"You're not going?" Ye Chenhan looked troubled. He had heard from Ye Shaoting how much Ye Shaoting valued Gu Xiuyu. If he didn't go, it would deliberately put Ye Shaoting in an awkward position. "Ziyu, it's just a meal. Why don't you postpone your prior engagement?"
"I'm meeting Di Mingjue. I postponed my appointment with him last time for dinner with Gu Xiuyu, and that's when those rumors online started. If I postpone again, what do you think Di Mingjue will think?" Ye Ziyu stated frankly, throwing the dilemma back at Ye Chenhan.
If he were in Di Mingjue's shoes, he would surely be angry. But if she didn't go, Ye Shaoting would also be angry, and Gu Xiuyu would read too much into it.
This was truly a difficult situation!
Ye Ziyu spread her hands, patiently awaiting Ye Chenhan's reply.
"Why don't you invite Di Mingjue too? Everyone knows each other; there's no need for awkwardness," Ye Chenhan suggested.
It was a good suggestion, but it depended on whether Di Mingjue would agree.
Ye Chenhan grabbed Ye Ziyu's phone. "I'll notify him."
Di Mingjue was busy. The moment he saw Ye Ziyu's call, he silenced the employee speaking in front of him.
"Why are you calling me at this hour?"
"Come to Ye Corporation for lunch today and have a meal with Ziyu and Gu Xiuyu."
"Gu Xiuyu?"
Di Mingjue excitedly stood up from his chair.
Gu Xiuyu was truly like an inescapable parasite, an annoyance to his very core.
"I'm coming. Is he at Ye Corporation now? Wait for me, I'll head over right away."
Hanging up the phone, Di Mingjue ignored the pile of work in front of him, kicked away his stool, and made his way to Ye Corporation. No one could stop him.
A group of employees stood in the office, watching Di Mingjue leave in such a hurry.
What could possibly make him rush out like that?
Shen Lin hesitated for a moment. After dismissing the employees who had come to report, he quickly followed. However, by the time he ran out, Di Mingjue had vanished without a trace.
...
"I thought you wouldn't come," Gu Xiuyu said, quite surprised.
Since Ye Ziyu said she was very busy, how could she agree to have lunch with them?
"I understand the etiquette of a guest," Ye Ziyu replied, her eyes constantly looking outwards.
She had arrived at the meeting room first, while Ye Chenhan went to the entrance to pick up Di Mingjue. Judging by the time, he should be arriving soon.
Just as Gu Xiuyu was about to express his happiness, Ye Chenhan entered. He brought someone with him, completely extinguishing the smile that Gu Xiuyu hadn't even had a chance to show.
"Why are you here?" Ye Shaoting asked in a cold tone.
The dinner he had arranged was precisely to create an opportunity for Gu Xiuyu and Ye Ziyu to interact.
Di Mingjue naturally walked to Ye Ziyu's side and put his arm around her shoulder. "I had already made plans with her beforehand. Since you invited her again, we might as well all have dinner together."
His words seemed reasonable, but his appearance had nipped in the bud whatever they had intended to happen.
Ye Ziyu smiled at Di Mingjue. Now he wouldn't be jealous!
Gu Xiuyu chuckled and teased, "It's more lively with more people. Since President Di has said so, how can we refuse? I just wonder if President Ye has arranged enough seats?"
His remark was essentially a reminder to Ye Shaoting.
"What a coincidence, I booked a Western restaurant with a table for exactly four people."
"It's fine, we can add a chair when we get there."
And so, Di Mingjue successfully joined the dinner party organized by Ye Shaoting.
The Western restaurant was near Ye Corporation, a place with high foot traffic. If Di Mingjue hadn't shown up, there would have been a high probability of rumors circulating about Ye Ziyu and Gu Xiuyu.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, Di Mingjue's first action was to inquire about changing tables. Upon learning that all other tables were already reserved, he had no choice but to ask the waiter to add an extra chair. The chair was placed by the aisle, directly facing the center of the table.
Looking at the seating arrangement, Gu Xiuyu, as a guest, naturally wouldn't take the added seat. After some consideration, Ye Chenhan became the unlucky one.