Volume 1, Chapter 24: The First Time I Saw Him, I Was Captivated by His Beauty

Song Qinian looked at Shen Chiyan with worry, terrified that he might lose his temper.

The next second, however, Shen Chiyan smiled. "President Zhou, you are so busy managing the Hongsheng Group, yet you still find the time to listen to unsubstantiated gossip. You must surely be a master of time management."

Zhou Mingsheng wanted to retort, but the cold, sharp glare from Shen Chiyan caused his bravado to deflate instantly. Whether measured by corporate strength, future prospects, or personal capability, Zhou Mingsheng was no match for Shen Chiyan. Every time their companies competed, Zhou Mingsheng had never won, a fact that fostered deep resentment within him.

Previously, whenever Zhou Mingsheng saw Shen Chiyan, he would respectfully address him as "President Shen." But today, seeing that his attempt to poach business was nearing success, he had become arrogant. Nevertheless, the fear of Shen Chiyan remained buried deep within him. He consoled himself with the thought that as long as he secured the partnership with Mr. Smith, the Hongsheng Group’s future would be limitless. By then, he would make Shen Chiyan kneel at his feet and beg for mercy.

Zhou Mingsheng gave Lu Yuzhu a meaningful look. Understanding his intent, she smiled and said, "Daphne, Ms. Song, this is a conversation for the men. Let's go shopping ourselves."

Daphne had no objections, and all eyes turned to Song Qinian. Song Qinian looked toward Shen Chiyan.

Shen Chiyan rose and walked over to her. He pulled her into his arms, as if they were a pair of young lovers in the throes of passion unable to bear a second of separation, and kissed her forehead. "Go ahead. Send me a message if you need anything."

Shen Chiyan’s tenderness and that gentle kiss acted like a calming balm for Song Qinian, easing her nervousness.

Just as she stepped out of the hotel, Song Qinian’s phone chimed with a text from Li Nanxun. "Ms. Song, there is a card in your bag with no PIN; it contains three million. If that is not enough, please contact me or President Shen at any time. President Shen’s number is 133..."

Song Qinian was stunned. She opened her bag and, sure enough, found a bank card inside. When did he put that there? Three million! She had never seen so much money in her life. Wasn't Shen Chiyan worried that she might spend it all while trying to curry favor with Daphne? But more important than the money, she quickly saved Shen Chiyan’s phone number.

For wealthy socialites, the standard ways to pass the time were either visiting luxury boutiques or playing mahjong over afternoon tea.

Lu Yuzhu, skilled in interpersonal maneuvering, intended to lose some money to Daphne at the mahjong table to facilitate the partnership. As for Song Qinian, she was just a mute, hardly a worthy opponent. Lu Yuzhu couldn't understand why Shen Chiyan would marry a mute woman, let alone bring her to meet the Smiths; it was truly embarrassing.

As it turned out, Lu Yuzhu’s plan failed. Daphne had no interest in mahjong and opted for a café instead. When it came to simple conversation, Lu Yuzhu felt she had the upper hand—after all, anyone with a voice was better than a mute.

"Ms. Lu, Ms. Song, you both seem very happily married. I love my husband very much as well. Could you tell me how you met your husbands and how you fell in love?"

Song Qinian could not easily type, so she asked the waiter for a few sheets of paper. Seeing her writing, Lu Yuzhu couldn't wait to interject: "My husband and I grew up together—childhood sweethearts with a deep bond. Our marriage was a natural progression, blessed by our parents. We respect and cherish each other deeply; we are very happy." In truth, Lu Yuzhu and Zhou Mingsheng’s marriage was a business alliance; they each lived their own lives and only put on a show of affection when it served their interests.

Daphne nodded and turned her gaze to Song Qinian. Lu Yuzhu sipped her coffee, glancing at the English words Song Qinian was writing. Although Song Qinian’s handwriting was beautiful and she recognized a few words, she couldn't understand the sentences as a whole.

Song Qinian handed the paper to them. Daphne picked it up and read: "I met him during my freshman year. He was the most popular student on campus. The first time I saw him, I was captivated by his looks, and I fell for him completely from that moment on."

The file Shen Chiyan had given Song Qinian noted that Mr. and Mrs. Smith’s relationship had not been smooth; it was Mr. Smith who had pursued Daphne, and their union had been opposed by both families. Daphne was a noble heiress, while Mr. Smith was a poor boy. He had pursued her for years, working hard until he finally won the recognition of her family.

"And how did you end up together?" Daphne asked. Whether she was genuinely interested in their marriage or testing them, Song Qinian had to answer.

"Our fate was thanks to Shen Chiyan’s grandmother. During college, I volunteered at a school for the deaf and mute, which happened to be founded by his grandmother. When she learned I liked him, she introduced us. That is how we fell in love and married."

Song Qinian’s story was half-true. She couldn't tell Daphne the cold, hard facts. She knew Daphne had been involved in charity work for years, and she was certain her words would resonate. Indeed, for the rest of the time, Daphne spoke only with Song Qinian, leaving Lu Yuzhu completely sidelined.

Lu Yuzhu had not expected to be outdone by a mute, and she was turning green with rage. This woman was clearly a fake brought in by Shen Chiyan to play the part of his wife. She hadn't expected a mute to have so many tricks up her sleeve. *Hmph, just wait,* she thought, *I’ll expose this little mute soon enough.*

Song Qinian and Daphne talked for the entire afternoon, and it seemed they were hitting it off quite well. Sensing things were not going her way, Lu Yuzhu claimed she was hungry. The three went to a high-end Italian restaurant.

Once seated, wanting to display her hospitality, Lu Yuzhu ordered a table full of dishes. Song Qinian, worried they wouldn't finish it all, wanted to suggest ordering less, but Lu Yuzhu’s overbearing, dictatorial attitude silenced her. Sure enough, when Daphne saw the overflowing table, she didn't look as happy as Lu Yuzhu had imagined; instead, her brows furrowed slightly.

Lu Yuzhu couldn't gauge Daphne’s reaction. Hadn't things been going well for the past few days? Why did she seem like a different person the moment Song Qinian arrived? *No,* she thought, *the contract is about to be signed; I can't let anything go wrong now.*

When the food arrived, Lu Yuzhu enthusiastically served Daphne, but Daphne was unresponsive. Undeterred, Lu Yuzhu tried to make small talk during the meal, since Song Qinian was eating and couldn't chat. Daphne’s expression grew increasingly sour until she finally interrupted, "Ms. Lu, please remain quiet while eating."

Lu Yuzhu was stunned. Her face flushed a deep red. She dared not glare at Daphne, so she cast a vicious, hateful look at Song Qinian.