At seven fifteen sharp, Ming Jue tactfully reminded Ji Qinghe that it was time to leave.

At that moment, Shen Qianzhan was competing with Su Zan to see who could eat more wasabi. She glanced over and caught sight of Ming Jue whispering in Ji Qinghe’s ear, while the latter instinctively raised his wrist to check the time.

This combination move was one that Shen Qianzhan and Su Zan had often used in mutual cooperation when she couldn’t hold her liquor and wanted to escape.

She immediately understood. Taking a piece of northern conch meat dipped in half a tube of wasabi, she chewed it hastily twice and swallowed it quickly.

Ji Qinghe was about to bid farewell when he looked up to see her eyes glistening with tears, like she had just been bullied. When she looked at him, she seemed about to speak but held back, appearing utterly pitiful.

He wasn’t unaware that these two childish fools were competing in a bet, but seeing Shen Qianzhan in this state, his blood surged, his eyes darkened, and when he spoke, his tone already carried a hint of teasing: “Can’t bear to see me go?”

Shen Qianzhan was choked by the wasabi until she was half out of her wits. She gulped down a full cup of water before barely suppressing that soul-trembling spiciness.

She evaded the main point, deflecting lightly: “Who would be willing to let the God of Wealth go?” After saying this, she supported herself on the table edge and stood up, personally seeing him off: “President Ji is busy with important matters. Su Zan and I have already taken up too much of your time.”

Ji Qinghe saved his breath and rose cheerfully, putting on his coat and going downstairs with her.

Seven in the evening was the peak dining hour.

The main hall of Kunshan Lodge was packed without a single empty seat, with servers constantly weaving through the crowd, taking orders and serving dishes.

Shen Qianzhan led the way at the front. Seeing that the wooden staircase was narrow, allowing only one person to pass through, she simply quickened her pace and went down to the staircase entrance, stopping there to wait for Ji Qinghe to come down.

She walked quickly and didn’t notice the server behind the artificial flower arrangement who had finished clearing dishes and was heading to the back kitchen with his head down.

In the restless, noisy crowd, there were exclamations mixed with warnings.

Shen Qianzhan couldn’t hear clearly but instinctively searched for the source of the sounds. By the time her gaze locked onto the server who was still oblivious to the “obstacle” in front of him, there wasn’t much time left for her to dodge.

Just as the two were about to collide inevitably, Shen Qianzhan’s waist tightened. The man who had just been fastening his suit button with one hand, his gaze unfocused elsewhere, reacted extremely quickly to pull her into his embrace, narrowly avoiding disaster.

Shen Qianzhan was startled. When she looked up, she met Ji Qinghe’s slightly pursed lips and his pitch-black, cold gaze.

He didn’t immediately let go. His gaze lingered for a few seconds on the puddle of water spilled around the staircase entrance. With his long legs, he stepped directly over, carrying her across the narrow walkway before finally releasing her.

The server, finally realizing he had nearly caused an accident, kept apologizing in terror.

Shen Qianzhan’s mind went blank for a moment as she thanked Ji Qinghe with a complex expression.

“No need,” Ji Qinghe turned his head, instructing the other party in a tone that wasn’t particularly warm to first put up a “caution: slippery” sign at the staircase entrance and handle it quickly.

His features were handsome and refined. Even under the warm lighting, he carried an aura of cold mist that wouldn’t dissipate, like he carried the abyss with him, perpetually cold and unfathomable.

Seeing her in a daze, Ji Qinghe was about to speak when the owner, who had noticed the situation in the corner, hurried over and methodically directed the servers to clean up.

After apologizing, seeing that Shen Qianzhan seemed about to leave, he asked in a low voice: “The restaurant just got some fresh fish fillets today. Wait a moment, shall I pack some for you to take?”

“I also saved a can of tea for you, blended according to your preferred taste…” The owner seemed to just notice Ji Qinghe behind Shen Qianzhan, smiled with pursed lips, not daring to delay her important business, and only left a quiet remark: “I’ll put it at the cashier counter, come get it later.”

Here we go again…

Shen Qianzhan’s head was spinning. She wanted to politely refuse but was mindful that Ji Qinghe was still there, so she took a few steps to catch up with the owner.

Su Zan stood behind Ji Qinghe. Seeing this, he sighed quietly, his tone melancholic, not knowing who he was speaking to: “My Sister Zhan gets to eat and take something home every time she comes. Last time it was peach blossom wine and osmanthus wine, this time it’s sashimi and tea… all personally made by the owner, only given in limited quantities to regular customers, worth a fortune.”

Ji Qinghe turned to look at him and asked: “Every time?”

Su Zan had guessed Ji Qinghe would pick up on this, grinning lecherously: “Yes, every time. But my Sister Zhan never lacks people showing her affection. Just offering food isn’t enough.”

Ji Qinghe curved his lips but said nothing.

He just stood there, his posture and expression unchanged, but Su Zan distinctly felt the aura around the big boss shift dramatically. If before it was at most distant and cold, keeping strangers away, now it was like being in a battlefield with flashing swords and shadows.

He shivered, suddenly realizing he seemed to have bet on the wrong topic and shown off the wrong cleverness.

Just as Su Zan was trying to shrink into the wall corner and become a mushroom, Ji Qinghe turned sideways, his gaze sweeping across his face as he asked: “Young Master Su still remembers the favor from Bu Zhong Sui’s case withdrawal?”

Su Zan nodded vigorously: “I remember, I remember, I wouldn’t dare forget.”

Last time when Xiang Qianqian made it to the trending topics, Ji Qinghe was adamant and wanted to send a lawyer’s letter without question. Su Zan was afraid the situation would get out of hand and become unmanageable, so he had persuaded Ji Qinghe to drop the lawsuit by owing him a favor.

Ji Qinghe chuckled softly, saying in a low voice: “Then start repaying it now.”

After seeing Ji Qinghe off in his car, Shen Qianzhan turned around and stared at Su Zan, who had been acting strange since earlier: “Are you hiding something from me?”

Su Zan shook his head.

He didn’t dare say, didn’t dare say.

Shen Qianzhan asked: “Then why do you have that guilty expression like you’ve been sneaking around behind my back?”

Su Zan’s face turned green: “Do I need to sneak around behind your back?” He looked offended, stared at her directly for a few seconds, then changed the subject stiffly: “What are we doing next?”

Seeing his resistance, although Shen Qianzhan was suspicious, she didn’t press further.

She waved her phone, somewhat helplessly saying: “Come with me to Time Hall? Just for half an hour.”

Su Zan was puzzled: “What are you going to Time Hall for?”

He pursed his lips, pointing in the direction Ji Qinghe had left: “Doesn’t President Ji have a business dinner tonight?”

“I’m not going to see him,” Shen Qianzhan said impatiently. “Get in the car and I’ll explain.”

Meng Wanzhou had invited her a while ago to attend their watch association’s blind date party on the thirty-first. After Shen Qianzhan ruthlessly declined, Meng Wanzhou seemed to give up but had actually been persistently trying to persuade her these past few days.

He promised to be her free production assistant, and swore he could lend her all the watch props needed for her drama for free. As long as she showed up, even if just for ten minutes.

Shen Qianzhan felt this deal was quite profitable: “Look at Meng Wanzhou’s build. Not using him to carry cameras and set up outdoor scenes would be such a waste of talent.”

Su Zan wanted to roll his eyes: “Is this how you save money?”

Shen Qianzhan took advantage of the red light to touch up her lipstick. The lighting was too dim, and she was afraid of applying too much, so she went over it two or three times: “Am I that shallow?”

She pursed her lips, using her fingertip to wipe away excess lipstick, her voice muffled: “What I want is the collection of clocks he borrowed from Old Master Ji—real gold and silver, the kind that would bankrupt you just touching them.”

Su Zan didn’t understand: “Couldn’t you just borrow that from President Ji?”

Shen Qianzhan looked at Su Zan like he was an idiot: “Can getting something for free be the same as spending money?”

Su Zan: “…”

That made so much sense it was irrefutable.

Given Meng Wanzhou’s personality, Shen Qianzhan wasn’t surprised at all that he would do something that put himself in a difficult position.

The association event was held in a cultural center in the back alley of Time Hall. Meng Wanzhou had rented a hall, not only hanging banners but also very formally setting up an event display board at the entrance.

Of course, he wasn’t stupid enough to directly write “Watch Association Singles Mixer.” Activities funded by organizations always need to be packaged with lofty event purposes and significance.

He disguised the blind date party as a “Watch Association Collectors Exchange Meeting,” limited to young people only.

The event theme was even more grandly flagged as “Inheriting Classics, Exploring the Mysteries of Time,” attracting a group of young men and women.

Su Zan jingled his car keys as he sauntered into the venue, commenting: “Meng Wanzhou is quite the organizer, huh? This venue setup looks professional.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Wanzhou appeared from some corner, wiping sweat while agreeing: “Naturally.”

He pointed to the backdrop in the center of the stage for Shen Qianzhan: “I even made a PowerPoint presentation with detailed introductions of tonight’s association members. It’s called a blind date party, but it’s actually a proper, legitimate exchange meeting, mainly to attract like-minded new members to join the association. Blind dating isn’t the main purpose—it’s just helping everyone make friends.”

Shen Qianzhan had heard him mention that the association had annual quotas for recruiting new members. She had no interest in whether this was actually a networking event or a blind date banquet. She only cared about one thing: “I’m here, so our deal is done. Boss Meng, if you go back on your word later…” She left it at that, smiling as she found an empty seat.

Meng Wanzhou broke out in a cold sweat from her threat and hurriedly found an excuse to escape.

Su Zan sat down with her, looking around at the venue and guests.

At eight o’clock sharp, the event officially began.

Meng Wanzhou, as the event organizer, took the script and emotionally recited some opening remarks he had copied from who knows where. After his speech, he enthusiastically invited the watch association director to speak on stage.

The director was the only white-haired elder present. Compared to the unreliable Meng Wanzhou, the director’s impromptu speech was extremely polished and official. First, he affirmed the significance of this event, then praised Meng Wanzhou’s efforts in recruiting new members for the watch association, and encouraged and praised the young generation’s active contributions to the association. Finally, he described the many difficulties the watch association had faced since its establishment, wished tonight’s event success, and hoped all participants would gain something.

After the proceedings, Meng Wanzhou began hosting the PowerPoint presentation.

From the founding history of the watch association, all important activities and behind-the-scenes photos held since the association’s establishment, to individual introductions of association members.

Su Zan watched while commenting with clicking sounds, finally raising a question: “Their association members are exchanging among themselves—why did they call you, someone who’s just making up the numbers?”

Shen Qianzhan shot him a warning look: “You’re the one making up numbers. At most I’m muddying the waters.”

Su Zan had an expression of “whatever you say, I can’t out-argue you anyway and don’t dare talk back.”

After all segments ended and free networking began.

Only then did Su Zan understand why Meng Wanzhou was so determined to invite Shen Qianzhan…

He had only gone out to drain some excess bodily fluids, and when he returned, he saw young talents three layers deep surrounding Shen Qianzhan as the center.

While staring in amazement, he didn’t forget to pull out his phone and send Ji Qinghe a thrilling live photo.

At another dinner party, Ji Qinghe was listening to others discuss next year’s international situation and development prospects.

His phone vibrated slightly.

He casually unlocked it to check.

When he saw the photo Su Zan sent, a slight crack appeared in his previously calm expression.

He lowered his eyes, calmly put away his phone, and raised his hand to summon Ming Jue.

Moments later, Ji Qinghe left early.

The entire table of financial industry bigwigs waited in surprise for him to give an explanation.

Ji Qinghe maintained a humble posture but spoke with little apology: “Sorry, there’s a fire in the backyard. I need to go put it out first.”