Lin Xinyan sent him a location, and then got up from the bed. Aunt Yu happened to be coming to wake her up, so when she saw her getting up, she said, “The food is ready.”
“I won’t be eating at home. I need to go out.” Lin Xinyan tied up her hair that was slightly messy, walked to the door, and went out after changing her shoes.
Not wanting He Ruize to come here, she walked to the intersection and waited there.
Without making Lin Xinyan wait for him too long, He Ruize arrived very soon, looking different than usual.
Since Lin Xinyan knew him, he was always in casual wear or a white coat. It was the first time she saw him in suit and tie.
He Ruize got off the car to open the car door for her.
Lin Xinyan didn’t get in immediately, but asked, “Is it an important occasion?”
His attire looked very formal.
“Not really.” Because he didn’t care.
Lin Xinyan bent down to get in the car, and neither of them mentioned the previous topic.
He Ruize was driving, whereas Lin Xinyan remained silent.
The atmosphere in the car was somewhat ambiguous.
“Don’t be nervous. Just follow me when we’re there.” He Ruize deliberately looked for something to say.
It would be awkward if it was too quiet, particularly after he made the confession.
Lin Xinyan readily agreed because of his care for her, which had nothing to do with her feelings.
“Okay.”
He turned to look at her. She had a ponytail, with her face the size of a palm, a pretty nose, and pink lips. Every part of her was delicate. She had really grown up and was no longer that little girl.
“Do you not like me because I’m too old, Yan?” He Ruize raised the corners of his lips.
Lin Xinyan smiled. “You’re only in your twenties. You’re not old, Ruize.”
You’re not even 30 years old yet.
He reached over to touch her hair. “It’s true that girls are sweet.”
Lin Xinyan took his hand off her head. “Why do I feel like you’re taking advantage of me?”
“Am I?” He Ruize smiled.
Lin Xinyan pretended to be angry and ignored him.
Whilst they chatted, the car had been parked in front of a building. The huge display screen was showing the development history of Dingfeng Jewelry, and rows of luxury cars were parked at the entrance. Lin Xinyan was inexplicably nervous.
He Ruize opened the car door for her and extended his hand to her. “I’m here with you. Don’t be nervous.”
Lin Xinyan looked at him for two seconds, whereas He Ruize stretched out his hand again. “You have to go in with me. You are my plus-one today.”
Lin Xinyan stretched out her hand.
The red carpet was laid out until it reached the lobby. On both sides of the door stood two men in black suits, and in the middle stood a slightly older receptionist.
Seeing He Ruize, he took a few steps forward to greet him. “Young Master Ruize.”
Lin Xinyan turned her head to glance at him. She knew that he wasn’t an ordinary person, but she didn’t expect that he was from the same He family that owned Dingfeng Group.
The Zongs, on the other hand was a rising star with many talented members. When the business was passed on to Zong Jinghao, it was already a market leader in B City, that even Dingfeng, a time-honored brand, could not compare.
Wanyue had diversified industries and covered a wide range of fields. Its Superior Investment Bank co-invested with HSBC had a good reputation internationally.
He Ruize lightly nodded in respond.
“Let’s go.” He Ruize turned to look at Lin Xinyan. “Are you feeling awkward?”
Lin Xinyan nodded.
“Actually, I am feeling awkward too.” He Ruize said with a smile.
He wasn’t interested in doing business.
The family business was run by his brother.
“Why did you go to Country A? To recover from a break-up?” With He Ruize’s family background, he should not be working as a psychiatrist in a small clinic there.
He Ruize was stunned, not expecting her to ask such question abruptly. Feeling funny, he asked, “What makes you think that I was there to recover from a break-up?”
“Wasn’t Lin your girlfriend?” She remembered this name that his mother mentioned at the villa back then.
The way she put it made her feel like He Ruize seemed to care a lot about the person named Lin.
She was sure that Lin was the name of a girl, as it sounded very cute.
Hearing this name, the smile on He Ruize’s face slowly vanished. “Her name is He Ruilin, my sister who got missing when she was a kid and has not been found until now.”
Lin Xinyan couldn’t say anything. She thought ‘Lin’ was his ex-girlfriend. She accidentally touched his wound.
“I’m sorry—”
“Don’t be.” He Ruize smiled again.
The magnificent lobby was full of people; men were in suit and tie, whereas women were wearing the most beautiful makeup and their best dresses, keeping up appearances for their men.
Meanwhile, Lin Xinyan was wearing no make-up, which made her look out of place.
“Ze.” Xia Zhenyu chose a plus-one—the daughter of a boss of a building materials company—for He Ruize for the event tonight, and yet was refused by him.
He brought this girl instead.
“Mom, her name is Lin Xinyan,” He Ruize introduced.
This was a big occasion. Therefore, even though Xia Zhenyu was dissatisfied that he brought this girl, she didn’t show it in public. Instead, she said with a decent smile on her face, “Oh. Let’s go and meet new people over there.”
He Ruize was frequently abroad all year round, so everyone had almost forgotten that there was a younger son in the He family, and only remembered the eldest son, He Ruixing.
In the center of the hall, the chandelier hanging from the second floor emitted crystal clear light, making it look dazzling.
There was a group of people standing in the center. Perhaps the most eye-catching sight was the tall and handsome man that was being surrounded by people in the middle. Even though they were far away, Lin Xinyan could recognize who that man was.
Her heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
He Ruize patted her on the hand. “You have me.”
“You know he’s here?” Lin Xinyan looked at him.
“I just want him to know that you’re not alone.” Then, He Ruize took her over.
“The market belongs to all you young people from now on.”
Tang Zheng, the former president of HSBC, who seldom attended events after his retirement, let out a hearty laugh when he spoke. “Jinghao is the most promising youngster of this generation.”
“You flatter me, Mr. Tang.” Zong Jinghao was standing with one hand in his pocket, whereas Bai Zhuwei held his arm while holding a red wine glass that shone brightly under the light with the slender fingers of her right hand.
“Heard that Wanyue built—” Stopping in mid-sentence, He Ruixing was stunned when he saw his brother walking over with a girl.
“Ruize, who is she?” He Ruixing asked.
He Ruize walked over with Lin Xinyan. “She’s my girlfriend.”
While speaking, he glanced at Zong Jinghao, as if he was getting the better of him.
Since he didn’t want to recognize his wife, he would gladly be the honest and straightforward one.
Lin Xinyan didn’t expect He Ruize to say so in public.
She instinctively wanted to take out her hand that he was holding.
Noticing her intention, He Ruize held it even tighter to prevent her from breaking free.
He said with a smile, “There’s nothing to be afraid.”
Lin Xinyan felt inexplicably guilty and didn’t even dare to look up.
As for the reason of her guilt, she didn’t know either.
He Ruixing introduced him to everyone with a smile, “He is my brother who has not been in the country for many years. Now that he has come back, please guide him in his future undertakings.”
Bai Zhuwei clenched her fist. “Miss Lin—”
Looking up slowly, Zong Jinghao took a quick glance at Lin Xinyan, and then showed his indifferent look again.
Lin Xinyan’s unsettled state of mind slowly returned to peace amidst Zong Jinghao’s ignorance.
She laughed at her own nervousness.
