Chapter 31: Overacting

Chapter 31: Overacting

Lu Yan was still late.

When he rushed to the office to retrieve the USB drive from Bo Yun, the secretary, Eva, informed him that the man was already in a meeting.

"Sorry, Chairman Jiang is in his morning meeting. However, he instructed me beforehand that you can wait for him temporarily in the reception room. The meeting should end soon," Eva said.

Eva had a neat and attractive short haircut, and her speech was concise. It must have been challenging for a woman to survive in the corporate world, so there must be something extraordinary about her to have reached her current position. Her tone was neither condescending nor overly accommodating towards Lu Yan.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yan checked the time and realized his tardiness. "Alright, thank you. I'll wait for him in the reception room then."

Eva nodded. "I need to deliver some documents to Chairman Jiang, so I'll head downstairs first."

She had merely stayed to convey the message. With that, she carried the files and descended the stairs, the sound of her heels echoing and gradually fading away, leaving the corridor on this floor unusually quiet and empty.

Lu Yan wasn't foolish enough to sit and wait inside. Seeing that it was still early, he decided to go downstairs to grab breakfast at the convenience store. After about an hour, he leisurely made his way back upstairs.

Bo Yun had an entire floor designated as his office, and typically, only a few close associates would venture there. As Lu Yan was about to head to the reception room, he caught a glimpse of a blue figure turning the corner ahead. The silhouette seemed familiar.

Xue... Jin?

Lu Yan furrowed his brow, uncertain. He tiptoed behind the wall, cautiously peering out to confirm that it was indeed Xue Jin.

Something shady must be on Xue Jin's agenda, as Lu Yan observed him operating his phone while glancing up at the surveillance camera. Satisfied that the screen was now pitch black, Xue Jin surveyed his surroundings, skillfully unlocking Jiang Boyun's office door with gloved hands before slipping inside.

Ah...

Lu Yan raised an eyebrow in understanding. He didn't need to guess that Xue Jin was there to pilfer financial records. Unfortunately for him, Jiang Boyun had deleted all computer files the previous night, making this a futile endeavor.

The butterfly effect had long illustrated a principle: while the trajectory of events could be predicted, unpredictable "variables" also existed.

After his third rebirth, Lu Yan had made several changes. His tiny butterfly wings had fluttered, potentially altering not just his own fate but also that of others.

Xue Jin was no stranger to Jiang Boyun's office. Upon entering, he didn't waste time rifling through documents but instead sat down at the computer, ready to crack the password.

By disabling the floor's surveillance, he had a maximum of ten minutes before security would detect the anomaly. Thus, he needed to find what he sought swiftly.

Xue Jin's fingers danced across the keyboard, hesitated briefly before clicking 'confirm.' His eyes, hidden behind lenses, fixated intently on the screen, holding his breath.

Indeed, the password must be correct. He saw Jiang Boyun enter these digits last time...

"Beep! Beep! Beep!"

A piercing alarm suddenly interrupted Xue Jin's thoughts, reverberating throughout the office. His pupils constricted as he jolted up from his seat with a gasp, realizing that he had fallen into a trap!

At that moment, Jiang Boyun was in the conference room conducting a meeting. Mid-sentence, a red light flashed on his wristwatch, accompanied by a large red exclamation mark. His expression changed instantly. "Meeting adjourned!"

In a hurry, Jiang Boyun concluded his statement and, accompanied by his secretary, rushed upstairs. As they left, something crossed his mind, causing him to pause. He pointed at a recorder and instructed, " Summon the security team immediately. Have them seal off all entrances!"

Jiang Boyun didn't wait for the elevator, instead dashing up the stairs to his office. Although he was confident that his belongings were well-hidden, the intrusion into his office sent shivers down his spine.

Who? ! Who could it be? !

Who had access to the building? Who could crack his office password? !

Within seconds, countless possibilities raced through Jiang Boyun's mind, and he put several trusted individuals, including Xue Jin, under suspicion. However, when he burst into the office with his entourage, he was stunned by the scene before him—

Lu Yan stood beside the computer desk, his face a mask of confusion and helplessness.

Silence hung in the air for a few seconds, as if a pin dropping could be heard.

"Lu Yan?! Why is it you?!" Jiang Boyun clearly hadn't anticipated this turn of events, and his expression darkened instantly.

Lu Yan, seeing so many people gathered at the office entrance, became even more flustered. With an apologetic look on his face, he said, "Chairman Jiang, I'm sorry, I... I was waiting for you in the office just now, and accidentally spilled coffee on the keyboard. I was about to wipe it when I didn't expect..."

Jiang Boyun didn't need further explanation to understand Lu Yan's situation. Frowning, he glanced at the desk, where a pool of dried coffee and a tissue still remained. His thoughts were unclear, but his expression was particularly grim.

After a moment, Jiang Boyun finally spoke in a stern voice, "All of you, get out! Tell the security to leave!"

Upon his command, even those who wanted to watch the spectacle had no choice but to retreat. They left in small groups, though their curious gazes lingered.

Jiang Boyun closed the door behind him and took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. However, when he saw Lu Yan's meek demeanor, his pent-up anger burst forth. "Didn't I tell you to wait in the reception room? What are you doing in my office for no reason?!"

He hadn't considered how Lu Yan had entered, as Lu Yan indeed knew the passcode to his office door.

Lu Yan stepped back, appearing slightly uneasy as if startled. He lifted his chin slightly, mimicking the original character's personality flawlessly. Gathering courage, he said assertively, "I... I just came in to sit for a bit. It's just a broken computer, I didn't do it on purpose."

Jiang Boyun strode forward rapidly, shedding his usual refined demeanor. His eyes took on a similar malicious glint as Yu Zechuan's, only more venomous. "Is this just about a broken computer?! Do you have any idea how many confidential files are on my computer?! And do you know that even the security team was alarmed?! If anything goes wrong, can you take responsibility?!"

Lu Yan didn't respond, his face turning pale with fear. "I...".

Jiang Boyun ignored him, hastily grabbing a few tissues to wipe the coffee stains and attempting to turn on the laptop. Finding it undamaged, he calmed down slightly.

But soon, he noticed something amiss. There was a record of an incorrect password attempt. Jiang Boyun's eyes narrowed as he fixated on Lu Yan. "You touched my laptop?"

Lu Yan's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly regained his composure. He didn't try to hide anything, instead sitting down on the couch and admitting frankly, "Yes, I did touch your laptop. I wanted to see if you really deleted those old records. I didn't mean to trigger the alarm."

"Bang!"

Jiang Boyun slammed the table in anger, gritting his teeth. "Lu Yan, have you lost your mind? Can't you let go of those old accounts? I've told you countless times that they're gone! Why can't you just drop it?!"

Every one of Jiang Boyun's shady dealings back then had Lu Yan's assistance. In other words, Lu Yan was well aware of whatever secrets were hidden on Jiang Boyun's laptop. There was no reason for him to tamper with it.

Jiang Boyun felt deeply perplexed. This confusion stemmed from his suspicion that Lu Yan was trying to retrieve something from his laptop, yet also from the fact that Lu Yan had no real need to access it. He was torn.

Lu Yan, however, interjected abruptly, "Because I don't want to go to jail!"

Jiang Boyun's expression froze.

Lu Yan rose from the sofa, meeting Jiang Boyun's gaze unflinchingly. His tone was not aggressive but eerily calm, enough to unsettle one: "Chairman Jiang, you now have wealth and power, everything you could desire, and you're even about to be engaged to the daughter of the Dingyou Group..."

Jiang Boyun was momentarily flustered and instinctively stood up. "Ayan, let me explain—"

But Lu Yan raised his hand, gesturing for him to remain silent, allowing him to finish his thoughts. "You did nothing wrong. After all, your status has changed, and you need an equal partner, not someone like me who's good for nothing and can't help you."

Hearing Lu Yan mention the past, a wave of guilt washed over Jiang Boyun. He had chased fame and fortune, but at a certain height, he had developed the common ailment of the privileged: the loneliness of the top.

Now, many surrounded Jiang Boyun, but none were genuine. He couldn't help but reminisce about his impoverished days, and without a doubt, Lu Yan was the sole witness to that period.

Lu Yan continued his narrative. "I've done so much for you, things against my conscience, even illegal acts, yet I still haven't gained anything."

Assuming Lu Yan was dissatisfied with his current situation, Jiang Boyun opened his mouth, ready to offer compensation. However, Lu Yan's next words left him stunned. "I'm not here to ask for anything. In fact, I don't want anything. All I want is to live out the rest of my life in peace."

He paused for a moment. "...If those matters aren't settled properly and are discovered, I'm not afraid of going to jail. I just fear implicating you as well."

After finishing his speech, Lu Yan fell silent, bowing his head. He couldn't resist silently giving himself a mental thumbs up.

Perfect!

This was a perfect response! Not only did it provide an excuse for his computer usage, but it also portrayed a sense of resignation, making any future breakup with Jiang Boyun less abrupt. Jiang might even feel guilty and refrain from pursuing him further.

Hearing this, Jiang Boyun gripped Lu Yan's shoulders, turning him to face him. His tone was gentle but laced with suspicion, "Ayan, are you really asking for nothing?"

He felt that Lu Yan was giving up on him too easily, unlike his usual behavior.

Lu Yan suppressed the urge to slap him and maintained a forced smile, "Didn't you transfer one and a half million to me earlier..."

Damn! He mixed it up. That was Yu Zechuan who helped repay the debt.

Unfazed, Lu Yan corrected himself, "Didn't you transfer millions to me in bits and pieces? It's more than enough. I don't plan on staying in the group to work. I want to start my own small business. A simple life is good too. If you need the USB drive, you can come and get it anytime."

USB drive! USB drive! Did you hear me about the USB drive?!

Lu Yan wished he could throw these words in Jiang's face!

Ironically, the more Lu Yan talked like this, the more reluctant Jiang Boyun became. Human nature is fickle; we tend to take what we have for granted and regret losing it later, "Ayan, I've wronged you these past few years..."

Lu Yan replied, "It's okay, really."

Jiang Boyun gripped his shoulders tightly, as if afraid he would lose his temper, his fingers turning slightly blue from the force. His voice was low and somber, "You know my mom is quite traditional. She's always wanted a grandchild. Lin An-ni and I might really need to get married..."

Lu Yan responded, "I understand, your happiness is most important."

Jiang Boyun seemed to be moved, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He hesitated before asking, "Ayan, you... You really don't blame me?"

Lu Yan tried to maintain a smile, "Of course not, why would I blame you?"

Jiang Boyun asked further, "You don't hate me either?"

Lu Yan spoke with deep emotion, "I could never hate you, no matter who else I might hate."

Perfect, this answer was even better. Where else could Jiang Boyun find such a devoted lapdog? It would be unjust if he didn't get that USB drive now!

Just as Lu Yan was basking in his own brilliance, Jiang Boyun, overwhelmed by emotion, suddenly pulled him into an embrace. His voice was hoarse, filled with guilt, "Ayan..."

Lu Yan's back stiffened, "!!!"

Damn, he had overplayed his part!