Hiding and watching Gu Jingchuan's sports car roar away, Lin Mo finally emerged with Zhang Nan.
She had already clearly stated their breakup—surely Gu Jingchuan wouldn’t come looking for her again, right?
Back in the car, Zhang Nan was furious. "I never expected Gu Jingchuan to be such a scumbag! I’ll never watch his movies again!"
Leaning against the seat, Lin Mo forced a smile that looked more bitter than fate itself. "Let’s go home."
An hour later, outside the villa.
Lin Mo waved at Zhang Nan. "Bye, drive safely."
Standing at the villa’s front gate, she pressed the doorbell.
It was barely noon—Xie Guanyan was surely at work, but the butler would be home.
Sure enough, the butler soon opened the door.
His eyes lit up with delight at the sight of her. "This is the first time I’ve seen Miss Lin return so early!"
And at last, he got to use his favorite phrase—"the first time"!
Lin Mo beamed back. "And this is the first time I’ve seen you at noon, Uncle Butler."
Previously, she’d only spotted him in the mornings. By the time she returned at night, he’d already clocked out.
Entering the villa’s courtyard, she noticed servants digging in the soil.
"What flowers are you planting?"
The butler shook his head. "Not flowers. The master wants fruit trees—apple and pear trees are perfect for this season."
Lin Mo’s brows lifted slightly. "Your master and I share the same interests. I love planting fruit trees in my yard too, though I’ve never succeeded."
The butler chuckled. "What a lovely coincidence."
But inwardly, he wondered: Why does the master’s taste align so perfectly with hers? It’s baffling!
With his looks and brilliance, how could Miss Lin not fall for him?
He couldn’t even imagine what kind of man would capture her heart.
"You must be Miss Lin! Are you hungry? I can prepare lunch right away," a middle-aged man in a chef’s hat said cheerfully from the kitchen doorway as she stepped into the living room.
Lin Mo’s eyes sparkled. "You’re the villa’s chef?"
After living here for a week or two, this was her first encounter with the elusive master chef who’d recently welcomed a newborn.
He looked at least fifty or sixty.
Having a child at that age?
Talk about vitality!
"Yes, indeed! It’s a pleasure to serve you. What would you like for lunch?" the chef asked.
Finally meeting the legendary Miss Lin—she truly was a sight to behold!
"Just a few simple dishes will do. I’m not picky," Lin Mo replied with a smile.
Then, her eyes gleamed mischievously. "Uncle Chef, could you teach me how to cook a few things?"
Why would the pampered young miss, who’d never lifted a finger, suddenly want to learn?
The answer was simple: she needed a favor from Xie Guanyan.
The painful lesson from her home-buying ordeal had taught her that asking for help required the right approach.
Xie Guanyan might appear gentle and refined, but when it came to favors, he wasn’t always accommodating.
After all, why should he help her?
She needed to offer something first.
Her fourth brother’s situation was urgent now.
Cooking for Xie Guanyan was the only gesture she could think of—the man lacked nothing.
The chef glanced nervously at the butler behind Lin Mo.
According to the butler, the master cooked for Miss Lin personally every day.
Teaching her felt... risky.
Noticing his gaze, Lin Mo turned to the butler with a grin. "Uncle Butler, is that alright?"
The butler didn’t understand the chef’s hesitation. Even if Miss Lin burned the kitchen down, they’d play along!
"Of course! Just tell Old Li what you’d like to learn. He’s a five-star chef—master of all cuisines!"
Lin Mo added, "Oh, and please don’t tell your master about this. I want it to be a surprise!"
"What? You’re cooking for the master?!" The butler’s eyes nearly bulged out.
Lin Mo was taken aback by his reaction. "Uh, yes... Does he not eat food made by others?"
"Impossible! He’ll devour it! Absolutely devour it!" The butler was practically vibrating with excitement.
Had the master’s patience finally paid off?
Was this the start of mutual affection?
Tears welled up in his eyes. Noticing Lin Mo’s puzzled look, he quickly explained, "You’re the first woman to cook for him. That’s why I’m so moved."
Lin Mo shook her head. "That can’t be. Plenty of women adore him. Surely some have brought him meals—you just haven’t seen it."
"Perhaps, perhaps," the butler conceded.
But inwardly, he scoffed: None of them mattered like you do.
Back in the day, the girl he’d loved had cooked him a fish. He still kept the bones as a memento!
Hearing this was for the master, the chef straightened with renewed vigor.
"Miss Lin, today I’ll teach you everything I know!"
Lin Mo smiled. "Thank you. I’ll learn well."
The entire afternoon was spent in the kitchen, with the butler even providing a soundtrack—a single song on loop:
"Today is such a good day~ All our wishes come true~"
——
SS Capital’s CEO office.
A strikingly handsome man in a white suit listened to an executive’s report.
Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, glinting off the golden bamboo-patterned bracelet around his porcelain wrist.
"Mm," Xie Guanyan said after the briefing. "Proceed as planned."
The executive closed his file, eyes darting repeatedly to the bracelet. He itched to ask why the CEO had swapped his million-dollar watch for this modest accessory.
Gathering courage to speak—
A phone on the desk rang.
Xie Guanyan glanced at the screen and waved the executive away. "You may leave if there’s nothing else."
Suppressing his curiosity, the executive nodded. "Of course."
Lifting the phone with his elegantly sculpted fingers, Xie Guanyan pressed it to his ear. The metal felt cool against his skin.
"Sir, Miss Lin visited No. 3 High School this morning, then the slums. After leaving, she met with Gu Jingchuan—"
"That’s enough. Just ensure her safety," Xie Guanyan interrupted.
Behind his glasses, his eyes darkened instantly. His grip on the phone turned bone-white.
——
7:00 PM.
A gray Rolls-Royce glided into the villa’s courtyard.
The staff were still on duty.
The moment Xie Guanyan appeared, they sensed something was wrong.
Clad in his white suit, the man radiated a chilling aura, his expression stormy.
Servants noticed blood dripping from his left palm, leaving a macabre trail of crimson in his wake.
This had never happened before.
But his icy demeanor kept everyone at bay.
No one dared ask.
Xie Guanyan didn’t need questions—he needed the pain to ground him, to stop himself from wondering:
What is Shanshan doing with Gu Jingchuan so late?
Are they having dinner together?
Did they embrace today?
Did Gu Jingchuan smoke those disgusting cigarettes she hates?
Yet as he stepped into the living room—
A bright, melodic voice called out in concern:
"Xie Guanyan, what happened to your hand?"
