Chapter 17: Let's Talk Reason

After the follow-up segment on Xiaosong being sent to the welfare home aired, the Beijing TV station received a lot of praise calls from the audience, including some letters from older viewers. In an age where phone calls and emails are common, these letters felt as rare as a phoenix among chickens. The production team handled the letters carefully, almost like they were holding a precious egg.

"Ten years ago, we used to get a lot of letters," Director Jin said, looking at the letters with nostalgia. "But fewer and fewer people write letters these days."

Yan Xi opened one of the letters. The paper was the traditional horizontal type, with no patterns or scents, but the writer had clearly put a lot of effort into it. The handwriting was bold and steady, the language mature and serious, indicating that the viewer had been watching their show for several episodes.

At the end of the letter, the elderly viewer, who was over 70 years old, wrote some blessings. Although Yan Xi didn't know what the elderly person looked like, she could feel the deep hope the viewer had for the show.

After reading the letter, she carefully folded the paper back into the envelope and took a picture of it with her phone. She accepted and remembered the elderly person's heartfelt blessing.

During her lunch break, Yan Xi took out some paper and a pen and wrote a reply letter. A colleague came over and jokingly said, "Handwriting is a lot of work. Why not just type it out on a computer?"

"It's fine, I'm just bored," Yan Xi smiled at her colleague and continued writing.

Her handwriting may not have been as neat as the elderly person's, but she thought that perhaps the elderly person would appreciate a handwritten letter.

"Are you off tomorrow? Got any plans?" Chen Pei came over just as Yan Xi finished writing the letter. She looked up and said, "I might be taking someone out to dinner tomorrow."

"In that case, it's no use," Chen Pei leaned in and whispered in her ear, "A sponsor is holding an event at the mall and invited us to join. Everything will be sold to us at cost price. If you don't go, I'll give your spot to someone else."

"How unfortunate," Yan Xi said with a regretful expression. "Wasn't Xiao Yang talking about buying some household items? Maybe you could take her."

"Sure," Chen Pei smiled, not asking who Yan Xi was meeting for dinner. She went to Xiao Yang and told her the news, specifically mentioning that Yan Xi had given her spot to her, prompting Xiao Yang to thank her repeatedly.

Yan Xi knew that Chen Pei was trying to win her over. She smiled and said, "It's all thanks to you, Chen Jie, for having the connections. Otherwise, the mall owner wouldn't even know who I am."

After some mutual flattery, the topic passed. Yan Xi opened WeChat, tapped on the chat, and sent a message to the other person.

In the meeting room, Yuan Yi sat expressionless, listening to two department managers argue. He pretended not to notice their disagreement, "You two can work this out, but I want a conclusion in a week."

Everyone knew Yuan Yi's personality. Seeing that he had spoken, they swallowed their words.

Yuan Yi raised his eyebrows and looked at the group, "Anything else? If not, the meeting is dismissed."

Everyone looked at each other, and finally, one person spoke up, "Boss, about the new city development project..."

"I'm not optimistic about that project," Yuan Yi tapped his finger on the desk, his attitude somewhat rebellious. However, no one dared to speak further. They all quietly listened. Though Yuan Yi didn't appear to be a typical businessman, his investment eye was sharp, and everyone had grown used to his style.

After the meeting, Yuan Yi didn't get up but opened his phone. He had resisted checking it during the meeting, despite hearing the WeChat notification about half an hour ago.

The woman had finally confirmed the time and place for dinner. He had thought she might have forgotten.

Since he had already agreed to it, Yuan Yi wasn't going to refuse, but he didn't want to seem too eager. He typed a few words, deleted them, and finally just sent an "Hmm."

That word, he thought, would convey that he was reluctantly agreeing out of courtesy, right?

However, Yan Xi was straightforward. Seeing that he had agreed to her plan, she tossed her phone aside, not thinking too much about the meaning behind his one-word response. It wasn't like she was solving a comprehension question in a literature exam.

Finally on her day off, Yan Xi returned home, changed out of her well-fitted skirt into a loose, comfortable cotton nightdress, and slipped on some soft slippers before diving into her game world to slay monsters.

Halfway through, her phone rang. She put it on speaker and continued to play.

"Dahe," Tao Ru's voice came through the phone, "Ah! I saw you on TV!"

Yan Xi checked the time—it was currently the broadcast time for "Things Around Us." "How was I? Did I look good on camera?"

"Yan Dahu, you little rascal, when did you start working at the TV station? You didn't even tell us!" Tao Ru said, "But I have to admit, you look good on screen. You have this innocent, cute vibe that makes people want to protect you."

"Innocent and cute? Have you seen how bad the netizens are trashing that label now? Are you complimenting me or mocking me?" Yan Xi laughed. "I told you last time I started working at the TV station. What's strange about seeing me on TV?"

After some playful banter, Tao Ru suddenly said, "I always end up talking nonsense with you. I actually called to tell you something."

"What's up?" Yan Xi quit the game, took a sip of juice from the table.

"Wei Xiaoman and Chen Mingtong broke up," Tao Ru said with some disdain, "I knew it. Those two little b****s were never going to end well."

When they were all living in the same dorm, they had a good relationship, and no one had expected that during the time when Yan Xi's mother was sick, Wei Xiaoman would get involved with Chen Mingtong.

"One hand can't clap," Yan Xi said, no longer concerned about them. "Chen Mingtong wasn't interested, and Wei Xiaoman couldn't make things happen. I've forgotten about them long ago."

"Did you call just to tell me this?" Yan Xi asked, surprised.

"I heard from an old classmate that Wei Xiaoman came to the capital," Tao Ru coughed lightly, and her voice gradually lowered. When Aunt Yan passed away, Dahe became very thin from the grief. After handling her mother's funeral, she returned to school, and then this happened. How upset must Dahe have been at that time?

"So what if she came? What does it have to do with me?" Yan Xi's tone was faint. "Don't worry, even if I do happen to run into her, I'll just roll my eyes at her. There's no way we'll get into a fight."

"Who said anything about you fighting her?" Tao Ru was left speechless. How did this turn into a fight?

After ending the call with Tao Ru, Yan Xi lay down on her bed and opened Weibo to scroll.

As for those petty things from the past, she had long since let them go. Life isn't always smooth, and sometimes one has bad luck and encounters a few bad people. You use up your bad luck, and good luck should come afterward.

She just didn't know where her future boyfriend was hiding, he still hadn't come to find her.

For a meeting with a girl, would a white shirt paired with black suit pants be too formal?

Yuan Yi stood in front of the wardrobe, his gaze scanning the rows of high-end tailored suits, like a king inspecting his domain.

"Second brother," Yuan Bo knocked on the door and entered, "Come with me today. An old friend invited us for a visit."

"I'm not going," Yuan Yi took off his white shirt, "I have an appointment."

That woman wasn't anyone special to him. Why would he care what she thought of his clothes? A white shirt with black suit pants was a perfect, fail-safe combination.

"Who do you have an appointment with?" Yuan Bo sat down on a single sofa. "This old friend wants to introduce you to a girl, and I heard she's also a high school alum of yours."

Yuan Yi didn't respond, continuing to change clothes without saying a word.

"If it's not an important meeting, you should cancel it," Yuan Bo said in a neutral tone. "You're not getting any younger."

"Men should establish their careers first, then settle down. I'm not in a hurry," Yuan Yi tied his tie, his tone cold. "Besides, if you're not in a hurry, why should I be?"

"I have a girlfriend, you don't," Yuan Bo said, unaffected by the challenge. "If you don't want to meet, then forget it. But once Mom and Dad return, I'm afraid Mom will pressure you."

"They're too in love with each other to have time to care about me," Yuan Yi said, his voice indifferent as he adjusted his collar. "I'm past the age where they need to worry about me."

Seeing his brother like this, Yuan Bo fell silent.

At 11:40, Yan Xi arrived at the agreed location and was surprised to find Yuan Yi had already arrived.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," she said as she sat across from him. She handed him the menu, but Yuan Yi just stared at it without taking it.

"Ladies first."

Yan Xi froze for a moment, then smiled and took the menu back, ordering two dishes.

After ordering, they sat facing each other, and silence filled the air. Yan Xi noticed that Yuan Yi wasn't starting any conversation, and she felt like if the silence continued, she might end up with a stomach ache from the awkwardness. "Mr. Yuan, the welfare institute sent me a report on their charitable donations recently, and they wanted me to thank you on behalf of all the children there. Would you like to take a look at the report?"

"No need," Yuan Yi shook his head. "You came today just to talk to me about this?"

So, she was inviting him out for dinner because of the welfare institute. It seemed like this woman had completely forgotten what she had said the other day when they exchanged WeChat IDs.

"Huh?" Yan Xi inexplicably felt like Yuan Yi's face was giving off a message that read "I'm not happy," even though his expression hadn't changed much. Where did this feeling come from?

She thought for a moment and then said, "Last time, you kindly drove me home, and I didn't thank you properly. I really wanted to treat you to a meal, but I was afraid you were busy with work and didn't want to bother you..."

In truth, she just didn't want him to think she was shamelessly trying to cling to him, after all... she was a rare and independent little flower.

"Oh," Yuan Yi lowered his eyes, "I'm not busy on holidays."

"Haha, really? That's great." Yan Xi smiled politely.

Yuan Yi raised his head to look at her. "In the future, if you invite me for a meal, it can be on a holiday."

Yan Xi smiled and nodded, but then realized something was wrong.

Let's be realistic—why would she keep inviting him for meals in the future?

4o mini