Chapter 1: Looks Intimidating At First Glance
“Why didn’t you agree to such a good opportunity just now?”
Shen Leng’s questioning voice rang out in a corner of the garden.
Meng Zhenhua had gone to great lengths to obtain the invitation letter for this private banquet. “Business abroad still depends on Ellen to open the market. If you can get closer to him, cooperation will naturally follow smoothly.”
Meng Shuyou felt a suffocation in her chest, her voice tinged with hoarseness. “Dad, I don’t like him.”
Meng Zhenhua was full of disdain. “How much is liking worth? Ellen’s family background, appearance, and abilities are all impeccable. If he’s interested in you, that’s your good fortune.”
Meng Shuyou’s nails dug into her palm. “But he’s fifteen years older than me.”
She was only twenty-one and had never been in a relationship. A man like Ellen had rich experience and romantic history, navigating the social circle with ease. Getting close to such a man would not end well.
“So what if he’s fifteen years older? Your mother and I are also more than ten years apart.” Meng Zhenhua said sternly, “Feelings are worthless in the face of benefits.”
The mother he mentioned was merely nominal.
Meng Shuyou’s biological mother had passed away from illness when she was ten years old.
“Which piece of designer clothing on you wasn’t bought by me?” Meng Zhenhua’s expression darkened. “Your tuition fee for studying abroad, your food, clothing, housing, and transportation—every penny you spent was from me.”
“And your older sister’s medical expenses.” He reminded her again. “If you still want to see her, you should obediently listen.”
Meng Shuyou’s fingertips trembled, her nails digging deep marks into her palm.
Meng Zhenhua left her behind and turned back to the hall.
Meng Shuyou leaned against a nearby stone pillar as if drained of strength.
Fifteen minutes earlier.
In the hall, glasses clinked amid the lively toasts, the sound of wine glasses colliding crisp.
Meng Zhenhua brought her to greet the host of tonight’s banquet. “Ellen, long time no see. This is my daughter Elara. You’ve met once before. I wonder if you still remember her.”
Meng Shuyou spoke obediently and politely. “Hello, Mister Ellen.”
The other man curved his lips into a smile, his gaze falling on her as he appraised her. “Of course I remember. Miss Elara is too beautiful to forget.”
It wasn’t an exaggeration; he had remembered this face after just one meeting last time. She was indeed more beautiful than female stars in the entertainment industry—pure, moving, and with elegant temperament.
Meng Shuyou lightly pursed her lips and responded politely. “You’re too kind.”
Ellen took the initiative to ask, “I heard Miss Elara is still at university. What major are you studying?”
“Fine arts.”
“Painting?”
“Yes, oil painting.”
“What a coincidence. I also like collecting oil paintings in my spare time. I wonder if there’s a chance next time to appreciate Miss Elara’s paintings.”
The unspoken rules of the social circle were obviously more than just the surface meaning.
Meng Shuyou naturally understood and declined politely. “My paintings probably wouldn’t catch your eye.”
“Miss Elara is too modest.” Ellen didn’t press and acted like a gentleman, ending the topic. “I have other guests to entertain, so I won’t keep you two company.”
–
Her thoughts returned.
Meng Shuyou soberly realized that she was just a chess piece raised by the Meng Family, a tool for exchanging benefits.
Today they could make her please a man for the sake of cooperation; tomorrow they could force her into a marriage alliance with a complete stranger.
If she had a choice, she wouldn’t want to be born into the Meng Family, wouldn’t want to study abroad, and wouldn’t want to become a sacrifice for family benefits.
Chicago in February, the wind carried a biting chill that froze her nose red.
The sky hadn’t darkened yet. Meng Shuyou didn’t want to go back and walked alone toward the distant lake.
This was the northern suburbs wealthy district, with sprawling independent manors surrounded by vast green lawns.
High heels stepped silently on the soft lawn, the surroundings filled only with the rustling of leaves rubbing against each other.
Even in winter, the vegetation remained lush and green, requiring massive manpower and maintenance costs.
Passing through a green hedge over a meter high, Meng Shuyou saw someone ahead and immediately stopped.
Under a vine arbor, two men sat at a stone table conversing.
Ellen’s voice faintly came through. “Mister Kerwin, your presence here today is my honor.”
The man sitting opposite him lounged relaxedly in the sofa chair, long legs crossed, elbow resting on the armrest, fingertip slowly rubbing his midi ring.
His voice was as languid as his demeanor, casual and indifferent. “Get straight to business.”
Meng Shuyou heard them talking about some AI chip project. She didn’t understand these things much, but she was surprised at what identity this man had to make someone as arrogant as Ellen humble himself and fawn.
Was he the distinguished guest invited by the Johnson Family to today’s banquet?
Meng Shuyou stood behind a thick oak tree, unable to see the man’s face clearly.
But she could tell he had a low, mellow magnetic voice with a standard Americano accent, lazy and indifferent.
He barely spoke; it was always Ellen talking.
Meng Shuyou was a total audiophile and couldn’t help wanting to listen more, but unfortunately, the other man was as terse as gold.
A few minutes later, he finally spoke again. “Your scenery here isn’t bad.”
Ellen was stunned, not understanding how talk of work suddenly turned to scenery, but he could only continue. “You’re joking. How can mine compare to yours.”
The man neither confirmed nor denied, drawing a cigar from the cigar box, his tone leisurely. “Let’s talk cooperation another day. You must still be busy with the banquet.”
The smile on Ellen’s face stiffened slightly.
“Another day” was vague—who knew when, perhaps just an excuse.
After all, Kerwin acted entirely on mood.
He didn’t dare say more. “Then I won’t disturb you. Let me know anytime if you have any needs, and I’ll do my utmost.”
The man nodded lightly.
Ellen stood up and left via the path to the right.
Meng Shuyou didn’t dare linger too long and prepared to go back.
But just as she turned, a voice suddenly rang out unexpectedly. “Come out.”
She stopped in her tracks, her heart racing in an instant.
Was he calling her?
She had clearly been careful enough—how did he notice?
While hesitating, she heard him say again, “Should I send someone to fetch you?”
His tone was neither cold nor warm, yet a gloomy sense of oppression enveloped her.
Meng Shuyou nervously clutched her skirt hem and walked out from behind the tree anxiously.
She kept her head lowered, each step extremely tentative, not even daring to look directly at him, full of apology. “Sorry, sir. I was just passing by, not intentionally…”
He wouldn’t think she was eavesdropping on confidential information, would he?
This man looked hard to deal with; she might be in big trouble today.
Pei Yuzhou held a lit cigar between his fingers, casually glancing at her. “Chinese?”
He switched from English to Chinese without any accent.
Meng Shuyou was astonished. “You’re Chinese too?”
In that moment of lifting her gaze, the man’s appearance entered her view.
A very special pair of eyes—the pupils weren’t pure black, with a hazy ink-green outer ring. His brows and eyes were deep, nose bridge high, facial bones superior, features flawless, more like mixed blood.
He just looked at her calmly. Even sitting, he still gave a sense of looking down. “Standing so far, could you hear clearly?”
