The wind swept across the lake, carrying nothing but Lin Yue’s laughter.
General Yu and his assistant, however, only noticed He Yuan’s doting attitude, which naturally made even Secretary Lin someone they dared not neglect.
After coming ashore, General Yu smiled and asked, “President He? Did you enjoy yourself?”
He Yuan gave a slight nod. “The scenery was quite nice.”
“That’s good to hear. I’ve reserved a table at Yage. Would you care to join me?”
“No, thank you, General Yu,” He Yuan replied. “We have a full day of meetings at your company tomorrow. I’d like to retire early tonight and take advantage of this business trip to steal some leisure time.”
General Yu laughed heartily. “Very well, I won’t keep you then. Behind this lake is a pedestrian street, and just across the road from that is your hotel. President He, you might take Secretary Lin to experience some local culture before heading back.”
He Yuan nodded slightly. After shaking hands, General Yu left with his assistant.
Seeing this, Lin Yue asked, “President He, shall we return to the hotel now?”
“Not yet. Since we’re here, let’s stroll around the area and have dinner before going back.”
“Okay,” Lin Yue said happily.
The corners of He Yuan’s lips lifted slightly. “Let’s go check out that pedestrian street General Yu mentioned.”
Lin Yue hummed in agreement, thrilled beyond words. With all business expenses covered by her boss and the chance to sightsee, this was the ideal business trip scenario.
The main entrance to the pedestrian street opened into a vast square, where a giant green elephant made of balloons stood in the center, surrounded by crowds of people taking photos.
Lin Yue had initially wanted a picture too but gave up upon seeing the crowd.
Noticing her hesitation, He Yuan asked, “Secretary Lin, would you like to take a photo?”
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Lin Yue said, “It’s too crowded, President He. Maybe we should explore inside first.”
He Yuan nodded—perhaps the crowd would thin out by the time they finished.
They ventured deeper into the street, flanked by various vendor stalls. Colorful lights strung along the eaves cast a dazzling glow on the cheerful faces of passersby.
Fried squid, grilled gluten skewers, spicy hot pot skewers, sour and spicy noodles, takoyaki, cold skin noodles, and jelly noodles…
Lin Yue glanced at He Yuan. Had President He ever tried any of these foods?
Just then, He Yuan looked back at her. “Secretary Lin, would you like to try some?”
Lin Yue asked doubtfully, “President He, have you eaten any of these before?”
She worried that if her boss got an upset stomach, it might affect their work.
Hearing her concern, He Yuan smiled gently. “I haven’t tried most of them, so I’d like to give them a shot.”
Well, if the boss wanted to eat, she’d have to oblige even if it meant climbing mountains of blades or diving into seas of fire.
“President He, what would you like to try?”
“I’m not familiar with these. You choose.”
While pulling tissues from her bag and scanning the options, Lin Yue noted that most street foods were messy to eat, with sauces and seasonings bound to smear. She finally settled on the round, neat takoyaki.
Six pieces for fifteen yuan.
After He Yuan paid, the vendor quickly handed the takoyaki to Lin Yue.
Holding the box, she passed a transparent fork to He Yuan. “President He, please try one. Be careful—it’s hot.”
He Yuan speared one directly and ate it, nodding slightly. “It’s acceptable.”
Lin Yue smiled and handed him a tissue.
He Yuan took it, wiped his mouth, then wrapped the fork in the tissue and held it. “You can have the rest.”
Lin Yue didn’t insist, happily accepting the remaining five pieces.
As they strolled along, the two walked all the way to the end of the pedestrian street, where they spotted an elderly man tending a small stall selling flower-beaded bracelets.
Lin Yue unconsciously drifted toward it.
The old man, toothless but beaming, looked at Lin Yue and said, “Young lady, care for a bracelet? I made them myself.”
Lin Yue smiled, her gaze settling on a green lily-of-the-valley bracelet.
The bracelet was woven with tiny pearls, with even the lily-of-the-valley flowers and leaves formed from strung pearls. The white and green hues intertwined, giving it a fresh and pure appearance.
Just as Lin Yue picked up the bracelet to pay, He Yuan stopped her. “Secretary Lin, in such a setting, I believe it’s more appropriate for the gentleman to pay. Don’t you agree?”
The bracelet cost thirty yuan.
Lin Yue paused, assuming He Yuan was acting out of male pride, and gestured for him to go ahead.
The old man, mistaking them for a couple, smiled warmly and said, “Young man, why don’t you help her put it on?”
The bracelet wasn’t elastic, making it difficult to put on alone.
He Yuan readily agreed. Taking the bracelet from Lin Yue’s hand, he said softly, “Give me your hand.”
Lin Yue raised her hand, her wrist slender, pale, and smooth.
He Yuan fastened the bracelet’s clasp around her wrist.
Under the bright lights, her skin appeared as flawless as jade and snow.
His eyes lingered on the gleaming green bracelet, and he murmured in a low voice, “It looks lovely.”
Their gazes met in the air. He Yuan’s eyes, usually gentle, now seemed deep and unfathomable, carrying a hint of intensity that vanished as quickly as it appeared.
Lin Yue found herself unable to withstand her superior’s gaze and quietly withdrew her hand, awkwardly looking away.
His stare gave her the unsettling illusion that she was prey and he a cunning hunter.
That single exchanged glance shifted the atmosphere between them from lighthearted to vaguely awkward.
They continued walking.
He Yuan turned to Lin Yue. “Secretary Lin, let’s get something to eat.”
“Alright,” Lin Yue nodded.
She glanced at He Yuan and chose a clean, spacious noodle shop.
They found a corner table and sat down. Checking their phones, they were surprised to find a thunderstorm forecast for that night—something that hadn’t been there earlier.
But summer weather was like that; a night storm would come and go.
After their meal, they exited through the back of the pedestrian street and returned to the hotel. Lin Yue’s room was on the floor below He Yuan’s, and they bid each other goodbye in the elevator.
Back in her room, Lin Yue reviewed project materials and prepared for the next day’s meeting. By around ten p.m., she had finished showering.
She checked her phone again, thinking, Will it really thunder?
Lin Yue drew the heavy curtains tightly, blocking out all light. Fastidious about cleanliness, she had brought her own travel bedsheet—foldable and compact enough to fit into a small bag without taking up much space.
With work the next day, Lin Yue hoped to fall asleep before the thunderstorm began. Even if she couldn’t sleep later, at least she could rest now.
She closed her eyes, willing herself to sleep, and soon began to drift off. In her drowsy state, she faintly heard a strange noise at the door.
Her mind sharpened momentarily, but she was too exhausted to open her eyes.
Then, two heavy knocks sounded at her door. A subconscious alarm bell rang in her mind, and her eyes snapped open.
As she sat up, she saw a group of people barging into her room.
The woman at the forefront had exquisite makeup, but her furious expression made her appear somewhat ferocious. She was followed by one man and two women—the man looked like a bodyguard, while one of the women wore a hotel uniform, likely a staff member.
“Who are you?” Lin Yue raised her slender eyebrows and demanded.
Her hands, however, remained tightly clenched behind her back, attempting to unlock her phone with her fingerprint.