Chapter 100: The Ambiguous Princess Carry (Revised for Simplicity and Brilliance)
The ink-black sky stretched endlessly, the Milky Way shimmering in brilliant shades of violet. The vast star river sparkled with a cold radiance, accentuating the pure, biting chill of winter with striking clarity.
Under the moonlit night, a man held a woman in his arms in an intimate princess carry, stirring envy among onlookers. Yet, each of their silhouettes harbored their own thoughts.
She had lost her shoe and could only cling to him like this.
A gentle breeze brushed her face, carrying a hint of cold. Lily of the Valley gripped tightly the front of Mo Zhicheng’s clothes, the chill compelling her to bury her head against his chest, where a warmth seeped through the fabric and touched her cheek.
She lifted her eyes and gazed at the man’s austere face under the silver moonlight.
“Where to?”
“To buy you shoes!”
Four simple words, yet as resolute as iron.
Mo Zhicheng placed her into the Bentley and turned on the heater. He leaned closer, and she felt the dark silhouette enveloping her, obscuring the light before her eyes. Though she didn’t understand his intent, she murmured, “I can fasten my seatbelt myself!”
A faint smile curved Mo Zhicheng’s lips. “Who said I’m letting you fasten it?” His retort left her momentarily speechless, embarrassed at her own presumption. Unexpectedly, the man’s hand reached out and grasped the side of the seat. She noticed the leather chair slowly reclining backward, his hand never ceasing its movement, yet his gaze remained fixed on her, intense enough to see right through her.
Only when the seat was adjusted to the perfect position did she sense him rising and stepping away. She exhaled softly, only for Mo Zhicheng to tug at her ankle, drawing her legs up to curl comfortably on the seat. Moving slightly to adjust her posture, Lily of the Valley was cautious due to the one-piece skirt she wore. Beneath the silk stockings were long, graceful legs.
With practiced ease, Mo Zhicheng removed his coat and gently draped it over her. Surprised by his thoughtfulness and manner, Lily of the Valley’s heart swirled in a complex tide of emotions. She bit her lip softly, revealing the turmoil within her as fierce as a stormy sea.
She had said she disliked his kindness, hated the tender web he wove around her that bound her so tightly. Thinking this, she furrowed her brow and glanced out the window, just as he started the engine.
In the heart of the bustling city, traffic flowed like rivers of light.
As the Spring Festival approached, the city was alive with vibrant energy. On both sides of the street, the withered branches of the plane trees bore bright red lanterns, resembling fallen rays of sunset or blooming peonies glowing in the night.
The glass storefronts shone brilliantly.
Mo Zhicheng carried her into Fortune Plaza, where the mall was bathed in dazzling white light. Inside the pristine shoe display, rows of exquisitely crafted women's shoes caught her eye—each style unique, the fine materials sparkling under the fiber-optic lighting like stars. She sat on a pale lavender velvet sofa, watching the man standing before the shoe cabinet.
Suddenly, she recalled an old idol drama where a beautiful woman said every woman should have a good pair of shoes; they could carry you to the most beautiful places in the world.
That phrase lingered deeply in her memory.
She watched him bend down, fingers gliding over the delicate surfaces of the shoes as he selected carefully. Finally, he chose a pair of cream-colored stilettos—simple in design yet far from ordinary. The leather was adorned with tiny sparkling rhinestones.
Mo Zhicheng knelt, lifting her ankle in a gesture so intimate she instinctively wanted to pull back, but he held on firmly, allowing no refusal. Lily of the Valley whispered, “I can do it myself.”
He ignored her, grasping her ankle as both hands gently massaged her sole, asking softly, “Does your foot hurt?”
She glanced up, puzzled. “What?”
His fingers pressed and kneaded the heel. “Here—is it still sore?” He slowly raised his eyes and said quietly, “Don’t wear cheap leather shoes again.”
She was stunned. Those words sank deep into her heart, a place no one had ever cared for or protected before. She felt a faint warmth rise in her eyes.
Suddenly, realization struck her. “Did you steal my shoe?”
At the word “steal,” the man smiled faintly, his deep eyes filled with tenderness like a moonlit abyss, drawing her in as if to drown her completely.
He lowered his head to put the high heel on her foot.
Like the prince in a fairy tale, at midnight, gently slipping the shining glass slipper onto his Cinderella’s foot.
But he was not her prince.
Mo Zhicheng admired how the shoes accentuated the curves of her arch and instep, revealing a unique beauty filled with softness.
Yet Lily of the Valley cared little for such things. “Did you?” she asked again.
He slowly rose and murmured, “You’re so slow to realize.”
His words laid bare the truth.
Thinking it over, she understood—it must have been so. How could that upscale restaurant have made such a careless mistake as losing her shoe? Perhaps tonight’s Japanese dinner was all part of his plan.
“Mo Zhicheng!” she called involuntarily. “Why are you so good to me?”
The same question, the same doubt, tumbled within her heart. This time, his answer was silence. He simply pulled her to her feet. “Let’s go…”
The night stretched vast like the sea. Around midnight, Bai Yuchen didn’t visit Ye Shenghan’s residence but instead went straight to the Bai family mansion, whistling an idle tune and humming a well-worn pop song:
—He said, what’s a little pain in the storm? Wipe your tears and don’t ask why!
Bai Yuchen’s spirits were high for a simple reason: Shengqi had unexpectedly swooped in, securing a partnership deal from Tiancheng. Thanks to an inside collaboration with Lily of the Valley and Shenghan’s flawless planning, combined with funds transferred from the elder master Bai, all conditions were perfect—timing, location, and people. In the business battlefield, there are no eternal enemies or friends, only mutual interests.
Entering the house, Bai Yuchen was buoyant. As he slipped off his shoes and stepped inside, the living room lights suddenly brightened. Startled, he noticed the elder master Bai sitting sternly on the sofa, displeased. A chill ran down Bai Yuchen’s spine; he silently thought, “This is bad!” The elder master’s expression suggested he was about to question him thoroughly. Bai Yuchen guessed most of the story.
He cautiously turned and tiptoed toward the staircase.
“Stop right there!” the elder master’s firm voice echoed, freezing Bai Yuchen in place. He listened intently to the movements behind him. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Bai Yuchen squinted and forced a roguish grin. “Old master, aren’t you still awake at this hour?”
The elder master fixed him with a piercing gaze, filled with displeasure and anger. Bai Yuchen felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He approached swiftly and sat beside him, draping an arm meaningfully around his shoulder. “What’s wrong? Bad mood? Did your mother lose again at the casino? No place to vent your anger? Come on…” He tapped his chest. “Come vent on me…”
The elder master cast a sidelong glance and sighed, “You two never give me peace.”
Bai Yuchen knew well his mother’s favorite pastime was gambling with the gossipy ladies of the villa in NightCity, playing the hottest game of all—showdown poker—losing tens of thousands was commonplace.
“I only do honest work. What’s troubling you?” Bai Yuchen said, pulling back his arm and turning his gaze away, a hint of complaint in his tone.
“The company’s finance department reported that you transferred a sum of money using my name without permission. Are you helping Shenghan again?” the elder master said gravely. “If you have the mind to do so, why not put it into your own family?”
At this, Bai Yuchen’s temper flared inwardly, but before he could restrain himself, he blurted, “Shenghan, Shenghan. Dad, you say it so familiarly, but why when Ye’s company went bankrupt, did you all stand aside and do nothing? Back then, you were as close as brothers with Uncle Ye, one of the founding members of the Ye Group. Later, you sold part of Ye’s shares and started your own business. During that time, you still benefited from Ye’s success. I won’t ask for repayment, but you always told me never to sever ties with family. Shenghan and I have been like brothers from childhood, from eight to twenty-eight years old—twenty years of witnessing Ye’s rise and fall together. Only Shenghan knows the bitterness within. I know you all now avoid Shenghan, turning a blind eye. What you do, I, Bai Yuchen, won’t do.”
He took a deep breath and declared, “I’ll be clear—I don’t need Bai family money, but I am determined to help Shenghan reclaim Ye’s company. Determined. Not even the heavens can stop me!”
His words burst forth in defiance, releasing the tension he had long held against the elder master’s indifferent attitude toward Shenghan. He panted heavily, emotions flooding out in that moment.
Yet the elder master remained calm, shaking his head gently. Having seen much, he rarely lost his temper. “You don’t know… your fight against Mo Zhicheng is like an egg against a rock—foolish and overestimating yourself.”
Bai Yuchen was speechless, struck dumb by the simple truth.
“The Ye Group is doomed,” the elder master sighed. “Mo Zhicheng’s takeover looks like fierce competition between industry leaders, but have you ever thought about why he returned home only to target Ye’s company?”
Bai Yuchen was stunned. Yes, he had wondered why Ye’s company was singled out.
“Why?” he blurted.
Only the elder master knew that man’s extensive power upon returning was fueled by revenge.
He also knew that if they helped Ye Shenghan, Mo Zhicheng would not spare the Bai family either. That man’s methods were ruthless, which was why the founding members of Ye’s company had all retired quietly, unwilling to publicly support Ye Shenghan.
“Why?” Bai Yuchen pleaded, desperate for the truth.
But the elder master quieted the moment. “Go upstairs…”
And so the scene ended in silence.