C46 Four People's Dinner

In the end, Ren Chuchu begrudgingly paid Ye Tian compensation, leaving with a sour expression alongside Ye Ziyan.

Once Ye Tian confirmed the money was in her account, she looked up contentedly and caught Kawase Yuki's amused gaze from a few steps away.

During dinner, Ye Tian attempted to reimburse him for the camera, but he adamantly refused to take the money.

"Tian, you're being too formal. Even though we only met briefly back then and haven't seen each other for years, you're still an old friend to me. Without you, I wouldn't be where I am today. A camera is nothing; you don't need to be so formal about it."

Ye Tian felt her neck, still not accustomed to his familiar way of speaking, but she didn't know how to respond and simply chuckled it off.

"It's not as dramatic as you make it sound. It's just that the camera is really too valuable."

She tried to refuse again, but Kawase Yuki deftly changed the subject.

"Let's not dwell on that. When do the finals start? Feeling confident?"

Ye Tian, seeing his nonchalant expression, dropped the subject, silently marveling at the lavishness of the wealthy.

She wondered when she might reach such a level of financial freedom, where her grandfather's medical and surgical bills would no longer be a concern.

...

The following day, after wrapping up a cover shoot, her workday came to an end.

She had been running nonstop lately, taking several days off from the bar. She decided to wait until things settled down before returning.

Ye Tian was planning to grab a quick bite outside when she stepped out of the company and saw Lu Jingyue's car glide up to her.

"Director Lu?" she exclaimed, surprised to see him roll down the window.

With a crisp smile, Lu Jingyue's attractive face appeared as he tilted his head slightly and invited, "Come on, get in."

Ye Tian instinctively wanted to decline, but Lu Jingyue had already leaned over to open the door for her. After a hesitant glance at a colleague exiting the company, she swallowed her reservations and climbed into the car.

She had assumed Lu Jingyue would be driving her home, but halfway through the ride, she realized they weren't heading toward Jinghao Apartment.

"Director Lu, what's this all about?" Lu Jingyue smiled, his hands firmly on the steering wheel as he glanced at her with a slight tilt of his head. "You've advanced to the semifinals of the People's Photographer Competition. That's certainly cause for celebration."

Ye Tian was taken aback and inquired with a hint of confusion, "Director Lu, how did you find out?"

"You registered under New World, so naturally, I'd be in the know. If you win, it'll reflect well on New World. This competition may not be the most prestigious, but the awards carry significant value. Give it your all and aim to bring home a prize."

"Oh!" Realization dawned on Ye Tian, and she smiled, "I'll give it my best shot."

Lu Jingyue took her to the Ann City Club, and Ye Tian felt somewhat sheepish, as she had been treated to meals quite often these past few days.

"Director Lu, this is overly generous of you, especially since it's only the semifinals..."

Lu Jingyue cut her off with a chuckle, "It's not solely about the competition. You're the photographer I personally recruited. I believe in your talent and hope you'll be an asset to New World. Since we're collaborators, naturally, I should be persuading you with a few more incentives."

Ye Tian relaxed significantly after his reassurance, the art of conversation being one of Lu Jingyue's well-honed skills.

"Director Lu, elevating an employee to your level is quite impressive," she remarked, giving him a thumbs-up and eliciting a cheerful laugh from him.

This exchange caught the attention of Gu Qinian, whose pupils narrowed at the sight.

"Director Gu, welcome back. It's been a while. Which private room would you prefer?" The lobby manager approached him with eager attentiveness.

Gu Qinian, however, paid him no mind, his gaze fixed on the pair as they stepped into the elevator bound for the top-floor restaurant, a shadow of concern crossing his brow.

The image lingered in his mind, inexplicably stirring a sense of discomfort. Shifting his focus, he dialed Han Cheng's number.

"Notify Director Liu that I have an unexpected commitment this evening and won't be able to make it to the banquet," he instructed, then promptly ended the call and headed for the elevator.

...

Ye Tian and Lu Jingyue were settling into their seats, engaged in light-hearted conversation, when they noticed a striking figure approaching.

Gu Qinian? What brought him here?

Caught off guard, Ye Tian watched as Gu Qinian approached, his tall stature accentuated by a sharp black suit, broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist, his handsome features impossible to ignore.

The aura surrounding him was somewhat somber, subtly lowering the air pressure around him.

"Director Gu, what a coincidence."

Lu Jingyue rose to his feet, offering a surprised smile as he extended his hand for a handshake.

In contrast to his warmth, Gu Qinian's demeanor was rather aloof, though his voice remained steady, "Director Lu, indeed it's quite the coincidence to encounter you here, but..."

He trailed off, his gaze shifting to Ye Tian, his lips curling into a sneer.

"However, Director Lu, your taste seems to be increasingly intriguing."

The sarcasm in his words was palpable. Ye Tian couldn't resist rolling her eyes. This was essentially a veiled insult about her not measuring up.

Tsk, this man's mouth is incapable of anything but insults.

She wondered who had set him off, coming at her with such passive-aggressive comments.

Pursing her lips, she then stood up, offering Lu Jingyue a smile, "Since you and Director Gu have serendipitously met, I'll leave you to it. I should head back."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qinian's expression turned sour.

She could laugh and converse with Lu Jingyue when he wasn't around, but now that he had just arrived, she was ready to leave?

A surge of discomfort welled up inside him, leaving him feeling distinctly uneasy.

Just then, another voice chimed in.

"Qinian? Is that really you?"

With his back to the newcomer, Gu Qinian's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Ye Tian glanced past him to see Ye Ziyan approaching, a twinge of annoyance striking her.

Hiss, great, the gang's all here again!

Ten minutes later, the table for two had transformed into a seating arrangement for four.

Gu Qinian and Ye Ziyan sat on one side, with Lu Jingyue and Ye Tian on the other.

The atmosphere was peculiar and charged with tension.

It was so awkward that the waiter swallowed nervously before serving the meal, his hands trembling as he set down the dishes.

Goodness, what a bizarre gathering. Four attractive individuals, yet together they created such a disconcerting scene.

At the table, Lu Jingyue was the first to lift his chopsticks, breaking the overly static silence.

"It's rare for us to get together, so let's not waste any time. We can eat and talk at the same time."

Ye Tian, who was already famished, ignored the two people sitting across from her upon hearing this. She picked up her chopsticks and began to eat without any regard for them.

Gu Qinian's gaze grew heavier, clearly displeased with her behavior. His words came out laced with a biting edge.

"Director Lu, your 'not easy' seems to come quite easily. We just saw each other at the bar last time, and before that, it wasn't long ago that we met at the breakfast spot. I was unaware that Director Lu had such a persistent annoyance tagging along, visible wherever we go."

His remarks were far from polite. Ye Tian's grip on her chopsticks tightened, and without lifting her eyelids, she fixed a direct stare on him.