Chapter Seven: Shall We Have a Drink Together?

“Marriage? Are you joking with me?” Qiang stared in disbelief, holding up the marriage certificate and examining it closely before immediately recognizing the bride.

Isn’t that Jiang Mengnan from Fate Dream Bookstore?

Surprisingly, she looked quite beautiful after makeup.

But how did they end up together?

This must be a lie.

Qiang looked at Lu Yu with suspicion.

Lu Yu, however, admitted openly: “I told you, I’ll let you know before I post on Weibo.”

Qiang collapsed onto the sofa, clutching his head, looking somewhat overwhelmed. “Such a big matter, why didn’t you discuss it with me?”

Lu Yu responded confidently, “It’s not like I’m registering the marriage with you.”

Qiang was speechless, a surge of frustration rising inside him with no outlet, flooding his mind.

He rubbed the back of his head, pained: “You’ve grown wings, huh? My words don’t work anymore? You don’t care about your future? Don’t need to compensate the advertisers?”

He thought a series of soul-searching questions would make Lu Yu feel guilty.

But Lu Yu remained calm and serious, silent.

Qiang waved his hand in front of Lu Yu’s face: “Say something.”

Lu Yu sighed: “Why so worked up?”

Qiang looked wronged.

How could he not be?

Lu Yu casually picked up a bottle of water from the table and took a sip: “I’m fine with changing paths. As for the advertisers, when we signed the contract, I made it clear: freedom in love.”

“Really?” Qiang still felt uneasy.

Lu Yu was never the type to plan ahead; how could he have prepared for this?

Without further explanation, Lu Yu put away the marriage certificate: “I’ll post on Weibo at nine tonight. I’ll leave the company matters to you.”

He stood up, patted the still-shaken Qiang on the shoulder, and left contentedly.

After a long pause, Qiang finally came to his senses, pondering Lu Yu’s last words, a sense of dread filling him.

Lu Yu’s marriage was huge news.

Besides arranging the PR team to handle it, the company boss, the stern and icy Qi Yihuai, had to be informed.

Just the thought of reporting such bad news to the big boss made Qiang slump back onto the sofa, his feelings a tangled mess.

Meanwhile, Jiang Mengnan, feeling equally conflicted, grabbed a sandwich at a convenience store and nibbled a few bites before sharpening her focus and heading to the bookstore.

Poor people have no right to be sentimental; she had to get back to work.

After all, today, three years later, she was homeless once again.

Back at the bookstore, her close friends Shang Yunshu and Zhang Jingyan had been waiting for a while. Having her good sisters around, Jiang Mengnan felt much better than on her way here.

Upon seeing Jiang Mengnan’s stylish outfit, the two teased her: “Wow, dressed so nicely and disappeared most of the day. Come on, spill it—where did you go?”

Zhang Jingyan pretended to hold a microphone up to Jiang Mengnan’s mouth, waiting for an explanation.

Jiang Mengnan was vague: “Out... took care of some things.”

Shang Yunshu was clearly skeptical: “Taking care of things? Looks more like a date to me.”

Jiang Mengnan chuckled softly: “Who goes on a date on a weekday morning?”

To prove her innocence, Jiang Mengnan showed the half-eaten sandwich: “See? I haven’t even finished lunch yet.”

Looking at the convenience store logo on the sandwich wrapper, Shang Yunshu reluctantly believed her.

Still, the fact that Jiang Mengnan was wearing this season’s new collection from D brand was unusual.

Could she have recently come into some money?

Shang Yunshu was filled with questions.

Just then, Zhang Jingyan exclaimed: “Someone saw Lu Yu at the Civil Affairs Bureau!”

Jiang Mengnan lowered her head guiltily, muttering, “Really?”

The news was so shocking that no one noticed her odd reaction.

Everyone held their phones, looking at the photos netizens had taken surreptitiously.

Though blurry, Lu Yu was instantly recognizable.

Jiang Mengnan murmured: “Why didn’t he wear sunglasses?”

Hearing this, Zhang Jingyan suddenly tilted her head, pondering.

Then she analyzed: “As a long-time fan of Lu Yu, I noticed something.”

Two curious eyes turned to her.

She stroked her chin in wonder: “Lu Yu never seems to wear sunglasses.”

Jiang Mengnan recalled carefully.

Indeed, she had never seen him wear any.

Whenever he appeared in public, although heavily guarded, those deep black eyes were never hidden.

The three friends nodded in unison.

The topic of sunglasses wasn’t pursued further.

Zhang Jingyan was more concerned about why Lu Yu was at the Civil Affairs Bureau.

As an entertainment reporter, she sensed something amiss.

Could it be that Lu Yu was really there to register his marriage?

Afraid that probing too deeply would expose her, Jiang Mengnan ventured: “Maybe he was filming a scene?”

Shang Yunshu agreed: “Makes sense. Lu Yu is at the height of his fame. Why would he want to get married?”

Jiang Mengnan reluctantly concurred: “Exactly. Who doesn’t love big stacks of cash? What’s so great about marriage?”

Though unintentional, her words inadvertently pricked Zhang Jingyan.

Jiang Mengnan hurriedly clarified: “I meant Lu Yu, not your CEO Lu.”

Zhang Jingyan’s expression darkened: “He’s not my Lu.”

The Lu CEO they spoke of was Lu Tianyu, CEO of LQ Electronics.

The relationship between Zhang Jingyan and Lu Tianyu was intriguing.

One chased desperately.

The other fled with all his might.

Though seemingly mismatched, there was an inescapable sense of fate binding them.

Jiang Mengnan seized the moment to gossip: “Did you two argue again?”

Zhang Jingyan shook her head: “What’s there to argue about? He’s a liar—I don’t bother with him.”

Shang Yunshu bluntly exposed her: “But when he comes with roses, you still obediently follow him, don’t you?”

The topic thus shifted from Lu Yu to Lu Tianyu.

Jiang Mengnan finally felt relieved.

Perhaps because Lu Yu was at his peak and had never been rumored with any actress, no one took the Civil Affairs Bureau sighting seriously, thinking it was just another idol drama shoot.

So, it didn’t cause much stir online.

At nine that evening, Lu Yu posted a photo of the marriage certificate cover with the caption: “That’s right, I’m married!”

There was no elaborate explanation, no sweet couple photos—so at first, many thought it was a promotional stunt for a new show.

It wasn’t until Lu Yu’s agency, Yican Entertainment, released an official statement confirming his marriage that waves of discussion began to surge online.

“What! Is this even possible? My brother got married? No way!”

“Exactly, he’s so young! Is he even of legal age?”

“I want to know who’s the lucky one—did she save the whole world in her past life?”

“Saving the entire universe won’t help—I’m opposed!”

“Me too! No one deserves my brother!”

Jiang Mengnan sat on the sofa, anxiously watching the comments flood in.

Suddenly, she found herself agreeing with the confidentiality clause in the prenuptial agreement.

After all, the title “Mrs. Lu Yu” was quite a high-risk one.

Just as she was about to go upstairs to rest, she heard movement at the entrance.

Curious, she went over and saw Lu Yu carrying a paper bag.

Meeting Jiang Mengnan’s curious gaze, Lu Yu lifted the bag slightly: “Want to have a drink together?”