Bai Yuwei’s contract was finalized.
With Zhai Yu present, she demanded the treatment of a top-tier influencer. By the end of the negotiations, Shen Yi had given up trying to salvage the situation.
Whether she ended up losing money or making a profit, it was Zhai Yu’s money anyway. Let her do as she pleased.
Ruan Ning sat quietly to the side, not saying a word.
She really wanted to leave, to avoid sharing the same space with Zhai Yu.
Just then, Zhou Ying, who had been out shopping, pushed the door open and walked in.
“Boss Shen, Boss Song, the barbecue venue we booked—the company that reserved it before us suddenly canceled for today. The owner said we could go ahead and use it earlier.”
Yunmeng had performed exceptionally well last quarter, even producing two million-follower influencers. Shen Yi thought it would be nice to reward everyone with a barbecue party.
Zhou Ying, this little girl, really had no sense of timing.
He cleared his throat. “Got it. Next time, just send a message about things like this.”
Zhou Ying mumbled an “okay” and left.
With Zhai Yu still here, Shen Yi decided to ask the big investor for his opinion. “Mr. Zhai, would you like to join us? We had a great quarter, and I thought it’d be nice to treat the employees.”
Bai Yuwei couldn’t sit still. “Brother, let’s go. I’ll go with you. My birthday is coming up soon, so we can celebrate it together.”
Shen Yi’s brows furrowed into a tight knot.
Lin Qianyu, who was sitting nearby, also spoke up. “Ah Yu, for your sister’s birthday, can I come too?”
Lin Qianyu’s voice was soft and gentle, enough to make anyone’s bones melt. “Auntie said we should spend more time together to get to know each other.”
Zhai Yu glanced at Song Ruannin, who had been sitting quietly without a word, lost in thought.
The corner of his lips curled up. “Sure.”
Hearing this, Song Ruannin was taken aback.
So Lin Qianyu was his blind date?
Well, the daughter of Yanda University’s president was certainly a match for the Zhai family.
Hearing that more people were joining, Shen Yi rubbed his temples and looked at Song Ruannin. “Ruannin, bring Xiao Ziyan along tonight. I haven’t seen her in a while and miss her.”
“No need. She’s going to her grandma’s today.” She took a deep breath. “Shen Yi, I have something to take care of today, so I won’t be going either.”
Shen Yi was stunned, but before he could say anything, Zhai Yu let out a mocking laugh.
“You’ve only been a boss for a few days, and you’re already acting like one.” He looked coldly at Song Ruannin. “Or is Boss Song trying to be special?”
His tone was full of sarcasm. Song Ruannin bit her lip. “Sorry, I wasn’t considerate enough. I’ll go.”
In the afternoon, the company employees were let off early to drive to the suburban campsite.
Just as Song Ruannin stepped downstairs, Zhai Yu’s car drove away.
She got into Shen Yi’s Cayenne and fastened her seatbelt. Shen Yi immediately started gossiping.
“Ruannin, you missed quite the show earlier. Bai Yuwei and Zhai Yu’s blind date were fighting over the passenger seat in his car. They almost came to blows, hahaha!”
He was gloating, only then noticing Song Ruannin’s disinterested expression.
“Ruannin, are you okay? If you really don’t want to go, I can take you home.”
Song Ruannin replied lightly, “I’m going. Why wouldn’t I? If I don’t, won’t the company gossip about me?”
Just then, Zhou Ying got into the car, carrying some homemade marinated chicken wings.
The three of them chatted and laughed along the way, creating a lively atmosphere in the car.
Zhou Ying was a girl who couldn’t keep her thoughts to herself. Seeing the conversation flowing, she asked Song Ruannin a question.
“Ruannin, what’s your relationship with that Mr. Zhai?”
The scene of Ruan Ning being slapped by Zhai Yu’s sister was still vivid in her mind, coupled with the look Zhai Yu had just given Ruan Ning, she felt she had stumbled upon some major gossip in Yancheng.
After asking, the car fell into silence, and Shen Yi shot her a sharp glare.
“Ex-boyfriend,” Ruan Ning said calmly.
“Sorry, Ruan Ning, I didn’t mean to pry,” Zhou Ying quickly apologized after her initial surprise.
“It’s fine, it was a long time ago,” Ruan Ning smiled. “It’s all in the past.”
Zhou Ying held up a chicken wing as if swearing an oath: “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely keep your secret.”
Her comical expression made Ruan Ning laugh.
The car stopped at the entrance of the suburban campsite. Zhou Ying, carrying her things, trudged away with effort, while Shen Yi pulled Song Ruannin aside.
He scratched his head: “Ruan Ning, how do you feel about Zhai Yu now…”
“We’re nothing now,” she said firmly, her gaze even more resolute. “Shen Yi, a person won’t jump into the same fire pit twice in a lifetime. I’m not a fool.”
Seeing her determined attitude, Shen Yi finally felt relieved.
He knew better than anyone how deeply Song Ruannin had loved Zhai Yu back then.
Even with a high fever, Song Ruannin would knit a scarf for Zhai Yu, murmuring his name deliriously in her illness: “Zhai Yu, Zhai Yu…”
Anyone who didn’t know better would think Zhai Yu had cast a spell on her.
No matter how much he, as a friend, advised her that a girl should be more reserved, she never listened.
When Uncle Song had his accident, combined with her breakup with Zhai Yu, Song Ruannin cried day and night until her eyes were nearly swollen shut.
Zhai Yu was heartless enough—after being recognized by the Zhai family, he never once called Ruan Ning.
If Song Ruannin still harbored thoughts of getting back together with such a ruthless person, he might just slap her awake.
When the two arrived at the campsite, most of the employees were already there.
Seeing Shen Yi, the employees gathered around, chatting and laughing as they pulled him away.
Ruan Ning glanced toward the makeshift sofa and table set up nearby.
Zhai Yu was sitting there, with one person on each side, both extremely close to him. Lin Qianyu was whispering into Zhai Yu’s ear.
The man’s expression was indifferent, as if uninterested in everything around him.
Ruan Ning took a light glance at the three of them. When her eyes met Zhai Yu’s, she immediately looked away.
“Ruan Ning! We don’t have enough charcoal. Come help me gather firewood!” Zhou Ying shouted from a distance.
Ruan Ning responded and jogged over.
Behind the open campsite was a small hill of modest elevation. Ruan Ning became more engrossed in gathering firewood and slowly ventured deeper inside.
With a thud, she bumped into something.
Looking up, she met Zhai Yu’s gloomy eyes. A cigarette dangled from the corner of his mouth.
Why was he here?
“Excuse me,” Ruan Ning apologized and tried to walk past him.
After walking some distance, she glanced back and saw the man following her.
Song Ruannin wanted to ask something but said nothing, turning her head and continuing inward.
After walking a bit further, she turned around again. Zhai Yu was still there.
She turned and took two steps toward Zhai Yu. Standing at different heights, their eyes met.
“Zhai Yu,” she called his name. Zhai Yu paused, raising an eyebrow to look at her.
“You’d better not smoke here. It’s dry, and a fire would be troublesome,” she said, pointing to the no-smoking sign nearby.
The corners of Zhai Yu’s eyes twitched slightly.
After her reminder, Song Ruannin turned to leave, but her hand was suddenly grabbed.
The man took a deep drag of his cigarette, held it in his mouth, threw the butt on the ground, and crushed it underfoot.
Then, he slowly blew the smoke from his mouth into Song Ruannin’s face.
Ruan Ning was choked into coughing several times, tears uncontrollably welling up from the coughing.
When had he become such a scoundrel?
The cold, aloof youth from her memories who never touched cigarettes or alcohol had one day turned into this.
She glared angrily at Zhai Yu.
Zhai Yu sneered, “Are you trying to control me? Song Ruannin.”
Ruan Ning lowered her head, refusing to look at him.
He lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “What are you to me now? What right do you have to control me?”