Even though she used to be Ms. Ji, her current life was even more difficult than that of ordinary people.
Qi Cheng knew very well what kind of temptation he presented to her. He was very eager to know how the proud Ji Yunhuan would make her decision in this situation.
In the quiet restaurant by the lake, Qi Cheng stood by the floor-to-ceiling window. He saw his driver park the car at the entrance and escort Ji Yunhuan out of the car.
Ji Yunhuan stood in front of the car, examining the restaurant. At this moment, the parking lot in front of the restaurant was empty; there wasn't a single person.
Because of the glass, she couldn't see Qi Cheng inside the restaurant, but she felt that a pair of eyes was watching her.
It was him, wasn't it?
Instinct told her it must be.
Since she had come, she didn't intend to avoid him. She confidently entered the restaurant.
The skirt and shirt she wore were cheap, yet she still managed to exude a sense of grace.
Inside the private restaurant, a waiting server led Ji Yunhuan inside, stealing an extra glance at her.
The women who usually interacted with Mr. Qi were all glamorous and dazzling. Although this woman had good presence, appearing before Young Master Qi in such shabby clothes was quite surprising.
However, this was not something a server could intervene in.
The waiter opened the restaurant door. After Ji Yunhuan walked in, he closed the door again.
Because Qi Cheng didn't like to be disturbed.
Anywhere he went, he would clear out the place. Restaurants he visited would not dare to serve other guests on that day.
After closing the door, several servers immediately gathered around to discuss Ji Yunhuan, "Who is she? Is she the one Young Master Qi was waiting for?"
"She doesn't look like much!"
"But she does have a good presence."
"Another rags-to-riches Cinderella, really enviable."
Any woman Qi Cheng took a liking to, no matter their background, would immediately rise to prominence. Although this period was often short, many women still hoped to be that Cinderella at midnight.
On the stage, a man in a tailcoat was passionately playing his violin, unaffected by the new presence in the restaurant.
Qi Cheng had already turned around, watching as Ji Yunhuan walked step by step towards him.
He realized that since he had seen her that day at the Gu Family Residence, he couldn't take his eyes off her.
A woman even more beautiful than in photos. A woman who exuded nobility and elegance, demanding one's attention!
Beautiful women were not new to him, but a woman with such transcendent beauty, Ji Yunhuan, was the first.
"It seems Mr. Qi has been waiting for me a long time," Ji Yunhuan initiated the conversation.
Without waiting for Qi Cheng to answer, she sat down at the chair by the table.
For a man who investigated her without consent, she had no intention of being polite.
Qi Cheng didn't mind. He sat down, smiling, "I never wait for anyone!"
"You clearly reserved the entire restaurant." To Ji Yunhuan, he was just trying to use some tricks to play her.
Sensing her thoughts, Qi Cheng said, "Do you think I'm waiting for you?"
"Isn't that the case?" Ji Yunhuan raised an eyebrow. He had gone to such lengths for her, surely he wouldn't mind waiting for a while.
"Of course not." Qi Cheng denied her assumption. "I just happened to be having a meal here. The driver brought you here. To be precise, you came to see me. I wasn't waiting for you. If you hadn't come today, I would still be dining here."
"Does dining alone necessitate reserving the whole place?" Ji Yunhuan didn't believe him.
Men liked to put on airs. He was no different.
Qi Cheng raised an eyebrow, "It seems Ms. Ji doesn't know me very well."
"We are not familiar!"
"Other people try so hard to learn about me, desperately trying to connect with me. Haven't you ever?"
In City A, no one would be unaware of his name, Qi Cheng!
But she didn't know him.
Ji Yunhuan couldn't help but smile. She was always indifferent and rarely smiled. Even Qi Cheng was momentarily dazed by her smile.
"What are you smiling about?" he asked curiously.
"Aren't these exactly Mr. Qi's actions? Trying hard to learn about me and desperately linking with me!"
Her earlier smile was nothing but mockery.
This woman…
Although mocked, Qi Cheng didn't get angry. Instead, seeing her like this, he found it interesting, "I forgot. In Ji Yunhuan's eyes, no one else matters."
"Don't act like you know me well." Her smile faded and she became somewhat displeased.
The way he spoke about her was clearly not a compliment but a satire of her disregard for others.
Even if she didn't care what others said about her, she would never smile at a man who ridiculed her.
Qi Cheng confidently stated, "I surely know you better than you think."
"Considering you are always bored, you have plenty of time to meddle in others' affairs."
"Rich people have time. Unlike the current Ms. Ji, who has neither money nor time."
Again, he couldn't resist mocking her.
Ji Yunhuan really felt an urge to splash water on him. Wasn't he bending over backward to win her over? Why did he keep provoking her?
Before she could get angry, Qi Cheng shifted the topic, "Wherever I go, I don't need to reserve the place. But they know I like quiet, so they proactively clear out a quiet space for me. Now, you should understand that I didn't reserve the place waiting for you, right?"
"I see." Ji Yunhuan understood, "I'm not well-informed and don't know much about Mr. Qi."
Before the Ji Family went bankrupt, the name Qi Cheng was a mystery in City A. He was low-key, and not many people knew him. Ji Yunhuan never cared about anyone.
After the bankruptcy, her life hit rock bottom. She was not interested in the daily activities of these high-profile figures.
"If you're willing, I can let you know every day," Qi Cheng looked at her with his dark, ink-like eyes, which held a certain softness.
Ji Yunhuan avoided his beguiling eyes, "I don't understand why Mr. Qi is so good to me. With your status, you shouldn't lack women. If you wanted, many women would come to you."
Qi Cheng laughed, "You're right. But not everyone is Ji Yunhuan. Not everyone interests me like you!"
"How ridiculous! Since I walked in here, you've never stopped mocking me. Is this your interest in me?" Pretending to be gentle, was he trying to fool someone?
Yet, what his purpose was, Ji Yunhuan couldn't fathom.
Logically speaking, she shouldn't have crossed paths with this man in her past life.