Yan Xia was slightly taken aback and stopped what she was doing to look at him.
"Joking?"
Shangguan Yao said seriously, "I wouldn't say such a thing if I didn't have enough confidence."
He stared into her eyes, with a glint of amusement in them.
Yan Xia remembered that last time at the venue, Shangguan Yao had talked to Director Wang Keding alone. Judging from their tone, they seemed quite familiar.
She had once suspected that there was some special relationship between them, but later she dismissed the thought. Now that Shangguan Yao had brought this up on his own initiative, her suspicions resurfaced.
"Many people have racked their brains just to get a meeting with Director Wang for the Xinghaiwan project. What's your way?"
Shangguan Yao leaned forward in front of her. "You must have suspected that I have a special relationship with him. Anyway, you don't need to ask so many questions. I can introduce you to him and help you obtain the reclamation permit to the best of my ability. You just need to tell me if you want my help."
Rumors had it that Shangguan Yao's biological father was a high - ranking official in Shoujing. Could it be Wang Keding?
Thinking of his hypocritical face, the kiss he had planted on her face after taking off his clothes in the hotel that day, and his greasy and meaningful smile, Yan Xia frowned suddenly.
"Of course I need it. But what's in it for you?"
"Isn't my intention obvious enough? Of course, it's you." Shangguan Yao thought for a moment. "If I can help you get the reclamation permit, try dating me for three months."
Yan Xia smiled. "And after three months?"
Shangguan Yao brushed a strand of hair from his forehead with one finger, looking extremely confident. "Who can say for sure what will happen after three months? But I'm confident that three months will be enough for you to fall in love with me."
Yan Xia remained calm. "Then give it a try."
Although she knew that casually agreeing to him without any intention of making a commitment was a rather shameful thing to do.
But the situation was critical now, and she didn't have any extra time to waste.
Shangguan Yao clapped his hands. "Remember what you promised me today. Don't go back on your word."
Yan Xia nodded, smiling but saying nothing.
She watched Shangguan Yao leave until his figure disappeared from sight. Then her face darkened. If Shangguan Yao was really Wang Keding's illegitimate son, this whole thing was really disgusting!
Sometimes, people and things that seemed unrelated were actually intertwined behind the scenes.
Wen Liang entered the ward and immediately noticed Yan Xia's gloomy expression.
"Miss Lu."
Yan Xia looked up at him. "How's the situation?"
Wen Liang shook his head. "Those two guys refused to admit anything. They said they just saw our nice - looking car on the way and decided to rob us for some money in the wilderness. But after recognizing your identity, they wanted to kidnap you and extort money from the Lu family. Other than that, they didn't admit being instigated by anyone."
Yan Xia sneered.
"Moreover, their actions didn't cause any serious consequences. If we can't provide any other evidence, this case will probably be treated as an ordinary robbery."
Obviously, these two guys had tight lips, and it was impossible to get any more information from them.
"Do you want us to deal with them after they're released? Hire someone to..."
"No need." Yan Xia interrupted him. "Given Peng Shiyi's courage, she probably wouldn't dare to do such a thing so openly. Go and check who she's met recently."
"Understood."
In the evening, Lu Qianzhou called her.
Maybe he had just finished his work and heard about what had happened today, so he called to ask about her condition.
Yan Xia said, "Getting injured not only caught Fang Jiangyi's attention but also made Third Brother call to care about me. It was really worth it."
Lu Qianzhou didn't expect her to be in a good mood.
"You're still in a good mood after getting injured."
Yan Xia replied, "Do you want me to cry for you?"
"Wen Liang said it was Peng Shiyi again. This woman has been causing you trouble again and again. Now she's even openly hired someone to attack you. She's really a headache. How about getting rid of her?" His tone was casual.
Yan Xia knew very well that Lu Qianzhou was capable of anything.
"Getting rid of her might not end well. You don't need to do anything, Third Brother. I have other ways to deal with her."
Lu Qianzhou asked with interest, "Tell me."
Yan Xia said, "Didn't you suppress the photos and news of Fang Jiangyi and me in the hotel last time? Have the media expose them again. Make sure it creates a big stir. Peng Shiyi will come to me on her own, and I'll handle her."
She had been ruining things again and again. She was really a nuisance.
Lu Qianzhou smiled. "I'd be happy to help."
The place where he was located was very quiet. The sound of the waves could be faintly heard, as if his voice was tinged with the leisure of the sea breeze.
When Lu Qianzhou was quiet, with a gentle and lazy smile, he was always extremely charming.
"One more thing." Yan Xia thought for a while before saying, "It's about Shangguan Yao. He said he has a way to help me get the reclamation permit from Wang Keding. I've always suspected the relationship between them. Third Brother, help me check if Shangguan Yao's mysterious high - ranking official father is Wang Keding."
"I told you not to get involved with him." Lu Qianzhou's voice sounded a bit displeased.
"I didn't provoke him. He came to me on his own initiative." Yan Xia said, "Don't worry. I know my limits."
She quickly explained.
Yan Xia was increasingly finding Lu Qianzhou hard to figure out. Sometimes he was gentle and elegant, making people infatuated; sometimes he seemed like a kind - hearted young man, making people feel amiable; sometimes his temper was unpredictable, moody; and occasionally he was dangerous and cruel, showing no mercy.
But this contradictory man always managed to catch her eye. He was like a poisonous honey, sweet but poisonous, and there was no cure.
The next day, as promised, Lu Qianzhou had the media expose the photos of Yan Xia and Fang Jiangyi in the hotel room last time, including the one where he had hugged her ambiguously and entered the hotel room.
The press release was so explicit and ambiguous that it made people's blood boil.
Almost everyone thought that Lu Sheng and Fang Jiangyi were a more suitable match. In terms of family background and appearance, they seemed to be a perfect couple.
So there were few scolding voices. Instead, there were more blessings. Some people even posted to wish Fang Jiangyi out of the "sea of bitterness".
The news became a huge hit.
On the same day, Yan Xia was discharged from the hospital and returned to Third Master Lu's villa.
She also had someone indirectly reveal the address to Peng Shiyi.
When Peng Shiyi saw the news, she was green with anger.
She had clearly asked someone to block all these news. The photos definitely hadn't been leaked. So it was obvious who had released this news, wasn't it?
She had taught Yan Xia a lesson just yesterday, and today this news came out. It was clearly meant for her.
They thought she was easy to bully, so they were bullying her!
Peng Shiyi knew that she couldn't go there herself, so she hired a group of trouble - makers. At nightfall, they came to Yan Xia's residence and surrounded the villa.
They climbed over the fence, holding eggs, vegetables, and even paint. They splashed and threw everything, making the glass and walls of the villa's main entrance a complete mess.