Returning to his senior year of high school, he went all in and made billions by buying at the botto

The Peninsula Restaurant is located at the busiest intersection in the county town, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows that let in high-end warm yellow light.

"Buzz—"

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan came to a very smooth stop in front of the restaurant.

In this small county town where even a BMW 5 Series can be considered a luxury car, this top-of-the-line Maybach-class Mercedes-Benz S-Class was already eye-catching enough. But when passersby glanced at the license plate with five consecutive 8s, the entire street corner fell into a brief silence.

"Holy crap... a black Mercedes with five 8s on the license plate?! Which richest man in the province has descended to our county for an inspection?"

"This is so impressive! Look at the driver's uniform and white gloves, this is definitely a top-tier VIP's car!"

"Look, look! Someone's coming down!"

Amidst the shocked whispers of passersby, the professional driver swiftly jogged out of the car, respectfully opened the rear door, and even carefully placed his hand on the edge of the roof.

A long, slender leg stepped out of the carriage.

Chen Mo, wearing a thin black trench coat, stepped out of the car with one hand in his pocket and a calm expression.

He didn't even lift his eyelids when faced with dozens of shocked or awe-inspiring gazes around him.

Meanwhile, Su Qingyan, who was sitting by the window in the Western restaurant, took in the whole scene.

Su Qingyan dressed up specially for today.

After taking off her oversized school uniform, she put on a light blue fitted knit sweater, which not only perfectly outlined her slender waist and budding curves, but also made her already fair and porcelain-like skin seem to glow.

Her long, straight, jet-black hair cascaded down her rounded shoulders like a waterfall, and her long, straight legs were crossed. She exuded a cool and aloof air, yet also a touch of coquettish charm.

But at this moment, the usually calm and collected girl's beautiful peach blossom eyes widened slightly in shock.

A private car with five 8s? With a driver?

Chen Mo?

Under Su Qingyan's surprised and uncertain gaze, Chen Mo had already pushed open the heavy glass door of the restaurant.

He keenly noticed the beautiful view from the window, walked over calmly, and naturally pulled out the chair opposite Su Qingyan and sat down.

"You look beautiful today, Ms. Su. Sorry, there was a bit of traffic on the way. Did you wait long enough?" Chen Mo said, looking at the extremely attractive young woman in front of him.

Su Qingyan stared at Chen Mo for several seconds before forcibly suppressing the turmoil in her heart. With a complicated expression, she pointed to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class that hadn't driven away outside the window: "Chen Mo... tell me honestly, what's going on with that car outside with five 8s? Don't tell me your relative gave you a ride."

You mean that car?

Chen Mo followed her gaze, smiled without changing his expression, and said, "I guess so. A business partner arranged this transportation. I happened to have some errands to run, so he dropped me off here. What, were you scared off by this nouveau riche-looking license plate?"

It was described in a light and understated manner, without any flaws.

Su Qingyan gently bit her moist lower lip, her eyes fixed on Chen Mo's eyes, trying to find a trace of panic in them as if he were lying.

But she failed; those eyes revealed nothing but composure.

"Chen Mo, I find that I understand you less and less."

Su Qingyan placed her hands on the table, crossed. "You changed the day you handed in a blank paper and made that bet with me. Perfect score in math, perfect score in English... and this aura you exude, something a high school student can't fake. Just how many secrets are you hiding?"

Seeing the girl's adorable, inquisitive expression, Chen Mo leaned forward slightly:

"Su Qingyan, has anyone ever told you that when a woman becomes curious about a man, it's often the beginning of her descent into infatuation?"

These words struck Su Qingyan's heart like an electric current.

Her fair cheeks flushed crimson in an instant, then she immediately straightened her back and looked away: "Don't flatter yourself! I'm a man of my word; I'm treating you to dinner to keep my promise. Let's order!"

After saying that, she shoved an exquisite menu heavily in front of Chen Mo, and added, trying to appear calm, "But let me make this clear in advance, I'm just a high school student who saves up my allowance. If you order something too expensive, I'll make you wash dishes here."

Chen Mo looked at her bright red ears, and the smile in his eyes deepened.

He didn't open the menu, but simply beckoned to the waiter:

"Two Wellington steaks, medium-rare. One black truffle mushroom soup, one foie gras. Also, please prepare a tiramisu for this lady, without red wine, and a pitcher of freshly squeezed warm corn juice. Thank you."

Ordering was done smoothly and effortlessly.

After the waiter respectfully withdrew, Su Qingyan looked at Chen Mo, her eyes filled with even more doubt: "Do you come here often?"

"secret."

Chen Mo leaned back in his chair, quietly admiring the beautiful girl in front of him. "I have many secrets. If you really want to know, Ms. Su, one meal won't be enough."

"Fine, don't tell me then." Su Qingyan snorted.

At this moment, melodious piano music flowed gently through the restaurant.

Su Qingyan held a warm cup of water, looking at the boy across from her whose profile was sharply defined under the light.

Chen Mo waved his hand, interrupting Su Qingyan's reverie: "Stop looking. I'm more curious about what a top student like you usually like to do."

This question was somewhat unexpected for Su Qingyan.

She paused slightly, her long eyelashes drooping, and thought for a few seconds.

"I read," she said softly. "All kinds of books. Novels, essays, history... and sometimes I read random magazines too." She paused, then looked up at Chen Mo. "And you? Someone who can hand in a blank paper and still get a perfect score, you can't be doing practice problems in your spare time, can you?"

"Me?" Chen Mo leaned back slightly, his posture relaxed. "I like to observe trends."

"trend?"

"Hmm. For example, everyone's using Nokia and Motorola phones now, thinking that keypad phones are the future." Chen Mo tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his gaze drifting to the slightly worn-out street scene of the county town outside the window. "But I think that before long, everyone will be using touchscreen smartphones, using them to go online, shop, pay, and even... open an app to call a car."

His tone was flat, as if he were stating a perfectly ordinary fact.

But to Su Qingyan in 2014, these words sounded like something out of science fiction.

She knew about touchscreen phones; iPhones, on the other hand, were very expensive, and almost no one at school used them.

But use it to pay? To call a car?

"How...how did you know?" Su Qingyan couldn't help but ask, her beautiful peach blossom eyes sparkling with a thirst for knowledge, temporarily overshadowing her previous shyness.

"Just a guess." Chen Mo withdrew his gaze and looked at her again, a smile in his eyes. "Just like I guessed, given Su Qingyan's personality, her favorite book is probably not 'Five Years of College Entrance Examination, Three Years of Simulation,' but rather... 'Gone with the Wind,' or 'Pride and Prejudice'?"

Su Qingyan's hand holding the cup trembled slightly, and a hint of genuine surprise flashed in her eyes.

She truly loved "Pride and Prejudice" the most; the hardcover edition on her bookshelf was already quite worn from frequent use—a secret even her best friend didn't know.

"You... guessed again?" Her voice carried a softness she herself didn't realize.

"Perhaps." Chen Mo didn't explain, but just looked at her slightly widened eyes and felt that she was much more lively and lovely than her usual aloof and distant appearance.

"I also guessed that you appear calm on the surface, but are actually more sensitive than anyone else inside. You have your own pride, as well as your own...loneliness."

These words were like a small pebble, gently thrown into Su Qingyan's calm heart, creating ripples in circles.

She had never been seen through so accurately before, especially in front of such a seemingly cynical deskmate.

A thrill of being understood, mixed with a touch of panic, left her momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

Fortunately, the waiter served appetizers and soup in time.

The exquisite porcelain plate and the enticing aroma temporarily eased the delicate atmosphere.

Su Qingyan lowered her head and sipped the black truffle and mushroom soup, the rich aroma melting on her tongue.

She secretly glanced up and saw that Chen Mo's eating posture was natural and his movements were skilled, not at all like a child from the village.

"You... seem to be very skilled at many things," she said softly.

"Just a survival skill." Chen Mo cut off a small piece of foie gras, speaking casually. "People always have to learn to make themselves look presentable in different environments."

"It sounds like... you've experienced many different environments?" Su Qingyan seized on the unspoken meaning in his words.

Chen Mo looked up and met her probing gaze. He didn't look away, but just smiled and said, "I'll tell you slowly when there's a chance later."

And then it will be later.

Su Qingyan discovered that Chen Mo was very good at using this word to create suspense, and also... to create anticipation.

The main course, Wellington steak, was served, with a golden-brown crust that revealed a tender, juicy steak when cut open.

As they ate, the conversation gradually veered towards more everyday topics.

They talked about the math teacher at school who always went overtime, the basketball games that the boys in the back row were obsessed with, and the seating chart that might be rearranged after the monthly exams...

These ordinary, mundane topics, accompanied by soft lighting and delicious food, evoke a strange sense of warmth.

Su Qingyan discovered that Chen Mo wasn't always so unfathomable.

He would also complain about the homeroom teacher, comment on the students' basketball games, and even tell one or two obscure jokes that she had never heard before, making her smile involuntarily.

Her tense shoulders relaxed unconsciously, and her crossed legs shifted to a more comfortable position.

The look in his eyes as he looked at Chen Mo was gradually replaced by a feeling of pleasure.

"Honestly," Su Qingyan said, gently poking at the dessert with her fork, "if you put half your energy into studying, I probably wouldn't be number one in the grade."

"First in the grade?" Chen Mo shook his head. "That title is important to you, but it doesn't mean much to me. The world is vast, and Su Qingyan is much bigger than her ranking on the report card."

His words once again plunged Su Qingyan into deep thought.

She has always been a follower of the rules and a seeker of standard answers; being first in her grade is a milestone in her clear goals.

But Chen Mo's words were like opening a window for her, allowing her to vaguely see a wider view outside.

Dinner was drawing to a close.

Chen Mo waved to indicate that he wanted to pay the bill.

"It's on me, you said." Su Qingyan immediately took out her prepared wallet, though she was silently calculating how much of her allowance this dinner, which was far beyond her budget, would cost her.

"Next time," Chen Mo said, handing the card to the waiter. "It's not my habit to let ladies pay. Besides..."

He looked at Su Qingyan with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "I can't bear to leave you here washing dishes."

"You!" Su Qingyan's face turned red again, this time mostly from embarrassment and annoyance.

Stepping out of the restaurant, the cool night air greeted me.

The black Mercedes-Benz S-Class with five 8s on its license plate remained quietly parked in its original spot.

The driver had already gotten out of the car and was waiting, and respectfully opened the car door.

Chen Mo naturally stepped aside and gestured to Su Qingyan, "I'll take you home."

Su Qingyan looked at the luxurious car that seemed out of place in the county town at night, then glanced at the composed young man beside her, and hesitated for a moment.

Finally, she nodded and bent down to sit in the spacious and comfortable back seat.

Chen Mo then got in and closed the car door.

The car glided smoothly into the night.

Outside the window, the lights of the county town rushed past.

Neither of them spoke.

A quiet atmosphere permeated the carriage.

Su Qingyan watched the familiar street scene outside the window recede from a different perspective, and suddenly spoke softly:

"Chen Mo."

"Um?"

"Thank you for dinner today." She turned to look at him.

"It's just a meal, no need to be so polite." Chen Mo turned his head slightly. "But Su, let's keep things separate. Since I paid the bill today, the meal you owe me still counts."

Hearing his tone of not wanting to be taken advantage of, Su Qingyan's previously inexplicable emotions were instantly dispelled.

She gave him a light glare, but couldn't help but smile slightly: "I knew you weren't that generous..."

She glanced at the luxurious leather interior of the car and muttered under her breath, "Don't drive such an extravagant car. It's too flashy."

"Okay, I'll do as you say." Chen Mo chuckled. "Next time I'll pick you up on my bicycle."

"You said it yourself."

...............

About ten minutes later, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class came to a smooth stop at the entrance of the county education bureau's residential compound.

Su Qingyan stepped out of the carriage, the late autumn breeze ruffling her long hair.

She stood under the dim yellow streetlights and turned to look at the boy in the car.

"I've arrived." She pursed her lips, her eyes bright. "See you at school tomorrow..."

"See you at school. Goodnight, Su Qingyan." Chen Mo said gently, sitting in the dimly lit car.

Watching the Mercedes slowly turn around and eventually disappear into the night, Su Qingyan stood there in a daze for a long time.

It wasn't until a night breeze made her feel slightly cold that she hugged her arms tightly, turned around, and walked into the residential area.

……

On the other side, inside the Mercedes-Benz.

Chen Mo took out his phone and dialed the number of his personal assistant, Lin Wan.

"Mr. Chen." The call was answered almost instantly, and Lin Wan's extremely professional and gentle voice came through.

"Lin Wan, help me investigate a company." Chen Mo rubbed his temples with one hand. "It's called De'er Technology, and it mainly deals in electrochemical materials and fluorochemicals. If I'm not mistaken, it should be a startup company that was just registered in the industrial park on the southern outskirts of our county this June."

"I need all the core information about this company, including its legal background, equity structure, financial status, and current R&D progress. I need a detailed report in my email within three days."

"Yes, Mr. Chen, I will immediately mobilize the team to conduct due diligence." Lin Wan agreed decisively without any unnecessary words.

After hanging up the phone, Chen Mo watched the street scene outside the window rush past.

To ordinary people, this small, obscure county town is backward, isolated, and lifeless.

But in Chen Mo's eyes, this place holds a treasure trove that could ignite the national new energy and new materials industry.

"Deer Technology..."