Chapter 88: Intense Curiosity Is the First Step Toward Falling in Love

After leaving the hot spring and changing back into her own clothes, Zhou Mei took Elena by the hand, leading her toward the dining hall. Elena offered no resistance; at that moment, she seemed lost in thought, allowing Zhou Mei to guide her forward.

Her mind still echoed with the words exchanged between Chen Luo and Wen Wan. Certainly, anyone could utter sweet nothings, but Chen Luo’s tone carried not a trace of flattery or deceit. Instead, there was a profound sincerity, a sense of unwavering devotion, even a willingness to face life and death together.

She had heard that tone only once before—when, as a child, her father had sat beside her ailing mother’s bedside and whispered similar words. But that was the love of her parents, forged over decades through countless trials and the slow passage of years.

Yet what of Chen Luo and Wen Wan? The two of them, as far as she could tell, had scarcely known each other for a month. How could feelings so intense have formed in so short a time? Was Chen Luo truly such a rare soul, capable of loving with such depth? No—she doubted such a man even existed in this world. Or was it that Chen Luo’s performance was so flawless that both Wen Wan and she herself had been thoroughly deceived?

If that were the case, then Chen Luo was truly frightening; his ambitions must run deep. The more she pondered, the more questions arose, each mystery spawning new uncertainties and doubts. One could hardly blame Elena for overthinking; who would expect Wen Wan and Chen Luo to form such a profound bond in such a brief span?

“What’s wrong with you?” Zhou Mei sensed Elena’s distraction, immediately stopped in her tracks, and pulled her over to a nearby stone bench.

“Zhou Mei, you like Chen Luo so much, you’re even willing to conduct experiments for him. But do you really know him?” Elena’s usual haughty tone was gone, replaced by genuine curiosity as she questioned Zhou Mei.

Zhou Mei bowed her head in thought. “If you mean his background, I know him well enough. I have all his files—you’ve seen those documents yourself.”

Elena nodded. After all, those documents had laid bare nearly every aspect of Chen Luo’s private life.

“But as for understanding his inner world, I can’t say I have any real certainty.”

“Oh? What do you mean by that?” Suddenly, a hunch rose within Elena; perhaps she was on the verge of uncovering a clue about Chen Luo.

“Just over half a month ago, Chen Luo was still hopelessly devoted to someone else—an incorrigible puppy. But ever since he met Wen Wan, his entire demeanor has changed,” Zhou Mei recalled, recounting the various incidents and intelligence she’d gathered about Chen Luo since September. She shared these details so Elena, as her ‘control group,’ could remain in sync with her, ensuring the authenticity of their experiment.

She went on to describe how Chen Luo had fawned over Tang Xiwei, his initial meeting with Wen Wan, and the process of opening the milk tea shop, placing special emphasis on the dramatic changes in his behavior. However, she omitted any mention of Chen Luo’s magnesium group project or her own game development—after all, she was a tech enthusiast, not a fool. Elena herself came from a business family; one could never be too cautious.

Elena already knew some of these things, but not in such detail. After a moment’s contemplation, she looked at Zhou Mei.

“So, you’re saying Chen Luo’s transformation happened only recently, and it was likely because of Wen Wan?”

Zhou Mei nodded. “Strictly speaking, yes.”

“No, something’s off! Not even love at first sight should generate feelings this strong. There must be something deeper at play. There’s something very strange about Chen Luo.”

Could a person truly achieve such enlightenment about love so easily? And after such a revelation, could their entire outlook change so dramatically? Could a sudden epiphany turn someone into a brilliant business prodigy? And how could someone like him so effortlessly win over a remarkable woman like Wen Wan, to the point where she’d willingly risk everything for him? Could someone once so haplessly devoted possess such compelling charm? Could so many complex traits develop in a person within just half a month?

“Maxed business acumen, maxed charisma, zero puppy-dog devotion. If I made a game, I couldn’t create a character like this—it’s only natural you’re astonished,” Zhou Mei said, throwing an arm over Elena’s shoulder, her eyes alight with enthusiasm.

“Exactly! So you understand why I’m running this experiment. I want to figure out what makes Chen Luo such a fascinating creature. My feelings for him aren’t just because he can help me develop my games or his extraordinary insight; it’s also that persistent aura of mystery around him.”

“Alright! I’ll keep investigating with you. We must uncover Chen Luo’s secret.”

At that moment, Elena felt a wave of unease rising in her chest, as if Chen Luo’s face and silhouette had become etched into her mind. What was this restlessness? Was she, like Zhou Mei, drawn to Chen Luo because of this sense of mystery and contrast?

No, impossible! How could she possibly fall for Wen Wan’s man? She only wanted to uncover the secret. Yes, to defeat Wen Wan, she needed to understand her opponent—know your enemy and yourself, and you will never be defeated.

After convincing herself with all her might, Elena followed Zhou Mei into the dining hall. By then it was mealtime, and Flowery Liu and Mo Ye were already there waiting.

Flowery Liu sat with her head bowed over her phone; her petite frame contrasted sharply with the enormous panda beside her. Elena glanced at that impressive pair, then instinctively looked down at herself.

Damn it, I’ve lost!

“That’s Chen Luo’s childhood friend, Liu Liuhua. She likes Chen Luo too, but he’s always treated her as a little sister. The cool-looking girl is Mo Ye, Chen Luo’s bodyguard—nothing special about her,” Zhou Mei whispered, sharing her intelligence with Elena.

What? Even this impossibly cute girl likes Chen Luo? Is he some kind of incubus? He doesn’t even have to do anything, and he’s surrounded by girls throwing themselves at him? And yet he refuses them all, staying true to Wen Wan alone? An ascetic with the charm of a demon—this East-meets-West character setup is too much! Elena wanted to complain aloud, but her pride wouldn’t let her.

“Oh? Everyone’s here already. Looks like you’re all hungry,” Wen Wan entered, arm in arm with Chen Luo, her cheeks still tinged with a rosy glow. She looked around at the group, her eyes finally settling on Elena.

“Miss Elena, you’re here too. Will you honor us by joining us for dinner tonight?”