Our Paths About to Cross

The roar of the engine echoed through the mountains.

The tires rolled over the yellowish-brown dirt road, kicking up a cloud of dust that formed a long, lingering "Yellow Dragon" behind the vehicle.

The pristine white Jeep Wrangler traversed the rolling hills.

Outside the car window, the distant scenery was partially obscured by dark clouds, resembling a watercolor painting.

"Wow! That's so cool!" Jiang You Rong, sitting in the passenger seat, shouted out the window.

Seeing the dust drifting towards them, they quickly closed the car windows again.

The seatbelt ran across her mature and voluptuous body, outlining her high breasts, which rose and fell with the bumpy ride of the car.

Her face flushed with excitement as she looked towards the driver's seat. "Shu Yu, I have to admit, off-road driving is really fun. It's a pity it's summer now, and many campsites and scenic spots are too hot. How about we go again around October 1st?"

"As you know, October 1st is my busiest time of year, but I can lend you my car to play with."

"No way, I'm poor. I can't afford to pay for it if I break it for you." Jiang You Rong shrugged helplessly.

Her annual income is just over 200,000 yuan, and she only bought a house a few years ago. She also has to make up for "horizontal research funding" from time to time.

There is very little real disposable savings.

The price of this Wrangler is 520,000 yuan, and even a used one costs more than 300,000 yuan.

"Hehe, you don't need to pay me back. I don't have time to drive off-road in Yancheng at all. I only drive it occasionally when I go back to my hometown. You're on summer vacation now, so you can borrow it if you like."

"Forget it, I'm not confident in my driving skills."

"Watch out, we're almost at the top of the mountain."

Shifting to low-speed four-wheel drive mode, Xie Shuyu stared intently at the slope ahead, her eyes filled with excitement and anticipation.

"Rumble—" The accelerator pedal was pressed slowly and firmly.

The tires gripped the ground tightly, Grabbing the rough rocks and mud, and the wheels spun rapidly, kicking up flying debris.

After driving for a while, the car stopped next to the Cloud Pavilion at the top of the mountain.

Jiang You Rong unbuckled her seatbelt, pushed open the car door, and jumped out.

Standing atop a mountain at an altitude of 1488 meters, one can see a sea of clouds and the beautiful scenery of the Taihang.

"Shu Yu, come here quickly and take a picture for me!"

She turned around and shouted at the Wrangler next to her.

Immediately afterwards, the somewhat dirty car door was pushed open, revealing a person wearing a fuchsia sports vest, loose cargo pants, and Brown Sunglasses.

Her long, black hair, like silk, was tousled by the mountain wind, and beneath her high, straight nose, a faint Wei Xiao played on the corners of her mouth.

With her tall and sexy figure, paired with the imposing Jeep Wrangler behind her, she exudes confidence and charisma, radiating the charm of a leading lady.

Jiang You Rong couldn't help but twitch her lips. "Don't take a picture with me later, okay? I'm afraid I'll drop my Mobile Phone. How come you never gain weight! It's not fair!"

She's already a little chubby, and she'll look even chubbier on camera.

If Xie Shuyu, who is 175cm tall and weighs 51kg, were to stand next to him, he would truly become "Jiang Xiaopang".

"You want me to work out? You don't have the willpower for that."

"Snap—" "Snap—"

The sound of camera shutters clicking incessantly filled the air.

Both are stunning beauties; one is tall, slim, sexy, beautiful, and cool, while the other is voluptuous and mature.

Appearing simultaneously in front of the scenic area at the mountaintop, they naturally attracted many eager gazes.

However, very few dared to approach and chat with them.

The main reason is that Xie Shuyu's temperament is too sharp, carrying a strong sense of coldness and majesty.

After enjoying the breeze at the mountaintop for a while, accompanied by the roar of a huge engine, the white Wrangler started moving again.

As you slowly descend the mountain path, you gradually blend into the surrounding vegetation and rocks.

Xie Shuyu slowed down the car, casually opened the window, and let her long, black hair dance gently.

My mood gradually became relaxed and bright.

She has always been an independent, confident, and tenacious person.

Her attitude towards career and life is the same as her attitude towards off-roading.

Even when faced with the worst road conditions, they will forge ahead without flinching.

She also enjoys the sense of accomplishment from conquering the "mountain".

More than half an hour later.

The car arrived at a campsite at the foot of the mountain.

Xie Shuyu glanced around and parked her car next to a black Hummer H2.

It was a 2008 Hummer, with rugged and powerful body lines, exuding the unique charm of a hardcore off-road vehicle.

It shimmers with a unique charm amidst the green hills and clear waters.

The two walked forward for more than ten meters and saw a man and a woman having a barbecue in the shade of a tree.

"Qingchuan, Shan Shan," Xie Shuyu greeted the two with a smile.

"Little Rain, Professor Jiang, these are freshly grilled meat skewers. Come and try Qingchuan's cooking!" Susan, wearing Martin boots, stood up and waved the meat skewers in her hand.

"Thank you, you two have worked hard."

The two men took the meat skewers and sat down on the chairs opposite them.

"Clink-clank-clank—" The sound of glass bottles colliding rang out.

The four of them enjoyed barbecue and Arctic Ocean soda in a very pleasant atmosphere.

"I've made plans with some girlfriends to go to the spa tonight, do you and Professor Jiang want to come?" Susan invited. "It's on me! The buffet there is amazing, and the fruit is fantastic."

Xie Shuyu shook her head and said, "I can't go tonight. There's a small gathering at my parents' house. My cousin is back from abroad with a foreign boyfriend, and my parents want me to go and keep things quiet."

Jiang You Rong thought for a moment, but couldn't resist the temptation of a spa and delicious food. "I've been traveling a lot lately, and I really want to get a beauty treatment."

"Okay, I'll pick you up tonight."

Tang Qingchuan put down his drink and said, "Shu Yu, I've already mentioned your financing to a few friends. I'll let you know as soon as there's any news."

"Thank you, but I've come to terms with it now. It's okay if I can't get funding; there's always a way out." Xie Shuyu smiled and shook her head.

Tang Qingchuan is the husband of her high school classmate Susan and one of her best friends; they've known each other for almost 10 years.

He's a typical Second-Generation Rich's very passionate about off-roading and even opened a Xunlu Off-Road Club in Quancheng.

The family's main business is earthwork engineering, primarily undertaking government infrastructure projects, and also involved in the real estate sector.

He is considered a very well-connected person in the entire Quancheng.

For example, the one-story house with a garden that she bought for her parents was obtained through Tang Qingchuan's connections.

Susan also helped arrange jobs for some of her relatives.

However, his network of contacts is mainly in the engineering field, and has nothing to do with consumer chain stores like Glimmer Café.

Moreover, Tang Qingchuan is currently at a critical juncture in the process of taking over the family business.

Xie Shuyu wouldn't shamelessly ask her friends to invest in her.

"Alright, you decide what to do," Tang Qingchuan said with a smile. "We're not qualified to give advice to a strong woman like you."

Susan immediately nodded and said, "Yes, Little Rain was very ambitious in high school, and she always wanted to do her best in everything she did. After graduating from university, she built her business from scratch and has assets worth tens of millions. She is the most outstanding independent woman I know."

She really admired her good friend, unlike her who used to rely on her parents but now relies on her husband.

Xie Shuyu smiled slightly and nudged Jiang You Rong beside her with her elbow, "You two calm down for a bit, I'm nothing yet. Let Professor Jiang tell you about Director Jin's story, and you'll know what a truly top-tier woman is."

Tang Qingchuan and Susan were both taken aback. "Professor Jiang knows Jin Meixiao?"

They had only met Jiang You Rong a few times and had not had much contact with her.

Jiang You Rong, who was enjoying her meal, smiled and said casually, "I used to be Director Jin's assistant."

This phrase has almost become her catchphrase.

As soon as you say it, I guarantee she'll be the most dazzling person in the room.

Sure enough, for the next half hour, the two kept asking about Director Jin's story and the rumors.

"When I left the company in 2017, Director Jin's car was a silver and black Maybach S680. Come to think of it, I rode in it a few times."

"And the driver? Is he a strong, handsome retired soldier? 1.9 meters tall, dashing, and wearing sunglasses?"

"Pfft—" Jiang You Rong couldn't help but laugh a few times, then said, "Of course not, Director Jin's drivers and assistants are all women. For example, when I was here, there was a female driver who had just arrived. Her name was quite interesting, Liu Jiayi. She was a cool and sassy girl who had won the national martial arts championship."

Mentioning her former colleagues brought back a pang of sadness for Jiang You Rong.

Because she was "lazy and pleasure-seeking," she gave up her assistant job and chose to pursue a doctorate and become a university teacher.

Actually, being a university teacher is a great job. It has high social status, relatively easy work, and summer and winter vacations. It was her ideal job in the past.

The problem is, everything is afraid of comparison.

He was also an early assistant.

Some became directors of listed companies, some made waves overseas, and some stayed by Director Jin's side to manage Smiling Holdings.

Now, when she sees these people, she doesn't even have the right to speak to them.

Even that driver, Liu Jiayi, I heard, later went on to become High-ranking official at Golden Shield Security.

Fate is just so messed up!

It was a little after 5 p. m.

"Ring ring—" The Mobile Phone rang.

Tang Song, who was chatting with his parents, picked up his Mobile Phone, looked at it, and answered the call, "Hey, Zhang Lei, are you done with work?"

"Yeah, I just left a client's company. Where are you now? Are you free?"

"I'm at home. Want to grab a drink tonight when you're free?"

"Of course! You've been drinking, haven't you? I've called a driver to pick you up in town. Just wait for me at the bus stop at the intersection. We'll be there in about 10 minutes."

"OK, see you later."

After hanging up the phone, Tang Song said something to his parents and got up to walk outside.

It's been more than six years since I last saw Zhang Lei. He was so busy with his studies and work that he really neglected a lot.

Meeting my old classmate again now fills me with emotion.

I walked along the smooth cement road to the intersection and waited for a few minutes.

"Beep beep—" The car horn sounded.

Immediately afterwards, a dirty Haval H6 pulled up next to him.

The passenger window rolled down, revealing a face glistening with oil and sweat.

Zhang Lei patted the car door and laughed, "Let's go, Tang Song! Get in!"

Tang Song nodded, opened the back door and got in. The smell of alcohol, cigarettes and sweat immediately filled his nostrils.

"This is my buddy Wang Chaofei. Chaofei, this is my junior high school classmate and good friend Tang Song," Zhang Lei introduced briefly.

The two greeted each other.

The car slowly started moving.

Tang Song casually asked, "By the way, where shall we go for a drink?"

"How about going to Quancheng?" Zhang Lei asked, turning to the side. "Didn't you want to ask about Zhang Yan? Liu Shasha is also working in the city now. She's incredibly busy with her job, only getting one day off a week. Today just happens to be the weekend and she's free."

"Okay, no problem." Tang Song nodded slightly, then smiled and said, "Since you know so much about her, there's something going on between you two, isn't there?"

He only had a vague recollection of his old classmate Liu Shasha, and he probably wouldn't even recognize her if they met.

However, judging from Zhang Lei's attitude, it's clear that he has a close relationship with Liu Shasha.

"That's not true," Zhang Lei quickly denied. "It's just that we live in the same neighborhood now, so we're in touch quite a bit."

The two chatted for a while about their memories of junior high school.

Zhang Lei took out his Mobile Phone and checked the time. "Well, I'll call Liu Shasha first to confirm the exact location."

"Okay, sure."

Zhang Lei scrolled through his contacts and dialed the number directly. "Hey, Shasha, wanna grab a drink tonight?"

"Holy crap, you're so narcissistic. I really didn't intend to pursue you."

"I'm not going to waste my breath on you. A junior high classmate is back and wants to ask you to have a drink and chat."

"I won't tell you, but you'll find out who it is when you come."

"Um... okay, okay, we'll get to Snail Bar around 6 o'clock."

I hung up the phone.

Zhang Lei said, somewhat speechless, "Liu Shasha and Zhang Yunpeng are together. They said they'd come over together tonight."

Tang Song smiled nonchalantly, "It doesn't matter."

Given his current mindset, he naturally wouldn't care about this former "bad student" in his class.

Besides, we haven't seen each other for over ten years; we're practically strangers now.

"Zhang Yunpeng has become Internet Celebrity now. He is said to know a lot of Big Boss. I guess Liu Shasha wants him to help her find a job, so she goes to their studios to get close to them whenever she has free time."

"There's nothing we can do about it. Jobs are hard to find these days, especially for someone like her who has no skills or connections."

Zhang Lei leaned back in his seat, chatting idly with Tang Song.

Before we knew it, the car had entered the urban area of Quancheng and stopped on a bustling commercial street.

The two got out of the car.

Zhang Lei pointed to a quiet bar called Snail Bar across the street and said, "This is it. They have food and drinks, and you can even watch movies. Let's go in first."

"Let's go." Tang Song patted his shoulder and strode into the tavern.

Soft music drifted through the air.

The walls are covered with posters of various classic movies, and the decor is full of a relaxed atmosphere.

Behind the wooden bar, a dazzling array of liquors shimmered with vibrant colors under the lights.

Since it wasn't peak season yet, there were very few customers in the bar.

The two sat down in a booth further inside and casually ordered some beer, snacks, and fruit platters.

"Clink—" The sound of bottles clinking together rang out.

The cool liquor slid down his throat, Tang Song leaned back comfortably on the sofa, asking curiously, "By the way, Zhang Lei, I haven't asked you yet, what kind of work do you do now?"

"Sigh." Zhang Lei chuckled self-deprecatingly. "I'm almost embarrassed to tell you, but we've completely fallen on hard times. We're currently doing food and beverage distribution, with clients being supermarkets, stores, and grocery stores around Quancheng..."

Then Zhang Lei started talking like he had opened a floodgate, drinking with Tang Song while recounting his experiences over the past few years.

After graduating from high school, he attended a local vocational college.

I had plenty of money during college, lived a carefree life, and even had a deeply memorable relationship.

Unexpectedly, his father's business ran into serious problems right after he graduated.

The client defaulted on payment for the project and later absconded.

The family lost everything and ended up owing the bank a large sum of money.

My father was so angry that he was hospitalized, and his health deteriorated rapidly.

He could only work hard to pay off his debts, and his girlfriend naturally broke up with him.

Listening to his story, Tang Song was filled with emotion.

He finally stopped.

Tang Song asked, "Zhang Lei, have you ever thought about developing your career in Yancheng?"

Zhang Lei paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Of course I've thought about it. Besides catching up, I also wanted to tell you that I'll be going to work in Yancheng soon, and I'll definitely be inviting you for drinks and meals then."

"Oh?" Tang Song asked in surprise, "You've already found a job?"

"No, it's because I performed well and have some connections that I'm being transferred to the company headquarters." Zhang Lei took out a box of business cards from his wallet, picked one out, and handed it to Tang Song. "My current job was introduced by a relative. Although it's tough and tiring, it pays well, and it's a reputable large company with a complete promotion channel and opportunities."

Tang Song took the business card, glanced at it, and paused slightly, "Zhongcheng Group?"

Zhang Lei said with a hint of pride, "Well, it's considered a well-known industrial group in our Yan Province. I'll be doing sales at headquarters, but I'll be responsible for expanding and contacting some big clients. At least I won't have to run around like this every day."

For a college graduate like him, being able to work at the headquarters of Zhongcheng Group was an immense stroke of luck.

In recent years, due to debt problems, he has really worked his butt off, and his performance has always been among the top in the branch. In addition, his uncle is a leader in the company, so he got this precious opportunity.

"That's great. Food and beverage is the mainstay business of Zhongcheng Group, and there's a lot of potential in your work." Tang Song clinked glasses with him. "Remember to contact me when you get to Yancheng. Don't hesitate to ask if you need any help."

He was very familiar with Zhongcheng Group, after all, his girlfriend Xiao Jing's father was the Executive Director of Zhongcheng.

He originally wanted to help his old classmate. Since he had been in this industry for 3 or 4 years, he decided to let him stay at Zhongcheng Group.

When Zhang Lei arrives at headquarters, Xiao Jing can help him out.

Zhang Lei took a deep breath and said sincerely, "Thank you, Tang Song."

He could also see that Tang Song's earlier question about whether he wanted to develop his Yancheng was an attempt to mentor him.

In recent years, he has been through a lot and experienced too many ridiculous and absurd things.

Some of his former so-called good friends disappeared after his family fell on hard times.

Just then.

"Ring ring—" The Mobile Phone rang.

Tang Song took out his Mobile Phone from his pocket, glanced at it, raised an eyebrow, and said to Zhang Lei, "I'm going to answer a call."

After saying that, he stood up, answered the phone, and said, "Hello."

Immediately after, a crisp, clear voice came through the receiver. "Hello, Mr. Tang, this is Liu Jiayi from Golden Shield Security. I will be your security supervisor and personal driver. I have arrived in Quancheng. Where are you now?"

I felt the Mobile Phone number was familiar when I saw it before.

Sure enough, his driver and Rolls Royce Phantom arrived.

Liu Jiayi?

After a moment's thought, Tang Song quickly pictured a beautiful and cool young lady in his mind.

She was the one who brought my Mercedes-Benz S450L back after the car cover was damaged, and her business card is still on the car.

Unexpectedly, the driver assigned by the system was her.

Or perhaps it should be said that the driver was arranged by Secretary Jin.

Ultimately, the actual execution still depends on the individual, and in the game, Secretary Jin is the one in charge of all matters.

Secretary Jin has truly won my heart!

"I'm having drinks with friends at Snail Bar in Quancheng City. I don't need a car for now. You can find a place to rest first."

"Okay, Mr. Tang! I won't bother you any longer, goodbye!"

"Goodbye."

Yuxiuyuan Residential Complex.

Xie Shuyu put down her Mobile Phone and said to Jiang You Rong, "Susan has arrived at the South Gate of the community."

"Okay, okay, I'm going to get a spa treatment now! Bye-bye, Uncle and Auntie~ Have a nice dinner tonight!"

Jiang You Rong said goodbye, picked up her bag, and walked outside.

As she walked through the tree-lined community landscape and stepped out of the gate, she saw Susan standing by the roadside waving at her.

"Thank you, Shan Shan, for coming all the way to pick me up."

"Alright, Professor Jiang, don't be so polite with me."

After a few polite words, the two got into the car one after the other.

The Porsche Cayenne turned on its left turn signal and slowly merged into the main road.

They were both women in their early thirties, so they naturally had plenty to talk about.

After chatting for a while about our experiences with Beauty and Skincare...

Susan pointed to a commercial street ahead. "We're almost there. This shop was just opened by a friend of my husband's. The environment is fantastic, but unfortunately, Shu Yu hasn't had time to come."

"She's a very busy person." Jiang You Rong smiled slightly, her gaze sweeping across the street through the car window.

As dusk fell and neon lights began to appear, the streets teemed with people, brimming with the vibrant energy of daily life.

Immediately, her gaze flickered, and her eyes widened abruptly.

"Shan Shan, stop for a second!"

"What's wrong?" Susan asked in surprise, stepping on the brakes and slowly pulling the car to a stop on the side of the road.

Jiang You Rong's ample chest heaved slightly. "Excuse me, I ran into a friend I haven't seen in a long time. You go to the spa first, I'll catch up with her and then come find you."

"Um... okay."

Although she felt something was off, Susan didn't ask any further questions, since they weren't very familiar with each other yet, and Jiang You Rong clearly didn't want to say more either.

"I'm really sorry, bye-bye." Jiang You Rong apologized again, opened the car door and got out.

She took a deep breath and stared intently in one direction.

A black Rolls Royce Phantom was parked quietly in a paid parking lot on the street.

The iconic Parthenon- style grille and the Spirit of Spirit of Ecstasy statue standing on the front of the car exude a sense of calm, grandeur, and nobility.

It attracted a variety of complex gazes.

Of course, what truly caught her attention was the figure standing by the car.

He wore a well-fitting shirt and trousers, stood ramrod straight, and had a healthy tan.

Her hair was styled in a neat low ponytail, revealing a smooth forehead and sculpted features.

Looking at that familiar face, Jiang You Rong's body trembled slightly with excitement.

My God! Liu Jiayi! The driver, Liu Jiayi, is actually in Quancheng!

What about Director Jin?!