34: Chapter 34 Banquet
It was 5:10 PM in the Planning Department of Company Name.
Qiao Yichen had just finished filing the last document when his phone rang.
The call was from an unknown number.
He hesitated for a moment before answering, "Hello?"
"Is this Mr. Qiao Yichen?" The voice on the other end was a middle-aged man, sounding very steady.
"I am. Who is this?"
"My surname is Wu." The other party paused, "Two days ago, Wednesday afternoon at the Creative Park, you helped a few female students. One of them was my daughter, Wu Mengyao."
Qiao Yichen was stunned. Not only did the person know about what happened the day before yesterday, but he had also tracked him down accurately.
"Hello, Mr. Wu. It was a small matter, something I should do."
"It was a small matter to you, but a big matter to our family." President Wu Guodong's voice was steady, "I must thank you for this favor. I have booked a small private room at Yueyan Mansion. I wonder if you are free tonight? Just the two of us, for a simple dinner."
Qiao Yichen glanced at the time in the bottom right corner of his computer screen, then looked at WeChat—in his chat window with Liu Yanran, the restaurant address she sent him that afternoon was still there.
"Mr. Wu, you are too kind. I really was just passing by... Besides, I happen to have something on tonight..."
"The seats are reserved, and the dishes have been prepared according to the tastes of young people like you." President Wu Guodong gently interrupted him, his tone carrying an unquestionable thoroughness, "I'll have the driver pick you up around 6:30 PM at your residential area entrance. Is that convenient? It's just a home-style meal, so I can express my gratitude. We'll meet at Yueyan Mansion exactly at 7:00 PM. What do you think?"
Having gone this far, refusing further would be seen as ungrateful.
He remained silent for two seconds, finally replying...
"...Alright, then I'll trouble you." He said, "Then 6:30 PM, at the entrance of Ruiyuan Residential Area. See you at 7:00 PM at Yueyan Mansion."
"Good, I'll be waiting."
Qiao Yichen hung up the phone, took a deep breath, and opened Liu Yanran's WeChat.
The conversation was still paused at the screenshot of the restaurant reservation he sent that afternoon and her reply, "Don't order too much, we can't finish it."
His fingers hovered over the screen, pausing for a few seconds, then he typed:
"Yanran, I'm very sorry. I just received an invitation to a private dinner that I must attend. It's the daughter of an old acquaintance of my father. I helped her with a small favor near the Creative Park a while ago, and when her elder found out, he insisted on thanking me in person, even sending a car directly to my residential area entrance. I can't refuse this social obligation, I'm truly sorry."
It took about a minute before a reply came.
"The elder's matter is more important."
A pause of a few seconds.
"Do you need me to help you prepare a gift?"
Qiao Yichen looked at the screen, feeling a slight warmth in his heart: not only was she not angry, but she was also proactively considering etiquette for him.
"No need, it's already arranged. I just feel... especially sorry to you."
"It's fine. Don't drink on an empty stomach tonight."
Qiao Yichen looked at the last sentence, and the corner of his mouth unconsciously curved up.
"Okay, I'll listen to you."
"Mm."
At 6:30 PM, a black Audi A6 stopped punctually at the entrance of the residential area where Qiao Yichen was renting.
Lao Si got out and opened the rear door.
"Mr. Qiao, Mr. Wu asked me to pick you up."
Qiao Yichen nodded and got in.
The car smoothly drove towards 'Yueyan Mansion'. Neither of them spoke during the ride; only soft music played on the car radio.
At exactly 7:00 PM, the car stopped at the restaurant entrance. A doorman came to open the door, and Lao Si led Qiao Yichen through the lobby towards the private room in the back.
The door to 'Lanting Pavilion' was open.
President Wu Guodong was already seated inside. He was wearing a dark blue Polo shirt, making him look younger than his actual age, but when he sat there, he naturally exuded an imposing aura.
Seeing Qiao Yichen enter, he stood up and extended his hand.
"Mr. Qiao, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Mr. Wu, you are too polite." Qiao Yichen shook his hand.
The handshake was firm but brief.
"Sit down." President Wu Guodong gestured, then said to Lao Si, "Tell the waiter to start serving the dishes."
The dishes arrived quickly. They were all exquisite local dishes—not extravagant, but clearly made with carefully selected ingredients. President Wu Guodong didn't order alcohol, only a pot of Longjing tea.
"My daughter told me everything when she got home." President Wu Guodong poured a cup of tea for Qiao Yichen, "If you hadn't stepped in to reason with those thugs, who knows what trouble would have occurred."
"Actually, I didn't do much, just reasoned with them a bit," Qiao Yichen said.
"To step out and reason with them at that moment was already not easy," President Wu Guodong looked at him, "Many people nowadays stand aside when things don't concern them."
Qiao Yichen didn't reply, just smiled.
For the next twenty minutes, the two chatted about mundane topics—Qiao Yichen's work, President Wu Guodong's business, and the changes in Hangzhou City over the past few years. President Wu Guodong asked few questions and answered concisely, but he could respond to every point. The atmosphere wasn't warm, but it wasn't cold either.
When they were about seventy percent full, President Wu Guodong put down his chopsticks and picked up a napkin to wipe the corner of his mouth.
He took out his wallet from his suit inner pocket and pulled out a business card.
The card was plain white, with no title, company, or address. It only had the name 'President Wu Guodong' handwritten on it, along with a mobile phone number.
He tapped the card with his finger and said casually, "I've been in Hangzhou City for decades and know people from all walks of life. If you run into any trouble in the future, or... if you want to inquire about something that's not easy to find out in the city, you can call this number."
He held the card between his index and middle fingers and gently placed it on the glass turntable, then turned towards Qiao Yichen.
"A small token of my appreciation, please accept it." President Wu Guodong's voice was low, as if handing over an ordinary object.
He raised his eyes, his gaze landing on Qiao Yichen's face, pausing for about two seconds.
"It might be useful to you in Hangzhou City in the future."
Qiao Yichen looked at the business card.
The pure white card stock looked exceptionally clean, and exceptionally conspicuous, under the warm yellow light of the private room.
He reached out, his fingertip touching the cool surface of the paper, and picked it up.
"Thank you, Mr. Wu," he said.
President Wu Guodong nodded and said no more.
The dinner meeting was essentially over at this point.
After sitting for another five minutes, President Wu Guodong stood up: "I have something else to attend to. Have Lao Si drive you back."
"No need to trouble him, I can take a taxi myself." Qiao Yichen also stood up.
"Let him drive you," President Wu Guodong's tone was natural, as if arranging something perfectly ordinary, "It's so late, safety first."
Qiao Yichen didn't refuse again.
Lao Si's car was waiting at the entrance. Qiao Yichen sat in the back seat, and the car slowly pulled away from Yueyan Mansion.
Outside the window, the city's neon lights were dazzling.
Qiao Yichen leaned against the car window, still clutching the business card in his hand. The edge of the paper felt somewhat stiff, pressing against his fingertip, leaving a strong presence.
He didn't quite understand the true purpose of President Wu Guodong's dinner tonight—if it was just thanks, the words had already been spoken; if there was another objective, it was never mentioned during the meal.
And this business card.
"A small token of my appreciation, please accept it... It might be useful to you in Hangzhou City in the future."
Qiao Yichen understood the implication in President Wu Guodong's words. This business card was the way he repaid the favor. Once given, he considered the debt settled in his mind.
But Qiao Yichen knew that some things, once accepted, might not be so easily settled.
His phone vibrated once.
He looked down; it was a message from Liu Yanran.
"Are you back yet?"
Qiao Yichen looked at the screen and replied almost instantly:
"I'm on my way back. How about you, did you eat tonight?"
"I just ate a little something."
The reply was fast, but the implication of 'just making do' in the words made Qiao Yichen's heart clench.
He didn't hesitate any longer and typed directly:
"Are you free tomorrow night? I know a newly opened French restaurant that has great reviews. I'd like to go with you."
The message was sent.
The top of the screen immediately displayed "The other party is typing..." This prompt flashed a few times, lasting for a few seconds.
Then, it disappeared.
Qiao Yichen stared at the silent chat box, and the faint hope that arose after sending the invitation slowly sank.
This time, he clearly felt it—it was different from the end of any previous conversation.
She was genuinely angry.
The car happened to exit the elevated road and turn a corner; the residential area where he rented was already appearing at the end of his sight.
The car stopped at the entrance of the complex.
"Mr. Qiao, we've arrived," Lao Si said.
"Thank you." Qiao Yichen opened the car door, then looked back at Lao Si, "Please also thank Mr. Wu on my behalf."
Lao Si nodded without speaking.
Qiao Yichen closed the door, turned around, and walked into the residential area.
The night breeze was slightly cool, blowing on his face, making him feel a bit more sober.
He touched the business card in his pocket, then thought of Liu Yanran's last, unanswered message.
He had envisioned a dimly lit restaurant, chatting softly with her by the window. But now, in his pocket was a business card with an unclear meaning, and on his phone was an unanswered message. This Friday was turning out quite differently from what he had anticipated.