Chapter 4

"What suitor?" Yan Zhuoling asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Did you know? Just now, in the lobby of the hotel, I saw a man talking to Chenchen. You should have seen the way he looked at her…" Wu Jiaxin paused before continuing, "Like a wolf eyeing a little rabbit, you know what I mean?"

"Oh?" Yan Zhuoling stirred the ice in her cup, raising an eyebrow as she turned her gaze toward Li Yangchen, awaiting her explanation.

Li Yangchen shrugged, saying, "She just loves to overthink!" She then turned to Wu Jiaxin. "Now that you've taken someone else's card, you've really stirred up trouble."

"Do you believe that if you hadn't taken it, the restaurant manager would have waited until you accepted the card before leaving?" Wu Jiaxin smirked.

"Chenchen, what are you planning to do?" Though Yan Zhuoling hadn't seen the 'ideal man' Wu Jiaxin mentioned, she could sense the depth of his intentions. Inviting her out to dinner and gifting her a consumption card were merely ploys to create another opportunity to ask her out!

"Exactly! You haven't even told us how you two met! Spill the beans!" Wu Jiaxin's insatiable curiosity was now bubbling over.

Li Yangchen succinctly recounted the origins of their acquaintance.

"Fate! It's definitely fate," Wu Jiaxin exclaimed excitedly.

"Chenchen has always had many admirers each year; you shouldn't be surprised," Yan Zhuoling said, less thrilled. From what Li Yangchen had just said and the restaurant manager's demeanor, it was evident that this Mr. Mo was either wealthy or powerful. Such a person, without any prior contact, was hard to assess; it was unclear whether he was a fleeting admirer or had genuine intentions. Yet, it was clear to her that Li Yangchen held no particular interest.

"Lingling, this time it's different. You didn't see him in person; a man like that is obviously stylishly dressed and knows how to flirt. He's not like the previous ones," Wu Jiaxin added, relishing the gossip.

"Wu Jiaxin, I've noticed you've become quite vulgar, imagining what he'd do if he took off his clothes," Yan Zhuoling scoffed at Wu Jiaxin's crude comment.

"Did you not see his perfect inverted triangle physique? He's obviously exceptional! Unlike those beer-bellied types or the overly flamboyant gays at the gym," Wu Jiaxin retorted vividly.

"I can only imagine that when you teach male clients, you take advantage of the situation!" Yan Zhuoling poked Wu Jiaxin playfully in the forehead.

Wu Jiaxin swatted her hand away and turned to Li Yangchen, "Chenchen, how do you intend to handle this? He clearly isn't someone you can easily dismiss. But what intrigues me more is your attitude toward him." In truth, she had her own motives; after her best friend's first love in college, Li Yangchen had not dated anyone else. Wu Jiaxin believed that her friend simply hadn't moved on from the heartbreak, not that her first love had been that unforgettable.

Li Yangchen chuckled, her expression shifting to one of mock seriousness. "You took the consumption card; I'll just give you his phone number later. If you're interested, feel free to reach out."

Wu Jiaxin pulled out her phone, feigning a need to jot down the number, and with a playful grin said, "What if I contact him and disclose all your personal information? Who knows, he might offer me more than just a consumption card!"

Yan Zhuoling twisted Wu Jiaxin's ear, scolding, "Are you selling out your friend for food?" She then took the consumption card from Wu Jiaxin and handed it to Li Yangchen. "Chenchen, you must know how to handle this card."

With the matter at hand, Li Yangchen reluctantly accepted the card, though she hadn't yet devised a plan for its disposition.

After some playful banter, the three of them exited the restaurant. Just before leaving, Wu Jiaxin sought out the restaurant manager for a quick word. When Yan Zhuoling inquired about their conversation, Wu Jiaxin simply smiled mysteriously, provoking another ear-twisting from Yan Zhuoling.

At 10 PM, after finishing her shower, Li Yangchen was about to dry her hair when she received a WeChat notification. Opening it, she found a voice message and a video file sent by Wu Jiaxin in their group chat. Li Yangchen clicked to watch.

"Chenchen, did you know? The Mr. Mo who treated us today has quite the impressive background—he's the president of Huanyu Investment, a prominent figure in Pengcheng. I got a video from a media friend; take a look!"

Li Yangchen sighed, recognizing her friend's undeniable knack for gossip.

As she played the video, she saw a man seated in an interview room, dressed simply in white and black. He faced the camera with a calm demeanor, his prominent brows relaxed, and responded to questions with a thoughtful ease. Though his words were few, each carried an authoritative weight, and even through the screen, Li Yangchen could feel the powerful aura emanating from him.

"...Just one last question, Mr. Mo, are you still single? What kind of woman do you prefer?"

The man raised an eyebrow slightly, pausing before responding with a composed air, "It depends on fate."

...

Having finished the video, Li Yangchen was about to send a message to the group chat when her phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, she saw it was Mo Yiyan.

The phone rang persistently until, just before it could automatically hang up, Li Yangchen pressed the answer button. "Hello?"

After several long moments of silence, a deep, magnetic voice finally broke through, "Miss Li, did you enjoy your meal today?"

Li Yangchen absentmindedly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, replying, "Thank you for today's dinner, Mr. Mo. We rarely dine there, and I won't be able to use the consumption card…"

Before she could finish, Mo Yiyan interjected, "Miss Li, there's no need for formality. I actually have a matter that requires your assistance."

Assistance? Li Yangchen paused, unsure of how her role as a teacher could aid a businessman. She ventured cautiously, "What is it that you need?"

"Miss Li, isn't the new term starting soon?"

"In a few days."

"Very well. I'll arrange a meeting in the next few days; it's getting late, so please rest early."

...

After ending the call, Li Yangchen furrowed her brows, realizing she had been drawn into something unexpected. She still hadn't returned the card, nor had she clarified what assistance was required.

In the WeChat group, Yan Zhuoling had also seen the video sent by Wu Jiaxin and shared her thoughts.

"So this is the Mo Yiyan? He must be in his mid-thirties! A man of such age—wealthy and handsome—likely has women swooning at his feet without effort. But the allure of such men often comes with deep stories. I don't think he's suitable for Chenchen."

"Lingling, how can you know if he's suitable without giving it a try? I believe Chenchen should interact with different types of men. With comparison and experience, she'll better define her standards for choosing a partner," Wu Jiaxin immediately countered Yan Zhuoling's view.

"Jiaxin, I wholeheartedly support Chenchen's interactions with the opposite s*x. But the question remains: do you understand Mr. Mo's character?"

"Lingling, it's quite clear that he's interested in Chenchen. I'm just going to dig up his information for her reference," Wu Jiaxin replied with determination.

...

The two continued their heated debate in the group chat.

Setting aside Mo Yiyan's intentions, Li Yangchen knew she held no romantic feelings toward him. As for her ideal type, a sunlit, clean face flashed through her mind, causing her to smile ruefully. She chose to ignore her friends' discussion and exited the chat.

Having experienced a first love, she understood the nuances of childhood sweethearts, the dreams of youth, and long-distance relationships... Ultimately, none of it bore fruit; perhaps it was simply a matter of insufficient fate.

...

After his call with Li Yangchen, Mo Yiyan dialed his assistant.

"Please compile the financing proposal from last week's report regarding Youer Education Group and send it to me tomorrow."

"Okay." The assistant hesitated before responding.

Wasn't the boss skeptical about the development of online education platforms last week? Why was he suddenly interested in the proposal? Yet, he didn't question the reasoning, fully aware of his boss's modus operandi—no profit, no early rise. The sudden interest must have a reason, perhaps a new supportive government policy?

After hanging up, fearing he might miss relevant national policies, he quickly pulled out his iPad to check industry news.

Unbeknownst to the assistant, Mo Yiyan was seated at his seaside villa, sipping chilled wine, a mysterious smirk gracing his lips, as if plotting something significant.

The following afternoon, Li Yangchen received a call from Mo Yiyan, informing her that his company had a financing project and requested her assistance with a trial.

"An online education platform?" Upon hearing this, Li Yangchen understood it to be the 'online school' often referenced by students.

"Yes, it's a potential investment project. Miss Li, as a teacher with rich teaching experience, I'd like you to evaluate the platform's practicality to assess its investment viability."

Li Yangchen was no stranger to supplementary courses; during her graduate studies, she had taught at a renowned online educational