Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.\n
[Previous chapters have been done beautifully here.]\n
Huidi [lit. shining emperor] Internationalâs anniversary celebration had always been a grand event in the industry. Apart from company staff, a large number of well-known industry insiders would be invited to their dinner event. To anyone in the industry, this was undoubtedly a networking opportunity.\n
This was especially so this year â Huidi International went all out with invitations to many new stars of the industry, including one to the marketing manager of the southern China (SC) branch of their old adversary, Fumaokaisi [lit. rich in fortune; victorious in thought] â Wang Guangning.\n
Although Wang Guangningâs position was that of marketing manager, since Fumaokaisi SC didnât have a chief, and old Zhou often returned to the Taiwan headquarters, Wang Guangning was without a doubt the de facto representative of Fumaokaisi SC. \n
Added to that was his tall and imposing elegance, and excellent temperament â he was simply the absolute focal point of the anniversary dinner.\n
Under the resplendent lighting of the banquet hall, Wang Guangning was dressed meticulously in a western suit, raising a glass of light champagne, and holding a perfect smile as he gently clinked glasses with other guests.\n
For him, this dinner was not as simple as a networking meal. Huidi Internationalâs biggest distributor and DM Chinaâs distributor had also come. Even as he dealt with them, he also made overtures to smaller distributors.\n
Being well-spoken with an ideal demeanour, he won over quite a few industry veterans. Everyone sighed over how Fumaokaisi was able to hire someone of Wang Guangningâs character â to conquer the mainland would not be difficult to imagine with him.\n
And to the staff of Huidi International, this evening was most certainly a marvellous night for gossip!\n
The news of Wang Guangning giving up a job opportunity with Huidi International for the sake of Xia Yingchu had been spreading like wildfire throughout the company. Although David, out of professional ethics, had ordered company staff not to leak the news that Wang Guangning had come for an interview, this didnât stop everyone from looking forward to a good show tonight!\n
If Wang Guangning really liked Xia Yingchu that much, how could he miss out on the opportunity that this night presented!\n
Xia Yingchu had also made a sizeable investment for tonight, wearing a flowing black evening gown that revealed one beautiful shoulder and just a touch of cleavage. She was evidently mysterious yet alluring, with her hair loosely put up and adorned with a crystal-studded crown â the look was elegant with a youthful flavour.\n
It wouldnât have been an exaggeration to describe her as the queen of beauties.\n
Ever since Xia Yingchu caught wind of Wang Guangningâs love and devotion for her, she had been waiting for him to come and find her (she didnât make the first move mainly because she didnât have Wang Guangningâs contact details). But just as she was getting all crazy in her anxiety while waiting endlessly for his confession, David went and invited Wang Guangning to their companyâs anniversary dinner.\n
This huge opportunity must not be wasted!\n
And so, Xia Yingchu in her beautiful get-up went up and down the banquet hall; a few times, she even brushed past Wang Guangning intentionally. Quite a few gentlemen had already come to chat her up, but Wang Guangning still did not make a move.\n
Does it really have to be her who takes the initiative?\n
Xia Yingchu was very unsatisfied with Wang Guangningâs style of courtship â he was actually putting on airs!\n
âHey, Ning.â David extended his right hand to Wang Guangning for a handshake. Even though he hadnât been able to enlist Wang Guangning, the failure didnât stop David from admiring him.\n
âHey, David.â Wang Guangning raised his glass and toasted David. âThank you for giving me the opportunity to join the anniversary dinner. Youâve made it a great success!â Wang Guangningâs word of congratulations was sincere.\n
âOh, do you only want to thank me for this?â David gave a knowing smile. He glanced at Xia Yingchu, who once again was walking past â âArenât you going to invite Xia Yingchu for a dance?â\n
Wang Guangning: â???â\n
Although he didnât know why David wanted him to dance with Xia Yingchu, Wang Guangning did feel as though he had played a trick on David previously, and felt guilty because of that. So, once he heard David say this, he followed along and said, âThatâs OK, then Iâll ask her for a dance.â\n
It must be said that the staff of Huidi International was richly attired and heavily perfumed that night, and much more dressed up than usual; they mingled busily and chatted up a storm with the crowd, displaying the expected cultivation and demeanour of the staff of a big company. But the truth was that they were all distracted â as they socialized, they were monitoring what was going on with Xia Yingchu and Wang Guangning.\n
No kidding â this was the gossip of the year at Huidi International. How could anyone miss out on it?\n
But in the end, after they waited the whole night, Wang Guangning and Xia Yingchu hadnât even spoken more than a few sentences to each other, and each encounter was at Xia Yingchuâs initiative.\n
Whatâs going on? Didnât Wang Guangning fall in love at first sight with Xia Yingchu?\n
Just as the staff were silently scolding the same line, âWho the heck let out this fake news,â Wang Guangning finally made a move.\n
He strode steadily to Xia Yingchu and asked her for a dance with a most polite posture â Xia Yingchu bashfully placed her hand in his.\n
Waves of commotion burst out from the Huidi staff.\n
The prelude of the dance song rose up at that moment.\n
Wang Guangning smiled as he held Xia Yingchu and began to dance gracefully.\n
Huidiâs staff continued to comment, and all sighed over how Wang Guangning really did have intentions toward Xia Yingchu â Xia Yingchu was so lucky.\n
And in a corner of the venue, Huidi Internationalâs HR manager Zhang Lingyi was holding the stem of a wine glass, and bearing an expression that was as dark as charcoal.\n
A few female guests wanted to chat him up, but was scared far, far away by his expression.\n
The surrounding hubbub about Wang Guangning and Xia Yingchu flowed into Zhang Lingyiâs ears incessantly.\n
Endless idioms involving âperfect matchâ and âgenius and beautyâ ⊠these people didnât usually exhibit such literary gifts?\n
Zhang Lingyi was muttering darkly to himself â how could Xia Yingchu match up to Shoushou!\n
In this world, only I match up to Shoushou!\n
But then why did Wang Guangning ask Xia Yingchu for a dance?\n
Actually, when the news broke out at the company that Wang Guangning fell in love at first sight with Xia Yingchu, he didnât take it to heart. He never thought that Xia Yingchu was Wang Guangningâs type, and based on how Wang Guangning had confessed to Yu Haining in public, if he really liked Xia Yingchu, he wouldnât have delayed his move.\n
But seeing Wang Guangning dress so coquettishly and outstandingly on this night, his heart was a little gloomy. This gloom was like the bad mood that descended when something dear to you that you wanted to belong only to you was forcibly taken away to be admired by everyone else.\n
Whatâs more, he knew that everyone in Huidi International was just waiting for more to gossip about!\n
But because Wang Guangning was an independent person, with his own life and career, even though he could feel his stomach churning, he would definitely not interfere.\n
Xia Yingchu was really pretty tonight. Although Zhang Lingyi had his eye on Wang Guangning most of the time, he knew that no other woman present in that place could overshadow Xia Yingchu.\n
But since Wang Guangning hadnât made a move the whole night, this did give him a lot of comfort!\n
Who could have known that before his nerves could settle proprely, he actually saw Wang Guangning walk toward Xia Yingchu, take her hand, and hold her waist!\n
In that moment, Zhang Lingyi could no longer be calm.\n
He realized belatedly â Wang Guangning had initially been attracted by Yu Haining, so this proved that he actually liked beautiful women. So, how could it be impossible for him to like Xia Yingchu?\n
Xia Yingchuâs smile was really sweet; the wine that went down Zhang Lingyiâs throat was bitter.\n
Finally, the song ended. But the overly excited emcee for the night rushed to Wang Guangning and pulled him up the stage.\n
Wang Guangning: ââŠâŠâ\n
Emcee: âHurry, everyone, see here, let me introduce to you, standing here onstage right now, itâs Fumaokaisi SCâs marketing manager, Mr. Wang Guangning. I believe everyone here has more or less heard of him â heâs presently the star that has the industryâs attention, and of course, the diamond bachelor that has the most female attention.â\n
Wang Guangning was not a coy person. Since he had already been pulled onstage, he might as well give everyone a wave and did so naturally. \n
Applause sounded from the crowd, mixed with some cheers.\n
The emcee looked at Wang Guangning: âMr. Wang, do you know the reason why I got you up here?â\n
Wang Guangning had a premonition, but continued to smile and shook his head.\n
The emcee raised his brows, and threw out to the audience: âI believe our Huidi colleagues have all heard a certain piece of gossip âŠâŠâ\n
A sudden commotion broke out amongst the crowd!\n
âMr. Wang, weâve heard that you fell in love at first sight with one of our staff!â The emcee gave a pout as he finished saying this, which made Wang Guangning want to stuff an egg into that mouth.\n
Wang Guangning sought Zhang Lingyi out with his peripheral vision while dealing with the emcee: âIt wasnât love at first sight âŠâŠâ In fact, it was hate at first sight!\n
The emcee widened his eyes: âCould it be love that came with time?â\n
Wang Guangning finally spotted Zhang Lingyi standing in a poorly lit corner. He collected himself and said with a smile, âThat can be considered the case.â \n
The commotion rose up again â love that came with time; doesnât that imply that the story of Wang Guangning and Xia Yingchu knowing each other from a long time ago was actually true?\n
The emcee also understood it like this, and didnât pursue the point, but asked another question: âSo, Mr. Wang, Iâm going to represent all of Huidiâs staff by asking you a very important question â may I know if the person you like is in the HR department?â\n
Well, of course, and heâs the boss of your HR department!\n
Wang Guangning was a little curious as to why the emcee asked this question, but nevertheless, he nodded: âYes.â\n
And so the whole place boiled over in excitement. Xia Yingchu was blushing a deep red, feeling all shy and timid.\n
Zhang Lingyi finally couldnât take it anymore. He set down his wine glass and left the venue dejectedly. \n
Wang Guangning witnessed Zhang Lingyi leave all of a sudden. He didnât know what was going on, and wanted to follow, but was held back by the emcee.\n
He felt stuffed up with impatience, but his face had to bear an appropriate smile.\n
âThen, Mr. Wang, please answer my final question.â At last, the emcee asked the most anticipated question of the night: âMay I know whether the surname of the person you like is Xia?â\n
Surname Xia?\n
In Wang Guangningâs mind, up popped names such as Xia Yuhe [mother of the princess played by Ruby Lin Xinru in My Fair Princess; Lin also played the role of the mother] and Xia Ziwei [Linâs character; so the joke here is that these women look the same â it doesnât matter to WGN whomever this Xia is], but not the name of the one he just danced with. So, he felt that the emcee was being really ridiculous, and answered in bewilderment: âNo.â\n
Xia Yingchuâs fragile [lit. glass] heart broke into a million pieces.\n
Huidi Internationalâs staff all froze. What the heck was this?\n
âIâm sorry, but I have something to attend to, so Iâll have to leave for a while.â Wang Guangning finally couldnât bear it anymore. He nodded to the host apologetically and rushed down the stage.\n
Five minutes later, everyone came back to their senses and the discussion about Wang Guangning and his secret lover rose to a fever pitch once more.\n
Wang Guangning clearly admitted that the person he liked was in the HR department. In the HR department, apart from the young and beautiful Xia Yingchu, there were only auntie-level people or tomboy types. There just wasnât a suitable match.\n
Unless Wang Guangning liked the auntie or tomboy type?\n
Everyone: â=ćŁ=â\n
This guyâs taste was a bit over the top!\n
<hr class="wp-block-separator">\n<h5 class="wp-block-heading">A little scene by the author</h5>\nWang Guangning: Sorry, Xia Yuhe, I donât like you!\n