The daughter was ruthlessly driven out of the wealthy family and went to the countryside

Qin Zizhou listened to the whole thing and asked, "Why did Kong Yunzhi suddenly ask you to dinner? Does he have some ulterior motive towards you?"

Shen Xuening didn't think much of it: "They're just high school classmates, what could they possibly want from me?"

Qin Zizhou shook his head, insisting on his own opinion: "If he didn't have any ulterior motive, why would he suddenly ask you to dinner? It doesn't make sense."

Shen Xuening looked at Qin Zizhou and asked with amusement, "So what do you think the purpose is?"

Qin Zizhou hit the nail on the head: "He likes you."

Shen Xuening: “…”

Qin Zizhou continued, "If he didn't like you and had no interaction with you, why would he ask you out to dinner? He must like you."

Shen Xuening thought for a moment. Not wanting to upset Qin Zizhou, she said, "Then I'll decline."

Qin Zizhou immediately became magnanimous: "No, that would make me seem petty. Just go to the appointment as usual."

Shen Xuening's eyes showed suspicion: "Aren't you jealous?"

Qin Zizhou admitted frankly, "Of course I'm jealous, but I can't let you not have a single male friend just because you're with me."

Shen Xuening knows Qin Zizhou very well: "Do you think I believe you?"

Qin Zizhou hugged Shen Xuening and whispered in her ear, "I'll go with you and sit at the table next to you. I want to hear what he has to say to you."

Shen Xuening: “…”

Qin Zizhou looked at Shen Xuening pleadingly: "Is it alright?"

“Okay.” How could Shen Xuening possibly make Qin Zizhou unhappy because of another man? Qin Zizhou would definitely be the one to take the lead.

Qin Zizhou was delighted, his eyebrows beaming with joy: "I'll go first, and after I'm seated, you can bring Kong Yunzhi over, okay?"

Shen Xuening nodded: "Okay, whatever you say."

Just as she finished speaking, Shen Xuening's phone rang again. She took it out and saw that it was Shen Junyu calling her. After thinking for a moment, she answered, "Is there something wrong?"

"Xue Ning," Shen Junyu said bluntly, "I heard you're getting engaged?"

Shen Xuening's voice was indifferent, as if she were talking to an ordinary friend: "We're already engaged. The engagement banquet is the day after tomorrow. What's wrong?"

Shen Junyu asked with some anticipation, "Can we participate?"

“You…” Shen Xuening was silent for a while, “It seems a bit inappropriate for employees to attend the boss’s engagement banquet.” She had no connection with the Shen family anymore, so she didn’t want to get involved anymore.

Shen Junyu felt a little disappointed, but not surprised. However, he still wanted to try: "Xue Ning, we just want to see you happy. We won't do anything bad."

Upon hearing this, Shen Xuening simply said, "I know, but I don't want you to show up."

Shen Junyu fell silent.

Shen Xuening said, "If there's nothing else to say, I'll hang up. I'm quite busy here."

Shen Junyu spoke again: "Whether you agree or not, Shen Junqi and I will attend your engagement party. Even if you don't acknowledge us, we will still consider you our sister."

Shen Xuening felt nothing: "Since that's how it is, then so be it."

Shen Junyu's voice held a hint of joy: "Okay."

Shen Xuening hung up the phone.

Seeing that Shen Xuening didn't smile, Qin Zizhou said, "Shen Junyu took a taxi? He wants to come to the engagement party? He's a bit shameless. You didn't even invite him, yet he took the initiative to come."

Shen Xuening looked at Qin Zizhou and sighed helplessly: "I don't know what he's thinking. Let him come if he wants. It's just one more pair of chopsticks."

Seeing that Shen Xuening didn't want to talk about it anymore, Qin Zizhou stopped talking and said, "Let's go check the menu."

Shen Xuening smiled again: "Okay."

……

At 6 p.m., Kong Yunzhi arrived at the hotel entrance on time and was led to the restaurant by the staff.

At this moment, Qin Zizhou was already disguised, wearing a baseball cap with the brim pulled low, so that unless he looked up, no one could see what he looked like.

His table was set with food, dishes, bowls, and chopsticks, making him look like a guest having a meal.

Shen Xuening greeted her with a smile, "Please sit down."

"Hmm." Kong Yunzhi's eyes were only on Shen Xuening, and he didn't notice the people and things around him. He walked over and sat down directly opposite Shen Xuening, behind Qin Zizhou. The position was quite good.

Shen Xuening sat down opposite Kong Yunzhi and personally poured him tea: "Did you come all the way from your residence?"

"Yes." Kong Yunzhi dressed up carefully at home. He hadn't dressed up like this in a long time. "I left home at five o'clock. The journey was smooth with no traffic jams. I arrived at 5:40. I rested in the car for a while and then came up here."

"Are you nervous to see me?" Shen Xuening asked gently. "You still need to rest."

"You're Chairman Shen, my boss, of course I'm nervous," Kong Yunzhi thought to himself. If it weren't for Shen Xuening's upcoming engagement, he wouldn't have asked her out for dinner yet.

Shen Xuening said, "At work, we are in a superior-subordinate relationship, but in life, we are also classmates."

Kong Yun nodded, he was really nervous, his palms were sweating: "Xue Ning, what do you want to eat? Let's order, it's my treat today."

Shen Xuening said, "This is the hotel where I held my engagement banquet. I eat here for free, so please feel free to order whatever you want."

Kong Yunzhi smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "Then I should treat you to a meal at another hotel."

"It doesn't matter where we eat, I don't care." After saying that, Shen Xuening called the waiter over and let Kong Yunzhi order.

Kong Yunzhi was quite gentlemanly, telling Shen Xuening to order: "Order whatever you like. I can eat anything and I'm never picky."

Shen Xuening then ordered eight dishes, including cold dishes, hot dishes, and soups, and also ordered wine: "Let's have a drink together."

Kong Yunzhi nodded: "I'll listen to you."

Shen Xuening then confirmed the menu with the waiter and waited for the food to be served.

Kong Yun stared intently at Shen Xuening. Compared to high school, Shen Xuening had shed her immaturity and become mature and charming. She looked exceptionally attractive, no, it was impossible to look away from her; she was so bright and beautiful.

Shen Xuening took a sip of tea and, seeing that Kong Yunzhi was still looking at her, asked, "Is my face dirty?"

Kong Yunzhi's gaze immediately shifted as if burned: "I'm sorry, I was a little distracted just now."

Shen Xuening suddenly remembered what Qin Zizhou had said. Could it be that Kong Yunzhi really had a crush on her? But there had been no signs of it before. "Have some tea. The tea here is quite good."

"Okay." Kong Yunzhi quickly drank his tea to cover up his embarrassment.

Shen Xuening put down her teacup and leaned back slightly: "How's work lately?"

"It went very smoothly," Kong Yunzhi quickly chimed in. "Also, thank you, Chairman Shen, for the generous salary. This is my first job after graduation, and I'm extremely satisfied."

Shen Xuening said, "Since you're satisfied, then work here longer. The benefits will definitely get better and better."

Kong Yunzhi nodded: "I will."

Qin Zizhou turned around and looked at the two of them, his eyes meeting Shen Xuening's. Then he glanced at Kong Yunzhi and turned back.

Shen Xuening sighed inwardly. "He's even concerned about work now? This guy!"

Seeing that Shen Xuening's teacup was empty, Kong Yunzhi quickly poured her some more: "I didn't expect you to get married so early. I haven't heard any news of my classmates getting married yet, only you."

“When the feelings are right, you should get married,” Shen Xuening said naturally. “You should find a girlfriend too.”

"I..." Kong Yunzhi gave a self-deprecating laugh, "I have nothing right now, who would like me? I'll wait a few years before thinking about dating."

“There are also unrealistic girls out there. If you meet the right one, then date her,” Shen Xuening encouraged.

Kong Yunzhi had his own thoughts and didn't dare to look at Shen Xuening: "I...I will."

At this moment, the waiter served the food, easing Kong Yunzhi's embarrassment: "Let's eat, I'm a little hungry."

Shen Xuening nodded: "Okay."

The atmosphere between the two was somewhat silent as they picked up their chopsticks and began to eat, albeit somewhat stiffly.

After taking a few bites, Shen Xuening asked, "You specifically asked me to have dinner, is there something you need?"

Kong Yunzhi was taken aback, then quickly shook his head: "No, I just wanted to ask you out for dinner. We're classmates."

Shen Xuening seemed to see through Kong Yunzhi's thoughts: "Do you believe what you're saying? Tell the truth, or you won't have another chance."

For a moment, Kong Yunzhi really wanted to tell Shen Xuening what he was thinking, but he held back in the end. He shook his head and said firmly, "It's nothing. I really just wanted to catch up with you. You have no idea how happy I was when I found out that you owned the company. I feel so lucky."

Shen Xuening asked, "Why do you say that?"

"Old classmate, you definitely won't make things difficult for me now, and my work will definitely go more smoothly. I wanted to invite you to dinner back then, but you weren't in City A, so I'm only inviting you now." Kong Yunzhi thought to himself, he would never reveal his true feelings in this lifetime. He didn't want to cause trouble for Shen Xuening, who was about to get married.

Shen Xuening said, "My company has a great atmosphere and environment, so those things won't happen. Don't worry."

Kong Yunzhi said, "I'm very happy. I've been working here for several months and everything has gone smoothly."

Shen Xuening said, "If there's anything about the company, you can tell me directly. You have my contact information, right?"

Kong Yunzhi nodded: "Okay."

The two continued to eat.

Shen Xuening thought to herself, it seems that Kong Yunzhi will not reveal his true thoughts, which is good, so as to avoid Qin Zizhou overthinking.

After finishing the meal, everyone was full and satisfied.

Kong Yunzhi smiled and said, "Thank you for your hospitality today. It should have been my treat."

Shen Xuening didn't care: "As classmates, these things don't matter."

"It's already seven o'clock. You're getting engaged, so you must be very busy. I won't bother you any longer." Kong Yun straightened up, ready to take his leave.

Shen Xuening politely said, "I'll see you out."

Kong Yunzhi hesitated for a moment, then agreed: "Okay." The two of them had eaten together this time, and they probably wouldn't have another chance to be alone together, so they cherished the opportunity.

Shen Xuening escorted Kong Yun to the elevator: "Take care."

Kong Yun waved his hand: "Xue Ning, goodbye." There was something different in his tone, but it wasn't obvious.

Shen Xuening waited for the elevator doors to close and go down before turning back to the restaurant.

Qin Zizhou was delighted and waved to Shen Xuening: "Xuening, I've ordered a table full of dishes. Let's have dinner together."

Shen Xuening: “…”