Following the young waiter, Ji Nian entered the private dining room, admiring the lavish restaurant while marveling at how great it must be to be rich.
As she opened the door and went inside, Shen Shuyao looked at the man sitting at the dining table, her eyes tinged with shyness. But then she noticed the person beside him and was a bit surprised.
It was Ji Nian, however, who was seemingly struck by lightning at that moment, rendered motionless.
Someone please tell her, why was the antagonist there too? Why?
Pei Yuchen noticed the shocked expression on the woman's face and a hint of amusement flickered in his eyes.
He stood up and greeted her warmly, "Miss Shen, do you remember me?"
Of course Shen Shuyao remembered him – he was the man who had come to borrow the first aid kit at the villa last time. She nodded shyly and smiled, "Hello."
Ji Nian was startled. In the original story, Pei Yuchen was quite fond of the female lead. She couldn't let these two get too close.
"Dr. Pei, what a coincidence," Ji Nian greeted with a smile.
Pei Yuchen smiled and nodded, "Ms. Ji, we meet again."
Ji Nian felt awkward. She followed behind the woman and, when they reached the dining table, Shen Shuyao sat right next to the male lead, while Ji Nian stared at the remaining empty seat across from the female lead, deep in thought...
The private room was quite large and luxurious, with a long rectangular dining table. The ambiance was elegant and upscale.
But in such a spacious place, why were there only four seats? Ji Nian was puzzled. At this rate, she would have to sit next to the antagonist...
An awkward silence filled the air as the four of them sat facing each other. Ji Nian didn't want to be too close to the antagonist, so she discreetly shifted her chair, trying to put some distance between them.
Shen Shuyao, on the other hand, seemed fine. She smiled at the man next to her and asked, "Ah Zhan, is this your friend?"
"Yeah, we've known each other since we were kids," Ye Jingzhan replied, his expression as impassive as ever, but he still patiently answered her question.
Ji Nian thought to herself, 'Knowing each other since childhood doesn't mean much. He almost drove your family into bankruptcy.'
"Earlier, I heard Xiao Nian call you Dr. Pei. Are you a doctor?" Shen Shuyao vaguely remembered that was how Ji Nian had addressed him at the villa.
Dressed in a dark gray suit with gold-rimmed glasses, Pei Yuchen looked refined and scholarly as he smiled and asked, "Didn't Miss Shen know? Hasn't Ah Zhan mentioned his friend to you before?"
Ji Nian, who was about to take a sip of water, almost spat it out. She coughed lightly, her heart racing. This time, she was really in trouble.
She clearly remembered when the antagonist had given her a ride to the company, she had answered this question in the car, blaming the male lead. What had she said back then?
She had said she heard the CEO mention it before... and now her lie was so easily exposed...
"Oh, I see." Pei Yuchen glanced at the woman beside him, his eyes holding a meaningful look as he smiled, "Ah Zhan and I grew up together. After university, I stayed abroad for a while and only recently returned."
"I didn't know Ah Zhan had a doctor friend," Shen Shuyao remarked with a smile.
"And I'm surprised to learn that Ah Zhan has a girlfriend now," Pei Yuchen quipped, his tone teasing as he looked at the man.
A flicker of embarrassment crossed Ye Jingzhan's cold face as he said flatly, "I still need to settle the score with you for what your grandmother said when she returned."
Pei Yuchen laughed lightly, "That was a misunderstanding. When my grandmother saw Ms. Ji last time, I introduced her, but I told the old lady to keep it a secret first."
Ye Jingzhan massaged his temples. When his family learned he had a girlfriend, they had all been in an uproar.
He had promised to bring her home after some time, and that's when they finally calmed down. But recently, when he returned to the old residence, the shows on TV were all dramas starring Ji Nian, piquing his family's curiosity.
However, it was strange that Ji Nian had met Pei's grandmother. Ye Jingzhan's eyes flashed with a hint of coldness. It seemed this woman's target was not him, but the people around him.
"Keep what a secret?" Shen Shuyao asked curiously.
"Ms. Ji will have to tell you about that," Pei Yuchen smiled.
Shen Shuyao looked at the gentle, warm-mannered man, then at the cold, aloof person next to her, wondering how two people with such different personalities became friends.
"Heh heh," Ji Nian forced a laugh, feeling self-conscious as she avoided the antagonist's gaze. She smiled at the female lead, "It's nothing, I'll tell you later."
Shen Shuyao nodded obediently, "Okay."
At that moment, the waiters brought over the dishes, first serving some small appetizers before placing the steaks on the table.
Ji Nian, who hadn't eaten all evening, was already famished. Her stomach growled as she looked at the food in front of her.
"Xiao Nian, the steaks here are quite good. Give it a try," Shen Shuyao said with a smile.
"Okay." Ji Nian saw that everyone had started eating, so she cut off a piece and tasted it. Whether it was because she was too hungry or not, she was truly amazed by the steak.
Everyone ate in relative silence. The male lead didn't speak, but Shen Shuyao, worried her friend might feel uncomfortable, would occasionally place some appetizers in Ji Nian's bowl.
Seeing the female lead's thoughtfulness, Ji Nian smiled, "I can serve myself, it's okay."
Shen Shuyao playfully blinked and said, "These few appetizers are delicious, and the ingredients are low in calories too."
Hearing the words 'low in calories,' Ji Nian inwardly sighed. Even though the original body's weight and figure were perfectly fine, she still had to diet...
About half an hour later, everyone had mostly finished eating when Shen Shuyao received a call saying she had to go out of town for a shoot the next day, with her flight leaving that night.
Ye Jingzhan frowned, though not too pleased, he instructed his driver to take her to the airport.
Ji Nian had thought the female lead would be free that day, but she didn't expect her to have to rush off for a shoot that night. "What about your luggage? Do you need to go back and pack?"
Shen Shuyao shook her head, "Hao Yi just helped pack everything from the villa. I'll go straight to the airport, and I need to come back for another shoot tomorrow afternoon."
"That's quite rushed," Ji Nian was surprised.
"I'm sorry, Xiao Nian," Shen Shuyao looked apologetic. "I was supposed to keep you company tonight."
"It's okay, just be safe," Ji Nian smiled.
"Ah Zhan, if you have time later, could you please send Xiao Nian home?" Shen Shuyao asked, feeling concerned.
"Ah Zhan lives in the opposite direction. It would be more convenient for Ms. Ji to ride with me since I also live at Pinlan Residence," Pei Yuchen smiled.
Upon hearing this, Ji Nian stiffened. Ride in the antagonist's car again? No way!
"Thank you, Dr. Pei," Shen Shuyao said gratefully. Then, turning to the man beside her, she said, "Ah Zhan, I'll get going then."
Ye Jingzhan was displeased. Having to rush off for a shoot so late at night – did his woman really need the money that badly?
"Mm," he responded curtly despite his displeasure.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Dr. Pei. Goodbye." With that, Shen Shuyao hurriedly left.
Seeing her leave, Ye Jingzhan, no longer in the mood to stay, also left with a stony expression.
Now, in the private dining room, only Ji Nian and the antagonist remained, facing each other awkwardly.
