Floating life reflects two lotuses

Before she knew it, Chu Wanlian arrived at the celebration banquet the company was holding for her. Although it was ostensibly to commend an employee for her act of bravery, everyone knew in their hearts that it was just a way for the company's upper management to conduct some "business publicity." After all, once Chu Wanlian's deeds made the news, the company not only gained massive exposure, but the stock price also surged by several hundred points. The upper management unanimously agreed that an employee who could achieve such results deserved some recognition.

The banquet was held in the company's reception hall. Although not extravagant in scale, it was very tastefully decorated. The crystal chandelier in the center of the hall illuminated the entire space in a dreamlike way, and the tables were piled high with delicious-looking cold dishes and champagne glasses, creating an atmosphere that was both formal and relaxed.

Today, Chu Wanlian wore a white fishtail dress paired with a neat bob haircut, looking both fresh and elegant. She took Xu Nianni's hand and slowly entered the hall. The hem of her dress swayed gently with each step, and the refreshing bob accentuated her noble气质 (qi zhi - inherent quality/temperament), exuding an aristocratic aura with every gesture.

As soon as she reached the door, the young woman at the front desk greeted her: "Miss, do you have an appointment?" As she spoke, she looked Chu Wanlian up and down. She seemed somewhat familiar, but she couldn't recognize her at first glance.

Chu Wanlian smiled gently, her voice soft yet carrying an undeniable composure: "Xiaoyun, right? I'm Xiao Jinlian."

"Xiao Jinlian?!" Xiao Yun, the receptionist, stared wide-eyed, her voice filled with disbelief.

"Lianlian, that receptionist's jaw almost dropped to the ground just now!" Xu Nianni teased in a low voice.

Chu Wanlian smiled slightly, her expression leisurely: "She just hasn't seen me before—uh, no, she hasn't seen me so 'formal' today, has she?" The two carried desserts and milk tea and walked towards the banquet hall.

"Oh, who is this?" As soon as Chu Wanlian entered the room, she felt all eyes turn to her, and whispers followed.

"Xiao Jinlian?!"

"My God, did she get a new head of hair today?"

"Wow, it's actually Xiao Jinlian, who's usually so 'low-key' in our company? She's so different!"

Chu Wanlian remained calm and composed, a polite smile playing on her lips, her voice clear and approachable: "Everyone, thank you for your hard work! I know you're all busy, so I brought some afternoon tea, desserts, and milk tea. Please come and have a taste!"

As she spoke, she placed two large boxes of desserts on the table in the break room, her movements so natural that she seemed to know her colleagues very well.

"My God, Xiao Jinlian, you look absolutely stunning today!" a colleague finally couldn't help but exclaim.

"How come we never noticed you had so much potential before?" another person chimed in.

Chu Wanlian smiled gently, her eyes crinkling with an elegant composure: "This is all thanks to this princess—uh, I mean, the results of my 'hard work' these past few days." Before she could finish speaking, Xu Nianni beside her almost burst out laughing: "Lianlian, you've truly transformed into a career queen!"

As people gathered in the banquet hall, Chu Wanlian's transformation clearly attracted more attention. Just as everyone was discussing it, the banquet doors were pushed open again, and a tall, slender figure appeared in the doorway.

Chu Wanlian looked up and met Li Chenyao's deep, ocean-like eyes. His gaze was calm yet inquisitive, and a slight smile played on his lips as he walked towards her.

Li Chenyao wore a sharp black suit, its impeccable tailoring accentuating his tall and slender figure. The top button of his white shirt was slightly undone, revealing his long neck and a hint of his collarbone. A burgundy handkerchief, elegantly folded, tucked into his suit pocket, added a touch of sophistication to his composed demeanor.

Chu Wanlian was chatting and laughing with Xu Nianni when she suddenly felt a strange sense of oppression. She looked up and saw Li Chenyao's gaze fixed on her, with a hint of inquiry, as if he were scrutinizing her closely.

"You must be Xiao Jinlian?" Li Chenyao's voice was deep and magnetic. He stretched out his long hand and stood in front of her.

Chu Wanlian was stunned. The video from that day instantly flashed through her mind—the figure who had jumped into the water without hesitation to save her was now the same man standing before her! It was him…

She paused for a moment before slowly extending her hand to shake his: "Hello."

At that moment, Chu Wanlian's heart trembled slightly. The man's hands were broad and strong, carrying a calm aura, making her subconsciously feel that she had just acted too composedly and was not as calm as she thought.

"Jinlian, this is our new director, Li Chenyao," a colleague quickly interjected.

Li Chenyao nodded slightly, a meaningful smile on his lips: "Ms. Xiao, your deeds are truly admirable, and everyone is proud of you. We also hope that you can continue to demonstrate this courage and responsibility in your work in the future."

His voice was deep and powerful, as if every word was echoing in Chu Wanlian's ears, carrying an indescribable magnetic field.

Chu Wanlian forcibly suppressed the flutter in her heart and smiled slightly: "Thank you for the compliment, Director. I will continue to work hard."

“I will always look forward to it.” Li Chenyao’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before he turned to exchange pleasantries with the others.

Watching his retreating figure, a complex emotion suddenly welled up in Chu Wanlian's heart. She subconsciously squeezed the hand that had just touched Li Chenyao's, and couldn't help but think to herself, "This man... he gives off a powerful aura of pressure, yet he also makes you feel safe without you even realizing it?"

Xiao Jinlian's voice immediately echoed in my mind, with a hint of teasing: "My goodness, Your Highness, were you a little nervous just now? Hahahaha!"

"Shut up!" Chu Wanlian muttered under her breath, but her eyes involuntarily swept towards Li Chenyao's direction again.

The atmosphere at the banquet gradually warmed up, and as the host took the stage to announce, "Next, let's welcome today's protagonist, Ms. Xiao Jinlian, to say a few words to everyone!"

The audience erupted in applause. Chu Wanlian took a deep breath and walked steadily onto the stage. Her high heels clicked crisply on the floor, each step exuding confidence and determination. Standing on the stage, she picked up the microphone, her clear and powerful voice echoing throughout the hall: "Hello everyone! First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the company for hosting this banquet for me. In fact, my actions that day were merely an instinctive reaction; anyone would have made the same choice."

She paused, glanced around the venue, and her gaze swept over Li Chenyao, meeting his slightly upturned lips. Her heart involuntarily tightened.

"I am very grateful for this opportunity to bring honor to the company. In the future, I will definitely continue to work hard and contribute more value to the team and the company!" She bowed slightly, and thunderous applause immediately rang out from below the stage.

As Chu Wanlian stepped off the stage, she realized her palms were slightly sweaty. But the admiration and respect in every pair of eyes filled her with a strange sense of satisfaction.

As the banquet drew to a close, Li Chenyao took to the stage to deliver a speech. He was composed, impeccably dressed in a suit, exuding the air of a business elite. His voice was deep and powerful: "Tonight, we are not only honoring Miss Xiao Jinlian's courageous actions, but also praising her contribution to team spirit."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room before finally settling on Chu Wanlian: "I believe that, whether in the company or in life, Ms. Xiao will be just as she has shown, fearless in the face of difficulties and forging ahead bravely. I hope that we can work together in the future to create even greater glories for the company."

As soon as he finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall. Chu Wanlian felt a slight tremor, as if a special power was being transmitted from Li Chenyao's eyes, causing her heart to beat faster involuntarily. That gaze was deep and steady, yet it seemed to carry a subtle hint of concern.

As the banquet drew to a close, Chu Wanlian stood in a corner, chatting with Xu Nianni, but her mind involuntarily replayed every word Li Chenyao had said. His figure, his tone, even that seemingly simple yet profound "joining hands" stirred something within her, filling her with a strange sense of anticipation.

"Lianlian, you're the brightest star in the company today! But the director's gaze... seems a little off." Xu Nianni's eyes lit up as she couldn't help but tease her.

"Don't talk nonsense, it's true." Chu Wanlian pretended to be calm and gently pushed her.

"But to be honest, Director Li rarely appears in public, so for him to speak up for you personally today is a high compliment. You see, he's been keeping an eye on you." Xu Nianni said with a gossipy look.

Chu Wanlian felt a little embarrassed and coughed lightly to cover up her inner turmoil: "He's just a senior executive in the company, I was just saying a few words out of politeness." Even so, her eyes couldn't help but follow Li Chenyao's figure.

Seeing this, Xu Nianni's eyes flashed with a clever light, and she whispered, "Hey, Lianlian, are you a little bit attracted to Director Li?!"

Chu Wanlian's expression changed slightly, then she waved her hand calmly, "Don't talk nonsense, I didn't..." Before she could finish speaking, Xu Nianni's laughter rang in her ears, clearly having seen through her little scheme.

Just then, Li Chenyao suddenly walked to her side, his gaze fixed on her through the dim light: "Ms. Xiao, you've worked so hard tonight. Your contribution to the company deserves our utmost respect."

Chu Wanlian's heart suddenly raced, and she forced herself to calmly look back at him: "No, work is my duty."

Li Chenyao smiled faintly, his tone carrying a hint of profound meaning: "Your sense of responsibility and courage are what make you so attractive. I believe you will excel in both your work and life in the future."

Chu Wanlian was stunned, a complex mix of emotions surging within her. She could sense the encouragement in Li Chenyao's words, yet she couldn't ignore the hint of probing in them.

She looked up at him and saw that Li Chenyao still had a gentle smile on his face, but his eyes were deep and seemed to be able to see through her thoughts.

"Thank you for your trust, Director," she said softly, trying to remain calm, though her mind was in turmoil.

Li Chenyao didn't say anything more, only nodded slightly, and turned to leave. The oppressive feeling that seemed to permeate the air dissipated gently, leaving Chu Wanlian standing there, motionless for a long time.

"See? I told you you were a little interested in him." Xu Nianni stood beside her with a mischievous look on her face and a clear smile on her lips.

Chu Wanlian gritted her teeth and gently patted Xu Nianni's shoulder: "Say less! I didn't say anything."

"Haha, alright, alright, I won't say anymore. But I feel like the atmosphere between you two is a little different today." Xu Nianni narrowed her eyes and continued to stare at her with that gossipy look.

Chu Wanlian rolled her eyes helplessly: "I don't feel that way at all..."

Xu Nianni patted her shoulder hard: "Just keep pretending, I know anyway!" Then the two of them burst into laughter.

Chu Wanlian took a deep breath, glancing back at Li Chenyao, who was talking with other colleagues not far away. A complex mix of emotions welled up inside her. She understood that this man was not as simple as he appeared. And she, perhaps, would gradually be drawn into his calm and profound world in the future.