The symposium had already begun inside the auditorium.
Xie Zongxu sat in the center of the front row, his long legs crossed. His posture was relaxed, yet he naturally carried a presence that could not be ignored.
On stage, Dean Wang was introducing the college’s research achievements from recent years. The projector’s light fell upon his graying hair as he spoke enthusiastically.
“Chairman Xie, this is our college’s latest AI-assisted design system. It has already been piloted in several enterprises with remarkable results…”
Xie Zongxu gave a slight nod. His gaze rested on the projection screen, but there was little emotion visible on his face.
Beside him, Assistant Zhao Yan lowered his head and rapidly typed notes on a tablet.
After finishing a section of his presentation, Dean Wang picked up his teacup to moisten his throat before smiling at Xie Zongxu.
“It is rare for Chairman Xie to visit in person. Later, you must take a look at our laboratories. Several projects align very well with Xie Corporation’s business direction.”
Xie Zongxu nodded.
“You flatter me, Dean Wang. I came today to learn.”
His tone was calm, yet it somehow sounded sincere, causing the smile on Dean Wang’s face to deepen.
The lighting in the venue was soft.
Occasionally, volunteers carrying trays passed through the aisles, refilling tea for the distinguished guests seated in the front rows.
Xie Zongxu’s gaze landed on those moving figures as though he were merely looking around casually.
A moment later, he turned his head and quietly said something to Zhao Yan.
Zhao Yan was briefly stunned before nodding. He stood and walked toward the registration desk.
Xie Zongxu looked back at the stage. His fingers lightly tapped the armrest twice while his thoughts remained elsewhere.
He had seen her again.
She seemed much quieter after getting out of bed.
She kept her head lowered and said nothing, no longer displaying the enthusiasm she had shown when she had clung to him and refused to let go.
Dean Wang spoke for a while longer before suddenly recalling something and smiling.
“Chairman Xie, I heard your company has recently launched a young talent recruitment program. May I ask what specific requirements you have for our students?”
Xie Zongxu straightened slightly and was about to answer when Zhao Yan returned to his side and bent down to whisper a few words into his ear.
After listening, Xie Zongxu’s expression remained unchanged, though something flashed briefly through his eyes.
“Dean Wang.” he said calmly: “we can discuss the recruitment program separately later. Today, I mainly wish to learn more about the college’s actual situation.”
Dean Wang nodded repeatedly.
“Of course, of course. We’ll discuss it in detail later.”
The symposium continued.
Xie Zongxu occasionally asked questions. Each one was precise and directly targeted the core issue, causing Dean Wang’s responses to become increasingly cautious.
During the break, some people approached him with business cards, while others came to exchange pleasantries.
Xie Zongxu handled each interaction perfectly, maintaining impeccable manners and boundaries.
Zhao Yan remained by his side the entire time, occasionally accepting business cards for him and occasionally reminding him of the next item on the schedule.
When the crowd around him had mostly dispersed, Xie Zongxu finally picked up a bottle of mineral water from the table and took a sip.
“Found it?” he suddenly asked.
Zhao Yan lowered his voice.
“Third-year student at Jinghua University, Li Yang, twenty-two years old, from the College of Literature. Excellent academic performance. She has received scholarships twice.
“Her father runs a medium-sized trading company. Her mother passed away early. Her stepmother entered the family three years ago, and she has a younger half-brother from the same father.”
Li Yang.
The young woman mentioned by his father regarding the marriage alliance two days ago seemed to be named Li Yang as well.
Xie Zongxu said nothing further.
He placed the bottle back on the table and looked beyond the crowd toward the entrance of the auditorium.
People came and went continuously.
The figure in the white shirt had long since disappeared.
Zhao Yan hesitated before quietly asking,
“Chairman Xie, do you need me to…”
“No.”
Xie Zongxu interrupted him.
“Continue with the meeting.”
Zhao Yan nodded and stepped back.
At four in the afternoon, the symposium ended.
Surrounded by a group of people, Xie Zongxu walked out of the auditorium. Dean Wang personally escorted him to the entrance and continued exchanging polite remarks.
Li Yang and another female student stood beside the registration desk, responsible for collecting guests’ identification badges and materials.
Keeping her head down, she organized the documents according to their numbers, trying not to look toward the crowd.
Yet the corner of her eye still drifted uncontrollably in that direction.
That tall figure was standing on the steps, shaking hands and exchanging farewells with several people.
He was facing sideways, making it impossible to see his expression clearly.
She could only see the slight inclination of his body when he shook hands—courteous yet distant.
“Li Yang, these are the remaining materials. Please deliver them to the parking lot. The people from Xie Corporation are waiting for them.”
A teacher hurried over and stuffed a stack of documents into her arms.
Li Yang was startled.
“The parking lot?”
“Yes. Their car is parked near the East Gate. The license plate ends with three eights. It’s a black Maybach. Just take these over.”
The teacher hurried away immediately after speaking.
Li Yang looked down at the documents in her arms.
She was just an ordinary student.
Was it really necessary for her to deliver them personally?
She let out a breath.
Forget it.
It wasn’t a big deal.
She was only delivering some documents.
Carrying the files, she headed toward the East Gate.
The evening breeze was slightly cool, causing the hem of her shirt to flutter gently.
She quickened her pace.
The parking lot was located on the eastern side of the auditorium.
There were not many cars at this hour.
The black Maybach was parked beneath a plane tree, understated yet conspicuous.
As Li Yang approached, she noticed two people standing beside the vehicle.
One was a young man in a business suit who looked like an assistant.
The other leaned against the car door while looking down at his phone. His profile appeared cold and sharp.
It was Xie Zongxu.
Her footsteps paused briefly, but she still forced herself to walk over.
“Hello. Dean Wang asked me to deliver these materials.”
Zhao Yan accepted the documents and politely thanked her.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Li Yang shook her head and was about to turn around and leave when a deep voice suddenly sounded behind her.
“Student Li.”
Her footsteps stopped.
At some point, Xie Zongxu had already walked to her side and was looking down at her.
At such close range, the sense of pressure he exuded became even stronger.
His features were deeply defined.
His eyes were a faint shade of brown, like a piece of amber resting at the bottom of a deep pool.
Li Yang unconsciously took half a step backward, only to discover that her back had already pressed against the car door.
“Your name is Li Yang?”
he asked.
Li Yang blinked.
It felt as though something was blocking her throat.
After considerable effort, she finally managed to squeeze out a single word.
“…Yes.”
Xie Zongxu’s gaze lingered on her face for a moment.
The look was neither sharp nor passionate.
He simply looked at her quietly.
Yet it made panic rise uncontrollably in her heart.
Then he tilted his head slightly.
The corner of his mouth seemed to move as he uttered a sentence that turned her world upside down.
“On the night of August twenty-seventh, at Wanhe Hotel, Room 901 on the top floor—it was you.”
！！！！
A loud buzz exploded inside Li Yang’s mind.
August twenty-seventh.
Wanhe Hotel.
Room 901 on the top floor.
He!
He was that man—the one who had barely spoken throughout the night, yet had left her feeling as though she were about to fall apart.
It really was him.
That sense of familiarity she had felt earlier had not been an illusion.
But how could it be him?!
The man standing before her—
The chairman of Xie Corporation.
The guest of honor at today’s symposium.
The influential figure seated in the center of the front row while the dean smiled and catered to him.
How had she managed to become involved with someone like him?
Li Yang’s face burned hot.
Then, in the next second, all the color drained from it.
“Looks like you’ve remembered.”
Xie Zongxu’s voice remained calm and unhurried.