The private dining room exuded an air of refined elegance, with muted lighting, plush leather chairs, and a meticulously set table gleaming with crystal and silver. Xiaoyun smoothed a hand over her perfectly tailored dress as she entered, fighting to maintain her composed expression despite the flutter in her stomach.
Chen Liang rose from his seat as she approached, a warm smile softening his typically austere features. "Ms. Wang, thank you for joining me." He extended his hand in greeting, his touch was light and professional, though his fingers lingered against hers a fraction that was longer than necessary.
"Mr. Chen," Xiaoyun acknowledged, suppressing a shiver at the brief contact. She allowed her gaze to sweep over his impeccable appearance—the perfectly fitted suit, the gleam of an expensive watch at his wrist—before quickly averting her eyes. "Your choice of venue is... impressive."
"I'm pleased you approve," Chen Liang replied smoothly, gesturing for her to take a seat. As she settled into her chair, she caught him watching her with unconcealed interest.
"I must say, you look absolutely stunning this evening." His voice carried a note of genuine appreciation beneath its professional tone, his dark eyes meeting hers with an intensity that made her pulse quicken.
Xiaoyun's expression remained cool and distant, though it took considerable effort. "Shall we begin?" she said, clasping her hands together to still their slight trembling. She could feel the weight of his gaze even as she focused on the menu before her.
Their initial discussion centered on business matters, a familiar territory that allowed Xiaoyun to regain her footing. "Even with the current scandal, you've managed to keep the company running impressively well, Miss Wang," Chen Liang observed, his tone carrying a hint of admiration.
The waiter's arrival provided a welcome interruption. "What would you like this evening, Miss Wang?"
Xiaoyun stared at the menu, the elegant French descriptions blurring before her eyes. Her appetite had deserted her, replaced by a nervous energy she couldn't quite suppress. "I'm afraid I'll defer to your judgment, Mr. Chen," she said, offering a slight smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
His eyebrow arched slightly at her uncharacteristic yielding. "Very well." He turned to the waiter with quiet authority. "We'll have the Wagyu Beef in Black Pepper Sauce, paired with a Bordeaux Grand Cru. For dessert, the chilled Mango pudding with Sauternes."
As the waiter departed, Chen Liang's expression grew serious. "About your recent meeting with your ex—"
"Mr. Chen," Xiaoyun cut in, her voice sharp despite her attempt at restraint. "If you don't mind, I'd prefer to exclude any discussion of my ex. He has no bearing on our conversation tonight." Without waiting for his response, she withdrew a slim leather folder from her purse and slid it across the table. "I've taken the liberty of drafting terms and conditions for our potential... alliance."
Chen Liang's eyes narrowed slightly as he scanned the documents, his long fingers tracing the edge of the paper. "I see you've planned ahead," he murmured, closing the folder with deliberate care. "We'll discuss this after dinner."
The meal arrived, presented with flourish, but Xiaoyun could barely manage more than a few bites. Each mouthful felt like lead, her stomach too knotted with tension to appreciate the exquisite cuisine. When she finally set down her cutlery, Chen Liang noticed immediately.
"The food isn't to your liking?" His voice carried a note of concern that surprised her.
"The food is excellent," she assured him quietly. "I simply find my appetite... Lessened this evening."
Without hesitation, Chen Liang signaled the waiter. "Clear the plates, please. Leave the wine." Once they were alone again, he leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady and penetrating. "I'm sure you have questions about my intentions, Ms. Wang. Please, feel free to ask anything."
He retrieved the folder from his jacket pocket, giving the terms another thoughtful review. "I believe in transparency," he continued. "This arrangement—our potential marriage—I understand it's a lot to process. But I want to be clear: while this may begin as a business arrangement, I don't believe we need to maintain such rigid boundaries permanently."
Xiaoyun's fingers tightened in her lap, creasing the expensive fabric of her dress. "Business," she echoed, unable to keep a trace of bitterness from her voice. "I'm well aware that emotions are considered a weakness in our world, Mr. Chen."
"Are they?" he challenged softly. "Or are they simply another variable we need to account for?"
Before she could respond, a knock interrupted them. Chen Liang's assistant appeared, looking apologetic. "Sir, your father is on the line. He says it's urgent."
Chen Liang's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "Excuse me for a moment," he said to Xiaoyun, his expression softening slightly as he met her gaze.
Left alone, Xiaoyun released a shaky breath, she leaned back on the chair and her mind racing. This was certainly not how she had anticipated the evening to unfold. This evening had drifted far from her expectations, leaving her off-balance in a way she hadn't felt in years.
When Chen Liang returned, his expression was grave. "I apologize, but I'm afraid we'll need to cut our evening short." He paused, his eyes holding hers with an intensity that made her heart skip. "Though I very much hope we can continue this discussion... soon."
Chen Liang escorted Xiaoyun through the restaurant's hushed corridors, his hand hovering near but not quite touching the small of her back. The maître d' bowed as they passed, summoning the valet with a discrete gesture.
"Your car should arrive soon," Chen Liang murmured, his voice low enough that only she could hear. They stood beneath the restaurant's elegant portico, the evening air carrying the faint scent of jasmine from the nearby garden.
Just before her car appeared, Chen Liang turned to her. "Until next time, Ms. Wang." He leaned in, his movement precise and deliberate, and pressed a kiss to her cheek. The contact lasted barely a second, yet Xiaoyun felt each millisecond with startling clarity—the warmth of his breath against her skin, the subtle notes of his cologne, the slight roughness of his evening stubble. A shiver traced down her spine, one she desperately hoped he hadn't noticed.
For a moment, Xiaoyun lost herself in the sensation—the feather-light touch of his lips, the heat blooming across her cheek, spreading down her neck. Her pulse thundered in her ears. Then reality crashed back like a bucket of cold water. This wasn't romance; this was business. A carefully orchestrated arrangement, where even this seemingly intimate gesture was probably calculated for maximum effect.
Her grandfather's words echoed in her mind once again: "This marriage will restore our family's reputation." The thought turned the lingering warmth of Chen Liang's kiss into something almost bitter. She straightened her spine, forcing steel back into her posture. No matter how charming Chen Liang might be, no matter how her traitorous body responded to his proximity, this was still an arrangement that stripped her away from her choice.
Her car pulled up to the curb, providing a welcome escape. With a slight, cool professional nod, she slipped into the back seat. Only when the door closed did she allow the mask she pulled up to crack slightly, her fingers rising to touch the spot where his lips had been—not in longing, but in frustration at how easily he had managed to affect her.
As the car pulled away, Xiaoyun kept her gaze fixed straight ahead, her jaw clenched. She refused to check if he was still watching, refused to give him or this arrangement any more power over her emotions. Yet even as she steeled herself against the memory of his kiss, a treacherous part of her mind wondered if perhaps there was more to Chen Liang than the cold businessman he appeared to be. And that possibility, more than anything else, terrified her, cause that would mean opening up to an arrangement she never wanted.