Chapter 118 I care about her, but who cares about Ruan Ruan?
Lu Zhuo exhaled a smoke ring, the mist obscuring half of his face.
"But let me make this clear first, I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing it for myself."
He flicked off the ash from his cigarette, his tone casual yet earnest.
"By the way, I'll take the blame for you this time."
Yan Tingnan nodded: "Thanks, I guess I owe you one."
Lu smirked, reverting to his usual nonchalant attitude.
"Alright, enough with the pretense."
"Just invite me to your wedding when things go well."
Lu Zhuo stared at the crimson spot on the cigarette butt, his Adam's apple bobbing.
When to make a move?
Yan Tingnan turned around, her gaze calmly landing on his face.
"tonight."
Lu Zhuo raised an eyebrow.
"Tonight? I haven't even memorized the script yet."
"A long night can lead to many unforeseen events."
Yan Tingnan's voice was calm and steady.
"There's a business dinner at Aman tonight, hosted by the Lin family, and Lin Yiyao will be there."
"Ruanruan and I will go too."
"You know what to do."
Lu Zhuo chuckled, crossed his long legs, and the hint of mockery in his eyes faded.
"You brought Su Ruan?"
"Um."
Yan Tingnan agreed readily.
"She must."
Lu Zhuo twitched the corner of his mouth.
"So Lin Yiyao can see you and Su Ruan exchanging glances?"
Yan Tingnan's eyes were indifferent.
"It's better to let her see reality than to let her live in a fantasy."
Lu Zhu shook his head and chuckled.
"You're ruthless."
"Old Yan, tell me the truth."
"To be so ruthless, don't you really care about that girl's feelings at all?"
Yan Tingnan turned his gaze back, his eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses unfathomable.
"Can you manage that?"
His voice was deep and cold.
"This marriage alliance between the Yan family was never a matter of mutual consent."
"If I take care of her, who will take care of Ruan Ruan?"
"When the Lin family pushed her out as a bargaining chip, who asked her if she was willing?"
“Lu Zhuo, people like us are born into the game.”
"Either be a pawn or a player."
"I chose the latter."
Lu Zhuo chuckled, stood up, and dusted off his trouser legs.
"You're absolutely insane."
"Okay, tonight it is."
"But let me make this clear first, if the little rabbit gets scared and cries, I won't comfort it."
Yan Tingnan glanced at him.
"You know how to coax."
Lu Zhuo raised an eyebrow but didn't reply. He just tugged at the corner of his mouth, a hint of self-mockery mixed with his flirtatious air.
"How exactly do I need to do it?"
"You can't just go up to her and say, 'Hey, your fiancé sent me to woo you,' can't you?"
Yan Tingnan lowered his gaze slightly.
"Do I need to teach you?"
"Aren't you always the best at getting people to lower their guard and do things willingly?"
Lu Zhuo didn't say anything more, only clicked his tongue softly.
He got up and walked out, waving his hand.
"Okay, see you tonight."
Yan Tingnan stood alone by the window, surrounded by lush greenery in the distance, yet he felt as if he were standing on the edge of an abyss.
He certainly knew what he was doing.
He dragged his brother into the scheme, plotted against an innocent woman, and crossed the line with every step he took.
But he had no choice.
The old man pressured him with a marriage alliance, while Lin Xuqiu pressured him with gentle persuasion.
From the day his mother, Jiang Ya, died in the man-eating well of the Yan family, he understood that being soft-hearted was a disease, and being kind was a sin.
If you want something, you have to fight for it, grab it, and protect it by any means necessary.
Lu Zhuo was right to scold him.
He's a complete bastard.
How can someone who is born to struggle in darkness be worthy of being upright and honorable?
Being able to grasp even a little warmth is already a stroke of luck.
...
At four o'clock in the afternoon, there was a soft knock on the door of Su Ruan's office.
The receptionist brought in a huge white gift box, its ribbons tied delicately.
"Mr. Su, this was just delivered and is specifically for you to open."
Su Ruan raised an eyebrow and opened it.
Inside the box lay a light, avocado-green tulle dress, its color fresh and delicate, like a forest at the end of summer.
The shoulder straps and deep V-neck are outlined with gold thread embroidery and adorned with scattered rhinestones, with a high slit on one side.
There was a black card at the bottom of the box, with sharp handwriting, written by Yan Tingnan himself.
Wear this tonight. — Yan
Su Ruan's fingertips brushed against the cool fabric, and the corners of her lips curved into a smile.
That scoundrel, he has such a terrible eye.
At exactly six o'clock, the black Phantom pulled up downstairs at her studio.
Su Ruan came out.
The green gauze made her skin appear dazzlingly white, and her leg lines were faintly visible through the slit.
Her waist was cinched by the fabric, so slender it could be encircled with one hand.
Like a forest sprite, purity and allure are contradictory yet perfectly blended in her.
Su Ruan opened the car door and got in.
Yan Tingnan was looking down at the documents, his profile cold and stern.
He looked up at the sound, his gaze lingering on her for a moment.
Behind the lenses, a silent undercurrent surges within the eyes.
"The dress suits you very well."
He closed the file, his voice devoid of emotion.
Su Ruan fastened her seatbelt, revealing a section of her fair leg line through the slit in her skirt.
"President Yan has a sharp eye; the size is perfect."
She turned her head, her smile laced with a hint of something more.
"Isn't this slit a bit too high?"
Yan Tingnan's gaze swept over her legs, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, but his voice remained calm.
"Not high."
"Just the right size for me to reach out."
Su Ruan's ears burned, but she raised an eyebrow.
"Teacher Yan, are you going to a banquet tonight, or are you coming to see me?"
"Attending the banquet was just a pretext."
"Going to see you is the real priority."
The car merged into the traffic.
Su Ruan looked at the neon lights streaming out the window and suddenly spoke.
What do you need me to do tonight?
"Follow me."
He put down the documents, reached out, grasped her fingers, and squeezed them one by one between them, locking them tightly.
"To watch a play, or to act in one."
He paused, then rubbed his thumb against the base of her thumb.
"Where's the script?"
There was no script.
He turned his head to look at her, something burning deep in his eyes.
"Improvisation."
What if we make a mess of things?
"Stab".
He answered decisively.
Su Ruan smiled and tightened her grip on his fingers.
"Teacher Yan, you are sometimes really..."
"Very what?"
"It's very tempting."
Yan Tingnan's gaze froze for a moment, then deepened.
He suddenly leaned in, his nose almost brushing against hers.
"Is it enough to just be moved?"
Their warm breaths mingled, carrying the crisp scent of sandalwood from his body and the faint fragrance of gardenia from her skirt.
"After tonight, I want more than just this."
As the car drove into the garden driveway of the Aman Hotel, glass lamps adorned the branches, and the air was filled with the fragrance of clothes and the swaying of hair.
Su Ruan caught a glimpse of the welcome message scrolling on the electronic screen at the entrance.
Lin's Group Business Dinner.
"Sponsored by the Lin family?"
She turned her head to look at Yan Tingnan.
"You brought me here to cause trouble?"
Yan Tingnan squeezed her fingers.
"I'll take you to expand your customer base."
He bent down to unbuckle her seatbelt, his voice low.
"SoftVoice needs continuous exposure, and the guests invited by the Lin family are all wealthy and influential."
"Just treat them as a springboard for your future clients."
Su Ruan raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Using your marriage partner's venue to pave the way for me? Mr. Yan, that's a cruel joke."
His uniform brushed against her collarbone, adjusting the pendant of her necklace.
"Scared?"
"What are you afraid of?"
Su Ruan smiled.
"Afraid that Miss Lin will throw my red wine on the spot?"
"She won't."
Yan Tingnan got out of the car and walked around to her side, reaching out his hand.
He bent his arm slightly, gesturing for her to take his arm.
"Tonight, you can be arrogant all you want."
Su Ruan put her arm around his, her green gauze skirt brushing against his dark gray trousers.
"Okay, anyway, if the sky falls, Teacher Yan will hold it up."
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