C12 Secret Love

Qu Ningyuan arrived at the restaurant on time, armed with flowers for his meeting with Yang Xue. Holding the bouquet, he silently hoped it would charm his way into her heart.

Upon entering the restaurant, Yang Xue spotted Qu Ningyuan and the flowers by his side, which brought a smile to her face. She wondered if this was his way of pursuing her.

Qu Ningyuan, with a quick scan, could tell that Yang Xue was pleased. She had been upset recently because she mistook his sister for his girlfriend. He thought to himself, "Why didn't she just ask me directly? She's mistaken a good guy for the wrong reasons." But this misunderstanding made Qu Ningyuan even more certain of Yang Xue's feelings for him, and he felt emboldened.

"Hey, Xue, these flowers are for you," he greeted her warmly.

"Why are you giving me flowers all of a sudden?" she asked, puzzled.

"Flowers for a beautiful lady," he replied with a smile.

"You and your sweet talk. What's up? Do you need my help with something?" she inquired.

"Why do you say that? Can't a friend reach out just because he's missed you?" Qu Ningyuan responded.

At his words, Yang Xue's cheeks flushed with color. Seizing the moment, Qu Ningyuan took her hand and confessed, "Xue, be with me. I really like you, more than you can imagine. I know I might not be worthy of you, but I promise to work tirelessly to make you happy."

Yang Xue's heart skipped a beat at his sudden declaration, leaving her head spinning with emotion. Yet, she knew she was truly happy; she had secretly harbored feelings for Qu Ningyuan for some time. But wait, didn't he already have a girlfriend?

Noticing the confusion in Yang Xue's eyes, Qu Ningyuan clarified, "Xue, how about we go to the mall after dinner? Last Saturday, my sister and I saw some clothes that would look great on you. I didn't buy them because I was afraid you might not like them."

"You have a sister?" she asked, surprised.

"Yes, she's the only family I have left," he said softly.

Realizing her mistake, Yang Xue felt a surge of relief and happiness. She had misjudged Qu Ningyuan and should have trusted him all along. Thankfully, her hopes had not been in vain.

"Alright, I'll take your advice."

"Come on, eat before the food gets cold. Try this—you're so thin, you need to eat more."

"Okay, stop serving me, my bowl is already overflowing."

"Well then, eat up quickly."

Qu Ningyuan felt elated, having finally made an impression on her. He was now one step closer to success. Next, he planned to take her shopping and to a movie, which would surely bring them even closer.

After the meal, Qu Ningyuan and Yang Xue left the restaurant. They crossed the street at a green light, with Qu Ningyuan holding Yang Xue's hand. She didn't pull away, which he took as a good sign. Her hand was so small and soft that Qu Ningyuan thought he could break it with the slightest pressure. He glanced at Yang Xue and noticed her smiling, her cheeks flushed with color.

Was Yang Xue just easy to win over, or was he simply that charming? The thought made Qu Ningyuan chuckle.

"What's so funny?"

"I never dreamed I'd be with you. I'm just really happy."

"Keep that up, and I might just ignore you."

But this didn't prove anything. Yang Xue might be easily swept away by romance, yet her family was another matter. CEO Yang had been toughened by years in the business world and was no fool. Qu Ningyuan realized he had to be on his toes when dealing with her father, whose disposition was still a mystery to him.

"Little Xue, what's your dad like? Tell me about him."

"You want to know about my dad? Well, he's not too bad. He's always been good to me, but he can be quite tough in business. It's just the way it is—everyone's out there trying to make a living."

Hearing Yang Xue's description and considering the information he had gathered, Qu Ningyuan had a pretty good idea of what Yang Liguo was like. Winning over Yang Xue's father wouldn't be easy. However, the most crucial thing was to stay close to Yang Xue—her words surely carried some weight with her father.

"Come inside; it's dangerous out there."

Qu Ningyuan was incredibly thoughtful, ensuring that Yang Xue walked on the safer, inner side of the sidewalk. He truly was the epitome of a gentleman. In fact, Qu Ningyuan had gone to great lengths to win Yang Xue's heart, even consulting the Tieba forums for advice on how to pursue a girl, particularly one as worldly and sophisticated as her. Thankfully, his good looks played in his favor; otherwise, he might have been swiftly rejected by Yang Xue.

In today's world, it seems that looks are everything. A handsome face can make life much easier. Still, a sweet-talker has an edge. Women do love to hear sweet nothings. That's exactly how Zhang Zhiwen won over Hee Qingqing, and to this day, he remains devoted to her, ready to do anything for her.

"Xiao Xue, do you like this dress? With your fair complexion, you'd look stunning in it."

"Really? Then I'll try it on. Wait for me here, okay?"

Unbeknownst to them, this moment was witnessed by Yang Liguo's driver, who snapped a photo and showed it to Yang Liguo. Despite his formidable reputation and tough tactics in the business world, Yang Liguo was a doting father. To discover that his beloved daughter was dating—and kept him in the dark about it—was unsettling, especially since the young man was a nobody. Yang Liguo was immediately unsettled.

Without delay, Yang Liguo had someone check into Qu Ningyuan's background. Learning that Qu Ningyuan was the author of the impressive proposal, Yang Liguo's opinion of him improved slightly. The plan was solid, though it bore similarities to Zhang Zhiwen's. Not fully understanding the situation, Yang Liguo wasn't concerned with the details; he was only interested in outcomes. If Qu Ningyuan couldn't outshine Zhang Zhiwen, he had no business being with his daughter.

Further investigation revealed that Qu Ningyuan only had a sister, with no parents to speak of, indicating a humble background. But as long as he was ambitious and treated Xiao Xue with genuine care, his circumstances were not an issue. The key was his willingness to persevere without expecting any handouts.

For now, seeing Xue so content, Yang Liguo decided to let her enjoy the moment. He would find an opportunity later to discuss and learn more about what kind of person Qu Ningyuan really was.

Qu Ningyuan was unaware that his every action was being monitored, and his personal information had already landed in the hands of Yang Liguo. At this point, he was in too deep to back out.

Yang Liguo grew increasingly uneasy. He was eager to meet Qu Ningyuan, the man who had captured his beloved daughter's heart. With the Hainan project nearing completion and their companies poised for collaboration, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to get acquainted with Qu Ningyuan.

After leaving the women's clothing store, Qu Ningyuan and Yang Xue were approached by a stocky man.

"Miss, your father has asked you to come home and rest, and he would like your friend to join us for a visit," he said.

"Uncle Wang, you're shadowing me again. Why is Dad so annoying?" Yang Xue complained with a frown.