Volume One, Chapter 11: Pretty Boy?
“I told you, I’ll transfer the money. Now have the media retract the headline!”
Fu Yanting’s hand trembled as he held his phone.
He’d seen the news, and all the comments were mocking him.
His reputation, courtesy of Yu Mo, was utterly ruined.
“There’s an extra charge for retracting the headline.”
“Yu Mo!” Fu Yanting’s eyes were blazing.
Yu Mo ignored him and walked straight to Old Master Fu.
“Grandfather, thank you for your care these past few years. If I have the chance, I’ll visit you often.”
Old Master Fu’s sharp gaze rested on Yu Mo for a long moment.
When it came to care, this child had looked after his health more than anyone else.
“Mo Mo, I won’t force you about the engagement, but… think it over. As I told you before, the management rights of Fu Family’s pharmaceutical factory are meant for you. I know you graduated in pharmacology, and I’m entrusting this responsibility to you.”
Yu Mo fell silent at the mention of the factory.
Grandfather Fu had long asked her to take over the family’s pharmaceutical plant.
She had agreed, but now that the engagement with Fu Yanting was dissolved, she had no reason to accept.
Yet she knew, at this crisis point for the factory, with Grandfather Fu aging and Fu Yanting’s father having passed away early, and Fu Yanting himself absorbed in Lin Hua with no time for the factory, there was no one in the Fu family trustworthy enough to take over. So Grandfather Fu handed the heavy task to Yu Mo.
“Alright, Grandfather. I will do my best to manage the factory.”
Yu Mo had barely finished speaking when Fu Yanting stepped in front of her.
“Yu Mo, have you no shame? You’ve already broken off our engagement, yet you shamelessly take over the Fu family’s pharmaceutical factory?”
Yu Mo cared nothing for Fu Yanting’s opinion.
Her promise was to Grandfather Fu, not him.
Seeing her silent, Fu Yanting grew anxious.
“Grandfather, how can the factory be handed to an outsider?”
Old Master Fu was numb from his grandson’s antics.
He spoke sternly.
“Mo Mo is not an outsider. The matter is settled. If you object again, I’ll confiscate even your car.”
Fu Yanting suddenly turned his gaze to Yu Mo.
His hand at his side clenched tight into a fist.
His eyes were filled with bitter resentment, as if everything he suffered now was Yu Mo’s doing.
Yu Mo ignored him and stepped aside.
A woman, resplendent in pearls and jewels, was laughing as she spoke to a man.
Yu Mo caught sight of the man’s face and froze.
Pretty boy?
Why was he here?
The woman radiated an air of elegance and nobility. Her skin was well cared for, making her appear in her thirties. Clearly, she had good foundations—she must have been breathtakingly beautiful in her youth.
She smiled and lifted her fair hand, gently patting the man’s shoulder.
The man was obviously close to her.
His gaze was gentle, lips slightly curled, as if discussing something joyous.
Suddenly.
He lifted his eyes and met Yu Mo’s gaze.
He paused for a moment, then said something to the woman.
He strode toward Yu Mo.
Yu Mo wanted to pretend not to know him and leave.
He called out to her.
“What’s wrong? Don’t recognize me?”
Yu Mo stopped and slowly turned around.
She met his clear, bright eyes.
“So soon you have a new client? But it’s not good for your client to see you talking to other girls.”
She wasn’t sure why he was here, or why he had a new client.
A fleeting pang of jealousy struck Yu Mo’s heart.
Even her words carried a hint of sourness.
The next moment, that nameless jealousy faded.
She and he were nothing but a one-night affair.
Not even friends.
What was there to care about?
Mu Shaozhou, dressed in a pale gray suit, exuded an extraordinary charm.
His gaze darkened.
Client?
Where was her mind wandering?
Did she really think he would accept any kind of woman?
He laughed inwardly.
He replied calmly,
“If you don’t mind, why would anyone else?”
Yu Mo didn’t understand his meaning.
“Sorry, I have something to do.”
With that, she turned toward the restroom.
When she came out, Mu Shaozhou was waiting outside, idly playing with his fingers.
Seeing Yu Mo, he shoved his hands in his pockets and walked toward her.
Yu Mo tried to slip past him.
He moved swiftly, blocking her path.
His handsome brows arched.
“Hiding from me?”
He lowered his head slightly, his heated gaze falling on Yu Mo’s delicate, fair face.
“Don’t want to keep me anymore?”
Yu Mo turned her face away in silence.
His deep voice sounded again.
“You were my first client.”
Yu Mo lifted her eyelids and met his gaze.
Those eyes were clean and transparent, not the eyes of a liar.
Her mood lightened for a moment.
Good.
Very fair.
It was her first time with a pretty boy too.
Yu Mo’s face cooled, and her voice sank, not wanting her improved mood to show.
“So, what are you trying to say?”
Waiting for her here just to say that?
Mu Shaozhou had been waiting for her call these past days.
But this woman, once the deed was done, acted as if she didn’t know him.
Not a single call.
“All these days without a word from you—I thought you had a new pretty boy.”
He spoke sincerely, his gaze honest.
He was like a neglected concubine in ancient times, brimming with jealousy and a touch of coquettishness.
Yu Mo couldn’t help but laugh.
She reached out and pinched his cheek.
“So little confidence in your own face?”
With a face like his, it would be hard to find someone even more dazzling.
Mu Shaozhou took her soft hand in his large palm and gently squeezed it.
“Are you dissatisfied with my skills? That night, you certainly…”
Yu Mo quickly covered his mouth.
What was with this man? He dared say anything.
She glanced around. Seeing no one, she relaxed.
“Satisfied, alright?”
Mu Shaozhou’s tongue softly flicked her finger.
“So… tonight at your place or mine?”
Yu Mo withdrew her hand as if shocked by electricity, glancing sidelong at the mischievous man.
She murmured,
“Yours.”
Without another word, she turned and went back to the banquet hall.
When the birthday banquet ended, Yu Mo drove the pretty boy home.
Upon entering, she saw a decor scheme of pale gray, black, and white.
The apartment was small, but clean and tidy.
Yu Mo took a tour before heading to the bedroom.
The bedroom felt different—warmer and cozier.
On the warm orange bed lay a hyaluronic acid duck.
She picked it up. It was tiny.
The duck’s head was bald, likely from being stroked too much.
She remembered having a similar duck as a child.
Her grandfather had given it to her, with a pouch of calming herbs inside.
She lost it somewhere later on.
She pried open the duck’s belly and found the herbal sachet inside.
Could it really be hers?
Bang!
The bathroom door opened.
The man stepped out, standing before Yu Mo.
He was tall and slender, hair damp from the shower, a towel wrapped around his waist, eight solid abs gleaming.
Yu Mo’s eyes traveled downwards, taking in his legs like slender bamboo.
Her gaze finally landed on his face—exquisitely sculpted features.
Without the glasses, his alluring eyes seemed to captivate, impossible to look away.
Mu Shaozhou curled his lips into a bewitching smile.
Yu Mo blinked, unable to resist swallowing.
Damn, he was stunning!
He could drive her wild.