Not only was Xiao Yu stunned—so was the jewelry store clerk. She stared at Chen Mo, wide-eyed, and once she processed what he had said, her gaze shifted to Xiao Yu with pure envy.
As a salesperson, she'd seen her fair share of wealthy customers. The bank card Chen Mo had handed over was a premium CCB black gold card—something only those with significant wealth or status carried.
A straightforward ring proposal from a handsome, soft-spoken rich man? That was the stuff of daydreams.
"Is there a problem?" Chen Mo asked, noticing her frozen expression.
"N-not at all! Right this way, please."
The clerk quickly stepped from behind the counter and led the two of them to the ring display. This was going to be a big sale—her commission would be huge. She was already calculating how much her salary would spike this month.
Xiao Yu, meanwhile, was still dazed as Chen Mo gently nudged her toward the ring counter.
"Chen Mo, are you really buying a ring?" she asked nervously.
They hadn't taken that step yet, and now he was suddenly buying a ring? It all felt a little fast.
"What else would I be doing here?" Chen Mo smiled, then turned to the clerk. "Please show us the rings."
"Don't buy it—at least not yet," Xiao Yu said quickly, pulling at his arm.
Everything was happening too fast. Tonight was just supposed to be a relaxing outing. She hadn't mentally prepared for this kind of surprise.
"What's wrong?" Chen Mo asked gently.
Xiao Yu bit her lip, unsure how to put it into words. Of course, this should be a joyful moment—but it was so sudden.
"Can we wait a little? You're supposed to propose with a surprise or something, aren't you?" she said with an embarrassed huff.
Chen Mo chuckled. "This isn't a surprise?"
"This? You call this a surprise?" Xiao Yu couldn't help but laugh.
They'd been together for a while now, and he had never even given her a bouquet of flowers. Now he was suddenly trying to buy her a ring out of nowhere—of course she was flustered.
"Miss, this ring would suit you perfectly. Want to try it on?" the clerk said enthusiastically. "It's platinum—every piece here is one-of-a-kind. And your boyfriend clearly dotes on you. You're very lucky."
The clerk was practically pleading now, eyes full of envy. She would have accepted immediately in Xiao Yu's place—if only she had that kind of luck.
"Not buying today," Xiao Yu said with finality.
Chen Mo turned to the clerk. "Let's hold off on the checkout for now."
"Of course." The clerk gave Xiao Yu another jealous glance. She could only fantasize about having a rich, thoughtful boyfriend who would drag her into a jewelry store to buy a ring.
Leaving the store, Xiao Yu held onto Chen Mo's arm tightly. Her thoughts were still scrambled. Then, as something dawned on her, her cheeks turned red, and she squeezed his arm even tighter.
"Where to next?" Chen Mo asked casually.
"You decide."
"Let's go buy some clothes. You always help me pick mine. This time, I'll help you choose."
"Okay." This time, Xiao Yu didn't resist.
For the rest of the evening, Chen Mo shopped with Xiao Yu, savoring every moment. It felt just like their early days—before the tech empire, before the media attention. She smiled the entire time.
Even as things changed around them, the person beside her hadn't. And that was enough.
On the way home, Chen Mo glanced at Xiao Yu and teased, "Are you sure we shouldn't have bought the ring?"
"You're really going to make me answer that?" she blushed, smacking his arm lightly.
If she said "yes," it would feel like she was rushing things. But if she said "no," she might miss her chance. It was all too complicated.
Later, they returned to their car and took a stroll along the seaside like a quiet couple out on a date.
By the time they headed home, night had fully fallen.
Xiao Yu had fallen asleep on Chen Mo's shoulder during the ride back. As he looked down at her sleeping face, Chen Mo felt a pang of tenderness.
She'd been working so hard lately—handling company affairs, supporting him nonstop. Tonight, she'd come along just to help him relax. No wonder she was exhausted.
Wang Hai, as if sensing the mood, drove steadily and smoothly, avoiding even the smallest bumps.
Chen Mo had always known Wang Hai to be quiet and professional. He rarely spoke unless spoken to.
Just then, Wang Hai's calm voice broke the silence.
"Chairman, we're being followed."
Chen Mo frowned. "Followed?"
"Yes. Two vans. They've been behind us since we left the plaza," Wang Hai said, eyes on the rearview mirror.
Chen Mo glanced back. Sure enough, two suspicious vans were keeping pace with them.
Discreetly, he pulled out his phone and sent a message to Ink Girl through their secure channel. With Wang Hai present, he couldn't speak directly without raising suspicion.
Soon, a message arrived:
"Two vehicles, eight individuals. Local porcelain scam gang. Professionally organized."
Chen Mo's expression turned cold. If it had been a targeted attack, the consequences could've been far worse. He wasn't just a random researcher anymore—his identity alone made him a target. This was a wake-up call.
"Lose them," Chen Mo ordered.
"Understood." Wang Hai smoothly accelerated, weaving through traffic and taking a few strategic turns. Before long, the vans were nowhere in sight.
"Wang Hai, what did you do before becoming my driver?" Chen Mo asked casually, now eyeing him with curiosity.
"Just an ordinary soldier," Wang Hai replied without missing a beat.
Chen Mo didn't buy it for a second. He'd seen the scars—gunshot wounds, knife cuts. That wasn't the resume of an "ordinary soldier." Still, since Wang Hai wasn't ready to talk, he let it go. He could always ask Ink Girl to look into it later.
He'd never really cared before, but now... he was intrigued.
Back at the villa, Wang Hai pulled in quietly. Chen Mo gently woke Xiao Yu.
"I'll go take a shower first," she said, face still flushed, before dashing into the room.
Chen Mo chuckled, then sat down to unwind and flipped on the TV. About twenty minutes later, Xiao Yu emerged holding a hair dryer.
"Help me dry my hair," she said, handing it over without hesitation.
"Sure." Chen Mo took it with a smile.
But something felt different tonight. Xiao Yu sat rigidly still as he gently ran the warm air through her hair. She was normally so relaxed about this—what was going on?
"Feeling unwell?" he asked.
"No. I'm just... thinking about something," she replied softly, fingers fidgeting with the hem of her nightdress.
"Still stuck on that ring thing?"
"No. Well... maybe." She paused, then muttered, "Forget it. Let's talk later. You're such an idiot sometimes—you deserve to be left wondering."
"What? What did I miss?" Chen Mo was completely in the dark.
"It was something nice. I was going to give you a gift. But now I changed my mind," Xiao Yu huffed.
"Hey, don't do that! What gift?"
"I'll tell you later."
With that, Xiao Yu stood up with a mischievous smile and strutted back toward the bedroom.
Watching her retreating figure, Chen Mo scratched his head, still puzzled.
The next morning, Chen Mo and Xiao Yu arrived at the company and headed straight to the office.
Chen Mo was still thinking about last night's tracking incident. Wang Hai had noticed it right away—his observational skills were impressive. Just who was this guy, really?
"Ink Girl," Chen Mo said at his computer.
"Yes, Brother Mo! I'm here~"
"Check Wang Hai's background for me."