Wednesday, October 19
Just like every other country, China had opened its doors to foreign construction companies, allowing them to bid in selected infrastructure projects in the country.
“President Zhuo, it’s a pleasure to have you here in China and congratulations for passing the pre-qualification stage.” An old man who was wearing a blue suit smiled at Lily and held his hand out to congratulate her. In response, Lily shook his hand, having a small smile plastered on her face.
“Thank you, Mr. Lin. This is all Director Han’s efforts. I heard that you qualified for the final phase too? Congratulations!” Lily responded cordially. Mr. Lin is the Chairman of the Lin-Smith Construction Company, another powerhouse company that should be Lily’s greatest rival in this bidding.
The result of the pre-qualifying stage was announced just a while ago and those who passed the stage were invited to a banquet, giving everyone an opportunity to mingle and network.
“Ah, thank you, but this is all because I have a genius beside me.” Mr Lin let out a laugh, his face wrinkling in glee. “This is all because of my daughter.”
“I’ve heard about her! You are lucky to have a genius of a daughter,” Lily said. Just before the pre-qualifications started, a lot of construction companies were talking about a genius who has been helping Mr. Lin with his estimates lately. They said his daughter is extremely smart and cunning too.
“Speaking of…” Mr. Lin looked past Lily’s shoulders and smiled warmly. This made Lily and everyone else around them turn their heads to look in the direction where Mr. Lin was looking. Then they saw a woman approaching them with a gentle smile on her face. “This is the genius that everyone has been talking about. Everyone… meet my daughter, Lin Yu Yan.”
Everyone smiled at the woman who was around the same age as Lily. “Mr. Lin, you are truly lucky to have a brilliant and beautiful daughter like Miss Lin. I wonder if she is already married?” a woman who was around Mr. Lin’s age butted in. The directness in her question made Lin Yu Yan blush, but it disappeared as quickly as it appeared.
“No… she is too young for that.” Mr. Lin gave a stern look towards his daughter before he smiled. “And she already has someone in her heart. Isn’t that right Little Yan?”
“I don’t think my love life is an appropriate topic to discuss here, Father,” Lin Yu Yan pretended to scold her father, earning boisterous laughter from the group of men and women around them.
“Ah… Look at Mr. Lin being scolded by his daughter.” One man laughed. “I want to have a daughter-in-law like her. Miss Lin are you single and available? Maybe you and my son…”
“What are you talking about? I was the first one who asked,” the woman from earlier interrupted him. The group of men and women including Lily let out another laugh at their banter. These people are the top executives and CEOs of construction companies and most of them were already acquainted and familiar with each other.
Some were even business partners and had close family ties.
“Ah… why are you only asking if Miss Lin is married when there is also President Zhuo who is also beautiful and capable? Let me guess… you old folks are afraid President Zhuo will end up intimidating your sons right?” A man whom Lily recognized as Mr. Dongfang joined in the conversation, his words earning nods from some people..
“Ah… What are you talking about old man? President Zhuo is already married,” the same woman from earlier countered.
“Oh… you are?” Mr. Dongfang lifted an eyebrow as he stared at Lily before taking a sip of his wine.. Lily only smiled and nodded in response. She thought that these people were quite cunning. While Lily had not announced her marriage to Zhuo Jingren, many people could already make an educated guess based on her surname.
“Too bad. I would have introduced my grandson to you otherwise. I’ll be happy if he could find a woman as excellent as you,” Mr. Dongfang praised Lily before he eyed Lin Yu Yan. Jumping in the bandwagon, he also asked if Yu Yan was single. The topic of Lily being married was quickly forgotten as the people moved on to talk about other things and another round of banter started among some of them.
After a few minutes, Lily bid goodbye to everyone as it was already late and she still needed to give a final review of the bidding documents that they would be submitting tomorrow. Moreover, tomorrow is their monthsary and she was excited about it. Alright, she was not really excited… just a little curious about whether her husband would remember it and give her something special.
“President Zhuo,” a soft voice stopped Lily in her tracks. She instantly turned around and saw Lin Yu Yan walking towards her. “Yes?” she asked.
“I am Lin Yu Yan from the Lin-Smith Construction Company. Congratulations on qualifying,” Lin Yuyan said. Lily only gave her a smile in response. She quickly scanned her eyes at Lin Yu Yan’s purple cheongsam which had a long slit at the front, revealing her slender legs. UnlikeLily who had short hair, Lin Yuyan’s hair was long, reaching to her waist. The latter had braided her hair and adorned it with clips of a flowery design. Over all, looking at Li Yu Yan’s appearance and aura, Lily was reminded of a fairy.
This woman is truly a beauty ah, Lily noted inwardly. Lily might be considered a beauty herself but she couldn’t deny the fact that Li Yu Yan was even more beautiful than her.
“And for your marriage too,” Lin Yu Yan added, interrupting Lily’s thoughts. “When Bei Tian told me that Jingren got married, I was honestly curious about his wife. I never thought that his wife is just as successful as him.”
“Oh…” Lily’s eyes glinted with an unfathomable emotion, however, it was too quick for Lin Yu Yan to notice. “Thank you,” Lily responded with a smile that reached her eyes, turning them into crescents.
“Well… if you didn’t know,Jingren, BeiBei and I grew up together in an orphanage before my parents found me. Naturally, we were close too. I always thought that Jingren would invite me to his wedding and I was honestly disappointed that he didn’t.”
“Really? That sounds really disappointing indeed. However… you don’t have to worry. I will make sure to send you an invitation to our wedding in Italy next year.”
“Oh? A wedding?”
“Hmmm.” Lily nodded. “We will invite you to our wedding in London, U.S., Korea and of course, Japan. We might have a wedding somewhere in Southeast Asia as well, but we are not sure about this yet. We will let you know.”
“Oh… Wow… I never thought that you guys… would be this … in love.”
Lily nodded before she leaned a little closer to Lin Yu Yan. “I know.” She beamed, her brilliant smile almost blinding.
“Are you surprised?” Lily asked when she saw Yu Yan’s beautiful face turned pale.
“Oh… No… I… I just never thought that Jingren would agree to have ummm… weddings.” Li Yu Yan was truly confused. How could Zhuo Jingren agree to marry his wife such a lavish way?
“What do you mean? He was the one who suggested it. In fact he forced me to agree to holding many wedding ceremonies.”
