(Special thanks to [Sai Clan's Little Fish] for the promotion, adding a Guardian to our mixed group, and special thanks for the bonus chapter!)

Facing a table full of delicious dishes, Li Yan couldn't help but feel tempted, even though he had already eaten outside. He decided not to eat rice, just the dishes!

"Can we eat now?" Li Yan asked when he saw the two of them sitting down without any intention of starting. He looked left and right. Were they waiting for something else? "Are there more guests?"

Yue Yao laughed, "No, but since Yurong worked hard to prepare dinner for you, shouldn't you say something?"

With her reminder, Li Yan realized it immediately, picked up the red wine, poured it for all three of them, and then raised his glass. "Seeing that Yurong specially learned to cook for me and went off work early to prepare the meal, I am truly touched! Let me drink to express my gratitude first."

"Narcissist! Who learned to cook for you? I already knew how to cook before I met you. Today wasn't for you, just felt like cooking something myself." Zhang Yurong scoffed, feeling speechless inside. It was wise to ask him to remove the candelabra, otherwise, who knows what kind of candlelight dinner he would have arranged.

"Is that so?" Li Yan was a bit surprised; her skills didn't seem like those of a beginner. "But why have I never seen you cook before?"

Zhang Yurong looked at him, "Have you ever been without food? Aunt Liu's cooking is great, isn't it? Do you want me to cook for you every day?"

Li Yan immediately understood, of course. Even if she had the skills, she didn't have the time. The past year had been her busiest time at Paradise Group, and spending time cooking after work was obviously not worthwhile. It made more sense to leave such tasks to professionals.

"No, no, if you really cooked, I would feel bad. I was just curious that I didn't know you could cook at all." Li Yan mused silently. Though time was a constraint in the past, perhaps she didn't think it worthwhile to cook for him, but now…

This warmed his heart; though she wouldn't admit it and deliberately said things in an extreme way, she was actually trying to cover her true intentions.

"Humph! There are many things about me that you don't know." Zhang Yurong laughed and called Yue Yao, "Let's eat, Yue Yao, try my cooking skills? It's been a while, a bit rusty."

Everyone picked up their chopsticks, and Li Yan chuckled, "I don't know your affairs because you don't want me to know. But I know enough to say my wife is a talented beauty."

"Humph!" Zhang Yurong seemed unimpressed by his obvious flattery.

"Finished college at seventeen, mastered at nineteen, and after work, achieved a doctorate at twenty-two; selected various courses in many different fields, besides Country Language and Cloud Island Language, fluent in International Language, conversational in Beihai Language, and understands daily Liguo Language; besides being a bookworm, started investing as a teenager, played with funds, stocks, bonds, futures, and warrants. Before turning twenty, used the money earned from investments to create her own investment company. Later on, the company merged into Paradise Group, she entered the management, and worked in multiple departments. Last year, at the age of twenty-four, became the President of Paradise Group…"

Li Yan spoke this flattery as if he had heard it from Wen Qianyi, or perhaps it was information gathered from her, but listening to it surprised both Yue Yao and Zhang Yurong.

Yue Yao was amazed by Zhang Yurong's talent, thinking that such a gifted person might only slightly lack in EQ, but certainly, she would be a meticulous person. Being here for so long, had she already seen through or deduced her unusual relationship with Li Yan?

The more she interacted, the deeper her feelings for Zhang Yurong, and she didn't want to hurt her. It would be best to maintain the current situation, but she knew that wasn't possible, eventually, it would come to light. As Yurong was smarter than expected, maybe it was time to step away…

Zhang Yurong was equally surprised, not expecting Li Yan to care about her situation, which closely resembles her resume. However, when she joined the company, she started step by step, initially not wanting to be too high profile, so many details were never publicly circulated. Surprisingly, even Li Yan stayed tuned.

Seeing them silent, Li Yan smiled, "A genius is a genius, even in cooking. Although I may not know enough, I wouldn't be surprised if one day I see you excel in piano playing, dancing, swimming, or even fighting."

"Just eat your meal!" Zhang Yurong gave him a charming side-eye, piano and dancing were fine, but even said fighting, outrageous.

...

Zhang Yurong's cooking was indeed excellent, both Li Yan and Yue Yao were truly impressed, eating more than usual, and even finished a bottle of red wine.

After the meal, there was no time wasted by Zhang Yurong, naturally left for Aunt Liu to handle. The three sat in the living room drinking tea, watching TV.

"How was the trip to Beihai Country?" Zhang Yurong asked casually.

As a wife, she must ask, naturally being concerned. Li Yan nodded seriously, "It was fruitful, we negotiated several significant projects, thanks to my strong public relations and Wen Qianyi's negotiation skills."

"Your strong public relations? Could you elaborate, was it by sacrificing appearance?" Zhang Yurong asked mildly.

"Well…" Li Yan said somewhat 'bashfully', "The decisions were made by President Shiroyama Gou of Shinohara Corporation, regarding such an uncle?"

"Pfft!"

"You said it first? I mentioned strong public relations because I saved Shiroyama Gou's life. Just after arriving in Beihai Country, Shinohara Mirai took us to her house and explained that since returning, she hadn't seen Shiroyama Gou, and later couldn't get through to him by phone, suspecting Inoue President of harming, she couldn't find anyone she could trust, so she pretended to be close to me as a business concern, specifically arranged for me to Beihai Country to discuss and ask for help. Thanks to my intelligence and bravery, the truth was revealed, exposing that Sano Takashi of their department was plotting against Shiroyama Gou…"

Li Yan began narrating his experiences in Beihai Country like a story. However, he didn't mention the help from Qi Zhongtao or Liu Xi, crediting his own bright detection of Matsushima Kui and prying information from her. Of course, Yue Yao wasn't fooled, knowing that she had contacted Qi Zhongtao and Liu Xi to assist, who surely contributed significantly.

Zhang Yurong didn't know these events, although she had met Wen Qianyi earlier in the morning and learned about the negotiations in detail from her. Wen Qianyi didn't want to steal all the credit from Li Yan, only saying the reason they gained Shiroyama Gou's attention was due to Li Yan's connection, leaving details vague and suggesting Li Yan would explain.

Zhang Yurong understood Li Yan's strengths well, knowing to elevate him by leveraging relational business to build a portfolio. Since Wen Qianyi didn't elaborate, she was glad, preparing to understand from Li Yan first, expecting a somewhat exaggerated story.

However, she didn't doubt because from Li Yan's expression, she believed he wasn't lying—at least not on the main elements.

"So that's how it was; indeed, you worked hard this time." Zhang Yurong mildly concluded.

"Not hard at all, it was my duty." Li Yan felt silently ashamed.

"I heard that Shiroyama Gou also let you have fun on Jiangyue Road for a few days?"

"Um, yes, after returning, he needed time to reorganize the company, so he told us to enjoy ourselves, also for everyone's safety including his daughter."

"Was he so kind because you saved him?" Zhang Yurong remained skeptical; Shinohara Mirai, as a native of Beihai Country, even if wary of corporate forces, she should have other local friends. Needing help from someone from Yun Country, unfamiliar with Beihai Language or terrain, to find her father seemed too far-fetched.

Looking into her eyes, Li Yan thought it was better to be honest, considering, on the flight back and the subsequent encounters with Yu Xiaodi and Qiao Huanxuan, leaving no time to align stories with Wen Qianyi, lacking knowledge of what she had said.

Thus, he frankly said, "There is another reason, but I fear it might upset you, so I thought better to mention it at the company."

Zhang Yurong wanted to hear what he was unwilling to say, "It's okay, talking here is better than at the company. Please tell me; I won't be upset."

"Uh… Shiroyama Gou said I was very handsome, intelligent, excellent, practically the ideal son-in-law candidate. Because his late wife, Shinohara Mirai's mother, was from Yun Country, he felt no animosity toward Yun Country people. He hoped I could be his son-in-law, offering to strongly nurture me, and one day take over Shinohara Corporation!" Li Yan confessed.

This statement shocked Zhang Yurong slightly. Chapter 7, requesting monthly pass (to be continued, for more exciting chapters, please log in to www.qidian.com, support authors, support genuine reading!)

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