Chapter 1209 - Second Date
Days of the week were passing by but not even once Lu Lijun got a call or message from Jiang Yuyan. Not personal but there was no work-related message even when he had sent work progress to Xiao Min. It was as if she had left everything to Xiao Min and had nothing to do with him. Xiao Min was the way those two communicated.
Noah still didn't get any update about Jake.
Jiang Yuyan was just busy with her work feeling relaxed that she didn't have to worry about going home or staying in the office as Lu Lijun was not around. She could be carefree and go wherever she wanted.
Lu Lian and Ming Rusheng were busy with their work too and no one showed anything that had affected them. Once in a while, Lu Lian could only give him a cold glare if they happen to come across.
Ming Lan was troubled with how to help her brother and for that marrying, someone was like a silly thing. She hoped she could just do something in her way to get these two stubborn people closer.. Should she just talk to Lu Lian about it or will she think she was taking the side of her brother and can't understand Lu Lian's pain?
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Weekdays passed by and it was Friday, the last working hour of the week.
"When are they returning?" Jiang Yuyan asked.
"They are yet to finish everything. When I asked about the return, the fourth young master said not fixed yet. He will let me know once everything is done," Xiao Min informed.
Jiang Yuyan just nodded lightly, showing she understood.
"Boss, we have a party to attend in the evening."
"The one to celebrate the project completion?"
"Yes. As the fourth young master should have been the one to attend it as he is the one handling it, but in his absence, the boss needs to be present there."
Jiang Yuyan nodded. It was the first project Lu Lijun took in his hand when he joined the company and months passed by that the project was already about to be complete.
'Time passed by so soon,' she thought.
Suddenly realized about Lu Lian. Lu Lian was to leave Ming industries once this project was complete and it worried Jiang Yuyan. Looking at the current scenario, she was sure Ming Rusheng and Lu Lian still didn't sort out the things between them.
"Boss," Xiao Min called, seeing her deep in thoughts, "Is there something that worries boss?"
She nodded, "Hmm."
"May I know what?"
Jiang Yuyan leaned back in her chair and looked at her assistant like his strict boss, "You and assistant Shen Li haven't started working on the project together. I am worried if it will even meet the deadline. I wonder if I made a mistake by giving it to you."
Xiao Min fell off guard. "Boss, we are working on it. It's already going well. Though Mr. Li has gone out of the city, he is working from there and we are in constant communication. I won't disappoint my boss."
Jiang Yuyan sighed, "I know you won't disappoint me when it comes to your work, but… never mind, It's your life. Do what you want."
Xiao Min understood what his boss meant and could only be silent. He knew she always tries to get them together by giving them work but these two always, especially Xiao Min himself always found their way out. There was no way he would forgive his senior so soon when he himself has gone through the pain for so many years. It was time for his seniors to suffer.
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In the evening Lu Lian was ready to go to the party as she was one of the projects in charge of Ming Industries. When she left to go, Jiang Yuyan came across her who was also heading to go to the same celebration party.
"Are you going alone?" Jiang Yuyan asked as she expected her to go with Ming Rusheng like all other corporate parties before.
Lu Lian cleared her throat hesitantly as she didn't know what to say, "Mr. Wen is coming to pick me up."
Jiang Yuyan paused for a moment, "Are you sure about what you are doing?"
Lu Lian just nodded lightly and looked at Jiang Yuyan.
Just then Wen Zac's car arrived at the Lu Mansion.
Jiang Yuyan sighed and said, "For now attend the party. We will talk later."
Lu Lain left and Jiang Yuyan went into her car as Xiao Min accompanied her.
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On the way to the party venue, Wen Zac spoke, "Our second date was supposed to be a long drive but it seems like this would be the one now."
Lu Lian looked at him surprisingly and asked hesitantly, "Date?"
She had no idea it would be their date.
"Didn't I tell you before that going to the party will be a part of dating? We got that chance early," Wen Zac replied casually as he continued he sat calmly next to Lu Lian in the back passenger seat.
Lu Lian turned silent and Wen Zac looked at her. "So you don't want it to be a date. Fine with me. We will have one more chance to date. We are still left with four."
"Nono. I am fine with calling it a date. This is the second one. Now we are left with three," she said in a hurry before Wen Zac would change his mind.
He looked at her anxious face. "Why do you sound like you are up to get over these days as soon as possible, like getting rid of it somehow?"
It startled her. "No. It's not like that. I am just a little anxious," she covered it up.
First public appearance with me. I understand," he said, but the next moment did something that shocked Lu Lian.
Wen Zac held her hand and kept holding it while entangling his fingers with hers and said, "I hope it might ease your anxiety."
Gulping Lu Lian looked at their hands but could say nothing. Wen Zac had already stated to her the conditions of dating- holding hands, kiss and….she gulped thinking about it.
'I hope this much would be enough for this date. Three more dates to go...this is going so fast and he looked so serious. Will he do something soon? How am I going to handle it when we are not even married?' she thought. 'Am I already thinking about marrying him? Well, I can't marry that guy and I have to marry someone. Mr. Wen is at least a good person and at least my family would be happy…..Happy?....What about me?.... I think I will get used to it and once you marry someone, you eventually end up falling for him. I just need to accept Mr. Wen.'
Lu Lian continued to console herself while Wen Zac observed her. "What happened?"
She shook her hard. "Nothing. As you said, it's just anxiety," she looked at their entangled hands and said, "I am feeling better after this."
Wen Zac smiled and held her hand a bit tighter. "I think this is even better."
Smiling lightly, Lu Lian nodded.
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Everyone reached the party venue. This time it was hosted by one of the partners in the project. All the renowned personalities from the business world were invited there.
Ming Rusheng arrived there with Ming Lan too and didn't expect to see Wen Zac and Lu Lian together. Both men were wearing suits while two women were wearing stylish evening party gowns.
They came across to greet each other where Ming Rusheng's sight couldn't stop wandering to Lu Lian who acted as if his presence didn't matter to her.
While Wen Zac tried hard to not look at Ming Lan who felt her legs getting numb remembering the cold Wen Zac from that day who almost scared her by asking to marry her. Other than these two no one knew what these two talked about that day outside the hotel. Both avoided looking at each other and acted normal.
Jiang Yuyan arrived there and could clearly sense the tension between them though she was not aware of anything between Wen Zac and Ming Lan. She only knew it was all because of two stubborn people- Ming Rusheng and Lu Lian.
They all greeted Jiang Yuyan as she was respected President Lu here and not their family or family friend. The almighty president Lu forgot if Lu Lijun were to be in this party, she would have been the part of those tensed-looking people four people, increasing the count to five tensed-looking people. Jiang Yuyan was lucky that Lu Lijun was not there.
The celebration started for what this party was had been organized. Wen Zac sat with Lu Lian around one table, Ming Rusheng and Ming Lan sat together while Jiang Yuyan was accompanied by her loyal assistant, Xiao Min.
The main guests and the business partners were invited to the stage and the final level of project completion was explained to the guests.
After the main part was over, Jiang Yuyan didn't stay there for long and left as her motto of marking her presence instead of Lu Lijun was done. Even though Lu corporation was the biggest percent sharing partner of this project and someone from the Lu corporation should be there for a long, Jiang Yuyan didn't bother with it and no one could even say a single word to her. They were used to her way of leaving such parties earlier just after marking her presence.
after some time, the guests few guests left while Ming Rusheng and Wen Zac had to stay for long because this project concerned their companies and they could be included as the hosts too.
When Lu Lian and Ming Lan were busy talking to each other, Ming Rusheng finally found time to talk to Wen Zac.
"You didn't listen to what I said," Ming Rusheng said.
"Why should I? But I told you if you so bothered, you should stop her from coming to me but you couldn't. Now don't blame me. It's our second date and plan to take things further."
"I tried to stop her," Ming Rusheng spoke.
"Then how come she is with me?"
"Well, I upset her by not continuing my intimate act with her. I left her unsatisfied," Ming Rusheng replied as he sipped on the wine in the glass he was holding.
But his bold words didn't seem to affect Wen Zac and he spoke, "The things that happen behind the curtain don't hurt as much they hurt when you see it happening in front of your eyes."
Ming Rusheng didn't understand what Wen Zac meant and saw his smiling.
"I will show you how things hurt for real," Wen Zac said and went to Lu Lian.
Sudden worry flashed across Ming Rusheng's eyes as he didn't know what his friend was up to. He had never seen Wen Zac like this.