Chapter 30
After sending the letter, Han Meng felt as if a weight had been lifted from her heart, yet also as if even more weight was hanging in the air. She was unsure whether a deeper collaboration with Lu Jinxian would be a blessing or a curse, but for now, it seemed to be the most direct way to break the deadlock.
The agreed meeting place was neither the Han family's nor the Lu family's, but a lakeside teahouse called "Listening to the Rain Pavilion," suggested by Lu Jinxian. The environment was quiet and secluded, with good soundproofing, suitable for discussing serious matters, and... not too conspicuous.
When Han Meng arrived, Lu Jinxian was already there. He wasn't wearing a long robe today, but a light gray suit, which made him look tall and straight, less sickly and more refined and composed. He was looking out the window at the shimmering lake, his profile somewhat hazy in the afternoon light.
Hearing footsteps, he turned around and saw Han Meng. A barely perceptible glint flashed in his eyes, which quickly turned into a calm smile: "Miss Han, please sit down."
"Young Master Lu." Han Meng nodded and sat down opposite him. The aroma of tea wafted through the air, and for a moment, both of them fell silent. The conversation about "love" and "cooperation" that they had had in the coffee shop earlier seemed like an invisible veil separating them.
In the end, Lu Jinxian spoke first, his tone businesslike: "Ms. Han has reviewed the proposal. What are your thoughts?"
Han Meng composed herself, suppressing her chaotic thoughts, and adopted a business-like demeanor: "I've reviewed it. The terms are very favorable, and the location and size of the shop are indeed ideal. However, there are some details I'd like to confirm with Young Master Lu again." She took out the business plan and inquired about the specific details regarding capital investment, division of responsibilities, and profit distribution.
Lu Jinxian answered each question clearly and logically, demonstrating that his actions were not impulsive but rather the result of careful consideration. Han Meng was secretly surprised by his business acumen and negotiation skills, qualities that a spoiled brat who only knew how to feign illness could not possibly possess.
"It seems that Young Master Lu has quite a bit of experience in business," Han Meng couldn't help but say.
Lu Jinxian picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said calmly, "My elder brothers are all devoted to martial arts, and although my father runs a martial arts school, it is limited in scale. With my physique, I can't master martial arts. I have to find some other way to make a living. I can't really become a useless cripple." His tone was calm, but it revealed a hint of self-mockery and stubbornness that was hard to detect.
Looking at him, Han Meng suddenly understood why he was "faking illness." In a martial family, a son born weak might use "illness" as a form of protection, or a silent form of resistance, to gain attention or survive in his own way. His teaching martial arts to the villagers of Xiqin Village might not only be an act of kindness, but also a way to prove that he wasn't entirely cut off from the family tradition.
At that moment, she saw not a sickly man who needed her sympathy or treatment, but a man who was trying to find a way out of his own limitations and was even quite shrewd and capable.
"Young Master Lu is too modest," Han Meng said sincerely. "This plan is a testament to your abilities."
Lu Jinxian looked up at her, his gaze deep: "So, Miss Han agrees to cooperate?"
Han Meng pondered for a moment, then finally nodded: "I agree in principle. We can draft the specific contract in more detail. However, I have one condition."
"Speaking."
“During the cooperation period, before we both confirm the annulment of the engagement, I hope our relationship will be limited to business partners.” Han Meng looked at him, her gaze clear and firm. “I don’t want any unnecessary misunderstandings to affect my business decisions, and I certainly don’t want to… delay Young Master Lu.”
This was her bottom line. She was grateful for his help and perhaps even began to appreciate him as a person, but the word "love" was too heavy, especially given her uncertain future and her desire to return home. She couldn't make any promises, nor did she want to exploit his feelings.
Lu Jinxian looked at her and remained silent for a long time. The air in the tea room seemed to freeze, with only the occasional birdsong and the gentle lapping of the lake water outside the window.
Just when Han Meng thought he would get angry or refuse, he slowly nodded, a smile that seemed both helpless and relieved curving his lips: "Alright, as Miss Han says. Partner."
His quick agreement surprised Han Meng. She had expected... at least a hint of disappointment.
“Miss Han, there’s no need to look at me like that.” Lu Jinxian seemed to see through her thoughts, his tone returning to its previous calm, even carrying a hint of businessman’s sharpness. “I, Lu Jinxian, always act with a clear goal. My primary purpose in proposing cooperation is to see the potential in this business and hope to profit from it. As for the rest…” He paused, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment before shifting to the lake and mountain scenery outside the window, “…Let nature take its course. I will not, and disdain, use this as leverage.”
His words were like a reassuring pill, and Han Meng breathed a sigh of relief, but in a corner of her heart, a very faint sense of... loss inexplicably arose? She quickly suppressed this strange feeling.
"In that case, I wish us a pleasant cooperation." Han Meng picked up her teacup, using tea instead of wine.
"It's a pleasure working with you." Lu Jinxian raised his glass and lightly clinked it against hers. The porcelain clinked together, producing a crisp sound, as if striking the final note for their relationship, which was temporarily defined as "partnership."
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After finalizing the collaboration, both of them got to work quickly. They looked at shop locations, discussed renovations, planned new business models… there was a multitude of tasks to handle. Han Meng devoted most of her time to this, even visiting school less often. Seeing that his sister was indeed seriously focused on her career, Han Shangting, although he still occasionally cast inquiring glances, seemed to have temporarily stopped his overt investigations, which reassured Han Meng somewhat.
Contact with Lu Jinxian became frequent and necessary. They inspected the new shop together, discussed the renovation plans, negotiated the selection of medicinal herb suppliers, and even interviewed newly recruited employees together. Lu Jinxian was not a hands-off manager; he invested a great deal of energy and resources, considering and handling many details that Han Meng had not thought of in a well-organized manner.
At work, he was professional, efficient, and respectful of her opinions, making him an ideal partner. He no longer deliberately acted weak, and his demeanor was calm and confident. Only when he coughed violently occasionally, or when his face turned slightly pale after long hours of fatigue, would he remind Han Meng of the fact that his health was indeed not good.
Once, they worked late into the night to finalize an important supply contract. Lu Jinxian drove Han Meng back to her family home, stopping the car at the alley entrance some distance from the gate—this was Han Meng's request; she didn't want to attract unnecessary attention.
The night was deep and the dew was heavy, with a chill in the air. Han Meng got out of the car and couldn't help but shiver.
"Put this on." A suit jacket, still warm from her body, was gently placed on her shoulders.
Han Meng was startled and turned to look at Lu Jinxian. He was only wearing a shirt and stood in the night wind, looking rather thin.
"No need, it's just a few steps to home." Han Meng subconsciously tried to take it off and return it to him.
"What to wear." Lu Jinxian's tone was firm and unyielding, his voice low and hoarse from exhaustion and the night dew. "If you get sick, things at the pharmacy and the new store will be delayed." His reason was perfectly legitimate and in line with the concerns of a "partner."
But at that moment, what flashed in his eyes was not only his partner's worry, but also a deeper emotion that he could not hide.
Han Meng's heart skipped a beat, and her fingers, gripping the edge of her coat, curled slightly. His scent lingered on the coat—a clean, refreshing aroma mixed with a faint scent of herbs and ink. It wasn't unpleasant; rather, it made her feel somewhat…unsettled.
"Well... thank you." She didn't refuse in the end and thanked him softly.
"Go back now." Lu Jinxian looked away, turned around, and opened the car door. "See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
Han Meng pulled her coat, still warm from his body heat, tighter around her and hurried towards the door. Even after entering the room, closing the door, and leaning against it, she could still feel the warmth from his coat and the faint scent lingering around her nose.
She had to admit that Lu Jinxian was slowly invading her life and her... mental defenses in a way she had never expected.
He adhered strictly to the boundaries of "partnership," and his words and actions were impeccable. But it was precisely this restrained sincerity that occasionally surfaced, and this reliability and competence demonstrated in working side by side, that was more potent than any overt pursuit.
Han Meng looked at her slightly flushed face in the mirror and shook her head vigorously.
"Han Meng, wake up!" she told herself. "You are the one who has to go back. Everything here is ultimately just a mirage."
But a small voice in my heart asks: Is it really... just a mirage?
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