“What brings you here?” Wen Mo forced herself to swallow the word “again,” lest Zhu Shen hear the slight trace of annoyance in her voice.
Though, her heavy, dragging footsteps had already betrayed her inner thoughts.
Zhu Shen, of course, knew he wasn’t exactly welcome in Wen Mo’s presence. But he didn’t need her to welcome him. On the contrary, seeing this “drama queen” nearly break character and fail to keep up her act actually made him feel a sense of success.
“What? You don’t want to see me?” Zhu Shen asked, the corners of his mouth curving into a faint, mocking smile.
Wen Mo: “?”
Here we go again with the “do you want to see me” questions.
Zhu Shen had the patience to listen to her rehearse her mental journey, but she didn’t have the patience to keep explaining herself.
“You’re the one who said you wanted to see me.” Wen Mo reminded him in a small voice.
Zhu Shen blinked, momentarily stunned. He had said that, and if Wen Mo hadn’t mentioned it, he might have forgotten entirely. The “slap to the face” came a bit too quickly. However, Zhu Shen didn’t feel any embarrassment. He replied quite frankly, “I don’t particularly want to see you right now, either.”
Wen Mo blinked her eyes, testing the waters. “Then can I go?”
Zhu Shen pretended not to notice the flicker of hope in her gaze. “Go where? I have something to discuss with you.”
Wen Mo was surprised. “What is it?”
Zhu Shen raised an eyebrow. “Why are you so shocked? Didn’t you have a clue when I waved you over?”
I really didn’t, Wen Mo thought. I just thought you were purely messing with me for fun.
“I had a clue, I had a clue! So, what’s the matter?” Wen Mo forced a smile.
Looking at her fake expression, Zhu Shen’s mood actually improved a bit. Truth be told, he didn’t originally have a specific reason to find her.
Yin Qingyue had no classes this afternoon, and since her grandfather was returning from abroad today, Zhu Shen was picking her up to go to the airport. Her grandfather was coming back specifically to see her.
Yin Qingyue had been maliciously abducted when she was just a year old, and her tracks had been covered so well that with the technology of that time, even the Zhu family couldn’t find her easily. At that time, Zhu Shen was still young and couldn’t do much. It wasn’t until he gained power that he was finally able to track down his younger sister’s whereabouts.
Many years had passed, and his sister had grown up. But in the end, he found her. His sister was remarkable; despite a turbulent childhood, she remained upright and kind. Through her own hard work, she had made it out of the mountains and back to her family.
Initially, after confirming her identity, Zhu Shen wanted to acknowledge her immediately, hold a grand banquet, and announce her status as the eldest daughter of the Zhu family. But Yin Qingyue refused. She was used to keeping a low profile and didn’t want to live under the public’s scrutiny. Moreover, after being kidnapped, she had been left in a mountain village where her adoptive parents rescued her. Despite their meager income, they had raised her and supported her education. To her, they were her real parents. Her name was on their household register, and she had no desire to change it.
Zhu Shen felt he owed his sister too much, so he respected her wishes. Aside from close relatives and friends, outsiders were almost entirely unaware that the Zhu family had an eldest daughter. Many people misunderstood his relationship with Yin Qingyue—including the drama queen standing in front of him. Zhu Shen didn’t bother explaining; it wasn’t necessary, and letting Wen Mo misunderstand was actually for the best. With him standing in the way, Wen Mo wouldn’t dare have any “designs” on Yin Qingyue.
The girl actually seemed to support him being with Yin Qingyue; she had even urged him to help her out at the party. Whether it was genuine or another act, she was at least publicly on his side. For that alone, Zhu Shen didn’t find her quite as repulsive anymore.
On his way to pick up Yin Qingyue, he had thought of Wen Mo, wondering if he’d run into her at the school gates again. There was no real reason for it, other than the fact that he’d met her here last time. He had been observing the gate subconsciously, so the moment she appeared, he noticed her.
Wen Mo had seen him too, and her expression had been one of shock. She hid it quickly, but Zhu Shen still sensed her frustration.
She doesn’t want to see me?
Instead of being annoyed at being “disliked,” Zhu Shen felt a strange sense of amusement. Watching Wen Mo try to give him a perfunctory nod and scurry away, he acted without thinking, waving his hand to stop her in her tracks. As for “having something to discuss” that was just a spur-of-the-moment excuse.
As for what that “thing” was, Zhu Shen paused for a moment, thinking about what kind of task he could assign her.
Seeing him stare at her in silence for so long, Wen Mo’s heart began to thump. Is there really something, or is he actually just teasing me?
“Hello?” She prompted, unable to help herself.
Zhu Shen looked up and swept his gaze over her. “What ‘hello’?”
Wen Mo put on a smile. “I just don’t know what to call you anymore! You won’t let me call you ‘Young President Zhu,’ and you won’t let me call you ‘Brother’!”
Calling him “Brother” was forbidden, and calling him “Young President Zhu” was out. What a pain!
Zhu Shen thought for a second. “Just call me Zhu Shen.”
Once you started to see someone in a slightly better light, even their words sounded less annoying. He even found her slightly amusing.
Wen Mo was stunned. She couldn’t believe her ears. “You mean I should just call you Zhu Shen?”
“Why not?” he replied. “Should I call you Zhu Shen instead?”
“That wouldn’t be appropriate calling you by your full name seems so disrespectful.”
The “Idiot” that had come out of his mouth during their first meeting still felt like it was ringing in her ears. It had made him feel very “grounded,” without the typical aloofness of a CEO, but she hadn’t expected him to be this approachable.
“Hmph. Is verbal respect the only kind of respect?” Zhu Shen stared at her.
“Hehe, whatever you say!” Wen Mo pretended not to hear the sarcasm and accepted the new title. “Well then, Zhu Shen, may I ask what the matter is?”
“Accompany Qingyue to M City this weekend,” Zhu Shen said.
“Eh? Me?” Wen Mo was dazed. She hadn’t expected him to actually have a task, let alone one involving Yin Qingyue.
“Are you unwilling?”
To be honest, Wen Mo was a bit flattered. From their last interaction, she could tell that Zhu Shen’s defensiveness toward her had decreased significantly. Even though he still snarked at her that seemed to just be his personality.
She had heard Wei Mingshu mention that Zhu Shen had a notorious temper—willful and capricious. He’d even snap at his elders if he wasn’t happy, and he rarely attended social events. He wasn’t like a typical CEO who spent his time networking. Hearing that, Wen Mo felt a bit better—at least she wasn’t the only one being treated coldly.
But she really hadn’t expected that Zhu Shen’s trust in her had reached this level. He was actually comfortable letting her accompany Yin Qingyue out of town?
This meant he completely believed her “Omega” story!
“I’m willing, I’m willing!” Wen Mo nodded.
Not only could she score points with the female lead, but she could also complete a mission for Zhu Shen. The benefits were massive! There was just one tiny concern—it might cause misunderstandings with the female lead’s other admirers. She would have to maintain a proper distance. Being out of town alone with the female lead, if those admirers found out, it would be a huge problem.
“Aren’t you going to ask what it’s for?” Zhu Shen prompted, seeing her nodding so vigorously.
“I’ll get whatever it is done for you!” Wen Mo boasted.
“You should make sure you actually have the ability before you start bragging like that.”
Wen Mo: “?” Damn it, what a contrarian. “I’ll definitely try my best.”
Wen Mo was a drama queen who always seemed to be wearing a mask, but the more time he spent with her, the more Zhu Shen realized she was actually quite easy to read. In those few seconds of silence just now, he bet she was cursing him in her head.
Zhu Shen wasn’t angry. He was self-aware enough to know he had a bad temper; plenty of people had cursed him in their hearts over the years, but few dared to say it to his face. While they were miserable trying to stay polite while hating his guts, he had nothing to be angry about.
“159xxxxxxxx,” Zhu Shen recited a string of numbers.
Wen Mo blinked, stunned. “Is that your phone number?”
Zhu Shen replied simply, “Yes. Save it.”
He actually gave me his contact info? And he was the one to offer it first?
For a moment, Wen Mo’s heart was a chaotic mess of mixed emotions—a whirlwind of joy and alarm. Could this be considered a massive breakthrough in their relationship? Had she successfully “conquered” Zhu Shen?
She silently pulled out her phone, then paused. Zhu Shen had rattled off the numbers so suddenly and quickly that she’d only managed to memorize the first three digits!
Besides, who exchanges contact info by reciting phone numbers these days? People just scan each other’s QR codes!
So, Wen Mo quickly pulled up her personal QR code and held it up to him. “How about you scan me instead?”
Zhu Shen: “?”
He was momentarily speechless. He should have known she wouldn’t remember the number. He didn’t make things difficult for her, though; he silently pulled out his phone and scanned the code.
The experience felt somewhat novel to him. Usually, it was others who added him; the number of times he had proactively sent a friend request could be counted on one hand, and they were all to his elders.
When Wen Mo saw the notification for the friend request from Zhu Shen, she felt a surge of secret satisfaction. If she were a bit bolder and clicked “Ignore”—would she become the first person in history to reject a friend request from the great President Zhu?
The thought was exhilarating. But it remained just a thought.
Wen Mo was more than happy to add him. By the transitive property of friendship, she could now claim to be friends with Zhu Shen! Since they were “friends,” surely he wouldn’t try to ruin her in the future or force the Wen family to kick her out, right?
Thinking this, Wen Mo’s mood brightened instantly.
“I’m at your service!” She said cheerfully. “Just send me a message whenever you need something!”
Zhu Shen raised an eyebrow, sensing the shift in her energy. A moment ago, she was radiating resentment so thick that even her exquisite acting couldn’t hide it. Now, simply by adding his contact info, she was happy?
He couldn’t understand her. But then again, he wasn’t surprised; Wen Mo had always been unpredictable.
“Where are you heading?” Zhu Shen asked casually.
“To the mall,” Wen Mo answered honestly.
“You certainly have a lot of free time,” Zhu Shen remarked.
Shopping every single day. It did fit her “Omega” persona, after all; he had never seen an Alpha who enjoyed hitting the shops this much.
Wen Mo explained, “It’s my friend’s birthday. I’m going to buy a gift.”
“Do you even have that many friends?”
Wen Mo: “?”
What is that supposed to mean? Am I not allowed to have friends? You’re literally on my friends list right now!
“Alright, you can go now,” Zhu Shen said.
Wen Mo: “?”
Do you have any idea what you sound like? She thought. Like a heartless man who discards someone the moment they’ve served their purpose!
Wen Mo gave a flat “Oh,” but as she turned, she spotted Yin Qingyue’s figure appearing at the distant school gate. She understood instantly. No wonder he wanted her to scramble; his sweetheart had arrived.
Wen Mo smirked and gave Zhu Shen a knowing look. “Then I’ll take my leave. Don’t let me keep you!”
Zhu Shen paused, glanced toward the gate, and realized Yin Qingyue had come out. He felt a prickle of irritation; this girl actually dared to tease him now.
Afraid that her presence would cause another misunderstanding for Yin Qingyue, Zhu Shen waved her off dismissively. “Hurry up and get lost.”