The meeting was quite brief, showcasing the new minister's pragmatic spirit. As it concluded, colleagues began to rise and leave.
Huang Ying, her head bowed and face flushed, quietly exited, subtly slipping Li Yun a handful of tissues from under the table as she left. He had helped her out of an awkward situation, and she was grateful.
Li Yun, fearing his colleagues would notice the mess on his trousers, dared not leave just yet. Instead, he pretended to be preoccupied, scribbling aimlessly in his notebook.
Finally, after using up an entire pack of tissues and feeling the stain on his pants become less conspicuous, Li Yun returned to the Credit and Investment Department. With nothing pressing to do, he began packing up his things as the clock struck 4:45, preparing to head home.
The phone rang, and upon answering, Li Yun was surprised to hear Shen Mocong's secretary, Wang Yan. Her voice was sweet as she said, "Li Yun, Minister Shen wants you to come to her office."
Hanging up, Li Yun's face took on a peculiar expression. He couldn't help but feel anxious, wondering what she could want with him.
Shaking his head to clear his mind, he got up and headed towards Shen Mocong's office.
As he passed by, Li Yun casually glanced at Huang Ying, who was sitting at her desk, staring blankly at the computer screen, lost in thought. He knocked on the door and entered Shen Mocong's office, where she was deeply engrossed in her work, with piles of documents on her desk.
After waiting for a while without a word from Shen Mocong, Li Yun, feeling a warmth in his heart as he looked at her beautiful face, couldn't help but say, "I didn't expect you to become my direct supervisor."
"Surprised?" Shen Mocong looked up and smiled gently. "Do you prefer not working under a woman?"
Li Yun quickly reassured her, "No, no, I'm not sexist. I just didn't expect it. Didn't you say you worked at Tianfeng Group too?"
"Yes, I do work here! Now, aren't we colleagues? Just one level apart," she replied with a smile.
"You're not just any employee. You're the chairman's daughter. You could be considered the big boss of this branch!" Li Yun said, half-jokingly.
Shen Mocong pursed her lips and smiled. "Alright, let's cut the small talk. I called you here because I need you to accompany me somewhere tonight."
"Somewhere? At night?" Li Yun was taken aback. "Where to?"
"Aren't you the one who said you wanted to conduct a personal investigation?" Shen Mocong rolled her eyes, grabbed her LV bag, which was worth three months of Li Yun's salary, and said, "It's about time. Let's go!"
Shen Mocong's ride was a red, extended-wheelbase Audi A8L. Li Yun, who often attended car shows, knew that this was the latest model just released in the United States.
Compared to the old Audi A8's square and dignified style, the new Audi A8 incorporates many sporty elements, making it a perfect blend of dynamism and luxury.
Sitting in the passenger seat of Shen Mocong's red Audi A8, Li Yun marveled at the Valonea leather, which was incredibly soft and comfortable.
The seat offered a massage function with ten air cushions. The central armrest had a foldable table that could transform the spacious rear compartment into a temporary office for handling business.
The cooler provided fresh food on the go, and the rear independent air conditioning system, controlled by no fewer than 25 electric motors, allowed precise temperature adjustments.
Looking at the luxurious interior, the perfect design, and top-notch craftsmanship, Li Yun couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He knew that even working his entire life, he might not be able to afford such a car.
The car was filled with a subtle fragrance, a mix of lilies and roses, persistent yet not overwhelming, and very refreshing.
"Minister Shen, what perfume are you wearing?" Li Yun, who was somewhat of a connoisseur due to Lin Yixin's love for perfumes, couldn't help but take a few greedy whiffs. Although Shen Mocong was focused on driving, she noticed his small action.
Involuntarily, a blush crept up Shen Mocong's ears and spread to her neck. Her skin was so fair that the pink hue, like spring peach blossoms, was very noticeable.
The fragrance wasn't from any perfume but her natural body scent. It was embarrassing to have a man sniffing at her like that.
Of course, she couldn't tell the man next to her the real reason. She decided to let him think it was perfume. To ease her embarrassment, Shen Mocong nonchalantly asked, "Yun, can you drive? How about you take over?"
Li Yun shook his head. He had driven a few times with Ma Kai during college, but he didn't have a driver's license.
"Without a license, it's quite inconvenient for business trips," Shen Mocong remarked casually. "Why don't you take some driving lessons when you have time? The company will cover the expenses."
Was this a hint that he would soon be given a company car? Or that he would be accompanying her frequently? Regardless of the reason, Li Yun was pleased. "Sure, I'll sign up as soon as possible. Thank you, Minister Shen."
Shen Mocong gave Li Yun a playful glance. "When we're alone, just call me Mocong. 'Minister' sounds so formal."
Li Yun quickly nodded in agreement. Calling someone by their first name was usually reserved for close friends. It seemed she did have a good impression of him.
Emboldened, he took a closer look at Shen Mocong as she drove. She had an oval-shaped face, willow-leaf eyebrows, a slightly upturned nose, and cherry lips. Her black eyes were clear yet hazy, causing a shiver down one's spine.
Shen Mocong, focused on driving, kept her eyes on the road. Her cloud-like hair fluttered in the wind, revealing a slender neck and a pair of high, firm breasts. Her flat abdomen and slender waist were accentuated by her posture.
Most captivating were her legs, encased in sheer stockings, long, smooth, and snow-white, without a hint of excess fat.
The perfect proportions, the graceful curve formed by her bent legs and plump buttocks, were truly mesmerizing. Her firm, high buttocks and proud breasts were a testament to her perfect figure.
She was a woman of unparalleled beauty, with a devilish figure, stunning looks, and an ethereal aura. Her intelligence and family background were equally impressive.
Li Yun was so captivated that he almost missed Shen Mocong's question, "Am I pretty?"
Caught off guard, Li Yun, usually quick-witted, was momentarily speechless. He quickly averted his gaze, looking out the window at the bustling streets and crowds, and cautiously replied, "P... pretty..."
Seeing his flustered state, Shen Mocong playfully asked, "Compared to your girlfriend, who is more beautiful?"
"Both are beautiful," Li Yun responded diplomatically. He wouldn't foolishly say that his girlfriend was less attractive. He continued thoughtfully, "You two have different auras. She is gentle, reserved, and understanding, quiet, composed, and meticulous, paying attention to the details of life. She doesn't have high demands for life, preferring to live easily, happily, and comfortably, without stress or turmoil.
You, on the other hand, evoke a sense of intensity and fast pace. You are decisive and efficient, not tolerating any entanglement.
You have a strong will, are resolute, and like to take control. You are intelligent and strategic, rarely letting emotions cloud your judgment. You are independent and successful in your career, living like a man, yet the sensuality in your nature and the subtlety of your spirit are undeniable..."
"Oh? Am I as good as you say?" Shen Mocong's expression turned somewhat melancholic as she spoke. Li Yun sensed that she might have faced some setbacks in her relationships, but didn't feel it was appropriate to inquire further, so he remained silent.
At 6:30 in the evening, outside the "Amber Restaurant" on Construction Road.
It was rush hour, and if they were to head straight to the project site, who knew how late they would be working.
Of course, they had to eat first, and naturally, Li Yun wouldn't be paying the bill. He had expected a simple meal, something to just fill their stomachs, but to his surprise, they were dining at an upscale Western restaurant.
After getting out of the car, Shen Mocong pointed to the large sign of the Amber Restaurant and said, "This Western restaurant has a chef directly from France. The food is quite good."
"I prefer Chinese cuisine," Li Yun, a staunch advocate of Chinese food, disliked the overly fancy foreign dishes.
"People who take Saudi salaries, live in British houses, use Swedish phones, wear Swiss watches, get Thai massages, drive German cars, fly on American planes, drink French wine, eat Australian seafood, smoke Cuban cigars, wear Italian shoes, watch Austrian operas, buy Russian villas, hire Filipino maids, hire Israeli bodyguards, take Turkish saunas, and become Chinese officials. If you achieve the last one, all the others can be realized..."
"Why didn't you mention marrying a Korean woman, keeping a Japanese mistress, and dating Spanish ladies..." Shen Mocong laughed and completed Li Yun's unfinished sentence as they walked into the restaurant.
"Although foreign food can't compare to our cuisine overall, there are still a few signature dishes worth trying."
As the two entered the restaurant, Li Yun felt quite awkward. Ever since they had entered the public eye, it seemed that everyone from the well-dressed diners to the waitstaff had become devout followers of the Shinto religion, emitting an aura of "fanaticism."
Their gazes were all-consuming, as if they were devouring, chewing, and digesting... This woman, who exuded an air of nobility, seemed to possess a mysterious magnetic field that could stimulate the secretion of male hormones.
Although Li Yun was dressed in a suit for work, it was clearly of inferior quality. Under the almost scorching gazes of the men, Li Yun quietly whispered into Shen Mocong's ear, "Walking with you makes me feel so inferior."
"Hehe..." Shen Mocong gently rubbed her slightly itchy earlobe and said in a soft voice, "Look, there are a few young ladies at the table to our left staring at you."
"I've read their minds through their eyes," Li Yun glanced at the three young ladies and said, "They're wondering why I'm with you."
"Let them be puzzled, then!" Shen Mocong flicked her long black hair and said, "What would you like to eat? Many of the dishes here are excellent."
"Whatever you decide," Li Yun replied. He had dined romantically with Lin Yixin a few times and had also eaten Western food with Su Yuya, but this was his first time at such a high-end place.
Shen Mocong chose a seat by the glass wall. A waiter approached with a menu and asked, "What would the lady like?"
"Marseille fish soup, foie gras steak, Parisian lobster, red wine pheasant, veal steak... a bottle of Cognac cherry brandy," Shen Mocong listed a series of dishes that Li Yun had only heard of but never seen, without even looking at the menu.
"Very well, please wait a moment!" The waiter quickly jotted down the orders and bowed before leaving.