Jiang Mocheng had the time to make this trip because he was still on vacation after the New Year. However, even during his vacation, there were many official matters that required his attention.

This time, Lin Fei came over, bringing a stack of documents and materials for him to review and sign. Lin Fei handed over a pen. Jiang Mocheng flipped through the documents while listening to Lin Fei’s idle talk.

“The Southeast Asia line is finally about to be secured,” Lin Fei said with a long sigh of relief, rubbing his chin, “These past two years, I’ve almost developed wrinkles over this matter.”

When he first returned to the country, he didn’t even enter his own company, emptied all his savings, and followed Jiang Mocheng. Now he had earned quite a bit of money, but also lost quite a bit of hair, otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone to the racetrack for leisure.

Jiang Mocheng raised his eyebrows and signed his name. The documents at hand were almost all processed, and he handed them to Lin Fei.

His gaze swept over the boxes of chocolates, and as Lin Fei was still complaining about how busy he had been, Jiang Mocheng picked up the top box of chocolates.

“Are you done talking?”

Jiang Mocheng claimed the box of chocolates as his own.

“I’m leaving first.”

Lin Fei was about to nod when he saw Jiang Mocheng holding the box of chocolates without letting go, which made him fall into deep thought.

After mobilizing all his brain cells, he finally figured out a possibility and quickly grabbed Jiang Mocheng, “What are you doing??”

Jiang Mocheng’s expression remained unchanged, and his tone was calm: “What?”

He didn’t realize that his behavior was presumptuous. Lin Fei was puzzled and confused. They had known each other for so long, but he had never heard that Jiang Mocheng liked this stuff.

“Shen Jin, whether on business trips or abroad, would never bring his woman with him. Even now, she is in the Shen residence.”

Lin Fei hesitantly asked, “Did you find a way to get to know her?”

The possibility was so slim that even Lin Fei himself found it unbelievable. Knowing Jiang Mocheng for a full twenty years, he had never heard of Jiang Mocheng getting close to any woman.

The elders in the family had arranged a few blind dates for him, all of which he had coldly rejected. Would such a person take the initiative to approach Shen Jin’s woman? Just thinking about it, Lin Fei felt he was insulting him, as if he was saying that Jiang Mocheng was the kind of trash who would stoop to any low to achieve his goals.

Before Jiang Mocheng could show a cold face, Lin Fei hurriedly said, “That’s definitely impossible!”

In other words, even if Jiang Mocheng was such a person, what good would it do to get close to Shen Jin’s woman? The couple’s deep affection was well-known throughout the city; could she possibly help outsiders against Shen Jin? That would be a dream.

Jiang Mocheng glanced at him, not even interested in clarifying such messy speculations, which were purely a waste of words.

“But speaking of which.”

Lin Fei lowered his voice and curiously asked him, “Have you seen her, I mean Shen Jin’s girlfriend? I heard he treasures her very much, always booking the entire restaurant in advance whenever he takes her out to eat, and last year on Qixi Festival, he bought a diamond at a sky-high price as a gift for her.”

Jiang Mocheng obviously didn’t want to discuss such matters and replied indifferently, “I haven’t seen her.”

“I heard…” Lin Fei said somewhat embarrassedly, “She is exceptionally beautiful, Shen Jin was a hero saving a beauty, it was love at first sight, and outsiders also say it was a miracle.”

“…”

He used to just listen to such rumors, but now he couldn’t bear to hear a word.

“Are you a paparazzo? You seem very concerned about other people’s private affairs.”

Jiang Mocheng said coldly, “Since you have so much energy, then you can handle the matter at Ning City’s dock.”

In the end, he didn’t get a chance to ask clearly who the box of chocolates was for.

Meanwhile, Bai Ying was looking through the photos in her camera, knowing that Jiang Mocheng was interested in it, probably too embarrassed to mention it. She deleted all the photos that he shouldn’t see, but still felt something was missing. After pondering for a long time, she finally had an idea.

To her surprise, late at night when they met again in the study, Jiang Mocheng handed her a large box of chocolates. She stared at the chocolates, then at him, unable to comprehend for a long time.

What did this mean? Jiang Mocheng cleared his throat, with a hint of ‘thou doth protest too much,’ and calmly explained, “Someone gave it to me, I don’t like it, it’s a waste to throw it away.”

Bai Ying looked at him with surprise and delight, asking in a small voice, “For me?”

Jiang Mocheng replied, “It’s a waste to throw it away, do you want it?”

“You don’t like it?” Bai Ying, deeply touched, seemed to remember something, and hurriedly looked up, “You don’t like chocolate? Then…”

She had secretly placed the chocolate in his coat, not wanting anyone to know, and now she almost let it slip. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, looking at him helplessly.

“I rarely eat it,” he paused, soothing her with a white lie, “I might have one occasionally.” 

Bai Ying smiled with pursed lips, “Oh.”

“That must be expensive, right?” she asked again, “Look, the packaging isn’t even opened, why don’t you sell it to someone else?”

Jiang Mocheng frowned, “You don’t like it?”

“I love it!”

What kind of sugar-maniac do you take me for! The brand was so cloyingly sweet, one piece and you’d wish for a large cup of tea to wash it down.

“Is it really for me?” Bai Ying asked uncertainly, afraid he would say “yes,” and even more afraid he would say “no.”

“Yes.”

Bai Ying held the box dearly, daring only to smile secretly, her mouth closed tight, but joy and happiness leaked from her eyes.

“It says there are forty-five pieces, I’ll eat one a day,”

Her voice trailed off sadly, “but by that time, you probably won’t be here anymore.”

Jiang Mocheng glanced at her, saying nothing.

Bai Ying knew very well, to say that he liked her now, she wouldn’t believe it. This man was somewhat dull, but definitely not stupid. Meeting quietly in the secluded study late at night was thrilling enough.

She had crafted an identity for herself as a helpless, pitiable little thing with no one to rely on. Men have an inexplicable sense of heroism; he felt pity, sympathy, and even compassion for her, but it wasn’t romantic love.

“Why aren’t you speaking?”

Bai Ying was startled awake, lifting her head, her pale fingers gripping the edge of the box, stammering for a long time before asking him in a small voice, “The chocolate… who gave it to you?”

Jiang Mocheng was taken aback, probably not expecting her to ask this question. After a few seconds of silence, Bai Ying looked at him, waiting quietly for his answer. She knew all too well that the excuses about someone else giving it and it being a waste to throw it away were nonsense.

“A friend,” he said.

This time, without waiting for Bai Ying to ask further, he added, “A male friend.” Bai Ying’s lips didn’t smile, but her eyes did.

Jiang Mocheng looked away, “So many questions for a box of chocolates.”

“I have to ask clearly,” Bai Ying said righteously, “If it was from your future girlfriend, what would it mean for me to eat it? What if you two come after me for compensation later?”

Jiang Mocheng didn’t know where she got such twisted logic.

“No one will come after you for compensation.”

Bai Ying glared at him, muttering, “You only listen to half of what’s said.”

She changed the subject, “By the way, you worked abroad before, do you speak foreign languages?”

Jiang Mocheng nodded, “A little.”

“That’s amazing!” Bai Ying looked at him with admiration, “Can you teach me?”

Before he could nod or shake his head, she had already turned around, found the bilingual dictionary she had placed on the bookshelf in advance, and unconsciously pulled on his sleeve.

They sat at the desk. She opened the book, looking at him with a strong desire to learn. She had only intended to tease him but when he began to speak the first word in a deep voice, she looked at him incredulously.

His spoken language was not only standard and fluent, but the intonation was just right. She had been diligent in her studies, did well on exams, but always had an accent when speaking. It wasn’t until after university that she practiced hard and improved.

Thinking of his years working abroad, she couldn’t help but think that the environment is most important for learning a language.

Jiang Mocheng looked at her, she deliberately mispronounced, no matter how she said it, it was never accurate. After a few times—entering the most ambiguous phase, Bai Ying leaned closer to him, opened her mouth, her tongue touching her lower teeth, her breath fragrant, “Is it like this?”

“No,” Jiang Mocheng looked at her moist eyes, his gaze falling on her slightly parted lips, his Adam’s apple moving uncontrollably.

Bai Ying tried hard to hold back her laughter, her face turning red, her hands propping up the chair, leaning forward, “I’m so dumb, I can’t learn it.”

“Just practice more,” he said.

“Will you still be willing to teach me later?” Bai Ying’s eyes widened, looking at him expectantly.

Jiang Mocheng didn’t want to agree, he felt he shouldn’t make more trouble for himself. If it weren’t for that night when she took his photo, he wouldn’t have entangled with her. One thing was not yet settled, and another was added, it was really unnecessary. The words of refusal were on the tip of his tongue.

“If I have time.” 

And yet he couldn’t get himself to refuse.

Bai Ying’s lips curled up, “Of course, I can’t delay your important matters, but I still have to pay tuition.”

“Forget it,” he scoffed lightly, “You’ve already given all your money away.”

Bai Ying laughed, “Teacher Xu, I don’t have money, but you’re really a bit tacky. I won’t talk to you about money. Does tuition have to be money? Maybe it’s something else.”

“Like what—”

She leaned closer to him, her smiling eyes fixed on him. Jiang Mocheng stiffened, but did not avoid her gaze, “Like—”

He didn’t continue, and she didn’t ask further. It was precisely because she didn’t say, and he didn’t ask, that he felt an unusual curiosity about these things that should have been trivial, which he would never have thought about for a second before.

She had no money, not even a thick piece of clothing. What kind of “tuition” could such a person give? When leaving the study, Bai Ying accidentally stepped on a fallen branch at the door, nearly tripping, and let out a cry of alarm.

It was Jiang Mocheng who reacted quickly, reaching out to steady her slender shoulders. She stepped back, her back against his broad chest, as if she was completely enveloped in his arms. From a distance, she was completely covered by his figure, and even if someone passed by, they would only think there was one person there.

She turned back in panic, her face pale with fright, her hair brushing against his chin. She was truly scared; the ground was covered with a thin layer of ice, and a fall could easily result in a fracture. To break a leg while trying to charm a man would be foolish. The two were so close, Jiang Mocheng could feel her rapid heartbeat, rhythmic, thumping—fast and near, as if in the palm of his hand…

When Jiang Mocheng returned to his room, everyone had already gone to sleep. He sat quietly in his chair, still with that stern demeanor. After a long time, he came back to his senses.

His cold gaze lowered, and he was startled again, picking up a soft strand of hair from the collar of his coat. He remembered her scent when she leaned against him.