Chapter 17: Reunion in Lan City

When Ye Linglan returned the keys at the front desk, she asked in puzzlement, "Wasn't it said that Mr. Mo would arrive at three this afternoon?"

No sooner had she spoken than the woman behind the desk leisurely took out a black walkie-talkie from the drawer and replied indifferently, "You forgot to take this!" She gave Linglan a knowing glance. "Mr. Mo came by not long after you went in. I wanted to notify you immediately, but you weren't carrying your walkie-talkie! And look at that expression of yours—what's wrong? Did you do something you shouldn't, and get caught by Mr. Mo?"

Linglan pressed her lips together gently. "No, but—"

"But what?" the woman responded.

Linglan leaned in, arching her brows with a mischievous grin. "I know Mr. Mo is your idol. Just now, by pure accident, I happened to catch a glimpse of your idol after his bath!"

"Ye Linglan!" The young girl sprang up with a shriek. "What did you see? What did you see?"

"Bathing," she laughed. "To put it plainly, he was taking a shower!"

"How was it, how was it?" The group gathered around her, interrogating her on the spot. Linglan feigned ignorance. "How was what? Don't you take showers yourself? Isn't everyone the same once the clothes come off?"

"His figure, I mean his figure—"

Gossip is second nature to women, just as men are naturally drawn to beautiful women, but women discussing men in private are even more frenzied. Linglan furrowed her brow theatrically, clicking her tongue and shaking her head in mock disappointment. "Not much to speak of. He looks sharp in his clothes, but that's just the outfit; there's no real substance underneath."

"Isn't it rumored he has eight-pack abs?"

"A rumor is just that—a rumor. You have to see it to believe it, and I did. He's lacking."

"Lacking how?"

Linglan lowered her voice conspiratorially. "Thirty-four and still no rumored girlfriend. If he's not lacking in that way, what else could it be?"

"Ah!" The women exclaimed in awe.

Linglan laughed. She hadn't actually wanted to look. At that moment, he had stood behind her, his fingers brushing her cheek, the scent of fresh soap lingering at her nose. Lost in thought, she felt her hem tugged, and a voice whispered in her ear, "Mr. Mo has arrived."

Ye Linglan pulled herself back from her reverie and quietly saw Mo Zhicheng exiting the lounge, fastening his watch as he walked toward them. He was dressed in the sapphire-blue casual suit she had chosen for him. The women behind her watched as the dampness in his hair revealed he had just bathed, and they all paused in stunned silence. Ye Linglan pressed her lips in a secret smile, a rush of delight blooming in her heart.

During the midday break, Ye Linglan tidied up the golf clubs and placed them behind the sightseeing cart. By afternoon, the guests hosted by Mo Zhicheng arrived, with Tang Pei accompanying him the entire time. There were five in total, said to be high-ranking officials from South River. The eldest among them held the highest rank. Linglan sat in the sightseeing cart, following behind them at a distance. She couldn't hear their conversation, but saw Mo Zhicheng laughing and chatting with ease throughout.

Her few memories of him rarely included a smile. Yet in public, playing his part, he performed flawlessly, with remarkable poise. She was truly curious—what, in the end, was this man's true heart?

She watched as the man glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Ye Linglan took the hint. "Driver, stop the cart!"

Mo Zhicheng's golf club was custom-made, different from ordinary clubs. Ye Linglan drew it out, gave it a gentle wipe, and presented it to him. "Mr. Mo!"

Mo Zhicheng accepted it, and Linglan politely handed the prepared clubs to the other three men. "Please!"

Linglan was about to withdraw. Passing Tang Pei, she gave him a faint smile, revealing a row of snow-white teeth, and mouthed quietly, "Director Tang—"

Tang Pei returned her smile and asked softly, "Are you settling in well here?"

"Thank you."

Though her voice was soft, it caught Mo Zhicheng's attention. Though he continued conversing with the others, his deep gaze flickered toward the pair behind him.