Faced with Ji Feng’s almost pitiful request, what else could Xu Miyu do?
She had no choice but to agree.
The next evening, Xu Miyu made a reservation at one of the most expensive restaurants in the city.
When Ji Feng arrived, the first thing he asked was, "Why choose such an expensive restaurant?" He was worried about her wallet.
Xu Miyu immediately raised her eyebrows and retorted, "What, are you afraid I can’t afford it? Can’t I treat you to a nice meal?"
A sense of disparity seemed to settle between them again in that brief exchange.
Ji Feng immediately grumbled, "If we’re going to eat somewhere this expensive, why not just go back to our own hotel? Why spend money at an outsider’s place when we could keep it in our own wallets?"
Xu Miyu burst out laughing.
He had just said "our" twice. Our hotel. Our wallets.
She felt as if she had been struck by those two "ours," filled with an indescribable thrill and joy.
Seeing Xu Miyu laugh, Ji Feng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, he had managed to defuse that looming crisis of disparity.
He didn’t fight to pay the bill this time, leaving the opportunity for Xu Miyu. He was beginning to understand that letting the other person contribute appropriately was also a way of affirming their worth.
But after the meal, Xu Miyu went home and reflected on herself.
Ji Feng was considerate of her wallet and her feelings, so why was she being so sensitive? Ultimately, it still came down to a lack of confidence.
She thumped her head and asked herself, Why can’t I just be fully confident already?
After all, she was now in the planning department, organizing event after event, and had already built a small reputation in the industry. So why did she still feel slightly inadequate when facing him?
In fact, over this period, he had asked her more than once: "What do I need to do to win you over?"
She told him he didn’t need to do anything.
Because the one who needed to do something was actually herself. She needed to be completely confident when facing him.
He found this puzzling and whisked her off to his home, cornering her at the door to ask, "What exactly is there for you to lack confidence in? Do you know you’re quite well-known now? And that many people come directly to the hotel requesting you by name to handle their events and banquets? You’re practically a rising star in the industry! I also know that, privately, many people have tried to poach you—not just other hotels but also several well-known marketing and planning companies. Oh, and of course, I know there are a few prominent men who’ve tried to ask you out for dinner or movies. Xu Miyu, you’ve already made me feel quite insecure, both professionally and emotionally. So tell me, what exactly is there for you to lack confidence in?"
Listening to Ji Feng’s complaint-like confession, Xu Miyu felt her heart racing.
She couldn’t help but wonder, Is it true? In his eyes, is she dazzling? Does she make him feel insecure?
Xu Miyu fled back to her own home, closed the door, and secretly smiled.
Her phone buzzed. Pulling it out of her pants pocket, she saw it was a message he had sent chasing after her.The text seemed to convey his voice and tone—that exasperated yet helpless sound and manner: "Xu Miyu, listen to me, I'm not staying in some high-floor penthouse suite right now, I'm right next door to you. There's no damn gap between us!"
As Xu Miyu was reading the message, the screen suddenly went blank, followed by a line of light gray text: "He" has recalled a message.
"He" was the contact name Xu Miyu had set for Ji Feng. That single word "He" seemed to draw a boundary while also enveloping countless unspoken ambiguities.
Ji Feng had immediately recalled the message he just sent.
A few seconds later, another message came through: See, I'm not staying in some high-floor penthouse suite right now, I'm right next door to you. There's no damn gap between us.
He had removed the direct name-calling and commanding tone.
Xu Miyu held her phone and smiled. It was a genuine, irrepressible laughter from the heart.
He was truly trying to change.
So she needed to hurry up and improve herself too—to quickly shed the remaining traces of inferiority and become completely confident.
Suddenly, knocking sounds came from the wall.
It was him tapping lightly, proving that he really was next door and there truly was no gap between them.
Xu Miyu felt the smile on her lips widen uncontrollably. She couldn't help but raise her hand to gently tap the wall in response. Knock knock knock.
Knock knock knock, knock knock knock. Back and forth they went, like two people having a childish conversation through the wall with these light tapping sounds.
Somehow, it felt even more joyful than talking face-to-face.
After Duan Aoxiang and Xu Miyu finished their business discussion in the reception room, Xu Miyu stood up to return to working on the event proposal. But Duan Aoxiang said, "My driver is washing the car. Keep me company until he returns."
Xu Miyu smiled beautifully but refused him.
"If you exit the reception room and go straight down the hallway, then turn right, you'll find our hotel's large terrace. It's quite worth visiting and perfect for passing time. I still have work to attend to, so I can't keep chatting with you, President Duan." Having said that, she firmly left.
She was afraid that if she showed Duan Aoxiang any kindness, he would revert to his usual frivolous self.
Watching Xu Miyu's retreating figure, Duan Aoxiang rolled his eyes in disbelief at the empty room.
"She actually dares to reject me. She really is perfect to be Ji Feng's wife—both of them are equally unattainable yet make people's hearts itch. Damn it."
Nevertheless, he stood up and followed Xu Miyu's directions: straight down the hallway, turn right, to the hotel's second-floor terrace.
He hadn't expected it to be such a nice place. He had stayed at the Siwei Hotel many times but had never wandered here before.
While strolling around, his gaze shifted and he unexpectedly spotted Ji Feng outside a tea house at one corner of the terrace.
Ji Feng was sitting at an outdoor seat, drinking tea.
Without a word, Duan Aoxiang immediately sauntered over, pulled out the chair opposite Ji Feng, and plopped down.
"Old Ji, what are you doing sitting here?" Duan Aoxiang asked excitedly as soon as he sat down.
But he noticed that Ji Feng seemed to be ignoring him completely, continuously looking in the direction behind him, even finding him obstructive enough to say, "Move aside."
Duan Aoxiang didn't budge.
Suddenly, he saw Ji Feng crane his neck, peering over his head to look behind him.
He couldn't help but turn to look as well.With that glance, he realized this spot offered a view of Xu Miyu’s frequent comings and goings. Xu Miyu’s planning department was on the hotel’s second floor, and she often walked along the corridor to discuss event details with colleagues from the design or promotion teams. Through the floor-to-ceiling glass, Ji Feng’s seat provided a clear line of sight to her.
Duan Aoxiang turned back to Ji Feng, his mouth agape wide enough to fit an ostrich egg.
“No way, Old Ji? You’ve fallen this hard for Xu Miyu?”
He could understand Ji Feng being drawn to Xu Miyu—after all, he himself couldn’t help but be captivated by her. But he never imagined Ji Feng would be this deeply affected—it was as if he had become a completely different person.
The Ji Feng of the past would have stepped over a stunning beauty who tripped in front of him without a second glance if she didn’t meet his standards for a partner.
“What a great spot this is!” Duan Aoxiang teased Ji Feng, his astonishment still evident.
Xu Miyu had already walked past.
Ji Feng withdrew his gaze and glanced at Duan Aoxiang.
That look was Ji Feng’s trademark mocking stare, leaving Duan Aoxiang both resentful and indignant. Yet, unwilling to leave, he could only curse himself inwardly for being so masochistic.
“I have something to ask you,” Ji Feng said, ignoring the kaleidoscope of expressions on Duan Aoxiang’s face.
“If you have questions for me, shouldn’t your attitude be a bit more humble and friendly?” Duan Aoxiang retorted, trying to negotiate for better treatment.
Ji Feng shot him another glance, even more infuriating than the last.
“Cut the nonsense. Tell me, that night at the cocktail party, when I was busy talking and couldn’t stay by Xu Miyu’s side, did something happen to her?”
Duan Aoxiang tried to play hard to get: “Oh, so that’s what you want to know. Yeah, it seems something did happen. Want to find out? Then treat me better.”
Ji Feng gave him an impatient look, stood up, and made to leave.
Since when had he ever bowed his head to this frivolous fool?
But Duan Aoxiang called out from behind him: “Hah, so proud! Would it kill you to humble yourself just once? Then you’ll never know how Xu Miyu was bullied that night.”
Those words froze Ji Feng in his tracks.
After a brief internal struggle, Ji Feng returned to his seat.
He crossed his legs arrogantly, folded his arms haughtily across his chest, and lifted his chin with pride before asking Duan Aoxiang, “What exactly happened?”
Duan Aoxiang seemed to have finally discovered the key to controlling Ji Feng and asserted himself with unprecedented boldness: “Attitude! Your attitude toward me!”
Ji Feng took a deep breath, uncrossed his arms, lowered his legs, and eased his raised chin. “Please tell me what exactly happened to Xu Miyu that night.”
Duan Aoxiang had initially planned to toy with Ji Feng a while longer, to avenge years of being condescended to. But seeing the determination in Ji Feng’s eyes—the willingness to humble himself endlessly for that woman—he found he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
He even felt a twinge of envy—for Ji Feng and for Xu Miyu. He wondered how he could like both of them at the same time.
Dropping his playful demeanor, he told Ji Feng, “That night, Xu Miyu was verbally ganged up on by a group of wealthy socialites. They humiliated her.”
He described what he had witnessed.
Ji Feng clenched his fists."Old Ji, there was someone inside who knew Xu Miyu's past very well. They publicly mentioned that she had been divorced before and knew she was dating the boss, so they told those gossipy ladies that Xu Miyu had slept her way into the event by selling her body to her superior. They even led those wealthy ladies in chattering about how Xu Miyu wasn't good enough for you and that she had schemed her way into your heart," Duan Aoxiang said to Ji Feng.
After hearing this, Ji Feng narrowed his eyes at Duan Aoxiang, his gaze chillingly cold.
Duan Aoxiang immediately shrank back. "Why are you looking at me like that? I've been turning over a new leaf lately and haven't done anything bad. Don't take your anger out on me!"
Ji Feng continued staring at him, making Duan Aoxiang so scared he wanted to run away. Then Ji Feng suddenly said coldly and stiffly, "Thank you."
"??" Duan Aoxiang was instantly confused. "What?"
"What did you just say to me? Thank me??" Duan Aoxiang was completely bewildered. "Holy shit, in my lifetime! You, Ji Feng, actually said thank you to me, Duan Aoxiang!"
Ji Feng looked at him, speaking more smoothly than before, and thanked him again. "Yes, I said thank you. Thank you for helping her out of that situation that night."
Duan Aoxiang became even more confused, then burst out laughing, slapping the table as he roared with laughter. "You, saying thank you to me again? Ha! You, Ji Feng, actually said thank you to me twice in one day?! What kind of amazing day is this, damn it, hahahahaha!"
Ji Feng frowned, giving Duan Aoxiang a disgusted glance before standing up and leaving.
Xue Rui, who had been waiting in the corner, quickly followed when he saw his boss get up. As he passed Duan Aoxiang, who was still slapping the table and laughing hysterically, he couldn't help but jog a couple of steps to catch up with Ji Feng and ask quietly, "Boss, is Mr. Duan okay? Why is he laughing like Fan Jin after passing the imperial exam, as if he's gone crazy?"
Ji Feng looked back at Duan Aoxiang with disdain and said irritably, "What could possibly be wrong with him? He's always been a bit of an idiot."
After learning what happened at the banquet that night from Duan Aoxiang, aside from feeling angry at those gossipy wealthy ladies, Ji Feng also felt deeply guilty about himself.
He recalled how Xu Miyu had once told him that someone had mocked her, saying she wasn't good enough for him. At the time, he thought she was being overly sensitive—just like when he bought her nice clothes or an expensive bag, she would hide away and feel insecure. So perhaps others hadn't meant to mock her; maybe she was just overthinking things.
Because of this, he never bothered to investigate what exactly had happened that night after the banquet.
Today, when he saw Duan Aoxiang, he decided to ask him about it. He never expected that Xu Miyu had suffered such excessive humiliation that night.
And that night, after she had been so harshly judged by those shallow, mean-spirited women, not only did he fail to comfort and understand her in time, but he even thought she was arguing with him for no reason and breaking up with him unreasonably.
Every time he thought about this, Ji Feng's heart felt as if it had been pierced by a knife.
He realized that he truly wasn't a considerate or qualified partner.
He decided to make the person who had humiliated Xu Miyu pay the price. He needed to let everyone know that the woman they had so freely judged was someone Ji Feng held carefully in his heart, and no one was allowed to look down on or bully her.He began investigating matters related to that evening's cocktail party, wanting to know exactly who had such intimate knowledge of Xu Miyu and why they had taken the lead in spreading malicious rumors about her.
Through connections and various methods, he obtained the guest list from that night as well as surveillance footage from the period when he hadn't been by Xu Miyu's side. After thorough investigation and cross-verification, he confirmed that the troublemaker that evening was a woman named Lu Zhenzhen.
This woman happened to be the current wife of Xu Miyu's ex-husband, and also the very person with whom the ex-husband had previously committed adultery.
Looking at the investigation results, Ji Feng clenched his fists. He remembered how this homewrecker had repeatedly caused disturbances targeting Xu Miyu at the hotel back when Xu Miyu was still working in the housekeeping department.
He thought with a cold sneer how strange the world had become - a mistress who seduced another woman's husband to secure her position actually had the audacity to continuously scheme against the original wife.
Since Xu Miyu didn't want to entangle herself further with them, he decided he would be the one to settle this score for her.
On the same day he uncovered the truth, Ji Feng issued a ban within the Star Constellation Group, directly cutting off all accommodation interfaces between their hotels and Changyang Tourism where Nie Yucheng worked. They would no longer accept any tour groups or individual tourists from that travel company.
Beyond his own hotels, Ji Feng also negotiated conditional exchanges with owners of several other luxury hotel brands at similar levels. Consequently, several other five-star hotels also suspended their accommodation interfaces with Changyang Tourism.
The effects of this ban quickly became apparent. Many high-end tourists who had booked through Changyang Tourism could no longer stay at five-star hotels and had to settle for mid-to-low-range accommodations instead. This downgrade in their travel experience left them deeply dissatisfied, leading them to cancel their arrangements with Nie Yucheng's travel company one after another, switching to other travel agencies instead.
Hu Tu, the general manager of Changyang Tourism, watched the sudden plunge in performance revenue, racking his brains but unable to figure out how he had offended Ji Feng. He couldn't understand why this disaster of non-cooperation had befallen them out of nowhere.
He attempted several times to initiate talks with Ji Feng, but found all avenues blocked - Ji Feng simply wouldn't grant him a meeting.
Ji Feng's attitude made Hu Tu increasingly anxious.
He understood that even though he didn't know exactly how he had offended Ji Feng, whatever had provoked him must be something very, very serious.
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