two

"I also need it for my profession," Beifei said with a grin. "If you can't smile, someone will slap you twice and you won't even have a meal afterward. I think even if you lost your parents just a second ago, you would force yourself to smile more sincerely than anyone else, right?"

The waiter came over to serve the dishes, and Ling Qianfan personally took the ladle to serve her seafood congee, smiling with a hint of teasing: "Modesty is a virtue. Some women can discuss Hawking's 'A Brief History of Time' very elegantly at the dining table, but when crossing the street, if a beggar reaches out slightly, they immediately become frightened and pale, fearing that their four-inch high heels might get dirty"

Alright, I won't interrupt, please continue. What about your ex-girlfriend?

Ling Qianfan felt an indescribable sensation in his heart, as if it were a faint pain, leaving him at a loss for words. However, Beifei, with a shameless smile, said: "Do you pity me?" He quickly shook his head: "No, I just didn't expect..."

Ling Qianfan's expression momentarily froze, but he soon smiled and said, "Do we really need to ask about this in such detail?"

Before he could react, Beifei leaned forward and said with a flattering smile: "I wonder about the project we are collaborating on with PL..."

I have an uncle who is willing to adopt me for the sake of the house left by my father, but my aunt dislikes me as a burden... Later, my father's childhood friend returned to the countryside and said that the educational conditions there were poor, so he took me to the city to study. However, later on, something happened in his family, and he could no longer take care of me.

Ling Qianfan was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. Although he had grown accustomed to Bei Fei's unique way of joking, scolding, and expressing anger, he could not help but let out a heavy sigh at this moment: "Bei Fei, I am being serious with you."

One, two, three, she gritted her teeth and withdrew her hand, yet the smile on her face was so obsequious that it made one want to slap her: "I really think you should let Dean He help you apply for that Outstanding Philanthropic Entrepreneur award, why are you refusing?"

Beifei chuckled and said: "No, when I was in college, I couldn't even find a tutor because my college entrance examination scores were poor. I had to do everything from serving plates to miscellaneous tasks. At that time, I felt truly miserable, even more so than Dou E. I walked around with a long face and lost several jobs. Later, a sister from a street-side clothing store slapped me awake and said, 'If you continue to live like this, it would be better for me to give you a rope to go meet your parents, so they can continue to love and spoil you underground!'"

He hurriedly denied it, trying to make up for his rudeness, but unexpectedly, Beifei was not offended: "It's fine, sympathy is okay, but it would be best to have some substantial expression!"

Beifi chattered incessantly: "You truly have an overflow of compassion, but I have grown accustomed to it. I know that when I say these things, others will feel sympathy for me, and that is quite good. Self-esteem cannot be eaten, having money is the true way to success"

She stood on the road for a long time before realizing that Ling Qianfan's "tired" might mean—having grown accustomed to delicacies from mountains and seas, now changing to a simple diet of congee and pickles

Ling Qianfan nodded eagerly, smiling in a somewhat annoying manner: "Yes, yes, we can gradually deepen our understanding."

Beifei was completely stunned and trembled as she asked, "Are you going to the New Tibet Line with me?"

Those who have known me for a long time are aware that I am not very cultured... I have not read many books, I do not enjoy studying, I tend to speak rather coarsely, and I lead a rather sordid life. I, Beifei, rack my brains to reflect on all my shortcomings and magnify them, and I do not understand anything about art, taste, or other such refined matters

Ling Qianfan's brows furrowed tighter and tighter, and even the best of patience was worn away by her jesting, causing her expression to darken: "Forget it, let's talk about it later"

Ling Qianfan raised his head in confusion and asked, "What does it mean?"

Ling Qianfan did not mind her furtive glances, and generously looked her up and down, asking: "How many points do you think it deserves?"

Beifei smiled with glee, while Ling Qianfan looked at the manager's back with a hint of irritation, wondering why he was being so overly courteous for no reason. He had only wanted to enjoy a good meal today!

Not correct, Beifei immediately corrected herself and said earnestly: It should be said that the balance of beauty and wisdom is my eternal pursuit

He grasped her hand, and she was powerless to break free. His lips moved slightly, and after a long while, he tentatively asked: "Just in time, I also want to go to the Xinjiang-Tibet Line. Are you interested in going together?"

Her fingertips lingered in the palm of his hand, a warmth that was so enticing, so difficult for her to part with, as a gentle warmth flowed from her fingertips into him

However, Ling Qianfan seemed to understand her very well, smiling confidently and asking, "Why are you arguing?"

Driving across most of the city to the riverside, I chose a riverside private room at the Sea Emperor Hotel, which is elegantly designed. The beaded curtains hang in a staggered manner, and occasionally a gentle river breeze drifts in, while the heating inside is quite sufficient. The spacious private room is empty except for two people. My goodness, if there were one more person playing the violin nearby, it would almost feel like a scene from a television drama

Leaning with her head down, Bei Fei secretly glanced over. Ling Qianfan pressed his forehead, smiling with a sense of helplessness: "Let's go eat, what do you want to eat?"

She chattered incessantly, rambling on in a disjointed manner. Ling Qianfan finally sighed, "I am a bit tired"

The probability of a diamond bachelor falling from the sky and hitting oneself is far lower than the probability of a sesame cake falling.

Beifi, do not overdo it, strive to resist the temptation of beauty: "And - picture - book, give me a little time to retreat and advance, to entice and then release!"

Just then, the waiter came over to invite Ling Qianfan to the fish pond to place an order. Ling Qianfan left with a dark expression, while Beifei let out a deep sigh, her shoulders drooping. Turning her head, she saw the distant river surface flickering with lights, and the night sky was dotted with stars, beautiful beyond words—am I not dreaming?

Truly deserving of the title "friend of women," she unexpectedly felt a bit discontented, gloomy, and somewhat uncomfortable upon realizing this

A moment later, Ling Qianfan returned, his face already restored to a smile: "I was a bit harsh just now; in fact, I should be happy. If you care, it means you are jealous. If you didn't care at all, I would feel quite sad."

Beifei forced a shrug and said, "I am quite serious, as you can tell from your name. Ling Qianfan, with a thousand sails passing by, after all those sails have passed, none remain. How painful it is, a kind of lamentation after a feast, without the comfort of roasted sweet potatoes. Isn't it meant to evoke the maternal brilliance of an ignorant girl? One must understand that for the vast majority of people in this world, being able to catch a small boat and drift down the river is already quite fortunate. Where would they find the leisure to reflect on the passing of a thousand sails?"

Ling Qianfan pressed his thin lips tightly together, not responding and revealing no emotions, appearing somewhat weary as he quietly and helplessly looked at her with a smile. Bei Fei had no choice but to continue playing dumb: "To be honest, is it true what Young Master Fang said about you, that from sixteen to sixty, you have encountered countless people, a friend of women, and that you sympathize with my godmother when she has her episodes..."

Beifei suddenly shrank back, knowing that Ling Qianfan had an exceptional reputation with women. Otherwise, she would not have found herself unable to utter a harsh word despite the vast distance between them. Yet, she still did not expect his skills to be so refined. Growing up in a seaside town, she was accustomed to lake fish and sea crabs, while Wucheng was an inland city where fresh seafood was hard to come by. She had heard that the seafood at Haihuang was air-freighted on the same day, and the prices were not low.

Beifei laughed while shaking his head: "Whether there is something or not, find a large private room, just the two of us dining, open a bottle of 1982 Lafite, and have a violin accompaniment! After dinner, enjoy the river breeze, discuss life and talk about ideals, add a touch of deep nostalgia for past girlfriends, and express a few sentiments and slight sadness about the seemingly perfect life others perceive now— the final step is to take the woman to bed, isn't this just the N movements of your type?"

Ling Qianfan had her face covered by one hand, and with a teasing smile, she said: "Alright, alright, how do you think it would be more face-saving? Should I declare my love in a newspaper advertisement, or should I order 999 red roses to lay out a red carpet for you to walk into the office?"

Occasionally encountering him in the company, I always feel that his gaze is laden with meaning. Once or twice, one might say she is narcissistic, but when it happens repeatedly, it becomes truly bizarre. He also mentioned that "a white head is like new, and a cap is like old friends"—what a dangerous situation this is. Ling Qianfan may find her interesting, but that gaze is terrifying, unfathomable, and inscrutable. Rather than allowing herself to fall into unrealistic fantasies, it would be better to completely transform Ling Qianfan's curiosity into sympathy—she does not care at all about self-esteem; can self-esteem be eaten? If, in the long run, Ling Qianfan can provide her with better opportunities for development, she would not mind his generous "donations" at all. Rather than allowing herself to fall into unrealistic fantasies, it would be better to completely transform Ling Qianfan's curiosity into sympathy—she does not care at all about self-esteem; can self-esteem be eaten? If, in the long run, Ling Qianfan can provide her with better opportunities for development, she would not mind his generous "donations" at all

Whatever

Such topics should not be elaborated upon, as discussing them makes everyone uncomfortable. However, he could not help but be curious and wanted to get to the bottom of it—if a person whose parents passed away early and whose boyfriend stood her up when it was time to register their marriage can be so happy, then what reason do others in the world have to be miserable?

Ling Qianfan immediately let out a long sigh of relief and couldn't help but reach out to pat her little hedgehog head, saying, "It will get better in the future"

I have given you many opportunities to take back your words today, so why do you insist on forcing me... It is important to understand that the temptation of beauty and money is very difficult to resist...

Beifei chuckled twice and murmured, "Why me?"

She admitted that such means were somewhat despicable, but for her, it was not the first time. When she first entered university, her grades were not sufficient to qualify for a scholarship, and prestigious schools in the capital lined up, making it difficult even to find a tutoring job.

Beifei nodded seriously, and after a long contemplation, Ling Qianfan finally spoke: "I can tell you, but you must agree to two things first." Beifei widened her eyes and stared at him, while Ling Qianfan furrowed his brows and continued, "First, you must listen to me until I finish; second, after you finish listening, you must not overthink it."

Undoubtedly, having a harmonious relationship with Ling Qianfan is immensely beneficial for her future career development. This is evident from the tendency of restaurant owners to display photographs with celebrities. However, the situation has developed somewhat uncontrollably; some individuals seem to possess an inherent magnetic field. Wherever they stand, that place radiates light, and being close to them brings a sense of warmth. In all the normal trajectories of life, she would never dare to entertain such thoughts, yet Ling Qianfan's gaze always makes her feel strange—thus, she herself becomes strange, sensing that there seems to be some kind of secret between her and him. However, the situation has developed somewhat uncontrollably; some individuals seem to possess an inherent magnetic field. Wherever they stand, that place radiates light, and being close to them brings a sense of warmth. In all the normal trajectories of life, she would never dare to entertain such thoughts, yet Ling Qianfan's gaze always makes her feel strange—thus, she herself becomes strange, sensing that there seems to be some kind of secret between her and him.

Beifedeng was momentarily speechless, and after a while, he resumed that extremely indifferent smile: "His mother once intervened in someone else's family, effectively breaking apart a happy family of three. She accused me of being a vixen who seduced her son, and I retorted, saying that the vixen seduced your dutiful son just to ensure that you would die childless."

In order to secure the department's funding, she could vividly describe how her aunt treated her poorly—when recounting the most tragic parts, she would almost break down in tears. This was how Xi Rongrong was initially deceived by her. Later, when applying for work-study positions, she employed the same tactic; people always possess a certain degree of sympathy, especially when they see someone with a tragic life experience—this can easily evoke a sense of superiority in most individuals, making them feel that by showing a little kindness, they are doing something that can change another person's fate. Later, when applying for work-study positions, she employed the same tactic; people always possess a certain degree of sympathy, especially when they see someone with a tragic life experience—this can easily evoke a sense of superiority in most individuals, making them feel that by showing a little kindness, they are doing something that can change another person's fate

She examined Ling Qianfan with her chin held up. If one disregards the rumors about the frequent changes of female leads, based solely on his performance during this period, he is quite a decent piece of work.

People often say that the ten fingers are connected to the heart, yet they are so far from the heart. However, any touch seems to directly brush against the tip of the heart.

Beifei looked around, and Ling Qianfan pulled out a chair for her, his attentiveness making her feel flustered, as if he had been born with such gentlemanly demeanor. Why me? What gives me the right? Beifei wiped her face, thinking that I don't look particularly bad, and I shouldn't be considered too unconventional—so why did such a big piece of good fortune fall from the sky and hit me?

Before she could fully comprehend the situation, Ling Qianfan had already taken her hand, lifting her into the passenger seat like an eagle carrying a chick, and leaned down to fasten her seatbelt. She froze, not daring to breathe a word—Ling Qianfan's face was mere inches away, and he even reached out to smooth her hair. His fingers lightly brushed against her ear, causing her ears to feel as if they were on fire, and her heart raced violently, like a thunderous drum, pounding loudly. She watched as his face inched closer, stopping at a distance where she could truly feel his warmth. Suddenly, a realization struck her; Ling Qianfan's earlier words might have been serious. Thus, she pushed his face away with a swift motion and, feeling quite indignant, exclaimed: "Whatever you say goes, doesn't that make me look foolish?"

Beifei turned her eyes and nodded slightly. Only then did Ling Qianfan relax and manage to squeeze out a smile: "I used to have a girlfriend," he paused, seemingly hesitating on how to continue. Beifei couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Do you often come to places like this to deceive unsuspecting young girls?"

Ling Qianfan's face darkened as he said, "No need!"

Unexpectedly, Ling Qianfan's smile became increasingly profound: "Hmm, it is indeed very malicious. You know, one of my great hobbies is to use poison to counteract poison." His smile deepened even further, and he even scooped some porridge from her bowl, the ambiguous look in his eyes making Beifei want to bang her head against the wall

Ling Qianfan's eyes reflected a sense of terror: "Could Fang Fei really be so heartless?"

Ling Qianfan's brow furrowed slightly as she pressed her hand against his, the point where their palms met feeling as if it were ignited by a flame, extending deep into the heart. She tilted her head to steal a glance at his expression—perhaps he had merely spoken those words in a moment of impulse, without thinking it through

These are all such difficult matters to speak of, yet for some reason, she relentlessly tramples on herself. Clearly, she hoped to leave a somewhat good impression on Ling Qianfan, but once she started speaking, everything took a different turn; she only committed three parts of wrongdoing, yet she exaggerated it to thirteen parts, as if she were desperately trying to prove to Ling Qianfan how terrible her character was— as if the more she proved herself to be worse, the more it could demonstrate that Ling Qianfan's actions were not merely impulsive.

His slightly smug smile made Beifei unable to help but curse inwardly, "You really are showing off like a peacock, being overly sentimental. I'm jealous... Ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh..." She struggled to resist the temptation of his beauty, making one last effort: "Actually... you don't really know me that well..."

Perhaps her earlier performance was too clumsy and excessive, she thought

"Should I not speak to you so directly? I should express myself more tactfully, more emotionally, just like in those artistic life stories, not stopping until I have you in tears..." She continued endlessly, when suddenly her hand was pressed down by something, as if it had been burned by a fiery hot iron. She quickly withdrew her hand, only to realize that Ling Qianfan's grip was much stronger than she had imagined.

Ling Qianfan was momentarily at a loss for words, and after a long pause, he finally asked: "Do you... have any other relatives at home?"

Her mind was racing as fast as the wheels of a car: she should say that we have known each other for too short a time, and Ling Qianfan would definitely respond, "I thought we were already quite familiar." She could also say, "You have seen countless people and experienced a thousand sails; how could I compare to your level?" But such a retort seemed too disrespectful to the big boss... Before she could come up with a countermeasure, Ling Qianfan tilted his head and softly asked, "The sea emperor by the river, eating seafood, how about it?"

Ling Qianfan was indeed dumbfounded, while Beifei, having achieved her wish, chuckled awkwardly and said: "Isn't it quite malicious?"

Beifei let out a long "oh," and Ling Qianfan realized he had stepped into a trap again, yet he remained unfazed, smiling ambiguously as he kicked the ball back to Beifei. If she were to use his acquaintance with numerous women as a topic, she would fall into his trap once more. Beifei thought to herself that it was time to take strong measures, and with a forced smile, she said: "I am particularly ill-mannered, I don't even respect my boyfriend's mother. Do you know why my ex-boyfriend called off the engagement? It's because I argued with his mother every day..."

Ling Qianfan almost burst into laughter. After fastening his seatbelt, he asked, "Alright, you retreat for a few days and then advance for a few days. Where are we going to eat now?"

Ling Qianfan had not yet had the chance to respond when the manager of the Sea Emperor personally approached with a courteous inquiry: "Young Master Ling, would you like to call for a violin?"