39: Chapter 40 A Play Between Two Women

"Competition?" Yin Tianxue's voice was cold and clear, like the sound of jade striking jade. "President Shen must be joking. Feelings aren't a business."

A few seconds later, Shen Nian suddenly laughed. Her smile became even more bright and radiant, as if the "provocation" just now really was just a harmless joke. She raised her wine glass. "Don't misunderstand, Miss Yin, I was just joking."

"But in all seriousness, Miss Yin, I really admire you." Shen Nian lightly tapped the tabletop with her fingertip. "For someone as young and beautiful as you, with a successful career, to be able to hold onto someone like Chairman Yu so firmly, it must not be easy, right?"

Yin Tianxue looked up at her but didn't respond, waiting for her to continue.

Shen Nian smiled, her eyes filled with a bit of complex scrutiny. She lowered her voice slightly, as if sharing a "secret" that only women could understand. "I mean, a man like Chairman Yu—young, handsome, capable, and ambitious—now has the platform of 'Listening to the Waves.' His future is limitless. Such a man is like a top-tier cake emitting an enticing aroma. Sitting there, who knows how many... bees, butterflies, or even hungry wolves he will attract."

She paused, observing Yin Tianxue's expression. Seeing that she remained calm, she continued in a tone mixed with envy and a hint of disapproval. "I'm not questioning your relationship, Miss Yin. I just feel that in this circle, there are too many temptations. Today, it might be me recklessly making a joke, but what about tomorrow? Or the day after? Those younger, more passionate, more... desperate girls won't have 'self-awareness' like me. They won't care if Chairman Yu has a girlfriend or if he's about to get married. They only see the halo around him and the benefits he can bring."

Shen Nian picked up her wine glass and took another small sip. Her gaze became somewhat distant, as if she were immersed in her own thoughts. "Men, especially successful ones, are sometimes like kites. You hold the string in your hand, but when the wind gets strong, there's no guarantee it won't wobble, or even... snap. Don't you agree, Miss Yin? To firmly grasp such a man, being beautiful and capable might not be enough. You also need enough wisdom, tactics, and even... a bit of luck. Are you really prepared to deal with the various 'challenges' that might arise in the future?"

Yin Tianxue listened quietly. Her face showed no expression, but her mind was as clear as ice and snow. Shen Nian's level was indeed more than one step higher than Su Man's.

"Thank you for the 'reminder,' President Shen." Yin Tianxue finally spoke, her voice still steady, betraying no emotion. "However, a relationship is between two people, and trust is the foundation. If even this basic trust is lacking, then there's no need for the relationship to continue. I believe in Yu Bo, and I believe in myself. As for the 'bees and butterflies' or 'hungry wolves' outside..."

She paused and looked up at Shen Nian, her gaze clear and sharp, carrying an indisputable confidence and a faint hint of disdain. "If one can't even guard the flowers in their own garden, they can only blame their own lack of ability. Don't you think so, President Shen?"

She threw the question back, her tone flat but carrying the powerful aura of an absolute controller. She didn't deny the existence of "temptation," but she expressed absolute confidence in herself and Yu Bo, as well as absolute confidence in her ability to "guard" what was hers. The subtext was: I'm not afraid of challenges, and I have the ability to handle any challenge. As for whether you, Shen Nian, are one of those "bees and butterflies," figure it out yourself.

Shen Nian was choked up by these words, and the smile on her face stiffened for a moment. But it was only for an instant before she returned to normal. Her smile even deepened slightly, and a flicker of interest at having met a worthy opponent flashed in her eyes.

"Miss Yin is indeed impressive—confident and insightful." Shen Nian clapped lightly, her tone full of admiration. Then, her tone shifted again, carrying a sigh as if she were someone who had seen through the ways of the world. "But, Miss Yin, sometimes in matters of the heart, having confidence and ability might not make everything foolproof. The human heart is the most complex and fickle thing."

She leaned forward slightly, her elbows resting on the table and her hands crossed under her chin. Her gaze fell on Yin Tianxue's face, carrying a strange scrutiny that mixed sympathy with playfulness.

"Let's use food as an analogy." Shen Nian's voice was soft, with a persuasive quality. "No matter how delicious the delicacies or how perfectly a dish suits your palate, if you eat it every day, for every meal, over time, even the most loyal taste buds will inevitably get... tired. They'll crave a bit of different stimulation, right?"

She observed Yin Tianxue's expression. Seeing that she remained calm, she continued unhurriedly. "Men are essentially sensory animals. You, Miss Yin, are naturally a top-tier delicacy that leaves one wanting more. But as the days go by, no matter how stunning the flavor, it can become a habit, something taken for granted. At that time, if something different suddenly appears nearby... hmm, for example, plain congee and side dishes? Or perhaps a bit of wild mountain flavor? Even if it's not as refined or precious as you, that sense of freshness and different experience is enough to make many... waver and want to have a taste."

She paused, her tone becoming even more meaningful. "After all, fish tastes like fish, meat tastes like meat, and green vegetables and radishes have their own refreshing taste. Different flavors satisfy different appetites and correspond to... a man's different needs and desires in different states of mind. Miss Yin, wouldn't you say that's how it is?"

Yin Tianxue's heart felt as if it had been pricked by an extremely fine ice needle, giving rise to a slight but clear chill. Shen Nian's words accurately struck the deepest fears in the hearts of many women in long-term relationships—will looks fade, will passion wither, and can even the deepest love withstand the wear of time and the greed of human nature?

But she didn't let this chill show on her face. She just looked at Shen Nian quietly, her gaze as calm as a deep pool. After a few seconds, she finally spoke slowly. Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear and firm:

"President Shen's analogy is very interesting." Yin Tianxue picked up the water glass in front of her and took a small sip, as if she were truly savoring something. "However, President Shen seems to have overlooked one point."

"Oh? Which point?" Shen Nian raised an eyebrow.

"People who truly know how to taste and truly love fine food are not easily misled by the mundane smoke of a roadside stall or the novelty of wild game." Yin Tianxue put down her glass and met Shen Nian's searching eyes with a calm gaze. "What they seek is the ultimate taste experience, the perfect combination of the essence of ingredients and the art of cooking—a rich, enduring flavor that can withstand the test of time. What they enjoy is not just the satisfaction of an appetite, but the accumulation of culture and taste."

She leaned forward slightly, her tone carrying an indisputable certainty: "As for men who would be easily lured away by 'plain congee' or 'wild mountain flavors' and give up a meticulously prepared feast... President Shen, do you think such a man is worth my effort to 'guard' or 'hold onto'?"

Just then, the door to the private room was pushed open, and Yu Bo walked in.

He walked over and sat down beside Yin Tianxue, naturally putting his arm around her shoulders. "What are you talking about?" Yu Bo asked with a smile, then conveniently poured some hot tea for Yin Tianxue.

Shen Nian quickly adjusted her expression, a proper smile returning to her face, as if the undercurrent of confrontation with Yin Tianxue just now was merely an illusion. She picked up her wine glass and swirled it gently, her eyes sparkling with a lazy casualness. "Nothing much, just a casual chat with Miss Yin. We were saying how strange people's appetites are. No matter how good something is, eating it every day gets tiring. One always has to change flavors and try some green vegetables or radishes for a bit of freshness. Don't you agree, Chairman Yu?"