Manager Yang had been extremely busy these days. It was unclear whether he had sensed something or was simply uneasy about Yan Xia's nonchalant attitude and wanted to find out more.
He was overly attentive, visiting Yan Xia's office again and again.
One day, Fang Jiangyi summoned Yan Xia for a talk, probably to inquire about the progress of the project investigation. Although SN hadn't immediately signed a contract with the rival company, it didn't seem inclined to give Shengshi another chance either.
Fang Jiangyi was always busy. Yan Xia was quite familiar with the routine and casually sat down across from him.
"Manager Lu should know why I've called you here," he said, his head down. From this angle, one could see his long, curly eyelashes. With his red lips and white teeth, he was so good - looking that it was truly enviable for a man.
Yan Xia replied, "Since SN hasn't signed the contract yet, it means we still have a chance."
"The key isn't here," Fang Jiangyi said, firmly signing his name in the bottom - right corner with a pen. "As long as we don't root out the mole, the company will never be at peace."
Yan Xia remained calm, neither anxious nor impatient in the face of others' accusations.
"You don't need to worry about this. I'll expose the mole," she said.
Fang Jiangyi raised his eyebrows. "Have you already found them?"
He couldn't understand what Yan Xia was up to.
"Everything needs evidence," Yan Xia was reluctant to reveal too much. "In any case, I won't play with fire."
After Fang Jiangyi finished dealing with the documents on his desk, he suddenly smiled. "Does Miss Lu always take an indifferent attitude? Even if you can't come up with a solution to this problem, you can still get out of it unscathed."
Yan Xia propped her elbows on the table, buried her face in her palms, and leaned closer to him. "So this is how you've always thought of me."
"Then how should I think of you, Miss Lu?"
"Pfft," Yan Xia let out a laugh.
Only then did Fang Jiangyi realize he had been tricked. That sentence just now sounded as if he was asking how he should miss her.
Yan Xia curved her lips, stared at his lips, and said, "I've said that I'll stay at Shengshi through my own efforts. Moreover, I have the intention of getting closer to you, Mr. Fang. Leaving Shengshi would mean giving up this great opportunity. I'm not that stupid."
Fang Jiangyi remained expressionless. The two stared at each other for a long time at this ambiguous distance.
Finally, he said, "Lu Sheng, what on earth do you want?"
"I've already said it. I want you," she tossed her hair and leaned even closer, looking at him with clear eyes and a fluttering gaze. "It's a pity that you, Mr. Fang, are already half - married. I don't want to be a mistress. What a shame."
Just then, the knock on the door sounded inopportunely, breaking the ambiguous atmosphere. Fang Jiangyi sat up straight.
The next day was the weekend. Lu Qianzhou sent a message to Yan Xia in advance.
"Accompany me to play a round of golf tomorrow to win someone over."
The people Lu Qianzhou needed to win over...
Yan Xia guessed they were mostly either wealthy or powerful, people who could bring him some benefits. She replied with an okay.
The next day, she and Lu Qianzhou set off from the villa together. Yan Xia changed into a loose light - green sportswear and wore a cap, while Lu Qianzhou put on sunglasses, looking like a young lad.
The people invited today were all big shots at the top of the business pyramid, well - known figures on the rich list. Apart from serious business activities, many big deals were actually made during these entertainment events.
No wonder these big shots all had their own specialties. Only by accompanying them and making them comfortable could one win their hearts.
When Yan Xia and Lu Qianzhou showed up, from afar, they could see Fang Jiangyi and Peng Shiyi in front. It was really a case of "enemies are bound to meet on a narrow road".
Perhaps out of a sense of pride or a bit of fear towards Lu Qianzhou, Peng Shiyi didn't greet them directly.
Yan Xia didn't expect to meet Shangguan Yao here. He came alone.
Previously harassed by him, Yan Xia had also investigated his background. It turned out that Shangguan Yao had no special background. He was the son of a well - known actress, and his biological father was unknown. However, the gossip said that his father was a high - ranking official in the capital, but since that official already had a wife and Fang Jiangyi was just an illegitimate child, he hadn't been recognized by his father for many years.
Yan Xia was warming up on the field. As soon as Shangguan Yao saw her, he got excited and rushed towards her.
"Miss Lu," Shangguan Yao took off his sunglasses and raised his eyebrows at her. The earring on his left ear made him look more sinister. "Why did you delete me?"
He started with an accusation.
If he hadn't mentioned it, Yan Xia would have almost forgotten.
Yan Xia didn't even look at him. "Did I ever add you? I don't remember."
"You..." Shangguan Yao pointed at her with a trembling hand and was so angry that he couldn't say a word for a long time. "I told you that I fell in love with you at first sight. Do you think I'm a very promiscuous person? You've misunderstood me. I'm not promiscuous at all. I'm a very devoted person."
Yan Xia finally glanced at him as she held the golf club in her hand.
"Mr. Shangguan, do you have a misunderstanding about your own reputation? In the past year alone, the media has exposed at least five of your girlfriends. The word 'devoted' can't be used casually by just anyone."
Shangguan Yao felt extremely embarrassed. "Not everyone can be like Fang Jiangyi. By being devoted, I mean that in every relationship, I've put in my true feelings. I'm not just playing around."
Yan Xia said, "Oh, then go be devoted to someone else. I'm not interested."
She turned around and walked in another direction.
Shangguan Yao was relentless and followed behind her. "Don't go. I really want to pursue you. Please give me a chance, Miss Lu."
A lot of people had gathered at the entrance. It seemed that the main guest of the day had arrived.
Shangguan Yao kept chattering behind her. Before they got closer, they heard a familiar voice.
Yan Xia froze.
It was Yuan Qiuping!
Her father Cheng Hua's second wife, her step - mother, but they never got a marriage certificate for some reason.
Yuan Qiuping was with her father when he was at the peak of his glory. She wasn't much older than Yan Xia. Since her father went to prison, Yan Xia hadn't seen her again.
"Let me introduce my sister, Lu Sheng, to Director Wang," Lu Qianzhou pulled Yan Xia to his side while she was still in a daze.
Sure enough, the person opposite was Yuan Qiuping. Just by seeing how intimate she was with the man called Director Wang, one could tell that she had found another backer.
She had quickly forgotten the past and found a new love.
Thinking about it now, it was very likely that Yuan Qiuping had taken a share of the spoils when her father's business collapsed.
Director Wang squinted his eyes and sized up Yan Xia, then laughed heartily. "Miss Lu is indeed as rumored, young, beautiful, and a top - notch graduate. Just as excellent as Mr. Lu."
Yan Xia forced herself to suppress her discomfort. "You're overpraising me, Director Wang."
Suddenly, Director Wang put his arm around Yuan Qiuping and introduced, "Let me officially introduce to everyone today. This is my wife, Yuan Qiuping."
Yuan Qiuping had been smiling all the time and seemed used to being hugged by this old man.
However, she kept looking at Yan Xia out of the corner of her eye.
"Miss Lu looks like an old acquaintance of mine," she said.
Yan Xia clenched her fists and pursed her lips. "You must have mistaken me for someone else. I just came back from abroad and have never met you before."
Yuan Qiuping suddenly looked at Fang Jiangyi and said with a smile, "It's not about the appearance but the temperament. And Mr. Fang also knows this old acquaintance of mine."