Lin Nuan knocked on the door. Song Yao immediately yanked Cen Mo's hand away from her waist and jogged to open the door for Lin Nuan in her high heels.
"Nuan…" Song Yao revealed a vibrant smile at Lin Nuan, looking like a woman being nourished by love from all angles, appearing younger by several years.
Seeing Lin Nuan enter, the corner of Cen Mo's mouth turned up as he slipped both hands into his pockets.
Song Yao grabbed Lin Nuan's hand and closed the door with the other hand, pulling Lin Nuan into the room. "Cen Mo has told me about what happened at the Lins last time. Cen Mo was in the wrong. How dare he speak so arrogantly to my best friend, I must make him apologize today!"
Lin Nuan was caught by surprise. She had expected Cen Mo to keep what had happened from Song Yao. Lin Nuan had planned to keep it a secret too.
Lin Nuan couldn't tell if Cen Mo was truly aboveboard all of a sudden.
Actually, it was Cen Mo who was narrow-minded in that matter. He feared Lin Nuan would bring up the matter with Song Yao, so he decided to come clean first.
Naturally, when Cen Mo raised it with Song Yao, he didn't mention how overbearing he was at the Lins.
As usual, Cen Mo had a maybe-smiling-maybe-not expression on his face. He extended a hand to Lin Nuan. "I'm sorry about what happened that day. I was indeed a little over-anxious because Song Yao had gone missing. Let me introduce myself again—Cen Mo, Song Yao's boyfriend."
He was trying to be friendly, and what's more, he was Song Yao's boyfriend. So, even if Lin Nuan still remembered the terrifying sight of Song Yao that day at the hotel, since Song Yao herself didn't mind anymore, why should she be calculative over this?
Lin Nuan also smiled as she shook hands with Cen Mo.
Song Yao, who was by the side, heaved a sigh of relief. Today, Bai Xiaonian wasn't around to liven up the atmosphere. She truly feared that Lin Nuan would feel displeased with Cen Mo because of what had happened at the Lins, as well as the state Lin Nuan saw her in at the hotel that day.
The Night Palace was famous in Haicheng; if it weren't for Cen Mo, they might not have been able to book a suite.
When one heard the name Night Palace, one would likely think it was a nightclub, disco, or someplace like that. Actually, it was similar to one, but the Night Palace's distinguishing feature was its collection of alcohol; it boasted a selection of liquor that others might not be able to procure outside even if they had money.
Song Yao pulled Lin Nuan towards the comfortable sofa and poured Lin Nuan a glass of wine. "You'll get sober in time with this, try it…"
Cen Mo was seated on the left-hand side of Lin Nuan and Song Yao. He lifted the glass on the table, his legs crossed, casually leaning against the sofa as he looked at Song Yao and her best friend, Lin Nuan!
Song Yao was way more passionate to Lin Nuan than him. Cen Mo lightly swirled the dark ruby-like liquid within the glass as he said, "I wonder, when is President Fu coming?"
"He's sending the kid back. He'll be here after settling him down," Lin Nuan replied in a courteous tone.
"It would be great if President Fu could get here quickly!" Cen Mo smiled at Song Yao. "Then I won't be left in a corner."
Song Yao and Cen Mo exchanged glances. They obviously hadn't said a word to each other, but Lin Nuan could feel sparks flying as their gazes met.
Lin Nuan was rendered speechless.
Maybe she should have gone back with Fu Huai'an to settle down Tuan Tuan before coming here. She was too bright a lightbulb[1.In Chinese, the metaphor "electric lightbulb" is used to describe someone who is playing gooseberry, i.e. it means he/she is an unwanted third person who is present when two other people in a romantic relationship want to be alone].
Lin Nuan felt a little awkward, so she whipped out her phone and said, "I'll go out and give Huai'an a call!"
"No need to hurry!" Song Yao pulled Lin Nuan, who was getting up from her seat.
Lin Nuan smiled at Song Yao but still left the suite nonetheless.
Lin Nuan wasn't planning on calling Fu Huai'an after she left the suite, she merely wanted to give Cen Mo and Song Yao their private space.
Cen Mo and Song Yao were in an infatuation phase of the relationship; even their gazes were sticky.
Lin Nuan stood on the balcony of the third level of the Night Palace, staring at the misted night scene of the garden behind the Night Palace. She thought of herself and Fu Huai'an… were they like this in others' eyes?
"Lin Nuan?"
Lin Nuan turned around at the mention of her name. She saw Wen Moshi with an unlit cigarette hanging at the corner of his lips. His face appeared much thinner now, his eyes a little bloodshot, looking fatigued.
After calling out her name with an unsure tone, when Wen Moshi confirmed that it was indeed Lin Nuan, he heaved a sigh of relief.
He removed the cigarette from his mouth and rolled it into a ball before he tossed it into the trash can. He then walked towards Lin Nuan. "Why are you here?"
"Here for a gathering with friends…" Lin Nuan smiled at Wen Moshi as she replied.
Lin Nuan had heard what happened to the Wen Corporation over this period. Wen Moshen's operation had just ended when his father found out he had a heart condition…
Originally, Wen Moshi was prepared to leave the country, but he had no choice but to stay and handle matters at the Wen Corporation.
With the collapse of Wen Moshen's father and Wen Moshen, those who had been eyeing the Wen Corporation had naturally pounced at the chance. During this period, even Wen Moshen's mother had no choice but to come out and socialize; how could Wen Moshi have the cheek to leave at this crucial moment?
Wen Moshi's facial features, which were similar to Wen Moshen's gentle ones, appeared fatigued.
Wen Moshi looked less lively today compared to when he had confessed to Lin Nuan the other time. Although he appeared fatigued, he did look more like a mature businessman now.
Lin Nuan gazed at Wen Moshi, who was standing beside her with both hands in his pockets. He was staring at the quiet scenery of the garden behind the Night Palace, a deep look in his eyes…
Wen Moshi was truly exhausted. But just standing with Lin Nuan like this, it was almost as if he managed to feel peace for that moment.
"Although matters at the Wen Corporation are tricky, you shouldn't throw all of yourself at it and disregard your health…"
They had grown up together, so seeing Wen Moshi like this, Lin Nuan had to remind him.
Wen Moshi smiled as he shook his head. "Even my mother, who's used to reveling in a high position and indulging in comfort, is out socializing now. If I still don't put in the effort, the Wens might really be finished…"
Lin Nuan pursed her lips, not sure how to respond to that. It had always been like that in business!
When Lin Nuan was still at the Lins, she had seen many instances of business partners who had close ties with Lin Jingquan… just disappeared without a sound later on.
Lin Nuan, who had grown up at the Lins' house, did know a little about the brutalities of the business world.
Perhaps unwilling to see Lin Nuan frown, Wen Moshi changed the topic. "I heard from my mother that she looked for you because of my brother. I'm truly sorry about that!"
Lin Nuan smiled. "Brother Moshen already apologized…"
"Right, also, congratulations on your marriage!" Wen Moshi said in a low voice.
Wen Moshi knew that Tuan Tuan wasn't Lin Nuan's kid.
After all, when Lin Nuan left for Iraq in search of Wen Moshen, her stomach was flat… and she didn't appear pregnant at all!
So how could she suddenly produce a child in the short span of slightly over one month?
However, since Lin Nuan had already gotten married and admitted that the child was hers, she naturally had her reasons for doing so. Although he knew the truth… Wen Moshi wasn't so free as to go around spreading the truth of how Lin Nuan was, in fact, not pregnant at the time.
"Thanks!" Lin Nuan thanked him.