Love for You

Chapter 26: So Impressive, Truly Worthy of Being Miao Jing

"You never told me you had a brother in Tengcheng." Cen Ye exchanged pleasantries with Chen Yi, but his eyes drifted toward Miao Jing as he smiled and remarked, "You and your brother look and carry yourselves completely differently."

Miao Jing smiled faintly. "Of course we're not alike. We just lived together in the same household with our parents, but we're not actually related."

Cen Ye raised an eyebrow, his gaze meeting Chen Yi's again—Chen Yi wore a casual jacket with his hands in his pockets, standing straight but with a relaxed attitude. He wasn't enthusiastic about social occasions, yet he wasn't intimidated either, carrying himself with an air of indifference.

The two men exchanged polite nods and slight smiles.

The three got into the car, with Cen Ye and Miao Jing sitting in the back seat, leaving Chen Yi to drive. Miao Jing had reserved a high-end restaurant, planning to have lunch with Cen Ye first. As they chatted in the back, Chen Yi could hear their voices and tones exuding the pretentious flair of business elites, peppering professional jargon with fluent English. They started with small talk about the weather and the reason for meeting—Cen Ye was on a business trip for a project in the southwest, and his high-speed train happened to pass through Tengcheng. Miao Jing knew that business trips were routine for him, often involving dealings with government agencies, and she displayed a humble hospitality. When the conversation turned to Tengcheng, Cen Ye showed considerable familiarity with the local culture, people, and economic climate. Coming from a highly educated family and having traveled extensively across the country, he happened to have a close friend of his mother who was also from Tengcheng, so he knew some details.

Occasionally, Cen Ye also acknowledged the taciturn Chen Yi. Learning that he owned a billiards hall, Cen Ye became quite animated in conversation. Billiards, he noted, was a gentleman's sport, and those skilled at it had honed their patience through practice. Noticing the scent of tobacco in the car, he shifted the topic to cigarettes and cigars, delivering smooth and polished remarks that put everyone at ease.

When the car stopped outside the restaurant, Miao Jing actually wanted to speak with Cen Ye alone, but Cen Ye sincerely invited Chen Yi to join—regardless of status, he ensured no one felt left out in social settings, his interpersonal skills radiating a warmth that put others at ease.

Miao Jing also spoke up, "Then let's all go together."

"Sure, I'll tag along with you two and get a taste of the high life."

Chen Yi wore a faint, ambiguous smile. Unimpressed by the slick, elite demeanor, he seemed lazily indifferent, tossing the car keys as he followed the two into the restaurant.

They ate local cuisine in a restaurant that blended Chinese and Western decor, with a garden view on the lower level offering a sweeping vista. The dishes were overly refined and innovative. During the meal, Miao Jing and Cen Ye mainly discussed work. They had known each other for about three or four years, progressing from acquaintances to close colleagues—Miao Jing had interned at the company during her junior and senior years of college, often staying in the office during holidays. After graduation, she transitioned directly to a full-time position, moving from the procurement center during her internship to the R&D center afterward, where she had work interactions with Cen Ye's legal department, delivering documents for signatures and expediting approval processes. Cen Ye's secretary had lost count of how many cups of coffee Miao Jing had brought.

Later, when the secretary clocked out in the evenings, Cen Ye would even get to enjoy the black coffee Miao Jing brewed. Perhaps it was because that coffee suited his taste so well, and with no late-night subway available, he ended up taking both her and the approval documents back to his place.

"The R&D center is such a great platform. It's a bit of a shame you left."

"I wasn't cut out for R&D. My foundational education was still too limited. Surrounded by Ph.D.s, master's graduates, and elite returnees from abroad—all top-tier talent—I could only hold peripheral positions. It's better to be practical and work as a technical engineer.""But I still miss the coffee you brew."

"Actually, the taste isn't particularly special."

The two exchanged smiles, letting the subject pass lightly. Beside them, someone with a stern expression chewed on a tough piece of steak, his handsome face appearing exceptionally resolute and persistent. Miao Jing cast a fleeting glance his way, refilling his and Cen Ye's glasses with lemon water before steering the conversation back to Tengcheng—discussing city life, local attractions, national news, and the local food and entertainment scene.

The meal concluded with everyone satisfied. By the time they left the restaurant, it was already afternoon. Miao Jing saw Cen Ye back to his hotel, as he had a conference call scheduled for later. Chen Yi, using work as an excuse, tossed the car keys to Miao Jing. Cen Ye reached over her shoulder, catching the keys with a clear, bright smile. "Thanks," he said.

The two watched as Chen Yi, carefree and nonchalant, crossed the street with a cigarette dangling from his lips, his figure disappearing into the crowd. Miao Jing's dark eyes flickered. Cen Ye stood beside her and remarked, "There's a wildness about him."

"What kind of wildness?"

"A sense of indifference and complete ease. Has he seen a lot of big scenes? He's not an ordinary person, is he?"

Miao Jing smiled. "He's been like that since he was young."

The driver's seat of the Cadillac was spacious, fitting Cen Ye's build perfectly. The two drove to the hotel, where the room had also been arranged by Miao Jing. There were two key cards; Cen Ye kept one and handed the other to her between his slender fingers, straightforward and unhesitating. "Come up for a while?"

Miao Jing pressed her cherry lips together, hesitating before accepting the key card. She accompanied him upstairs to the executive suite, which had a spacious work area. Cen Ye opened his laptop to join the meeting, which was expected to last two to three hours. Out of habit, Miao Jing brewed tea and prepared a fruit platter for him, then arranged for the hotel staff to take his dirty clothes for pressing.

After their campus romance ended with graduation, Miao Jing vaguely felt she needed a man like Cen Ye—radiant, mature, charismatic, and effortlessly capable. Standing out among his many admirers, it was hard to imagine a young woman possessing such boldness and ability. The traits she embodied were complex and multifaceted.

Though there was inevitably a hint of calculation involved, Cen Ye found it within acceptable limits. Yet Miao Jing severely lacked a sense of security and trust. At her core, she was aloof and disliked family atmospheres, which made her less favored by Cen Ye's parents.

The meeting dragged on until six in the evening, coinciding with dinner time. Miao Jing was washing coffee cups by the sink when the man, sleeves of his white shirt rolled up, leaned casually beside her. "Do you still remember my file signature?"

"Yes, I do."

Cen Ye C.Y.

He had known Miao Jing for years but only learned Chen Yi's name and saw his appearance today. He had known before that Miao Jing liked men who smoked and had occasionally sensed traces of it in bed. Sometimes, when he pretentiously lit a cigar, she would lean in to kiss his lips amid the cigar's lingering aroma, her body in the faint smoke appearing both enchanting and alluring—a stark contrast to her cool, detached exterior.

Cen Ye chuckled. "It just occurred to me—Chen Yi and I share the same initials." He stared directly at her, pausing briefly before adding, "Is he the one who smokes in bed?"