plumnovel Chapter 867: Outbreak, Resistance, Interception, Desolation
Chapter 867: Outbreak, Resistance, Interception, Desolation
The private room door was closed once again.
Zhang Zhifang held Zhang Yan's arm, pulling her toward the table, her face unable to conceal her joy and scrutiny.
"You've really changed these past few years. You look more spirited, your complexion is better, and you're dressed so beautifully. When you first walked in, I almost didn't dare to recognize you."
Zhang Yan felt a bit uncomfortable under her gaze, her fingers curling slightly as she whispered, "It's okay... it's just that after starting work, I pay a bit more attention."
"Yanyan." Li Guangyuan, sitting to the side, also smiled, revealing a rare touch of amiability.
Li Hang had been sizing up this cousin he hadn't seen in three years, his expression holding both unfamiliarity and an indescribable awkwardness.
"Uncle, Hanghang." Zhang Yan nodded gently, her voice still soft.
"Sit, sit, sit." Zhang Zhifang pulled her to sit beside her, reluctant to let go of her hand. "Is it cold outside?"
"Not too bad." Zhang Yan pursed her lips, speaking softly. "I'm dressed warmly."
With Zhang Zhifang's enthusiastic welcome, the atmosphere in the private room finally began to loosen up a little.At least on the surface, it seemed like just an ordinary family gathering.
But Zhang Zhiqiang, sitting next to the main seat, looked somewhat grim.
He had originally been maintaining his air as a father, thinking that after his daughter entered, she should at least call out to him first.
Yet from the moment Zhang Yan entered until now, she had first greeted her aunt, uncle, and Hanghang, but just hadn't actively looked toward him.
That feeling of being left out in the cold, like tiny thorns, pricked at him one after another, making him unable to sit still.
Finally, he cleared his throat and spoke first:
"Yanyan, you're back."
His voice wasn't heavy, nor was it angry, still carrying a forced steadiness.
Only then did Zhang Yan turn her head to look at him. "Mm, I'm back."
There was no closeness, nor any resentment.
But precisely because it was so calm, it made people even more unsure how to continue.
Zhang Zhiqiang's lips moved; all the words he had prepared suddenly seemed superfluous.
In the end, he could only pick up his teacup and take a sip, as if to hide something.
Liu Mei, sitting to the side, her eyes flickering, quickly piled a smile back onto her face and smoothly took over the conversation.
"My goodness, Yanyan really is different. No wonder she's been in a big city. This outfit, this style, you can tell at a glance she's doing well, right?"
Zhang Yan glanced at her and simply nodded gently.
She neither acted subserviently like in the past, nor did she follow Liu Mei's lead.
The smile on Liu Mei's face instantly stiffened.
It was like punching cotton; the displeasure in her heart surged up all at once, yet she couldn't lash out.
It also made her realize that after three years apart, this stepdaughter had truly grown up and was no longer easy to manipulate.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
A waiter pushed the door open and began serving the dishes.
Sweet and sour carp, scallion-braised sea cucumber, crispy-skinned pork knuckle, stir-fried seasonal vegetables...
One hot dish after another was placed on the table, steam rising, quickly filling the private room with the aroma of food.
As the dishes were served one plate at a time, the atmosphere slowly loosened a bit more.
Li Hang placed the large bottle of peach juice and fruit-pulp orange juice he brought near the table. Zhang Zhifang casually unscrewed the cap and poured a glass for Zhang Yan first.
"Here, drink some of your favorite peach juice first, moisten your throat."
"Thank you, Aunt."
"Why be so polite." Zhang Zhifang pushed the glass closer to her hand, her tone carrying a deliberately lively enthusiasm. "You've finally come back for a visit. This first meal has to be a good one."
After saying that, she shot Zhang Zhiqiang a meaningful glance and added as if smoothing things over:
"Let's not talk about anything else for now, eat first. Your dad specially booked this private room, and the dishes were all chosen according to your tastes."
Zhang Zhiqiang and Liu Mei exchanged a look, neither saying anything more.
They also understood in their hearts that the relationship hadn't been mended yet, and Zhang Yan had just arrived. Saying too much too quickly would easily make the situation tense again.
At least for now, no one wanted to be the first to tear off that facade.
Huachen Grand Hotel was originally one of the top-tier high-end restaurants in the county town.
The dishes were excellent in color, aroma, and taste, and the presentation was quite elaborate.
Zhang Zhifang herself ate with gusto, oil smearing her mouth, while constantly putting food on Zhang Yan's plate, chattering away about various happy events from families in the village.
Whose child got into Yizhong High School, whose family rebuilt their house, whose wedding banquet had thirty tables.
The private room finally had a bit of a proper dining atmosphere...
...
12:30 PM.
Quancheng Airport.
After a civilian airliner that had just landed came to a stop, movement soon appeared at the VIP channel exit.
The airport had clearly made reception arrangements in advance; the area around the channel had been quietly cleared to create a buffer zone.
Several sharp-looking security personnel stood dispersed, their gazes alert but not ostentatious.
Not long after, a group of over ten people walked out from the channel.
Surrounded in the middle was a woman wearing oversized sunglasses.
A long trench coat, slender high heels, jet-black hair cascading down her shoulders, skin so white it seemed to glow.
Her pace wasn't fast, her posture elegant.
The entire person was as cool and detached as a painting that had just stepped out of winter mist.
Outside the airport, a motorcade had been waiting quietly for a long time.
Business vehicles, SUVs, nanny vans, and a Bentley Mulsanne with sleek lines and a deep, glossy paint finish.
Lined up in a row, the specifications were extremely high.
Su Yu bent down and got into the back seat of the Bentley.
The rest of the people also quickly got into their designated vehicles.
Because Quancheng Airport was too small and had no FBO, for this trip, Su Yu's team had booked the entire first-class cabin area under the guise of work.
Traveling with her weren't just assistants and security, but an entire music production and content recording team.
Arrangement equipment, sampling gear, portable recording devices, photography and filming—it was almost a full "temporary mobile creative team" setup.
After all, her reason for coming here, at least on the surface, was for creative work.
The car doors closed one by one.
The motorcade smoothly drove away from the airport.
In the front passenger seat of the Bentley, Zhen Yu, the assistant who had come to pick her up, had already opened a tablet, reporting in a low voice:
"Sister Yu, just received new information. Director Jin's special assistant, Lin Tiantian, has already arrived in Jing County."
"Oh? Lin Tiantian?" Su Yu took off her sunglasses and looked at her, the color in her eyes deepening slightly.
According to the normal schedule, Jin Meixiao herself wouldn't arrive until New Year's Eve.
For a personal assistant of Lin Tiantian's level to appear in Jing County ahead of time, unless there was something particularly important over there that needed to be arranged in advance.
"Mm." Zhen Yu's tone was steady. "Most likely related to Miss Zhang Yan. According to the information just received, Assistant Lin has already gone to Huachen Grand Hotel. Miss Zhang Yan is currently there, having a meal with relatives."
"Which relatives?"
"Father, stepmother, and the aunt's family."
Zhen Yu handed the tablet over.
On the screen were several newly transmitted candid photos.
An old-model black Mercedes parked at the hotel entrance, Zhang Zhiqiang and his group getting out, entering, being led by a waiter.
Su Yu looked quietly, a slight flicker in her gaze, as if understanding.
Zhen Yu continued reporting: "Also, that house at Binhu Mingshu has already been cleaned and tidied up in advance. Judging by the purchased ingredients and decoration standards, it will likely be officially put into use today."
"Today?"
Su Yu lightly tapped the edge of the tablet with her fingertip.
A faint smile slowly bloomed on her stunning face.
"Ah. It seems she wants to compete with me for someone?"
She handed the tablet back, leaned back into the seat, her tone carrying a casual yet domineering air.
Zhen Yu didn't speak, just waited quietly.
After a moment, Su Yu asked, "Is Zhang Yan finished eating yet?"
"Not yet." Zhen Yu glanced at the time. "But she's been inside for almost an hour."
Su Yu lifted her head, looking out the car window at the grayish airport sky, her gaze clear and tranquil.
A few seconds later, she withdrew her gaze and said calmly, "Let's not go to Yunhao Hotel first. Go directly to Huachen."
"Understood, received." Zhen Yu immediately lowered her head to notify the motorcade.
Actually, Huachen Grand Hotel and Yunhao Hotel were both in the new district of Jing County, not far apart. It would only take the motorcade a few minutes to adjust the route.
Su Yu leaned back in the seat, slowly stretching her body, but the smile at the corner of her lips never faded.
Jin Meixiao.
Your need for control is as strong as ever.
Are you afraid I'll brainwash Zhang Yan?
Or are you afraid I'll use her to divert Tang Song's attention?
Hah.
But if you don't come personally, I'm afraid you won't be able to snatch her away.
Huachen Grand Hotel, Tingyu Hall.
Only one side of the sweet and sour carp's skeleton remained, the crispy-skinned pork knuckle had been mostly divided up.
Bright lights shone down, clearly illuminating the expressions on everyone's faces.
Zhang Yan sat quietly beside Zhang Zhifang, no longer really touching her chopsticks.
She held that glass of peach juice in her hands, occasionally lowering her head to take a small sip, but most of the time just softly responding to her aunt's chatter.
Zhang Zhifang was still chattering away, asking how she had been these years outside, if work was busy, her tone carrying a deliberately amplified enthusiasm, as if afraid of an awkward silence.
Zhang Yan answered them one by one, not specifically mentioning her work, just saying she was in marketing, and certainly not boasting about her salary or position.
Liu Mei across from her, however, seemed somewhat distracted.
She kept glancing toward the door from time to time, shooting meaningful looks at Zhang Zhiqiang. Clearly, her mind wasn't on this meal at all.
Finally, she couldn't hold back and steered the topic over:
"Zhiqiang, why don't you go over and toast your boss? He's taken good care of you usually. It's a good opportunity now that we're here, go over, walk around, say hello."
Zhang Zhiqiang glanced at his daughter and stood up. "Alright then, I'll go over for a bit, be back soon."
After saying that, he pulled the door open and walked out.
The fourth-floor corridor was still extremely quiet.
Those few black-suited security personnel still stood in their original positions, nailed there like spikes, their presence imposing.
Zhang Zhiqiang instinctively hunched his shoulders, tiptoeing lightly to the door of the more inner [Guanlan Hall] private room.
He first straightened his collar, then raised a hand to smooth his hair, desperately trying to maintain his dignity, before finally raising his hand to knock and pushing the door open a crack that was neither too big nor too small.
Warm air and the smell of alcohol rushed out from inside the private room.
Seven or eight people were already seated inside, all in their thirties or forties. Some wore cashmere overcoats, others were in suits and ties. Awakened wine and unfinished cold dishes sat on the table.
The sounds of talking, laughter, and clinking glasses mixed together; it was clearly a scene where people were already well into their drinks.
Sitting near the door was precisely the auto trade boss that Zhang Zhiqiang worked for, Li Huabin.
"Boss Li." Zhang Zhiqiang immediately piled on a smile, quickly walking over with his glass raised. "I've come to offer you a toast."
Li Huabin glanced up at him, giving an indifferent nod.
"Zhiqiang, you're eating here too?"
"Yes." Zhang Zhiqiang hurriedly smiled obsequiously, forcing a look of flattery onto his face. "My daughter just came back from Yangcheng today, she's here too. When there's a chance later, I'll have her come over to offer you a toast."
"Oh."
Li Huabin responded indifferently, raising his glass to clink with his, giving him face.
The toast was done.
Zhang Zhiqiang originally wanted to take the opportunity to chat a bit more, to show off, but the private room door was pushed open again. A young man in a striped shirt walked in, sat down in an empty seat, and asked in a lowered voice:
"Those people outside still haven't left? Who exactly came to Huachen today?"
Another person glanced toward the door and said quietly, "They were just talking about it in the group chat. Heard from the Huachen owner that they came from the Imperial Capital."
"Doesn't look like official people to me?"
"Not that kind. Heard it's a female boss, brought a bunch of people."
"In that Mufeng Hall across from us?"
"Mm. The county side was notified in advance, said not to slight them."
"Tsk, that's quite the background."
"Exactly. The Huachen owner's face was practically cracking from smiling earlier, wouldn't dare make the slightest mistake."
These people didn't specifically avoid Zhang Zhiqiang while talking.
Clearly, they also didn't consider him someone they needed to be mindful of.
Zhang Zhiqiang stood to the side, unable to join the conversation, and no one really paid him any attention.
He was like an extra piece of background scenery, standing there, utterly awkward.
He forced himself to stand there a while longer, helping pour wine twice, before his face finally couldn't hold up. He could only squeeze out a dry, "You all enjoy your meal slowly," before retreating.
From beginning to end, aside from Li Huabin's initial perfunctory clink, no one paid him any extra attention.
The private room door closed behind him again.
Zhang Zhiqiang adjusted his expression, forcefully suppressing the disappointment in his heart, before walking back toward Tingyu Hall.
The moment he pushed the door open, his face resumed that nonchalant look.
"Do you all know what those black suits outside are about?"
As he sat back down in his seat, he deliberately lowered his voice, as if revealing some incredible news.
Everyone in the private room looked at him.
Li Hang was the first to respond, his eyes sparkling. "Uncle, what are they about? They're not really some big celebrity, are they?"
Zhang Zhiqiang coughed, picked up his teacup and took a deliberate sip, then said leisurely, "Heard from my boss's side, they're big shots from the Imperial Capital. The county was notified in advance, the hotel owner is personally overseeing the reception, afraid of making the slightest mistake."
He paused here deliberately, then lifted his chin toward the door direction.
"That Mufeng Hall next to us, sitting inside is that female boss from the Imperial Capital. Heard she's extremely beautiful and has a huge background. Liu Zhengang, the Huachen owner, counts as a figure in our Jing County, right? Restaurants, wedding banquets, business venues, he holds them all up. But today over there, even he has to serve with a smiling face."
Upon hearing this, Liu Mei immediately sat up straighter, a greedy light flashing in her eyes. "A female boss from the Imperial Capital? What kind of huge background must that be! No wonder it's guarded like a fortress outside."
Zhang Zhifang was also a bit stunned. "We ran into a big shot today?"
"Exactly." A hint of smugness surfaced on Zhang Zhiqiang's face, as if he had also gained some reflected glory. "So I said earlier, coming here today, we hit it just right. It's just that the timing isn't right today, otherwise, while drinking with Boss Li, I might even have been able to exchange a few words with that female boss from the Imperial Capital."
Li Hang listened with a look of yearning, unable to help sighing, "Do people like that usually go out with bodyguards and ride private planes?"
"Of course, definitely." Zhang Zhiqiang casually replied, getting more and more carried on, his vanity greatly satisfied.
The atmosphere in the private room, because of these half-true, half-exaggerated boasts, heated up again.
The topic came to a temporary end.
Liu Mei looked at Zhang Yan, piling a smile back onto her face.
"Yanyan. After the meal, you should go over with your dad. His boss has long known about you, his daughter working outside. It's a good opportunity now to go meet him."
Zhang Yan's fingers holding the glass tightened slightly, directly saying, "I don't know him either. Going over wouldn't be appropriate."
Seeing the usually obedient Zhang Yan actually refuse even such a small matter, Liu Mei's face instantly couldn't hold up.
"What's inappropriate about that? It's just going over to say a few words. You can also see the world a bit, gain some experience."
Zhang Yan shook her head. "Auntie Liu, I just think it's inappropriate."
As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere at the table instantly became tense.
Not just because of that "Auntie Liu," but also because of the expression on her face when she said it.
Calm, firm, without any of the timidity from before.
Everyone, in this moment, truly realized.
Zhang Yan was different.
Completely different from the little girl who used to shrink in the corner cubicle at her aunt's house, who had to check people's expressions before saying an extra word.
The expression on Liu Mei's face completely collapsed, the anger in her eyes almost gushing out.
Zhang Zhifang hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over: "Yanyan just got back, don't make her run around. She never liked these kinds of occasions anyway. Going over, she might say the wrong thing, show her nerves."
Zhang Zhiqiang also quickly nudged Liu Mei under the table, giving her a meaningful look.
Liu Mei gritted her teeth, forcefully suppressing the anger, then turned the topic to another side, trying to regain a bit of initiative:
"Then, since you're back this time, you should stay at home, right? We've already cleared out a room for you on the second floor, changed the bedsheets and duvet covers to new ones."
"No need." Zhang Yan said softly, her tone firm. "I've already booked a hotel. Staying there is more convenient."
"Convenient what?" Liu Mei immediately retorted, her tone urgent and fast. "It's not like there's no room at home. You're a girl, coming back during New Year's and staying in a hotel, what will people in the village think if word gets out? They'll think our family can't tolerate you."
As she spoke, she also kicked Zhang Zhiqiang under the table.
Seeing this, Zhang Zhiqiang had no choice but to scold sternly: "Yanyan, watch your tone! Elders asking you to stay home is for your own good. Staying in a hotel, what kind of behavior is that! Be obedient, come back and stay!"
Zhang Yan finally raised her eyes, looking straight at them.
Her lips were pressed tightly together, but her eyes were startlingly bright.
That gaze was too unfamiliar, so unfamiliar that both Zhang Zhiqiang and Liu Mei instinctively avoided it for a moment.
"You stopped tolerating me long ago, and that place stopped being my home long ago. From after sixth grade in elementary school, I haven't truly lived there."
The private room fell silent all at once.
Several people looked at her. No one expected her to say these words so directly.
Zhang Zhifang opened her mouth, momentarily at a loss for how to respond.
Because regarding this matter, everyone knew in their hearts that Zhang Yan had grievances.
It was just that she had been too soft before. So soft that everyone got used to her not speaking up, used to her keeping her head down, used to her swallowing all her pain herself.
So as time passed, it seemed as if it was default that those things were something she should bear.
The expression on Liu Mei's face finally couldn't hold up anymore.
*Thwack!* She slammed her chopsticks on the table, directly standing up, staring down at Zhang Yan from above.
"Zhang Yan, what do you mean by that? You ran off to Yangcheng for three years, contacted home how many times? You really think you've gained some skills staying out there, come back and start dredging up old grievances, putting on airs, is that it?"
Zhang Yan listened, her face gradually paling, her legs trembling slightly.
But that wasn't all fear anymore.
There was also a kind of grievance and anger that had been suppressed for too many years, finally bubbling up bit by bit.
Zhang Yan slowly stood up.
She was naturally a bit taller than Liu Mei, and today she was wearing shoes with heels. Standing up straight like this actually gave everyone in the private room an inexplicable sense of pressure.
"I'm not dredging up old grievances. I'm just telling the truth."
"Truth?" Liu Mei sneered, her voice sharp and shrill. "I think your wings have just hardened! Stayed by Zhou Hui's side for a few years, come back deliberately to give the family a hard time!"
Zhang Yan's chest heaved violently, her voice trembling. "This place was never my home! From childhood till now, have you ever cared for me? When I was little, you sent me to Aunt's house, said it was closer to school, said it was convenient. But I knew, you just thought I was in the way. Paying tuition, you dragged it out again and again, deliberately giving me change in dimes and pennies, making me lose face in front of classmates. In high school, if it weren't for my mom sending child support, if I hadn't knelt and begged you, you would have sent me off to work—you even had the place lined up!"
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Liu Mei slammed the table hard, her face flushing crimson.
Zhang Zhiqiang also couldn't sit still. "Yanyan, you now—"
"I'm not spouting nonsense!" Zhang Yan glared at them, her eyes rimmed red. "I didn't ask for a single cent from you in college. Now that I've graduated, you never ask if I'm doing well. You just want me to get married, want that bride price money!"
When she got here, her voice choked up.
She bit her lip hard, but tears still couldn't be held back, rolling down her cheeks.
Zhang Zhifang hurriedly stood up, grabbing Zhang Yan's hand. "Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Yanyan, sit down first, sit down first. We can talk slowly."
Zhang Yan shook her head, wiped her tears, her voice firm. "Not only will I not go back now, I will never go back in the future either!"
"You—!" Liu Mei was so angry her face turned the color of pig liver, her finger trembling as she pointed at her. "You, Zhang Yan, you, you, you... you've rebelled!"
She was truly furious.
So furious her chest heaved up and down, even her words became disjointed.
Zhang Zhiqiang saw the situation completely out of control, his expression also turning extremely ugly.
But in the end, he was still that kind of person who muddled through. He didn't dare to truly push Zhang Yan to the brink, nor did he dare to let Liu Mei continue making a scene. He could only pull a stern face, forcefully slap the table, and say in a lowered voice, trying to smooth things over:
"Enough! That's about enough! We're outside. Do you have to make it so ugly? Let people watch the joke!"
As he spoke, he shot Liu Mei intense meaningful glances.
With this bit of marital understanding, although Liu Mei was angry, she also knew the limits.
If they really tore off all pretenses here at Huachen Grand Hotel, not only would they lose all face, but any future plans to get benefits from Zhang Yan would completely fall through.
Originally, she still thought Zhang Yan was a soft persimmon, easy to manipulate with a little pressure once they met. But now she clearly realized this girl's heart had hardened. This approach wouldn't work.
They could only stabilize things first, think of other methods later.
Zhang Yan, under her aunt's soothing, gradually calmed down.
The atmosphere in the private room was strange; clearly, this meal couldn't continue.
Zhang Zhiqiang took a deep breath and said irritably, "Let's go. We've eaten enough anyway. Let's go back, save others from watching the joke."
The group hastily gathered their things, each with their own thoughts, and walked out of the private room.
The moment the door opened, the quiet and oppressive feeling of the corridor rushed over them again.
Those few black-suited men still stood in their original positions, figures ramrod straight, earpieces flashing with a cold light.
What made their hearts creep even more was that as they walked out, those few black suits also followed.
Not too close, not too far.
Zhang Zhiqiang, Liu Mei, and the others didn't dare to breathe loudly, heads lowered, not daring to look, not daring to think too much, could only move forward with hurried steps.
They walked all the way to near the elevator lobby.
The door of that [Mufeng Hall], which had been tightly closed all along, suddenly clicked open.
Everyone's footsteps involuntarily halted.
Almost simultaneously, they all looked over.
After all, they had just been discussing this big shot from the Imperial Capital in the private room, plus Zhang Zhiqiang's earlier embellishments. Now that this door opened, the string in their hearts instinctively tightened.
The first to come out were two black-suited security personnel.
They slightly turned sideways, holding the door, their posture respectful.
Then, a woman walked out.
Around thirty years old, wearing a sharply tailored winter women's suit, her hair neatly tied up at the back, makeup exquisite. The entire person exuded a sense of efficiency and sophistication.
Her gaze calmly swept over the group, finally settling steadily on Zhang Yan.
A standard, appropriate smile immediately surfaced on her face.
Then, she walked straight toward them.
That aura wasn't aggressive, yet it made people instinctively want to make way for her.
Zhang Zhiqiang and Liu Mei almost instinctively stepped aside.
The next second.
Under everyone's shocked and bewildered gazes, the woman actually stopped right in front of Zhang Yan.
She bent slightly at the waist, extending a business card with both hands: "Miss Zhang Yan, it's an honor to meet you. I am Lin Tiantian."
The expression on Zhang Zhiqiang's face instantly twisted and contorted, his eyes almost popping out.
Liu Mei's mouth hung open, the look on her face shifting from shock and suspicion, to confusion, to complete inability to process. Her mind went blank, only hearing a buzzing sound.
Zhang Zhifang's hand was still holding Zhang Yan's arm, but now it had stiffened. She didn't even know whether she should let go or keep holding on.
As for Zhang Yan herself, she was also somewhat dazed by this sudden scene.
She looked at the business card Lin Tiantian offered, instinctively reaching out to take it.
"H-hello..."
The business card design was extremely minimalist and understated, the paper thick, with very shallow silver lines pressed along the edges.
Only a few lines were written on it:
[Smile Holdings Chairman's Special Assistant]
[Lin Tiantian]
Below was a string of private phone numbers.
Zhang Yan's heart gave a violent thump.
Smile Holdings.
Chairman's Special Assistant.
That would be... Director Jin?
This... this is Director Jin's assistant?
Combined with Zhang Zhiqiang's earlier boasting in the private room about the "big shot from the Imperial Capital," many things almost instantly clicked into place.
Her mind was a chaotic mess. Although full of surprise and not understanding why the other party would appear here, in front of so many people, there was simply no time to think it through.
"A-Assistant Lin, you're looking for me... for what matter?"
Lin Tiantian's tone was calm and thorough: "It's like this. Director Jin knows you've returned to Jing County this time and don't have a suitable place to stay temporarily, so she specifically instructed me to come invite you to stay at her house at Binhu Mingshu for the time being."
She paused, then added another sentence:
"Also, Director Jin would like to formally meet you."
"This..." Zhang Yan was clearly stunned for a moment, her mind almost blank. "I... oh, okay."
She had no time to think.
And simply didn't know how to refuse.
After all, that was Director Jin.
A name that only existed in rumors and financial news had now directly landed before her.
Zhang Zhiqiang, Liu Mei, Zhang Zhifang, Li Guangyuan, along with Li Hang standing at the very back, all looked as if someone had pressed pause on them, expressions full of shock and absurdity.
They completely couldn't figure out how Zhang Yan had suddenly gotten involved with such a big shot, and was even personally having her accommodation arranged by them.
Zhang Zhiqiang and Liu Mei were so scared their legs went weak, faces pale as paper, a chill shooting from the soles of their feet straight to the top of their heads.
Lin Tiantian didn't give them any more time to digest. She just slightly turned sideways, her tone still polite and proper:
"The elevator is here. The car is already prepared downstairs. Miss Zhang Yan, please."
*Ding—*
The elevator doors happened to open at that exact moment.
Zhang Yan, still carrying a bit of dazed disbelief, instinctively took two steps forward.
And Zhang Zhiqiang, Zhang Zhifang, and the others also almost instinctively followed, shuffling along.
It wasn't that they really wanted to follow, but those few black suits stood right beside them, their presence too strong. So strong it made people afraid to even breathe too heavily.
The elevator doors slowly closed.
The cabin was quiet to the point of being stifling.
The numbers descended floor by floor.
Zhang Zhiqiang, Liu Mei, Zhang Zhifang, and the others stood stiffly in the corner, not even knowing where to look, could only stare fixedly at the ground.
Until *ding* sounded again.
The elevator came to a steady stop on the first floor.
The doors slowly opened.
The lobby was still brightly lit.
The greeters and waitstaff at the entrance had clearly already received the message. Seeing them from afar, they immediately stepped aside to clear a path, their expressions extremely respectful, even carrying a hint of awe.
Several black-suited security personnel had already dispersed ahead of time, their movements efficient and quiet, unobtrusively surrounding Zhang Yan in the middle.
Compared to the oppressive feeling in the fourth-floor corridor earlier, this moment was even stronger, even more scalp-prickling.
Zhang Zhiqiang, Liu Mei, Zhang Zhifang, and the others were completely dumbfounded, could only instinctively huddle together, following the crowd out.
The revolving door turned.
The cold, white winter daylight poured in all at once.
In the drop-off area outside the door, a black Rolls-Royce Phantom sat quietly.
The body was long and elegant, the lines graceful, the paint deep like a solid piece of solidified black jade. Parked in front of the hotel, it appeared exceptionally serene and exceptionally eye-catching.
*Click—*
The driver, wearing white gloves, opened the rear door with a standard motion.
"Miss Zhang Yan, please get in the car." Lin Tiantian slightly turned sideways, raising a hand in a gesture of invitation.
A cold breeze gently blew past.
Everyone stood where they were, as if suddenly nailed to the spot.
The expressions on Liu Mei and Zhang Zhiqiang's faces were the most complex.
Shock, bewilderment, fear, and a kind of uncontrollable sense of disarray, layer upon layer rising on their faces.
The spectacle before them had completely exceeded their comprehension, like a dream.
Zhang Yan's heart was pounding fiercely. She had just taken half a step forward.
Not far away, a series of continuous, low-pitched engine sounds suddenly came.
Several cars, lined up in a row, smoothly drove into the drop-off area.
The most eye-catching was the Bentley Mulsanne in the middle with its deep glossy paint, the cars in front and behind all high-end business vehicles of a uniform style.
The motorcade slowly decelerated, coming to a steady stop.
The Bentley stopped right in front of that Rolls-Royce.
The rear door was pushed open from the inside.
The first thing to touch the ground was a pair of slender high heels.
Then, a slender, tall figure slowly stepped out.
She wore sunglasses, her hair falling over her shoulders, the lines of her trench coat sharp. The entire person, under the winter daylight, was startlingly white, her aura cool and ethereal. Even the sunglasses couldn't suppress that overwhelming, peerless beauty.
Just by standing there, she captured everyone's gaze, unable to look away.
Fortunately, this small area at the Huachen entrance had already been quietly cordoned off by the black suits, so not many unrelated people were close by.
Even so, the arrival of this motorcade, especially this woman herself, still made everyone's breathing hitch for a moment.
Lin Tiantian's expression changed drastically in an instant.
An extremely unfavorable judgment immediately flashed through her mind.
Sure enough.
The next second, that figure had already walked over in high heels, step by step.
Su Yu stopped in front of Zhang Yan, the corner of her lips curling up gently, her voice soft. "Yanyan, are you alright?"
"S-Sister Yu..."
Zhang Yan was completely dumbstruck, as if finally finding her anchor, calling out in a soft, tender voice.
And with Su Yu's highly recognizable voice, plus that face so close at hand, Li Hang, standing at the very back, suddenly reacted.
His eyes widened into circles, his voice cracking.
He blurted out, "Su... Su... Su Yu?!"
After shouting, he quickly covered his mouth tightly, his entire face flushed with excitement, as if he had seen a goddess. Staring at the person before him, he almost fell flat on his backside.
Liu Mei and Zhang Zhifang were also completely stunned.
They might not be fans, but even if they didn't follow celebrities, they couldn't possibly fail to recognize this face.
That was Su Yu!
On TV, in ads, on trending searches, on the Spring Festival Gala—she was everywhere.
And now, she was actually standing alive and well at the entrance of Huachen Grand Hotel in Jing County, standing right in front of Zhang Yan.
Su Yu didn't pay attention to the others, naturally reaching out to gently hold Zhang Yan's hand. Only then did she look at Lin Tiantian across from her, a faint smile on her face.
"Long time no see, Special Assistant Lin."
Lin Tiantian suppressed the turmoil in her heart, quickly adjusted her expression, maintaining the professional smile on her face, and bowed her head respectfully. "Miss Su Yu, long time no see."
"Special Assistant Lin came to find Yanyan today, is there something?"
"Director Jin knows Miss Zhang Yan has returned to her hometown this time and doesn't have a suitable place to stay temporarily, so she specifically sent me to invite Miss Zhang Yan to stay at Binhu Mingshu for the time being."
"I see."
Su Yu nodded gently, as if she understood, yet also as if she didn't take it to heart at all.
"However, the kindness is appreciated. Yanyan isn't without a place to stay. She will, of course, stay with me."
After saying that, without further explanation, she gently tugged Zhang Yan's hand.
"Let's go, Yanyan. I'll take you to where you'll be staying."
After taking just two steps, she seemed to suddenly remember something. Turning back to look at Lin Tiantian, she instructed, "Oh, right, Special Assistant Lin. Yanyan's luggage, please have someone send it to the hotel for me."
...
Lin Tiantian stood where she was, the professional smile on her face almost unable to hold.
But what could she say?
With someone of this level personally stepping in to snatch the person, how could she possibly stop it?
And this was Su Yu. There was no guarantee she wouldn't do something crazy, the consequences of which she couldn't bear.
She could only watch helplessly as Su Yu took Zhang Yan away, her entire body ice-cold.
It's over.
This time, it's really over.
The person was snatched right in front of her