Chapter 22: Shallow Words, Deep Meaning

Yuan Yi thought it was just his ears playing tricks on him, but when he turned around and saw Yanxi interviewing the firefighters, he changed direction, heading toward her.

The people who had been sending Yuan Yi off were surprised by his sudden change in direction. Seeing him head toward the reporter, they wondered if he was going to chase her away. Since the branch manager had just been reprimanded, no one dared to speak up and simply followed Yuan Yi obediently.

Yanxi turned off her microphone, and when she turned around, she found Yuan Yi standing right behind her. Behind him, a group of company executives followed. She took a step back, holding her microphone, and said, "I'm interviewing the firefighters."

She hadn't said anything bad about your company.

"Can you think of something better in your head?" Yuan Yi turned to the executives behind him and said, "This is a friend of mine."

The executives, noticing that Yuan Yi seemed to want to speak with the reporter, discreetly dispersed to avoid interrupting their conversation. When a man approaches a woman to talk, there's always some underlying thought—they understood that.

Zhao Peng recognized Yuan Yi as the man who had helped Yanxi with her foot injury the other day. He was surprised to see the senior executives of the Changfeng branch showing such respect to him. Could he be from the head office?

As Zhao Peng pondered Yuan Yi's identity, Yanxi had already realized that he didn't mind her conducting the interview. She immediately smiled, trying to please him. "So, are you busy right now?"

"Hm?" Yuan Yi raised an eyebrow, looking at her coolly.

"If you're not busy, would you mind doing an interview?" Yanxi extended her left hand with fingers spread out. "Just five minutes, that's all."

Yuan Yi stared at her fair, delicate hand without saying anything.

"Yuan Yi, please help me out." Yanxi didn't want to focus the story entirely on the suicide attempt but knew that if she emphasized only the firefighters, the story might not pass editorial review. However, if she included a mention of the senior management from Changfeng, it would be guaranteed approval. She glanced back at the firefighters who were packing up their equipment and took a few steps closer to Yuan Yi. "I want to make a program about firefighters, but I'm worried the station won't approve. If you agree to the interview and praise them a little, I'm sure it will get approved."

"Just talk, don't come that close all of a sudden," Yuan Yi took a step back. Seeing a young firefighter, no older than 20, drenched in sweat, carrying an air mattress toward the car, with dust on his shoes, he raised his chin slightly. "Alright, I'll give you five minutes."

"Just make sure your praise is sincere, touching even," Yanxi smiled, still trying to please him. "Okay?"

Yuan Yi, who had never accepted invitations for interviews from national television talk shows, found himself reluctantly agreeing to praise the firefighters. However, when he praised them, he didn't use overly exaggerated or insincere words. To him, these firefighters were both lovable and respectable, and though he never said a single word of thanks, every sentence conveyed deep appreciation.

When the interview ended, Yanxi secretly checked the time. It had taken nearly 15 minutes, 10 minutes longer than planned. In that moment, she felt like she had struck a huge bargain and found Yuan Yi twice as likable as she had 15 minutes ago.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Yuan, for agreeing to the interview," Yanxi said, repeatedly expressing her gratitude. "You really helped me a lot this time."

"Saying thank you doesn't count," Yuan Yi glanced at the time. "It's almost dinner time."

Yanxi realized she had been blind earlier. Yuan Yi was just as unappealing as he was 15 minutes ago. "Mr. Yuan, there's a saying, 'When someone does you a favor, you don't expect repayment...'"

"What? Isn't that supposed to be, 'Repay a favor when it's given'?" Yuan Yi put his hands in his pockets. Seeing Yanxi stare at him with wide eyes, he almost reached for his chest, feeling a strange tingle—he thought there might be something crawling inside his shirt.

Yanxi took a deep breath and handed her microphone to Zhao Peng. "Zhao, you and the driver go back to the station. Just park my car in the station parking lot."

"Got it," Zhao Peng answered eagerly. Since Yanxi, in her twenties, was being asked out by a young, wealthy man, he, as her senior, couldn't drag his feet. "Go ahead, don't worry."

Yanxi could tell from his expression that he might have misunderstood something, and she helplessly said, "Don't think too much about it. We're just ordinary friends."

"I understand."

What couple doesn't start off as ordinary friends?

As they got closer, the ordinary became special. He understood it well.

Yanxi didn't want to explain further. She walked up to Yuan Yi. "Let's go."

By the time they reached the car, the driver had already opened the door for them. Just as Yuan Yi was about to sit down, he suddenly stopped, turned to Yanxi, and made a gesture for her to go first.

"Thank you." Yanxi didn't hesitate and sat down.

Yuan Yi cleared his throat, followed her into the car, and buckled his seatbelt after taking off his suit jacket.

For dinner, they opted for a quiet, traditional soup restaurant where the flavors weren't too heavy. After finishing their meal, Yanxi subtly told Yuan Yi, "Mr. Yuan, you mentioned treating me to dinner last time. How about this time..."

"This time, you treat me, next time I'll treat you. What's the problem?" Yuan Yi wiped his mouth and looked at her seriously. "I always keep my word."

What problem could there be?

Of course... there was no problem.

Yanxi, seeing Yuan Yi's calm expression, couldn't help but blurt out what she had been thinking, "What does keeping your word have to do with your principles?"

Yuan Yi answered, "Of course it does." He casually asked, "Have you ever met a man who didn't keep his word?"

Recalling her scumbag ex-boyfriend, Yanxi found the question a little painful. She instinctively replied, "A man like you, so serious about principles, have you ever had a girlfriend who didn't keep her word?"

Here we go, mutual harm!

"No," Yuan Yi replied expressionlessly, looking at the curious expression on Yan Xi's face. "Women are too troublesome, I've never had a girlfriend." Women always like to gossip, and if it were any other woman asking him this, he would have ignored her. But now it was Yan Xi asking him.

There is a saying, "One's mouth softens after eating," and Yuan Yi had never really experienced it until now. He felt that if he didn't answer her, he would feel uncomfortable inside. It seemed like he needed to settle this meal soon so he wouldn't feel so soft-spoken.

Yan Xi paused for a moment before laughing lightly. "Then you must be really cold and distant normally."

A man who doesn't know how to talk to women is simply untrained. Men who lack emotional intelligence are often spoiled, but with a little guidance, they can improve. Fortunately, this man didn't need her to guide him.

"I don't think you've had a boyfriend either," Yuan Yi responded, feeling like he was being mocked. This woman was two-faced. What man could stand being with her?

"Tch," Yan Xi lifted her chin. "A beauty like me, would I have no ex-boyfriend?"

"Having an ex-boyfriend doesn't mean you have a current one. You're single, and now you're even proud of it?" Yuan Yi felt even more uncomfortable, irritated, and unsure if his stomach was acting up.

"Yuan Yi, are you trying to make things difficult for me just because I'm treating you to a meal?" Yan Xi raised an eyebrow, finally losing her patience. She couldn't help but snap.

"Do you believe I'll shove a bowl of soup into your stomach and make you unable to speak?" Yuan Yi replied.

Yuan Yi fell silent. He had heard from his elder brother that some women, when they get angry, don't make much sense in what they say or do. For example, even if she tried to force him to drink the remaining soup, she wouldn't be able to, so her threat didn't faze him.

But for some reason, he felt guilty and short of breath, unable to say a word.

As they walked out of the restaurant, Yan Xi looked at Yuan Yi out of the corner of her eye, trying to make her tone sound less threatening. "Since you helped me, I feel I should tell you a little something. If you want to pursue someone, remember to speak less and act more. Don't argue with her for no reason. Even if you win, it's still your loss."

Yuan Yi remained silent for a long time before slowly replying, "There are still many women who want to marry me. I don't need to spend time on such matters."

"Oh, so you're quite proud, huh?" Yan Xi crossed her arms, "Then tell me, is it because of your looks, your figure, or your character that they like you?"

Yuan Yi: He wasn't a woman, how could he know?

But he didn't dare to say that out loud. It was strange; he had been lectured by a woman and couldn't retort. This meal was starting to feel off.

"Can't say?" Yan Xi nodded, satisfied with his silence. "Actually, you're a good person by nature, just with a few small flaws," she made a tiny gesture with her fingers, "Just a little bit."

A man who respects grassroots workers, doesn't fear rumors and rushes to the scene when an employee commits suicide, donates to orphanages, and follows traffic rules while driving, couldn't be that bad.

It's just that he has some annoying habits, a bit lacking in education.

Yuan Yi: Does he really have such a bad reputation?

"Well," Yan Xi felt she had said too much. Among ordinary friends, the most taboo thing is to speak too deeply. She and Yuan Yi probably weren't even friends, so these words went beyond their relationship. "What I just said was a joke, don't take it to heart. You're handsome, rich, from a prominent family, and kind-hearted. The number of people who like you could fill the entire city."

Yuan Yi looked at her giving him a flattering smile, his heart unmoved. He even felt like reaching out to pinch her seemingly soft face. He put his hands in his pockets, trying to appear magnanimous. "A lot of women like to nag. I won't take your words to heart. Get in the car, I'll take you home."

Yan Xi: ...

She felt like everything she had just said was in vain.

A few days later, when Yuan Yi returned home, he heard Aunt Li calling out to him excitedly, "Second Young Master, you were on 'The Things Around Us'!"

What was there to be proud of about being on such a low-viewership show?

Yuan Yi walked over to the sofa, and indeed, he saw himself on the screen. The show labeled him as a senior executive from Changfeng.

"Second Young Master, why didn't you change your shoes before coming in?" Aunt Li only then noticed that Yuan Yi was still wearing leather shoes and quickly brought over a pair of slippers.