Heartthrob, Your Image is Crumbling!

Chapter 319: A Food Delivery Company Valued at a Million

Seeing her daughter's glowing face, Liu Jing knew she had a good time today.The roses and the crushed diamond necklace around her neck were enough to prove that her judgment was right.

This was what dating should be like.

It wasn't just that Zhou Yuwen was wealthy and could afford to give expensive jewelry.

More importantly, Zhou Yuwen could provide a certain amount of emotional value.

She had worked tirelessly to raise Jiang Xinyi, and it certainly wasn't so her daughter could just casually settle down with any man.

This crushed diamond necklace wasn't actually that expensive, probably just over ten thousand yuan, but it was undeniably beautiful. Liu Jing picked up the necklace around Jiang Xinyi's neck and praised it profusely.

Jiang Xinyi felt absolutely delighted.

Of course, she still had a few complaints about Zhou Yuwen.

Well, not entirely about Zhou Yuwen, but rather about that labor company.

What kind of company was that, constantly calling right in the middle of New Year's Eve?

It ruined Jiang Xinyi's chance to properly celebrate the new year with Zhou Yuwen.

Thinking of this, Jiang Xinyi pouted.

However, Liu Jing felt this was perfectly normal.

"It is a good thing for men to be busy with their careers. Look at your father, he isn't home for New Year's Eve either. Keeping you company is important, of course, but attending to business is even more crucial. You should be understanding and see the bigger picture. If things really work out between you and Yuwen in the future, you should think about how to support his career instead of holding him back," Liu Jing lectured.

Jiang Xinyi could not be bothered to listen to her mother's preaching and replied, "Ugh, I know."

"I was just complaining a bit. I never said I didn't support him."

Jiang Xinyi felt incredibly sweet inside. She repeatedly admired the necklace around her neck in the mirror, growing fonder of it by the second. Finally, she even asked Liu Jing, "Mom, look! Did Dad get you a present?"

Liu Jing could not help but roll her eyes at her. "Your father and I are an old couple, there is no need for gifts anymore."

"Oh, so that means he didn't? I got one."

"You brat!"

Hearing this, Liu Jing instantly feigned anger and reached out to smack Jiang Xinyi.

But Jiang Xinyi was already prepared and giggled as she scampered away.

It was already half-past ten by the time Zhou Yuwen arrived at the hotel for Zhao Jun's company's semi-annual meeting. However, it was still bustling with noise outside. After all, this annual meeting was also a New Year's Eve celebration, which meant it would last well into the night.

The security guards and some of the etiquette hostesses were sourced through Zhou Yuwen's company, and two of the performances even featured students from the Nanjing University of the Arts.

Therefore, as soon as Zhou Yuwen arrived, some part-time students in navy blue uniforms spotted him and quickly hurried over to greet him.

They respectfully called him "Brother Zhou" one after another.

"Brother Zhou."

"Brother Zhou."

Just outside the venue alone, there were four or five part-time students maintaining order. They wore security outfits resembling SWAT uniforms, and every single one of them looked big and burly.

Zhou Yuwen did not recognize all of them, but he gave a slight nod to acknowledge them before asking, "Where is your Brother Shuo?"

"Brother Shuo is inside drinking with the brothers," a dark-skinned boy replied.

Zhou Yuwen nodded. He patted his pockets, found half a pack of cigarettes left, and handed them all out to the group, asking if they had eaten yet.

These simple and honest students replied that they had already eaten.

"Brother Shuo arranged everything. We just finished eating and swapped out with the other shift."

"Alright then, I'll go find your Brother Shuo first."

"Okay."

With that, Zhou Yuwen walked inside.

He hadn't expected Zhao Jun's company to be so large. Taking a rough look around, there were about fifteen to twenty tables in the entire venue. It probably wasn't just Zhao Jun's company, but also included upstream and downstream partner companies.

Regardless, there were quite a lot of people.

A lucky draw was currently taking place on the stage.

There were also a few tall girls in long evening gowns walking around the venue. When they saw Zhou Yuwen, they would nod slightly in greeting, and if they bumped into him face-to-face, they would politely call him "Brother Zhou".

Zhou Yuwen nodded in response to all of them, and following their directions, he found the table where Liu Shuo was seated.

Liu Shuo's table was arranged slightly toward the outer edge. It couldn't be helped; they were just a group of university students after all. Inviting them over was already giving them a lot of face.

There were about twelve or thirteen people sitting at this table, both men and women.

They were all familiar faces, like Liu Shuo, Lu Hui, and Gao Yang.

There was also Tao Tian's roommate Minmin, along with a bunch of classmates under Liu Shuo's wing.

These people weren't too particular about their clothes; they simply came here to eat and watch the show.

The programs on stage were indeed quite good. Liu Shuo was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle with his arm wrapped around Lu Hui.

Lu Hui was a bit more refined with her attire. She wore a low-cut gown, which looked stunning. As a twenty-five-year-old woman, she certainly had some alluring curves to show off.

Liu Shuo kept his arm draped over Lu Hui's shoulder.

However, Lu Hui kept pushing his hand away, complaining that it was too hot.

It was right at this moment that Zhou Yuwen walked over.

Gao Yang was the first to spot him and abruptly stood up.

Once the others noticed Zhou Yuwen, they all stood up as well.

"Brother Zhou."

"Brother Zhou."

Liu Shuo realized a second later and immediately showed a look of pleasant surprise. "Brother! You're here!"

Zhou Yuwen gave a slight nod and waved his hand at Gao Yang and the rest, saying, "Sit down, everyone."

Only then did the students sit back down one by one.

An entire table suddenly standing up like that indeed drew quite a bit of attention from the surrounding crowd.

Following the commotion, everyone noticed Zhou Yuwen's figure.

They just thought he looked rather young.

Truthfully, the other attendees had been quite curious about who the people at this table were. They looked very young. More importantly, the chubby guy from earlier had been a bit boisterous, which might have seemed a little crude to the other social elites present.

After hearing that they were university students, people were even more surprised.

Their behavior did not resemble typical university students at all.

Zhou Yuwen knew everyone at the table, so there was no need for idle pleasantries. At most, he just asked Lu Hui to pour him a glass of cold water as he sat down, then asked Liu Shuo, "How is it? Is the New Year's Eve gala any good?"

"Ah, it's just okay, Brother. I was thinking that once we're rich, we should throw a party exactly like this. By then, our Xuhuai Association will have over two thousand members. If we all showed up together wearing suits, imagine how epic that scene would be!"

Zhou Yuwen quipped, "I'm afraid you'd be hauled off by the police before you even finished gathering everyone."

Hearing this, Gao Yang and the other boys burst into laughter.

Liu Shuo, however, was a bit indignant. He retorted, "What is there to be afraid of? My operations are completely legal and legitimate."

By now, Lu Hui could be considered fully tamed by Liu Shuo.

Well, not necessarily tamed by Liu Shuo, but rather, Lu Hui currently held immense respect for Zhou Yuwen. It was a genuine respect from the bottom of her heart. When Zhou Yuwen asked her to pour water, she poured it with absolute reverence, using both hands to respectfully pass the cup to him.

Zhou Yuwen took it, had a sip, and then ate a few bites of food.

This company's semi-annual meeting was actually quite lavish. Zhou Yuwen saw that every table had a Boston lobster and a massive crab. Unfortunately, only leftovers remained at their table.

Zhou Yuwen remarked, "You guys didn't even know to leave a bite for me."

Liu Shuo grinned. "Brother, I didn't know you were coming."

Zhou Yuwen couldn't be bothered to argue with him and shifted his gaze to Minmin. Actually, he was quite surprised to see Minmin here.

Minmin was wearing a black bodycon dress. She wasn't wearing her usual long boots today, opting instead for a pair of nude-colored pointed high heels. She looked quite beautiful.

Seeing Zhou Yuwen looking at her, she felt a little nervous and reserved.

That was just how Zhou Yuwen's faction operated. To an outsider, they might just seem like a bunch of part-time students, but once inside the circle, the influence of others inevitably fostered a deep sense of reverence toward Zhou Yuwen.

When everyone stood up just now, Minmin had simply followed along, and now she was even more unsure of how to properly greet him.

Zhou Yuwen just nodded at her and asked curiously, "Is Senior Sister Tao Tian not with you?"

"She was just here a moment ago. She probably went to the restroom. She and I came over for a part-time job, and we just decided to sit here for a bit," Minmin replied.

Zhou Yuwen nodded and glanced around, but he did not catch sight of Tao Tian.

Minmin awkwardly offered, "Zhou... Yuwen, how about I serve you a bowl of porridge?"

After all, she was Zhou Yuwen's senior sister; she couldn't bring herself to call him "Brother Zhou".

Zhou Yuwen nodded and agreed.

And so, Minmin obediently stood up and served him a bowl of porridge.

Watching from the side, Lu Hui felt a wave of disdain, thinking to herself, 'Another girl trying to seduce Zhou Yuwen.'

Liu Shuo was still grinning, chatting enthusiastically with Zhou Yuwen about the performances from earlier.

He also mentioned that this company had quite a few beautiful women.

"Once we have our own company in the future, we can do it exactly like this."

Zhou Yuwen simply chuckled. Just then, his phone rang. It was an incoming call from Zhao Jun, asking where he was.

Zhou Yuwen replied that he had already arrived.

"Where are you?"

Zhou Yuwen answered, "I'm at Liu Shuo's table."

"Look up."

Only then did Zhou Yuwen realize that this banquet hall was a story and a half high, with a mezzanine level in the high-ceilinged area. Zhao Jun was holding his phone on the second floor, waving down at him.

Still waving, he hurried down the stairs.

Coming up to Zhou Yuwen, he exclaimed, "Oh, my brother, why are you sitting over here?"

Zhou Yuwen countered, "If I don't sit here, where should I sit?"

"You should obviously join me in the private room! I told you, a whole bunch of people are waiting to meet you. You didn't even tell me when you arrived. Come with me, quickly."

Zhou Yuwen protested, "I haven't even finished my porridge yet."

"Forget the porridge, there are giant crabs and lobsters over there! Come on!" Zhao Jun urged.

Zhou Yuwen smiled helplessly and said, "Liu Shuo, come over with me for a bit."

"Oh, sure thing, Brother."

When it mattered most, the person Zhou Yuwen brought along was still Liu Shuo.

"The first time we met, I knew you were destined for great things, brother. I can tell they seem to value your Xianlin Delivery highly. Stay cool, and let's get a good price for it! I've heard rumors they're preparing to offer over a million to buy your Xianlin Delivery, so don't show any weakness when the time comes," Zhao Jun advised earnestly.

"Only a million?" Zhou Yuwen asked.

"Is that not enough, brother? They are a national-level company, and your food delivery business only covers one university town. Do you know how long it takes me to earn a million? Even if I added up my entire net worth, it might not be that much."

Zhao Jun kept talking as they walked. It was obvious he had drank quite a bit today, and combined with that, he truly felt this kid Zhou Yuwen had unbelievably good luck.

What he didn't know, however, was that Zhou Yuwen was currently lacking any real interest. If it was only for a mere million, he never would have gone through the time and effort to start a food delivery company in the first place.

Originally, he thought that selling it for a little less profit wouldn't be a loss.

But now, it seemed like he had a long and arduous road ahead.

There was an independent small private room on the second floor. Zhao Jun kept rambling on endlessly, telling them to act a bit more formal when they met Boss Zhu.

"I'm telling you, Boss Zhu is a rare beauty. I'm not worried about you, but you, Liu Shuo—don't go drooling like an idiot and embarrassing your brother."

Liu Shuo protested, "Come on, Brother Jun, what do you mean by that? I have a girlfriend!"

"Heh, you think having a girlfriend makes you special?"

As they spoke, they pushed the door open and entered.

However, inside the vast room, there were only a man and a woman sitting around a table full of food. It looked like they had already eaten, but the dishes on the table had barely been touched.

It seemed the two of them had been chatting and catching up this whole time.

Zhao Jun walked over and announced, "Boss Gao, I've brought him over."

Only then did Gao Bide and the woman look up.

Gao Bide was obviously a little drunk, looking quite dizzy as he sat there.

The woman, on the other hand, had a sharp, astute look on her face. She seemed very pleased to see Zhou Yuwen and proactively stood up. "Hello, Zhou Yuwen. I've heard so much about you!"

As she spoke, the woman was already standing right in front of him.

This woman was indeed different from the women Zhou Yuwen was accustomed to.

She had short, permed curly hair, bold red lips, and bright, spirited eyes. When she smiled, she revealed deep dimples.

She had a pear-shaped figure, which normally would exude a strong feminine charm. Instead, she was wearing a loose-fitting coffee-colored suit with a pale yellow shirt underneath.

It gave off a sense of untethered freedom.

Just like how she acted now, standing up to greet him while effortlessly handing over her business card with one hand.

Zhu Hong.

Meituan Delivery.

Jinling Branch Office.

Position: Vice President.

"I often hear Boss Gao mention you. I also really love listening to that song you wrote, 'Fleet of Time'. I hope we have a pleasant collaboration this time," Zhu Hong smiled gently, extending her hand to shake Zhou Yuwen's.

Zhou Yuwen did not decline.

Instead, he feigned an expression of confusion. "I'm a little lost. What kind of collaboration do Boss Zhu and I have to discuss?"

Zhu Hong chuckled lightly. Rather than answering his question, she deflected, "Haven't you eaten yet? Sit down and have a bite with us. The tuna sashimi here is incredibly fresh."

The spread on the table was very complete, featuring giant crabs and lobsters, and even an extra sashimi platter compared to the tables outside.

Gao Bide had clearly been drinking; the area under his eyes was slightly flushed as he gestured for Zhou Yuwen and the others to sit.

Zhu Hong said, "It might have been a bit presumptuous to call you both over on such a special day."

"I originally wanted to arrange a meeting on a slightly more formal date, but my old classmate here, Boss Gao, insisted that he has excellent connections with you," Zhu Hong said, flashing a smile at Gao Bide.

Gao Bide nodded and grandly introduced, "Yuwen is my little brother. Our relationship is so solid that he comes whenever I call. Isn't that right, Yuwen?"

Gao Bide was truly drunk, presumably overjoyed to see Zhu Hong.

Liu Shuo, who had already taken a seat, darkened his eyes and fixed a deadly stare on Gao Bide.

Zhou Yuwen did not respond to Gao Bide's boasting.

In the center of the sashimi platter, there were a few chunks wrapped in golden foil. From a distance, they looked like mere decorations, but wrapped inside was frozen foie gras.

Compared to half-raw sashimi, the frozen foie gras suited his taste much better. Zhou Yuwen picked up a piece of foie gras, methodically peeled back the foil, and took a bite. As expected of a grand hotel, the foie gras was quite rich and succulent.

While eating the foie gras, Zhou Yuwen said calmly, "For Boss Zhu to call me over in such a hurry, you must have something important to discuss."

Holding her red wine glass, Zhu Hong watched the way Zhou Yuwen ate the foie gras and could not help but chuckle. "No rush. Foie gras can be too rich, it tastes much better when paired with a little red wine."

As she spoke, she slightly raised her wine glass.