Summers in Jianghai City were not just hot but oppressively humid, making it feel like being in a steam bath.
From the Hong Kong Plaza lobby to the waiting executive car, just a few steps and Ju Li’s nose was already glistening with sweat.
Zhong Liyan sat in the back left seat, behind the driver, while Ju Li sat on the right. Between them was a leather pull-down table.
As the car started, Ju Li quietly took out a tissue and dabbed the sweat off her nose, smoothing down her hair with careful movements.
On the left, Boss Zhong was like an emotionless pressure machine. In the enclosed car space, his presence made her tense.
Even breathing required caution; it was suffocating.
After what felt like half an hour, she checked her phone; only five minutes had passed.
She let out a silent, despairing sigh and sneaked a glance at Zhong Liyan, only to realise that at some point, he had closed his eyes, seemingly asleep.
His back was sunken into the seat, and Ju Li finally relaxed, her stiff shoulders loosening.
Taking the opportunity, she observed him carefully. Up close, there were traces of time on his face,
The frown lines between his brows, the dark circles under his eyes that didn’t fade as quickly, were clear signs that he was indeed a man in his early thirties.
Yet, even so, there was no denying he was an exceptionally handsome man.
Refined, cold and exuding an air of prestige.
Now, with his eyes closed, he seemed a bit weary, making him feel slightly more approachable, a bit more human.
She studied him closely, his thick and sharp brows, long curled lashes blending with the shadows under his eyes, giving him an air of gloom and mystery.
Just as she was absorbed in watching, Boss Zhong suddenly cleared his throat. Startled, Ju Li immediately turned away, pretending to be deeply fascinated by the scenery outside the window. She didn’t dare sneak another glance for the next five minutes.
The journey wasn’t long, but the stillness in the car made it feel unbearable.
Unlike Zhong Liyan, Ju Li didn’t dare close her eyes. She feared she’d actually fall asleep.
Half an hour later, the destination finally came into view.
The car passed through a stone archway resembling the Arc de Triomphe and slowed down. They had arrived.
The office building of the higher-ups exuded a stately and authoritative architectural style. Ju Li followed Zhong Liyan closely, always keeping a measured distance, occasionally having to jog a few steps to keep up.
Along the way, several reception staff greeted Zhong Liyan with polite handshakes, all showing utmost courtesy.
Dressed in all black, standing tall and poised, his expression was cold and serious. As he walked through the corridors, he looked like he was here for an inspection, powerful and imposing.
Ju Li couldn’t help but worry. Weren’t they here to report to the leadership?
With such a strong presence, did they really intend to barge in like this?
She wiped her sweat.
…
Finally, they arrived at the large conference room. A junior leader led Zhong Liyan to his seat at the long table, where his nameplate was already placed.
The room had dark wooden flooring and furniture, paired with white walls, potted plants and landscape paintings, giving it a traditional and solemn atmosphere.
Ju Li obediently sat behind Zhong Liyan, holding her notebook, blending into the background.
On the narrower sides of the long table, the stenographers had already set up their laptops, ready to record.
Seated along one side of the table were various company executives, some engaging in small talk, while others stood up specifically to greet Zhong Liyan.
The usually aloof Boss Zhong finally showed a faint smile, displaying the necessary social skills of a businessman.
By the time the senior leader arrived, everyone was already in place.
The entire room stood up to shake hands with the leader, the atmosphere harmonious, as if there were no underlying tensions at all.
Ju Li wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but when the senior leader shook hands with Zhong Liyan, it seemed as though he gave him a subtle, lingering glance.
Yet Zhong Liyan appeared unaffected, his professional smile unwavering.
Once everyone was seated, the long table was divided, leaders on one side, business executives on the other.
This was a high-level meeting. Everyone looked serious, but their thoughts varied.
The attendees were from various industries, film, gaming, literature, and comics, all related to content creation.
The purpose of today’s meeting: discussing the regulation of cultural content.
As the meeting began, the junior leader hosting the session introduced the attendees, followed by the senior leader’s speech,
His tone was composed, his voice steady, his words carefully chosen.
Everyone in the room sat up straight, listening intently. Some nodded occasionally to show their agreement, while others took notes as a sign of respect.
Some were especially dramatic; after every sentence the senior leader spoke, they would put on a look of sudden enlightenment.
Watching and listening, Ju Li also felt profoundly enlightened. She realised she had been far too inexperienced in dealing with such situations.
Silently sitting at the back, she observed each person carefully, analysing the subtle attitudes revealed in their words and reactions.
As she listened, she simultaneously jotted down meeting notes in her notebook, recording both the key points and her own amusing observations.
The real highlight of the meeting began when the business executives started giving their speeches.
They spoke in order from left to right.
Sitting in the middle, Boss Zhong appeared unhurried. Though he held a pen in his hand, he hadn’t written down a single word.
One could say he was listening attentively, his posture was upright, his brows slightly furrowed, and he looked like he was concentrating.
Yet one could also say he wasn’t really paying attention; his expression hadn’t changed even once from beginning to end.
The first few executives gave speeches that were nothing but excessive flattery toward the leadership. Their words were full of flowery phrases, an endless stream of bootlicking so sweet it could give one cavities.
And yet, as they read their speeches, their emotions were so sincere that it almost seemed like every word of praise came from the bottom of their hearts.
Impressive. Truly impressive.
Ju Li was completely awestruck.
She had never imagined that these high-ranking, wealthy business tycoons, when reporting to government leaders, would actually deliver such a long-winded stream of utter nonsense with such a straight face.
So in this world, was success really just about how good one’s acting skills were?
She stole a glance at the senior leader.
The leader sitting across from them had maintained an almost unchanging expression. Perhaps this was what it meant to be inscrutable.
But Ju Li still caught a trace of boredom in the leader’s eyes. Even so, because the executives’ attitudes were respectful enough, overall, he probably still felt satisfied.
The atmosphere in the conference room remained solemn. Even though the executives’ reports were full of over-the-top embellishments, everyone listened with serious expressions, as if this meeting was genuinely about discussing and reporting serious matters.
But when it was finally Zhong Liyan’s turn to speak, the expressions of every participant subtly changed.
Some straightened up in their seats, perking their ears.
Some watched him with amused, knowing eyes, as if waiting for a spectacle to unfold.
Meanwhile, the junior officials sitting opposite had a completely different reaction; some suddenly sat up stiffly as if preparing for battle, while others frowned and bit their lips, watching him with a mix of tension and helplessness.
Even the senior leader finally showed a slight change in demeanour. He pressed a finger to his temple, leaned his slightly plump body back into his chair, clutched his pen and took a deep breath.
It seemed as if he was mentally preparing himself, fortifying his mind and emotions for whatever was about to happen.
Ju Li blinked, suddenly feeling a little uneasy.
Why did it feel like… her boss had a history of being a troublemaker?
Could it be that he had a reputation for stirring up trouble in meetings like this?
Otherwise, why was everyone reacting this way?
Zhong Liyan, however, appeared completely unaware of the shift in the atmosphere around him.
He casually straightened the speech manuscript in his hand, sat upright and began speaking,
His voice was rich and deep, full of natural authority.
Perhaps due to his habit of giving orders, there was an inherent confidence in his tone, strong, assertive and composed.
Across from him, a female official softened her expression upon hearing his voice.
However, as soon as he finished his first sentence, the expressions of those in the room became subtly perplexed.
The business executives, long accustomed to his habit of confronting and challenging authority with a calm demeanour, gradually showed disappointment.
Meanwhile, the officials sitting opposite him raised their eyebrows slightly or let their expressions relax.
Zhong Liyan’s speech, why was it suddenly so… composed?
Everyone felt a pang of regret, even a bit of confusion.
It was… unsettling.
But soon, they realised something,
His calmness wasn’t one of submission, but rather an elevated perspective, a broadened vision.
His words carried a sense of maturity and openness.
Yet, woven between the lines, there remained a stubborn defiance unique to him.
As the senior leader listened, his posture gradually changed. No longer leaning back in his chair, he sat up straight, pen in hand and began taking notes.
When Zhong Liyan brought up a particular drama produced by his company, Zhanyun Entertainment, the officials initially tensed up. That drama had previously sparked a long and intense back-and-forth between the regulatory department and Zhanyun Entertainment.
But as he continued speaking, the officials’ rigid expressions softened. Their tense brows slowly relaxed, replaced by a look of disbelief.
Sentence after sentence, Zhong Liyan read his speech. And eventually, that disbelief transformed into something deeper, something moved.
Even the senior leader, whose face had remained unreadable throughout the meeting, finally showed a ripple of emotion.
His sharp gaze locked onto Zhong Liyan. Then, suddenly, he let out a long breath. A faint smile appeared at the corners of his lips.
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