Chapter 12: Unparalleled Elegance

“I—” Chu Yitong’s voice faltered as she gazed into those eyes brimming with hope, whispering softly, “Grandfather!”

They gradually faded from sight, leaving her bewildered and lost in thought. After a long moment, she sighed deeply. No matter what, at least now she had a lead to pursue. With enough patience, she was certain she would uncover the truth.

Relying on her own memories, she returned to her residence: Nobleman’s Abode. It was a detached little house located close to the main building. The name likely stemmed from the courtyard filled with clivia plants, lending the place a tranquil and elegant air.

As night deepened, she stood by the window, drawing back her thoughts and staring into the distance, wondering if tomorrow would still be bathed in brilliant sunshine.

In a luxurious private room on the second floor of Blue Melody, a man in a pink shirt lounged lazily on the sofa, his phoenix-like eyes sparkling with mischief and charm. “A Jing, you came to Blue Melody yesterday without letting any of us know. What was that about?”

From a nearby card table came a cold voice, tinged with frost, sweeping his gaze over the pink-clad man. “Won. Just wandering around.”

At those words, the man suddenly sat upright, his narrow eyes locking onto him. Xie Chenjing had earned a doctorate in Business Administration at eighteen, along with two master’s degrees. At the same age, he founded the Qincheng Group, and in just five years, he had become a renowned figure in the business world.

Handsome and noble, unparalleled in talent and grace, countless people tried to uncover his background, hoping to form connections with this rising star. Some even sent their own daughters to him, seeking greater advantages.

Alas, they all misunderstood him. He was practical and unaffected by trivial matters. In moments of casual conversation, he could reduce others to ruin. The incident three years ago remained fresh in everyone’s memory, a topic spoken of with dread. Since then, his name entered the circles of many wealthy elites. Now, three years later, the boyishness had faded, and he was an unstoppable force in the business realm.

“Wandering?” He sat still for a few seconds, then leaned back leisurely, his voice gentle but lazy. “I believe you. Do you believe it yourself?” Then, feigning shock, he exclaimed, “Tsk tsk, could it be you’ve taken a fancy to the princess here, so you sneaked around?” His eyes roved over the other man with sly amusement.

At the table, a man in a checkered shirt slowly shuffled his cards and drawled, “Mo Liang, you’re overthinking it.”

“Haha, Shen Jie’s right, you’re imagining too much. Anything’s possible, but that? Absolutely not. Right, A Jing?”

Xie Chenjing’s attention remained fixed on the cards, sparing not even a glance. Unhurried, he shuffled the deck. His thin lips parted slightly. “Lin Mo Liang, you’re just bored out of your mind.”

The dim light in the room could not obscure the speaker’s extraordinary presence. Wearing a simple white shirt with the collar slightly open and sleeves rolled up to reveal wheat-colored skin, his features seemed meticulously carved, every line elegant and flawless. His deep, detached eyes held a cold aloofness that captured the gaze at once, impossible to look away from.

“My ‘balls’ aren’t hurting at all, A Jing, no way I expected such coarse words to come from your mouth. I’m shocked,” Lin Mo Liang said with mock seriousness, clutching his chest with both hands in a comical gesture.

“Tsk tsk tsk, Mo Liang, this is your fault. How could the princess of Blue Melody catch A Jing’s eye? If you saw the scenes I and that idiot Zhao run into, you’d realize how far off you are!” Zhu Yansheng grinned roguishly. He liked beautiful women but chose his targets carefully—some were fair game for teasing, others better kept at a respectful distance.

“Who are you calling idiot Zhao? Get lost, I don’t want to see you,” Zhao Ziqian, sitting nearby, shot back mercilessly.

“I—” Chu Yitong’s voice faltered, gazing into those eyes full of hope, softly calling, “Grandfather!”

They slowly disappeared before her eyes, leaving her confused and uncertain. After a long while, she sighed. No matter what, at least now she had something to go on. With enough patience, she would surely find the answers.

Using her memory, she returned to her home: Nobleman’s Abode, a separate small house near the main building. The name likely came from the courtyard filled with clivia plants, peaceful and refined.

As night deepened, she stood by the window, withdrawing her thoughts and gazing into the distance, wondering if tomorrow would be another bright sunny day.

In the luxurious private room on Blue Melody’s second floor, the man in the pink shirt lounged lazily on the sofa, his phoenix eyes gleaming with mischievous charm. “A Jing, you came to Blue Melody yesterday without telling any of us brothers. What was that about?”

From the nearby card table came a cold, frosty voice. “Won. Just wandering.”

Hearing this, the man suddenly sat upright, his narrow eyes fixed on him. Xie Chenjing had earned a doctorate in Business Administration at eighteen, alongside two master’s degrees. At eighteen, he established the Qincheng Group, and in just five years, had risen to prominence in the business world.

Handsome and noble, unmatched in talent and grace, countless people sought to investigate his background, hoping to link themselves to this rising star. Some even sent their daughters to him, seeking greater gain.

Unfortunately, they all misjudged him. He was practical and unaffected by mundane matters. In casual conversation, he could bring others to ruin. The incident three years ago left a deep impression, spoken of with fear. Since then, his name entered the sights of many wealthy and influential figures. Now, after three years, he had shed his youthful naivety and become an unignorable star in the business world.

“Wandering?” He sat silently for a few seconds, then leaned back slowly, gentle and lazy. “I believe it. Do you believe it yourself?” Then, feigning surprise, he exclaimed, “Tsk tsk, could it be you’ve taken a liking to the princess here, so you sneaked around?” He appraised him from head to toe, eyes gleaming with mischief.

At the card table, the man in the checkered shirt slowly shuffled his cards and said, “Mo Liang, you’re overthinking it.”

“Haha, Shen Jie’s right, you’re imagining too much. Anything is possible, but that? Absolutely not. Right, A Jing?”

Xie Chenjing focused on the cards, sparing no glance. Slowly shuffling, his thin lips parted. “Lin Mo Liang, you’re just bored out of your mind.”

The dim room light did nothing to diminish the speaker’s exceptional bearing. Dressed in a simple white shirt with the collar slightly open and sleeves rolled to the wrist, revealing sun-kissed skin, his features seemed carefully sculpted, every detail elegant and flawless. His deep, cold eyes held a detached aloofness that captured attention instantly, impossible to look away from.

“My ‘balls’ aren’t hurting at all, A Jing. Who would have thought such crude words would come from your mouth? It shocks me,” Lin Mo Liang said, humorously clutching his chest.

“Tsk tsk tsk, Mo Liang, this is your fault. How could the princess of Blue Melody catch A Jing’s eye? If you saw the scenes I and that fool Zhao ran into, you’d know the difference is vast!” Zhu Yansheng chuckled roguishly. He liked beautiful women but was selective—some could be teased, others were better admired from afar.

“Who are you calling fool Zhao? Get lost, I don’t want to see you,” Zhao Ziqian, sitting nearby, retorted sharply.