Chapter 113: Deliberate Intent

Lu Fengzhou did not care in the slightest about paparazzi or anything of the sort, but he still said, “If you’re free at noon, let’s have lunch together. We can talk about those stories online while we’re at it.”

Qiao Jiu had intended to refuse, but the moment she heard that, the words died in her throat.

The gossip itself did not affect her much. But she was now working for a legitimate company, and even if Liang Xiucheng said it was no big deal, it would presumably have some impact on the company.

She moistened her lips. “Send me the location. I’ll go straight there at noon.”

Lu Fengzhou did not insist on picking her up and agreed readily enough. About ten minutes later, he sent over the restaurant’s location.

Qiao Jiu glanced at it. She knew the place. It was expensive, and she used to go there often. The waiters there had no idea how many tips she had given them.

But after falling from grace, she had never set foot in an establishment of that caliber again.

When lunch break finally arrived, Liang Xiucheng came over as well, asking Qiao Jiu to eat with him.

She felt a little apologetic. “I have something to take care of at noon. Maybe next time.”

Liang Xiucheng did not take it to heart. After giving a vague acknowledgment, he asked casually, “What is it? Some kind of trouble?”

Qiao Jiu walked with him toward the elevators and did not bother hiding it. “I’m having lunch with Lu Fengzhou. Some news about the two of us has appeared online, and we want to discuss how to deal with it.”

Liang Xiucheng paused, his brows unconsciously drawing together. “If those stories online are troubling you, I can take care of them.”

With enough money, deleting posts and suppressing a trending topic was simple enough.

Qiao Jiu was not part of the entertainment industry, and strictly speaking, neither was Lu Fengzhou. The affair between them could not cause that much of a stir. It was hardly difficult to handle.

She smiled at his offer. “There’s no need to trouble you. This is just a mess between him and me. Let him figure it out himself.”

After a brief hesitation, she added, “Besides, Song Wan is involved too. She and Lu Fengzhou have a good relationship, so he probably has other considerations.”

At that, Liang Xiucheng pressed his lips together and gave a quiet acknowledgment. “All right.”

They should have gone their separate ways downstairs, but Liang Xiucheng said he had not decided where to eat either. He might as well take Qiao Jiu to the restaurant first, then choose somewhere nearby for himself.

Qiao Jiu felt rather embarrassed. “I’m troubling you too much.”

Liang Xiucheng deliberately pulled a long face. “I’ve told you eight hundred times, but you never listen. And you’re still being so polite with me.”

Qiao Jiu laughed. “All right, all right. I remember. I remember.”

They got into the car and drove toward the restaurant. By the time they arrived, Lu Fengzhou had arrived as well. There was an empty parking space in front of the restaurant. Lu Fengzhou drove over but did not pull in.

His car stopped nose-to-nose with Liang Xiucheng’s.

Qiao Jiu looked at the car opposite them, speechless.

Then she turned to Liang Xiucheng. “Why don’t you come in with me?”

Liang Xiucheng looked at Lu Fengzhou’s car and hesitated. “I’d better not. This was supposed to be a meeting between the two of you. It wouldn’t be polite for me to intrude halfway through.”

Qiao Jiu nodded. “All right, then. We can talk about anything else this afternoon.”

He pushed open the door and got out. Lu Fengzhou was still in his car, one hand resting on the steering wheel in a relaxed posture, though his expression was far from pleasant.

Liang Xiucheng waited until the door closed, started the engine, reversed a little, and drove away.

Only then did Lu Fengzhou pull into the parking space. After getting out, he glanced at Qiao Jiu. “Why did he leave? Since he was already here, it would have been better if he joined us.”

How could Qiao Jiu fail to hear the sarcasm in his voice? Her expression remained flat. “He knows his place. He wouldn’t be so lacking in tact.”

Lu Fengzhou strode toward the restaurant. “You seem to know him quite well.”

Did she?

Thinking about it carefully, Qiao Jiu did not actually know Liang Xiucheng that well. She simply felt, after spending this much time with him, that he was a good person. Once you had a favorable impression of someone, naturally everything about them looked like a virtue.

Lu Fengzhou had reserved a private room. A waiter led them inside, and some of the dishes had already been ordered in advance.

Once they sat down, Qiao Jiu spoke first. “Have you seen the gossip?”

Lu Fengzhou leaned back against his chair. “No, but I know what happened.”

Qiao Jiu nodded. “It should affect you, shouldn’t it? Have you thought about how to—”

Before she could finish saying “deal with it,” Lu Fengzhou gave a derisive laugh. “How could it affect me? I’m not in show business.”

Qiao Jiu paused. “It doesn’t affect you? You’re Song Wan’s patron. Now that something like this has happened, do you think your little innocent darling is going to be happy? And if she isn’t happy, doesn’t that bother you?”

Lu Fengzhou frowned. “Who’s her patron?”

Qiao Jiu’s expression slowly hardened. “Lu Fengzhou, could you at least take responsibility for what you do? You spent that much money promoting her debut and securing opportunities for her, and now you claim you’re not her patron? Go on. Put your hand over your conscience and say it again. I’d like to hear you.”

Lu Fengzhou’s face darkened. “She and I are not involved in that kind of relationship.”

Qiao Jiu curled her lip. “Whether you are or not isn’t important. Don’t change the subject. Let’s talk about how to handle this first. The story may not be particularly popular, but it’s still based entirely on rumor. Even a minor impact is still an impact. You’re not planning to let it stay online forever, are you?”

“What difference would it make if it did?” Lu Fengzhou said. “Is Liang Xiucheng unhappy?”

What did Liang Xiucheng have to do with this?

Qiao Jiu’s expression turned cold at once. “I’m talking about the story. Can you discuss the matter itself?”

She had not even picked up her chopsticks. “If you can’t, then this lunch is over.”

There was no point staying and exchanging another pleasant word. It would ruin her appetite, and if she failed to eat enough at noon, she would not be able to work properly that afternoon.

Lu Fengzhou looked at her. “Which restaurant did Liang Xiucheng go to, then? You’re quite good at making the rounds. Are you planning to have another meal with him after you finish here?”

The moment Qiao Jiu heard that, she shot to her feet. “Fine. That’s it.”

She turned to leave, but Lu Fengzhou kicked his chair aside and rose as well. In two strides, he caught up with her.

He seized Qiao Jiu by the arm and pulled her back with a little force. “Where are you going?”

Qiao Jiu tried to wrench her arm free, but she could not move him in the slightest. “What business is it of yours?”

Lu Fengzhou raised his other hand, pressed it against her shoulder, and drove her back until she struck the wall beside them. “To find Liang Xiucheng?”

Qiao Jiu looked up at him. “Are you out of your mind?”

Lu Fengzhou stared at her in silence, his expression not improving in the slightest.

Qiao Jiu twisted twice, but still could not break free of his grip. She raised a hand and pushed against his chest. “Move. Now.”

Instead, Lu Fengzhou gave a mocking laugh. Then he lowered his head and kissed her directly on the lips.

There was anger in the kiss, making it fierce, almost like biting.

Qiao Jiu was startled. She let out two muffled sounds, struggling even harder.

Lu Fengzhou stepped forward, pinning her completely against the wall and leaving her no room to resist.

He used his knee to part her legs, pressed himself between them, and crowded her with his body.

Qiao Jiu raised her hands and pounded against him, but her feeble blows meant nothing to Lu Fengzhou.

He was angry, yet as he continued kissing her, his movements gradually softened without his realizing it.

At first, Qiao Jiu pushed against him. But little by little, her struggles weakened. Her clenched fists slowly lowered until they came to rest against his waist.