Cornered by the CEO

The man snapped his fingers and a swarm of employees suddenly appeared at their long table. Her chair was promptly pulled out and their glasses filled. They handed out the menus and then went to stand in a straight line like soldiers as they waited for commands.

Qian Meng watched closely. She felt quite stifled in such situations. She glanced at Mo Qingchen and saw him perfectly at ease. He seemed to be used to this situation. f𝗿e𝙚𝘸e𝐛𝚗𝐨𝙫𝚎𝙡.c𝒐𝐦

"You were extremely rude to me and that man just now," she whispered. Her eyes shot fire at that point.

There was an expansive window beside them, giving them a view of the city. Yun Qian Meng and his chairs were nestled tightly beside one another.

Mo Qingchen leaned in close to her. "Untrue," he said calmly. "That man was rude to us, actually. He will regret that decision." The threat in his voice was clear.

Qian Meng looked at the man in question and laughed. "He is beyond terrified of you. I highly doubt he meant to be rude."

"That is irrelevant. He should have thought before he spoke. For such a high-class restaurant, he forgot his training." He opened his menu as if the conversation was over. So this was the infamous treatment Mo Qingchen gave to others. So different from how he treated her. The perk of being his enemy, she supposed.

"You speak... Swedish?" she asked. She wasn't sure what the language was, though.

"I do. I have investments and business connections in Sweden, so I learned the language early on," he explained.

"What did he say that was rude?" The man did seem a bit nosey but Yun Qian Meng had that personality trait as well. She couldn't fault the other.

Mo Qingchen's eyes didn't leave the menu. He lifted it briefly when he spoke. "He said you were beautiful."

She gasped dramatically. "Oh my god. What a bastard. He should be hung for his crime." Her tone was filled with sarcasm.

"It was inappropriate," he replied sternly.

"Were you jealous?" she joked. His eyes lifted and then he looked away.

"I don't like to be questioned by people." What a snob. This man lacked patience. This was his fallacy.

"I didn't like how you blocked my view as though I was an object. In animal terms, you were peeing on me." And what right did he have to do that?

They locked eyes for several seconds before Yun Qian Meng opened the menu and looked down. The menu was beautifully presented, without pictures and in Swedish. She understood some of the names, so she wasn't bothered to ask the snob sitting beside her.

Their conversation had made them the only people who didn't order. When she was done choosing she ordered. An employee scurried into the room.

"I'm looking for a Miss Yun?" he called. Everyone turned and looked at her.

"What is it?" she asked.

"There is a man asking for you outside and refuses to leave." Qian Meng's brows lifted in curiosity. A man in Paris who knew her enough to wait for her. Jiang Da had already gotten what he wanted, he wouldn't meet her.

"Do you have a boyfriend here or something?" Mo Qingchen asked curiously.

"Not that I know of. I am rather charming, so maybe someone wants to pursue me." She turned to the employee.

"Can you please get a name from the man?" The employee bowed and was about to leave when Yun Qian Meng's phone lit up. Bai Ye Qing. He must have gotten her number from her father. She sighed. "No need," she called, surprising everyone. "I know who it is."

She pushed her chair back and stood up.

"You're going to meet him?" Mo Qingchen asked, unamused. 𝘧𝑟𝘦𝒆w𝚎𝙗nov𝘦𝗹.𝐜o𝓶

"He came all the way from Mainland China to talk to me. I have to hear him out." She gave him a pointed look and walked towards the employee. "Please find us an isolated location away from everyone. It's a private meeting."

Knowing Bai Ye Qing, he could cause a scene. She was here for work. Being seen with someone rowdy wouldn't be good for her reputation.

She was led to a private dining area and took a seat. Within a few minutes, she saw Bai Ye Qing walk in timidly.

What a farce.

"Sit down," she beckoned, pointing to the chair across from her. "What did you want to talk about?" she asked when he sat down. He looked at her with a boyish smile that got on her nerves. "I thought I made myself clear that I don't want to marry you."

"I wanted to talk to you about that, actually." His voice was louder now. Qian Meng spread the napkin on her lap and waited with bated breath for his words. What could he say that would make her rethink her decision? "I think there are some misunderstandings about this."

"Oh, is there?" she asked, curiously. So, this was how scammers made their point. It seemed so laughable for someone who knew their ploy.

"I sensed some hostility with you and your family. And because your father arranged this marriage, you feel like protesting." Qian Meng put her chin on the palm of her hand and listened to him. "I don't want to force you. I think we should develop feelings for one another. If we get to know one another, we'll come to like each other."

The words weren't wrong in another context. For a middle-class family, maybe he was a catch, but to her, she would be marrying down.

"Feelings are only possible between people of the same stature," Qian Meng countered. "I am surrounded by outstanding men, and you just don't compare. What do you think about that?"

Yun Qian Meng saw movement behind him and stared past. Mo Qingchen had somehow found his way to her. His eyes were sharp as he came forward.