Mu Ran turned sideways at the sound, only to discover that it was President Jin, the man they had been negotiating with earlier regarding that plot of land.
“I didn’t expect to run into President Jin here,” Mu Ran said with a polite smile.
Jin Xu pressed his palms together in front of his chest and nodded slightly. “What a coincidence.”
This was the traditional greeting style in Country T. Jin Xu’s father was from Country T, but for some unknown reason, he had never registered Jin Xu as a foreign national. Having grown up abroad since childhood, however, Jin Xu remained accustomed to the local greeting customs.
Jin Xu’s gaze swept over the people present, a flash of delight crossing the depths of his eyes as he spoke again, “Our previous cooperation wasn’t fully finalized. Why don’t we take this opportunity to chat about it?”
“That couldn’t be better.” Mu Ran stepped aside to make room for Jin Xu. “I’ll treat tonight.”
He Jingan was happy to see this happen; they had come out simply because they were bored, and even if it involved talking business, he treated it as watching a good show.
He Yuncheng, standing to the side, appeared rather displeased.
Because Jin Xu was quite heavy, had a receding hairline, and wore leering eyes that practically glued themselves onto Mu Ran, what possible advantages did this old fogey have that warranted Mu Ran treating him so politely?
The bar’s music was deafening, forcing Mu Ran to lean in closer to Jin Xu just to hear what he was saying.
“What’s the rush? Why don’t we have a drink first?” Jin Xu held up his wine glass, his eyes narrowing into slits.
A wave of churning nausea rolled through Mu Ran’s stomach. Having just been discharged from the hospital not too long ago, drinking this much was genuinely uncomfortable.
If it weren’t for the fact that the plot of land was tied to his later development plans, he really wouldn’t want to drink with a person like Jin Xu.
“President Jin…” Mu Ran maintained his smile. “I’m not feeling very well. Why don’t we discuss this another day?”
This Jin Xu was evading the topic and beating around the bush, clearly not taking the business seriously at all. Mu Ran had no desire to entangle himself with such a scumbag on a night out with friends.
“Oh come now, President Mu has always had a great capacity for alcohol. Besides, why would someone who isn’t feeling well come to a bar? Have another drink!” As Jin Xu spoke, one hand reached out, wandering over to Mu Ran’s waist and grabbing him in a tight embrace.
“What the hell are you doing?!” Mu Ran snapped straight up, counter-attacking instantly to pin the man’s arm. “Where the hell do you think you’re touching?”
Because Mu Ran’s health hadn’t been particularly robust when he was young, his parents hadn’t paid excessive attention to his academic strictness as he grew up, but they had consistently supervised his physical conditioning. He had even learned some karate, and later on, Mu Ran maintained a habit of working out once a week. Although he frequently slacked off, dealing with someone like Jin Xu was still more than effortless.
From the very beginning, he had sensed that Jin Xu was definitely plotting something else. Mu Ran had merely assumed the man wanted to drive up the price, but he truly never expected that the target was him.
“Ah!” Jin Xu let out a scream like a slaughtered pig.
“I’m telling you, touch me again and I’ll snap your hand off!” Mu Ran gritted his teeth, anger surging the moment he thought about being touched by such a person.
He Jingan instantly sobered up from the alcohol, and He Yuncheng also stepped up right beside Mu Ran, terrified that Jin Xu might suddenly pull some petty stunt.
“Don’t be ungrateful, bah!” Jin Xu glared back at Mu Ran, refusing to show weakness. “Don’t fucking think I couldn’t tell that you like men. After talking so many times, did you really think I was after your pathetic bit of money?”
“So disgusting.” Mu Ran squeezed the words out from between his teeth.
“Yo, what’s going on here?” A voice chimed in right on cue. A man with both hands stuffed into his pockets and a cigarette dangling from his mouth walked right up to Mu Ran before pulling the cigarette out and grinding it under his foot on the ground.
Mu Ran recognized who it was with a single glance.
His rival in business, Li Mingzhi.
This guy had popped out of nowhere a few years ago, and then immediately started competing with the Mu family for business, acting as if he had a permanent grudge against Mu Ran. Right now was no exception.
Li Mingzhi intercepted Mu Ran’s arm. “If you’ve got something to say, say it properly.”
“There’s no need for that.” Mu Ran let go of Jin Xu and rubbed his own wrist. “What are you doing here?”
Li Mingzhi steadied Jin Xu, a smug, triumphant smile appearing on his face. “Young Master Mu, your temper is a bit too fiery, isn’t it? How can you speak to President Jin like that?”
Mu Ran let out a cold laugh, seeing right through his intentions in an instant. “Are you here to watch the show, or are you here to steal the business?”
“How can Young Master Mu say that about me?” Li Mingzhi looked at Mu Ran with a provocative posture. “Where would I have the capability to snatch business from you? I just couldn’t stand watching someone get bullied.”
“Let me tell you, you’ve crossed me, so don’t even think about getting that plot of land!” Jin Xu straightened his posture. “Today, as long as you come with me, I’ll sign the contract with you.”
“As if I need it.” Mu Ran genuinely wanted to spit on him.
“President Jin.” Li Mingzhi used a hand to support Jin Xu. “Mu Ran is just someone who only knows how to bully others. Why doesn’t President Jin look at me instead? Tonight, I’ll drink with President Jin until we’re thoroughly drunk.”
He Jingan let out a “tsk” sound, turning his head back to watch Mu Ran’s expression as he let out a sigh.
Li Mingzhi’s name was really fitting; he clearly knew (Mingzhi) that Mu Ran was in a bad mood, yet he still crashed right into it.
Mu Ran suppressed the urge to beat him up, silently reciting the phrase “Murder is illegal” three times. Then, the outer corners of his eyes lifted slightly, his lips curling into a scornful curve.
“What? When the great leader announced decades ago that the people of the entire nation had stood up, did he accidentally leave you behind? I bully people? Even if I bully people, I’m not like you, throwing yourself at someone’s bed.”
He was simply the type of person Mu Ran looked down upon the most.
No matter what, the mere thought of having to accompany an oily, greasy old man like that made him sick to his stomach.
Sure, he liked men, but he never expected that in Jin Xu’s eyes, he would look like someone anyone could accompany?
Could this possibly be tolerated?!
“You…” Li Mingzhi took a forward stride, making a motion as if to swing a punch directly at Mu Ran.
“Whose permission did you have to pull that?” Lu Chengfeng kicked Li Mingzhi away as the latter walked toward Mu Ran, shielding Mu Ran directly behind him.
“When did you get here?” Mu Ran’s heart settled, his tone relaxing significantly.
“Just now.” Lu Chengfeng patted Mu Ran’s hand soothingly before turning a cold gaze toward the other two men, speaking slowly, “President Jin, our family’s Mu Ran doesn’t need your business cooperation. If you continue to pester him like this, I wouldn’t mind discussing a few small matters that happened in Country T a few days ago.”
Jin Xu’s breathing hitched, his heart hammering wildly with a look of sheer terror. Veins bulged on his neck. “Fine! You’re ganging up to bully me! I won’t lower myself to your level today.”
With that, Jin Xu clutched his still-aching hand and turned tail to run.
Li Mingzhi hadn’t expected Lu Chengfeng to show up as well. Scrambling to his feet in a clumsy panic, he glared viciously at Mu Ran before running off after him.
“What did you use to threaten him?” He Jingan couldn’t help asking aloud.
Lu Chengfeng massaged the top of Mu Ran’s head, as if offering comfort, before answering, “Nothing much. I happened to learn a small detail or two when I went to Country T for a meeting previously. I figured he wouldn’t want those investigated. Even though domestic authorities might not catch any solid dirt on him, he’s still afraid of running into trouble abroad.”
“Oh” He Jingan drew out his tone into a teasing inflection. “Our family’s Mu Ran didn’t even know you went to Country T for a meeting. You kid are even keeping things hidden from Mu Ran now did you secretly pick up a little sweetheart outside or something?”
A casual remark by the speaker was heard with meaning by the listener.
Mu Ran’s heart skipped a beat with a loud thud. Could the plot development really be arriving this fast? Did Lu Chengfeng meet some woman abroad, only for her to return to China shortly after, triggering a whole series of subsequent plot events?
What sort of identity should he even have right now?
For the first time, Mu Ran experienced what was written in novels the feeling of “blood throughout one’s body seeming to freeze instantly, flowing backward in a split second as the entire person stiffened in place.”
It was too fast, so fast that he hadn’t even mentally prepared himself.
“What’s wrong with you?” Lu Chengfeng noticed that something was off with Mu Ran.
Mu Ran’s chest heaved continuously as a stormy turmoil churned in his stomach. In the end, he couldn’t help pushing Lu Chengfeng away, sprinting directly toward the restroom where he threw up in one breath.
Lu Chengfeng stood dazedly looking at his own hand, sinking into deep thought.
So, did Mu Ran hate him that much? To the point that he would throw up now just from being touched?
Inside the washroom, Mu Ran felt as though he was about to vomit out his very gallbladder. The burning sensation in his throat grew increasingly intense, forcing him to clench his teeth tightly, yet cold sweat continued streaming down. Right now, even standing up caused his vision to go pitch black, making it seem like he might faint at any second.
Lu Chengfeng stood at the entrance, unable to resist knocking on the door, only to have his wrist grabbed in a death grip by a hand.
“You aren’t needed here.” He Yuncheng followed directly behind, blocking Lu Chengfeng’s path.
Lu Chengfeng’s expression shifted drastically. “What qualifications do you have to block me?”
He Yuncheng lowered his voice, entirely unfazed by Lu Chengfeng’s imposing aura. “President Lu, sometimes friends need to maintain a certain sense of distance. Do you have any idea how much you’re delaying our Brother Ran’s romance by acting like this?”
Lu Chengfeng couldn’t believe his ears. They…
“Brother Ran, are you okay? I brought you some water.” He Yuncheng shook the mineral water bottle in his hand, smiling with a cunning expression.
“Give it to me.” Mu Ran spoke in a weak voice, stubbornly enduring his discomfort as he stood back up.
Inside the bar, the music had already switched to a softer melody with a much lower volume, and everyone was walking out from the dance floor to take an intermission break.
Lu Chengfeng walked out step by step from the direction of the restroom. He Jingan pushed away the charming young woman leaning against his side and patted the empty seat beside him. “What happened to you? Did you lose your soul?”
“Your cousin… likes Mu Ran?” Lu Chengfeng couldn’t keep himself from asking the question.
He Jingan figured it was nothing major, leaning back leisurely into the sofa, grabbing a piece of candy from the fruit tray to pop into his mouth, and tossing a glass of wine to Lu Chengfeng before answering. “There are tons of people who like Mu Ran; it’s not like you didn’t know guys have chased Mu Ran before.”
“When was this?” Lu Chengfeng caught the wine glass.
He had never known about any such thing.
He Jingan wore a puzzled expression. “You didn’t know? Back in college, there was a guy who made a grandiose scene bringing a huge crowd of people to confess to Mu Ran, pestering him and saying that if Mu Ran rejected him, he’d claim he didn’t like men. But Mu Ran taught him a lesson, though he never explicitly said whether he accepted men or not.” After finishing his recollection, He Jingan added, “You don’t need to worry about that cousin of mine. If Mu Ran actually liked men, why would he pass over someone with conditions as great as yours and like my cousin instead?”
Crack. The glass cup in Lu Chengfeng’s palm shattered on the spot, the fractured glass forming sharp, jagged edges that sliced open his palm, thick blood oozing out along the base of his thumb and winding into a small, thin river of red.
“Hey, hey, hey! I said the wrong thing!” Seeing this scene, He Jingan frantically pulled a large stack of tissues from the tissue box and piled them over Lu Chengfeng’s hand, offering a panicked apology. “I know your orientation is completely normal; I was just giving an example!”
He had long since heard about Lu Chengfeng firing employees who tried to ship him and Mu Ran in a romantic pairing; he must have been truly hammered on alcohol today to let slip a disaster from his own mouth.