CHAPTER 225: CHAPTER 225: GETTING CLOSE TO YOU LIFEN

张妙言 smiled a bit reluctantly at Yang Chenmin’s invitation, "Sure, I have time. About my friend, I’ll leave that to you, Manager Yang. You can just call me Miao Yan."

"Then you shouldn’t call me Manager Yang either, it sounds too formal," Yang Chenmin smoothly responded, looking like a master flirt.

Reluctantly, Zhang Miaoyan said, "Chenmin, thank you."

Yang Chenmin’s spirits soared. He was about to conquer the ice queen of the office, how could he not be excited?

"I’ll wait for you at the company entrance tonight."

"Alright."

Zhang Miaoyan left the fifth floor, feeling restless, as if she was doing something wrong.

She wondered if Yang Chenmin was just toying with her, casting a wide net. She knew she had no feelings for him, and using him made her feel uneasy.

She returned to her office, her phone buzzed with a message notification. Seeing it was from Xie Yuchen, she quickly opened it. There were only a few words: "Cook dinner tonight."

It meant he wanted her to go to his apartment and cook dinner after work, still as terse as ever.

She had been cooking for him for over two years, initially just lunch. Later he said his housekeeper had gone back to her hometown and wouldn’t be returning, he was too lazy to find a new one, and he increased her pay to cook dinner as well.

She seldom saw him at the apartment; when she did, he was always rushing off. Cooking an extra meal wasn’t a big deal for her, so she agreed.

After her promotion, Gong Xiaoyu had asked her, "Your salary isn’t low, why still cook for Xie Yuchen? That spoiled rich kid is always bossing people around, I can’t stand it."

Yue Xiaoyang originally didn’t cook either, but since being with Xiao Yu, he learned. Especially during her period, he wouldn’t let her touch cold water, even hand-washing her underwear.

Though they were still just boyfriend and girlfriend, seemingly without much progress, Gong Xiaoyu could feel Yue Xiaoyang always put her first, making her very happy. Thinking about it always brought a smile to her face.

Zhang Miaoyan felt envious. She had spent the past two years working and cooking for Xie Yuchen, with no time to think about anything else.

She told Gong Xiaoyu, "My small apartment costs six thousand yuan a month. I can’t compare to you; the pressure is too high."

Gong Xiaoyu did some quick math, "Didn’t you get a raise? Six thousand a month shouldn’t be too bad for you. Isn’t it tiring to cook for Young Master Xie every day?"

Not agreeing, Zhang Miaoyan said, "I want to save more. If I don’t save while I’m young, what about retirement?"

Gong Xiaoyu was shocked, "Zhang Miaoyan, how old are you? Already thinking about retirement? Not planning to get married?"

With a shrug, Zhang Miaoyan said, "I haven’t considered marriage. I have my own place now; living alone is fine."

Gong Xiaoyu was amazed, "That’s really forward-thinking. I can’t accept growing old alone. I’d go crazy if Yue Xiaoyang and I don’t end up together."

Zhang Miaoyan thought, only after he gets married, can she start planning her own life.

Xie Yuchen’s company was busy with a new research project. If the product trial was successful, he had a chance to win the Global Physical Science Award.

She knew it was Xie Yuchen’s ambition. If he won, he would be the youngest person ever to receive it, surpassing many predecessors, marking a milestone in the field of science and technology.

She couldn’t help him much, just cooked his meals so he could eat when he got home.

Except for tonight; she had agreed to Yang Chenmin’s invitation.

She stared at the WeChat message for a while before replying, "I have something tonight and can’t cook. Have your assistant order takeout, and remember to eat on time."

She edited the message, then deleted "remember to eat on time," reminding herself she had no right to say that to him.

She checked the short message several times before sending it.

Xie Yuchen got her reply and thought he’d read it wrong. He brought his phone closer and reread it twice to confirm she really said she was busy tonight.

That had never happened before. She always came when he asked.

Why was she busy tonight?

Xie Yuchen became unsettled, put down his work, and called her.

Zhang Miaoyan returned to work after replying. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Xie Yuchen calling.

He rarely called, only when there was something urgent.

She answered, and Xie Yuchen directly asked, "Where are you going tonight?"

Thinking he didn’t want takeout, she said, "I’m going out with colleagues. You’ll have to eat takeout tonight."

"Which colleagues? Where?"

Feeling inexplicably guilty, Zhang Miaoyan randomly answered, "Department dinner with many colleagues."

Temporarily believing her, Xie Yuchen said, "Fine, call me after dinner. I’ll pick you up." Then he hung up.

Looking at her phone, Zhang Miaoyan was confused. He said he’d pick her up?

When did Mr. Xie become so considerate? Besides, he didn’t even know where she was going, how could he know if it was on his way?

Zhang Miaoyan told herself not to overthink. Yang Chenmin would likely take her home, and she could tell Xie Yuchen not to come; it shouldn’t be a problem.

An Junxi smoothly entered the TV station, greeted by a girl in her twenties who introduced herself as the assistant to the new rising star.

Knowing An Junxi was someone Manager Yang specifically instructed to look after, the assistant was courteous. After getting a general understanding of the TV station’s layout, An Junxi said, "You go ahead, I’ll look around on my own."

The assistant said, "Then, Miss An, feel free. If you need anything, you can find me in Studio 1."

An Junxi dismissed her to continue her exploration and headed straight to You Lifen’s private dressing room.

A crowd surrounded the dressing room. From their badges, An Junxi saw they were from Youli Entertainment.

Surprisingly, for just an interview, You Lifen brought such a large team.

Curious, An Junxi heard a commotion inside the dressing room.

The people outside the door whispered uncertainly. An Junxi approached to eavesdrop, carrying coffees to discreetly serve them while listening.

With a staff badge, the people assumed An Junxi worked for the TV station and paid her no attention.

She overheard someone say, "The Spanish composer scheduled with Miss You bailed. There are issues with her new song. With the Wanling collaboration next week, changing the song now is a huge problem. Even her manager can’t calm her down."

Another chimed in, "Wanling is under Gu Family. Their entertainment division is the least prioritized among their ventures. Our company, Youli, leads the industry. If Wanling overshadows us in this collaboration, we’ll lose face in the entertainment circle."

Everyone sighed, feeling time was too tight and predicting a failed collaboration.

An Junxi had an idea. Ignoring the ongoing argument inside, she knocked and said, "Miss You, your coffee is here."