After Stealing a Kiss from My Sponsor Sister - Chapter 32

The meeting lasted until the end of the workday. After wrapping up the professional discussion, He Minqian stopped Jiang Ya.

He said they were acquainted and invited her to dinner.

As the client, He Corporation wasn’t someone she could easily refuse, so Jiang Ya had no choice but to accept.

Little was said about her.

He asked about her major, her job, and her future plans—typical small talk from an elder

After the meal, He Minqian insisted on having someone drive her back. Jiang Ya, feeling she had been interrogated long enough, didn’t stand on ceremony.

Passing by the He Corporation’s branch office, she noticed the reception desk setting up a new standing banner. He Minqian paused when he saw the printed face on it and exchanged a few words with Jiang Ya.

Jiang Ya glanced at the life-sized image on the banner. “A friend? Doesn’t seem like the type Miss Yu would associate with.”

“Oh? Why?”

The person featured was Su Shu.

Jiang Ya studied the cold, aloof woman on the banner. Her first impression was that the woman’s true nature must be quite different from what she projected.

Miss Yu worked in design, and Jiang Ya had modeled for her before. Once, during a holiday, she had even been pulled into the studio for urgent photo shoots. The poses of the figures in promotional materials were never something anyone could just casually strike and look good in.

Jiang Ya smiled. “The introduction on the side says she’s a rising painter, right? Why print her face instead of her representative works? Or is her face more famous than her paintings?”

He Minqian burst out laughing.

This kid really knew how to phrase criticism so diplomatically.

“They used to be quite close. She’s coming to China for an exhibition—probably will see Yu Shuang again.”

Jiang Ya shot He Minqian a surprised glance.

Was it her imagination?

His tone sounded oddly sarcastic.

The car arrived.

Jiang Ya bid He Minqian farewell and slipped away.

As the He Corporation building grew smaller and eventually disappeared in the rearview mirror, Jiang Ya thought for a moment and texted her senior.

He replied quickly.

No significant other. Golden bachelor.

Seriously, so many people at headquarters and our branch have their eyes on Young Master He.

Wait—he took you out to eat? You knew him before? And now you’re asking this… Did Young Master He give you some kind of hint?

Jiang Ya ignored the last question. Isn’t the He family a business dynasty? Don’t rich people like that usually marry early? Not even a rumored fiancée?

Senior: You’re asking the tough questions!

Actually, Big Master He had a fiancée before—even held an engagement ceremony.

Weird how it’s the opposite with Young Master He. And it’s not like he’s the playboy type either.

Jiang Ya: Is it that he doesn’t play around or just doesn’t have time?

Her senior followed her lead.

Well, you could say no time. The past few years, he’s been swamped with work to secure his position.

But things should ease up this year.

Jiang Ya’s heart skipped a beat. Restraining herself, she typed: ?

Senior: The earlier projects were all successful, and the ongoing ones have hit milestones. His trusted aides have grown into their roles, and with capable assistants now, his workload has lightened.

Connecting this to He Minqian’s conversation tonight, Jiang Ya felt a knot in her chest she couldn’t untangle.

She rolled down the car window for some air, then stubbornly typed: A man in his thirties—no romantic interests at all?

This. Made. No. Sense.

Not that I’ve heard of.

Hey, junior, do you have a thing for Young Master He?

After a pause, Jiang Ya replied: Yeah. Want to stab him. Officially adding him to my luxury hit list.

Senior: ?

–

You’re only getting home now?

Jiang Ya sent Miss Yu a photo of Xiao Huang eating. It was late, and the hungry cat was devouring its meal without looking up.

Jiang Ya tattled: Met Mr. He. He treated me to dinner. With senior colleagues watching and him being our lab’s client, I couldn’t refuse.

Mr. He?

He… Minqian??

That’s him.

Yu Shuang: …

Yu Shuang: “He asked you to stay for dinner and talk about work?”

Jiang Ya carefully typed back, “We chatted a bit about work, and he asked about my university life.”

“Then he asked about you, mentioned you were sick earlier this year.”

“…”

“Why ask about you instead of me? What’s his deal?”

Seeing Yu Shuang trash-talk He Minqian, Jiang Ya was amused.

Smiling, she replied, “Maybe just small talk.”

Not at all. He clearly knew she was close to Yu Shuang and was just fishing for Miss Yu’s schedule in a roundabout way.

Yu Shuang: “Maybe.”

Or perhaps after being the boss at He Corporation for so long, he’d picked up the social habits of those in power.

Jiang Ya: “Senior said Little He is their company’s most eligible bachelor, with female colleagues eyeing him left and right.”

Automatically omitting the implied “He Minqian has no romantic entanglements.”

Yu Shuang: “Hahaha, could the line of his admirers stretch all the way to France?”

Jiang Ya: “I’ll ask next time.”

“Hahahaha, sure.”

“By the way, I’m flying back this weekend. Can’t keep up anymore.”

Jiang Ya caught on immediately: “Why the sudden return? Did Tanxiao-jie agree?”

Yu Shuang coughed twice uncontrollably overseas, sidestepping the first question. “She agreed. She booked my ticket.”

As expected, the kid was distracted. Jiang Ya: “Ticket’s already bought? What flight? I’ll pick you up.”

Image

Over the weekend, Jiang Ya parked outside the airport and waited at the arrivals exit. From afar, she spotted a figure pulling luggage.

Curly hair cascading down her back, a summer dress, but with a shawl tightly wrapped around her shoulders, covering her upper body.

As she got closer, Jiang Ya noticed her nose was slightly red—unusual for her usual appearance.

“Miss Yu!”

Jiang Ya raised her hand and called out.

Yu Shuang saw her and slowly made her way over, dragging her luggage.

When she spoke, her voice was hoarse. “Xiao Ya.”

“…”

Jiang Ya froze. “You’re sick?!”

“Mmm, just a little cold.” Yu Shuang’s eyes darted away.

But the kid was sharp. “Do you have a fever?”

“…”

Yu Shuang blinked.

Pouting pitifully.

Jiang Ya understood: “So Tanxiao-jie only let you come back because you’re sick, right?!”

Yu Shuang muttered, “…Why so loud? I’m still a patient.”

How dare she talk to her like that, so harsh!

Not cute at all now that she’s grown up!

Jiang Ya took a deep breath. “Didn’t you just say it was ‘just a little cold’?”

“…”

So aggressive now.

Not. Cute. At. All!