She stared out of the car window at the fleeting street scenes.
Both of them had their own agendas.
Lu Qianzhou tapped his lips lightly with two fingers. "How's the progress with Fang Jiangyi?"
Yan Xia came back to her senses. "Everything's normal. But he's been meeting Wang Keding quite frequently recently. He should be trying to get the reclamation approval before you."
"Now that the troublemaker Peng Shiyi is out of the way, it'll be easier for you to do your job. Hold him off. I'll secure the Xinghaiwan project soon." Lu Qianzhou's voice was very low.
Lu Qianzhou was always determined to win the Xinghaiwan project. After all, Shengshi's strength lay in online products, while Changling's forte was real estate. Since Xinghaiwan would be Changling's key industry, it was even more important to Lu Qianzhou.
Yan Xia felt nervous again about her decision to steal Changling's core documents. If she really did it, Lu Qianzhou would surely fly into a rage.
Yan Xia asked, "How much does Miss Jiang know about us?"
When she mentioned Jiang Yue, all she could think about was the scene of Jiang Yue and Lu Qianzhou walking hand in hand.
Lu Qianzhou glanced at her. "She doesn't know your real identity."
Silence fell between them again.
For some reason, the atmosphere had suddenly become a bit strange after today's party.
Maybe it was because she remembered the information Peng Zixu had revealed and combined it with Lu Qianzhou's hostile attitude towards Fang Jiangyi. Although Lu Qianzhou attributed it all to simple business competition, Yan Xia always felt that things were not that simple.
Lu Qianzhou must know much more than she thought.
"I accidentally heard something about Fang Jiangyi's past tonight. I heard that his father went to prison for fraud, his younger brother committed suicide by jumping off a building, and his mother went crazy. It all started when the Fang family went bankrupt. At that time, he told me that all this was what our family owed him."
Yan Xia frowned as she recalled. "I don't know what exactly happened in between. Does Third Brother know anything?"
Lu Qianzhou was cold in attitude. "I'm not interested."
Yan Xia could tell that he wasn't ignorant but just didn't want to mention it or tell her.
Presumably, Fang Jiangyi saying that he'd given Peng Shiyi and himself a one - month deadline was related to his father's release from prison in a month.
Since Lu Qianzhou was unwilling to disclose it, she had to find out for herself.
The light and shadow outside the car window constantly projected into the car, making Lu Qianzhou's face alternately dark and bright. Hidden in the dim yellow light, it was hard to tell his mood.
Finally, when Lu Qianzhou got out of the car, he asked Yan Xia,
"Do you have anything to ask me?"
Yan Xia said no and then counter - asked Lu Qianzhou.
"Third Brother, do you have anything else to tell me?"
Lu Qianzhou didn't answer. He just looked at her twice and then got out of the car and left.
This man's emotions came so fast and so inexplicably that she didn't even have a chance to react.
...
After the turbulent period passed, Yan Xia got her first business trip since joining the company.
She was going on a business trip to Japan with Fang Jiangyi to negotiate a cross - border business deal.
This project should be Fang Jiangyi's, but she didn't know why he wanted to take her with him. Yan Xia just obediently followed him all the way without asking why. Since she suspected that he had ulterior motives, she would take practical actions to dispel his doubts.
They arrived at Haneda Airport at around two o'clock in the afternoon. The cooperation partner had arranged someone to pick them up. Yan Xia knew that she looked young and inexperienced, so she deliberately changed into a black business suit.
Assistant Sun had arranged everything properly, and all the work was in good order. There were no mistakes during the whole process. Yan Xia was not very noticeable. She tried her best to keep a low profile and silently followed Fang Jiangyi.
The whole cooperation went very smoothly. In the evening, the cooperation partner invited them to dinner. The delicate Japanese cuisine and the elegant restaurant with a small bridge and flowing water created a wonderful atmosphere.
It wasn't until they checked into the hotel that Fang Jiangyi said to her,
"Go back and rest well. Don't wander around. Keep your phone on and wait for the notice at any time."
He completely treated her like a little girl and gave her instructions.
Yan Xia agreed to everything. After returning to the hotel, she washed up early. Standing on the balcony of the hotel room, she saw the large swimming pool below. There was no one in the pool, and the light - blue water was sparkling.
She had been wondering why Fang Jiangyi had taken her on this business trip. Then she thought that maybe it was because of Wang Keding. When he was on a business trip, it was the time when Lu Qianzhou might take advantage. And since he still didn't trust her completely, he took her with him.
This wasn't Yan Xia's first time in Japan. The famous Lake Toya in Hokkaido, the rainbow flower fields in Furano and Biei were eye - catching, and various European - style buildings were scattered in Sapporo. She had seen the deer in Nagoya and Nara with her sister.
At that time, she and her sister were carefree and had nothing to worry about.
This place held her most beautiful memories.
With so many thoughts in her head, she couldn't fall asleep. So she changed into a conservative swimsuit and went downstairs to the swimming pool.
She sat by the pool, dangling her legs in the water.
The water temperature was just right. Thinking of all the things she had experienced with her sister in the past, a sudden and uncontrollable sense of loneliness welled up in her heart. If her sister could wake up and if her father could be cleared of the false charges and released from prison in time, she would find a chance to take them on a trip.
Forget about everything in the past, forget about strategies and conspiracies, and just live together as a family.
Thinking of this, a sense of joy suddenly emerged in her heart. She couldn't help but smile, and her feet splashed a patch of water.
She didn't notice that there was someone swimming from the other end of the pool. The person gradually approached her, and then, when she was completely off - guard, grabbed her ankle and pulled her into the water.
With a splash, Yan Xia fell straight into the water. She couldn't hold her breath, and the whole person was terrified. Bubbles gurgled out of her mouth as she sank. She desperately tried to grab the other person and climb up.
The other person quickly put his arm around her waist and pulled her out of the water.
Yan Xia coughed violently, wiped the water off her face, and pushed her short hair behind her ears. When she grabbed the other person in a panic, she felt his firm abs.
"You're crazy!" she cursed instinctively.
But she was stunned the moment she looked up. The hotel lights were brightly lit. His face was against the light, his hair pushed back, revealing a full and smooth forehead. Under his straight nose was a full lip, and his features were as delicate as a sculpture.
Yan Xia's eyes widened in disbelief and she exclaimed,
"Lu Qianzhou? What are you doing here?"
Lu Qianzhou still had his arm around her and squinted at her.
Her swimsuit was very conservative, but her curvy figure could still be clearly seen in the water. Her fair skin glistened with water in the light, her features were delicate, and she had a natural air of being untainted by the mundane world.
Her body was pressed against his, and her hands were on his shoulders to keep from falling.
He lifted his lips and smiled. "Are you so surprised to see me?"
Yan Xia pushed him. "You're insane! This is not the place. If Fang Jiangyi sees us alone here, he'll surely suspect us again!"