Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
After a moment of silence, Qi Lei replied—
"When and where?"
Dongfang Liuyun had already informed him beforehand. Lan Xiu knew about their relationship, so it was only a matter of time before the two of them met. Qi Lei did not object to this, and he did not know much about Lan Xiu's situation, he did not deliberately investigate the people around Dongfang Liuyun, but he knew that Lan Xiu was very good to Dongfang Liuyun.
Dongfang Liuyun probably had deep feelings for Lan Xiu too. Those feelings might not have anything to do with love, but it contained many emotions, such as trust, tolerance, and concern...
Actually, the current him might not be comparable to him. At the very least, Dongfang Liuyun did not give him the same trust as Qi Lei. The more she did not want anything from him, the more he felt the distance between them.
On the other end, Lan Xiu quickly reported an address—
"South of New Era Plaza, Island Cafè. If it's convenient, let's do it now."
"See you in an hour."
Qi Lei replied indifferently and hung up.
"Master Qi, who called?"
Noticing that Qi Lei's expression did not look right, Yang Sheng asked the question.
"Why are you so curious? Alright, that's all here. Just do what I told you to do. I'm going out for a while."
Qi Lei stood up and walked into the house after saying that.
...
In a corner of the Island Cafè on the south side of New Era Plaza.
The waiter had already brought up a cup of rich Blue Mountain. His fingers were interlocked. Lan Xiu, who was looking at the scenery outside the window, quickly came back to his senses. He nodded politely at the waiter before taking a sip of his coffee.
"President Lan, it's been almost an hour. Why isn't Qi Lei here yet?"
Ah Li looked at the watch on his wrist from time to time and said with a frown.
"The hour isn't up, is it?"
Lan Xiu was very calm. He reached out for the magazine at the side and casually flipped through it.
"But..."
"You can go down first. Wait for me in the car," said Lan Xiu.
Ah Li looked at Lan Xiu hesitantly. Seeing that his expression was as calm as water, he naturally did not dare to be tactful. He responded softly and then turned around.
And just as he turned around, a black figure came into view—
It was Qi Lei!
He was wearing a straight black suit pants with only a black shirt on top. The cufflinks had already been opened. He was handsome and extraordinary, but he was also unpredictable. When he saw Ah Li, the corner of his indifferent mouth curled into an evil smile.
"Have you waited long?"
He nodded politely at Lan Xiu. Without waiting for Lan Xiu to speak, he sat down across from him. He reached out for the menu and casually opened it. He glanced at it and gestured to the waiter beside him.
"A cup of salted lemon 7up."
"Yes, sir. Please wait a moment."
...
Lan Xiu began to silently size up Qi Lei who was sitting in front of him. Qi Lei also sat there, allowing him to size him up.
"To be honest, I don't know why Liuyun chose you. I don't deny that your conditions are good. You're the person in charge of the Qi family, the young President of Tai Yu Corporation. This identity is indeed a very good condition for the Dongfang family. However, she has too many choices. You have a reputation, and there are many things that don't necessarily meet Liuyun's standards. Why did she choose you?"
Lan Xiu's calm tone came through, and his deep eyes looked at Qi Lei quietly. He could not hide the depression and sadness in the depths of his eyes. Qi Lei looked at him at that moment, but he had an indescribable feeling
Should he be angry? Or should he be sympathetic or pitiful?
"I can't answer this question either. You should ask Liuyun. She told me about you. I know that you're her very good friend and playmate."
Qi Lei took the salted lemon 7up from the waiter and took a sip. "She said that you're a good person and treats her well. She even said that we can become good friends. I wonder if I, Qi Lei, have such an honor?"
"She... really said that?"
Lan Xiu paused and asked silently. He did not look up at Qi lei. Instead, he looked down at the coffee in front of him.
"Actually, many people want to marry Liuyun. Among them, there are many young talents who come from good families and have good characters. They are the same as you, including me. She is too outstanding. So outstanding that sometimes, you even suspect that you are just a speck of dust in front of her, while she is a dazzling pearl. In fact, I can't see where you two are compatible. At least, among the many suitors of Liuyun that I know, you really aren't the most outstanding."
Lan Xiu's words were a little bitter.
"Just take it that I'm lucky. If this makes you feel better, then I'll let you know. She's indeed a very good woman. Since you're so familiar with her, you must know that she has never approved of your self-belittling. You're also a very outstanding person."
Qi Lei was not angry at this moment. There was actually nothing to be angry about. It slipped through his fingers. This was probably the most appropriate way to describe Lan Xiu. He had let Qi Lei get it all for nothing. However, just because of these things, they caused a ruckus, it was not Qi Lei's original intention. Anyway, Dongfang Liuyun was now Qi Lei's person. He should be more magnanimous.
"Me? Not really! Do you know what Liuyun wants?"
Lan Xiu suddenly asked.
Qi Lei raised his handsome eyebrows. He did not say anything but looked at him silently.
"Although I have been good friends with her for more than twenty years, I have never understood her. She is almost a perfect person. At least, in my opinion, she is that kind of person. Since you're so honored to be able to marry her, I don't have any right to object. I just hope that you can treat her well. Otherwise, the first person who won't let you off would be me."
"You don't have to say this. She's now my Mrs. Qi."
Qi Lei answered firmly.
"It's best that you know. Do you even know Liuyun's past? Can you say such resolute words?"
Lan Xiu looked at him silently.
"I won't participate in her past. I can't change what has already happened. As long as her future is mine, it's fine. I know that her past may not be simple, just like me. Back then, I saw her speak to you with my own eyes. You didn't agree and you gave up. So, no matter what, you've already been ruled out. The only thing you can do is to bless her. As for the rest, I'll deal with it myself."
Qi Lei put down the cup in his hand and looked at Lan Xiu with a serious expression.
Ruled out!
When these words entered Lan Xiu's mind, he could not help but turn pale. His hand that was holding the cup tightened!
Yes, he was right. He, Lan Xiu, was ruled out!
Qi Lei's gaze turned sharp. Seeing that his expression was not good, he slowly stood up—
"I know you like her, but from the moment you rejected her, you've already lost all your right. Also, you'll know that in this world, there's absolutely no one more suitable for her than me, Qi Lei. This is fated. She's mine."
Qi Lei gritted his teeth as he finished the rest of his sentence. His gaze was unusually determined!
Lan Xiu's breathing stopped for a moment. When he looked back at Qi Lei, he had already taken a step forward..
"Your love rival isn't me. I've always been the guardian behind her, that's all."
In the end, Lan Xiu said this to Qi Lei's back.
Qi Lei was stunned for a moment, but his footsteps did not slow down at all
He could talk about the rest later. Who cared about his love rival? Anyway, he and Dongfang Liuyun were progress well now. Why should he disturb the peace between them because of these trivial matters?
This was extremely unwise. The conflict that caused trouble was the most unjust!
Qi Lei left just like that. When Lan Xiu came back to his senses, his figure was long gone.
He sat there for a long time before leaving in a daze.
On the way home, the chauffeur drove, and Ah Li was in the passenger seat.
Ah Li had been looking at Lan Xiu in the back seat through the car mirror.
He saw that Lan Xiu had a depressed look on his face and seemed to be troubled.
"President Lan, it's the Mid-autumn Festival soon. Do you want to prepare a gift? President Gan called. He said that he will prepare food and wine at home on the night of the Mid-autumn Festival, that you and Miss Dongfang should go home. Every year, you..."
"Just prepare a gift and send it over for me. This year, I won't go over."
Lan Xiu's indifferent tone sounded unperturbed.
Yes, if he was in City Z, he would definitely go to Dongfang Gan's place on the Mid-autumn Festival. But this year, it seemed..
It was only at this time that he could deeply understand that the so-called liveliness belonged to them. He felt that he had nothing.
"President Lan..."
Ah Li was shocked and turned his head to look at him. All he could see was the gloomy side profile of Lan Xiu.
"President Gan will definitely feel very regretful."
Ah Li thought for a moment before replying.
Lan Xiu closed his eyes and thought for a long time before saying, "Then let's go over on the 16th."
It was their family reunion. It was expected that there was nothing for Lan Xiu to do. If he went, it would be bad. However, he still had to go over to Dongfang Gan's side to take a look.
"Alright, I understand, President Lan!"
Ah Li replied with a hint of helplessness in his voice.
Dongfang Liuyun naturally did not know that Lan Xiu had gone to look for Qi Lei.
At this time, Dongfang Liuyun was busy with the Mid-autumn Festival event. The matter of the previous proposal had gone unanswered. Later on, Dongfang Rou'er had actually gone back to rummage through the forest garden's paper basket, but it seemed to have been disposed of. She had not found it in the end.
Later on, because of the upcoming event and the lack of manpower in the Marketing Department, Vice President Zhang transferred Dongfang Rou'er's people over to assist.
Dongfang Rou'er's ability was also famous in the company. Her methods were amazing. The people in the company had long heard of her and were very impressed.
Thus, the problem came–
"Who asked you to arrange the process like this?"
In the International Exhibition Center, Dongfang Liuyun was supervising the staff's arrangement of the venue. Ding Xiaoling brought a document over for her to look at. Dongfang Liuyun frowned as he looked at it and turned to look at Ding Xiaoling, his gaze was very sharp. "What about the process that I said before? Who told you to make the decision on your own?"
"Manager Yun, this was sent by Xiao Zhang. He said that Manager Rou insisted on her changing it. Manager Rou is still there. She said that you have no experience in this aspect, Manager Yun. This process is the most suitable."
Ding Xiaoling withstood that extremely oppressive gaze and explained in a low voice.
Hearing this, the corners of Dongfang Liuyun's mouth curled up into a smile, "You go and tell them that the person in charge of this activity is me, Dongfang Liuyun. If I say what to do, then do it. Otherwise, if the activity goes wrong, that so-called experienced person will be responsible. Just cause I give her some face it doesn't mean she can step on me. I, Dongfang Liuyun, have never been a patient person."
Her sonorous tone caused Secretary Ding to tremble slightly.
"Yes... Manager Yun!"
Secretary Ding took a deep breath.
"If you have any problems, just let her come to me directly. Making things difficult for her subordinates is something that only a fool who bullies the weak would do. Help me ask her if she, Dongfang Rou'er, is such a person. You just need to tell her exactly what I said."
Dongfang Liuyun threw the document in her hand into the trash can at the side and walked forward. "Do as I said before. Hand it over to me before work."
"Okay, Manager Yun!" Ding Xiaoling replied and then turned around to leave.
Dongfang Rou'er's expression naturally did not look good when she directly passed on Dongfang Liuyun's words to Dongfang Rou'er. However, her strong control prevented her from exploding on the spot. Instead, she chose to endure it.
On the other hand, her mother did not have such good endurance.
In Lin Yuanyuan's office.
Lin Yuanyuan's expression was extremely gloomy. The floor was already littered with papers. Lin Yuanyuan propped herself up at the desk in front of her with both hands, her entire body filled with stagnant anger.
"Manager Lin, don't be angry first. This is the decision of the higher-ups, and it isn't just Vice President Ren who has the final say. We still don't know what situation Vice President Yi is in. If we can't hold it in now, we will be at a disadvantage when the time comes!"
The secretary reminded him.
Lin Yuanyuan listened and took a deep breath. She could not hold back his anger and said, "They really know how to do it. We went through a lot to get this project, so why should we let second brother get a piece of the pie? Those old families didn't want to offend either side. Even Dongfang Gan had tossed away this problem. Tai Yu Corporation's attitude was still unclear, but they had made these things happen quite quickly! Why didn't we see them actively mobilize over there back then? They're obviously ready-made. Second brother, he's always been such a shrewd person!"
"Manager Lin, this is actually not a bad thing. This project is so complicated, it's naturally best if we can share some of the burden..."