Chapter Forty-Four: As If Sealing the Deal with a Final Strike

The moment this news broke, silence fell around them for several seconds.

The young man shot a sidelong glance at Jiang Yunzho, so furious that his nostrils nearly smoked. “You’re already seeing someone and still going on blind dates? Shameless! Two-timing, aren’t you!”

Jiang Yunzho, forced into this predicament, replied coolly, “And what business is it of yours?”

Grumbling and cursing, the young man was eventually escorted out by security.

Now, only Jiang Yunzho and Shen Tingxiao remained in this little corner of the world.

An awkwardness immediately settled between them.

Jiang Yunzho walked over, hesitating before she said, “Thank you, Master Shen.”

“That’s all? Just words?” Shen Tingxiao raised an eyebrow, questioning her.

Jiang Yunzho blinked slowly. “What else?”

“Treat me to a meal,” Shen Tingxiao said, his face expressionless.

It didn’t sound like he was asking her to buy him dinner; it was as though he were demanding her very life.

Jiang Yunzho grumbled inwardly, then pointed upstairs. “Could you wait for my two artists? They’re auditioning right now. Once they’re done, I’ll bring them along to thank you properly.”

Shen Tingxiao looked at her, his face unreadable, giving neither a yes nor a no.

Jiang Yunzho felt a flicker of unease, but pressed on. “After all, it’s only thanks to you that they have a chance to audition for Director Shang’s crew.”

At last, Shen Tingxiao looked away, letting out a brief, mocking laugh. “Jiang Yunzho, am I really that unworthy, that you won’t even invite me to a meal alone?”

There was a note in his voice that Jiang Yunzho couldn’t quite decipher.

She was bewildered. “What?”

“Nothing,” Shen Tingxiao replied tersely.

For some reason, as Jiang Yunzho went upstairs to wait for Sang Bai and Shao Shu, she couldn’t quite shake off what Shen Tingxiao had just said.

That strange feeling of familiarity hit her again, stronger than before.

Had she met Shen Tingxiao somewhere before?

Was it possible?

She shook her head, dismissing the thought. No matter how well the Jiang family had done here, there was no way she could have crossed paths with Shen Tingxiao before.

One was the heir of the Shen family, the other...

Lost in thought, she didn’t notice that Sang Bai and Shao Shu had already emerged from the audition room. Both looked relaxed, as though victory was in their grasp.

“How did it go?” Jiang Yunzho asked out of habit.

“I think I did alright. Shouldn’t be a problem,” Sang Bai replied cheerfully.

Shao Shu, by contrast, seemed nervous. Back home, Zhou Qingpei had stifled her so much she’d rarely had a chance to prove herself. “I’m a bit anxious. I don’t know if I can get the part.”

“It’s alright. Just do your best,” Jiang Yunzho reassured them both. “Do what you can and leave the rest to fate. If the role is meant for you, it’ll be yours. If not, there’s no use forcing it.”

Shao Shu nodded.

“Let’s go.” Jiang Yunzho led them downstairs, adding, “When we have dinner with Master Shen, both of you should offer him a couple of drinks as thanks.”

Sang Bai and Shao Shu exchanged a glance. “Shen Tingxiao? The investor behind Director Shang’s new project?”

“Yes.” Jiang Yunzho was still preoccupied with Shen Tingxiao’s earlier words.

Perhaps she should ask him about it over dinner.

Worried that Shen Tingxiao might be uncomfortable, Jiang Yunzho reserved the same restaurant they’d last visited.

When the waiter came over, he ignored the three women entirely and went straight to Shen Tingxiao, bowing respectfully. “Master Shen, your usual private room? And you’ve brought guests tonight?”

Shen Tingxiao glanced at Jiang Yunzho, gave a short grunt, and that was that.

Strangely enough, what was supposed to be Jiang Yunzho’s treat somehow turned into Shen Tingxiao footing the bill.

The atmosphere at dinner was uneasy and tense.

Shen Tingxiao barely spoke. After ordering, he tossed the menu to Jiang Yunzho and sat to one side, staring blankly into space.

Sang Bai and Shao Shu remembered Jiang Yunzho’s advice and tried to propose toasts to Shen Tingxiao, but he merely cast them a lazy glance, not raising his glass, not responding at all.

They soon gave up.

Finding the private room unbearable, Sang Bai and Shao Shu excused themselves to the restroom and slipped away.

Minutes later, Jiang Yunzho received a message from Sang Bai: “Yunzhou, we’re waiting for you outside.”

So much for loyalty.

Jiang Yunzho’s smile froze on her face. She sent an emoji in reply.

Sensing a gaze upon her, she lifted her eyes and met Shen Tingxiao’s.

On a sudden impulse, Jiang Yunzho asked, “Master Shen, have we met before?”

Like a glacier melting at last, revealing a hint of spring blossom, Shen Tingxiao’s gaze seemed to soften. “Think for yourself.”

So they really had met.

Jiang Yunzho was certain that, whether at home or abroad, none of her acquaintances resembled someone like Shen Tingxiao.

It could only have been at some banquet she’d attended as a child, glimpsing him by chance.

“I really can’t remember,” Jiang Yunzho admitted earnestly.

Whatever hint of warmth had appeared in Shen Tingxiao’s expression vanished, replaced once more by cold indifference. He even gave a self-mocking smile.

Jiang Yunzho sensed she’d blundered, and wanted to say something to make up for it, but nothing came to mind.

Perhaps she looked too flustered.

Kindly, Shen Tingxiao changed the subject. “Are your parents still forcing you to go on blind dates?”

With a single sentence, he brought Jiang Yunzho’s mood back to the day’s greatest annoyance.

“I’d rather not go at all,” she sighed, draining her glass in one go.

Only then did she realize it was a full cup of strong liquor. The burn hit her, and, with her low tolerance, a gentle haze soon settled over her mind. She relaxed, folding her hands neatly on the table, resting her reddened cheek on her arms as she turned her head to look at Shen Tingxiao. “Maybe they’re afraid people will gossip about me and my uncle, so they want me to find someone quickly.”

Shen Tingxiao leaned in a little closer, the faint scent of sandalwood enveloping her. His voice was low and deep. “Then what do you really feel about Shen Ruizhang?”

Jiang Yunzho buried her face in her arms, but even a little tipsy, she was clear-headed. “Nothing. Not anymore... It’s long over.”

She had come to terms with it, and let herself move on.

For a few minutes, the private room was utterly silent.

In her daze, Jiang Yunzho thought she heard the sound of water dripping somewhere.

Then Shen Tingxiao’s voice came, elusive and cautious, as if testing the waters. “Jiang Yunzho, your parents always forcing you into blind dates isn’t a solution. Why don’t I do you a favor and pretend to be your boyfriend? What do you think?”

Jiang Yunzho tilted her head, revealing just one eye, and smiled at him. Then she reached out, gently tracing the bridge of his nose with her fingertip. “With a boyfriend this handsome, I’d say I’m the lucky one.”

The instant her hand dropped, Shen Tingxiao caught it in a firm grip.

As if sealing a deal with a decisive handshake.

“Then it’s settled.”