7:30 PM
Inside the restaurant, Lin Mo and Xu Shan were exchanging toasts.
Six or seven empty beer bottles were scattered on the floor nearby.
"Tomorrow, Shanzi, you're getting married."
Lin Mo was slightly tipsy as he sighed with emotion.
"I never would've guessed it. Back when there were six of us in the dorm, you'd be the first one to get married."
"You were clearly the quiet and reserved one."
"Who would've thought you'd beat all of us to it?"
Xu Shan chuckled.
"Hehe, just lucky, I guess."
"But I believe you'll be getting married soon too, Linzi."
"Haha!"
Lin Mo laughed.
"Alright, we've eaten enough. Should I call a designated driver to take you home?"
"This... isn't that a bit troublesome?"
Xu Shan looked somewhat hesitant.
"Come on!"
"What's troublesome about it?"
"I happen to have a car. Let's go."
"Okay."
Xu Shan didn't refuse.
Lin Mo casually opened the app on his phone and placed an order.
A few minutes later, a nearby designated driver accepted the request.
After paying the bill, the two stood by the roadside waiting.
About five or six minutes later, the driver arrived on a small scooter.
"Didi Designated Driving Service at your service."
After parking his scooter, the uniformed driver smiled and asked,
"Boss, which car is yours?"
"Oh, this one."
Lin Mo took out his key fob and pressed a button.
Beep! Beep!
The lights of a nearby Rolls-Royce Cullinan flashed.
"Alright, Boss, please—"
The driver suddenly froze mid-sentence.
His eyes landed on the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament rising from the front of the vehicle.
The smile on his face instantly stiffened.
Then he asked nervously,
"Boss... your car..."
"The Cullinan?"
"What's wrong?"
The driver's body trembled slightly.
Then he forced out a bitter smile.
"Boss, why don't you find another designated driver?"
"Your car is way too expensive."
"I really don't dare drive it."
As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately canceled the order.
Then he jumped back onto his scooter and sped away as fast as possible.
What a joke!
That was a Rolls-Royce Cullinan!
And not just any Cullinan—the top-tier model.
If he accidentally scratched it or got into even a minor accident, he could spend an entire year working just to pay for the damages.
Watching the designated driver flee in panic, Lin Mo fell silent.
Seriously?
Owning a luxury car came with problems like this?
Was it really this difficult to hire a designated driver?
For a moment, his expression became rather awkward.
Standing beside him, Xu Shan was equally dumbfounded.
Then he burst out laughing.
"Hahaha!"
"Linzi, it looks like you're having trouble finding someone willing to drive your car."
"It's fine."
"You don't need to take me home."
"I'll just take a taxi."
As he spoke, Xu Shan raised his hand and flagged down a cab.
Lin Mo rubbed his forehead helplessly.
"Alright then."
"I won't see you off."
"Okay."
"I'm heading out."
"Remember to send me a message when you get home."
"Got it."
Soon, the taxi drove away.
Lin Mo looked at the Cullinan parked by the roadside with a troubled expression.
"Now what?"
"How am I supposed to get a designated driver?"
"Should I just leave the car here and come back for it the day after tomorrow?"
His face was filled with frustration.
After all, tomorrow was Xu Shan's wedding.
He would have to wake up at six or seven in the morning.
There definitely wouldn't be enough time to come back and retrieve the car.
As Lin Mo stood there sighing to himself, a familiar voice suddenly sounded from behind him.
"Hmm?"
"Lin Mo?"
Hearing the voice, Lin Mo turned around.
To his surprise, Mu Nanzhi was walking out of a nearby office building.
"Nanzhi?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Oh."
"I came over to discuss a project."
"I just finished signing the contract."
As she spoke, she walked toward him.
The moment she got close, she immediately smelled the strong scent of alcohol.
Her brows furrowed.
"Why did you drink so much?"
Lin Mo chuckled.
"Hehe."
"A friend of mine is getting married tomorrow."
"So we had a few drinks together."
A trace of longing flashed across Mu Nanzhi's eyes.
However, she quickly concealed it and simply nodded.
"I see."
Then she glanced at the Cullinan parked nearby.
"Perfect."
"I'll drive your car home."
"I'll tell Uncle Sun not to come pick me up."
Lin Mo blinked.
"You have a driver's license?"
Mu Nanzhi rolled her eyes.
"What kind of question is that?"
Then she extended her hand.
"Keys."
"Here."
After receiving the keys, Mu Nanzhi opened the driver's door.
Without hesitation, she tossed her handbag into the back seat.
Lin Mo climbed into the passenger seat.
After fastening his seatbelt, he leaned back and relaxed.
Mu Nanzhi started the engine and drove toward East Suburb No. 1.
Perhaps because of the alcohol, Lin Mo quickly became drowsy.
Within minutes, he had fallen asleep.
Mu Nanzhi glanced at him.
Seeing him sleeping peacefully in the passenger seat, a complicated expression appeared on her face.
After a long silence, she sighed softly.
"There should be a chance..."
"A chance to explain everything to him."
The reason she had come here today wasn't only to sign a business contract.
There was another reason.
Her grandfather had informed her that the Mu family of Southern Jiangsu was preparing to arrange a marriage alliance.
The Mu family in Southern Jiangsu was the ancestral branch of the Shanghai Mu family.
Although the two branches had separated more than thirty years ago, the family's true foundation still remained in Southern Jiangsu.
If she wanted to avoid becoming a pawn in that marriage alliance...
She had only one option.
She had to strengthen and expand the Shanghai Mu family's business influence as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, Lin Mo knew nothing about any of this.
He slept soundly throughout the journey.
Nearly forty minutes later, the Cullinan finally entered East Suburb No. 1.
Mu Nanzhi parked the vehicle inside the garage.
Then she gently shook Lin Mo's shoulder.
"Lin Mo."
"Wake up."
"We're home."
"Mmm..."
At that moment, Lin Mo was sleeping deeply.
He waved his hand absentmindedly.
"Don't make so much noise..."
Then he shifted into a more comfortable position and continued sleeping.
Mu Nanzhi: "..."
For a moment, she genuinely didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"This guy..."
Shaking her head helplessly, she muttered,
"Don't tell me I have to carry you inside too?"
After getting out of the driver's seat, she immediately called for Huang Yuan and several household staff.
Together, they carefully helped the sleeping Lin Mo upstairs and settled him into his bedroom on the second floor.
After making sure everything was taken care of, Mu Nanzhi stayed for a short while before finally leaving.