Chapter 504: Chapter 503: Conspiracy (Extra Update)

“Mr. Ye, is there any reason why you invited me over today?” Xin Zaozao opened the conversation.

“Actually, there’s nothing particularly important. As the head of Commercial Management, I have been busy with managing the business and seldom have individual talks with consortiums and enterprises. To put it bluntly, we have a kind of cooperative relationship. Though I control the entire economy of Yanshang Country, its real development is in your hands. It’s necessary to meet more often.”

Xin Zaozao looked at Ye Wenhan, feeling as if this man had…some kind of hidden intentions.

Of course, she had also learned how to act in social situations by now. Even if she was dissatisfied with this person, she would not let it show, but instead politely engaged in conversation with him.

In actuality, they were just talking about irrelevant things.

For example, Ye Wenhan would ask if she had encountered any difficulties in her current operations? And he would mention the prevalent economic trends. To Zaozao, these all seemed like…nonsense.

And such nonsense actually took up an hour and a half.

Ye Wenhan looked at the time, “Time flies. We’ve been talking for quite a while. Before, I wouldn’t have known without having interacted with Zaozao. I didn’t expect us to get along so well.”

Xin Zaozao just smiled and said nothing.

“Since we’ve had such a rare chance to chat, I still feel unsatisfied even now, so how about we have dinner together tonight? I’ll treat,” Ye Wenhan suggested straightforwardly.

He knew that the current consortiums dared not offend him.

Xin Zaozao softly pursed her lips and said, “How can we let Mr. Ye pay? I’ll be the host.”

“Then I’ll gladly accept.” Ye Wenhan didn’t refuse.

After all, his goal was to spend more time with Xin Zaozao and make her fall in love with him.

The two left the Commercial Management building together.

Ye Wenhan strongly insisted that Xin Zaozao ride in her car.

Xin Zaozao having no valid reason to refuse, she and Ye Wenhan then arrived at a high-end restaurant in Jin City.

Quite frankly, Western food was not suitable for business banquets. Normally, couples, friends, or family members would typically dine Western food, but Ye Wenhan specifically selected this restaurant.

Xin Zaozao could only put up with it.

The two ordered dinner individually.

The style of the restaurant was mainly romantic, Xin Zaozao felt very uncomfortable having dinner with Ye Wenhan.

Xin Zaozao didn’t say much, mostly just responding politely.

Ye Wenhan took the initiative to lead the conversation, though he stopped talking about work and started chatting about personal matters, “What does Zaozao like to do after getting off work?”

“I usually get off work very late, and I go home and sleep right after.”

“Any hobbies?”

“None.” Xin Zaozao replied, not really wanting to share too much with him.

“Actually, I’m the same. Ever since I became the head of the Commercial Management, I literally haven’t had a single proper day of rest. Enjoying a dinner like this is really a luxury.”

Xin Zaozao didn’t have the slightest interest in Ye Wenhan’s life.

However, she still responded with courtesy, “It must have been hard on you, Mr. Ye.”

“This is my responsibility, and I willingly accept it. But sometimes I hope- when I am tired- there is someone to talk to. Being alone is too lonely. Zaozao, do you ever feel the same?”

“I’m fine.” Xin Zaozao’s response was simple and indifferent.

“I’ve also heard about some of Zaozao’s past experiences.” Ye Wenhan suddenly turned the topic towards Xin Zaozao’s past.

Xin Zaozao glanced at Ye Wenhan.

Who was maintaining a polite smile on his face.

“When I first read your news, I felt indignant for you. I can’t believe that Mu Cidian could be such a scum. I haven’t met him before, but I really don’t have a good impression of him. I assure you, once he gets out of jail, he won’t find a good job anywhere in Yanshang Country,” Ye Wenhan said, gritting his teeth in anger as he did so.

Xin Zaozao responded indifferently, “He has nothing to do with me anymore.”

So, whether he would be living well after he was released was his own business.

“I really admire Zaozao’s ability to let go so easily. Not like me, after so many years, I still can’t forget Song Zhizhi.”

Xin Zaozao was a bit surprised.

She was not interested in anyone else, but because Song Zhizhi was her friend, she had to pay attention.

Ye Wenhan said with some discomfort, “I don’t know why Song Zhizhi resolutely broke up with me back then. Of course, now I am truly happy that she and Ji Baijian are so happy together. It’s just that- sometimes- when I think of our past, my heart aches. I don’t know when I’ll be able to move on. So far, I find it difficult to fall in love with anyone else.”

“I truly hope that Mr. Ye can let go of this relationship. Forced love is not sweet, and Song Zhizhi must have had her reasons for breaking up with Mr. Ye back then. But as you said, Song Zhizhi and Ji Baijian are very happy now.”

“You seem to know Song Zhizhi quite well?”

“Not really.” Xin Zaozao did not want to admit too much in front of Ye Wenhan.

“It’s great to have a friend. Now, I don’t even have friends. I really feel a bit suppressed. I don’t know who to talk to. All these years, I’ve been pretending to be very strong, but nobody knows how agonizing it is inside.”

With that said, Ye Wenhan seemed to be a bit distressed as he drained his glass of red wine.

He raised his hand- a very suave gesture.

The restaurant waiter promptly refilled his glass with red wine.

Ye Wenhan appeared to be in a bad mood, mindlessly drinking from his glass.

Xin Zaozao was not sure if Ye Wenhan was truly reminiscing about his relationship with Song Zhizhi, and in that moment, she didn’t know what to say to him. She just casually matched his drinking pace.

The pair talked for a while more.

They had been eating since 6:30 pm and it was now 9:30 pm.

Xin Zaozao was growing weary of the situation, but fortunately, at this moment, Ye Wenhan said that he felt somewhat drunk, fearing that he would make a fool of himself if he drank any more, and ended the meal.

Xin Zaozao went to settle the bill.

The waiter respectfully said, “Mr. Ye said that it’s not suitable for ladies to pay, so he has already settled the bill.”

Xin Zaozao glanced at Ye Wenhan, who was standing off to the side and patiently waiting for her. Ye Wenhan returned her glance with a gentle smile.

Xin Zaozao retracted her gaze and headed over to Ye Wenhan.

She didn’t say anything at that moment.

Ye Wenhan waited for Xin Zaozao’s objection about breaking the promise, but since it didn’t come, he couldn’t follow up with next time it’s on you either.

Xin Zaozao walked out of the restaurant and into the elevator with Ye Wenhan.

Xin Zaozao tried to maintain a cold distance from Ye Wenhan.

Ye Wenhan glanced at Xin Zaozao through the elevator mirror glass, and suddenly his body swayed.

Xin Zaozao instinctively moved forward to support him.

Ye Wenhan took the opportunity to lean heavily onto Xin Zaozao’s body, intentionally pressing his entire body against her.

Xin Zaozao felt disgusted, but in that moment she chose to endure it and said, “Are you okay, Mr. Ye?”

“It seems I’m really drunk, I can’t control my body,” Ye Wenhan said, self-mockingly, but he showed no signs of getting off Xin Zaozao.

Xin Zaozao endured it until the elevator arrived.

Xin Zaozao helped Ye Wenhan get into his car parked downstairs.

Ye Wenhan offered, “Zaozao, let me drive you home.”

“I don’t need it, I called my driver to pick me up.”

“It’s no trouble at all.”

“No need.”

“Could it be that Zaozao is very resistant to me, did I behave improperly just now?” Ye Wenhan asked.

Xin Zaozao hesitated for a moment, she said, “Then, thank you, Mr. Ye.”

“You are too polite to me,” said Ye Wenhan with a triumphant smile on his lips.

For him, he might not be as savvy in business, but with women, he had his ways.

Xin Zaozao sat next to Ye Wenhan.

The inside of the car was somewhat silent.

Ye Wenhan deliberately moved very close.

Xin Zaozao had not had any physical contact with a man for quite a long time. Of course, there were occasional unavoidable social interactions, but no matter what, she resisted from the depths of her heart instinctively.

She fixed her gaze on the streets outside the car window.

Looking at the familiar city, she experienced a moment of disorientation.

Time really flies.

Unknowingly, she had already spent two years at Xin Group, from being completely clueless at the beginning to now being adept at any task she was given.

She tensed up.

She suddenly felt a man’s hand holding hers, with her hand nestled in his.

Xin Zaozao pursed her lips tightly together.

She turned to look at Ye Wenhan.

Ye Wenhan said, “Can I hold your hand like this for a while? I just hope, there’s someone to give me warmth, when the night is quiet, I feel too lonely by myself.”

Every cell in Xin Zaozao’s body was rejecting this.

But …

At this moment, she chose to remain silent.

Her discernment told her something from the dinner conversation tonight.

The leader of commercial management wouldn’t waste half an afternoon and half an evening talking about irrelevant matters with her. Ye Wenhan… had intentions for her.

At this moment, she can only be impassive and neither take initiative nor reject.

Otherwise.

Suspending Ye Wenhan at this moment, she didn’t know if she could get home safely.

So, she just let Ye Wenhan hold her hand.

Until, the sedan parked in front of her apartment building.

She had moved out of the Xin family villa.

She didn’t want to live under the same roof with Wan Quan. As for Wan Quan, she was bound to stay. She didn’t know if Mu Cidian had gotten his deserved end, but for the time being, she turned a blind eye to Wan Quan, as long as her fundamental interests were not touched, she treated her as a stranger.

She got out of the car.

Ye Wenhan also got out of the car.

Ye Wenhan said, “Thank you for tonight, Zaozao, really. I haven’t relaxed like this in a long time.”

Xin Zaozao gave a slight smile, “I also appreciate Mr. Ye for tonight’s dinner. It’s late, and you’ve been drinking, you should go home early.”

“You should also rest early.”

“Goodbye.”

“Zaozao.” Ye Wenhan called after her, with a tinge of reluctance in his voice.

Xin Zaozao maintained a courteous smile.

“I hope we can have dinner like this next time.”

“Okay.” Xin Zaozao agreed.

For business people, unless they are absolutely forced, they will never offend anyone. The business world requires playing dumb to take advantage.

“Take care.”

“Same to you, Mr. Ye.”

Ye Wenhan nodded.

Xin Zaozao turned and walked away.

The moment she left, she could feel Ye Wenhan’s burning gaze on her.

She pursed her lips, showing no signs of abnormality.

Ye Wenhan watched Xin Zaozao’s retreating figure, a cold smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Getting a woman on the hook, especially a hurt woman, is way too easy.

Xin Zaozao, a woman who appears to be strong, also needs care and concern. Tonight, he’d let it go, one mustn’t rush the first time. Next time, he will definitely trick her into his bed.

Xin Zaozao returned to her own apartment.

The apartment was not large, and the furnishings were simple, which was entirely inconsistent with Xin Zaozao’s status.

But Xin Zaozao felt that this place made her feel genuinely clean and comfortable.

The first thing she did when she got home was to quickly take a bath.

She had always been averse to any physical contact with men. Occasionally when it was unavoidable, she would make sure to thoroughly wash herself when she got home.

She reflected, she was really once bitten, twice shy.

The scars Mu Cidian left her were too much, too dark, even if the man had already gotten his deserved end.

After her bath, she washed her hand that Ye Wenhan held with hand soap three times before exiting the bathroom and dialing Song Zhizhi’s number.

“It’s rare for you to call me,” Song Zhizhi joked.

Xin Zaozao was indeed not a very proactive person.

On top of that, she sometimes was busy with work and really didn’t have much personal time, but she remembered clearly who her true friends were, although her personality prevented her from showing it too blatantly.

She said, “Today, Ye Wenhan sought me out, and we had dinner together. He talked a lot about his emotions. I think Ye Wenhan is… pursuing me.”