The Female CEO Falls in Love with Me

(It's the weekend today, and the kids are at home. It rained all day, so we couldn't go out to play, leaving no time or mood for writing. There will only be one chapter tonight, and we'll continue tomorrow.)

Having already mentioned wanting to be next to 2928, Li Yan didn't mind Chen Xiaoen knowing. The two of them went downstairs together, spent some time, and switched to another room, although they still couldn't be directly next to 2928. Rooms 2930, 2932, 2926, 2924 were already occupied, so they finally moved to Room 2922.

"Why do you want to be close to Room 2928?" Chen Xiaoen didn't feel right asking downstairs, but when accompanying Li Yan back up, she couldn't help but inquire. Could it be because of the guest in Room 2928 that he's staying at the hotel?

Li Yan continued his excuse: "I don't know either. The online friend I'm meeting likes it. Initially, I wanted to book Room 2928, but it was already taken by the time I booked, so I chose one nearby. Maybe it holds some special memory for her."

Hearing his explanation, Chen Xiaoen nodded in understanding. Everyone might have special memories. Just like the two of them, they have special memories in the stairwell on the fifth floor. Coming to the Prince Hotel together, if it were a date, they might want to visit that place too?

Upon entering the guest room, the enclosed space changed the atmosphere between them. Chen Xiaoen felt she shouldn't stay here, so she said her goodbyes, "You should... rest. I'll leave now. They're... off work too."

Seeing her somewhat uneasy expression, thinking of how the receptionists downstairs viewed them, even though nothing was admitted, leaving her to go down alone made her seem pitiful in their eyes.

"Xiaoen, thanks again. Without your help, I wouldn't have been able to change rooms so easily. Let me treat you to dinner!"

Chen Xiaoen, just about to leave, was moved by Li Yan's invitation but declined, "No need, I came to visit some former colleagues and will have dinner with them later."

"Then bring them along! No need to go far, we can eat in the hotel's restaurant, and then you all can go play."

Seeing Li Yan warmly inviting her out together, Chen Xiaoen regretted not realizing he wasn't just being polite, otherwise, she would have just dined with him alone.

Once downstairs and hearing that Li Yan was treating, the receptionists were all delighted. They had thought of encouraging him to treat them and just needed an appropriate opportunity. Now that he was so sincere, they were happy to accept. They told him to go to the restaurant to order, and they would come over after their shift.

On the way to the restaurant, Chen Xiaoen pulled Li Yan aside and whispered, "Should we find a restaurant outside? The food here isn't good and it's expensive."

Though not a scenic spot, the Prince Hotel was not a five-star standard but rather a certified five-star hotel. Its supporting restaurant wouldn't just be a one-time operation. It is more expensive, but not necessarily unpalatable. Li Yan realized that Chen Xiaoen was trying to save him money.

"Hehe, don't worry, a meal won't bankrupt me. You helping me save money might make them misunderstand."

"Misunderstand what?" Chen Xiaoen asked, slightly embarrassed.

"Hehe, such a coincidence, and you've been of great help."

"Why would they think that?" Chen Xiaoen was a bit dizzy. But give it some thought: it was indeed a coincidence. Who knows what they think. She wouldn't have agreed to eat if she knew; they'll just take it one step at a time now.

...

The Prince Hotel was not in the city center, so there weren't many large restaurants nearby, making the restaurant business quite good. By now, there were already many customers.

Laughing and chatting with Chen Xiaoen while looking for a seat, Li Yan quickly scanned the entire restaurant. After checking the numbers, the waiter led them to a larger round table, and Li Yan started ordering. Although it wasn't very gentlemanly, leaving it to Chen Xiaoen would put her in a tough spot, not wanting to burden him, nor wanting to seem stingy to her colleagues.

After ordering, they chatted casually for a bit, with the atmosphere cooling down slightly. Luckily, the receptionists arrived soon after, livening up the atmosphere.

Sure enough, they thought Li Yan and Chen Xiaoen were a couple. To save her face, they didn't over-order, seeing he had ordered plenty, and curiously asked how the two met.

The topic made Li Yan a bit awkward because it related to the Prince Hotel and wasn't convenient to mention. Chen Xiaoen was more embarrassed; she couldn't say she was kissed unexpectedly when they first met, could she?

Their reactions made everyone smile mischievously, sensing a story between them.

In truth, there was hardly any story between them. Li Yan helplessly talked about a time they watched a movie, laughingly called a "hero saving a beauty" tale, which was easier for Chen Xiaoen to acknowledge.

Amidst laughter, the dishes began to arrive and they started eating.

During the meal, Chen Xiaoen noticed that Li Yan occasionally glanced in a certain direction. Curious, she looked over but saw nothing unusual, not even a beautiful woman. This made her ask, "What are you looking at?"

"Nothing? I just thought... those people over there, at a glance, seem like they're from Liguo." Li Yan's seat faced that direction, and each glance seemed natural to those in front of him. Only Chen Xiaoen, sitting beside him, knew he was not looking at the colleagues across but those behind.

The others also turned to look, chuckling, "What a coincidence! Those two Liguo handsome guys are your neighbors tonight..."

Another receptionist's comment left Li Yan speechless.

Li Yan laughed it off.

In his mind, associations sparked; last time, it was two Liguo assassins who tried to poison Nian Yufei. Now, staying in the same hotel tonight, they encounter Liguo people again, coincidentally her neighbors, was it a coincidence? Or...

National sentiment among Liguo people is very strong. As long as their country produces a product or offers an alternative, they absolutely don't use products from other countries. Be it electronic products, beauty products, cars... even beverages like Coca-Cola, they'd support domestic brands. Despite Pepsi's use of Liguo celebrities for endorsement, it was for the Yun Country market. They might incur losses to support domestic industries, which, with perseverance over one or two generations, helped companies like Samsung, LG, and Hyundai thrive. With performance and financial backing, these enterprises' rapid development became a virtuous cycle, finally growing into world-renowned multinational corporations.

From Li Yan's understanding, Liguo hardly has any notable assassins, nor are there many clients from Liguo seeking homicidal assistance. But for Liguo people, it's an exception! Even for hiring assassins, they'd prefer domestic ones. Seeing two Liguo assassins attempting to kill Nian Yufei before made him suspect Liguo people were behind the murder attempt.

Who exactly is Nian Yufei to attract Liguo assassination attempts?

She is merely a recently rising young pianist, performing renowned composers' pieces in her albums and concerts. Would that lead to any grievances with Liguo? Unless she composed something like "Invincible Liguo Universe" as a piece?

Thinking it over, the likelihood pointed to her family background, which Li Yan had no interest in exploring further. Hence, he never investigated her. However, since he came to get tickets from her, and if there was another Liguo murder attempt, he'd still get involved this time.

In Li Yan's view, Liguo assassins were progressing. Possibly due to other countries' assassins knowing them little, they had a certain edge. Like the Liguo middle-aged couple last time, they seemed ordinary tourists, even playing out an idol drama in Cook Hall, which Yagami Light's foreign ex-assassin bodyguard might have observed, but Feng Wuqing, Shi Jian'en, and their team missed due to complacency.

As for the two Liguo people encountered now, as the receptionists commented, indeed, they were those handsome types, and the two wore identical suits, had similar hairstyles, and exhibited refined manners. They also looked quite alike, possibly due to cosmetic surgery or because they were siblings.

Li Yan's observation was subtle, yet Chen Xiaoen and others boldly looked. However, perhaps the pair was accustomed to female attention or it was a deliberate front, as they continued conversing with a woman at their table, ignoring the attention.

When they were almost done eating, the receptionists exchanged looks and claimed to have errands, leaving the couple to dine leisurely.

Possibly due to Li Yan's earlier playful reminders, Chen Xiaoen was on guard. Seeing them depart as though intentionally leaving her alone with Li Yan, she suspected they thought she might plan to book a room with him. Not wanting to dwell on it, she quickly apologized to Li Yan and rushed off with one of them.

Having just dined with a group of receptionists who hadn't changed out of their uniforms, Li Yan had appeared quite showy in the restaurant. Now that they'd left and he alone occupied a large table during the busiest hour, he looked rather conspicuous again. Noticing the two Liguo individuals with two women leaving together, he called for the bill.

To follow them?

Nian Yufei would indeed have bodyguards, making her return to the safe hotel more perilous instead.

...perhaps wait by the tree and let the rabbit come to him!

(Thanks to those who tipped yesterday: 476656446, Cold Cold Team Captain, Jiao Brother Here, ★Fantasy Boy, Stop. Little Ghost, Yagami Light II, Eagle's Wind, dongmin8061, Yagami Light II, CP Pampas) (To be continued, for more, please log onto www.qidian.com, support the author, advocate for legitimate reading!)