Chapter 35

Zheng Xiu Jing opened her beautiful eyes wide and looked at Gao Yang, as if considering something. Suddenly, there was a bit of an awkward silence, and Gao Yang wondered what he should say. Zheng Xiu Jing put down her hands and said seriously to Gao Yang, "Mr. Gao, to express my gratitude to you, I would like to invite you to dinner." After saying this, she bowed slightly to Gao Yang.

This made Gao Yang feel a bit embarrassed. How could he let a girl treat him? "Don't mind it. I was just joking. Helping you that day was nothing much. There's no need for you to invite me to dinner. You're too polite," Gao Yang said awkwardly, touching his nose and quickly adding.

Zheng Xiu Jing looked up with a surprised expression, staring at Gao Yang in confusion. "What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"

Zheng Xiu Jing suddenly had an epiphany and smiled at Gao Yang. "Mr. Gao, did you know that in Korea, inviting someone to dinner is a very formal matter? Even inviting someone for a cup of coffee is considered a formal invitation in Korea."

Gao Yang was quite surprised. "Is that so? It's just a casual dinner among friends. Why does it seem so serious?" "Yes, that's how it is in Korea. It's different from the customs in China," Zheng Xiu Jing said with a light laugh. "You made a request, and I agreed. Now you suddenly change your mind. This is considered very impolite in Korea." She smiled at Gao Yang.

Gao Yang was speechless. He was just joking, but now it seemed that not accepting the invitation would be a matter of losing face. "Okay, thank you for the invitation. I look forward to your meal," Gao Yang said seriously.

"Can you give me your phone number? I have time tomorrow," Zheng Xiu Jing said.

"Sure." Gao Yang took out his phone. "My phone number works in over 100 countries worldwide. I wonder if it works in Korea." Zheng Xiu Jing also took out her pink phone, recorded Gao Yang's number, and called him. Soon, the music played, and Gao Yang received the call from Zheng Xiu Jing.

A cool evening breeze blew, and Zheng Xiu Jing shivered slightly. Gao Yang noticed and stood beside her to shield her from the wind. "Let's go inside. It's getting windy outside," he said.

"Okay," Zheng Xiu Jing replied softly and walked with Gao Yang towards the banquet hall.

At the previous wine party, Zheng Xiu Jing wanted to thank Gao Yang, but the situation was chaotic, and Gao Yang quickly left with Jin Shizhang and others. In the end, she didn't get a chance to talk to him.

She thought she wouldn't have another chance to meet him, but unexpectedly, she received a notice in the afternoon that Hyundai Steel Company had specifically invited her to the evening party at the Shilla Hotel. Her agency had specially canceled all her evening activities, and her agent told her that attending such a high-level party would be very beneficial for her career. In the Korean entertainment industry, having support and not having support are completely different!

Her agent and assistants couldn't enter, so Zheng Xiu Jing sat quietly at a table, sipping juice in small sips and occasionally picking up a piece of cake to eat. She wasn't hungry, but she was bored and a bit nervous.

The business elites who arrived early were smiling, and the casual business talk made Zheng Xiu Jing, a small artist, feel out of place.

Being the only artist at the entire party made Zheng Xiu Jing very curious. Why did Hyundai Steel Company invite her? It wasn't until Gao Yang appeared that she understood.

The incident at the wine party two months ago still made Zheng Xiu Jing feel scared when she thought about it. If Gao Yang hadn't helped her then, who knows what would have happened? She was truly grateful to Gao Yang.

Seeing Gao Yang being surrounded by people at the party, Zheng Xiu Jing just watched from the side. It wasn't until Gao Yang was resting alone in the garden that she mustered the courage to approach him.

Everyone knew that Gao Yang was a big benefactor. Seeing him resting alone in the garden, no one would dare to disturb him. So when Zheng Xiu Jing walked lightly towards the garden, almost everyone looked at her with surprise. This made Zheng Xiu Jing realize that her actions were a bit rash. She had no choice but to walk into the garden with determination.

Gao Yang and Zheng Xiu Jing walked back to the venue together, and everyone in the hall looked at them. Gao Yang shrugged, indifferent, as he had been in battle and could ignore these gazes.

Zheng Xiu Jing was a bit nervous, walking with her head slightly lowered. Jin Shizhang, who saw them return, smiled mysteriously.

At this moment, a short, pot-bellied, middle-aged man with glasses quickly walked out of the crowd towards them.

Gao Yang paused, and Zheng Xiu Jing, who had been looking down, also stopped and looked up. The middle-aged man was already in front of them, placing his hands on his legs and bowing to Zheng Xiu Jing. "I am Jin You San, the father of Jin Xiang Yang. I caused you trouble at the last wine party. I am very sorry. Please forgive me." He bowed deeply, which is the highest form of respect in Korea.

Zheng Xiu Jing hurriedly waved her hands, not knowing what to say. How could she accept such a deep bow from someone of his status and age? Gao Yang smiled and patted her shoulder, giving her a reassuring look when she looked at him.

Turning to look at the bowing Jin You San, Gao Yang smiled. He wasn't bowing to Zheng Xiu Jing but to him. Gao Yang had said he didn't want to see Jin Xiang Yang again, so his father took an unconventional approach, losing face in front of so many people. It seemed Jin Shizhang had put a lot of pressure on him.

"Okay, for Zheng Xiu Jing's sake, let it be," Gao Yang said. Jin You San stood up, faced Gao Yang, and bowed again. "Thank you very much."

The rest of the party was uneventful, but everyone looked at Zheng Xiu Jing strangely. After the party, Gao Yang stayed in a top suite at the Shilla Hotel. He originally planned to return to the capital early the next morning, but since he had a date, he decided to stay one more day.

When she got home, Zheng Xiu Jing still felt a bit dizzy. At the party, DNS's Jin Shizhang had bowed to her in front of almost the top people in Korea. Gao Yang's words, "For Zheng Xiu Jing's sake," made her feel warm and comfortable, like a lazy afternoon nap in the sun. She smiled in her sleep that night.

The next morning, when she went out, her sister Zheng Xiu Yan said, "What did you dream about last night? You were smiling so happily?" "Hehe, I won't tell you," Zheng Xiu Jing replied, making a face at her sister and rushing out.

Gao Yang spent the whole day in the hotel, feeling that time was passing slowly, eagerly waiting for night to fall. After lunch, he suddenly paused, wondering what was wrong with him. Could it be...

As the sky gradually darkened, Gao Yang left the Shilla Hotel, refusing the car arranged by Hyundai Company, and got into a taxi.

"Where is the best shopping area in Seoul?"

"Myeongdong."

"Okay, let's go to Myeongdong."

At 8 PM, while wandering in Myeongdong, Gao Yang received a call from Zheng Xiu Jing. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry for keeping you waiting." Zheng Xiu Jing kept apologizing. As a popular artist, her schedule was very busy, and she usually finished work after midnight. Today, even though she had canceled as many activities as possible, she only had time at 8 PM. After telling Gao Yang the address, she hurried to the reserved restaurant.

Gao Yang took a taxi to a famous high-end revolving restaurant in Gangnam, where Zheng Xiu Jing was already waiting. She had long hair, a black leather jacket, a leather skirt, and high-heeled sandals, looking both innocent and sexy. Gao Yang's eyes lit up. "Being an artist must be very profitable," he said with a smile.

Zheng Xiu Jing pouted. "Not really. This is my first time inviting someone to dinner." She had come straight from a filming location and hadn't changed her clothes, wearing her performance outfit.

When they arrived at the top-floor revolving restaurant, the waiter clearly recognized Zheng Xiu Jing but maintained a high level of professionalism, not showing much excitement, though he frequently glanced at Gao Yang.

At the table, Gao Yang smiled. "Why is the waiter looking at me? Am I famous in Korea?" Zheng Xiu Jing smiled and was about to say something when the waiter brought the menu.

Gao Yang looked through the menu and ordered honey-glazed chicken wings, sausage clams, fruit salad, and a bottle of red wine. Zheng Xiu Jing watched in surprise as Gao Yang ordered. Gao Yang closed the menu, handed it to the waiter, and smiled at Zheng Xiu Jing. "What's wrong? Did you not bring enough money? Hehe." Zheng Xiu Jing blushed slightly. "No."

Gao Yang laughed. "I didn't eat much for lunch, so I was looking forward to a big dinner."

Zheng Xiu Jing looked at him speechlessly. He didn't seem like the type of person who would do that. Gao Yang looked at her menu. "Why did you only order pasta? Aren't you hungry?"

"I need to maintain my figure," Zheng Xiu Jing pouted.

While eating, they chatted casually. Gao Yang talked about his experiences around the world. Zheng Xiu Jing said dreamily, "I really want to travel."

Gao Yang poured her some red wine. "Can you drink? What is the legal drinking age in Korea?" Zheng Xiu Jing looked at him speechlessly. He asked this after pouring the wine, which was quite frustrating.

The atmosphere was good, and they both enjoyed the meal and conversation. Before the dinner ended, Zheng Xiu Jing said, "Can we be friends?"

"Of course, it would be an honor."

"Can I call you oppa?"

Gao Yang was taken aback. "What is oppa?"

"Um, it means older brother. In Korea, it's a term used to address someone older. You can call me Xiao Shui Jing," Zheng Xiu Jing explained.

"Wouldn't that make me seem old?" Gao Yang laughed.

After dinner, Gao Yang insisted on sending Zheng Xiu Jing home. They took a taxi to the residential area where Zheng Xiu Jing lived.