Chapter 32: Secure in His Masculinity

Mo Qingchen swooped in, his palm sliding into hers as she tried to get up. With another, he grabbed her waist and propped her up on the chair without a hitch.

Qian Meng stared, baffled at what had just transpired.

"Just being a gentleman," he defended quickly, shrugging off the matter. She put it to rest herself and watched as he expertly got on the stool without a problem. The thing was, his legs reached the floor while hers dangled mid-air.

"How tall are you?" she asked, squinting.

"Six foot three inches, why?" He gave her a curious look. "Are you trying to measure me? I think the size of my shoe would come in handy instead," he suggested.

Qian Meng rolled her eyes. "You need new clothes. I was thinking of sending you some. You look practically homeless."

He looked down at his shirt. "What's wrong with what I am wearing? I enjoy not having to think about what I will wear that day and focusing my energy on my work and other aspects of my life." He shrugged.

"As the boss, you have hundreds of employees looking up to you. If you can't appear presentable and in control of your life, how are they supposed to remain confident in your future prospects?" she challenged. She placed her elbows on the table and propped her chin in her palms as she scrutinized his expression.

He looked calm as he replied. "My revenues speak for themself. I don't need to prance around like a peacock to prove that I am worth something." His words were biting and somewhat intended towards her."

"Ah, if you're such a genius, why are you still stuck where you are? Mark is a few years older than you and he is the fourth richest man on the planet. You're greatly lacking in the department. I would even wonder if you were copying him with that grey shirt and jeans routine," Qian Meng taunted. That seemed to pull a reaction out of him.

"The amount of money I have garnered already is massive. Can't say the same about you." He glared at her fiercely.

"You work in technology and development. Your scope is unlimited. Yet here you are, still unable to make a clear cut impact in the industry. You are a genius, a nerd in your own right who creates groundbreaking technology, but it is your lack of experience in selling yourself and your products that keep you from achieving great heights." She presented her case very formally. She wondered if she should ask him for consultation fees. "You may think that putting your ideas and products out in the world is enough but remember, you just created something faster than the others. If they see your idea, they can use it and create something to the same effect. Only, they have better exposure and marketing. In the end, you'll be the one losing out." Her argument was sane.

"You're talking about things you know nothing about." Mo Qingchen looked around to find someone to take their order. His eyes met a server's and he beckoned them over.

"I don't know the landscape of technology, that is for sure. But I do know how the world goes around. It has immense potential and your brain can squeeze out ideas that no other person can fathom." The compliment from her left him stunned. She saw the expression and smirked. "I know brilliance when I see it. And I don't lie."

"If you are so in tune with what the customer wants, why are you still stuck at your current net worth?" Mo Qingchen had the audacity to look smug. Qian Meng glared at him before turning away.

"I work in the fashion industry for the most part. While my money is spread across different sectors, they don't fetch crazy amounts of returns at the moment. And it is difficult to get that much money from fashion, especially from a brand that is no more than four years old."

She had to shrug. She wasn't satisfied with the trajectory of her wealth, either.

The server had finally come over. The two finally looked over the menu that was handed to them.

"I'll start with the 'Red String of Fate' and 'Ten Thousand Miles'." Yun Qian Meng closed the menu. She gestured towards Mo Qingchen to go ahead.

"I'll have the 'Ignorance is Bliss' for now. Do you offer anything with beer?" He was too lazy to go through the whole menu.

"You can get the 'Done at Dawn.' It tastes amazing."

"I'll take that. Add in the tasting menu for one and that will be all for now." Mo Qingchen handed the menu over to the server and looked back at Qian Meng.

"You're hungry?" she asked curiously.

"Not really. I don't think you had anything to eat so I ordered in place of you. You shouldn't drink on an empty stomach," he said matter-of-factly.

"I thought we were not dining with one another," Qian Meng challenged. She raised an eyebrow and waited for him.

"The reason for asking you to dinner will not be brought up today, so turn a blind eye to this."

Qian Meng felt a smile tug at her lips. The drinks arrived soon and they could leisurely take a sip of their own drinks. While hers looked vivid and tasted good, she was curious as to what his tasted like. Both looked like 'girly drinks' and Mo Qingchen didn't seem to mind.

"My masculinity is not fragile enough to think about frou-frou drinks. They taste amazing and anyone who says differently should stay away from alcohol permanently." He sounded bored for some reason.

"Glad to know you are secure in your masculinity, Mr. Mo." She scoffed. There was a short silence.

It was Mo Qingchen who broke it with a sigh. "I should have asked you out for a drink before. I apologize." He looked away from her, his eyes roaming around the room before it stopped on something. She followed his gaze and saw their server making their way towards them.