I Wish To Never Leave Your Side - Chapter 18

Mo Lishen wore a deep blue A-line strapless gown with a sheer mesh design at the bust, exuding a deep and captivating allure. The fringe along the side, running from front to back, accentuated her slender and graceful figure. The delicate crystals scattered across the hem resembled faint starlight reflecting on the deep blue sea, dangerous yet enchanting.

As the door opened, the warm yellow light from above spilled down, casting a radiant glow on her snow-white skin, smooth and lustrous like fine cream.

Qiu Yan nearly forgot to breathe. Her hand still held the hem of her dress, and her unadorned gaze lingered on Mo Lishen, leaving her standing there in a daze.

The intensity of the stare made Mo Lishen slightly uncomfortable, and she reached out directly to pull Qiu Yan inside.

Only after sitting in the back seat did Qiu Yan snap out of her trance. She clasped her hands together, wanting to steal another glance at Mo Lishen.

But as soon as she turned her head, she was drawn into the deepest part of those dark, oceanic eyes. Their gazes collided unexpectedly, and Qiu Yan’s cheeks flushed crimson as she immediately turned away.

“What’s wrong?” Since Qiu Yan was wearing makeup, Mo Lishen gently turned her by the shoulders, making her face her.

“You look beautiful today, President Mo,” Qiu Yan said, facing her but not daring to meet her eyes, her voice trembling with sincerity.

Mo Lishen pushed her shoulders back and turned to look out the window, a faint smile playing on her lips.

…

Yaxiu Hotel.

As soon as the car stopped at the hotel entrance, Qiu Yan was taken aback by the spectacle. Luxury cars were everywhere, accompanied by elegantly dressed men and women in tailored suits and flowing gowns.

Mo Lishen draped a fur stole over Qiu Yan’s shoulders. “It’s a bit chilly outside. Keep this on for now; you can take it off once we’re inside.”

Qiu Yan nodded, gripping the edges of the stole and pulling it up slightly.

After getting out of the car, Mo Lishen took the initiative to link arms with Qiu Yan and escorted her into the banquet.

As soon as they entered, someone spotted Mo Lishen and approached with a glass in hand to greet her.

Some exchanged pleasantries, while others complimented Mo Lishen on her appearance. However, they all shared one thing in common, none inquired about the identity of the woman accompanying her.

Politely speaking, when offering a toast, one should acknowledge the companion, but it was as if they didn’t even see Qiu Yan. After a brief chat with Mo Lishen, they would walk away.

Qiu Yan didn’t find this unusual; in fact, she was relieved that others ignored her, as it allowed her to relax a little.

Taking advantage of Mo Lishen’s conversations with others, Qiu Yan could openly observe her. She seemed so cheerful and smiling when talking to others, why was she so aloof in private?

From Qiu Yan’s perspective, Mo Lishen always seemed unhappy.

“Go ahead and grab whatever you’d like to eat,” Mo Lishen said, leading Qiu Yan to the food area and handing her a glass of red wine. “Just hold it; you don’t need to drink.”

Qiu Yan nodded and ate only a few pieces of fruit to settle her stomach. Many of the dishes on the table were unfamiliar to her, and she didn’t want to embarrass Mo Lishen.

Before long, a commotion arose in the crowd. Qiu Yan turned to look and caught only a glimpse of two gowns swaying past.

Mo Lishen took a sip of her wine and grasped Qiu Yan’s hand.

“That’s President Deng Jin of Jin Su and his wife,” Mo Lishen said, her gaze sharp and focused like a predator’s. She glanced to the side and saw Mo Licheng just picking up his glass.

She tightened her grip on Qiu Yan’s hand and strode toward Deng Jin, beating Mo Licheng to it.

Before Qiu Yan could process the situation, her feet were already following Mo Lishen.

If the president of Jin Su was Deng Jin, then his wife must be… Teacher Luo Xiao?

Before Qiu Yan could recover from her surprise, Mo Lishen was the first to raise her glass. “President Deng, Ms. Luo.”

Strangely enough, the place had been crowded just moments before, but as soon as Mo Lishen arrived, half the people had vanished.

Clearly, Deng Jin still had no intention of acknowledging her.

“Hello, Ms. Mo,” Luo Xiao slightly raised her glass, returning the greeting politely.

“And this is?” Luo Xiao looked at Qiu Yan standing beside Mo Lishen.

“My companion,” Mo Lishen turned her head toward Qiu Yan and gave her a nod.

Only then did Qiu Yan speak up. “Hello, Ms. Luo Xiao, my name is-”

“Qiu Yan,” Luo Xiao finished before she could. “You’re Qiu Yan, aren’t you?”

Deng Jin, Mo Lishen, and Qiu Yan were all taken aback.

“You’re the girl who helped push the equipment that day, right?” Luo Xiao’s face gradually broke into a smile. “I remember you. You even acted in one of my films before.”

“Thank you for remembering me, Ms. Luo. I was just a minor extra, not worth mentioning,” Qiu Yan replied, feeling both flattered and astonished that an acclaimed actress who graced the big screen still remembered her.

“Of course, I remember. You acted exceptionally well. I really liked the emotion in your eyes,” Luo Xiao praised Qiu Yan sincerely.

Mo Lishen curled her lips into a faint smile. This was exactly what she had hoped for.

“President Deng,” Mo Lishen raised her glass once more, her gaze fixed on Deng Jin.

Seeing how enthusiastically her wife was chatting, Deng Jin couldn’t bring herself to interrupt. Reluctantly, she clinked glasses with Mo Lishen.

“My brother showed me the project proposal between the Mo Group and your company. I came here specifically to apologize to you, President Deng,” Mo Lishen said, downing the red wine in her glass in one go.

Deng Jin merely touched the wine to her lips. “What do you mean by that?”

“The proposal states that the Mo Group will deliver the first batch of products three months after the contract is signed. However, our production capacity in this area isn’t that extensive. With such a large quantity, three months simply isn’t feasible.”

As the conversation shifted to business, Deng Jin’s expression turned serious. She swirled her glass, signaling for Mo Lishen to continue.

“It will take at least five months to deliver all the goods. If I and Jin Su are overseeing the project, I can offer you a three-cent discount per unit.”

“For new products, the Mo Group is still in the exploratory phase. I am genuinely grateful that you, President Deng, have placed your trust in us, giving us this opportunity to collaborate. However, I believe in being upfront about our shortcomings. Honesty is the foundation of any partnership.”

Deng Jin took another sip of wine, quickly running through the contract details in her mind. “Jin Su naturally values honesty. Whether I collaborate with you or your brother makes little difference to me. But how can I be sure that what you’re saying is true?”

Mo Lishen turned her head slightly and caught sight of Mo Licheng’s anxious expression from across the room. She smiled triumphantly.

“My brother has been waiting with a drink, eager to speak with you for quite some time. Once he arrives, you can ask him directly, President Deng. I trust that with your business acumen, you will make the wisest choice,” Mo Lishen replied calmly, nodding as she glanced at the two women chatting animatedly beside her.

“I really admire how you convey emotions in your performances, Ms. Luo. Every detail is handled perfectly, and it always moves me deeply,” Qiu Yan spoke with grace and confidence. Her usual insecurities seemed to fade in the face of her passion, and in that moment, she stood there, shining just as brightly as anyone else at the party.

A flicker of light passed through Mo Lishen’s eyes before they returned to normal. She reached out and took Qiu Yan’s hand.

“You flatter me. It’s mainly because most emotional scenes remind me of my wife, so it feels natural to channel those feelings.” As she spoke, Luo Xiao wrapped her arms around Deng Jin’s arm, leaning her head happily against Deng Jin’s shoulder.

Deng Jin, who had been quite serious just moments before, immediately broke into a smile, her eyes filled with tenderness.

Qiu Yan’s hand was held by Mo Lishen, and she took the opportunity to squeeze back gently.

“President Deng and Luo Xiao are truly so loving. May you share a lifetime of happiness together.” Qiu Yan said sincerely, watching the two of them with a touch of envy.

“Thank you.” Luo Xiao replied with a smile, while Deng Jin nodded in acknowledgment.

“We won’t disturb you any further then. Please carry on with your work.” Mo Lishen said with a nod, leading Qiu Yan away.

Deng Jin and Luo Xiao’s relationship was well-known to everyone. They had never hidden their affection, loving each other openly and without reservation. Anyone would envy such a bond.

Qiu Yan looked down at her hand, still clasped in Mo Lishen’s, feeling the earlier excitement fade slightly. Perhaps it was time to stop indulging in unrealistic fantasies.

Just as she was about to look up, she saw someone striding toward them. Before she could react, a force pulled her aside and into a familiar embrace.

“What’s the matter? What has you in such a hurry, President Mo?” Mo Lishen pulled Qiu Yan aside, intercepting Mo Licheng with a sly smile playing on her lips.

“What were you talking about with President Deng?” Mo Lishen glanced over at Deng Jin again, her tone sharp.

“Just catching up. Why are you so tense?” Mo Lishen feigned innocence.

Mo Licheng gritted his teeth, picked up his glass, and strode away quickly.

Mo Lishen sneered, pulling Qiu Yan into her arms. Her voice softened even more than before. “Thank you for today.”

“For what?” Qiu Yan was confused.

“Never mind,” Mo Lishen said, taking her hand and leading her to rest.

Once they were seated, Mo Lishen raised her hand slightly, and Bai Hua appeared out of nowhere.

“President Mo.”

“Bring some food, something filling.”

“Yes.”

“Are your feet hurting?” Mo Lishen glanced down at Qiu Yan’s high heels.

“It’s fine.” Qiu Yan replied, feeling a bit flustered as she tucked her feet further under her dress.

Before long, Bai Hua returned with two plates. Mo Lishen took them and said, “Wait in the car. We’ll be leaving soon.”

After Bai Hua left, Mo Lishen handed one of the plates to Qiu Yan. “Their cakes are quite good. You should try one.”

Qiu Yan took the plate and obediently began to eat.

Mo Lishen was still treating her so kindly. Was it because she resembled her mother? Qiu Yan felt that Mo Lishen was different from before, but she couldn’t pinpoint exactly how.

The cake was delicious. If only Yuanyuan could have some too.

As she was thinking this, she saw the man from earlier storming back, his fists clenched tightly.

And Mo Lishen beside her was actually resting with her eyes closed! Should she wake her? What if the man really tried something…

Without time to think further, Qiu Yan immediately stood up from her chair, positioning herself in front of Mo Lishen.

A thin blade slid out.

Mo Lishen had timed it perfectly. Just as Mo Licheng reached her, she activated the mechanism.

But Qiu Yan had suddenly stepped in front of her. Mo Lishen shifted her right hand to the side, retracting the blade, and stood up to pull Qiu Yan aside.

Mo Licheng’s fists were clenched tightly at his sides, veins bulging in his neck. “You dare to set me up?”

“President Mo, don’t make baseless accusations. When have I ever schemed against you?” Mo Lishen crossed his arms, looking at him as if he were a stray dog.

“The Mo family’s supply chain could clearly deliver within three months. Just to snatch this from me, you fabricated excuses to lower the price by three cents. Mo Lishen, I’ve been preparing for this project for over half a year. Are you deliberately making things difficult for me?” Mo Licheng practically spat these words through clenched teeth.

“And when have you ever gone easy on me?” Mo Lishen smiled, like a crimson rose dripping with fresh blood.

“Fine. Rest assured, I’ll make sure you don’t have it easy either.” Mo Licheng spat a mouthful of bloody saliva, glared viciously at Mo Lishen, then turned and left.

Mo Licheng’s words would prove prophetic much later.