Awkward Chapter 42

Ye Mu responded with a simple “Hmm” and said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up.”

Chen Mo remained silent for a long time before responding.

Ye Mu pursed his lips, “What’s wrong?”

Chen Mo’s expression was stern, “After the meeting, how will I determine if she’s suitable?”

Ye Mu raised an eyebrow slightly, “That’s something you need to figure out yourself. Didn’t you have a few girlfriends before? How did you decide they were suitable?”

Chen Mo looked down, his handsome face showing indifference, “There weren’t any specific standards, just that they were pretty and had a good figure.”

Ye Mu tugged at his lips, “That’s quite shallow.”

Chen Mo, disdainful, looked at him with contempt, “Better than you sticking to scum all day long.”

Ye Mu remained expressionless, “Yes, which is why I broke up with him.”

Chen Mo scoffed arrogantly, “You were dumped, right?”

Ye Mu fell silent. After a long while, he moved his throat and said, “Do you really enjoy bringing up others’ wounds?”

Chen Mo realized he had gone too far and casually changed the subject, “So, have you arranged the time and place for the meeting?”

It was already past one in the morning, and Ye Mu didn’t want to argue further. “Not yet. I’ll make a call tomorrow to check.”

Chen Mo responded, “Alright, hang up.”

Without waiting for a reply, he ended the call.

The busy tone soon followed, and Ye Mu hung up as well. Feeling extremely tired, he didn’t even bother to cover himself with a blanket and fell asleep next to the child.

It was winter, and without heating indoors, Ye Mu woke up the next morning frozen.

When he got up, he was coughing badly and had a foggy head. Fortunately, he didn’t have a fever, so he took some medicine and went to the office.

Mr. Song was known for being a doting father. As soon as office hours began, he called anxiously.

“Hello, Ye Mu, how did it go? Is that kid willing?”

Ye Mu’s voice was a bit hoarse. He pursed his lips and said, “He agreed, but we still don’t know when he’s available for a meeting.”

“Haha, there’s always time. Just set it for tonight. You book the place, make sure it’s a nice atmosphere.”

Ye Mu coughed a couple of times, “Tonight? Isn’t that too rushed?”

“It’s fine. It’s settled.”

Ye Mu didn’t insist further, “Alright, Mr. Song, will you be attending as well?”

On the other end of the phone, the old man started sighing, “I’d like to, but my daughter won’t let me. She says I’d be too serious and make her uncomfortable.”

Ye Mu replied indifferently, “In that case, wouldn’t it be better to arrange for them to meet alone?” Meaning, I don’t need to be there.

“No, no, you still need to go. Someone needs to introduce them to each other. Besides, if you don’t go and the girl goes home and says nothing, I won’t have anyone to update me.”

Ye Mu lowered his gaze, “Alright, please give me Miss Song’s contact information so I can confirm the details with her.”

“Okay, okay! I’ll send you a text with the number. I’m leaving it to you.”

Ye Mu replied softly, “It’s my duty. Mr. Song, you’re too polite.”

The phone call ended, and within seconds, he received a phone number.

Ye Mu, feeling sore throat, didn’t want to talk much, so he sent a text to confirm the time and place with the number and then stopped worrying about it.

Perhaps due to the cold medicine, he felt drowsy and had a headache throughout the afternoon, resulting in extremely low work efficiency and a lethargic state.

Eventually, exhausted, he could only sleep at his desk.

When Chen Mo came by to get some statistics, he happened to see Ye Mu slacking off. Without hesitation, he walked over and knocked on his desk, “Hey.”

Ye Mu, who had been lightly sleeping, quickly woke up, looking unwell.

Chen Mo frowned, noting it was almost time to leave, and said, “If you’re not feeling well, go home early. Don’t be an eyesore here.”

Ye Mu rubbed his forehead, handed him a note, and hoarsely said, “I’ve arranged most of the details for last night. The restaurant is booked, but the girl doesn’t drive. The note has her company’s address. Pick her up after work.”

Chen Mo, a bit impatient and with a cold expression, said, “Isn’t her father a CEO? He can afford to hire a driver. Does he really need me to pick her up?”

Ye Mu replied, “Maybe she wants to spend some time alone with you.”

Chen Mo knew he couldn’t avoid it and glanced at him nonchalantly, “Then what are you doing? Not trying to avoid it yourself, are you?”

Ye Mu, looking exhausted, said, “I’ll go to the restaurant and order the food. When you arrive, call me, and I’ll come out to meet you.”

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow and asked, “Are you sure you’re fit to play matchmaker in your current state?”

Ye Mu replied lightly, “I’m not running a fever. I’ll be fine.”

Chen Mo looked at him with mild indifference, “As long as you don’t suddenly collapse again.”

Ye Mu seemed reluctant to recall that incident and frowned, “That was an exception.”

Chen Mo, unable to argue further, turned and went back to the office to grab his keys and leave.

The address on the note was quite far from the company, and it took nearly fifteen minutes to get there.

From a distance, he saw a slim girl standing at the entrance. When she saw his car, she smiled slightly.

If he wasn’t mistaken, it should be Song Jia.

She had changed quite a bit from before, with short hair now grown into elegant long curls. She wore a stylish black turtleneck sweater, a fluffy mink coat, and a short skirt, combining both femininity and youthful cuteness.

Even Chen Mo, who was usually picky about women, had to admit that Song Jia was quite a beauty.

He deftly maneuvered the steering wheel and parked the car beside her.

Song Jia, looking quite graceful, carefully opened the car door and sat down in the passenger seat.

“Hello.”

She fastened her seatbelt and greeted politely.

Chen Mo, with a detached expression, responded with a simple “Mm” and then started driving.

Song Jia, feeling a bit shy, said, “I’m Song Jia.”

Chen Mo, keeping his gaze forward with a deeply chiseled profile but also somewhat distant, replied, “Chen Mo.”

Seeing his indifferent attitude, Song Jia pressed her lips together and didn’t dare to say much more.

After the brief exchange, the car was filled with silence.

There was no music or radio, only an awkward atmosphere between the man and the woman.

Song Jia glanced ahead, feeling too shy to speak, and only dared to sneak a look at the man beside her after a while.

Chen Mo was even more handsome than he was in college, dressed in a clean white shirt, with a tall and athletic build. His face had a youthful, fresh quality between man and boy, and his aloof demeanor made one’s heart race uncontrollably.

Song Jia found herself unable to look away for a moment, and her face turned pink without her noticing.

Chen Mo noticed her gaze but didn’t respond, maintaining his straight posture while driving.

During the evening rush hour, traffic was heavy, and it took him over an hour to reach the reserved hotel.

Since there was no parking nearby, Chen Mo had to drive into a remote alley.

It was a particularly cold winter, and while the car had heating, the moment he got out, the biting cold hit him.

Chen Mo put on a black down jacket he retrieved from the car and then walked out of the alley with Song Jia.

The late-night chill was fierce, and the cold wind stung his face, quickly dissipating the warmth. The cold seeped through every gap in his clothes, making him shiver.

They walked side by side, their shadows stretching long under the streetlights. Song Jia, blowing warm breath on her frozen purple hands, cast a glance at Chen Mo and quietly tucked her hands into the warmth of his jacket pocket.

Chen Mo felt the cold too. As he reached to put his hands in his pockets, he noticed that the girl’s hands were already there.

After a moment of silence, he said, his handsome face expressionless, “Don’t you have pockets?”

Song Jia, caught off guard and realizing her small scheme was exposed, bit her lip and reluctantly withdrew her hand. To avoid awkwardness, she managed a polite smile.

Chen Mo said nothing more, walking ahead with a stoic expression. The black jacket added a touch of masculine charm to him.

Song Jia pouted, following behind. Although a bit disappointed, her gaze towards him still held admiration.

After walking a few more meters, she remembered some advice her friend had given her.

“Song Jia, don’t wear too many clothes. If you’re cold, tell the guy. A gentleman would take off his jacket for you. Though it’s a small thing, it’s a step towards getting closer.”

Initially dismissive, she now thought her friend’s advice was quite accurate.

She hurried a few steps to catch up with Chen Mo and walked alongside him again.

In the silence, Song Jia tried to break the ice, “It’s so cold. I didn’t expect the temperature to drop today.”

Chen Mo responded without much emotion.

Song Jia touched her red nose and tried to be subtle, “I think I might be dressed a bit too lightly.”

Chen Mo, with a pale and stern face, replied after a long pause, “Yes, a bit light. Fortunately, I’m wearing a jacket.”

The girl’s steps faltered.

This was not at all like the scenario she had imagined!

Song Jia felt disheartened but could only helplessly follow, her head hanging low.

Although the distance wasn’t long, it felt like they had been walking for ages.

By the time they reached the restaurant, she was almost numb from the cold.

At the entrance, she saw Ye Mu, the matchmaker her father mentioned.

He was tall and thin, dressed in a thin sweater, with a fair and handsome face, exuding a cool, reliable aura.

Seeing the two arrive, Ye Mu didn’t seem inclined to join them for dinner. “The dishes are already ordered for you. I have something to attend to and will leave now.”

Chen Mo frowned and grabbed him. “Aren’t you going to make introductions?”

Ye Mu sighed, “My mother said Ye Chun is causing trouble again. I need to pick her up.”

Chen Mo didn’t press further.

Ye Mu thanked him and walked out, immediately shivering from the cold.

“Hey!”

Chen Mo called out to him suddenly.

Ye Mu turned to see Chen Mo tossing him a thick black down jacket.

Chen Mo, with an indifferent expression, said in a deep, magnetic voice, “Wear this. I don’t have time to give you sick leave.”

Ye Mu initially intended to refuse but, seeing the harsh weather, accepted the jacket and left in a cab.

Song Jia watched him walk away in the black down jacket and remained silent.