Volume 1, Chapter 2: What Is the Room Number?

After speaking, he withdrew his gaze and, without waiting for her reaction, stepped into the bathroom.

The sound of running water filled her ears as Wen Yang exhaled the breath she had been holding and mechanically left the room.

Only then did she belatedly grasp the meaning behind his words about “taking it back,” and a wave of belated shame and anger surged within her.

Who was it that had been more proactive yesterday, after all? Could something like that really be “taken back”?

Still grumbling in her heart, she closed the door and noticed someone waiting by the entrance.

“Excuse me, are you Miss Wen? Hello, I’m Fang Yi, the housekeeper of Kaiyuan Resort.”

A capable woman in her thirties, dressed in a work uniform, wore a gentle smile as if she had been waiting there for some time.

“This was prepared by President Pei for you. I saw the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the room earlier, so I didn’t knock.”

Wen Yang lowered her eyes to see a clothing bag embossed with the logo of an ultra-luxury brand.

“Also, these are the phone and documents you left behind in our private room yesterday.”

“Thank you.” Wen Yang accepted the items from her hand.

Having completed her task, the housekeeper bowed politely and left without lingering.

Wen Yang held the bag containing the clothes, choosing to place it silently by the door rather than returning the clothes face-to-face upon entering.

She then composed herself, took the documents and phone, and left the place.

Passing by a trash bin, she tossed the resort design proposal she had brought yesterday into it.

The resort’s interior was exquisitely crafted, divided into a southern and northern district. The design of the northern district was undecided and construction had yet to start, while most of the southern district had been renovated, embracing a classical Chinese style. Each suite was separated by a small courtyard adorned with seasonal flowers, exuding refined elegance everywhere.

Wen Yang paid no attention to the surroundings, focusing on scrolling through her phone as she followed the signs toward the exit.

Her phone showed over ten missed calls, all from her close friend Su Chiyu.

As she reached the resort’s reception desk and dialed a call, the sounds of an argument nearby drowned out the music from her phone.

“Do you know who I am? I’m the eldest daughter of the Xu family, half the boss here!”

Following the voice, Wen Yang saw Xu Qiqi standing arrogantly at the front desk.

Her hair remained as it had been in high school—short, ear-length with bangs—looking cute and delicate. She wore a white suit dress and carried a thermal container.

The resort was newly built last year, a joint venture between Xu Real Estate and the Pei Group.

The front desk supervisor knew well the consequences of angering this little princess but offending President Pei was even harder to explain.

He could only keep bowing repeatedly, apologizing: “Sorry, Miss Xu, but without President Pei’s permission, we cannot disclose room numbers.”

“I’ve already said President Pei’s mother asked me to take care of him. He has a fever and can’t be reached by phone. How can you be so inflexible? Watch out, or I’ll have you all packing up and leaving!”

The phone connected, and a voice came through: “Yangyang, I called you several times yesterday but you didn’t answer. I was so worried!”

She withdrew her gaze and replied, “It’s a long story. I’ll go back to the dorm first and talk to you later.”

Just after speaking, she felt someone watching her. Turning her head, her eyes met Xu Qiqi’s.

In a flash, she looked away and continued walking out.

“Yangyang, why don’t you come to the company first?” Su Chiyu said on the phone. “That bastard Wang Shuo is slandering you at work!”

“He’s saying you went to discuss the resort project with him yesterday…” Su Chiyu, usually straightforward, hesitated for a moment, then added, “You shamelessly seduced the person in charge and messed up the project.”

Mess up the project?

What a villainous accusation. She hadn’t even confronted him yet, but he was already barking like a mad dog.

Wen Yang sneered coldly. “I’m heading back to the company now.”

After hanging up, she had barely taken a few steps when she heard someone calling her name.

Turning sideways, she saw Xu Qiqi approaching, twisting her waist as she walked over.

Her gaze skimmed over Wen Yang’s face, full of surprise.

How could this little bitch Wen Yang be here?

The design meeting for the resort had been held at another hotel last night, and she had arranged everything perfectly.

Suppressing the disdain she felt toward Wen Yang, Xu Qiqi wore a polite smile: “Long time no see, Wen Yang. I almost thought I was mistaken just now.”

She always had two faces. Back in high school, Wen Yang thought she could have been a star actress.

Her acting was superb—one moment yelling to fire someone, the next moment smiling innocently at them.

Wen Yang watched her “schizophrenic performance” quietly, raising an eyebrow in silence.

Until the stiff smile on Xu Qiqi’s lips began to twitch slightly.

Only then did Wen Yang ask coldly, “What do you want?”

Her attitude was indifferent, as if she didn’t even consider her worthy of attention.

“I was just curious how you ended up here,” Xu Qiqi said, smoothing her hair and speaking to herself, “I heard you’re now interning at a third-rate design company, trying to win this resort project.”

“Too bad, this resort is a joint investment between our Xu family and the Pei family. Our Xu family naturally looks down on inferior design companies like yours. As for the Pei family…”

“You heartlessly dumped Brother Yan Chuan back then. How could he possibly want to deal with you now, let alone cooperate with your company?”

Xu Qiqi watched Wen Yang’s expression as she spoke deliberately: “Of course, since we’re classmates, I might consider putting in a good word for you. After all, good things are about to happen between Brother Yan Chuan and me.”

Back in high school, Xu Qiqi had a one-sided crush on Pei Yanchuan, unrequited love.

Because Pei Yanchuan’s heart belonged entirely to Wen Yang.

When she later learned they had broken up, she was overjoyed.

Now, with the tides turned, their families collaborating on this resort project and growing close, she had worked hard to gain the approval of Madam Pei, who intended for her to become her son’s wife.

Seeing her former “rival” here was a perfect chance for her to assert dominance.

After listening to her rant, Wen Yang fell silent for a moment, amused inwardly.

“So what? You two are about to tie the knot and want to ask me for the room number Pei Yanchuan is staying in?”

Xu Qiqi was stunned for a few seconds, almost blurting out the room number.

It was only after the fact that she realized Wen Yang was mocking her ignorance.

“Don’t mock me,” she snapped, her temper flaring and no longer caring about pretense. She looked Wen Yang up and down with contempt.

“What use was being a top student back then? Now you have to beg our Xu family to cooperate with you.”

Wen Yang’s eyes were soft and clear, but her gaze was cold and sharp.

“Yeah, luckily the Xu family’s business isn’t in your hands. With a brain like yours that can’t understand what you read, the Xu family would have been wiped out long ago.”

“You!” Xu Qiqi was furious but had no comeback.

Her father always said she lacked business acumen and social skills, forbidding her from engaging in the family business. Being reminded of this by Wen Yang made her face flush red and pale in turns.

Wen Yang didn’t want to waste more time there, ignoring her and leaving with a calm expression.

Wearing a high-waisted gray skirt and a light blue shirt tucked in, her figure was shapely and well-proportioned. Her chestnut-colored, voluminous curls fell behind her back. Her simple, casual outfit made even her silhouette strikingly beautiful.

Xu Qiqi lowered her head to look at her own slender frame, nearly grinding her teeth in frustration.

She had thought today would be a good day, but she couldn’t even get into Pei Yanchuan’s room and ended up venting her anger here.

Moreover, seeing Wen Yang leave the resort, she had a bad premonition.

She swiped open her phone and dialed: “How could you mess up like this? Didn’t I tell you to put Wen Yang in Han Ting’s bed yesterday?”