Li Zhen was bewildered by Lu Yanming’s words.
In her life, he was someone to avoid!
They didn’t interact at work. If they appeared together, people would definitely speculate. If anyone found out they had gotten a marriage certificate together...
Lu Yanming must also understand the reasoning behind this. Li Zhen euphemistically said, “Mr. Lu, I’m having dinner with colleagues. If we go together, it will definitely seem strange and awkward.”
Lu Yanming walked to the Maybach and opened the passenger door, making a gentlemanly gesture for her to get in. “Come up with a suitable excuse and it won’t seem strange.”
Lu Yanming said, “Let them see more, and they’ll get used to it.”
Li Zhen: ...You insist on going, don’t you?
Zhang Xiya and the others finally chose a Thai hot pot restaurant.
Zhang Xiya took a sip of her drink. “Little Zhen Zhen, what’s going on with you today? You forgot to get off on your floor and you've been so slow getting here.”
Qiao Yi looked at the group chat with four people. “She said a colleague is dropping her off and wants to eat with us too. That colleague is probably driving slowly.”
“Well, we’re going to have a lively time today. Manager Yu is coming later too...” Meng Yuanjie said, then suddenly stopped. “Mr....Mr. Lu?”
“What Mr. Lu?” Zhang Xiya asked in confusion.
She and Qiao Yi followed Meng Yuanjie’s gaze.
The three of them widened their eyes almost simultaneously, staring at the entrance in disbelief: Li Zhen was with Mr. Lu?
Lu Yanming was wearing a well-fitted, broad suit. His tall, sturdy figure had wide shoulders and a narrow waist. His steady strides made him look like a top male model on a runway.
Li Zhen followed one step behind Lu Yanming, head lowered, looking resentful and wronged.
When the two of them got close, the other three stiffened and stood up in unison. “Mr. Lu!”
“Everyone sit down.”
Lu Yanming pulled out Li Zhen’s chair first. After she sat down, he draped his suit jacket over the chair back and sat down. “I happened to run into Li Zhen after work. I didn’t know what I wanted to eat tonight either, so I came to mooch a meal. You don’t mind, do you?”
The three of them shook their heads furiously. “We don’t mind, we don’t mind.”
They didn’t mind, but they were shocked!
Just a second ago the aloof deputy CEO in the elevator, and the next second he was sitting with them eating hot pot?
How did the world suddenly become so surreal!
The hot pot broth bubbled as the ingredients tumbled around.
Zhang Xiya frantically typed in the group chat: [@Li Zhen, when did you start a secret love affair with Mr. Lu! Tell us, little Zhen Zhen, what kind of witchcraft did you learn recently to bewitch people!]
Zhang Xiya: [Quick! Teach me!]
Li Zhen glanced at the composed man beside her and secretly typed with one hand. Typing with just her left hand was very slow. [Ran into him, mooching food, not close.]
Meng Yuanjie: [What you mean is: you just happened to run into him and Mr. Lu is only tagging along for a meal. You two aren’t close.]
Li Zhen: [.]
Meng Yuanjie: [Did you see there’s a dog outside the little supermarket next door? Try explaining it to the dog like that and see if it believes you.]
Li Zhen sent a sticker of a little dog holding a knife and threw it in the group chat.
She glared at Lu Yanming resentfully. She had just said any normal person wouldn’t believe her story about randomly eating together when they don't interact at work.
But the three of them wouldn’t gossip about it to others. Let them speculate all they want.
Li Zhen quickly put her phone away and resigned herself to her fate.
Li Zhen had thought it would be awkward to eat with Mr. Lu there, but the four of them chatted very happily. On the contrary, Lu Yanming was silent and low-key, busy cooking food for them and pouring drinks.
The atmosphere was unexpectedly harmonious.
Meng Yuanjie suddenly realized Mr. Lu had been busy and quickly called the server over to add more broth to the pot.
The server was a young girl, at the age when a maiden is full of romantic feelings. Seeing the well-dressed and refined Lu Yanming, she was nervous and her hand shook, spilling some of the broth. A few drops just happened to land on the back of Li Zhen’s left hand.
“Ow!” Li Zhen sucked in a breath.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!” The server apologized profusely.
“You're too careless.” Zhang Xiya couldn’t help but scold the server.
Qiao Yi hurriedly took a napkin and wiped Li Zhen’s hand dry.
“It’s fine.” Li Zhen looked down. Her hand was just a little red but there was no real problem. “Qiao Yi, can you apply some hand cream for me?”
Li Zhen took some hand cream out of her bag.
But it wasn’t Qiao Yi who took the cream. It was Lu Yanming.
Lu Yanming picked up the hand cream, twisted open the cap, and said, “Let me do it.”
Qiao Yi was left holding nothing. She froze for a second before resuming normalcy and sitting down. Even the usually gossip-averse Qiao Yi couldn’t help but glance at Lu Yanming.
Zhang Xiya and Meng Yuanjie hurriedly lowered their heads to pretend they were eating, but their eyes were actually glued on Lu Yanming.
A male superior helping a female subordinate apply hand cream—did this look like they weren’t close?
Even the dog next door wouldn’t believe it.
But you had to admit, a high-level executive and a low-level employee, it was kind of exciting to think about!
“No need, Mr. Lu.” Li Zhen declined. She saw from the corner of her eye how obvious the other three looked, pretending to eat but actually ogling avidly.
Wasn’t Lu Yanming usually quite clever? Couldn’t he see?
Lu Yanming took her hand and placed it in his palm. “What, can’t relax?”
Li Zhen’s mind buzzed.
She suddenly recalled two nights ago when he had forcefully kissed her, kissing her until her whole body went soft. Only then did he lazily say, “More relaxed now? Will you let me bathe you now?”
Li Zhen had no doubt that if she refused now, he would kiss her right in front of them, then arrogantly and implicitly ask her, “How about now, more relaxed?”
“Relaxed, relaxed!” Li Zhen steeled herself, ready to make a heroic sacrifice. “Go ahead and apply it!”
Lu Yanming’s cold brows lifted faintly, revealing a shallow smile.
His hand bones were long and straight. He squeezed out some cream and rubbed it on the fair and delicate back of her hand.
Applying just a bit of force, Lu Yanming easily spread the cream over her hand.
Their skin was pressed tightly together.
His fingers were scalding hot, slick with the viscous liquid, sliding and melding into her skin.
Li Zhen’s hand curled slightly and her ear tips suddenly burned red-hot.
Zhang Xiya: ......
Meng Yuanjie: ......
Qiao Yi: ......
This hand cream application was really...
Zhang Xiya typed solemnly in their group of three: [I bet $100 that little Zhen Zhen is dating Mr. Lu.]
Qiao Yi: [Don’t forget Manager Yu at the hospital that day... Mr. Lu is probably pursuing her.]
Meng Yuanjie: [Then I stand with Manager Yu. We’re familiar with Manager Yu. If Li Zhen is really dating someone, it’s better if she’s with Manager Yu.]
Zhang Xiya: [Manager Yu is so cold and frosty, always stony-faced. Mr. Lu is better, gentle and refined, a humble gentleman.]
Qiao Yi: [Wait...]
Qiao Yi's eyes flashed: [Did we forget something...]
The three of them suddenly looked up and exchanged startled glances.
Oh no!
Manager Yu was coming too!
Qiao Yi hurriedly messaged Li Zhen: [I have bad news for you.]
Li Zhen pressed a symbol with her left hand.
Li Zhen: [?]
Qiao Yi: [Another colleague is coming soon. Based on the timing, they should be here any minute.]
Li Zhen: [!]
Other than these three here, Li Zhen didn't feel assured about anyone seeing her with Lu Yanming.
Li Zhen suddenly stood up, her beautiful face calm, hiding that trace of nervousness. “Mr. Lu, I’m done eating. Let’s go.”
Lu Yanming looked up at her, his gaze probing.
The other three didn’t dare meet Lu Yanming’s eyes.
Li Zhen forced a smile. “Let’s go, Mr. Lu.”
After pondering for two seconds, Lu Yanming got up and draped his suit jacket over his arm. “I’ll head out first then. Let’s all get together again when there’s a chance.”
“Alright, Mr. Lu.” The three of them chorused.
They were all thinking—was there really a chance they would get together with the CEO again in the future?
Mr. Lu was treating them like family now?
Li Zhen hurried out without paying.
Lu Yanming went to settle the bill before exiting. By now Li Zhen was already standing by the Maybach, lowering her head to look at her phone. Her soft hair fluttered gently in the evening breeze.
He lifted his head slightly. The fiery red sunset was falling inch by inch from the treetops. He could hear a street vendor hawking his wares nearby. Commuters walking home after work rushed by.
And his wife was waiting for him by the car so they could go home together.
In this moment, Lu Yanming had the illusion that he and Li Zhen had truly become husband and wife. He was openly accompanying her, meeting her friends, and taking part in her life.
This illusion made his heart pound powerfully.
Li Zhen looked at her phone, extremely nervous.
Zhang Xiya was rushing her in their group chat: [Did you two leave yet? Don't get seen.]
Li Zhen poked at her phone with her left hand: [Not y......]
She was typing when a tall shadow suddenly approached.
Hot, moist lips instantly pressed against hers, clinging stickily.
Li Zhen gasped slightly, her breath uneven as she recoiled back half a step, leaning against the door of the Maserati.
Lu Yanming followed closely, pressing her between himself and the car door at the bustling restaurant entrance.
The soft golden glow of the setting sun washed over them, blanketing them in a thin veil. The world seemed to pause, leaving only the thudding of their hearts.
Lu Yanming thought, kissing the one you love in the sunlight is so sweet.
