Chen Mo had been soft-hearted that day and said something offhand, not expecting her to take it so seriously.
The girl started waiting outside his office regularly, actively inviting him to meals and movies on weekends, and even brought him late-night snacks when he worked overtime.
Of course, except for the day she cried in the car, he hadn’t accepted any of Song Jia’s invitations or gestures.
As time went on, he unconsciously began to avoid her. After work, he would drive out through the underground parking garage, and on weekends, he would intentionally work overtime at the company or visit friends, all to avoid any chance of accepting her various invitations.
Song Jia noticed this but didn’t stop. She persisted, even becoming more fervent, once waiting outside his house until 1 a.m.
Eventually, Chen Mo couldn’t take it anymore. During a lunch break, he turned to Ye Mu with a cold expression, “Help me come up with a solution.”
Ye Mu, eating his rice, found it amusing, “She’s a great girl. Why can’t you just accept her?”
Chen Mo pressed his lips together and, with his fair, handsome face serious, said, “If you think she’s so good, then you take her.”
Ye Mu sighed, “You know I can’t.”
Chen Mo gave him a sidelong glance, “Who says a gay man can’t date a woman? I don’t believe you’re born this way.”
Ye Mu continued eating, “It’s not that I’m born this way, but it’s hard to go back.”
Chen Mo snorted, his expression displeased, “You’re just making excuses.”
Ye Mu pressed his lips together with a bland expression, “And you? If it were you, would you consider dating me?”
Chen Mo paused for a moment, then after a few seconds, showed a look of disgust and disdain, “I’d rather be sick than be with a gay man.”
Ye Mu was used to Chen Mo’s constant sarcasm and wasn’t really angry. “So, likewise, you should understand that I’m not making excuses. Some things can’t be forced.”
Chen Mo remained indifferent, his handsome face set in a scowl. “Say what you want, but you can’t escape responsibility for this matter.”
Ye Mu was at a loss for words. He glanced at the time and said, “We can discuss this later. It’s getting late; we should head out now. We still have to go to Song’s Group to sign the IPO project contract.”
Chen Mo felt he might have been subjected to excessive torment. The mere mention of the name Song made his head ache, causing him to frown and rub his temples.
Ye Mu paid no mind to his discomfort. He went out to prepare the documents and then drove the car to the company entrance.
Although Chen Mo was unwilling, he knew the importance of this business deal. After waiting a while, he eventually went downstairs, opened the car door, and got in with a grim face.
The scheduled time was 1 PM. When they arrived, there were still five minutes left. The secretary greeted them and led them to the conference room. “Mr. Chen, please sit here for a while. Mr. Song said he would be here soon.”
Chen Mo nodded in response, his expression as cold as ice.
The secretary said nothing more and, after serving them tea, left the room.
Ye Mu glanced at Chen Mo and shook his head with a sigh. “Relax. It’s not like you’re meeting your future father-in-law.”
Chen Mo stiffly raised his hand to show Ye Mu his phone screen.
Ye Mu looked and saw a text message.
— Chen Mo, I heard you’re coming to my dad’s company today. Wait for me; I’ve brought you some good food.
After reading it, he smiled and said, “She just wants to see you. There’s no need to be so tense.”
Chen Mo narrowed his eyes, visibly irritated. “If she keeps pushing herself into every gap, I’m going to develop a repulsion towards women.”
Ye Mu smiled. “It’s not as serious as you think. It might just be a temporary impulse. It’ll pass after a while.”
Chen Mo furrowed his brow, his tone cold. “I doubt it.”
Ye Mu softened his tone. “There’s a major client from the UK coming up. If you’re interested, you can join me on the business trip. It’s a good opportunity to avoid the situation.”
Chen Mo responded with a low murmur, still maintaining a distant demeanor.
Ye Mu didn’t press further and sipped his hot tea.
In a few minutes, Old Man Song arrived, bustling with energy. Despite his joyful demeanor, he didn’t forget to bring his precious daughter into the office. Although it was their first meeting, he treated Chen Mo like a prospective son-in-law. “Chen Mo, right? You’re quite handsome. No wonder my daughter likes you.”
As he spoke, he patted Chen Mo’s shoulder in a familiar and warm manner.
Chen Mo frowned, uncomfortable with the attention, and remained silent.
Old Man Song was unfazed. He enthusiastically pushed Song Jia to Chen Mo’s side and said, “Look, you two make a perfect match.”
“Dad~” The girl felt a bit embarrassed.
Old Man Song laughed heartily. “Don’t be shy. We’re all family now.”
Song Jia quickly shook her head. “No, no. He hasn’t agreed to date me yet.”
Old Man Song reassured her, “It will happen soon. My daughter is so beautiful. What man wouldn’t like her?”
Though this was intended to encourage his daughter, it was also a subtle hint to Chen Mo not to be ungrateful.
Chen Mo kept his composure, not revealing his true feelings. He maintained a gloomy expression and remained silent. Though he said nothing, his silence was a way of communicating his disinterest in Old Man Song’s daughter, leaving the contract signing to be decided at Old Man Song’s discretion.
Old Man Song, experienced in such matters, recognized the situation but didn’t press further. He had made grand promises before and wasn’t ready to back down, though he hoped to save face.
Chen Mo’s indifferent demeanor and lack of engagement were obvious, his tightly pressed lips reflecting a sharp coldness.
Ye Mu knew they were at an impasse but, considering the circumstances, cleared his throat and spoke. “Mr. Song, our Mr. Chen isn’t feeling well today and can’t talk much. If it’s alright, you can sit down, and I’ll discuss the IPO contract details with you.”
Having worked with Ye Mu for a long time, Old Man Song didn’t press the matter further and took a seat.
Ye Mu got straight to business. They discussed the specifics of the contract, the feasibility of the plan, and profit-sharing for about an hour.
Old Man Song thoroughly reviewed the contract and, not wanting to cause further issues, signed it with a flourish.
Chen Mo remained silent throughout, signed the document, and left without a word.
This behavior was somewhat impolite, and Ye Mu sighed, offering an apology. “Mr. Song, I’m really sorry about this.”
Old Man Song laughed and was quite understanding. “It’s fine. Young people are like that. It’s understandable, and such things can’t be forced.”
Ye Mu lowered his gaze and said, “Regardless, thank you for giving us this opportunity.”
Old Man Song shook his head. “It’s all for you. You’ve helped me a lot when you were with Yan Chen at LOTTO.”
Mentioning the past, Ye Mu’s eyes darkened momentarily but he quickly recovered and smiled. “Mr. Song, you’re being too generous. It’s what I should have done.”
“Just speaking the truth. No need to be polite,” Old Man Song said, then added, “But there’s something I need to tell you in advance.”
Ye Mu felt an uneasy premonition.
Old Man Song held a piece of agate and spoke slowly. “LOTTO isn’t satisfied with our cooperation and has called to threaten that they’ll use government connections to obstruct the project. I can’t stand this, so I’m considering signing a supplementary agreement to involve them in supporting the IPO process.”
Ye Mu’s expression darkened, but with no authority to change things, he said, “I understand.”
Old Man Song nodded. “Good. You’ve worked with both companies and have more experience handling these matters.”
Ye Mu responded with a perfunctory “mm,” and said no more.
Old Man Song, recognizing Ye Mu’s displeasure, decided not to keep him longer. “That’s all for today. I’ll contact you later if anything comes up.”
Ye Mu nodded, bid a brief farewell, and left, his face heavy and darkened by shadows.
He really didn’t want any further dealings with that person…
On the other side, things weren’t much better.
After Chen Mo left, Song Jia followed him closely. Despite his attempts to escape, he couldn’t shake her off.
Since they had arrived in Ye Mu’s car, he had no choice but to wait in the parking area of the underground garage.
Song Jia chased after him, and they stood in the confined space, silent.
After gathering her courage, she finally spoke. “Chen Mo, you know, I… I really like you.” Her confession was simple but seemed to exhaust her entire strength.
Chen Mo leaned against the car, eyes lowered, his handsome face impassive.
After a long pause, he spoke with no emotional fluctuation. “Mm, I like myself too.”
Though his words seemed harmless, they were a cruel rejection.
Song Jia lowered her head, remaining silent for a moment, and bit her lip hard. “Tell me what you don’t like about me. I’ll definitely change.”
Chen Mo stared at the ground expressionlessly, his profile showing a hint of desolation. He retorted, “What is it that you like about me? I’ll change that too.”
Song Jia was quite upset. “I don’t want to be alone anymore. Just consider this a way to keep me company.”
Chen Mo remained silent for a moment, then slightly parted his lips and said in a deep, magnetic voice, “My friend Ye Mu is quite a good person. You might want to consider him.”
Song Jia looked at him, her eyes red and tears streaming down her face. “Won’t it hurt you if I’m with him?”
Chen Mo, with his eyes half-lidded and a cold expression, replied, “No.”
Song Jia’s lips twitched, but she was determined not to give up. She began crying again, using the same tactic as before. “Why can’t you agree to be with me?”
Chen Mo’s response was cold. “Because I don’t have feelings for you.”
Song Jia pressed on, “Why don’t you have feelings?”
Chen Mo’s lips were tightly pressed together, his eyes indifferent. “I don’t know.”
Song Jia’s makeup was ruined by her tears. “What do you mean you don’t know? You must know; you just won’t tell me.”
She started crying and sobbing uncontrollably, her wails harsh and loud.
Chen Mo, overwhelmed and desperate for her to stop, finally came up with an excuse. His lips barely moved as he said, “Actually, I’m gay.”
Song Jia’s expression froze for a moment, tears blurring her vision. “When did you realize that?”
Chen Mo, with an impassive face, answered after a long pause, “I realized it when you confessed.”
Song Jia: “…”
F*ck!
