Volume One, Chapter 88: Young Master Lou’s Girlfriend

Jiang Huai felt as though the sun had risen in the west today.

Ever since the engagement was called off, Lou Ye seemed to have gone into monkhood. Forget eating, drinking, racing, or clubbing—even getting him to come out for a meal was harder than ascending to heaven.

He never expected, on this wonderful Friday, that the man himself would call and ask him out!

“Bro, what’s going on?” Pushing open the private room door, chaos greeted him. Jiang Huai jostled his way to Lou Ye’s side, scrutinizing his features, “I thought you’d succeeded in confessing your love, too excited to sleep. But seeing you now... you didn’t?”

He was met with Lou Ye’s icy glare—a blade slicing through the air.

Jiang Huai understood.

Either the confession failed, or it was thwarted.

In any case, Young Master Lou was furious, and the consequences would be dire.

“Ladies and gentlemen, let’s get this party started!” He opened the wine, rallying the friends around to liven up the mood.

Instantly, Jiang Huai transformed into the confidant little brother, “Bro, girls need to be coaxed. Especially the kind like our sister-in-law, a beauty of unmatched grace and gentleness. If you don’t spoil her, some other man will seize the opportunity, you know…”

He hadn’t finished his sentence before another icy look flew his way—though noticeably less sharp than the last.

So, his guess was right?

“A good girl is no match for a persistent suitor…” Jiang Huai wore the air of a seasoned lover, “You’re already spending half her day with her—work by day, dinner by night. If you try a bit harder and occupy all twenty-four hours, not just men, but even mosquitoes won’t get a chance.”

Crude as it sounded, the logic seemed irrefutable.

Had he arrived a few minutes earlier, before Lu Jinnian, would Sang Wan have let Lu Jinnian in, have him eat her noodles, pet her cat?

Ultimately, it wasn’t Sang Wan’s fault.

It was those damn red lights that blocked his way!

In the blink of an eye, his anger dissipated somewhat.

Lou Ye sipped his wine, patted Jiang Huai’s shoulder, “I didn’t spoil you for nothing, kid!”

Just as Lou Ye set down his glass and stood up, Jiang Huai thought, …Is it too late to shout, “To hell with you!”?

Lou Ye made his way downstairs; turning a corner, he caught Lu Jinnian’s voice.

Looking back, he saw Lu Jinnian in the VIP room, drinking with friends.

The Lu Corporation had just secured a major project, and Lu Jinnian, as the man of the hour, was being praised to the skies, wearing the look of a winner.

“Brother Lu, why didn’t you bring your little wife?”

“What little wife? They’re divorced. The true Mrs. Lu is the one he cherishes—there’s no ‘little’ or ‘big’ about it.”

A chorus of flattery rose from the crowd.

Lu Jinnian quickly interjected, “Don’t talk nonsense! Even though Wanwan and I are divorced, we shared years as husband and wife, and besides, there’s Xiao Mu. No matter when, she’s always in my heart.”

The tone was clear to all.

Everyone exchanged glances, sensing the regret in Lu Jinnian’s words.

With a silent cue, they all shifted the conversation.

“That’s why we say Brother Lu is sentimental! Sister-in-law is just a bit headstrong, hasn’t come around yet. Just wait, soon enough she’ll regret it deeply!”

“Bro, if she asks me to help smooth things over, please give me some face and show up. Whether you go along with it or not, we’ll see then, right?”

It was his birthday, a happy day.

With everyone’s words painting a picture of Sang Wan regretting her decision by dawn, Lu Jinnian’s mood soared, “Alright, alright…”

As he finished, the door swung open and a white-gloved waiter entered, carrying a bottle of Lafite.

An ’82, no less.

This dinner was hosted for Lu Jinnian by his friends, but none had ordered such a wine.

No one dared assume it was a mistake; all eyes turned to Lu Jinnian.

He looked back.

The waiter, respectful, said, “Mr. Lu, Young Master Lou sent this for you.”

“Lou Ye?”

“Yes, sir.”

At that moment, Lu Jinnian felt his birthday had reached new heights.

It was Lou Ye!

His friends, already flattering him, now looked on with envious awe.

Lu Jinnian stood up, excitement barely contained, but forced himself to appear composed, “You all keep drinking, I’ll go thank Mr. Lou.”

He stepped out, spotting Lou Ye in the corridor.

Lu Jinnian, feeling honored, reached out, “Mr. Lou…”

Hands in his pockets, Lou Ye made no move to shake, “I heard you landed the DM Group project. Congratulations.”

Lu Jinnian awkwardly withdrew his hand, “I have to thank you for letting it go.”

DM Group had first approached the Lou Corporation; their CEO had even flown in to meet Lou Ye personally.

But for reasons unknown, negotiations fizzled.

Lu Jinnian pursued the deal relentlessly and finally secured it.

Though he felt uneasy, as if picking up what Lou Ye didn’t want, he reasoned that money mattered more than pride.

After thanking him for the Lafite, Lu Jinnian recalled the night Lou Ye left the bar with that woman in his arms, “You didn’t bring your girlfriend tonight?”

Lou Ye paused.

Lu Jinnian felt even more at ease.

So that night, Lou Ye hadn’t ignored him—he simply hadn’t seen him.

“That night, at Nightfall…” Lu Jinnian prompted, “You carried her out, guarding her like treasure.”

“Oh…” Lou Ye seemed to remember, looked Lu Jinnian in the eye, “Yes, she’s my girlfriend.”

“You’re a lucky man!” Lu Jinnian complimented with a smile, “Miss Shao, the sixth daughter, is renowned for her beauty, but I caught a glimpse that night—your wife surpasses her! You have excellent taste and great fortune!”

Just hearing “girlfriend” improved Lou Ye’s mood.

Hearing “Mrs. Lou,” especially from Lu Jinnian’s lips, eased the tension he’d carried all night.

“It's a fine weekend, I won’t keep you…” Lou Ye glanced at the nosy faces peeking from the private room, offering his final blessing, “May you and your new wife be bound together, growing old side by side!”

Lu Jinnian wanted to clarify he and Lin Chaochao weren’t serious.

But he felt no need to explain to Lou Ye.

He also wanted to wish him and Sang Wan the same fate.

Yet Lou Ye gave him no chance, simply walking away.

As if he’d come just to deliver the wine and congratulate him on the DM deal.

Amidst the baffling surprise, Lu Jinnian returned to the private room, feeling like a star.

The Maybach sped back, stopping beneath the apartment building. Lou Ye picked up his phone and opened the chat box.

Tonight, his conversation with Sang Wan had ended at “Pour it out.”

She hadn’t replied.

On one hand, he felt she was cold—he’d said he’d be late, and she didn’t even ask why or whether he’d eaten.

On the other, he feared she was angry.

Made it, then poured it out—was he playing with her?

His heart teetered between anger and anxiety.

Lou Ye was thoroughly unsettled.

Most importantly, Lu Jinnian seemed to regret the divorce.

And Sang Wan…

If he didn’t get to the bottom of this tonight, sleep would be impossible!

The elevator rose to the 19th floor.

The doorbell chimed, Lou Ye’s eyes lit up.

It seemed…he’d found his excuse!

Though, admittedly, it was a bit underhanded.