Is not being able to do as you please also called rebirth?

Chapter 214 An Accidental Encounter at a Cocktail Party
In the third week of Yan Jin's trip to Europe, the autumn chill had deepened in Beijing.

Inside the grand ballroom on the top floor of the Peninsula Hotel, crystal chandeliers refracted the gilded dome into a sea of ​​stars, while the air was filled with the rich aroma of cigars, the crispness of champagne, and the subtle fragrance of fine perfumes.

This was a technology venture capital dinner hosted by a retired senior official from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The attendees were all wealthy and influential figures who could shake up the industry.

Jiang Xun, dressed in a custom-made navy blue suit, stood tall and straight like a pine tree in the center of the crowd.

Tang Yufei, dressed in a burgundy backless fishtail dress, linked her arm with his like a queen, her fingertips lightly touching the inside of his arm, an intimate gesture carrying an unmistakable declaration.

"Mr. Zhang, this is Jiang Xun, the founder of Xunyang Technology. The 'Toutiao' you mentioned before is his brainchild." Tang Yufei introduced the elderly man with gray hair but sharp eyes with a bright smile.

The old man was a former high-ranking official in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, who held vital resources in the communications channels. At this moment, he was observing Jiang Xun with great interest.

"You're a force to be reckoned with!" General Manager Zhang nodded slightly, his voice booming. "Young General Manager Jiang sees the blue ocean of mobile information distribution much better than us old guys. Precise push notifications, personalized recommendations... Tang girl has been talking about your 'algorithm revolution' to me quite a bit."

The "Tang girl" he mentioned was naturally Tang Yufei. This affectionate nickname showed that she had a close relationship with the Tang family—this was the first cornerstone that Tang Yufei had moved for Jiang Xun, a true bigwig in the Beijing circle.

Jiang Xun, with a perfectly measured humble smile, raised his glass in response:

"Mr. Zhang, you flatter me. It was the times that gave us the opportunity, and with Ms. Tang's unwavering support, that allowed 'Toutiao' to emerge. We are still exploring, especially in balancing data privacy and algorithm ethics, and we need guidance from seniors like you."

His response was neither humble nor arrogant, highlighting Tang Yufei's crucial role while steering the conversation towards areas of interest to her and areas where he felt confident.

Not far away, in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.

Liu Yifei, who had just finished a brand event, was talking quietly with a producer.

She wore a moon-white brocade cheongsam with a matching sheer shawl, her cool and ethereal气质 making her a unique sight amidst the glittering banquet.

His gaze inadvertently swept across the center of the crowd, lingering on Jiang Xun for a moment.

The young man who had been affectionately linked with Tang Yufei on the golf course and had a brief conversation with her was now surrounded by a group of business tycoons, calm and composed, chatting and laughing.

The radiance emanating from him was even more dazzling than she had anticipated.

"What is Yifei looking at?" A gentle voice came from beside her.

Liu Shishi approached with a glass of champagne. Following her gaze, one could see that her dark green velvet dress accentuated her snow-white skin, and a jade pendant shimmered softly between her collarbones.

When she recognized Jiang Xun in the crowd, a clear look of surprise flashed across her eyes. "Jiang Xun? What...what's he doing here?"

She whispered to Liu Yifei, her tone incredulous and inquisitive, "Yufei mentioned at the book cafe last time that he was starting a business, and I thought it was just some young people dabbling in things... This is quite a big deal..."

She recalled the composure Jiang Xun displayed when he helped her and Luo Ning out of a predicament at the "Nightfall" bar a few months ago, and she also remembered the profound look in his eyes and his unique insights when he talked about Márquez in the afternoon at the book cafe, which touched her soul.

At this moment, that hazy feeling of affection, like a pebble thrown into a lake, began to ripple and spread.

Liu Yifei withdrew her gaze, picked up her wine glass, took a small sip, and spoke in a clear and melodious voice, carrying a subtle but profound meaning: "Tang Yufei is riding the wave of opportunity. It seems that it's not just luck."

She stated her statement calmly, but her gaze swept over Jiang Xun again.

When a rising internet entrepreneur jokingly remarked, "At Mr. Jiang's age, he should still be a junior at Peking University, right? Truly, heroes emerge from among the young!"

Jiang Xun swirled the amber liquid in his glass, smiling calmly and confidently: "That's why we need to seize the time even more. Opportunities don't wait for anyone, and neither do the algorithms and users' patience."

He raised his glass in a distant toast, his gaze sweeping over Liu Shishi, who was intently observing his probing eyes. When he nodded in acknowledgment, the smile on his lips deepened, revealing a knowing understanding that seemed to know everything.

Liu Shishi's heart skipped a beat, as if burned by that gaze, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.

As the party drew to a close, the elegantly dressed and bustling crowd began to move toward the exit.

Liu Shishi walked through the sparse crowd and went straight to Jiang Xun, who was surrounded by several beautiful women. Tang Yufei seemed to have left beforehand.

The dark green velvet shimmered with a luxurious sheen under the light. She tilted her head back, her eyes sparkling with a hint of cunning and an undeniable intimacy.
"President Jiang, would you do me the honor of joining me for a late-night snack?" She deliberately glanced at the women beside her, emphasizing her tone.

"Consider it repaying the favor you did for me at 'Nightfall' last time. Luo Ning and I have always remembered it." This was half true and half false, both an excuse and a test. "I couldn't be happier to accept Senior Sister's invitation." He smiled brightly, then nodded slightly to the several women beside him, all of whom were quite attractive, as an apology.

Although the women were somewhat disappointed, they knew that winning over Jiang Xun wouldn't be easy, so they had no choice but to give up for the time being, but they all left their contact information.

……

The car drove away from the brightly lit CBD and turned into a lively alleyway near Houhai.

The destination was a time-honored hot pot restaurant hidden deep in an alley.

The storefront is small, but stepping inside reveals a bustling new world. Charcoal crackles under a brass pot, and the rising steam carries the aroma of savory mutton and the rich flavor of sesame sauce, instantly dispelling the chill of the autumn night.

The lobby was bustling with activity, filled with the clinking of glasses and the vibrant energy of everyday life, a stark contrast to the elegant banquet hall just moments before.

Liu Shishi was clearly a regular customer, and she led the two to a relatively quiet booth in the back room with ease. Liu Yifei remained relatively quiet throughout. She was a slow-to-warm-up person by nature, but once she got to know them, she was very relaxed.

After taking her seat, Liu Shishi took off her shawl, revealing her beautifully shaped shoulders and neck. She skillfully picked up the condiment bowl and deftly adjusted the proportions of sesame paste, chive blossoms, fermented bean curd, and chili oil with her slender, white fingertips, creating a beautiful arc with the chive blossom sauce.

"Try my secret recipe?" She pushed the prepared dipping sauce in front of Jiang Xun, her fingertips still drenched in sauce, with a playful air of self-satisfaction. "You solved such a big problem for Ning'er before, and when I asked you what you did, you wouldn't tell me. Turns out, you're a big boss."

She stared intently at Jiang Xun, her eyes filled with undisguised admiration and curiosity.

Jiang Xun smiled and picked up a slice of lamb brain that was as thin as a cicada's wing. He dipped it three times in the boiling broth, and the slice of meat curled up and changed color instantly. He dipped it in the sauce and put it in his mouth. It was tender, chewy, and had a rich, savory flavor.

"Luo Ning is a pearl covered in dust; I merely helped her brush away some of the dust." He spoke humbly, yet his gaze met Liu Shishi's with open confidence.

Then, considerately, he used serving chopsticks to scoop up a few slices of perfectly cooked, tender lamb brain and gently placed them into Liu Yifei's bowl, who had been quietly munching on pickled garlic. "Miss Yifei, please try some too. The meat here is very fresh."

Liu Yifei raised her eyelids, her clear, deep gaze falling on Jiang Xun's face.

"Thank you." The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, making her bright and pretty face even more radiant.

The three of them ate and chatted happily. Liu Yifei gradually became more talkative. At this moment, Liu Shishi's toes, clad in delicate high heels, brushed lightly against Jiang Xun's trouser leg under the table, seemingly unintentionally, causing a slight tickle and an ambiguous electric current.

This subtle flirtation was concealed by the tablecloth, but it did not escape Jiang Xun's notice.

Liu Yifei took in their subtle actions, her beautiful face remaining calm as she simply put down her chopsticks.

She picked up the warm plum juice and took a sip, her gaze drifting to the dim lights in the alley outside the window. Her voice was ethereal, as if she were discussing a philosophical proposition:
“As Gabriel García Márquez said in Love in the Time of Cholera, ‘The human heart is a thousand times more complex and profound than any algorithm can tell us’… What do you think, Mr. Jiang?”

“Of course I agree.” Jiang Xun refilled the glasses of the three of them with plum juice, the deep red liquid shimmering in the glass. “The human heart is the most unfathomable abyss in the universe. Just like you, Sister Yifei,”

His clear gaze met Liu Yifei's turned eyes, his tone calm yet insightful.
"Deep down, he detests meaningless social interactions and is used to solitude and isolation, yet tonight he's sitting here with us, tending to this boiling copper pot... Isn't this the best proof that human nature is complex and unpredictable, yet occasionally willing to break boundaries?"

He succinctly pointed out the deep-seated contradictions in Liu Yifei's personality and the abnormality of her behavior at this moment.

Liu Yifei's fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around the cup. She could clearly sense the insight beyond his years in Jiang Xun's words.

He wasn't trying to flatter her; he was simply stating a fact he had observed about her. This feeling of being so precisely seen through sent a strange unease through her, like a pebble being thrown into a calm lake.

She remained silent for a few seconds, not denying it, but simply turning her gaze back to the bubbling soup pot, the rising steam blurring her expression behind her glasses.

The topic gradually shifted from the somewhat heavy subject of algorithmic ethics to the more lighthearted themes of traditional opera preservation and literary reading.

Liu Shishi was clearly very interested in Jiang Xun's extensive knowledge and unique insights. When she talked about a newly adapted Kunqu opera that she was rehearsing, her eyes sparkled with her love for art.

The charcoal fire continued to radiate warmth, turning Liu Shishi's cheeks a beautiful, rosy red, like those of a ripe peach.

As Jiang Xun recounted an interesting anecdote about the digital preservation of Dunhuang murals, she suddenly leaned forward, close to his ear, and her breath, warm with the scent of alcohol and curiosity, gently brushed against his earlobe. Her voice was low and alluring:

"Hey, you bad boy, have you been bullying Ning'er? She's been talking badly about you to me lately..."

(End of this chapter)