18. “Would It Be Convenient for Me to Come to Your Room?”
When Ling Xi dragged her suitcase to the airport, Zhou Mingye had already arrived.
The departure hall in the early morning was somewhat quiet and cool. By the glass windows, Zhou Mingye was dressed casually, his posture tall and straight.
Under normal circumstances, Ling Xi would have gone over to greet him first and asked whether the boss needed any assistance.
But today, just as Zhou Mingye turned around, Ling Xi slipped into the convenience store.
Before Su Wanwan figured out Han Zhao’s affair, she only wanted to do her job properly.
Ling Xi wandered around the convenience store for more than ten minutes, buying bread and yogurt.
When she came out, the two colleagues from the business department had also arrived and were talking with Zhou Mingye.
Since this was a business trip, Ling Xi still pulled herself together and went over to greet them.
As she approached, Zhou Mingye’s gaze shifted to Ling Xi, then fell on the breakfast in her hand.
Ling Xi pretended not to notice his look and asked the business department colleagues which client they were visiting this time.
After chatting for a few sentences, the male colleague named Chen Kang went to smoke, and the other one went along with him.
Only Ling Xi and Zhou Mingye were left. Not saying anything would be too awkward.
Ling Xi spoke up. “President Zhou, have you eaten breakfast?”
So she still knew how to ask. Zhou Mingye shot her a sideways glance and replied indifferently, “I’ve eaten.”
“Oh.”
Ling Xi responded softly, threw the packaging paper in her hand into the trash, and checked the check-in time. There was still a while to go.
She found a seat and sat down, trying to reduce her sense of presence.
Zhou Mingye took the seat opposite her.
In Ling Xi’s peripheral vision appeared a pair of long legs. She pretended not to see them, took out her planner from her bag, and scribbled randomly on it.
Zhou Mingye’s gaze fell on the smooth crown of Ling Xi’s head. He vaguely felt that she was a bit different from usual today.
Previously, whenever she saw him, she was always smiling brightly, asking this and that. Why did she look like a frost-bitten eggplant today?
Rarely in a good mood, and since Ling Xi had made him coffee so many times, he felt it was necessary to treat her once in return.
Zhou Mingye stood up and asked the person across from him, who was writing furiously, “Do you want coffee?”
A shadow fell over her. Ling Xi’s pen paused, and she realized Zhou Mingye was talking to her.
She did not forget her assistant role and put the notebook back into her bag. “Do you want some? I can go buy it.”
“Together.”
At the shop, Ling Xi originally planned to order with her phone, but Zhou Mingye paid before she could.
The two stood at the counter waiting. The distance between them was enough to fit five people.
Zhou Mingye turned his head slightly and saw Ling Xi staring blankly at the counter, lost in thought, with no idea what she was daydreaming about.
He had already accompanied her to buy coffee. Could she not at least look a bit happier?
When the coffee was ready, Ling Xi handed Zhou Mingye his cup and picked up the other three. “I’ll take these over to them.”
She pulled her carry-on suitcase. Afraid it might be inconvenient for her, Zhou Mingye reached out. “Give me the suitcase.”
Unexpectedly, Ling Xi not only did not hand it over, but she even stepped back two steps. “It’s fine, President Zhou. Please take your time.”
After saying that, she ran off in a flash.
Zhou Mingye stood where he was, watching her jog away. Had she taken the wrong medicine?
After handing the coffee to her colleagues, Ling Xi went to help Zhou Mingye check in. Apart from asking for documents, she did not say another word.
After it was done, Zhou Mingye took the VIP channel and boarded the plane first. Ling Xi lined up for security with the other two colleagues.
With her thoughts in turmoil the night before, Ling Xi felt foggy-headed after boarding. She put on an eye mask and took a nap amid the white noise of the engines.
After the plane landed, Ling Xi had just turned on her phone when the driver called, saying he had arrived at the airport early.
Zhou Mingye should have already gotten off the plane. Ling Xi sent his phone number to the driver and asked him to contact the boss first.
She herself followed the two colleagues to meet up with them.
After a two-hour flight, everyone was a bit tired and rested on their own in the car.
Upon arriving at the hotel, Ling Xi took her ID to the front desk to check in.
Since there were not many guests on an ordinary day, Ling Xi asked an extra question, and the front desk upgraded everyone’s rooms. Of course, Zhou Mingye’s suite needed no upgrade.
In the past, when Zhou Mingye traveled with Han Zhao, he was reliable enough, just not as flexible and thoughtful as Ling Xi when handling things.
Han Zhao would not think of having the driver arrive early to pick up the boss first, nor would he apply for better room types for colleagues when staying at a hotel.
Qiu Yuze and Chen Kang took their room cards and could not help praising Ling Xi. “Secretary Ling is really considerate. We all get to stay in lake-view rooms.”
The group got into the elevator. Qiu Yuze and Chen Kang got off first on the fifth floor.
Ling Xi stayed in a single room, one floor below Zhou Mingye’s suite.
As the elevator slowly rose, Ling Xi stood straight, her gaze fixed on the changing floor numbers. When they were about to arrive, she said, “President Zhou, please have a good rest this afternoon.”
Zhou Mingye glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Clearly, they would not be visiting the client until the next day, yet she did not ask him at all about his afternoon plans.
Fine, she was waiting for him to speak first, was she?
Zhou Mingye looked at Ling Xi and asked casually, “What are you all eating tonight?”
This “you all” referred to her and the two young men from the business department. There was no need for her to overthink it.
“I’ll probably order delivery,” Ling Xi answered honestly. Then, fulfilling her assistant’s duties, she added, “Do you need me to order a meal for you?”
“I’ve arranged a private dinner with President Lu,” Zhou Mingye said. President Lu was a classmate of Zhou Mingye, who had inherited his family business.
Zhou Mingye did not particularly want to invite Ling Xi along, but if she wanted to go, it would not be a problem either.
When Ling Xi heard it was a private dinner, she knew there was no need for her to accompany him.
The elevator chimed as it reached Ling Xi’s floor. She picked up her luggage. “Goodbye, President Zhou.”
As the elevator doors slowly closed, inside the cabin, Zhou Mingye saw a cold expression appear on his face in the mirror. He realized his brows were nearly knitted together.
What did she mean by this? Hot and cold, back and forth.
Zhou Mingye entered his room, tossed his jacket onto the sofa, and paced back and forth several times.
Keeping distance and handling things strictly as work, was that it? Anyone could do that.
He decided that for the next few days, he absolutely would not take the initiative to show Ling Xi any friendliness.
*
Early the next morning, the four of them split into two groups.
Qiu Yuze and Chen Kang went to visit several companies they had contacted in advance, while Ling Xi followed Zhou Mingye to Lu Qi’an’s factory.
Lu Qi’an’s family business was in construction materials. After taking over, he realized that as a traditional manufacturing enterprise, there were many aspects of management and operations that needed adjustment.
The company’s management team was older, and the task of reform fell on him, the successor.
This time, Lu Qi’an invited Zhou Mingye over because he wanted to talk about his ideas and hear Zhou Mingye’s opinions.
The factory was in the suburbs, with few people around. When the two got out of the car, Lu Qi’an was already waiting at the entrance.
He was the same age as Zhou Mingye. Probably because he spent his days in the factory, he looked a bit more mature.
Zhou Mingye introduced him. “This is my secretary, Ling Xi.”
Lu Qi’an warmly extended his hand. “Hello, Secretary Ling.”
Ling Xi raised her hand and smiled at him. “Hello, President Lu.”
After entering the factory area, Ling Xi quietly followed behind Zhou Mingye, listening as Lu Qi’an explained things while walking.
Whenever there was important information, Zhou Mingye would glance at her, and she would immediately understand, taking out her notebook to write it down.
At noon, Lu Qi’an brought the two of them to eat in the cafeteria.
Zhou Mingye was very serious when working. With Ling Xi speaking less, the atmosphere between them cooled noticeably.
Ling Xi did not feel uncomfortable. At this moment, she did not want to do extra things or say unnecessary words.
After a short rest, she followed Zhou Mingye to attend the afternoon meeting.
Lu Qi’an called over several management staff and regulatory personnel responsible for park safety to discuss the current problems in the factory.
Zhou Mingye offered some suggestions and asked Ling Xi to copy all the materials, saying he would take them back for discussion and have the technical staff recommend suitable solutions.
By the time the discussion ended, it was already evening.
Lu Qi’an had an engagement that night and originally planned to have his assistant take Zhou Mingye and Ling Xi out to eat. Zhou Mingye refused and patted him on the shoulder. “No need to be so polite between us. You go ahead and take care of your business.”
Lu Qi’an understood his personality and did not insist further.
Ling Xi called a car. Hearing that Lu Qi’an seemed to be talking with Zhou Mingye about some private family matters, she lowered her voice and said, “President Zhou, I’ll wait for you outside.”
Zhou Mingye probably did not hear her and did not respond.
Ling Xi went out of the factory area on her own and checked the app on her phone. The driver had not arrived yet.
There was a shop a few dozen meters ahead. She went over and bought two bottles of water.
On the way back, she had just twisted open one bottle when a motorcycle flashed past her side. She suddenly felt her arm yanked hard, almost losing her balance, as her bag was pulled up.
Out of instinct, at the moment the strap was about to slip off, Ling Xi reached out and grabbed it.
When she looked up, she saw that the other side of the bag was in the hands of someone sitting on the back of the motorcycle.
Had she run into bag snatchers?
The other party was probably inexperienced. When Ling Xi did not let go, the rider panicked, the motorcycle skidded and fell to the ground, and both of them tumbled off.
Only then did Ling Xi see clearly that they were two teenagers with dyed yellow hair, wearing slippers. They were probably unemployed youths living nearby.
The two had been riding around on a motorcycle. Seeing Ling Xi’s clothes and appearance, they guessed there was at least a phone in her bag that could be sold for a good price, and as they passed by her, they formed the idea of snatching it.
Ling Xi had grown up without ever encountering something like this. Her mind was completely blank.
She was not a particularly brave person. Grabbing her bag earlier had been nothing more than a reflex.
Now, the one on the ground got up with a malicious grin, grabbed the strap and yanked hard. “Yo, miss, you’re pretty strong.”
The other one, the rider, walked up to Ling Xi and said viciously, “You won’t give it up, huh? Then come with us.”
As he spoke, he reached out to grab Ling Xi’s arm.
Ling Xi stepped back several paces. She was already panicking inside, but forced herself to stay calm on the surface. “There’s nothing valuable in my bag. If you don’t leave, I’m calling the police.”
“Go ahead and call.” As he spoke, one of the boys reached for the zipper on her bag, trying to find her phone.
After Zhou Mingye said goodbye to Lu Qi’an and walked out of the factory gate, he did not see Ling Xi. He took out his phone, about to call her, when he saw two people tugging at her not far away. Ling Xi’s face was full of panic.
He ran over in a few strides and shouted at them, “What are you doing?”
When Ling Xi heard Zhou Mingye’s voice, it was as if she had seen a savior. She tightened her grip on the strap in her hand.
Seeing that Zhou Mingye was dressed neatly and politely, the two yellow-haired boys assumed he was just someone working at a nearby factory. They shot him a sideways glance. “Mind your own business!”
Zhou Mingye’s gaze fell on the person gripping Ling Xi’s arm. His voice carried a chill. “Let go.”
“Who the hell are you?” The other yellow-haired boy rushed forward and raised his hand to shove him, but Zhou Mingye grabbed his wrist and shoved back. The boy fell straight to the ground.
Seeing his companion get hit, the one beside him let go of Ling Xi and rushed over, trying to swing a punch at Zhou Mingye.
Zhou Mingye had not gotten into a fight since graduating, but he was in good physical condition. Dealing with a skinny kid posed no real difficulty.
He did not let the other person touch him. Instead, he grabbed the man’s arm and kicked him in the abdomen.
The two boys were unwilling to accept it after getting beaten. Their tempers flared, and they lunged forward to grab Zhou Mingye by the collar. Ling Xi stood nearby, anxious and terrified, wanting to help but having no idea where to start.
Her hands trembling, she pulled out her phone and called the police.
Hearing Ling Xi report to the police and realizing they could not beat Zhou Mingye, the two yellow-haired boys staggered a few steps, got back on their motorcycle, and fled.
The police station was not far away. About ten minutes later, the police arrived at the scene.
Ling Xi and Zhou Mingye were taken back to give statements.
There were surveillance cameras around the factory area. After Ling Xi finished explaining what had happened, the police went to check the footage and look for the suspects.
The officer taking Ling Xi’s statement told her that there were some youths in nearby villages who had dropped out of school early and often got into fights. Based on her description, they could roughly guess who it was.
Once the people were found, they would contact them again.
One of the officers kindly reminded her, “Miss, if you run into something like this again, make sure your own safety comes first. Losing a bag doesn’t matter. We police can help you recover it. If you get hurt, it’s not worth it.”
Ling Xi nodded repeatedly. Once she calmed down, she also felt that she should not have resisted so stubbornly. What if the other party had been carrying a weapon?
After leaving the police station, Ling Xi turned to look at Zhou Mingye. “Sorry, President Zhou. I caused you trouble today.”
Only then did Zhou Mingye fully learn the entire sequence of events.
He was so angry that his face turned pale. He asked Ling Xi sharply, “You’re a girl, why were you fighting two men over a bag? Is the bag more important than your life?”
Ling Xi had also lost her head at the time. “The USB drive was in my bag. And besides, nothing happened, right?”
She also felt she had been foolish that afternoon. The more she spoke, the quieter her voice became.
Because the other party did not succeed immediately, she did not want to let the bag be snatched away just like that. All the factory materials were inside.
Zhou Mingye was practically furious. He put his hands on his hips. “I didn’t realize you were this dedicated.”
Ling Xi had never encountered something like this in her life. She had already been badly frightened that afternoon. Now, being shouted at by Zhou Mingye, she could not even speak.
Seeing Ling Xi remain silent, Zhou Mingye grew even angrier.
“Which is more important, your life or your work?”
“Next time you go out on business, can you walk with me? Why were you running off so fast?”
“What would happen if the USB drive was lost?”
Ling Xi had already been feeling low because of Su Wanwan’s situation.
After running into something like this today, she suddenly felt unbearably aggrieved.
Knowing she was at fault and that Zhou Mingye had even gotten into a fight because of her, she let him vent his anger without talking back, pressing her lips together in silence.
The two of them stood by the roadside waiting for a car, the air seeming to freeze.
After standing there for a few minutes, raindrops began to fall at their feet. In just a few seconds, it turned into a torrential downpour, pouring down with a clatter.
There was nowhere to take shelter. Both of them were instantly soaked.
Ling Xi looked at Zhou Mingye. After the fight that afternoon, his clothes were already disheveled. Now, his dark gray shirt clung to his body, and his hair was completely wet.
She herself was not in much better shape. One of her earrings had fallen off, her low bun had come loose, and she was still clutching a torn bag.
Zhou Mingye had never been this disheveled in his life. He glared at Ling Xi, about to ask if she knew how dangerous that afternoon had been.
But when he lowered his gaze, he saw her looking at him. Her makeup was smudged, dark circles ringed her eyes, and her face was full of grievance.
The rage in Zhou Mingye’s chest dissipated somewhat. He dropped his hand and laughed in exasperation.
*
After returning to the hotel, the two of them went back to their respective rooms to shower.
Aside from a bruise on her arm and some broken skin in the center of her palm, Ling Xi did not have any other injuries.
She dried her hair and then remembered that she had not checked whether Zhou Mingye was injured.
After all, it was because of her that he had been dragged into this, and they had even been caught in heavy rain.
The more Ling Xi thought about it, the worse she felt. She put on her jacket and sent Zhou Mingye a message:
“President Zhou, would it be convenient for me to come to your room?”