Chapter 21: Meeting Again

Chapter 21: Meeting Again

In the days that followed, Fan Xiaoyao’s life returned to a tranquil rhythm, devoid of Tim and Wang Guocheng. Under the careful orchestration of Yang Yeye and Feng Youru, her days blossomed with variety and color, as she began frequenting upscale Western restaurants, navigating the social dance of arranged dates with various eligible bachelors—fully embracing the role of a dutiful participant in the matchmaking game.

“Xiaoyao, tonight’s date is especially important. This is the second time he’s asked you out,” Feng Youru reminded her, now transformed into Fan Xiaoyao’s matchmaking assistant. Every day, the candidates for Xiaoyao’s dates were screened by both her and Yang Yeye, but all the intricate arrangements were meticulously handled by Youru.

As Fan Xiaoyao dabbed on lipstick, she replied, “Second time? What’s his name?” She genuinely couldn’t recall such a person.

Feng Youru organized the dresses Xiaoyao had just tried on. “Wu Yang. He’s the sales director at GLT. He’s accomplished, good-looking, comes from a respectable family…”

A sudden urge to avoid Wu Yang welled up in Xiaoyao. She looked at Youru pleadingly. “Um… Can we cancel tonight’s date?”

Youru, understanding the root of Xiaoyao’s reluctance lay with GLT, protested, “Why avoid GLT people just because of that jerk? Does one bad apple represent the whole company?”

Knowing she wouldn’t win this argument, Xiaoyao glanced at her wristwatch. “Youru, the date you set up is starting soon. I’d better go and not waste your kind intentions.”

But as she stepped into the Aegean Sea Restaurant, her feet felt rooted to the spot. The scene from a few days earlier, that fraught encounter, seemed to replay before her eyes. She glanced at the seat where Tim had sat that day—now occupied by Wu Yang.

Wu Yang’s handsome, sunny face turned toward her. “Miss Fan, we meet again!”

That evening at the chaotic Feile KTV, Xiaoyao had glimpsed Wu Yang out of the corner of her eye. She wondered if he knew about her past with Tim, and why he’d still invited her to a second date.

She walked over awkwardly and sat opposite Wu Yang, at a loss for words or how to face him, lapsing into uneasy silence.

Wu Yang seemed to sense her discomfort. He pushed a glass of rose syrup—her favorite—toward her. “Say nothing for now. This is your favorite drink.”

Xiaoyao looked at the rose syrup in surprise. “How did you know I like this?”

A touch of bitterness flickered in Wu Yang’s heart. That night, in the hotel room, Tim had spoken haltingly of many of Xiaoyao’s habits, and Wu Yang had listened closely, remembering everything.

After that morning, Tim had caught an earlier flight with Jonce, leaving Kangcheng behind. But before boarding, Tim told Wu Yang, “If you like her, go after her. She’s a girl who deserves to be cherished.”

Wu Yang hesitated. “President Zeng, have you truly let her go?”

Tim gazed around the airport, his eyes full of unmistakable loss. But he only replied, “Whether I let go or not, there’s no possibility for us. Wu Yang, you’re a good man. Xiaoyao deserves to be treated with sincerity.”

As Wu Yang drifted into thought, Xiaoyao couldn’t help a wry smile. She didn’t need to ask—of course Tim had told him her preferences.

Wu Yang suddenly reached for her hand, his expression earnest. “Xiaoyao, can we try being together?”

She withdrew her hand, a bitter note in her voice. “Would you really want someone who doesn’t love you?”

Her distance pained Wu Yang. “Xiaoyao, I may not have President Zeng’s status, his education, or his wealth—”

She cut him off. “Wu Yang, you’re you. You don’t need to become someone else. If possible, I’d rather we just remain friends.”

But Wu Yang couldn’t accept this answer. He grasped her hand desperately. “Please, Xiaoyao, believe in me. I may not be rich, but I’ll work hard. I may not be highly educated, but I’m driven and ambitious. Please give me a chance to pursue you.”

Moved by his sincerity, Xiaoyao’s eyes stung. Her voice choked. “Wu Yang, you misunderstand. I’m not rejecting you for your lack of wealth or education. It’s just that… someone else once lived here—there was pain, there were wounds, exhaustion… My heart is already riddled with scars.”

Wu Yang suddenly knelt before her. “Xiaoyao, I’m willing to help heal your heart. I’ll wait for the day you can accept me.”

As curious and whispering eyes gathered around them in the restaurant, Xiaoyao hurried over, sobbing, “Please, don’t make this harder for me. Stand up, won’t you?”

Wu Yang, noticing the pointing fingers and stares, snapped impatiently, “What are you all looking at?”

Then, with a possessive air, he took Xiaoyao’s hand and led her out of the Aegean Sea Restaurant. Only then did a waiter chase after them, calling, “Sir, you haven’t paid your bill!”

Wu Yang wanted nothing more than for the ground to swallow him up. He’d been inwardly pleased with his bravado, never expecting the waiter to come after him for the check. From his suit pocket, he pulled out three hundred yuan, handed it to the waiter with a would-be tycoon’s flair, and said, “Keep the change.”

The waiter, unimpressed by Wu Yang’s posturing, reminded him, “Sir, your total bill is one hundred eight yuan. I don’t have enough change to break three hundred.”

Xiaoyao took out her wallet and handed the waiter the exact amount. “Sorry for the trouble.”

After tucking the money into her apron, the waitress couldn’t help teasing, “Miss, has your boyfriend been watching too many TV dramas about domineering CEOs? He got a little too into character dragging you out just now.”

Wu Yang glared at the waitress, gritting his teeth. “If you have nothing else to say, you can go.”

Finding Wu Yang increasingly amusing, the waitress continued, “Sir, don’t take those dramas too seriously! You should be gentle with your girlfriend. Those overbearing CEO types who force themselves on women in TV shows are—”

Wu Yang finally lost his temper. He’d never been so embarrassed. Flustered, he barked, “Get lost!”

The waitress kept muttering, “But sir…”

Xiaoyao, watching the unexpectedly adorable waitress, pointed to her own head and joked, “He’s not quite right in the head. He might get violent in a minute!”