Empress Of The Lost Kingdom

When Zhang Zhi Jun arrived at his agency, it was already turned lunch hours. 

He waited at the parking area for their CEO, 

Within a few minutes, a man wearing a leather jacket and ripped jeans appeared in the parking lot with a helmet,

"I've found a nice place which sells seafood platter, wish to join?" Zhang Zhi Jun casually asked the man.

"Bro!" Ye Wu Fan's eyes sparkled in surprise. Zhang Zhi Jun walked towards him and bumped their fists.

"So it is true that the CEO of starlight entertainment is planning to resign and become a full-time food blogger,"

Only a few people in starlight entertainment knew that their CEO is a foodie and loves to visit restaurants which serves delicious food whenever he gets time.

"Ha ha ha, I wish I could do that," Ye Wu Fan grinned like a child,

The Ye family in Jing city had any shortage of the number of male heirs. In order to become the successor of Ye family business, there was huge strife between the siblings in the Ye Family. 

However, Ye Ling and his cousin Ye Wu Fan were the only ones who were not worried about the shares. More than his own brothers Ye Ling was closer to his cousin Ye Wu Fan who shared his interest in the entertainment industry.

Even from their childhood, Ye Ling wanted to become an actor and Ye Wu Fan wished to create an agency for his brother Ling.

When Ye Wu Fan came back from abroad after his studies, he created an entertainment agency and Ye Ling was the very first artist to sign under starlight entertainment. And Zhang Zhi Jun was the second artist to join their agency. It was practically three of them who built and became the pillars of starlight entertainment.

"I thought you went for a trip," Ye Wu Fan wondered,

Being the CEO of Zhang Zhi Jun's agency and one of his closest friend, Ye Wu Fan was aware of Zhang Zhi Jun's schedule. Whenever he finishes a big project, he takes a break from work a month.

"I went home,"

"Oh, how's your family?"

"They are good, do you want that seafood platter or what?" Zhang Zhi Jun tempted him in the name of food.

"You don't have to ask anymore, come let's go,"

Zhang Zhi Jun nodded in agreement and led him to his car. Within in thirty minutes, they have reached a newly opened seafood restuarant in Jing city,

"I wanted to visit this place, thanks for taking me here, Bro Jun,"

Ye Wu Fan's mouth turned into a sea when he looked at the various seafood dishes placed on their table,

He couldn't wait to attack,

"Let's eat,"

The moment the words left Zhang Zhi Jun's mouth, Ye Wu Fan took the chopsticks and dug into the food, 

He took a giant chunk of the lobster meat and stuffed his mouth.

Zhang Zhi Jun smiled and deshelled the lobster the placed some on his plate.

Ye Wu Fan appeared as a sophisticated gentleman in front of everyone but the moment he is left alone with food, he turns into heavy eater,

His foodie side is only shown in front of the people who he treats his own.

"Bro, this is too good!!!!!,"

"Yes, yes, eat it slowly," 

Zhang Zhi Jun said with gentle eyes and served him more food.

For the outer world, they may appear as a CEO and an artist under the label, however, in reality, Ye Wu Fan and Zhang Zhi Jun had a close relationship.

"I want to tell you something,"

"Yes, bro"

"The reason why I went home is to discuss my future,"

Zhang Zhi waited for a moment and looked at Ye Wu Fan who is devouring on the food like a person who has  straved for two days. 

"Your future?"

"I am planning to get married."

"What?" Ye Wu Fan was startled by Zhang Zhi Jun's revelation, choked upon the lobster, "Cough, cough,"

Zhang Zhi Jun passed him a glass of water.

Poor Ye Wu Fan, he thought his friend was treating him, who would expect that it was a trap,

"You are joking, aren't you?"

"Why, am I not allowed to get married now?

"No, it is not like that, you are in the peak of your career and why now? Your girlfriend is not pregnant-, no you are not someone who will have a hidden affair." Ye Wu Fan appeared confused.

"What happened exactly?" 

"You don't have to worry, I am just thinking about getting married," Zhang Zhi Jun said as if he is trying to calm Ye Wu Fan, who appeared perturbed.

"Even though I am a celebrity, I cannot run away from arranged marriages."

Ye Wu Fan was aware of the fact that Zhang Zhi Jun was the young master of Bai corporations and being an actor was just his hobby. One day or another he was sure that like every other corporate heir, Zhang Zhi Jun also have to take the responsibility of the family business. But he never expected that Zhang Zhi Jun will be forced for an arranged marriage.

"So did your family found you a girl?"

"Kind of,"

"Who is the girl? Do I know her?" Ye Wu Fan was curious. 

"No, there is very less chance that you might've heard about her, she used to live as a commoner, " Zhang Zhi Jun purposefully avoided the term cousin. Even though there are communities in which marrying one's cousin is considered ideal, most of the people still hold a stigma and consider it as a taboo. Even though Yu clan practices endogamy, they also give special attention to the degree of kinship.

"So did you agree?"

"Yes, but the girl, she playing hard to get." Zhang Zhi Jun said with a tormented smile.

"Woahhh, you even proposed?"

"Not really. She fell out of love and quite heartbroken at the moment."

"So you are playing the prince charming on the horse?" Ye Wu Fan jokingly said, 

"I wish I could." Zhang Zhi Jun said with a bitter smile. 

"What is the problem?"

"She likes me, but still refuses to get closer to me since she is quite troubled by her past."

"Bro, if you want to get married to a girl who is not troubled by her past, come let's go and visit some hospital and look for a newborn baby," Even though Ye Wu Fan sounded serious, humour rippled in his fox like eyes.

Zhang Zhi Jun moved the lobster away from Ye Wu Fan and stopped him from eating.

"My lobster," He almost cried, he can tolerate anything, but stopping him from eating- that is the most torturous thing one could do to Ye Wu Fan.

,"Help me,"

"Okay, so what exactly is her stance on this marriage?" Ye Wu Fan agreed,

"She likes me as a celebrity crush but refuses me as a suitor, she thinks that I deserve someone better than her,

"Nothing to worry bro, that's the famous one-liner which is used by almost everyone in the world who has low self-esteem, we narcissists won't be able to understand it."

Zhang Zhi Jun appeared more confused. Who is calling a narcissist? 

"Didn't you say that she fell out of love? No wonder she is refusing to get closer to you. Maybe she is scared or insecure about getting into another relationship, give her some time to get over her previous relationships." Ye Wu Fan tried to find a convincing explanation. 

"I wanted to give her some time, but to be honest, I am scared by the number of men waiting for her to become single so that they can hit on her." While roaming around with Meng Yao, he has gathered all the information about Li Juan and her university life. 

"I have done my waiting and I don't want to lose her to someone else." Zhang Zhi Jun sounded determined with his words. 

"If you believe so, go ahead and talk to her. Be with her and make her believe that you will stick to her no matter what happens,

"After all that, you can go ahead and do a grand dramatic proposal."

" I don't think she is the type of girl who loves proposals."

"All girls love proposals, brother."

Zhang Zhi Jun faintly smiled,

" She is not like the girls we have seen so far. She is different, she is a kind of girl who has a high IQ but low EQ,

And I somehow feel that she is difficult to impress." 

-----------------------------------

Zhang Zhi Jun wanted to give Li Juan a proper Farewell and introduce her to his friend circle. Ye Ling who took in charge of matchmaking service arranged the private party and invited his closest friends. 

Zhang Zhi Jun and Ye Wu Fan were the first ones to reach the hotel where the party is arranged. 

Zhang Zhi Jun kept looking at his wristwatch in yearning.

"Good evening people!" Someone opened the door and said. 

"Oh, finally you are here." Ye Wu Fan exclaimed

Mo Yan entered into the room with a worried looking Xie Long and Min Zhe.

Three of them were childhood best friends of Ye Wu Fan. Mo Yan who used to be an actor from his teenage years joined starlight entertainment once he left his previous agency.

Even though Zhang Zhi Jun and Ye Ling were elder than them, four of them had a special connection with two elder brothers and they have created a friend circle of their own.

"It's been quite a while that we all have come together," Min Zhe said. 

"Where is Bro Ling?" Mo Yan inquired once he felt the someone is missing from the gang.

"He is on the way," Ye Wu Fan informed them, "There is a reason for us to meet today." 

"Let me guess, you are going to get married?" Mo Yan suggested. 

"Not me, it is brother Jun who is getting married,"

"Oh wow congrats bro"

"What is wrong with everyone? Why am I hearing that curse word wherever I go?" 

"Hey, what happened to him?" Zhang Zhi Jun asked Mo Yan 

"His girlfriend broke up with him."

"What! I never thought that little Xie will be concerned about these silly things?" Zhang Zhi Jun said in a surprised tone.

"His girlfriend left him for some rich old man." Min Zhe explained.

Xie Long was the youngest son in his family and they considered him as an immature child, never really gave any role in the family business. 

"How these girls can be so money-driven? How can she leave?" 

"Hey leave it, you are the young master of Xie family and girls will be queuing to become your girlfriend." Mo Yan consoled him. 

"So who is that girl who is going to become our sister in law?" 

"You can see it with your own eyes, bro Jun, when is your girl arriving?" Ye Wu Fan asked him.

"She is caught in the traffic." Zhang Zhi Jun dialled her number. The number was unreachable. 

"I have already told her that I will come and pick her." Zhang Zhi Jun was getting agitated.

"Oh, brother, this is the first time I am seeing your lovelorn face outside the screen." Mo Yan chuckled.

"Excuse me, let me use the washroom." Ye Wu Fan stood up from his seat and went outside. He walked towards the washroom and crashed into Li Juan.

"Oh, I am sorry." She apologized.

"Hey, it is okay." Ye Wu Fan examined the girl in front of him who was adorned in a burgundy deep red dress. The ravishing beauty looked familiar.

"Have we met somewhere?" Ye Wu Fan asked Li Juan. Li Juan looked at him in surprise. Her honey-coloured skin and big eyes were hinting him that he knew her.

"Aren't you Li Juan from Silver Oak high school?" Ye Wu Fan's eyes enlarged in surprise. "Don't you remember me? I am Ye Wu Fan.

How could Li Juan fail to recognize him? 

Ye Wu Fan was Tang Wei Sheng's close friend from school days itself.