nycdaug Chapter 161 Blind Date
Chapter 161 Blind Date
Bai Li inwardly groaned, but outwardly she had to maintain a calm demeanor.
Originally, she had planned to address Zhou Chengjing as "Brother Zhou" politely, as the old lady had introduced him, in order to maintain a semblance of courtesy.
However, just as those words were about to slip out, the thought of the complex and subtle connection between him and himself, especially his relationship with Wu Hai, caused his lips to twitch slightly involuntarily.
She knew she couldn't let this slight oddity show too much, so she quickly took a deep breath and gave Zhou Chengjing a seemingly polite smile. Although behind that smile lay a lot of helplessness and complex emotions, she still tried her best to make her voice sound calm and courteous: "Brother Zhou, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Zhou Chengjing took in Bai Li's subtle reactions and found them quite amusing.
In his view, Bai Li’s behavior was appropriate, but it also revealed a certain aloofness.
This attitude is not how one should treat a complete stranger.
how?
Know yourself?
The thought flashed through his mind, and Zhou Chengjing's lips slowly turned up, forming a perfectly gentle smile.
He bowed slightly, his every gesture exuding the air of a scion of a prominent family, and calmly replied, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
While responding, Zhou Chengjing's gaze remained fixed on Bai Li's face the entire time.
A hint of curiosity and inquiry flashed in his deep eyes.
Tonight is the first time Zhou Chengjing has met Bai Li in person.
Recalling the moment at the banquet when the crystal chandelier suddenly dimmed and the stage lights shone down, he caught a glimpse of Bai Li's eyes from afar on the stage.
At that time, the stage lights were dim and the blurry light and shadows intertwined, making it impossible for him to see Bai Li's appearance clearly.
But he still noticed something special about it.
It suddenly reminded him of the painting "Fishing Alone in the Cold Mountain" in his grandfather's study—the figure in the painting, wearing a straw raincoat, sits alone on the frozen lake, clearly the most desolate image, yet the snow and wind on the whole painting become mere background.
At the time, he only glanced at it briefly and didn't pay much attention to it.
After all, he had seen far too many outstanding people, but only a fleeting glimpse could leave a lasting impression on him.
At this moment, when he saw Bai Li again at the old lady's place and heard the old lady introduce her as a "descendant of the Bai family" with a smile, Zhou Chengjing almost couldn't help but chuckle. He barely managed to suppress it by pressing his tongue against his palate.
So she was Bai Li.
He checked the white pear twice.
During the first investigation, the National Security system had no information about Bai Li, which surprised even someone as experienced as him.
The second investigation yielded slightly better results than the first, revealing that she was the heir to an offshore trust fund and confirming her extraordinary background. However, many mysteries remained unsolved.
Now, everything has an answer.
It turned out that the treasure Wu Hai had been hiding was the protagonist of the stack of yellowed letters in the secret compartment of his grandfather's study.
When the Bai family disappeared from Beijing, the old patriarch of the Zhou family looked at the maps covering the wall and sighed for a long time. In the end, he only wrote in his diary: "The white fox has returned to the mountains. Is it a blessing or a regret?"
Now that I think about it, if Bai Li really is a descendant of the Bai family, then everything makes sense.
That clan has always been mysterious and low-key. It is said that a huge change occurred there, after which they withdrew from public view and remained hidden behind the scenes for many years, rarely mentioned by anyone.
Although the question that had been weighing on his mind had been answered, Zhou Chengjing vaguely felt that the answer was only the tip of the iceberg and could not satisfy the increasingly intense curiosity in his heart.
At that moment, he only felt a dryness in his throat.
Throughout his life, he has seen all sorts of people and things, which has gradually made him indifferent to many things.
At this stage, there are very few people who can still arouse such a strong desire for knowledge in him.
It was precisely because of this rarity that he became increasingly fascinated by the situation before him.
He seemed to understand Wu Hai's feelings to some extent.
Zhou Chengjing turned his head slightly to look at the white porcelain cup in front of him.
The clear tea soup, like a mirror, reflected his eyes and brows, which hadn't been in such high spirits for a long time.
Zhou Chengjing gently raised his hand, his long, slender fingers bending to tap the rosewood table, causing ripples to spread in the white porcelain cup.
The servant, who had been standing quietly behind him, waiting for orders, immediately understood. He bowed slightly, skillfully poured out the tea that was not yet finished in the cup, and then slowly poured out fresh, steaming tea from an exquisite teapot and placed it back in its original position.
Zhou Chengjing picked up the refilled teacup, took a small sip of tea, and it slightly relieved his dryness.
Zhou Chengjing's favorability +15
Zhou Chengjing's favorability rating: 20
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Bai Li was chatting idly with the old lady.
She gradually realized, in a state of disbelief, that once you start talking to an elderly person, it's like a flood that's been unleashed, and you can't stop for a while.
Moreover, because the old lady really liked white pears, she asked a lot of questions.
They started by asking Bai Li's age this year, and then continued asking whether she was married.
Faced with the kind smile that always graced her face, Bai Li couldn't bear to refuse to answer.
Bai Li's obedient answers only made the old lady more and more excited, and now she has started to matchmake her with all sorts of young men, talking endlessly about those young men she thinks are a good match for her.
Finally, she even started introducing Zhou Chengjing, who was sitting next to her:
"Speaking of young people in this circle, there are plenty from good families, some with strong abilities, and even more handsome ones. But if you were to put all of these together, it would have to be Chengjing. I think you two are quite a good match."
Just then, Bai Li heard the notification sound from Zhou Chengjing that his favorability had increased, and she almost couldn't control the expression on her face.
Isn't this ridiculous?
How did it suddenly turn into a blind date?
She quickly considered her words and said tactfully, "Thank you for your concern, Madam, but I've only just started to see some progress in my career, and I really can't afford to be distracted right now."
Just then, Zhou Chengjing also put down his teacup, leaned back into the shadow of the armchair, his posture relaxed yet somewhat nonchalant. His slender fingers caressed the gilded buttons on his cuffs, and he slightly raised his eyelids to defuse the situation:
"Grandma Lin is too kind. Focusing on your career during its upward phase is the right path. It would be rather abrupt to bring up matters of the heart."
After hearing this, the old lady looked regretful but also expressed her understanding: "You young people are so career-oriented. It's good that you prioritize your careers."
Bai Li secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
At this moment, Zhou Chengjing seemed to suddenly remember something and cleverly changed the subject: "Speaking of which, I saw a preview clip of 'Asking the Immortals' a few days ago."
Bai Li was taken aback, not expecting Zhou Chengjing to know so much about her, and couldn't help but say, "That's right, Brother Zhou actually knows."
Zhou Chengjing narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of appreciation flashing in them as if he were recalling something. After a moment, he said, "The picture quality is superb. You can tell from every frame that the team has put a lot of effort into it. I personally appreciate it very much."
“I happen to have some resources in the field of film technology. If ‘Asking the Immortals’ needs technical support, I may be able to provide some assistance.”
Bai Li's alarm bells rang in her heart, but she saw that the other party had turned to the old lady and smiled gently: "You always say that I should pay more attention to the cultural industry, isn't this just a coincidence?"
The old lady chuckled and joked, "Is Chengjing going to become a talent scout?"
Zhou Chengjing smiled gently, a smile that seemed mild but subtly revealed a profound depth that was hard to fathom: "It's just a matter of a good horse needing a good saddle. Of course, the specifics of the collaboration will depend on the consideration period of Miss Bai's team. Such a meticulously crafted work naturally deserves to be presented with even better technology."
This is such a familiar tactic.
Wuhai always seems to operate this way: they help you first, then slowly get closer to you.
This help is often not free.
Bai Li quickly considered the matter in her mind for a moment, then politely declined:
“I appreciate Brother Zhou’s kindness. Currently, ‘Asking Immortals’ is progressing steadily. If there is any need in the future, I will certainly not be polite. I hope Brother Zhou will not find me troublesome at that time.”
Zhou Chengjing looked at Bai Li, a hint of barely perceptible interest flashing in his eyes. Seeing that Bai Li refused him, he didn't show any other expression, but simply said distantly, "You're too kind."
At this moment, the old lady smiled and interjected, "You young people, you get so serious when you talk about work."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "It's good that young people have ideas. The Lin family also has some resources in the film and television industry. Since Miss Bai is doing this, I will try my best to give you more screen time in the future, which can be considered as contributing to your career."
Bai Li was overjoyed.
One of the most important reasons she patiently chatted with the old lady for so long was to see if she could get some screen time for the movie from the Lin family.
However, during the conversation, the topic veered off course and almost turned into a blind date, making Bai Li want to give up at one point.
Fortunately, things took a turn for the better, and the topic eventually returned to the film scheduling resources she had been longing for.
She came here only seeking career advancement, not marriage.
Although she was delighted, Bai Li remained humble on the surface.
I can't appear too eager, otherwise my true intentions will be exposed.
She replied respectfully, "Then thank you very much, Madam. If that's really possible, it would be a great help to me."
With Lin's support in scheduling screenings, her film projects were like adding another stroke to an already solid foundation, which can be considered as icing on the cake.
Having achieved her ultimate goal, Bai Li had no desire to continue the conversation.
The more you talk, the more you reveal.
It might be a woman's sixth sense.
Although Zhou Chengjing remained calm and indifferent throughout, seemingly showing no particular interest in her, and even helped her out of an awkward situation when the topic of blind dates came up, she felt a strange sense of vigilance deep down and subconsciously didn't want to reveal too much information about this man.
So after their conversation, Bai Li got up and took her leave of the old lady.
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As Bai Li walked out of the inner hall, she immediately saw Guan Cha sitting on a chair in the waiting area.
The waiting room was dimly lit. On the table next to Guan Cha was a cup of steaming tea. He was casually flipping through a magazine, his eyes on the pages but his gaze was wandering. Clearly, his mind wasn't on the magazine's contents, and he seemed rather bored.
Upon hearing footsteps, Guan Cha immediately looked up and saw Bai Li. Her previously lazy eyes instantly brightened, and a bright smile bloomed on her face.
He quickly closed the magazine, put it aside, stood up, and strode towards Bai Li: "Li Li, you're out."
Bai Li immediately noticed the change in how Guan Cha addressed her.
Before, didn't we respectfully call her "President Bai"?
Are we going to start calling her "Lili" now?
"Taking advantage of kindness and becoming arrogant, they become radiant with the sunshine" perfectly describes Guan Cha.
They were so bold once they had a chance to get closer.
but……
It feels pretty good.
She chuckled softly, not pointing it out, and silently accepted Guan Cha's change in addressing her: "Okay, let's go."
As Guan Cha followed Bai Li out, she would occasionally steal glances at Bai Li's expression. Seeing that Bai Li looked indifferent, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Actually, when he called out "Lili" just now, he was a little uneasy. After all, it was a very intimate name, and he was worried that Bai Li would not accept it.
But now it seems that Shirai has tacitly agreed.
The relationship between myself and Bai Li seemed to have become much closer because of this small change in how they addressed each other.
With a new title, it's definitely necessary to use it a few more times to solidify its meaning.
Thinking of this, Guan Cha asked with concern as she walked, "Lili, did your conversation with the old lady go well?"
Bai Li turned and gave Guan Cha a meaningful look, which made him smile awkwardly.
Guan Cha knew that Bai Li had seen through her thoughts.
but it does not matter.
He was willing to show it to Bai Li.
Bai Li smiled, stopped teasing Guan Cha, and briefly recounted her conversation with the old lady to Guan Cha.
Of course, the crooked part in the middle has been omitted.
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Not long after Bai Li took her leave from the old lady, Zhou Chengjing also got up to say goodbye to the old lady.
He leaned against the shadow of the carved pillars, casually fiddling with the prayer beads on his wrist. Each bead was round and smooth, with a warm texture, and made a soft, rhythmic sound as he played with his long fingers.
In the distance, Bai Li and Guan Cha walked along the garden path. The young man attentively draped a coat over her shoulders, and when she tilted her head slightly, the shimmering light reflected from her earrings pierced the night like a cluster of sparks embedded in her retina, causing Zhou Chengjing's gaze to linger for a moment longer.
Only when the two figures completely disappeared at the end of the garden and vanished into the night did Zhou Chengjing slowly withdraw his gaze, lower his head to light a cigar, and let the smoke blur the calculation in his eyes.
As the firelight flickered, the tattoo appeared and disappeared on the cuff.
He considered himself to be a different kind of person from Wuhai.
But at this moment, we must also admit it.
What Wu Hai likes, he probably won't dislike either.
Zhou Chengjing flicked off his cigarette ash, watched the sparks fall into the pond, gently exhaled a puff of smoke, and muttered, "What a nuisance."
The voice was very soft, yet clearly audible in the quiet night; no one knew what his whisper meant.