xia Zhiyao stared at the line of words, something flashing in her eyes. The screen lit up and dimmed, like a wisp of warmth coming from a great distance, tugging at her already taut nerves.
She took a deep breath, pushed her phone back into her bag, and when she looked up, her professional smile was back on, her gaze returning to the wine glasses and pleasantries on the table.
Halfway through the meal, the table was filled with empty wine bottles and newly served dishes. There was still a glass of red wine left in front of Xia Zhiyao. She had only taken a few sips. Her eyes remained clear, but a hint of weariness was visible in the details.
She spent the last night revising the plan until the early hours of the morning, barely slept, and then had two meetings in the afternoon. Even coffee couldn't quell her exhaustion. Now, sitting in this dimly lit, complexly scented banquet, a headache is creeping up her head, and she feels as if she's enveloped by something.
Her assistant, Lin Qianfan, asked quietly if she wanted to leave early. She shook her head slightly and gestured with her eyes for her to stay put.
While chatting and laughing with investors, Zhang Luyuan glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, noticing the fatigue in her eyes. He then gently steered the conversation towards her: "President Xia, what are your thoughts on the project layout for the next two years? Especially in the local market..."
Several investors listened with interest, asking questions from time to time, their laughter mingling with the sound of chopsticks.
Xia Zhiyao picked up her wine glass and took a small sip, setting it down very gently, as if afraid of disturbing something. She spoke, her voice still steady: "The local market is indeed our focus, but the specific strategy will depend on resource allocation."
"Resource allocation?" One investor raised an eyebrow. "Does Mr. Xia mean capital investment or personnel arrangements?"
“Both.” Xia Zhiyao paused. “Technological research and development requires continuous investment, but the pace of market expansion is also crucial. Too fast and it’s easy to suffer from indigestion; too slow and you’ll miss the window of opportunity.”
Zhang Luyuan chimed in at the opportune moment: "That's why Tianxing is willing to fully cooperate in terms of technical support. After all, a good product needs a good execution team." His words sounded nice, but Xia Zhiyao heard something else entirely.
"So what's the cooperation model?" another investor asked, getting straight to the point. "How will the two companies divide the work?"
Xia Zhiyao felt her headache getting worse, and her temples were throbbing. She knew this problem was bound to come sooner or later, but she didn't expect it to come so directly.
“The client has already determined the general direction,” she said slowly. “Heyi will be responsible for project execution and marketing, while Tianxing will provide technical support. We are still working out the specific details of the collaboration.”
"Adjustment?" The investor smiled. "Sounds like there's still a chance of things changing?"
Zhang Luyuan raised his glass and gestured towards Xia Zhiyao: "There are no variables, it just takes time. After all, the two companies have different styles, and it will take time to find the best way to cooperate."
His smile remained gentle, but Xia Zhiyao sensed the implication: time was exactly what he wanted.
Xia Zhiyao took a deep breath, raised her wine glass and took a sip. A burning sensation rose in her throat. She tried her best to keep her voice steady and answered the investors' questions one by one, even controlling her tone perfectly.
This meal was more than just eating; it involved investment relationships, resource exchanges, and probing of positions. Even with a splitting headache, she couldn't show the slightest impatience.
The neon lights outside the window refracted through the glass, casting dappled patterns on her eyelashes. Every time she spoke, it was like walking on a tightrope. She used professional terminology and logical solutions to keep the conversation going, and she responded to seemingly harmless questions with almost instinctive patience.
Zhang Luyuan would occasionally chime in, seemingly to add to her thoughts, but each time he would shift the responsibility and expectations onto her. His tone was as gentle as the wind, creating an invisible pressure around her.
Xia Zhiyao looked down at her phone. The screen lit up; it was a WeChat message from Zhou Yue: "Call me when you're done, I'll come pick you up."
Her fingers paused for a moment, the white light from the screen reflecting on her tired face. She quickly typed: [About an hour left.]
As Zhang Luyuan raised his glass, he noticed her movements: "In a hurry to get home?"
Xia Zhiyao acted as if she hadn't heard, turning to the investor: "Regarding the market expansion pace you mentioned earlier, I think it definitely needs to be implemented in stages. In the first stage, we can start with pilot programs in core cities..."
One of the investors nodded: "Yes, a steady and methodical approach is better. So, how long do you expect the first phase to take?"
Zhang Luyuan seemed unconcerned, but a faint glint flashed in his eyes. He leaned back in his chair, slowly sipped his wine, and turned his head to look at her profile as she spoke. He was all too familiar with that half-tired, half-gritting, focused expression, and it was exactly what he wanted.
Finally, the dinner party ended, and the investors stood up one after another, smiling as they said goodbye to Xia Zhiyao and Zhang Luyuan, saying things like "Let's get together again sometime" and "Thank you for your hard work."
Xia Zhiyao stood at the hotel entrance, her steps slightly unsteady. The night breeze carried away the smell of alcohol from her hair, and her headache still throbbed at her temples.
Zhang Luyuan casually shook hands with the last investor, then his gaze returned to her: "Would you like me to take you home?"
Xia Zhiyao tucked her hair behind her ear: "No need, someone's picking me up."
As they were talking, a black Porsche drove up from a distance, the door opened, and Zhou Yue got out.
The night breeze ruffled his slightly long black hair at the temples, a few strands brushing against his glasses, making his deep eyes even more captivating. The gold-rimmed glasses added a touch of refinement to him, but could not conceal the sharpness in his bones.
Under the streetlights, his features were perfectly outlined: a high, straight nose, tightly pursed thin lips, and an innate air of nobility, all exuding a captivating coldness.
Before Xia Zhiyao could speak, he had already walked up to her. Zhou Yue smiled when he saw her, a smile that contained the innocence of a young man, the certainty of a man, and the doting affection that was unique to her.
He reached out and put his arm around her shoulder. "Did you miss me?"
Xia Zhiyao's shoulders stiffened at first, but the next second she involuntarily leaned into his arms, greedily inhaling the faint woody scent on his body. In his arms, all the tension and unease slowly dissipated, leaving only a sense of security.
Seeing their posture, Zhang Luyuan understood what was going on. He pretended to be calm and said, "Hello, I am Zhang Luyuan from Heyi."
Zhou Yue slowly raised his eyes, his pupils behind his gold-rimmed glasses gleaming slightly in the light. His gaze was calm as a deep pool, yet it concealed a sharp, razor-sharp light. A gentle smile still lingered on his lips, but it exuded a dangerous elegance.
"Mr. Zhang, I've heard so much about you." Zhou Yue's voice was deep and clear, with a touch of lazy magnetism, yet also a hint of sarcasm.
At that moment, the hustle and bustle of the street, the music in the bar, and the footsteps of pedestrians were all reduced to background noise. Only his clean, cool, yet so strong aura spread in the night wind, like a silent declaration.
"I am Zhou Yue." His voice started off calmly, gentle and warm, but paused slightly before he spoke the next sentence. He lowered his head slightly, his glasses reflecting the light of the street lamp, and his slender fingers gently stroked Xia Zhiyao's shoulder, the movement soft yet carrying a strong sense of possessiveness.
After a moment, he spoke again, his voice carrying a casual yet sharp undertone: "Xia Zhiyao's..." He deliberately dragged out the tone, "...fiancé."
After saying this, Zhou Yue deliberately stared directly at Zhang Luyuan, his eyes seemingly gentle but actually hiding a cold light.
Zhang Luyuan, who had been casually twirling his fingers, paused almost imperceptibly. The faint smile on his wine glass quickly faded, and when he looked up again, his expression had returned to its usual calm. His eyebrows and eyes had soft lines but contained a sharp edge, and that sharpness flickered slightly against the backdrop of the night and neon lights, making it hard to tell whether it was restraint or provocation.
At that moment, the auras of the three people clashed silently. Zhou Yue's calmness carried an undeniable declaration, Zhang Luyuan's faint smile concealed a sharp counterattack, and Xia Zhiyao, caught in the middle, felt as if she were wrapped in two undercurrents, and the slight tremor in her heart was almost impossible to conceal.
"So it's good news coming soon?" Zhang Luyuan raised an eyebrow slightly, his voice carrying a mocking tone that was not quite a smile. "Why didn't you tell me?" His tone was gentle, but the end of his voice carried a hint of cold probing.
Zhou Yue did not respond immediately. His eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses met the other person's gaze directly. His slightly raised chin revealed his innate arrogance, and his whole person exuded a calm and unhurried sense of pressure.
“We will definitely send out invitations when we hold the wedding.” His tone was steady and his words were clear, each syllable like a carefully crafted pearl. “Mr. Zhang, you don’t need to worry about missing it.”
As they spoke, Xia Zhiyao felt him subtly tighten his arms, shielding her against his chest. His slender hand naturally covered the back of her hand, the warmth of his palm conveying a silent declaration through her skin—both possession and protection.
She couldn't help but glance at him, her gaze lingering for a second on the shadow of his jawline and the slightly taut muscle lines. That intense masculine charm suddenly made her feel a little suffocated.
Zhang Luyuan's lips curled into a slight smile as he leaned casually against the car, his shoulder resting against the door. His posture appeared relaxed and carefree, but a subtle glint of sharpness shone in his eyes. "That's good. Don't forget to invite me to your wedding."
Zhou Yue still wore that perfect smile, slightly raising his chin in a superior manner: "Definitely."
On the surface, their exchanges were all polite and friendly, but underneath, a tension like the glint of swords clashing was palpable, and the air itself seemed to thin as they stared at each other.
Zhou Yue leaned closer to Xia Zhiyao and whispered in her ear, "Let's go."
Xia Zhiyao was led forward by him, her wrist warm yet slightly cool in his palm. Her gaze unconsciously swept over the back: Zhang Luyuan was still leaning against the car, his tall figure silhouetted against the light, the red glow of his cigarette glowing little by little before being blown away by the wind.
The moment the car door closed, Xia Zhiyao leaned back in the passenger seat, her fingertips sliding down the seatbelt, a smile still lingering on her lips.
"Do you really have to be so quick-witted?" She turned her head to look at him, her voice carrying a hint of laughter and teasing, as if she was both amused and exasperated by his antics.
Zhou Yue gripped the steering wheel with one hand, his gaze still fixed on the streetlights and traffic ahead. "What, is it not working?" he said slowly and deliberately, his voice calm but carrying a hint of smug satisfaction.
Neon lights swept in through the windshield, flashing and flowing across their faces, half light and half shadow. Zhou Yue's gold-rimmed glasses shimmered under the neon lights, adding a touch of mystery to his handsome profile.
Xia Zhiyao glanced at him, pursed her lips slightly, and pretended to be indifferent, but secretly found it a little funny. This person was pretending to be calm while asserting his dominance in that situation just now. It was really interesting, like a large canine guarding its food.
Xia Zhiyao turned to the side, resting her chin on one hand, a smile spreading across her lips like a night breeze, but her gaze remained fixed on the perfect lines of his profile. She couldn't help but gently raise her hand and touch Zhou Yue's face: "You really are... so childish."
Zhou Yue focused on the road ahead, but his peripheral vision caught the smile in her eyes, and a smug smile involuntarily appeared on his lips: "I just want to see what his face will look like, he's such a good actor..." He wanted to say a few more unpleasant things, but he felt that it wouldn't be good to belittle his ex-boyfriend too much in front of Xia Zhiyao, so he swallowed his words.
Xia Zhiyao hadn't yet grasped his good intentions, and then asked, "What's wrong?"
Zhou Yue said, "Forget it, let's not talk about him anymore. I'm making this clear now, you're not allowed to invite him to the wedding!"
As he spoke, his voice carried a hint of boyishness. He casually patted her knee with his right hand. Xia Zhiyao looked down at his hand; the knuckles were distinct, and his nails were neatly trimmed, just like him.
Her eyes flickered, and she chuckled inwardly, but she didn't push his hand away. The atmosphere inside the car became ambiguous and tender, like a game without an ending, which the two of them tacitly enjoyed. Zhou Yue turned his head to secretly look at her, his eyes behind his glasses filled with tender light.
Zhang Luyuan leaned against the car, his suit jacket casually draped over his arm, a cigarette between his fingers. The light of the cigarette illuminated his profile, and his usually confident eyes now appeared somewhat dim. A hint of weariness and gloom was hidden in his sharp features.
The parking lot was so empty that he could almost hear his own heartbeat. He let out a long breath, and the white mist slowly dissipated in the night wind. His gaze fell on the exit not far away, and he could almost still see the taillights left by the car as it disappeared.
That tiny red light was like a fleeting firework, but it made him suddenly realize a cruel truth: no matter how he confronted her at the conference table, or how he brought up old issues or tested her limits in various situations, he could not change the fact that she already had someone who would unconditionally protect her.
The man with the gold-rimmed glasses appeared with such certainty, drawing her entirely into his sphere of influence. His unhurried possessiveness was like a silent declaration, almost proclaiming her ownership.
A sour feeling slowly welled up in Zhang Luyuan's chest. The cigarette in his hand was almost burned to the end without him noticing. For a moment, he didn't pay attention and burned his fingertips, causing him to tremble slightly.
The smell of smoke mixed with a slight stinging sensation seemed to be a stark reminder from the inside out that the contest he thought could continue was no longer what it used to be. The rules of the game had changed, but he was still standing on the old chessboard.
“Zhou Yue…” He silently repeated the name in his heart, and the more he thought about it, the more familiar it became. Something deep in his mind was gently stirred up. Xia Zhiyao had mentioned it in casual conversation when he was a child. It turned out to be him, the younger brother of the neighbor’s family.
At this moment, all the details that had been swept away by time came back to life: he remembered her description of the other person's silent and stubborn appearance when he was young, remembered that familiar tone, and looked at the man in front of him, in a suit, glasses, and with a composed demeanor, he could still vaguely see some old traces.
Zhang Luyuan looked up at the night sky, the smile on his lips first a self-deprecating one, then twisted into a bitter one: "So that's how it is."
His mind raced through the details of those projects: finances, connections, the bargaining chips she held, and Zhou Yue's recent investments, which were originally just for testing and delaying, but now had become a silent net in his mind.
"Can I protect her today, and can I protect her for a lifetime?" he murmured to himself, a cold smile appearing on his lips. The light from the cigarette butt flashed in his smile, making the shadows seem even deeper.
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