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Author: Qiyao

Chapter 1

Jiangcheng, late autumn, 5:30 pm.

>The sun had been shrouded in clouds for too long, trapped within the thick fog. It struggled to break free, casting only fragments of light.

Zheng Shuyi lay on the table for half a day, her forehead sweating profusely.

The crisp sound of a phone ringing stood out in the clattering mechanical keyboard noise, pulling Zheng Shuyi's consciousness from a state of haze.

"Hello, are you Zheng Shuyi, the reporter from Financial Weekly?"

Zheng Shuyi was leaning on the table, taking a call and forcing herself to sound awake. "Hello, this is me. May I ask who's calling?"

"I am Chen Sheng, an assistant to the president of Mingyu Bank. A month ago, your magazine and Shi Yan Shi, the general manager, scheduled an interview, originally set for tomorrow. Do you remember?"

Zheng Shuoyi instantly woke up and subconsciously straightened her back.

Of course, I remember this.

The name "Shi Yan" has been heard too many times this year.

At first, everyone knew him because he suddenly appeared in the financial world as the son of Mingyu Group's chairman.

After returning to China from studying in Europe, I took over as the head of Mingyu Bank, a private commercial bank under the Mingyu Group.

This wasn't seen as a good thing by industry professionals at the time, after all, the bank was already in a precarious state. Some financial commentators even took a more informal tone, suggesting that this was simply Times taking a defunct subsidiary and giving it to his son as a plaything.

However, after taking over the helm of Bank Yiyuan, Shi Yan decisively tackled the issues of excessive reliance on deposit and loan business and prominent risks. He focused on risk management and control mechanisms, achieving profitability that year. In the following two years, he capitalized on this success, and currently, the bank's performance surpasses its peak period.

At the age of 27, Shi Yan attracted widespread attention from the entire financial world. Various honors came pouring in, and interview invitations naturally flooded the office of the chairman of Mingyu Bank.

But to this day, interviews and news coverage about the feast are still meager.

Even the most mainstream outlets struggle to secure interviews, and getting even a snippet of their commentary is enough to grace the most prominent pages.

This time, it was the magazine's editor-in-chief who went to great lengths to secure this interview after navigating various connections.

When the editor assigned this task to Zheng Shuyi, the entire magazine office was filled with envy.

The name "Shiyan" is eye-catching, which means the journalist interviewing him will receive more attention.

But now this phone call, it made Zheng Shuyi's heart hang up. She cautiously asked, "Has something happened?"

"That's how it is," Chen Sheng said, "The interview scheduled for 9 a.m. tomorrow morning, but due to Mr. Shi's personal work reasons, he won't be free tomorrow."

Zheng Shuyi: "After that..."

"Perhaps I won't have time for a few days," Chen Sheng said. "So if it's convenient for you, could we push back the interview time to a week later?"

cannot.

Financial interviews require timeliness. If you wait a week to interview someone, the article will be outdated by the time it's published and reviewed.

"A week later, it really won't work. Can you see if you have some time? A phone interview would also be fine!"

"Chen Sheng: "This is probably not possible. I can't do this work for you, but it will take at least a week before I have time."

"What about tonight!" Zheng Shu asked eagerly, "Are you free tonight? Just for three hours, or even two hours would work."

Without waiting for Chen Sheng to reply, Zheng Shuyi gritted her teeth and said, "An hour will do! Just be a little flexible, please."

For this interview, I prepared for almost a month, devouring all of Shi Yan's public financial data. I'm aiming to win recognition with this article this year!

Chen Sheng fell silent for a moment before lowering his voice and saying, "Tonight there's a rather important banquet. Perhaps, I mean just perhaps, I might have some free time in the middle. What do you think..."

"I'll wait!" Zheng Shuyi readily agreed, "Give me your address, and I can come over to wait."

Before hanging up, Chen Sheng emphasized again: "Ms. Zheng, I can arrange a place for you, but I can't guarantee that I will always have time, you might make a wasted trip."

...

Only the mechanical "tut-tut" sound remained in the receiver, lingering in her ear for a long time. Zheng Shuyi slumped back onto the table with a thud, and the image of Zhang slowly dissipated from her mind. In its place came a hollowness, an emptiness that weighed heavily upon her.

When it was time for an interview dinner, it should have been a happy occasion.

But the psychological sensitivity during menstruation was heightened by this moment of loss, Zheng Shuyi's emotions were definitely not good, and there was even a hint of heartache.

Today is my boyfriend Yue Xingzhou's birthday.

This is the first birthday they have celebrated together.

Yue Xingzhou even specially prepared a restaurant and booked movie tickets to celebrate together after work.

Now, I can't even celebrate Yue Xingzhou's birthday with him, and I have to go to work while sick. I might even end up making a wasted trip.

Zheng Shuyi flipped her face upside down, took a few deep breaths with her eyes closed, and then immediately turned off the computer and started packing up.

Kong Nan was originally hunched over writing when she heard the silence from the desk across from her. She looked up and asked, "What's wrong?"

Zheng Shuyi leaned against the table for a while, waiting for the pain in her abdomen to subside before saying: "The interview was moved up, I have to go tonight."

"Huh?" Konan only then noticed Zheng Shuyi's face.

Although the faceplate was originally clean, now it was almost blindingly obvious how ill he was. The sickness was painted plainly on his face, completely devoid of its usual vibrancy and spirit.

"Can you still do it?"

"If I can't do it, then I have to. What else can I do?"

Zheng Shuyi walked to the printer, holding a stack of files. She frowned and stared at the floor for a while.

The printer hummed silently, paper neatly stacking up before him.

Suddenly, the ring of a cell phone broke the silence. Zheng Shuyi lifted her head, blinked, and then pulled out her own phone.

I should call Yue Xingzhou, but just as I flipped open the phone book, he called.

Baby, what time do you get off work? I'll pick you up.

Cheng Shu-yi leaned against the printer, circling on the page with her finger: "Sorry, I have to go on an assignment suddenly, it might take about two hours, so I probably can't have dinner with you."

After thinking for a moment, she said, "I don't feel well today, so I probably won't be able to watch the movie tonight either."

Yue Xingzhou sighed when he heard this and said, "Well then, I'll find a friend to live with."

"Well, I'm sorry." Zheng Shuyi pursed her lips, her voice getting even softer. "Can I make it up to you next time?"

After Kong Nan and Zheng Shuyi hung up the phone, Kong Nan twirled her pen, propped her chin with her other hand, and said with a smile, "Did you ditch your boyfriend?"

"What if?" Zheng Shuyi countered, "Are you going to stand up your boyfriend but not the banquet?"

"Oh, poor you. Your beloved boyfriend was just snatched away by some stranger to celebrate his birthday with him instead of you."

"It sounds like I went to celebrate Shi Yan's birthday with him." Zheng Shuyi picked up the materials and walked aside to bind them. "I can't even believe it myself. I don't even know what Shi Yan looks like, yet I'm ditching my boyfriend for him."

Kong Nan felt a little incredulous: "But speaking of which, your boyfriend doesn't mind?"

"What opinion could there be about this?" Zheng Shuyi thought for a moment and said, "He didn't say anything, which means he understood."

"Tsk, your boyfriend is way too reasonable." Kong Nan said while shutting down her computer. "Unlike my boyfriend, he's clingy to death. If I ditch him, no matter the reason, he'll definitely get mad at me."

For a moment, Zheng Shuoyi was lost in thought.

With a "click," my finger felt a sharp sting. Reflexively, I pulled my hand back, narrowly avoiding being punctured by the stapler.

But the sharp pain in her fingertips lingered, gradually spreading to her heart.

Zheng Shuyi held a file in one hand and a phone in the other, standing in front of the printer for a while, deep in thought.

"I'm off work." Kong Nan took his bag and handed her a box of medicine. "I saw that you ran out of painkillers, take this one, have some beforehand, so you don't faint from the pain during the interview."

After he finished speaking, he leaned closer and whispered, "If you mess this up, some people who are eagerly waiting for your failure will be over the moon."

Zheng Shuoyi was preoccupied with the four words "Tong Da Li" and had no intention of responding to Kong Nan's reminder.

Yue Xingzhou, aren't you being too "understanding" ?

Moreover, even though someone just said they weren't feeling well, Yue Xingzhou didn't ask where they were uncomfortable.

Once a thought arises, it is difficult to prevent it from taking root in the mind.

Zheng Shuyi sat down at her desk in a daze, hesitated for a moment with her phone before sending a message to Yue Xingzhou.

Zheng Shu Yi: Are you unhappy?

Yue Xingzhou: ?

Yue Xingzhou: No, no problem. I understand, work is important. We can celebrate many more birthdays together in the future.

Yue Xingzhou: By the way, you said you weren't feeling well, what's wrong? Are you sick?

It seems like it's easy to be sensitive and overthink things during menstruation.

Zheng Shu Yi: It's nothing, just feeling uncomfortable because of my period TAT

Yue Xingzhou: Feeling sorry for the baby.

Yèxīngzhōu: Where are you interviewing? I'll pick you up after it's finished.

Chen Sheng's address was Warner Estate, which is located far away in the western suburbs.

It was rush hour, and traffic was jammed. Zheng Shuyi endured her stomach ache and took the subway, then a bus, before finally hailing a taxi. It took her an hour to reach her destination.

To say that I wasn't bothered is a lie. Along the way, I don't know how many times I silently cursed Shi Yan.

Ironically, Chen Sheng had arranged for them to be in the lounge on the top floor of the banquet hall. It was spacious and luxurious, yet completely empty, capable of amplifying a stranger's loneliness a hundredfold.

Zheng Shuoyi sat on the sofa, her eyes swaying with the ticking of the wall clock, glancing around repeatedly, trying to keep herself awake.

However, the wait was simply too long. Several times, she felt like a little chick pecking at grain, her head drooping nearly to sleep, until the sound of a door creaking open startled her. Zheng Shuyi sat bolt upright and raised her head to look towards the doorway.

Under a straight lamp, a man stepped in, with the line getting brighter and brighter.

Zheng Shuyi looked at the visitor and suddenly lost all her confidence.

It wasn't Shi Yan who came, but his brother-in-law Qin Xiaoming, the current second-in-command of Mingyu Group.

This person has been interviewed by Zheng Shuoyi several times, so the two are considered acquaintances.

Qin Xiaoming's first glance upon entering also caught sight of Zheng Shuyi.

At first, he straightened his back suddenly, and his bright eyes could be seen shining even in the dark with great excitement.

But the moment their eyes met, his gaze dimmed, and he seemed to slump a little.

Qin Xiaoming paused, taking his phone aside and covering it, "How did you get here?"

Zheng Shuyi answered truthfully, "I was just waiting. I had an interview today."

Qin Xiaoming sized him up and down, lingering a few seconds on his pale face, but didn't say much. He only muttered "It's so late" before leaving.

Zheng Shuyi sat for another two hours, which felt like two long nights.

Outside, it began to rain sometime. The raindrops patter on the leaves, making a mournful "rustling" sound.

Occasionally, a quiet from the party downstairs would drift up. Though faint, it was enough to imagine the lively scene.

Thus, Zheng Shuyi felt she had it worse.

Just when I was fighting off sleepiness, my eyelids fluttering with exhaustion, the phone finally rang.

The crisp sound of the bell echoed ominously through the empty house.

Miss Zheng, I'm sorry, the banquet here has already ended. Mr. Shi has other things to attend to next, so...

As expected.

Zheng Shuyi was silent for a few seconds before speaking, "I understand, thank you."

This interview is still too late.

At the moment Zheng Shuyi stood up, her head was spinning. She leaned against the sofa for a while before finally stepping into the elevator in her high heels.

By the time we reached the gates of Warner Manor, unsurprisingly, the rain had set in.

Autumn leaves rustled in the cold wind, rain slicing at Zheng Shuyi's skin like knives.

I didn't expect to be outside for so long today. I was dressed in my usual OL suit, looking serious and professional. But the thin layer of clothing was just a formality; it wouldn't help much against the heat.

His legs were long and stretched out, just barely covering his knees in the chilly wind. He was more eye-catching than the luxury cars parked at the entrance.

Gradually, people started coming out. Zheng Shuyi stepped aside and when she turned her head, she discovered that everyone was someone she had interviewed before.

It looks like this is a financial industry networking event.

The CFO of an internet finance company and Zheng Shuoyi had once met briefly. Seeing her looking pitiful waiting for a car, he offered to take her home, but Zheng Shuoyi declined.

Just now Yue Xingzhou said he's coming to pick me up.

It's now 11:00 pm, there is still one hour left until his birthday.

Though it may not make a difference in the end, I still want to say "Happy Birthday" to him myself.

The first-floor parking corridor was spacious and clean. Visitors' cars came and went, leaving trails of taillights in the twilight.

Soon, there were few people left in the banquet hall.

>"Zheng reporter?" a man stepped forward.

Zheng Shuyi turned her head and glanced at a high-ranking executive from a certain capital company she had only met once, but who often messaged her on WeChat.

The man smiled and stepped forward, getting very close. He spoke with a drunken slur: "Alone? I'll walk you home."

This person usually appears polite and composed in social situations, but this time they didn't even bother with pleasantries; their true intentions were obvious.

Zheng Shu Yi: "Thank you, I don't need it."

The man walked closer and grabbed her arm, "Come on, it's raining too hard to get a taxi."

Zheng Shuyi frowned and pulled away his hand. "No, really, thank you. My boyfriend will be here soon."

Hearing the words "boyfriend," the man glanced at Zheng Shuyi, and when their eyes met, he knew this wasn't a polite refusal. He turned around and left without another word.

Next, another young man extended the same invitation.

This is also known, but Zheng Shuyi knows he's a real rich second generation who plays for keeps.

It seems like this isn't a serious financial cocktail party today.

After using the term "boyfriend" to fend off that person, Zheng Shuyi stood against the wall.

I was originally supposed to meet Shi Yan today, but he stood me up. That made me feel bad, and then things just kept getting worse, so I felt a nameless anger burning inside me.

The scene of someone standing in the cold wind came right into Qin Xiaoming's eyes as he walked out of the banquet hall.

Qin Xiaoming showed compassion and turned to Shi Yan during the feast, saying: "Isn't this Zheng Shuyi? This little girl waited for you all night out of kindness. There are too many people here, it's inconvenient for me. You should find an opportunity to help her get home safely."

As Shi Yan looked back, people wrapped themselves in scarves, revealing only half of their faces, which appeared even more pale and weak under the bright lights. Even their noses were red from the cold.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like translated! ?

When Zheng Shuoyi looked up from her phone, a black Bentley slowly stopped in front of her.

At the same time, a sound of footsteps came from behind.

Zheng Shuoyi turned her head, and for a moment, her eyes met those of the man walking toward her.

The man's eyes lingered for a moment, the crystal chandelier above casting a cold glint on his gold-rimmed glasses as the chain beside his cheek swayed slightly.

"Zheng, the reporter?" He stopped, the curve of his arm under the tailored jacket hinting at a distance. "Would you like me to walk you out?"

This man, Zheng Shuyi, has never met.

But I can't help but think, how come all the rich second generation kids these days are so careless?

No, thank you.

Behind the lenses, a pair of eyes sparkled with bright lights. The corners tilted upwards, forming a playful gaze that carried an undeniable intensity.

Thus, under the piercing cold wind, Zheng Shuyi met his gaze and added, "My boyfriend will be here to pick me up soon."

Every word, emphasizing the three words "boyfriend," implies that I have a boyfriend.

"……"

Shi Yan's gaze flickered with an unreadable chill as a cold arc played at the corner of his lips. He clasped one hand in his pocket and strode away.

The valet opened the car door, and he climbed in. The Bentley sped away.