Volume One, Chapter 79: Sending Him Into Another Woman’s Arms

The plane landed in Sichen at dusk.

Stepping out of the airport terminal, she caught sight of the sun sinking below the horizon. Soon, the earth was swallowed by darkness.

Sang Wan felt as if every cell in her body had relaxed. It wasn’t just because of Lou Ye. It was also because, for the first time in six years, she was leaving the capital alone.

For others, this was merely a business trip. For Sang Wan, it felt more like a solitary journey.

As the taxi headed toward the hotel, Sang Wan finally summoned the courage to contact Lou Ye.

“Lou Ye, sorry! I’m away on business, so you’ll have to sort out dinner yourself for the next few days. Sorry, sorry!”

She sent the message and received no reply. Perhaps Lou Ye was busy, hadn’t seen it. Or perhaps he felt deceived and didn’t want to respond. Her phone remained silent until she got out of the car.

After checking in and returning to her room, Sang Wan searched for Sichen’s delicacies and scenic spots.

When night fell, she strolled leisurely along the riverside street.

She slept soundly.

The alarm sounded; Sang Wan freshened up and went downstairs, meeting Engineer Chen in the second-floor restaurant, who had already arrived.

They chatted over breakfast, breaking down the day’s tasks for their site inspection.

When they went downstairs again, a car sent by the branch company was already waiting.

After a busy day, Sang Wan returned to the hotel at dusk, longing for a hot bath, some takeaway, and television, eager to dive into sweet dreams.

But Branch Manager Zheng was overly enthusiastic.

“To put it grandly, you’re envoys from headquarters. To put it simply, we’re colleagues. You’ve come all the way from the capital, we must welcome you properly.”

Unable to refuse, Sang Wan agreed.

She washed up and changed into casual clothes, and was picked up by a car sent by Manager Zheng.

As soon as she entered the restaurant, Sang Wan was stunned.

At the head seat, leaning lazily on the sofa, chatting with the branch company’s head, was none other than Lou Ye.

She ate dinner absent-mindedly, only remembering the men’s lively toasts and drinks.

Beside her, Manager Nie from the PR department, who had addressed her warmly as “Sister Sang” during the day and claimed Sichen as her territory, promising to be her host these days, spent the entire evening gazing at Lou Ye with eyes tinged with affection and sweetness.

Sang Wan understood well enough.

With everyone busy drinking, the dishes were left to her. Sichen’s cuisine was bold and flavorful, sour and spicy, appetizing and perfect with rice. Sang Wan tasted a bit of everything, treating her stomach well.

She especially liked the sour and spicy chicken giblets.

Chewing thoughtfully, she considered how to recreate the dish herself.

At the head seat, Lou Ye clenched his teeth, nearly crushing them.

She truly remembered nothing.

Yet he had assumed she did, felt embarrassed, and purposely hid himself in Sichen.

The alcohol took hold.

Lou Ye only wished time could rewind to that night. Whether on her lips or neck, he should have left some mark. Then, she wouldn’t be sitting here, eating so carelessly and happily.

“It’s getting late, let’s call it a night…”

After all, it was a workday.

With the Boss’s word, everyone wrapped up quickly.

“Director Lou…”

Lou Ye was caught by Nie Ruyan.

After discussing a few work matters, when Lou Ye turned back, Sang Wan had already disappeared.

Lou Ye: …

Sang Wan had just returned to the hotel when her door was knocked.

Standing outside was Nie Ruyan.

“Sister Sang, I wanted to ask you something…”

Despite only briefly working together that day, Nie Ruyan seemed to treat Sang Wan as one of her own. “Does Director Lou have a girlfriend?”

Her gaze paused. Sang Wan understood instantly.

“Sorry, I’m not sure.”

She could easily have said no, but Nie Ruyan’s intent was too obvious. Sang Wan found herself inexplicably disliking her.

Nie Ruyan’s eyes scanned Sang Wan’s cool, stunning face, even more striking than during the day. She understood then.

Sang Wan and Lou Ye were not what she had imagined.

People of high status arriving in a new city wouldn’t casually seek out women at nightclubs and such places—too many uncertainties, too much risk. So, a young and attractive woman traveling with him was likely his companion.

For someone like Lou Ye, a golden child at the pinnacle of the capital’s elite, Nie Ruyan believed he had no wife. After all, news of a broken engagement could trend for days; if he ever married, the news would explode.

But as for not having a girlfriend, Nie Ruyan would never believe it.

Nie Ruyan didn’t care if the Boss had a girlfriend. But as long as there were no other women in his hotel room here in Sichen, that was enough for her.

Having achieved her purpose, Nie Ruyan threw Sang Wan a flirtatious glance. “Sister Sang, tonight’s welcome dinner was just a warm-up. Tomorrow night is the main event. If you’re free, rest early! Tomorrow, I’ll show you something new!”

With that, Nie Ruyan closed the door behind herself.

Sang Wan couldn’t help but laugh.

After her bath, lying in bed, Sang Wan picked up her phone and noticed Lou Ye had sent a WeChat message twenty minutes earlier.

“Sister…”

“Any good takeout nearby?”

New to Sichen, Sang Wan was unfamiliar with the city. Opening the takeout app, every restaurant within a kilometer seemed to have suspiciously high ratings.

She gave up after a few minutes.

Of all the locals she knew, only Director Wu and Nie Ruyan came to mind.

It was late, and calling her male boss in another city was sensitive. Despite her dislike for Nie Ruyan, Sang Wan chose to ask her.

Brrr.

The phone rang once and was picked up. “Sister Sang, what’s up?”

“Manager Nie, is there any good, light takeout near the hotel?”

“You’re hungry? Change your clothes, I’ll pick you up. Nothing beats eating at the restaurant itself!”

“No,” Sang Wan replied.

Nie Ruyan paused, as if she immediately guessed, “Is it for Director Lou?”

Almost instantly, Nie Ruyan sounded delighted, “In that case, don’t worry. I’ll have my secretary deliver it!”

Brrr. Brrr brrr.

The call ended. Sang Wan messaged Lou Ye.

“I’m not familiar with Sichen, but I asked Manager Nie. She said she’ll arrange for her secretary to deliver food. Please wait a bit!”

In the penthouse suite, Lou Ye looked at the WeChat message on the screen.

He laughed out of frustration.

He offered himself, she refused.

She even sent him into another woman’s arms?

Perfect. Absolutely perfect.

He tossed his phone, unfastened his tie, threw it onto the sofa, and headed into the bathroom.

The doorbell chimed repeatedly, but no one answered.

Outside the suite, Nie Ruyan, dressed in a black, deep-V tight dress, called on her phone.

Lou Ye didn’t answer.

Yang Yan didn’t answer.

She tried Sang Wan—no answer either?

Holding red wine in one hand and a takeaway box in the other, Nie Ruyan stood at the suite door, phone wedged between ear and shoulder, enduring the lecherous glances of passersby, as if she were a delivery girl for drinks.

Her good temper was about to break.

The phone finally connected.

Sang Wan’s voice came through, “Manager Nie?”

At that moment, the door opened, and Lou Ye, wearing a bathrobe and drying his hair, appeared.

“Director Lou…”

Nie Ruyan hung up.

In the dim room, Sang Wan paused, hearing the sound of the door opening and Nie Ruyan’s delighted, coquettish greeting of “Director Lou,” followed immediately by the call ending.