Seat

Night.

Under the city lights, the starlight had long since blurred into obscurity, leaving only the night wind swirling and whispering through the ink-black sky.

Beneath the curtain of night, a white sports car, its headlights on, cut through the darkness that flowed like a tide.

Inside the car, Ye Shuang gripped the steering wheel, gazing at the remaining few kilometers to his destination, yet his mind was occupied with the events of the day—

An Shiyu and... what the price would be.

Back when Ye Shuang had saved Heart Fish, the system had also made him pay a price. As for what that price was, he wasn't entirely clear, only feeling he had lost something very important, perhaps something related to Zhao Mengyao's memories.

Which meant to say...

This time, would the price be memories again?

"If you want to gain something, you must pay a price..." Ye Shuang sighed softly. Although he didn't know exactly what he would have to pay, it seemed he couldn't just stand by and do nothing about Super Memory Fish either.

Having spent twenty years studying An Shiyu within that space, saying he felt no affection would be a lie. In his eyes, both fish were the same.

"You're right, I really should work on my personality..." Ye Shuang murmured with a smile, recalling An Shiyu's words while kicking him.

"But, let me be just a little bit more willful for now."

The sports car's engine whined, vanishing into the night like a white ghost.

...

...

At a certain seaside grand hotel, a black Rolls-Royce pulled up at the main entrance. The doors opened, and Chen Qin, along with her assistant, stepped out.

"President Chen, we seem to be the earliest to arrive," the assistant beside her remarked.

"Mhm." Chen Qin took out her phone to use the mirror function, checking her outfit—a simple grey-green checkered coat over a fitted grey top and white trousers.

Her tall figure, paired with simple small gemstone earrings, gave Chen Qin an air of considerable elegance.

"Not bad." Chen Qin nodded in satisfaction. Before getting out of the car, she had deliberately spritzed on a bit of perfume.

Ye Shuang should be able to smell it later.

Tucking a strand of her long hair behind her ear, Chen Qin turned slightly in front of the hotel's glass windows. Her enviable figure, combined with light makeup, exuded a full pure-and-sexy style.

The assistant watching nearby wasn't quite sure what to say.

President Chen had come straight from the company. The moment she got in the car, she had started fussing over her appearance. The assistant had originally thought Chen Qin was already beautiful enough and didn't need such deliberate dressing up, even changing her outfit—but she didn't dare voice that thought.

The only one who could make President Chen dress up like this was President Ye.

"What good fortune he has," the assistant couldn't help but think.

"Little Li, how does this outfit look? It won't be embarrassing, will it?" Chen Qin turned her attention back and asked her assistant.

"How could it be? President Chen, you've always been the most beautiful woman in our group."

"Is that so." Chen Qin smiled slightly.

She didn't take it to heart, because those words weren't spoken by Ye Shuang.

Things like confessions of love, cheesy pick-up lines—the feeling they evoke is completely different depending on who says them. If some "simp" spouts cheesy lines, the other person will just find you disgusting. But if it's someone you like, it feels romantic instead.

That's just how reality is.

"President Chen, this way, please." The hotel manager had been waiting nearby and now led Chen Qin to the private dining room.

As her assistant had said, Chen Qin and her party were indeed the earliest to arrive. Located dozens of floors up in the hotel, through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, one could see the city's landmark—a giant seashell-shaped structure flashing with lights.

"The dishes haven't been served yet. Would you like something to drink?" a waiter asked softly as soon as Chen Qin sat down.

"Something to drink..."

Chen Qin asked, "Do you have coffee?"

"Our hotel has prepared coffee beans from Deborah Geisha."

"Mhm." Chen Qin was about to agree but suddenly remembered she didn't need to work now, and they would be drinking wine later, so she hesitated. "A glass of grape juice, please. Freshly squeezed."

"Certainly."

While waiting, Chen Qin noticed people arriving one after another. Some executives seemed a bit surprised to see Chen Qin there so early.

After all, for usual business dinners, Chen Qin was typically the last to arrive.

What wind was blowing today?

"President Chen."

"Have a seat first, not everyone is here yet." Chen Qin spoke and had the waiter prepare the appetizers.

As soon as the executives sat down, Chen Qin started discussing some company matters—a habit of hers, hardly able to go three sentences without mentioning work.

Fortunately, the group was developing steadily now, with plenty of cash flow in the accounts to handle any troubles.

"President Chen, my apologies, I'm late." Xu Yitian arrived at that moment, greeting Chen Qin with a smile.

"President Xu, you're here. Please, have a seat."

Xu Yitian looked around and finally chose to sit next to Chen Qin.

Seeing this, Chen Qin initially wanted to say that seat was reserved for Ye Shuang. After all, she had dressed up today specifically for him.

"President Xu..."

"What is it, President Chen?"

"Never mind."

But since Xu Yitian had already sat down, Chen Qin felt it wasn't appropriate to say anything. In such a setting, it wasn't suitable to make willful or self-indulgent remarks.

Xu Yitian, of course, had done it on purpose. The other executives were shrewd; they naturally wouldn't be foolish enough to sit next to Chen Qin. But Xu Yitian was different. He wanted to see the expression on Ye Shuang's face when he arrived.

It would surely be wonderful.

"Heh heh..."

With most people present, Chen Qin now instructed the waiter to start serving the dishes. At that moment, Xu Yitian spoke up, "President Chen, is President Ye unable to make it?"

"Oh, there might be heavy traffic." Chen Qin glanced at the delicate watch on her wrist. He was indeed a bit late, but it was fine.

She was often stood up by him anyway. Waiting a little while was no problem for Chen Qin at all.

"It seems President Ye's sense of punctuality still needs improvement. What if it delays work?" Xu Yitian shook his head, putting on a concerned-for-the-company demeanor.

Chen Qin wasn't really paying attention to Xu Yitian's words at that moment and casually added, "Well, he's on leave today."

Just then, the door to the private room opened.

"Good evening." Ye Shuang, dressed in simple business attire, greeted the executives present.

However, the expressions on several executives' faces weren't great. After all, Ye Shuang was somewhat of a bogeyman within the group, having offended quite a few people.

Nevertheless, many still forced smiles in response. Whatever grievances they held privately were one thing; surface pleasantries still had to be maintained.

"President Ye is finally here. Please, have a seat." Xu Yitian spoke up first.

Ye Shuang raised an eyebrow in slight surprise, then noticed the seats next to Chen Qin were already taken. To her left was a wall with a painting, and the only seat to her right was occupied by Xu Yitian.

"I'll sit here then, there are plenty of seats left." Ye Shuang said with a faint smile, finding a seat and sitting down.

Seeing this, Chen Qin slowly stood up.