How can anyone be this perfect!

“Oh,” she suddenly snapped back to herself, “wait, that…”
Yichen quietly waited for her to continue.
“It’s just…” Xiao Qi rambled incoherently for a while before finally sorting out her thoughts. With a comradely slap on his shoulder, she said, “Thank you for making a special trip. To show my gratitude—” She rummaged in her bag and pulled out the doll she’d bought. “This is for you.”
Yichen took it, a faint smile on his lips, but—
“This is so ugly.”
Xiao Qi was speechless.
She ground her teeth. “If you think it’s ugly, give it back.”
Yichen raised his hand. “Don’t you know you can’t take back a gift once it’s given?”
“You said it’s ugly,” Xiao Qi protested, jumping up to reach, but the problem was that President Lin was simply too tall.
No matter how hard she jumped, she couldn’t reach his hand.
“Hey! You said it’s ugly, so give it back.”
“I never said I didn’t want it.”
“Well, since you said it’s ugly, I won’t give it to you anymore.”
Suddenly, she was swept up by a large hand.
Xiao Qi’s feet left the ground; when she looked up, all she saw was the man’s perfectly sculpted chin.
Good grief, he actually lifted her up with one hand.
The man’s handsome face grew larger in her vision, his seductive thin lips drawing closer and closer to hers.
Xiao Qi blinked her wide eyes, momentarily dazed.
Fang Yun came out, then immediately retreated to the doorway.
Oh my, the two of them are flirting right outside the shop—how improper.
But they do look so harmonious together!
Ah! You two are finally a couple again, how wonderful!
Golden sunlight bathed them both, a scene of breathtaking beauty.
Suddenly, a ringing sound shattered the moment.
Xiao Qi finally snapped out of it and immediately struggled, “Put me down.”
Yichen knew it was a call from Fang Li, so he didn’t delay, put her down at once, and answered the phone.
Upon hearing the words from the other end, Yichen’s face darkened abruptly.
Xiao Qi sensed a sudden chill radiating from him.
When he hung up, she asked, “What’s wrong? Did something happen with the art exhibition?”
She thought she’d heard the words “art exhibition” just now.
“It’s nothing. I need to head back,” Yichen replied, leaving without lingering.
Xiao Qi knew Lin Yichen wasn’t one to talk about his problems, but she thought she’d recognized Fang Li’s voice on the call.
She called Fang Li herself, and under her stern questioning, Fang Li finally told her the truth.
“President Lin and the exhibition’s signing representative, Rooks, had been discussing the exhibition for days, but then the second young master’s biological mother suddenly showed up. She said she didn’t approve of her son holding an exhibition and told Rooks not to get involved in the company’s affairs. She even gave Rooks a check, and in his anger, Rooks left.”
Xiao Qi recalled that the two brothers were born of different mothers, yet their relationship seemed quite good.
But that stepmother seemed rather nasty.
Why was that?
As soon as Fang Li hung up, he immediately called Joanna.
When Yichen went to find Joanna, she said that Rooks was furious and said if they weren’t serious about the exhibition, they shouldn’t waste his time.
Anna looked at him and said, “Maybe I should go talk to him myself…”
“No need,” Yichen looked at her and sincerely said, “Thank you.”

He turned and left, his tall figure growing smaller in the distance.
Yichen, this was the first time you’ve spoken to her in such a tone—and to say thank you, no less.
A smile played at her lips.
Yichen entered his office, Fang Li following behind.
“President Lin, how should we handle this?”
Yichen sat down in the soft chair, tapping his finger on the desk, his gaze distant. “Rooks said if we’re not sincere about the exhibition, we shouldn’t waste his time. I suddenly realized that Yiyang never really wanted to hold the exhibition—it was always me pushing him.”
His phone rang. He glanced at the screen, hesitated, then answered.
“Dad!”
The other party said just one sentence before hanging up, leaving Yichen’s eyes shadowed and unreadable.
“I’m going to the Lin residence. Wait for me to return before we discuss anything else.”
“Yes, sir!”
Yichen entered the living room, where three people were dining together. “Dad, Aunt Fang,” he greeted, glancing at the woman but not addressing her.
Lin Bosen gestured for the servant to bring another set of utensils. “I heard that Anna was matched with you as soon as she returned. Her father and I have been friends for years—if you two get together, that would be ideal.”
Yichen sat down without much expression. “Dad, did you call me here just to say this?”
“What kind of attitude is that—”
“Uncle,” seeing Lin Bosen about to lose his temper, Anna quickly smoothed things over. “Yichen means there’s a lot of work at the company he needs to handle.” She turned to Yichen. “Yichen, after dinner, I’ll go to the company with you.”
Yichen said nothing. He got up. “Dad, I have an urgent meeting to attend,” and left.
“Uncle, Aunt, I’ll go with Yichen to the company. I’ll visit you another day.”
Lin Bosen sighed and nodded.
Xu Lu narrowed her eyes.
Looks like this Joanna really likes him.
“President Lin,” Anna jogged to his side, smiling. “Today, I guess I’ve received official recognition from your family.”
Yichen looked displeased. “I told you, my heart already belongs to—”
“That’s your business,” Joanna pressed the car key, and the door automatically opened. She glanced at him. “Liking you is my business. As for Rooks, I’ll think of a way.”
“I said no need, and I meant it.”
Yichen didn’t say more, got in the car, and drove off.
Anna watched the car speed away, her face tinged with bitterness.
Driving, Yichen picked up the phone on the dashboard and called Yiyang.
On the other end, Yiyang sounded surprised. “Bro, you calling me during work hours? That’s rare.”
Yichen wasn’t in the mood to joke. “Yiyang, let me ask you—if you had another chance, would you still want to hold this exhibition?”
Yiyang was even more surprised. “Bro, you never ask for my opinion.”
Yichen got straight to the point. “Rooks is terminating the contract. If you want to give up on the exhibition, let’s cancel it. This time, I’ll listen to you, and going forward, I won’t interfere in your affairs.”
Silence fell on both ends.
After a long pause, Yiyang spoke. “Bro, ever since we were kids, no matter what I did, I always lost to you—academics, business… This time, it’s rare for you to admit defeat. So, I want to beat you just once.”
Yichen smiled. “All right. I’ll give you a week to finish a painting you truly want to complete. After you’re done, I’ll take you to see Rooks myself.”

“Lin Yichen.”
Xiao Qi burst through the door. “What’s going on with the exhibition now?”
Yichen hadn’t expected her to come, much less to be so concerned about the exhibition.
A trace of jealousy stirred in his heart. He kept his eyes on the documents, not looking at her, and replied coolly, “Not much.”
“…”
What did that mean?
Xiao Qi felt guilty, thinking she’d ruined the exhibition for them.
No matter what, she had to make it right.

“Is ‘not much’ good or bad?”
“Bad. The exhibition might be canceled. So…” Only then did he look up. “What do you want to do?”
“I…” If I knew what to do, I wouldn’t be asking you.
Suddenly remembering what Fang Li had said, she immediately grabbed his hand and pulled him up. “I know what to do. Take me to see that foreign guy Rooks now. I have my ways to make him listen.”
Yichen raised an eyebrow. “You have a way?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?” Could this impulsive girl really have a solution?
Xiao Qi lifted her chin. “Absolutely, positively certain.”
Yichen asked Fang Li to look into Rooks’ whereabouts. Soon, Fang Li reported that Rooks would be dining at the A House Western Restaurant tonight and would fly back to the States first thing in the morning.
That evening, Yichen left the company early. They walked to A House Restaurant since it was nearby.
The bustling street was packed, making it hard to move forward.
Goodness, why are there so many people tonight?
And the smell of food was everywhere.
Xiao Qi’s mouth watered at the delicious aromas.
“This is the lively night market,” Yichen pointed to the shouting vendors. “There are all kinds of street food—tasty and cheap. We don’t have time today, but next time I’ll bring you to try every dish on this street.”
Xiao Qi jumped at the offer. “You said it, don’t go stingy on your wallet then.”
Yichen tapped her nose. “You really think I’m that miserly?”
Xiao Qi snorted, glancing left and right. The enticing smells had truly awakened her appetite.
Surely it wouldn’t hurt to buy a snack or two!
Turning her head, she saw the man’s extraordinary looks shining under the night.
That striking figure, that air of distinction…
Her heart skipped a beat.
How could anyone be so perfect?
“Xiyang?”
“Huh?”
Yichen looked down at her. “Why’d you stop walking?”
“Oh, right, let’s go.”
Honestly, she kept getting distracted by his looks.
She really needed to rein in her weakness for handsome men.
Soon, they arrived at the restaurant.
Xiao Qi made to rush inside, but Yichen grabbed her arm. “This place is very strict about privacy, especially during dinner. No one is allowed to enter the private rooms, and we only know Rooks is dining here—we don’t know which room. Even if we go in, we might not find him.”
Hearing that, Xiao Qi’s pretty face brightened with a smile. “I told you I have a way.”
She pulled out a blindfold from her bag. “Hey, give me your eyes.”
“…”
Yichen was baffled, but he bent down slightly anyway.
“Close your eyes.”
He felt something placed over them. “Xiyang, what are you doing?”
“Just stay here and don’t take off the blindfold. I’ll be right back.” As she spoke, she slipped into the restaurant.
Time-freeze spell.
Everyone in the restaurant was suddenly immobilized.
Xiao Qi opened the doors to the private rooms, searching one by one.
Fang Li had shown her a photo of Rooks.