Feng Linlin studied Chu Ge intently but remained silent, turning to leave. She didn't want to stay with him for another moment, fearing Ye Feng would misunderstand. She needed to find Ye Feng immediately to clarify the situation; otherwise, this misunderstanding would linger between them.
"Are you leaving in such a rush? Shouldn't we discuss the business you asked me to come for?"
Chu Ge seized Feng Linlin's arm, feigning confusion.
"Let go, that's disgusting," she replied, feeling a jolt of alarm in response to his grip.
The suddenness of his action startled her. Realizing he didn't want to be overly aggressive, Chu Ge quickly released her arm.
Feng Linlin turned to face him, her expression as frosty as winter, and eyed him warily. "What do you want?"
No one had ever dared to hold her like that, except for family. She made it a point to avoid letting other men touch her, not even Ye Feng.
Chu Ge was determined not to let Feng Linlin leave just yet. While their earlier encounter had been coincidental, he was now intent on prolonging the misunderstanding. Given that things weren't going well between her and Ye Feng, he figured it was better to act as a benefactor.
"If you leave now, the misunderstandings with Ye Feng will remain unresolved. Plus, the matters discussed with me won't be settled either. As the young lady of the Feng family, your recent impulsive actions are quite naive."
"Consider this: aside from your identity, what else do you possess? Strip away your identity, and will anyone care? You'll have nothing. What then?"
Chu Ge's words pierced Feng Linlin like a needle, and she sensed the mocking tone, as if he looked down on her. Taking a deep breath, she fought to suppress her anger and not let him underestimate her.
Shielded too closely by her family, Feng Linlin had little experience with people. She realized he was right; she hadn't finalized her business yet, and the assistance she offered Ye Feng remained unacknowledged. If this continued, it would be hard to explain to Ye Feng next time.
"I need to make a call first," Feng Linlin told Chu Ge, pulling out her phone to dial Ye Feng.
To her surprise, as soon as she hoped for his answer to explain, the call went straight to voicemail.
"Hi, the number you dialed is busy; please try again later."
Being hung up on stung, and her heart felt momentarily cold. She noticed from the corner of her eye that Ye Feng was hidden nearby. He had seen her and, without hesitation, hung up the phone.
Seeing Feng Linlin's dazed expression, Chu Ge knew his actions had likely deepened Ye Feng's jealousy. Meanwhile, Ye Feng berated himself for being overly impulsive. After all, there was a considerable disparity between his standing and that of the Feng family.
He was aware that Linlin harbored feelings for him; otherwise, he wouldn't feel so confident in considering her as someone special. He thought he would return to hear Linlin's explanation.
But upon his return, he witnessed Chu Ge grip Linlin's arm, and anger welled in him, bloodshot eyes glaring in outrage. He felt the urge to confront them, yet his courage faltered when he saw Linlin fail to break free from Chu Ge's hold.
Ye Feng tried to convince himself that it was just a coincidence. Yet Linlin was facing Chu Ge, engaged in conversation and laughter. To bystanders, they appeared to be a couple, with the woman seemingly in a playful mood while the man coaxed her with ease.
A familiar phrase flashed through Ye Feng's mind: "Male talent and female beauty."
Jealousy flared within him, igniting the fire in his heart.
"Linlin, please don't disappoint me."
Ye Feng held onto his last shred of hope, wishing Linlin would call him back and step away from Chu Ge.
"Damn pretty boy."
He watched Chu Ge closely, cursing under his breath while keeping a careful eye on them.
"Why don't we grab a coffee and talk?" Chu Ge suggested, indicating the warm café nearby.
"Okay," Feng Linlin agreed absentmindedly, walking into the shop.
Chu Ge followed her closely, subtly raising his arm as if to drape it over her shoulder, but he didn't actually touch her, so she remained oblivious to his intentions.
However, from Ye Feng's perspective, it looked as if Chu Ge's hand was on her shoulder.
What hurt Ye Feng most was that Linlin, whom he thought was perfect, didn't resist Chu Ge's advances at all.
In that moment, pain surged through him, but it was overshadowed by the heartache of realizing her feelings for him were merely an illusion.
Chu Ge's actions tormented Ye Feng, and he glared at his back until they entered the café and vanished from sight.
"I can't believe this; Linlin must have been swayed by his sweet words."
Determined not to accept his tragic situation, Ye Feng stealthily approached the café.
Inside, Chu Ge sat across from Feng Linlin, sweetening her coffee with sugar. "If you're feeling down, sweet coffee can lift your spirits."
"Thanks, it's really sweet," Feng Linlin responded, sipping the drink and savoring its sweetness, her eyes squinting in delight.
Seeing her enjoy the coffee struck a chord with Chu Ge, and he quickly took a sip of his own to hush the flutter in his heart.
A woman could be like a tiger, affecting how one drew their weapon. He was unaware of Ye Feng's wrath outside; for now, his plan was working perfectly. By pure chance, he had come up with a successful strategy.
As long as Ye Feng lacked support from his connections, he would be at a disadvantage. If Chu Ge's suspicions were correct, those connections likely stemmed from the military.
In the Huameng military circle, there must be someone who values Ye Feng.
Yet, Ye Feng had many enemies; absent any support from the four great families, escaping Yuncheng would be impossible.
Feng Linlin noticed Chu Ge's steady gaze and felt a flicker of nervousness, prompting her to blink rapidly. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Gentle, lovely girls—who wouldn't want to look at them?"
Chu Ge snapped back to attention and praised her openly, as if he truly admired her beauty.
If he could win Feng Linlin over, she would become the future wife of the family head—someone who could assist him significantly.
The possibilities excited Chu Ge, and the way he gazed at her softened.
In his vision, she was the right woman to assist him on his journey, yet he was still in search of a partner.
Feng Linlin, affected by his words, blushed brightly, wonderingly holding in her mixed feelings.
"I thought you were an honest person; didn't expect you to be so charming."
Lost for words, she lowered her gaze, stirring the cool coffee in front of her.
Having little experience with love and being kept safe by the Feng family, the attention made her feel unusually flustered.
"Waiter, please get this lady another cup of coffee," Chu Ge called out to a passing waiter.
Feng Linlin didn't expect such thoughtfulness from him; it was a detail she hadn't seen when she was with Ye Feng.
Once the waiter brought a fresh cup, Chu Ge looked at Feng Linlin tenderly and asked, "You mentioned offering me a hefty sum to betray my boss, right?"
"I'm truly sorry, but I can't do something against my conscience," she replied firmly.
"So I must refuse."
As she contemplated asking for more money, her courage faltered. The thought of appearing as if she were trying to bribe him felt wrong.
Suddenly, she didn't want Chu Ge to engage in dubious deeds, realizing he was morally sound to turn her down.
Though it would mean forgoing the large sum, she saw his character clearly now, and the first impression began to shift.
"What can you do?" Chu Ge asked playfully, tilting his head as he smiled.
"Nothing significant," she replied, her nervousness palpable.
His captivating, starry eyes and charming smile caused her heart to flutter. In that moment, Feng Linlin felt uncertain, as if she were contemplating whether to reciprocate his affection.
Chu Ge was momentarily stunned, thinking, "I haven't even tried yet; why are you falling for me?"
Could it be that she had never been in a relationship? Yet, it struck him that the protagonists often lacked romantic history.
Perhaps he was winning too much too quickly.
As Feng Linlin shyly looked up at his smiling face, Ye Feng realized she had never belonged to him. He staggered back, bumping into a passerby.
"Watch where you're going!" the passerby snapped before moving on.
The tender scene between Chu Ge and Feng Linlin was frozen in Ye Feng's memory—he was the true fool in this situation.