Chapter 583 - 378: Journey to Tokyo (7)
The celebration banquet was also held in the Linzhou Hotel, where the international conference had taken place. The event spanned three floors, with countless guests coming and going as acquainted colleagues drank and reveled together.
Chen Yuan and Jiangg Ning were at a table upstairs, surrounded entirely by the inner circle of Gao Dengfeng from headquarters. There were many people whom Chen Yuan was meeting for the first time.
The conference's conclusion brought joy to some and sorrow to others, but everyone shared the same question: why wasn't the latest list of appointments mentioned? Many people, after all, had been counting on this for a promotion.
"Director Jiang, this is Dong Zhuohua, the Vice Minister of our Department of Land and Resources. He was the one who managed last year's 201 Energy Supply Project. Incidentally, Minister Dong graduated from the same university as your father."
"Hello, Dong."
"In the blink of an eye, Yuan, you're all grown up. I know how much your father treasures you. The last time we met, he even asked me how I communicate with my son... That boy is pursuing a degree in the Lighthouse Country now and can't even make it home once a year."
"Come on, do Dong the honor. Let's have a drink together..."
Conversations like this kept happening, as if he were an NPC with a dialogue trigger. A smile spread across Chen Yuan's face as he continuously downed one glass of alcohol after another.
By the time he returned to the main table, he hadn't eaten a single bite, but more than an hour had already passed.
Afterward, these core employees from the Northern District Management Division introduced themselves one by one. They were all acquainted now. There would be plenty of time to work together in the future, so Chen Yuan could only get to know them over time.
Amidst the bustling banquet, only Jiangg Ning noticed that Chen Yuan kept checking the time on his watch. On the surface, he seemed fully invested in the event, but in reality, his thoughts had already drifted to the heavens.
「8:30 PM」
Chen Yuan was drinking when he suddenly rose from his seat.
"Pardon me, I'm going to the restroom. Secretary Yu, please come and keep our guests company."
"Of course, I understand."
Secretary Yu saw Chen Yuan's flushed face and figured he didn't want to keep drinking so excessively. She tactfully took his place, continuing to entertain the various leaders who had yet to drink their fill.
Watching Chen Yuan leave his seat, Jiangg Ning quickly stood up and followed him.
They moved with perfect chemistry, weaving through the crowd without a word until they were out of the banquet hall. Then, Chen Yuan suddenly picked up his pace. He didn't even wait for the elevator, instead running—THUMP THUMP THUMP—all the way to the emergency stairwell. It was already empty, and the silence was more pronounced at night.
There was only the sound of hurried footsteps.
"What's the rush, Chen Yuan?" Following behind, Jiangg Ning was caught off guard and stood stunned for a few seconds.
She called out in confusion before she was forced to follow his lead.
The sound of her high heels echoed—CLICK-CLACK, CLICK-CLACK.
"Faster."
"Why are we going so fast?"
"Just don't ask."
Jiangg Ning received no answer from Chen Yuan. She felt she was already running as fast as she could, but every time she rounded a corner, his figure would vanish just out of sight.
The sleeve of his suit jacket flashed around the corner.
When she reached the stairwell, so dimly lit that the lights became a blur, his figure was gone. Jiangg Ning stood dazed at the top of the stairs, peering into the hollow, deep darkness within.
"Chen Yuan...? Where did you go?" she called out, a bit frightened, hesitating to step inside.
"Right here."
The voice came from behind her. Jiangg Ning jumped in fright and spun around. Chen Yuan was standing right there.
The two of them were squeezed into the tiny space, dressed in elegant formal attire. They looked less like banquet attendees and more like a couple eloping, especially when Chen Yuan started taking off his suit jacket as he spoke.
"I'm dead tired, and I reek of booze. Who wants to drink with them all night? I'd rather use the time to go for a drive." He took off his suit jacket and stuffed it into Jiangg Ning's hands.
"You really are going for a drive?"
"Of course. Didn't I tell you I would the day before yesterday?"
"I thought you were joking..."
"I'm not joking. Let's go now. We'll just slip away."
"From here?"
Jiangg Ning felt Chen Yuan was being a bit unhinged today. It was the auspicious day of his promotion, with so many people, dignitaries and VIPs alike, having traveled from afar to celebrate his appointment. Yet, Chen Yuan was ditching all of them to sneak away with her for a drive.
'Nothing could be more absurd.'
"That's right, from here. No one will see us."
"It wouldn't be a big deal if people saw, you know. If you just said something urgent came up, I doubt anyone would complain."
"That won't work. Gao Dengfeng has another event planned, but I'm not in the mood to play along. I have something more important to do."
With that, Chen Yuan smiled.
He stepped into the stairwell, whispering, "Ningning, I know you're still angry with me, and I don't expect you to forgive me anytime soon... I feel like you've been a little kinder to me recently, probably because you think I'm exhausted. But that's just how messed up life is. Just when I see a glimmer of hope, I have to do something that will make you angry all over again. And yet, it's the only choice I have."
"What are you talking about, Chen Yuan? I don't understand."
"Don't worry, you'll... you'll get it in a minute. 'Did I really hide it this far back yesterday?'"
Jiangg Ning watched as Chen Yuan edged further into the stairwell and painstakingly pulled something out, smudging a layer of dust onto his white shirt.
He then set the box on the ground, crouched down to open it, and took out a pair of flats.
Chen Yuan looked up at Jiangg Ning.
"You didn't drink, so you can drive me. You can't do that in high heels. Plus, it's better to change shoes if we're taking the stairwell down. Here, give me your foot."
"When did you hide shoes here?" Ningning was incredulous.
"Last night."
"I really can't figure you out anymore."
"Let's not talk so much. I'll put them on for you."
"No, I can do it myself..."
"Oh, come on, what's the big deal? It's not like I haven't helped you change shoes before. Let's just hurry and get down there," Chen Yuan said, decisively grabbing Jiangg Ning's ankle. Her face flushed, and she struggled for a moment, but ultimately failed to free her foot from his clutches. "There we go. Now, the other one."
Once her shoes were changed, Chen Yuan took Jiangg Ning by the hand, and the two of them escaped from the Linzhou Hotel to the parking lot out back.
As she started the engine, she had no idea where they were even going.
"So, where are we going for this drive?"
"I'll set up the navigation. The address is... here, look at my phone."
"Okay."
Although Jiangg Ning couldn't comprehend Chen Yuan's actions, she chose to indulge him. She genuinely felt he had been too tired lately, and a little escape wasn't a mortal sin. Besides, she didn't want to stay in that environment any longer either. Even going for a drive and bickering with him during their cold war was much more comfortable than remaining there.
But when they arrived at the destination and she parked the car...
...the moment she got a clear look at the scene before her...
Jiangg Ning froze on the spot.
"Why... is there a private jet parked here?"
"Ningning, this is what I needed to tell you. I don't want to make you angry, but I can't let Jiangg Yao leave me. She's on a trip to Edo Prefecture, right? You've been hiding it from me."