Mo Qingchen and Qian Meng drove out to their usual café. Despite the early hour, the line was long. They sat side by side, Qian Meng engrossed in her phone and Mo Qingchen looking straight ahead.

"It's picking up traction. We'll have hashtag MoYun trending in no time," she giggled. She looked like a little girl who had been given her favorite candy. Mo Qingchen shook his head in amusement.

"Why do you want it to trend?" he asked casually without looking at her. He was seeing her scroll through the messages and posts and liking them.

"I always liked those celebrities who came out with their relationships confidently and shamelessly showed off their affection," she admitted. "If people are going to find out, it should be so that they get cavities." She even had a pout on her lips.

"Show off," Mo Qingchen snorted. They were already at the front of the line.

"One black coffee and one iced green tea with soya milk to have now," he started. Then he turned to her curiously. "What do you want to bring for Bai Yu?" he asked.

She hummed absentmindedly before looking up. "Something refreshing in the morning. A tea, definitely."

"We'll have something invigorating on a tea base, please. Hot," he said. The teller smiled and looked between them.

"I saw the post from Miss Yun. I'm glad it worked out. I was rooting for the two of you," the person behind the counter said. It was a young girl. Definitely the younger generation of the family that owned the business.

Qian Meng's head shot up. "Thank you!" she said brightly. She skipped away, leaving Mo Qingchen rooted to his spot. He didn't smile at the girl, but he pulled out a generous tip and pushed it into the tip jar before scurrying away.

'Is this what people call a cold CEO?' The girl thought with awe.

They waited at the service desk and took their drinks. They found their way over to the road-side window and sat on the long table attached to the glass.

As the people passed, they silently drank their drinks.

"I need to finish this and then go to the restaurant," Qian Meng groaned. "Why did I forget that and order the drink for Mr. Bai?" she asked.

"Because you were preoccupied with how good we look together," Mo Qingchen teased, even though the tone of his voice didn't give it away. Qian Meng mock-glared at him.

"I'll hand it to him outside the restaurant before we head in," she stated at last.

"Do you need me to drop you off?" he asked with his brows furrowed.

She shook her head. "It's the restaurant a few blocks down. I'll walk there," she said lightly.

"I'm dropping you off," he said firmly. "You have no idea how to defend yourself. You aren't going to walk around the dangerous streets without protection."

"Wow, I should start calling you dad at this point," she bit back.

"We could arrange for that." He gave her a sideward glance and Qian Meng felt herself choke.

She eyes him suspiciously. "How are you holding yourself back at night? Macho Daddy doesn't seem like a person who holds back," she commented.

"You take the initiative. Not me." And that was that.

What did he want her to say? Bend me over and fuck me, daddy?

She could do that. Just not right now.

- - - - -

Qian Meng had to wait for a few minutes for Bai Yu to arrive. She saw Mo Qingchen waiting in the car in the distance but didn't pay much attention, knowing that he just wanted to stay in the distance and watch her go inside the restaurant.

Bai Yu arrived and he slid out of a comfortable-looking car. She greeted him and handed him the drink before waving at Mo Qingchen to shoo him away.

"Did he come along?" Bai Yu chuckled.

Qian Meng nodded. "He's a bit on the edge with the recent events." And then she grinned.

"It's good to have someone supporting you at the end of the day. Rarely do people find someone who unconditionally gives another person everything."

Unconditionally.

What was unconditional?

Qian Meng didn't respond. They headed in and were seated in a private location within the restaurant.

"Uncle, you don't have a fancy car?" Qian Meng asked as they waited for the breakfast spread to arrive. Bai Yu took a small sip of the tea before shaking his head.

"I never understood the rage about fancy cars. I just want something that will last longer and get me from one place to the other," he shrugged.

"If you don't mind me asking, what really solidified your mind for contacting me?" Qian Meng asked.

Bai Yu sighed. "I had a run-in with my son and I saw the side I didn't know he had. I always thought he was a little stupid, but it turns out he was not." He looked at the table intently. "The other investors and executive members petitioned to have him removed from his position, as well."

Qian Meng blinked. "Other investors?" Actually, it was not a publicized matter. The company was privately owned and no news of other shareholders was ever exposed. In Qian Meng's knowledge, the minor investors held a total of fifteen percent share of the company, negligible when it came to termination and appointment authority.

"Yes, some of my childhood friends and other small businessmen bought into my company. The dividend is good so they have extra money for their retirement," Bai Yu said calmly.

"They shouldn't have enough power to make a motion to dismiss a shareholder, right?" Qian Meng was perplexed.

Bai Yu gave her a weak smile. "Actually, they called me shortly after your announcement went out. I tried to appease them and tell him to stay off the radar for some time, but he wouldn't listen."

Qian Meng felt empty for a second. "So, you allowed them to hold a meeting to remove him from his spot." That was understandable.