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Leaving the bar, Li Yan didn't immediately go to retrieve his car; instead, he lit a cigarette.
"Why are you following me?"
"Curious."
Wen Qianyi crossed her arms over her chest, not bothering to make excuses.
"Curious about what?" Li Yan asked again.
Wen Qianyi revealed a charming smile and stepped closer, "Curious that you're already heading back. I sat next to you earlier and smelled the scent of shampoo and body wash, indicating you showered before coming here. Keeping such a good appearance, is it really just for drinking? It's still early, you haven't hit on any girls, but you're leaving so soon, why is that?"
Li Yan exhaled a puff of smoke and smirked slightly, "I don't think we're that familiar, right? Why should I explain to you?"
Wen Qianyi wasn't bothered by his attitude and continued smiling, "Hmm, if I were you I'd probably say... My friends invited me for drinks while I just happened to be showering, not especially maintaining my image. Now leaving, it's actually because I'm a good man. Is that the thought you had?"
Li Yan squinted his eyes and glanced at her through the smoke, lightly laughing, "You like to judge others by yourself? Then let me try; if I were you, I'd probably think... This guy, when everyone's amazed by me, deliberately doesn't talk to me to play it cool; not hitting on girls and leaving early, he's pretending to be a nice guy; when I made it clear I'm hosting but he deliberately went to pay the bill, wanting to act like he's not giving me any face, trying to get my attention. I just want to mock his facade to his face and see how thick-skinned he is. Is that the thought you had?"
After saying this, he muttered "idiot" and ignored her, walking away.
Hearing his words, Wen Qianyi was taken aback. Honestly, she did have some of those thoughts. She's very aware of her looks, figure, and charm. When ordinary men show amazement, even infatuation, she doesn't resent it but enjoys it. Conversely, some men deliberately act independently, thinking this will attract her attention, making her disdainful.
Li Yan's attitude earlier was also categorized as such by her. Considering they might become colleagues in the same department, to avoid further aversion later on, she jokingly tried to break the ice. The subtext was: Kid, I'm a beauty, but I'm no longer eighteen or nineteen, acting in front of me will only make people more repulsed!
Unexpectedly, Li Yan wasn't ashamed or embarrassed, nor did he cover up or get angry. Instead, he laid out her thoughts more clearly than she herself understood. Watching his retreating figure, she seemed to hear the subtext: Hey girl, feeling good about yourself is fine, but don't think everyone sees you as a prize!
This made her frown slightly, this guy...
...
Reaching the parking spot, Li Yan frowned, "Hasn't your 'curiosity' been satisfied? Why are you still following me?"
Wen Qianyi smiled innocently, "You're really good, you saw through me completely. I might just be feeling a bit too good about myself, also being a fool. Tell me... How can a fool know the way home? Of course, I need to trouble someone else to take me. Li Xiaoyan, we're somewhat friends now, can you bear to see me lost on the streets, getting taken away by strange uncles?"
Li Xiaoyan... Li Yan shivered, a well-spirited beauty, why speak like a fangirl? But this rascal can really hold up, even being called a fool with a smile, worthy of being a business elite.
"Wen Xiaoyi, with your charm, just holler on the street, many would line up to take you home. If there's trouble, find the police. My little QQ can't accommodate your grand presence!"
"Oh come on~~~~ why imitate other's speech? We're so familiar, you can just call me Xiaoyi." Wen Qianyi said with a beaming smile.
Li Yan flicked away the cigarette butt, scoffing, "Why don't you call me uncle first?"
"No sense of humor, not fun at all." Wen Qianyi pouted, then added, "Look! Seriously, I followed you out earlier, if I go back alone now, it would be embarrassing in front of my friends. I'm heading back anyway, you should take me. I trust you!"
Li Yan looked her up and down and replied, "But I don't trust you!"
Even with her good temper, Wen Qianyi felt a bit angry, what the hell! That's too much.
As her almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise, Li Yan had already gotten into the car, saying through the window, "Miss Wen, I like to get to the point, anytime tomorrow or the day after, I'm available! If you're only bored and messing with people, I'm not interested; go back to the bar, waving a finger, plenty of men will come for you to tease."
With that, he started the car and left her standing there.
After several years of grinding in the workplace, Wen Qianyi has always considered herself impervious to all, surprised to find her temper provoked by a guy she met not even a day ago. Watching the leaving vehicle, she couldn't help but curse inwardly, really asking for it, driving a QQ with such arrogance, if given a Bentley, wouldn't he act all high and mighty? What kind of person is this!
...
When Li Yan returned home, it was nearly midnight, and as he drove into the garage, he was startled. Zhang Yurong's Mercedes wasn't there!
Given Zhang Yurong's lifestyle, she works late even on weekends, and if she finishes business early, she'd listen to music and go to sleep, unlike him going out drinking at ten in the evening.
Li Yan's not-so-heavy drunkenness disappeared instantly, it's definitely a sudden incident that made Zhang Yurong go out this late, only two things could affect her this way, either family or company. The company is probably empty now, unless there's a fire, it wouldn't contact her as the CEO, that possibility is slim. The other possibility is larger, her father Zhang Tianyi was seriously ill over a year ago, almost at death's door for a while, he's been recovering well in the last few months though.
They were supposed to have dinner at his in-law's today, but then Zhang Yurong said her parents had gone out for something. Li Yan immediately connected this, could it be his father-in-law had a problem while socializing, and then trouble on the way back?
He hurriedly searched his phone for Zhang Yurong's rarely dialed number, but no one answered the call he made.
That's odd, if there's an issue with his father-in-law, she should be calling him, running back alone would only worry the elderly more. While persistently redialing, he ran out of the garage.