In the exquisite Japanese cuisine private room, the atmosphere seemed harmonious.
Everyone exchanged greetings and took their seats. Out of an implicit understanding, Pei Jiangmu and Cui Ran's seats were naturally arranged next to each other.
Pei Jiangmu's gaze swept over casually and he didn't say anything to change the seating.
The private room was spacious, and there was just the right amount of social distance between the seats.
This was the maximum compromise he could make based on his upbringing and the occasion.
Qi Yu sat on Pei Jiangmu's left. His eyes couldn't help but drift subtly between the two of them.
He had been by Pei Jiangmu's side for many years, so he could naturally sense the different attitudes his boss had towards Cui Ran and Meng Ruozhao.
For Meng Ruozhao, apart from his paranoid side, Pei Jiangmu was gentle, patient and almost pious.
But when facing Cui Ran, even when cooperating due to work needs, he appeared so cold and distant, as if surrounded by an invisible ice wall.
Moreover, what struck him even more was this.
Meng Ruozhao was engaged in fashion design and had a small studio. Even though Pei Jiangmu didn't like her showing up in public, he would still praise and appreciate her in every way.
However, Cui Ran had emerged prominently at a young age, defeated all her peers in the Cui family and become a manager. In others' eyes, she was a strong - willed woman.
In Pei Jiangmu's eyes, however, she seemed to arouse no ripples at all.
He even thought that her ability was not yet worthy of her ambition - or rather, he simply didn't bother to judge her, and only classified her as a cold - hearted "client that needed to be cooperated with".
Qi Yu didn't know if this was the difference between love and non - love.
But he knew that as Pei Jiangmu's assistant, he had to "stand in the right position".
So he stopped looking at the two of them and just dutifully did his job.
A moment later, he quietly got up and, according to Pei Jiangmu's previous request on WeChat, went to order four servings of unagi rice.
When Pei Jiangmu had mentioned it, he had specifically told him to ask the chef to make it exquisitely.
The dishes were served one after another, looking very appetizing.
During the meal, some people began to toast and chat merrily, but the atmosphere cooled down a bit when it came to Pei Jiangmu.
No one dared to easily offer him a toast.
Although he sat quietly on one side without saying a word, the aura of "keep away from strangers" that emanated from his whole body clearly indicated his "absence".
Cui Ran had been keeping an eye on him from the corner of her eye.
Seeing that he kept checking his phone, as if waiting for some important message, an indescribable feeling of sourness and discomfort welled up in her heart.
Unable to hold back, she deliberately tilted her body slightly towards him and whispered in a tone trying to get closer.
"Jiangmu, the salmon here is very fresh and of good quality. Do you want to... bring a serving for that person to try?"
Hearing this, Pei Jiangmu suddenly looked up. His eyes shot at her like cold arrows, with undisguised chill and displeasure.
He didn't respond, not even a perfunctory syllable.
He didn't like her pretending to be familiar.
He even loathed her putting Meng Ruozhao's name in such a tentative context as if they were sharing a secret.
In his heart, the relationship between him and Cui Ran was far from the point where they could casually talk about Meng Ruozhao.
That cold stare and complete silence made the forced smile on Cui Ran's face freeze instantly.
Embarrassment and grievance welled up in her heart like a tide.
She was also a proud daughter of heaven who had been spoiled since childhood. When had she ever suffered such a direct cold shoulder?
However, the more Pei Jiangmu was like this, the more it stirred up her in - born competitiveness and desire to conquer.
Pei Jiangmu really didn't understand her, so he didn't know that people with her personality liked to challenge high - difficulty things.
It was the same when competing for power in a family that favored sons over daughters.
It was also the same in matters of the heart.
She quickly adjusted her expression and, right in front of Pei Jiangmu, whispered in a voice that only the two of them could hear.
"Sorry, I was being presumptuous. I didn't mean anything else."
She put on a low - key attitude, but there was a more intense flame in her eyes.
Just then, Qi Yu returned to the private room and nodded slightly at Pei Jiangmu, indicating that the four carefully packed servings of unagi rice were ready.
Pei Jiangmu immediately got up, his movements crisp and neat.
He faced everyone at the table, the corners of his lips curving into a perfect arc that conformed to social etiquette, and his tone was calm, distant and polite.
"Everyone, sorry to spoil your fun."
"I've already paid the bill today. Please enjoy yourselves."
"I have something urgent to attend to, so I have to leave first. Excuse me."
He said everything flawlessly.
He showed his apology for leaving temporarily and maintained the demeanor that a scion of a noble family should have.
Even though it was supposed to be Cui Ran's treat, he paid the bill in advance, giving Cui Ran enough face.
In short, there was nothing wrong with his words and deeds.
To maintain the surface peace, Cui Ran also immediately got up and, with a proper smile, sent him to the door of the private room.
However, just as the door was closing.
Through the half - closed door crack.
She clearly saw that cold and aloof man in front of others, carrying those servings of unagi rice, quickly disappearing at the end of the corridor.
Maybe he didn't even realize that his hasty steps carried a barely perceptible eagerness that was almost like a trot.
Such eagerness made his destination self - evident - he was going to see that woman named Meng Ruozhao.
Moreover, he didn't even want to eat here himself and wanted to take the food back to eat with her.
This meant that when the two of them were together, Pei Jiangmu might even take care of the daily necessities at home.
Cui Ran stood alone behind the closed door. The smile she had forced earlier completely faded.
She was silent for a moment. A sharp light flashed in her eyes. Then she took out her phone and sent a message to her assistant:
"Go and investigate Meng Ruozhao. I want to know all her actions in Haicheng during this period."
Previously, she had looked down on that seemingly weak and beautiful woman who relied on Pei Jiangmu, regarding her as a dodder that needed to cling to others to survive.
But now, she was eager to know what kind of unknown magic that woman had.
How could she tame a man like Pei Jiangmu to such an extent?
If he could be tamed, then why couldn't it be her?
After sending the message, she stood there for a while longer, then turned around and went back to the noisy feast.
The private room was still bustling with laughter and merriment.
But Cui Ran felt as if this noise was separated by a membrane and couldn't reach her ears.
She mechanically responded to others' toasts, with a proper smile on her face, but her heart was surging with complex emotions.
There was unwillingness, jealousy, and a trace of indescribable anger.
Almost everything Cui Ran had wanted since childhood, she had gotten. But when it came to Pei Jiangmu, she had repeatedly hit a wall.
On the other hand, Pei Jiangmu carried the unagi rice and was dropped off by the driver near [Fuyunxuan].
He looked around outside. After making sure there was no one he knew, he quickly got out of the car and then walked quickly into the store.
Meng Ruozhao was modifying a drawing. Xu Lin and Ai Gao were discussing what embroidery technique should be used for the hem of a cheongsam.
Pei Jiangmu stood at the door. He was breathing slightly heavily because he had walked in a hurry.
The moment he saw Meng Ruozhao, his heart felt as if it had been soaked in warm water, comfortable and peaceful. The whole person calmed down.