Substitute Girlfriend Contract (GL) - Chapter 28

The body in her arms trembled slightly. Lu Mengxiao glanced at Tao Anyu, then told her assistant, “Go on, you can get back to work.”

The assistant bowed slightly. “Yes, ma’am.”

“What’s wrong?” Lu Mengxiao kneaded the back of Tao Anyu’s neck.

Tao got up and walked a few steps away. “Nothing.”

Leaning back against the sofa, Lu asked lazily, “Aren’t you going to go meet your ex’s husband?”

Truth be told, Tao still hated anything that tied her to her past—especially if it involved Zhuo Shaqi.

“If you want to meet him, go yourself. I’m not interested.” Tao toyed with a rose on the table.

“If you don’t want to, I won’t force you,” Lu said. “But did you hear? Lin Ke’s divorcing Zhuo Shaqi.”

Tao’s eyes darkened. She spoke as if it were nothing: “What does their divorce have to do with me?”

“Apparently the Lin family thinks Zhuo Shaqi can’t have children,” Lu said.

“We can’t have children either,” Tao replied. And we’re not even married—not girlfriends either. Just a sponsor and her stand-in lover.

“Do you still like that woman?” Lu asked.

Tao froze. She’d meant to say no, but after hesitating for a moment, all she said was: “I don’t know.”

“I thought you liked me,” Lu murmured.

Tao’s head snapped up. “What?”

“Nothing.” Lu stood, walking toward the door. “I’ll go see him. If you get bored here, go out and have some fun.”

Watching her slowly leave and close the door behind her, Tao let out a long sigh.

That sentence she’d said… what did it mean?

*****

“President Lu has arrived,” the assistant announced at the door.

Lin Ke immediately jumped to his feet, bowing respectfully. “President Lu, a pleasure to meet you. I’m Lin Ke from Lin Ke Company.”

“Oh. The kid’s father,” Lu Mengxiao drawled lazily, dropping into the sofa, crossing her legs, and raising one hand. Tian Qiurou stepped forward and handed her a cup of English tea.

Lin Ke blinked. “You are…?”

Lu stirred the spoon gently in her cup. “The kid’s mother.”

Lin Ke looked like he might cry, clasping his hands together in a bow. “President Lu, I was ignorant—truly ignorant. I don’t know what I did to offend you, to make you—”

“—to make me personally step in and wreck your plans, right?” Lu cut in, glancing at him sideways. “It’s because you’ve got a big face. Your wife’s got a big face too.”

Lin Ke’s jaw dropped. “Then Qiqi and you…”

“Let’s hear what you came for.” Lu set her teacup down on the coffee table, smiling faintly at him.

“Yes, yes.” Lin Ke nodded quickly. “Here’s the situation, President Lu. Our company and the Lu Corporation had an agreement—you promised to transfer us that seaside plot you bought last year. We’ve already raised the funds, assembled the construction team—everything’s ready. All we’re missing is the land, but the contract from your side hasn’t been approved yet…”

“Oh, that’s easy.” Lu tapped her chin. “Xiao Rourou, go ask the vice president to bring over Lin Ke Company’s contract.”

“Yes, President Lu.”

“Thank you, President Lu. Really—if I ever offended you in the past, just say the word and I’ll change,” Lin Ke gushed.

Lu only smiled, saying nothing.

A short while later, Tian Qiurou returned with the file, placing it in front of Lu. “Here’s the contract, President Lu.”

“Good.” Lu flipped it open, accepted the fountain pen Tian handed her, twisted off the cap… and let the pen hover over the signature line for the Lu Corporation.

Lin Ke stared fixedly at the pen tip. A full minute passed, and she still hadn’t signed.

“President Lu, what’s the meaning of this?” he asked, wiping sweat from his brow with a forced smile.

Lu smiled and turned her head toward him. “Boss Lin, let’s not beat around the bush. This plot of land is prime—location, transport, scenery, everything. We were willing to let you have it as a show of goodwill to someone new to S City, to make things easier for you.”

“Yes, yes, I understand and I’m truly grateful,” Lin Ke said quickly. “Let me treat you to dinner sometime—my treat, of course!”

“This land is going to bring in multiple times its value once it’s running.” Lu twirled the pen in her fingers. “Even as a gift of goodwill, we can’t shortchange ourselves too much.”

“Of course—whatever your conditions are, just say the word.”

Lu pointed the pen at him and smiled. “Kid’s father really is a straightforward man.”

“Haha, you flatter me, President Lu.”

“I want your wife,” Lu said.

Lin Ke froze.

“You’ve heard about me,” Lu continued, leaning back and lowering her gaze before looking up at him again. “I like women.”

Lin Ke clenched his fists. His brow furrowed.

“Have your wife sleep with me, and I’ll give you the land,” Lu said with a crooked smile. “I know this might hurt a man’s pride, but I hear you’re about to divorce anyway. Since your family thinks she’s useless for not giving you a child, you shouldn’t mind handing her over to me.”

Lin Ke stayed silent.

After a moment, Lu said, “Looks like you’re not too willing. Fine, I won’t force you. Xiao Rourou, send this back. Tell the vice president to cut all cooperation with Lin Ke Company, and from now on we won’t accept any business from them. Oh, and let Chairman Xu from Shangmao and Chairman Wang from Haijin know—I’m not a fan of this Lin Ke.”

“President Lu, wait a moment.”

Lu raised an eyebrow. “Yes, Boss Lin?”

Lin Ke smiled faintly. “Truth is, I never had feelings for Zhuo Shaqi. To be exact, there’s no love between us at all. She chased me relentlessly, drugged me to force herself on me, and stole commercial secrets to blackmail me. I had no choice but to be with her…”

“Oh? Never took Zhuo Miss for that type,” Lu mused, stroking her chin.

“I’ve been wanting to divorce her for a long time. So dignity doesn’t matter. If you want to play with something new, go ahead. I have no objections,” Lin Ke said.

“Boss Lin, you’re refreshingly straightforward,” Lu said, clapping her hands for him.

Just then, the door burst open. Someone strode in, grabbed a glass of water from the table, and poured it over Lin Ke’s head.

Eyes red, Zhuo Shaqi spat, “Lin Ke, you scum!”