Volume One, Chapter Thirteen: The Crown Prince Spoke to a Woman!

Lin Hua readily agreed as well.
"Director Huang, rest assured, I will do my utmost to secure this authorization."
After speaking, she glanced at Yu Mo.
Yu Mo refused to show weakness, meeting her gaze calmly.
Now that Old Master Fu’s condition was uncertain, it was understandable that the board members distrusted her.
She was willing to compete with Lin Hua on equal footing.
Director Huang instructed Manager Yao to introduce both women to the official from the Drug Administration responsible for production authorization.
Lin Xing.
A difficult young man, rebellious by nature.
Almost everyone from the company had tried; this person responded to neither soft nor hard tactics.
He clung stubbornly to his position, refusing to budge.
It was a nearly impossible task.
That was why the pharmaceutical factory was facing the crisis of closure.
Undoubtedly, competitors had a hand in this.
And in Shanghai, the only rival to the Fu family in both strength and industry was the Chu family.
Manager Yao forwarded Lin Xing’s phone number and details about his habits and character to Yu Mo and Lin Hua.
Yu Mo studied the information.
The place he frequented most was an unremarkable teahouse in Shanghai.
Did he like tea?
Immediately, she devised a plan to deal with Lin Xing.
She drove to a shop that sold premium teas in the city.
Lin Hua followed close behind, clearly sharing the same idea.
Yu Mo spent several hundred thousand yuan on a small packet of Pu’er tea.
Upon learning that Lin Xing might visit the teahouse that evening, she brought her documents and set off.
Upon arrival, Yu Mo was stopped.
"Miss, you are not a member here, I’m sorry."
The teahouse operated on a membership basis; non-members were not allowed inside.
To acquire membership, one had to purchase an annual card for three million yuan.
Lin Hua, who had arrived after her, was also halted.
She refused to pay three million for a business deal, even for the pharmaceutical factory.
She took out her phone and called Fu Yanting.
A moment later, a server emerged from within.
Seeing the two women outside, he asked,
"Which one of you is Miss Lin?"
Lin Hua stepped forward. "I am."
"Miss Lin, please come in."
The server respectfully led Lin Hua inside.
She turned back to Yu Mo, flashing a triumphant smile.
Hmph, what use was Yu Mo’s pride now?
Without Fu Yanting, she was nothing—she couldn’t even set foot in a teahouse.
And she still dreamed of contending for management rights of the pharmaceutical factory.
Yu Mo took out her bank card and spoke to the server.
"I’d like to open a membership."
Just as she finished, her gaze was drawn elsewhere.

A tall man strode over.
Behind him trailed a group of bodyguards, each exuding a formidable presence.
Yu Mo’s eyes fell upon the mask on the man’s face.
The Crown Prince?
She greeted Mu Shaozhou.
“Your Highness.”
Clearly, Mu Shaozhou had seen her as well.
With an elegant, upright bearing, he approached her.
Clad in a black bespoke suit, he had an air of ethereal nobility, like a fallen immortal from another world—a chill beauty mere mortals could never mimic.
He stopped before Yu Mo.
She nodded to him.
Mu Shaozhou’s cool gaze rested on her radiant features.
He responded with a faint hum.
His skin was alabaster, reminiscent of an untouched glacier, exuding a cold, biting aura that seemed to seep into one’s very bones—a beauty both exquisite and unworldly.
After a pause, he spoke slowly, his voice deep and magnetic.
“Yu Mo.”
Even with the mask, his features remained flawless, as if sculpted by a master’s hand.
He lowered his ink-black eyes, his gaze falling upon her.
She was as bright and alluring as ever.
Those soul-stirring eyes shone like beams of dazzling light, capable of dispelling all the darkness and loneliness within him.
“What brings you here?”
“I’m here for business.”
“Why are you still outside? Waiting for someone?”
“I’m applying for a membership—otherwise I can’t get in.”
As Yu Mo spoke, she handed her card to the server.
Before the server could take it, a large hand pressed over her porcelain-white hand.
Mu Shaozhou’s voice was low and captivating.
“Come in with me.”
He turned to the server. “Is that all right?”
The server, recognizing the esteemed regular, quickly agreed.
Receiving this confirmation, Mu Shaozhou extended his hand to Yu Mo.
“Let’s go.”
Yu Mo, not bothering with formalities, placed her hand in his.
Her fingers were gently enveloped by his broad, warm palm—a comfortable sensation.
The bodyguards behind Mu Shaozhou were all taken aback.
When had they ever seen their master speak so much to a woman?
Five sentences.
Twenty-one words.
Yu Mo followed Mu Shaozhou into the teahouse.
Inside, the decor was elegantly traditional.
In the center of the hall, a woman in a smoky blue gown played a melodious tune on a guzheng.
A faint fragrance of tea filled the air.
Yu Mo felt completely at ease, body and mind both refreshed.

Mu Shaozhou paused.
His long lashes, half-hidden beneath the mask, lowered as he asked quietly,
“Which private room? I’ll escort you.”
In truth, Yu Mo herself did not know which room Lin Xing occupied.
She could only rely on luck.
“No need, thank you, Your Highness.”
“You may use my name.”
Mu Shaozhou did not release her hand. Beneath his straight nose, his thin lips moved softly.
Though his expression was cool, there was a faint smile in his ink-dark eyes, making him seem unexpectedly approachable.
“Very well, Mu Shaozhou.”
He finally let go of her hand, speaking calmly.
“I’m in ‘Cloud and Bamboo Shadows.’ If you need anything, come find me.”
Yu Mo nodded and withdrew her hand, the warmth of his palm still lingering.
Mu Shaozhou strode away, his bodyguards following.
Yu Mo set about looking for Lin Xing’s private room.
In teahouses like this, members usually had their own designated rooms.
A young man with Lin Xing’s temperament, fond of teahouses, must fancy himself cultured and refined.
Yu Mo ascended to the second floor.
She stopped before a suite named “Heart of the Zither, Courage of the Sword.”
Peering down, she could clearly see the guzheng beauty below from this vantage.
She pulled out her phone and dialed Lin Xing’s number, pressing her ear to the ornately carved wooden door and listening closely.
Sure enough, she could faintly hear a gentle ringtone from within.
Yu Mo knocked on the door.

Inside, a handsome young man appeared before her.
Lin Xing uncrossed his legs and gave her a mischievous, rakish smile.
Faced with such a striking beauty, his interest was immediately piqued.
Before Yu Mo could introduce herself, he was already speaking, his thin lips curving into a question.
“What can I do for you?”
Yu Mo studied him a moment longer.
Though he wore a perfectly tailored suit, he exuded an undeniable air of casual insolence.
“Hello, President Lin. I’m Yu Mo from Fu Pharmaceuticals. I’m here to discuss the approval for AAV2 drug research and production.”
“Of course.”
Lin Xing patted his thigh. “Have a seat.”
His star-bright eyes sparkled as he addressed Yu Mo warmly, his tone light and friendly, as if they were chatting about nothing more than the weather.