Lu Yan dressed very formally today, as if he had just come from an important occasion. He wore a three-piece suit, a crisp white shirt, a blue tie, a business vest, and a neatly folded pocket square in the left breast pocket of his suit.
He had a tall, robust physique. The suit on him looked both ascetic and wild.
His gaze remained fixed on Jiang Shuyin, completely unconcerned that Qin Xiaoxiao, who was sitting opposite him, might notice something amiss. He was as arrogant, brazen, and cold as ever.
Jiang Shuyin did not dare to lock eyes with him for long, immediately averting her gaze.
Following Lu Yan's gaze, Qin Xiaoxiao glanced in Jiang Shuyin's direction. A look of confusion appeared on her face. "Isn't that the woman Ji Chi has been chasing for a long time without success? I heard Ji Chi confessed to her a few days ago and was rejected again. He's been quite depressed lately, getting drunk every day."
Seeing Jiang Shuyin talking to Ji Shaoqin, the two of them seemingly getting along well, Qin Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow. "Could it be that she rejected Ji Chi because she fancies Brother Ji? Ever since Gu Xi died, Brother Ji hasn't shown his face much in public. Yet here he is, eating Western food with her. She must have quite the charm."
Ji Shaoqin cut the steak and gentlemanly handed it to Jiang Shuyin.
Not knowing what the two were talking about, Jiang Shuyin curled her lips into a smile, indeed looking like they were hitting it off.
Lu Yan's large hand gripping the knife and fork tightened slightly.
She could smile sweetly in front of anyone, except in front of him—
She never showed him a pleasant face!
In his chest, it felt like a bottle of mixed flavors had been knocked over, leaving a very unpleasant taste.
"Brother Yan, do you men all like women like Miss Jiang, who look aloof on the outside but are secretly passionate on the inside?"
Lu Yan put down his knife and fork, his eagle-like eyes looking deeply and sharply at Qin Xiaoxiao. "I don't like gossips."
Qin Xiaoxiao pouted and said nothing more.
She was the daughter of Third Master Qin from Hong Kong. Before Lu Yan appeared, she only needed to beckon with her finger, and plenty of men would flock to please her.
Perhaps because they were too easy to get, she couldn't muster any interest in other men.
But ever since she met Lu Yan, she truly realized how charming a tough guy bursting with testosterone could be.
Lu Yan could take down over a dozen bodyguards barehanded. He could fly a plane, do business, and he had many other strengths.
Rough and cold, iron-blooded, and formidable.
The charm and aura he exuded were completely incomparable to those pretty boy idols in today's entertainment industry.
To be honest, he had been quite aloof towards her over the past three years.
He had explicitly stated that he only wanted to be Third Master Qin's capable assistant, not Third Master Qin's son-in-law.
Even with a shortcut available, he refused to take it.
People all have a rebellious streak; the more she couldn't have him, the more she wanted him.
Anyway, she had never seen any other woman by his side besides herself.
She didn't believe that under her powerful offensive, he would remain indifferent forever.
"Brother Yan, I told my daddy to give you some time off next month. You can take me to an island resort then!"
Lu Yan glanced at Jiang Shuyin's table from the corner of his eye and gave a nonchalant hum of agreement.
...
After the meal, Ji Shaoqin drove Jiang Shuyin back to her apartment.
On the way, Ji Shaoqin asked a lot about Gu Xi's school days.
Jiang Shuyin patiently answered every question.
On the surface, it seemed as though Ji Shaoqin really loved Gu Xi.
Half an hour later, the car pulled up downstairs at Jiang Shuyin's apartment building.
"Miss Jiang, I really enjoyed talking with you tonight. Let's exchange contact info. If you can find any old photos of Xi Xi, please send them to me."
Jiang Shuyin nodded. "Sure."
After exchanging contacts, Jiang Shuyin stepped out of the car.
"I won't walk you upstairs. See you next time." Ji Shaoqin waved his hand and drove away.
Jiang Shuyin didn't look away until Ji Shaoqin's car drove out of the residential complex.
Just as she was about to enter the building, a harsh, blinding beam of headlights suddenly flashed over her.
Jiang Shuyin instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes.
In the exact moment she covered her eyes, the car sped toward her like lightning.
Watching the car hurtling so fast it seemed intent on running her down, Jiang Shuyin's mind went completely blank.
By the time she reacted and tried to dodge, the car slammed on its brakes and screeched to a halt.
The front bumper was only a few centimeters away from her body.
Jiang Shuyin's legs uncontrollably gave way. She lifted her long eyelashes, locking gazes with the cold, piercing eagle eyes behind the windshield.
Right now, only one word in her mind could describe him.
Maniac!
The moment the man stepped out of the car, Jiang Shuyin quickly turned and darted into the building.
She took the elevator upstairs.
Not daring to waste a second, she hurried toward her apartment.
Scanning her fingerprint, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Just as she reached back to shut the door, a large, slender hand suddenly thrust through the gap.
Jiang Shuyin's heart violently skipped a beat.
Living in the same city as this man truly required an incredibly strong mental fortitude.
Jiang Shuyin glared at him, her brows tightly knitted. "Let go!"
However, the man had no intention of letting go. He wedged one of his long legs into the doorway.
Jiang Shuyin took a deep breath, trying to speak to him in a calm tone. "Lu Yan, you must have important business to attend to in Hong Kong. Aren't you afraid of being discovered by Third Master Qin or Qin Xiaoxiao if you keep pestering me like this?"
The man acted as if he hadn't heard a word. He stepped into the apartment, wrapped a long arm around her slender waist, and pinned her against the entryway wall.
His cold, handsome face leaned down close to her ear, his voice dark and husky. "Didn't I tell you never to appear in front of me again? Otherwise, for every time you do, you have to sleep with me for a night."
As he spoke, he began to suck on her earlobe.
Jiang Shuyin's ears were extremely ticklish and one of her most sensitive spots.
The moment his lips closed over it, goosebumps erupted all over her body.
She raised her hands, pushing against him with all her might.
But in the next second, the man caught her wrists.
He pinned her firmly against the entryway cabinet, the arrogance and wickedness in his eyes pouring out. "I still haven't settled the score with you for playing me with that special service call last time!"
He was so crude and roguish; that infuriatingly cocky demeanor of his really made people grind their teeth in anger.
"Today is the second time you've shown up in front of me, Jiang Jiang. You have to sleep with me for two nights."
Jiang Shuyin's chest heaved violently, clearly enraged by his shameless and despicable behavior.
"Go to hell!" She shoved him away forcefully and headed toward the bedroom.
But quickly, the man shut the apartment door and chased after her.
He embraced her from behind, pressed her against the doorframe, forced her small face toward him, and kissed her aggressively.
Unable to push him away, Jiang Shuyin stared at him expressionlessly. His eyes were dark and profound, and as he kissed her, a trace of deep affection and burning heat spilled over.
With a look like that, it was as if she were someone special in his eyes.
Jiang Shuyin furrowed her brows.
She must have been mistaken.
This man had always treated her merely as a plaything to vent his desires; how could he possibly have genuine feelings for her?
