"Chu Shuo is quite the catch, how come he doesn't have a girlfriend yet?" Lu Yudong asked with a smile.

"Haven't found the right one yet," Chu Shuo replied, his face pale.

Lu Yudong stopped talking to Chu Shuo and started discussing a scandal that was the talk of Jiangzhou: The wife of the famous financier Zhu Fan had an affair with a pretty boy. She thought her husband wouldn't do anything about it, but little did she know, Zhu Fan caught them in bed, took her nude photos, and kicked her out with nothing. The pretty boy and she were disgraced and couldn't stay in Jiangzhou.

"Yeah, this woman didn't consider her status at all, actually putting a cuckold's hat on a dignified financier," Chu Shuo's father said, wiping his sweat with a tissue.

"That pretty boy brought it on himself and dragged someone else down with him. He deserves to be torn apart!" Lu Yudong said, lightly swirling his wine glass.

He seemed to be gossiping.

But Jiang Ci felt her heart pounding.

Chu Shuo's father, Chu Linsheng, was also sweating.

He was a shrewd man. Earlier, Jiang Ci mentioned she was taking the CPA exam, and Chu Shuo knew Jiang Ci.

Lu Yudong wasn't one to gossip, nor would he invite someone over for no reason. Discussing these matters in front of him was definitely a pointed warning.

It was likely a warning to Jiang Ci and Chu Shuo.

Lu Yudong's move was truly formidable.

After dinner, Jiang Ci and Lu Yudong left.

Chu Shuo was about to say something to Jiang Ci when his father gave him a cold stare, making him retreat.

"Aren't you embarrassed enough?" Chu Linsheng growled.

Once in the car, Chu Shuo asked Chu Linsheng, "Do you know Lu Yudong? How do you know him?"

"You're not allowed to see Jiang Ci anymore. No matter how much you like her, she's Lu Yudong's woman now," Chu Linsheng sternly warned Chu Shuo.

"But there's no love between them! They'll divorce sooner or later," Chu Shuo argued.

"As long as she's not divorced, you're the one who deserves to be torn apart. Didn't you get Lu Yudong's message?"

"But Dad, why are you afraid of Lu Yudong?"

Chu Linsheng's face was all wrinkled, and he said nothing.

More than a decade ago, when Lu Yudong was studying abroad, Chu Linsheng was involved in framing Lu Yudong's father. Later, Lu Yudong got hold of the evidence and has been holding it over him, so even in his fifties, he acts like a grandson in front of Lu Yudong.

In Lu Yudong's car.

Jiang Ci said nothing, her face cold.

She wrapped her clothes tightly around her and pretended to sleep, ignoring Lu Yudong.

She was thinking about why Lu Yudong invited them at this time.

Fragrant Grassland sent her a WeChat message on Monday, which meant that Lu Yudong had already planned this then.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

That day, Yin Xuemo brought meals for everyone in the company and specially printed her large promotional photos on the bags.

And the location where she was filming this drama was the hospital where Jiang Ci's mother was.

Jiang Ci quickly picked up her phone and sent a WeChat message to Han Lan: [Did Yin Xuemo go to the company on Monday?]

Soon, Han Lan replied: [Sister, I just subtly asked the front desk. They said yes, she usually goes straight to the President's office.]

That was it. Yin Xuemo must have said something to Lu Yudong.

Jiang Ci couldn't understand why the dignified President of New East International, Lu Yudong, believed Yin Xuemo so deeply.

Or was it because Yin Xuemo was Lu Yudong's first love, and he believed everything she said?

That day, Jiang Ci thought Yin Xuemo was seriously filming, but unexpectedly, she noticed Jiang Ci from afar through the crowd.

Such scheming, truly a challenge for Yin Xuemo.

Back home, Jiang Ci hugged her quilt and was about to go to the bedroom next door.

Today, Lu Yudong had stripped her of her dignity.

"Feeling hurt?" Lu Yudong asked Jiang Ci coldly.

"Where did you put me today? Couldn't you just ask me directly?" Jiang Ci stood in the living room, speaking righteously.

"Would you tell me?" Lu Yudong said mockingly.

"No, I wouldn't. I'm just waiting for Yin Xuemo to tell you. Everything she says is true!"

"Isn't it true?"

Jiang Ci was speechless.

She was fuming. That day, Yin Xuemo only saw what happened; she didn't hear what was said.

So, what Yin Xuemo conveyed to Lu Yudong was probably just that Chu Shuo held her hand, maybe even exaggerating it.

As for Jiang Ci's talk of a "real" marriage, she didn't hear it, and even if she did, she wouldn't tell Lu Yudong.

Yin Xuemo only wanted to sow discord and make Jiang Ci divorce soon!

"Try going out and flirting with another man again," Lu Yudong's voice was cold as he gave Jiang Ci an ultimatum.

Jiang Ci couldn't stand the word "flirting." She angrily sat on the bed, hugging her quilt.

"You're not allowed to sleep in the room next door tonight!"

Jiang Ci looked up at him with red eyes, "Tyrant, you're just a tyrant, possessive, selfish, and inconsiderate of others' feelings!"

"Want a divorce?" Lu Yudong smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Yes, I want to escape your cage as soon as possible!"

"Don't even think about it!"

After finalizing the deal, Jiang Ci was very happy and excited. It was her first time handling a transaction over a hundred thousand yuan, and she felt a bit anxious. Worried about encountering scammers or criminals, she asked Han Lan to accompany her.

Han Lan, no longer needing to keep a low profile, was quite pleased and readily agreed to Jiang Ci's request.

"For something like this, it's best to have a guy with us. If Mr. Lu goes with you, who would dare to cheat him? They wouldn't dare even with ten times the courage," Han Lan said while munching on snacks.

"It's not that easy. We're having a bit of a spat. Besides, this matter involves my ex-boyfriend. Would I be out of my mind to ask him to come along?" Jiang Ci replied.

"Why are you making such a fuss? You can see how just a casual nod from him changes everything for us. People can't wait to flatter him, and here you are, picking a fight," Han Lan said, a bit exasperated.

"Don't mention it. I've been flattering him all along." To this day, Jiang Ci still didn't understand why Lu Yudong suddenly asked her to move out.

How could she cater to his whims without knowing the reason?

"Why not try to appease him? Mr. Lu is into that," Han Lan suggested.

"How do you know? Have you tried it before?" Jiang Ci asked, her tone slightly jealous.

"No, no, I haven't even met Mr. Lu," Han Lan said, trying to act coy. "But seriously, my sister is bringing me some food this afternoon."

"Your sister? Isn't she about to give birth? How can you let her bring you food with that big belly?"

"She's not coming herself; she's sending her brother-in-law. I heard he's quite a catch," Han Lan said dreamily.

"You haven't met him?"

Han Lan rolled her eyes at Jiang Ci. "No, he didn't attend my sister's wedding; he was out of town."

"I'll check him out for you this afternoon."

At six in the evening, the dormitory doorbell rang, and Jiang Ci went to answer it. As soon as she opened the door, she widened her eyes in surprise and said, "Deng Yue?"

"Jiang Ci?"

"Who are you looking for? Me?"

Deng Yue raised the food container in his hand. "I'm delivering food for my sister-in-law to her sister. I didn't expect you two to be roommates. What a small world."

When Han Lan came out and saw that Deng Yue was quite handsome, her eyes sparkled.

"How about I treat you two lovely ladies to dinner tonight?" Deng Yue offered.

"What about the food my sister sent?" Jiang Ci asked with a slight frown.

But Han Lan was already tempted. After all, who wouldn't want to dine with a handsome guy?

"We can put it in the fridge and eat it later. It won't spoil. Let's go, I'll treat you to hot pot," Deng Yue said enthusiastically.

Recently, Jiang Ci and Han Lan had been under a lot of pressure, so they were eager for some relaxation and quickly agreed. Besides, Jiang Ci loved spicy food—the spicier, the better.

During dinner, Deng Yue asked Jiang Ci, "Since we added each other on WeChat, we haven't chatted. I didn't know you worked at New East Group. That's promising."

"I'm just a low-level employee; there's no future in that. Han Lan has more potential; she's the New East Star, a future executive," Jiang Ci said, not forgetting to praise Han Lan.

Jiang Ci could tell that Han Lan had a good impression of Deng Yue. Han Lan and Deng Yue also exchanged WeChat contacts.

"Oh, by the way, Jiang Ci is going to the suburbs on Sunday to inspect a computer factory. We've never been there and are afraid of encountering scammers, so we want a guy to come with us. Why don't you join us?" Han Lan invited Deng Yue. "My sister told me her brother-in-law runs a gaming company, so you're perfect for evaluating computers."

"Visiting a computer factory? No problem. I'll drive you two ladies there. Planning to buy computers? Why not just go to the electronics market instead of the source?"

"Two hundred units. We're donating them to children in the mountains. It's the same school we visited together," Jiang Ci explained easily, as she and Deng Yue had visited the charity school together before.

"Two hundred units, impressive. You must have some money."

"Not really. I sold my dad's house in the countryside," Jiang Ci deflected, fearing Deng Yue would ask about the money's origin, putting her in an awkward position.

She hadn't even mentioned her contractual marriage with Lu Yudong to Han Lan, nor did Han Lan know the source of the money.

Her father's old house was in the countryside, and Jiang Ci had never been there. Besides, you can't sell a homestead.

Fortunately, Deng Yue didn't press further.

What could Jiang Ci say? That she sold herself for it?

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