Resuming their individual meals, Li Yan's attention returned to the TV. He began to wonder why even little things like playing games were mentioned, but nothing about the incident in front of the elevator today. It seemed like Yurong wasn't upset about their recruitment actions, nor did she blame him for calling her a nag.
But on reflection, it made sense. She would definitely report to the HR director if the recruitment was only based on appearance and lacked other qualifications. Surely Sun Hui would face criticism. As for the "nag"...well, everyone just saw it as an unavoidable task, so naturally, she wouldn't get angry over it.
Of course, he had no intention of explicitly explaining or apologizing for it either.
After dinner, they went back to doing their own things. Zhang Yurong returned to her office to handle work, while Li Yan watched TV in the living room for an hour, and then went to the gym to run.
Running on a treadmill is indeed more boring than outside. However, Li Yan was used to running indoors, finding such personal activities best kept private.
The gym was spacious, though it was just the two of them, the facilities were quite complete. The most used equipment were the two treadmills. Running is a personal affair, and like toothbrushes, the treadmills weren't shared. Since getting married, Li Yan and Zhang Yurong had never been in the gym at the same time. Zhang Yurong preferred to run for half an hour in the morning, while Li Yan spent an hour running in the evening.
After sweating it out, Li Yan lay in the luxurious bathtub in the guest bedroom, enjoying the post-exercise tranquility with his eyes closed.
Just then, Sun Hui called. He and a few colleagues invited him out for drinks. Checking the time, Li Yan agreed.
It wasn't even ten yet — too early to sleep for a weekend night. But Li Yan had his principles. Over the four months since moving here after marriage, while he would go out drinking and having fun, he always made sure to head straight for his target and not dawdle until late. After partying, he would always return home before dawn broke.
It wasn't out of great love for his wife or fear of Yurong's disdain, just a sense of responsibility as a man. This villa neighborhood had decent security management, and each villa had an advanced anti-theft system, but with just two women upstairs and downstairs in such a big space, there would inevitably be moments of fear. Hence, he seldom stayed out all night.
...
Half an hour later, Li Yan arrived at a bar that Sun Hui and company mentioned. He had been there a few times before, though it had been a while since his last visit.
Upon entering, the place was already bustling. He looked around and soon spotted Sun Hui and the others. He knew the rest well too. They came from different departments but were all quite lively.
"Old Li, you keep insisting you have a wife, yet as soon as we call you out for drinks, you show up right away. How convenient can a married man be?" Sun Hui showed no signs of the morning's shadow and wasn't upset by Li Yan's words getting him into trouble.
"Drink penalty, drink penalty!" Everyone chimed in with laughter.
Li Yan took a seat, looking at Sun Hui with a resentful expression, lamenting, "Little Sun, aren't you a lover's man? When lovers call, one must disregard the wife..."
"Pfft—" Sun Hui, who just took a sip of his drink, sprayed it all over another colleague's face.
The others, momentarily stunned, soon struggled to stifle their laughter.
Sun Hui licked the hand that had been sprayed with a bitter smile, "I say, Little Sun, your affair was exposed by Li Yan, spray him not me."
Shivering comically, Sun Hui protested, "Come on, as a man of dignity, how do I pick up girls in the company with my reputation ruined like this?"
Li Yan gave a 'charming' smile, "I haven't won you over yet, how is it a 'ruin'?"
Even knowing he was joking, everyone still shuddered.
"Alright, enough. I'm grossing myself out by continuing," Li Yan said, casually taking a sip of the drink poured for him.
"Li Yan, I always thought you were a pretty honest guy at work. Who knew you're capable of reaching perverted uncle level in private? I guess we should keep some distance from you, to not spoil us sunny youths," teased Fan Siwen from the administrative department, raising a glass to him.
"Tsk! Everyone knows you're just pretending to be classy. I'm really the late bloomer, pure like a white flower!"
As they were teasing each other, a "tsk-tsk" sound came from the side.
They turned to see a sultry tall beauty, wearing a long red dress and long chestnut hair flowing, standing gracefully smiling charmingly.
"Hi gorgeous, chance meeting is better than appointment, why not sit down and have a drink?" In their surprise, Wang Lei was the first to respond, tossing his hair still draped with drink, giving her a glowing smile and an invitation.
"Aren't you the Wen..." Sun Hui already recognized this beauty as the most beautiful and deemed a must-select among dozens of candidates invited for interviewing as a sales elite this afternoon.
"Wen Qianyi, Little Sun," fiery Wen Qianyi cheerfully replied.
Hearing "Little Sun," Sun Hui wanted to die of shame, wishing he could crawl under the table, dragging Li Yan along to beat him up. It was one thing for friends to joke around, but being overheard and ridiculed by a beauty, his image was completely destroyed!
Wang Lei, Fan Siwen, and Liu Feng, who were marveling at her beauty, all snickered maliciously.
"Wasn't I invited to sit down? Move over a bit, perverted uncle." Wen Qianyi addressed Li Yan, sitting at the edge.
Agreeing to sit made Wang Lei feel great, immediately tucking himself in and pulling Li Yan in a bit, making room for her. Wishing dearly to switch places with Li Yan, but wanting to retain his elegance!
"So you're Miss Wen, Qianyi... hmm, such a good name, just as beautiful as you!" Wang Lei said holding his head, leaning forward to gaze at Wen Qianyi, expressing heartfelt admiration.
Wen Qianyi blinked, "Handsome brother, what's your name? Why are you sweating? Your wet-style hair is really unique!"
The others inwardly acknowledged Wang Lei's performance, being proactive and sweet-talking, no wonder he frequently 'landed meat.' Yet hearing Wen Qianyi's words, they couldn't help but stifle their laughter. Given the previous conversation, it was clear she was teasing Wang Lei.
Wang Lei felt a bit embarrassed, though his thick skin had reached a certain level, and while ready for self-introduction, Sun Hui, recovering slightly from his own embarrassment, cleared his throat and introduced first: "We are all from the Paradise Group Headquarters, Miss Wen is here to apply for the business manager, hoping to be colleagues. I am Sun Hui, you know, HR department, this handsome brother is Wang Lei from the planning department; Liu Feng, Fan Siwen, both from the administrative department..."
After introducing everyone, he certainly couldn't let the one who embarrassed him remain low-key, pointedly introducing: "This perverted uncle over here, could end up being Miss Wen's colleague in the same department, business department's Comrade Li Yan."
Wen Qianyi's gaze swept across them with Sun Hui's introduction, always with a charming smile, making people feel like bathing in a spring breeze. When seeing Li Yan, the corner of her mouth curled, smiling knowingly, "Comrade oh! Didn't expect Heaven Headquarters' comrades to be so loving, makes me even more interested!"
Sun Hui was speechless, intending to frame 'Comrade, Master' titles from that era to make Li Yan stand out, not expecting a link back to the earlier embarrassment.
Wen Qianyi picked up the wine glass Wang Lei had filled, raised it with a smile, "No kidding, I just came by with a friend and saw Li Yan familiar, followed along to check it out. This place is my friend's, I have discounts, it's on me tonight. Nice to meet you all...don't talk, declining is disrespectful. Whether I'm hired is up to those directors, managers, it's not a bribe! I'm not set on joining your company, just making friends!"
Saying so, she drank it down in one go, then waved goodbye with a smile.
After she left, their conversation centered around Wen Qianyi. Though their drink bills weren't expensive, considering Wen Qianyi's qualifications, she didn't need to curry favor with them. Even without acquaintance, treating them might be a business habit of networking, but it also showed her straightforward character, which intrigued everyone.
Nonetheless, Li Yan and Sun Hui had only seen her more than once today and couldn't say much about her.