Shen Shuhe wanted to learn more about Lu Yanzhou through Chen Lin, so she took the initiative to ask,
“Besides meeting with me today, does Mr. Lu have any other work scheduled?”
Holding the steering wheel, Chen Lin glanced at her through the rearview mirror while waiting at a red light.
“I’m not too sure about that. Why don’t you ask the Chief yourself when you see him?”
Shen Shuhe assumed he was deliberately keeping quiet out of caution.
It wasn’t as if she had never had secretaries or assistants of her own. She knew perfectly well that assistants always had their boss’s schedule.
As Lu Yanzhou’s assistant, how could he possibly not know his itinerary?
Refusing to give up, she explained,
“I don’t mean anything by it. I just wanted to estimate how much time Mr. Lu might be able to spare for me so I can resolve this matter.”
She never fought an unprepared battle. She wanted to adjust her presentation according to the amount of time he could give her, ensuring she could explain everything as thoroughly and efficiently as possible.
Chen Lin replied with an apologetic expression,
“I really don’t know, Miss Shen. The Chief is currently on leave. Logically speaking, he shouldn’t have any work scheduled.”
Shen Shuhe was speechless.
On leave?
No work scheduled?
Then what exactly was this meeting with her?
Arching a brow in mild annoyance, she smiled softly and asked in an even gentler voice,
“If Mr. Lu is still on leave, then why are you the one picking me up?”
If he was going to make excuses, he could at least come up with a convincing one.
Chen Lin answered with complete sincerity.
“Because I didn’t take leave.”
Shen Shuhe was rendered speechless once again.
Fine.
As expected of Lu Yanzhou’s assistant—not the slightest opportunity to pry information out of him. If the enemy ever captured him, he definitely wouldn’t leak any classified information.
Glancing at the traffic light ahead, she reminded him calmly,
“It’s green.”
After that, she gave up on fishing for information and instead focused on mentally rehearsing her plans.
Since she didn’t know how much time he would give her, she’d simply prepare several different approaches.
A longer explanation if time allowed.
A shorter version if it didn’t.
She remained immersed in thought throughout the drive, barely noticing the scenery outside the window.
Only after the car entered an upscale residential complex somewhere in the capital did she suddenly speak.
“We’re not going to Xishan Villa?”
“Huh?” Chen Lin looked puzzled. “The Chief told me to bring you here. Didn’t he tell you where you’d be meeting?”
He had.
He’d simply said they would meet at his home.
He had never specified which one.
She had simply assumed that “his home” meant Xishan Villa.
How could Lu Yanzhou possibly own only one property in Beijing?
After sorting it out herself, Shen Shuhe said nothing more. Looking out the window, she tested her guess.
“This is Ruijing, isn’t it?”
“That’s right,” Chen Lin replied. “When the Chief is in Beijing, this is where he stays most of the time. His second choice is the Lu family’s old residence. He rarely goes to Xishan Villa.”
He volunteered a little more information, explaining why they hadn’t gone to the villa.
Shen Shuhe nodded in understanding and didn’t ask any further questions.
Ruijing was one of Beijing’s most prestigious luxury apartment complexes.
Land here was worth its weight in gold, and even having money didn’t guarantee the right to buy a unit.
She had once set her sights on an apartment here herself, but she’d never been able to obtain a purchase quota.
Thanks to Lu Yanzhou, she could finally see her dream home in person.
The apartment building had one residence per floor, and Lu Yanzhou lived on the twelfth floor.
Chen Lin led Shen Shuhe to the entrance and rang the doorbell.
Facing the video intercom, he said,
“Chief, Miss Shen is here.”
The door opened almost immediately.
A tall, handsome man appeared before her.
Seeing Lu Yanzhou again after several days, Shen Shuhe suddenly realized that perhaps Chen Lin really hadn’t lied.
Lu Yanzhou was dressed casually in comfortable loungewear—a white shirt and gray pants—the very picture of someone enjoying a relaxing vacation.
Looking down at her, he asked,
“Miss Shen, are you satisfied with the meeting place?”
She offered a practiced smile and nodded.
“I’ve always liked the apartments at Ruijing. Unfortunately, I could never get a purchase quota. Being able to visit today is like seeing my dream home come true.”
Her words were partly sincere and partly polite flattery.
Stepping aside, Lu Yanzhou gestured toward the interior.
“If you’re interested, feel free to look around.”
Shen Shuhe smiled.
“Thank you for having me.”
She walked inside.
Chen Lin remained outside, handing the car keys to Lu Yanzhou.
“Chief, I’ll be leaving now.”
Lu Yanzhou accepted the keys, gave a quiet “Mm,” and shut the door.
Without the slightest hesitation or reluctance.
Leaving Chen Lin outside.
Inside, Shen Shuhe had no thoughts whatsoever about the fact that she and Lu Yanzhou were now alone together.
Instead, she froze in the foyer, the smile on her lips stiffening.
The place before her looked nothing like the dream home she’d imagined.
It was practically bare walls—only slightly better than an unfinished shell.
Was this man’s idea of black humor?
What exactly was there to admire in a place that looked like this?
Were they really going to discuss important matters here?
Lu Yanzhou took a brand-new pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet and casually tossed them at her feet.
“The renovation isn’t finished yet,” he said calmly. “Miss Shen has good taste. If you have any ideas for the interior, let me know. I’ll adopt all of them.”
Shen Shuhe blinked in confusion.
“You’ll adopt my decorating suggestions?”
They weren’t nearly close enough for her to be giving advice on his home.
Besides, she wasn’t an interior designer.
Lu Yanzhou nodded.
“Mm.”
This apartment…
…was the new home he had prepared for his future marriage.
Naturally, it should satisfy the needs of its future mistress.