Chapter 17#
Chapter Seventeen: The Other Side#
The two stared at each other for a moment. Su Mo couldn’t discern Lu Yan’s attitude from his expression and finally had no choice but to shake his head and tell the truth. “No. What I gave you was only that contract, and Qin Feng. I also instructed Su Jue not to interfere in your affairs. As a businessman, I also wanted to know if my investment was worthwhile.”
“So, do you have your answer now?”
“I believe you will be the best investment I’ve made in recent years,” Su Mo said with certainty.
Lu Yan smiled. “I believe Chairman Su’s judgment won’t be wrong.”
Su Mo looked at him. “From now on, I still won’t do anything extra, unless you ask.”
Lu Yan gave a faint, wry smile. “Perhaps it’s a bit disrespectful, but I hope there won’t be such an opportunity.”
Su Mo sighed softly. “During this time, I’ve watched all the scenes you’ve filmed, including those that were cut and won’t appear in the movie, as well as all the NG takes.”
Lu Yan wasn’t surprised that Su Mo could get hold of those reels—as the big boss of Starlight, it was a trivial matter. He didn’t ask why Su Mo had watched them either; he believed Su Mo didn’t need him to say anything.
Sure enough, Su Mo continued on his own. “This is the first time I’ve looked at someone so seriously through a lens.”
After another pause, Su Mo spoke again. “Mr. Lu, I apologize for my abruptness and impertinence that night.”
The shift in topic was somewhat abrupt, but it didn’t hinder Lu Yan’s understanding. He still didn’t respond, because he believed Su Mo wasn’t finished yet.
This time, the silence lasted a bit longer, but Lu Yan was not short on patience.
Su Mo looked up at him, seeming to weigh his words as he slowly said, “If, rather than as the president of the Su Corporation, I were just an ordinary man hoping for further acquaintance with Mr. Lu, how would you feel about that?”
This time, the one silent was Lu Yan. Su Mo was equally patient.
He’s serious. Lu Yan thought to himself. So far, they had met four times. Setting aside the first encounter’s exchange of glances, every subsequent meeting had given Lu Yan a different impression of the man before him. And this time, though the words were supplicating, there was not a hint of supplication in the other’s eyes or tone.
Lu Yan couldn’t deny his admiration for Su Mo as a person, nor was he unaware of the sincerity before him. Even from a purely utilitarian perspective, this was an excellent opportunity. Yet Lu Yan also had to admit that he himself was a selfish person, almost to the point of coldness, especially when it came to feelings—he would never compromise himself.
So, in the end, he only said slowly, “Chairman Su’s sincerity is moving. However, unfortunately, I don’t like men.”
The light in Su Mo’s eyes dimmed slightly—just a fraction, unnoticeable if not paying close attention. “I see… That is truly a pity.” His tone was very calm, as if it wasn’t a rejected confession but just a trivial proposal that had been turned down.
If not for that momentary flicker of emotion, even Lu Yan might have believed he didn’t care.
Before the silence could stretch on, the server arrived with coffee at the right moment. “Sorry for the delay. This was personally ground by the owner for both of you.”
Su Mo looked up at this. “Oh? Ye Yuan is here too.”
A clear, low laugh followed. “What, Senior, don’t you believe in my dedication?”
Lu Yan then saw a man in his thirties approach. He waved the server away and sat down naturally beside Su Mo, looking quite familiar.
Ye Yuan’s eyes lit up when he saw Lu Yan, and he said enthusiastically, “This must be Mr. Lu Yan, right? You’ve been quite popular online lately. Would you mind taking a photo with me later so I can hang it in the shop to attract customers?”
Lu Yan gave a modest smile. “Of course, if you think it would be useful.”
“It definitely will be. Thank you in advance,” Ye Yuan said with a laugh. He was clearly someone who knew how to handle social interactions—warm yet measured.
Then Ye Yuan pointed to the steaming coffee on the table, beaming. “This is a new coffee blend I’ve developed. Please, give it a try.”
Under the other’s expectant gaze, Lu Yan took a sip. “I don’t know much about coffee, but it tastes really good—smooth and pleasant. Even someone like me, who isn’t a coffee lover, finds nothing to criticize.”
Ye Yuan laughed heartily. “That’s almost the best compliment I’ve ever heard.”
Su Mo also set down his cup after tasting it and said flatly, “Your skills have improved again.”
Ye Yuan’s smile turned a bit more sincere. “If Senior says so, then I’m reassured.”
The repeated use of “Senior” puzzled Lu Yan. Although Su Mo’s demeanor was more composed, he didn’t look older than Ye Yuan.
Perhaps sensing Lu Yan’s confusion, Ye Yuan chuckled. “Is it strange that I don’t seem younger than Senior?”
Lu Yan smiled apologetically.
Ye Yuan joked, “It’s not because I look old, you know. In fact, I am older than Senior. Mr. Lu probably doesn’t know this, but Senior is a true genius. He skipped grades in university and completed his credits in two years—a record that still stands in our school’s history. By the time I got into university, Senior was already preparing to graduate.”
Lu Yan glanced at Su Mo instinctively. Even being praised like this to his face, he showed no sign of embarrassment, as if stating a matter of fact.
Ye Yuan was quite talkative. He leaned in with a mysterious smile. “Let me tell you another secret. This coffee shop was actually invested in by Senior back then.”
Now Lu Yan was genuinely surprised.
Perhaps finally seeing an expression beyond a polite smile on Lu Yan’s face, Ye Yuan laughed delightedly. “After graduation, Senior rarely came here. This is the first time he’s brought someone along. You must be quite close to Senior, Mr. Lu?”
Su Mo, who had been sitting quietly all along, suddenly said in a low voice, “Ye Yuan, don’t you have other customers to attend to?”
Ye Yuan immediately dropped his gossipy expression, smiled at them both, and said, “Senior, Mr. Lu, please take your time. I’ll go check on things over there.”
After Ye Yuan left, Lu Yan looked at Su Mo with some curiosity. “I didn’t expect Chairman Su to invest in such a small shop.”
“What, Mr. Lu thought I only did business in the millions and above?” Su Mo teased.
“I don’t know much about business, but I did think that way before,” Lu Yan admitted honestly.
Su Mo lowered his eyes and smiled. “A mosquito’s leg is still meat. As long as the business makes money, it doesn’t matter how big or small. Besides, even a businessman reeking of copper coins occasionally wants to indulge in a bit of artistry.”
“Chairman Su doesn’t strike me as an ordinary businessman,” Lu Yan said, not sparing the compliment.
Su Mo slowly sipped his still-warm coffee and said unhurriedly, “At that time, I had just made some money in the stock market. Ye Yuan, who had just started university, wanted to start his own business—a coffee shop—but was struggling with startup capital. When I heard about it, I talked to him and looked at his business plan. He was indeed a serious person, and his ideas were quite forward-thinking for the time, which I liked, so I decided to invest. I bought the shop space outright back then; its value has multiplied more than tenfold now. Over the years, Ye Yuan has run it better and better. I don’t have to lift a finger, and I get 30% of the net profit annually. I’ve long recouped my costs. This was my first investment in life. Though it can’t compare to the major projects of the Su Corporation later on, I’m quite proud of it.”
Lu Yan listened quietly, then said only, “Chairman Su’s good judgment remains as ever.”
Su Mo gave a faint smile. “Old stories. Don’t laugh at me, Mr. Lu.”
“Not at all. It was very interesting,” Lu Yan said sincerely. “I just didn’t expect Chairman Su to have this side to him.”
“Everyone has a side they don’t show to others. The key is only who they allow to see it,” Su Mo replied, his words carrying deeper meaning.
After that, they chatted casually about other things. Neither was particularly talkative, but the exchange was pleasant, and they found they held similar views on many topics.
When the coffee was finished, Su Mo glanced at his watch. “It’s getting late. Let me drive you back.”
Before leaving, they said goodbye to Ye Yuan, and Lu Yan kept his promise by taking a photo with him. Ye Yuan indeed hung the photo in the shop, and it was said that later some people came specifically because of it.
On the way, they didn’t talk much more. Su Mo always drove with concentration. It was past eleven at night, and there were far fewer pedestrians and vehicles on the road. The streetlights were still bright, but the noise had lessened.
As the car approached the residential area, Lu Yan suddenly spoke. “Stop here. I’ll walk in myself. Thank you for the ride, Chairman Su.”
Su Mo didn’t insist and slowly pulled over.
As Lu Yan unbuckled his seatbelt, Su Mo softly called his name, the low voice lingering briefly in the dark car interior.
Lu Yan looked up at him.
Su Mo gazed at him steadily for a long moment, then finally only two words came from his full lips: “Goodbye.”
Lu Yan nodded, said nothing more, opened the door, and got out.
The car’s headlights lit up behind him, illuminating a stretch of the road ahead. Lu Yan couldn’t help but be slightly moved by Su Mo’s thoughtfulness.
Back home, Lu Yan had a good night’s sleep.
The next day, there was no work. It was a rare day of leisure after a busy stretch, allowing him to sleep in.
When he woke up, it was already past nine in the morning. Lu Yan opened his eyes abruptly, feeling disoriented for a moment before remembering he was at his own place.
He got up and pulled open the curtains. The winter sun hadn’t yet fully emerged, but the sky was bright. He cracked open a window pane, and the crisp air rushed in, carrying a chill and a hint of moisture. Taking a deep breath was both refreshing and invigorating.
After washing up and changing, Lu Yan went to the kitchen to make himself breakfast.
Having grown up in a single-parent family, Lu Yan became independent early. Coupled with his mother’s poor mental state, he had learned to take care of himself from a young age, and later also had to look after his mentally unstable mother until her death in a car accident. Cooking and such were a piece of cake for Lu Yan. He didn’t like eating out much, preferring to cook for himself when time allowed, so he had asked Song Hui to prepare ingredients beforehand.