Chapter 183: An Unexpected Perfect Proposal

(The updates are not at ten thousand words, I don’t even dare to ask for a monthly pass. Yesterday’s updates reached twelve thousand, and today there’s just one monthly pass, it’s really disheartening... I’m begging those who still have monthly passes to help out! Thanks!)

Li Yan never expected that Yurong would be interested in a New Year’s event. However, since she had brought it up, he couldn’t refuse her invitation to Wen Qianyi. But Xu Ping, Sun Hui, and the others had bought tickets to the New Year’s concert early on, running into them with Wen Qianyi wouldn’t be a problem. However, if he showed up with Yurong, it would certainly shock them.

Considering this, he thought for a moment, then started to type a message: "Sure. But by now, getting tickets for the New Year’s concert might be tough, right? Some colleagues at the company had already bought their tickets in advance."

He subtly hinted to Yurong about the possibility of running into colleagues. Last time, just watching a movie had been a scare for her; if they were seen by company colleagues again... she would definitely be nervous.

After a while, Yurong’s message came back, but this time it was a bit longer. It seemed she wasn’t just considering but was typing, which delayed the time.

"We might not necessarily go to a New Year’s concert; there are other activities. Like under the Wish Tower by the Eastern Seaside, there’s a New Year’s event where no ticket is required. People can enjoy the beach, and we can count down together in front of the Wish Tower. It’s not far from Yue Yao’s house, right? You can invite her out as well. With so many people and being near home, her family probably won’t say no, right?"

After carefully reading Yurong’s message, Li Yan wondered if her phone was being played with by someone else! How could Yurong make such a suggestion? Spending New Year’s at the seaside could be fun, but inviting Yue Yao out hardly seemed in keeping with her position!

After his initial surprise, he thought for a moment and understood. Maybe this was Yurong’s way of probing! She probably assumed I was planning to spend the evening with Yue Yao, hence her suggestion.

With that thought, he also understood why Yurong, who doesn’t like crowds, would proactively invite him to join a New Year’s event. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

He took a breath, didn’t send another message, and instead dialed her number.

"Yurong..."

"What?" Hearing Li Yan’s hesitant tone, Yurong said mildly, "Are you about to say you have no time? It’s okay, I wasn’t that interested anyway. Xueyin suggested I should be more lively, not be as dull as a middle-aged person, so I just asked you."

Hearing her words, Li Yan was even more convinced she was probing, and he chuckled wryly, "That’s not what I meant. I’m not unavailable, I’m willing to go with you."

"Hmm?" Yurong wasn’t particularly pleased, as his tone didn’t sound enthusiastic, rather forced, she continued softly, "You don’t have to accommodate me, you know I’m not used to such occasions; going together would be dull."

"We won’t know if it’s dull until we go. I called to tell you, I haven’t arranged to meet Yue Yao at all. In fact, since she returned, I haven’t been able to contact her. Even if we head to the beach tonight, she won’t be joining us."

After Li Yan finished speaking, Yurong pondered for a while. With her intelligence, she could figure out why Li Yan was stressing this point. After a while, she sighed, "You thought I was testing you just now, didn’t you? Actually, you misunderstood, I really meant it. She and I... it’s not like we haven’t met, eventually, we have to face each other. Perhaps playing together in such an environment might create a better atmosphere."

Li Yan was a little surprised; was Yurong planning to proactively face Yue Yao?

Recalling the major conflicts between her and Yue Yao, the first time was after a concert, when she sought out Yue Yao and brought her home. After a night, Yurong still endured and faced it calmly the next morning; the second wasn’t really a conflict, but after a physical exam, Yurong unexpectedly agreed to an arrangement with Yue Yao; the third was after Yue Yao’s birthday, their relationship had lingered until now, and previously Yurong had been compromising, and this time, she was again making a compromise!

Thinking of this, Li Yan felt a mix of guilt and gratitude. Her yielding wasn’t due to a good relationship with Yue Yao, but rather because of him!

"No need to say more, tonight it will just be the two of us. We can have a great time, and don’t say you dislike or aren’t used to it. Xueyin is right, your life is too serious. After working hard all year, take a break tonight!"

Both had explained themselves, neither wanting the other to misunderstand. Now that they understood each other, they both felt a bit relieved. Hearing Li Yan’s words, Yurong thought for a moment, "Since it’s about having a little fun... then let’s do it! Tonight, it’s not necessarily just the two of us, we can go with a few more people."

"Huh? A few more people?" Li Yan was a bit puzzled, who else could know about their relationship and join? It couldn’t be Zhang Tianyi and his wife going out to play, right? Other than Jiang Xueyin. "This... for those who know about us, Yue Yao can’t come, it’d be awkward if she did. Yue Yao isn’t here, and there’s only Jiang Xueyin left, but don’t tell me to find Liu Yuyang or something!"

Yurong gave a soft snort, "Who said anything about a relationship with you? I’ve mentioned it’s not just the two of us, it’s about going to play with everyone."

"You mean, without disclosing our relationship, just being President Zhang and Manager Li?"

"Yes, if you don’t mind."

Li Yan laughed and said, "Of course, I don’t mind." Being able to openly participate in activities together as friends or colleagues is also a way to warm up our relationship for the future.

"Let me check if Xueyin is willing to join us; she might have other plans. Sister Hai Fu probably doesn’t have anything planned; let’s call her. And... Wen Qianyi, aren’t you somewhat involved with her? You invite her first, then I’ll invite her, and she can bring you along, so no one will suspect our relationship."

Hearing Zhang Yurong’s plan, Li Yan was stunned!

After Yu Xiaodi was ruled out, she actually suggested Hai Fu! Wen Qianyi!

My dear wife, you’re too perfect! But... isn’t it too much of a coincidence? Are you doubting or testing me?

Especially saying that he’s somewhat involved with Wen Qianyi, this seemingly joking remark made him both sweat and feel guilty. It’s not "somewhat involved," it’s "very involved!"

Seeing Li Yan silent, Zhang Yurong asked, "Why? Can’t take a joke? Aren’t you on good terms with Wen Qianyi? It’s more appropriate for you to go with her rather than with me. Even if we run into colleagues, no one will suspect anything."

"Oh right... You do have a point there. I’ll go along with your plan then." Li Yan quickly responded.

Zhang Yurong curiously asked, "Then why were you hesitating just now? Are you hiding something?"

Li Yan continued to sweat... This is a difficult question to answer! How does that saying go? Not explaining is admitting, explaining is hiding.

"Hehe, of course I’m hiding something! It would be strange if there wasn’t. But come summer, could we have another seaside event like this?" Since he couldn’t admit it, even denying it might arouse suspicion. Li Yan had to find another route, pretending to laugh slyly.

Zhang Yurong was instantly puzzled by his words. Why summer? If they have a seaside event in summer, they might swim, and the ladies might wear swimsuits. "Hmph! You’re hiding a perv in your heart!"

Hearing her say this, Li Yan felt relieved and innocently said, "Please, Wen Qianyi used to be my superior and is now a director; as for Sister Hai Fu, there’s no need to mention it. Who in the company isn’t afraid of this cold-faced killer? Plus the ice-cold beauty of a president... I’m just a little person. Even if I have a perv in my heart, it would hide at the soles of my feet. Just make sure you all don’t bully me when the time comes!"

"It’s settled then," realizing it’s still work hours, Zhang Yurong couldn’t chat forever. "I’ll get in touch with Hai Fu; you talk to Wen Qianyi first. I’ll contact her later!"

"Alright."

"By the way, do you have any other friends you want to bring along? No guys, though."

Li Yan chuckled to himself; I don’t want any guys to tag along, just me and you ladies — how cozy would that be? You all aren’t aware of each other, but to me, you’re all my people. How could I let anyone else be a third wheel?

"Oh, none! Hehe, why would I bring those usual drinking buddies along? I know you don’t have a great impression of Sun Hui and the others; really, they were the ones who led me astray." Having someone to blame at critical times is common in male friendship. Li Yan didn’t care if Sun Hui shivered or sneezed at that moment.

Zhang Yurong was speechless for a moment, "Led you astray? You were a bad guy all along! Do you know what ’acting in cahoots’ or ’birds of a feather’ means?"

Li Yan started to sweat again... "Hey! Saying it privately is one thing, but if you say that about me and my friends in front of others, it would be very humiliating, and I would be very angry!"

Zhang Yurong secretly scoffed, still swaggering? Is it not the truth I’m saying? Who was it that frequently went out indulging, seeking pleasure — wasn’t it with those drinking pals?

It’s not really her fault. Li Yan quickly got to know people he clicked with after joining the company. They’re all young, with high work stress during the week (uh, maybe Li Yan was out of town occasionally), so going out for drinks and meeting people after work or on weekends was normal. Half a year ago, Zhang Yurong wouldn’t have paid any attention to these matters, didn’t bother to manage Li Yan’s business, and even if she overheard them talking about women, she simply sighed at their lack of resolve, feeling it was somewhat disgraceful, without jealousy or anger.

But now it’s different. Their relationship has progressed to a certain degree. Not restricting Li Yan from associating with such friends is already reasonable; feeling displeased is naturally unavoidable.

However, being Zhang Yurong, she quickly calmed down. Li Yan’s words also made sense. While she called him a bad guy, insinuating they were birds of a feather, he didn’t get angry, only asked not to say it publicly. Men care about their image.

Planning to hang out in the evening, they naturally shouldn’t spoil the mood now. "Enough of that, are you still on good terms with... oh, that secretary? Should we invite her too?"