Volume One, Chapter 63: Sang Wan Has a Boyfriend

"Sang Wan is nothing but a bringer of misfortune. If only I had known, back then I should have..." Muttering curses under her breath, she glanced up and met Lu Jinnian’s sullen, forbidding expression in the rearview mirror. For a fleeting moment, it was as if she was staring into the face of Lu Zhengsong himself.

A chill ran through Su Baohui’s heart, and she fell silent instinctively.

Not another word was spoken for the remainder of the ride.

Barely had they crossed the threshold when Su Baohui’s bravado drained away. Looking at Lu Jinnian, her face was filled with contrition. “Jinnian, it’s all my fault. I just saw Sang Wan with that unsavory man, and when I thought of all the trouble she’s brought upon our family, I... I lost my temper and couldn't control myself!”

“The lawyer who showed up today—do you know who he is?” Lu Jinnian asked her.

Su Baohui shook her head.

In a low voice, Lu Jinnian replied, “Gu Qian, the most formidable lawyer in the capital. The case involving the second son of the Feng family years ago—he was the one who took it on.”

At those words, Su Baohui’s face turned ashen.

That case had shocked the entire nation.

The second son of the Feng family, originally the prime suspect, was transformed—thanks to the family’s machinations—from a suspect into an innocent bystander. The initial verdict left the victim’s family dissatisfied. They sold their house, their car, sacrificing everything to hire Gu Qian.

A few months later, the case took a dramatic turn.

The once-arrogant Feng scion was ultimately sentenced to death for premeditated murder of exceptional brutality.

Gu Qian, already renowned, gained even greater fame, while the Feng family fell from grace, fading into near oblivion among the capital’s elite in just a few short years.

“How could he possibly...” Su Baohui began, wanting to ask why such a big gun would be brought to bear on such a minor case of public disturbance.

Why would someone as illustrious as Gu Qian involve himself in her petty affairs?

Then she recalled that Sang Wan now belonged to the Lou Group.

And Gu Qian was with the Lou Group’s legal department.

Su Baohui froze.

“If you want the Lu family to become the next Feng family, then by all means, keep stirring up trouble,” Lu Jinnian said coldly.

With that, he turned and strode away.

The car pulled out, noise ringing in his ears—Su Baohui’s ranting, Lu Zhiyi’s shouting—but only one thing registered with Lu Jinnian:

Sang Wan has a boyfriend.

A sudden, inexplicable irritability seized him. He floored the accelerator, the engine roaring.

When he finally stopped, he found himself at the entrance of an old alley.

It was late at night, yet the cramped little wonton shop at the corner was still aglow.

On impulse, Lu Jinnian got out of the car and walked inside.

“Sir, what can I get you?”

“A bowl of wontons.”

“Coming right up...”

The wontons arrived swiftly, a dozen or so floating in a clear broth, garnished with seaweed, dried shrimp, and cilantro.

He remembered this was Sang Wan’s favorite, but he had only accompanied her here a few times before refusing to come again.

Lu Jinnian picked up the spoon and began to eat slowly.

When he left the wonton shop, he couldn’t help but glance back at the small courtyard at the end of the alley.

He turned and walked a few steps.

Suddenly, his phone rang, the clear tone jarring in the stillness of the alley.

It was as if he had been jolted awake; instantly, he snapped out of his reverie.

He silenced the call, returned to his car, spun the wheel, and sped away.

Not long after, a Maybach rolled up and stopped at the mouth of the alley.

Sang Wan stepped out, turning to Lou Ye, who was about to follow her. “No need to walk me in, you should head back early.”

A hint of embarrassment flickered across Sang Wan’s face. “I just remembered I forgot to put the leftovers in the fridge.”

She’d made sweet-and-sour ribs for dinner, but hadn’t finished them; they were still on the dining table.

No one was home, but there was 2S, ever curious about human food.

All she could picture was 2S snatching the sweet-and-sour ribs off the table, crouched on the cream-colored carpet, gnawing away.

The ribs were a lost cause now.

And that expensive carpet in the living room probably was too.

Sang Wan’s eyes pleaded, “Go home, and... when you discipline him, please go easy!”

Lou Ye raised an eyebrow.

Perhaps it was because they had spent another pleasant evening together.

Or perhaps, after that casual “You’re back” earlier, she was once again so unguarded and natural around him.

It was as if, to her, he was one of her own.

Just like that “Brother Fan” from before.

It was like a hot June day, with a preserved plum in your mouth—sweet and tart, seeping into your heart.

He was in inexplicably good spirits.

Lou Ye nodded. “Alright.”

Sang Wan got out of the car, turning on her phone’s flashlight.

Lou Ye slowly turned the car around.

He only drove away when she reached the gate of the little courtyard.

Sang Wan entered, finding the courtyard shrouded in darkness.

She remembered Granny Wan had gone to stay at her daughter’s.

She locked the door behind her and groped her way upstairs to her room.

Just as she finished showering and stepped out of the bathroom, a creak sounded.

It was as if a mouse had its tail stepped on in the shadows.

Or as if someone had taken a step back.

A chill ran down her spine; Sang Wan quickly walked forward.

With a crash, she yanked the door open.

There, in the doorway, was a shadowy figure.

“Xiao Sang...” Wan Jianye’s face showed not a trace of embarrassment. His eyes roved over Sang Wan’s face, down her neck, and lower still.

Fresh from the shower, Sang Wan wore a knee-length nightdress.

The light above her cast its glow from behind, making her bright, striking features even more alluring under the amber hue.

“Xiao Sang, let me help you,” Wan Jianye said, swallowing hard as he reached for the basin in her hands.

Inside were the undergarments Sang Wan had just washed.

He couldn’t see through her nightdress, couldn’t tell if she was wearing anything underneath.

The mere thought that she might not be sent his blood surging with excitement.

“Xiao Sang, I—”

Wan Jianye’s hand had scarcely grazed the edge of the basin when Sang Wan jerked it away, shoving his hand aside. “I don’t need your help... Get out!”

Granny Wan had gone to her daughter’s, but Wan Jianye had pretended the house was empty, lurking in the pitch-black first floor for who knows how long.

The thought that he had been outside while she was showering made Sang Wan tremble uncontrollably.

“Get out! Get out now!”

She shoved him hard, forcing herself to stay calm.

If she could just lock the door and change her clothes, she could be out of here in less than a minute.

No matter what, she must move out tomorrow.

Clang!

The basin fell from her hands.

Wan Jianye lunged at her, grabbing her wrist and dragging her toward the bed. “Xiao Sang, I liked you from the moment I first saw you...”

“You beast, help—”

Clamping his hand over her mouth, Wan Jianye reached for her.

Her scent rushed into his nose, making him dizzy with desire.

“You’re divorced, I don’t have a wife. You’ve been without a man for so long—don’t you want it too? Just give me this once and... mmm—”

A muffled groan sounded, as if his very core was being torn apart.

Wan Jianye nearly crushed Sang Wan’s wrist.

Seeing her hand groping under the pillow, he snatched her phone away, spotting the outgoing call.

He hung up and flung the phone away with a loud smack.

“Help... mmph...”

“You filthy whore! You act all innocent, but you go from one man to another. They can have you, but I can’t? You ungrateful bitch!”

His hand over her mouth, she was nearly suffocating.

Sang Wan fought with all her might, kicking and punching.

But the difference in strength was overwhelming.

Her resistance only seemed to excite Wan Jianye more.

His expression fevered, he pressed down harder.

Bang!

A deafening crash rang out.