A sudden “thud” came from the guest bedroom.
Su Ran turned her head immediately, her slightly curly long hair brushing past the tip of Lu Jingxing’s nose.
“I’ll go check.”
Su Ran ran into the room. Qi Xinxin was still asleep, her breathing slow and heavy. She must have accidentally knocked her phone onto the floor while tossing and turning.
Su Ran picked up the phone and placed it gently on the nightstand. She tucked the corners of the quilt in for her, then stepped out quietly.
Carefully closing the door, she turned around only to bump right into Lu Jingxing’s firm chest.
Lu Jingxing took the opportunity to hook his arm around Su Ran’s waist, pulling her flush against him.
Su Ran tried to push him away but couldn’t budge him. Her voice carried a hint of a reprimand. “President Lu, you said you wouldn’t force me.”
Lu Jingxing claimed shamelessly, “You’re the one who threw yourself into my arms.”
Su Ran retorted, “Then you can release your ‘helpful’ hand now.”
Lu Jingxing didn’t move. With a thick skin, he changed the subject. “Be careful with this friend of yours. Boss Zhao has a terrible reputation in his circles; he’s ruined quite a few people. According to him, he gave hints before he arrived, and your friend had already acquiesced.”
Su Ran’s eyelid twitched. “Xinxin isn’t that kind of person. She’s just naive.”
Lu Jingxing tucked a stray lock of hair behind Su Ran’s ear. “The same hairstyle as you, a similar style of dress. Is it an insurmountable envy and jealousy, or a following born of admiration? Which one do you think it is?”
A shade of pink crept onto Su Ran’s earlobes. “Neither. She’s introverted and timid; she’s just trying to fit in.”
Lu Jingxing gave a light scoff. “You use all your defenses on me.”
Su Ran looked up at him. “Because you stand so high, I’m afraid of falling to my death—and taking my family down with me.”
Lu Jingxing chuckled deeply. “So you do know how to be afraid? Were you afraid today?”
Su Ran wriggled her body, but since she truly couldn’t break free, she admitted out of spite, “Regarding Boss Zhao, no. Regarding you and President Ye, a little.”
Lu Jingxing’s arm tightened. “Oh? I thought you liked it hard. I’ll be gentler next time.”
Su Ran felt something pressing against her lower abdomen—something vigorous, surging, and even twitching twice. Her heart skipped a beat in tandem. She lowered her head, her gaze landing on Lu Jingxing’s defined Adam’s apple, her throat feeling dry.
Lu Jingxing glanced down at himself and said gentlemanly, “Sorry, ‘he’ isn’t very obedient. Interested in lending a hand?”
Su Ran desperately wanted to tie his tongue in a knot. “President Lu, please carry on with your business. I won’t disturb you.”
Lu Jingxing released her without heat. “Study the proposal first. I’m going to take a shower.”
With that, he walked toward the bathroom with a relaxed stride.
Su Ran finally let out a sigh of relief and drank half a glass of cold water. The terms “sanctimonious” and “a beast in human clothing” suddenly popped into her mind; they suited him perfectly.
Lu Jingxing took a long time in the shower. Su Ran had settled down and finished studying the proposal thoroughly by the time she heard a slightly raspy voice behind her.
“Is there anything else that needs adjusting?”
Su Ran turned around. Lu Jingxing was wearing the same bathrobe from that night. The lapels were tightly closed, and the belt was tied in a neat, firm knot, revealing only a section of his long, powerful calves as he stood not far away, gazing at her.
For a moment, Su Ran was dazed, as if she had been transported back to that night.
He really could pull off any look. In a suit, he was a thunderous overbearing CEO; in a flowing robe, he was a divine creature.
Lu Jingxing raised his hand to brush his hair back. His semi-dry hair was slightly messy, with a few strands falling over his brows.
It instantly filled the quiet room with an awkward sense of ambiguity.
Su Ran took a sip of water. Not a divine creature—more like a flirtatious beast. “No.”
Lu Jingxing’s long legs carried him closer. He sat down beside Su Ran, crossing his legs and feigning a gesture of smoothing his hem. “Does this still need Su Tianlei’s approval?”
Su Ran turned her head away. He was sea-green; she was going to get styes if she kept looking. “There shouldn’t be a problem on my father’s end. But please, President Lu, do not tell him about the VAM Agreement.”
Lu Jingxing said, “I won’t. Only the two of us will know.”
Su Ran added in her mind: And Wang Ye.
Lu Jingxing asked, “Shall we rely on a gentleman’s verbal agreement, or put it in black and white?”
Su Ran said decisively, “Signed and sealed.”
Lu Jingxing chuckled. “Fine, we’ll do it your way.”
Lu Jingxing printed the agreement in duplicate, and both of them signed their names.
Su Ran folded the agreement, tucked it into the inner pocket of her leather bag, and zipped it shut. After a moment of silence, she asked, “He Lujie, the vice president of Fuda Bank—does he have an appointment to meet you tomorrow afternoon?”
Lu Jingxing arched an eyebrow, asking despite already knowing the answer, “Your ex-boyfriend’s uncle? Four o’clock in the afternoon at Nieyuan Pavilion. Why, are you going too?”
Su Ran asked in a pleading tone, “Can we sign the contract before then?”
Lu Jingxing said nonchalantly, “The time is up to you. Investment banks have no days off.”
Su Ran had thought Lu Jingxing would try to manipulate her a little, but she hadn’t expected him to agree so readily.
A flash of joy crossed Su Ran’s face. She checked the time; it was almost midnight. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll go to Gaoshan Tower with my father.”
Lu Jingxing said, “Your father is getting on in years; don’t trouble him with the commute. Du Heng will go to Tianlei to find you.”
Su Ran breathed a long sigh of relief and thanked him sincerely, “Thank you.”
Lu Jingxing asked, “Two bedrooms. Where are you sleeping tonight?”
“I’m taking care of Xinxin.”
Su Ran felt like she was getting the better end of the deal while still acting all high and mighty. But circumstances forced her to just take things one step at a time.
Lu Jingxing wasn’t surprised. “I’m not staying here tonight.”
He then added, “I’m not used to having a strange woman in the room.”
Su Ran pursed her lips. She had once been a “strange woman” too, and they weren’t exactly familiar now.
Lu Jingxing chuckled and extended his right hand. “Then, I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.”
Su Ran looked down, reluctantly shaking his hand. “If the contract is signed smoothly in the morning, there’s no need for me to go in the afternoon.”
“Given Xue Yi’s status, he isn’t qualified to see me at all. Even someone like He Lujie would have to wait in line for two months. I only agreed to meet them because of you.” Lu Jingxing raised a brow slightly. “Even if you don’t care about me, don’t you want to enjoy your ex-boyfriend’s performance?”
To enjoy seeing Xue Yi—knowing full well she had a relationship with Lu Jingxing and that the meeting was only happening because of him—forced to play the sycophant with fawning smiles?
Su Ran shook her head. “No, it’s disgusting. I have evidence against him; I’ll deal with him sooner or later.”
Lu Jingxing observed Su Ran’s reaction. “In a way, he asked someone to book me for your sake too.”
Su Ran paused for a moment. She had been so anxious about the investment earlier that she hadn’t thought it through.
Xue Yi was absolutely not the type of person who would be deeply devoted after being caught cheating.
His misdeeds had been exposed, yet he still wanted to get engaged, he was helping to arrange a meeting with Lu Jingxing, and he even wanted to face Lu Jingxing personally alongside her… he must have another scheme.
For money? Tianlei had only started to grow slowly in recent years, and its profits weren’t huge. She had also hinted to him that the company would all belong to her brother in the future.
And although she was Su Tianlei’s daughter, to put it bluntly, she was just an employee on a salary. Even with a large bonus at the end of the year, she couldn’t compare to him.
For sex? He should understand that was even more impossible.
So, his target was Lu Jingxing.
Su Ran no longer hesitated. “I’ll go. I’ll be there on time.”