Chapter 90 A Step-by-Step Danger
The banquet hall of the Paramount Hotel was deathly silent.
All that remained in the air was the waiter's pig-like screams and the crisp echo of shattering glass.
Su Wantang's body stiffened for a moment, but she quickly recovered and broke free from his embrace.
Lu Jingyan did not insist on keeping her, and took the opportunity to release his hand around her waist.
That fiery red hue slipped from his embrace, taking with it a soft touch and a faint scent of gardenias.
With her back to him, Su Wantang quickly straightened out non-existent wrinkles on her skirt.
But her slightly flushed ears and unconsciously clenched fingers still betrayed the turmoil in her heart.
Su Wantang steadied herself and turned around, her face now displaying that captivatingly cold expression.
Bai Shu's cold gaze swept over the groaning waiter on the ground before returning to Lu Jingyan: "Bodyguard Lu, well done. Next time, keep your distance."
Looking at her feigned composure, Lu Jingyan felt a mischievous smirk rise in his deep eyes.
He enjoyed her flustered yet stubborn demeanor.
He took a half-step closer, his deep voice close to her ear, burning with heat: "Yes, Miss Bai. But my duty is to protect you 'at zero distance'."
The word "Miss Bai" was pronounced very heavily, conveying an ambiguous and provocative tone.
That bastard!
Su Wantang glared at him fiercely, then turned away and ignored him.
The host of the banquet, a fat man with a beer belly and a big smile, had already rushed over with security guards.
"Oh dear! Miss Bai, Mr. Lu! I'm so sorry, it's my turf that has startled you! I'll deal with this brat right away!"
As he spoke, he ordered the security guards to drag the waiter with the severed hand away.
Bai Shu raised his hand, the panic on his face long gone, replaced by a calm composure and a perfectly timed hint of lingering fear.
"Mr. Zhang, you're too kind. It was just a small accident, nothing serious."
Her gaze shifted to the slick-haired, wealthy businessman, the same guy with the lewd eyes from before, and a sweet smile curled at the corner of her lips.
"It really startled the boss; his face turned pale."
When the wealthy businessman was called out by name, he remembered Lu Jingyan's murderous gaze just now, and his legs trembled so badly that he almost lost his balance. He quickly waved his hand.
"No...I wasn't scared! Miss Bai is absolutely stunning. I lost my composure. I'll punish myself with three drinks!"
The surrounding celebrities, witnessing this scene, all knew perfectly well what was going on. This woman was not to be trifled with. And the man beside her was even more dangerous!
A minor incident not only failed to embarrass her, but instead made her the center of attention.
Bai Shu ignored the various gazes that held different intentions. She picked up another glass of champagne and moved with ease among several real business tycoons in Shanghai.
"Gentlemen, I've long admired your name. I am Bai Shu from Ocean Trading."
A middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, who looked rather refined, sized her up and spoke with a forced smile.
"Ocean Trading? I remember that's Lu Wenbo's company, right? Young lady, what's your relationship with Lu Wenbo?"
That was a tricky question, a way of testing her background.
Bai Shu smiled faintly, her peach blossom eyes sparkling.
"Lu Wenbo? Oh, you mean that Second Master Lu who was just executed for treason? He's a thing of the past. Now, the Yuanyang Group is owned by the Bai family."
They had heard about Lu Wenbo's downfall, but they never expected that the person who would take over his business would be this woman who looked to be no more than twenty years old and was incredibly beautiful!
Bai Shu seized the opportunity, gently swirled the wine in her glass, and cast out her bait.
"However, I recently had a preliminary idea. Would any of you be interested in hearing about the next steps for the Ocean Trading Company?"
As soon as she opened her mouth, everyone perked up their ears.
Bai Shu parted her red lips slightly and slowly uttered two words: "Pudong".
In early 1980s Shanghai, for most people, these two words simply meant the desolate farmland and scattered dilapidated factories across the river.
"Right now, Pudong is still a muddy mess, but what about in ten years? Twenty years from now?"
Bai Shu's eyes gleamed with an almost fanatical light, the kind of accurate prediction of the future that belongs to capitalists.
"I plan to establish a Pudong Development Group under the name of the Ocean Shipping Company. Moreover..."
She paused deliberately, glancing almost imperceptibly at Lu Jingyan, who stood there like a guardian deity not far away.
"The people in Beijing are very interested in this plan."
Beijing city!
This word carries immense weight!
In an instant, everyone's gaze changed. The previous tentative and polite expressions transformed into undisguised fervor and awe.
"Boss Bai, count me in for this plan, our textile factory!"
"And me! My building materials company, Mr. Bai, if you ever need my help, I'll be there anytime!"
Bai Shu looked at the eager faces of the crowd, and the curve of his lips was just right.
This is exactly the effect she wanted.
She gracefully raised her champagne glass, preparing to take a symbolic sip to mark the end of the evening's success.
A sudden change has occurred!
A large hand reached out from the side without warning, as fast as lightning, and snatched the wine glass from her hand!
It's Lu Jingyan!
"You..." Bai Shu hadn't even finished asking his question when he was stunned.
Lu Jingyan's face was ashen. Without saying a word, he flicked his wrist and poured all the crystal-clear champagne from his glass into a tall, decorative green plant next to him.
Everyone around was stunned, not understanding what was wrong with the young master of the Lu family.
However, the next second, everyone gasped, their eyes widening as if they were about to pop out!
The once vibrant green plant withered, curled, and turned black at a visible speed the moment it came into contact with the wine!
In just a few seconds, a green plant that was half a person tall was completely turned into a charred, lifeless thing!
hiss--!
The entire audience erupted in uproar!
The bigwigs who had just been fawning over Bai Zhu were so frightened that they retreated repeatedly, looking at Bai Zhu in horror, and then at the dead plant.
If... if Bai Zhu had drunk that glass of wine...
Bai Zhu looked at the withered plant, a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and his back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.
She turned her head sharply and looked at Lu Jingyan.
Lu Jingyan's face was ashen, and his eyes were so dark they seemed to drip water.
He knew that "The Ghost" had made his move.
This colorless, odorless, and instantly fatal plant alkali poison is the signature of that top assassin!
He pulled the still-dazed Bai Shu behind him to protect her, and gave orders to the two bodyguards sent by Du Kangnian in an unquestionable military tone.
"Seal off the scene! Call the police! Find out everyone who came into contact with this drink! Don't let a single one get away with it!"
...
In a secluded teahouse in Shanghai.
Huo Sanniang was leisurely enjoying the newly arrived Dinggu Dahongpao tea when a subordinate hurried in and whispered a few words in her ear.
"Smack!"
The precious purple clay teacup was smashed to the ground and shattered into pieces.
"Useless!" Huo Sanniang's well-maintained face was filled with humiliation and resentment.
"A top-tier assassin can't even handle a woman?!"
The subordinate replied tremblingly, "Third Sister, it wasn't 'Ghost' who failed, it was that kid surnamed Lu... He's like a leech sticking to that woman."
“Our people couldn’t find an opportunity to strike! This time, he saw through the poisoning attempt on the spot…”
"Lu... Jing... Yan!" Huo San Niang gritted her teeth as she uttered the name, her narrow phoenix eyes revealing a murderous intent.
Okay, very good!
Since an accident can't kill you, let's give you a more direct approach!
...
Peace Hotel, penthouse suite.
They remained silent the entire way.
As soon as Bai Shu entered the room, she went straight to her bedroom; she needed to calm down.
She had just reached the door when she heard a "click" behind her.
It was the sound of the door being locked from the inside.
Bai Shu turned around abruptly and saw that Lu Jingyan had followed her in at some point and was leaning against the door, looking at her expressionlessly.
"What do you want to do?" Bai Shu's voice was full of vigilance.
Lu Jingyan did not answer, but approached her step by step.
His tall figure exuded a tremendous sense of oppression, enveloping her.
Bai Shu was forced to retreat repeatedly until his back hit the cold wall, leaving him with nowhere to go.
Lu Jingyan stretched out his arms and braced himself against the walls on either side of her body, trapping her entirely against his chest.
"you……"
“From now on,” Lu Jingyan interrupted her, his voice laced with a hint of lingering fear and ruthlessness.
"Everything you eat, drink, wear, and use must pass through my hands."
He stared intently into her astonished peach blossom eyes, speaking slowly and deliberately.
"Otherwise, I can't guarantee you'll see the sun tomorrow."
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