It was my luck to work with him.

When Cui Yu saw Meng Yihe and Ye Chunhan standing at the door, his face immediately broke into his signature smile, and he quickly walked forward.

"Auntie, hello! I'm sorry, there was a bit of traffic on the way, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." His tone was sincere and carried just the right amount of apology, and his gaze fell respectfully on Ye Chunhan.

Ye Chunhan's doubt was instantly replaced by even greater surprise, and she quickly smiled and said, "No, no! Director Cui, you're too kind. Please come in, please come in! It's cold outside!"

She warmly stepped aside to let the door open, her gaze sweeping back and forth between the gift Cui Yu brought and the clearly matching gift bag in her son's hand, her smile deepening.

Cui Yu then smiled and nodded at Meng Yihe as if he had just noticed him.

"Yihe." The tone was so natural and familiar, as if she were greeting someone in her own home.

Meng Yihe felt her ears burning slightly at his natural way of calling her "Yihe," and could only nod almost imperceptibly in response, keeping a straight face.

He stepped aside to let Cui Yu enter first.

Cui Yu politely insisted for a moment, letting Ye Chunhan and Meng Yihe go first.

Good manners are revealed in the smallest details.

Upon entering the living room, Meng Ling was sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper. Seeing them come in, he put down the newspaper and stood up. He had a dignified air and piercing eyes. He first swept his gaze over Meng Yihe to make sure his son's complexion was acceptable, and then his gaze fell on Cui Yu.

"Uncle, hello. I apologize for bothering you. I am Cui Yu." Cui Yu stepped forward, greeted Meng Ling with neither humility nor arrogance, and handed over the gift box in his hand.

"This is just a small gift, nothing more."

Meng Ling accepted the gift, his expression softening slightly. He nodded and said, "Director Cui, thank you for your trouble. Please have a seat." His attitude wasn't particularly warm, but he maintained basic politeness.

Ye Chunhan was already busy telling the servants to pour tea, while scolding Meng Yihe, "Look at you, Director Cui is coming to our house for dinner, why didn't you tell us the specific time in advance so we could prepare more thoroughly?"

These words were ostensibly directed at Meng Yihe, but were actually meant for Cui Yu, to express their importance.

Before Meng Yihe could speak, Cui Yu interrupted with a smile, "Auntie, please don't be so polite. I came uninvited and it's my fault for bothering you. Yihe is usually busy with work and may not have had time to explain such a small matter in detail."

He took the blame upon himself in a few words, and even offered an explanation for Meng Yihe.

Meng Yihe glanced at him, said nothing, and sat down on the sofa next to him, her posture slightly stiff.

The servants brought tea and snacks.

Cui Yu did not sit down immediately, but waited until Meng's parents were seated before sitting down next to Meng Yihe, her demeanor composed and proper.

Ye Chunhan grew increasingly satisfied with Cui Yu, and began to enthusiastically ask him questions, her admiration almost undisguised. Cui Yu answered with ease, his words sincere yet witty, making Ye Chunhan laugh repeatedly.

Although Meng Ling didn't talk much, he would occasionally interject with a question or two about industry trends or project opinions. Cui Yujun was able to speak meaningfully, displaying a maturity and insight far beyond his age, which gradually brought out a bit of genuine appreciation in Meng Ling's eyes.

Meng Yihe sat to the side, remaining silent for most of the time.

Cui Yu is indeed exceptionally talented.

From any perspective, she is someone who would be highly regarded by any elder.

Seeing his parents' undisguised affection for him, Meng Yihe felt a sense of pride, but this was quickly followed by a deeper sense of bewilderment and bitterness.

This harmonious atmosphere was so beautiful it seemed like an illusion, and he was an outsider to this harmonious drama, or perhaps an outsider harboring a secret.

"Xiao He," Ye Chunhan suddenly steered the conversation towards him. "Look how capable Director Cui is, so accomplished at such a young age. You should learn from him and stop burying yourself in work all day! Make more friends like him!"

here we go again.

Helpless, Meng Yihe could only vaguely reply, "Mm."

Cui Yu smiled and looked at Meng Yihe with admiration in her eyes: "Auntie, you flatter me. The smooth progress of Xinghuan's project is entirely due to Yihe's grasp of technology and strategic vision. I was just assisting him from the side. It is my good fortune to be able to work with him."

Cui Yu's words were extremely eloquent, both humbly praising Meng Yihe and implying a close cooperative relationship between the two. Ye Chunhan was overjoyed, and even Meng Ling nodded slightly.

Lunchtime.

The atmosphere remained warm and harmonious, with the table laden with exquisite dishes. Ye Chunhan had clearly put a lot of thought into it, including some time-consuming and labor-intensive dishes.

Cui Yu performed impeccably. He was elegant in demeanor, had perfect dining etiquette, and praised every dish. He could also accurately explain the stories behind some of the dishes or the exquisite cooking techniques, which made Ye Chunhan repeatedly praise him for being "knowledgeable" and "wise."

He could even naturally pick up a piece of food that Meng Yihe couldn't reach with his chopsticks.

"Try this, Auntie's cooking is really good."

Meng Yihe looked at the extra food in his bowl, his body stiffening almost imperceptibly. This overly intimate and natural gesture, under his parents' gaze, made his heart skip a beat and his ears burn. He could only whisper "thank you" before putting the food in his mouth.

Ye Chunhan saw all of this, and the smile on his face became even more gratified.

She just felt that the two young people had a really good relationship, and that Director Cui was really considerate and thoughtful.

"Director Cui, don't just keep putting food on Xiao He's plate, eat more yourself!" Ye Chunhan greeted warmly. "From now on, come over for dinner often. Xiao He is all alone anyway, you two can keep each other company."

Meng Yihe choked on the soup and coughed violently.

"Drink slowly." Cui Yu casually handed him a tissue, even gently patting his back twice. The gesture was gentle, but it was enough to make Meng Yihe tense up.

"I...I'm fine."

Meng Yihe took the tissue and wiped his mouth as if to cover up his actions. His heart was pounding like a drum. He dared not look at his parents' expressions, let alone Cui Yu.

Cui Yu responded with a smile, as if nothing had happened: "Thank you, Auntie. As long as Yihe doesn't mind me bothering you, I'll definitely come over for meals often."

Lunch ended in an atmosphere where Meng Yihe felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, Ye Chunhan was overjoyed, Meng Ling observed silently, and Cui Yu was completely at ease.

After the meal.

Meng Ling, unusually, did not immediately return to his study. Instead, he said to Cui Yu, "Director Cui, would you be interested in having a cup of tea with me in my study? It's freshly arrived pre-rain Longjing tea." This was clearly a signal of further recognition and a desire for deeper communication.

“It is my honor, Uncle.” Cui Yu calmly stood up, nodded to Ye Chunhan and Meng Yihe, and then followed Meng Ling upstairs.

Only Meng Yihe and her mother remained in the living room.

Watching Cui Yu's tall figure disappear around the corner of the stairs, Ye Chunhan couldn't help but grab Meng Yihe's hand, lowering her voice to barely contain her excitement and satisfaction: "Xiaohe, your colleague is truly impeccable! Good-looking, elegant, capable, and knows how to get along with people! You must befriend her! Such a friend is rare!"

Meng Yihe felt a mix of emotions.

He knew Cui Yu was excellent, excellent enough to earn praise from anyone.

But this "goodness" is like a clear mirror, reflecting the unspoken delusions in his heart.

How absurd.

Meng Yihe could only vaguely reply, "Yes, I know."

"Good to know!" Ye Chunhan gave him a reproachful look. "Look how considerate Director Cui is. She even put food on your plate just now. You're just too selfish. You should learn from her and be more outgoing..."

While her mother continued nagging, Meng Yihe's mind had already drifted upstairs to the study.

What will the father talk to Cui Yu about?

Project? Business? Or something else?

How will Cui Yu respond? His ability to control the situation in any situation gave Meng Yihe a strange sense of peace, but it was also accompanied by a deeper anxiety.

He didn't know what he was expecting or what he was afraid of.

About half an hour later, the study door opened.

Meng Ling and Cui Yu walked downstairs one after the other.

Although Meng Ling's face still didn't show much expression, his eyes were much softer than before, and there even seemed to be a lingering smile on his lips.

Cui Yu followed behind, his attitude remaining humble and polite.

Meng Yihe immediately stood up, her gaze fixed on Cui Yu with a question in her eyes.

Cui Yu met his gaze, smiled slightly, and nodded gently. After sitting for a while and drinking a cup of tea, he took his leave at the opportune moment, with a valid reason that was neither unreasonable nor impolite.

Ye Chunhan personally escorted the two to the door and repeatedly urged Cui Yu to come often.

As she approached the car, Meng Yihe finally couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "What...did my father say to you?"

Cui Yu paused as she opened the car door, then turned to look at him, her smile appearing somewhat profound.

"Nothing much, we just talked about tea, the industry, and... you."

"Talk about me?" Meng Yihe's heart skipped a beat.

"Hmm." Cui Yu's smile deepened as he looked at his slightly nervous expression. "My uncle told me... to keep an eye on you and not let you push yourself too hard."

These words sounded like ordinary concern, but Meng Yihe always felt that there was more to Cui Yu's eyes than met the eye.

Cui Yu didn't say anything more, got into the car, rolled down the window, and waved to him.

"I'm leaving, see you Monday."

The car slowly drove away.

Meng Yihe stood there, watching the black sedan disappear into the distance. She felt empty inside, yet it was also as if something had filled her completely.

Monday, at the headquarters of Starworld Group.

Before the ripples from the weekend home visit had fully subsided in Meng Yihe's mind, a wave of intense work had already begun.

Negotiations for the final agreement on the Linnan rare earth mine project have entered a crucial stage.

Countless details needed to be finalized, and the opposing legal team was extremely difficult, scrutinizing every single clause.

Meng Yihe spent the entire morning immersed in lengthy legal texts and data verification, his mind highly focused. He even temporarily blocked Cui Yu's timely "health reminder" messages, not intentionally ignoring them, but genuinely unable to concentrate.

Until lunch break was over.

Lin Xueyue carefully delivered a draft of a supplementary agreement that needed urgent signature, and gently reminded him that his lunch had been reheated several times before Meng Yihe looked up from the document.

As I looked up, a wave of dizziness suddenly washed over me.

The words on the computer screen in front of him instantly became blurry and distorted. He subconsciously closed his eyes tightly, raised his hand and rubbed his throbbing temples hard, and felt a familiar, faint twitching in his stomach.

He leaned back in his chair, his face paler than usual, a barely concealed discomfort etched between his brows. The aftereffects of the forced pheromone disruption seemed to be showing slight signs of recurring under the dual pressures of intense mental work and lack of timely meals.

The office door was gently pushed open, and Cui Yu walked in.

He had just finished a video conference, his face still bearing the sharp look from the negotiating table. However, when his gaze fell on Meng Yihe, that sharpness was instantly replaced by worry.

"What's wrong?"

Cui Yu walked a few steps to the desk, his brows furrowed, and his gaze swept over Meng Yihe's hand pressing her temples and her pale face.

"Is your stomach upset again? Or are you feeling dizzy?"

Meng Yihe opened his eyes, his vision still a little blurry. Not wanting to appear too vulnerable, he replied stiffly, "It's nothing, just a little tired." As he spoke, he tried to sit up straight and continue reading the documents that Lin Xueyue had just delivered.

But Cui Yu was faster.

He reached out and placed his warm, dry palm on Meng Yihe's forehead without warning.

This action was too sudden and intimate.

Meng Yihe's body stiffened abruptly, as if she were frozen in place, even her breathing stopped.

"No fever."

Cui Yu tested the temperature and then withdrew his hand, but his brows remained furrowed, and he looked calmly at Meng Yihe.

"But you look terrible. Is the aftereffect recurring?" He paused, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. "Don't participate in the negotiations this afternoon. Go back and rest."

“No!” Meng Yihe immediately refused, suppressing the panic caused by that touch. “I must be present for the final key clause. A small problem won’t affect anything.”

"A minor issue?" Cui Yu's voice turned somber.

“Meng Yihe, look at yourself now. If you suddenly feel unwell at the negotiating table, the damage will be far greater than letting you rest for half a day!” Cui Yu rarely called him by his full name, but when he did, it meant the seriousness of the matter and his absolute insistence.

Just then, Cui Yu's phone vibrated.

He glanced at it; it was a message from Zhao Lei, offering suggestions on how to deal with a particularly difficult clause the other side had recently proposed during the afternoon negotiations. Cui Yu quickly skimmed through it, and when he looked up at Meng Yihe again, he had already made his decision.

“I see.” Cui Yu spoke faster, displaying efficient decision-making ability.

“I will lead the negotiations this afternoon. Now, go over your bottom line and core demands with me. Lin Xueyue and Xu Rui will be my backup for all the technical terms and supporting data. Now, immediately dictate the most important parts to me, then go home and rest. Keep communication open, and I will need your remote assessment in case of any emergencies.”

This is not a discussion, it is an order.

It is the best business decision and personnel arrangement made based on the current situation and Meng Yihe's physical condition.

Meng Yihe looked at him.

Cui Yu's eyes showed concern, but even more so, they showed composure and responsibility under immense pressure.

He did not completely exclude himself, but made the most of the available resources, ensuring the professionalism of the negotiations while also forcing himself to rest.

At that moment, Meng Yihe found herself unable to refute.

He remained silent for a few seconds, then finally took a deep breath as if in resignation, and succinctly told Cui Yu the bottom line of the most crucial terms and the traps that the other party might set.

Cui Yu listened intently, occasionally asking about a detail or two.

The handover was completed efficiently in just ten minutes.

"Okay, I understand." Cui Yu nodded, picked up the internal phone on Meng Yihe's desk, and dialed Lin Xueyue directly. "Lin Xueyue, call a car for Director Meng and take him home to rest. Bring all the negotiation materials from this afternoon to my office." After giving the instructions, he looked at Meng Yihe.

"Now, go home. That's an order."