Chapter 3

As the elevator descended to the basement level, the doors slowly slid open, and Mo Yiyan stepped out first, his long legs striding confidently. Li Yangchen followed closely behind.

Mo Yiyan retrieved his car key from his pocket. With a flick of the remote, the lights of a sleek black Bentley flickered in the distance.

Turning to Li Yangchen, he inquired, "Can you drive? I've had a bit to drink."

Initially, Li Yangchen assumed he was merely escorting her downstairs to retrieve her passport, but now it seemed he expected her to take the wheel.

Noting that he had no intention of calling for a designated driver, she nodded and made her way to the driver's seat, opening the door and settling in.

"Drive to your home first," Mo Yiyan instructed as he fastened his seatbelt.

Although Li Yangchen was quite competent behind the wheel, she seldom drove and was unfamiliar with the route. Thus, she turned on the navigation system to find her way.

As they exited the parking lot, the Bentley glided into the flow of traffic on the wide street.

At a red light, Li Yangchen glanced at the man in the passenger seat, who appeared to be resting his eyes, presumably due to the effects of alcohol.

Dressed in a tailored black suit, even his shirt was black today, giving him an air of fatigue yet deepening his enigmatic presence.

When the light turned green, Li Yangchen merged onto the overpass, steering toward her home.

Just then, a phone rang, and Mo Yiyan pulled his mobile from his pocket to answer.

Though she couldn't hear the other side of the conversation, he responded with a simple "mm" before ending the call.

After hanging up, he turned to Li Yangchen and asked, "Do you rarely take this route?"

"I seldom drive," she replied, sensing he might think her pace was slow.

"Ah, what an honor it is to have you as my chauffeur today!" Mo Yiyan chuckled, glancing at her delicate hands resting on the steering wheel.

"Thanks to you, I've had the chance to drive a luxury car," Li Yangchen said, focusing on the road and chatting casually, unaware of his keen interest in her expression.

"Is that so?" Mo Yiyan mused, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He noted that her demeanor was calm, lacking the typical sparkle of excitement one might expect upon riding in an extravagant vehicle.

The rest of the drive passed in comfortable silence. Upon arriving at the Four Seasons Garden, Li Yangchen parked by the curb, turned off the engine, unbuckled her seatbelt, and turned to Mo Yiyan. "I'm here. How will you get back?"

Mo Yiyan retrieved her passport from the glove compartment and handed it to her, saying, "My driver will arrive in ten minutes." He then exited the car, and Li Yangchen followed suit.

Standing outside, he lit a cigarette and took a puff, his long fingers casually pointing at the passport in her hand as he asked, "Planning a trip to M Country?"

"Indeed. I just got my passport back after processing the visa. Thank you for bringing me back today," Li Yangchen replied politely, maintaining a degree of distance.

Mo Yiyan lowered his gaze, pondering as he took another drag from his cigarette, then nodded thoughtfully.

Raising his eyes again, he raised an eyebrow and urged her, "Go on inside."

Li Yangchen expressed her gratitude once more before turning to enter the community.

Ten minutes later, a taxi pulled up to the entrance of the complex. A young man exited the vehicle and respectfully addressed the man beside the Bentley, saying, "I apologize for the delay, Mr. Mo." As he spoke, he opened the rear door for Mo Yiyan.

The driver made his way to the front seat, glancing at the nearby complex, recalling it as the residence of that Miss Li from their last encounter. Not daring to say more, he simply drove away.

Once the work of guiding students through their application process was completed, Li Yangchen purchased a plane ticket, packed her bags, and flew to M Country to visit her father.

It had been six months since the father and daughter had seen each other, and for Li Yangchen, this was her first trip to M Country. Li Ze made adjustments to his work schedule, taking a week off to spend time with her. Even if they remained at home preparing meals, Li Yangchen found immense joy in their time together.

Her mother had passed away from illness when she was sixteen, and although her father had subsequently been assigned to various projects abroad, he had always showered her with love. Their conversations were filled with warmth and laughter.

After a week, her father's project picked up pace again, and he could no longer accompany her. She ventured out to explore the surrounding area on her own.

Time flew by during their joyous moments together, and soon it was time for Li Yangchen to return home.

Li Ze felt reluctant to see her go, but the demands of his project left him little choice. He promised his daughter he would make every effort to return to China for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

On the day of her departure, Li Ze drove Li Yangchen to the airport.

During the journey, he asked her, "Chenchen, are you seeing anyone at the moment?"

Li Yangchen was somewhat taken aback. Although her father had always been open about their conversations, he never proactively inquired about her romantic life. Yet, considering that she was now 26 years old, and that both Wu Jiaxin and Yan Zhuoling were a year older and had already faced family pressure to marry three years ago, it was only natural for her father to ask.

"I haven't had the luck like Mom did; I still haven't found someone as exceptional as you, Dad!" Li Yangchen replied with a smile.

"Your father is aging now, and since I'm not in the country, although I trust your abilities, I also hope there's someone by your side to take care of you," Li Ze said earnestly.

"Dad, you're not old! I'm not in a rush to find that someone, so I certainly won't rush to meet him!" she replied playfully, understanding her parents' concerns, but knowing that matters of the heart cannot be hurried.

Li Ze affectionately ruffled her hair, saying, "Indeed, my daughter is both smart and beautiful; she should take her time in choosing the right one!"

After arriving at the airport, Li Ze helped her check in her luggage.

Once Li Yangchen had her boarding pass, Li Ze had to return to work, and the two shared a tender farewell at the airport.

After passing through security, Li Yangchen checked the time; there was still half an hour until boarding. The terminal was filled with shops, so she decided to browse in a store selling local specialty souvenirs.

The cultural ambiance of M Country was entirely different from that of her homeland, and the souvenirs available in the airport were exquisite—perfect for personal keepsakes or gifts.

As she approached her boarding gate, she clutched the souvenirs she had purchased, ready to head to the boarding area.

Suddenly, a man rushed past her, colliding into her slightly as he exclaimed, "Sorry!" before continuing on his way.

The force of the collision startled her, causing her to stumble forward.

However, instead of falling awkwardly, she landed directly into the embrace of a sturdy man.

She inhaled the unique scent emanating from him, subtle yet pleasant, and surprisingly familiar.

Still enveloped in the oddly comforting aroma, she hadn't quite registered what had happened when the man who had caught her firmly grasped her shoulders, seemingly ensuring her stability before releasing her. As he stepped back, his voice, deep and resonant, reached her ears, "Are you alright?"

That magnetic voice…

Li Yangchen looked up and found herself staring into a striking face framed by profound, dark eyes.

"Th-thank you," she stammered, feeling a mix of surprise and delight at encountering Mo Yiyan here.

Mo Yiyan squinted at her; today, she wore a powdery lavender organza dress, her skin pale as cream. From his vantage point, he could see her delicate chin, perfectly shaped for lifting and kissing. As his gaze traveled downward, it landed on her full bosom, where the ends of her casually draped ponytail fell, slightly yellowed from a previous perm. At that moment, it gracefully grazed the soft, elastic surface, playfully twirling.

He suddenly felt a dryness in his throat.

Diverting his gaze, he noticed the boarding pass in her hand and inquired, "Are you heading back to G City?"

Feeling somewhat uneasy under his scrutiny, Li Yangchen brushed aside her bangs and replied, "Yes, I'm going home for a while."

"When will you return to Pengcheng?"

"Before the new semester begins," she answered, aware of the unusual quickening of her heartbeat as he stood close.

Conscious of their lack of familiarity, Li Yangchen found herself torn between wanting to leave and seeking a conversation.

Just then, the airport's announcement echoed through the terminal, announcing her flight was now boarding. After bidding farewell to Mo Yiyan, she proceeded toward the gate.

Mo Yiyan watched her depart, his eyes narrowing, revealing a depth of emotion.

...

Once Li Yangchen returned to G City, she didn't linger idle. She gathered with friends and revised her teaching paper, which she intended to publish on the national journal website. With only ten days until the start of the new semester, she planned her return to Pengcheng.

The day after arriving in Pengcheng, she arranged to meet Wu Jiaxin and another friend, Yan Zhuoling, for a meal, bringing gifts from her travels.

They decided to dine at a musical restaurant on the top floor of a hotel in the CBD, which Wu Jiaxin had reserved.

"I came here last time with a blind date; the food was superb, but I was trying to maintain my lady-like image, so I didn't indulge as much as I wanted," Wu Jiaxin reminisced, her mouth watering at the thought of the delectable dishes. "Today, I'm determined to feast!"

Yan Zhuoling, a veterinarian, sent a WeChat message saying she would be late due to a busy day at her pet shop, so this meal would be on her.

Wu Jiaxin had a yoga instructor training session at a nearby club that afternoon, so she and Li Yangchen arranged to meet at the hotel lobby at six.

Wu Jiaxin arrived first but was still in her workout clothes after finishing her training and asked Li Yangchen to wait for her while she changed in the restroom.

As Li Yangchen entered the hotel lobby, she unexpectedly crossed paths with Mo Yiyan, who was exiting with several businessmen.

Seeing him approach, she nodded in greeting.

However, Mo Yiyan halted upon noticing her, briefly explaining to his clients that he would be stepping away before approaching her.

"Miss Li, what a coincidence!"

Li Yangchen managed a somewhat awkward smile, replying, "What a coincidence..." but struggled to continue the conversation.

Mo Yiyan appraised her; today, she wore a fresh powder-blue dress, exuding an air of elegance. "I have a business engagement over here; what brings you?"

He subtly directed the conversation toward her while glancing at the two exquisite gift bags she was holding.

"I'm meeting friends for dinner here," she replied succinctly.

Mo Yiyan inquired, "Is it at the music restaurant on the 45th floor?"

Li Yangchen nodded just as Wu Jiaxin appeared around the corner. She raised her hand to greet her and turned to Mo Yiyan, saying, "My friend is here; I won't keep you. Enjoy your evening!" With that, she maneuvered around Mo Yiyan and left.

Mo Yiyan picked up his phone and made a call, stroking his chin while wearing a contemplative smile.

Wu Jiaxin observed Li Yangchen conversing with a tall man in the lobby from a distance. Though she couldn't see his face clearly, her trained eye as a yoga instructor could tell he had a remarkable physique and profile. Standing next to the equally striking Li Yangchen, they looked like a perfect match—a handsome man and a beautiful woman.

Knowing that Li Yangchen had no shortage of admirers, she wanted to approach for a better look, but just as she made her move, Li Yangchen was already on her way, leaving the man behind.

Alas! Her curious heart had nowhere to settle! Knowing that if she asked Li Yangchen directly, she wouldn't reveal much.

Yet, as soon as Li Yangchen approached her, Wu Jiaxin seized her hand and asked, "That guy looked great! Who is he?"

Li Yangchen, noticing the sparkle of gossip in her friend's eyes, teased, "Did you take a liking to him? Do you want an introduction?"

Wu Jiaxin smiled with a hint of resignation, knowing Li Yangchen was cunning and sharp-witted, adept at diverting the conversation.

Undeterred, she pressed on, "The way he looked at you was so intense. Is he pursuing you?"

"I think your mascara has smudged; it's obscuring your vision and making your gaze less sharp," Li Yangchen laughed, playfully poking fun at her.

At that moment, Wu Jiaxin felt an unusual heaviness on her lashes, realizing she hadn't had the chance to touch up her makeup after changing clothes to avoid keeping Li Yangchen waiting. She quickly pulled out a compact mirror to check.

Seeing this, Li Yangchen pulled her into the elevator heading to the music restaurant.

After the elevator ascended to the 45th floor, the staff escorted them to their reserved booth.

As soon as they sat down, Wu Jiaxin received a call from her cousin, Su Min, while Li Yangchen perused the menu.

Fifteen minutes later, Yan Zhuoling arrived.

Li Yangchen waved her over with a smile.

"You've done a great job with your sunscreen; after traveling in the summer, you still look so fair!" Yan Zhuoling remarked as she settled in, propping her chin on her hand and gazing at Li Yangchen.

"I used the XX brand sunscreen this time; it's perfect for outdoor activities," Li Yangchen replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Conversations among girls invariably veer toward beauty products, and the two delved into a discussion about their sun protection strategies.

After a while, Wu Jiaxin concluded her call, hanging up in a huff as she said, "The mistress is pregnant with Jiang Yang's child, yet that scoundrel refuses to divorce my cousin!"

"He doesn't want a divorce