Just as she had guessed, Fang Jiangyi's father didn't support their relationship.
But Fang Xiangyuan had said that there had been a rift between the Fang family and the Lu family, especially with Lu Qianzhou. So Lu Qianzhou must have known Fang Jiangyi, yet he had never admitted any connection with him.
She had always known that Lu Qianzhou's actions against Fang Jiangyi weren't solely because of her, but this feeling of being kept in the dark was truly unsettling.
The meeting didn't last long. Fang Jiangyi was the first to come out of the conference room, and Yan Xia was waiting for him in the corridor.
The spacious corridor had a fully transparent glass wall on one side, facing the river beach. From this angle, the river beach looked like a long white ribbon, and the buildings in the distance were rising like new bamboo shoots.
Lost in thought, she zoned out without realizing it.
"Xiaosheng." Fang Jiangyi's voice brought her back to reality.
Yan Xia snapped out of it. The directors in the conference room were passing by on her side. She waited until most of them had left before speaking.
"Sorry for missing today's meeting."
"My father called you for a talk?"
He already knew.
"I thought you should know what he would say to me. Or was his words your intention?" Yan Xia looked up and met his gaze. "Your father doesn't approve of our relationship because of the Lu family, especially because of Third Brother."
Fang Jiangyi said, "Some unpleasant things did happen before, but I think my attitude has been clear enough."
He naturally wouldn't break up with her. Otherwise, he wouldn't have said something about marriage that day.
"The problem isn't big. I'll handle it. All you need to do is trust me." Fang Jiangyi stared steadily at her. "Xiaosheng, after this New Year, I'll go and propose to Third Master. We'll get married after the New Year."
Maybe it was just her imagination, but because she knew Fang Jiangyi was suspicious of her now, she always felt that his attitude was different from before, with a sense of defense and resistance.
She even saw Wang Keding entering and leaving the Shengshi Building. The security was very strict. The assistant was guarding the door, and no idlers were allowed in, not even her.
Lu Qianzhou had once told her that Wang Keding wasn't a completely honest person. He was in the same league as Fang Jiangyi. The key was that Wang Keding was a hypocrite, saying one thing to your face and doing another behind your back. He was completely untrustworthy.
In the office, Wang Keding was on pins and needles.
"Are you even listening to me? Lu Sheng is problematic. You can't continue to be close to her. You must be on guard against her and find a chance to get rid of her."
Fang Jiangyi was very calm, as if he hadn't heard a word.
He said calmly, "Director Wang is spouting nonsense again."
Wang Keding was so angry that he wanted to bang the table hard. "I'm not talking nonsense. Lu Qianzhou has been investigating several projects we've been involved in recently. Once he finds a clue and evidence, as we're in the same boat, do you think you'll be able to get away with it?"
He had accidentally discovered that Lu Sheng was still in contact with Lu Qianzhou in private. After many details and coincidences, he realized that his current situation was very dangerous.
But the person he was cooperating with was unhurried, as if he wasn't affected at all.
"Lu Sheng is not a problem. Even without her, Lu Qianzhou would investigate you sooner or later." Fang Jiangyi lowered his head and signed the document. "You don't need to panic and arouse suspicion."
These words immediately hit Wang Keding's sore spot.
He placed his hands on his legs, and one leg was shaking nervously.
"Are we just going to sit back and wait for death?"
Fang Jiangyi was a bit impatient. "Director Wang, what's the purpose of your visit today?"
"What do you think?" Wang Keding's voice was deep. "Of course, it's to eliminate future troubles once and for all. If things have reached an irreparable stage, we can only take drastic measures."
Fang Jiangyi's eyebrows twitched.
"No matter what you plan to do, don't touch Lu Sheng."
Hearing this, Wang Keding looked at him with a look of disbelief.
"Are you really that stupid or just pretending? I heard that she's not Lu Sheng at all but Cheng Yanxia. Keeping such an enemy by your side, are you waiting for her to stab you in the back?" He looked at Fang Jiangyi disdainfully.
"I've investigated. She's not Cheng Yanxia."
Even if she was, no one else was qualified to judge what she had done. Their matter should be resolved by him personally.
"Fine, fine, fine. I don't care what you do. We must be on guard against Lu Qianzhou. President Fang, don't even think about escaping. As long as you dare to turn against me, once I'm brought down, I'll pull you down with me without hesitation." He still had a smile on his face, but his words were extremely ruthless.
Fang Jiangyi looked up and met his gaze, his eyes sharp.
...
After being refused entry, Yan Xia quickly called Lu Qianzhou, and he answered immediately.
"Third Brother, did we show any flaws? Wang Keding just went to Shengshi and had a private conversation with Fang Jiangyi. No one could get close."
"No. Everything is under my control." There seemed to be the sound of howling sea breeze on the other end of the phone, clear and leisurely. "Go straight home after work. Come on a business trip with me."
"Now?"
She thought the situation was so serious that it was urgent, but Lu Qianzhou was unhurried.
Lu Qianzhou's tone was very confident. "I said there's no problem, so there's no problem. You just need to trust me. Don't bring anything. Just come with me."
She naturally trusted him.
Her sister had once said that in one's life, one should have a spontaneous trip to make it exciting. Otherwise, this journey in the world would be in vain.
She never thought that her first spontaneous trip in life would be with Lu Qianzhou. He took her to a small town in Provence, the lavender hometown in the southeast of France, a purple paradise.
They turned off their phones, cut off all contact with others, and came here with their loved one.
They stayed in a B&B in the small town. The pace of life in the small town was lazy and comfortable, making people feel happy. The lavender helped with sleep. On the first night in this small town, Yan Xia had a rare good sleep.
Romain Rolland once said, "The French are romantic because they have Provence."
This place was a synonym for romance. It was said that most of the people who came here from all over the world were attracted by the purple flower sea.
Unfortunately, they came at the wrong time. There was no blooming purple flower sea in winter. After the lavender was harvested and cut, there were only short and neat dry stems covered with snow.
The next day, Yan Xia woke up naturally. She pushed open the window, wearing her pajamas, and blew hot air into her hands. It was white and snowy outside, and the small town was peaceful and serene.
"Good morning." Someone hugged her waist from behind and pressed against her. As he lowered his head, his warm lips gently nibbled on her earlobe.
Yan Xia turned her head to avoid it and couldn't help saying, "It's so quiet here."
It seemed that all the troubles and pains were swallowed up and erased by the snow.
Lu Qianzhou laughed. "I came here on a business trip once before. I like this place very much. But I forgot that it's winter now, and we can't see the lavender. It was my mistake in the arrangement."