“No way.” Qiao Yitang hesitated. “He seems so composed and doesn’t say much. Aren’t male models supposed to be smooth talkers?”
Thinking of the dozen or so male models Song Zhi had called over earlier, Qiao Yitang felt goose bumps rise all over her.
The moment they arrived, they’d all chorused, “Hello, beautiful!” Their flattery had been so oily and obsequious that Qiao Yitang had struggled to get rid of them.
Yannis had a completely different air about him.
Though he was dressed much like the others, Qiao Yitang thought Yannis’s clothes must have cost tens of thousands more than theirs.
He was taller than every model she’d seen earlier—he looked to be about 1.9 meters tall. Perhaps his height made his clothes look more elegant.
But Song Zhi had been right about one thing: Yannis’s face was good enough to make him a top star even if he entered show business.
And it wasn’t just his face. His physique was exceptional, too.
Broad shoulders, a slim waist, and a long, graceful figure—he was a pleasure to look at.
Still, Qiao Yitang couldn’t explain why he made her feel a little intimidated. He was nothing like the approachable male models she usually saw.
She murmured, “If he really is a male model, I doubt he’s very good at the job. These days, rich women like obedient, lively puppy types. If someone like him sat beside one, she’d probably feel the temperature drop a few degrees…”
Song Zhi leaned closer. “What are you muttering? The music’s too loud. I couldn’t hear a word.”
Qiao Yitang came back to herself. “Nothing. I’m tired. Let’s go.”
Song Zhi clearly hadn’t had enough fun. She assumed Qiao Yitang was still too upset over He Jingchuan to enjoy herself.
Seeing her friend so badly hurt by that scumbag He Jingchuan made Song Zhi furious.
And when she got angry, she couldn’t help cursing him out.
“Just thinking about how you stayed in hotels when you went to the United Kingdom makes me mad. He Jingchuan had a place there and still wouldn’t let you stay with him. Every time, he made you stay in a hotel by yourself. He and Shen Keyan really have no shame!”
Shen Keyan was a classmate He Jingchuan had met while studying abroad. Qiao Yitang only found out later that the two of them had already been together when they were in the United Kingdom.
He Jingchuan had kept Qiao Yitang away from his home because he was keeping another woman there.
But at the time, Qiao Yitang hadn’t known any of this. She’d thought He Jingchuan had chosen a five-star hotel because he wanted her to be comfortable.
Now, every word Song Zhi said sounded like an accusation of how foolish Qiao Yitang had been.
Her heart began to ache all over again.
Maybe, back then, her visits to the United Kingdom had already been a burden to He Jingchuan.
“Song Zhi, I really am tired. Let’s go back.”
Song Zhi still wanted to keep cursing him, but seeing Qiao Yitang’s gloomy expression, she held her tongue.
“All right. Yitang, I know you’re hurting after the breakup, but this is a very good thing. Better a short, sharp pain than a long one.”
“I heard the Xie family heir is back from abroad. The Xie family is throwing him a welcome banquet in a few days, and apparently all the powerful people will be there.”
Song Zhi took Qiao Yitang’s hand. “There’ll be plenty of handsome men and beautiful women at the banquet. I’ll find a way to get us two invitations. Then you can take your pick, and we’ll find someone more handsome and richer than He Jingchuan—ten thousand times better!”
Song Zhi sincerely wanted Qiao Yitang to move on as soon as possible.
Qiao Yitang’s looks were among the best in all of Jing City.
Without He Jingchuan, men would be lining up down two whole streets to pursue her. What did He Jingchuan amount to, anyway?
Song Zhi hadn’t intended to curry favor with the Xie family, but for the sake of helping Qiao Yitang take her mind off things, she would do everything she could to get those invitations.
Qiao Yitang wasn’t interested in the Xie family heir and paid no attention to the matter.
She and Song Zhi left the bar not long after.
In the private room, Chengyan returned after being gone for more than half an hour.
Gu Shizhou looked baffled. “I thought you’d snuck off. Were you afraid we’d force you to drink?”
“No.” Chengyan strode over and took his previous seat. “It was stuffy in here. I went out for some air.”
Gu Shizhou wasn’t convinced. He studied Chengyan for a few moments, but with other people in the room, he didn’t press him further.
“Come on. Let’s drink.”
Chengyan picked up his glass and took a small sip.
He didn’t say much, spending most of the time listening to the others.
After they’d chatted for a while, Chengyan suddenly said, “I heard He Jingchuan is getting married.”
The room fell quiet for a moment. Someone said, “That’s right. On the eighth of next month. I got an invitation.”
The He family was fairly well known in Jing City, and He Group’s business had grown rapidly over the past few years. Everyone in the private room knew He Jingchuan.
But their own businesses were bigger still, so they spoke of He Jingchuan rather casually.
“He Jingchuan’s fiancée is Qiao Yitang from the Qiao family. The Qiao family may have fallen on hard times now, but before anything happened to her parents, He Jingchuan would’ve been marrying up.”
“Exactly. Now that the He family has made its fortune, he looks down on Qiao Yitang.”
“They aren’t even married yet, and he’s already keeping a mistress on the side. Everyone knows about it.”
“If Qiao Yitang had anyone backing her, she wouldn’t have to put up with this.”
“Honestly, Qiao Yitang is a hopeless romantic. Everyone knows she’s been chasing after He Jingchuan ever since they were in school…”
There was no shortage of contempt for He Jingchuan in their voices.
They were a few years older than He Jingchuan and moved in different circles. They looked down on the He family’s business, and even more on He Jingchuan himself.
Everything they said was gossip they’d heard around their circle.
In the end, it was all just gossip, and before long they moved on to another topic.
Gu Shizhou leaned closer. “Chengyan, when did you meet He Jingchuan?”
“I ran into him a few times in the United Kingdom.”
“Interested in He Group?”
Chengyan nodded along. “I heard He Group recently launched a few new projects. I’m interested in He Group and He Jingchuan.”
Gu Shizhou understood. “All right. I’ll let you know if anything happens over at He Group.”
Gu Shizhou assumed Chengyan was considering acquiring some of He Group’s businesses and didn’t think any further about it.
…
Not long after Qiao Yitang returned to her hotel, her phone rang.
The caller ID showed Fang Zhiqiu.
She guessed Fang Zhiqiu wanted to talk again about finding a job for her cousin Jiang Qing’an, so she didn’t answer.
But Fang Zhiqiu kept calling. When Qiao Yitang didn’t pick up once, she called twice; when she didn’t pick up twice, she called a third time.
Qiao Yitang had no choice but to answer.
The moment she did, Fang Zhiqiu’s booming voice made her ears ache.
“Why aren’t you answering? Are you trying to worry me to death? I thought something had happened to you!”
Qiao Yitang patiently replied, “I was in the shower and didn’t hear it. What is it?”
To her surprise, Fang Zhiqiu didn’t mention getting Jiang Qing’an a job at He Group.
“You haven’t been home in ages. Come home for dinner tomorrow.”
Qiao Yitang said, “I’ve been busy with work. We can talk about it when I have some time. If there’s nothing else, I’m going to hang up.”
Her coldness irritated Fang Zhiqiu, who raised her voice. “Don’t hang up. I have something to tell you.”
“The housekeeper was tidying the storage room yesterday and found an old photo of your parents. When do you have time to—”
Before she could finish, Qiao Yitang said urgently, “I’ll come home tomorrow!”