Chapter 44, Lu He'an zooms in...
Lu He'an zoomed in on the photo, exited, zoomed in again, and repeated this process several times until he finally confirmed that Fang Xuan was the young master of Ruizhou International Hotel, the one who was never seen at any of the big or small gatherings.
The owner of Ruizhou International is surnamed Fang. He and his childhood sweetheart are deeply in love. After their marriage, they had a child, who, if I remember correctly, is also named Fang Xuan and is about the same age as me.
Coupled with the birthday cake photo that Fang Xuan posted on his WeChat Moments last month, a landscape painting hangs next to a luxurious and elegant giant mural in the background, and a huge Podocarpus macrophyllus can be vaguely seen standing outside the window on the far left of the photo.
The entire photo exudes understated luxury and carries a strong sense of ancient charm; one might mistake it for a private room in a hotel.
But Lu He'an recognized the landscape painting.
Before Lu Mingshu's birthday last year, Lu He'an went to various auction houses, just to find a suitable birthday gift.
By a series of coincidences, I came across this landscape painting.
The starting price was not high, only 2 million, and it should have been a sure thing to be sold. However, someone else took a fancy to the landscape painting at that auction, so the price skyrocketed, and the other party eventually sold it for 28 million.
After the auction, Lu He'an was curious about who had won the bid. After making some inquiries, he learned that it was the owner of Ruizhou International who had won the bid.
City A has a large social circle, and while those who are considered influential within it may not be intimately acquainted, they've at least met each other. The only exception is the Fang family member, whom he's never actually met. Unlike Jiang Huaichuan, who frequently appears in the elders' conversations, shrouded in an invisible pressure, he's also unlike Lin Hui, who lives a carefree, partying life and can have a drink with the young masters and ladies of various families.
It seems like everyone knows this person exists, but if you ask him what he looks like or what he's been up to lately, 99% of people will be completely clueless.
Lu He'an was stunned. When he came to his senses, he couldn't help but feel a little schadenfreude.
Wang Luo was single-mindedly looking for a rich man. He abandoned Fang Xuan because Fang Xuan seemed richer than him, and later abandoned Fang Xuan because he found that Shen Li was even richer.
But Wang Luo could never have imagined that the person who truly liked and admired him, could tolerate all his flaws, and met his ideal criteria, had already been slapped in the face and ruthlessly discarded by him.
Lu He'an secretly vowed that if there were ever a scene of "kneeling and begging for forgiveness" in the future, he would definitely be there and mercilessly mock that idiot.
——
Shen Li was the third to last person to leave the cabin.
[Huaichuan: I've arrived]
[Huaichuan: Slow down, don't run]
Shen Li sat up straight instantly. He stood up, put on his down jacket, picked up his suitcase, and said to the two people who were still sitting on the sofa watching dramas, "I'm leaving first. Be careful on your way back, and remember to send a message in the group when you get home."
Yin Xi waved her hand: "Okay, be careful on the road."
"Uh-huh."
Shen Li pushed open the door and almost bumped into Jiang Huaichuan, who was standing outside.
A familiar scent wafted over.
"Watch your step." Jiang Huaichuan helplessly pulled over his suitcase, reached out to brush away the messy strands of hair from Shen Li's forehead, and put his arm around his waist.
Shen Li: "Okay."
It was six o'clock in the evening in March. It was already dark, and the small house was lit by warm yellow lights. The car was parked not far away, and the two walked forward along the path. Shen Li turned her head slightly, and what came into view was Jiang Huaichuan's sexy Adam's apple.
Look upwards.
Jiang Huaichuan noticed Shen Li's gaze and asked with a smile, "What's wrong..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was cut off. Jiang Huaichuan's dark, bright eyes, like glass, widened instantly, and an indescribable surprise burst forth from them.
They kissed!
At the door of the small wooden house ten meters away, Yin Xi instantly grabbed Shu Fu's hand tightly. The two girls clung to the door frame, their heads pressed against the door like candied hawthorns, one above the other.
The two of them were watching a TV series, and since they didn't have any plans to go back, the production team rented the cabin for four days, which they could use until Monday noon.
Just as they were getting into the chase, a strange male voice suddenly came from the doorway, followed by Shen Li's warm and familiar voice, which was different from the clear and gentle voice of the past two days, and had a hint of tenderness.
Shu Fu's radar went off instantly.
She's an author who writes romance novels, so she's an expert at shipping couples.
Shu Fu quickly exchanged a glance with her friend, and the two of them, with perfect understanding, stepped over the equipment scattered on the floor, pushed open the door, and lay down by the entrance.
On the pedestrian path not far away, two slender figures walked slowly under the bright white streetlights at night. The taller boy was wearing a black coat, pushing a suitcase with his left hand and tightly holding the boy in a down jacket with his right.
The two were similar in build and very close together. It seemed that Shen Li had said something, and the other boy turned his head to reveal his handsome and strong profile.
Holy crap!
Yin Xi: "They're such a perfect match..."
Shu Fu: "A gentle beauty should be paired with this type—powerful and noble! Ah Xi, I've got an idea, watch the drama yourself... Holy crap!!"
Shen Li's soft lips, faintly scented with strawberry candy, pressed against Jiang Huaichuan's lips. He stood on tiptoe, his thick eyelashes drooping. Even though he had made the first move, he dared not look into the eyes of the person in front of him.
Jiang Huaichuan instantly regained the initiative. He pried open Shen Li's teeth with his tongue and swept it wildly in Shen Li's warm mouth, as if he was certain that Shen Li would not resist.
After a long while, Jiang Huaichuan pressed the palm he had placed on Shen Li's waist slightly against himself. Shen Li was caught off guard and forced to get close.
The next second, Shen Li's misty eyes widened suddenly.
etc!
He looked down in surprise.
Before I could see clearly, my vision was covered by a pair of large hands, and Jiang Huaichuan's hoarse voice came from above.
"Stop looking, ancestor."
Inside the car, Shen Li sat in the passenger seat, holding a frozen pear in her arms. Her cheeks and ears were flushed red, and she didn't dare to look at Jiang Huaichuan.
He never expected that a kiss would elicit a reaction from Jiang Huaichuan.
Another red light.
Jiang Huaichuan kept tapping the steering wheel with his fingers, the red mole on his right index finger almost leaving a blur.
Shen Li couldn't help but glance at it several times. He cautiously glanced at it, then quickly looked away, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.
I've heard that holding it in can make you sick...
Shen Li silently opened the navigation on her phone.
As the car started, Shen Li suddenly spoke up: "Hmm, let's turn left at the next traffic light."
Jiang Huaichuan didn't ask why: "Okay."
After turning left, a hotel came into view. Jiang Huaichuan subconsciously slowed down, and after a couple of seconds of stunned silence, he pulled over and stepped on the brakes. He was afraid that he had misunderstood, and looked at Shen Li in surprise.
Under the man's increasingly intense gaze, Shen Li stroked Dong Li's fluffy head, his neck turning completely red, his eyes overflowing with affection. He bit his lip shyly and whispered, "This is a pet-friendly hotel." Dong Li can stay overnight.
Depend on!
Who can tolerate this?
Anyway, President Jiang can't stand it.
——
"Gently, gently..."
Jiang Huaichuan slowed his pace: "Okay."
"Slow down, slow down..."
Jiang Huaichuan fell silent.
——
In the middle of the night, Jiang Huaichuan pulled Shen Li into the soft blankets. Seeing him struggling to open his eyes in his sleep, he quickly kissed his trembling eyelids and coaxed him gently, "Sleep."
Perhaps surrounded by a reassuring atmosphere, Shen Li quickly fell asleep, his face serene, nestled obediently in the snow-white pillow.
Jiang Huaichuan, wearing Shen Li's pajamas with his limbs partially exposed, sat on the headboard with a satisfied expression. He gently touched Shen Li's swollen lips and then leaned down to kiss them again.
Perhaps it was because he had been exposed to the wind for too long the day before, or perhaps it was because he had been too indulgent and reckless the night before, but Shen Li woke up with a sore throat the next day. He coughed dryly twice and his brows furrowed slightly.
Shen Li reached out and pressed her fingertips against Jiang Huaichuan's raised eyebrows.
"fine."
Jiang Huaichuan strongly disagreed: "You always say it's nothing."
Shen Li choked.
Fortunately, he didn't have a fever. After taking the medicine, Shen Li felt much less of the sharp, razor-like pain in his throat. Afraid of being nagged by Jiang Huaichuan, he put on a mask, picked up the frozen pear sitting on the ground, and headed towards the elevator first.
Shen Li walked quickly, and Jiang Huaichuan was afraid that he wouldn't be paying attention to his footing while carrying the frozen pears, so he didn't dare to say anything and followed after him with his suitcase.
Shen Li was already standing in the elevator, her eyes smiling as she looked at him. Jiang Huaichuan sighed, stepped forward, pressed the button, and reached out to take Shen Li's hand, which was hanging by her side.
Their fingers are intertwined.
While Jiang Huaichuan was putting his luggage down beside the car, Shen Li lifted the frozen pear up slightly.
"Meow~"
The frozen pear tilted its head.
Shen Li lowered her eyes and whispered, "Son, you really should lose weight. Your father's right hand is almost numb."
——
At noon, Shen Li and Jiang Huaichuan arrived at the company.
Noticing the commotion, Zhou Ya, who was sitting at her workstation, looked up and said, "President Jiang, Assistant Chen, good afternoon."
Shen Li stopped in her tracks: "Good afternoon, won't you like to take a break?"
It's almost 12 o'clock now. 11:30 to 13:30 is the employees' lunch break time. He remembers that Zhou Ya had a habit of taking a nap in her car at noon.
Zhou Ya's eyes flickered, and she silently looked away. She couldn't very well say that she was waiting for the extra chapter of "Exchange of Lives" to be updated at 12 o'clock, could she?
"Take a break, take a break, just a moment..."
Before she could finish speaking, a hurried voice came from behind her, and the next second, Liu Na rushed in on her high heels.
"Sisters have updated again, fresh new additions... Gah!"
Upon meeting their eyes, Liu Na abruptly stopped in her tracks, while Zhou Ya covered her face with her hands and silently lowered her head.
Shen Li: ...
He suddenly remembered that after the live broadcast on Saturday and Sunday, there would be an extra hour or so on Monday noon, and the edited version of the main program would be released on Wednesday noon.
Liu Na walked back to her workstation with stiff limbs and unsteady steps. She breathed a sigh of relief and covered her face with her hands, just like Liu Na.
I thought the show was over, but I didn't expect there were still some experts out there.
The next second—
"It's updated! Quick, lend me a data cable, I forgot to bring it today..."
Jiang Huaichuan's pupils shifted slightly: I didn't expect to see you here... Song An.
Song An, a seasoned veteran, casually put his phone to his ear and said, "Ah, yes, yes, the samples have been updated. I'll be right there."
Liu Na, Zhou Ya: ...
Song An: Better to die for my fellow Daoist than for me.
Song An quickly sent a message in the chat group.
Upon seeing two ostriches appear before her, Shen Li smiled, pointed to her face, and joked, "These are fresher now."
Before she could finish speaking, Shen Li was pulled away by Jiang Huaichuan.
The following morning, an unexpected guest arrived at the company: Jiang Huaichuan's uncle, Jiang Zhirong.
Jiang Zhirong's position in the Jiang family is somewhat awkward. He has no blood relation to the Jiang family. His father and Grandpa Jiang are good friends. His mother passed away early. After his father passed away from a serious illness, Grandpa Jiang took Jiang Zhirong, who was still in high school, into the Jiang family and raised him as his own child.
Because he was more than ten years older than Jiang's father, Jiang Zhirong had already reached the management level of Jiang's company when Jiang's father graduated from university. Many of Jiang's father's business skills were taught by him.
When Grandpa Jiang and Jiang's father died unexpectedly, Zhang Man and others acted recklessly. It was Jiang Zhirong who held up half the sky under pressure.
A year after Jiang Huaichuan took over, Jiang Zhirong used health reasons as an excuse to step down from the front line and rarely appeared in the company except for necessary occasions.
Inside Jiang Huaichuan's office.
Shen Li brewed a cup of tea for Jiang Zhirong: "Uncle Jiang."
"Hey, Xiao Li, it's been over a year since we last met, hasn't it?" Jiang Zhirong's gaze was gentle as he looked Shen Li up and down. "Are you feeling much better?"
Shen Li smiled slightly: "Okay, you guys chat, I'll go out first."
Jiang Zhirong nodded: "Okay."
Seeing the wooden door to the office close, Jiang Huaichuan's smile vanished without a trace. He put down his cup, his eyes sweeping over Jiang Zhirong like sharp blades, his tone cold and his face ashen: "What are you doing here?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com