Beijing.
Yujinyuan Private Kitchen.
“The Young Master has arrived at the entrance.”
Li Mai stood up with everyone else in the private room to welcome him.
It was said that this “Young Master” was extremely capable, low-key, and mysterious. Very few people could actually get him to attend a gathering.
Li Mai was here today accompanying her boss, Ji Wangyu.
Ji Wangyu had just returned to Beijing to join the company’s headquarters and needed to build his network. This dinner was organized by one of his friends, and he was able to attend thanks to that connection.
…
The heavy carved doors were pushed open from the outside.
When Li Mai saw the tall figure walking in, she froze in shock.
Zhou Songyan?
Her ex-boyfriend.
She had searched for him for five years.
She never imagined that he was the mysterious elite heir of Beijing.
No wonder she could never find any information about Zhou Songyan, no matter how many people she asked. They were from completely different social classes—how could she ever reach him?
Li Mai had been living in Su City before and wasn’t familiar with Beijing. She had never even heard of the so-called “Beijing elite heir.”
It was only after she followed her boss to Beijing that she learned about an incredibly powerful wealthy family here.
The Zhou family.
The Zhou family kept a very low profile and rarely appeared in the media.
This elite heir was the Zhou family’s only son and had never once appeared publicly. Very little was known about him.
Before coming, Li Mai hadn’t asked for his name.
She had never connected her ex-boyfriend with the elite heir of Beijing.
While Li Mai was looking at Zhou Songyan, he also glanced in her direction.
His dark eyes widened slightly in surprise—but only for a moment. He quickly looked away and began talking with the others.
Li Mai felt a wave of disappointment.
Had Zhou Songyan already forgotten her?
…
After everyone sat down, they began drinking and talking—stocks, global economic trends, and more.
Li Mai sat in a corner, emotions churning inside her. Her eyes kept drifting toward Zhou Songyan against her will.
He wore a perfectly tailored high-end suit, his demeanor noble and restrained.
Though he appeared to be chatting and drinking with others, his expression was cold and distant.
He was even colder than he had been five years ago.
Li Mai could clearly feel the distance between them.
…
She overheard them talking about Zhou Songyan gaining experience at a subsidiary of Rongzheng Group.
Rongzheng Group belonged to the Zhou family.
The first company Li Mai joined after graduating was Rongzheng Group’s Su City branch.
That was where she had met Zhou Songyan.
So he had hidden his identity to train at the subsidiary.
Yet during the year they were together, he never revealed even a hint of it to her.
He must have been testing her.
Unfortunately, the result of that test disappointed him.
So he erased all traces of himself and disappeared from her world.
…
With his friend’s introduction, Ji Wangyu stepped forward to toast Zhou Songyan.
“President Zhou, my name is Ji Wangyu. I’ve heard so much about you. Let me offer you a toast.”
Zhou Songyan lifted his glass briefly in response.
There were many people present, and Ji Wangyu didn’t intend to push further. After exchanging a few polite words, he returned to his seat.
Zhou Songyan’s gaze fell on Li Mai.
Suddenly, he spoke. “Second Young Master Ji, Miss Li is your…?”
He stopped halfway through the question.
Ji Wangyu was momentarily stunned, wondering how Zhou Songyan knew Li Mai.
“She’s my secretary.”
“Secretary Li, pour tea for President Zhou.”
“Sorry, President Zhou, my secretary is allergic to alcohol.”
Since the elite heir had brought Li Mai into the conversation, Ji Wangyu didn’t miss the chance to use it to his advantage.
What he didn’t expect was that Li Mai actually knew Zhou Songyan—she had never mentioned it before.
Zhou Songyan narrowed his eyes, and the atmosphere around him suddenly turned cold.
Li Mai nervously stood up, just about to pick up the teacup.
Zhou Songyan spoke again. “No need.”
Those two words froze the air in the private room.
Li Mai stood there awkwardly, unsure whether to sit or remain standing.
Zhou Songyan leaned back lazily against his chair, one hand resting on the table, fingers holding a clear glass of liquor.
The glass slowly turned between his fingers.
“Miss Li, didn’t you say you wanted to marry a rich man? Have you managed to marry yourself off yet?”
Li Mai: “…”
Her face flushed red. Her mind went completely blank. She bit her lip, unable to say a single word.
Is Zhou Songyan taking revenge on her?
The people in the private room exchanged looks. They seemed to sense that something serious was going on, but no one dared to ask.
Don’t be fooled by how low-key this elite heir appeared—he was a formidable figure.
It was obvious that he had an issue with Ji Wangyu’s secretary. Everyone knew it was better not to get involved.
Ji Wangyu frowned, about to speak.
Li Mai forced her usual polite smile. “Thank you for your concern, President Zhou. Soon.”
Zhou Songyan stared at her for a long time, his gaze unreadable.
Ji Wangyu stepped in to ease the tension. “Secretary Li, please help me go buy a pack of cigarettes.”
Li Mai stopped looking at Zhou Songyan, grabbed her phone, and quickly left the private room.
The moment she stepped outside, the tears she had been holding back finally fell.
A passing waiter looked at her strangely.
Li Mai walked out of the private kitchen and stood at the entrance for a while.
There were shops along the street outside.
She bought a pack of cigarettes and headed back.
Standing at the door of the private room, Li Mai didn’t have the courage to go in.
She lingered in the restroom for a long time.
When she came out, she ran into Zhou Songyan.
He was leaning against the restroom entrance, a cigarette between his lips.
Decadent yet restrained.
After hesitating for two seconds, Li Mai walked up to him.
Looking at the face so close to hers, she softly called, “Zhou Songyan.”
He was much taller than her. He looked down at her, exhaled a smoke ring, but said nothing.
“Zhou Songyan, I looked for you for a very long time.”
“Are you still blaming me?”
Zhou Songyan stubbed out the cigarette in a nearby trash can, then turned to her with a mocking expression.
“What, Miss Li—now that you know my identity, you regret it? Trying to get close to me with this trick?”
“You’re overthinking it. What we had in the past was nothing more than a minor episode in my life. If you hadn’t shown up, I wouldn’t even remember you.”
Tears shimmered in Li Mai’s eyes, and the words stuck in her throat could no longer come out.
She wanted to explain what had happened back then.
She wanted to tell Zhou Songyan that they had a child.
But now, none of it mattered anymore.
She took a step back and forced a smile. “Sorry. I was out of line.”
Li Mai didn’t dare look at Zhou Songyan again. She turned and walked back toward the private room.
Two minutes after she returned, Zhou Songyan came back as well.
Li Mai kept her head down, hiding in a corner, trying to make herself as invisible as possible.
She hoped the dinner would end quickly.
The man she had searched for over five years was finally standing before her.
Yet all she wanted now was to escape.