Su Ran did not wake up again until noon.
On the bedside table lay a gold-lettered room card for 8086 and a box of emergency contraception.
Su Ran took the pill but left the room card behind. In her heart, she silently cursed, “Liar.”
Despite his smooth talk, he hadn’t actually said who he was.
But even if she knew, what difference would it make? They were worlds apart; there was no chance they would ever meet again.
Su Ran went down to the hotel front desk. As expected, they refused to provide surveillance footage or allow a private viewing unless the police were involved.
Just as she was considering whether to report Xue Yi to the police, her phone vibrated.
Two new messages came from a contact nicknamed “8086.” There was no chat history—it was a completely new friend.
8086: [You should need this.]
8086: [Video File]
Su Ran bit her lower lip hard. It was the man from last night.
That bastard must have used her fingerprint to unlock her phone while she was unconscious to add himself. He hadn’t just changed his nickname but had even pinned the chat to the top.
A video! Surely he hadn’t filmed what happened last night?
Su Ran immediately muted her phone, turned her back to the wall, and opened the file.
As the images flickered to life, Su Ran’s fists instantly tightened.
It was surveillance footage from the second-floor restaurant of Huangchao yesterday, showing Xue Yi spiking her juice.
Su Ran pursed her red lips and typed: [Thank you. You didn’t record anything from last night or this morning, did you?]
8086: [If you want, we can try next time.]
Even through the text, she could envision his handsome, provocative, and slightly mischievous face. With a tap of her slender, pale finger, she blocked him.
Less than half a minute later, a call came through from a number labeled “8086.”
“You’re certainly quick with your hands,” the man’s voice said as soon as she picked up.
What kind of person was this? He had even looked up her phone number and added himself to her contacts.
Su Ran’s impression of him grew even worse. “Thank you for helping me get the surveillance footage. I won’t hold it against you for touching my phone.”
He had investigated the surveillance immediately, likely because he hadn’t believed her story about being drugged by her ex-boyfriend. She had said thank you; they were even.
The man’s tone turned serious. “I’ve arranged an appointment for you with Lu Jingxing at 4:30 PM.”
This unexpected surprise made Su Ran’s breath hitch with excitement. “Why are you helping me?”
“I naturally follow through on what I promise you.”
His surroundings seemed vast; his voice sounded even more magnetic and deep through the receiver.
Su Ran was a bit of a voice enthusiast.
However, she really didn’t remember ever asking him to help her meet Lu Jingxing. Her slender finger hovered over the block button, but after a moment of hesitation, she didn’t press it.
Lu Jingxing was a financial tycoon in Jicheng whom few dared to provoke. His methods were known to be ruthless and decisive.
It was said that when he returned to the country five years ago, he had used his power to command the others, seizing his grand-nephew’s shares to become the CEO of Gaoshan Capital.
In less than three years, he had used his cutthroat tactics to turn the newly founded Gaoshan Capital into the largest investment bank in the country.
The market value of the Lu Group had risen significantly because of this. He had also become one of the key heirs being groomed by the Lu family.
Holding two trump cards, Lu Jingxing was now a man of immense power in Jicheng, standing at an unreachable height.
“Thank you. I’ll be there on time.”
There was no point in being coy. This was likely her last chance. Even if it was a trap, she had to test the waters.
After hanging up, Su Ran immediately checked her screen time. Fortunately, the man didn’t seem to have snooped into her other private matters.
Calculating that she still had enough time, Su Ran first went to the hospital for an examination. Then, she drove her used Volvo toward Gaoshan Capital.
On the way, her friend Ning Fei called. “Ranran, did Xue Yi take you to see Lu Jingxing?”
The mere mention of Xue Yi’s name made Su Ran feel nauseous. “No. But I found another way to get an appointment with him.”
Ning Fei’s voice sounded delighted. “That’s great! But you have to be careful. I heard a bit of insider news—the reason those other investment firms were unwilling to fund your family’s factory was because someone from a bank put a word in beforehand.”
Su Ran’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, her fingertips turning white from the force. “It must be Xue Yi. He wanted to force me to beg him.”
Ning Fei had never liked Xue Yi and gave a heavy huff. “Whatever ‘ability’ he has is only because his uncle, He Lujie, is a vice president at the bank. You’re stubborn and hard to manipulate, so he wanted to use these schemes to control you. That man is selfish and self-righteous.”
“Also, Ranran, let me remind you. If things seem peaceful on your end, it’s only because someone else is carrying the burden for you. The fact that Xue Yi could restrain himself from touching you for six months probably means he has someone else on the side.”
He didn’t just have someone on the side.
Yesterday morning, Su Ran had received an anonymous email containing photos of Xue Yi’s infidelity. Selfies and recordings in various positions—it hadn’t just been once.
Su Ran had immediately asked Xue Yi to meet so she could break up with him, only to fall into the scumbag’s trap first.
Just thinking about it was disgusting.
Su Ran let out a soft hum and pressed harder on the accelerator. “I’ve already broken up with him.”
Ning Fei’s already loud voice jumped two octaves. “That’s the best news of the year! Happy breakup! I’m treating you to a feast.”
Su Ran turned into the parking lot of Gaoshan Tower. “Wait until I secure the financing first. It’s not worth wasting energy on a scumbag. I’ll settle the score with him later.”
After checking her makeup one last time in the mirror, Su Ran walked into Gaoshan Tower.
She had been here before to apply for funding from the Industrial Investment Department. When the process reached the final stage, she had been rejected by the Deputy General Manager in charge, Zhang Sheng.
Today, the receptionist’s smile was much sweeter than before, and she even made a standard “after you” gesture. “Assistant Du gave personal instructions for you to go directly to the eighth-floor reception room.”
Du Heng, Lu Jingxing’s special assistant, was a figure who stood above all others in Jicheng’s financial circles, save for one man. To think he would personally notify the front desk.
It seemed the man from last night was more than just wealthy.
Su Ran nodded in return and walked straight in.
Su Ran was strikingly beautiful. Even with a cold expression, she couldn’t hide her natural allure.
Her navy blue belted coat accentuated her long legs, slender waist, and ample curves. Along the way, whether men or women, everyone cast gazes of either lust or envy; the burning stares were constant.
She had long since grown accustomed to it. Without glancing aside, she took the elevator straight to the eighth floor.
The decor of Gaoshan Tower was low-key yet luxurious. A secretary led her to a meeting room and brought her a cup of coffee, asking her to wait.
Su Ran was afraid of smudging her lipstick, so she didn’t dare drink it.
Although she had met many wealthy people, it was her first time meeting a top-tier tycoon like Lu Jingxing. Not to mention, he was a tyrant whose name alone was enough to make one tremble.
She silently rehearsed her talking points to keep herself calm. But she was still somewhat fearful, subconsciously glancing outside from time to time.
After about ten minutes, several figures appeared outside the frosted glass wall, surrounding a tall, imposing figure as they approached.
The person in front walked a few steps ahead and pushed open the conference room door with a click. He stood respectfully by the door, inviting the superior to enter first.
A professional smile immediately surfaced on Su Ran’s face as she stood in a standard posture to greet the person entering.
When she saw clearly who it was, the red lips that were about to offer a greeting trembled and froze.
The cold, solemn man standing tall like a crane carved from jade, surrounded by his entourage, was actually the man from last night.
He was still wearing the same perfectly tailored, wrinkle-free bespoke suit from this morning. He was devastatingly handsome, possessed a dignified bearing, and exuded an air of absolute authority.
One didn’t need to analyze the careful, fawning attitudes of those around him; his aura alone marked him as the pinnacle of those in power.
Su Ran took a moment to compose herself. Since there were others present, her instinct told her she should pretend they didn’t know each other. “Hello.”
The man took long, composed strides toward her. He raised his arm slightly, his voice serious and steady. “Hello. I am Lu Jingxing.”