The next day, Jaden and Jenny showed little inclination to linger at the Xuhai Resort. After lunch, Jaden drove Jenny away, marking the conclusion of their three-day getaway.
On the drive back, the atmosphere between them grew quieter. Jenny occasionally glanced at Jaden's profile, her reluctance evident.
Initially, Jaden intended to drop Jenny off at her home, hoping to find out where she lived. However, shortly after they entered the city, Jenny requested to get off.
Before parting, Jenny gazed at Jaden with tenderness in her eyes. "You promised you'd come to meet me again, right?"
"Of course. I still owe you a favor, don't I?" Jaden replied with a smile.
Jenny beamed sweetly, planted a kiss on his cheek, and walked away without looking back.
As Jaden watched her fade from view, he furrowed his brow slightly. He immediately pulled out his phone and called Luna.
"Hey, where are you? I'm back," he said.
It sounded noisy on Luna's end, but her voice was calm as she replied, "Go to my place and wait downstairs. I'll finish what I'm doing and be right there."
Following her instructions, Jaden navigated his way to Luna's residential complex.
It wasn't long before Luna arrived in a rideshare car.
After a quick glance at Jaden leaning against his car, cigarette in hand, Luna gave a cold nod toward the building. "Let's talk upstairs."
Without a word, Jaden extinguished his cigarette and followed her back to her apartment.
In the three days he'd been away, Luna's apartment looked as if it had been hit by a hurricane. Empty wine bottles were strewn everywhere, and the air was thick with the smell of alcohol.
Seeing the mess, Jaden frowned slightly. Luna seemed to have had a rough time.
"Well? Let's hear it," Luna said as she threw her purse onto the couch and flopped down carelessly.
"The plan went well. Jenny is very interested in me now; I just need to set up the final phase," Jaden replied calmly.
"So, I still have to wait?" Luna asked coldly.
"Yes. You were too impatient. You called Henry Lin over before my relationship with Jenny had developed enough. She was still wary of me, which made executing your plan impossible. On the bright side, his visit did push our relationship forward. I had the chance to take things further with her, but I didn't," Jaden admitted.
"Why didn't you? You're supposed to be smart and resourceful! Couldn't you have just set up a hidden camera or positioned your phone to record it? You could've slept with her, recorded the footage, and handed it to me. What's so complicated about that?" Luna retorted angrily.
"I agreed to help you make Henry and Jenny break up, but I didn't agree to ruin her. What if you misuse the footage? And if I went along with your idea, I'd end up starring in the scandal myself. What about my life afterward?" Jaden countered bluntly.
"That doesn't matter. If ruining that bitch also means ruining you, so be it. I'd compensate you with more money," Luna said dismissively.
"Luna, you need to understand that while money is important, it's not everything. For instance, your money can't buy back Henry Lin's love," Jaden said, his tone firm.
Luna's face darkened at his words. She covered her mouth, a bitter expression spreading across her face.
"Fine. What do you suggest? I can't hold on much longer. I can't live without Henry Lin - for myself and my company," Luna sighed, her eyes pleading.
"Do you want me to be honest?" Jaden asked after a deep breath, feeling a pang of sympathy for her.
"Go ahead. I'm ready," Luna said as she lit a cigarette, her anxiety written all over her face.
"I think even if we manage to separate Jenny and Henry Lin, he won't come back to you. The man has moved on," Jaden said evenly.
Luna remained silent, puffing on her cigarette.
"Even so, do you still insist on going after Jenny?" Jaden pressed.
"What? Has spending three days with her made you fall for her too?" Luna shot back coldly.
"No. You're my employer. I know my place. I'm just saying your actions might be pointless now," Jaden replied, shaking his head.
"As long as you know that!" Luna snapped. "And let me make this clear: even if I know it's futile, I still want to destroy Jenny. If it weren't for that slut seducing Henry, he wouldn't have left me. I wouldn't be in this mess. It's all her fault! If I can't live well, neither will she!"
Luna's voice rose to a furious pitch.
"Fine. I understand. We'll stick to the plan. Keep someone stationed at the café to monitor her. I have some personal matters to handle, but I'll arrange another meeting with Jenny soon. I'll aim to deliver results within two weeks," Jaden said, a flicker of irritation crossing his face before he nodded in agreement.
"Two weeks is too long! I'm giving you one week. Get it done, and I'll add fifty thousand to your fee," Luna declared firmly.
"Alright, one week. I'll accelerate the timeline," Jaden agreed, calculating that his current rapport with Jenny should make it feasible.
Luna gave a slight nod, her expression weary but resolute. After a pause, she looked at Jaden with a glimmer of hope.
"I'm your employer, right? Can I trust you?" she asked softly.
"I'd like to think so," Jaden replied, feeling a pang of pity for her vulnerability.
"I'm sorry for losing my temper earlier, but you're the only one who can help me now. I won't lie to you - since Henry left, my company has been struggling financially. We're on the brink of bankruptcy, and my employees - hundreds of them - are counting on me to pay their wages. I need Henry back, not just for myself but for them too. I'm barely holding on. I'm desperate…" Luna's voice cracked, her exhaustion and despair laid bare.