Chapter 332: We’ve Already Lived Together

Since returning from New Year, Wen Qianyi had been somewhat avoiding Li Yan. Whether it was because of concerns about Yu Xiaodi or not wanting to end up like Hai Fu, she herself couldn’t say exactly why. In short, without any lasting hope of being with Li Yan, she decided not to develop it further to avoid deeper heartbreak later.

She was quite disappointed in Li Yan. Previously, she knew he was fooling around with Shinohara Mirai and Matsushima Kui in Beihai Country when he was still single, and she was not related to him, so all she could do was despise it silently. However, after returning, he officially acknowledged Yu Xiaodi as his girlfriend, which meant he should have been wholeheartedly devoted. Surprisingly, he still got involved with Hai Fu behind her back!

Even if that was tolerable, it wouldn’t have concerned her, but the fact that he insisted on breaking through this relationship, indicating his affection towards her, was something she could not let go of. If he truly liked someone, he should consider the person, instead of provoking and spoiling them.

A few days ago, Shinohara Mirai and the others came again. It could be guessed with any amount of imagination that they wouldn’t just be innocently watching television.

But what she didn’t expect today was to discover something even more outrageous, something she could never have imagined even in her dreams!

When Zhang Yurong called her, she was already at work in the company. Seeing Zhang Yurong calling her personal mobile instead of using the office line, Wen Qianyi assumed it was urgent business and immediately focused her attention.

However, on the other end, Zhang Yurong seemed hesitant, uncertain, and as if she was about to speak but didn’t.

Being clever and experienced in deciphering her boss’s thoughts, Wen Qianyi sensed that Zhang Yurong might have an inconvenient task to assign her. Considering their good relationship, it was difficult for Zhang Yurong to directly order her as a boss.

So she immediately volunteered with a smile: "President Zhang, just tell me what work needs to be done! I can definitely accomplish it."

Recalling that Zhang Yurong disliked socializing, or perhaps a major client required it, she assumed Zhang Yurong wanted to rope her in. Not waiting for Zhang Yurong to speak up, she continued, "Is there a client that needs entertaining or drinking? No worries, I’m also responsible for business tasks, have experience in this, and it’s my forte and primary duty. What time and where?"

At home, Zhang Yurong felt extremely embarrassed and ashamed. Initially, she thought it would be easy to speak of, considering she didn’t mind publicizing their relationship, she assumed it would be easy to mention it to anyone. She didn’t expect that even at the brink, she still felt too shy to speak.

Wen Qianyi’s professionalism and ’considerateness’ made it even harder for her as the president to speak of personal matters.

"Well... Qianyi, it’s actually not about socializing, it’s... I have some personal matters... that I’d like to consult with you..." Yurong finally spoke under the encouraging gaze of Yue Yao.

Even though Wen Qianyi couldn’t see her face, she could perceive the embarrassment in Yurong’s tone, making her very curious. She knew they were both born on the same day, year, and month, and had already passed their twenty-fifth birthday. What could be such a delicate personal matter?

Her imagination ran wild as she thought of how Zhang Yurong usually appeared cold to people, not deliberately unfeeling, but rather as a habit, something natural. It was likely she didn’t have a boyfriend, right? Could it be she got a boyfriend and wanted advice on matters between men and women?

This association made Qianyi somewhat sweaty and awkward, but since it wasn’t about her but someone else, moreover her superior and boss seeking her advice for such an issue, it didn’t make her feel embarrassed but rather excited and thrilled, igniting the flames of gossip within her.

"Yes, please go ahead. I promise I’ll be truthful and won’t reveal your personal matters to anyone!" Wen Qianyi immediately assured with a solemn posture to encourage Zhang Yurong to speak.

"Well... If I tell you... you might be rather surprised, but since you’ve said so, I will go ahead."

"Please go ahead." Wen Qianyi started to wonder, President Zhang, you’re teasing my curiosity, aren’t you? I’ve been anticipating all day, surely I can’t keep up the serious facade forever? Nonetheless, she felt slightly expecting to soon hear about the beautiful president’s private secret.

"Last night... did Li Yan..." Zhang Yurong briefly considered that unlike Yu Xiaodi, they were just good friends; he wouldn’t likely seek her out at night, and if he did, it would likely be for a drink or such. So she changed the phrasing at the tip of her tongue from ’look for you’ to "... did he contact you?"

After asking, she felt an immense pressure suddenly weighing down her heart—she was about to face the seismic effects of revealing this information!

Indeed, Wen Qianyi was silent for at least seven seconds after hearing the call!

Li Yan!

I didn’t mishear that, right? Zhang Yurong was actually asking about Li Yan!

And it’s about last night?!

Wen Qianyi felt her mind short-circuited slightly, or perhaps Zhang Yurong’s mind short-circuited. Zhang Yurong should merely be in a superior-subordinate relationship with him; why be concerned about where he was last night?

"Well... Um, he didn’t contact me last night. President Zhang, did something happen?"

After a brief confusion, Wen Qianyi realized Li Yan was the head of Heavenly Film, and Zhang Yurong was the president of Paradise Group. If something had happened to Li Yan last night, it would likely be brought forth to her attention. Despite being disappointed in Li Yan over his issues with women, her emotional connection couldn’t be changed abruptly, hence she was still deeply concerned and nervously inquired.

"Um... There was indeed a minor issue, if Li Yan happens to contact you, could you please notify me immediately?" Zhang Yurong felt very disappointed. She merely inquired about Li Yan’s whereabouts. Since Wen Qianyi didn’t know, she couldn’t disclose information involving Li Yan’s core secret and her personal circumstances to her.

However, her vagueness, to Wen Qianyi, implied that Li Yan ’had a slight issue’. Her mind quickly began to speculate: to prompt the president to personally inquire, the issue must be significant! And presently, the likely substantial business involving Li Yan might be financial issues within Heavenly Film!

Though small in scale, Heavenly Film has dedicated financial personnel, and the company’s investment towards them isn’t substantial. To touch any funds requires the appropriate signatures. Even if Li Yan wished to abscond with money, it couldn’t happen. Unless he contacted theaters and spirited away the box office earnings from "Springtime Leaked"? That doesn’t seem possible, box office earnings aren’t distributed so rapidly.

Her speculations were merely suspicions, with Zhang Yurong seemingly about to hang up the call, Qianyi hurriedly questioned: "President Zhang, you know that Li Yan and I are quite good friends. Can you tell me what exactly happened? Did he swipe the funds of Heavenly Film? Of course, as a friend, I’m inquiring personally. If he contacts me from a corporate perspective, I’ll definitely notify you!"

In posing the question, she frowned slightly, realizing it couldn’t be regarding public funds since Zhang Yurong mentioned personal matters. Could it be...

She recalled an incident from before, during Valentine’s Day, when she and Hai Fu attended a meeting in Zhang Yurong’s office, followed by receiving identical flowers, chocolates, and cards with the same content and handwriting in the executive suite.

That night, Li Yan also called Hai Fu to explain, confessing to sending flowers to Zhang Yurong. At that time, his explanation was:

Jiang Xueyin, Zhang Yurong’s cousin, didn’t want her solely engrossed in her work. On Valentine’s Day, while others were dating, she had none. So, she bought two movie tickets and arranged for Li Yan to invite Zhang Yurong to a movie. Knowing Zhang Yurong wouldn’t attend with him, and needing to entertain Shinohara Mirai, he took the opportunity to order, besides for them, equally ordered a set for Zhang Yurong, copying the card’s content verbatim.

Since neither had mentioned it to Li Yan, nor did they know the flowers were received simultaneously, Li Yan voluntarily contacted Hai Fu with an explanation, admitting he sent flowers to Zhang Yurong. This honest admission seemed genuine, minimizing doubt. Naturally, there was the significant gap between him and Zhang Yurong, making any actual involvement between them unlikely, only speculating he harbored admiration for Zhang Yurong.

With this thought, Wen Qianyi cautiously asked: "President Zhang, I know on Valentine’s Day, Li Yan sent you flowers, which you probably directly discarded. Did he... persistently pursue you last night?"

Following her, stalking and pursuing Zhang Yurong in the evening, consequently getting beaten up by the Zhang family’s bodyguards, absent from work today, and Zhang Yurong unwilling to ask others, hence calling her... that seemed the only logical possibility.

Although Qianyi felt something was still amiss...

"Pursue me? No..." Zhang Yurong was slightly sweaty, indeed everyone felt Li Yan and herself weren’t suited. Nevertheless, she decided she’d reveal it, with Wen Qianyi being his good friend, proving to be the best option; it appeared that aside from simple inquiries, Wen Qianyi wasn’t even considering them together. She prepared her phrasing, gradually expressing it.

No! Li Yan is an assassin!

No way could he be beaten by bodyguards; he might instead have beaten them! Zhang Yurong presumably sought information to alert authorities?

Just as Wen Qianyi recalled Li Yan was an assassin, she heard the unbelievable:

"Actually... Li Yan and I... we’ve already lived together."

(I’ll strive to update another Chapter tonight) (To be continued, for more, please visit www.qidian.com, more Chapters available, support the author, support legitimate reading!)