C21 A Chance Encounter

“I ordered us both steak. This Western restaurant is the best in town. Is there anything else you need?” Jing Chengrui leaned his head towards Mu Qingzhu. He had chosen a quiet corner near the floor-to-ceiling windows to sit down at.

Looking around at the rich settings, Mu Qingzhu was surrounded by the extravagance and elegance of the Western restaurant. Soft English music could be heard drifting through the air.

The glass walls separating them from other diners were surrounded by green leaves. The sunlight coming from the big and open windows dazzled the room with its bright and clean light. Delicate lace curtains framed the windows. From where they were seated, they could see the entire city spread across the view below them.

Mu Qingzhu sighed inwardly. She was greatly moved by her surroundings!

The warmth this gentle man before her gave her made her feel like the luckiest woman alive.

“What’s on your mind?” Jing Chengrui was looking at her with an inquisitive look in his eyes. He had been dining with Mu Qingzhu for the past few years. Her face across from his was as familiar to him as any of his relations. So when she had a faint smile on her face, he knew that something was bothering her. He hoped that by opening up about it, this will help relieve the burden in her heart.

One time, he had dared to ask her the reason she had designed a car that could move a man’s heart. Though in his heart he was afraid of how she might answer, his curiosity would not allow him to keep the question to himself any longer. He really wanted to know how she came across such an ingenious thought. Her mysterious black eyes held many secrets in them and he wanted to learn them all.

When presented with this question, Mu Qingzhu did not hide anything from him. She told him the truth: that the car was designed for the man she loved.

When he heard her answer, he was filled with disappointment. But he didn’t express his feelings. After all, he knew very well this woman in his heart.

Later, when he followed her to A City, he learned about her miserable situation. Although she faced immeasurable odds, she never allowed this to affect her relationship with him.

Even now, when she was faced with tough situations, she remained the calm and composed person he had come to know!

Perhaps adopting a more loud and arrogant attitude would alleviate her worries, but Mu Qingzhu would never let herself fall into such negative spirits.

Their steaks soon arrived.

Mu Qingzhu held up her fork and looked into Jing Chengrui’s eyes. She released a sigh and asked with a smile on her face, “Mr. Rui, how long do you plan on staying in A City?”

With the fork and knife in his hand, Jing Chengrui skillfully cut his steak. His movements were filled with elegance. After cutting a small piece, he lifted the meat to his mouth to taste. After savoring the morsel in his mouth, he nodded and smiled with appreciation.

“Not bad. It is quite tender and delicious.” Setting down his knife and fork, he poured himself a glass of French red wine. The red liquid in the glass looked delectable, tantalizing one’s senses with its rosy hue. “Come, have a drink with me.”

Mu Qingzhus’s lips curled up in a smile as she toasted Jing Chengrui, “Mr. Rui, this is for you. Thank you for taking care of me all this time. I’ll drink to you first, but I can’t drink much later. I still have to return to work in the afternoon.”

“That’s alright,” Jing Chengrui said. His manner was very relaxed as he raised his head and drank the glass in one gulp.

Mu Qingzhu also drank the glass in one breath.

“Zhu, tell me, why did you come to the Ruan Group to work?” Jing Chengrui looked at Mu Qingzhu and asked her in a serious tone. The wine glasses he had devoured were soon taking their effect on Jing Chengrui. His speech was a bit slurred and his eyes were bloodshot.

“I…” Feeling suddenly put on the spot, Mu Qingzhu felt a bit of discomfort. She at first did not know how to proceed with her answer but after a long time and after having a bite of steak, she addressed the matter seriously, “President Jing, I returned to the Ruan Group due to a serious matter that needs my attention. The matter is not business-related. Please believe me when I say that I will not be working with the Ruan Group for long. Although I am currently an employee of the Ruan family, I know how to differentiate between public and private and will be keeping these two things separate in my life.”

Her tone though light was very sincere. Her bright eyes searched his face. Her eyes were clear, yet carried a bit of sadness in them. It was as if if she were to allow it, sadness could overflow from inside her heart, bathing her features and saturating all aspects of her life.

Seeing her so sad, tightened on Jing Chengrui’s heartstrings. He gave her a quick nod. “I don’t doubt what you have said. But I have decided to postpone my return to the United States. I will stay in A City for the time being. I have been given an important role to inspect A City. But there is one other thing. I believe I am needed here. Your situation has left me extremely worried.” Stopping there, Jing Chengrui took out a gold card from out of his pocket and pushed it across to Mu Qingzhu’s side of the table.

“Zhu, take this as thanks from my company to you. The luxury car you designed has gained worldwide popularity. According to my company’s guidelines, this is the reward that is owed to you. Just think of this as a bonus.”

After hearing the news, Mu Qingzhu was left in a daze. She looked at the gold card on the table. There was ten million on the card. Under a previous agreement, she would be handed this much money!

Unfortunately, this money had arrived a little bit late. It had cost her her virtue. In order to get her mother treated in time, she ignored Ruan Hanyu’s reproach towards her and sold herself to him in exchange for the divorce papers.

She was sorry to say that it was all too late!

But this was the hand that fate had dealt her!

Her fingers lightly touched the golden card. Her hand was trembling ever so slightly.

Her heart felt suffocated with unsaid words that she wanted to say but couldn’t.

She looked up in time to see Ruan Hanyu holding Qian Anrou’s hand as they both made their way into the restaurant.

His handsome face was painted with good-looking features that made everyone else pale in comparison. Qian Anrou, the lady on his arm, was sexy and alluring. Her very aura exuded gentleness and loveliness. They certainly looked like an invincible couple.

At that very moment, Mu Qingzhu felt herself growing more and more flustered. She hurried to look away. Trying to busy her hands with something, she lifted her fork to try cutting the steak, but this proved to be a messy activity.

“Director Ruan.” Upon his arrival, the waiter who immediately set eyes on Ruan Hanyu hurried to bow. The manager was not far behind. He, too, smiled and bowed.

“Serve us our usual. And make it fast. We have a meeting in the afternoon,” Ruan Hanyu said all this in a clipped tone.

“Okay, Director Ruan, it’ll be a second.” The manager quickly nodded and went to let the chefs know of the situation.

Only then did Mu Qingzhu intercept that this restaurant called “Red River” belonged under the Ruan Group umbrella. She should have known that in A City, there is nothing that is not touched by the Ruan Group. The Ruan Group banner was everywhere.

Once this seeped in, Mu Qingzhu wanted to leave. She stood up about to do so.

Jing Chengrui gently held her injured hand and shook his head at her with a kind smile on his face.

Ruan Hanyu and Qian Anrou just happened to pick a table just opposite from her. It couldn’t be much of a coincidence because Qian Anrou kept holding on to Ruan Hanyu’s arm on his right side, blocking his line of vision. Ruan Hanyu was ignorant of Qian Anrou’s schemes, not noticing Mu Qingzhu the entire time.

But just as they were sitting down, Ruan Hanyu’s eyes immediately flew to Mu Qingzhu. He could see that she was eating her steak with her head lowered toward the plate. Her head was so low, her nose was inches from her food. It was like she was deliberately avoiding him.

Noticing this, Ruan Hanyu’s body stiffened. His eyes were dark pools but they caught everything as he watched the other pair of diners.

Feeling Ruan Hanyu’s gaze on her, Mu Qingzhu immediately felt uncomfortable, like she was sitting on pins and needles. The sensation left her immediately wanting to hide under the table.

“Yu, I want to order a cup of aloe juice and cosmetic detoxification. Do you want anything?” Qian Anrou asked in a coquettish tone, her body hovering close to him. She followed Ruan Hanyu’s line of sight and looked at Mu Qingzhu and Jing Chengrui. She could not hide the evil smile playing on her lips.

“I want a bottle of good red wine.” Ruan Hanyu pretended to not hear her question. The lines in his eyes tightened as he grimaced quietly.

The waiter arrived with the wine and steak in speedy time just like the boss ordered.

With a purposeful wave of his hand, Ruan Hanyu dismissed the waiter, and he left.

With great skill, he unscrewed the bottle of wine and poured himself a glass of the red liquid.

Then out of everyone’s expectation, he stood up.

“President Jing, the world-renowned legend has honored us with his presence.” With the red wine glass held tightly in his hands, Ruan Hanyu walked over in an elegant and poised manner.

Seeing that Ruan Hanyu was toasting him, Jing Chengrui stood up with a faint smile on his face. He said in a very gentlemanly manner, “Director Ruan, your words flatter me. I appreciate it but this is not something I deserve. Please take your seat.”

“Never mind all that. Come, let me offer you a toast. Cheers!” With his handsome brows raised, Ruan Hanyu drank the wine in one gulp. After that, before anyone could stop him, he sat down on the seat next to Mu Qingzhu.