Chapter 55. A Heartfelt Embrace (Part 2)

Ever since Li Mo mentioned a “profit turning point,” he’d been itching to know what it was.

“Tengyun.”

“Let’s wait a few days. I’m spending time with a very important woman right now.”

“I can’t leave.”

Before Li Mo could finish, Liu Pingping took the phone.

“Don’t worry, Xiao Mo will be at the company this afternoon.”

Li Mo stared in disbelief as she hung up.

He had wanted to stay with her longer, but she was sending him to work?

“Xiao Mo, a man must prioritize his career.”

“What kind of man spends all his time with his mother?”

“I’m 45 now—I don’t have the energy to keep up with you.”

“You need to focus on your business.”

Her words, though firm, carried warmth.

Li Mo felt a surge of affection.

His mother-in-law wasn’t a bad person—she had just once looked down on his lack of success.

But now that she saw his sincerity, she was treating him with the same genuine care.

“Mom, I’ll miss you.”

“Once you leave Shenzhen, I’ll have to go to Suzhou to see you.”

He held onto her arm like a clingy child, making her laugh.

“Look at you, acting like a kid.”

But she didn’t mind.

After all, in a mother’s eyes, their child would always be just that—a child.

“This afternoon, I’ll go with you to see how your company is doing.”

She was curious—just how big was Li Mo’s company?

How large was the office?

How many employees did he have?

Liu Pingping’s words took Li Mo by surprise.

She wanted to go to the company with him?

What for?

“Mom, why do you want to come to the company?”

Liu Pingping replied seriously, “Of course, to help you plan for the future and give you some advice.”

Seeing Li Mo’s doubtful expression, she pinched his cheek playfully.

“Don’t underestimate your mother. I have a deep understanding of finance and the internet.”

“I contributed a lot to Xiaoxiao’s cosmetics marketing and brand influence.”

“I may not be able to make decisions for you, but I can certainly offer suggestions.”

She wasn’t exaggerating.

Unlike many women of her age who lacked education, Liu Pingping easily grasped modern concepts.

She also had her own insights into business development.

Earlier, the salesgirl had remarked on her intellectual aura—this was where it came from.

Though stunningly beautiful, she carried an air of sophistication that made her captivating.

Perhaps this was the advantage of knowledge and experience.

“Alright then…”

“Mom, you can come with me to the company.”

Originally, Li Mo had planned to delay Tencent’s profit strategy for a few more days.

But since Liu Pingping insisted on going, he decided to finalize the plan today.

“Okay.”

Once Li Mo agreed, Liu Pingping visibly brightened.

After clearing the dishes, she received a call from Su Xiaoxiao.

“Mom, what’s wrong? Why did you call me in the middle of the night?”

Exhausted, Su Xiaoxiao had fallen asleep and only woke up in the afternoon. Now, she was preparing to head to the office.

Her company’s IPO was on the horizon, and if successful, her life would change dramatically.

“I’m in Shenzhen. I called you last night because I was worried, but you must’ve been asleep.”

Su Xiaoxiao asked with concern, “Are you okay, Mom?”

“If something had happened, I wouldn’t be answering your call now.”

“I’m currently at—”

She almost said she was at Li Mo’s place but caught herself.

As Su Xiaoxiao’s biological mother, being so close to Li Mo would surely spark an argument.

So she quickly changed her answer. “I’m staying at a hotel near the train station. I’m fine.”

“Then let me pick you up. You can stay with me.”

Liu Pingping couldn’t help but recall how exhausted Li Mo had looked last night.

Yet, despite his fatigue, he had eagerly gone to the station to fetch her.

Meanwhile, her own daughter had only called her the next afternoon.

Comparing the two—and reflecting on how Li Mo had treated her over the years—she realized just how well he had always cared for her.

“No, it’s fine.”

“I came mainly for YanYan’s sake.”

“I’ll stay at a hotel near her school. Long-term rates are affordable, and it won’t cost much.”

“Aren’t you busy with your company’s IPO?”

“Don’t worry about me.”

“YanYan and I will visit you when we have time.”

“Focus on your career.”

Su Xiaoxiao’s voice carried guilt.

“Alright, Mom. I’ve been really busy lately.”

“I barely have time to rest.”

“My secretary is rushing me. I’ll hang up now.”

As the call ended, Liu Pingping felt a pang of disappointment.

Though she had brushed it off, she had secretly hoped her daughter would insist on picking her up—just as warmly as Li Mo had.

But Su Xiaoxiao hadn’t.

“Sigh…”

The contrast between Li Mo and Su Xiaoxiao made her question her own parenting.

Had her emphasis on success and achievement been the right approach?

If she hadn’t drilled that mindset into Su Xiaoxiao, perhaps her daughter would still be happily married to Li Mo.

“Mom, who was that?”

“No one important—just an old friend. Let’s go.”

In her high heels, Liu Pingping followed Li Mo out.

His villa wasn’t far from Blue Ocean Tower.

When they arrived, Liu Pingping’s eyes widened slightly.

This was a high-tech business district—she knew just how expensive office space here was!

Li Mo’s company was located here?

This was far from the modest office building she had imagined.

“Mom.”

“Let’s go inside.”

Li Mo guided her to the floor of Qingyan Investments.

As the doors opened, several receptionists greeted in unison:

“Good afternoon, Mr. Mo!”

His authority in the company was unmatched, and the employees admired him deeply.

“Qingyan Investments.”

Reading the nameplate, Liu Pingping realized the company was named after Su Qingyan.

But she didn’t dwell on it.

Li Mo had always doted on her younger daughter.

If they were together, it made sense he’d name the company after her.

As an only child, his attachment to a younger sister wasn’t unusual.

“Mom, this is the reception area.”

“Beyond this is the main office.”

“We have multiple departments now, all running smoothly.”

After recent expansions, the employee count had reached over 400.

The floor was starting to feel cramped.

Li Mo knew that with his new investments, he’d soon need to rent additional space.

“Mom, it’s a bit crowded, so let’s head straight to the meeting room. Afterward, I’ll show you my office.”

As they walked further in, rows of busy workstations came into view.

Glass partitions separated departments, making it easy to see employees at work.

“How… how many people are here?”

“At least 500!”

“Xiao Mo, your company has four to five hundred employees?!”