Pei Yan stared blankly at her phone, frozen for a moment. Why would Fu Huaizhou add her?
As for how he got her number, Pei Yan didn’t give it much thought. For someone who received countless promotional calls daily, it would be easy for Fu Huaizhou to find her contact information. With just one word from the young master, plenty of people would rush to do his bidding.
Pei Yan tapped “Accept.”
[You have added Fu Huaizhou. You can now start chatting.]
What was she supposed to say?
She stared at the chat box, and suddenly the words “Typing…” appeared at the top.
What was he going to say?
Pei Yan waited patiently and received a greeting from Fu Huaizhou, along with another message: [About last night, Yueting didn’t misunderstand, did he?]
Pei Yan was taken aback. What was he referring to?
Her nickname was simply “Pei,” and her profile picture was a casual photo she had taken herself.
Like a sneaky voyeur, Fu Huaizhou opened her profile picture and saved it to his phone.
[Misunderstand what? What happened last night?]
Fu Huaizhou: [I ran into you at Moonlight last night. You were drunk, so I stayed. Then Yueting showed up and misunderstood again.]
Pei Yan recalled how Li Yueting had yelled at her at the amusement park entrance, accusing Fu Huaizhou of having feelings for her.
She quickly replied: [Li Yueting was at Moonlight last night too?]
Fu Huaizhou: [Yeah. Didn’t you tell his friends you two broke up? They called him over.]
Pei Yan: […Right. Since we’ve broken up, what’s there to misunderstand?]
Fu Huaizhou: [Good. I was worried you’d argue because of me again.]
Pei Yan: […]
Fu Huaizhou: [?]
Pei Yan: [It’s nothing.]
Fu Huaizhou: [Next time you go to a bar, remember to bring a bodyguard. It’s dangerous to get drunk.]
Pei Yan felt a warmth in her heart: [I know. But who would dare cause trouble at Gu Jingyi’s place? That’s why I didn’t bring one.]
Fu Huaizhou sat in his car, cradling his phone with both hands, his fingertips occasionally tapping the screen.
His assistant in the passenger seat, Lu Qianshan, suddenly said, “If we turn right from this road onto Wutong Road, we’ll reach Miss Pei’s company.”
Fu Huaizhou looked up from his phone, and with just one glance, Lu Qianshan instructed the driver to make the turn. They had originally been heading straight back to the company.
After a moment of thought, Fu Huaizhou lowered his head and fiddled with his phone again: [I have a question about the ‘Golden Jade Match’ for you. Do you have time?]
Pei Yan was intrigued by the term “Golden Jade Match.” As someone who had grown up surrounded by jewelry, her mind immediately conjured images of gold and jade.
She checked the time—it was already 11:30.
She replied: [I have time. I was actually thinking of treating you to a meal to thank you for the amusement park trip last time.]
Fu Huaizhou raised an eyebrow in surprise. He hadn’t expected her to have the intention of inviting him to dinner.
He replied: [Perfect timing. I’m out for business today and will be passing by your studio soon.]
Pei Yan quickly called He Tiantian over and asked her to book a restaurant nearby.
“Somewhere with high privacy,” Pei Yan added.
He Tiantian gave her an “OK” sign. “I understand.”
Pei Yan smiled. Though the girl had little formal education, she was observant, hardworking, and emotionally intelligent.
Recently, the drama between her and Li Yueting had become the talk of the town.
If it weren’t for the Li family deliberately suppressing the news, she would have been pestered to death by paparazzi.
Even so, she couldn’t let her guard down.
If she were photographed having a meal with Fu Huaizhou, the media would undoubtedly speculate wildly.
They always write whatever attracts the most attention.
There were many restaurants near the PRIYA studio, but only one met Pei Yan’s requirements—Yihe Pavilion, a Chinese restaurant specializing in refined Cantonese cuisine.
Yihe Pavilion did not accept walk-ins without reservations.
But Pei Yan was an exception. PRIYA and Yihe Pavilion had opened around the same time.
When Yihe Pavilion first opened, it was announced that Miss Pei would always have a table available whenever she visited.
This was because Pei Yan’s grandfather was Xuan Heqing, a master of traditional Chinese painting, and the owner of Yihe Pavilion was a close friend of Xuan Heqing despite their age difference.
Fu Huaizhou arrived at PRIYA just as work was ending for the day.
As the PRIYA employees stepped out of the studio, they caught sight of the Phantom extended version and, almost in unison, widened their eyes in surprise.
Before getting out of the car, Fu Huaizhou removed his suit jacket and left it inside—after all, the weather was hot.
Mealtime was for relaxation, and he didn’t want to feel too constrained.
A white shirt and black trousers—though the simplest of outfits—somehow accentuated his unique elegance and nobility.
Leaning against the car, he stood with one hand in his pocket and the other holding his phone, his gaze lowered and a faint smile playing on his lips.
With broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and a tall, handsome figure, his every movement exuded the charm of a mature man.
“Whoa! Who is that? Why is he parked right outside our studio?”
“Looks like he’s waiting for someone.”
“He must be waiting for Sister Yan.”
“I think so too. Didn’t you hear Tiantian mention it before we left? Sister Yan broke up today.”
“I know. Could this handsome guy be her suitor?”
“Seems like it. Don’t you think he’s more attractive than Young Master Li?”
“Well, Young Master Li had a brooding charm, but this one… feels a bit unattainable.”
Just as Pei Yan stepped out, she overheard their conversation and clicked her tongue in mock disapproval. “What nonsense are you all talking about? Shouldn’t you be heading home?”
Startled at first, the group broke into giggles when they saw her and crowded around.
“Sister Yan? Is that your boyfriend?”
“Shh!” Pei Yan quickly hushed them. “No, don’t jump to conclusions. It wouldn’t be good if he overheard. Hurry up and go home—no more gossip. We’re just discussing some matters.”
“Discussing matters, huh…” one of the girls drawled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Not dating?”
Pei Yan pretended to swat at her, and the recent graduates scattered with laughter.
Hearing the commotion, Fu Huaizhou straightened up and took a few steps forward to greet her.
Pei Yan stole a few discreet glances at him. No wonder the girls were gossiping—he really was handsome.
Unlike Li Yueting’s pretty-boy charm, Fu Huaizhou was the epitome of a classic Chinese heartthrob—thick eyebrows, bright eyes, and a radiant presence.
His features were finely sculpted, his bone structure flawless, and he carried a distinctly masculine aura, setting him apart from the pretty-boy idols common in the entertainment industry.
If Fu Huaizhou were an actor, he’d be perfectly cast as a cunning military officer.
Fu Huaizhou opened the rear door for her, gallantly raising a hand to shield her head from the frame.
When they arrived at Yihe Pavilion, the owner happened to be there.
Pei Yan introduced Fu Huaizhou to the owner. Upon learning that he was from the Fu family, the owner personally attended to them, escorting them to the Orchid Hall.
Yihe Pavilion was decorated with grandeur and elegance—jade tableware, exquisite lighting, and lush greenery—every detail impeccable.
The landscaping and design embodied the poetic beauty of Eastern aesthetics at its finest.
Both Fu Huaizhou and Pei Yan were handed menus. Fu Huaizhou poured her a glass of water and said, “You order. I’m not picky.”
Pei Yan didn’t stand on ceremony and promptly ordered five or six dishes.
For just the two of them, that was more than enough.
Although she had money, she didn’t like to waste it either.
“Before we discuss business, there’s something I want to ask you,” Pei Yan said, feigning nonchalance.
Since Fu Huaizhou mentioned he was also at Moonlight last night, she wanted to subtly probe whether he had seen her hiring male escorts.
What if he knew? Wouldn’t that be too embarrassing?
Fu Huaizhou looked directly at her: “Go ahead.”
Pei Yan smiled awkwardly: “Um… does Gu Jingyi’s Moonlight have male hosts?”
A glint flashed in Fu Huaizhou’s eyes: “No, it’s just a place for drinking.”
Pei Yan was stunned: “None?”
Then who did she kiss last night?
Pei Yan looked puzzled: “Were you at Moonlight the entire time last night?”
Fu Huaizhou lightly tapped the table with his fingertips, his gaze fixed intently on Pei Yan.
Seeing her frowning in confusion, he chuckled softly and said, “Miss Pei, are you perhaps wondering… who you kissed last night?”