He had ignored so many of her messages, yet a single text saying “I agree to be your bed partner” had finally smoked him out.
Su Ran let out a bitter laugh of frustration and immediately dialed his number without a second’s delay.
To her surprise, he declined the call instantly, replying only with a voice message: “Busy. Talk later.”
Su Ran rarely used profanity, but at this moment, she couldn’t help herself: “Bastard!”
While she fumed at Lu Jingxing, she was also worried about what trouble Xue Yi might be stirring up.
Helpless, Su Ran headed downstairs.
In the living room, Xue Yi had already managed to calm Su Tianlei down.
Su Tianlei patted Xue Yi’s shoulder with gravity. “I don’t blame you; it’s my own problem. With such a large sum of money and high risks involved, banks won’t just lend it out willy-nilly. I understand.”
Xue Yi’s face was full of apology. “My uncle just told me that he’s already secured an appointment with President Lu of Gaoshan Capital. I’ll accompany Xiao Ran when the time comes. If my uncle isn’t too busy, he’ll personally step in to help as well.”
Su Rui peeled an orange and handed it to Xue Yi. “Brother Xue, we’re counting on you. If my dad really sells the house, my girlfriend will definitely break up with me. She’s already unhappy that I’m insisting on taking the postgraduate entrance exams.”
Qi Xinxin chimed in, “With Mr. Xue here, there won’t be any problems.”
Su Ran walked down the stairs quickly. “I can make the appointment myself. There’s no need to go through all these extra hoops.”
Su Tianlei stiffened his neck. “President He has already made the arrangement. Let Xue Yi take you; I’ll feel more at ease with him there.”
Although his daughter was very capable, Su Tianlei still trusted Xue Yi more. After all, he came from a good family, was highly educated, and had helped them plenty in the past. To him, Xue Yi’s way of doing things was far more reliable than a girl in her early twenties.
Su Ran’s lips tightened. “Fine, I’ll go with him.”
If she didn’t go, her father would have to.
There was no telling what they might say during the meeting.
Given Lu Jingxing’s mouth, it was entirely possible he’d blurt out something like, “So you’re Miss Su’s ex-boyfriend, the one who ruined my mood by knocking on the door that night?”
After dinner, at Su Ran’s repeated hints, Xue Yi politely took his leave.
Meanwhile, Lu Jingxing never sent another reply.
The next morning, Qi Xinxin suddenly called. “Xiao Ran, I heard in the hometown group that one of our fellow townsmen has made it big here and has money he wants to invest. I tried asking him, and surprisingly, he’s quite interested.”
Su Ran sat up straight immediately. “Is he reliable?”
Qi Xinxin’s voice was weak. “I can’t be sure, but several people from home said he’s quite capable.”
Su Ran asked, “Did you tell him about the factory’s situation?”
Qi Xinxin replied, “I told him everything. I sent him the business proposal and Director Su’s personal credit report. Boss Zhao even said he really admires Director Su’s character. He happens to have time this afternoon. Do you want to meet and talk to him?”
Su Ran said decisively, “Set it up.”
The meeting was at a restaurant on the second floor of the Huangchao Hotel, chosen by Boss Zhao.
On the way, Su Ran was struck by an electric scooter that suddenly swerved into the wrong lane. Fortunately, she wasn’t hurt, but it delayed her, and she barely made it on time.
When she entered the private room, Qi Xinxin’s cheeks were flushed red; she had clearly been forced to drink.
Seeing Su Ran enter, Qi Xinxin sprang up from her chair like a kitten finally being rescued. “Xiao Ran, this is Boss Zhao.”
The tall and portly Boss Zhao had his arm draped over the back of Qi Xinxin’s chair. When he looked up and saw Su Ran, his eyes instantly lit up.
Su Ran extended her hand politely and professionally. “Hello, Boss Zhao. I am Su Ran, the Marketing Director of Tianlei Food Factory.”
Boss Zhao couldn’t wait to grab her hand, tentatively stroking it. “Su Ran… soft and delicate, a name that truly fits.”
Su Ran pretended to reach for her documents and pulled her hand back.
Boss Zhao sat down reluctantly, sniffing his own hand while his eyes wandered over Su Ran’s chest and waist.
Seductive. A real tease behind a serious front. I’m definitely going to have fun today, he thought.
“Miss Su is late. Surely you must penalize yourself with three rounds of drinks.”
Qi Xinxin reached for the glass. “Xiao Ran still needs to discuss business with you. I’ll drink for her.”
Boss Zhao clamped his hand over Qi Xinxin’s and placed a glass of already poured red wine in front of Su Ran. “Hey, you drink yours, and she drinks hers. A little tipsiness makes for better business talk.”
Su Ran looked down at the crimson liquid in the glass, took a new empty glass, poured half a glass, and tilted her head back to drain it. The bitter wine burned her throat as it went down.
“I apologize for keeping you waiting, Boss Zhao. I hope a man of your stature can be magnanimous.”
Boss Zhao squinted, staring at Su Ran’s snow-white neck. As she drank with her red lips, he swallowed hard twice.
His coarse fingers couldn’t help but rub heavily against the back of Qi Xinxin’s hand.
Qi Xinxin’s arm trembled, but she didn’t pull away.
Su Ran caught a glimpse of Boss Zhao’s wandering hand. She frowned quickly and pulled Qi Xinxin to her other side.
Boss Zhao’s greasy, fat face bunched into a more lecherous grin. He thought she was clearing the way to sit next to him.
Su Ran remained polite, but her smile had vanished. “Boss Zhao, these are Tianlei’s financial reports and the financing plan. Please take a look.”
Boss Zhao looked at her with lustful eyes. “Drink three full glasses, then we’ll talk.”
Su Ran was no longer in the mood to continue.
If the pork smelled rotten at first whiff, there was no need to waste time cooking it to taste it.
She gave Qi Xinxin a look, intending to find an excuse to leave.
Qi Xinxin didn’t understand. She tremblingly filled a glass, accidentally spilling some.
Boss Zhao’s excitement surged instantly, and he felt a wave of heat wash over him. “Oh, it’s overflowing! Quick, lean down and lap it up. Use some force.”
Qi Xinxin held the glass with both hands. “It was my fault for not clarifying the time. This second glass is my penalty.”
Su Ran couldn’t stop her.
Qi Xinxin gulped it down in one go and slumped back into her seat, swaying.
Su Ran knew her own limit; she could handle half a catty of spirits but never drank more than three taels in public. But Xinxin rarely drank, and Su Ran worried that drinking like this would cause trouble.
Boss Zhao bared his yellow teeth. The little girls really knew how to play. “You two little sisters have quite the tolerance.”
“Urgh, I’m going to the restroom.” Qi Xinxin suddenly covered her mouth and rushed out the door.
Worried, Su Ran stood up to check on her and take the chance to leave. “Boss Zhao, please stay seated. I’ll go check on her.”
Boss Zhao leaned forward and grabbed Su Ran’s arm, forcing her back into the chair. Breathing out foul alcoholic breath, he slid his rear closer and clicked his tongue twice, taking a deep, intoxicated breath.
With such a beauty delivering herself to his door, playing a game of hard-to-get—the hunter and the prey—he was more than willing to play along.
“Miss Su, you smell so good.”
Su Ran forcefully pried Boss Zhao’s hand off. “Since Boss Zhao has no intention of discussing cooperation, I’ll take my leave.”
Boss Zhao’s fat, long arm grabbed Su Ran again. “Wasn’t this the deal? Sweet, soft, fair, and tender cream—let me have a taste before I drop ten million. Xiao Qi was sensible enough to hide away, so stop pretending.”
As he spoke, his greasy, fat hand directly coiled around Su Ran’s slender waist, pulling her into his embrace. “Sending such a seductive beauty to me… you must have sold yourself plenty of times before. Don’t worry, your Brother Zhao isn’t just rich; he knows how to have fun. However you want to play, I’ll play along.”
In broad daylight, after barely a few words, he was already getting physical. Su Ran had truly never encountered someone like this.
She pulled out a self-defense device and, without hesitation, jabbed it directly into Boss Zhao’s ribs.
Boss Zhao was completely off guard, his body surging with excitement as he wondered where to take his first bite. Suddenly, his side tightened, and his entire body convulsed in pain.
The fat on his face wobbled violently. He let go of Su Ran, and his anger flared up instantly.
Su Ran took a few quick steps and opened the door to leave, but Boss Zhao grabbed her wrist and violently dragged her back.
The self-defense device fell to the floor, and the door was kicked shut with a loud bang.
“Bitch! You dare shock me? Well, I happen to like them wild.”
Su Ran didn’t know how she could be so unlucky as to encounter such things back-to-back.
With nothing within reach, she drove her knee hard into Boss Zhao’s crotch.
Boss Zhao’s face turned pale green. His brain throbbed in sync with the pain in his groin. He chased after her with his legs clamped together, grabbed Su Ran by the waist, lifted her high, and slammed her hard onto the floor.