I didn’t have anyone I liked before, but now the person I like is you.
It wasn’t a particularly deep confession, nor did it carry much emotional weight, but it made Xu Zhiyuan feel deeply satisfied. Her heart leaped with joy, and she couldn’t help but smile.
Knowing it was one thing, but hearing He Jiayu say it himself was another.
And he said it—he liked her.
Xu Zhiyuan felt both happy and shy. Leaning into his embrace, she couldn’t resist wrapping her arms around his waist.
“Actually, I quite like you too.”
He Jiayu was handsome, had a good personality, and was willing to accommodate her—how could she not like him?
In front of her husband, Xu Zhiyuan believed it was okay to be a little more open.
He Jiayu also held her close, feeling an immense sense of satisfaction that made it hard for him to control the smile on his face.
Was this what it felt like to be moved and captivated?
It really wasn’t bad at all.
When they returned to the villa and got out of the car, Xu Zhiyuan realized that the driver was actually Yuan Yuan.
“Assistant Yuan, you’re still here so late?”
Yuan Yuan smiled politely. “Actually, I live in the old residence too.”
“Huh?”
“Yuan Yuan’s father is Dad’s assistant,” He Jiayu explained. “We practically grew up together.”
Is that so?
Xu Zhiyuan nodded in understanding. This detail wasn’t mentioned in the novel, but it did mention that Yuan Yuan and He Jiayu had been classmates since middle school.
So Yuan Yuan was the son of He Hongjie’s assistant.
“President He, Young Madam, I’ll head back now,” Yuan Yuan said.
“Alright, drive safely,” Xu Zhiyuan replied.
Yuan Yuan nodded in acknowledgment before driving away.
Seeing her still watching the direction the car had left, He Jiayu pulled her possessively into his arms and whispered softly in her ear, “Let’s go back and rest too.”
The suggestive tone and his slightly husky voice made Xu Zhiyuan immediately understand his meaning. Her ears instantly flushed red, and she nodded slightly.
…
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, National Day drew closer.
Xu Tianhe called Xu Zhiyuan again, asking her and He Jiayu to come back for a meal. This time, his attitude toward Xu Zhiyuan was much better, though his tone remained firm and commanding.
Xu Zhiyuan gave the same response as before: she would talk to He Jiayu, and if he was free, they would go back.
Truthfully, she didn’t want to go back at all. She’d rather spend that time writing a few more songs.
Like now, for example—she was working on a new song, one she planned to release for National Day.
Thinking of National Day, several fitting songs came to Xu Zhiyuan’s mind, like “Sing for the Motherland.” Others, such as “Boundless Land,” “As You Wish,” and “Dragon Scales of Heaven and Earth,” were also perfect for a National Day release.
After much thought, she decided to start with “Boundless Land.”
By the time He Jiayu returned, she had already finished writing the song.
“The red sun rises in the east, its path bathed in radiant light
How fortunate I am to be born in your embrace
Sharing hardships, sharing blessings, standing tall with pride
Our boundless land, built on benevolence
A faith unbroken for a thousand years…”
“Is this a new song? For National Day?”
He Jiayu immediately guessed Xu Zhiyuan’s intention, and the lyrics alone seemed perfect for a National Day tribute.
Even without hearing the melody, just reading the lyrics evoked emotion.
Xu Zhiyuan paused her work. “Yes, but I haven’t found the right singer to perform it yet.”
None of the singers from Guangsheng Entertainment were quite suitable. She wanted to listen to the voices of the national team later and have the company contact the right candidate once found. Xu Zhiyuan was very confident that as long as the other party saw the lyrics, they would definitely agree to collaborate.
He Jiayu picked up the lyrics and read them again. “I’ll help you find someone.”
Xu Zhiyuan looked at him expectantly. “Who?”
He Jiayu smiled. “Not sure yet, but the chief director of the CCTV National Day Gala will know.”
CCTV? National Day Gala? Chief director?
Xu Zhiyuan’s mouth fell open slightly. “You know the chief director?”
He really was a domineering CEO—he even had connections at CCTV.
With such an admiring gaze, any man would feel a huge boost to his vanity. He Jiayu was no exception.
“Yes, I know him,” He Jiayu said. “Xinda also sponsored this year’s National Day Gala.”
Every year, these galas are like prime cuts of meat in the eyes of major corporations, especially those produced by CCTV, along with all the other programs they create. In any case, sponsoring and investing always yields significant returns.
Xu Zhiyuan felt both envy and admiration, along with a touch of pride. Such an impressive person was now her husband.
“Then I’ll leave it to you,” Xu Zhiyuan said, trusting He Jiayu completely. “Can it be performed at the gala?”
He Jiayu really liked this kind of trust.
“We can try. I think it’s possible,” He Jiayu said. “Even if it doesn’t make it this time, maybe it could be on the Spring Festival Gala.”
With lyrics that fit the mainstream theme and a composition that doesn’t fall short, it was definitely feasible. Xu Zhiyuan’s talent would certainly not let the lyrics down, and He Jiayu had great confidence in her.
Of course, it could make it to the Spring Festival Gala!
In another world, this song had already made it there.
Xu Zhiyuan’s eyes lit up even more, and she felt a surge of excitement.
“Then I’ll really leave it to you. Whether my song can make it onto the CCTV stage depends entirely on you, Comrade He Jiayu.” She solemnly patted his shoulder, placing great hope in him.
He Jiayu was amused and chuckled. “No problem, but before that, shouldn’t you finish producing the entire song and record a demo?”
“Oh, you’re right. I’ll get it done this afternoon.”
He Jiayu placed the lyrics on the table, then took her hand in his and led her out. “Now, we should go eat.”
Xu Zhiyuan followed his lead, picking up her phone to check the time. She realized it was still early. “You came back quite early today.”
“Yeah, I went out for tea with a client earlier. There wasn’t much to do at the company, so I came back early.”
“I see,” Xu Zhiyuan nodded, remembering the call from Xu Tianhe earlier that day. “My father called again today, asking us to go back. I said we’d wait until you have time.”
He Jiayu nodded to show he understood. “Then whenever you feel like going back, I’ll make time.”
It was a bit impolite, but if he was truly “busy,” there was nothing to be done. After all, the corporation was so large, and there were always too many things to handle.
Xu Zhiyuan chuckled quietly. “Let’s make time in a couple of days.”
“Alright.”
As they talked, they arrived in the living room. Nanny Zhang watched their interaction with heartfelt relief, feeling that the house now had a warm, lively atmosphere.
In the afternoon, Xu Zhiyuan finished producing the song and couldn’t wait to send it to He Jiayu.
After listening to it, He Jiayu saved the file first, then found the contact information for the gala’s chief director and sent the audio file to him.
After finishing his work, Director Chen noticed the message. He was surprised, but more than that, he was curious. What kind of work could make He Jiayu take the initiative to recommend it? And who was the creator?
However, as soon as he listened to the sample, he immediately understood.
He promptly sent a voice call over.