Chapter 133: Can
"Do you mind if I sit here?" Yang Chen approached slowly, not disturbing Mo Qianni who was busy pouring herself a drink.
Mo Qianni, upon hearing the familiar voice, gently lifted her head. Perhaps she had been drinking for a while, her charming face adorned with a rosy flush, exuding an unmatched allure.
"Why is it you?" There was a hint of incredulity in her words, yet also a hint of pleasant surprise.
Yang Chen sat down gracefully, helping himself to a pair of disposable chopsticks and a slice of spiced beef. He spoke as he ate, "I came out for a drive, and somehow ended up here. Just happened to be hungry, remembered this food stall, and lo and behold, you're here too."
Mo Qianni could tell Yang Chen wasn't lying. She smiled faintly and said, "Do you know, that sentence you just said is actually from a song."
"What song?"
"Allow me to settle the dust, bury the past in silence, I came from the sea amidst storms, only to retire in this desert. The things we should hide are always clear, a thousand words can only express love silently. Oh, so you're here too." Mo Qianni softly sang, her voice delicate and gentle, as if narrating some poignant story.
"You sang it beautifully, even though it's the first time I've heard this song."
"That's because, we are indeed here." Mo Qianni poured herself another glass of white wine and took a sip.
Yang Chen remembered the first time he came here with Mo Qianni, she was also sitting alone like this, pouring her own drinks. It reminded him of those wandering heroines from ancient times, who, despite their solitary existence, exuded an air of freedom.
Perhaps no one would have expected that Minister Mo, who appeared confident and glamorous in public, would have such a simple and unadorned side.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. After a brief silence, Mo Qianni finished her drink, only to realize that the bottle was empty. She looked at Yang Chen with a complex expression and asked, "Are you really just out for a drive?"
Yang Chen paused, actually, he didn't want to face Lin Ruoxi and the senior, Zeng Xinlin, which was why he hadn't returned home. Thinking of Mo Qianni's relationship with Lin Ruoxi, he suddenly asked, "Miss Mo, do you know Zeng Xinlin?"
"Zeng Xinlin? How do you know him?" Mo Qianni also seemed surprised.
"Today, when I came back home, that Zeng Xinlin was chatting with Ruoxi in the living room, but I didn't quite like listening, so I came out," Yang Chen explained briefly.
Mo Qianni glanced at him meaningfully and chuckled teasingly, "Feeling threatened?"
"What threat?" Yang Chen retorted.
"The threat of someone stealing your wife," Mo Qianni teased.
"Come on, it's not like we're living in ancient times where people can just snatch my wife and become the chief's wife," Yang Chen replied loudly.
Mo Qianni snorted, "Back in college, even female friends had a hard time getting close to Ruoxi, but that senior Zeng Xinlin seemed to meet her almost every day. Many thought that the combination of campus idols would eventually end up together, what a dreamy couple they were... Too bad, later on, Ruoxi suddenly dropped out and took over the CEO position at Yulei, while Zeng Xinlin went to the army as per his family's request. Otherwise, who knows what could've happened."
"Too bad my foot, that guy looks like a spoiled rich kid."
Yang Chen's expression changed slightly, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. The thought of that guy meeting Ruoxi every day made him regret not giving him a good beating before leaving, since everything has gone awry now.
Mo Qianni sighed theatrically, "Yes, when he came back, he became the CEO of 'Changlin Media' at Zhonghai. Although it's just a part of the Zeng family's assets, it's still the executive of a listed company. Young, wealthy, and good-looking, he's a heartthrob from campus, and becoming the CEO of a big company as soon as he came back, just as you said, it shouldn't be a big deal."
Frowning, Yang Chen asked, "So, is Changlin Media a big company?"
"It was originally a media company from another province, headquartered in Yandu. But because of Zeng Xinlin's return, it directly moved to Zhonghai and is considered one of the top ten media and entertainment companies in the country, similar to Yulei. However, with decades of accumulation from the Zeng family as its backing, it's not something our Yulei can compete with alone," Mo Qianni explained knowledgeably.
"It seems like you know a lot, did you specifically investigate?" Yang Chen asked.
Mo Qianni gave him a glance, "Changlin Media is not a small company, and it belongs to the fashion industry just like us. The official news of their entry into Zhonghai is naturally worth my attention. But from what you said, Zeng Xinlin went to your house to visit Ruoxi late at night, it seems like he's trying to make amends, hoping for an alliance in the future."
"An alliance? Screw that! As long as it's just work, it's fine. But if there are any other intentions, I'll blow your cover wide open!" Yang Chen thought to himself, feeling annoyed.
A chilly breeze swept by, causing Mo Qianni to shiver. She said, "It's late. Can you take me home?"
"You didn't drive yourself?" Yang Chen asked in confusion.
"It's because of you. Since that incident last time, my car lock was tampered with by those people, and I couldn't lock it again after opening the door. Taking advantage of the holiday the day after tomorrow, I was planning to have Audi's 4S store check it. Originally, I was going to take a taxi back," Mo Qianni complained bitterly.
Of course, the incident Mo Qianni referred to was the kidnapping by the Yaqi Society.
Yang Chen smiled apologetically. After that incident, it seemed like the Yaqi Society didn't dare to lay a finger on Mo Qianni again, which relieved Yang Chen's tension. After all, if they really made a move, he would have to resort to extreme measures to fend them off or kill them, as they were not ordinary people, and doing so was risky.
The last time, when facing dozens of armed men, he had unleashed his killing intent as a psychological tactic to pressurize the opponents, giving himself enough time to take action excessively, ultimately causing him to lose control. While normal killings wouldn't be as severe, repeated instances would eventually exacerbate his condition back to its previous state.
This was why Yang Chen always refrained from directly confronting the three troublemakers. He would only go as far as necessary and let them back off on their own accord.
Yang Chen hoped that they would take care of themselves, or perhaps those from the Yan Huang Iron Troop would "intervene" and send them back to their island country, sparing him from headaches.
However, it was evident that as long as the Yaqi Society didn't threaten the interests of Yan Xia, the Yan Huang Iron Troop wouldn't easily wage war against them. Dealing with the three men would undoubtedly entail paying a hefty price.
It seemed necessary to escort Mo Qianni home. He owed her a lot. Although they didn't have a deep relationship, she had been kidnapped because of him, and Yang Chen felt guilty if he didn't accompany her home.
After getting into the car, following Mo Qianni's instructions, they drove for more than twenty minutes before arriving at the apartment where Mo Qianni lived.
It was a small villa complex located in the southern suburbs of the city, with elegant scenery and clean streets, exuding a chic atmosphere.
It was already midnight. After parking the car downstairs, Mo Qianni didn't immediately get out. In the dim light of the car, she looked at Yang Chen with a questioning expression. "Where are you going?"
Yang Chen hesitated for a moment. "Where else can I go? Of course, I'm going back."
"It's already very late, it'll take almost half an hour to get back to Longjing Garden from here," Mo Qian Ni said.
"What can we do about that? I can't just sleep at your place, can I?" Yang Chen joked.
"You can," Mo Qian Ni's response came unexpectedly, leaving Yang Chen somewhat puzzled. In the quiet of the night, with just the two of them, and the woman being a beauty worth admiring, yet here she was, suggesting he could spend the night at her place.
Now, Yang Chen wasn't adverse to a night of intimacy, especially considering the woman's undeniable allure.
However, considering Mo Qian Ni was Lin Ruoxi's close friend, and her expression was so calm at the moment, he hesitated and asked, "Miss Mo, this might not be appropriate, right?"
"Don't overthink it. Even if I were truly desperate, I wouldn't just settle for anyone. I just feel it's too late for you to go back, it would disturb Ruoxi and Mrs. Wang's rest, and you must be tired after the day. Since you've been kind enough to drive me home, it's only fair I offer you some hospitality. But if you're not comfortable, it's fine," Mo Qian Ni explained.
With the girl saying this much, if he hesitated any further, he wouldn't seem like much of a man. Plus, Yang Chen was indeed fatigued from driving. Though his body might not tire easily, his mind was weary.
"Alright then, I'll thank Miss Mo for her kindness," Yang Chen smiled, turning off the car. Hearing Yang Chen's agreement, a hint of joy flashed across Mo Qian Ni's lips, but she quickly concealed it, saying, "Let's get off the car, my place is on the third floor."
"Oh, wait," Yang Chen stopped Mo Qian Ni, a bit shyly, "Let's make it clear beforehand, you can't do anything inappropriate to me while I'm asleep!"
Mo Qian Ni really wanted to slap this shameless man. Through gritted teeth, she said, "Rest assured, only pigs sleep at home, even if they're strong, I wouldn't take a fancy to them!"