C22 He Lost A Battle

Jing Chengrui could not keep a surprised expression from showing up on his face. A competitor like Ruan Hanyu only came once in a lifetime. Usually, the people around Jing Chengrui took care to flatter him in every way. He was not used to someone challenging him. Although Ruan Hanyu was currently all smiles, toasting him with words of congratulations, there seemed to be a hidden agenda behind his actions. Underneath the current of words was an invisible pressure. Ruan Hanyu’s confident demeanor was impossible to ignore.

Tossed in a complicated situation, Jing Chengrui was a natural in extracting himself from these types of predicaments. He smiled politely and drank the wine glass in one gulp. He went on to courteously say, “I did not realize this was Director Ruan’s territory. If I had known, I would not have hesitated to invite Director Ruan to lunch.”

More wine was poured into their glasses. Ruan Hanyu's eyes narrowed, but his lips curled into a smile. Jing Chengrui continued to drink the wine in one gulp.

Though tensions continued to exist underneath the surface, outside they each displayed a peaceful and friendly front as if they had been good friends for many years and were now finally being reunited.

However, Mu Qingzhu knew better. She knew that although the two men were pretending to be on friendly terms, their hostility was not too far from the surface.

Everything they said seemed to carry a greater implication.

Sensing that things were about to erupt into an all-out confrontation, Mu Qingzhu really wanted to get up and slip away.

Ruan Hanyu seemed to have intuited this. He stretched out his leg to block her exit. It was as if he did this on purpose, wanting Mu Qingzhu’s presence there so that she doesn’t miss a thing. But his eyes stared straight ahead and did not glance at her the entire time.

Mu Qingzhu tried to steady her breathing. What is he trying to do? Does he have something in mind for her?

They were just having a meal together. Or was it not allowed for her to eat with friends? Although she was an employee under the Ruan family, she had not sold herself into slavery. It seemed especially in this instance that Ruan Hanyu cared too much about appearances.

Of course, Mu Qingzhu realized that the situation she was in was a complicated one. She had worked in two companies that were competing against each other in the same industry. She could imagine that emotions could come to a boiling point once people let their imaginations run wild. Each could suspect Mu Qingzhu as a traitor in their midst about to betray their company’s secrets at any given moment.

As if transfixed in the embroilment before him, Ruan Hanyu, who never took the initiative to pour wine for others, actually took it upon himself to pour Jing Chengrui a glass of wine for the first time. He completely forgot about Mu Qingzhu who was to the side as all memories from last night seemed to clatter to the background, the present confrontation taking precedence.

His face was calm and not flushed from wine. His words were to the point and polite.

Jing Chengrui was a cultured man. Since Ruan Hanyu displayed no signs of rudeness to him, he also responded in a polite manner. The two continued to drink wine, and though the atmosphere was charged, the men appeared to be getting along.

Even after being married all those years, Mu Qingzhu had never seen Ruan Hanyu socializing in public. Seeing him interact with Jing Chengrui in a civilized manner as they casually made small talk and occasionally exchanging polite smiles, this helped relieve the pressure she was feeling in her heart somewhat.

Qian Anrou was sitting there, watching all this with a cold expression on her face.

In the public arena, Ruan Hanyu had to treat all guests with courtesy and respect for appearances’ sake. On top of this, this was his shop. He could not ruin the image he had built as a benevolent and gracious boss!

“President Jing, is it true you’re getting married soon?” After sharing a few glasses of red wine, Ruan Hanyu couldn’t help but ask outright.

Mu Qingzhu, who was cutting her steak with her head lowered, was not prepared for this. With a sudden clank, the fork fell from her hand and onto the plate.

Jing Chengrui about to get married? Why didn’t she know about this?

Ruan Hanyu’s casual words echoed harshly in Mu Qingzhu’s ears.

Throughout her acquaintance with Jing Chengrui, she had never asked him about his personal matters. Their relationship had been satisfactory as it was, and she had never thought to dive deeper. The two of them had gotten along so well that such matters never came up.

When the subject was brought up by Ruan Hanyu, she was shocked by the news. Even though she didn’t have feelings for Jing Chengrui, she felt that this was all happening very suddenly. She could not help but feel a little bit disappointed.

Didn’t they talk about everything, sharing everything that was happening in their lives to one another? Why did he leave out that he was getting married? If that were the case, she did not want to be attached to too many relationships with married men. She wanted to avoid any situations that would cause a scandal.

“Brother Jing, don’t forget to invite me to the wedding banquet when the time comes.” Ruan Hanyu’s laughter rang across the restaurant. Distracted, Mu Qingzhu dropped her knife and fork. She could not hide the anxiety and disappointment in her heart from entering her face. Ruan Hanyu saw everything and laughed coldly in his heart, but a ‘sincere’ smile was propped up on his face. He appeared very natural and open and even the sound of Mu Qingzhu’s fork falling to the plate did not deter him from his good spirits.

It was undeniable the shift in Jing Chengrui’s mood.

The sound of the fork falling from Mu Qingzhu’s hand pierced his heart with pain. He could only look at her with a trace of guilt on his face.

Mu Qingzhu’s hands were too shaken to retrieve her utensils. It seemed that especially in this moment at time, she had entirely lost her composure.

“I’m so sorry.” She hurried to pick up her fork. Taking the opportunity to look at Ruan Hanyu, who was perched right next to her, out of the corner of her eye, she secretly turned her gaze to him. As if sensing her look, he turned, and their eyes met. Feeling embarrassed for having been caught watching him, Mu Qingzhu’s face grew hot, and she hurried to look away.

This made the smile on Ruan Hanyu’s face grow even wider. To Mu Qingzhu, this was a smile filled with contempt and malice. It seemed to mock her for having overestimated herself and getting herself entangled with a married man.

All sorts of tumultuous emotions began welling up inside Mu Qingzhu. She felt uncomfortable as all eyes were on her. Goosebumps appeared all over her body. The sensation that she was being exposed naked for everyone to see was overwhelming. It was like her privacy was being stripped from her.

Ruan Hanyu must’ve thought they were in some sort of relationship. But what did this have to do with him? Did he need to be so condescending?

“Zhu, is there anything wrong?” Mu Qingzhu’s face had turned a tomato red and she looked uncomfortable as she shifted in her seat. This tugged on Jing Chengrui’s heartstrings and he thought to suggest to her, “The steak has grown cold. Let’s exchange for a new plate.”

It was at this moment, Ruan Hanyu heard Jing Chengrui’s question, making him turn his head. It seemed to be the first time he noticed Mu Qingzhu sitting next to him.

Though his black eyes exuded “friendliness,” his smile was filled with ridicule and complacency. There was nothing that could dim his brilliant smile. Mu Qingzhu gritted her teeth and suppressed the urge to punch him blind.

“You don’t have to. I’m already full.” After having said this in a low voice, she lowered her eyes. Feeling insecure, she looked at Ruan Hanyu’s slender fingers out of the corner of her eyes still holding onto the red wine glass. Every so often, his pretty fingers would tap the wine glass as pride filled his every movement.

She really could not stand to be there any longer.

Ruan Hanyu smiled and looked quietly at Jing Chengrui. Jing Chengrui could not disguise the range of complicated emotions he was feeling. Ruan Hanyu could not help but feel like he had one-upped a man who the world had always praised for his gentleness and refinement. He was not only rich, but also gentlemanly, young, promising, and handsome.

Yet such a man coming from such a background would lower himself to be flustered, confused, hurt, and pitiable in front of Mu Qingzhu!

This damnable woman proved to be very skilled!

He could intuit Jing Chengrui’s shame. He understood the meaning behind the man’s gaze.

Feelings of anger came to a boiling point in Ruan Hanyu’s heart.

“I’m done eating. I’m going to leave now.” After having said this in a polite manner, Mu Qingzhu stood up right away.

“Zhu, wait a minute.” Seeing that Mu Qingzhu had stood up and was about ready to leave, he too quickly stood up to stop her.

“I’ve taken too much of your time. I won’t disturb you guys any longer.” Ruan Hanyu also took that moment to stand up. With a slight chuckle, he extended his hand to Jing Chengrui like a gentleman.

Jing Chengrui hesitated for a bit, but he had no choice but to take his hand.

The two of them exchanged a tight handshake.

Jing Chengrui could not help but feel his heart overflow with concern for Mu Qingzhu. His eyes followed her with yearning as he saw her walking outside. He really wanted to follow her, but his current circumstances blocked him from doing so.

Ruan Hanyu continued to grip Jing Chengrui’s hand tighter and tighter. Jing Chengrui braced himself as he felt Ruan Hanyu adding more pressure onto his hand. He suppressed the need to shake off his hand, but Ruan Hanyu’s grasp was too strong. It would take more than a single shake to break off his grip. Jing Chengrui also did not want to act out aggressively, so he could only let his hand be held by Ruan Hanyu as he watched the distance between him and Mu Qingzhu grow step by step.

His watchful eyes caught everything. He understood the full meaning behind Ruan Hanyu’s gesture as his eyes stared holes into Ruan Hanyu’s facade.

Biting hostility was visible in each of their cold eyes. At first, the hostility was suppressed but as their confrontation grew tenser, there was no way someone could miss the aggression building behind their stiff bodies.

Resignation gradually made its way into Jing Chengrui’s eyes. He found himself on the losing side of this game of chess.