This restaurant was a Chinese establishment with an elegant atmosphere, and the prices were similar to those of the previous place they had visited.
When Xie Yujun had booked this restaurant, she had already ordered dishes according to everyone’s preferences, but she hadn’t expected Ji Xueli to come as well.
“Miss Ji, please take a look and see if there’s anything else you’d like,” Xie Yujun handed the menu to her.
“No need, I’ll just have these,” Ji Xueli waved her hand dismissively. They were all here to discuss work; the meal was secondary.
Ji Yanzhou glanced at the dishes on the table and then said, “A bowl of lily and lotus seed porridge, hot.”
“Is your stomach bothering you again?” Xie Yujun couldn’t help but ask with concern upon hearing this.
Ji Yanzhou shook his head and glanced at Ji Xueli, who was burying herself in sipping red wine.
“Maybe I should go get the stomach medicine from the car,” Xie Yujun was still somewhat worried.
Ji Yanzhou grabbed her wrist. “It’s fine, just sit and eat.”
Duan Qingyu observed their interaction and couldn’t help but glance at the person beside him to gauge her reaction. However, she was completely absorbed in tasting the red wine and probably hadn’t even heard what they were saying.
“This wine is quite good, you should try it,” Ji Xueli recommended to Duan Qingyu.
Duan Qingyu looked at her. “If I drink, who will drive?”
“That’s true. Then you can drop me off on your way back,” Ji Xueli casually continued.
She said it so directly. Duan Qingyu expressed deep admiration for her level of audacity. “And which route is that supposed to be?”
“The route where I’m asking you for a favor,” Ji Xueli smiled, revealing her teeth. To spend more time together, she had already abandoned all sense of shame.
“Then I’d better drink after all, since you recommended it,” Duan Qingyu picked up his wine glass, his voice lazy.
This dog of a man, what’s the big deal about giving someone a ride?
“Go ahead, it’s delicious,” Ji Xueli forced a smile, but inwardly she wished he would choke on the wine.
Duan Qingyu could see right through her fake smile. The corner of his lips lifted slightly as he took a sip of the wine. It was indeed, as she had said, a fine red wine.
“Sir, your lily and lotus seed porridge,” the server respectfully addressed Ji Yanzhou as he brought over the porridge.
Ji Yanzhou glanced at it and motioned for it to be placed in front of the woman opposite him.
Xie Yujun looked over and saw that it was Ji Xueli. She tightened her grip slightly. Did he order the porridge for her because he saw her drinking wine…?
“Ma’am, your porridge,” the server tactfully walked over to Ji Xueli and said to her.
“Thank you,” Ji Xueli put down her wine glass and looked at the bowl of lily and lotus seed porridge. Thinking it was ordered by Xie Yujun, she gave her a friendly smile.
This assistant of Ji Yanzhou’s is quite nice. So why did her mother tell her to be extra careful?
Ji Xueli took a sip of the porridge. The sweetness was just right, soft and fragrant—not bad at all.
Seeing the satisfied smile curling at the corner of her mouth, Ji Yanzhou couldn’t help but recall how many times they had come here just for the lily and lotus seed porridge…
“When are you planning to go abroad?” Ji Yanzhou pulled back his thoughts and spoke up.
“In a few days,” Duan Qingyu replied.
Ji Xueli looked up. “What are you going abroad for?”
“A business trip,” Duan Qingyu said.
“Oh,” she nodded. So she wouldn’t see him for several days…
Oh well, distance makes the heart grow fonder. Maybe by the time he returns, their relationship will have warmed up again.
“How long has Secretary Xie been with Ji Yanzhou?” Duan Qingyu’s tone was deliberately casual.
“Over two years,” Xie Yujun hadn’t expected him to ask about her. She had attended business dinners with him before, but this young master had never paid her any attention.
Duan Qingyu raised an eyebrow and continued, “I heard that President Ji once suffered from alcohol poisoning, and you were the one who saved him.”
Alcohol poisoning? So she was his lifesaver. No wonder he liked her. Ji Xueli looked up, gaining a new understanding of them. In the novel, they should be the second male and female leads, right?
Ji Yanzhou clenched his hand, unable to resist glancing at the reaction of the person opposite him. She was calm, even seeming to have a sudden realization…
“It was just a coincidence,” Xie Yujun replied casually.
“No wonder,” Ji Xueli couldn’t help but say.
“No wonder what?” Ji Yanzhou’s voice turned cold as he looked at her.
Ji Xueli said, “No wonder she’s your secretary. Why are you being so harsh…”
Did she hit a nerve or something? Why was he glaring at her…
“It seems President Ji doesn’t want to bring this up in front of others,” Duan Qingyu said with a faint smile at the corner of his lips, clearly enjoying the drama.
Ji Yanzhou’s eyes turned icy, clearly in a bad mood.
A clash of sharp words… and she had somehow gotten caught up in it for no reason. Ji Xueli silently took a few more sips of her porridge.
Hearing his words, Xie Yujun’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, her mind seemingly wandering to something.
Duan Qingyu leaned lazily against the back of his chair, quite pleased with the situation. Everyone had their own thoughts, yet they were all connected to one another.
He glanced at the person beside him. She was carelessly checking her phone and replying to messages, completely unaware that she had become the central point of these connections.
“President Duan, let’s discuss the development of Haitang Bay first,” Xie Yujun stepped in to break the tension.
Time to talk business. Ji Xueli picked up her phone and tactfully stood up. “I’ll head back now. I have things to do in the afternoon.”
Duan Qingyu nodded in acknowledgment.
“Wait outside. I’ll take you,” Ji Yanzhou said in a low voice.
“No need. Cheng Du can drop me off on the way,” Ji Xueli waved her hand. She really couldn’t figure this guy out. He had just been harsh with her, and now he was offering to take her…
Did he really think she was an easy target?
Ji Xueli walked out but then turned back, leaning against the doorframe to remind Duan Qingyu, “Remember to get a designated driver, or have Zhen Zhang pick you up. Don’t drive yourself.”
“I know,” he replied flatly, sounding somewhat indifferent.
Ji Yanzhou’s brows furrowed tightly, a flash of coldness flickering in his eyes. Very well, Ji Xueli.