Chapter 44: Threat.

Bin City, Luyue Group Headquarters.

The day after Lu Zhao and Yan Qingxin returned to Bin City, Yan Ruyue left Goose City.

She was busy, only there because Ling Chenxi had played dirty.

While reviewing reports, her phone lit up with a message from Yan Qingxin.

She felt a twinge of guilt toward her daughter, but seeing Lu Zhao always stirred envy—and jealousy.

[Mom, good news!]

Good news? Probably about that kid.

[Tell me.]

[I got Lu Zhao into our company as an employee!]

Yan Ruyue’s eyes widened, incredulous.

She understood each word, but together? Nonsense.

Lu Zhao, working for her company?

From their last encounter, he’d seemed more likely to bolt than join.

[?]

Rarely did she express confusion so bluntly.

[Hehe, knew you’d react like that. (^_~)]

Seconds later, a voice call came.

Yan Ruyue hesitated, then answered…

Minutes later.

“So, Lu Zhao’s our intern now. Contract signed.”

Yan Qingxin’s excited voice came through.

Yan Ruyue sat rigid, posture unchanged since the call began.

She’d expected to be pleased, but now? Worry crept in.

“Ahem, Qingxin… isn’t this tricking him? What if he finds out and gets mad?”

Would he accept it quietly or reject it angrily? She couldn’t tell.

For the first time, she couldn’t read a man’s mind.

Unnoticed by her, she was already considering his feelings, wondering if this would upset him.

Hesitant, indecisive, overthinking—signs of falling.

“He won’t. I know him. He’ll just sulk a bit, and I’ll smooth it over.”

“Tch.”

“Hm? Mom, what’d you say?”

“…Nothing. Your call, then.”

She hung up.

The dark screen reflected her face—brows furrowed, eyes displeased.

When Yan Qingxin said she could handle him, a stifling feeling hit Yan Ruyue.

You know him? You’ll smooth it over? Why… why am I even upset?

Setting down her phone, she leaned back, eyes empty, staring at the familiar ceiling.

“I’m… pathetic…”

Oblivious, Yan Qingxin was thrilled, her mood boosting her appetite.

“Ling Cang, let’s eat!”

“What? It’s barely past four!” Ling Cang, watching food vlogs under her desk, looked baffled.

“I’m so jealous, Qingxin. You eat tons and stay slim. I gain a pound and have to work it off.”

Another woman, trying on clothes by a mirror, spoke up.

Mumian Liu, their roommate.

She claimed her name came from her family balancing her “five elements” with wood-related names.

Or so she said.

She wasn’t fat—less lean than Ling Cang, less balanced than Yan Qingxin, but curvy.

Her regular workouts gave her a toned, athletic look—slim clothed, meaty unclothed.

Their other roommate rarely stayed at the dorm.

Yan Qingxin envied Mumian’s figure—curves in all the right places, with a cute face.

She felt “plain” by comparison.

“Little Liu, come with us today. My treat. Stop with those nutrition meals—you look thinner after break.”

“Hm? Really?” Mumian’s eyes lit up. She loved hearing she’d slimmed down.

“Totally,” Yan Qingxin said, nudging Ling Cang with a look.

“Yeah, you do look thinner. Come on,” Ling Cang added.

“Fine…”

Lu Zhao showered at home and saw Yan Qingxin’s message.

A restaurant selfie with her, Ling Cang, and Mumian, plus a note:

[Baby, coming?]

He figured it was better to let her bond with her roommates.

[I’ll pass. Have fun.]

[Okay, see you tomorrow.]

[Tomorrow.]

With rare free time, he wasn’t sure what to do. Nearing dinner, he went next door to check if Zhao Rong was still there.

He knocked. No response.

Inside, he jumped, spotting someone on the couch.

Seeing it was Yu Baowei, he sighed. “Miss Yu, you’re home and didn’t answer? Why’re you back today?”

She turned, her eyes holding a complex emotion.

He frowned, puzzled. “What’s up? Why’re you looking at me like that?”

Noticing her bare feet in black stockings, he set a pair of slippers by her. “Here, put these on.”

She slipped them on slowly, then stared ahead, dazed.

Her odd behavior threw him. Sitting beside her, he asked, “Miss Yu, what’s wrong?”

Head down, her loose hair hid her face. After a long pause, a dejected voice said, “I might… have to get married.”

“?”

Lu Zhao blinked, caught off guard.

Marriage? That’s normal, right?

“Uh… isn’t that good? Why do you seem upset?”

She whipped her head around, hair brushing his lips. “I don’t want to marry! And I don’t like the guy my family picked!”

Oh.* Arranged marriage, no feelings. Rough.

“Then… talk to your family? If you don’t like him, find someone else, right?”

He kept it vague—her family business wasn’t his to meddle in.

Her expression darkened, her gaze holding something familiar. “Help me.”

“What?” He froze, thinking he’d misheard.

“Help me!” she repeated, louder.

“How am I supposed to help?”

“Pretend to be my boyfriend and come home with me.”

He leaned back, waving his hands. “No way, that’s not gonna work!”

He hit the couch’s edge, about to stand, when she lunged, pinning his shoulders.

Their eyes locked. Gritting her teeth, she said words that sent his heart racing with dread:

“If you don’t help, I’ll tell Qingxin about you and Yan Ruyue!”