Chapter 20: A Hole in One

Everyone assumed the beautiful woman was just making a last-ditch effort to save face. Anyone could see this was her absolute limit. In golf, sinking the ball in four strokes on a par-four hole is considered professional level. A birdie—finishing in three strokes—is already a rare feat. An eagle, meaning two strokes, is the mark of a top-tier athlete. As for a hole-in-one... that's harder than winning the lottery—simply impossible.

Jiang Zhiyou steadied herself at the tee, raised her club high, and swung with all her strength. The small white ball soared in a lofty arc toward the green. Everyone rushed up to see what had happened.

Xue Tao was the first to reach the green. There was no sign of the ball. Disbelieving, he searched around, then finally thought to check the hole. Sure enough, there it was—Jiang Zhiyou’s golf ball sat at the bottom.

He froze for half a second, then, elated, raised the ball high: “A hole-in-one! Miss Jiang made a hole-in-one!”

He looked happier than if he’d scored himself. Everyone else was dumbfounded. This delicate-looking Miss Jiang had actually scored a hole-in-one.

Just to put this into perspective: a hole-in-one is so rare that even professionals might play twenty thousand shots before achieving one. It takes not just absolute skill but incredible luck.

The young men who had initially been waiting for a spectacle now looked at Jiang Zhiyou with awe. News of her hole-in-one spread across the golf course like wildfire; more and more people gathered, eager to witness the aftermath of such a rare event. Many even asked to take a photo with her.

As tradition dictates, a hole-in-one calls for generous red envelopes to be given to caddies and staff. Jiang Zhiyou seemed prepared; her sports bag was filled with envelopes, which she handed out to the caddies one by one.

Everyone was stunned.

“Miss Jiang came prepared for this.”

“So when she made that birdie earlier, she was just playing the fool!”

“Crown Prince, you’ll have to admit defeat—Miss Jiang has bested you!”

“But who did Miss Jiang learn from? Could she really do this on skill alone?”

Why else would she prepare red envelopes if she wasn’t confident?

Jiang Zhiyou laughed off the questions. Then she looked at Bo Jinxi. “President Bo, you’ll keep your promise, won’t you?”

Bo Jinxi replied coolly, “I said I’d consider it if you beat me, not that I’d definitely accept your interview.”

Jiang Zhiyou’s face stiffened. In that moment, she was reminded of the shameless man who would often play tricks in bed—promising it was the last time, but then, while holding her in the shower, denying he’d ever said any such thing.

These memories flashed through her mind, and her cheeks flushed red. The people around her assumed she was simply angry and began to chime in:

“Crown Prince, this isn’t right—how can you bully a young woman like this?”

“A bet’s a bet! It’s just an interview.”

“Exactly! Our Crown Prince can’t be so small-minded.”

Bo Jinxi watched as everyone surrounded Jiang Zhiyou, acting as if they were her knights. A strange irritation rose in his heart.

He coldly declared, “What I detest most are those who plot and scheme.” Then, with a warning glare at Jiang Zhiyou’s friends, he added, “If any of you want to play her protector, don’t blame me for ending our friendship.”

His friends looked at him in surprise and fear. For all his status in Beijing’s elite, Bo Jinxi had always treated his friends well; he’d even brought them together for this major project, hoping to let everyone benefit. But now, for the sake of one woman, he was saying such things.

It was plain to see: the Crown Prince was truly angry—because of this woman. But why? Whatever the reason, no one was going to risk alienating the scion of Beijing’s elite over a woman.

The men who had gathered around Jiang Zhiyou quickly distanced themselves from her. Xia Ling, upon seeing this, let a small smile curl her lips. It seemed that even Jiang Zhiyou’s beauty could fail her sometimes.

Jiang Zhiyou and Xia Ling returned to the television station one after the other. Neither mentioned what had happened at the golf course. That afternoon, the team held a meeting.

Director Tang was visibly excited. “Fortune has finally smiled upon us. Xia, Jiang, which one of you secured the Crown Prince’s exclusive interview?”

Jiang Zhiyou and Xia Ling both looked slightly surprised. The others in the group were equally shocked.

“The Crown Prince agreed to our interview?”

“Yes! BJ just called. The appointment is set for tomorrow at nine. They want us to send someone over.”

Vivian asked, “Who will go for the interview?”

Director Tang replied, “They didn’t specify—just told us to have someone there at nine. The Crown Prince has set aside two hours for our station.”

Director Tang was still confused. “Xia, Jiang, neither of you said anything when you returned. Which one of you arranged the interview?”

Jiang Zhiyou frowned. That morning, Bo Jinxi’s attitude had clearly been a refusal. Why had he changed his mind now?

While Jiang Zhiyou was still silent, Xia Ling calmly spoke up, “Director, it was me.”

Director Tang beamed. “Excellent! Xia, I knew you were capable. Prepare yourself. At nine tomorrow morning, you’ll conduct the exclusive interview. Do well, and your future will be limitless.”

Excited, he snatched up his phone. “I have to tell the station chief. This is big news! The director at Jing TV has tried to get the Crown Prince for ages without success, and now our station has managed it. The chief will be thrilled.”

Once Director Tang left, everyone gathered around Xia Ling.

“Xia Ling, you’re amazing! How did you pull this off?”

“No wonder you’re a top university graduate with BNC internship experience—so different from certain pretty faces.”

“That prime-time anchor spot is definitely yours now.”

“When you get it, you must treat us to dinner!”

Xia Ling managed a shy smile, though her manner was modest. “I was just lucky, that’s all. Tonight, dinner’s on me—let’s go for Japanese food at Taikoo House.”

Taikoo House was a high-end Japanese restaurant in Rong City, famous for its prices. Most of them, working at the station with not particularly high salaries, had never dined somewhere that upscale.

Their excitement grew, and they praised Xia Ling’s generosity.

Xia Ling walked over to Jiang Zhiyou, who had remained silent. “Zhiyou, will you join us for dinner tonight?”

Jiang Zhiyou gathered her files, smiling slyly at Xia Ling. “Of course. If someone’s treating, how could I refuse?”

That evening, the group arrived at Taikoo House. Xia Ling had booked a private room in advance. The ten or so colleagues admired the luxurious décor and once again showered Xia Ling with compliments.

“Xia Ling, do you come here often?”

She answered modestly, “Not really, just on occasion.”

“Places like this aren’t for regular folks. Xia Ling, you always say your family’s ordinary, but look at this!”

“You went to study abroad—how could your family not be well-off?”

“Come on, Xia Ling, tell us—which wealthy family’s heiress are you?”

Xia Ling replied, “I haven’t lied. My family’s circumstances really aren’t great. I was able to study overseas thanks to my boyfriend.”

She glanced at Jiang Zhiyou across the table. “My boyfriend’s family is well-off, and he loves me very much. I went abroad with him.”