Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Bian Ruhan had long since said that if she could not find someone who matched her visual tastes, what was wrong with staying single?
She was thirty this year, and while her family was constantly pushing her to get married, she still lived her life her way.
According to Bian Ruhan’s own words, she could earn her own money, and she did not need a man to sponsor her. Unclogging a toilet, changing a lightbulb, she could do everything a man could do. In that case, why did she have to settle for less and marry someone just because she reached a certain age, just because of the things others would think? Why should she serve a man she did not particularly like, suffering his tantrums, and obeying his every whim?
She earned enough to give herself a perfectly wonderful life. She had no strings attached, and she could buy bags or go on vacations whenever she liked, so why should she shackle herself with a man she did not like? All else aside, just the thought of having to lie under him every night made her unwilling to even open her eyes.
Bian Ruhan was the embodiment of someone who judged every book by its cover. Either you are financially independent enough to surpass even me, such that I willingly give you my respect, or you must look especially dashing, enough to make me happy just to see you when I am not working.
In other words, she could not accept someone who had neither the money nor the eye candy.
Bian Ruhan’s thoughts were that simple and direct.
At the same time, Yu Zi rather agreed with her.
Now that Bian Ruhan was bringing Yan Huaian into the picture, though, Yu Zi could not agree with her any longer. Shaking her head hastily, she said, “Stop that, Big Sis Han. I’m miles away from President Yan, there’s no connection at all. He was kind enough to help me yesterday, but I can’t stick to him just for that. I’d only cause him more trouble.”
“What are you saying?” Bian Ruhan’s interest was piqued now. Holding up her wrist, she glanced at the Cartier watch she had gone all the way to France to buy last Christmas. Apparently, this watch could only be bought at the Champs-Élysées store.
“There are still five minutes to go, so I’ll chew some scenery with you.” Bian Ruhan pulled over the chair from the next table directly, preparing to engage in some heart-to-heart talk with Yu Zi. “This is a great chance, so don’t waste it. Even if President Yan only did that to help you yesterday, he still got himself involved just to help you. That must mean he’s fond of you.
“Our firm gets all sorts of clients all the time, and that includes plenty of success cases. Those guys watch the reputation really closely, especially a man as exceptional as Yan Huaian. D’you think they’d ever flirt with anyone on the street? Well, I haven’t heard a single rumor about him getting involved with anyone else these past few years. I’m certain he doesn’t like dealing with these things, but he said something like that of his own initiative just to help you! You shouldn’t be acting shy now.”
Bian Ruhan cleared her throat and said in a low voice, “Besides, you have work dealings with him, and you meet him often. This is a great chance. I’m not saying Yan Huaian’s good because he’s loaded. Even if he was just a regular employee, I’d still sincerely think he’s a good catch, a guy women should marry. He’s good-looking, that’s for one, but he’s also steady and responsible. He can protect his woman. Judging from his performance yesterday alone, Yue Jingchen’s practically a greenhorn next to him. There’s no comparing. A man’s most important trait isn’t his wealth. After all, you’re not poor yourself, and once you make it out on your own, with your mentor’s support, I’m sure you’ll do perfectly fine. In that case, isn’t his sense of responsibility the main thing? As long as he’s responsible and capable enough to hold up the falling sky for you, making sure you’re never taken advantage of, then he’s the right man to marry.”
Yu Zi had no idea how to reply to what Bian Ruhan said anymore, but what was that wavering in her heart?
Yu Zi resisted the urge to rub her chest, saying teasingly, “If he’s so good, why don’t you give him a shot, Big Sis Han?”
“Are you making fun of me, stupid girl?!” Bian Ruhan scolded with a laugh. “I know him very well, Yan Huaian has no eyes for me. But the way he helped you makes me think you two stand a chance.”
However, Yu Zi was not willing to dwell on it any longer, lest she misunderstood again.
That was why she shook her head again and said, “I just broke up, so I shouldn’t be thinking of these things yet.”
Bian Ruhan had nothing to say to that. Personally, she did not feel it was a big deal, but that depended on Yu Zi herself.
She glanced at the time again and saw it was time to get to work soon. Patting Yu Zi on the shoulder, she returned to her seat.
Just then, Song Dashen entered the office with his briefcase as well, just happening to pass by Yu Zi’s seat. Yu Zi hurriedly brought the documents she had spent all night sorting out to Song Dashen’s room, discussing their defense strategies with him.
At noon, Song Dashen brought Yu Zi to a nearby restaurant for lunch.
He saw Yu Zi twirling her pasta around her fork distractedly, resting her face on her other hand and obviously looking like she had something on her mind.
Song Dashen picked up his knife and tapped his glass twice, making a crisp clanging sound.
When Yu Zi turned to look at him, Song Dashen asked, “Penny for your thoughts?”
“Mentor…” Yu Zi stammered, but she did not think of her mentor as an outsider. He was especially good to her, like a friend as well as a teacher. In fact, he really cared for her as he would his niece.
“If you want to ask, then ask. What on earth could be worth stammering over?” Song Dashen said, cutting a piece of his steak and eating it.
Yu Zi puffed up her cheeks, saying, “Mentor, you’re a man too.”
“That goes without saying.” Song Dashen nearly wanted to knock her on the head. “If you’re uncertain, why don’t you call your mentor’s wife now and ask her if I’m a man?!”
His son was already in high school, sheesh!
“…” The corners of Yu Zi’s mouth twitched. Her mentor was still so unpredictable outside of work. “That’s not what I meant. What I mean is, if I said that I’m starting to like another guy just a few days after breaking up, would you think that’s not quite right of me, mentor? Does it sound like I’m being a little loose?”
Song Dashen looked at her and said, “If you’re asking about a stranger, no one would bother about whether someone else is loose or not. But if it’s someone who knows you, they won’t think you’re being loose.”
Song Dashen took a sip of water. “Is that why you couldn’t even concentrate on your food? That’s what you were thinking about?”
Yu Zi opened her mouth again, her thoughts returning to Yan Huaian. To her shock, she heard Song Dashen say, “So it’s because of Yan Huaian?”
Yu Zi nearly choked on her pasta, and she hastily drank a few gulps of water.
Song Dashen understood everything with that. “True, Yan Huaian is a very charismatic man. If I had a daughter, I’d be happy to have my daughter find a man like him. He’s steady, reliable, and responsible. Since he’s shown that he likes you, it’d be hard not to fall for him.”
“No, not at all!” Yu Zi hurriedly waved him off. “He didn’t show anything at all! It’s just that he’s my neighbor now, and we live really close. I noticed that I… kinda like him a lot. I mean, whenever I’m with him, my heartbeat goes out of whack. I don’t dare to look at him. When he smiles, my face turns red and my scalp tingles. Besides, he’s a very considerate guy, and he’s graceful and generous too. Every time he does something considerate, it strikes me even harder that he’s a really good guy. But I just broke up, so how could I fall for someone else so quickly?”
Song Dashen really wanted to call Yan Huaian right now and ask how the latter managed to whisk away his obedient little disciple, sweeping her right off her feet.
She had just broken up, but he already managed to hook her.
He had seen Yan Huaian’s attitude towards Yu Zi last night, and he knew that Yan Huaian had feelings for her too. Yu Zi’s feelings were not one-sided at all. Yan Huaian was a very generous guy, yes, but he did not show his generosity to just anyone.
He maintained a polite distance from people and matters, but he was only ever so considerate towards Yu Zi.
A guy as busy as he was did not have the time to casually care so attentively for just another. It was clearly because this person was different to him.
It was not just yesterday, either. Ever since he brought Yu Zi to Yan Hui and she interacted with Yan Huaian a few times over work, Song Dashen had been noticing some hints.
At the time, however, Yu Zi was still dating Yue Jingchen, and the silly girl was too dense to see the love and determination in Yan Huaian’s gaze.
She probably still had not noticed it yet, even now. She thought that he was still a lone and proud wolf.
There was a gleam of amusement in Song Dashen’s eyes. He had no intention of telling Yan Huaian that Yu Zi had feelings for him as well.
For all he knew, he might be able to see Yan Huaian fretting over Yu Zi. What a rare sight that would be.
He was taking a slow sip of water when he heard Yu Zi say, “Mentor, I want to pursue Yan Huaian.”
“Cough! Cough cough cough cough cough!” Song Dashen nearly spat out his water, but his manners and upbringing allowed him to forcefully keep it in. As a result, he choked instead.
Right now, all he could do was drink more water desperately.
Yu Zi hurriedly gave him a paper napkin. “Slow down, mentor. How could you choke on water?”
Was he taken aback by what she said?
Her mentor was so experienced, though, so that should not be.
Yan Huaian’s gaze was practically gleaming green when he looked at her, so was there any need for her to pursue him?
Song Dashen took the napkin and wiped his mouth, thinking, ‘You’re a sheep diving into the lion’s den here, dear disciple!’
He had just been looking forward to seeing Yan Huaian stumble earlier, but now his disciple was already offering herself on the altar.
“Fish.” Song Dashen put down his cutlery and advised her in all seriousness and sincerity. “I think Yan Huaian has feelings for you, so you should at least play a little hard to get. Wasn’t Yue Jingchen the one who pursued you in the past? So you shouldn’t be too forward this time.”
Yi Zi held her cup and gave it some thought before she said, “Earlier, I thought that it wasn’t all that good for me to fall for someone else so soon after breaking up, because others might think me promiscuous. But you just said it yourself, mentor. For those who don’t know me well, I barely have anything to do with them in the first place, so they can think whatever they want and it won’t hurt me. For those who do know me, they won’t think I’m at fault. It just so happens that I think Yan Huaian knows me very well. We’ve worked together for a long time, and now he’s my neighbor too.”
