She instinctively pulled away, but the man suddenly caught her hand again, "Miss Ji, if you're so unwilling to give face, how can I buy your design draft?"
"Let go of me!"
Ji Yao ordered, but the man was unmoved and instead became more aggressive, his hand sliding down and with a "smack" hitting her lower back, "With such a frail body, can you even handle Lu Jincheng's bed?"
Ji Yao's pupils dilated, she only wanted to make more money, she was even willing to sell her most treasured possessions!
This damn man!
"Smack——"
She fiercely slapped her file bag at him, "You know I'm Lu Jincheng's wife, aren't you afraid he'll chop off your grubby hands!"
The man hadn't anticipated that Ji Yao, despite her delicate appearance, had such a fierce temper.
He covered his cheek that was struck by the file bag and mocked coldly, "What Mrs. Lu? Everyone knows that the Ji Family's eldest young lady has returned, you, at best, qualify as a second-hand illegitimate daughter! Don't you believe that with just one phone call, old Ji would send you to my bed?"
Ji Yao was left speechless in rebuttal.
The truth was just as he said...
To both Lu Jincheng and the Ji Family, she was nothing but an expendable item that could be discarded at any moment.
Struck where it hurt most, Ji Yao didn't even have the time to pity herself. She forced a smile, "Then should I take the initiative, to save them the trouble?"
"Knowing your place..."
The man wanted to praise her further, but Ji Yao took off running, "Keep dreaming! Fat pig!"
However, just as she had taken a couple of steps, her wrist was caught again.
"Bastard!" Ji Yao swore under her breath, ready to turn back and throw a hefty punch.
What came from above, however, was a magnetic, familiar voice, "What's this madness?"
Ji Yao was still in the act of raising her hand, looking up at the tall figure, she was stunned.
How could it be Lu Jincheng? Wasn't he in the hospital with Ji Zimo, providing emotional support?
After a moment of shock, Ji Yao met his cold eyes, her eyes rolling quickly and she conveniently fell into his arms.
Lu Jincheng felt a heaviness in his chest, the scent of her hair tantalizing his nostrils, and her delicate sobs at his ear, "Wuu wuu, husband, you're finally here, someone bullied your dear wife!"
What was this woman playing at?
Lu Jincheng's brow furrowed tightly, about to push her away when Ji Yao wrapped her arms around his waist, "Husband, I'm so scared..."
The corners of his mouth momentarily curved up, but it returned quickly to its usual cold indifference, "I brought you home to stay away from these shady places, didn't I?"
As if she wanted to be there. It was all because...
Ji Yao clutched her file bag, stealthily glancing to the side.
The crowd no longer showed any sign of the rogue President Chen, so she breathed a sigh of relief, silently cursing that damn fatty for wasting her time and taking liberties with her.
The transaction didn't go through, so she had to look for another buyer.
Feeling annoyed, Ji Yao tilted her head back to look at Lu Jincheng's stern face, her neck rigid as she said, "There's nothing in the agreement that says I can't visit these kinds of places."
The man's brows knit together. She sure knew how to exploit loopholes!
With a cold snort, he spoke decisively, "I wouldn't mind adding one."
What a despot, a capitalist tyrant!
Ji Yao muttered internally, pulling away from his embrace, spreading her hand open before him, "You can add, but it'll cost one million."
"Hmm?"
Lu Jincheng looked at her as if she were a bandit, the kind with a clearly marked price!
"Money talks, President Lu. A small sum like this for peace of mind is definitely a better deal than suffering from bad press and damaging the Lu Family's reputation, don't you think?"
Ji Yao blinked her clear eyes, her "sincerity" was plain to see.
After locking eyes for three seconds, Lu Jincheng pulled out his phone.
In that moment, Ji Yao smiled like a blooming flower, witnessing the man's slender fingers touch the screen, skillfully tapping out a string of numbers.
"Wishing you wealth and prosperity."
As the transaction went through, Ji Yao was nearly wagging an imaginary tail, swinging it left and right.
The lights in the bar dimmed, and so did Lu Jincheng's expression.
The notification of the transfer was drowned out by the boisterous music as Ji Yao bent forward to thank him, satisfactorily stepping aside to leave, "See you around, Mr. Lu."
However, she had barely taken half a step when the man grabbed her by the collar at the back of her neck.
"You're leaving after taking the money? With that kind of service attitude, I have enough grounds to fire you hundreds of times!" Lu Jincheng applied a bit of force, and Ji Yao's slight frame staggered backward repeatedly.
Before she could grasp what was happening, she was dragged by the man to another booth.
There, filled with people, all eyes turned to Lu Jincheng, as they made way to either side, leaving the prime central seat open.
As Ji Yao sat next to Lu Jincheng, still confused, she noticed that nearly everyone's gaze was focused on her—surprised, envious, and some inquisitive…
"What? A zoo for monkey-watching?" Lu Jincheng leaned against the sofa, legs crossed, both languid and cold.
People snapped back to reality, and a middle-aged man wearing glasses hurriedly laughed and agreed, "This project, all thanks to President Lu, I, I'll toast to you first."
Lu Jincheng sat up straight, undoing his suit button, picked up his glass, and the middle-aged man fawned over him, "I'll drink up; you do as you please."
Ji Yao's eyes rolled around. She had thought Lu Jincheng was just here, but it turns out he had social obligations.
What was this?!
This was "Officials can set fires, but the commoners can't even light a candle!"
He could come; why couldn't she? They were both working, wasn't it? Was there such a difference between high and low, noble and humble?!
While sipping on his whiskey, Lu Jincheng casually said, "Get her a coconut juice."
The bespectacled man once again turned his attention to Ji Yao, wondering to himself.
President Lu had always been a loner, but today he brought a female companion on a whim…
Word was that President Lu and his wife were not on good terms; to bring this woman along must mean she's taken seriously.
The thought crossed the bespectacled man's mind as he bowed and took his leave, "I will arrange it now, President Lu, rest assured…"
They each took their turn toasting to Lu Jincheng, and soon most of the drinks on the table were gone, but by the time the bespectacled man returned, Lu Jincheng had barely sipped half a glass.
"President Lu, your Margarita." He carefully brought over a cocktail, then placed the coconut juice in front of Ji Yao.
Ji Yao smiled and held her cup, silent as a mascot.
She couldn't figure out what Lu Jincheng had in mind by including her; she might as well consider it after-sales service, quietly sitting there as chicken, listening to them deliver flattery with gusto.
Time passed, and Lu Jincheng raised his hand to his forehead, his face flushed, breathing heavily.
The bespectacled man tentatively called out twice, "President Lu, President Lu, are you okay?"
Lu Jincheng didn't respond, and Ji Yao faintly noticed sweat beads the size of soybeans sliding down his temples…
It seemed he'd only had two or three drinks—was Lu Jincheng such a lightweight?
Her disdainful look was caught by the bespectacled man, who anxiously urged Ji Yao, "Aren't you observant? President Lu is drunk; aren't you going to take him home fast?"
Ji Yao was helpless, there's a saying, "Beggars can't be choosers."
But Lu Jincheng was heavy, and it took the bespectacled man's assistance to drag him back to the car.
"What's with growing so tall, you've worn me out. I'm charging extra for this, hear me?" Ji Yao panted as she leaned on the car door and rambled.