He glanced randomly at the crowd downstairs when he was talking but frowned and averted his gaze from them soon as all he could see was a large group of people.
“President Zong.”
Zong Jinghao looked back and saw the city mayor walking towards him. He said smilingly, “I thought my eyes are deceiving me, but it really is you. Are you here to attend Bai Group’s annual banquet too?”
He felt that something didn’t add up as he had never heard that Wanyue was going to cooperate with Bai Group.
If Bai Yinning was a young and successful man, Zong Jinghao would be the best among that group of young men.
Zong Jinghao told his daughter that he would come back later and hang up the phone.
He then kept his phone.
“No.” His gentleness when he was talking over the phone faded away. This was how he usually looked when he was attending an event.
The city mayor held out his hand and said, “What a coincidence to meet you here.”
Zong Jinghao held out his right hand to shake hands with him and withdrew it in just a few seconds.
Zong Jinghao didn’t wish to waste his time for him, but he still had to give him some respect since an ordinary citizen would not pick a fight with a government official.
This applies even more to a businessman.
“Chairman Bai will soon be building a factory in my area, and so we’re going to discuss the details.” Since Bai Yinning still had some matters to attend to, he came up first to wait for him.
They planned to talk about it over dinner.
“How about joining us for dinner to get to know each other?” The city mayor wished to be the middleman, yet seemed to have thought of something very soon and laughed embarrassedly as he said, “Have the two of you known each other long ago?”
Considering Zong Jinghao’s status, how is it possible for him to be here if his company doesn’t have any ties with Bai Group?
“I don’t know him.” Zong Jinghao’s answer was straightforward and concise.
“He’s the chairman of the Bai Group. Even though he’s in a wheelchair, I rather admire his capabilities. Anyway, Bai Group is certainly no match for Wanyue. I heard that you’ve invested in some projects overseas and established an investment bank with your business partners. President Zong is indeed bold and resolute.”
Zong Jinghao really wasn’t interested to know about Bai Yinning, yet was slightly curious when the city mayor said that he’s in a wheelchair.
A leader who’s a disabled person must have his strengths, or else his employees could hardly be convinced under his leadership.
His gaze fell upon the crowd downstairs.
Several leaders of the group were surrounding Bai Yinning and Lin Xinyan to tease them.
There’s never been a woman by Bai Yinning’s side in the past, but today he suddenly brought along a beautiful lady with him in front of every employee. So, all of them were very curious to know what kind of relationship they were in.
“Chairman Bai, you hid it so well. Even the old men like us who ‘went through fire and water’ with you didn’t know about it at all. You made a huge mistake.”
“No…”
“No? Do you still want to deny it? Will you bring her along if there isn’t anything going on between the two of you?” Someone didn’t want to listen to Bai Yinning’s explanation and interrupted him immediately.
Bai Yinning laughed and said, “I actually hope that it could really happen, but the main problem is…”
“What’s the main problem?” A few of them said in one voice. When they appeared to have understood something soon enough, they looked at Lin Xinyan together and asked, “Did you turn up your nose at our Chairman Bai?”
At this moment, Lin Xinyan felt that she had been ‘cheated’ by Bai Yinning as traps were everywhere now.
When she was about to explain it, Bai Yinning grabbed her by her arm, pulled her closer, and whispered to her, “Don’t embarrass me in front of my employees. If you were to reject me, feel free to do so when we are at home. Please, I beg you.”
When Zong Jinghao’s gaze fell upon them, he could only see Bai Yinning whispering to a lady. Due to their positions, he couldn’t see Lin Xinyan’s face but only saw her slim waist.
“I promised to be your company to attend the event, but never agreed to pretend myself as your girlfriend.” Lin Xinyan was very determined.
Bai Yinning wasn’t mad at her as he finally realized that this woman was smart and had a strong will. He said, “Do you still want to know the craftsman who’s skilled at making tea silk?”
Lin Xinyan was speechless.
At that moment, Lin Xinyan finally understood why tea silk appeared before his eyes, and said, “You did it on purpose.”
She sounded affirmative even though she was asking a question.
Bai Yinning didn’t refute her and merely grinned broadly, revealing his good-looking white teeth. He came closer to Lin Xinyan and said, “I’m curious to know what kind of man can actually subdue you.” Lin Xinyan pushed him away and stood straight.
Once she turned around, Zong Jinghao who was standing on the first floor could see her face clearly.
It seemed as though time had frozen.
Sensed that something wasn’t right, the city mayor looked downstairs and said smilingly, “Chairman Bai’s a rather unconventional person as there was no woman around him in the past. But this time around, he suddenly brought along a woman who looks rather beautiful.”
“She…” As Shen Peichuan noticed the woman downstairs as well, he turned around to look at Zong Jinghao and said, “She’s…”
He wanted to ask if that woman was Lin Xinyan, yet Zong Jinghao had already left before he could speak.
He immediately followed him.
It was still cheerful downstairs as many people were surrounding and teasing Bai Yinning and Lin Xinyan.
Even though she hadn’t said anything explicitly yet, Bai Yinning knew that she had agreed to it.
When he was about to introduce Lin Xinyan, a tall man with a darkened face was standing at the entrance. His imposing appearance soon grabbed the guests’ attention.
Lin Xinyan moved her gaze unsteadily around the back of the lobby. She was dazzled by the lights as many guests were moving around and tried to focus her gaze on the entrance where the commotion was from.
Soon, a familiar figure leapt into her eyes, and her heart seemed to have stopped beating.
Zong Jinghao walked against the light and through the crowd slowly and steadily.
This was the look that he always presented to everyone. Since he experienced and witnessed various circumstances in business, he had trained himself to look strong and invulnerable, so that on one could ever read his mind.
It became his instinct to look calm and composed all the time. The more excited and emotional he was, the more composed he looked.
However, the muscles of his entire body were tense, while his heart was trembling.
He fixed his gaze on her who looked familiar and strange at the same time.
Lin Xinyan stood still like a stone. Although she was clearly excited to see him, she realized that she was startled and couldn’t utter a word.
As far as he could remember, Lin Xinyan had never dressed so enchantingly. He was always thinking about her and couldn’t even sleep because she was missing, yet she appeared in front of another man now and revealed her elegance that even he had never seen before.
“What are you doing?” He said with a loud, clear and deep voice.
Does she know how excruciatingly distressed he was these past few days?
Does she know how worried he was?
Does she know how much he missed her?
Does she know that he’s thinking about her every second and every hour?
Does she know all of these?
“Why don’t you say anything?”
“I…”
“Do you guys know each other?” At the moment when Zong Jinghao appeared, Bai Yinning knew that he must be looking for Lin Xinyan, but still feigned ignorance and asked that question.
When Zong Jinghao’s gaze moved and stopped upon Bai Yinning, his lips quirked as he said tauntingly, “Chairman Bai, you prefer a married woman, don’t you?”
Bai Yinning’s face darkened a little. He didn’t believe it when Lin Xinyan said she was married and had children and thought that she was just making up an excuse to get rid of him.
But… he wouldn’t be so sure about it now.
“She looked very young…”
Zong Jinghao held Lin Xinyan’s hand and raised his eyebrows. Even the muscles on his face prickled slightly as he gave him a petrifying smile and said, “Since she’s married to me when she was 18, would you agree that she’s young?”
Bai Yinning frowned when he heard it. He felt that Lin Xinyan was an opinionated person and wouldn’t get married so soon.
“You must be making a joke.” His gaze fell upon Lin Xinyan, as if trying to ask if what he said were true.
“Xichen and Ruixi are still waiting for you.” Zong Jinghao dragged her away from this place once he finished speaking.
He didn’t allow her to speak with Bai Yinning at all.
He was very domineering, as if a kid who fought with another person who wanted to snatch his favorite toy.
He clasped Lin Xinyan’s hands tightly in his palms like a clamp and strode away.
Since Lin Xinyan’s legs were injured and she was wearing high heels, she couldn’t keep pace with him at all. She bore the pain of her ankle and sole, and said, “Please walk slower.”
Zong Jinghao turned around to look at her and said, “Are you reluctant to leave?”
Lin Xinyan shook her head and said, “No.”
Ah…
Zong Jinghao picked her up right after she spoke, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and shut her mouth.
