Yuxi Xi’s attempt to snag a rich man ended in failure.
She and Shu Yue had other work to attend to in the afternoon, so after chatting for a while, the three of them parted ways.

Since Yun Zhen rarely went out and was now in the most bustling district of Yashi, she decided to see if there was anything worth buying. After bidding her friends farewell, she wandered off on her own.

Yun Zhen arrived in front of a teahouse and, feeling thirsty, decided to go in for a cup of tea and buy some good tea leaves for her father.
The teahouse wasn’t far from the restaurant and was elegantly decorated, exuding a subtle yet luxurious charm of ancient poetry and refinement.

Yun Zhen loved the design and slowly walked in, appreciating the surroundings as she went.
A waiter led her upstairs to a private room, softly explaining the teahouse’s specialties along the way.
As they reached the second floor, they passed by a semi-open private booth where a few young men were sitting, drinking tea and chatting.

One of them was particularly loud, and his words caught Yun Zhen’s attention.

“Those women are ridiculous. The matchmaking event at the restaurant is still going on. Xiao Yang and the others have each added at least ten WeChat contacts!”

“They’re all after a rich husband, but the real catch is sitting here, having tea.”

The man speaking was average-looking, with a playboyish style in his dress and demeanor. His exaggerated expressions and mocking tone conveyed a sense of superiority and disdain for others.

The other three men barely responded, but he seemed to be enjoying himself.
Who was this man mocking? The young women eagerly waiting at the restaurant?
Could these men be the “big shots” Yuxi Xi mentioned?
How uncouth to speak ill of others behind their backs.

Frowning, Yun Zhen paused and looked over at the four men in the booth.
Aside from the boastful playboy, the other three indeed had an extraordinary air about them, much more so than the arrogant bunch in the banquet hall.

One of them stood out in particular, exuding an overpowering presence.
He had sharp eyebrows, phoenix eyes full of authority, and a face of extraordinary handsomeness.
His demeanor was cold and aloof, like a lone wolf or eagle, commanding respect and admiration while deterring anyone from approaching.

His posture was different from the others, upright and steady as a pine tree.
Could this man be an active or retired military officer?

Yun Zhen was struck by his imposing aura, glancing at him briefly before quickly looking away.
Yet his face lingered in her mind, a testament to how striking his appearance was.

After taking a few steps, something felt off.
She turned back to look at the man again, growing increasingly certain that his face seemed familiar.

Where had she seen him before?

Puzzled, Yun Zhen racked her brain but couldn’t recall.
As she looked over a third time, she suddenly met the man’s cold gaze.

Pei Rongzhao had always been sharp, and after being glanced at three times, he naturally took notice.
He was used to people looking at him, so he hadn’t paid much attention initially.
Assuming someone had recognized him, he glanced up at her.
But the face that met his gaze was entirely unfamiliar—a young woman with a somewhat puzzled expression.

The girl was very beautiful, the kind of beauty that would leave anyone stunned.
Her coffee-colored hair cascaded down to her chest, framing a standard yet exquisitely crafted oval face.
Her bright almond-shaped eyes sparkled with intelligence, and her arched eyebrows resembled crescent moons, with long lashes like butterfly wings.

Her small, high nose and petal-like lips had a hint of moisture, making her a classic example of a lush beauty.

Such a face was rare, even among the beauties of Beidu.
But what did it have to do with him?
Since she wasn’t someone he knew, there was no need to pay attention.

Pei Rongzhao withdrew his gaze, and Yun Zhen also turned to leave at the right moment.
Two strangers, a brief, unintentional glance.

Neither of them thought much of it.
Yun Zhen continued to her private room with a light step, but suddenly heard a voice behind her.

The man’s secretary handed him a document and addressed him as “President Pei.”

A light bulb went off in Yun Zhen’s mind, and she finally realized why that face seemed familiar.
The man with the powerful aura in the booth bore a striking resemblance to Pei Yan from the Lilliputian Kingdom!

And they even shared the same surname, Pei—what an unusual coincidence!
Yun Zhen was surprised, but she didn’t dwell on it.
Many people in the world look alike, and such a coincidence wasn’t enough to spark her curiosity.

Yun Zhen entered her private room, ordered a pot of tea and two plates of pastries, then passed the time scrolling through WeChat on her phone while waiting for her order.

Meanwhile, outside in the semi-open seating area, the men at the table had noticed the brief but unusual encounter.
Zhong Tianhao, looking at Pei Rongzhao’s expression, teasingly suggested,
“That girl just now, do you think she followed President Pei here? These people are so bold, not even considering whether they might be annoying. But that girl wasn’t bad-looking. If President Pei likes her, maybe you could consider it.”

The Zhong family had been trying hard to secure a partnership with Pei’s new company.
Sending Zhong Tianhao to Yashi with Pei Rongzhao was a move to get insider information and build a good relationship with the Pei family’s eldest son.

But Zhong Tianhao was always intimidated by Pei Rongzhao, so he couldn’t help but sound like a suck-up whenever he spoke, with flattery and arrogance that didn’t sit well with the other three.

Pei Rongzhao’s expression didn’t change, but something flickered in his eyes.
He responded calmly, “No.”

If she were a suitor, her eyes wouldn’t have held only confusion, as if trying to remember someone through him.
Maybe she had mistaken him for someone else?

Pei Rongzhao didn’t dwell on it.

The reply was so brief that it was hard to understand his meaning, and especially since Zhong Tianhao didn’t know him well, it was even harder to tell what this “no” referred to.

Qiu Zhi’an, a long-time friend of Pei Rongzhao, chimed in,
“The girls who chase after Rongzhao usually dress up and act shy. That girl just now was dressed simply, and her eyes were a bit odd—probably a case of mistaken identity.”

Despite his words, Qiu Zhi’an was surprised.
In all these years, his friend had never looked twice at any girl, let alone offered an explanation.

Today marked a first.

Could it be that his friend liked this type?

The standard seemed pretty high.

No wonder all the socialites in Beidu failed—how many could compare to the girl they’d just happened upon?
It seemed like Pei Rongzhao wasn’t planning to do anything about it.

It might just be an ordinary, uneventful encounter with no follow-up.

Qiu Zhi’an dropped the matter.

Yun Zhen, unaware of the conversation outside, enjoyed her tea and pastries in peace.
Before leaving, she bought two tins of the best Lan Gui Ren tea and packed three portions of pastries to take home.

As she went downstairs to pay, she glanced at the open seating area, but Pei Rongzhao and his group had already left the teahouse, boarded a plane, and headed back to Beidu.

Separated by vast distances, who would think to recall the events of the day?

Two people who crossed paths by chance had never considered that they might have any connection.

Unless fate allowed them to meet again, only then would the gears of destiny truly begin to turn…