Not long after Meng Ruozhao sent the message, Pei Jiangmu's call came through.
"Is your friend reliable? Where are you going to eat? Is it safe?"
His voice sounded a bit hurried, with undisguised worry as he fired off a series of questions.
Meng Ruozhao found it a bit amusing and also thought his overly nervous reaction was kind of cute.
"She's the leading actress of this drama, the beautiful girl I took a fancy to at first sight, Yi Mo."
"Don't worry. We're going to 'Lanyue' for dinner. It's a very proper place."
"Lanyue?"
Pei Jiangmu repeated the name on the other end of the phone, and his tone seemed to relax a bit.
It was a high - end restaurant and indeed very proper. But the vigilant string in his mind didn't completely loosen.
"Okay, then come back early after dinner, sister. Pay attention to your safety. Call me anytime if there's something."
After hanging up the phone, the gentleness on Pei Jiangmu's face disappeared instantly.
He immediately picked up another phone and dialed Qi Yu's number.
"Check on someone, Yi Mo. She's the leading actress of 'The Old Friends in the Mountains and Seas'. She's with Ruozhao right now."
"I want all her information, from birth to now. The sooner the better."
His voice was cold and uncompromising.
He had to ensure that anyone who appeared around Meng Ruozhao was safe, especially this "suddenly - appeared" "old friend".
Qi Yu was extremely efficient and quickly fed back the information.
When Pei Jiangmu heard the keywords like "Xingxing Kindergarten", "childhood friend", "lost contact after immigrating", his tense expression eased slightly.
But in the depths of his eyes, there still flashed a complex emotion that even he himself didn't notice.
He didn't even know that she had such a past and such a friend.
On the other side, after Yi Mo finished work, she immediately went to the "Lanyue" restaurant with Meng Ruozhao.
This restaurant had an elegant environment and good privacy. It was a frequent haunt for people in the entertainment circle.
Just as Meng Ruozhao and Yi Mo were seated under the guidance of the waiter, ordered their food, and were recalling the interesting kindergarten stories excitedly - mainly Yi Mo talking and Meng Ruozhao listening - a deep and magnetic male voice suddenly sounded.
"Ms. Meng? What a coincidence."
Hearing the voice, Meng Ruozhao looked up and saw a man in a well - tailored dark suit, with a noble and steady temperament, standing beside their table.
Seeing her look up, the man's lips curved into a half - smile.
Meng Ruozhao was stunned for a moment. The man in front of her seemed familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had met him.
She subconsciously stood up and hesitantly said, "You are...?"
Yi Mo standing beside her instantly recognized the man's identity. There was obvious surprise and a hint of flattery on her face. She quickly stood up too.
This was Pei Jingdu! The son of the current helmsman of the Pei Group, a real top - tier powerful figure in Haicheng!
Why would he take the initiative to come and say hello? And to Ruozhao?
Seeing Meng Ruozhao's blank look, there was a hint of understanding and playfulness in Pei Jingdu's eyes.
He had met her once at a business dinner. At that time, she was being led by Yan Qiubai, looking like a delicate but fragile vase.
Back then, because his dear younger brother was also at the scene, although he didn't show up, he must have been staring like a wolf cub, so he didn't say much to Meng Ruozhao.
"Pei Jingdu."
He simply reported his name, his eyes scanning her face carefully, trying to find any signs of disguise.
"It seems that Ms. Meng is so busy that she has forgotten about me."
Pei Jingdu? Pei?
Meng Ruozhao's brain was working at high speed, and she suddenly linked this name with the Pei family in Haicheng.
She remembered.
Some time ago, Yan Qiubai said they were going for dinner but actually took her to a dinner party.
That time, she had met this General Manager Pei.
At that time, he was the center of attention. When he greeted Yan Qiubai, he also said hello to her.
She even thought at that time that she had seen him somewhere before.
Unexpectedly, after so long, he still remembered her.
"Hello, General Manager Pei."
Meng Ruozhao immediately greeted him politely, with just the right amount of apology in her tone.
"Sorry, I didn't recognize you at first. Please forgive me."
Pei Jingdu raised his eyebrows. So the memory loss situation hadn't improved at all?
He couldn't help but sigh for his paranoid younger brother in his heart: What a bumpy love road.
From childhood to adulthood, his younger brother had only had this one person in his eyes and heart. But what was the result?
She used to have someone else in her heart.
After much struggle and taking advantage of his close proximity, there was finally some improvement.
But then Meng Ruozhao had a car accident and completely forgot all about his younger brother.
What a mess!
Although he was thinking like this in his heart, his face remained calm. He just casually exchanged a few greetings.
"I see. It doesn't matter. We can get to know each other again. Are you here for dinner with your friend?"
As if he had just noticed Yi Mo, he nodded slightly at her.
Yi Mo quickly returned a polite smile, but was secretly shocked.
Pei Jingdu's look at Meng Ruozhao, although not eager.
But it definitely didn't seem like he was looking at an insignificant person.
There was an imperceptible scrutiny and... interest in it?
However, Pei Jingdu didn't stay long. After simply saying hello and adding "Enjoy your meal, ladies", he turned around and walked towards the more private VIP room area inside.
Obviously, he had another important dinner.
As soon as he left, Yi Mo couldn't hold back her gossipy heart any longer. She lowered her voice and excitedly asked Meng Ruozhao.
"Ruozhao, you're amazing. When did you get to know Pei Jingdu?"
"A person like him actually took the initiative to come and say hello to you. I think he seems a bit different towards you?"
"Does he have a crush on you and want to chase you? I think it's a good match. He's handsome, rich, and has no scandals. He's a perfect eligible bachelor."
Meng Ruozhao was both amused and exasperated by her sudden imagination. She quickly waved her hand to explain.
"You're overthinking it. I'm not familiar with him at all. Including today, I've only met him twice."
"The last time was at a banquet, and we barely said two words."
"I guess he just happened to run into me and said hello out of courtesy."
Seeing that she didn't seem to be lying, Yi Mo nodded.
Although she thought Pei Jingdu's look just now was not that simple, seeing Meng Ruozhao's completely oblivious look, she suppressed her gossipy thoughts.
But she didn't give up teasing.
"Speaking of which, the Pei family really has good genes. I've seen an interview with his father. He's also very handsome."
"What's that saying? An old Ferrari is still a Ferrari."
"Pei Jingdu looks even more handsome in person than in photos. He's even better - looking than many male celebrities I've seen."
"I heard that the Pei family also has a younger son, but unfortunately he's never made a public appearance. I wonder if he's just as handsome."
"Hey, he's handsome, rich, and seems very smart. He's really got all the life skills maxed out."