Chapter 87

"The... the elevator is broken?" Zhao Feifei's face instantly turned pale. She suffered from claustrophobia—a fact no one knew. The scene in an elevator that had once earned her praise for brilliant acting was actually just her being herself.

"Feifei?" Her assistant quickly supported her, gently patting her back.

Yan Xi hadn't expected such a strong reaction from Zhao Feifei. She pointed at the control panel. "Don't worry, we just forgot to press the floor button."

Zhao Feifei: "..."

"So... so that's it." Zhao Feifei forced an embarrassed smile. "I'm a bit timid."

"Which floor are you headed to, Ms. Zhao?" Yan Xi pressed her own floor number and turned to see that Zhao Feifei's complexion seemed to have improved.

"Same as you," Zhao Feifei quickly regained her composure. She even took advantage of the time before reaching the floor to take a photo with her fan. The male fan was so thrilled that his legs felt like jelly as he walked out of the elevator.

Once the male staff member left, the elevator was left with Zhao Feifei, her two assistants, Yan Xi, and Yuan Yi. Because Zhao Feifei had previously used Yuan Yi for a scandal, nearly getting herself blacklisted, her team couldn't help but feel on edge in his presence.

"Mr. Yuan," Zhao Feifei finally mustered the courage to speak. "I was immature back then, using you for publicity and causing misunderstandings between you and Ms. Yan. I sincerely apologize."

Having risen from an unknown extra to an award-winning actress, Zhao Feifei was not only talented but also perceptive. She knew how to adapt and when to bow her head.

Yuan Yi turned to look at her, squinting as if deep in thought. "You're that... Zhao Yuyu, right?"

Zhao Feifei: "..."

So she had been agonizing over this for so long, only to find out that Mr. Yuan hadn't even recognized her?

Zhao Yuyu? Her name was Zhao Feifei, thank you very much!

Feeling wronged, Zhao Feifei suppressed her irritation. Facing Yuan Yi's intimidating aura, she dared not speak her mind. She could only weakly reply, "Yes, Mr. Yuan."

Fine, Yuyu it is. Better than being called Xuexue, at least.

Yuan Yi didn't dwell on the matter. What was past was past. As a man with a girlfriend, it wasn't worth making a fuss over trivial matters with another woman. Otherwise, who knew what kind of wild drama the public would concoct.

Clearly understanding his priorities, Yuan Yi bent down to adjust Yan Xi's coat, which had started to slip off her shoulders, without saying another word.

The atmosphere grew awkward again.

The elevator fell silent. Zhao Feifei, dressed in an evening gown with only a shawl over it, looked stunning but not warm. After a moment, she spoke in a trembling voice, "The... the elevator really seems to have stopped?"

Yan Xi noticed that the display was stuck at the 9th floor. She pressed the open button, but nothing happened.

"There might be a small malfunction. There are cameras in the elevator, so security will handle it soon." Yan Xi pressed the alarm button before turning to Yuan Yi with a grin. "How about I tell you a ghost story about elevators?"

Yuan Yi pulled her into his arms, exasperated. "What exactly is in that head of yours?"

"Boundless wisdom, of course," Yan Xi replied, leaning into him, feeling warm and cozy. "This story is interesting, let me tell you."

"There was a girl who worked very hard and often stayed late at the office. Luckily, there was another girl who liked night jogging and always took the same elevator home. One day, the first girl left work early and met a broodingly handsome man in the elevator. They exchanged a few words, and the girl learned that he had just visited his late wife's parents. The man said the girl reminded him of his wife, both having long hair and big eyes. He even showed her a photo of his wife, and she realized... his late wife looked exactly like the jogging girl she always met in the elevator."

"Clack, clack, clack..."

Hearing the sound of chattering teeth, Yan Xi turned around and saw Zhao Feifei trembling all over, clinging to her assistant for support.

"Ms. Zhao, are you okay?" Yan Xi asked worriedly, seeing Zhao Feifei's pale face. Concerned that she might faint, Yan Xi took off her coat and handed it to Zhao Feifei's assistant. "Here, let her wear this for now."

"But what about you?" The assistant hesitated, wanting to help Zhao Feifei but also worried about Yan Xi, who wasn't wearing much either.

"It's fine. I have my personal heater right here." Yan Xi opened Yuan Yi's coat and snuggled inside. Yuan Yi wanted to scold her for meddling, but seeing her nestled obediently in his arms, he could only sigh and wrap his coat tightly around her.

Normally, public displays of affection like this would make people nauseous. But today, Zhao Feifei's two assistants found Yan Xi's actions utterly endearing. Even Yuan Yi's intimidating expression couldn't deter them from pretending they hadn't seen anything.

The coat, still warm from Yan Xi, helped Zhao Feifei regain a bit of composure. She looked down at the coat wrapped around her and then at the pair in front of her, who looked like conjoined twins. For the first time, she thought that maybe being in love wasn't so bad after all.

"Zhao Jie, are you still cold?" the assistant asked, regretting leaving the coat in the car earlier.

"I'm fine," Zhao Feifei shook her head, lowering it as she fell silent.

The elevator grew quiet, the atmosphere heavy.

"Are you cold?" Yuan Yi asked, holding Yan Xi's soft waist. He realized that moments like this were the only times when Yan Xi acted like the delicate and dependent type.

"No," Yan Xi replied, enjoying Yuan Yi's expression of "impatient but putting up with it for you." He seemed especially adorable at moments like this. "Don't you think we look like the leads of an adventure film right now? Supporting each other through adversity?"

"Yan Xiaoxi."

"Yes?"

"If you keep filling your head with such nonsense, I'll throw you out."

"You're so unkind to me." Yan Xi pouted. "What's wrong with adventure films?"

"Everything." In Yuan Yi's opinion, most adventure films ended with either the male lead or the female lead dying. If not, someone always had to die until only one was left standing—apparently, that's the only way such movies could seem artistic.

"Can't you imagine something warmer?"

"Like a good father taking care of his obedient daughter?"

Yuan Yi decided he should stop talking to Yan Xi. He wasn't generous enough for this.

The TV station's security arrived quickly. Although Zhao Feifei felt like they had been trapped in the elevator forever, in reality, it had taken less than ten minutes for them to get out.

The security personnel handling the emergency secretly sighed in relief. The elevator malfunction couldn't have come at a worse time—it had trapped several VIPs all at once. Fortunately, Mr. Yuan was currently dating the station's host; otherwise, this might have complicated future collaborations.

The incident even alarmed the safety department manager, who rushed over to apologize. Initially, he thought Zhao Feifei might complain even if Yan Xi and Yuan Yi didn't. Surprisingly, Zhao Feifei remained silent, and her assistant was so polite that it made them wonder if the day held some special significance.

A staff member arrived to escort Zhao Feifei to a lounge. Taking off her coat, Zhao Feifei walked over to Yan Xi and said, "Yan Xi, thank you."

"You're welcome," Yan Xi replied, taking the coat and draping it over her shoulders. "Next time you go out, make sure your assistant brings a coat."

"Got it." Zhao Feifei smiled, taking out her phone. "Could we exchange contact information?"

She quickly added, "Don't worry, I won't use our friendship for publicity."

"You should be worried about me using you for publicity," Yan Xi joked, pulling out her phone and exchanging numbers with Zhao Feifei. Satisfied, Zhao Feifei finally left, though she never dared to look directly at Yuan Yi.

In her eyes, Yuan Yi might as well have been a ferocious beast.

"Mr. Yuan, Ms. Yan, please follow me," said a staff member, guiding the two to the banquet hall. The venue was lively and bustling with guests.

"Xiaoxi!" A woman emerged from the crowd. She wore an off-shoulder mermaid gown, and despite being nearly forty, her elegance and charm overshadowed many of the younger, more vibrant women present.

"Sister Shen, you've reached a new level of beauty again," Yan Xi said, holding Yuan Yi's arm. "I don't think I need to introduce the person next to me."

"President Yuan is renowned—who wouldn't recognize him?" Shen Xingyan said with a smile. "I might not know everyone, but I certainly know President Yuan."

"You flatter me, Ms. Shen. Xiaoxi often talks about how much you've looked after her," Yuan Yi said, shaking her hand. "I truly appreciate your kindness."

"I really like both Xiaoxi's abilities and personality. Since the station asked me to mentor new talent, of course, I'll focus on nurturing the one I like the most," Shen Xingyan said, raising her wine glass toward Yuan Yi. "President Yuan, you're being far too polite."

Listening to their polite exchange, Yan Xi had a hunch that this wasn't their first meeting. However, it was clear that Yuan Yi didn't want her to know.

"President Yuan is a good man," Shen Xingyan said after their conversation ended. She wrapped an arm around Yan Xi's waist, jokingly adding, "If you meet such a good man, just marry him already. A slim waist, long legs, gentle and considerate—good men like this are becoming harder and harder to find these days. Once you find one, don't let him go."

"He's usually so fierce—who said he's gentle or considerate?" Yan Xi laughed. "Sister Shen, I didn't expect you to join the ranks of the stereotypical matchmakers."

"I don't believe that for a second. Back when rumors were flying around about President Yuan being removed from the Changfeng executive team because of you, he didn't hesitate to step in to make sure your colleagues at the station wouldn't give you a hard time. He..." Shen Xingyan suddenly paused mid-sentence, looking at Yuan Yi with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry, that was careless of me to bring up."