As his gaze swept casually across a spot, the frame of his glasses reflected a cold glint, casting it onto his features, instantly giving off an unapproachable aura.

The windows all around were sparkling clean, yet the silence was uncanny.

Susan Clark blinked, making sure she wasn’t seeing things—the man before her was indeed the “little uncle” she’d been searching for all week.

But at this moment, she felt none of the joy of stumbling upon what she’d been seeking; instead, it was as if she’d been struck by lightning.

To see him here, in this place, was almost enough to confirm that this man was the very Ian Shaw she’d been talking about nonstop for half a month.

No wonder Samuel Grant ran off with someone else—turns out, they had this kind of background behind them.

Damn, this is just too damn much of a coincidence!

What an indescribably fateful encounter!

—If only Susan Clark hadn’t once rejected his attempt to strike up a conversation, only to later try to approach him herself.

While thunder and lightning raged in Susan Clark’s mind, Stephen Brooks had already walked over to Ian Shaw, leaning in to whisper something in his ear.

Ian Shaw looked up, his gaze meeting Susan Clark’s, which was a mix of confusion, helplessness, and embarrassment.

Susan Clark stiffened, her expression a bit frozen, making it even harder to look away naturally. She just stared straight at Ian Shaw.

It was only a second or two of eye contact, but regardless of Susan Clark’s expression, Ian Shaw seemed oblivious to all the emotions in her eyes. Calmly, he withdrew his gaze and walked toward the elevator.

Susan Clark stood rooted to the spot, her mind racing, quickly listing two possible courses of action for herself.

First, slink away and pretend nothing ever happened, and from now on, let the name Susan Clark vanish from Ian Shaw’s world.

Second, as her elementary school teacher once said, never give up any opportunity—face challenges head-on. She had to do the interview, and she had to become the little aunt.

Her body seemed to have made the choice before her brain did.

Susan Clark quickly curved her eyes into a smile, the corners of her mouth lifting gently.

She had thick, smooth, long black hair, parted neatly down the middle, with one side tucked behind her ear and the other falling naturally beside her cheek, exuding utmost poise.

But when she smiled, the sparkle in her eyes couldn’t be suppressed even by her serious attire, like butterflies fluttering out in a rush.

In this solemn office corridor, she seemed to come alive.

Yet Ian Shaw’s gaze never landed on her again, as if the person standing ahead was just a wax figure, passing right by her without a glance.

Susan Clark: "…"

Her smile didn’t falter. She nodded at the air to encourage herself, then turned around and said, “President Shi, we scheduled the interview for this afternoon.”

Ian Shaw stopped, turned his head, and raised his brows slightly.

It was as if the air in this area had stopped flowing. The assistants and secretaries around all cast curious glances, focusing on Susan Clark and Ian Shaw.

Everyone present knew that today’s interview with Financial Weekly had already ended.

Even Stephen Brooks at the side was momentarily stunned.

Miss, did you lose your memory?

Of course Susan Clark could sense the atmosphere around her—her heart was pounding too—but she still tried her best to act as if she knew nothing, looking at Ian Shaw.

But if she didn’t take a chance, she’d leave empty-handed today.

Susan Clark pinched her palm, kept her smile bright, and said in a clear voice, “I… have been looking forward to this interview for a long time. I finally got to today. Would now be convenient for you?”

As soon as she finished speaking, the corridor was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Ian Shaw’s upper eyelids drooped slightly, and in the instant he looked away, he noticed her hands hanging by her legs, tightly clenched.

She was gripping so hard that her knuckles had turned a pale blue.

Suddenly, the person in front of him furrowed her brows, lips slightly pursed, staring at him intently, and said in a voice so soft only he could hear, “It’ll only take a little of your time, is that okay?”

Ian Shaw’s molars suddenly itched.

A moment later.

He didn’t even bother to look up, but his emotionless voice rang out clearly for everyone to hear.

“Come here.”

The silence around was eerie.

Everyone exchanged glances, shocked but not daring to ask.

In the end, it seemed only Susan Clark reacted.

It wasn’t until Ian Shaw started walking away that she snapped back to her senses.

—Would now be convenient for you?

—Come here.

In Susan Clark’s mind, that meant: I’m available! I’m so available!

What a living Bodhisattva!

Delighted, she turned around. The living Bodhisattva had already reached the elevator, so she hurried to catch up.

——

The elevator was descending smoothly.

The spacious office area had turned into the relatively cramped elevator, a square space that made it easy to focus.

So Susan Clark had calmed down by now. She glanced at the buttons and saw that the light was on for B2, the underground parking lot.

Susan Clark didn’t know why they were going to the parking lot, so she glanced at Ian Shaw’s back, then at Stephen Brooks beside her, who was studiously minding his own business, and cautiously addressed the back of the living Bodhisattva’s head: “President Shi, may I ask if we’re going to—”

Suddenly, a phone rang.