The three of them took their seats and began by sipping red wine.
The waiter poured three glasses of red wine and brought them to the table. Alex Qi picked one up and said, “This is a special red wine from Pomerol. Although it’s not the most expensive, the taste is absolutely authentic. Give it a try.”
“Thank you.” Serena Li took a sip. “It’s really good.”
“It tastes good.” Victor Mo touched the rim of the glass and raised an eyebrow at his cousin.
Soon, the waiter served the dishes. As expected of a five-star Chinese restaurant, even a simple vegetable dish was made to look, smell, and taste delicious.
During the meal, Alex Qi invited the two to eat, and they chatted occasionally, creating a relaxed atmosphere.
Victor Mo , who had been mostly silent , asked Serena Li , “What subjects do you teach, Ms. Li?”
“Mathematics, I think . Serena did her bachelor’s and master’s degrees together.” Before Serena Li could answer, Alex Qi spoke up for her.
Victor Mo fiddled with his lighter in his right hand and nodded.
Serena Li smiled but didn’t say anything.
After the meal, Alex Qi learned that Serena Li lived in Four Seasons Garden and said to Victor Mo , “You happen to be passing by there, could you take Serena home for me?”
Serena Li said taking a taxi would be convenient and wouldn’t be a hassle. But Alex Qi said she had been drinking that night and it would be safer for someone she knew to take her home. Victor Mo was also waiting for her to go out together, so she didn’t refuse.
Alex Qi was staying at a five-star hotel above the restaurant. After dropping the two of them off at the restaurant entrance, he took a work call and went back to his room to work.
At the restaurant entrance, two people were waiting for Victor Mo ‘s driver to arrive.
Serena Li looked down at her phone as it beeped with a WeChat notification .
After glancing behind her, Victor Mo reached out and pulled her to his side.
Two children, laughing and playing, ran out.
Victor Mo released Serena Li ‘s hand, gently pressed her shoulder to guide her to stand in front of him, and everything happened so naturally.
Serena Li smiled gracefully and said to Victor Mo , “Thank you for earlier, Mr. Mo.”
If he hadn’t protected her, those two kids who were playing around with ice cream might have poked her with it.
Victor Mo nodded, casually took out a cigarette, and just as he put it between his fingers, he remembered Serena Li standing next to him . He was very gentlemanly, although his aura was somewhat cold and distant. “Ms. Li, is that alright?”
Serena Li was taken aback, but when she looked up and saw the cigarette between his fingers, she understood what “Is it okay?” meant and nodded.
Victor Mo took a drag of his cigarette, and as he exhaled the smoke, he politely turned away slightly.
Serena Li subtly clenched her fingers. For some reason, every finger still remembered the feeling of being held by those large hands. Perhaps it was because she rarely had her hand held by a man. In Serena Li ‘s memory, the only men who held her hand out of concern were her father in her childhood, Gary Gu in her school days , and now, this completely unfamiliar man.
A black Bentley pulled up, and Victor Mo opened the door and said to her, “Get in.”
She nodded and sat down: “Thank you, Mr. Mo.”
Victor Mo instructed the driver, “Take Miss Li home first.”
“Yes, Mr. Mo,” the driver replied.
Then Serena Li gave the driver an address.
The car was quiet, and Serena Li couldn’t think of anything to talk about. Victor Mo , who hadn’t said a word , picked up the tablet in the car and started reading the news.
She turned her head and focused on admiring the scenery outside the window.
As the car drove onto the overpass, Serena Li ‘s phone rang. She took it out of her handbag and saw “Dad” displayed on the screen.
Serena Li was surprised that her father would call her tonight, so she quickly answered the phone, “Hello, Dad, I haven’t received a call from you in so long, have you missed me?”
When Dad gets busy, he’s rarely on his phone; his secretary usually answers. She rarely calls him first, afraid of bothering him.
Victor Mo glanced at her; it turned out that this seemingly aloof woman could also be coquettish.