Han Muzi was quick. She arrived downstairs, took a turn at the corner, and arrived at the restaurant soon enough. She saw Lin Qingqing, who was sitting not too far away, once she entered the restaurant.
Han Muzi paused for a while when she recalled with a start. I phoned her just now because it was almost our scheduled time, and that’s why I was in such a rush to meet her. However, she’s sitting at the table, and she told me she is having a meal with her friend. Would it be inappropriate if I approach her right now?
She was pondering when a server approached her suddenly. “Good day to you, miss. May I help you?”
Han Muzi snapped back to reality when she heard that, and she smiled at the server. “I’m here to meet a friend. Thank you.” After that, she made her way toward Lin Qingqing. But when she got closer, she realized Lin Qingqing was alone at the table. Didn’t she say that she was having a meal with her friend? Han Muzi was confused. “Miss Lin, good day to you.”
Lin Qingqing had been waiting for Ye Moxuan, who had yet to return from the washroom. He’s been gone for such a long time. He should have been back by now even if he was doing a number two. Is he unwilling to return because he is reluctant to share the table with me? she thought in silence while sighing helplessly. Suddenly, she heard Han Muzi’s voice.
Lin Qingqing snapped back to her senses and realized that Han Muzi was already standing in front of her.
“Oh, it’s you,” Lin Qingqing sounded rather dejected, and she seemed disheartened.
Han Muzi noticed Lin Qingqing’s expression, and after some quick thinking, she spoke, “Miss Lin, I was in a rush earlier. That’s why it slipped my mind to ask if it was a good time.” With that, Han Muzi glanced at the seat opposite Lin Qingqing. “Why don’t I return later if it’s a bad time now?”
“That’s not necessary. Please have a seat.” Lin Qingqing laughed bitterly. “I think he is gone by now.” At that point, Lin Qingqing believed that he must have used going to the washroom as an excuse. In reality, he must have left by now.
Han Muzi could tell that Lin Qingqing was rather dejected, and so she didn’t comment further. She then took the seat opposite Lin Qingqing while chuckling softly. “Are you sure you’re fine? Do you want to hang out in my company for a bit?” Han Muzi wondered to herself, If she’s feeling depressed being here, I wonder if she might feel better with a change of environment by going to my company instead.
Lin Qingqing blinked several times. Hang out in her company?
Meanwhile, Ye Moxuan did not go to the washroom; he was smoking in the corridor instead. He finally stubbed the cigarette after he felt that a sufficient amount of time had passed. Then, he headed back into the restaurant.
From outside, Ye Moxuan could see another person seated at Lin Qingqing’s table. His cold gaze scanned the person’s face swiftly before he stopped dead in his tracks. His handsome face maintained its cold and detached indifference, but his pitch-black eyes were roiling in emotions. Surge of emotions were threatening to burst forth from his chest, and he was swept up in them almost instantly.
Am I hallucinating? Is that woman appearing in my hallucinations again? Well, I saw this woman fleetingly the last two times. I think… it must be the same this time.
Hence, he held his breath straight away without blinking. One, two…
Ten seconds had passed, but the person in front of him was still in sight. In fact, she was smiling happily. So it isn’t a hallucination this time?
Ye Moxuan marched forward with his long legs as he made his way toward her one step after another.
“Well, alright. Let’s hang out for a bit in your company. Let me get the bill first.” Han Muzi thought in silence, Since she’s my client, I suppose it’s fine to get the bill on her behalf. As such, she grabbed her handbag while standing up swiftly. “I’ll get it; you just have to wait right here.”
Han Muzi held her handbag and stood up. She was about to walk toward the cash register when she looked up and saw a tall figure towering over her unexpectedly.
Under those thick eyebrows were a pair of cold, sharp eagle eyes. Hardship through the years had made those eyes appear especially dark, whereas his nose was straight and prominent as usual. Those lips were still as thin as before, and they were pressed into a thin, cold line.
This face… Han Muzi paused shortly in her steps, and she felt her heart skip a beat, almost as if her heart was about to stop beating. Am I… seeing things? Why is that person showing up here? And why is he so close to me??
Han Muzi tightened her grip around her bag reflexively. Her action made her knuckles turn white, and her veins were especially prominent beneath her fair skin.
The two of them were so close to each other that Han Muzi could smell his strong, masculine scent. His musk wafted over, and it overwhelmed her senses, as if she was trapped within his scent.
Ye Moxuan stared at her coldly. It really is her! I even thought I was hallucinating!
“Moxuan?” A girlish voice broke the deafening silence.
Lin Qingqing, who was sitting nearby, saw Ye Moxuan when she looked up. Hence, she stood up in excitement while greeting him, “Is it really you? You didn’t leave?” Her voice betrayed her delight, and tears were brimming in her eyes. “I thought you stood me up!”
Han Muzi snapped back to reality when she heard the name ‘Moxuan’. She looked up with a start and realized she was about to bump into Ye Moxuan. Hence, she took several steps backward to maintain a distance from him.
After that, she kept her eyes lowered, letting her long eyelashes shield her thoughts that were reflected through her eyes. It turns out that… Ye Moxuan is the person causing Lin Qingqing’s distress.
Lin Qingqing was so delighted at Ye Moxuan’s return that she became too distracted to notice the shift in his emotions and focus.
Ye Moxuan’s attention was solely on Han Muzi, as if she was the center of his gravitational force.
Han Muzi inhaled deeply while suppressing the mixed emotions in her heart. It took some time before she looked up and smiled at Lin Qingqing. She uttered, “It seems like you are busy, Miss Lin. I shall take my leave now.”
Lin Qingqing naturally treasured the time she shared with Ye Moxuan alone, and so she nodded in agreement shyly.
However, just when Han Muzi took the first step to leave, Ye Moxuan, who stood rooted to the spot while staring at Han Muzi unblinkingly, finally spoke. His voice was frosty like a snowy day in winter. “Is she your friend?”
Lin Qingqing was stunned to silence for quite a while before finally realizing Ye Moxuan was directing his question to her. She nodded hastily, but she shook her head after that. Then, she introduced them out of courtesy, “Mr. Ye, this is Shelly, a fashion designer who has just returned from abroad. Shelly, this is Mr. Ye Moxuan, the President of Ye Group. He is my…” Lin Qingqing’s fair cheeks blushed slightly when she got to the last part of her sentence. What should I introduce him as? Without a doubt, I believe that Ye Moxuan and I will end up together, but it seems inappropriate to introduce him as such right now. On the other hand, it doesn’t seem appropriate to introduce him as my blind date as well.
In the end, Lin Qingqing settled with a neutral introduction. “He is my friend.”
Han Muzi obviously knew that he was the President of Ye Group. She already knew of this piece of information five years ago. However… right now, she did not want to know anything about him.
In order to keep things professional with her client, Han Muzi greeted Ye Moxuan in a neutral tone, “Good day to you, Mr. Ye.”
Mr. Ye? When he heard her address him so formally, Ye Moxuan narrowed his eyes swiftly. His aura took a menacing turn, and he gave off an intimidating vibe.
It has been five years; I see she has switched to addressing me as Mr. Ye. Ha, this is just great.
