Chapter Fifteen: What Are You Doing Here?
Visiting Wen Shengmin wasn’t a complicated affair. After Chu Jingyi scheduled a meeting a week in advance, Lu Li decided to go with her the following Friday. The day before, he’d gotten a fifteen-yuan haircut at the barbershop near the school and had been dragged by Silly Goose to buy a suit, which she insisted on paying for. He wore a dark blue shirt under a formal jacket, not a full suit. Silly Goose’s fashion sense was clearly influenced by her father. Lu Li was already handsome, and dressed up like this, standing beside Chu Jingyi, they truly looked like a perfect couple.
They met in front of the school the next morning.
Chu Jingyi’s eyes shone as she looked at him, a smile playing on her lips. “Lu Li, you look so handsome…” Her cheeks flushed slightly, as if she were tipsy. When you’re in love, even a garbage collector can look like a prince on a white horse. Lu Li’s heart warmed. He reached out and stroked her cheek, unable to voice his earlier thought that the outfit looked a bit too old for him.
Chu Jingyi leaned into his touch, her eyes closing contentedly. “Lu Li, I wish we could be together forever.” Lu Li chuckled. “I’d be incredibly lucky.” A shadow crossed her face, as if she’d remembered something unpleasant. “But if my dad finds out about you, Baili, and me, he’ll make me leave you.”
Her words hit Lu Li like a stone. He recalled his conversation with Chu Xiaodong last year. Chu Xiaodong hadn’t cared about his philandering ways, confident that Lu Li would ultimately choose Chu Jingyi, that he wouldn’t dare disappoint his daughter. But if he knew about Lu Li’s “I want them all” plan, would he still be so lenient? It was hard to say…
“Can we make a pinky promise?” Chu Jingyi held out her little finger.
“A pinky promise about what?”
“That neither of us will tell my dad about you, me, and Baili.” Chu Jingyi’s expression was serious. A wave of guilt washed over Lu Li. This silly girl was lying to her father for him. Had she ever lied before? Was she even capable of lying?
“But Lu Li… you… you can’t be intimate with any other girls besides Baili.” Chu Jingyi’s nose wrinkled slightly; she was clearly jealous of Wen Hupo.
Looking at her outstretched pinky finger, Lu Li hesitated. If he ignored his conscience, he could easily make the promise. Chu Jingyi was perfect—adorable personality, gentle nature, prominent family background, and most importantly, her pure and unwavering love… He felt like he had simply gotten a head start, entered her innocent heart before she had the chance to mature. A few years later, a more mature Chu Jingyi might not be so easily won over. That made her current devotion even more precious, and his guilt even more profound.
Chu Jingyi’s face fell. “Why won’t you make a pinky promise?… You can even lie to me… I’ll believe you even if it’s a lie… You probably think I’m stupid anyway.”
Lu Li gently uncurled her finger and held her warm hand in his. “I—”
“Beep—” The bus arrived, the short horn cutting him off. Chu Jingyi glanced at him and whispered, “Lie to me next time, you big liar.” She stepped onto the bus, leaving Lu Li standing there, momentarily stunned. He followed her, taking a seat beside her. She didn’t seem to mind his hesitation, resting her head on his shoulder, enjoying the warmth and comfort of his presence.
Lu Li suddenly realized he didn’t understand girls at all.
Shenzhou Heavy Industries’ headquarters was located in downtown Chuanhai. Wen Shengmin’s company had been acquired by Shenzhou Heavy Industries last year, and he now held a senior position there. Since Shenzhou Heavy Industries had close ties to Shenzhou Energy Group, Lu Li took this home visit very seriously.
Ordinary people couldn’t enter the Shenzhou Heavy Industries headquarters. Without the appointment for the home visit, Lu Li would probably never have set foot in this building, and the shooting incident might have remained a forgotten mystery.
Chu Jingyi maintained a serious, composed demeanor, her expression stern and authoritative. The receptionist politely escorted them through security, leading them to the elevator and pressing the button for the 22nd floor. Just as the doors were about to close, another employee on the first floor called out, “Hold the elevator, please!” As they waited, the man entered the elevator and said, “Minister Yan will be here shortly. Could you please wait for the next elevator?”
Chu Jingyi and Lu Li exchanged glances.
The receptionist, clearly aware of “Minister Yan’s” identity, smiled apologetically at Chu Jingyi. “Sorry, please take the freight elevator.” As Lu Li stepped out of the freight elevator, he saw a large group of men, all in suits, their hair slicked back, their bellies protruding, entering the building. The man leading the group, his face lined with age, walked with a confident stride, a name tag pinned to his chest: “Yan Jun.” There was a line of smaller text beneath his name, but Lu Li couldn’t read it from this distance.
The receptionist explained, “That’s a senior executive from the group.”
Yan Jun? Surnamed Yan?
Lu Li couldn’t help but stare. Yan Jun seemed to notice his gaze, but he merely glanced at him dismissively, his head held high, an air of arrogance surrounding him. The entourage followed him to the elevator, and Lu Li and Chu Jingyi had no choice but to enter the freight elevator with the receptionist.
“Sorry about that. He’s a senior executive from the group, here for an inspection today,” the receptionist explained apologetically.
A senior executive from the group… She probably meant Shenzhou Energy Group… What a grand entrance, making even the Chu family’s daughter wait for him. Lu Li thought, his annoyance growing.
“Lu Li, do you know him?” Silly Goose, unfazed by the slight, asked, noticing his expression. “You look pale…”
Lu Li forced a smile. “I might.”
Just as the freight elevator doors were about to close, someone pressed the button outside. The doors opened again, and Lu Li frowned. Who is it now? But his frown quickly turned to surprise, his eyes widening.
Wen Hupo adjusted her suit collar and tilted her head slightly. “May I come in?”
“What are you doing here?” Lu Li and Chu Jingyi asked in unison.
Only the receptionist, noticing the name tag on Wen Hupo’s left breast, seemed to understand. “You’re the representative from the Amber family? Y-you’re here so soon! I was planning to pick you up this afternoon…”
Wen Hupo smiled at Lu Li, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I’m here on official business.”
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