On Friday evening, the lights of the Xijing Television Building gradually lit up.
Wen Yan had just finished preparing the script for a live broadcast program. Rubbing her slightly throbbing temples, she began packing up to leave for the day.
Just then, her phone rang, the screen flashing with the words “Grandpa.”
She sighed inwardly, answering the call and trying to keep her voice light. “Hello, Grandpa.”
“Yanyan, are you off work yet?” Grandpa Wen Guohua’s voice came through the receiver, louder and more insistent than usual, carrying an undeniable enthusiasm. “Your mom made your favorite soup and bought the crabs you love! Hurry home!”
Wen Yan could hear the determination in her grandfather’s tone and knew there was no way to refuse. She could only reply, “Alright, I’ll pack up and head back right away.”
Upon returning home, the aroma of food greeted her, but the atmosphere seemed more formal than usual.
Halfway through the meal, Grandpa put down his chopsticks, cleared his throat, and beamed with a kindly smile. “Yanyan, tomorrow is Saturday. You don’t have any plans, do you?”
Wen Yan paused, her chopsticks hovering over the dishes. “Tomorrow, I might have to go to the station to work overtime. There’s a script…”
“What overtime!” Grandpa interrupted, raising his voice. “Weekends are for resting and spending time with family! Tomorrow, you, me, and your parents—we’re all going out together.”
“Where to? And for what?” Wen Yan set down her chopsticks, her sense of foreboding growing stronger.
“To meet your Grandpa Li,” Grandpa said, his eyes lighting up. “My old comrade-in-arms I’ve mentioned to you. His grandson, Li Yanzhou, is now in charge of the Li Group. Young and accomplished! It’s a perfect chance for you two young people to get to know each other!”
Li… Yan… Zhou?
These three words struck Wen Yan’s eardrums like three heavy blows, leaving her mind blank for a moment.
Li Yanzhou!
This name frequently appeared on the covers of financial magazines and the headlines of business news. He was a man closely associated with a multi-billion-dollar business empire, a cold and decisive business style, and rumors of being “aloof from women,” “cold as ice,” and “unfathomable.”
A legendary figure in the Xijing business world, the young leader of the Li Group.
It was said that his parents passed away early, and he was raised by his grandfather, Li Hongyi. After returning from studying abroad, he restructured the group with swift and decisive measures, propelling the Li Group to new heights in just a few years.
No one doubted his capabilities. But regarding his personal life, especially his romantic affairs, the most widely circulated label was—emotionless.
The media could only speculate, digging up stories of him attending various business events, always accompanied by a capable team of assistants, indifferent to any attempts by women to approach him, his gaze so cold it could freeze anyone.
Once, a bold socialite tried to “accidentally” spill wine on him at a banquet. He didn’t even lift an eyelid, simply instructing his assistant to handle it before turning and leaving, leaving the woman utterly humiliated.
Over time, rumors like “Li Yanzhou despises women,” “Li Yanzhou is a work machine,” and “Li Yanzhou’s sexual orientation is a mystery” ran rampant. Yet, he never responded, and no one dared to confront him directly.
Now, such a business titan, living high above the clouds and seemingly detached from worldly affairs, was supposed to go on a blind date with her?!
Wen Yan felt a chill shoot from the soles of her feet to the top of her head, her sense of absurdity reaching its peak.
“Grandpa! What kind of joke is this? Li Yanzhou? You want me to go on a blind date with him? We’re not even from the same world!”
An image of that man surfaced in her mind—in screenshots from financial news, he was always dressed in impeccably tailored dark suits, standing tall and straight as a pine tree, with a handsome yet icy face. Between his brows lingered an unshakeable aloofness and a calmness that seemed to control everything.
He stood among a group of business tycoons whose average age was a decade older than his, yet his presence was in no way diminished—if anything, it appeared even more formidable.
Would someone like that really go on a blind date with her, a mere financial news anchor?
This was even more absurd than the most outrageous financial gossip!
“How are you not from the same world?” Wen Guohua said dismissively, stroking his graying beard. “You’re my granddaughter, a graduate of a prestigious university, with a respectable job. What about your looks or personality isn’t a match for him? Besides, this was arranged by me and your Grandpa Li. Our bond as old comrades-in-arms extends to our grandchildren. Yanzhou is a filial child. Since his grandfather has spoken, he’ll definitely come.”
Wen Yan felt her scalp tingle at the thought. Just imagining the scene: her, Wen Yan, sitting stiffly upright, while across from her was the legendary CEO of the Li Group, whose mere glance could make subordinates break into a cold sweat. The two of them, staring at each other, discussing… marriage?
The mere thought made Wen Yan feel suffocated. Going on a blind date with an iceberg like that, a work machine? She’d rather be stabbed—it would be less painful!
“I’m not going!” Wen Yan refused firmly, making one last attempt to resist. “Grandpa, I’m very busy with work. The station is preparing a new program lately, and I…”
“Work, work! All you care about is work!” Grandpa’s expression darkened. “Your Grandpa Li and I share a bond forged in life and death! His grandson is talented, capable, and outstanding. It’s just a meal to get to know each other—is it going to kill you? I think you’re just trying to upset me on purpose!”
“I’m not trying to upset you. I just really don’t want to go on a blind date!”
“You don’t have a choice!” Grandpa’s attitude was unusually firm. “Both families’ elders have already agreed! You must go tomorrow!”
“I said I’m not going!” Wen Yan’s stubborn temper flared up, fueled by the stress of recent work and the anger of being forced into this arrangement. “If you keep pushing me, I won’t come home for dinner anymore!”
“You—!” Grandpa pointed at her, his hand trembling with anger. His face suddenly turned pale, and he clutched his chest with one hand, breathing heavily. “Fine… fine, Wen Yan. Are you trying to kill me? I’m old and useless now, my words don’t matter anymore… Oh, my chest…”
“Dad! Are you okay? Don’t get so worked up!” Wen Yan’s parents were startled and hurried over to support Grandpa, then turned to Wen Yan anxiously. “Yan Yan! Look how upset you’ve made Grandpa! Hurry up and agree!”
Wen Yan watched as Grandpa clutched his chest, looking genuinely uncomfortable and struggling to breathe. She felt both angry and anxious, but more than anything, she was filled with heartache and helplessness.
She knew Grandpa was in good health and that this “episode” was likely partly an act, but what if she really did push him too far…
A wave of overwhelming powerlessness washed over her.
Looking at her parents’ worried expressions and Grandpa’s “agonized” face, she finally relented:
“Fine, I’ll go! I’ll go… Grandpa, please don’t be angry.”
Hearing this, Grandpa slowly lowered the hand he had been clutching to his chest. His breathing eased considerably, and a triumphant smile spread across his face:
“That’s more like it… I knew Yanyan was a sensible girl.”