Lan Ning's father was a prominent member of the prestigious Lan family who lived in the centre of the city. In fact, Lan Ning's great-grandfather Lan Can, the first generation of the Lans, had set up a tailoring business there in the 1940s. Three generations later, the Lans not only sold garments but diversified into different areas and was a major player in the technology sector.
Yiren fidgeted with the sleeve of her jacket as she seated herself uncomfortably in the passenger seat on the right side of Ning's Chevrolet. Push-to-start automobiles weren't something new during that time, but few students could afford one. The model Ning drove, despite being expensive, didn't reflect his actual wealth. Ning wasn't that showy for someone with a net worth of two million, and that was contemplating the fact he was still in university. She knew his net worth was due to heighten as he eventually would get involved in the Lan Corporation. That was his destiny as a Lan.
Considering his hidden wealth, Yiren didn't feel comfortable next to him. She didn't want him to see her as a gold-digger who schemed for a wealthy heir's attention. Lan Ning probably didn't know of her family's demise, since she wasn't from this city. Silence was golden. She faked a smile and looked down at the hem of her dress.
"Yiren? Yiren?"
"Uh, yeah?"
She had agreed to go out with him for lunch, but what was she doing? She definitely didn't want him to like her, lest he get hurt in the end. She wasn't interested in him, but she didn't belong with anyone. Not even Dong Xu, she decided. She vowed silently that she would get her due back from the devil of her uncle, no matter what. While in her path for vengeance, which she would achieve a step at a time, she mustn't let down her guard. Love and relationship was not her goal.
"What do you like to eat? Western, Eastern, or maybe a mix of both?"
Lan Ning's question wasn't very specific. She spared him the confusion and answered clearly, "Chinese will do."
Her answer made him smile, though she didn't know what he was thinking. With a swift move of Ning's hands, the car swept through the empty highway into the centre of the city.
Ning's excellent manoeuvring skills brought about a tinge of excitement in Yiren's mind.
"I could go faster. Do you want me to?"
By he was an expert, fast and smooth in his driving. Yiren hadn't answered when the car zoomed faster, astounding her further.
"Enjoying the ride? Your eyes have betrayed you."
After some minutes, the car came to a swift halt outside an area Yiren didn't recognise. She surveyed her surroundings to realise that they were in the parking lot of a posh traditional-styled restaurant.
"This place serves cuisines from all over China," Ning explained calmly. "You can slowly make your pick. I booked for two hours."
It dawned upon her that when the car stopped at the red light, Ning's rapid tapping had been to reserve them the seats. She hesitated. So much over a lunch date, but did he mean it she had to pay for this meal? Earlier at the university, he had asserted that she had to give him a treat, but was he for real? There was no way she could afford to pay for the meal with her meagre savings. She didn't even own a credit card.
"Lan Ning, um, I…" Again, hesitation.
She lied right through her teeth. "I didn't bring my wallet."
"That's fine. You owe me another one, then."
He had already switched off the engine with a single press of his finger on the push-start ignition. The next second, he stepped out of the vehicle.
'Okay, Yiren. You can do this.' She followed him into the restaurant.
A lady at the front desk beamed flirtatiously at Ning, but when the direction of her eyes moved to witness Yiren's presence, she immediately turned away and pretended to be busy. Yiren chuckled. It was nice that someone was taking her presence seriously.
She looked around the restaurant to realise the entire place was empty!
"There's barely anyone here," she mumbled. Was the food bad or something? Since young, she had a very sensitive stomach. What if she got a stomachache from her sensitivity, in particular, due to not so well-done food?
"I booked the entire venue," he replied with a teasing gaze. "For two hours."
"But.. why?"
"Isn't that good enough for a first date? What do you think, Yiren?"
She trembled in her nervousness. This didn't ought to happen. She wanted to just repay him, but he had taken this in another direction. Still, she had to go on with it. It wouldn't seem nice if she left suddenly. She thought for a minute.
"I just remembered I have something later in the afternoon," she said, referring to her afternoon not-so-compulsory-to-attend session. "Is one hour enough for our lunch?"
"Definitely," he helped her into her seat. "I hope my first impression counts."
"Yes… it does," Yiren tried to make herself sound as convincing as possible. Although, she just wished for it to end as soon as possible. She couldn't stand a single second of being there. Beads of cold sweat formed on her forehead.
"Yiren, are you hot? I could adjust the temperature in this room."
"No, not at all," she smiled weakly. Her heart was objecting to this 'special' date. The more this rich youth was opening up to her, the more she felt repelled. Her fear of him developing an affection for her tormented her. Every second of being with him was a violent struggle.
Remembering her table manners, she tucked the square of satin-like cloth over her lap and dined in silence, making every move to place food in her mouth as graceful as possible. Finally, her dish was empty. Her mother had often taught her not to waste food. Hence, even if she was full, she would not leave a single grain of rice on her plate. Ning seemed to have a grand appetite. He had ordered exactly how much he would finish. Recalling the man to be brilliant in maths and accounting, she forgot her nervousness and smiled.
"Finally, I got to see your first genuine smile," she heard him say, and glanced away. Then she grabbed her broken cell phone from her pocket and feigned that she had a call. Exiting the room, she stood in a corner to 'take the call'.
"Miss Feng, here we meet again."
The familiarity of the icy voice made her turn abruptly. She had turned so rapidly that in her folly; she missed a step with her heels and reeled over backwards. A pair of chilly hands caught her timely before she fell.
"Dong… Xu?" she let out a soft murmur, letting herself go in his embrace. Heat was spreading through their skin contact, despite their layers of clothing. His icy touch gradually transformed into warmth, encircling her exposed skin. Her heart thumped inside her chest.
He flipped her around so they were now seeing eye-to-eye. Everything around them seemed to fade in her mind, that she could only focus on the CEO himself. She forgot herself, her goal, how she didn't want love and her struggles. Only Dong Xu had that effect on her. He was her weakness, even if she didn't admit it.
"What are you doing here?" she mumbled absent-mindedly. He didn't answer, but held her gently against the chilly walls of the restaurant. She didn't object when he increased their proximity, affixing his lips to hers.
Yes, kiss me, Dong Xu, her heart beseeched. It was what she was looking forward to, even if her mind thought otherwise. Time seemed to be frozen. His hands roamed her shoulders, avoiding any sensitive zones on her body that would thus trigger her displeasure. He clutched her closer to him.
Then he deepened the kiss, teasing her with a stroke from his tongue on hers. She returned his kisses with vigour, blushing profusely. In fact, it was driving her insane and giving her wild thoughts. She wanted more, but she didn't know what she wanted. But then she stopped suddenly upon hearing footsteps. The dark corner of the restaurant hid them perfectly, oblivious to the man that had just come out of the room in search of her.
Yiren didn't look back, or see for herself what was the expression on Dong Xu's face as she left with Lan Ning, on the pretext of attending her next session. Her heart was still racing.
Later, she would go to the office and look for Dong Xu anyway, she promised herself. Then she would explain it all to him.