Chapter 1: First Encounter

“Mr. Bo, this way please.”
The business partner led the way, bowing and scraping. Everyone knew that Bo Jinhang’s return would stir a financial storm in City A.
“Mr. Bo?”
The partner, busy calculating ways to curry favor with Bo Jinhang, noticed him stop and curiously followed his gaze.
“Those are a few Class B suppliers from City A. The one in the middle—”
The partner squinted, looking into the private room at the woman surrounded by overweight men.
Her skin was pale, her features striking, her eyes shimmering with a hint of restraint and invitation. She was voluptuous, poised, every gesture radiating a natural allure.
He had heard of her.
He introduced her to Bo Jinhang in a lowered, conspiratorial voice, his tone laced with veiled contempt. “She’s one of our most famous sales champions. Good looks, great figure, and I hear she’s got a lot of tricks up her sleeve. All the suppliers are fighting to work with her.”
Bo Jinhang’s gaze grew heavier. The forced smile froze on the partner’s face, and he fell silent.
Bo was known for his self-restraint; how could he possibly be interested in a woman like that?
He cursed himself for speaking out of turn.

Just then, the people inside the room noticed them.
The powerful men, who had been enthusiastically urging drinks, immediately jumped to their feet with excitement. “Mr. Bo!”
Their lecherous demeanor vanished in an instant, replaced by respectful toasts in Bo Jinhang’s direction—some even dared to invite him, hoping for a stroke of luck.
“Mr. Bo, have you eaten? Would you care to join us for a drink?”
It was a polite formality; everyone understood the gulf between themselves and Bo Jinhang.
But to their astonishment, Bo nodded coolly and walked in, ignoring their stunned expressions.

Shen Ling, dulled by alcohol, reacted slowly—and suddenly found herself staring into Bo Jinhang’s eyes.
“It’s been a long time.”
Bo nodded to her, meeting her gaze, and sat down beside her.
His action instantly wiped the excitement from the faces of the others who had just thought they’d gotten lucky.
The industry heavyweights looked at each other in awkward silence, until one finally forced a laugh. “Mr. Bo and Miss Shen… you know each other?”
From the moment Bo Jinhang appeared, Shen Ling’s mind had gone blank for a moment.
Time had treated him kindly. After all these years, he was still as cold and upright as in her memory—only now, there was a greater maturity about him.

The world was so unjust. Her mother lay in a hospital bed, gravely injured, while the man who had indirectly caused it all—her once-beloved, now-estranged lover—had returned, still standing above everyone, the center of all attention.
Shen Ling’s knuckles whitened around her glass. After a long pause, she closed her eyes, suppressed all visible emotion, and offered a dazzling, flirtatious smile.
“How could someone like me claim to know such an important man as Mr. Bo? We merely had the honor of being classmates once.”
Upon hearing her deliberate attempt to distance herself, a flicker of coldness flashed in Bo Jinhang’s eyes.
The atmosphere tightened; the other guests felt a vague unease, unsure how to proceed.
An old classmate of Bo’s—should they still pressure her to drink?
Before they could decide, Bo Jinhang downed the baijiu before him in a single gulp.
“But she’s always handled her liquor well. Please, carry on.”
With a cold expression, Bo stood up and left without sparing anyone another glance.
His words offered Shen Ling no protection—if anything, they contained a hint of anger. The others exchanged meaningful looks.
It seemed there was little warmth left between the two.