55: Chapter 56: The Ex-Girlfriend's Obsession

"You all can decide on this matter; there's no need to specifically inform me," Yu Bo's voice was steady, showing no ripples of emotion. "'Bright Path' is an independent team. Whether they participate or not will be decided by Zhou Ming and the others based on the project's progress. It's a good thing that 'Wing Flight' is willing to offer help. I'll thank President Shen on their behalf."

Shen Nian seemed to let out a soft chuckle on the other end of the line, very light and carrying a hint of understanding. "Chairman Yu is too polite; it's just mutual assistance. Then I'll have my assistant send the invitation and schedule directly to Dr. Zhou. I won't disturb Chairman Yu further. Goodbye."

"Goodbye." Yu Bo hung up the phone decisively.

Putting down his phone, he rubbed his temples. Shen Nian was like an incredibly patient spider, weaving her web unhurriedly. Every move she made landed precisely on a spot that was 'beneficial to the project,' a position he couldn't firmly refuse. This method of boiling a frog in lukewarm water was more troublesome than Su Man's blunt entanglements.

He needed to do something to shift his focus and soothe Yin Tianxue's irritation from the previous night caused by Su Man. Thinking of Yin Tianxue, Yu Bo's heart softened. Although he had passed the test after meeting Father Yin last night, the atmosphere had been somewhat heavy. He wanted to give her a gift—not something expensive, but a small surprise that would make her happy.

Action followed thought. After handling the urgent matters at hand, Yu Bo left the company early in the afternoon and drove to one of Jiangzhou's most high-end shopping centers, "Plaza 66." He remembered Yin Tianxue mentioning she liked jewelry from a certain niche designer brand known for its unique and unconventional designs.

After parking the car, he walked into the mall. It was the afternoon, so there weren't too many people. Yu Bo had a clear goal and headed straight for the brand store on the third floor. However, just as he crossed the first-floor atrium and prepared to take the escalator, a figure so familiar it made him freeze instantly crashed into his sight without warning.

Lu Yuner.

At this moment, Lu Yuner was standing in front of a cosmetics counter not far away, seemingly trying on lipstick. She was a bit more curvaceous than in his memory but well-maintained, wearing a classic Chanel tweed jacket and carrying a Hermès bag. With her exquisite makeup, she looked every bit the pampered wealthy wife. However, somewhat inconsistent with this outfit, a faint, lingering layer of fatigue and gloom clouded her brow, and her gaze was somewhat vacant.

She seemed to sense a gaze and turned her head. The moment their eyes met, Lu Yuner was also stunned. Incredulity, shock, and then a complex, indescribable light flashed in her eyes.

"Yu... Yu Bo?" Lu Yuner's voice carried uncertainty, but her feet moved toward him involuntarily.

Yu Bo quickly suppressed the surprise on his face and regained his composure. He didn't want to have much interaction with her right now, especially when he thought of Yin Tianxue. "Mm," he nodded, his tone polite yet distant, preparing to turn and leave.

Lu Yuner quickened her pace and blocked his path. She sized him up, the light in her eyes growing brighter, mixing amazement, regret, and an almost urgent probing. "You... you... hello, do you... have some time?" Her gaze swept over the low-profile but priceless watch on his wrist, his well-tailored bespoke suit, and the steady, confident aura he exuded. He was a world apart from the green and even somewhat awkward boy in her memory.

"No," Yu Bo said flatly, trying to bypass her.

"Yu Bo, don't be in such a hurry to leave." Lu Yuner refused to let him go, stepping in front of him again. A smile was squeezed onto her face, carrying a deliberately cultivated warmth. "It wasn't easy to run into each other; let's chat for a bit. What... are you doing now? You look like you're doing well." Her gaze lingered on him, the unconcealed admiration within it making Yu Bo feel a wave of discomfort.

"Just a small business," Yu Bo didn't want to talk much and glanced at his watch. "I'm in a hurry, sorry."

"Small business?" Lu Yuner clearly didn't believe him, her gaze becoming even more fervent. "Yu Bo, don't hide it from me. I've heard all about it—the founder of Tinglan Capital, the rising star of the investment world, currently at the height of your fame. I really didn't expect... you would have a day like this." Those last words carried a heavy sense of sighing and regret.

Yu Bo frowned, not wanting to discuss these things with her here. "It's all luck. Lu Yuner, I really have something to do, I'm leaving now." He tried to leave once more.

"Yu Bo!" Lu Yuner suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm; her touch was icy cold. Her voice also took on a sob, and her eyes instantly reddened. "Do... do you really not want to see me that much? I know, it was my fault. I was too realistic, too short-sighted... but I regret it now, I really regret it..."

As she spoke, tears actually began to fall. Combined with her exquisite makeup and slightly haggard face, she truly looked like a pitiable beauty. People passing by were already casting curious glances.

Yu Bo forcefully pulled his arm back, his gaze turning cold. "Lu Yuner, what's in the past is in the past; there's no need to mention it again. We both have our own lives. I wish you happiness." His voice was cold, carrying a clear intent to draw a line between them.

"Happiness?" Lu Yuner gave a miserable smile, her tears flowing even more fiercely. "Yu Bo, how can I have happiness without you? I regret it every day, regretting why I didn't insist on waiting for you, on believing in you..."

She became more and more agitated as she spoke, seemingly wanting to approach Yu Bo again. Yu Bo took a step back to maintain his distance, his face showing undisguised annoyance. "Lu Yuner, that is your business and has nothing to do with me. Please have some self-respect. I have things to attend to, excuse me."

After saying that, he didn't look at her again. He strode past her and headed straight for the escalator. He could feel Lu Yuner's burning gaze behind him, full of unwillingness and resentment, but he did not look back.

It wasn't until he got on the escalator and moved away from that area that Yu Bo breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Arriving at that niche designer brand store on the third floor, the interior was minimalist and elegant. There weren't many accessories on display, but each piece was uniquely crafted. Yu Bo was quickly attracted to a bracelet—a slender white gold chain interspersed with several diamonds of varying sizes, designed in the shape of an irregular stellar trajectory. The largest main stone in the center was a rare light blue Paraiba Tourmaline, as clear as the sea, reflecting a charming fire under the spotlights. Low-key, luxurious, and carrying a hint of unrestrained romance, it was very much like Yin Tianxue.

"Sir, you have a good eye. This is a limited edition piece from our brand this season, 'Star Track.' There are only ten in the world, and this is the only one in Jiangzhou," the sales assistant introduced enthusiastically.

"I'll take this one, wrap it up." Yu Bo didn't hesitate and swiped his card to pay. Seeing the gift box being carefully packaged, he imagined the surprised expression Yin Tianxue might have when she received the gift, and his mood finally improved.

Carrying the gift box out of the shop, Yu Bo intended to go straight to Tiansheng Group to pick up Yin Tianxue from work and give her a surprise. However, he had only walked a few steps when he collided head-on with someone at the corner of the corridor leading to the elevator lobby.

Both instinctively turned sideways to avoid each other, but the hot coffee the other person was holding—just bought from the nearby coffee shop—splashed out because of the collision. Some of it splashed onto the cuff of Yu Bo's suit jacket and also wet the back of the other person's hand.

"Sorry," Yu Bo frowned, pulling out a tissue to wipe his cuff while looking up at the other person.

With this look, both of them were stunned.

Yang Junyi.