Xu Xuejiao's mood soured, though she couldn't pinpoint why. Hearing Lu Chengwen claim he liked Jiang Shihan—even knowing he was probably lying—irritated her. She didn't dwell on the reason.
"Spending over 17 billion to chase a girl?" she teased. "That's some serious investment! With that kind of money, you could have your pick of A-list celebrities. Is a secretary really worth it?"
Lu Chengwen snapped, "Just save her! Why so much chatter?"
"You're yelling at me!"
"What?" He softened his tone, flustered. "Did I yell? No way, haha, definitely not. Look, it's just… the echo in here. My dear, sweet, kind, adorable Xuejiao, you're the most compassionate person I know. Please, save her. I'll give you all the shares, every last one. The pharmaceutical factory will be your family's. I'll stay out of your sight forever. Please, I'm begging you…"
"Fine," Xu Xuejiao said lazily. "I'll think about it. Maybe after a bath and a hair appointment, if I'm in a good mood, I'll swing by."
"Hey, you—"
Beep, beep, beep. The call ended.
Zhang Shener pocketed the phone, staring at Lu Chengwen with a stern expression. "So, you're really trying to save someone?"
"Yeah, yeah," he muttered, too distracted to bicker.
In his mind: Did she agree or not? That counts as agreeing, right? No way she'd turn down a deal like that! She's not the type to let someone die. Please, please, save her!
Zhang Shener had heard his thoughts before, dismissing them as hallucinations. But now, hearing them clearly again, her gaze sharpened. Testing him, she said, "Lu Shao's going all out for this girl. She must be drop-dead gorgeous, huh?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah," he replied absently, his mind elsewhere.
He slumped onto the cell's bench, leaning against the wall, exhausted. I can't keep cleaning up Long Aotian's messes. I tanked Leng Qingqiu's deal, saved Jiang Shihan's mom… who knows what's next? Seventeen billion? I don't care. At worst, Dad'll beat the crap out of me, and I'll be the laughingstock of the North. I'm used to being a joke. But that woman's life—she has to make it!
Zhang Shener found this increasingly strange and intriguing. How am I hearing his thoughts so clearly?
She leaned against the bars. "So, what's the deal?"
"Huh? What?"
"What's really going on?"
Lu Chengwen gave a wry smile. "Chasing a girl, what else? I've done plenty of stupid things; this is just another one."
"Don't play me for a fool," Zhang Shener said. "You've done a lot of rotten things, but when it comes to money, you're sharp. Spending 17 billion to chase a girl? You'd never take a loss like that unless it was for someone like Leng Qingqiu or Chen Mengyun. If you're dropping a hundred billion, you're expecting three hundred back—or more."
"What's it to you how much I make?" Lu Chengwen shot back, done with her. He'd made the call, and she was Long Aotian's woman anyway—why bother being nice?
"Oh? Xu Xuejiao gets 17 billion for saving someone, and I don't get anything for making your call?" Zhang Shener quipped.
Lu Chengwen stood, striding to the bars, meeting her gaze without flinching. "Of course not. Once I'm out in a few hours, I'll buy you a set of adult toys. When you're lonely, you can think of my dashing figure and have a blast all by yourself. Sound good?"
Zhang Shener's face paled with rage. "Lu Chengwen!"
"I know, I know, I'm scum," he said, unbothered.
She shoved him into a shared cell. Two hours later, she returned, stunned. Three rough-looking inmates were kneeling in a row. One was polishing Lu Chengwen's shoes, the others sitting ramrod straight, all sporting bruises.
Lu Chengwen lounged on a chair, whistling, arms behind his head. Sometimes, he couldn't fathom it. He was supposed to be a pillar of society, a business titan, a success story. He'd climbed mountains, skydived, run with the bulls in Spain; spoke four languages; held dual master's degrees; excelled at boxing, swimming, skiing, and basketball. Tall, handsome, with a rugged charm in a tailored suit—nothing like those overdone pop idols. So why was he the villain? A pathetic, woman-chasing villain doomed to be killed by Long Aotian?
Why couldn't he be like Chen Moqun, snapping his fingers to have glamorous women fall into his arms, parking a supercar in the business district and collecting WeChat contacts from eager girls? Why was he stuck obsessing over a few female leads like a brainless idiot?
Zhang Shener glared at the kneeling inmates. "Lu Chengwen, you beat them up?"
"Disappointed?" He stood, sauntering to the bars with a smirk. "You locked me in here hoping they'd rough me up, didn't you?"
She couldn't deny it—she'd wanted him to suffer. But these guys were supposed to be tough. Three against one, and they lost?
"Did he beat you?" she demanded.
Lu Chengwen turned to the inmates. "Go on, tell her. Did I hit you?"
"No, no, no!" they chorused. "We ran into each other!"
"Yeah, our fault!"
"Lu Shao's a great guy—polite, civilized. He doesn't belong in jail. You've got the wrong man!"
Lu Chengwen grinned at Zhang Shener, his eyes saying, Hear that?
Fuming, she barked at the guard, "Open the cell. Let him out."
Lu Chengwen slung his jacket over his arm and strutted out. In the lobby, he froze. Leng Qingqiu was there, signing his release papers. She turned, smiling faintly. "You okay?"
"Why you?" he asked, stunned.
"Why not me?"
Zhang Shener's expression darkened. She slammed the logbook on the counter. "Sign and go."
Lu Chengwen scribbled his name.
Zhang Shener eyed Leng Qingqiu. "Didn't you hate his guts? Why bail him out?"
"I felt like it," Leng Qingqiu replied coolly.
Zhang Shener scoffed. "Typical. Capitalists have no conscience."
"Watch your words," Leng Qingqiu shot back. "Cops have to follow the law too. You know he's scum, but there's no law saying scum gets shot or jailed for life. He and Jiao Shiheng were in a mutual brawl. Jiao's already signed off on it, I paid the 2,000-yuan fine, so do your job and release him."
Zhang Shener smirked, ready to snap back, then changed tack. "Heard you two are getting engaged next month? Congrats, perfect match for the rich."
Leng Qingqiu knew the jab was meant to rile her. She smiled thinly. "Thanks. Heard your family's pushing you to date again? Hope this guy's normal."
Sparks flew between their glares. Leng Qingqiu's three-year ordeal with Lu Chengwen's pursuit was no secret in Xuecheng, just as Zhang Shener's string of disastrous blind dates was common gossip. Both hit each other's sore spots, neither backing down.
Lu Chengwen, watching, thought, A catfight's always a show! Pure entertainment! But I'd better stay out of it—these two are fiercer than tigers. Funny, though. You're at each other's throats now, but once Long Aotian sweeps you both into his harem, you'll be besties.
He chuckled to himself, only to feel a chill. Both women were glaring at him. He spun around, muttering, "Gotta go. Mom's calling me for dinner."
In the car, Leng Qingqiu sat across from Lu Chengwen in the business van, their seats facing each other. He fidgeted like a scolded schoolboy. Damn this van—why are the seats like this? Where am I supposed to look? Her legs are killer, especially in those black stockings. I could stare for a year—no, three years—no, a lifetime! If that skirt were just a bit higher, legs parted a little…
Leng Qingqiu, catching every lustful thought, stared icily at him. Suddenly, she spread her legs wide. Lu Chengwen nearly choked. "Like what you see?" she asked, her face expressionless.
"It's… alright," he stammered.
She crossed her legs again. "How'd you know Jiao Shiheng was trouble? What's your intel source? Got a mole in my company?"
Lu Chengwen widened his eyes, feigning shock. "He was trouble? See, I told you today wasn't good for signing! Good thing I stepped in—"
"Lu Chengwen," she cut in, "can you tell me one honest thing?"
"I'm being honest!"
He was stubborn, unaware that every thought in his head was spilling out, heard clearly by this female lead. Leng Qingqiu pressed, "Why don't you want to marry me anymore?"
He fumbled, "I just… realized I like Xu Xuejiao more."
"She's not even your girlfriend. Drop the act."
He sighed. "Fine, truth is, I don't like you."
"What were those three years, then?"
"My bad luck."
"And all your sweet talk, your concern?"
"Your bad luck."
"Why'd you help me today, then? Risk jail for me? And back there, did you really want to kiss me?"
Lu Chengwen laughed, exasperated. "You're delusional. My beef with Jiao Shiheng was personal. As for us, we're done."
Leng Qingqiu's eyes locked onto his. "You'll regret saying that."
"I, Lu Chengwen, never regret anything."
"I'm warning you, I hold grudges. Treat me like this, and you'll never have a chance with me again."
"Perfect!" he shot back. "From now on, we'll just nod politely if we cross paths. If I say one extra word to you, I'm a dog!"
Leng Qingqiu's heart sank. Her nose stung, her eyes moistened. "Get out," she said quietly, pointing to the door.