The restaurant was brilliantly lit. At the entrance, women dressed in sharp professional uniforms bowed slightly on both sides, warmly welcoming the guests. Yan Ji swept her eyes over the venue. The first floor was filled with tables, occupied by scattered groups of people who were clearly either wealthy or powerful.
A waiter appeared before them, a professional smile plastered on his face. “May I help you, honored guests?”
“Liyuan Private Room 312.” Zhang Tong replied.
The waiter turned slightly, gesturing ahead. “Certainly. Right this way, please.”
Following the waiter up to the second floor, they stopped outside a private room tucked into the corner. After confirming the sign read Liyuan 312, Zhang Tong stepped forward and pushed open the door.
Since they were early, the private room was currently empty. Zhang Tong gestured for Yan Ji to take a seat, using the downtime to continuously drill her on the evening’s etiquette.
“Besides CEO Chen, our company boss will also be here tonight, along with two of the company’s newcomers. CEO Chen controls countless luxury brands, so you absolutely must seize this opportunity……”
After a brief pause, Zhang Tong added, his tone uneasy, “Just don’t do anything foolish.” Although this was a rare, career-making opportunity, he still didn’t want to see the artist he had built up from scratch sell out her own integrity.
Yan Ji smiled and nodded reassuringly. Before long, the heavy door swung open again. Two young women wearing exquisite makeup and daring, sexy outfits walked in, closely followed by their manager.
“Oh? Old Zhang, you got here pretty early.” The man eyed Zhang Tong and Yan Ji sitting nearby. A dark glint flashed through his eyes before he quickly masked it with a smile and approached them.
Zhang Tong clearly held no high opinion of the man. Wearing a thoroughly perfunctory smile, he casually replied, “You’re not exactly late either, Old Liu. Are these two the newcomers you’re managing?”
Liu Sheng chuckled cheerfully. “That’s right. Both of them are promising talents. With a little cultivation, they’ll definitely become the backbone of the company.” As he spoke, he turned to the two women behind him. “This is Yan Ji, the pillar of our company and your senior. Hurry up and greet her.”
“Sister Yan.” The two greeted obediently.
Yan Ji gave a polite nod, her tone calm and measured, “Hello.”
With that, the room fell into a brief, awkward silence.
Yan Ji’s phone vibrated in her hand. She unlocked it to find a message from Zhang Tong, sitting just across from her. He was telling her to keep her guard up around Liu Sheng.
Yan Ji raised her brows slightly. After typing back a quick acknowledgment to let him know she understood, she slid her phone away.
At exactly eight in the evening, the door to the private room opened once more. This time, a young man in a flawlessly tailored suit walked in. He was exceptionally handsome, but the rigid coldness between his brows projected an unapproachable aura, making him seem entirely detached.
The man entering right alongside him was Pan Yong, the big boss of Yan Ji’s entertainment agency.
The moment they appeared, Zhang Tong snapped to his feet. “President Pan, CEO Chen.” He shot Yan Ji a meaningful look, and she rose unhurriedly from her seat to greet them as well.
Her voice was soft, gentle, and incredibly pleasing to the ear. Subconsciously, Chen Jin’an glanced in her direction, only to collide directly with a pair of deep, dark eyes. He froze for a fraction of a second, his eyes narrowing as he expressionlessly sized Yan Ji up.
“Hurry up and greet them too.” Liu Sheng urged his own talents, utterly unwilling to be left in the shadows.
The two women behind Liu Sheng quickly adjusted their expressions, their voices dripping with sweetness, “President Pan, CEO Chen~”
Their eyes brimmed with excitement and anticipation. Their expressions grew increasingly charming as they cast frequent, coy glances toward Chen Jin’an. Compared to President Pan— a middle-aged man who had long since put on weight— Chen Jin’an was handsome, extraordinarily wealthy, and perfectly fit their ideal image of the ultimate financial benefactor.
Chen Jin’an withdrew his gaze, completely ignoring the two artists. Pulling out a chair, he sat down and asked, “What would President Pan like to eat?”
His voice was low and magnetic, making the two women even more thrilled.
He was handsome, rich, and even his voice sounded incredible. They absolutely had to find a way to latch onto this golden thigh[1]to attach oneself to a highly powerful, wealthy, or influential person for protection, money, or career advancement jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_2454317_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_2454317_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });.
With that exact thought in mind, they moved to take the seats right next to Chen Jin’an. Unexpectedly, Yan Ji casually stepped forward on her long legs and claimed the spot first.
Meeting the two hostile gazes directed her way, Yan Ji tilted her head slightly and offered them a soft, innocent smile.
Damn it! What a b*tch! Yan Yu and Zhang Lili exchanged a glance, the exact same thought flashing through their minds.
From the moment he sat down, Chen Jin’an discussed business with President Pan nonstop. Listening to their corporate chatter gave Yan Ji a slight headache.
“Oh, right.” President Pan said, suddenly gesturing toward Yan Ji. He turned to Chen Jin’an and introduced, “This is Yan Ji from our company— the one who secured the endorsement for your Red Moon brand.”
Yan Ji paused for a fraction of a second. Meeting the gaze Chen Jin’an directed toward her, she smiled faintly. “CEO Chen.”
With her long, straight hair, Yan Ji appeared thoroughly gentle and innocent. Her makeup tonight was incredibly light. Her beautiful eyes curved slightly, shimmering softly, yet they still carried that undeniable trace of subconscious, seductive charm.
Something stirred deep within Chen Jin’an. His fingers tapped lightly against his leg as he gave a reserved, dignified nod in acknowledgment.
Yan Ji quietly narrowed her eyes.
Once the dishes and alcohol were served, Yan Yu and Zhang Lili constantly found excuses to toast President Pan and Chen Jin’an. After several rounds of drinks, Chen Jin’an’s cheeks were tinged with a faint flush.
Yan Ji had also been forced to down several glasses. The alcohol numbed her mind, yet strangely made her feel even more clear-headed. Rising to her feet, she pushed open the door and stepped out, asking a nearby waiter where the restroom was before heading down the corridor.
After splashing cold water on her face to sober up, Yan Ji lifted her head to look at her reflection. Her cheeks carried a rosy, alcohol-induced flush, and her eyes were faintly bloodshot. A few damp strands of hair clung to her face, adding a touch of messy, vulnerable beauty. Slowly tidying her hair, she leisurely walked out of the restroom.
She had barely taken two steps when she collided head-on with a drunken man reeking of alcohol. The man shouted impatiently, his words slurred, “What the hell? Watch where you’re going!”
But when he took a closer look and realized he had bumped into a stunning beauty, a malicious grin immediately spread across his face.
“Hey, little beauty. All alone? How about having a few drinks with this big brother?”
Yan Ji’s gaze turned icy. Her foot shifted slightly in her high heels, as though calculating her next move.
Just as the drunkard reached out with a filthy hand, a figure suddenly appeared behind him. The moment Yan Ji caught sight of who it was, she quietly withdrew the foot she had just stepped forward with, perfectly allowing a trace of fear to surface on her face.
Chen Jin’an had not expected to run into such a sordid scene after coming out for a breath of fresh air. Without a second thought, he instinctively grabbed the drunkard’s wrist. His grip was so immense that the man instantly let out a miserable shriek as cold sweat broke out across his forehead.
“My hand! My hand is gonna break! Let go, hurry up and let go!” The drunkard wailed in agony, desperately trying to wrench his arm free. Unfortunately for him, the man holding him possessed absurd strength. No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn’t budge an inch.
Only when the man was thoroughly subdued did Chen Jin’an release him. Pulling a tissue from his pocket, he wiped his palms with visible disgust.
Having regained his freedom, the drunkard immediately scrambled away in sheer terror.
“Thank you, CEO Chen.” Yan Ji patted her chest, the picture of lingering fear. Her beautiful eyes were wide with fright, the rims slightly flushed as though she had been truly, deeply rattled.
Chen Jin’an remained silent for a moment before saying curtly, “Let’s head back.”
Yan Ji returning side-by-side with Chen Jin’an instantly drew everyone’s attention— especially that of Yan Yu and Zhang Lili. If looks could kill, Yan Ji would have been riddled with holes on the spot.
At around ten o’clock that evening, the dinner finally drew to a close.
The moment they stepped out of Fugui Pavilion, a chilly night breeze swept over them. Goosebumps rose on Yan Ji’s bare arms, and she couldn’t help but rub them for warmth.
Chen Jin’an was walking just behind Yan Ji. Seeing the petite, delicate figure ahead of him, he froze briefly. Recalling her tearful, vulnerable eyes from earlier, his throat tightened slightly. Turning to his assistant, he instructed, “Take this coat and give it to Ms. Yan.”
The assistant blanked for a second before quickly recovering. Taking the coat, he hurried after Yan Ji while inwardly wondering why his notoriously aloof boss was suddenly being so considerate toward a woman tonight.
Could it be that his boss has actually taken a liking to her?
Honestly, that would be wonderful. He had been genuinely worried his boss was going to remain single for the rest of his life!
“Ms. Yan, CEO Chen asked me to bring you this coat.” The assistant offered a warm smile as he handed over the garment.
Yan Ji looked appropriately surprised. She glanced back toward Chen Jin’an, who quickly averted his gaze the moment he noticed her looking.
Taking the coat, Yan Ji smiled softly. “Please help me thank CEO Chen. I’ll have it cleaned and returned to him personally.”
“Certainly.”
And so, Yan Ji boarded her car draped in Chen Jin’an’s coat. Sitting in the front passenger seat, Zhang Tong turned around, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.
“Isn’t that…… CEO Chen’s coat?”
“Yeah. CEO Chen thought I was dressed too lightly, so he kindly lent it to me. What’s wrong?” The moment she was inside the car, Yan Ji’s true nature resurfaced. The gentle, graceful aura from earlier vanished instantly. She lounged lazily against the seat as if completely boneless, speaking in a thoroughly careless tone.
Zhang Tong felt a massive headache coming on. It was common knowledge in their circles that Chen Jin’an was entirely indifferent to women, yet tonight he had actually lent Yan Ji his own coat. Zhang Tong couldn’t help but suspect that the man had ulterior motives.
Could CEO Chen really have fallen for Yan Ji?
With that thought in mind, Zhang Tong glanced at her through the rearview mirror. Yan Ji was staring absentmindedly at the passing scenery outside. The flickering streetlights illuminated her face in intermittent bursts, adding an ethereal, mysterious beauty to her features.
She looked like a seductive spirit that devoured men’s souls in the dead of night.
……Honestly, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable for someone to fall for her.
Zhang Tong rubbed his twitching eyelid before finally warning, “Just be careful. If CEO Chen decides he wants to make a move on you, it will be incredibly easy for him.”
“Relax.” Yan Ji curled her lips into a smirk, absentmindedly twirling a strand of hair over her chest. If a novice like Qin Yu didn’t crash and burn, how could Yan Ji possibly screw up?
────ρя
Early the next morning, Yan Ji flew out to Sanya with her assistant to shoot the commercial for Red Moon. The coastal scenery in Sanya was breathtaking. After landing and dropping their luggage off at the hotel, Yan Ji and Weiwei spent over an hour relaxing by the beach.
Yan Ji wore a stunning black bikini with a sheer black silk shawl draped loosely over her shoulders. Her curvaceous, perfect figure attracted countless admiring gazes. Lying back on a beach chair as the warm sea breeze brushed across her skin, Yan Ji felt her mind gradually settle.
A little while later, Weiwei walked over to inform her that the representative in charge of the shoot had arrived. Yan Ji offered a lazy murmur in response before slowly getting up to change into her wardrobe and heading toward the venue.
References[+]