Nirvana Heiress: Reborn and Returning to Stir Up a Storm

Chapter 11 A Chance Encounter at the Coffee Shop

It was an early autumn evening, a gentle breeze carrying a hint of coolness. Lin Chuyue, dressed in a simple black suit, understated yet elegant, entered the café. She deliberately chose a seat by the window, discreetly observing the surrounding customers. Sure enough, at a corner table, Zhou Ming was engrossed in reviewing documents, sipping his coffee with a blank expression.

Lin Chuyue pursed her lips, decided to slow down, and walked to the self-service ordering area, pretending to pass by him casually. She glanced at his computer screen and said casually, "Assistant Zhou, what a coincidence, I didn't expect to run into you here."

Zhou Ming raised his head slightly and saw Lin Chuyue. His eyes were slightly cold, but he still maintained a professional smile on his face: "Miss Lin, what a coincidence, you are here too?"

"Well, I wanted to get some fresh air today, and I didn't expect to run into Assistant Zhou. What a small town, to bump into each other in a place like this." Lin Chuyue smiled, casually sitting opposite him, her gaze level with his, yet not appearing abrupt.

Zhou Ming frowned, glanced at Lin Chuyue, seemingly unaccustomed to her sitting down so readily. After a moment, he nodded: "Miss Lin, is there anything I can help you with?"

Lin Chuyue glanced around at her surroundings and said softly, "No, it's just that Assistant Zhou works so hard, and it's a bit stressful to have someone as dedicated to their work as you." As she spoke, she casually handed him a coffee menu, "The lattes at this coffee shop are pretty good, you should try them."

Zhou Ming paused for a moment, then took the menu and politely replied, "Thank you, but I've already had my drink."

Lin Chuyue nodded, her gaze falling on his documents, seemingly lost in thought: "Assistant Zhou is so busy, he must be under a lot of pressure."

Zhou Ming didn't answer, only slightly lowering his eyelids, appearing somewhat indifferent. Lin Chuyue noticed a hint of impatience in his expression and understood that such probing required careful handling; she couldn't be too hasty. So, she changed her approach and smiled, "I just talked with my father, and he thinks you have a very good understanding of the company's business, especially in finance. President Shen has always trusted you, hasn't he?"

Zhou Ming paused for a moment, then finally put down the documents in his hand and looked at her: "President Shen trusts me a little too much, but I'm just doing my job."

"Really?" Lin Chuyue deliberately downplayed it. "President Shen has always had a keen eye for people, it seems Assistant Zhou has indeed done an excellent job." She paused, then changed the subject, "By the way, President Shen seems to be busy with overseas matters lately, I wonder if Assistant Zhou has been involved?"

Zhou Ming's eyes instantly sharpened, and his lips moved slightly, but he ultimately did not answer. He lowered his head to tidy up the documents, and after a moment of silence, said, "I cannot disclose anything about President Shen's matter."

Lin Chuyue smiled and nodded, already having some clues in her mind. She could sense that Zhou Ming was very loyal to Shen Fang, and precisely because of this, he was even more guarded.

A few days later, Lin Chuyue appeared at the coffee shop again. This time, she deliberately chose a Friday afternoon because she knew that Zhou Ming would definitely come here alone at this time. After she sat down, she quietly took out her phone and looked around the coffee shop. Sure enough, a little while later, Zhou Ming walked in as expected and sat in the corner opposite her.

Lin Chuyue did not step forward immediately, but waited quietly, seemingly unaware of his presence.

She walked to his desk and smiled as Zhou Ming picked up his phone, saying, "Assistant Zhou, what a coincidence, I've run into you again today."

Zhou Ming was clearly surprised and looked up at her: "Miss Lin, what brings you here today?"

Lin Chuyue smiled apologetically, "What a coincidence. I had some business to attend to today and just happened to be passing by. I was thinking of stopping by for a while, but I didn't expect to run into you again." She pulled out a chair and sat down, leaning slightly forward. "I remember you mentioned last time that you are very familiar with the financial system. Could you help me answer a few more questions?"

Zhou Ming frowned slightly, clearly somewhat embarrassed: "Ms. Lin, you should contact the relevant departments for the information you need."

"I know, but I've only recently started learning about these things, and there are many things I don't quite understand," Lin Chuyue said softly, lowering her head. "Besides, I'm not looking for any confidential information; I'm just curious whether the finance department's recent work is related to some of President Shen's overseas affairs?"

Zhou Ming hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering with uncertainty: "I don't know the specific details of these tasks."

Seeing this, Lin Chuyue understood that Zhou Ming didn't know everything about Shen Fang's affairs, but he was definitely not an ordinary financial assistant. She decided to continue steadily: "Assistant Zhou has always been very close to President Shen. President Shen must have a lot of trust in you. Working by her side is something to be envied." Her tone carried a hint of gentle appreciation.

Zhou Ming paused slightly, lowered his head, seemingly unaccustomed to her gaze. Lin Chuyue gently put down her cup and added softly, "If you're willing to share a little bit of your work with me, I might be able to help relieve some of your stress."

A flicker of doubt crossed Zhou Ming's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure: "Thank you for your kindness, Miss Lin, but I cannot share these matters."

Although she didn't receive a specific response, Lin Chuyue could sense from Zhou Ming's reaction that he did know some unknown inside information, but he was very careful and seemed afraid to reveal it easily.

Lin Chuyue had already formed a preliminary judgment in her mind: Zhou Ming was clearly Shen Fang's core confidant, involved in many sensitive matters, but he was unwilling to easily reveal information. She decided not to rush into a direct attack for the time being, but to gradually close the distance between herself and Zhou Ming.

She started to bump into him regularly at coffee shops, occasionally chatting about light topics to gradually lower his guard, while secretly observing his words and actions to prepare for her next move.