Watching the villa gate close, the figures of one tall and one short person disappeared from sight.
Shen Yihan turned around. "Let's go, I'll take you home."
Jiang Tang nodded and walked to the driver's seat. "Let me drive, President Shen."
Shen Yihan waved dismissively. "No need. If I drop you off, I won’t bother getting out."
Soon, the black Bentley stopped outside an old residential complex.
Shen Yihan rested his beaded wrist on the steering wheel, frowning slightly. "Why do you live in such a rundown place?"
With the salary and year-end bonuses of a personal assistant, it would be easy to afford a decent apartment in Beijing.
Jiang Tang smiled. "I live with my parents. Thank you for driving me back, President Shen."
Shen Yihan wasn’t one to pry into others’ affairs, so he simply nodded.
As Jiang Tang turned to leave, he suddenly bent down again, looking at the man inside the car. "President Shen, my condolences."
With that, he strode away, his tall, aloof figure stretching long under the dim streetlights.
For a moment, Shen Yihan was stunned.
It took him a second to realize Jiang Tang was referring to Li Huanyu’s manipulation of him.
He had genuinely cared for Li Huanyu.
Back then, he didn’t know what had come over him—he’d been completely infatuated, unable to think of anything but her.
Today, hearing her admit she had only used him to provoke Gu Jingchuan…
Truthfully, it hurt a little.
Shen Yihan’s expression turned colder, his thick lashes lowering.
He pulled out his phone, opened WeChat, and tapped on Li Huanyu’s chat.
Clicking the top-right corner, he selected "Delete Contact."
He was only twenty-six. Romance could wait—career came first!
Xie Guanyan was already so successful, yet he’d never been swayed by any woman or let love derail his ambitions.
He should take Xie Guanyan as his role model!
Another message popped up on WeChat.
It was from "Four Marriages Taught Me Life."
[If you’re sad, talk to me. I’ll take you out—you bring the money, and we’ll get wasted!]
The usually cold man smirked and replied:
[No need. Your little brother isn’t that fragile.]
Four Marriages Taught Me Life:
[True, you’re not like me—a fragile emperor!]
Shen Yihan:
[……]
Seeing the ellipsis from Shen Yihan, Lin Mo giggled on the couch, shaking her head.
"Poor guy. He didn’t even get to date before getting dumped."
"Who didn’t get to date before getting dumped?" A warm, pleasant voice drifted down from above.
Lin Mo looked up and was met with the sharp, flawless jawline of a strikingly handsome man.
His jade-like wrist bore a Patek Philippe black watch, while his hands held a fruit platter.
The watch exuded elegance; the fruit platter was a riot of colors—an oddly harmonious contrast.
His slender waist bent as he set the platter on the coffee table before sitting beside her, placing his laptop on his lap.
"You’re so nosy!" Lin Mo pouted, but her hand instinctively reached for the fruit. "What kind of fruit platter requires President Xie to fetch it personally? Let me destroy it!"
She popped a few raspberries into her mouth, the sweet-tart flavor spreading instantly. The gluttonous Lin Mo was satisfied.
She’d returned late last night and gone straight to bed.
Tonight, she was back by eight, habitually lounging on the couch with her phone.
It really was a habit. Since summer break after high school, she’d spent her days curled up here, reading or scrolling.
The couch was plush, sinking under her weight—pure comfort.
Last night, she hadn’t noticed, but now she realized the bustling maids and butler from the day were gone.
"Where’s Uncle Butler and the others?" she asked casually.
Xie Guanyan’s gaze stayed on his laptop screen as he answered mildly, "They clock out at eight."
Lin Mo nibbled on an orange slice, surprised. "This villa has several staff rooms. Why don’t you let them live in? It’d be more convenient."
Xie Guanyan’s deep, beautiful eyes flicked toward her through his glasses. "I have hands and feet. I can take care of myself—no need for live-in staff."
Lin Mo’s peach-blossom eyes gleamed with approval.
Despite being filthy rich, Xie Guanyan hadn’t let luxury corrupt him.
He still lived in this old villa, his habits unchanged.
"Well, sure, but what if you get hungry at night? No one’s around to make you a midnight snack!"
"Are you hungry?" Xie Guanyan adjusted his glasses with one finger, his voice crisp and clear.
Lin Mo paused, an awkward smile forming. "Pfft! That’s not what I meant. Just making conversation."
"What do you want to eat?"
"Cheesy fire noodles."
The words slipped out before she realized. She scratched her head with slender fingers.
"I… I ate dinner with Shen Yihan after work at five. So yeah, I’m kinda hungry now."
Gurgle—
Her stomach chose that moment to protest loudly.
Lin Mo’s face turned tomato-red. "I’m eighteen—still growing! It’s normal to get hungry fast, right?"
During high school, she’d eaten five or six meals a day. Brains burned energy fast.
"Mm. Very normal. I’m hungry too. I skipped dinner for a meeting."
Xie Guanyan stood, his tall frame casting a shadow over Lin Mo under the grand chandelier.
Lin Mo tilted her head up, peach-blossom eyes crinkling. "Then you should thank me!"
Xie Guanyan turned, his deep gaze lingering on her delicate face, affection surging in his eyes.
"Thank you," he said softly, the tea-colored mole on his nose glowing faintly under the light.
Thank you for giving me the chance to be this close to you.
This was something he hadn’t even dared to dream of.
Lin Mo had only been teasing, but Xie Guanyan’s earnest gratitude made her preen. "No problem! What are you having? I’ll just nibble—I’m not picky."
Xie Guanyan’s dark eyes shimmered. "I happen to want fire noodles too."
Lin Mo was delighted. Who knew her former rival shared her taste? "Great! Go cook, then~"
Xie Guanyan’s gaze stayed fixed on her face, his lips curving into a breathtaking smile.
"As you wish, my lady."
His velvety voice, low and magnetic, brushed against Lin Mo’s ears in the quiet night, sending a shiver down her spine.
Her heart skipped.
She was the tenant; he was the landlord. Yet the thought of cooking herself had never crossed Lin Mo’s mind.
She didn’t know how. Even when their housekeeper quit during her uncle’s frequent disruptions, it was her younger brother who’d cooked.
Lin Mo had no trouble feeling entitled, but now, guilt prickled.
They weren’t family—they’d even been rivals once.
She stood and trailed after him. "Let me help."
"No need." Xie Guanyan glanced back. "It’s simple. Just a few minutes."
Lin Mo, ever easily swayed, retreated back to the couch. "Alrighty then~"
Before long, two bowls of spicy chicken ramen with cheese—visually appealing and aromatic—were placed on the dining table.
The combination of fiery noodles and rich, melted cheese completely enchanted Lin Mo.
But it was also genuinely spicy. She ate while fanning her mouth, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
Noticing the man seated across from her staring, she blinked her peach-blossom eyes and quipped, "Welcome to China’s Spicy Struggle."
Her delicate lips were now flushed red, looking even plumper and glossier.
Every time she exhaled sharply, the pink tip of her tongue was faintly visible.
Xie Guanyan’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he lowered his gaze and handed her a glass of water, amusement lacing his tone. "Here, champion of spicy struggles, hydrate a little."
Gulp, gulp—Lin Mo downed the entire glass in one go. She hadn’t even noticed when Xie Guanyan had poured it.
But the temperature was just right—not too cold, not too hot.
"How do you stay so unaffected by the spiciness?" Lin Mo was genuinely impressed.
It wasn’t that Xie Guanyan wasn’t eating; in fact, he’d had more than her.
Yet the man maintained an air of effortless elegance. The tea-colored mole at the bridge of his nose shifted faintly as he moved, and his wristwatch—worth a small fortune—caught the light, making it seem as though he were savoring a high-end Western meal.
Xie Guanyan chewed his bite of noodles slowly before replying with a mild smile, "I used to eat this often. Got used to it."
Seemingly eager to shift the topic, he asked casually, "So, are you planning to continue your studies?"
Lin Mo answered honestly, "Yes, I’m retaking my final year of high school to reapply for Qinghua University."
Ding-dong, ding-dong…
Her phone, resting on the table, buzzed several times in quick succession. She picked it up with slender, jade-white fingers.
It was a WeChat message from Zhang Shuo:
[Here are photos of the troublemakers from No. 1 High School. Got them all documented.]
