An exceptional woman

At the end of the year, the entire Sky City conglomerate was bustling with activity. Since taking office, Leng Tingyu had been relentlessly driving the performance of the three project divisions.

During the year-end meeting, Leng Tingyu presented her report, revealing that Sky City’s gaming revenue was on track to hit a record high. Although she had been in her position for only a short time, her remarks during the meeting—which touched upon every aspect of the operations with such meticulous precision—had already earned the deep respect of many in attendance.

She continued, "There are several key tasks for the group next year. First, the convention and exhibition industry: Nanjiang’s current trend is overly reliant on gambling, and the group hopes to leverage its own strengths in the convention sector next year. Nanjiang is located near the Pearl River Delta, which handles forty percent of China's export business. Coupled with our world-class exhibition facilities and supporting infrastructure, our appeal to international buyers is self-evident. Leveraging the Sky City Group’s network, we have already scheduled forty-four exhibition projects for next year. I would like to thank Ms. Ye Linglan of Project Group Three for her hard work over the past six months."

Linglan froze. She had not expected Leng Tingyu to mention her name at the annual meeting. She was instantly met with a wave of gazes. She looked at Leng Tingyu, who sat at the main table. The woman’s confidence was not arrogant; it was the product of a high-level education and refined scholarship. She lacked the spoiled nature of a wealthy socialite, possessing instead a unique, poised temperament.

"On the other hand," Leng Tingyu continued, "we are beginning the construction of the podium's 'FS' hotel and its auxiliary facilities. The group has invested eight billion into this FS hotel, and we will be partnering for management with various top-tier brands, including Shangri-La, Sheraton, and Hilton. In truth, the Nanjiang coastal area is very similar to what Las Vegas was like before its development. Based on my previous experience in developing Las Vegas, the group has no concerns about the prospects of our project."

Linglan looked disinterestedly at the thick stack of documents on the conference table, suddenly feeling a wave of exhaustion. She gripped the phone in her pocket. Within its encrypted files were the photos she had taken of him investigating Secretary Qin. Mo Zhicheng was once again colluding with Deputy Secretary Su Yu, aiming to seize land from the "City Investment" group. Meanwhile, the group planned to invest eight billion in the FS hotel next year. If a scandal were to be exposed now, it would deal a devastating blow to Sky City’s capital and Mo Zhicheng’s standing.

Young Master Ye possessed the files she had edited, but the photos were in her hands. Should she hand them over?

She looked at Mo Zhicheng’s empty seat. She knew he had been receiving a barrage of interviews from major media outlets throughout the day, so busy that he couldn't even attend the dinner following the annual meeting. That was why Leng Tingyu had taken over.

Before the dinner began, everyone scrambled to crowd around the LED screen to watch a live interview with Mo Zhicheng. Linglan stood a short distance away, watching the man on the screen. He displayed elegance and restraint to the fullest. As he navigated the interview with strategic poise, Mo Zhicheng did not proactively bring up the gambling industry.

When asked by a reporter, Mo Zhicheng offered a polite smile to the camera: "Gambling is just one of Sky City's entertainment projects; there is no need to be secretive about it. In fact, our group strives to emphasize the entertainment value of gaming and opposes addictive gambling. If we speak of the proportion of gaming revenue, it only accounts for thirty-five percent of Sky City Group’s total income. Although it remains the largest source of profit for our projects, Sky City strives to be an international resort that integrates gaming, exhibitions, hotels, and services. This has always been the goal pursued by the people of Sky City."

"Mr. Mo, regarding your success—in just seven years, you have vaulted into the ranks of gaming magnates. Could you share your secret to success?"

Mo Zhicheng fell silent for a moment. Linglan looked at him on the screen, feeling as if their eyes were locked. His gaze was as profound and charming as ever. The polite smile faded from his lips, a subtle shift in his expression that did not escape her notice. She seemed to see him lapse into a brief memory, distracted for a second, before a soft, light curve appeared on his lips. Unlike his professional exterior, this smile held a trace of sweetness.

"The secret to success reminds me of the 80/20 rule mentioned to me by a woman. She asked why it was so strange that eighty percent of the world's wealth falls into the hands of twenty percent of the people. I told her then that it is because the road to success is overgrown with thorns; eighty percent of people cannot persevere and choose to give up easily, while twenty percent break through the obstacles and resolutely see it through to the end."

Seeing that Mo Zhicheng was in a talkative mood, the reporter pressed on: "Mr. Mo, the woman you just mentioned—is she your lover?"

As expected, once the topic reached this point, everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on the screen, waiting for his answer. The 80/20 rule, a woman... Linglan’s fingers tightened involuntarily. She was suddenly expectant of the answer, yet terrified of it. She hoped to know what she meant to him, but feared that the more he cared, the less she would be able to bear hurting him.

Another voice intertwined in her mind, igniting a slow, burning pain in her chest. She turned away immediately, not wanting to hear his reply, only to see Leng Tingyu passing by her side, squinting at the screen, also waiting for the man’s answer.

Linglan stopped, unable to see the LED screen behind her, feeling as if the whole world had gone still in anticipation. Then, she heard the man’s soft laughter; he smiled but did not answer. Because it was a live broadcast, the reporter immediately asked, "Mr. Mo, do you consider yourself a romantic man in your personal life?"

Linglan closed her eyes gently, hearing only the man’s low voice: "The romance I believe in may be different from what you understand. Perhaps it is just small details—when she is cold, pouring her a cup of hot water, or reminding her to take her cold medicine on time. I think that kind of feeling is very romantic."

Linglan buried her face in her palms. That time she had caught a cold after getting caught in the rain, a cup of hot water and medicine had been placed on her nightstand every night. Her throat grew so tight she could no longer speak, and her eyes were wet, staining her fingers.

Leng Tingyu watched the screen, her brow furrowed. Mo Zhicheng never spoke of his private life to the outside world, yet today he had made an exception. She looked at the woman hanging her head beside her, whose body was trembling slightly. She stepped closer and asked, "What’s wrong?"

Linglan looked up at the sound, tears shimmering in her eyes. Every time she felt so vulnerable in front of Leng Tingyu, she turned her face away and straightened her back, not wanting to reveal her thoughts to this woman. Not until she had steadied her breathing did she meet Leng Tingyu’s gaze: "Nothing, Director Leng. I have a cold; I'm just not feeling well."

Leng Tingyu nodded, though she didn't know why, every time she saw the woman before her, she felt a sense of precariousness. In truth, she understood Mo Zhicheng better than anyone. From the time he was a teenager, he had lived with the Leng family. It could be said that from the moment she began to understand love, Mo Zhicheng had been by her side, growing up with her. Seven years ago, when Mo Zhicheng returned to the country, she was still young, and completing her education was her primary focus in life. Ever since she finished her studies at Harvard, she had returned home—ostensibly to take over the family business, but in reality, she intended to marry Mo Zhicheng. She wanted to be Mo Zhicheng’s woman. This was a dream she had waited for far too many years!

"Director Leng, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head out first," Ye Linglan said with a faint smile.

At the annual dinner, Linglan remained distracted. Mo Zhicheng had not been able to make it, and even after his interview ended, he remained the enthusiastic topic of conversation among the staff.

After the dinner, the heads of the three project groups organized a karaoke outing and insisted on inviting Leng Tingyu along. Linglan knew that everyone was just scrambling to curry favor with her. Unable to decline the socializing, Linglan was dragged along as well. She had a few drinks at dinner, so once she reached the private room, she found a corner and closed her eyes to rest. With the deafening music, she felt dizzy and plagued by a headache.

Leng Tingyu was surrounded by the group in the center of the sofa. People were clamoring, "Director Leng, your report today was truly brilliant. You have to show us your talent tonight!"

"I’m really not good at singing," Leng Tingyu demurred.

"Director Leng, sing one! Just one!"

Just then, the door to the room was pushed open. As Tang Pei entered, the women exclaimed, "Director Tang, you're here too!" The night was truly lively; not only were all of Sky City’s high-ranking officials present, but to their utter surprise, "Mr. Mo is here," Tang Pei announced.

"Mr. Mo..." A sudden silence fell; after all, Mo Zhicheng never participated in their private gatherings. This year was truly an exception.

Over Tang Pei’s shoulder, Leng Tingyu saw the man’s tall, lean silhouette. As Mo Zhicheng stepped inside, she couldn't help but stand up. "A surprise visit, Mr. Mo?" she teased, her heart filled with joy. In fact, she had calculated when his interview would end and invited him to join them, but he had refused. Yet, an hour later, the man had come after all. She walked to his side and habitually linked her arm through his. "Since you're here, you're not allowed to leave. Ladies, don't you agree?"

In private, Leng Tingyu was always one who knew how to play. The group on the sofa stared in astonishment at this scene, their eyes fixed on the sight of Leng Tingyu holding Mo Zhicheng’s arm. Some cast cautious glances toward Linglan in the corner. Linglan’s head was heavy; she was curled up in the corner with her eyes closed, unaware of what had just happened.

Lin Jia, seeing this, immediately clapped her hands: "This is the first time Mr. Mo has joined our private gathering. What a rare opportunity!"

"That’s right, Mr. Mo! Sky City’s performance hit a new high this year; we have to celebrate!"

Mo Zhicheng smiled. As his gaze swept across the room, he spotted the woman in the corner. She seemed completely unaware, her tightly furrowed brows reflected in the dim light.

Everyone was waiting for his response. Leng Tingyu paused and followed his gaze, only to see it landing on that corner!

"Alright!" Unexpectedly, Mo Zhicheng replied with a faint smile, loosening the buttons of his suit jacket as he did so. There were no empty seats near Ye Linglan. As everyone looked between Leng Tingyu and Mo Zhicheng, they exchanged glances and cleared a space in the middle: "Mr. Mo, Director Leng, please have a seat!"