Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
It was signed off by Li Zhuoan. His handwriting was neat with a masculine edge to it. It was almost beautiful.
Stirring up trouble on Valentine’s Day?! What was he trying to achieve?
Furthermore, how did Qi Chengzhi manage to have such impeccable timing?!
Song Yu’s earlier mood had completely evaporated. She felt extremely sober. “Director Zhao is calling us for a meeting.”
And, with that, she hung up; not bothering to wait for a response.
“Wow! This is such a huge bouquet! I’m sure that there must be at least 99 stalks of hydrangeas here!” exclaimed the bevy of women who had been clustered around Yunshu Yan’s table as they migrated to hers.
“You can put it at the front desk. It looks rather festive,” muttered Song Yu, shoving the bouquet into the arms of the receptionist.
The women surrounding her demanded the identity of the sender, but Song Yu remained silent. Her lips were sealed tighter than a clam. She would not budge no matter how hard they tried.
Eventually, the crowd lost interest and left.
They held in their dissatisfaction, not daring to voice their feelings given her current social position in the company.
Song Yu thought about Qi Chengzhi’s reaction to the bouquet as she slumped into her seat. She felt rather worried and decided to give voice to her concerns. “What do you think Qi Chengzhi would like for Valentine’s?”
Having no experience with relationships, Song Yu had cause for concern.
Qi Chengzhi would probably not want anything material.
To top it all off, she did not have the finances to purchase him a gift befitting his position, and she refused to touch any of his funds.
“Qi Chengzhi got angry, huh?” teased Ruan Danchen
“Uhm,” came Song Yu’s weak response; her voice timorous and shaky.
“Well, I have an idea but are you daring enough to pull it off?” Ruan Danchen challenged confidently.
Song Yu’s mind drifted to Qi Chengzhi. “He isn’t easily satisfied,” she warned, recalling how petty he could be.
“Relax, it’s going to be epic!” assured Ruan Danchen, giving her a thumbs up.
Song Yu fell into an apprehensive silence.
…
…
Qi Chengzhi was scrolling through his phone when a text alert flashed across his screen. Tapping it, he saw a picture of a bouquet of Blue Enchantress Hydrangeas in full bloom.
Qi Chengzhi took out a cigarette and lit it, all the while glaring at the picture.
He took a few drags from the cigarette, exhaling plumes of smoke, before he decided to call for Cheng Dongge.
“Young Master Cheng,” acknowledged Cheng Dongge, then waited for a reply.
Qi Chengzhi took his time. Raising his cigarette, he gave his assistant a cool stare before asking, “What day is it today?”
“Today? It’s the Western Valentine’s Day,” replied Cheng Dongge a little surprised. He had not expected Young Master Cheng to ask him such a question.
Qi Chengzhi, remained silent.
“The man had the balls to send flowers on Valentine’s Day.”
Qi Chenzhi scoffed, as he recalled how Song Yu had told him that she had not pegged him for a romantic. “I recall you having a girlfriend. So how are you planning to spend Valentine’s day?” he asked Cheng Dongge.
“Young Master, am I not to accompany you to the event tonight? Are we not going?” Cheng Dongge asked. But before Qi Chengzhi could respond, Cheng Dongge released a few nervous chuckles, continuing,”But, after that, I’m planning to propose to my girlfriend.”
Qi Chengzhi was speechless.
Due to the many years spent working for Master Cheng, Cheng Dongge had become rather attuned to the Young Master’s moods. “Young Master, do you want to spend the day with Song Yu?” he perceptively asked.
He was startled by just how serious Young Master Cheng was about Song Yu.
Qi Chengzhi blinked owlishly a few times before reverting to his serious, businesslike manner. “Are there any romantic presents?”
Cheng Dongge, baffled by the question, responded slowly. “Well most people today would just send flowers. Those who tend to put in more effort would get their girlfriends something that they were admiring. Nothing special.”
He studied Master Cheng, unable to see him as a romantic.
“Young Master Cheng, roses are a rather popular gift. But, if you really want to make an impression, then try sending her some Blue Enchantress Hydrangeas. Miss Song will be the center of attention, especially if she decides to post it on WeChat Moments. Furthermore, she will be envied by all if you were to get her a ninety-nine stalk bouquet. Many women would kill for something like that,” suggested Cheng Dongge earnestly.
In his humble opinion, Master Cheng had chosen the wrong person to seek advice from, since he himself was not much of a romantic. When it came to special occasions, such as birthdays, Valentine’s and other anniversaries, he tended to simply follow social norms.
“Can’t you be more creative!” snapped Qi Chengzhi, angered by the mere mention of the hydrangeas. His stormy expression grew ever more turbulent with the mention of the ninety-nine stalks.
Cheng Dongge was stunned speechless.
“Is there anything classier than Blue Enchantress Hydrangeas?” Qi Chengzhi demanded, his lips contorting into a frown
“Yes, but they are rather difficult to acquire. They are called Rainbow Roses,” stammered Cheng Dongge as he keyed the term into his phone. Searching, he passed on the information.
Arching his eyebrow, Qi Chenzhi asked, “Do you think purchasing a thousand three hundred and fourteen stalk bouquet will suffice?”
Cheng Dongge did now know what to say. And then it dawned upon him how truly difficult the path for Miss Song would be if she were to continue dating the Young Master.
…
…
When it was time for lunch, Ruan Danchen wasted not a moment in dragging Song Yu straight into the lingerie department of a nearby mall.
“Since surprising Qi Chengzhi with gifts is out of the question, you will simply have to dazzle him with your body.” Those were Ruan Danchen’s exact words.
The lingerie sold at the mall, though not overly revealing, did not lack in provocativeness. There were low v-neck lounge robes, sheer laced baby dolls, and many other items. Song Yu felt rather lightheaded as she stared at the wares. Before she could begin forming a backout plan, Ruan Danchen latched onto her arm.
“This is your big move!” asserted Ruan Danchen, dragging Song Yu towards the row of dresses.
“It’s a sure-fire way to snap him out of his jealousy. Why are you feeling shy?! It’s not like you two haven’t been going at it! What is a nightgown compared to being naked?! .”
As she listened to her friend, Song Yu could feel her ears heating up. On the other hand, she knew Qi Chengzhi’s temper.
Flushing, she hurriedly paid and stuffed the offending article into her bag. As she walked through the store, she could feel the weight of the dress; the knowledge that it was in an opaque bag did nothing to ease her mind.
Once the purchase had been made, Ruan Danchen lugged her into a convenience store; stopping only once she reached the section filled with condom packets. From far away, Song Yu heard Ruan Danchen saying, “You know his size. Best get a few.”
Song Yu, once again, found herself to be completely speechless.
…
…
Yu Keyao waltzed into Qilin. Her confident gait was abruptly disrupted by a receptionist, who had noticed that she wore no visitor pass.
“Miss, may I help you?” asked the receptionist politely.
Yu Keyao gave the receptionist an affable smile, before asking, in a low voice, “I’m looking for the director.”
“Do you have an appointment?” smiled the receptionist, almost knowingly.
“No, but you can just tell him that Yu Keyao is here to see him,” beamed Yu Keyao in return. She was wearing a light yellow blouse, tastefully paired with a bright red, polka-dotted skirt. The tassels at her hips swaying gently when she walked.
To complete the look she wore a camel-colored fur coat. The overall effect was pleasing to the eye. She looked slim, petite.
The receptionist called Cheng Dongge’s fixed-line, noting the woman’s aristocratic bearing.
“Please hold,” Cheng Dongge placed the phone down and gave Qi Chengzhi’s door a gentle rap. “Young Master Cheng, Yu Keyao is asking for you.”
Qi Chenzhi lazily blinked, giving Cheng Dongge a look before turning back to his computer.
Cheng Dongge returned to his desk and picked up the receiver.
The receptionist gave Yu Keyao a polite smile, as she put down the receiver. “I’m so sorry miss. The director is in the middle of a meeting.”
“How long will it take?” Yu Keyao asked, frowning.
“I’m not sure,” the receptionist replied. “These matters are well above my station, miss. Only the senior management has access to this sort of information. Plus, even if I did have access to the information, they rarely end on time. Excuse me, but why didn’t you just give Mr. Qi a call to make sure he’s free? Since you know him.”
“In that case, I’ll wait upstairs,” Yu Keyao turned around and prepared to enter the lift when once again she was stopped by the receptionist. “I’m sorry, miss. You can’t go up there since you don’t have an appointment, nor did we receive any authorization.”
“But I need to see him for some matters!” Yu Keyao frowned irritably.
She took a deep calming breath before continuing, “Both of our families have known each other for a long time. I even went out with him for a meal recently. And met his parents.”
Blush coloring her cheeks, she shyly continued, “His assistant did not tell him that it’s me, right?”
The receptionist thought of Cheng Dongge and his instructions. He had explicitly told her to tell Miss Yu that the director had no recollection of who she was and that she was to see herself out.
“The director is in a meeting. No one is allowed to bother him. You can’t expect Special Assistant Cheng to interrupt him in the middle of it for such a small matter.” The receptionist struggled to temp her annoyance. Yu Keyao had the elegance of an esteemed lady. While the receptionist had found her attitude rather decent in the beginning, and thought of her as sweet, she was growing increasingly infuriating.
The receptionist speculated that, most likely, she had found a target in the director, and had come to court him.
“That’s why you can just let me in. I’ll wait upstairs,” Yu Keyao said impatiently. “I’m a lady from the Yu family. Both of our families are on very good terms. It’s fine if I go up to wait without an appointment. Also, if Big Brother Chengzhi knew that you stopped me from going in after his meeting, you’d be in trouble. Why are you making this difficult? Don’t you value your job?”
“Miss Yu, our director is someone who keeps his private matters separated from his professional. I’m just following the protocols set by the company. Even if the director got to know about this matter, he’ll not find fault in me. On the other hand, if I do let you up without the director’s permission, I’ll receive a warning letter. But I won’t lose my job.”
“How can you be so stubborn!” Yu Keyao stomped her foot angrily, “I’m speechless!”
The receptionist barely kept her smile in place. She said, “If you really want to wait, you can sit on the sofa over there. The director may come down after his meeting.”
Yu Keyao spun around to where the receptionist had gestured. It was a sofa near the main entrance.
The expression on her face turned sour instantly, and the little propriety she’d been retaining faded. She snapped, “If that’s the case, I’ll stay and wait. We’ll see who’s to blame in the end!”
After seeing that Yu Keyao had walked to the sofa, the receptionist rang Cheng Dongge again and briefed him on the whole situation. Cheng Dongge told her to just leave her be, but to stay vigilant and prevent her from causing any more of a ruckus.
Feeling the weight of her added responsibility, the receptionist was in a heightened state of anxiety until the very last minute of her shift. She kept a constant eye on Yu Keyao, worrying that she would try to sneak upstairs.
…
…
“Mum, I didn’t even get to see him! Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere. I picked this date specially to visit him– I can’t believe that Qi Chengzhi can’t take a hint. With my beauty and family status, he has no reason to dislike me!” Yu Keyao said while glancing towards the elevator. From the moment she had sat down, her gaze had never left it.
“This is too much! First, he abruptly left, then he didn’t even contact me and now he won’t see me after all the trouble I took to come here!”
She was met with silence.
“I won’t give up on him! Out of my many suitors, Qi Chengzhi is the only one I like.”
While she was still talking, she spotted Qi Chengzhi’s unmistakable long legs stepping out of the elevator, Cheng Dongge in step beside him.
Even from afar, Yu Keyao was dazzled by Qi Chengzhi’s winsome features. The longer she watched him, the faster her heart pounded. It almost felt as if it was going to leap out of her throat.
“Got to go,” she declared, promptly hanging up. Rising, she took off.
The man in front of her had the scent of the night breeze; concinnous and incomparable.
All she could see was him.
Yu Keyao hastened toward him. Heart racing, her cheeks were stained red with passion and pudeur. She walked up to Qi Chengzhi, stopping him.
“Big Brother Chengzhi,” gushed Yu Keyao, lifting her gaze. Her eyes brimmed with delicate demurity as she stood facing him, her hands gracefully resting atop the strap of her purse. She was the epitome of a lady.
Qi Chengzhi lowered his eyes, fixing her with a callous stare. “Who are you? Where is security? How can they openly allow an outsider to obstruct my way?”
Yu Keyao was stunned. Her face was a deep shade of red; birthed by humiliation and contretemps. Her resplendent smile gave way to a nervous twitching at the corners. “I’m Yu Keyao. We shared a meal together.”
She giggled derisively; her pale fingers tucking loose strands of hair behind her ear. “I didn’t know that I’d be so easily forgotten.”
Qi Chengzhi took his time recollecting, before affording her some recognition. With an insouciant nod, he said, “Miss Yu.”
He then strode out, passing her by.
Yu Keyao’s hand, that was still teasing her tress, began to tremble. She had never expected Qi Chengzhi to so brazenly abandon her. All at once, she felt the fell stares of the room’s occupants and the single contemptuous stare of the receptionist.
She stiffly turned around and chased after him. In her customary seraphic tone, she said, “Big Brother Chengzhi, are you free tonight?”
“No,” was his pococurante reply.
“But…today is Valentine’s Day,” she interjected tenderly, her gaze overflowing with adoration and warmth.
“That’s why I’m not free. Miss Yu, I have a girlfriend,” informed Qi Chengzhi as he walked.
“It isn’t possible! Uncle and aunt did not inform me of such a thing! Why did you even attend the…” Her cheeks were erubescent as she uttered the final two words, “blind-date.”
Yu Keyao would not believe this reason. To her, he was solely trying to get rid of her.
Nonetheless, Qi Chengzhi’s rejection was an enigma to her. She was beautiful and hailed from an affluent family. Furthermore, those who were more beauteous than her did not possess the status she did, and if they did, they held not her beauty.
Didn’t Xia Wenna contact her mother because she had valued her status and background?
That fateful night, Qi Chengzhi had stolen her heart from the moment he had walked in. She had never thought it possible that such an apollonian creature could exist. The men she had been acquainted with were immediately overshadowed by him.
The exhilarating exuberance of love, at first sight, was so delightful that it was almost indescribable. Her heart had been stolen by the man currently standing in front of her.
Qi Chengzhi gave her a frigid glance and scoffed. Upon hearing the first half of the conversation, those who did not know better would think that they were in a relationship.
“That was a misunderstanding. It was, to my knowledge, a family dinner. I wasn’t expecting company,” Qi Chengzhi explained impassively. He descended the steps and proceeded to his Range Rover.
Chang Lai stood alongside the car, holding the door open for Qi Chengzhi.
Yu Keyao maintained her stiff expression. She had not anticipated that she would be on the receiving end of such barbarous treatment. He had not even bothered to mince his words in the slightest.
As Qi Chenzhi boarded the vehicle, Yu Keyao seized the handle of the car door, preventing its closure. “Who’s your girlfriend?”
Qi Chengzhi gripped the frame, attracting Yu Keyao’s serendipitous gaze. His hands were slender and pale; like the rest of him, they were perfect.
Even the arrangement of his bones was monarchical; every inch of him exuded the chivalry of a gentleman.
Yu Keyao’s gaze trailed up his arm, stupefied by his sheer beauty.
Qi Chengzhi continued to emotionlessly stare at her. His dark eyes reflecting nothing.
Yu Keyao shivered beneath his piercing stare. As if a tendon had been severed, she released the handle.
Qi Chengzhi, spurning her, wordlessly slammed the door.
Despite pressing close, the dark tint barely allowed her to glimpse even a faint outline of the passenger.
Infuriated, Yu Keyao clenched her teeth and dashed to the other side. Wrenching the door open, she threw herself into the seat.
Qi Chengzhi turned to her with froideur. His lips thinned into a tight line, straining at his jaw.
For two seconds he glowered at her, then said, “Get out.” His phlegmatic tone cloaked the rage he felt.
Barring the slight tremors, Yu Keyao laughed, and, lowering her head, she asked, “Big Brother Chengzhi, on your way back could you please drop me off? It’s difficult to get a car at this point in time. I didn’t drive here, you see, and it’s rather cold outside. I…”
She glanced at her exposed legs and turned beseechingly to Qi Chengzhi.
There was no smile this time, instead, she turned her large, luculent eyes on him. They shimmered like limpid pools of water.
“It’s out of my way,” replied Qi Chengzhi turning away. “Get down.”
“Can’t you please make a tiny detour? I really need a ride home,” pouted Yu Keyao miserably. “And, since today is Valentine’s Day, it’s even harder than usual to get a cab. Plus, don’t you think it’s quite pathetic to be standing all alone, waiting for a ride?”
Pursing his lips, he took out his cellphone and punched in a number.
A moment later, she heard him saying, “Director Yu, Miss Yu is currently at the entrance of my company. She can’t seem to get a cab. Please send someone to pick her up.”
Hanging up, he opened his door and got down; ignoring Yu Keyao, who sat aghast. Unsactimonously, he opened the car door, yanked her out and shoved her onto the sidewalk. The action completed, he alighted, and, before the door could close shut, he barked, “Drive!”
Yu Keyao almost toppled over, after being shoved out. She wobbled dangerously in her high heels for a few steps, before regaining her balance. Her mind was still in a whirl as she watched the Range Rover meld into the stream of traffic.
