The Mouth Is Stubborn, But the Body Is Quite Honest [Rebirth] - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: 025 How Contradictory: Pushing Her Away, Yet Still Worrying…

The car slowly pulled into the parking lot of Haicui Pavilion, a renowned five-star seafood restaurant.

Qi Wanyang got out of the car, with Gu Linlang following close behind.

The hostess at the entrance was all smiles and enthusiasm. Several well-trained waiters quickly approached and opened the restaurant’s glass doors for Qi Wanyang and Gu Linlang.

Qi Wanyang gave the name of the reserved private room, and a waiter respectfully led them up to the second floor.

Upon reaching the private room door, Qi Wanyang glanced at Gu Linlang: “Miss Gu, would you like to come in together?”

Gu Linlang paused for a moment. As if thinking of something, she gave a soft “Hmph,” turned her head, and walked straight back downstairs.

Qi Wanyang looked at her retreating figure, her brows slightly furrowed, unsure what Gu Linlang was trying to do.

But she quickly composed herself, turned, and pushed open the private room door.

Before long, Lu Yifei, the young master of Lushi Construction & Investment, hurried in.

The moment he saw Qi Wanyang, a flash of amazement crossed his eyes, and his smile became even more radiant: “Wanyang, you are as beautiful as ever today. I’m truly sorry to have kept you waiting.”

He spoke as he walked into the room, naturally taking a seat right next to Qi Wanyang.

Despite the spacious round table and ample seating, Lu Yifei insisted on sitting close to Qi Wanyang.

Qi Wanyang’s expression didn’t change. She offered a faint smile: “It’s alright, I just arrived as well.”

“It’s all because of that sudden earthquake. My dad made me stay at home for a while longer to ensure everything was fine before letting me leave.”

Lu Yifei was busy pouring red wine for them. He raised his glass, his eyes blazing as he stared at Qi Wanyang: “Wanyang, I’ll drink this first as my apology.” With that, he tilted his head back and emptied the glass. With the alcohol in his stomach, his gaze toward Qi Wanyang became even more brazen.

Qi Wanyang knew the importance of this meeting. She needed to finalize the collaboration with Lushi Construction & Investment.

So, she also raised her glass and forced a smile for Lu Yifei: “Young Master Lu, don’t be a stranger.” She then drank the glass of wine he poured for her.

“Wanyang is truly a heroine among women. What a drinker,” Lu Yifei’s eyes widened, and his Adam’s apple involuntarily bobbed.

He still clearly remembered the first time he saw Qi Wanyang, as if it happened yesterday.

That day, he was boasting to someone about his new project with a glass of wine in his hand when he turned and saw her walk in wearing high heels.

In that instant, he felt the surrounding noise vanish. His gaze was glued to Qi Wanyang, unable to look away.

What “sunken fish and flying wild geese” and “closed moon and shamed flowers?” He used to think those were just ancient exaggerations, but now he realized he had simply never seen true beauty before.

Qi Wanyang standing there was a supermodel straight off the cover of a top fashion magazine.

Her face was as delicate as if it had been perfectly photoshopped, her figure proportioned ridiculously well, and she was also the CEO of a listed company.

Lu Yifei felt like his ancestors’ graves must have been blessed to meet such an earthly marvel.

He shamelessly stared at Qi Wanyang, watching the swan-like curve of her neck when she tilted her head to drink, and the drop of wine that lingered on her lip and slid down her chin when she put the glass down. He felt utterly captivated.

“Young Master Lu, what would you like to eat? My treat,” Qi Wanyang tried her best to ignore Lu Yifei’s uncomfortable scrutiny, her voice gentle and courteous.

Lu Yifei felt a shiver run through him. He found her voice more intoxicating than the 1982 Lafite treasured in his private cellar.

“Oh, Wanyang, you’re being too formal! How can we let a beautiful woman pay when men are having a meal? This dinner must be on my tab!” Lu Yifei slammed his hand on the table. Droplets of saliva sprayed like scattered flowers. Qi Wanyang subtly leaned back, gracefully increasing the distance between them.

To show off in front of Qi Wanyang, Lu Yifei ordered dishes like he was throwing money away, choosing only the most expensive items.

In no time, a table full of luxurious seafood was ordered.

While Lu Yifei was ordering, Qi Wanyang was somewhat absentminded, her thoughts drifting to Gu Linlang.

Why did Gu Linlang suddenly turn and leave? What is she doing right now?

Qi Wanyang smiled self-mockingly in her heart.

How contradictory a person is. She was the one who insisted on pushing Gu Linlang far away, yet watching that person turn and leave without a second glance left her feeling empty and filled with an indescribable worry…

Soon after, the waiters efficiently brought out the dishes. In a blink, the table was covered with high-end seafood like lobster and king crab.

However, the table full of delicacies couldn’t tempt Qi Wanyang’s appetite. She only ate a symbolic few bites.

The phrase “don’t speak while eating or sleeping” was completely ignored by Lu Yifei.

From the moment he entered the room, his mouth was like a machine gun, non-stop boasting about how brilliant his business mind was and how wide his network was.

Qi Wanyang felt like laughing. Gu Linlang was right, his greatest skill is bragging about how skilled he is.

Realizing she was thinking about Gu Linlang again, Qi Wanyang felt a surge of frustration. She picked up her glass and finished the wine. The tartness of the red wine spread on her tongue but couldn’t cover the deeper bitterness in her heart.

“Wanyang, you’re a great drinker! Have another glass!” Lu Yifei’s eyes lit up. He quickly refilled her glass, his smile fawning.

Qi Wanyang closed her eyes, forcing Gu Linlang’s image out of her mind.

She took a deep breath, forcing her thoughts back to the main business.

Facing the constantly ingratiating Lu Yifei, Qi Wanyang stopped beating around the bush and cut straight to the chase: “Young Master Lu, our Qi’an Pharmaceuticals wants to cooperate with your company on the promotion of the ‘Xuanji’ intelligent drug development system.”

Seeing Lu Yifei’s eyes flicker, seemingly trying to shirk the topic, Qi Wanyang clarified further: “However, this matter needs to be discussed in detail with your father. Could Young Master Lu arrange that?”

Lu Yifei’s expression instantly became awkward when she mentioned seeing his father: “Wanyang, you know my dad dotes on me the most. The company will be mine sooner or later.”

He spoke, scooting closer to Qi Wanyang, staring intensely at her: “It’s truly impressive that you can manage a company at such a young age. I know about the recent situation of the Qi family. As long as you’re willing, an alliance between our two families would make the project investment an internal matter, wouldn’t it? We, the Lu family, are willing to provide whatever funds you need. Even this heart of mine, I’m willing to offer it to you with both hands. Wanyang…”

Just as Lu Yifei’s “big pig trotter” was about to touch Qi Wanyang’s hand, a loud bang sounded as the private room door was forcefully flung open.

Qi Wanyang quickly withdrew her hand and stood up.

Lu Yifei jumped up like a dog whose tail had been stepped on, shouting furiously as he faced the doorway: “Who let you in? Did I call for a waiter?”

Gu Linlang stood at the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest. Her eyes were sharp as knives, shooting directly at Lu Yifei. She let out a cold laugh: “Ha, don’t flatter yourself. This Miss isn’t here to serve you.”

Gu Linlang’s sudden appearance completely surprised Qi Wanyang and Lu Yifei. Qi Wanyang was particularly delighted, her eyes revealing her pleasant surprise that Gu Linlang had returned.

Lu Yifei’s face darkened, his brows furrowed enough to kill a fly.

While Gu Linlang was also a rare beauty, he had briefly entertained the idea of pursuing her before.

But last year, this woman had publicly humiliated him over some trivial matter, and he still couldn’t swallow that anger.

Coupled with the recent fierce competition between Lushi Construction & Investment and Gu Sheng Group over a new real estate development, Gu Linlang’s uninvited interruption of his private time with Qi Wanyang brought new and old grudges rushing to the surface. Lu Yifei didn’t even bother to pretend to be nice and spoke with thinly veiled sarcasm: “People say Miss Gu is arrogant and condescending because of her family background. Today, I finally see it for myself. What, didn’t the Gu family teach you to knock before entering?”

Gu Linlang didn’t even spare him a glance. She walked directly between the two, unceremoniously reaching out and shoving Lu Yifei away from Qi Wanyang, the look of disgust on her face as if she were shooing away a fly.

“This Miss knocked three times. Perhaps Young Master Lu is getting old and hard of hearing,” Gu Linlang casually grabbed a napkin from the table and slowly wiped the hand that had just touched that rotten thing. “Besides, you’re not the only one in this room, and you’re not the one I’m looking for.”

“I’m only three years older than you people!” Lu Yifei grumbled defiantly, then looked suspiciously at Qi Wanyang.

Qi Wanyang paused, the corner of her lips slightly curving upward: “There was indeed a knock just now.”

Gu Linlang was ready to continue arguing with Lu Yifei, but seeing Qi Wanyang stand on the same side as her instantly extinguished most of her anger.

Looking at Lu Yifei’s face, which had turned the color of a pig’s liver, she proudly raised an eyebrow, barely stopping herself from sticking out her tongue at him.

In truth, Qi Wanyang hadn’t heard any knocking, but for some reason, she couldn’t stand seeing Gu Linlang lose the upper hand.

Lu Yifei’s increasingly close presence made her uncomfortable, and the deep-seated aversion she felt was growing stronger.

This made Qi Wanyang begin to doubt whether the decision to enter a commercial engagement with Lu Yifei was reliable, even if it was just a temporary expedient.

Seeing that Qi Wanyang had backed her up, and looking at Gu Linlang’s smug expression, Lu Yifei was furious.

But how could he let the feast he was about to enjoy fly away like this? He suppressed his anger and forced a gentle smile: “Wanyang, let’s continue talking business. Since Miss Gu is here, she can join us. This meal is on me.” He then started to walk toward Qi Wanyang.

Gu Linlang rolled her eyes ungracefully. She pulled Qi Wanyang back a step, avoiding Lu Yifei’s approach, her eyes looking at him as if he were some disgusting vermin.

“Young Master Lu, you must be mistaken, right?” Gu Linlang held up a reservation slip. “The right to book out Haicui Pavilion tonight is in my hands. So, this meal…” She intentionally drew out the last phrase, “is on me.”

After her authoritative declaration, Gu Linlang turned and winked at Qi Wanyang: “Sorry, Wanyang. I was a little delayed going downstairs to confirm the booking with the manager. I also have important business to discuss with you.”