Jiang Fei followed Lin Moli into the hotel room, but unlike young couples who couldn’t keep their hands off each other the moment the door closed, their reunion wasn’t a wildfire of passion.
Lin Moli carefully arranged the roses first, then pulled out a stack of documents for Jiang Fei to sign. After all, as the majority shareholder and legal representative of Jiang Clinic, he’d been an absentee boss, leaving everything in Lin Moli’s hands. But paperwork for new drug approvals and the pharmaceutical company’s establishment required his signature—and with Jiang Fei stuck in Beijing, the backlog had piled up.
“The FDA won’t open until Monday. Any plans for this afternoon?” Jiang Fei finally set aside the thick stack of signed documents and asked with a smile.
Lin Moli, seated beside him with her elbows propped on the table and chin in her hands, had been gazing at him adoringly the whole time—as if he were the most handsome man alive, impossible to tire of looking at.
“This afternoon?” She snapped out of her daze, taking a moment to recall her schedule. “Qiao Yiyi knew I’d be in Beijing today, so she asked to meet up.”
Jiang Fei nodded.
The superstar Qiao Yiyi had stayed at his villa in Daocun for over a week while recovering from vocal cord damage. Back then, it wasn’t just the two of them living together—Lin Moli had returned almost daily, and the two women had grown close.
Beautiful women, after all, naturally gravitated toward each other, sharing common ground and interests.
“If I’d known you were picking me up, I wouldn’t have agreed to meet her,” Lin Moli said, tilting her head slightly.
“Why not?”
“Do you really need to ask?” She rolled her eyes.
Jiang Fei caught on and chuckled. “Go ahead and see her. I’ll tag along. It’s been a while since I last saw her in Jin City anyway.”
“Acting all reluctant when you’re actually eager to see her?” Lin Moli teased. “Don’t bother denying it. I’m neither blind nor stupid—I know exactly what’s going on between you two.”
“What ‘going on’? I’ve never done anything with Qiao Yiyi—scout’s honor!” Jiang Fei declared righteously.
“Not doing anything doesn’t mean not wanting to.”
Like a mind-reading enchantress, Lin Moli shot him a knowing, flirtatious glance. “Back at the villa, after you played the guitar for her, I noticed how her eyes changed when she looked at you. She tried to hide it, but I’m a woman—I know. And after your piano performance at her concert? The adoration in her gaze was practically naked. Half the audience probably noticed too. Why else would the media insist you two were dating? They didn’t pull that out of thin air.”
Jiang Fei’s mouth twitched.
Deep down, he’d had an inkling, but hearing it laid out so bluntly left him flustered.
What unsettled him more, though, was why Lin Moli was telling him this.
Rubbing his nose, he asked wryly, “Maybe you’re right. But why bring it up now?”
Lin Moli shrugged. “Before, as the ‘primary wife,’ I saw it as my duty to chase off every butterfly around you. Of course I wouldn’t point out Qiao Yiyi’s crush—that’d just help you conquer her faster. But now that I’m the ‘secondary wife,’ that’s not my job anymore. So why not tell you?”
“Women’s logic is impossible to decipher!” Jiang Fei groaned.
Her reasoning sounded almost plausible—until you thought about it and realized how utterly absurd it was.
He’d always pegged Lin Moli as someone with a trendy exterior but conservative values. When had she become so… shameless?
“A woman’s heart is as deep as the ocean—good luck trying to fish out more than one,” Lin Moli quipped, batting her long lashes. Then, curiosity sparkling in her eyes, she leaned in. “So, during those days at the villa, did you really never once feel anything for Qiao Yiyi? She’s a top-tier Asian superstar—irresistible by any man’s standards. Or were you just suppressing it, like you did with me at first?”
Jiang Fei stayed silent, mortified.
This woman was getting bolder by the minute.
How am I supposed to answer that?!
Misreading his hesitation, Lin Moli’s eyes gleamed. “Go on, tell me. We’re past the point where honesty would upset me—unlike Bai Ruoxi, I won’t throw a fit if you admit you like her.”
Scratching his head, Jiang Fei chose his words carefully. “Not ‘liking,’ exactly. More… appreciation. A beautiful woman is like a scenic view—pleasing to the eye.”
Lin Moli wasn’t buying it. “Just appreciation? No other thoughts? Please! Men adore beauties, especially one like Qiao Yiyi. Add her superstar status—the ‘nation’s sweetheart,’ future diva—and it’s irresistible. Don’t you guys get off on conquering high-status women? Imagine the ego boost, having millions’ idol in your arms.”
“……” Jiang Fei conceded defeat in this verbal sparring.
Had her business acumen somehow supercharged her IQ—and her insight into male psychology?
Watching him squirm, Lin Moli giggled. “Why not go for it today? Trust me, she’d say yes if you lifted a finger.”
Jiang Fei waved her off. “On second thought, you should meet her alone. I’ve got… things to do.”
——————————
Laoshe Teahouse, named after the famed writer, was a quintessential Beijing establishment.
Whether it had actual ties to Lao She was unclear, but its traditional décor and cultural vibe were undeniable. Here, patrons enjoyed premium teas, imperial-style snacks, and seasonal delicacies while watching performances by renowned opera and folk artists—a refined retreat.
Crucially, it was a celebrity hotspot, making it the perfect discreet meetup for Qiao Yiyi.
(Of course, Jiang Fei ended up going anyway.)
“Moli! Over here!” Qiao Yiyi waved, her eyes lighting up at the sight of Jiang Fei. “You came too!”
Lin Moli smirked, subtly pinching Jiang Fei’s arm. “He was thrilled when he heard I was meeting you—insisted on tagging along.”
Qiao Yiyi’s smile brightened, though she playfully chided, “Stop teasing. He’d never—” Her gaze turned wistful. “Last time I invited him, he was ‘too busy’…”
Jiang Fei coughed, pretending to study the teahouse’s interior. “Great ambiance. Less laidback than Jin City’s teahouses, but dripping with old Beijing charm.”
As Qiao Yiyi led them to a secluded corner, she nodded. “I come here every time I’m in town. Actually, Jiang Fei, a friend of mine’s been wanting an introduction. She’s here today—we ran into her earlier.”
“Why me?” Jiang Fei asked.
Qiao Yiyi covered a laugh, her eyes admiring. “You’re the miracle doctor everyone’s talking about. She’s hoping for a consultation.”
“That’s easy lately. The Chinese Medicine Association’s been holding free clinics—I’ve even manned a few myself. For tough cases, I’ll step in.”
(One of Jiang Fei’s initiatives as chairman was nationwide Free Clinic—free medical service days.)
“Free clinics? She probably didn’t know…” Qiao Yiyi mused as they reached their table, where a woman in a white dress under a denim jacket sat. “Sister Yuan, look who’s here—”
