Actually, Qin Mu had noticed Pei Jiangmu's odd behavior just now.
From the moment he walked in and saw Qin Mu, the man's eyes were as cold as ice, but he had been pretending to be calm.
Qin Mu thought he would just come over and take Meng Ruochao away.
But he didn't expect the man to look as if he had been stabbed by something.
What was going on? Four years had passed, Ruochao had lost her memory, and he had become humble too?
However, it was obvious that Pei Jiangmu had no intention of recognizing Qin Mu.
He silently tidied up the chestnut cakes and then apologized to Meng Ruochao in a low voice, "Sorry, I didn't hold them well."
He was still squatting there. Although he was a tall man, he looked a bit pitiful at the moment.
Moreover, he still didn't look up at Meng Ruochao when he said this.
Something was off.
Meng Ruochao felt a bit worried.
Had he encountered something at school?
But there were so many people in the store. She didn't want to expose his psychological problems in front of others.
So she bent down, grabbed his wrist, and pulled him up.
"It's okay. There are still some we can eat."
"Besides, there's no need to apologize for such a small thing."
"Now go and sit for a while, or make me a cup of tea. Wait for me, okay?"
She pulled him to his feet and stared directly into his eyes.
Sure enough, there were turbulent undercurrents in Pei Jiangmu's eyes.
She was certain that he was about to have another episode.
The last time she saw him before his skin hunger disorder flared up, his emotions were just like this.
She immediately changed her mind and said to him, "I just remembered. Could you go to the warehouse and get some fabric for me?"
This sentence was a bit louder, for everyone to hear.
The next sentence was whispered, just for him.
"I'll talk to the customers for a while and then come to you, okay?"
She couldn't let others see him when he had an episode.
After all, people's words could be very hurtful in this society. He still had to find a job and live a good life in the future.
Pei Jiangmu's wrist was being held by Meng Ruochao.
The warmth from her palm was like a warm fire, but it couldn't warm the ice in his chest.
He stood up following her strength, with his eyelids drooped, not daring to meet her gaze.
He was afraid that the paranoia and panic surging in his eyes would scare her, and even more afraid that the fragility he couldn't hide would be seen by Qin Mu beside him.
Hearing the words "go to the warehouse and get fabric", his fingertips trembled imperceptibly.
Then he nodded vigorously, his voice so low that he sounded like a docile beast, "Okay, I'll wait for you."
After saying that, he didn't look at anyone else and turned to walk towards the warehouse.
His back was ramrod straight, and he walked a bit hurriedly with each step, as if he was escaping from something.
Meng Ruochao let out a sigh of relief only after his back disappeared behind the warehouse door.
When she turned around, a gentle smile had already reappeared on her face. She said to Qin Mu and Yi Mo,
"Sorry. He may be under a lot of academic pressure recently, so he's inevitably a bit impatient."
Qin Mu rubbed the corner of his coat with his fingertips. His gaze swept past the direction of the warehouse, and his eyebrows twitched slightly.
Under academic pressure?
What was Pei Jiangmu up to this time?
Why did he always have so many endless tactics when it came to Meng Ruochao?
The only thing that remained unchanged was the possessive emotion he had seen in his eyes just now.
He was still as vigilant as ever when it came to his "possessions" being coveted.
And the way Meng Ruochao had whispered to him just now was even more obvious than four years ago.
"Young people are bound to have emotions. It's normal."
Qin Mu withdrew his gaze. Instead of exposing it, he smiled and changed the topic, pointing at the clothes they had just tried on.
"Did Miss Meng make these two clothes herself?"
"I drew the designs myself, and the sample - making master we cooperate with processed them."
When Meng Ruochao mentioned design, there was a bit more sparkle in her eyes, and she also put on a standard smile.
Qin Mu watched the light in her eyes and his Adam's apple rolled slightly.
He still remembered that in the past, Meng Ruochao always scribbled on draft papers, and most of what she drew were cheongsams.
He had asked her, "Are you going to be a fashion designer in the future?"
Her answer was no, "No, I'm going to study computer science in the future. It pays well, and more importantly..."
She didn't say what the "more importantly" part was. She just giggled.
Unexpectedly, in the end, she didn't study computer science but actually became a fashion designer.
Thinking of this, his eyebrows softened a bit more.
"Miss Meng's designs are really good."
"Many of my friends are looking for such niche and high - quality designs. If there are new styles in the future, Miss Meng can send them to me."
This was an obvious hint that he wanted to exchange contact information.
Meng Ruochao was of course willing.
For a big star like this, fashion bloggers would usually pick apart their outfits. If they found out that the clothes were from her store, the business would surely come.
Thinking of this, she immediately took out her phone and pulled up her QR code.
"No problem, Mr. Qin. I'll send you the new styles as soon as they come out."
Hearing this, Yi Mo looked at Meng Ruochao with a bit more admiration in her eyes.
Everyone in the industry knew that Qin Mu cherished his reputation very much and never had any private contact with the actresses he worked with.
Now, not only was he offering to recommend resources for Meng Ruochao, but he was also actively adding her contact information.
This meant that either he really liked the designs of [Fuyunxuan], or Meng Ruochao, the store owner, held a special place in his heart.
Were they old acquaintances?
Actually, Meng Ruochao was also confused.
Qin Mu's attitude was a bit too enthusiastic. The enthusiasm gave her a strange sense of familiarity.
It was as if he was someone she had known a long time ago and was deliberately trying to close the distance between them.
But if they were old acquaintances, why didn't he mention it?
"By the way, Miss Meng."
Qin Mu suddenly spoke up, his gaze falling on her face.
"Do you know Yan Sisi?"
Meng Ruochao was taken aback and immediately became vigilant.
She hadn't forgotten that Yan Sisi had called to question her about her relationship with Yan Qiubai before.
No wonder she hadn't come to cause trouble for a while.
Could it be that she had found someone else and was trying to target her store?
Seeing her expression, Qin Mu immediately knew that she had misunderstood and quickly explained.
"It's like this. She and I are friends. I heard her mention you before."
"I just happened to pass by here today, so I dropped in to take a look."
However, his explanation didn't make Meng Ruochao relax her vigilance.
She then realized why he knew her surname was Meng.
She hadn't introduced herself at all.
What had Yan Sisi said about her when she mentioned her to Qin Mu?
Most importantly, why did Yan Sisi mention her to him?
However, as the saying goes, you shouldn't show your anger to someone with a smiling face.
Since he was here to bring business, she couldn't afford to be rude.
"I see. Then I should thank Miss Yan for the recommendation."
"However, due to some personal reasons, I don't think I can be friends with Miss Yan."
She had made her attitude clear anyway.
Whether he wanted to do business with her or not was his own choice.
Moreover, she had no mood to talk about Yan Sisi with him. She was still worried about Pei Jiangmu in the warehouse.