CHAPTER 105: CHAPTER 105: DID YOU MISS ME?

The business cooperation was very smooth, finalizing all matters in just one day.

At the end of the meeting, Mo Qiyan was the first to stand up and extend his right hand to Sheng Qianchi, "Pleasant cooperation, Young Master Chi."

Sheng Qianchi gracefully took Mo Qiyan’s hand, "Pleasant cooperation, Mr. Mo."

The moment their hands met, they exchanged smiles, as if a magnificent scene unfolded, and the accompanying staff from both sides applauded cheerfully, evidently pleased with the collaboration.

Mo Qiyan’s expression was consistently mild and elegant, yet his gaze was unusually sharp and profound, indicating that beneath his surface lay a formidable character.

His voice was as gentle as jade, "Young Master Chi, would you do me the honor of allowing me to host you as a local?"

Sheng Qianchi smiled faintly, "I wouldn’t dare refuse such an honor."

Mo Qiyan personally hosted Sheng Qianchi at a high-end restaurant in Suri Capital known for its regional charm.

He booked the entire venue.

Once away from the negotiation table, both men displayed a different kind of comfortable elegance, and the topics of conversation became less formal; halfway through the meal, their chatter turned rather leisurely.

Mo Qiyan chuckled lightly, with a hint of teasing in his tone, "I heard that Young Master Chi’s current girlfriend was the top socialite in Licheng City seven years ago, making all men in the city fall for her. It’s really enviable."

Sheng Qianchi simply sipped his wine with a smile, saying little; he was reluctant to discuss his woman with other men, as if it would mean sharing something most precious.

Mo Qiyan seemed unintentionally to observe Sheng Qianchi, yet he caught every subtle expression, and an inexplicable surge of jealousy rose in him as he saw in Sheng Qianchi’s eyes the hidden joy of reminiscence.

When Gu Jiayin was beside him, he too would unwittingly savor such memories.

The hand under the table instantaneously clenched tightly, the knuckles visibly turning white.

However, Mo Qiyan, accustomed to the royal power games for years, was adept at strategy, able to remain under the radar even against formidable opponents.

So at this moment, though his heart surged with massive waves, his face still carried a gentle smile,

"Seeing Young Master Chi’s expression, you must be very close with Miss Gu. Such a marvelous woman lived in my Suri for seven years and even served as a Royal Detective for several years, yet I never got to know her. What a pity."

Sheng Qianchi elegantly put down his wine glass with a faint smile, "Is Mr. Mo lamenting over destiny?"

The word "destiny" caused a momentary crack in the usual calmness of Mo Qiyan’s eyes; it seemed that the feelings between him and Gu Jiayin were drifting apart. Could it be due to shallow destiny?

Ha!

...

As the dinner ended, Mo Qiyan courteously escorted Sheng Qianchi to the entrance of the hotel, watching him as he drove away.

When Sheng Qianchi’s car disappeared into the night, he slowly withdrew his gentle and refined smile, his handsome face appearing as if covered by a thin layer of frost, his dark eyes revealing another kind of viciousness. Coldly, he instructed the assistant behind him, "Keep a close eye on Sheng Qianchi."

"Yes." The assistant bowed in acknowledgement.

At this moment, his personal driver drove up the car, and the assistant hurriedly went forward to open the car door for him. He elegantly bent down and sat in the back seat.

Once the car started, he remained silent with his eyes closed for a while.

Five minutes later, as if coming to a decision, he suddenly opened his eyes and took out his phone to make a call.

By now, Licheng City was deep into the night. As Gu Jiayin lay alone in bed, the ringing of her phone roused a tinge of annoyance.

Frowning, she fished her phone out from under the pillow and swiped the screen open. Seeing the name flashing on the display, her heart skipped a beat, and all sleepiness vanished.

The bedroom was silent, with only faint moonlight streaming in, weaving light with shadow into an ethereal ambiance.

Gu Jiayin sat up, leaning against the headboard. After tucking her long hair behind her ears, she answered the phone, "Prince Qiyan."

"Asleep?" a consistently gentle and unwavering voice asked.

"Yes."

Gu Jiayin exhibited neither joy nor anger; her mind was calm as still water. She recognized the voice well enough to discern it was not her Ah Yan; Ah Yan’s voice never carried this chilling undertone, like it was emanating from a thousand feet below the earth.

But they were the same person, she couldn’t be too indifferent.

"Sheng Qianchi has come to Suri to personally investigate your past. Are you aware?"

"What?"

Gu Jiayin instantly sat upright, her elegant brows tightly knit. She couldn’t understand why Sheng Qianchi would do this. He had always been the one pestering her; she posed no threat to him, so why was he so persistent in investigating her?

Previously, he had his men investigate, and now he was conducting the inquiry himself. What exactly was his intention?

The phone was silent on both ends for a long time before Mo Qiyan’s voice suddenly broke the silence, "Don’t worry; I’ll make sure he never leaves Suri alive."

Gu Jiayin, "..."

Make Sheng Qianchi die in Suri?

Did she really want him dead?

No, not at all.

Though he had relentlessly pursued her, he had been genuinely good to her. While she was in her normal emotional state, she never thought of ending his life, nor did she want him killed by Mo Qiyan. That would weigh heavily on her conscience.

But before she could respond, Mo Qiyan had already hung up the call.

Gu Jiayin sat dazed for a long time, clutching her phone. Although Mo Qiyan repeatedly claimed to like her and even spoke of marriage, she really couldn’t influence his decisions.

For when he became another Mo Qiyan, he turned into a bloodthirsty demon.

She wasn’t sure how much time passed before she suddenly came to her senses and, driven by some impulse, dialed Sheng Qianchi’s number.

...

Ever since entering the car, Sheng Qianchi had been observing Mo Qiyan closely through the rear-view mirror until he was out of sight.

Like Mo Qiyan, he maintained a calm exterior while numerous thoughts galloped through his mind.

Mo Qiyan struck him as an intriguing man; although consistently warm and courteous, he sensed a deeply concealed occasional aggressiveness which he picked up on keenly.

This was his first collaboration with the Tianqi Group, and his first encounter with Mo Qiyan; he couldn’t fathom what could have caused Mo Qiyan’s subtle emotions towards him.

He felt there must be an undisclosed secret that required deep excavation for the truth to unravel.

Mo Qiyan mentioned Gu Jiayin tonight...

While pondering, his phone rang. Assuming it was a work call, he frowned not wanting to answer. His deep, bright eyes glanced over, recognizing the name and the corresponding caller ID screen –

A close-up photo of him and Gu Jiayin beneath the pear blossom tree.

An unexplainable delight instantly lifted his mood, like a thickly clouded sky suddenly painted bright blue by a giant hand.

His fingers swiftly slid to answer the call, and his resonant voice carried a hint of amusement, "Jiayin, did you call me late at night because you missed me? Without me accompanying you to sleep, is it difficult to manage on your own?"

Gu Jiayin, "..."

What did he mean by ’without him accompanying her to sleep’, what did he mean by being unable to manage alone; they had never slept in the same bed!

The heavy worry clouding her mind was suddenly scattered in disarray by Sheng Qianchi’s playful remarks, leaving her momentarily at a loss for words.