The next day, at a private restaurant tucked away from the city’s hustle and bustle.
When Yu Qingyu pushed the door open, her senior Tan Hechuan, whom she had met at Johns Hopkins Hospital, was already seated by the window.
Spotting her figure, Tan Hechuan immediately raised his hand and called out in a familiar tone, “Qingyu, over here.”
The man was dressed in simple casual wear, with handsome, well-proportioned features and an upright posture—a classic 7:3 physique. He exuded a gentle and refined aura, the kind that grew more appealing the longer one looked.
“Senior, are you off today?” Yu Qingyu walked over slowly. She wore a white Chanel suit today, her posture elegant, and her movements poised and graceful as she took her seat.
Tan Hechuan picked up the teapot and poured a cup of warm floral tea into the glass in front of her. His movements were gentle as he responded with a smile:
“Yes, I specifically took the day off. Since you just returned to the country, I thought it’d be nice to catch up over a meal.”
Yu Qingyu lifted the teacup and took a light sip of the sweet floral tea, her expression relaxing:
“Once I’ve adjusted to the time difference, I’ll be returning to the hospital in a couple of days.”
Tan Hechuan slid the menu toward her and asked casually, “Still going back to Boren Hospital?”
“Yes, I really like the atmosphere at Boren. Everything is based on professional merit, with far less workplace ambition and politics.”
Yu Qingyu replied calmly, her words measured. Everyone’s career choices were different, after all, and there was no need to elaborate.
Tan Hechuan nodded understandingly and chuckled softly:
“True, and the salary and benefits are also industry benchmarks. If I ever struggle to keep up here, I’ll head to Boren and seek refuge with you.”
Hearing this, Yu Qingyu raised her teacup and lightly clinked it with his, a faint smile curling at the corners of her eyes. “You’re always welcome.”
This cheerful scene between the two happened to catch the eye of Huo Zhili, who had just entered the restaurant.
Especially the smile on Yu Qingyu’s face—it had lingered at the corners of her lips since he walked in, bright and vivid, as if she had regained her former ease.
Huo Zhili’s gaze darkened. He remembered this man—he had seen him a few times in the United States, always with her.
He turned his head and looked at his accompanying assistant, Jiang Zhou, his tone carrying a hint of competitiveness he hadn’t even realized himself:
“Is he better-looking than me?”
Jiang Zhou followed his gaze and quickly averted his eyes, replying truthfully, “No.”
The two men were simply not the same type. Tan Hechuan was gentle and refined, like a spring breeze, while Huo Zhili was aloof and restrained, exuding an intimidating presence.
In terms of looks and aura alone, his own boss clearly had the upper hand.
But he only dared to think this to himself. In matters of the heart, beauty was in the eye of the beholder—there was simply no comparison.
Even with the negative answer, the frustration in Huo Zhili’s heart did not lessen in the slightest.
He couldn’t believe he felt such inexplicable defeat over a man who was inferior to him in every way. Watching Yu Qingyu smile so warmly at someone else only intensified the irritation in his heart.
He didn’t linger any longer. With a low, oppressive aura, he strode toward the private room on the second floor.
Just before pushing open the door to the private room, he finally couldn’t hold back and coldly instructed Jiang Zhou behind him, “Look into this man’s background.”
“Yes, Mr. Huo.” Jiang Zhou immediately responded, then stepped forward and gently pushed open the wooden door to the private room.
Inside the private room,
the business partner had already been waiting for some time.
Seeing Huo Zhili push the door open and enter, the middle-aged Mr. Li immediately stood up, his face brimming with enthusiasm as he hurried forward to greet him: “President Huo!”
Up close, Huo Zhili appeared so young, yet he carried an aura of steady, commanding presence. His looks and demeanor were both outstanding, prompting Mr. Li to heap praise:
“I’ve long heard of President Huo’s reputation. Seeing you today, you truly are a man of remarkable talent and youthful achievement!”
Huo Zhili’s expression remained stern, his entire being radiating an aloof aura. He merely gave a slight nod and called out in a flat tone, “Mr. Li.”
Mr. Li quickly took out a cigarette and respectfully offered it to him, hoping to bridge the gap, but Huo Zhili simply raised a hand to lightly block it, cleanly and decisively refusing.
After taking his seat, Huo Zhili wasted no time on empty pleasantries and got straight to the point:
“Mr. Li, regarding the asset evaluation of Ruiqi Company, a comprehensive due diligence has been completed, and a corresponding financing plan has been drafted.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Zhou beside him promptly handed the neatly printed financing plan to Mr. Li with both hands.
Just as Mr. Li took the document, Huo Zhili’s low, icy voice sounded again in the private room, without the slightest hesitation:
“If the plan seems suitable, we can sign the contract today, and the funds will arrive within three business days.”
Mr. Li quickly flipped through the plan. When his eyes landed on the fifty-fifty profit-sharing clause, his heart sank sharply, and his fingers instinctively tightened around the paper.
He knew all too well that such terms were nearly harsh, no different from cutting into his flesh. But with his company’s funding chain broken, if he couldn’t secure the first round of financing, all that awaited him was bankruptcy liquidation—there was simply no other path.
After weighing the situation briefly, he suppressed the bitterness in his heart and forced out a strained smile:
“No problem, President Huo. I agree.”
Huo Zhili looked up at him, his gaze deep and inscrutable, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable force:
“Mr. Li, you might want to take a closer look. Besides the profit split, I require absolute controlling rights and participation in the company’s future operational decisions. I won’t tolerate any mishaps with the invested funds.”
Hearing this, Mr. Li hurriedly flipped to the subsequent appendix clauses and, sure enough, found each constraint clearly listed.
At this point, he had no room left for negotiation and could only nod repeatedly:
“Understood, understood. I can accept that. Everything will be as President Huo wishes.”
Both parties smoothly completed the signing, and just then, a server pushed the door open to serve the dishes, filling the table with an array of exquisite cuisine.
Throughout the meal, Huo Zhili remained seated upright as before, not touching a single drop of alcohol.
He had his own principles when it came to business engagements—whether to drink or not depended entirely on the counterpart. Given his standing in the business world, almost no one dared to casually urge him to drink.
An hour later, Huo Zhili walked slowly down from the second-floor private room.
Coincidentally, Yu Qingyu and Tan Hechuan had also finished their meal, and Tan Hechuan had just settled the bill.
Before he could even slip his phone back into his pocket, a sharp ringtone suddenly blared—an urgent call from the hospital, requiring him to return immediately for an emergency surgery.
Tan Hechuan hastily said goodbye to Yu Qingyu and hurried out of the restaurant.
“Senior, be careful on the way!” Yu Qingyu looked up at his retreating figure, softly reminding him while giving a light wave.
This scene fell into Huo Zhili’s eyes. His already stern expression instantly darkened further, the air around him dropping to an intimidating low as his gaze locked intently on Yu Qingyu.
Yu Qingyu turned around, having just taken a restaurant business card from the barista, and her gaze happened to meet Huo Zhili’s.
Her eyes showed not a ripple of emotion, not even the slightest pause, as if looking at a complete stranger. She calmly shifted her gaze away and placed the card into her bag.
The frustration in Huo Zhili’s heart surged even more intensely. He stepped forward, his tone icy yet tinged with suppressed emotion.
“Yu Qingyu, you sure move on quickly.”
At the sound of his familiar voice, Yu Qingyu knew deep down that he had misunderstood her relationship with Tan Hechuan.
Yet she had no intention of offering even half an explanation. Her expression remained indifferent as she lifted her eyes to meet his, her tone light yet edged with sharpness.
“What, is there a rule that says you can only love one person in a lifetime?”
With those words, she no longer looked at him and turned to leave.
But her wrist was suddenly seized by a warm, strong hand. Huo Zhili’s grip was neither too tight nor too loose, yet it held her firmly in place. His eyes churned with complex emotions—resentment, irritation, and a hint of panic he was unwilling to acknowledge. He pressed on in a low voice,
“After liking me for so many years, you just let go so easily and completely?”
Yu Qingyu forcefully broke free from his hold, taking half a step back. She raised her eyes to meet his gaze directly, her expression cold as ice, devoid of any warmth.
“Yes. From the moment I broke up with you, I let go completely.”
In her eyes, there was no longer the tenderness and light that once belonged only to him—only indifference remained.
Seeing her like this, Huo Zhili felt an inexplicable, barely perceptible ache in his chest. After a long pause, he scoffed coldly, “Seems your taste hasn’t improved much either.”
Yu Qingyu suddenly let out a soft laugh, though the smile never reached her eyes. It was filled with self-mockery and resolve.
“Hasn’t it gotten better? Before, I was blind, clinging to someone who wasn’t worth it. Now, my eyes are clear.”