Chapter 47: Fishing

Chapter 47: Fishing

Yu Zechuan was startled by his own words. How could he say such a thing without any reason, especially to someone he had just met within the day? However, recalling Jiang Boyun's lecture in the corner just now, he suddenly calmed down.

His calmness reached its peak, making his possessiveness even more distinct.

Yu Zechuan studied Lu Yan closely, not hiding his desire. The cold cologne on him transformed into a sweet, alluring scent tinged with money and desire. His voice was deep and low, "All that Jiang Boyun has today is thanks to me. If you rely on me, what's his will eventually be yours."

Did he mean to kick Jiang Boyun out of the picture?

But that wasn't enough for Lu Yan, whose appetite was bigger and greedier. He pretended to hesitate, turning his head away from Yu Zechuan's touch, deciding to play along and lure the man. "President Yu, I only came here looking for a job. I dare not think too much beyond that."

Yu Zechuan raised an eyebrow nonchalantly. "If you're out here trying your luck, there's nothing you shouldn't dare to think about. Jiang Boyun's support won't last long. You should consider who you should lean on."

After a moment of pondering, Lu Yan said, "President Yu, can I have a few more days to think this over?"

Yu Zechuan's patience was running thin. "One day."

Lu Yan: "Isn't that a bit too short?"

Yu Zechuan frowned. "Three days. I don't appreciate others haggling with me."

Lu Yan had no choice but to sigh in agreement. "Then it's three days."

With that, he straightened up and withdrew his hand from Yu Zechuan's waist. "Mr. Yu, let's head back. If we're away too long, President Jiang might become suspicious."

Yu Zechuan raised an eyebrow coldly. "Do you think I would be afraid of him?"

Lu Yan chuckled and tried to soothe him. "Of course not."

A plain and simple remark, yet it inexplicably soothed Yu Zechuan. He fixed Lu Yan with a profound glance before turning to exit the smoking room.

Worried about arousing suspicion, Lu Yan deliberately waited a few minutes before returning to the private room. Upon entering, he found everyone already seated, and the atmosphere had returned to its earlier harmonious facade.

Jiang Boyun cast a glance at Lu Yan. "Where have you been? Why are you only back now?"

Lu Yan pulled out a chair and sat down, casually coming up with an excuse. "Nothing much, just paid a visit to the restroom."

Yu Zechuan lifted his eyelids, thinking to himself that this person was also capable of lying, but he wasn't sure if they harbored malicious intentions like Jiang Boyun. During the gathering, his gaze invariably drifted towards Lu Yan, growing fonder with each glance, yet the latter seemed oblivious, focusing inwardly with a meditative gaze, never once returning his look.

Yu Zechuan inwardly scoffed, pretending to be serious.

Lu Yan had been engrossed in his phone when he suddenly sensed the temperature of the gaze on him drop significantly, as cold as a knife's edge. He guessed the reason and lifted his gaze at the right moment to look at Yu Zechuan, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes, yet somewhat helpless.

Despite saying nothing, Yu Zechuan's presence mysteriously made one's heart race and face flush.

Jiang Boyun was still unaware of what had transpired, only eager to conclude the dinner party. Thus, he overlooked the undercurrents between the two beside him. As Jiang Xiaowei and the others were all drunk, Jiang Boyun had no choice but to arrange for designated drivers to send them home. When it came to Yu Zechuan and Lu Yan, he found himself in a dilemma.

Lu Yan stood below the steps, stretching lazily. His tall and slender figure seemed to be favored by the wind, as the hem of his shirt fluttered in the night, revealing a seductively cinched waistline from his belt. He turned to look at Jiang Boyun, his gaze passing through his shoulder to land on another person:

"President Jiang, I didn't drink. I can just hail a cab back home."

You should send President Yu back.

The polite remark lingered on the tip of his tongue, but the second half vanished without a trace. He didn't want these two to have any further interactions.

Although Jiang Boyun was tempted by Lu Yan, he was aware that Yu Zechuan had been displeased during the dinner. After weighing the pros and cons, he decided to prioritize reconciling with Yu Zechuan first: "Alright then, send me a message when you arrive home safely."

Lu Yan nodded and finally looked at Yu Zechuan. "Mr. Yu, I'll take my leave then."

His gaze carried the sincerity and enthusiasm of a young man, far more appealing than Jiang Boyun's restrained scheming. The night breeze tousled his hair, but his eyes remained clear and bright. His handsome face appeared particularly gentle under the lamplight.

Yu Zechuan distinctly heard his heartbeat skip a beat. He frowned, suppressing that unusual sensation, and replied in an emotionless tone, "Don't forget the tasks assigned by your superior when you get back."

He had given Lu Yan three days to consider his offer.

Lu Yan skillfully displayed a hint of hesitation and difficulty, bowing his head slightly as he acknowledged, "I understand."

After Lu Yan left, Jiang Boyun looked at Yu Zechuan helplessly and joked, "He just started working, and yet you're still thinking about work during this rare dinner. Aren't you afraid that people will say you're exploiting your employees?"

Yu Zechuan sensed something amiss and gave Jiang Boyun a piercing glance. "Why? Are you quite fond of this relative?"

Jiang Boyun's heart skipped a beat, but he laughed it off. "He's young and just started, so I can't help but look out for him a bit more. It's getting late, let's go. I'll drive you back."

Yu Zechuan declined. "No need, I'm visiting Grandpa at the old house today. The driver can send me there."

In his mind, Jiang Boyun was now akin to a discarded chess piece, not even deserving a glance. Seeing the driver park the car by the roadside, Yu Zechuan walked straight towards it.

Yu Zechuan settled into the backseat, the closed windows sealing off the unwanted gaze from outside. He pressed his temples and instructed the driver, "Take me back to the old residence."

The driver glanced outside and asked, "Not bringing Mr. Jiang along?"

It was clear that he knew Jiang Boyun was highly esteemed, both in the company and personally, hence the instinctive question.

Yu Zechuan had been resting his eyes, but upon hearing this, he slowly opened them. His gloomy and cold eyes, reflected in the rearview mirror, were now shrouded in the darkness of night, amplifying his unpredictable nature.

"I don't want to hear anything about him anymore, do you understand?"

The driver's heart skipped a beat, and he hastily acknowledged softly, starting the car and heading towards the old residence. The shadows of trees on the sleek, streamlined vehicle vanished in a swoosh.

Jiang Boyun stood by the roadside, furrowing his brow. He had a vague sense that something was amiss, but couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.

Due to his health, Mr. Yu rarely visited the company anymore, only intervening in major matters. Otherwise, he lived alone in the old residence, tending to flowers and plants, practicing Tai Chi in his leisure time, and leading a relatively satisfactory life.

Yu Zechuan returned home late today. As Aunt Zhang, the nanny, came out to give him slippers, she whispered, gesturing upstairs, "The old master has only just fallen asleep."

Putting on his shoes, Yu Zechuan entered the house, lowering his voice as well, "Mm-hmm, don't disturb him."

Aunt Zhang smoothed out his coat and hung it on the hanger, asking with concern, "Mr. Yu, would you like some late-night snack?"

In reality, Yu Zechuan had no appetite at all. The reason was that he had lost his taste for food due to Jiang Boyun's behavior at the banquet. He wasn't as magnanimous as he seemed. After years of supporting Jiang, all he got in return was being called "crazy." Anyone would feel upset.

Yu Zechuan replied, "No, thanks."

However, Aunt Zhang gently urged, "Have a little, Mr. Yu. The kitchen has prepared a mung bean, lily bulb, and pork rib soup. It's good for cooling down your body."

She was around fifty, an honest and kind-hearted woman. In his previous life, when the Yu family fell from grace, her husband had a heart attack and was hospitalized. She single-handedly took care of everything, and even refused to take her last few months' salary. After handling the funeral arrangements, she returned to her hometown.

Yu Zechuan was unaware of this. Looking at Aunt Zhang's aging face, which showed her true age, he could vaguely see her kindness through her simple eyes. His movements paused slightly.

Seeing this, Aunt Zhang knew he had agreed but was just too proud to admit it. Smiling, she said, "Go sit in the dining area. I'll get the soup."

Hearing this, Yu Zechuan changed his direction and sat at the dining table instead. Despite the bright lights above him, the darkness creeping in from outside the window couldn't be ignored, evoking a sense of loneliness.

His mind drifted back to the events at the restaurant earlier.

Crazy?

Yu Zechuan pondered, was he truly insane?

But he was just without a mother. If that woman were still alive, she would be around Aunt Zhang's age, reminding him not to return too late and brewing soup for his well-being.

In college, Yu Zechuan had been an aloof and arrogant individual, always preferring solitude. Only Jiang Boyun persistently engaged him in conversation and tried to get close, but it turned out to be for personal gain.

A frosty layer silently settled in Yu Zechuan's eyes, even the steaming rib soup failed to thaw it. He sent Aunt Zhang back to sleep, then mechanically continued sipping, lost in thought.

Seniors often woke easily, and despite Yu Zechuan's quiet entrance, the elderly Mr. Yu roused himself. Putting on his reading glasses, he descended the stairs to find his beloved grandson sitting alone at the dining table, his expression somber.

"Ze Chuan, why didn't you let me know you were coming back?"

Yu Zechuan paused in his action. "Grandfather, how did you wake up?"

Mr. Yu had been a formidable figure in the business world for decades. Despite his advanced age and somewhat failing eyesight, the sharp glint in his eyes was not to be underestimated; he was a man known for his decisiveness and swift actions. He seated himself at the dining table, adjusting his reading glasses perched on his nose. His snow-white hair was impeccable, without a single strand out of place. "Are you feeling down?"

Yu Zechuan felt a bit uncomfortable. "No, I just happened to drop by for a visit."

Mr. Yu harrumphed. "I've watched you grow up since you were a child; you can't hide anything from me. Now, tell me, what's really going on?"

Better left unsaid, Yu Zechuan's heart sank even further upon hearing this, the taste of the soup evaporating from his mouth. He put down his spoon and recounted the incident at the restaurant.

"Bang!"

Yu Elder's fury erupted, his palm slapping the table so hard it shook. It was said that traits were inherited; while Yu Zechuan might have a narrow mindset, his father's wasn't much broader. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been hospitalized due to a heart attack back then. "What does Jiang Boyun think he is? If not for you promoting him to the core of the Yinchuan Group, he'd still be struggling in some remote mountain village!"

"I never agreed to elevating an outsider to such a crucial position in the company. Back then, you were as blind as a bat, obsessed with aiding him. Look where it got us – we've raised a ungrateful wolf!"

Feeling embarrassed by the elder's harsh words, Yu Zechuan frowned and softly protested, "Grandfather!"

The elderly Yu gritted his teeth and said, "What the hell! Don't call me Grandfather. I don't have such an idiotic grandson. I should've known that you couldn't manage the company. Giving you just half the power led to this mess!"

Yu Zechuan was talented, but his introverted nature and inability to effectively manage people made it easy for others to exploit his character flaws.

The elderly Yu sighed with resentment, "You're driving me to the grave with worry! I won't be able to rest in peace!"

Yu Zechuan finally reacted, frowning as he pulled out his chair, preparing to retreat to his room. He loathed hearing such words; each time he did, it felt like needles piercing his heart, leaving him feeling suffocated.

The elderly Yu sat with a stern expression, suddenly speaking up, "Rongbo's land project wasn't promoted well. During the launch, it was overshadowed by concurrent developments. Use this oversight to find fault and demote Jiang Boyun."

"As for his position..."

After a moment of thoughtful frown, Mr. Yu said, "Ah Jin has been graduated for a few years now. I'll ask him to join the company to assist you."

Upon hearing this, Yu Zechuan paused in his steps. "Understood."

In a daze, he seemed to hear a sigh behind him, which dissipated into the air like a breeze.

Due to his foul mood and numerous matters that needed attending to, Yu Zechuan hadn't visited the company all week, even forgetting his appointment with Lu Yan.

It was Friday, and the sun's warmth made people feel exceptionally sluggish. The atmosphere in the office was gloomy. Everyone's minds were already soaring towards their weekend plans, leaving no room for work—except for Lu Yan.

He was fully focused on his computer screen, his brow slightly furrowed, looking unusually serious, completely different from his usual self. Even Jiang Kangkang noticed the anomaly. With a suspicious look, he said, "Lu Yan, something seems off about you lately."

With his mind elsewhere, Lu Yan replied, "What's off?"

Jiang Kangkang propped his head up, studying him. "You've been extra diligent at work recently. Not only are you not late, but you're also staying late to work voluntarily. You're acting out of character."

Lu Yan mused to himself that it was all for the chance encounter with Yu Zechuan. He had even strategized how to play hard to get, yet he hadn't laid eyes on the man for an entire week. Despite his efforts to gather information, he came up empty-handed.

How intriguing, he had intended to lure Yu Zechuan in, but now found himself being the one ensnared.

Leaning back in his chair thoughtfully, Lu Yan recalled his secretary mentioning that President Yu would be visiting for an inspection in the afternoon. His eyelashes drooped slightly as an idea formed in his mind.