Chapter 25: A Bow Without a Groove, What Use Is It to Bend?

It was a simple request, yet it represented a height that Miss Yuan truly could not reach. Judging solely from this point, Liu Ruyan could be considered her lifelong rival.

By the time Lin Mo returned, Ms. Jiang had already changed out of her equestrian attire and was sitting quietly in an outdoor lounge area.

"You're just in time, Xiao Lin. We're about to eat. Where is Yuanyuan?"

As she dismounted gracefully from her horse, staff members stepped forward to lead the horse away.

"Sister Yuan ran into an acquaintance and said she wanted to do one more lap," Lin Mo replied truthfully.

Hearing this, Ms. Jiang said, "So you ran into Ruyan. Sigh, I don't know what's wrong with Yuanyuan; she always has something to say whenever she sees her. Ruyan is such a wonderful girl. On the contrary, Yuanyuan has become more rebellious these past few years."

Perhaps because Lin Mo was an outsider, Ms. Jiang didn't say much more, offering only a simple complaint.

It wasn't hard to see from her words that she liked Liu Ruyan quite a lot.

Listening from the side, Lin Mo felt helpless. *With this attitude, how could Yuan Meng not have grievances against Liu Ruyan?*

If it were him, he might be even more rebellious. After all, the thing children fear most is comparison.

"I think Sister Yuan is great—generous and loyal. She has stood up for me many times when people at the company targeted me. As for President Liu, she is also quite excellent," Lin Mo praised from the side.

He didn't care what others thought; he had to flatter his benefactor.

Hearing Lin Mo praise her daughter, a smile naturally appeared on Ms. Jiang's face. "Is that so? Yuanyuan never mentioned that to me. Xiao Lin, are you unhappy at the company? Do you want to look for another place?"

Lin Mo shook his head. "No need, Auntie. I'll finish my internship after a few more days of work next week. Besides, with Sister Yuan around, what could there be to be unhappy about?"

Soon, Liu Ruyan and Yuan Meng returned from riding. However, while Liu Ruyan had a beaming smile, Yuan Meng's face was puffed out like a bun; clearly, she had fallen behind again in this bout.

"You're back! Are you tired?" Ms. Jiang stood up and took Liu Ruyan's hand.

"Not at all, Auntie Jiang. I was just warming up," Liu Ruyan smiled, without a single drop of sweat on her face.

In contrast, the eldest Miss Yuan had sweat on her forehead, yet she received no words of comfort from her mother. She pouted and looked at Lin Mo, her eyes signaling as if to say: *'See? I told you I should hate her!'*

Lin Mo felt embarrassed and gave a helpless smile. He couldn't really comment on this; he had to remain polite.

"Alright, everyone is here. Go change your clothes quickly. I'll have the staff prepare the food. The view here is lovely, so consider this a way to relax!" Ms. Jiang said to the group.

Everyone nodded, and staff members led them to the changing rooms. Lin Mo took the opportunity to take a shower as well.

It had to be said that this was indeed a high-end establishment; not only were all the facilities complete, but even the decor was very sophisticated.

By the time the three returned, the table was already filled with dishes. The equestrian club had a professional culinary team, and the ingredients were fresh.

"Come, come, sit down, everyone—especially you, Xiao Lin. Don't be formal, we are all family here. I love spending time with you young people; it puts me in a good mood," Ms. Jiang said, noticing Lin Mo's slight awkwardness.

Lin Mo nodded and took a seat next to the eldest Miss Yuan.

By now, all three had changed and showered, as they had all been sweating.

It is a well-known fact that a man is at his most handsome right after a shower, and Lin Mo was no exception. After his shower, his skin looked even better—a clean-cut, innocent college student.

Because Yuan Meng had also used his facial cleanser, her complexion was also quite good. In contrast, Liu Ruyan looked slightly inferior to the two of them.

Having washed off her light makeup, her complexion was actually a bit paler, though she was still very fair—at least fairer than most girls.

Seeing this, Yuan Meng gave Lin Mo a subtle wink, feeling quite pleased with herself.

Liu Ruyan naturally noticed the small interaction between them, but she wasn't in a hurry; speaking up now would seem too purposeful.

Instead, during the meal, Liu Ruyan would occasionally glance at Lin Mo. She was wearing a waist-cinching dress today with a slightly low neckline.

Sometimes, she would deliberately prop her chin up with her hand while talking to him, leaning her chest slightly against the table, making the college student feel quite parched.

During the meal, Ms. Jiang was in high spirits. "Ruyan, I heard you've been busy with the company lately. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

"Don't worry, Auntie Jiang, they are all small matters that I can handle. If I truly encounter difficulties, I will definitely let you know. How is your uncle doing? My dad was mentioning recently that he'd like to have tea and catch up with him when there's an opportunity," Liu Ruyan smiled.

"Him? He's still the same, very busy with company matters and can't get away. Oh, speaking of tea, Xiao Lin is quite skilled at brewing it. I've tried a few times at home, but none were as good as the ones Xiao Lin makes. Since we're almost finished eating, why don't we go have some tea and try Xiao Lin's skills?" Ms. Jiang suggested.

Hearing this, Lin Mo nodded; it wasn't a big deal.

Liu Ruyan, however, gave Lin Mo a surprised look. To receive such an evaluation from Ms. Jiang was truly extraordinary.

Soon, the staff brought out tea leaves and utensils. Although the quality of the tea here wasn't as high as in a professional tea house or at Yuan Meng's home, it certainly wasn't cheap street-vendor quality.

Lin Mo washed his hands and then skillfully began to boil the water and brew the tea. His movements were smooth and natural. Watching a clean-cut, quiet young man brew tea was a sight to behold.

As usual, the first infusion was discarded. As he controlled the water temperature and the order of brewing, the tea leaves slowly unfurled, and the group began to catch a clear, fragrant aroma.

No one spoke during the entire process; they all watched quietly, as if Lin Mo's brewing possessed some magical power that could draw everyone's gaze.

"Alright, it's ready to drink."

Hearing his voice, the three finally snapped out of it, feeling somewhat amazed.

"Xiao Mo, I didn't realize you had this talent. You looked really handsome just now," Liu Ruyan was genuinely impressed, and she took a small sip.

It was sweet and delicious, with a rich aroma. Even though the grade of the tea wasn't exceptionally high, the flavor was rich, as if those hands possessed a magic that could turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.

"Ah~~ delicious!" The eldest Miss Yuan gave her most direct evaluation.

Beside them, Ms. Jiang narrowed her eyes slightly in enjoyment, perhaps from the comfort of tea after a meal, or perhaps simply because she was in a good mood.

Lin Mo then poured tea for the three of them and had two cups himself.

It wasn't until they reached the fourth infusion that they stopped, watching the sunset on the horizon and feeling the evening breeze, enjoying this moment of tranquility.

Time flew by, and it was soon 5:30 PM at the equestrian club parking lot.

"Xiao Mo, are you really not coming in my car?" Liu Ruyan sat in her Mercedes, leaning her head slightly out of the window, her chest pressing against the window frame and deforming slightly.

"Ugh, if you're going to talk, just talk! Why are you pressing your chest like that? As if we don't all do it!" Yuan Meng leaned over, pulling her own neckline down forcefully.

Seeing this, Liu Ruyan gave a cold laugh: "What use is a body with no cleavage, or a bending for nothing?"

Yuan Meng: w(Д)w

Lin Mo:.