Chapter 8 - Chapter8

The car glided smoothly toward her hotel. After a few minutes of silence, Daniel broke the stillness with a casual question, "So, what do you think of the dinner?"

 

His tone was light, as if making small talk.

 

But Anna thought about it seriously, then asked hesitantly, "Did I offend you somehow? Why else would you drag me to this kind of dinner?"

 

Daniel: "..."

That answer clearly caught him off guard. He raised his eyebrows slightly, a faint, wry smile playing at his lips.

 

It was true—people often think in vastly different ways. He had just wanted to give her a glimpse into how this world operated, a way to broaden her horizons, but she had interpreted it as some sort of punishment.

 

In fact, Daniel hadn't really thought too deeply about why he invited her to the dinner. Perhaps, at the time, it was just a spur-of-the-moment decision. But in hindsight, he realized he had unconsciously developed some kind of unusual interest in her.

 

However, he wasn't one to dwell on such thoughts, nor did he plan to. Besides, he was feeling a bit tired tonight.

 

Suddenly, the silence returned. After waiting for a while, Anna glanced over to find Daniel had fallen asleep, resting against the seat.

 

When he was asleep, he looked incredibly peaceful. His thick eyelashes cast shadows over his eyelids, his nose straight and his features so perfect they seemed crafted by an artist. Anna found herself staring at his profile, marveling at how flawless his appearance and demeanor were, even while sleeping.

 

His physique was equally impeccable. Anna had seen many men in suits before, but none could wear one as well as Daniel. Broad shoulders, a slim waist, and long legs—he exuded a noble elegance even when lounging casually in his seat.

 

Whether speaking with calm authority, offering a warm smile, or adopting a serious expression, Daniel always carried an air of superiority, like a star shining high in the night sky—distant and unreachable.

 

Everything about him spoke of a privileged upbringing and impeccable manners. Anna knew that men like him, these so-called "young masters," were not the kind of people she could easily approach, let alone offend.

 

Xue Hong had warned her more than once, "Stay away from those rich heirs. When they're in a good mood, they treat you like a friend. When they turn, they'll make your life a living hell." Though Xue Hong's intentions were partly driven by financial gain, there was a grain of sincere advice in her words.

 

The rest of the ride passed in silence.

 

Finally, the car pulled up to the hotel where Anna was staying. The soft sound of the brakes stirred Daniel from his sleep. He blinked slowly, rubbing his temples. "We're here?"

 

The driver respectfully replied, "Yes, Mr. Daniel."

 

Daniel opened the car door and prepared to get out, but suddenly turned to Anna. "I'll walk you in."

 

Anna quickly waved her hands, "No need! I'm already at the entrance, no trouble at all." She forced a smile, trying to mask her unease and self-doubt.

 

Under his gaze, Anna hurriedly jumped out of the car and dashed toward the hotel door, as if something terrifying were chasing her.

 

"She's just like a little squirrel," Daniel muttered to himself with a soft chuckle, shaking his head before telling the driver, "Let's go. Back to the hotel."

 

The driver nodded, and the car slowly pulled away.

 

During her time in Ning City, Anna's work was exceptionally busy. Although she didn't have many ore samples to test in the "Aurora" project, the tough work environment, the complexity of the team, and constant changes in project leadership dragged what should have been a one-month task into over a month.

 

Additionally, some team members frequently caused small disruptions—especially a colleague who was supposed to handle part of the ore analysis but had low efficiency due to personal reasons. Anna overheard complaints in the lab more than once: "It's nice having connections. If it weren't for that, she would've been fired ages ago."

 

Anna didn't participate in these conversations, focusing on her work instead. Yet, the atmosphere made her think deeply about just how important "connections" and "resources" were in this industry.

 

By early December, Anna's ore testing was finally complete, and the project wrapped up.

 

She packed up her personal items in the lab and planned to fly back to Beijing the next day.

 

However, on the eve of her departure, an unexpected event disrupted her plans.

 

That day, the project leader suddenly informed her that an issue had arisen with the testing results of one ore sample, potentially delaying the project's delivery. Upon receiving the news, Anna immediately rushed back to the lab to recheck the sample.

 

When she arrived, the colleague responsible for the sample was in a foul mood and had even broken a glass near the workstation, damaging part of the data. Anna was overwhelmed by the chaotic scene.

 

The colleague was arguing loudly with the rest of the team, ignoring their input completely. To prevent further delays, Anna quietly gathered the instruments and set about finishing the remaining work.

 

Fortunately, the accident didn't affect her part of the project, and the data was submitted on time. Still, by the time she had dealt with everything, Anna was utterly exhausted. She had skipped lunch in a rush and felt faint from hunger.

 

As evening fell, she dragged her tired body to a pharmacy outside the hotel to buy some essentials. Just as she was about to leave, a familiar voice called out to her.

"Band-aids."

 

The voice was unmistakable. Turning around, Anna was surprised to see Daniel standing behind her, dressed in a suit, his demeanor as composed as ever.

 

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her face full of surprise.

 

Daniel glanced at the burn ointment in her hand, then down at her wrist. "Did you hurt yourself?"

 

Anna quickly hid her hand behind her back and forced a smile, "It's nothing, just a minor injury."

 

She didn't want him to see her looking so worn out, nor did she want him to know about the challenges and setbacks she'd faced during the project. She knew that someone like Daniel, who had seen the ups and downs of the business world, wouldn't even blink at the issues she was facing.

 

Daniel didn't press the matter and simply nodded, seeming to accept her explanation.

 

She didn't want him to see her in this disheveled state, nor did she want him to know about the challenges and setbacks she had faced during the project. She understood that for someone like Daniel, who had witnessed the highs and lows of the business world, the issues she encountered were trivial at best.

 

Daniel didn't press further, nodding as if accepting her explanation.

 

He then suggested they go for dinner together.

 

Anna followed him to a nearby, modest countryside restaurant. It was located in a remote area, with simple decor—completely different from the luxurious places they had dined at before.

 

Surprisingly, the food was exceptionally delicious. Anna sat at the table and took a bite of the "Buddha Jumps Over the Wall" dish that was served, instantly feeling enveloped by the rich and savory aroma. She hadn't eaten all day, so she focused solely on devouring the food, barely speaking to Daniel.

 

It was only after the meal that she realized how quickly she had eaten. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she looked up at Daniel, who hadn't touched much of his food, and asked, "Why aren't you eating? Is it not good?"

 

Daniel glanced at her and half-jokingly said, "Watching you enjoy it is more entertaining than eating myself."

 

Anna paused, unsure if he was teasing her for her appetite. She quickly grabbed a napkin to wipe her mouth, laughing awkwardly. "Do I look like I'm eating too messily?"

 

Daniel gave a faint smile but didn't respond. Instead, his phone rang, and he stood up to take the call by the window. His voice remained calm and composed as he gazed out at the distant view. "Alright, come over. I'm in private room 1107."

 

Anna quietly continued nibbling on the last few asparagus spears on her plate, curiosity stirring within her. Who had he invited?

 

A few minutes later, there was a soft knock at the door. Daniel walked over to open it, revealing a man in his forties wearing a well-tailored suit, with a friendly smile. Standing beside him, dressed elegantly, was none other than Anna's colleague from the project.

 

Anna felt a wave of awkwardness. She hadn't expected to see her again, especially in this context. Her colleague hadn't been particularly professional during the project, and Anna was surprised to see her so close to such an influential figure.

 

She vaguely recognized the man as Li Honglang, chairman of the renowned Changhe Group—an industry giant.

 

Daniel casually introduced them, "This is Li Honglang, chairman of Changhe Group. And this is Anna, our company's mineral tester."

 

Anna nodded politely, feeling slightly uneasy. "Hello," she greeted them with a small smile.

 

In this setting, Anna felt particularly out of place. Her impression of this colleague hadn't been the best, but seeing her so closely linked to the chairman complicated her feelings about the situation.

 

Li Honglang quickly noticed Anna's presence and, out of courtesy, offered a few compliments. "You're quite beautiful," he said, before turning back to continue his conversation with Daniel.

 

Meanwhile, her colleague, Shu Ran, occasionally glanced at Anna, her expression conflicted. She had already harbored some animosity toward Anna during the project, and now, seeing her seated next to Daniel made her even more uncomfortable.

 

Although no words were exchanged between them, the atmosphere grew tense. Anna couldn't make sense of the conversation between Li Honglang and Daniel—it was far beyond her world. She quietly sipped her tea, waiting patiently for the evening to end.

 

As they were leaving, her colleague unexpectedly approached Anna and whispered, "Let's hang out sometime."

 

Anna was taken aback, confused by the sudden shift in attitude. In hindsight, she guessed that her colleague's sudden friendliness stemmed from seeing her with Daniel, mistakenly assuming she had some hidden connections or influence.

 

In this industry, relationships and resources were truly vital.

 

By the time Anna returned to Beijing, it was already mid-December.

 

At last, she received the final payment from the project. Clasping her hands together, she whispered to herself, "Thank goodness! Finally got paid. I can relax for the new year!"

 

Her friend, Yang Jue, walked out of the room, teasing, "One minute you're saying 'Amen,' the next minute you're saying 'Amitabha.' Are you trying to worship both Buddha and God?"

 

Anna, not backing down, retorted, "Who says I can't? Double protection, Buddha will definitely bless me!"

 

Yang Jue snickered, "Sure, if you say so."

 

Anna rolled her eyes, her mood light and happy as she tucked away the money. She finally felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders.