Seeing Su Ran’s face full of indignation, Wang Ye seemed even more amused. “I didn’t intentionally pry into Miss Su’s privacy. It’s just that Huangchao is owned by my family, and I personally copied the surveillance footage as Brother Lu instructed. I didn’t let a third pair of eyes see the content. As an involved party, I felt I should take some responsibility for Miss Su.”
Su Ran bit her lip slightly. “Thank you for your kindness, President Wang. I will handle this matter myself.”
Wang Ye gave a soft whistle. “It seems my standing isn’t quite as high as Brother Lu’s.”
Su Ran replied, “You’re joking, President Wang. I hold both of you in the highest regard.”
Wang Ye leaned his arm on the center console, teasing, “You’ve got quite a silver tongue. I just wonder if that beautiful, stubborn mouth of yours… can do anything else?”
Understanding the foul implication behind his words, Su Ran shot back, “I can explain our factory’s business proposal. Would you like to hear it, President Wang?”
Wang Ye raised an eyebrow with a smirk. “Have you been like this since you were a child? Or are you just lashing out at all men because of your recent heartbreak?”
Su Ran ignored his sarcasm, touching the small cut on her finger from the broken glass last night. It stung slightly. “He isn’t worth getting hurt over.”
Wang Ye countered, “Then, Miss Su, do you think our Brother Lu is worth it?”
Lu Jingxing’s brow furrowed slightly as he closed the carriage partition. Wang Ye’s face, still eager for more drama, was slowly blocked from view.
“Apologies, he has a bit of a loose tongue. I’ll teach him to speak like a human next time.”
Su Ran didn’t think she was in any position to have Lu Jingxing discipline Wang Ye on her behalf; otherwise, he wouldn’t have let Wang Ye mock her for so long. “President Wang helped me find the footage. I’m already very grateful.”
Only then did Lu Jingxing notice Su Ran’s palm-sized face was full of exhaustion. “Your complexion looks off. Didn’t you rest well?”
Su Ran replied, “I was worried the funds wouldn’t arrive in time.”
Lu Jingxing chuckled softly. “Are you afraid I would intentionally suppress you in business because you rejected me?”
“No.”
Though Su Ran said “no,” her eyes were full of a counter-question: Wouldn’t you?
Lu Jingxing said, “Rest assured, I said business is business, and I won’t be harsh because of personal matters. Later today, Su Tianlei’s company will receive an investment proposal from Gaoshan Capital. If there are no issues, the contract can be signed.”
Su Ran’s eyes lit up. She never expected it to be this easy. She couldn’t help but suspect there might be a trap. “Don’t you want to look at our financial statements first, or send someone for a site inspection?”
Lu Jingxing gently closed his laptop. “Gaoshan has already conducted a preliminary investigation and audit. However, I do have one more question.”
Su Ran stared at him, her eyes as clear as spring water, filled with both tension and anticipation.
Lu Jingxing’s voice slowed down. “Are the lab results out yet? After all, I’m concerned too.”
Su Ran choked for a moment. In his eyes, she was someone of questionable background. “Two results won’t be out until tomorrow. But please rest assured, President Lu, I… lead a very decent lifestyle.”
Lu Jingxing raised his eyelids, seemingly savoring the words. After a moment, he said, “I was originally about to give up, but your phrase ‘decent lifestyle’ has piqued my interest again. After all, you were conscious yesterday morning, and you were even… wilder than the night before.”
Su Ran’s ears instantly turned bright red. She wanted to stuff a handkerchief into that beautiful but poisonous mouth of his.
Lu Jingxing showed no mercy. “So, can I take it as a great honor that I am the exception to your ‘decency’? You’re just wary of my status and don’t want to carry a bad reputation.”
Su Ran had thought he would say she was playing hard to get. She hadn’t expected his analysis to be so spot on.
When she saw him standing at the door that morning, tall, aloof, and proud, he was indeed exceptionally attractive.
If he weren’t Lu Jingxing, and if he hadn’t used the funding to leverage her, perhaps she really wouldn’t have been able to resist the temptation and would have agreed to his request.
Su Ran spoke candidly, “I am just an ordinary person bound by convention. Even if I didn’t care what others said, I couldn’t get past my own conscience.”
“You occupy a high position, and there are many people who don’t care about such things and would be willing to satisfy your every need. But I can’t afford to play that game, let alone lose. I hope you can understand.”
Lu Jingxing dropped the teasing look from his face and turned back, saying indifferently, “I don’t like to force people.”
Su Ran replied calmly, “Thank you.”
Lu Jingxing said nothing more. He tapped on the partition, and the car stopped. “You take the car behind us back.”
His tone was as cold as when he spoke to Zhang Sheng.
Su Ran’s heart sank. She looked out the window with a bitter feeling, only then realizing that in addition to the lead car, two more SUVs were following them.
Su Ran stepped out of the car. She held the door frame, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly gave a ninety-degree bow.
“President Lu, I’m not good at sweet talk, and I’ve never said it to anyone else. Thank you for not minding my stubbornness, and thank you even more for being willing to give Tianlei a chance. Tianlei will absolutely not let you down.”
Lu Jingxing gazed at Su Ran, who was surrounded by the misty rain. She looked like a winter plum blossom—stubborn yet fragile.
Suddenly, a trace of pity rose within him.
It was a desire that made him want to provoke and tease her even more.
Just like that night, when she wanted him to stop, as she retreated and he pursued. Watching her impatience driven by the drug—that was the most interesting moment.
Lu Jingxing’s eyes flickered, and he slightly tilted the corners of his eyes. “What I said holds true.”
The driver pressed a button, and the door closed, cutting off Su Ran, who stood there in the drizzling rain.
The partition lowered, and Wang Ye turned around, teasing in a lazy tone, “No wonder she managed to take your ‘first blood.’ She really is quite interesting.”
Lu Jingxing opened his laptop and began checking his emails. “Speak more politely in the future.”
Wang Ye stretched. “Feeling protective? I was just testing the waters for you. I’m not as heartless as you, dragging her out in the rain and kicking her out halfway. Is the prey too wild? Needs to be tamed?”
Lu Jingxing’s voice was devoid of emotion. “You’re overthinking it.”
Wang Ye twisted his body around as far as he could, asking with great interest, “Are you interested in her because she can make Chinese pastries, or because she’s He Lujie’s nephew’s girlfriend?”
Without looking up, Lu Jingxing corrected him, “Ex-girlfriend.”
Wang Ye said, “You believe her words that easily? You were the one who said that smart, beautiful women are the best actresses. Don’t end up falling into a trap yourself.”
Lu Jingxing didn’t answer, steering the topic away. “If you have time, you’d better start thinking about why the president of Nuoyin Group suddenly came to the country without any warning.”
“A private trip, only contacted you an hour before landing. It can only be a good thing.” Wang Ye was still unwilling to let it go. “What exactly do you see in her? You aren’t lacking for beautiful women with personality.”
Lu Jingxing looked at his own reflection in the car window and touched his shoulder. The bite mark Su Ran had left hadn’t completely faded yet.
A slight smile touched Lu Jingxing’s lips. “Her teeth are very straight.”
Wang Ye scoffed, clearly not believing him.
Still, it was rare for a dry tree like Lu Jingxing to finally blossom and show interest in a woman. Even if he suffered a bit, it would be fun, something Wang Ye could tease him about until they were old.
Su Ran was quite annoyed with herself. She had told herself to be submissive and not talk back, yet she just couldn’t control that damn temper of hers.
In the eyes of others, she must seem stubborn and ungrateful.
Taking the bodyguards’ car back to Gaoshan Tower, she picked up her Volvo and drove directly to her home in the suburbs.
Su Ran’s parents lived in a small four-bedroom duplex with a garden. They had bought it early in a remote area, so it hadn’t cost much at the time.
As soon as she entered, the aroma of food wafted toward her.
A wave of tenderness washed over Su Ran. Turning the corner from the foyer, she saw her father, Su Tianlei, sitting on the sofa, chatting with Xue Yi.
Seeing Su Ran, Xue Yi immediately came over and took her hand in his. “It’s raining outside. You must be freezing.”