Volume One, Chapter 37: Isn't It Enough to Be Human? Why Insist on Being a Hypocrite!

He didn’t know whether to be angry that someone had found out where Sang Wan lived before he did, or to be relieved that the person was a human, not a beast, who had braved the rain to bring her home.

Lu Jin-nian stared intently at Sang Wan as she approached slowly.

“If you have something to say, just say it—”

Ignoring his question, Sang Wan stopped right at the front of the car.

From three or five steps away, he finally saw her face clearly, and her attire as well.

The nameless fire in Lu Jin-nian’s heart sprang from a spark to a flame.

A white chiffon blouse.

Black tailored trousers.

Between the cropped pants and high heels, a sliver of slender, fair ankle was exposed.

She was the very image of a bright, capable woman of the city.

The year Sang Wan first entered the Lu Corporation, she dressed and carried herself just like this.

No one knew she was married, and the single male employees flocked around her.

Even when they learned she belonged to someone, men still vied for her attention, offering coffee or fetching takeout.

If back then Sang Wan was a white lotus standing tall in a summer pond, now she had blossomed into a vibrant red rose.

But she had not bloomed under his watchful eyes.

For whom?

That wild man?

“Sang Wan, is it because you have someone outside that you insist on a divorce?” Lu Jin-nian asked in a low voice.

Sang Wan frowned. “So, after you celebrated Lu Xiao-mu’s birthday with Lin Zhao-zhao, declaring to the neighbors that Lu’s family will soon have a new mistress, and took Lin Zhao-zhao to the kindergarten sports day, announcing to the teachers and classmates that Lu Xiao-mu will have a new mother—now you come to ask if I have someone outside?”

“Lu Jin-nian…” Sang Wan said coldly, “Is it so hard to be a decent person? Must you be a double-standard dog?”

Lu Jin-nian’s face darkened.

Sang Wan turned to leave.

Thinking that if it happened once it could happen again, Sang Wan looked back at him. “Don’t come bothering me anymore! Next time, as you wish, I’ll move in with another man. I’m sure he’ll be delighted. As for you… if you dare show up, the media will be even more delighted. What do you think?”

Lu Jin-nian’s face was livid, nearly chasing after her.

But remembering Sang Wan’s words—she meant what she said—he knew if he pursued, tomorrow paparazzi would be camped outside the Lu Group’s doors.

Lu Jin-nian forcibly held himself back.

She walked to the end of the alley without hearing his car start up and drive away.

But since he hadn’t come after her, Sang Wan breathed a sigh of relief.

Lowering her head, she saw a text from Lu Jin-nian.

[If you don’t want trouble, don’t do anything unnecessary!]

The implication: he wouldn’t disturb her again, so she shouldn’t block him.

Nine days left.

No need to check the calendar; everyone knew the Monday after next was certificate day.

Having endured for so long, the month-long cooling-off period was finally about to end.

Sang Wan couldn’t help but curse those so-called experts who suggested the cooling-off period for the N+1st time.

In the noisy, bustling private room, Lou Ye’s phone on the coffee table lit up.

Lou Ye sat up.

Someone beside him hurried to look over, then turned with a strange expression to Lou Ye. “Bro, Uncle Wang from the wonton shop says he wants to talk to you.”

The prince of the capital’s elite circles.

Uncle Wang from the wonton shop.

Those two words couldn’t be more unrelated if you tried.

Yet Lou Ye seemed interested, rising and taking his phone outside.

“Hello, Uncle Wang? Is something wrong?”

“Boss, um, I just saw Miss Sang talking with a man driving a Mercedes at the alley entrance…”

“Uncle Wang…” Lou Ye interrupted, “The only reason I invest so you can keep your wonton shop open is because I like your wontons. Don’t act on your own. Don’t meddle. Don’t be nosy. Got it?”

The other side instantly understood. “Boss, my mistake!”

Beep.

Beep beep.

Suddenly cut off, Lou Ye glanced at his phone, chuckling and shaking his head.

He returned to the corner sofa. Jiang Huai pushed away the woman in his arms and came over. “Bro, tell your little brother—what’s been going wrong lately?”

Business issues? The Lou family couldn’t possibly have problems.

Even if they did, he couldn’t help.

So it must be something else.

And if it’s something else, it’s either about people or matters.

If it’s someone Lou Ye wants, Jiang Huai could dig them up and send them to his bed.

If it’s something Lou Ye wants done, he just needs a word and it’ll be handled.

But Lou Ye was calm as ever, as if nothing had happened.

So enigmatic it made Jiang Huai uneasy.

“Do you like money?” Lou Ye replied with a question.

Jiang Huai squinted, “Obviously!”

“Then buy more shares of the Lu Corporation lately.”

With just that, Jiang Huai was stunned. “Lu Corporation? Which Lu? Lu Jin-nian’s Lu?”

What else? How many Lu Corporations are there in the capital?

A glance from Lou Ye told Jiang Huai he’d been dismissed.

Jiang Huai was perplexed. “What’s so good about Lu Corp’s stock? My old man says Lu Corp under Lu Jin-nian is mediocre and always will be… Bro, you’re not setting me up, right? I haven’t offended you lately, have I?”

As soon as he spoke, Lou Ye shot him a sidelong glance.

He recalled the flamboyant joke from the phone call.

Jiang Huai rubbed the back of his neck, which felt cold. “Bro, got it! Thanks!”

“Bro, just one last question—how much should I buy?”

“…Do you like money?”

“Obviously!”

“If you do, roll up your sleeves and go all out!”

“…So, when do I sell?”

“That’s the second question, I’ll have to charge for it.”

“…Bro, bro, I—”

“Don’t call me bro! Hearing you say it feels off… The Wednesday after next!”

???

That precise? Jiang Huai was still dazed.

Lou Ye was already opening the door to leave.

“Bro, wait—Lou Ye, if I win, you get seventy percent; if I lose, I take all the loss!”

His shout was swallowed by the louder, deeper beats outside the door.

Lou Ye walked downstairs, hands in his pockets.

“Hey, handsome—wanna hang out?”

A slightly tipsy, cool beauty came up to him, riding the wave of her inebriation.

Lou Ye sidestepped smoothly.

He slipped through the crowd and out of the bar.

After the heavy rain, the air was crisp and fresh.

The Ferrari roared down the street, then stopped at the mouth of the alley.

It was late at night; the wonton shop was already closed.

The alley was silent.

Lou Ye didn’t get out.

He sat quietly in the car, called Rong Jing. “Tell me, how can I tear down this block with the wonton shop, and then have the people living here move into the houses I want them to live in?”

Thinking of the location of the wonton shop, Rong Jing gasped. “Please wait a moment…”

In the quiet car, he could hear the frantic clicking on the other end.

He imagined Rong Jing making the calculator smoke.

Lou Ye’s gaze followed the side window, stretching into the infinite distance.

“A rough estimate, the demolition compensation will be over ten billion, not counting reconstruction.”

Rong Jing said, “As long as you handle the remaining stubborn households, moving them shouldn’t be an issue.”

Who wouldn’t want a huge compensation and a new house?

So, relocation wasn’t the problem; demolition was the key.

“What if it’s renters?”

???

His mind stalled for a moment.

Rong Jing thought he must have misheard.

His brilliant boss couldn’t possibly ask such a naive, silly question. “What did you say?”

A drop of water fell from the window sill onto his palm.

Lou Ye snapped out of it.

“Nothing…”

He closed the window, started the car, and drove off. “Rest early. Have a good weekend!”

Rong Jing: ...