Chapter 46: Relying on Whom

Chapter 46: Relying on Whom

In the antique-styled private room, a large round table could seat up to twenty people and was already mostly occupied.

Jiang Xiaowei, Jiang Boyun's cousin, had recently graduated from college but already carried an air of a seasoned socialite. He casually rolled up his sleeves and poured a bottle of Corton-Renardes, which cost fifty thousand yuan, into the decanter as if it were free. The rich and exquisite liquid swirled in the crystal glass, overflowing with abandon.

With a bold gesture, Jiang Xiaowei raised his cup, causing even more wine to spill over. He looked at the silent, aloof man sitting at the head of the table and declared loudly, "President Yu, we brothers guarantee with our hearts that if you invest, this game will definitely be a hit. I'll toast you first!"

His words were filled with certainty and self-assurance, as if he was absolutely sure of securing the investment. However, the man across the table simply stared indifferently at his right hand, admiring the ornamental silver ring on his slender pinky finger. Under the warm glow of the lights, his deep eyes appeared particularly indifferent, treating Jiang Xiaowei as nothing but an insignificant speck of dust.

"..."

The atmosphere became momentarily awkward. Jiang Xiaowei chuckled nervously, trying to smooth things over. "I'll drink first!"

He tilted his head back and drained the full glass of red wine. The rich, smooth body of the wine failed to deliver the flavors of blackberries, plums, or cedarwood. Instead, it tasted sour and astringent. After struggling to swallow it, he couldn't help but let out a loud burp.

"Burp!"

Yu Zechuan furrowed his brows, a hint of impatience creeping up within him. He had always disliked such social gatherings, yet Jiang Boyun insisted on dragging him into this world of wine and women. The table was filled with aimless loafers, all young and naive, lacking both technical skills and intellect. They dared to ask for millions of yuan in investment without any qualms.

It was unclear who had mustered the courage.

Just as Yu Zechuan was about to leave, a click sounded as the private room door was pushed open. The one who dared had finally arrived.

Jiang Boyun knew all too well that Yu Zechuan was difficult to please. Being half an hour late, he couldn't help but feel anxious, fearing that Yu Zechuan would be upset. Leading Lu Yan forward, he greeted with a gentle smile, immediately putting himself in a submissive position: "Zechuan, there was some traffic on the way. I'm sorry for being late."

Not even raising an eyebrow at Jiang Boyun's words, Yu Zechuan simply said two words:

"Take a seat."

He was always like this, but to Jiang Boyun, it seemed like the arrogance of a young master. Jiang Boyun, who had grown up in humble circumstances and struggled with sensitivity and inferiority, inherently harbored envy towards someone like Yu Zechuan, born into wealth.

Despite his jealousy, Jiang Boyun's voice remained soothing: "I apologize for keeping you waiting. It won't happen again."

Upon finishing his sentence, something seemed to occur to him, and he slightly turned aside, making space for Lu Yan behind him: "Oh, by the way, this is a distant relative of mine."

Another relative? Was Jiang Boyun planning to elevate every relative from his ten valleys and eight villages to success?

This thought crossed Yu Zechuan's mind, tinged with sarcasm. However, as soon as he caught sight of Lu Yan's face, the notion vanished. His gaze paused, narrowing slightly.

"Good evening, President Yu."

Lu Yan lagged slightly behind Jiang Boyun, yet his posture seemed especially upright and elegant in comparison. When he lifted his gaze, it was neither submissive nor arrogant; his dark eyes, reflecting the scattered light, pierced straight into one's heart.

This was the man he had encountered at the elevator entrance that morning.

With such a vivid face, forgetting him would be no easy task.

Yu Zechuan rubbed his ring finger thoughtfully, acknowledging with a nonchalant "Mm."

No one could decipher the meaning behind that single syllable. Was he pleased? Vengeful? Unhappy?

Jiang Boyun pulled out a chair and sat beside Yu Zechuan. Lu Yan had no choice but to sit next to Jiang Boyun, blending into the background as if he were invisible, silently occupying his spot.

The moment Jiang Xiaowei caught sight of Jiang Boyun, he was like a drowning man grasping at a straw, subtly urging his cousin to help secure investments for him. He showered Jiang Boyun with flattery: "Cousin, you're finally here! Who doesn't know you're President Yu's right-hand man? Without you by his side, even his food wouldn't taste good, hahaha!"

It was evident that he knew Jiang Boyun's intentions and was deliberately teasing him. Jiang Boyun found his loose tongue annoying and rebuked him lightly, "I think you've had one too many drinks and can't tell the difference between situations."

But he didn't deny Jiang Xiaowei's assertion about his influence over Yu Zechuan.

Jiang Boyun believed that after knowing Yu Zechuan for so many years, their romantic relationship was a natural progression. Now was the time to take the first cautious step. He stood up and poured a glass of wine for Yu Zechuan, filling it only a quarter full. As he poured, he introduced, "This is my cousin Xiaowei. He and his friends are currently developing a game. I think it has potential, but they're short on initial funding. If you're interested in investing lately, you might consider them."

Yu Zechuan nonchalantly replied with three words, "No interest."

Jiang Boyun paused in his action.

Yu Zechuan had never been known for his altruism, and with his current status, there was no need for him to please anyone. He leaned back in his chair, his long eyelashes casting a shadow as he spoke with refined elegance, "The Yinchuan Group doesn't engage in game development, and I have no interest in it. You've approached the wrong person."

In reality, Yu Zechuan could invest if he wanted to. It was clear that Jiang Boyun's recent actions had crossed a line, causing some dissatisfaction.

Jiang Boyun quickly regained his composure. His rise to power had been built on endurance. His smile remained unchanged as he agreed with Yu Zechuan, "Indeed, they're still young and need more experience."

Expensive dishes were served one after another, steaming and aromatic, yet Jiang Boyun found them tasteless. Seeing that Jiang Xiaowei and his friends had left the room, presumably to discuss something privately, he also made an excuse to leave the private room.

Left alone in the spacious room were Yu Zechuan and Lu Yan. The atmosphere became somewhat awkward, though it seemed to affect Lu Yan less than Yu Zechuan.

Lu Yan glanced at Yu Zechuan and asked, "Mr. Yu, would you like to try the food?"

Yu Zechuan's impression of Jiang Boyun's relatives was summed up in the phrase "climbing up the social ladder." However, Lu Yan just about met his standards. In the fleeting glimpse he caught of Lu Yan that morning, he hadn't seen clearly, but now, up close, he found him exceptionally appealing, even down to the strands of his hair.

Yu Zechuan's eyelids lifted slightly, an uncommon response from him. "I have no appetite."

Jiang Xiaowei, with his university diploma of dubious origin, spoke not a sentence that was pleasing to the ear, haphazardly tossing around idioms as if they were confetti. Before any dishes had even graced the table, several bottles of alcohol had already been emptied, and in moments of excitement, spittle would fly from his mouth – a sight he somehow found repulsive himself.

Lu Yan urged, "Have a little, otherwise you might easily get a stomachache."

Having finished his words, he pulled out his chair and stood up. Using the public chopsticks, he picked several dishes that he knew Yu Zechuan would enjoy and placed them gently in front of him. The back of his articulate hand was fair, with faint blue veins visible beneath the skin. It contrasted beautifully with the hotel's opulent crimson porcelain bowl adorned with golden swastikas, creating an aesthetically pleasing sight. However, his hand withdrew just as swiftly.

Yu Zechuan was pleasantly surprised to find that the dishes in the bowl suited his taste. He raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, "What relation are you to Jiang Boyun?"

Lu Yan resettled himself in his seat, quite sincerely, "Not really relatives, we just happened to know each other from before. I heard President Jiang mention that he was having a dinner with you today, so I asked him to bring me along."

Yu Zechuan was puzzled, "Why?"

Lu Yan smiled at him, "I accidentally bumped into you this morning in the elevator, so I wanted to come over and apologize."

Yu Zechuan realized the reason and nonchalantly averted his gaze, "I'm not that petty."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yan couldn't help but chuckle softly. Yu Zechuan's heart was known to be as small as a needle's eye; such words could only fool strangers. How did the other manage to say it with a straight face?

Yu Zechuan caught the sound of Lu Yan's laughter and glanced over, asking, "What are you laughing at?"

Lu Yan shook his head. "Nothing. Let's eat."

On the other side of the wall, Jiang Boyun found a stairway corner to sternly scold Jiang Xiaowei. In a hushed voice, he gritted his teeth and said, "I warned you a thousand times not to speak out of turn before I arrived. Now look what you've done – upset him, and you won't get a single cent!"

Jiang Xiaowei was equally furious. "I didn't say anything! I only praised him, poured him drinks that he refused, and tried to talk to him, but he ignored me. Pfft, so what if he has a bit of money? What a snob!"

Jiang Boyun swiftly covered Jiang Xiaowei's mouth, fearing that he would drunkenly blabber back at the dining table. "Why bother arguing with a madman? Keep your mouth shut. Don't mention anything when we return. We'll find another way to deal with the investment issue later. Understand?!"

Jiang Xiaowei reluctantly nodded.

Unbeknownst to them, Yu Zechuan, who had stepped out to use the restroom, witnessed this entire scene. A tall potted plant in the corridor perfectly concealed his figure, and with people constantly passing by, Jiang Boyun failed to notice him.

Yu Zechuan stared expressionlessly at the nearby Jiang Boyun, his eyes darkening with emotion. After a moment, he suddenly scoffed.

Madman?

Yu Zechuan tilted his head with newfound interest. From the day they met in college, Jiang Boyun had always been subservient and attentive. This was the first time he learned that Jiang Boyun used such a term to describe him – truly intriguing.

Assuming he had raised a somewhat greedy dog, he hadn't expected it to be a wolf in sheep's clothing.

If someone chose to have no shame, Yu Zechuan usually wouldn't spare their dignity either. A dangerous curve formed on his lips as he cracked the knuckles of his right hand, preparing to step forward and show Jiang Boyun the true meaning of "insanity." Suddenly, his waist tightened, and without warning, he was pulled into an empty smoking lounge beside them.

It was Lu Yan.

The room was bright and spacious, but perhaps they had entered too hastily and accidentally triggered a light switch, casting the space into a dimness that only left a few small decorative lamps glowing.

In the faint light, Yu Zechuan recognized Lu Yan's handsome and devilish face, retracting his already thrown punch. His eyes narrowed coldly. "You?!"

Lu Yan smiled. "Me."

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Yu Zechuan still couldn't control his temper. What if he killed Jiang Boyun in a fit of rage? Wouldn't that land him back in prison?

He suggested tactfully, "Mr. Yu, this is, after all, a public place. If things escalate, it won't look good for you. Why not resolve this elsewhere?"

Back home, they could put a sack over Jiang Boyun's head. Then, Yu Zechuan could do as he pleased without anyone knowing.

Knowing that Lu Yan must have witnessed the scene earlier, Yu Zechuan's fury subsided abruptly, transforming from a volcano ready to erupt into a still, frigid pool. He lifted his hand to grip Lu Yan's chin, forcing eye contact. The faint smell of nicotine lingered in the air of the smoking lounge, subtly teasing the nerves in the darkness, fostering addiction and excitement.

Yu Zechuan spoke in a grave tone, "What's your relationship with Jiang Boyun that you're defending him like this?"

Lu Yan turned to look at him, his long eyelashes casting a captivating shadow as he spoke with a teasing tone, a hint of amusement in his voice, "Then, Mr. Yu, what kind of relationship do you hope I have with him?"

Yu Zechuan leaned against the wall, practically enclosed within Lu Yan's embrace. With every breath, he was filled with the other man's fresh and dry scent. The hand still rested on his waist, fingers gently tightening, effortlessly capturing his vulnerable spots.

Somehow, Yu Zechuan's legs felt weak, and his breathing quickened for a moment. His cool expression flushed with a rosy hue, even his aloofness carried an irresistible charm. He gritted his teeth and asked, "Are you his... secret lover?"

Tsk, that was too insulting.

Lu Yan gave a wry smile, "Does it seem like it?"

He was like a slippery eel, skillfully deflecting questions back at their source.

Yu Zechuan frowned, "Answer me!"

Seeing that the other was on the verge of anger, Lu Yan replied leisurely, "Just ordinary friends. I've been job hunting lately, and President Jiang helped arrange for me to join the company."

"Jiang Boyun?"

Yu Zechuan thought to himself, what was Jiang Boyun? He could elevate someone to divine heights, and just as easily cast them down into the mud. With a cold tone, he said, "Then you might have picked the wrong support."

Lu Yan pretended ignorance and asked, "What do you mean?"

Yu Zechuan's hand that held Lu Yan's chin slowly dropped. Not only did they not create distance between them, but their proximity increased, so close that their warm breaths mingled as he whispered his warning, "Because when you rely on a mountain, it may crumble; when you rely on water, it may flow away. Do you understand?"

The amusement in Lu Yan's eyes deepened. "President Yu means I should rely on myself?"

But Yu Zechuan didn't respond. Gazing at the alluring man before him, an odd idea suddenly popped into his mind: Since he was going to promote someone anyway, why not choose someone more pleasing to the eye, someone who aligned more with his preferences?

"No,"

Yu Zechuan's thin lips parted, and his icy fingers suddenly curved into an intimate gesture around Lu Yan's chin. Satisfied, he scrutinized the other, his low voice resonating in the darkness, stirring inexplicable tremors in one's heart:

"Lu Yan, how about relying on me?"