Huayu 2021: Isn’t he in the technology field?

Chapter 321 A Thoughtful Gift, The Truth

At 6:50 p.m., the air in the elegant private room named "Pine Breeze" at Lanting Private Kitchen seemed to freeze.

Du Hua raised his wrist to check his watch for the third time, his lips pressed tightly together, his fingertips unconsciously tapping on the snow-white tablecloth, producing a dull thud.

Wang Yibo sat next to her, dressed in trendy clothes, his baseball cap pulled low, almost covering half of his face.

He leaned forward slightly, his hands crossed on the table, exuding a suppressed anxiety.

He would occasionally glance up and quickly scan the closed door of the private room, then quickly lower his eyes again, his expression complex.

Cheng Xiao sat on the other side of Du Hua, feeling like an exhibit that had been carefully packaged and displayed under the spotlight.

She had her hair and makeup done to Du Hua's highest standards. Her long, smooth hair was carefully styled into a low bun, with a few wisps of hair hanging down beside her ears. Her bangs were parted to the sides, making her slightly chubby baby face look even smaller and more delicate.

The makeup artist gave her a light, natural makeup look, emphasizing her round, large eyes and naturally slightly upturned lips, with an unconscious innocence in her gaze.

But her clothes... Cheng Xiao looked down at the light pink floral print modified cheongsam skirt she was wearing.

The fabric had a delicate sheen and clung tightly to her shapely figure.

The skirt only reached just above the knee, outlining the full curves of her hips and her plump, straight legs.

What made her most uncomfortable was the design of the chest area, a bold equilateral triangle cutout that perfectly showcased her collarbone.

At the same time, it also highlighted her extraordinary bust size without reservation. The heavy fullness was lifted by the three-dimensional tailoring of the cheongsam, forming an extremely eye-catching curve.

She felt that every breath she took pulled at the taut fabric, afraid that even the slightest movement would attract attention.

The private room was quiet, with only the occasional tapping of Du Hua on the table and the slightly suppressed breathing of the three people.

Cheng Xiao's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of her chest.

She placed her hands on her lap, her fingers unconsciously twisting the soft fabric of her cheongsam. She dared not look at Wang Yibo, nor dared to think about Jiang Qing, who was about to arrive.

The gentle, encouraging look in Jiang Qing's eyes when he led the applause for her at the last Tencent press conference warmed her heart for a long time.

That tiny, secret feeling of affection now pricked her like needles.

She was terrified. She was afraid that Jiang Qing would see her dressed like a "sacrifice" and that he would misunderstand her as a frivolous woman who had ulterior motives in approaching him.

This embarrassment made it impossible for her exquisite makeup to conceal the darkness in her eyes.

Time crawled by, each second feeling like it was being stretched out.

Just as Du Hua was about to get up and pace around, three clear and restrained knocks sounded on the door.

The atmosphere in the private room instantly relaxed.

Du Hua seemed to have been switched on, suddenly jumping up from his seat, his face instantly plastered with an almost fawning smile.

As she strode towards the door, she gave Cheng Xiao and Wang Yibo a stern look, signaling them to follow.

Cheng Xiao's heart leaped into her throat. She hurriedly stood up and subconsciously pulled her hand to adjust the front of her clothes.

Although this action was futile.

She followed behind Du Hua, feeling her cheeks burning hot.

Du Hua opened the door himself.

Jiang Qing stood outside the door.

He wore a dark gray cashmere coat, stood tall, and had a gentle demeanor.

Jiang Qing's gaze swept calmly over the three people who were greeting them at the door. Her expression was unreadable, yet it seemed to possess an invisible penetrating power, instantly seeing through all the tension, anxiety, and unsavory thoughts inside the private room.

His gaze lingered on Du Hua's face for only a moment, then swept over Wang Yibo's taut jawline, finally settling on Cheng Xiao.

Cheng Xiao felt his gaze brush past her like a feather, making her stiffen and almost unable to breathe.

She mustered all her courage, glanced quickly at Jiang Qing, then quickly lowered her head, her voice barely audible, tinged with obvious nervousness.

"Good evening, Mr. Jiang."

"Good evening, Miss Cheng Xiao."

Jiang Qing's response was as gentle as ever.

His voice was like a clear spring, instantly extinguishing the burning fear in Cheng Xiao's heart.

At least, he didn't show any disgust.

Du Hua immediately chimed in enthusiastically, raising her voice by a notch.

"Oh, Mr. Jiang! You've finally arrived! Please come in, please come in! It must be cold outside! We've been waiting for you! It's such an honor to have you here today!"

She stepped aside to make way, gesturing for him to enter.

Jiang Qing nodded slightly, a polite smile playing on her lips, and walked in without saying a word.

His attitude was indifferent, neither warm nor deliberately cold, as if he were just attending an ordinary dinner party.

Du Hua quickly guided Jiang Qing to sit in the main seat, and then sat down to his right.

She glanced sharply at Cheng Xiao, who was still somewhat uneasy, and immediately gestured for her to sit to Jiang Qing's left.

Cheng Xiao's heart sank again, but she dared not disobey. She could only move her feet and carefully sit down on the edge of the chair to Jiang Qing's left.

The tight-fitting design of the cheongsam made her sit down with a cautious stiffness, as if she was afraid that any large movements would appear unladylike.

She tried her best to straighten her back, but the overly prominent presence of her chest made it impossible for her to ignore. She could only hunch her shoulders slightly in an attempt to reduce the visual impact, which only made her appear more restrained.

Jiang Qing's gaze seemed to linger on her slightly stiff posture for a fraction of a second before naturally shifting away, as if he hadn't seen anything.

He took off his coat and handed it to the waiter standing nearby, then rolled up his sleeves.

One by one, the exquisite dishes were served.

Du Hua used her charming and tactful nature to keep the atmosphere lively, and the topic always seemed to gravitate towards Wang Yibo, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

"President Jiang, you don't know, Yibo is actually a very simple-minded kid. He's just a bit straightforward and not very good at expressing himself."

While diligently serving Jiang Qing the dishes, Du Hua began to lay the groundwork.

"About what happened last time, it was purely those ignorant fans making a fuss! Yibo was on set and out of touch with the news, and the company was slow to react and didn't handle it in time, which is why those foul words got to your ears and eyes! It's a huge misunderstanding, a really big misunderstanding!"

Wang Yibo kept his head down, his chopsticks unconsciously poking at the bone dish in front of him, his face appearing somewhat pale under the warm lights of the private room.

Jiang Qing listened quietly, occasionally picking up her chopsticks to take a bite of the food in front of her, chewing slowly, with that enigmatic smile on her face, without giving any substantial response to Du Hua's words.

Seeing that he was unmoved by reason, Du Hua made a snap decision, picked up her wine glass, and gave Wang Yibo a wink.

"Yi Bo! What are you sitting there for? Hurry up and offer President Jiang a toast! Properly express your apology!"

Wang Yibo's body visibly stiffened for a moment.

He took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind, before raising his head. He forced a smile, picked up the glass of white wine that had been poured in front of him, stood up, and faced Jiang Qing. His voice was somewhat hoarse.

"President Jiang... I failed to control my fans properly before, and caused you trouble. I'm so sorry! Let me toast you! I'll drink it all, please feel free to drink as you like!"

After saying that, without waiting for Jiang Qing's response, he tilted his head back and drank a full glass of strong liquor in one gulp.

The spicy liquid slid down his throat, choking him and instantly making his eyes red. He barely managed to hold it in and not cough.

Jiang Qing then put down her chopsticks and looked up at Wang Yibo, who was holding an empty cup and had a flushed face.

His eyes were calm, without mockery or pity.

He picked up the cup of clear tea in front of him, raised it symbolically, took only a small sip, and spoke in a calm tone.

"You're welcome."

When Du Hua saw that Jiang Qing was finally willing to "drink," even if it was just tea, a huge smile immediately bloomed on his face, as if he had seen the light at the end of the tunnel.

She quickly pressed her advantage, leaning forward with a earnest expression on her face.

“President Jiang! You see, you've seen Yibo's sincerity! He's truly apologizing from the bottom of his heart! This matter... you're a magnanimous person, could you... just let this kid off the hook? He's still young, he has a long road ahead of him..."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qing's faint smile finally vanished completely.

He put down his teacup, making a slight clinking sound, and met Du Hua's eager gaze. His voice was low and slow.

"President Du, please be careful with your words. What makes you think of the phrase 'letting them off the hook'?"

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over Du Hua, who froze instantly, and Wang Yibo, whose face had darkened even more, before finally settling on Cheng Xiao's tense expression. "Wu Wen's actions back then were aimed at those who specifically perpetrated cyberbullying and seriously violated my personal rights, as well as..."

He emphasized his words and looked at Du Hua.

"Those who tacitly condone, or even secretly fuel, the inaction that attempts to escape punishment due to the sheer number of people is a legitimate countermeasure based on law and rules. Once the matter was resolved, I did not follow up. I have never, and have no intention of, censoring or making things difficult for anyone."

Jiang Qing leaned back slightly, his posture relaxed, yet he exerted an invisible pressure on the others.

"As for Mr. Du's suggestion to let it go? I never even reached out to grab him, so how can I let it go? The platform and brand made their choices based on market judgment, what does that have to do with me? If they have a negative opinion of your company's artists because of this, that's their business. My attitude has always been clear: I will not make things difficult for them, but I will never tolerate those who try to smear me."

Du Hua's smile completely vanished, her face turning red and then pale.

She awkwardly rubbed her hands together, quickly trying to make amends.

"Yes, yes, yes! Mr. Jiang, you're absolutely right! We were just being cynical! It's all a misunderstanding! It's just that the rumors circulating outside... You see, if it's convenient, could you... um, just let out a little bit of word that you've... you've already forgiven Yibo? To put those platforms and brands at ease? We..."

She carefully observed Jiang Qing's expression.

"President Du."

Jiang Qing interrupted her directly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"I've already made myself very clear. I've never deliberately made things difficult for anyone, and naturally, I don't need to forgive anyone. Rumors? There's no need for that. The market has its own operating rules and judgment standards."

He changed the subject, his gaze sharpening as he looked directly at Du Hua.

"However, I would like to take this opportunity to remind Mr. Du that the power of a fan base is a double-edged sword. If guided well, it can be an asset; if guided poorly, it can be a disaster. This time, the target is me, and I have the ability and willingness to use the law and technology to seek justice for myself. But what if it were a weak and defenseless artist? Or an ordinary person? The fans of your company's artists might just tear them apart."

He paused, then glanced at Wang Yibo with a cold, scrutinizing look.

"It is your inescapable responsibility as a management company and artists to properly manage your fans, guide them towards good, and ensure they abide by the law. Don't let the name of love become a fig leaf for recklessly harming others. Otherwise, the next time you run into someone who might not be someone like me who is willing to reason."

The last phrase, "Let's be reasonable," carried a subtle hint of sarcasm, making Du Hua's heart skip a beat.

She immediately thought of Meng Ziyi, whose career was almost ruined by a joint cyberbullying attack by Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan's fans!
Jiang Qing is targeting her!

He really did it for Meng Ziyi!
Du Hua broke out in a cold sweat and nodded frantically, his voice filled with fear.

“Understood! Understood! Mr. Jiang, you are absolutely right! We will definitely reflect deeply on our actions and strengthen our management! Those ignorant fans are all bad apples! We will definitely educate them properly! I will personally apologize to Ms. Meng later! I am truly sorry for what happened last time…”

Jiang Qing did not respond to her "personal apology" again. Instead, she picked up her chopsticks again, took a piece of steamed fish, and ate it quietly, as if the banging just now was just ordinary chatter.

An awkward silence fell over the private room once again, broken only by the occasional soft clinking of bowls and chopsticks.

Cheng Xiao, listening from the side, was terrified.

So... so that thunderous counterattack back then wasn't just for Jiang Qing herself, but also for that actress named Meng Ziyi.

For her sake, he didn't hesitate to use drastic measures, even attracting the attention of state media...

In Cheng Xiao's heart, a subtle, indescribable bitterness, and...envy, seeped into the hidden affection he had for Jiang Qing.

To be cared for by such a powerful and protective person must be such a reassuring thing!
She stole a glance at Jiang Qing, who was eating quietly beside her, and noticed that his profile looked particularly composed under the light. A complex feeling welled up in her heart.

The second half of the meal was rather unappetizing.

Du Hua dared not make any more requests, and just smiled politely and said some meaningless platitudes.

Wang Yibo kept his head down the whole time, like a silent shadow.

Cheng Xiao lost her appetite and felt like she was sitting on pins and needles every second.

Finally, the banquet was drawing to a close.

Du Hua and the other two personally escorted Jiang Qing to the entrance of Lanting Private Kitchen.

A black sedan was already waiting by the roadside, and Zhou Zhengkai respectfully opened the back door.

"Mr. Jiang, please take care! Thank you so much for coming today!"

Du Hua's face was full of smiles, and he bowed at a ninety-degree angle, adopting an extremely humble posture.

She turned her head, her eyes sweeping sharply over Cheng Xiao, but she forced a very kind smile onto her face, her words carrying an implication.

"Xiao Xiao, it's so late, could you see President Jiang off? Make sure he gets off safely! Understand?"

Cheng Xiao's heart sank, and his face turned deathly pale.

This blatant implication was like a slap in the face.

deliver?
How to send it?
Where should it be sent?

Du Hua's meaning couldn't be clearer!
She wants herself...

An overwhelming sense of humiliation overwhelmed her, leaving her almost breathless.

She glanced at Jiang Qing instinctively, her eyes filled with panic.

Jiang Qing's gaze swept over Du Hua's calculating face, then fell on Cheng Xiao's face, which had instantly lost all color.

The girl's big, round eyes were filled with tears. She bit her lower lip tightly, and her body trembled slightly as she tried to suppress her emotions.

The pink cheongsam that accentuated her stunning curves, when worn by her now, seemed more like a silent accusation.

He didn't speak, but just sighed to himself.

Then, without looking at anyone, he took a long stride and bent down to sit in the spacious back seat of the car.

Seeing this, Du Hua immediately nudged Cheng Xiao, who was still in a daze, with her elbow and gave her a fierce look, signaling her to get in the car quickly.

Cheng Xiao trembled, her eyes instantly reddening with immense grievance.

She wanted to refuse, to run away, but Du Hua's cold, threatening gaze coiled around her like a venomous snake.

She thought of her contract, Du Hua's methods, and her bleak future... All her resistance vanished under the heavy weight of reality.

He closed his eyes resignedly, and when he opened them again, all that remained was a numb despair.

Compared to most of Yuehua Entertainment's artists who are still paying off debts, she's already doing very well, isn't she?

Cheng Xiao comforted herself.

She dared not look at Du Hua, nor at Jiang Qing in the car. She simply lowered her head, like a puppet being manipulated, and moved heavily to the side of the car.

The interior ceiling lights were softly illuminated.

Jiang Qing sat back in the spacious back seat, legs crossed, relaxed, looking at something on her phone without even lifting her eyelids.

Cheng Xiao stood in front of the open car door, the night wind blowing coldly against her exposed skin, causing her to break out in small goosebumps.

She took a deep breath and bent down to get into the car.

With each movement, the tight fabric of the cheongsam squeezed her ample bosom into a deeper cleavage, and the curves of her waist and hips tightened as she bent over, outlining a breathtaking arc.

She almost held her breath, carefully avoiding touching Jiang Qing's body, and stiffly sat down in the seat next to him.

With a soft "bang," Zhou Zhengkai closed the car door from the outside, shutting out Du Hua's relieved yet greedy gaze, as well as the cold air outside.

In the enclosed carriage, only she and Jiang Qing remained for a moment.

The sound insulation of top-of-the-line luxury cars is excellent, completely blocking out the noise from the outside world, making it so quiet that you can hear each other's soft breathing.

Cheng Xiao could clearly smell the scent emanating from Jiang Qing, which made her even more nervous. Her body tensed up like a stone, pressed tightly against the side closest to the car door, wishing she could shrink into a ball and disappear.

She kept her head down, clutching her small bag tightly to her lap, her gaze fixed on the delicate yet torture-like tips of her high heels. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, threatening to shatter her ribs.

The car started smoothly and merged into the dazzling traffic of Beijing.

The neon lights outside the window flashed by, casting flickering spots of light on Cheng Xiao's pale face.

She didn't know where the car would go.

She had no idea what the man beside her might do.

All she knew was that she was like a gift forcibly stuffed into a car, her future uncertain, leaving her with only boundless shame.

The neckline of the cheongsam seemed to constrict her, making it hard to breathe. The high-quality, soft fabric clung to her body, and every inch felt like a branding iron burning her skin.

She does have a good impression of Jiang Qing and is willing to have some wonderful things happen with him, but definitely not in this way!

(End of this chapter)