"Today's young people all like to celebrate festivals. New Year's Eve is just a week away. Do you plan to go out and have some fun on New Year's Day?"
Hearing this, Jiang Li pondered for a moment.
"I'll stay at home. I'd better not go out," she said slowly, looking very amiable. "There will be so many people out there during the festival. It won't be good if I'm recognized."
Sister Chen replied, "You're right."
Even though Jiang Li usually kept a low profile, it was not uncommon for her to be recognized by passers - by because of her popularity.
As she said this, Sister Chen put down her phone. "How about coming to my place for a reunion dinner then? Xixi hasn't seen you for a long time. She's been clamoring to see Sister Li."
Xixi was Sister Chen's daughter. She was a well - behaved, filial and sensible girl. At such a young age, she could already live independently, which made Sister Chen feel very relieved.
"Xixi is so busy with her studies. Does she even have a holiday on New Year's Day?" Jiang Li smiled. "Okay then. I'll bring gifts to see her."
Sister Chen beamed. "Great. That girl will probably be over the moon for the next few days."
Just when they thought it was settled, something unexpected happened.
In the president's office of Jiang Entertainment, Xiao Yanzhi stared expressionlessly at Jiang Li standing across from him.
They hadn't seen each other for a while, and he always felt that there was something different about her.
Especially her complexion.
"Life has been treating you well lately?" Xiao Yanzhi said in a cold tone. "Without any schedules, you seem to be enjoying yourself."
She actually wished she had some schedules.
Xiao Yanzhi was of noble temperament. His voice was slow as he said, "There's a project in Huacheng at the end of the month. Since you want to learn things, get prepared and go on a business trip with me."
Jiang Li's heart tightened. She had a strange premonition.
"Sorry, Mr. Xiao. I've already made an appointment with Sister Chen at the end of the month. I'm supposed to go to her place for a reunion dinner," she said in a low voice. "I won't be able to go on this business trip to learn."
Xiao Yanzhi stared at her intently. "You can't stick to anything. Is this your attitude towards learning?"
After saying that, he slammed the document in front of him. His cold voice rang out, "Jiang Li, do you think running a company is a child's game?"
Jiang Li bit her lips.
It wasn't that she didn't want to go on the business trip, but...
"Will it just be the two of us?" Jiang Li boldly asked with her hands hanging by her sides.
Xiao Yanzhi glanced at her. "Of course not. Yaoyao will also be there."
Hearing the expected answer, Jiang Li calmly replied, "Since you're going to celebrate New Year's Eve with Qin Yaoyao, I won't be a bother."
A polite smile appeared on her face. "I'll surely work hard on other cooperation projects in the future."
After saying that, she turned around and was about to leave.
"You just can't get rid of your self - righteous ways," Xiao Yanzhi's cold voice drifted over. "Apart from work, you can arrange your own time. No one's asking you to celebrate New Year's Eve with us."
"Can't you even handle work professionally?" Xiao Yanzhi's voice suddenly changed tone. "Or do you have other motives and don't want to see me and Yaoyao together?"
Jiang Li was speechless.
She really didn't expect Xiao Yanzhi to be so narcissistic, but he had really goaded her. Jiang Li tightened her palms.
"No."
Xiao Yanzhi twirled the pen in his hand and then said in a commanding tone, "Since you don't, then get prepared. We'll leave in three days."
---
The night before leaving for Huacheng, Jiang Li packed her luggage and called Sister Chen. She apologized to her euphemistically, saying that she had a sudden business trip and couldn't go to see Xixi.
Learning that it was a task assigned by Xiao Yanzhi at the last minute, Sister Chen had no choice but to compromise. She smiled and said, "It's okay for me, but that girl Xixi will probably throw a tantrum again."
Jiang Li was also very helpless. "Sister Chen, please apologize to Xixi for me. I'll go see her as soon as I'm back from the business trip."
Sister Chen replied, "It's okay. That little girl is easy to console."
The more Sister Chen said so, the worse Jiang Li felt.
Xixi was a very sensible little girl. She could already cook some simple dishes even though she was only in primary school. Usually, when Sister Chen was busy with work, Xixi would stay at home alone.
Too sensible children often made people feel heart - ache.
Jiang Li, in particular, could empathize with her.
After hanging up the phone, the doorbell rang.
Jiang Li rushed to open the door. Song Yu smiled at her. "Aren't you going to bed yet? I'm here to return the plate. I texted you just now but you didn't reply."
"I was on the phone just now," Jiang Li took the plate.
Song Yu's eyes fell on the suitcase in the living room. "Do you have any plans for New Year's Eve?"
Jiang Li shook her head. "I'm going on a business trip to Huacheng."
A few days ago, Song Yu had called Xiao Yanzhi and invited him to go drinking on the night before New Year's Eve, but was rejected because Xiao Yanzhi said he had to accompany Qin Yaoyao to Huacheng to celebrate New Year's Eve.
But he didn't expect that Jiang Li would also be going to Huacheng.
Seeming to see something from Song Yu's face, Jiang Li added, "I'm going with Xiao Yanzhi. We're going there to discuss a project cooperation."
Jiang Entertainment would make some major moves next year. Xiao Yanzhi's ambition was not limited to Beicheng. It was common for him to travel around.
Song Yu said, "You've been running around so much lately. You seem more like an assistant. I almost forgot that you're a celebrity."
Jiang Li laughed at herself. "There's nothing I can do. No cooperation partners have approached me recently. I have to develop some other sidelines."
Song Yu asked, "Do they pay you extra for this?"
Jiang Li was amused. "No."
To put it bluntly, she was just eager to learn the operation mode of a mature company. It was already good enough that they didn't ask her to pay tuition fees, let alone give her a salary.
Seeing her so calm, Song Yu didn't think much more. He just shrugged regretfully. "I was planning to invite you to celebrate New Year's Eve with me. It seems I'll have to be alone."
"Such a handsome lawyer like you. Don't you have any ladies to accompany you?" Since they lived opposite each other and their relationship had become closer, Jiang Li joked, "There are plenty of little girls who like you."
"You're right. As the festival is approaching, there are indeed plenty of little girls with legal issues coming to me for help."
Jiang Li laughed so hard that she leaned forward and backward.
After chatting for a while, Jiang Li suddenly thought of something. "Do you like kids, Lawyer Song?"
Song Yu raised his eyebrows.
Thinking of the phone call with Sister Chen just now, Jiang Li felt a bit embarrassed. "Well, I had an appointment with Sister Chen's daughter. We were going to have New Year's Eve dinner at her place."
"But I have to break the promise. I feel really bad about it." Jiang Li picked up the wrapped gift box from the tea table. "Could you please help me deliver this to her on New Year's Eve? It's the New Year's gift I promised her."
---
Early the next morning.
Jiang Li was standing downstairs with her suitcase in hand. She lowered her head to check the time.
Originally, she planned to find her own way to Huacheng, but Xiao Yanzhi said it would save time if they went together and asked her to wait for him downstairs.
They had agreed to meet at 8 am, but it was almost 8:30 and there was still no sign of his car.
She waited until almost 9 am. An impatient look appeared on Jiang Li's face.
Just as she was about to take out her phone to call Xiao Yanzhi, the black business car stopped in front of her.
The car window rolled down. Qin Yaoyao was sitting in the front passenger seat. She was dressed exquisitely and looked sweet with a lovely smile on her face.
"Good morning, Sister Jiang Li."