On July 29, Zhou Yi invited Zhao Qiushui and Wen Wan to a meal at Beyond the Tower.
Three days later, at noon, Wen Wan hosted another meal at Bright Lake Mountain Manor in the western suburbs, again with just the three of them.
It was the height of summer, with cloudless skies and a blazing sun.
Red walls and green roof tiles peeked through the lush mountain woods.
Inside a spacious private dining room decorated in a traditional style, Zhou Yi, Zhao Qiushui, and Wen Wan stood together by the window, gazing at the vast expanse of blue lake below.
"You picked a wonderful place, Sister Wen. Beautiful mountains, beautiful water!" Zhou Yi could not help praising it.
Wen Wan smiled faintly and said softly, "I came here around this time last year. I liked the surroundings, and several of their signature dishes were quite good."
Zhao Qiushui looked at Zhou Yi and deliberately asked, "Besides the beautiful mountains and water, is there nothing else?"
Director Zhou was sharp enough to catch her meaning immediately. He nodded with a smile. "Beautiful mountains, beautiful water, and even more beautiful women! That's what you wanted to hear, right? Fine, there you go."
Zhao Qiushui lifted her chin slightly and said with some displeasure, "That's all I get? Don't I qualify as a national treasure in your eyes, Director Zhou?"
Zhou Yi and Wen Wan paused, then chuckled.
He had to admit that Zhao Qiushui had made good use of that joke.
And in all fairness, whether she was a national treasure was debatable, but she certainly deserved to be called a beauty.
Female Hooligan was wearing an ivory Republican-era-style qipao that day. With her slender shoulders, narrow waist, and exquisite curves, and a small round fan in her hand, every glance