"If we're not discussing business, then we have nothing to talk about," Rong Xiu said coldly, raising his eyes. Even though he was suppressing his irritation, his tone was still as cold as ice shards.
Xu Jingya's face fell slightly. She was also from a wealthy family, usually surrounded by countless men trying to climb the social ladder. Which one of them didn't flatter and agree with her? Rong Xiu was the first person who dared to speak to her so bluntly.
If it weren't for the fact that Rong Xiu held thirty percent of Shanhai Group's shares, and he was a man - marrying him would make Shanhai Group hers - she wouldn't be willing to have dinner with a man like Rong Xiu.
He may be handsome, but he's an impenetrable iceberg, speaking harshly and hurting people. No woman would like a man like him.
Despite her complaints, Xu Jingya still smiled and said, "Don't be angry. My father and your father are close friends. Your father told me that you've been so busy with the company all these years that you haven't had time to date, and he feels very sorry for you. But he's also worried that work might interfere with your lifelong happiness, so he specially asked me to come and chat with you more."
"Afraid of interfering with me?" Rong Xiu curled his thin lips, a mocking curve revealing his innate arrogance. "My personal affairs don't need anyone's concern."
His good father wasn't really worried about interfering with his lifelong happiness, but rather concerned that his dear sister wouldn't have a foothold in the company, right?
How ridiculous, actually colluding with outsiders to scheme against him, using the pretext of business talks for a blind date.
Instinctively, he wanted to pull out a cigarette from his clothes, but remembering that Fan Xia was nearby and the pungent tobacco smell would drift to her, Rong Xiu restrained his hand, feeling even more irritated.
"Your father is just thinking of you. As a son, you should be more understanding of your parents' good intentions," Xu Jingya said with an awkward smile.
"Miss Xu is indeed filial," Rong Xiu said, suppressing his anger with a sardonic smile. "Since you're so filial, why don't you think of a way to save the Xu family's annually loss-making fast-moving consumer goods brand? Don't let it crash and burn, forcing you to sell even your ancestral home, leaving your beloved parents homeless on the streets with you."
"You-" Xu Jingya stood up, slamming the table, pointing at Rong Xiu's nose, wanting to curse. But constrained by Rong Xiu's strong financial power, she didn't dare to completely fall out with him. She could only glare at him hatefully before leaving in anger.
The commotion here attracted quite a few people, naturally including Fan Xia, who was not far away.
"CEO, I didn't expect to see you dining here too," Fan Xia approached to greet him.
"What a coincidence, you're here too?" Rong Xiu stood up, his narrow eyes feigning surprise.
Fan Xia nodded, "It's the weekend, I brought Lan Sheng out for some fun."
"Hello, senior," Wen Lan Sheng said, linking arms with Fan Xia and smiling. "I'm sorry, senior. Actually, I saw you earlier, but because I saw you with a lady - probably your girlfriend, right? - I thought I shouldn't disturb your meal. Oh, has she left?"
"She's not my girlfriend," Rong Xiu said coldly. "I don't have a girlfriend."
Wen Lan Sheng looked at Fan Xia for help. "What should we do? I've said the wrong thing again. Senior, please don't mind. I just thought you two looked good together, so I assumed... It was all my misunderstanding."
Rong Xiu lowered his eyes, suppressing the storm in them: "It's fine."
"That's great, I'm glad senior doesn't blame me. Since we've met, why don't we join tables, senior? It's been a while since we've gathered together," Wen Lan Sheng suggested, holding Fan Xia's hand.
Their tightly interlocked fingers, the intertwined iris flower wedding rings flashing with dazzling light, burned his eyes, silently mocking his dark thoughts that couldn't see the light of day.
"No need," Rong Xiu refused in a deep voice. "I have something to attend to. You two enjoy your meal."
"Leaving so soon?" Wen Lan Sheng said, feigning disappointment. "I was hoping to spend more time with you, senior. But it's alright, if we miss this chance, we can always gather at the wedding."
Rage surged straight to Rong Xiu's brain. His tightly clenched fingers dug deep into his flesh, but even this couldn't alleviate the pain of Wen Lan Sheng's soft knife stabbing into his heart.
He almost rushed out of the restaurant and into his car. If he had stayed any longer, he didn't know what he might have done.
Below Yunding Restaurant was a busy square, and Rong Xiu's car was parked by the roadside.
He took out a cigarette, bit it between his lips, lit it, and inhaled. Smoke swirled, the tobacco smell filling the entire car interior. But even after smoking two cigarettes in quick succession, the irritation in his heart showed no signs of subsiding. It was like a fire that could never be extinguished or quenched, burning constantly.
Rong Xiu leaned his head back against the seat, his long neck arching slightly. He stared blankly out the car window. Outside were countless vendors carrying fresh flowers, balloons, and small toys, weaving through the bustling crowd.
A familiar figure in white entered his field of vision. Rong Xiu's unfocused eyes regained their light.
Hidden in the car, he watched Fan Xia buy a bouquet of red roses from a small boy selling flowers and give it to Wen Lan Sheng, who was standing nearby. Wen Lan Sheng happily cradled the flowers, lowering his head to lightly smell their fragrance. That ring was thus surrounded by the passionate red roses.
In the privacy of the car, Rong Xiu finally stopped hiding his emotions, revealing an envious expression, until the cigarette burned out, scalding his fingers.
He frowned in pain but didn't throw away the cigarette. Instead, as if possessed, he gripped the cigarette, unbuttoned his cuff, and viciously pressed it against his arm!
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