Tenfold cashback: How I manipulated my ex-girlfriend on the plane

Shen Jiayi sat in a corner booth. Her red dress, softened by the daytime sharpness in the dim light, exuded a more serene air. Seeing Chen Mo enter, she raised her wine glass and smiled.

That smile was serene, and the two shallow lines at the corners of her eyes didn't make her look old; instead, they gave her an indescribable charm.

"You're here?" she said. "Have a seat."

Chen Mo sat down opposite her. The waiter handed him the wine list.

"Give him a Long Island Iced Tea, the same as last time," Shen Jiayi ordered for him. "And I'll have an Old Fashioned one too."

The waiter nodded and left.

"Do you remember what I drank last time?" Chen Mo was a little surprised.

"I've always had a good memory," Shen Jiayi said, resting her chin on her hand and looking at him. "Especially for interesting people."

"What's so funny about me?"

“Everywhere is interesting.” Her smile deepened. “A young man wearing a Versace shirt and driving a Porsche Cayenne, last night wearing a pilling black jacket, spent 50,000 yuan to help a hostess out at a bar. Isn’t that contrast interesting enough?”

Chen Mo smiled but didn't explain.

Shen Jiayi continued, "Besides, I looked it up later. Lin Shiyu is your university's campus belle, and you're her senior. Your relationship can't be just that of 'old classmates,' right?"

"What are you trying to say?"

"I want to say..." She crossed her hands on the table, leaned forward slightly, and looked directly at him, "Chen Mo, you are not an ordinary person. There is something special about you."

Her eyes were serious and focused.

"I've worked in public relations for several years and have met all sorts of people. Rich, powerful, talented, ambitious... but you're different from them all. There's something clean in your eyes, but at the same time, it's very deep. Like a well, the surface is calm, but the bottom is unfathomable."

Chen Mo leaned back on the sofa, looking at her.

Are you praising me, or testing me?

"Yes, I have both." Shen Jiayi smiled frankly. "Chen Mo, I won't beat around the bush. My company is currently working on a big project and needs an investment. I think you might be a suitable candidate."

"What project?"

"Jiangcheng International Fashion Week." Her expression turned serious. "Next March, the first edition. The government is in charge, and our company is responsible for organizing it. The budget is about 30 million, and we're still short 10 million."

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow.

Ten million. It's not a huge sum for him, but it's not small either. With the system's tenfold cashback, spending ten million would return him one hundred million, which would allow him to advance the main quest by a significant margin.

Why do you think I have that ability?

"Intuition," Shen Jiayi said. "Besides, the fact that you're at the Porsche VIP dinner tonight means you're at least one of their car owners. A 25-year-old who bought a Cayenne Coupe outright can't possibly own only one car."

Chen Mo remained silent for a few seconds.

"I need to see the specific plan and budget."

"Of course." She took a USB drive out of her bag and pushed it towards me. "All the data is in here. Take your time looking through it, and contact me anytime when you've made up your mind."

Chen Mo picked up the USB drive and twirled it between his fingers.

"Are you this enthusiastic about every potential investor?" The tone was playful.

Shen Jiayi smiled, but there was something indescribable hidden in her smile.

"That depends on what kind of investor it is."

She picked up her wine glass and gently touched his glass to hers.

"Cheers to cooperation!"

"It's fate," Chen Mo corrected.

Shen Jiayi was stunned for a moment, then laughed even harder.

"Yes, it's fate."

The two looked at each other and smiled, then drank it all in one gulp.

It was already 11:30 p.m. when I came out of the bar.

The night wind in Jiangcheng was much colder than during the day. Shen Jiayi stood at the door, her red dress gently lifted by the wind, and she hugged her arms and hunched her shoulders.

"Are you cold?" Chen Mo asked.

"A little." She smiled. "I should have worn a coat."

Without saying a word, Chen Mo took off his Canada Goose down jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

Shen Jiayi paused for a moment, looked up at him, and her eyes softened.

Aren't you cold?

"It's alright." Chen Mo stood in the cold wind wearing a white shirt. He was indeed cold, but it wasn't visible on his face.

Shen Jiayi looked at his profile, remained silent for a few seconds, and said softly, "Chen Mo, do you know? A man like you is the most dangerous."

Why?

"Because you always manage to make women's hearts flutter without them even realizing it."

Chen Mo turned to look at her.

The two looked at each other in the night, so close that they could see the light reflected in each other's pupils.

Shen Jiayi's eyes are beautiful. The corners of her eyes are slightly upturned, giving her a natural allure. Her lips still have the color of red wine, glistening moistly under the streetlights.

Chen Mo's breathing became heavier.

But he didn't move.

"Go home early." His voice was a little lower than usual. "Be careful on the road."

Shen Jiayi stared at him for several seconds, then smiled.

There was relief in that smile, but also a hint of regret.

Okay. Goodnight, Chen Mo.

"Good night."

She turned and walked towards the car by the roadside, took a few steps, and then turned back.

"By the way, about that project, please give it serious consideration."

"Yes."

She nodded, opened the car door, and got in.

The car started and slowly drove away.

Chen Mo stood there, watching the car's taillights disappear into the night, then took out his phone and sent a message to Lin Shiyu.

"We're done talking, time to go back. Are you asleep?"

The message was sent and received a reply in less than ten seconds.

No. I'm waiting for you.

Four words, simple and direct.

But in the cold wind of the night, these four words are like a cup of hot tea, warming you from your throat all the way to your stomach.

Chen Mo looked at the words "I'm waiting for you" on the screen and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

He hailed a taxi and gave them the address of Jiangpan Haoting.

As the car crossed the river bridge, he leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes, and the scene from tonight flashed through his mind: Shen Jiayi's red dress, Lin Shiyu's black dress, the two women's eyes locked under the lights, Shen Jiayi's words, "You always manage to make women's hearts flutter unintentionally," and Lin Shiyu's words, "I'm waiting for you."

Then there are the two system options:

Composite, or not composite.

Five million plus emotional resonance, or three million plus charm boost.

Chen Mo opened his eyes, looking at the neon lights rushing past outside the window, and the smile on his lips grew wider and wider.

He suddenly realized that the answer to this multiple-choice question might come faster than he had imagined.

Because tonight, he noticed something.

When Lin Shiyu said, "I'm waiting for you," the system emitted a faint notification sound:

[Ding! Target "Lin Shiyu" has exceeded 90 points of favorability towards the host, triggering the hidden achievement: Heartbreaker. Reward: 50,000 yuan.]

Favorability?

The system has this function?

Chen Mo silently asked himself, "System, can I check how much people around me like me?"

[Ding! The affinity check function can only be used after the system shop is unlocked. Current progress: Main quest stage 1 not completed, system shop not yet unlocked.]

[Note: After completing the main quest "Assets Exceed 100 Million," the system shop will be unlocked, allowing you to purchase various auxiliary functions, including but not limited to: Favorability Inquiry, Emotion Perception, Charm Boost, Time Management, etc.]