LIGHTNOVELONLINE
Chapter 65
Qin Wei held onto the staircase railing with a posture that said, "You're not leaving until you explain clearly." Li Yao had no choice but to compromise and confess to her:
"It's Xu Mingchuan."
Sometimes Qin Wei felt that she shouldn't have asked. As someone who should have stayed out of it, some questions were futile.
"Who is Xu Mingchuan?"
Just as expected!
Li Yao was already used to it. Qin Wei had forgotten not just one or two people, but one more Xu Mingchuan wouldn't make a difference. But it was a pity for Mr. Xu, who had devoted his deep affections to her, only to be forgotten completely.
"He's a college classmate and now a business partner. I dared to invite you on these two occasions because I relied on Mr. Xu."
Li Yao explained, thinking to himself that this wasn't really deceiving her, although he did withhold some information.
Like the fact that he had confessed his feelings to her and was harshly rejected, and that he was still her lapdog, always thinking of her well-being.
If she couldn't remember, then so be it. It would hurt Mr. Xu too much if more was said.
Qin Wei tilted her head and looked at him.
"Oh, so you just had to say that. I thought it was some extraordinary relationship... You scared me, my blood pressure went up..."
Li Yao brushed it off.
"It's because you're always talking about leaving the circle. You definitely wouldn't want to go meet the business partner with me. It's about discussing projects."
Qin Wei smiled and went upstairs, saying:
"I see. So, rounding it up, I can consider myself your boss, right? As for the project, we'll talk about it later. But I still have to thank you. What do you think I should wear today?"
"Whatever you want!"
Li Yao regretted what he said because the first thing that came to mind was the pile of inexplicable clothes she bought online before going to Europe. None of them cost more than two hundred, and they were all strange brands he had never heard of.
The T-shirt with a duck pattern was especially memorable.
Li Yao sighed. If she wore that to meet Mr. Xu, he probably wouldn't have any lingering feelings for his first love anymore...
Half an hour later, Qin Wei came downstairs. Since she had the duck T-shirt as a bottom line, Li Yao had particularly low requirements. As long as her outfit was normal, it was good enough. Besides, she had put in some effort, wearing a pink Dior hoodie, G-brand shorts, and light-colored RV boots. She wore earrings from Croix, and the overall look was youthful and casual.
She didn't dress too formal, which disappointed Li Yao a bit, but he was already satisfied that she didn't wear those strange clothes. He was afraid that if he said too much, it would provoke her rebellious side.
Thinking that Xu Mingchuan had known her for many years, he shouldn't mind her dressing a bit casually.
They drove to the address Xu Mingchuan had given them—the Toma Western Restaurant at the end of Changqing Road West Street. It was said to be a members-only venue with a high threshold for entry but also offered a high level of privacy.
Qin Wei followed Li Yao into the restaurant's small garden and was guided by the waiter into a separate booth.
Each private room here was independent, and there were dedicated waiters to provide service. This greatly ensured the quietness and confidentiality that customers desired, allowing them to fully enjoy the food.
"The head chef here is a Michelin-starred chef, and the other chefs are also professionally qualified. The ingredients are flown in from their places of origin, and the selected suppliers have verifiable qualifications, guaranteeing the freshness and healthiness of the ingredients."
As the waiter walked, they introduced these details to them.
"Both of you can completely relax here. The restaurant staff have been trained not to disturb the guests."
As they spoke, they arrived at the private room reserved by Xu Mingchuan. The waiter opened the door, and the man was already waiting inside.
Qin Wei stood behind Li Yao and quietly peeked inside. The other person was also looking at her, seeming hesitant, but ultimately waved to them.
"Qin Wei, long time no see," Xu Mingchuan said to her.
Qin Wei nodded, taking the opportunity to size him up as she entered the room.
He was tall and slim but not thin, dressed in a casual suit from the G brand. He looked spirited overall.
Compared to male celebrities in the entertainment industry, he wasn't particularly handsome, but in any other field, he would be considered remarkably good-looking.
The most surprising thing to Qin Wei was that she thought Xu Mingchuan was at least in his forties, but he appeared to be younger than thirty, looking very youthful.
He didn't look like the successful middle-aged businessman she had imagined at all. He was clean-cut and not greasy in the slightest.
Following Li Yao, she entered the private room and nodded cautiously.
"Mr. Xu, hello."
Xu Mingchuan paused, looking puzzled as he glanced at Li Yao.
Li Yao rubbed his nose and helplessly introduced Qin Wei.
"This is the person I told you about, Xu Mingchuan, the CEO of Anxing Entertainment. He is your senior schoolmate, a few years older than you, but you've met before. You might have forgotten..."
Qin Wei gave him an out.
"Yes, yes, yes. I had a car accident, and I suffered... amnesia, yes, I lost my memory!"
As she spoke, she pointed to the injured area on her forehead.
Why didn't she think of this idea earlier? If she explained everything she didn't remember as "amnesia," wouldn't it all make sense?
Xu Mingchuan seemed to accept this reason as well. He walked over and pulled out a chair for her, asking her to sit first.
"I heard about your car accident, but unfortunately, at that time I..."
He hesitated halfway through his sentence. He had originally wanted to say, "I couldn't face you after my confession was rejected." But if Qin Wei really had amnesia, perhaps it was a good thing for him?
Maybe he could pursue her again, gradually make her accept him, and things would develop in a different direction.
Xu Mingchuan changed his wording.
"I... I have been very busy and couldn't find the time to visit you, but I still followed your affairs. I'm sorry we're only meeting today."
Qin Wei smiled.
"The one who should say thank you is me. If it weren't for Mr. Xu's investment and recommendation, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to appear on the show, let alone pay off my debts..."
As she spoke, she was glared at by Li Yao. She didn't know what she had said wrong, so she stood up.
"I can't drink, so let me bow to Mr. Xu!"
After finishing her sentence, she bowed to Xu Mingchuan.
Xu Mingchuan's expression changed, not knowing what to say. He could only hurriedly ask her to sit down and then opened the ordering interface on the screen on the table, instructing the waiter to bring the food.
Xu Mingchuan looked at Qin Wei.
"You have indeed changed a lot. These past two years must have been difficult for you. Don't worry, now that I'm back, I'll make sure you have a smooth path ahead."
"Fortunately, these past few months have been quite tough."
Qin Wei spoke frankly,
"But since we're partners, Li Yao should have told you that I plan to step away from the entertainment industry. I want to pursue a different path."
Xu Mingchuan was somewhat surprised, as Li Yao hadn't mentioned that Qin Wei wasn't just complaining but genuinely wanted to leave the industry. So he could only try to persuade her:
"Qin Wei, I understand that these two variety shows have been difficult for you. I didn't invest in them expecting profits, but rather to test the waters.
You know that your reputation has declined in recent years, and I've been trying to find other avenues for you to explore. Trust me, these two variety shows are just my experiment, and I've seen your talent.
From now on, your resources will improve, and you won't have to resort to playing around like before. Will you trust me this one time?"