Meeting someone connected to the Li Family was a pleasant surprise. Although Du Anrao felt it was a bit too coincidental, she had already experienced so many coincidences lately that one more didn't seem to matter.
Having reasoned this out, Du Anrao began to calculate how to use President Xi as a bridge to connect with the Li Family and help Fourth Sister reunite with her true kin.
Unlike Du Anrao, who possessed more cleverness than experience, Du Hexuan sensed something wrong immediately. The heart he had finally managed to calm was pulled tight once again. His gaze toward President Xi grew instantly more probing and defensive; he couldn't help but feel that this situation was far from simple.
Yet, it must be said that some people are born with extraordinary luck.
Just as Du Hexuan was pondering how to end the meal early and take his sister away to sever any unnecessary ties, an abrupt voice shattered the inexplicably heated atmosphere inside the private room.
"President Xi, it really is you."
Du Anrao looked up to see a woman in exquisite, heavy makeup, radiating charm yet maintaining a sharp, professional air, walking in behind a waiter who was delivering dishes.
President Xi arched a brow at the arrival, though he still rose to shake her hand. "President Jiang, long time no see."
"It has been a while. I was downstairs asking the owner to book a room when I realized this very last private room had been reserved by you, President Xi. I assume you must be entertaining important guests today. I hope my presumptuous arrival isn't an intrusion?"
Although President Jiang addressed these words to President Xi, her eyes swept over everyone else in the room. Recognizing her identity, Director Gao and Zhou Shunche stiffened simultaneously, squeezing out strained smiles. "Not at all, not at all."
Perhaps it was just Du Anrao’s imagination, but she felt that her second brother became entirely on edge the moment this woman appeared—looking even more fierce than he had when he first saw President Xi.
Hearing the men’s responses, President Jiang immediately took the opportunity. "Then would you mind if I joined you? The owner said all the rooms are full, and I truly don't want to eat alone outside. I wonder if you could do me a favor and let me share your table?"
The moment these words were spoken, the room fell into a dead silence.
President Jiang raised an eyebrow slightly, scanning Director Gao and the others with a look of confusion. "Hmm?"
Zhou Shunche and his companion acted as if they’d been pricked by something; they trembled while waving their hands. "We don't mind! Not at all!"
President Jiang smiled with satisfaction. "And what does President Xi think?"
President Xi’s eyes narrowed slightly. However, with Du Anrao and the others present, he replied neither coldly nor warmly, "If the guests don't mind, I naturally have nothing to say."
President Jiang waited for exactly those words. She clicked her heels around the room and finally sat down... right next to Du Hexuan.
Du Anrao had been wondering what kind of background this woman had, given that the director and Zhou Shunche seemed so afraid of her. Who would have thought that while they were talking, she would run right over to sit by them?
Du Anrao’s eyes widened in surprise, her realization hitting a beat late.
*Oh no, could this woman be targeting my second brother? Is my second brother some kind of hot commodity? Why is everyone acting like a dog tracking a scent?*
The "hot commodity" Du Hexuan: "..."
*Scent? What scent? What kind of scent do dogs like? Stop, stop! I can't think about this anymore.*
Actor Du, who had originally felt a bit disgusted, was successfully led astray by his sister. President Xi, similarly distracted, glanced at the dazed Du Hexuan, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly before being pulled back into a flat line.
The dinner, already awkward, became even more delicate with President Jiang's presence. Director Gao and Zhou Shunche tried to bite the bullet and find topics to ease the tension at first, but in the end, they just gave up, buried their heads, and ate in silence.
The turning point came when President Xi suddenly received a phone call.
It was clear the call was important. He merely glanced at the caller ID before standing up and tossing a quick, "Apologies, please excuse me," to the group.
He left the table rapidly and vanished out the door. Once he was gone, someone immediately became restless.
"Mr. Du, we meet again. Our brief encounter at the X City Film Festival two months ago has left me missing you for a long time. What about you, Mr. Du? Have you thought of me at all over these past two months?"
The remark was so suggestive that Du Anrao was stunned. No way—was this woman really... having an affair with her second brother?
Just as she was about to ask something, Du Anrao felt a bump against her left leg. She instinctively looked down and saw a pair of glamorous high heels sliding up and down against her brother’s dress trousers—it was provocatively suggestive.
*Clack.*
Du Anrao’s chopsticks trembled, and the food she was holding dropped onto the table.
*I must have woken up wrong. I’m watching my second brother being harassed by a female CEO pervert! No, wait—this should count as sexual harassment, right? My second brother is so scared he’s practically collapsing onto me!*
Du Hexuan, who had anticipated this the moment President Jiang sat down, felt his eyelid twitch violently. Without a trace, he shuffled further toward his sister and said coldly, "President Jiang, please have some self-respect."
"Self-respect?" President Jiang seemed amused by Du Hexuan’s bashful, evasive demeanor, and she laughed until she was trembling. "Food and sex are human nature; it’s perfectly natural. Besides, everyone has a love for beauty; people can never resist the yearning for beautiful things, and I am no exception."
As she spoke, President Jiang used her crimson-nailed fingertips to lightly tap the back of Du Hexuan’s hand, a gesture dripping with implication.
"You can't entirely blame me for this. You know, things that are too dazzling make one unable to help but want to pluck them and hold them in one's hand to admire and toy with. As long as you’re willing, I will do everything in my power to make you the brightest lamp I hold in my palm."
Du Anrao felt goosebumps rise at President Jiang’s cloyingly sweet tone.
*What kind of "I just made a mistake every woman/man in the world makes" player-talk is this? President Xi, I’m sorry, I misjudged you! Compared to this woman, you are a gentleman among gentlemen. The way she looks at my brother is like she wants to devour him alive. It’s too terrifying, boo-hoo-hoo!*
President Xi, who had hurried back after his call, paused at the door, deciding he could afford to return to the room a bit later.
Du Hexuan was similarly disgusted. Recalling this person’s notorious track record in the industry, he leaned back to avoid her touch. At the same time, he pulled out a tissue to wipe the back of his hand, placing his repulsion and disdain for the person in front of him completely on display.
"Not everything is suitable for being held in the palm of one's hand. Just like in the night, besides lamps, there are also fires that glow and shine. President Jiang, don't mistake fire for a lamp because your eyes are playing tricks on you. If you just burn your hand, that’s fine, but if you end up playing with fire and getting burned, it won't be easy to clean up."
President Jiang’s expression had already changed when she saw Du Hexuan wipe his hand, and after hearing his words, she looked gloomy, a hint of malice glinting in her eyes.
"It’s good for a young person to have spirit, but it’s a pity that being too young and reckless always leads to some hardship. Once you’ve hit a wall and felt the pain, you’ll naturally understand how to soften your stance."
As soon as she finished speaking, six or seven burly bodyguards in black suddenly appeared in the private room, crowding the space until it was airtight.