Upon hearing the deputy director's question, Su Yue was a little surprised, "An appointment for what?"
"There are a few entrepreneurs who have been sponsors of our program. They saw you on television and really want to meet you."
Entrepreneurs…
Su Yue was still puzzled.
"It's just a simple dinner. Their children are also your fans and want you to sign autographs!" the deputy director added.
Perhaps it was because he looked too kind, or perhaps Su Yue had come to like his leadership style since joining the company.
In any case, looking at his eyes, she still couldn't refuse and agreed.
Before leaving work, Baili Qing returned to the office, and Su Yue told her about it.
"I'll ask him about it." Baili Qing frowned and called the deputy director.
Upon learning who was going, she felt relieved.
"It's fine. You should know these three bosses." Baili Qing searched on her computer and showed Su Yue.
Two women, one man.
All chairmen of well-known large domestic enterprises.
Respected and well-liked.
Su Yue breathed a sigh of relief.
"However…" Baili Qing thought for a moment, then called the deputy director again, requesting that Shen Nanyi (a male reporter in Su Yue's office) accompany her.
After hanging up, she smiled at the confused girl in front of her, "Shen Nanyi is very reliable. With him along, it'll be even more secure."
…
After work, the deputy director took the two of them to the reserved hotel.
Just before entering the hotel, he instructed Shen Nanyi to go to a distant pastry shop to buy some pumpkin pastries for the female chairwoman they were dining with.
Su Yue found it strange, but since they were already at the hotel entrance, she didn't think much of it and followed them to the dining room.
However, as she entered, she was a bit bewildered.
There were two women, but at a glance, they were not the two chairwomen.
They were all around her age and dressed rather seductively.
They were sitting beside two greasy middle-aged men, looking coy.
There were two other middle-aged men, one of whom was the one Baili Qing had told her about.
She felt a sense of unease and wanted to retreat.
"Oh! Director Guo is here, and this must be the recently famous Reporter Su?"
When the men saw Su Yue, their eyes lit up like hungry wolves spotting their prey.
"Yes, Yueyue, come and greet the bosses." The deputy director immediately put his arm around Su Yue, who was trying to escape, and pushed her forward with a bit of force.
"Sit next to President Liang! Beauty matches hero, President Liang is well-deserving of this title!" one man said with a grin.
"I'm sorry, Director Guo, I won't sit there." Su Yue finally understood the situation, immediately broke free from the deputy director, and put distance between them with a cold face.
The deputy director's face turned green. He quickly apologized to the bosses, grabbed Su Yue, and pulled her to a corner.
"Yueyue, just come for dinner. I won't let you drink, don't worry," he said quietly and anxiously.
"I won't," Su Yue refused sternly, not wasting time with him.
She had been to such occasions many times with Su Minghua back then; she knew the situation all too well.
The deputy director was getting impatient, but thinking that Su Yue was a favored figure in the eyes of the director and was protected by Baili Qing, he patiently persuaded her.
"Then don't eat either, just come and sit for a moment, sign an autograph. President Liang's daughter is really your fan, and she's aspiring to be a reporter now!"
These words did move Su Yue a little.
She remembered how she was influenced by Baili Qing to enter this industry.
"Okay," she finally relented.
The deputy director breathed a sigh of relief and turned back, smiling at the table, "She's here, she's here! Reporter Su, come!"
Su Yue remained silent, not looking at the people at the table. She walked to the seat with her eyes down, pulled the chair away from President Liang, and sat down.
"Reporter Su, don't overthink it. I simply admire your talent," President Liang finally spoke.
He appeared quite gentlemanly and refined.
But Su Yue had seen Su Minghua in this manner before.
"President Liang, aren't you asking me for an autograph? Where should I sign?" she replied without answering, casting a cold glance at him.
"Oh, here." President Liang smilingly took a photo from his breast pocket.
It was a photo Su Yue had posted on her social media account.
Su Yue took it, took out a pen from her bag, and signed her name on the back.
After handing over the photo, she stood up, ready to leave.
"Reporter Su, can't we even clink glasses?" President Liang said with some helplessness.
The deputy director also chimed in, "Yueyue, don't be willful. You've already sat down, at least have a bite to eat and a drink before leaving."
"No drinking. I've specially prepared juice for you." President Liang pushed a glass of orange juice towards her.
Su Yue frowned and thought for a moment.
She picked up the glass and clinked it with President Liang's.
Then, she drank it.