Lin Mo regretted everything. Not the ticket. The ticket was excellent. The problem was the suit. He stood in front of the mirror, staring at himself. Black trousers. White shirt. Dark jacket. Formal shoes. He looked like a university student who had been kidnapped and forced into attending a business conference. Xu An leaned against the door. “You look fine.” “I look uncomfortable.” “That's because you're wearing formal clothes.” “I was happier yesterday.” “You say that every time you have to leave your dorm.” Lin Mo adjusted his collar. “Can I go in sneakers?” “No.” “Why?” “Because you're already dressed.” Lin Mo looked down. Unfortunately, Xu An was right. They had spent twenty minutes getting ready. There was no turning back. The academic exchange event was held in a large hotel near the university. The entrance was crowded. Students stood around talking. Professors greeted one another. Company representatives moved between groups. Lin Mo immediately regretted coming. Too many people. Too much noise. Too many opportunities for someone to recognize him and ask him to do something. Xu An grabbed his arm. “Come on.” “Where?” “Food.” Lin Mo's eyes brightened. “Lead the way.” The food was, in fact, excellent. Lin Mo's mood improved immediately. He found a quiet corner and began eating. Xu An stared at him. “You came to an academic event and immediately hid beside the buffet.” “I'm networking.” “With food?” “Food is reliable.” Before Xu An could answer, someone spoke behind them. “That's a surprisingly honest strategy.” Lin Mo turned. A young man stood there wearing a staff badge. He looked about their age. Neat hair. Glasses. A calm expression. Lin Mo didn't recognize him. Good. A normal person. Probably. The young man glanced at Lin Mo's plate. “You've tried almost everything.” Lin Mo looked down. He hadn't realized. “Research.” The man smiled. “Research?” “I'm comparing the dishes.” “For what?” “Quality.” “What's your conclusion?” Lin Mo considered it seriously. “The dessert is better than the main course.” The man laughed. “Then I should try the dessert.” “You should.” He took a plate and walked away. Lin Mo returned to his food. Xu An stared at him. “What?” “You make friends strangely.” “I didn't make a friend.” “You were talking for five minutes.” “That isn't friendship.” Xu An shook his head. Across the hotel, Shen Yichen had arrived. He was surrounded by university administrators. He listened to them discuss the event. His attention was elsewhere. Then he saw someone familiar. Lin Mo. Standing beside the buffet. Eating. Shen Yichen watched for a moment. He had expected Lin Mo to attend the technical sessions. Instead, the student was apparently treating the event as a free meal. One administrator followed his gaze. “Mr. Shen, do you know that student?” Shen Yichen paused. “Yes.” “Is he part of the computer science team?” “Yes.” The administrator smiled. “Professor Zhang speaks highly of him.” Shen Yichen didn't respond. He looked away. There was no reason to approach him. So he didn't. Not yet. Meanwhile, Lin Mo had finished eating. He looked around. Xu An was nowhere to be seen. “Where did he go?” Lin Mo checked his phone. A message. Xu An: Went to talk to someone from our department. I'll find you later. Lin Mo sighed. Fine. He found a quiet hallway and sat beside a window. Finally. Silence. He pulled out his phone. Then heard footsteps. Someone stopped beside him. “Lin Mo?” He looked up. Jiang Rui. For one second, Lin Mo wondered whether he had somehow entered another chapter of the novel. Jiang Rui was dressed more casually than the other guests, but there was no mistaking him. No mask this time. No cap. Just Jiang Rui. The famous actor. Jiang Rui smiled. “You really are here.” Lin Mo blinked. “You remember me?” “Of course.” Lin Mo didn't know how to respond. “You helped me at the arcade.” “Oh.” “That sounded very casual.” “It was a casual situation.” Jiang Rui laughed. “You're interesting.” Lin Mo immediately became suspicious. That sentence sounded dangerous. “I was just sitting there.” “Exactly.” Jiang Rui sat in the empty chair nearby. “Are you enjoying the event?” “The food is good.” Jiang Rui laughed. “I should have guessed.” They talked for several minutes. Nothing important. Jiang Rui asked about university. Lin Mo answered. Lin Mo asked whether acting was tiring. Jiang Rui said sometimes. Neither mentioned the novel. Neither knew what the other would eventually mean to their lives. For now, they were simply two people who had met twice. Then someone called Jiang Rui from the other end of the hallway. “I'm coming.” Jiang Rui stood. Before leaving, he looked at Lin Mo. “See you around, Lin Mo.” Lin Mo nodded. “See you.” Jiang Rui walked away. Lin Mo watched him disappear around the corner. Then muttered, “Why does everyone remember me?” He looked at his phone. No new messages. Good. He stood. Time to find Xu An. On another floor of the hotel, a completely different conversation was taking place. A man in a dark suit stood beside the window. His expression was relaxed. Almost lazy. A university administrator approached him. “Mr. Mo, the Shen Group representatives have arrived.” The man turned his glass slowly. “Shen Yichen?” “Yes.” A faint smile appeared. “Interesting.” “Should I arrange a meeting?” “No.” He looked toward the crowded hall below. “Not today.” The administrator nodded and left. The man remained by the window. His name was Mo Chen. And unlike everyone else at the event, he wasn't particularly interested in the speeches. He had come because there was something happening behind them. Something involving the Shen family. Something that would eventually become very important.

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