Chapter Sixteen: Have You Fallen for Me?

Thinking that Jiang Mengnan was moved, Lu Yiqin’s eyes flashed with a hint of mockery. “Miss Jiang, I’m afraid you’ll never have such an opportunity again in your lifetime. Care to consider my suggestion?”

Jiang Mengnan smiled faintly, radiant and captivating.

Filling in the amount, Lu Yiqin happily handed it to Jiang Mengnan.

Unexpectedly, she didn’t take it.

Lu Yiqin grew anxious, “Miss Jiang, is it still not enough?”

Understanding Lu Yiqin’s intention, Jiang Mengnan finally calmed down considerably. “President Lu, Lu Yu and I are serious.”

Lu Yiqin was unconvinced. He stared coldly at Jiang Mengnan and sneered, “Serious? If you were truly serious, wouldn’t he have prepared a wedding ring for you? If he really loved you, wouldn’t the official announcement on Weibo have been more thoughtful?”

Jiang Mengnan had no retort to Lu Yiqin’s words.

They were all facts.

“On the other hand, if he just found an actor to appease his family, everything would make perfect sense.”

Hitting the mark, Jiang Mengnan’s momentum faltered, and she didn’t know how to respond.

Lu Yiqin pressed on, “It’s all for money anyway. Whose money makes a difference? How much did he give you? I’ll double it—no, how about triple?”

Triple?

Actually, the previous offer of one hundred million was quite reasonable.

Jiang Mengnan blinked, about to reply.

But she was interrupted.

“Big brother, it’s unethical to break up a couple while I’m not around.”

Lu Yu, who was supposed to be in Wucheng filming a show, suddenly appeared through the bookstore’s back door. His tone was casual but chilling.

Lu Yiqin smiled and explained, “I’m not doing that. I’m just testing Miss Jiang’s true feelings, to see if she’s worth it.”

Lu Yu walked over to Jiang Mengnan, his fair arm circling her waist and gently pulling her close. They pressed against each other. “Our relationship is very strong. Big brother needn’t worry.”

The long-missed scent of Westin white tea filled the air. Jiang Mengnan’s heart raced as she gazed up at Lu Yu, speechless.

Meeting her eyes, Lu Yu lightly pinched her nose, smiling indulgently. “You silly girl, usually so sharp-tongued, why are you letting others bully you like this now?”

With Lu Yu backing her, Jiang Mengnan finally regained her composure and played along. “Heh heh, I just wanted to experience a scene from a TV drama.”

Actually, the price was quite appropriate; it wasn’t impossible to accept.

The deal almost closed just now.

Lu Yu nodded, “Don’t do this again next time. I’d be hurt.”

Suppressing a shiver, Jiang Mengnan smiled sweetly, “Alright, no next time.”

Their banter sounded genuine, not acted.

Besides, with Lu Yu present, Lu Yiqin dared not act rashly.

He found an excuse and left the bookstore without a backward glance.

Jiang Mengnan’s tense nerves finally relaxed.

Fortunately, there was no one in the shop. Xiao Zhao was at the branch store stocking shelves, and Meng Jing had taken the afternoon off.

Otherwise, if anyone had seen the intimate interaction between her and Lu Yu, it would be hard to explain.

Thinking of this, Jiang Mengnan pushed Lu Yu away abruptly. “Don’t you think you should put on a mask?”

Since there was no filming today, Lu Yu’s sudden presence was too conspicuous.

Lu Yu shrugged. “I didn’t bring one.”

The situation had arisen suddenly; he had borrowed Qiang’s car to rush back and had no disguises.

Hearing this, Jiang Mengnan didn’t think twice and blurted out, “Maybe you should leave first.”

Just then, the clear sound of wind chimes came from the door.

Someone was coming!

Without hesitation, Jiang Mengnan grabbed Lu Yu and dashed for the break room.

The room was small, barely fitting two people.

Not wanting to be seen, Jiang Mengnan shoved Lu Yu toward a corner against the wall.

Looking at Jiang Mengnan sneaking around like a spy, Lu Yu stifled a laugh and let her “handle” things.

“You hide here for a while. When it’s clear, I’ll call you,” she whispered.

After quietly instructing him, Jiang Mengnan turned to leave.

Unbeknownst to her, Lu Yu suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close.

With a stumble, Jiang Mengnan fell straight into his embrace.

“Manager?”

Outside, Xiao Zhao’s puzzled voice rang out.

Jiang Mengnan struggled to break free. “Let go of me! Aren’t you afraid of being seen?”

Lu Yu remained calm. “No rush. Lu Yiqin must still be lurking nearby. Stay with me a while longer.”

Saying this, Lu Yu hugged Jiang Mengnan tighter.

Losing her balance, Jiang Mengnan instinctively grabbed his shirt, the posture intimate.

Looking up, she felt Lu Yu’s warm breath. Embarrassed, she lowered her gaze and whispered, “You at least have to let me go out and deal with it. What if…”

She had just spoken when footsteps grew nearer.

Only then did Lu Yu release her, watching as Jiang Mengnan fled like a startled fawn.

Pulling up a chair, Lu Yu couldn’t help but laugh.

Spreading his hands, he could almost still feel the burning softness of that slender waist.

Suddenly his laughter ceased. He didn’t understand why he had done that just now.

Why hadn’t he left through the back door directly, instead of holding on to Jiang Mengnan, unwilling to let go?

For some reason, in that moment, he just wanted to.

There seemed to be a kind of magic about her, drawing him near.

Shaking his head, he quickly suppressed the feeling.

It must be the recent workload wearing him down, making him feel this way.

Straightening his shirt, Lu Yu quietly moved toward the door, eavesdropping on the outside.

In the bookstore’s main hall, Jiang Mengnan was fishing for reasons to get Xiao Zhao to leave early.

At first, Xiao Zhao felt guilty and insisted there was no need to leave early.

But as Jiang Mengnan spoke more, her reasons became contradictory, and Xiao Zhao finally caught on, smartly grabbing his bag and leaving.

Thinking of the “ancestor” waiting in the break room, Jiang Mengnan began closing preparations early.

Pulling down the shutter, Lu Yu emerged from behind it.

Seeing his relaxed, confident demeanor, Jiang Mengnan snapped, “Aren’t you leaving yet?”

Lu Yu shrugged. “I’m going home with you.”

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Hearing this, Jiang Mengnan was momentarily stunned.

No one had said that to her in a long time.

The warmth that had just begun to rise in her heart was extinguished by Lu Yu’s next words: “So someone won’t have any more objections.”

It was like a bucket of cold water poured over her head, mercilessly snuffing out the spark inside.

True enough, between business partners, there was no room for sentiment.

She pinched the bridge of her nose, urging herself not to daydream. “Don’t worry. You’re the client. I won’t be like that certain someone with complaints. I still need to tally the accounts. You should go home now.”

The more she said this, the more Lu Yu refused to leave.

Hands in his pockets, he walked over to Jiang Mengnan. “It’s fine. I’ll wait for you.”

Seeing his shameless insistence, Jiang Mengnan said no more and focused seriously on her work.

Unexpectedly, Lu Yu leaned closer again, gazing intently at her. He whispered, “Honestly tell me, did you just feel something?”

His tempting eyes mixed with a hint of intimacy made Jiang Mengnan’s heart lose its way involuntarily.