Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

Soon, a large Mercedes-Benz pulled up in front of them, and Ji Xiong and Wu Qiuyue got out.

As soon as they alighted, Ji Xiong anxiously asked Ji Xueyao, "Xueyao, I heard there was another incident at the construction site? What happened?"

Wu Qiuyue also had a worried look on her face. Neither of them had noticed Zhao Dong standing off to the side yet.

Ji Xueyao smiled. "Dad, Mom, there was a bit of trouble, but... Zhao Dong took care of everything!"

"Zhao Dong? Zhao Dong is here too?"

Ji Xiong's gaze fell on Zhao Dong, and his face immediately lit up. "Mr. Zhao, you're here too!"

Only then did Zhao Dong look up, smiling at the couple. "Uncle Ji, Auntie Wu, I hope you've been well."

Ji Xiong and Wu Qiuyue were instantly beaming. Ji Xiong strode forward, grabbing Zhao Dong's hand.

"Zhao Dong, I haven't seen you in such a long time! Are you free tonight? Come have a few drinks with me."

Zhao Dong gave a wry smile. "Uncle, about that..."

Beside them, a happy smile spread across Ji Xueyao's face. "Alright, Zhao Dong, don't refuse. My dad has been wanting to treat you to a meal for ages but never had the chance. If you say you're busy tonight, it would be a real slight."

Since Ji Xueyao had put it that way, Zhao Dong could only give another wry smile. "In that case, it would be my honor to accept."

The smiles on Ji Xiong and Wu Qiuyue's faces grew even wider. After all, Zhao Dong had saved Ji Xiong's life, making him their family's benefactor. They had also heard Ji Xueyao mention often that Zhao Dong was a good person with an upright character—someone trustworthy and dependable.

Because of this, they were already quietly making plans in their hearts. The Ji Family's business empire in East Sea was already vast, so there was no need for any kind of strategic marriage alliance. What Ji Xiong and Wu Qiuyue wanted most was for Ji Xueyao to find a good man she could truly entrust her life to.

Right now, Zhao Dong was the most suitable candidate! Besides, they both took a real liking to him!

"Then it's settled! I'll book the restaurant. You must come with us tonight!" Beaming with joy, Ji Xiong immediately took out his phone. "Hello, Old Xu! Reserve a private room for us, the best one you have! That's right, we have a distinguished guest tonight!"

After hanging up, Ji Xiong laughed. "The restaurant is booked. Zhao Dong, you'll have to have a few good drinks with your uncle tonight."

Zhao Dong could only manage a smile.

Ji Xueyao also smiled and said, "Alright, Dad, Mom, it's only four or five in the afternoon. We still have a while before dinner. Let me tell you what happened at the construction site first."

Quickly, Ji Xueyao gave a brief account of how Zhao Dong had saved the workers, found the paper effigy, and successfully gotten the pile driver working.

This left Ji Xiong even more astonished. He said, deeply moved, "So the piles have already been driven? I was just about to ask someone to buy two imported pile drivers. This is great, you've saved us several million! Zhao Dong, you truly are our family's lucky star!"

Zhao Dong smiled and waved his hand dismissively. "It was nothing, Uncle Ji. Besides, Class Monitor Ji helped me out a lot back in the day."

Wu Qiuyue chuckled from the side. "Zhao Dong, you shouldn't call my daughter Class Monitor Ji anymore. Just call her Xueyao. What do you think, Xueyao?"

Ji Xueyao's pretty face flushed red. Seeing her mother's teasing gaze, she felt Wu Qiuyue was hinting at something.

Still, she nodded. "Right... just call me that. That's fine."

Zhao Dong gave a wry smile. This family was a little too enthusiastic.

All of this was witnessed by Li An, who was standing nearby. He clenched his fists tightly, his eyes filled with resentment and jealousy. Before, Ji Xiong had always been incredibly warm towards him, but now, he hadn't said a single word to him.

All the attention had been stolen by this Zhao Dong!

When Ji Xiong first learned he was an elite who had studied abroad, he had been incredibly enthusiastic. Li An had even felt ninety percent certain that he could win Ji Xueyao over. That was the only reason he had been willing to stay and work for the Ji Family.

But now, seeing the entire Ji family treat Zhao Dong with such warmth while completely ignoring him, Li An felt a bitter taste in his mouth. Staring at Zhao Dong, he clenched his jaw as a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Unable to hold back any longer, Li An decided he had to make an impression. He took a step forward and smiled at Ji Xiong and Wu Qiuyue.

"Uncle, Auntie, it's been a while! How has your health been?"

When Ji Xiong and Wu Qiuyue saw Li An, they also smiled. The smiles were clearly not as warm as the ones for Zhao Dong, but they were cordial enough.

Ji Xiong smiled. "Li An, you've been a great help with all the trouble at the construction site lately. Xueyao isn't as capable as you in many respects, so I hope you'll be understanding and continue to help her out."

Li An smiled back. "Uncle, you don't have to say that. Given my relationship with Xueyao, it goes without saying that I'll spare no effort to help her. Helping her is the same as helping myself."

The statement was clearly a bit forward, but Li An had said it deliberately. He wanted to see how Ji Xiong and Wu Qiuyue would react.

As expected, they both paused for a moment before Ji Xiong laughed. "That's right. You and Xueyao get along well. You're very good friends, and friends should help each other out!"

Li An narrowed his eyes. He kept a smile fixed on his face, but his heart grew cold. He's deliberately evading the question!

He refused to believe that an old fox like Ji Xiong couldn't read between the lines. He had wanted a definitive answer from him, a statement defining his relationship with Ji Xueyao.

But Ji Xiong had dodged it. Recalling the warmth shown to Zhao Dong, Li An slowly clenched his fists, a seed of hatred sprouting in his heart.

Damn it, how am I inferior to Zhao Dong? I'm an elite who studied abroad, with a master's degree and an impressive academic background! What even is Zhao Dong? He's nothing but a charlatan, yet he's managing to outshine me?

Li An's eyes darted around. He cleared his throat and asked with a casual smile, "Uncle Ji, my dad is coming back soon. He mentioned he really wants to get together with you when he returns and asked me to see if you have time."

Ji Xiong's eyebrows twitched slightly, but he quickly smiled. "Old Li is coming back? Of course, I have time! Your father and I have been friends for decades, how could I not have time? Tell him to come back soon!"

Li An smiled. "Okay, Uncle Ji. I'll pass the message along."

Li An's father, Li Guojian, had indeed known Ji Xiong for many years. However, they'd had a falling out in the past that had affected their relationship. Though they later reconciled, they contacted each other less and less. While Ji Xiong maintained a friendly facade, he secretly held a grudge against Li Guojian over something that had happened long ago. It was just one of those things that went unsaid in the world of adults.

Soon, Ji Xiong and Wu Qiuyue said a brief goodbye to Li An and got into their car to leave first, telling Zhao Dong and Ji Xueyao to follow them to the restaurant. From beginning to end, Ji Xiong never once invited Li An to join them for dinner.

Shortly after, Zhao Dong and Ji Xueyao also got in their car and drove off.

Li An stood rooted to the spot, watching them go. As their car disappeared, his expression turned utterly glacial.

"Motherfucker... The Ji Family... think they're so great? Ji Xueyao, since you don't appreciate what you have, don't blame me for playing dirty. And Ji Xiong... Heh... We'll see how long the Ji Family's glory lasts!"

A venomous look slowly filled Li An's eyes.

「On the other side of the city, a Porsche Panamera weaved through traffic on the overpass.」

Ji Xueyao was driving, and Zhao Dong was in the passenger seat looking out the window. He suddenly spoke.

"Xueyao, does that Li An guy like you?"

Hearing Zhao Dong call her by her name for the first time made Ji Xueyao blush unexpectedly. An unusual feeling surged in her heart... a tingling sensation, as if a faint electric current had just passed through her.

Her cheeks flushed as she answered softly, "I think so... a little, maybe. But I'm not interested in him."

Zhao Dong nodded slightly. "You should be careful around him. He's very calculating."

Ji Xueyao was taken aback for a second, then nodded seriously. "Okay, I will."

Just then, the car in front of them slammed on its brakes. Ji Xueyao let out a small cry and braked hard as well. However, the stop was too sudden, and a collision was unavoidable!

CRASH!

The two cars slammed into each other.