Chapter 56

To Zhou Jingyu, Wen Tang undoubtedly had a strong filter.

However, this was not something to be discussed with outsiders.

Over the years, Jiang Qianya, as Wen Tang’s rival, was slightly inferior to Wen Tang overall, but her fame and resources were far superior to those of other actresses.

After Jiang Qianya’s scandal, endorsements and contracts with TV dramas and films were all canceled. Unlike Wen Tang’s case, which had been a temporary setback, Jiang Qianya’s fall was complete. The company took no action. All the marketing efforts were funded by her. It was like throwing a small stone into the ocean—there was no splash at all.

Jiang Qianya had become a discarded pawn of the capital.

She had once held a wealth of resources, but now those resources flowed back into the industry and were eagerly snatched up by other actresses. However, capital is picky. You can’t just grab them if you want to. They focused their attention on actresses at Jiang Qianya’s level—Wen Tang. In recent days, several brands that had once endorsed Jiang Qianya had extended offers to Wen Tang.

Regardless of whether Wen Tang had any intention of leaving the entertainment industry, she disdainfully refused to accept these offers, considering them a mere scavenging of Jiang Qianya’s leftovers.

She preferred open competition over such opportunistic behavior, which felt like kicking someone when they were down. Moreover, she had no interest in anything Jiang Qianya had been associated with.

Such things were only something Jiang Qianya would do. Wen Tang looked down on them.

After Wen Tang clearly refused all these offers, other actresses truly began to revel in their success.

A week later, Zhou Jingyu’s company organized a team-building event.

Company team-building events were significant yearly affairs. The planning department provided several options, and it was eventually decided that they would go to Lake City.

Lake City was precisely where Wen Tang was currently filming a movie.

Lu Yi, still heartbroken, had been pestering Zhou Jingyu to drink and had heard about the event from him. He decided to join Zhou Jingyu’s company for the trip.

Zhou Jingyu naturally agreed.

He thought it would be good for Lu Yi to clear his mind and avoid drowning his sorrows in alcohol.

His already limited communication with Wen Tang had been further squeezed to nearly nothing during these days spent with Lu Yi.

The company’s decision-making was swift. Once the team-building plan was confirmed, they set out the following week.

Participation in the team-building event was not mandatory. Shengling did not impose any requirements in this regard. Employees could decide whether to participate or not. They just needed to report to their superiors within two days of the announcement. Those who chose not to attend would receive financial compensation.

Team-building events were typically scheduled on weekends. They often involved physical and cooperative activities. Given the exhaustion from work, why would anyone want to endure more hardship?

In previous years, due to various reasons, attendance had been sparse.

This year was Zhou Jingyu’s first year as president, and the number of participants had noticeably increased compared to the previous years.

The event also lasted a day longer than usual. Previously limited to two days on weekends, this year Zhou Jingyu specifically extended it to include Friday, making it a three-day, two-night event to ensure everyone had more fun.

On Friday, it was drizzling in Lingcheng City. By noon, the group arrived in Lake City, where the weather was sunny and perfect.

After lunch, everyone headed to the designated spots for activities and projects.

Zhou Jingyu participated in all the activities the employees were involved in.

Apart from the daily routine of eating in the company cafeteria, which was very down-to-earth, this team-building event allowed Zhou Jingyu to shed his presidential image and truly engage with everyone. He played games, sweated, laughed heartily, and genuinely enjoyed the time with the employees.

Everyone works in an office and isn’t used to this level of physical activity. By the end of the half-day event, many were already feeling sore and complaining about their aches and pains.

Despite this, everyone had a great time, and no one complained. On the contrary, most people felt that this team-building event was very well-organized and had a lot of fun.

Considering everyone’s hard work during the day, the company chose to stay at a famous hot spring hotel in Lake City. With so many employees from Shengling, they nearly rented out the entire hot spring hotel for this event.

After dinner, everyone went to the hot springs to relax and unwind.

As a senior leader, Zhou Jingyu had a bit of a privilege. While employees used the communal hot springs, Zhou Jingyu’s suite had its own private hot spring pool.

Lu Yi, knowing he was the young master of the Lu family and Zhou Jingyu’s good friend, naturally received special treatment. His suite, located next to Zhou Jingyu, also had a private hot spring pool. However, Lu Yi found it too lonely to enjoy the hot spring by himself and insisted on joining Zhou Jingyu.

“You mentioned your girlfriend is also in Lake City. Why hasn’t she come to see you yet?” Lu Yi asked as he settled into the hot spring pool, stretching his arms. The water in the pool was neither too hot nor too cold, and he was enjoying it with his eyes closed.

After a month or so of reflection, his outward demeanor had returned to its usual cheerful self, though it was unclear how he truly felt inside.

He knew that Zhou Jingyu’s girlfriend was on a business trip in Lake City, as Zhou Jingyu hadn’t kept it a secret.

Lu Yi was very curious about Zhou Jingyu’s mysterious girlfriend. It was impressive that someone had managed to capture Zhou Jingyu’s heart. After all, Zhou Jingyu had been single for twenty-eight years, and despite many women pursuing him, none had succeeded in winning his affection.

Moreover, Zhou Jingyu’s girlfriend was truly mysterious. Despite Lu Yi’s attempts to probe, he couldn’t get any information about her from Zhou Jingyu.

From their conversations, Lu Yi knew that Zhou Jingyu’s girlfriend was extremely busy, possibly even busier than Zhou Jingyu, and was often on business trips, which is why Zhou Jingyu had recently had more time to drink with him. Otherwise, Zhou Jingyu would likely have abandoned everyone else to prioritize his girlfriend, as he did the last time.

Since Zhou Jingyu’s girlfriend was also in Lake City, Lu Yi was determined to stay in Zhou Jingyu’s suite and see what this enigmatic girlfriend was like.

When Lu Yi asked about why Zhou Jingyu’s girlfriend hadn’t arrived yet, Zhou Jingyu was texting his girlfriend.

Wen Tang had been working night shifts recently, flipping her schedule around, and according to her, she wouldn’t be done until around two or three in the morning.

Zhou Jingyu finished texting Wen Tang and looked up at Lu Yi.

“You’re really interested in my girlfriend?” he asked, his tone flat but somehow conveying a sense of danger.

Lu Yi almost forgot that Zhou Jingyu was notoriously jealous. He had just been curious and asked a few questions about Zhou Jingyu’s girlfriend, but now Zhou Jingyu seemed upset!

He had no romantic interest in Zhou Jingyu’s girlfriend himself!

His heart was broken and he felt he’d never love again!

“No, no, no, I didn’t mean that!” Lu Yi quickly clarified, “I’m just curious! Why keep your girlfriend a secret? She’s not someone who can’t be seen. What’s the big deal if we, your friends, see her?”

He started off sounding reasonable, but then his mouth got ahead of his brain. “Are you worried your girlfriend might fall for someone else?”

On this point, Zhou Jingyu had absolute confidence.

“You?” he said, glancing at Lu Yi and then giving a dismissive smile.

Zhou Jingyu knew Wen Tang well; she was completely about looks, and Zhou Jingyu didn’t think anyone he’d met posed a threat to him in that regard.

Lu Yi swore he could feel the contempt and indifference from Zhou Jingyu’s gaze.

…He was a well-known young master from Lingcheng. Did Zhou Jingyu have to be so dismissive?

Lu Yi was convinced Zhou Jingyu’s girlfriend would definitely come today, so he insisted on staying in Zhou Jingyu’s suite to wait and see her true appearance. However, when he woke up from his nap on the sofa, it was already past midnight, and she still hadn’t arrived.

Eventually, Lu Yi couldn’t wait any longer.

He regretted his decision intensely. What was the point of waiting on the sofa? He could have been sleeping comfortably in his own room’s soft bed!

After all, who would come to meet their boyfriend in the middle of the night?

It was a mistake!

Lu Yi massaged his sore shoulders and back, cursing under his breath as he left.

Meanwhile, Wen Tang, who was about to go see her boyfriend in the middle of the night, had just finished filming. After removing her makeup, she got into the nanny car.

In the quiet of the night, the hotel lobby was empty except for the front desk staff. Without Yang Yang, Wen Tang walked in alone.

She only wore a mask and let her long, wavy hair fall over her shoulders.

Used to rushing to various places, she walked quickly.

As she crossed the lobby in just ten seconds, this time of night was usually quiet, so the two receptionists barely noticed her. One had minimized the front desk window and was watching TV, while the other was idly playing with her phone. Only after Wen Tang had crossed the lobby did they seem to react.

“Did someone just come in? They looked tall and slim, with a great figure.”

“…Really?”

“Yes! I saw them!”

“Did you see their face? Besides having a good figure, what did they look like?”

“…I only caught a glimpse of their back.”

“Alright then, no need to worry. Most of the hotel’s rooms are booked by Shengling Group for these days. They must be employees of the Shengling Group.”

“Yeah, their company has so many handsome men and beautiful women. Especially their President—wow! An earthly treasure! How does someone so young have so much money? I’m so smitten!”

“Don’t even get me started. When I saw their President today, I was completely stunned. I was so absorbed in looking at him that I almost forgot to work. I’ve never seen anyone so good-looking in real life!”

“Hahaha, isn’t he just a masterpiece?”

“He’s practically a divine masterpiece!!!”

…

Unaware that the front desk staff were discussing her perfect boyfriend, Wen Tang had a room key card from Zhou Jingyu. After crossing the lobby, she continued down a long corridor. Since this hotel, themed around hot springs, had an unusual layout, it featured a long hallway with numerous hot springs and lounges. Wen Tang got thoroughly confused by the twists and turns, given her poor sense of direction.

She just wanted to see her boyfriend—why was it so difficult?!

Frustrated by the wasted time, Wen Tang decided to call Zhou Jingyu.

After ending the call, she waited in place.

Within about a minute, Wen Tang heard a familiar voice behind her.

“Tang Tang.”

She turned around to see Zhou Jingyu standing in the corridor. Dressed in a white T-shirt and black casual pants, he had a slight smile on his lips as he looked at her.

Even in such a simple outfit, her boyfriend looked stunning.

Wen Tang smiled brightly and ran towards Zhou Jingyu. He opened his arms and caught her securely.

Wen Tang buried her head in Zhou Jingyu’s embrace, inhaling his distinct fresh and cool scent. She couldn’t help but nuzzle his chest.

“Zhou Jingyu, I missed you so much!” Wen Tang said, her longing finally satisfied after a long time.

Zhou Jingyu held her tightly and responded with a soft “Mm.”

Not satisfied with his brief reply, Wen Tang tilted her head and asked, “And you? Did you miss me?”

Zhou Jingyu sighed softly. “…Of course, I missed you.”

How could he not?

With her not around, he thought about her day and night.

But she was busier than he was. He could only internalize his longing for her and strive to be the man behind the successful woman.