Among everyone present, Mo Tingyan reacted the fastest.
Almost instantly, a cold, sharp gaze—laden with warning—locked onto Jiang Xian's face.
Unfortunately for him, Jiang Xian's eyes were burning with focus as they stayed fixed on Wen Zhi, completely unaware of the dagger-like stare aimed his way.
Before Wen Zhi could respond, Lian Qiao had already noticed Mo Tingyan's reaction.
Unwilling to cause trouble for her best friend, she hurriedly spoke up with an awkward laugh.
"What is it that you need to talk about so privately? You're really going to pull my dear Xiao Zhi aside and leave me and Mo Tingyan sitting here? That doesn't seem very appropriate, does it?"
Jiang Xian pointed toward the glass doors outside and lowered his voice.
"We can just talk by the entrance. I won't do anything inappropriate, Miss Wen. I just… want to say a few words."
Mo Tingyan raised his brows slightly, his tone dripping with mock generosity and barely concealed jealousy.
"Zhangzhu, he's invited you so sincerely. You should go. If you hesitate too much, it'll look like you're being small-minded."
Jiang Xian quickly added, "Miss Wen, I swear I mean no harm."
Wen Zhi put down her chopsticks and stood up, walking outside.
Mo Tingyan: "..."
Damn it.
She actually went.
The moment the two left the restaurant, Lian Qiao slammed her chopsticks down and leaned forward, lowering her voice angrily.
"Didn't you see me giving you signals the whole time? Why would you still encourage Xiao Zhi to go?!"
"Now you're nervous?" Mo Tingyan snorted.
"When you introduced him to Wen Zhi in the first place, what were you thinking?"
Lian Qiao felt even guiltier.
"You… you knew about that?"
"She told me that very night. And the moment you called his name earlier, I knew who he was."
"But if you knew," Lian Qiao whispered urgently, "why did you still let her go? His job is better than yours, his house is in a better location, and his savings are probably way more than yours too. Other than your face, you're completely outmatched. Aren't you afraid Xiao Zhi might be stolen away?"
Mo Tingyan: "..."
Was that an insult… or a compliment?
"You're single. You wouldn't understand," he said calmly.
"If I tried to stop them from meeting alone, he'd just turn around and contact her in private. I'd rather let them talk where I can see everything."
With that, he stood up as well.
Lian Qiao jumped up. "Where are you going?"
Mo Tingyan glanced at her.
"This is between couples. Sit here and don't interfere."
Outside the restaurant, Jiang Xian stood alone with Wen Zhi, visibly tense.
After steadying himself, he spoke earnestly.
"Miss Wen, you might not believe me, but ever since the last time I met you, I fell in love at first sight. I knew I shouldn't—but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't forget you. Running into you again today felt like fate guiding me. I don't want to hesitate anymore. I like you."
Wen Zhi replied calmly, without a ripple of emotion.
"I believe you. Men who fall in love with me at first sight—if there isn't a battalion, there's at least a regiment. And all of them say the same thing. But I'm sorry. I already have a boyfriend."
Jiang Xian hurriedly said,
"I'm different from them. I'm sincere. As long as you're not married, I still have a chance. I want to compete with him fairly."
Wen Zhi shook her head firmly.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Jiang. I only have one heart. I can't give it to multiple people. I don't accept your 'fair competition,' and I hope you won't waste your time on me."
Disappointment flickered across Jiang Xian's face as he lowered his head.
"Then… if one day you break up with your boyfriend, could you consider me first? I used to think that finding a life partner who was 'good enough' was fine. But after meeting you, I realized—
a life built on compromise will never be whole. So… I'll wait."
"Mr. Jiang, I won't accept—"
Before Wen Zhi could finish, a low voice cut in sharply.
"Then Mr. Jiang will probably end up alone for life."
Wen Zhi turned and saw Mo Tingyan walking toward them.
Afraid he might say something reckless and expose their relationship, she subtly shook her head at him.
Mo Tingyan understood instantly. He smiled faintly and continued speaking to Jiang Xian.
"The line is too long. You're not even close to the front. Honestly, I'm curious—what kind of godlike man did Wen Zhi fall for, to be so unwaveringly devoted to him?"
Wen Zhi finally relaxed, though inwardly she felt speechless.
How could someone be this shameless?
Mo Tingyan glanced at her and said casually,
"Go back inside first. I have a few words I'd like to say to Mr. Jiang alone."
Wen Zhi hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
He knew where the line was. And she had already made herself clear.
She turned and walked away.
The moment she left, the roguish smile vanished from Mo Tingyan's face.
His eyes were cold as he warned,
"I'll give you a friendly reminder since you seem like a decent man.
This woman is mine. Don't think about her.
Otherwise—
the one who suffers won't be me."
Jiang Xian met his icy gaze and felt a sudden chill crawl up his spine.
Mo Tingyan didn't waste another word. He turned and left.
Jiang Xian stood frozen.
As he watched Mo Tingyan's retreating figure, his scalp tingled violently.
That back—
He had seen it before. Up close.
Exactly the same as Mingguang Group's CEO.
There was no way he was mistaken.
And Mo Tingyan's surname was Mo.
So—
Mo Tingyan was the CEO of Mingguang Group.
Then he remembered Lian Qiao casually asking him earlier about rumors surrounding the Mingguang CEO.
Clearly, neither Lian Qiao nor Wen Zhi knew his true identity.
Then why would a man like Mo Tingyan approach Wen Zhi?
He had heard that powerful tycoons often liked to toy with women.
If… Mo Tingyan was only pursuing Wen Zhi on a whim—
Wouldn't that ruin her entire life?
Panic set in.
Jiang Xian hurried back into the restaurant's corner, pulled out his phone, and dialed Lian Qiao's number.
Inside the restaurant, Lian Qiao was asking Wen Zhi what Jiang Xian had said.
Before Wen Zhi could answer, her phone rang.
Seeing Jiang Xian's name, Lian Qiao answered.
"Hello, Jiang Xian."
"Miss Lian," Jiang Xian said urgently, "could you pass the phone to Miss Wen? I have something extremely important to tell her."
Since Wen Zhi was right beside her, Lian Qiao handed over the phone and whispered, "It's Jiang Xian."
Wen Zhi knew their families still had business ties. She couldn't afford to be too blunt.
She took the phone.
"Miss Wen," Jiang Xian asked anxiously, "what exactly is your relationship with Mr. Mo?"
Wen Zhi looked up just as Mo Tingyan walked back in.
He didn't reveal anything, did he?
No matter what, she couldn't give Jiang Xian even the slightest hope.
She hated trouble.
Calmly, she said,
"Mr. Jiang, no matter what my relationship with Mo Tingyan is, one thing is certain—I will never have any relationship with you. So please—"
Mo Tingyan approached, his eyes darkening as he caught her words.
This guy's got some nerve, he thought.
Still daring to pester her behind my back.
On the other end of the line, Jiang Xian interrupted urgently—
"Miss Wen, you misunderstand. I'm not trying to pursue you. I just want to tell you that Mr. Mo is actually—"