When you have someone in your heart, thinking about them constantly, you genuinely feel repulsed by other women’s advances.
“It’s so stuffy in here, I feel unwell. I’m sorry, please sit by yourself for a moment, I need to step out for some air.”
Lu Mingzhe hurried out of the private room.
At a turn in the staircase, there was a window. Pushing it open revealed the lush scenery of the restaurant’s backyard.
He rushed to the window, letting the fine rain drift in and fall on his face.
Feeling the coolness in the air and smelling the scent of the earth, the feeling of suffocation finally eased a little.
He felt like he was going to die.
So pathetic, never had he felt so defeated.
You’re a failure, Lu Mingzhe, you can’t do anything right!
After finally deciding to start a proper life, he was already letting Fang Shuya down at the very beginning.
How many women’s debts would he incur in this lifetime?
From the moment he saw Xiang Wan, he knew his heart would never find peace again. Never.
This was unfair to Fang Shuya.
And with Fang Shuya, he couldn’t get close to Xiang Wan, which was also unfair to Xiang Wan.
He had brought this dilemma upon himself with his own hands. He wanted to slap himself to death!
His thoughts were a torrent, filled with immense melancholy.
Lu Mingzhe smoked three cigarettes in a row by the window. After more than twenty minutes without returning, Fang Shuya couldn’t help but call.
“The dishes are all served, why haven’t you come back? Are you alright?”
At that moment, Lu Mingzhe made a decision.
No matter what, he had to make things clear with Fang Shuya. Escaping was not a solution.
He threw away his cigarette and started walking back.
Facing the private room, Tang Haichao hadn’t arrived yet. Xiang Wan and Director Qian were sitting alone in the room. As soon as he sat down, his unrestrained mouth lunged forward.
“Xiang Wan, you have no idea how long Brother Qian has been waiting for this day.”
The strong smell of tobacco, mixed with the scent of disinfectant from his body, assaulted her nose.
His greasy face, his middle-aged man’s oily aura, made Xiang Wan want to vomit.
She quickly moved a little to the side.
“Director Qian, please sit down first, we haven’t even ordered yet.”
“No rush, eating is secondary, I understand. We’re all adults, you invited me here alone, doesn’t Brother Qian know what you mean?”
“My dear Xiang Wan, I like you, I’ve missed you so much. You are so beautiful, Brother Qian is willing to do anything for you. I’m so happy you came to find me today.”
As he spoke, he nuzzled his greasy mouth towards her neck. Xiang Wan quickly pushed him away.
“Brother Qian, Brother Qian, I think you might have misunderstood. I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Please sit down properly, let’s…”
The old man finally retracted his neck.
“Don’t you like the environment here? It’s not suitable, is it?”
“Alright, since it’s our first time, how about this, come with Brother Qian now. We’ll go to a hotel, we’ll pick a better room…”
Xiang Wan was utterly disgusted and shoved him hard, standing up from her chair.
“Director Qian! I sincerely thank you for your help, I just invited you to dinner. What are you doing?”
As she was speaking, Xiang Wan’s phone rang. It was Tang Haichao.
After a few pleasantries and giving the room number, Tang Haichao entered with two disciples, a man and a woman.
“What a coincidence, I just closed a deal and invited my junior disciples out for a meal. They’ve been missing their Master Xiang Wan and wanted to invite her, but we ran into Director Qian.”
“Come, come, let me introduce you. This is Director Qian, the project manager for the Oncology Hospital.”
“A gentleman, a social elite, a pillar of society. Has Sister Wan praised him to you often?”
Everyone said, “Sister Wan often says that gentlemen as upright as Director Qian are rare nowadays.”
“Right? You’re lucky today to meet such an important figure as Director Qian. Why aren’t you quickly going to toast Director Qian with a couple of drinks?”
Xiang Wan was finally rescued.
In their line of work, it was common to be taken advantage of by clients.
To help each other, they often pretended to be crazy or distracted when someone was being harassed.
These were common tactics, and everyone was familiar with them.
With the two of them creating a diversion, Xiang Wan relaxed.
She had been running around all day for her child’s matters and was very hungry.
She ate some food properly, drank some juice, and then said to Tang Haichao.
“I’m going out to call Grandma and ask if Nian Nian’s fever has subsided.”
She took her phone and walked towards the turn in the staircase. Just after finishing her call with Grandma, she was about to head to the restroom.
Unexpectedly, that old man managed to break free from the entanglement of his two disciples and came out.
Xiang Wan turned around and met his fierce, fat face, startled.
“Director Qian, why are you out here?”
Director Qian gritted his teeth, his small eyes filled with ferocity.
“I specifically came out to find you! Xiang, what the hell do you mean?”
“What’s wrong? Why are you speaking like that, Director Qian?”
“What do I mean? Stop playing dumb with me!”
It seemed that Mr. Qian knew he wouldn’t get what he wanted today and was very enraged.
“Before, to get me to sign the contract with you, you fawned over me, smiled at me, and were practically begging me to come over!”
“Back then, I had to consider my image and I genuinely saw you as a decent person, so I respected you and waited until now.”
“But I helped you out so much today, we’re both adults, why are you still playing coy with me? Hmm?”
Speaking so rudely in public, and saying he saw her as a decent person, respected her?
Xiang Wan smiled.
“I know Brother Qian helped me a lot today, so I invited you out for a meal.”
“Good wine and good food are served, with two young disciples accompanying you. What else are you unhappy about? Or were they not hospitable enough?”
“Still playing games with me! Do we have to spell it out, Xiang Wan?”
“Then let me spell it out for you today. I helped you with so much, and you expect a meal to pacify me? Dream on!”
“You know what I want. It’s best if you obediently comply and go with the flow. If you force me to say unpleasant things or resort to force, it will be you who loses face!”
To fall out with her over such a small matter?
Since he had spoken so harshly, Xiang Wan no longer wanted to maintain any pretense of civility with him.
Her expression turned cold.
“You signed the contract for me, you took your kickbacks, you helped me, you ate and drank, you took advantage of what you could, and you still want more? You’re insatiably greedy.”
“What do you mean by ‘don’t force me to use force, I’ll obediently listen to you’? You think too highly of yourself.”
“You said one thing correctly, we are all adults. So you can feast your eyes and talk big, it doesn’t affect me physically, so I won’t take it to heart.”
“But if you go too far, whether I’m willing or not, depends on whether your wife is willing!”