Chapter 41 I Just Like Being a Simp!

A thought struck him, and he checked Su Juanmo’s favorability toward him through the system.

[Name: Su Juanmo]
[Age: 29]
[Appearance: 9.1/10]
[Purity: 99]
[Favorability: 10 (Barely Acquainted)]

“Barely acquainted? Are you kidding me! I gave her two paintings and her favorability is only 10!”

Lin Fan was at a loss for words.

No wonder this woman was called the Ice Beauty. Even as a devoted admirer, he might not be able to melt Su Juanmo’s frozen heart!

With this thought, Lin Fan sent a message to Ouyang Qi, asking if she had told Su Juanmo the true value of the two paintings.

Since Su Juanmo liked to collect art, she likely had some knowledge in the field. With her expertise, she should be able to discern the paintings’ real worth. Perhaps Su Juanmo thought he was reckless with money, buying two paintings that didn’t match their price and gifting them to her, making her feel as though he considered her shallow.

That might be why her favorability barely increased.

Soon, Ouyang Qi replied that she had already informed Su Juanmo of the paintings’ reserve prices at auction.

This left Lin Fan even more puzzled.

“Forget it, no use overthinking. A woman’s heart is as fathomless as the sea! I’ll talk to her when we meet tomorrow…”

Scratching his head, Lin Fan got up to take a bath.

…

The next day at noon.

Lin Fan arrived at the Qing Palace Cuisine Restaurant ten minutes early.

He wasn’t sure if he’d just anticipated that Su Juanmo might try to test him, or if it was simply his habit to be early.

With five minutes still to go before their meeting time at twelve, Lin Fan saw Su Juanmo’s car pull into the restaurant parking lot.

“You’re early too…”

As soon as Su Juanmo stepped out of her car, she was surprised to see Lin Fan appear right behind her.

“I just arrived as well,” Lin Fan replied, forcing a smile that he hoped didn’t look too artificial.

But he couldn’t help but grumble inwardly. Good thing I anticipated your anticipation—otherwise, you’d probably nitpick and call me unpunctual.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at work?” Su Juanmo asked coolly as she closed the car door.

Lin Fan froze for a moment. Another trap question.

If he answered that he was rich and didn’t need to work, she would probably look down on him. Thinking quickly, he said, “Winning your heart is more important than any job!”

Sure enough, hearing this, Su Juanmo’s lips curled into a faint, confident smile.

Seeing this, Lin Fan thought to himself: Thank goodness I’ve played the doting admirer before—I know how to sweet-talk. If I were just a dense guy, she’d probably freeze me out entirely. Seems the more beautiful the woman, the more she enjoys being adored.

He was no novice; he knew that beauties liked to be flattered. Even someone as icy as Su Juanmo needed someone to fawn over her.

Once seated in the restaurant, Su Juanmo took out a check from her wallet and handed it to him.

“What’s this?” Lin Fan asked, puzzled.

“Those two paintings are worth at most two million, yet you spent nearly forty million. That’s excessive. I can’t accept them without guilt. Take this ten million as my return gift,” Su Juanmo said earnestly.

Lin Fan was taken aback. He hadn’t expected her to hand him ten million in return.

He had already received a four-million rebate from the system’s reward, so there was no way he could accept this money.

“Your hotel business is in trouble and needs financing for transformation. I really can’t accept this ten million—you should keep it…” Fearing her refusal, Lin Fan quickly changed the subject. “Let’s talk about the investment instead. Now you should believe in my financial strength, right? I can help you. Once I buy in, I won’t interfere with anything—I’ll just be a shareholder, is that okay?”

Su Juanmo hesitated for a few seconds, but ultimately put the check back in her wallet.

“You really want to invest?”

“I’m sure. Is there a problem? If five hundred million isn’t enough, a billion will do. I’m even willing to be your loyal admirer if that’s what it takes,” Lin Fan said, laying everything on the table.

Su Juanmo gave him an odd look. “Do you have some strange fetish? Do you like being a woman’s devoted admirer?”

Lin Fan smiled, feigning depth. “The first time I saw you, I was captivated by your temperament. Besides, your lack of interest in me makes me want to challenge myself.”

“A challenge? So all these gestures are just to win my favor and affection?” Su Juanmo looked at him in disbelief.

She wondered if all wealthy men harbored secret fetishes. He was so rich—why would he go out of his way to be her devoted admirer?

“There are plenty of women more beautiful than me. My cousin, for example, really likes you. Last night she told me she hinted at you several times, but you didn’t respond, and now she feels defeated! Why don’t you go and pursue her instead?” Su Juanmo said with a trace of melancholy.

“She?” Lin Fan was stunned.

He hadn’t realized that last night Ouyang Qi wasn’t testing him on Su Juanmo’s behalf, but was expressing her true feelings.

If he’d known, he wouldn’t have played coy!

“Are you regretting now that you didn’t make a move on her last night?” Su Juanmo seemed to read his thoughts, a sly smile playing on her lips.

“Well… I’m not really interested in her,” Lin Fan said solemnly, implying he was a man of principle.

“And those female streamers in your company? Each one is a beauty. Are you saying you have no interest in them either?” Su Juanmo asked, a faint smile on her lips.

This time, Lin Fan could tell she was probing. He didn’t hide it. “If I said I have nothing to do with them, would you believe me?”

He only started the company to complete system tasks, not to flirt with women. So far, he’d only been involved with Gu Qingcheng.

“No need to explain, I understand! Which wealthy man doesn’t like to have women around? Especially someone as rich as you—yesterday you dropped three billion in one go. I heard you shocked a lot of people. Now everyone in the circle is trying to find out more about you,” Su Juanmo said with a disdainful roll of her eyes.

Lin Fan watched her closely, relieved that her favorability hadn’t dropped—it was still 10.

Still, he was surprised. He hadn’t expected her to be as open-minded as Zhang Yi.

Then again, it made sense. Any man with billions would inevitably reveal his nature—indulging, partying, changing lovers frequently. That was just par for the course among the wealthy.

At Su Juanmo’s level, she’d seen too many men to care.

“So, when will you consider signing the contract? The longer you delay, the worse it might be for your company,” Lin Fan returned to the main topic.

“My situation isn’t like that of the Imperial Group. I’m the company manager, but I don’t have the final say. My father and others handle those decisions. Being manager is just a way for the next generation to gain experience—do you understand?” Su Juanmo’s gaze grew complex and deep, tinged with helplessness and even a hint of humility.

Hearing the undertone in her words, Lin Fan pondered for a while before he realized the truth.

Su Juanmo’s elders wanted to find her a suitable match.

Fortunately, he had asked Wang Jianguo about the Su family’s background yesterday; otherwise, he would not have caught her meaning at all.