Lu Yanzhou, who really knew how to have fun, was having a meal with Lin Juan.
The butler had delivered a massive insulated box with five layers, packed full of dishes. Lin Juan took them out one by one. They were mostly foods he liked.
“Mr. Lu, does the butler usually deliver your meals?” Lin Juan stared at the bountiful spread and felt it was too much for just the two of them. “With so many dishes, what happens to the leftovers?”
“I used to eat at the cafeteria. If I was pressed for time, I’d have my assistant bring something simple. Someone handles the leftovers.” Lu Yanzhou set down his documents and came over to help.
The office only had the two of them, so there was no need to pretend to be in a wheelchair.
To avoid wasting Old Master Lu’s good intentions, Lin Juan devoured the food like a whirlwind, and together with Lu Yanzhou, they polished off every dish.
Sure enough, he ended up stuffed.
Lin Juan set down his chopsticks and slumped onto the sofa, rubbing his bloated belly. “I really can’t fit another bite.”
Sitting only made it worse, so Lin Juan simply stood up and paced around the room.
After two laps, he turned his head. “I want to go out and walk off the food. Want to come?”
As soon as he asked, he remembered that if Lu Yanzhou went out, he’d have to use the wheelchair. It was better to just walk around the office.
“Forget it. You stay here. Can I go out for a walk?”
“Sure. I’ll have someone show you around.” Lu Yanzhou picked up the company internal phone and called for Special Assistant Liang.
“Huh? Why did Special Assistant Liang leave in such a hurry?” In the cafeteria, employees who saw him go puzzled over it.
“He must have something urgent. Special Assistant Liang is busy from morning till night.” Besides, his salary was several times theirs, not to mention the year-end bonus.
For that kind of money, they’d be on call too.
Special Assistant Liang received President Lu’s order to take Lin Juan around, no location restrictions, and silently raised Lin Juan’s status in his mind once again.
Lin Juan reached the door and looked back. “Then I’m off. Call me if anything comes up.”
“Okay.” Lu Yanzhou watched him leave.
Special Assistant Liang sighed inwardly. So clingy.
He never imagined their iron-willed President Lu would bloom like an iron tree in this manner.
Special Assistant Liang walked and introduced things to Lin Juan along the way. Seeing Lin Juan’s interest in the design department, he took him there for a tour, then to the lounge area.
It was lunch break, and the lounge had quite a few people. Those who didn’t want to nap came here to relax.
The unchanging time and place saw a change that day.
They saw Special Assistant Liang, who usually only served President Lu, bring in a stunning long-haired young man.
Who was this?
A new business partner?
Or some big company’s young heir?
Curiosity bubbled up in everyone at once.
For Special Assistant Liang to personally escort him, his status must be extraordinary.
Two assistants from the president’s office were also there. When they spotted Lin Juan, they rubbed their eyes in shock, blinked, and confirmed they weren’t seeing things.
“Did you see that?” one whispered to the other.
“I did. He’s not even hiding it?”
“Special Assistant Liang brought him personally. Could he really be the president’s wife?” Otherwise, why would President Lu, who’s married, openly bring a lover to the company?
Afraid of being overheard, they only dared whisper.
Lin Juan wandered around, then stopped by the offices of a few shareholders whom Lu Mingxuan had mentioned liked to oppose Lu Yanzhou. He didn’t notice anything unusual.
Yes, he figured since he was out, he might as well check the company for any signs of weird phenomena.
Nothing for now.
But the company was huge, time was limited, and he’d only covered a small area. Once he felt less stuffed, Lin Juan had Special Assistant Liang take him back.
In the afternoon, Lu Yanzhou had a meeting about a government collaboration project. The entire group took it seriously. Special Assistant Liang asked how to handle Lin Juan, and Lu Yanzhou replied without hesitation, “He comes with me.”
The executives attending the meeting were surprised to see a new face in the conference room that day.
Lin Juan’s looks were too striking to ignore. Their gazes naturally fell on the young man as they pondered his identity and why Lu Yanzhou had brought him along.
Twenty minutes before the meeting started, the government bigwig they were negotiating with finally arrived.
Several armed bodyguards followed. Special Assistant Liang went forward and personally ushered him in.
“Mr. Zhao.”
Lin Juan pushed Lu Yanzhou forward, and Lu Yanzhou extended his hand.
Mr. Zhao shook it. “President Lu.”
They took their seats, and the meeting began.
The discussion was about new energy development. Lin Juan knew nothing about it and grew more confused the longer he listened. Everyone else was sharp; they could tell at a glance he wasn’t versed in this area.
Lin Juan tried to focus and listened a bit longer before giving up.
Forget it. This was too much for him.
Lin Juan’s gaze began to wander.
It’d be better to punch a few weird phenomena than listen to this.
How much longer?
So boring.
He wouldn’t come next time, Lin Juan thought to himself. Playing on his phone outside was better than sitting here.
He needed a raise.
Then he remembered his high assistant salary. Forget it. He’d just tell Lu Yanzhou not to bring him next time; he could wait outside.
Time dragged on endlessly. Finally, the meeting wrapped up for a break, as they couldn’t reach an agreement. They’d continue later.
Lin Juan eagerly pushed Lu Yanzhou out.
Lu Yanzhou chuckled. “That boring?”
“I didn’t understand a thing. Zoning out risked getting caught. Pure torture.” After two hours, Lin Juan looked like a wilted plant.
“Next time, wait outside or go wherever you want.”
“Good, good. I’ll wait outside next time.” What a considerate boss.
On the other side.
Mr. Zhao, led by Special Assistant Liang, went to the lounge for a short rest.
“Our tentative partners for this project are Lu Corporation, Qiao Corporation, and Jiang Corporation. I’ve dealt with all three. I actually prefer working with Lu Corporation, but what was up with the person President Lu brought into the meeting today?” Mr. Zhao frowned.
That clearly wasn’t assistant behavior.
Clueless about their discussions, with nothing but good looks. Who knew what else he offered.
“If President Lu mixes personal and business matters, he’s not a good partner.”
Mr. Zhao hated blurring lines the most.
He didn’t say it outright, but his negotiation team knew what he meant.
The young man was obviously President Lu’s lover, brazenly brought into such an important meeting. It was inappropriate.
The others nodded in agreement.
“Does anyone know that long-haired young man’s identity?”
“He’s some parachuted guy. Started as President Lu’s personal assistant, stays in his office. Didn’t even come out for lunch.”
That made certain assumptions even more likely.
They exchanged glances.
“Personal integrity matters. This project concerns future development. We can’t be careless.”
Lu Family had been their top pick, but this soured it.
“Shall we approach Jiang Corporation then?”
Mentioning Jiang Corporation made Mr. Zhao frown deeper. “We’ll see.”
They fell silent.
In the quiet, a young man dressed as a bodyguard standing behind Mr. Zhao spoke up. “The long-haired young man from the meeting room?”
“Yes, but what’s wrong with him?” Mr. Zhao wondered why the young man suddenly spoke.
This young man wasn’t simple. Only Mr. Zhao knew he wasn’t really a bodyguard but an Ability User specially assigned by the Anomalous Affairs Bureau to protect him for a limited time.
Mr. Zhao’s high position gave him more info than most. The world was no longer safe—weird phenomena had emerged, posing a huge threat to humanity. Their new energy plan was partly to counter these weird phenomena.
If the long-haired young man had issues, cooperation with Lu Corporation was off.
Mr. Zhao pondered, his mind racing for a reliable alternative partner.
“Why do you think he’s problematic?” The young Ability User smiled, flashing sharp tiger fangs. “That’s Mr. Lin. Handling those things is easier for him than all of us combined.”
With others present, the young Ability User didn’t elaborate.
He had worked a mission with Lin Juan before and knew how powerful he was. He’d assumed a powerhouse like that would join the Anomalous Affairs Bureau, but Director Liu and the others hadn’t moved on it. He never expected to see Mr. Lin himself at Lu Corporation today.
“He’s really this President’s assistant?” The young Ability User murmured in disbelief. “What did President Lu use to keep him?”
He’d never get that answer.
“You mean he’s also…” Mr. Zhao’s heart jolted. Private integrity no longer mattered. If the young man was a powerful Ability User, President Lu’s actions made perfect sense.
Who wouldn’t keep a powerhouse by their side at all times?
He stared at the young Ability User until the other gave a slight nod. Relief washed over him. Good thing he’d stuck to his principles and hadn’t made a scene.
Negotiations resumed. Mr. Zhao noticed the long-haired young man didn’t reappear.
His heart grew uneasy. Had his attitude offended him?
This was bad.
Offending a powerful Ability User was no joke.
This round was short. Lin Juan had only sat outside for half an hour when the conference room door opened.
People filed out. Lin Juan peeked in, confirmed the meeting was over, went inside, and stood behind Lu Yanzhou’s wheelchair.
He whispered, “How’d it go?”
“Smoothly.” With the deal set, Lu Yanzhou looked relaxed. “Things won’t be so busy after this.”
Mr. Zhao deliberately stayed till last. He saw the long-haired young man come in to push Lu Yanzhou’s wheelchair. They seemed on good terms, not upset. He hurried over.
“President Lu.”
Footsteps sounded behind. Lin Juan stopped.
Mr. Zhao stepped in front of Lu Yanzhou. “If Mr. Lin has time, would you join us for a casual meal?”
“My attitude earlier was poor. I’d like to apologize to President Lu and Mr. Lin.”
Lin Juan: ?
“Was it?”
How come he didn’t know?
Or had this Mr. Zhao offended Lu Yanzhou while he was out?
Lin Juan’s bewildered look eased Mr. Zhao’s heavy heart a bit.
“Would you both do me the honor?”
“You were rude to President Lu, so why invite me too?” Lin Juan asked, puzzled.
He really hadn’t noticed.
Mr. Zhao sighed with relief, yet chuckled wryly. “Not President Lu mainly. It’s you I want to invite. I misunderstood your identity earlier.”
With Mr. Zhao so humble, Lin Juan couldn’t refuse. It was just a meal elsewhere. As long as it was tasty, he was fine.
Based on Lin Juan’s tastes, Mr. Zhao picked a Sichuan restaurant. Lin Juan ate heartily and, on impulse, pulled out a prepared business card and handed it to Mr. Zhao.
Mr. Zhao took it, confused. “What’s this?”
“My business card.” Lin Juan grinned. “Mr. Zhao must know who I am now. If you need anything, find me. For treating me to this meal, I’ll give you a twenty percent discount.”
After the meal—especially after that young Ability User chased him for an autograph—Lin Juan realized Mr. Zhao’s attitude shift meant he knew something.
This was a good chance to promote his budding business.
“If anyone you know needs help, come to me too. Quality goods at fair prices, calamity removed upon payment.”
“Definitely, definitely.” Mr. Zhao hadn’t expected such a bonus. He clutched the card like treasure.
This was a promise from an Ability User powerhouse—a literal lifesaver.
Both sides were pleased.
“So happy?” Back home, Lu Yanzhou saw the smile never left Lin Juan’s face.
