Downstairs, the receptionist looked at Zhou Chengyuan with a horrified expression, instinctively taking two steps back, trying to distance herself from him.
Zhou Chengyuan didn't notice the receptionist's actions; he was feeling quite smug. He had brought in ninety-nine roses. Such a large bouquet was bound to attract attention.
This display naturally drew a crowd. In full view of everyone, he raised his voice to tell the receptionist he was looking for Ye Zhi. Now, these onlookers knew he was pursuing Ye Zhi.
As soon as Ye Zhi came down or agreed to let him go up, regardless of whether she accepted the flowers, these onlookers would assume Ye Zhi didn't object to him and was dating him.
If he came a few more times, Ye Zhi would find it impossible to explain. By then, even if Ye Zhi wanted to refuse him, she would have to consider what people would say!
"Um... Mr. Zhou," the receptionist said after hanging up the phone. She suppressed her disgust and put on a professional smile. "I'm sorry, Ms. Ye is very busy right now and doesn't have time to see you. Please take your flowers back."
Zhou Chengyuan's expression froze.
He had come in person to deliver flowers, and Ye Zhi dared to refuse him! No woman had ever dared to disrespect him like this!
Zhou Chengyuan resentfully noted Ye Zhi's behavior in his mind. He put on a fake smile and said, "How long will she be busy? I can wait."
"I personally suggest you don't wait; you won't be able to," the receptionist said, her gaze falling on the sofa where Zhou Chengyuan had been sitting. She thought to herself that after Zhou Chengyuan left, she would definitely have the cleaning staff disinfect the sofa thoroughly.
"Oh, I see..." Zhou Chengyuan forced a smile. "Then I'll leave the flowers and ask you to help send them up. Oh, right, this is a thank-you gift."
Saying this, Zhou Chengyuan took out a set of cosmetic gift boxes and placed them on the counter.
The young receptionist immediately felt like she was facing a great enemy. She exclaimed, "No, no, no! Take it away, I don't want it!"
Zhou Chengyuan was stunned. Being rejected when delivering flowers was one thing, but why did the receptionist refuse his attempt to bribe her with cosmetics so quickly?
Ye Zhi was difficult, but why were the receptionists at Ye's company also so morally upright?
Seemingly realizing her attitude was a bit too much, the young receptionist coughed and said, "Our company has a rule that accepting gifts from guests privately will result in dismissal! Mr. Zhou, please don't get me into trouble!"
Zhou Chengyuan reluctantly took back the cosmetic gift box. However, he eventually left the flowers behind before departing.
As soon as he left, her colleague teased her, "That set of cosmetics is a pretty famous brand, worth several thousand yuan. Aren't you heartbroken to refuse it like that?"
"Heartbroken about what!" the young receptionist said with disdain. "Do you know who he..."
The young receptionist paused. She looked around at her colleagues. Ye Zhi had explicitly said not to tell a third person, but she hadn't said not to tell a fourth or fifth person, right?
She called her colleagues over and lowered her voice. "That man is a playboy with a messy private life. He also has a sexually transmitted disease..."
"Ew!" Everyone was suddenly horrified and disgusted. They quickly ran off to wash their hands and disinfect them.
Before leaving, the young receptionist didn't forget to ask security to throw out the flowers and called the cleaning lady to thoroughly disinfect the area near the reception.
As Ye Zhi left, she smelled the faint scent of disinfectant in the lobby and couldn't help but find it amusing.
It seemed this method was indeed very effective. Even if Zhou Chengyuan harassed her again in the future, she was sure the receptionists would perform their duties diligently and would never be bribed by him.
Afterward, she went to the supermarket and bought a lot of meat and vegetables.
She was inviting that "great misfortune"... that "big shot," Qi Xuan, for dinner tonight. She naturally had to make thorough preparations to try and satisfy him.
After shopping, Ye Zhi had just returned to her villa on the mountainside when she heard the doorbell ring. Ye Zhi looked at Qi Xuan standing outside the door through the video intercom.
Ye Zhi quickly opened the door and invited him in.
"Young Master Qi, I'm still preparing everything," Ye Zhi said with a shallow smile. "Please sit down; it'll be ready soon!"
Qi Xuan nodded in agreement and sat down on the sofa.
Ye Zhi hurried into the kitchen, while Qi Xuan looked around the room.
The room was nicely decorated, clean, and tidy, showing signs that she had moved in recently. It seemed Ye Zhi was quite a casual person. She didn't seem overly picky about her living environment.
Qi Xuan withdrew his gaze. He saw freshly washed fruit and a pot of her homemade fruit drink on the coffee table in front of him.
He poured himself a cup and took a sip. He was very surprised. The fruit drink was refreshing and not too sweet; it was very delicious, which made him look forward to tonight's dinner.
However... smelling a strange aroma wafting from the kitchen made him inexplicably worried.
Soon, Ye Zhi came out of the kitchen and placed a dish on the dining table.
Qi Xuan couldn't help but walk over. When he saw the blackened dish on the table, he gasped.
"What... is this?"
"Stir-fried bamboo shoots with pork! The presentation is a bit off..." Ye Zhi said somewhat awkwardly. "I accidentally poured a little too much dark soy sauce, making the color a bit too intense... But don't worry, it won't affect the taste at all. It's definitely edible!"
Qi Xuan expressed his doubt. He picked up his chopsticks and tasted it.
It was very salty, the bamboo shoots were tough, the meat was a bit dry, and the heat was too high, which resulted in a bitter aftertaste. Qi Xuan put down his chopsticks and slowly exhaled.
So, Ye Zhi's statement that it was edible was factual, not a humble understatement.
He shouldn't have had any expectations because of the fruit drink. Her fruit drink was well-made, but that didn't mean she had a talent for cooking. It was likely that Ye Zhi was also quite casual when it came to food. xxs壹贰
Ye Zhi said guiltily, "There are two more dishes. I'll go make them now. Please wait a moment..."
"No need," Qi Xuan said calmly. "Let me do it."
"Ah?" Ye Zhi looked at him in surprise. "That would be too embarrassing..."
"Making food like this is the greatest disrespect to it," Qi Xuan said sternly. "I won't allow you to waste food."
Ye Zhi: "..."
Why did she feel like she was being mocked?
Seeing Qi Xuan walk into the kitchen, Ye Zhi felt it would be impolite to stop him. She couldn't help but pick up her chopsticks and take a bite. What's the big deal? It was edible, wasn't it?
Soon, the table was laid out with dishes made by Qi Xuan. Ye Zhi looked at the beautifully presented dishes, which were appealing in color, aroma, and taste, with shock. She inexplicably recalled a popular internet meme: "After my dog tasted my cooking, he made four dishes and one soup overnight."
No! Why was she starting to mock her own cooking skills too?