Cheng Anya had arranged to meet Yang Zekun for lunch at a French restaurant.
Yang Zekun was her senior by two years. He came from a prominent family, had striking good looks, and a gentle, refined demeanor. Always carrying a calm and mild smile, he was well-known in high society as a true gentleman.
Back when they were studying in the UK, he and Cheng Anya had shared a close bond. His tenderness, magnanimity, and scholarly elegance made him the dream prince of many women—like a noble white knight, always so warm and graceful.
Two years ago, his grandfather summoned him back to China with a single decree, officially passing the reins of Yaohua Group to him.
Since then, this charming man had proven his formidable business acumen. Under his leadership, Yaohua had scaled new heights. When he learned Cheng Anya was returning to China, he offered her a position at Yaohua.
She thought about it for a long time before finally accepting his offer—just yesterday. But now, thanks to a mix-up between Ning Ning and Li Yun, she had no choice but to find a way to turn it down.
After being stuck in traffic, she arrived twenty minutes late. Frustrated and flustered, she rushed toward the restaurant, muttering curses under her breath about A City's terrible traffic.
In her haste, her high heel slipped.
With a startled cry, Cheng Anya stumbled forward, "Ah—!"
She crashed into a man's solid chest, instantly enveloped in a faint scent of tobacco—clean and unexpectedly pleasant. In her panic, she instinctively grabbed his hand.
Warm.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…" Cheng Anya raised her most sincere smile, preparing to apologize properly—but then, her heart skipped a beat. Her mind went completely blank.
Ye Chen had just gotten out of his car, waiting to have lunch with Yun Ruoxi, when a woman suddenly came barreling toward him. Reflexively, he reached out to catch her. Fragrance filled his arms. Cheng Anya's silky hair tumbled down, revealing porcelain skin and delicate hands that seemed soft and boneless. The feel and scent—strangely familiar.
Those limpid, dark eyes, shimmering like a still lake. That bright, sunlit beauty—it was dazzling.
Fair skin, delicate features, and cheeks flushed from running—like a ripe, dewy peach.
Cheng Anya's smile froze.
Why him?
It wasn't just her memory playing tricks. She remembered vividly—the man she'd had a one-night stand with seven years ago, Ye Chen. It wasn't something she could forget, especially when she saw a mini version of him every day in Ning Ning. Even their graceful aura was exactly the same.
Her first instinct—run.
Ye Chen pursed his lips, half-smiling. "Miss, do I look that scary?"
Cheng Anya instinctively shook her head.
"Then why are you trying to run away after seeing me?" he asked.
He… didn't remember her?
That was understandable. It had been seven years, and what they shared was nothing more than a fleeting encounter.
But why did her heart feel so sour?
The man wore a tailored Armani suit, the cut perfectly outlining his tall, lean figure. His features were outrageously handsome.
That air of elegant indifference, those piercing eyes—every gesture radiated power and nobility.
Cheng Anya grumbled inwardly. Seriously? How can someone be this flawless? This outrageously good-looking? It's a sin.
"Sorry, I'm in a rush," Cheng Anya said politely with a smile. She smoothed her expression and calmly walked past him into the restaurant.
Back then, just a month after leaving A City for the UK, she found out she was pregnant. Her first reaction was shock. The second—joy.
At the time, she was struggling with language classes and preparing for school admission. Her aunt had advised her to terminate the pregnancy.
But Cheng Anya was stubborn. She chose to keep the baby. Because of Ning Ning, she delayed her studies by a year—and she never once regretted it.
That child was her whole world.
No matter how he came to be, Cheng Anya was thankful to Ye Chen for giving her a child. In a foreign land, it was that child who helped her endure loneliness, mockery, and hardship.
She drifted into the restaurant like a ghost, her steps unsteady. She never expected to see him again.
Ye Chen's eyes followed her silhouette, thoughtful. That back… it looked far too familiar. The sunlight touched his shoulders, casting a soft glow. Why?
"Chen, I'm sorry I'm late!" Yun Ruoxi arrived, her soft yellow dress fluttering slightly. Her delicate features were full of apology.
Ye Chen suddenly understood.
That girl's eyes, her silhouette… they bore a striking resemblance to Yun Ruoxi.
"Let's go eat," he said with a warm smile, wrapping an arm around Yun Ruoxi as they entered the restaurant together.