She was thinking that there were going to be new developments this time, and while whistling out of tune, she clipped a branch of Snow Willow.
The theme of this charity dinner was "Protecting the Buds."
She bent the Snow Willow into a bracelet.
The ethereal white blooms, some budding and some blossoming with a flush of stamen, interlaced with tiny green leaves, made it look as if emeralds and pearls were woven together on her wrist.
"Protecting the Buds" was actually an initiative to support women's education.
Hearing that the children who were helped by the program would be there, she felt that wearing flowers would be more appropriate than wearing jewelry.
At the charity dinner hosted by the Chen Family.
Wen Yangzhi arrived a bit early and chatted with Mr. and Mrs. Chen in a private room for a while.
When he emerged, a striking woman in a long dress approached Wen Yangzhi to strike up a conversation.
Looking at the imposing Wen Yangzhi, she was almost throwing him come-hither looks.
But Wen Yangzhi never gave her much attention, and when Jiang Jianqing arrived, the woman had no choice but to sheepishly leave.
Seeing Wen Yangzhi fend off another, Jiang Jianqing chuckled lowly, "You know, I've never seen you get close with the opposite sex."
Jiang Jianqing picked up a champagne glass from the waiter's tray: "What kind of person do you really like?"
Wen Yangzhi blocked him with a single sentence:
"The coquettish type."
After a few seconds of silence, Jiang Jianqing's expression went from
(○ﾟεﾟ○) to (⑉°-°).
That was nothing like what Wen Yangzhi would normally say; it was aggressive and outrageous, and Jiang Jianqing almost doubted his own ears.
The word "coquettish" coming from Wen Yangzhi's mouth was an earthshaker.
It was a word rarely used by most people, let alone the always refined and composed Wen Yangzhi.
So Wen Yangzhi liked it bold and brazen after all.
Indeed, all men were the same.
The phrase was usually mentioned only in private talks, but Wen Yangzhi unapologetically expressed it.
Jiang Jianqing's long fingers pinched the stem of the wine glass, swirled it gently, the wine's velvet-like rich and smooth tannins slid through his mouth, and he couldn't help but laugh:
"I thought you'd say 'smart,' but you said 'coquettish.'
Wen Yangzhi didn't engage in his banter, raised his hand, and adjusted the cufflink on his white French cuff shirt - a sapphire embedded B&C antique whale tail cufflink, understated yet elegant, befitting his status.
But it was completely incongruous with the word 'coquettish.'
Jiang Jianqing was curious: "Didn't you say you like someone like Bai Zhizi? Zhizi is so white and pure, tell me, how does that coexist with being coquettish? Isn't that a paradox?"
Wen Yangzhi didn't elaborate: "It's not a paradox."
Jiang Jianqing was still full of question marks: "When I invited you to the private gathering at Mid-Hill Villa last time, that actress who banks on her innocent image almost stared holes into you—"
He hadn't finished speaking when Jiang Jianqing suddenly realized that purity and coquettishness were opposites.
Wen Yangzhi didn't want him to keep asking and had said something just to shut him up.
No wonder, he thought, where could you find a woman who embodied both purity and coquettishness?
He had actually really believed such a person existed.
Yun Yuwan arrived at the venue, scanned around and saw no one familiar, then suddenly spotted Jiang Jianqing talking with a man.
Though his back was to her, with his upright yet relaxed stance, long legs, broad shoulders, and a narrow waist, just the silhouette was both regal and familiar.
Yun Yuwan immediately trotted over.
Jiang Jianqing was still teasing Wen Yangzhi, "Have you mortgaged your desire for women to the bank as well?"
Suddenly, a slender and lovely figure ran out.
She wrapped her arms around Wen Yangzhi's waist, cooing, "Big brother, I really want to go home."
Yun Yuwan slid her arm inside his suit, touching the silky inner lining of his shirt, underneath which his muscles were firm, his waistline slim, and a subtly concave curve ran down his broadening back muscles. The feel of Wen Yangzhi's waist was so good it made you not want to let go.
She also leaned her face against his chest.
The scent of gardenia from Yun Yuwan's body softly wafted over, entwining around him like lingering strands of hair.
So intimate.
Jiang Jianqing was a bit surprised.
And faced with the sudden embrace.
Wen Yangzhi did not push her away but simply said indifferently, "Go find someone else to play with."
Jiang Jianqing laughed with a "pfft."
As if coaxing a child.
Yun Yuwan shot him a glare, "What are you laughing at?"
But even when she glared at someone, she wasn't fierce. Her appearance was kinder than others, such that even her rounded, glaring eyes lacked malice.
Jiang Jianqing smiled faintly, "Sister, you are so cute."
Yuwan was pleased and snorted lightly, "Of course, I am."
At this moment, Jiang Jianqing actually found her somewhat cute, unexpectedly easy to coax.
He had only seen her before and didn't know her temperament; it turns out that Wen Yangzhi's sister had this personality.
However, he hadn't expected that the relationship between Wen Yangzhi and his sister apparently wasn't that bad.
Perhaps they had developed some affection over the past few years; the sister even dared to act so coquettishly with him.
It was also the first time he saw someone dare to behave this way with Wen Yangzhi.
Truly a case of one thing overcoming another.
He had never seen it before.
When he saw her pounce and hug Yangzhi, he was startled.
Yun Yuwan withdrew her gaze, looking up at Wen Yangzhi. Her clear, bright, and watery eyes brimmed with tears as she muttered as if aggrieved, "Who should I go play with? I don't know anyone else; I only know you."
Wen Yangzhi remained unangered, simply unmoved, "There's a shopping center upstairs."
She hugged him even tighter, encircling his lean waist, pressing her soft cheek against his chest unabashedly, "I don't want to."
Wen Yangzhi didn't even look at her, "I'll have the driver take you back."
Yuwan pouted stubbornly, "I want to go to the top floor of The Bund No. 18."
Jiang Jianqing watched with a meaningful expression.
That was a bar.
Wen Bank's headquarters were also on The Bund, only a few buildings away; how could Wen Yangzhi not know what was at the top of building No. 18?
But Wen Yangzhi finally lowered his gaze, staring at her expressionlessly.
Wen Yangzhi, true to his name, required everyone to look up to him; that sense of oppression was innate.
Yun Yuwan instinctively shrank back, "Alright, actually, I don't really want to go to the bar either."
Yet, her arms remained tightly wrapped around him, clinging to him as if boneless.
Wen Yangzhi showed no reaction, and she grumbled, "Brother, why don't you care about me at all?"
Wen Yangzhi's eyes were cold, not even looking at her, as if she were just a stray kitten that had occasionally climbed onto him:
"I don't have time for you."
She looked to the left and right. Not many guests had arrived yet, and she hadn't seen Wen Yangzhi talking to anyone besides Jiang Jianqing.
Her voice stretched out soft and lingering, "But it seems like you have plenty of time."
As soon as her words ended, a middle-aged man quickly approached, his face beaming with a smile, "Director Wen, long time no see. Our fund will continue to entrust Wen Bank as our custodian bank."
The man also reached out his hand to Wen Yangzhi.
As if he hadn't noticed a woman clinging to him at all.
Wen Yangzhi was equally indifferent, not the least bit embarrassed, not at all uneasy because of Yun Yuwan's presence in his arms. He made a gesture to shake hands, his cufflink brushing past her waist, "Pleased to cooperate."
The icy sapphire grazed her side waist, burning hot like fire, as if to spark a flame.