บท 20: How Did They Meet

Yuchen's expression once again shifted to one of surprise upon hearing what Elena wanted to talk about. He hadn't anticipated her level of meticulous planning, down to the very scenario of their initial meeting.

In Yuchen's previous experiences, he had only spent time with beautiful women who might not have been as intellectually inclined. Thus, Elena's thoughtful approach caught him off guard.

He recognized her intelligence, given her role as a CEO, but he hadn't fully appreciated its extent. It seemed he needed to adjust his perception of her to include her sharp wit.

"So, what concept do you have in mind for our first meeting?" Yuchen inquired with genuine interest, curious about the scenario Elena was envisioning.

"Let's say we met in London. Or have you returned to China recently?" Elena asked, seeking to create a more believable narrative.

If Yuchen was in China, she could think of a better scenario than the one she had already thought of.

Yuchen immediately shook his head when he heard that.

"No, this is my first time returning to China," Yuchen said casually, trying to hide his sadness as he remembered how he couldn't return home all these years because his parents forbade him to return.

Even though Yuchen knew it must be because of his step brother's doing.

"In that case, let's establish that we met in London. Around four or five years ago, during my visit there," Elena suggested with a serious demeanor.

Elena felt fortunate for her prior business trip to London; it provided a convenient cover story for her fake relationship that would seem plausible to others.

"Alright. But where did we meet? Was it during your sightseeing in London? Did I approach you and ask for your number?" Yuchen inquired playfully, trying to anticipate Elena's creative approach.

Yuchen knew Elena would definitely make the story with him being captivated by Elena's charm and actively pursuing her, perhaps in a scenario like their accidental meeting at landmarks such as Big Ben or the Tower of London.

"Ew, no!" Elena responded with a grimace, revealing her aversion to that particular idea.

Yuchen's eyebrows arched in surprise at her reaction. He had thought Elena might lean towards a more romantic setting.

"Well then, how did our fictional encounter unfold?" Yuchen inquired, his confusion and curiosity evident.

"At a bar!" Elena declared resolutely. "Picture this: one night, I was enjoying a drink at a bar when you approached me and we ended up spending the night together," she explained with utmost seriousness.

Yuchen couldn't mask his astonishment upon hearing Elena's proposal. The unexpected nature of her suggestion caught him completely off guard.

"Wait a minute. The two of us spent the night together?" Yuchen Yuchen reiterated, seeking clarification to ensure he had not heard her wrongly.

He was fine with the idea of meeting Elena at a bar and even approaching her himself. But, they spend the night together?

"Of course!" Elena affirmed firmly, her expression resolute. "Two adults meet at a bar. What do you expect comes next? Grocery shopping?" She rolled her eyes, clearly finding Yuchen's concern amusing.

"Well, I thought maybe we should keep it a bit more family-friendly," Yuchen suggested, attempting to present a reasonable case.

After all, they would be sharing their fictional meeting story with others. Shouldn't it be suitable for all audiences, including children?

"Family friendly my ass! Seriously? You think our story is some kind of Disn*y fairy tale?" Elena retorted, her irritation palpable at Yuchen's proposal. "It's meant to be for mature audiences, at least 18+!" she asserted.

Elena was determined to avoid crafting a meeting story that resembled a clichéd romance drama or novel, where two people suddenly lock eyes in public and fall in love instantly.

Blah! It's really cringe and makes her want to puke!

After all, she wasn't the type to hand out her number to random guys she encountered,

But, she's also not a woman who will immediately accept if a man suddenly approaches her at the bar. At least the man has to be handsome and pique her interest to some extent.

Well, in her imagination, Elena could concede that she might entertain the idea of having fun with Yuchen if he approached her at a bar. So, the plan still made sense to her.

Despite Elena's reasoning, Yuchen still appeared uncertain about the proposed scenario. He contemplated how he would explain such a narrative to his mother if she inquired about their first meeting.

For Yuchen, the concept of meeting Elena while sightseeing in London seemed more logical and palatable.

"What?" Elena inquired, reading the perplexed expression on Yuchen's face. "Have you never tried to pick up a woman at a bar?" She asked once more, her tone determined.

"What?" Yuchen responded, completely caught off guard by Elena's direct question.

"Are you telling me you're a virgin?" Elena suddenly asked, the thought crossing her mind as she noticed Yuchen's reaction, which seemed to reject her proposed scenario.

"But then again, you were hired by that old hag. So, you can't possibly be a virgin. I doubt she's interested in spending the night with an inexperienced man," Elena mused suddenly, recollecting how she had encountered Yuchen while he was offering his services to the woman she didn't particularly favor.

Yuchen's eyes widened and his mouth fell open slightly in disbelief at Elena's words. His initial surprise gradually shifted to irritation.

Virgin? Really?

"Should I demonstrate my expertise in pleasing women?" Yuchen mused internally, feeling somewhat offended by Elena's earlier remarks.

Without further ado, Yuchen rose from his seat and approached Elena.

"What?" Elena asked, looking at Yuchen who was now seated beside her. Her face bore a look of confusion.

"I was thinking that maybe I should prove I'm not a virgin," Yuchen remarked, his eyes glinting mischievously as he closed the gap between them.

Elena's intuition immediately ignited an awareness of potential danger, prompting her to subtly adjust her position, putting a bit more space between them on the sofa.

"Don't you dare!" Elena warned with a firmness that could have melted steel, fixing Yuchen with a gaze that seemed to dare him to challenge her. Her expression was a perfect blend of determination and intensity.

Yet, Yuchen showed no intention of halting. His left hand steadied on the backrest of the couch, enabling him to gradually close in.

As Elena's escape route dwindled, she attempted to rise from her seat. Yet, Yuchen's right hand adeptly grasped the sofa's armrest, effectively trapping her between his presence and the furniture.

"Why do you seem nervous all of a sudden?" Yuchen's gentle inquiry was laced with a suggestive smirk, directed at Elena, whose countenance had turned tense, a glistening sheen of sweat adorning her forehead.

"You did say our story was meant for an 18+ audience. You even concocted the narrative that we spent the night together," Yuchen stated deliberately, his expression growing more relaxed as he inched his face closer to Elena's, who struggled to keep her composure.

"What if we reenact a scene from that supposed night?" Yuchen suggested in a hushed tone akin to a secret, his lips near Elena's ear. "I'm confident I can make you give me your number," he continued, his breath now mingling with Elena's as their noses touched each other.