Zhao Yingjun was amused.

She looked at Ji Lin:

"President Chu Shanhe specifically invited you to the banquet... You wouldn't not even recognize his daughter, would you?"

"I'm sorry, I've been abroad and I'm really not familiar with the situation in Donghai."

He looked up at Zhao Yingjun:

"In that case... are you his girlfriend?"

Zhao Yingjun chuckled and crossed her arms:

"Mr. Ji Lin, it's impolite to ask so much about other people's privacy. Is that a common trait of mystery writers?"

"Many people say that. But I think... maybe I'm just nosy."

"Too bad, your nosiness will be disappointed." Zhao Yingjun sat back down in her chair.

She took a sip of red wine and shook her head as she watched Lin Xian and Chu Anqing, laughing and talking, moving through the dance floor:

"I'm just his boss."

...

Second floor.

The conductor's right hand trembled rapidly as the orchestra reached the climax of the "Voices of Spring" waltz, with intense drumbeats and rapid violin strings!

Then!

It ended abruptly on a crisp note, completing the finale!

The men and women on the dance floor also stopped, looking at Chu Anqing in the center as her skirt settled, and gave her enthusiastic applause.

Ignoring the flattery, Chu Anqing's dance was indeed worthy of the applause.

But Lin Xian felt inexplicably awkward.

After smiling and waving back to the audience with Chu Anqing, they walked towards Zhao Yingjun's table.

"Senior Lin Xian, you dance so well!"

Chu Anqing praised sincerely, her eyes full of light:

"Senior, you're truly a Renaissance man! Not only are you talented in design, but your hosting skills are excellent, you're knowledgeable and insightful in art, and you're a great painter! I didn't expect you to be such a good dancer too!"

"Dancing is nothing." Lin Xian shook his head and smiled:

"I wouldn't dare to show off my dancing skills."

"No way, Senior, you're too humble!" Chu Anqing took a small hop in front of Lin Xian, walking backwards with her hands behind her back, looking at Lin Xian with a giggle:

"After you gave the lecture at our college that day... many senior students were discussing you! They said you were very popular at school and many girls liked you. Why didn't you find a girlfriend? What were you busy with back then?"

Lin Xian was stumped by this question.

What was he busy with in college?

It felt like four years had passed in a blink of an eye.

"Busy dreaming, I guess." Lin Xian laughed:

"Actually, a lot of things in dreams are quite interesting."

"Is there a golden house in your dreams?"

"Yes." Li Chengjia.

"Is there a beauty like jade?"

"Yes, too." CC barely counts, but Li Ningning definitely does.

"Wow... I'm really envious, Senior. You only have good dreams." Chu Anqing clicked her tongue:

"I can't do that. I'm afraid of dreaming because I always have nightmares."

"What kind of nightmares?"

"All kinds, but I don't really remember them when I wake up. But sometimes I'm really scared. I wish I could have good dreams like you."

As they talked and laughed, they arrived at Zhao Yingjun's side.

Lin Xian noticed a stranger, yet familiar figure standing behind Zhao Yingjun.

"President Zhao, this..."

"Let me introduce Lin Xian." Zhao Yingjun put down her wine glass and looked at the two of them:

"This is the genius mystery writer you mentioned before, Mr. Ji Lin. You probably met at Professor Xu Yun's memorial service, but you might have just passed by each other and didn't notice."

"Ji Lin, this is the founder of Rhine Cat that I just mentioned to you, the youngest team leader in our X Corporation, Lin Xian. All the Rhine Cat's creations and designs are his work."

"Hello."

Ji Lin extended his right hand to shake Lin Xian's hand.

"Pleased to meet you."

Lin Xian also extended his right hand and shook the fair, slender hand that resembled a woman's.

It was very smooth and tender.

Not like a boy's hand.

But it makes sense that this young and famous bestselling author would be a young master who doesn't do any housework, as not doing housework is the best way to maintain one's skin.

"Mr. Lin, I really like the Rhine Cat you designed." Ji Lin picked up his keychain again, and the Rhine Cat doll with a bun and a qipao swayed in the air:

"Could you please sign it for me?"

"Of course." Lin Xian smiled politely:

"Just call me Lin Xian. We're about the same age, no need to be so formal."

Lin Xian took the pen and keychain from Ji Lin.

Chu Anqing giggled as she looked at the Rhine Cat doll:

"We really think alike! My favorite is also the bun and qipao one! But... you can only get Senior Lin Xian's second signature, the first one is with me, and it says no.1!"

"Oh? Is that so?" Ji Lin looked at Lin Xian.

Lin Xian nodded, pressed the cloth tag on the doll onto the table, and then signed it:

"To be honest... I didn't think there would be a second signature. You guys are making me feel flattered."

"Then can you write no.2 for me too?"

"You two really know how to have fun together." Lin Xian didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

These two are so innocent.

It's one thing that they both like the bun and qipao Rhine Cat, but they also want the signature to be numbered... what kind of fetish is this?

After signing the name on the cloth tag, Lin Xian wrote no.2 in the corner according to Ji Lin's request.

Then he returned the pen and keychain to Ji Lin:

"I've read your book *Broken Bridge*, it's a very good mystery. If we have a chance to meet again in the future... I'll bring a book for you to sign."

"We'll have a chance to meet." Ji Lin took the keychain: "I plan to stay in Donghai for a while."

"Speaking of which... Lin Xian, have you ever considered designing a gothic-style Rhine Cat? That kind of contrasting style should be quite good."

Gothic style?

Lin Xian recalled that he had never seen such a bizarre Rhine Cat in the toy store in his dreams.

After all, this is a children's toy, gothic style...

It doesn't seem very child-friendly.

At least it's not suitable for this cat.

"Sorry, not for the time being." Lin Xian replied:

"Gothic style is a bit too gloomy. The original intention of designing this cat was to be a mascot for the Rhine brand, so it should be sunny and cute."

"Is that so, that's a bit of a pity."

At this moment.

Several middle-aged men who looked like CEOs ran over in a panic:

"Mr. Ji, so you're here. We've been looking for you for a long time over there."

"Shall we go inside and chat?"

"Mr. Ji, this is my business card... please take it."

Ji Lin took the keychain and pen from Lin Xian, put them in his pocket, and then waved to the three men:

"I'll go over there first, see you later."

"Bye-bye." "Goodbye." "Let's go."

...

Ji Lin followed the uncles away. Lin Xian looked at Zhao Yingjun:

"Who are those people?"

"They're some publishing house CEOs and media companies. I guess they want something from Ji Lin."

"Oh, I see."

Lin Xian nodded, as expected.

"Then I'll go over there first, Senior Lin Xian. Thank you for dancing with me."

Chu Anqing waved goodbye to the two of them:

"Have fun, you two!"

With that, she disappeared into the crowd like a wisp of green smoke.

Zhao Yingjun took a sip of red wine, put down her glass, and dabbed the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief:

"I think... I know why you received Chu Shanhe's invitation."

"Why?" Lin Xian asked.

"Isn't it hard to guess?" Zhao Yingjun looked at Lin Xian with a smile that was not a smile.

Lin Xian didn't speak...

He looked down at the cutlery in front of him.

Yeah.

Isn't it hard to guess?

In fact, everyone knows a lot of things, but they always like to ask questions they already know the answer to.

The world of adults is very hypocritical.

Most of them pretend to be ignorant when they know the truth.

Did Zhao Yingjun really believe that the sketch wasn't of Chu Anqing?

Did Chu Anqing really believe that the painting wasn't of herself?

Lin Xian wasn't stupid.

Neither were they.

It was all just playing along.

The only one in this world who truly believes everything he says is probably Big Face Cat.

There's no time to enter dreams today.

Lin Xian missed Big Face Cat a little.

If one day everyone could live on the same timeline, he would still be willing to be friends with Big Face Cat.

...

Soon.

The banquet ended.

Amid the laughter of mutual congratulations, the crowd gradually dispersed.

"Did you take a taxi here?" Zhao Yingjun looked at Lin Xian.

Lin Xian nodded.

"I've had a drink, so drive me home."

As she spoke, Zhao Yingjun threw a red and black car key over.

Lin Xian caught it and saw that the design was too classic.

Ferrari car keys have always been so cliché. The workmanship and design even looked inferior to an Emma electric scooter.

Very unexpected.

Lin Xian didn't think Zhao Yingjun would drive such a flamboyant car to a business occasion like today.

And what was even more surprising... was that she still didn't have a driver pick her up today.

Arriving at the parking lot, most of the vehicles next to it had already left. A red hardtop Ferrari was parked low-key in a parking space.

This car...

Lin Xian walked closer and nodded sincerely:

"This car is good."

He thought the Bentley Continental 12 version from last time was amazing enough, but it was still inferior compared to the Ferrari LaFerrari in front of him.

This is a top-of-the-line sports car limited to 499 units worldwide. Although it's priced at 20 million, the actual price would not be less than 30 million, or even higher, due to various reasons.

Its V12 engine is more powerful than the Continental GT's 12 engine, with a peak horsepower of over 900 horsepower. It's even sharper in terms of speed, accelerating from 0 to 100 kilometers in just 3 seconds.

"With your excellent driving skills, you deserve a better car?"

Zhao Yingjun smiled slightly, walked around the front of the car, and the LaFerrari's scissor doors slowly rose. Zhao Yingjun sat inside:

"Take me for a ride, let me see your driving skills."

Lin Xian carefully circled the car to make sure no one was hiding anywhere before getting into the driver's seat... once bitten, twice shy.

"Where are we going?"

"Anywhere." Zhao Yingjun's face was a little flushed, as if the alcohol was taking effect:

"I drank a little too much today, let's find a place to get some fresh air, okay?"

Lin Xian was a little unsure.

Zhao Yingjun today... seemed a little strange.

He always felt that she had something on her mind tonight, and even when she was chatting with him, she sometimes hesitated to speak.

He originally planned to send her home so he could go back to sleep early...

Why did she want to get some fresh air?

Rumble!!!!!!

The roar of a naturally aspirated engine is more unique than a turbo, which is a consistent tradition of Ferrari. Their designers have always believed that turbocharging is a heresy, and they hold high the banner of natural aspiration.

But it has to be said that the sound of a naturally aspirated engine completely crushes turbocharging.

The red taillights streaked across the road like phantoms... the roaring LaFerrari darted through the night, facing the wind, reflecting the moonlight, and disappearing into the bends of Donghai's suburbs.

...

"Is your hometown in Hang City?"

On the Bund of the Huangpu River, the place where Gao Yang took Lin Xian for a lakeside barbecue last time.

The LaFerrari with its scissor doors raised was parked diagonally to the side. Lin Xian and Zhao Yingjun, wearing a coat, leaned against the railing, watching the surging river flowing eastward.

"Yes." Lin Xian nodded.

"When are you planning to go back home?"

"In the next few days, I'll buy some things and go back."

"That's true, Donghai and Hang City are so close, there's no need to plan the trip in advance."

Zhao Yingjun pulled up her coat and looked up at the moon covered by dark clouds.

The weather wasn't good today. The clouds were very low, and there seemed to be signs of rain.

After a long silence.

Zhao Yingjun lowered her head and turned around:

"There's something I've been thinking about these past few days, how to bring it up to you. Considering your current situation... it's actually a little difficult to say."

"What is it?"

"It's about a change in your job."

A bolt of lightning flashed in the distant clouds! A rumble of thunder arrived fiercely a few seconds later.

Ink-like clouds swirled in the sky, and the last sliver of moonlight was tightly blocked. The entire Donghai darkened, and the lights across the river couldn't illuminate the dim riverside.

"Lin Xian."

Zhao Yingjun looked up.

In her dark eyes, there was the starlight-less night sky:

"Would you... be willing to be my secretary?"