C8 Chapter 8

Loong’s Group ran on a tight ship—so tight it bordered on nitpicky. Everyone wore uniforms, even the cleaning ladies, whose outfits were custom-made workwear.

The moment Su Mengxin stepped onto the sixth floor, where the executive offices were, a few employees stopped her. “Are you a new hire? That’s weird—we haven’t been recruiting lately. Are you sure you’re on the right floor?”

Her face flushed. She lowered her head and said awkwardly, “I’m looking for someone. Do you know Loong Yufan?”

The employees exchanged looks, snickered, and stopped paying attention to her. Instead, they told her to leave—fast—or security would come up and throw her out.

Su Mengxin’s eyes widened in disbelief. Throw her out? She hadn’t even done anything. What right did they have?

When she saw them starting to make calls, Su Mengxin snapped into motion. Panicking, she bolted into the restroom without thinking—straight into the men’s room.

In front of the row of gleaming white urinals, there wasn’t a soul in sight, but Su Mengxin’s expression instantly turned grim.

Noise erupted outside the door. Someone said, “That woman’s definitely hiding in the restroom. Go in and check.”

Heart pounding, Su Mengxin swore she’d never set foot in this place again.

Then a man walked into the men’s room—fit, confident, every movement carrying an effortless air of status. If it wasn’t Loong Yufan, who was it?

She had to seize this chance. If she didn’t, she’d have no way out. If things escalated and they really treated her like an intruder, they could even haul her off to the police.

Su Mengxin hid behind a stall door, silently watching Loong Yufan’s every move. She watched him unbutton his suit jacket, then his dress shirt, and splash cold water over his chest.

Beads of water clung to his bronzed muscles. He washed his face, wetting the tips of his hair, and droplets slid down in steady drips.

He squinted and pulled a handkerchief from inside his suit jacket, not even noticing that his wallet came out with it, slipped from his pocket, and landed in the sink off to the side.

Loong Yufan dabbed his face with the handkerchief and tipped his head back, letting out a quiet breath.

“How are you here?” Yufan asked coldly, his face giving away not a hint of surprise.

If Su Mengxin hadn’t caught the confusion in his eyes, she might’ve actually believed he’d known all along.

Mengxin deliberately edged closer to the sink where the wallet had fallen and, without drawing attention, slipped it into her hand.

“I was going to your company to find you, but a bunch of employees started yelling that they were going to call security and throw me out. I panicked and ran in here.”

As she explained, she couldn’t stop her cheeks from flushing.

Bolting into the men’s room in a blind panic—humiliating didn’t even begin to cover it.

Yufan looked like he was holding back a laugh. “You really are something. Want me to lend you a little IQ?”

“No. Just get me out of here.” Mengxin puffed out her cheeks, her eyes full of hope.

Yufan fastened his buttons one by one, hiding his solid chest again. Mengxin’s gaze followed his fingers upward before she swallowed hard.

“You’ve already looked, and you’ve already gotten your little advantage. Why should I take you out? That’d make me the one getting played.” Yufan gripped Mengxin by the shoulder, a flicker of irritation rising in him.

He didn’t like how pushy she was. The lowered brows and hard look in his eyes made the air feel tight.

“I just picked up your wallet. If you don’t take me out, I’m not giving it back.” Mengxin lifted his wallet, her red lips parting as she added, “It fell out when you grabbed your handkerchief. And besides, I learned that move from you.”

Luckily, no one came in or out of the restroom. If anyone saw them locked in a standoff like this, who knew what kind of misunderstanding it would spark.

Su Mengxin’s palms were slick with sweat. She was nervous.

Loong Yufan finally relented. “I can take you out, but you have to tell me—what are you really doing here at Loong’s Group?”

“Fine. I’ll tell you everything.” Su Mengxin knew there was no other way, so she agreed without hesitation.

Loong Yufan caught her by the sleeve and led her to the corner, pressing the elevator button. “You can tell me on the way down. Start from the beginning—what are you here for?”

On the way, plenty of people saw Loong Yufan walking Su Mengxin around the lobby, looking no different than his usual rounds. Everyone started guessing who she was. The employees who’d tried to intimidate her went pale.

If she was the CEO’s wife, they were finished.

Loong Yufan brought Su Mengxin to a seat in the first-floor lobby. “Talk. What did you come to see me for?”

“Okay.” Caught up in the moment, Su Mengxin grabbed his sleeve with both hands. “I really need your help. I’m an interviewer for New Edge Magazine. My assignment is to interview Loong’s Group’s CEO—but I don’t even know who he is.”

He was a mystery.

So mysterious that countless reporters had tried to dig up anything they could, and still couldn’t find a single solid detail.

Loong Yufan thought of the interview arrangements from earlier and narrowed his eyes.