Zhou Luming was driving. Since they left the restaurant and got into the car, neither Xu Yan nor she had mentioned Wu Fan. They were going to the headquarters of Shanhai Catering Group to make an appearance. Although Zhou Luming was just a mascot as the general manager, he still wanted his subordinates to see who the boss was.
Hearing this, Zhou Luming's lips curled slightly. "Oh? You care?" His eyes darted around, quickly scanning Xu Yan's profile. "Are you jealous?"
Xu Yan said, "He didn't expose you in front of Xu Lang because he was worried that it would cause you a lot of trouble. Later, he chased after you to talk privately. Although his tone was intense and he kept provoking you, he ultimately didn't make up his mind to break up with you and go against you. I could tell from his tone that he still had feelings for you. If it weren't for his feelings for you, he wouldn't have ignored his father's grudge to come and have lunch with you."
Zhou Luming stopped the car at the traffic light. "Maybe so, so what? He likes his own things, and I like mine." She had given Xu Yan enough hints, but Xu Yan didn't take the bait.
Since being discharged from the hospital, Zhou Luming had been unable to gauge Xu Yan's feelings. She had kissed him first in the hospital, so their relationship should have been confirmed, but Xu Yan avoided the topic, always talking about work when they tried to chat. Zhou Luming didn't want to push too hard. Someone as perceptive as Xu Yan wouldn't give a clear answer unless she was still hesitant and hadn't made up her mind. He felt he should be more understanding and not press her further.
“He is Xu Lang’s special assistant and financial advisor. Through him, we can quickly grasp Xu Lang’s financial situation,” Xu Yan analyzed. “He was able to orchestrate my parents’ car accident across the ocean, to instruct the successful Lu Yong to do things, and to hire S through the dark web… All of these events require huge financial support. The mastermind behind the scenes has a business relationship with the Zhou family and controls a certain amount of wealth. Based on these two conditions, Xu Lang is very suspicious to me. He is the prime suspect.”
The light had already turned green, and Zhou Luming shifted gears to start the car. "So, my next task is to feign compliance with Wu Fan and get Xu Lang's financial information from him? But Wu Fan hates me. I ran away from my wedding back then and even reported his father for bribing officials, sending him to prison. He's not the innocent little rabbit he used to be; he's not so easily fooled anymore."
"Back then, you and him..." Xu Yan hesitated, wanting to ask how far things had progressed between Zhou Luming and Wu Fan. They were engaged and about to get married, so it was normal for them to have some intimate interactions. Xu Yan told herself she shouldn't think about so many messy things, but she couldn't control herself.
She is now struggling with reason. Investigating Xu Lang's financial information through Wu Fan is the most feasible method at present, but she does not want Zhou Luming and Wu Fan to get too close.
Zhou Luming tossed his hair and said, "Nothing like what you're thinking happened between Wu Fan and me."
Although intimate moments and hugs were inevitable, Zhou Luming kept things in check, preventing Wu Fan from taking advantage of her. Just like in previous missions, she always managed to extricate herself at crucial moments.
Physically, she abhorred contact with these people. She had thought she could control herself, but things didn't go as planned. She couldn't resist the urge to be intimate.
"Hmm." Xu Yan breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhou Luming said, "But if we were to contact him again, he might not be as easy to fool as before. If he had to play along and try to take advantage of me, I might be in more danger."
Xu Yan pursed her lips, contemplating giving up, but before she could speak, Zhou Luming said, "But since it's something you asked me to do, I won't shirk my responsibility. After all, you pulled me out of my darkest hour, so I have to repay your kindness. But Xu Yan, we agreed beforehand that this task requires an extra commission, so don't be stingy and try to renege on your promise."
She casually dismissed the thorny issue by mentioning a commission, saying, "I can give you a blank check; you can fill in any amount you want."
"I don't like this car. You'll come with me to buy another one as a commission."
"Okay." Xu Yan replied without hesitation.
Seeing how readily she agreed, Zhou Luming asked curiously, "How much wealth do you actually have? Why does it seem like you never run out of money? Have you been secretly making some ill-gotten gains behind my back, or using Zhou Luming's inheritance?"
Xu Yan leaned back with his arms crossed. "Besides the income from estate management cases, I also own several hedge funds overseas with a dozen or so employees who do some investments. I've been quite lucky these past few years and have earned some start-up capital. As for my current wealth, although it's far less than the Zhou family estate you're going to inherit, I estimate it will still place me on the list of the richest people in Shanghai."
"No wonder you look down on Zhou Luming's identity. It turns out you're already capable of handling things on your own. If I had such outstanding abilities, I wouldn't have chosen to risk accepting a name like Zhou Luming, which brings danger and constraints."
Zhou Luming exclaimed in admiration and parked his car in an open space in front of a large courtyard where the headquarters of Shanhai Catering was located.
The location of Shan Hai Catering is very stylish, situated in a manor halfway up a mountain, surrounded by birdsong, fragrant flowers, and lush greenery, creating a tranquil environment. Apart from the inconvenience for employees commuting to and from get off work, it can be described as the most beautiful and comfortable office environment in Haishi.
Female employees in uniforms were there to welcome us at the entrance.
"Mr. Zhou, welcome to our visit." The female employee said with a sweet smile. "I'm your assistant, you can call me Xiao Mo."
Zhou Luming nodded. He guessed that Xiao Mo was one of Xu Lang's men, sent to keep an eye on him, the mascot, to prevent him from misbehaving.
Xu Yan got out of the car and walked quietly behind.
The office atmosphere at the headquarters of Shan Hai Catering is not very serious. After entering, there is a reception hall with famous paintings and green plants. After passing through the hall, there is the department responsible for contacting sales. There are not many employees, and they are all middle and senior management. The overall atmosphere is relaxed.
Zhou Luming was very interested in the R&D department and asked Xiao Mo to show him around. Xiao Mo led him through several offices and then to the R&D department. Even through the glass door, a fragrant aroma wafted over. Xiao Mo explained that Shan Hai Catering's R&D department was developing new dishes, so half of the R&D staff were professional chefs, and the other half were people with backgrounds in chemistry and biology, responsible for testing the chemical and biological components of the dishes to prevent food safety issues.
In front of Xiao Mo and the group of employees, Zhou Luming made no attempt to hide his ignorance, asking questions frequently. He even wore a hat and went in to sample the newly developed dishes with the staff, expressing his thoughts as a pure foodie.
Xu Yan was forced to eat a plate of pan-fried buns, but after eating them, she still felt that Lao Liu's buns tasted better.
Zhou Luming suggested that the R&D department hire Lao Liu, but both the R&D department and Xiao Mo were hesitant, saying that personnel arrangements required Chairman Xu's approval. Zhou Luming, without hesitation, put on his general manager's airs and said that he wanted Lao Liu. Xiao Mo had no choice but to make a phone call to inform him and then agree to do it.
After a busy afternoon, Xu Yan returned to the car and said, "You overdid it a little today."
Zhou Luming raised an eyebrow. "Really? I still think it's not quite there yet. For example, when he was throwing a tantrum, he wasn't quite there. I'll improve next time and play the role of this spoiled brat convincingly and flawlessly."
The less Zhou Luming knew about business, the more Xu Lang trusted her. Shanhai Catering was a testing ground for her; if Zhou Luming performed well, Xu Lang wouldn't feel comfortable letting her join the board of directors; if she made a mess of things, Xu Lang would feel more at ease letting her join.
This was the strategy she and Xu Yan had decided on—to play dumb to outmaneuver the enemy.
After dressing up as the mascot at Shanhai Catering, Zhou Luming drove straight home and plopped down on the sofa.
"Ugh, I'm exhausted. Acting is more tiring than exercising."
Xu Yan tidied up the shoes she had carelessly left at the door, took her slippers and placed them in front of her, then sat down on the single sofa next to her and said, "Thank you for using your position to arrange a job for Lao Liu."
Zhou Luming said, "No need to be polite, this is a small matter and not worth mentioning. Old Liu's family is indeed in dire straits. If the old man really makes a will leaving the demolition compensation and the house to Lin Sao, their lives will only get harder and harder. Anyone with eyes can see that Lin Sao has ulterior motives and is after the old man's house and the demolition compensation, but the old man himself is blind to it. He refuses to budge even after falling out with his children. I'm really impressed by them."
“Old Liu and his other siblings refused to back down, and neither did Old Master Liu. The conflict between them was deep and irreconcilable. The administration of the estate must follow the wishes of the deceased. In this matter, we can only follow Old Master Liu’s ideas and cannot interfere or offer any advice.”
“That’s not necessarily true. As far as I know, Old Master Liu never cared for his siblings when they were young. They were idle and always going out to gamble, play mahjong, listen to operas, and sing songs. Their mother took care of the family the whole time. So after their mother passed away, they all left home and abandoned Old Master Liu. This is his retribution. Now his children are all in poor financial condition, and one of their daughters is seriously ill and needs money for treatment. Old Master Liu won’t leave them a single penny. He’s so inhumane,” Zhou Luming said, speaking out indignantly.
Xu Yan said, "I'll handle this matter. You should think about your own business."
Getting close to Wu Fan requires careful consideration. Xu Yan hopes she can think deeply and weigh the pros and cons before taking any action.
Zhou Luming put on her slippers, glanced at her with her eyes raised, and asked, "What's it to me?" Her voice trailed off with a hint of languor. She also hoped that Xu Yan could make his stance clear and face their relationship squarely.
Xu Yan stood up and said, "Pack up, Aunt Zhou will be coming over to cook dinner later."
Chapter 71
===================
Xu Yan was chatting with Cathy, a psychologist, in the study. Cathy keenly noticed the change in Xu Yan. "Yan, it seems like you've opened up about some of your inner conflicts. Has something good happened recently?"
Xu Yan leaned back in his leather office chair. "I told her my true identity and my true purpose, and I felt much more at ease."
Cathy smiled. "It seems she is a kind and understanding lady."
Xu Yan nodded, "Yes, she is really smart. She guessed that I was the real Zhou Luming before I even told her. I used to try to hide my identity by putting on layers of disguise, but in the end I decided to be honest because it made me feel very uncomfortable, like someone was choking me and I couldn't breathe properly. Now I don't have that problem, and I rarely have nightmares anymore."
"You'll be able to truly fight side-by-side from now on, but I think you still have some doubts. What's the new problem that's bothering you right now?"
"I don't know how to handle my relationship with her," Xu Yan said, rubbing her temples.
Cathy said, "I can't make the decision for you on this issue, I can only give you advice - follow your heart."
Xu Yan pondered for a moment, "Thank you for your suggestion, I will consider it."
"You've been receiving fewer consultations lately. Is it because the help I'm providing is limited, or do you feel you've already learned enough knowledge and skills from me and no longer need psychological counseling?"
“I am indeed much better now. This is our last therapy session. I will no longer need your help. Thank you, Cathy. I will have the finance department settle the bill for me. We don’t need to schedule any more sessions,” Xu Yan said.
Cathy seemed to have been prepared, shrugging helplessly, "I understand, Yan. We're ending our counseling relationship, but we can also build a friendship. I hope we can become friends."
Xu Yan nodded. "Thank you."
Both she and Cathy knew in their hearts that Xu Yan would no longer seek psychological counseling from her.
Cathy turned off the video, leaned back in her chair, and couldn't help but feel regretful. Xu Yan was a very good client, beautiful and generous, never stingy with consultation fees, but she had never fully opened up to her, a complex and difficult person to win over. Over the years, Xu Yan's visits to her had been less about consultation and more about sleeping and learning on-site.
Xu Yan is very intelligent; she's so intelligent that she can derive her own set of psychological theories based on Cathy's guidance and answers. The fact that her consultation has ended indicates that she has acquired enough knowledge to no longer need Cathy's guidance.
Cathy felt a void in her heart; she knew that Xu Yan, far away across the ocean, had become an unattainable dream.
There was a knock on the glass door of the study, and Zhou Luming said from outside, "Time for dinner."
When Xu Yan came out, she found that Aunt Zhou had already left, leaving only her and Zhou Luming in the house. There was no food on the table. Zhou Luming asked Xu Yan to leave her phone in the house and told her to come with her.
Xu Yan was led to the rooftop by her. The rooftop had been booked and renovated by Zhou Luming, turning it into a natural open space. Zhou Luming set up a wooden picnic table with tonight's dinner on it.
Two scented candles and a tied-up parasol stand beside them, which can be opened for use on rainy days or when the sun is blazing. There are no particularly fancy decorations; the outdoor dining table on the balcony is very practical.
It has to be said that the atmosphere at this moment is very romantic, and it is the romance that a girl brings to Xu Yan.
"Sit down. The house might be monitored, but I personally arranged the balcony; it won't be spied on." Zhou Luming pressed Xu Yan down into a wooden chair. In front of them were several plates of freshly cooked Jiangzhe dishes. Salt and pepper shrimp, squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, and preserved egg with spinach were refreshing, delicious, and visually appealing.
Xu Yan felt that Zhou Luming was being overly attentive tonight. If she hadn't been wearing a dress and had nowhere to hide her things, she would have thought he was going to propose to her with a ring.
When the thought of proposing popped into her head, Xu Yan was startled. How could this be? Zhou Luming yearned for freedom, was adept at playing the field, and was never bound by anyone or anything. Her upbringing instilled in her a desire for freedom, and she wouldn't stop there.
Although she had once indulged herself by kissing her, Xu Yan quickly adjusted her mindset. She would not let her feelings interfere with her plans, nor would she let her greed restrict the freedom she deserved.
This was just an ordinary dinner to avoid being eavesdropped on, held on Zhou Luming's balcony, under the high stars.
"The Zhou family will soon be hosting a birthday party for me. Unlike the blind date party at the Zhou residence last time, this time they will formally introduce me to the Zhou family's relatives and friends, as well as the shareholders and important clients of the Zhou Group." Zhou Luming sat opposite Xu Yan and told her about the information he had just received across the table. "My aunt Zhou Jiayi called me and told me about this. She asked me about the contents of the invitation and the contact information of some of my friends. Since the blind date party last time, my aunt has not given up and is still trying to please me and repair our relationship."
“Zhou Jiayi is the most impatient one in the Zhou family. I’m not too worried about her and Sun Ren,” Xu Yan said, picking up some spinach. “Among the Zhou family, the one I’m most worried about is my aunt Zhou Jiasang, who has been quiet and seems to be detached from the business. She seems to be a gynecologist who doesn’t get involved in the business, but she may actually have business dealings with the Zhou family. I’ve investigated her, but I haven’t found any particularly obvious signs. You need to be extra careful with someone who even I can’t figure out.”
“Hmm, I’ll play it by ear.” Zhou Luming looked up at Xu Yan. “Sun Ren told me he wanted to pursue you, but why hasn’t he made any moves lately? Or is there something he’s doing that you haven’t told me about?”
"I caused some trouble for his company, and now he's busy dealing with company matters and doesn't have time to come see me," Xu Yan said casually. Sun Ren's game company was nothing compared to Wang Anjing's Metaverse Technology; even a little trouble from Wang Anjing could divert all of Sun Ren's attention.
"Oh, I see—I thought he gave up. But Sun Ren is your cousin, right? I wonder what his expression will be when he finds out the truth." Zhou Luming smiled and put a large shrimp on Xu Yan's plate.
Xu Yan frowned, looking at the shrimp on the plate with difficulty. Although it looked delicious, peeling it was quite troublesome.
Zhou Luming picked the shrimp back up and started peeling it himself.
"I've thought it over. After the birthday party, I'll find a way to get close to Wu Fan and get Xu Lang's financial information for you."
Xu Yan looked up and said, "If you're not willing, I can think of another way."
“At most, I’ll let him take advantage of me. I’ll tolerate it because of the large commission you’re giving me. It’s nothing.” Zhou Luming handed the peeled shrimp to Xu Yan, swapped Xu Yan’s empty plate with his, and continued peeling shrimp. “Unless… someone gets jealous and can’t bear to see me continue to sell my body, I can stop flirting with Wu Fan, but the commission still has to be paid.”
Xu Yan coughed lightly, "Be careful." She still remembered that Luke's incident almost caused Zhou Luming to suffer, but Luke was used to being audacious and only acted with impunity because Lu Yong was backing him up. Wu Fan, on the other hand, would not be as flamboyant as Luke. Working for someone else without a strong background, his style of doing things would be more restrained.
However, Wu Fan knew about Zhou Luming's past. He had been in contact with Li Ruo in the past, and she was a significant threat to Zhou Luming now. The closer they got, the greater the possibility of exposure, so they needed to be extra careful.
Xu Yan wanted to stop the adventurous plan for a moment, but Zhou Luming made the decision for her while she hesitated.
"Have some preserved egg and spinach," Zhou Luming said, handing the dish to Xu Yan. "I can handle him."
But Xu Yan only picked up a little bit of spinach, and Zhou Luming's eyes darkened slightly.
"Aren't you tired of carrying the plates?"
"Okay." Zhou Luming put the preserved egg and spinach back in their original place.
“This is enough shrimp meat, you don’t need to peel any more for me,” Xu Yan said. “You should eat some too, you’ll probably be very busy from now on.”
"Hmm," Zhou Luming replied casually.
Something seemed to have disturbed her good mood from the beginning. Xu Yan didn't press the matter, but focused on finishing her dinner. "If there's nothing else, I'm going back to my room to sleep."
"Okay, goodnight." Zhou Luming smiled at her.
Xu Yan paused, unsure of what to say, and ultimately returned to his room without saying anything.
Zhou Luming, left behind, didn't immediately return to the house. She sat alone at the table, staring blankly at the plate of preserved eggs and spinach. She used her chopsticks to separate the spinach and saw something sparkly underneath—a simple platinum ring, beautiful and elegant even without diamonds. She thought the ring suited Xu Yan well, so she bought it as a birthday present, never expecting that Xu Yan wouldn't notice it.
He sighed slightly, regretting that he shouldn't have put the ring in that spinach soup.