Tempt Flirting/Camp With Love - Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Trickly Flirting/Camping with Love”
The sun had long disappeared behind a thick veil of clouds, leaving behind only a few faint traces of light. Inside the office, surrounded by the clatter of keyboards, Zheng Shuyi lay slumped over her desk, drenched in cold sweat.
Her phone suddenly rang, the sharp sound cutting through the background noise. It pulled her from the haze she’d been stuck in.
“Hello, is this Zheng Shuyi, the reporter from Financial Weekly?” asked a man’s voice.
Still half-lying on the desk, Zheng Shuyi mustered some strength and replied, “Yes, speaking. Who is this?”
“This is Chen Sheng, assistant from the President’s Office at Mingyu Bank. You may recall—about a month ago, we scheduled an interview and a banquet. It was originally set for tomorrow. Do you remember?”
Zheng Shuyi sat up straight immediately, fully alert.
How could she not remember?
She’d heard Shi Yan’s name repeatedly in the past month. Ever since his sudden rise in the financial world—as the son of Shi Wenguang, the founder of Mingyu Group—Shi Yan had taken over the struggling Mingyu Bank after returning from Europe. Many doubted him at first, assuming his father had just handed him a “half-sunk ship” to play with.
But Shi Yan had quickly proven himself, tackling the bank’s structural risks and steering it away from collapse. His reform-focused leadership drew the attention of the entire finance sector. At only 27, his influence was already making waves.
So, when Financial Weekly scored an interview, it was a big deal—one that Zheng Shuyi’s editor-in-chief had worked every connection to arrange.
It was a career-defining moment.
But now, this call made her uneasy.
“Is something changing?” she asked cautiously.
“Yes,” said Chen Sheng, “Originally, the interview was set for 9 a.m. tomorrow. But due to scheduling conflicts, Mr. Shi won’t be available.”
Zheng Shuyi felt her heart tighten. “What about later this week?”
“I’m afraid not. His schedule is packed, and the earliest opening would be a week from now.”
A week? That wouldn’t work.
Financial news needed to be timely. By the time the interview was done, written, edited, and approved, the moment would’ve passed.
“Could you squeeze in a phone interview instead?”
“I’m really sorry,” Chen Sheng said. “I can’t disclose details, but it’s unlikely he’ll have any time before then.”
“What about tonight?” she blurted. “Just an hour. Even half an hour would help.”
Chen Sheng hesitated. “There is a banquet tonight. It’s possible, though I can’t promise, that he might get a short break in the middle.”
“I’ll wait,” Zheng Shuyi said without hesitation. “Just give me the address.”
Chen Sheng emphasized again: there were no guarantees. She might wait for nothing.
—
When the call ended, the silence in her ears felt even heavier.
She should have been thrilled for this rare chance to interview Shi Yan. But it was hard to ignore how miserable she felt—thanks in part to her period, which was making her extra sensitive.
Today was her boyfriend Yue Xingzhou’s birthday—the first one since they started dating. He had made dinner reservations and bought movie tickets.
And now? She’d have to miss it all—sick and stressed, just to chase an interview that might not even happen.
Gathering her things, she turned off her computer. Across from her, Kong Nan noticed her pale face and asked, “What’s going on?”
“The interview got moved up,” Zheng Shuyi said. “It’s happening tonight.”
“You okay? You look awful.”
“What choice do I have?” she replied flatly.
She stood by the printer, waiting for a stack of documents to finish. Her head was bowed, eyes blank. The buzzing machine churned quietly as her phone lit up.
It was a call from Yue Xingzhou.
“Hey baby, when are you getting off work? I’ll come get you.”
“I’m really sorry,” she said, fingers tracing the layout sheets. “Something came up—I have an interview. Might take a few hours. I won’t make it to dinner.”
She hesitated, then added, “I’m not feeling well either. I don’t think I can make the movie.”
He sighed. “Okay. I’ll find someone else to go with. No worries.”
“…I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Can I make it up to you?”
—
When she hung up, Kong Nan raised an eyebrow. “Flaked on your boyfriend?”
“What else could I do?” Zheng Shuyi replied. “Not like I’m skipping for fun.”
“Still,” said Kong Nan, “the poor guy got replaced on his birthday by some finance guy you’ve never even met.”
“I don’t even know what Shi Yan looks like,” Zheng Shuyi muttered as she bound the documents.
Kong Nan asked, “Your boyfriend’s not mad?”
“Nope,” Zheng Shuyi replied. “Said he understood.”
“Wow. He’s too chill. If I did that to my boyfriend, he’d be sulking for days.”
Zheng Shuyi stayed silent.
Her finger accidentally got caught on the stapler, and a sharp sting pulled her back to reality.
She took the medicine Kong Nan offered—just in case the pain got worse during the interview.
Before she left, she texted Yue Xingzhou again:
Zheng Shuyi: Are you upset?
Yue Xingzhou: ?
Yue Xingzhou: No, it’s fine. Work’s important. We’ve got many birthdays ahead.
Yue Xingzhou: Oh, you said you weren’t feeling well. What’s wrong?
She exhaled.
Zheng Shuyi: Just cramps. Period stuff. TAT
Yue Xingzhou: Aww, poor baby.
Yue Xingzhou: Tell me where you’re going—I’ll pick you up afterward.
—
The address was Warner Manor, out in the western suburbs. It took Zheng Shuyi over an hour—via subway, bus, and taxi—to get there. The cramps and the rain didn’t help her mood.
Chen Sheng had arranged for her to wait in a quiet lounge above the banquet hall. It was beautiful—but empty. The loneliness felt ten times worse in that echoing space.
She waited. And waited.
Time dragged by. She kept nodding off, jerking awake just in case he walked in.
When the door finally opened, it wasn’t Shi Yan—it was Qin Xiaoming, his brother-in-law and a senior executive at Mingyu Group. She’d interviewed him before.
He spotted her immediately. At first, her face lit up. Then, realizing who it was, her excitement faded.
Qin Xiaoming glanced at her, pale and clearly unwell, then walked off with a faint sigh.
Two more hours passed. Rain started falling outside, adding to the gloom.
Her phone finally rang.
“Miss Zheng, sorry. The banquet’s ending, but something urgent came up. Mr. Shi won’t be available tonight.”
Zheng Shuyi closed her eyes. “Got it. Thank you.”
Defeated, she stood, her head spinning as she steadied herself.
Outside, the cold wind and rain lashed against her exposed legs. Her business skirt, neat and formal earlier, now seemed woefully inadequate.
Guests began leaving. She waited, hoping to catch a glimpse of Shi Yan—but realized she wouldn’t recognize him even if he passed right by.
Some familiar faces offered her a ride—one of them a female executive with whom she’d once sparred professionally. Zheng Shuyi declined. Yue Xingzhou had promised to pick her up.
It was almost midnight.
She stood in the parking area, waiting.
A drunk man she vaguely knew tried to hit on her. Then another. She turned them away with a firm, repeated excuse: “My boyfriend is coming.”
Qin Xiaoming happened to witness the scene and said to Shi Yan, “That’s the girl who’s been waiting all night. Maybe help her out.”
Shi Yan followed his gaze. Her scarf was wrapped tight around her chin, her small face pale, her nose red from the cold—but even then, her features were delicate and striking.
Just then, a black Bentley pulled up in front of her.
She looked up as footsteps approached.
A man stopped before her—sharp suit, golden glasses catching the light. He had a poised, distant air.
“Miss Zheng?” he asked. “Need a ride?”
She blinked. She’d never seen him before.
Why were all these rich men so casual?
“No, thank you,” she said, coldly.
The man’s gaze lingered—polished, aloof, a hint of pressure behind it.
“I’m waiting for my boyfriend,” she added, stressing the words. I’m taken.
He said nothing. A faint smirk flickered at the corner of his mouth before he turned, got into the Bentley, and drove away.
—