Chapter 531

Chapter 531: Two Boats, Oh Two Boats!

“What new project do you have in America?”

Lin Mo quickly changed the subject, knowing that some misfortunes are unavoidable, but self-inflicted troubles are not worth it. He didn’t want to get caught in his own web.

Women are naturally meticulous, and as a general manager, Qi Fei also shares a man’s far-sighted vision. When these traits combine, a female boss often becomes more difficult than a male boss, making her even more formidable in business battles.

“Dragoon Jewelry Company has bought a new shop in Hollywood. They hope to decorate it in a style with rich Eastern mystical features and have invited us for an on-site survey and design samples. We need to complete everything within three months, so we’re planning to set up a base there.”

When Qi Fei mentioned Dragoon, a significant client, her eyes lit up. They were a top customer, and just the store on Zhongshan Middle Road in Hangzhou had brought Moonlit Lotus Design Center a huge profit.

Dragoon was an international jewelry brand. Just a little from them could make Qi Fei so excited that she couldn’t even sleep.

The large “Hollywood” sign was an iconic landmark in Los Angeles. Hollywood is recognized as the most famous film, entertainment, and tourism hotspot in the world, located in the northwest suburbs of downtown Los Angeles.

Dragoon had set up their store in this prime location, likely hoping to attract the attention of movie stars and their fans.

Many world-renowned jewelers aim to conquer Hollywood by using high-profile stars as ambassadors for their jewelry, effectively creating live advertisements. Everyone loves beauty, and those fans are likely to rush to buy, hoping to capture a bit of that star quality themselves.

Therefore, expanding into the Hollywood market is not just about opening a new store; it’s a smart move to gain both profit and reputation.

“Congratulations!”

Lin Mo sighed with relief, realizing that his tactic to change the subject had worked.

However, Qi Fei’s big client could become a real headache, like a landmine. He had no idea how to introduce these two beautiful women to each other in the future.

Maybe he just had to let things happen naturally.

Death sentence!

Given a reprieve!

Lin Mo feared that was exactly how he felt; he could hardly imagine what would happen when the two women learned the truth.

But for now, he’d focus on dealing with the present.

As for his personal marriage issues, Lin Mo had no clear thoughts. He hadn’t fully integrated into this world and often found himself struggling in social situations. He only felt at ease in the disciplined military environment, where he didn’t stand out.

“Then wait until you retire to help me!” Qi Fei fastened her seatbelt, casually patting Lin Mo on the shoulder while putting a “please take care of me” card on his head.

“Retire?”

Lin Mo shook his head but didn’t elaborate. Given his technical qualifications and elite status, finding a private-sector job would be far from easy. He was destined to serve in the military until the end.

Several military-backed aviation design firms in the country had already set their sights on Lin Mo, waiting for his retirement to offer him positions. The National Defense Star even tried to corner him with stock offers to lock him in as a top-performing employee.

If it weren’t for this group from the aviation industry traveling to Boeing Company to gain experience, Lin Mo wouldn’t have found it this easy to sit in a commercial flight; there would be layers of approval processes. Flying in a fighter jet across the border would be far more straightforward.

Perhaps Qi Fei anticipated Lin Mo’s reaction. She didn’t seem to care about his answer. She twirled her delicate fingers and continued, “In addition to working in Hollywood, I also happened to participate in an international cosplay project.”

“What? Are you starting that again?”

Lin Mo was surprised. Qi Fei, too, returned to her previous interests during her free time. The first activity Lin Mo encountered when he entered this world was cosplay. It had startled him, and it took a long time to regain his composure and integrate his memories. If he hadn’t held it together, he wouldn’t be a pilot now but rather a prisoner.

“Yeah, it’s rare to have some fun. There are a few enthusiasts in the collaborating company in America, so we decided to form a team. It also helps build connections. As the champion of the domestic cosplay competition, I want to exchange ideas with international peers. The performance is a week from now in a big mall in New York. Are you free to join?”

Qi Fei looked eagerly at Lin Mo, as they had a long-standing cooperative understanding as old teammates.

Being with the new collaborators didn’t match the level of synergy he had with her. With Lin Mo joining, they’d likely gain more points.

“Uh…”

What role to play? A Dragon Knight? That would be true to his character, but Lin Mo quickly dismissed the thought and shook his head, saying, “Maybe next time; I don’t even know if collecting the debt will go smoothly this time.”

“What’s with you men and your obsession with money?”

Qi Fei’s cheeks puffed up in a way that could almost hold a soy sauce bottle.

“This isn’t about money; it’s a state secret. Don’t ask too much,”

Lin Mo replied, not wanting to get Qi Fei in trouble, knowing that many things he dealt with weren’t meant for ordinary people.

As they talked, the Boeing 773 passenger plane trembled and began to ascend rapidly into the sky. The cabin’s soundproofing worked well, blocking out the roar of jets from the outside. The inside was much quieter than the loud, wild sound of a fighter jet, making the commercial flight far more comfortable.

If these aviation experts from China had to ride in a fighter jet, it would almost feel like torturing the old-timers. Their aging bodies could hardly withstand any turbulence.

“Every day, it’s about state secrets. You’ll see if you want to come later!”

Qi Fei pulled out a notepad from her bag and quickly wrote down the time, place, phone number, and email. Without waiting for Lin Mo’s response, she stuffed the note into his hands. Her assertiveness was truly reflective of someone fit to be a general manager.

A twelve-hour direct flight felt monotonous. Although there were flat-screen TVs to watch movies and listen to music, many passengers succumbed to the monotonous engine roar and vibrations, dozing off.

Compared to the snoring from passengers around, Qi Fei remained full of energy.

She went on and on about managing the company, competing for orders, creative designs, and internal management without stopping.

Having a man she could talk to made it rare, and Qi Fei, with her nature, poured all her long-held pressure and frustration onto Lin Mo, treating him like a trash can for her troubles.

This left Lin Mo, who had little interest in business, with a bitter smile. It felt like he was in a conversation with someone speaking a foreign language, as if his IQ had dropped by ten years; it was utterly overwhelming.

Despite this, Qi Fei kept insisting on turning Lin Mo into a cunning businessman, and he could only smile and listen patiently.

Throughout the twelve-hour journey, Qi Fei talked for six hours straight, finally stopping, exhausted like the other passengers, and fell asleep against her seat.

Lin Mo noticed the nearby aviation experts looking at him meaningfully, as if they understood everything, filling him with helplessness.

Why are today’s women so passionate about making money? Each one seems to operate on a larger scale, without exception, even Qi Fei and Sally. Sally had probably saved enough for ten dowries already; was that not enough to spend, or did she really want to be treated like a trophy spouse?

When they arrived in Los Angeles, it was still evening. The passengers who had slept on the plane likely needed to catch up on sleep to adjust their body clocks.

Qi Fei’s design team, Moonlit Lotus, had their own schedule, and Lin Mo was not keen on meeting the reception staff from the Dragoon consortium. He had no intention of playing the perfect boyfriend by being responsible for the car pick-up, so he chose to say goodbye to Qi Fei at the exit.

“You bastard, remember to send me an email!”

Qi Fei, having mustered some courage, boldly hooked her arm around Lin Mo’s neck and gave him a light kiss goodbye. Then, stepping back a bit, she waved her hand vigorously at him.

Lin Mo saw a satisfied smirk on Qi Fei’s face, as if she was once again proclaiming sovereignty, “Diaoyu Island belongs to China.”

He waved back and said loudly, “Be safe and don’t overexert yourself.”

Perhaps traveling with Qi Fei had unknowingly made him more relatable. He no longer felt like he was above everything, aloof and distant.

Public displays of affection like their kiss would likely draw many eyes in China, but in America, such actions were commonplace, and Qi Fei’s gesture went unnoticed.

However, Qi Fei’s assistant, Yang Zhenwen, wore a sullen expression, his heart feeling like it was being cut with knives. How did this happen with no warning? Was it a form of dependency?

His gaze towards Lin Mo burned with jealousy. That guy had no clue how to charm a girl; he was just a fool. How could Mr. Qi ever take a liking to him? It was utterly unreasonable.

Damn it, if only that guy weren’t so elusive, he would definitely find a way to teach Lin Mo a lesson.

“Assistant Yang, you look unwell. Are you sick?” asked an employee who noticed Yang Zhenwen’s glare.

“Shut up, it’s none of your business. Get in the car!”

Yang Zhenwen shot a venomous look at the chatty employee, who quickly retreated and covered his mouth.

The various curious glances from the Moonlit Lotus design team went unnoticed by Lin Mo as he boarded the bus arranged by the embassy along with the team of aviation experts from China.