When he returned to their table, Qin Chi Chi still had her head turned toward the window, her lips pouting like a little crybaby. She seemed not to have noticed Lin Chao Ci leaving.
In truth, however, Qin Chi Chi had been watching Lin Chao Ci the entire time. She had noticed the moment he rose to leave.
She thought Lin Chao Ci was angry and no longer wanted her. She had been about to grab his sleeve, lower her head, and apologize.
But she was a step too late. Lin Chao Ci had already left. At that moment, Qin Chi Chi felt as though her heart had shattered, the pain piercing through her.
She thought Lin Chao Ci no longer wanted her. What had started as pretend crying turned real, and tears spilled uncontrollably down her face.
Yet barely a few seconds into crying, she saw Lin Chao Ci trying to buy flowers from someone. She instantly understood and suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
So she had cried for nothing...
Lin Chao Ci wasn't abandoning her. He was buying her a gift to cheer her up.
At that moment, Qin Chi Chi smiled, utterly delighted. Warmth filled her heart, sweet as honey.
Then, a few seconds before Lin Chao Ci returned, Qin Chi Chi composed herself and turned her head away again, pretending she knew nothing.
Women really were born actors.
Lin Chao Ci knew nothing of this. Hiding the flowers behind his back, he sat down and gently poked Qin Chi Chi's shoulder.
He brought his lips close to her ear, his breath brushing against it as he whispered, "Don't be angry anymore. Guess what present I got you!"
She hadn't expected Lin Chao Ci to lean so close and whisper in her ear.
A tingling sensation ran through Qin Chi Chi's body. Although she had already forgiven Lin Chao Ci, she still pretended to be angry as she turned toward him, tears lingering in her eyes.
Lin Chao Ci couldn't help staring for a few seconds.
With tears in her eyes, Qin Chi Chi was breathtakingly beautiful. There was an added fragility to her that made him want to cherish her.
Anyone else who saw her would have felt that every last thing was their fault. Whatever happened, they should never have made such a beautiful woman cry.
It felt as though a single tear from her could condemn the entire world.
Fortunately, Lin Chao Ci had seen that face countless times and had built up a little resistance. He quickly adjusted his expression, putting on his cheeky grin again. "Come on, guess! Get it right, and there's a big present for you!"
Qin Chi Chi noticed that Lin Chao Ci had stared at her in a daze for a few seconds, and she secretly rejoiced.
She had learned this trick from a psychology book. A vulnerable girl who inspired tenderness was more likely to awaken a man's protective instincts.
"I don't know...!"
Qin Chi Chi shook her head pitifully, pretending to look completely bewildered.
"Ta-da! Look!"
Lin Chao Ci smiled and brought the bouquet out from behind his back, offering it to Qin Chi Chi as though presenting a treasure.
Although Qin Chi Chi had already seen it, she still pretended to be surprised.
"Wow! What beautiful flowers! Are they for me?"
Qin Chi Chi's eyes sparkled as she looked at Lin Chao Ci in apparent delighted surprise.
"Yep! Princess Chi Chi, these flowers are for you. You're even more beautiful than they are!"
Lin Chao Ci handed the flowers to Qin Chi Chi.
Qin Chi Chi held the flowers, her face glowing with a smile. Seeing this, Lin Chao Ci breathed a sigh of relief. It looked like she had probably forgiven him.
"Hmph. Since these flowers are so beautiful, I'll let you off! But you can't do that again!"
After admiring the flowers for a while, Qin Chi Chi looked at the nervousness in Lin Chao Ci's eyes and covered her mouth with a soft laugh, delighted inside.
On the surface, however, she still pretended to be a little angry.
"Hehehe, I promise Princess Chi Chi I won't do it again!"
Lin Chao Ci leaned closer, his playful grin returning as he spoke.
And just like that, the problem was easily resolved.
On the way home, Lin Chao Ci received a message.
"Uncle Chen, don't go home yet. Take me to Wind Bamboo Garden!"
After glancing at the message, Lin Chao Ci instructed their driver, Uncle Chen, to change their destination.
"Huh? Chao Ci, why are you going to Wind Bamboo Garden? I've heard that place offers some shady services!"
Beside him, Qin Chi Chi looked a little puzzled.
Chao Ci looks a little anxious. What happened?
"There's a company I'm very optimistic about, and it happens to be looking for funding right now! Its representatives are at Wind Bamboo Garden, discussing an agreement with someone..."
Lin Chao Ci didn't hide anything and gave her a brief explanation.
After all, this wasn't a secret, and Qin Chi Chi was someone he trusted.
"Oh!"
Hearing that Lin Chao Ci was only going there on business, Qin Chi Chi sighed in relief. She had heard about the place from her girlfriends.
The servers at Wind Bamboo Garden were all very pretty, and if requested, they could also provide...
If he was only going there on business, then Qin Chi Chi didn't mind.
The car soon arrived at Wind Bamboo Garden.
Wind Bamboo Garden was a private club offering all kinds of entertainment.
Ordinary people couldn't get in at all. The minimum entry requirement was to be an entrepreneur with assets of at least five million.
When the car reached the entrance, Lin Chao Ci said a few words to Qin Chi Chi, then headed straight into Wind Bamboo Garden.
As for the guards at the entrance, once they saw that Lin Chao Ci had arrived in a top-tier luxury car with a license plate consisting of consecutive numbers, they didn't dare stop him.
Lin Chao Ci walked right in and, guided by a server, went straight to private room number six.
Knock, knock, knock!
Lin Chao Ci knocked on the door.
"Come in!"
A reply came from inside.
Lin Chao Ci pushed the door open and entered. At a glance, he saw a blond, blue-eyed man occupying the seat of honor in the luxurious private room, accompanied by several people from the Dragon Nation.
Lin Chao Ci also spotted a familiar face: the man who had given him flowers in the restaurant.
He sat to the blond man's left, clearly a man of considerable standing, second only to the blond man.
"Who are you?"
Everyone in the room was puzzled. Who was this young man? Why had none of them seen him before?
They exchanged glances, each assuming someone else had invited him.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Lin Chao Ci. Sorry for dropping in unannounced, but I'm also interested in investing in Penguin Company!"
After closing the door, Lin Chao Ci introduced himself with a smile, getting straight to the point.
Indeed, the company Lin Chao Ci had his eye on was Tencent, which would become renowned in the years to come.
Lin Chao Ci remembered it clearly: Tencent had signed its first round of funding around April of this year.
Now, in January, they had already made preliminary contact, and both parties were interested in working together.
After being reborn, Lin Chao Ci had immediately sent people to investigate the matter. Fortunately, he had arrived before they finalized their partnership.
And as luck would have it, they had chosen his own home turf, Haikou City, as the venue for their discussions.
"Hahaha! So it's you, young man!"
The older man who had given him the flowers recognized Lin Chao Ci at once. It couldn't be helped—Lin Chao Ci was both handsome and young.
One look at Lin Chao Ci's clothes told him they were made from the finest fabrics, and his bearing made it clear that he came from wealth or status.
So he went up to greet him warmly, taking Lin Chao Ci's hand of his own accord.
Lin Chao Ci froze at the sight. Is there any need to be this enthusiastic? Isn't this only our second meeting?
You're not into guys, are you?
Before you continue