At the Hilton Western Restaurant, meanwhile.
Half an hour after Li Yun'er arrived at the Western Restaurant, Qing Muye finally appeared.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Qing Muye, dressed in a silver-grey suit with faint white patterns and a black shirt underneath, walked in. With his impossibly beautiful features, a mere slight curl of his thin lips exuded an alluring charm that momentarily stunned Li Yun'er, making her heart flutter like a startled deer.
Li Yun'er had seen Qing Muye on television, but in person, his tall, slender frame, broad shoulders, and narrow waist radiated a noble aura like a prince. Yet, there was also a chilling, unapproachable coolness about him.
She suppressed her pounding heart, stood up, and nodded politely, "Qing Shao is very punctual. I arrived early."
Qing Muye sat opposite her, glanced at Li Yun'er, and then looked away. "What would you like to eat?"
Today, she wore light makeup, adorned with limited edition Gucci diamond earrings and necklace, and a new Dior dress. While beautiful, this "money-wrapped" beauty struck Qing Muye, who was accustomed to seeing beautiful women, as vulgar.
"Qing Shao, please decide. I can eat anything."
"Mm."
Qing Muye pressed the 'call' button on the table, and a waiter immediately entered the private room. He ordered the two most expensive single-person meals and a bottle of red wine.
"Since you are the young lady of Fu'an Group, why were you in the suburbs that day?"
Qing Muye leaned back in the booth, crossed his legs, and looked at Li Yun'er with sharp eyes as he asked.
After returning to the company, he had also investigated Li Yun'er and learned about her background.
Li Yun'er's heart lurched. She tightened her grip on her hands and gave a bitter smile. "To be frank, being a delivery driver was my father's way of training me, to see if I could endure hardship, before deciding whether to let me take over the company."
These words were already deeply ingrained in Li Yun'er.
When Qing Muye had asked her to meet a week later, she had told her parents. They had anticipated Qing Muye would ask this question.
Thus, they had specifically dispatched people to review the surveillance footage of the route on the day Meng Jingwei rescued Qing Muye and took him to the hospital, thereby learning the location of the incident and what Meng Jingwei was doing.
To avoid arousing Qing Muye's suspicion, Li Yun'er genuinely worked as a delivery driver for a week. She couldn't even count the grievances she suffered during that week.
"Your father has a good idea. It's good to be tempered."
Qing Muye somewhat agreed with Li Fu'an's approach.
"Yes, I also think my father's approach is excellent."
"Give me your account number. I will have the finance department transfer one hundred million to you tomorrow."
"What?"
Li Yun'er did not understand the sudden mention of money.
"You risked your life to save me that day. This money is your reward."
"No... no need."
While a reward of one hundred million was enticing, Li Yun'er’s true interest lay in Qing Muye!
She shook her head and refused, smiling gently. "Even if it were someone else in danger that day, I would still save them. And in that situation, anyone else wouldn't have stood by and done nothing."
"If you don't want the reward, you can also have your father contact my special assistant directly. I will prioritize Fu'an Group in company projects."
Fu'an Group was the company owned by Li Yun'er's father.
Li Yun'er's delicately made-up face was adorned with a polite smile. "Thank you for your kindness, Qing Shao, but it's really not necessary."
As soon as she finished speaking, Qing Muye's phone rang.
"Excuse me, I need to take a call."
Qing Muye picked up his phone, saw the caller ID was his special assistant Song Ci, and asked, "What is it?"
"Boss, I am incompetent. I failed to complete the task you assigned. Miss Meng has been taken back to the old residence by Old Mrs. Qing."
Song Ci recounted the entire incident to Qing Muye over the phone.
"Why would Grandma suddenly go there?"
"I'm not sure either."
Song Ci was also confused about how Old Mrs. Qing was so well-informed.
Thinking of this, Song Ci immediately added, "However, from what Old Mrs. Qing said, she wants you to marry Miss Meng."
Upon hearing this, Qing Muye's brow furrowed, and he said coldly, "Delusional wishful thinking."
He hung up the phone and stared at his phone screen thoughtfully.
Across from him, Li Yun'er gazed at Qing Muye's handsome face, her heart racing uncontrollably, the agitation lingering long after.
Before coming here, her mother had repeatedly warned her to play "hard to get" with Qing Shao to capture his interest.
Li Yun'er remembered her mother's words and seized the opportunity to say to Qing Muye, "I am content to see Qing Shao safe and sound."
"Content?"
"Yes."
Li Yun'er nodded slightly, feigning the innocence and purity of a young girl. "Actually, after helping others, I always feel a small sense of satisfaction."
From her words, it seemed she often helped people.
In Lan City's high society, Li Yun'er was praised by everyone as the most beautiful woman, blessed with both talent and looks.
Even though the Li family was at the lower end of Lan City's business and celebrity rankings, Li Yun'er's personal charm brought considerable business to the family.
At this moment, the waiter knocked on the door and began serving the dishes.
"Qing Shao, let's eat. I'm truly sorry, but I need to go to the welfare home in the suburbs at half past one. If I'm late, those children will be unhappy."
Heaven knew that to cultivate an excellent image for Li Yun'er, the Li family had not only forced her to practice piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting from an early age but also made her engage in charity to shape a perfect personal image.
However, this time, Li Yun'er had claimed she was going to the welfare home to showcase her "virtues" to Qing Muye and to play the game of "hard to get."
It had to be said that Li Yun'er was very "accomplished," but Qing Muye couldn't help but feel that the woman before him was not simple.
He suddenly recalled Song Ci's words from earlier and directly asked, "Since Miss Li is so adept at helping others, perhaps you could do me, Qing, a favor?"
"Mm, what?"
"Pretend to be my girlfriend."
"Girlfriend?"
Li Yun'er's heart pounded wildly, feeling the surprise come too suddenly.
It seemed her mother's strategy of playing hard to get had indeed worked.
She swallowed, her fair hands clutching her chopsticks. After a few seconds, she put them down and said with a playful pout, "What does Qing Shao mean by this?"
"My family has arranged a marriage for me, which I am not happy with, so I would like to ask Miss Li to pretend to be my girlfriend. After the task is completed, you can name your price."
"Why me?"
Li Yun'er suppressed her excitement and asked with feigned calmness.
"Miss Li can also refuse."
The man glanced at her with indifferent eyes and said blandly.
"I..."
Li Yun'er hesitated. Ultimately, she lacked composure. "Since Qing Shao has asked, how could I refuse."
She had dreamed of being Qing Muye's woman.
Now that she had a chance to stand by his side, refusing would mean losing this opportunity forever.
Little did she know that the moment she agreed to Qing Muye, a faint, almost imperceptible curve appeared on the man's thin lips.
As expected, she was no different from the other women who threw themselves at him.
Qing Muye even began to suspect whether Li Yun'er saving him was a coincidence or a meticulously orchestrated scheme.