Li Jian had been smiling to himself for quite some time — and no one knew why.
When Ze Ming entered his office, he nearly froze in place. In three years of working for Li Jian, he had never seen his boss look this cheerful. Not even when winning a major tender or closing a billion-yuan deal.
Something extraordinary must have happened.
Ze Ming watched carefully, uncertain if interrupting would be wise.
Li Jian finally looked up, as though just realizing he wasn't alone.
"Why are you standing there in silence? You could at least say something."
Ze Ming smiled faintly. "I didn't want to interrupt your... happiness, sir."
He then handed over a folder.
"This is the data you requested — about the Hong family business."
At once, Li Jian's pleasant expression vanished. He took the report and read it thoroughly, scanning each page with sharp precision.
"So Grandfather refused the marriage proposal to the Hong family's daughter because of a land dispute?" Li Jian muttered. "Hong Xing Bei secretly bought the land under someone else's name, then resold it to my grandfather at a marked-up price?"
Typical.
He'd always suspected that Hong Xing Bei's greed would push him to cross the line sooner or later. Still, it amazed him that the man had the nerve to deceive his own business partner — and wonder how his daughter, Hong Dai Yu, managed to stay untouched by her father's corruption.
Li Jian knew Dai Yu well. They'd studied together at university, both majoring in business. She had been ambitious, competitive — the type who would rather burn out than fade quietly into the background. His father once thought she'd make the perfect wife for Li Jian.
But Dai Yu's impulsive personality and her father's shady dealings had strained the relationship between the two families. No matter how impressive her achievements were, people always whispered that her success came from her father's power.
Ze Ming stepped forward.
"Master Quan must have a strong reason for preferring Miss Wen as your fiancée."
Li Jian nodded slightly.
"Of course. Grandfather never speaks his thoughts directly, but when he decides something, it's always after weighing every outcome. He's rarely wrong — though not infallible."
Ze Ming hesitated, then asked, "So… what do you think of Miss Wen? Have you met her yet?"
Li Jian leaned back in his chair, recalling the strange, chaotic encounter at the café.
"She's… soft."
"Soft?" Ze Ming echoed, confused.
"She hides behind politeness," Li Jian clarified. "But she's careless. She could've made her life easier — yet she insists on making it harder."
"Ah," Ze Ming realized. "You mean Miss Wen, the eldest daughter, who studies while working part-time?"
Li Jian nodded, eyes glinting.
"If I were her — constantly overshadowed by her family — I'd do the same. It means she's proud, independent. She'd rather earn her own way than beg. She even offered to compensate me for the damage she caused."
Ze Ming frowned in curiosity. What had happened between them?
He placed another file on the desk.
"The Hainan resort construction is complete, sir. The opening date now awaits your approval and final inspection."
Li Jian skimmed the document and nodded.
"Arrange a visit soon."
Ze Ming hesitated again.
"Before that, however, Master Quan requested I schedule your blind date… with Miss Wen."
Li Jian pressed his fingers to his temple. "Is that really necessary?"
"Yes," Ze Ming said with a knowing look. "He believes your comfort is what matters most."
Li Jian scoffed. "If comfort was his concern, he wouldn't be rushing me to marry."
Still, he rose and buttoned his suit jacket.
"Fine. Arrange it. I'm curious to see her reaction… when she realizes who I really am."
---
Later That Evening
Yue Yin blinked blankly at her reflection, unsure how she'd been persuaded into this.
Her father had practically pushed her into going on this blind date with the second son of the Quan family. Meanwhile, her younger sister Mei Li, furious about being left out, had stormed off with her friends — dragging a few unfortunate men along to soothe her pride.
And so here Yue Yin sat, awkward and restless in the elegant restaurant, surrounded by couples whispering sweet nothings.
Her heart nearly stopped when the man across from her looked up.
The sharp eyes. The familiar face. The faint, knowing smirk.
It couldn't be—
"Quan… Li… Jian?" she breathed so quietly that no one else could've heard.
But Li Jian, with his unnervingly sharp hearing and sharper instincts, caught every syllable. His smile deepened — slow and wolfish.
"So," he said, voice low, "you do remember the man with the coffee-stained shirt."
***