Chapter 194 Off on a Blind Date
"On what grounds?"
Jiang Ning immediately countered with a question.
"Because your hand is injured... In your current state, you wouldn't win even if you fought Qingxue on the spot; you'd only embarrass yourself..."
Before Lu Junyan could finish speaking, Jiang Ning retorted with a sarcastic tone:
"Even if I've completely lost face right now, it won't affect you, Mr. Lu, will it?"
"Do you have to think of me that way?"
Lu Junyan's expression changed instantly.
"I'm not letting you go just so I don't lose face?"
"Otherwise what?"
Jiang Ning had just finished asking the question when he pretended to suddenly understand.
"Oh right, and clearing the way for Chu Qingxue by getting rid of me, you've done that before."
"Jiangning!"
Lu Junyan couldn't help but get angry.
That's not what he meant at all.
The X Museum's restoration competition invited many renowned jewelry designers, collectors, and master artifact restorers.
They are all industry professionals.
Jiang Ning's hand injury hasn't fully healed yet. If he goes there, he won't be able to perform at his best, and he'll only leave a bad impression of poor business skills in the industry, doing all the work for his competitors.
Unless Jiang Ning never wants to work in the jewelry design industry again.
Lu Junyan suddenly realized that this possibility was not entirely out of the question.
Having witnessed Jiang Ning's jewelry craftsmanship firsthand more than once, he no longer doubts Jiang Ning's talent.
However, the craftsmanship in Jiangning requires delicate hand operations.
Like surgeons and cartoonists, once a hand is injured, the past glory can never be regained.
So, is it possible that Jiang Ning might change careers?
But what else can Jiang Ning do besides be a jewelry designer?
An identity suddenly popped into Lu Junyan's mind—
housewife.
In Lu Junyan's memory, the job that Jiang Ning did the longest and was best at was being a housewife.
Since my hand is injured and my career is unlikely to improve, I might as well settle for something less.
However……
Lu Junyan knew perfectly well that even if Jiang Ning returned to being a full-time housewife, she would no longer be his full-time housewife.
Jiang Ning was stared at intently by Lu Junyan.
She sensed that Lu Junyan's gaze kept changing, as if he had a lot to say to her.
However, Lu Junyan did not say another word until he left her hospital room.
Jiang Ning was left alone in the ward again, and he sighed.
"I don't want to see you sighing and lamenting over that kind of scumbag."
In the adjacent patient room, Bai Yichen opened the door and peeked out.
Jiang Ning shrugged and smiled.
To her, Lu Junyan was indeed a scumbag, with only thoughts on how to pave the way for Chu Qingxue.
However, in Chu Qingxue's opinion, Lu Junyan should be an exceptionally affectionate and good man, right?
In the bar, Chu Qingxue was drowning her sorrows alone.
She has no one to keep her company now.
She cannot contact Lu Junyan.
We also can't contact Yuan Pei.
Mo Yan lost contact with Jiangbei after going abroad for business.
"Once I come back... I'll be able to get everything I've lost back..."
Chu Qingxue leaned on her head and muttered to herself, her face full of self-mockery.
Back in the US, during those dark and hopeless days, she relied on Lu Junyan to keep her alive.
She kept telling herself that as long as she went back, she could get back everything she had lost, and she would still be the little princess who was the center of attention.
"Jiangning..."
Chu Qingxue took a sip of wine and angrily bit the ice cube in her mouth.
She was eventually found and taken home by Fan Yali.
Fan Yali didn't know what was wrong with Chu Qingxue again, but her drunkenness was definitely related to Lu Junyan.
"Qingxue, you absolutely must pull yourself together. No matter what Lu Junyan said to you, as long as you are good enough, he will definitely still like you..."
Fan Yali tried to comfort Chu Qingxue verbally, but she felt increasingly uncertain inside.
Today, CelestiMed opened a branch office in City A and appointed Gu Jinci as the person in charge.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Lu Junyan and Gu Jinci stood together, looking quite pleasing to the eye.
Chu Qingxue only learned that Joker had come to City A again while she was scrolling through her phone in her studio, and this time it was under the identity of Gu Jinci.
Joker has used this fake identity for quite a while.
She had just closed the news when she received a WeChat message from Joker, inviting her to meet at the hotel that evening.
Chu Qingxue arrived at the appointment on time, but she didn't expect that there were not only Joker in the room, but also two other men.
Chu Qingxue knew both of these men.
As soon as she saw the two men, she turned to run, but the Joker blocked the door tightly.
"Chu Qingxue..."
Joker's doll-like face wore an innocent smile, or at least it appeared that way.
"Your recent plans to rise to power don't seem to be going too smoothly!"
With Joker blocking the door in front of her and two burly men behind her, Chu Qingxue was sandwiched in the middle, trembling all over.
"I set you free back then because you said you were Lu Junyan's first love, and you said that if you could become Mrs. Lu, you could give me 20% of Lu's Group's shares..."
Joker didn't move, but the two men behind Chu Qingxue were calmly walking forward, approaching her.
"But I think you're a complete liar."
"I'm not lying to you! I really am Lu Junyan's first love, and he will definitely marry me."
Chu Qingxue shouted excitedly at Joker, but Joker just laughed and scoffed.
"You don't know yet, do you? Lu Junyan's father has always wanted to match Lu Junyan with the Lin family's daughter. Did Lu Junyan spend Valentine's Day with you last time?"
Joker's question made Chu Qingxue's face turn pale.
"To tell you the truth, Lu Junyan went on a blind date with the Lin family's daughter that day."
Chu Qingxue was stunned, as if struck by lightning.
Joker shrugged.
"I'm practically a local now, and since two officials are here on some business, I thought I'd do my part as a host... and use you to entertain them..."
As Joker spoke, Chu Qingxue covered her mouth in fright and tears streamed down her face.
"This is also a reminder to you not to slack off. If you can't keep your promise to me... I'll take you back to the US. There are plenty of people there who miss you."
After saying that, Joker opened the door and went out.
Chu Qingxue's voice immediately came from inside the door, begging for mercy.
At this moment, he opened the door again and said to Chu Qingxue inside:
"Oh, and don't forget to get your hymen repaired after you're done."
With a bang, the door slammed shut again.
Joker listened to Chu Qingxue's screams from inside the door and muttered to himself:
"The soundproofing in this hotel is terrible."
X Museum.
Jiang Ning entered the designated venue accompanied by Bai Yichen.
There were already quite a few people sitting inside.
The first thing she saw was Lu Junyan sitting in the middle of the first row.
Lu Junyan sat to his left Zhou Xinhai, the curator of the X Museum, and to his right Geng Li, the president of the Jewelry Collection Association.
Pitt and Shen Xiaofei, the head of FY's design department, were also present.
At a glance, most of the invited guests are insiders in the jewelry industry; they are more like judges than guests.
Lu Junyan is the only one who cannot be considered an industry insider.
Jiang Ning thought Lu Junyan had come with Chu Qingxue, but Chu Qingxue arrived very late and almost missed the deadline.
"So what happened to Jiang Ning's hand? Why is it wrapped in bandages? Is she competing with Chu Qingxue while injured?"
Some of the guests expressed their doubts.
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