Chapter 7: Ripples of Change

As Jiang Meilin stepped out of the Zhao Corporation building, she tilted her face towards the sky, basking in the warm sunlight. The bright blue expanse above mirrored the buoyant feeling in her chest, a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and something else she couldn't quite name.

Before she could hail a taxi, her phone buzzed. The screen lit up with a familiar name: Li Jimin. Li Jimin, just like An Ling, was her very close friend. He was a B-List actor and model who had left the city for a shoot a few weeks ago.

"Jimin!" she answered, her voice bright. "You're back!"

"Hey, Meilin," his warm voice came through. "Just got in this morning. How about we grab a coffee and catch up?"

Twenty minutes later, they were seated in their favorite café, steaming cups before them. Li Jimin's handsome face broke into a wide smile as he looked at Meilin, his eyes soft with an emotion he carefully kept hidden.

"So, what have you been up to while I was away?" he asked, leaning forward.

Meilin's eyes sparkled as she recounted her recent adventure. "Oh, Jimin, you won't believe it! I've been commissioned to create seven paintings for a charity gala!"

"Seven? That's amazing, Meilin!" Jimin's face lit up with genuine happiness for his friend. "How did this happen?"

"Well, remember that painting I sold last year? The one I told Uncle Cheng I'll come back to retrieve? Well! It ended up at the Grand Imperial Hotel's gala. And guess who saw it?" She paused for dramatic effect. "Zhao Jingshen!"

Jimin's eyebrows shot up. "The Zhao Jingshen? CEO of Zhao Corporation?"

Meilin nodded excitedly. "He loved my work, Jimin. He wants me to create pieces for their charity gala in three months." She inhaled a deep breath. "Speaking of that, I need to call Uncle Cheng to ask him what happened. Zhao Jingshen said he'd been looking for the painter for a while now."

As Meilin continued to share details about her meeting with Zhao Jingshen, Jimin listened intently, his heart swelling with pride and a tinge of a bittersweet ache he'd grown accustomed to.

"I'm so proud of you, Meilin," he said softly, reaching out to squeeze her hand. "You deserve this chance."

Meilin squeezed back, oblivious to the deeper meaning behind his touch. "Thanks, Jimin. I couldn't have done it without you and Ling supporting me."

After parting ways with Jimin, Jiang Meilin headed to the market, her steps light with excitement. She decided to treat herself to a proper meal and also invited An Ling over for dinner.

That evening, as the aroma of hotpot filled her small apartment, she and An Ling shared a meal amidst laughter and playful banters.

Over dinner, Meilin shared the exciting news with An Ling, who squealed with delight. "I knew that gala would be good for you!" she exclaimed. "But I never imagined you'd catch the eye of Zhao Jingshen himself!"

An Ling's eyes sparkled with excitement as she peppered Meilin with questions. "What's he like in person? Is he as handsome as they say? Oh, Meilin, this could be your big break!"

Meilin laughed, feeling a warm glow of happiness at her friend's enthusiasm. However, she held back from mentioning the planned one-week 'excursion' with Zhao Jingshen. It was their little secret, and the thought of having something private with him sent a thrill through her. She felt a mix of guilt and excitement about keeping this from her friends, but something told her it was the right decision for now.

As the night wound down and An Ling left, Meilin found herself alone with her thoughts. She kept replaying her conversations with Zhao Jingshen, feeling butterflies in her stomach as she recalled his words: "I've been thinking about you since last night."

Just as she was debating whether to give him a call, her phone rang. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the caller ID.

"Hello?" she answered, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Meilin," Zhao Jingshen's deep voice came through. "I hope I'm not calling too late."

"Not at all," she replied, settling onto her couch. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, I... I wanted to apologize for Lian Fei's behavior earlier. It was unprofessional and uncalled for."

Meilin felt a warmth spread through her chest at his consideration. "It's alright. I understand."

There was a pause, and then Zhao Jingshen spoke again, his voice softer. "I've been thinking about our... field trip. Have you given any thought to how we should prepare?"

Meilin couldn't help but smile at the hint of excitement in his voice. "Actually, I have. I was thinking we should pack light, maybe just a backpack each. And we'll need to find some clothes that won't stand out too much."

"Good thinking," Zhao Jingshen replied, and Meilin could almost hear the smile in his voice. "I must admit, I'm looking forward to this more than I expected. It's been a long time since I've done anything... spontaneous."

As they continued to talk, discussing plans and sharing ideas, Meilin felt the initial nervousness melt away. There was an ease to their conversation, a natural flow that surprised and delighted her. Zhao Jingshen suddenly asked, "I hope your boyfriend is okay with you spending a week on the streets with another man?"

Jiang Meilin almost choked upon hearing his question. Her heart raced as she replied, "Boyfriend? Of course not. I don't have a boyfriend." She bit her lip, wondering why he'd asked and what his reaction would be.

On his end, Zhao Jingshen let out a huge grin before replying, "That's good." Realizing how that might sound, he quickly added, "We should probably get some rest. We have a lot to prepare in the next few days."

Meilin's mind whirled at his response. Did he mean it was good for the project, or was there more to it? She pushed the thought aside, not daring to hope. "You're right," she agreed, stifling a yawn. "Goodnight, Jingshen. And thank you for calling."

"Goodnight, Meilin. Sweet dreams."

As she put down the phone, Meilin hugged herself, a giddy smile on her face. The week ahead promised to be unlike anything she'd ever experienced, and she couldn't wait to see what it would bring. More than that, she found herself looking forward to spending time with Zhao Jingshen, a realization that both thrilled and terrified her.