Chapter 463: Temptation

Yang Xiaofei looked at Wang Chenning and asked again, “If you really met a woman like that, would you cast aside all your worries, resist all temptation, and be with her and only her?”

“Of course!” Wang Chenning didn’t deny it. “If a woman was so outstanding that I’d be willing to cast everything aside to love her, then my heart certainly wouldn’t have room for anyone else!”

Yang Xiaofei was silent for a long moment, then asked softly, “Can you tell me what your idea of a perfect woman is?”

“It’s a feeling, something that can’t be described in concrete terms,” Wang Chenning said, shaking his head. He then added with a smile, “Can we talk about something else?”

But Yang Xiaofei pressed on. “Then what is it about me that you’re not satisfied with? No one’s ever told me things like this before. I want to hear your honest opinion, and I trust your judgment!”

Having said her piece, Yang Xiaofei looked at Wang Chenning with an open, composed expression.

“Alright, I’ll tell you,” Wang Chenning said with a nod. “First, of course, is your cold and aloof demeanor. You have such a beautiful face, why don’t you like to smile? I’m sure you know it yourself—you’re absolutely stunning when you smile. In this respect, Yang Xiaofu has you beat. Her looks and figure are probably no better than yours, but she has a lively personality and loves to laugh. I believe most men would rather be with someone like that than with a woman like you, who makes people feel repressed and forces them to walk on eggshells.”

Yang Xiaofei listened, her expression unreadable, and gestured for Wang Chenning to continue.

“Second, your life is too bland!”

“How am I bland?” Yang Xiaofei was finally displeased. “I think I have more taste than most people!”

“The kind of ‘taste’ I’m talking about isn’t quite what you’re thinking of. I mean having a certain flavor for life. Of course, you’ve already made some changes in that area.”

Yang Xiaofei listened and nodded silently. She understood what Wang Chenning was getting at.

“Third, you don’t showcase your true talents and abilities. Perhaps you feel it’s beneath you, but after all this time, I still don’t know what special skills you have, other than business management, that a man would admire or be captivated by. It doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman—everyone looks up to people who are stronger than them!”

“Alright, I see what you mean. Is there more?” Yang Xiaofei’s expression became even more open than before.

Wang Chenning shook his head. “To be honest, what I just said was all very abstract. It doesn’t mean that much.” He gave a self-deprecating laugh. “When it comes to relationships, the most important thing is still the feeling.”

After thinking for a moment, Yang Xiaofei asked, “Then in your opinion, in what ways is Zhao Xiao’an better than me?”

“The first time I saw Zhao Xiao’an, I was astonished. ‘This woman has such beautiful eyes,’ I thought. ‘Especially when she smiles. She could charm any man.’ Being with her is relaxing, for the most part, and you never have to worry about awkward silences. With you, on the other hand, if I don’t say something, there’s bound to be an awkward silence. But forget it, let’s not talk about this. Comparing you two like this is still just too abstract.”

Wang Chenning held up a hand, gesturing for Yang Xiaofei not to interrupt. After she rolled her eyes but kept listening, he continued, “How about this? Why don’t we go on a trip sometime, just the two of us. I believe the best way to really get to know a person is to take a long trip with them. A single trip can reveal everything about a person’s character.”

Yang Xiaofei studied Wang Chenning for a moment before lowering her gaze. “You wanted to go to Europe, didn’t you? I’ll go with you.”

“Okay,” Wang Chenning agreed. “If we get the chance, let’s go in May. Late May to early June is the perfect time for a trip to Europe. If that doesn’t work, then sometime in the second half of the year, like late September or early October.”

“Deal,” Yang Xiaofei agreed.

In truth, Yang Xiaofei herself didn’t know how to describe what she was feeling at that moment.

When she had come looking for Wang Chenning, there were so many things she’d wanted to say to him, so many things she’d wanted to ask.

She had spent a long time thinking about it, carefully considering how to phrase everything.

But after talking with Wang Chenning for a short while, she’d forgotten all about her initial goal.

Wang Chenning then asked Yang Xiaofei, “What’s your assessment of my recent trip to Jiangnan?”

Yang Xiaofei thought for a moment before answering, “You utilized all available resources and secured the best possible outcome.”

“Then have you ever considered this: we combine your resources and my resources, establish a completely new company, and build it into a corporate juggernaut—with you at the helm,” Wang Chenning said, watching Yang Xiaofei with a smile. “The company could focus on pharmaceuticals, with other ventures on the side. You should trust that I have the ability to make this happen. My partner in this could be you. It could also be Luo Yuqing, or even Li Fuzhen or Li Yanxian.”

Yang Xiaofei’s beautiful eyes widened once more. She stared at Wang Chenning for a moment, then retorted, “Have you said the same thing to Luo Yuqing, Li Fuzhen, and Zhao Xiao’an?”

“No,” Wang Chenning said, shaking his head. “I’ve only said this to you. Besides, I only ever promised you that if I really managed to take control of South Korea, I’d make you its queen.”

“Let me think about it.” Yang Xiaofei didn’t answer him directly. Instead, she changed the subject. “My birthday is the day after tomorrow. How are you planning to celebrate it with me?”