After hanging up, Jian Ran casually scrolled through his contacts.
There were several more names like "Domineering CEO A."
For example,
Supermodel B, International Racer C, Top Rapper D...
They all shared one thing: they treated Jian Ran as a substitute for the unattainable love in their hearts.
With their beloved absent and sorely missed, they could only pin their feelings on someone with a similar face (let's call it a twisted form of love; this was a melodramatic novel, after all, and no author without a few screws loose could have written it).
Unfortunately, substitutes not only had no human rights, they weren't even guaranteed minimum wage, let alone social insurance and a housing fund.
They also had to endure the psychological abuse of being summoned and dismissed at whim, with frequent mockery and contempt.
Domineering CEO A: "Remember your place. Don't push your luck!"
Supermodel B: "You think looking like him means you can replace him? Keep dreaming!"
International Racer C: "Only your shells are alike. Your souls are worlds apart!"
Jian Ran: "..." Thanks a lot for those worlds apart. If you've got the guts, don't find a substitute in the first place. Acting like a bitch while demanding a monument to your virtue.
In the past, he would definitely have slapped them across the face.
But when he had first transmigrated here, the system hadn't gone on vacation, and the singles mixer hadn't started yet. Under the tyranny of the system's frenzied electric shocks, Jian Ran had chosen to submit.
Seriously, who enjoyed suddenly shaking all over at any time, anywhere?!
As his agent Xu Xuda put it, "There were signs of Jian Ran going crazy. Just look at him having fits all the time!"
So Jian Ran had been forced to skim the melodramatic, torturous romance novel (apparently one where readers backed different love interests), quickly figure out his role, and memorize every habit of the unattainable beloved, "Zhong Fanrui." He had spent several months dutifully playing the substitute on the outside while cursing up a storm inside.
Finally!
Ha-ha!
The system had rushed off to find itself a partner.
Jian Ran seized the opportunity to let loose, starting with overcoming the fucking odds and working his way out of poverty.
They didn't want to pay a cent, but still wanted to toy with a substitute's feelings?!
Did they think they had invented the whole doormat routine?!
Jian Ran curled his lip, slipped his phone into his trouser pocket, and swaggered back.
In the small conference room, Xu Xuda was still groveling, serving tea and water. "Emperor Lu, your presence truly honors our humble Maple Blue!"
"It's just... this is a little early... our boss isn't here yet."
The assistant beside him pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and said, "There are fewer pedestrians at this hour. It helps avoid a commotion."
Xu Xuda looked up with a fawning smile. "Later would be fine too. There's a direct elevator from the underground parking garage. It's very discreet."
"Brother Lu never uses underground parking garages," Li Ting said expressionlessly.
Xu Xuda froze. "..." Why?
Surely he didn't think there was too much yin energy?
Was he often haunted by a Red-clothed Female Ghost?
So he had to avoid them?
At that thought, Xu Xuda abruptly realized how deeply that charlatan Jian Ran had poisoned his mind. He slammed his teacup onto the table. "Prosperity, democracy, harmony..."
Su Yuan: "..." What's wrong with him?!
Lu Yanting, who had remained silent throughout with a shadowed expression, pressed his thin lips together and said evenly, "That person just now."
"Jian Ran."
"Ask him to come in."
Special assistant Su Yuan looked startled for a moment. "Brother Lu, you—"
He had wanted to stop him. After all, Jian Ran had a terrible reputation and was notorious for being impossible to shake off once he latched on. But when those sharp eyes shot toward him, he obediently shut his mouth.
Xu Xuda was somewhat surprised too. Before he could react, the conference room door cracked open, and an exquisitely beautiful, mystic-spouting head poked in.
"Brother Lu, you called?"
And so, before long,
Lu Yanting sat with his long legs crossed, looking across at him with a slight furrow between his brows.
At the conference table, Jian Ran sat perfectly upright, holding a weasel-hair brush. His porcelain-white face was cautious and solemn as his brush flowed smoothly across the paper.
Lu Yanting remained impassive, but a memory involuntarily surfaced in his mind-
The study at the old family residence.
"Yanting, you were born under a baleful fate, with an overbearing birth chart. You're extremely prone to attracting calamity. You must find someone who can resolve it."
"Grandfather, you know I don't believe in these things."
"Yanting, you're the Lu family's only legitimate descendant left. If anything happens to you too, I'll... cough, cough, cough..." The old man in the rocking chair looked pained, covering his mouth with a handkerchief as he coughed uncontrollably.
Lu Yanting hurriedly rose and strode over. "Grandfather, are you all right? Shall I call the doctor?"
The old man gripped his wrist and forced his breathing to steady. "Remember, that person's name contains fire! Wait three years before looking for him! He can help you..."
"..."
"Emperor Lu?"
An exceptionally beautiful hand with long, evenly proportioned fingers waved before his face, drawing Lu Yanting out of his thoughts.
"Finished?" His voice was low and sexy.
Jian Ran curved his lips into a smile and handed over the talisman. "Just try it for one night. If you sleep soundly all night, pay me afterward."
Lu Yanting raised his arm and reached out, pinching the yellow rice paper between his fingertips. He glanced at the "gibberish" on it and gave a slight nod, sounding almost reluctant. "All right. I'll try it."
"Honest dealing for young and old. Transfers accepted." As Jian Ran spoke, he pulled out his phone and displayed his WeChat QR code.
Su Yuan couldn't take it anymore. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? You just want Emperor Lu's WeChat!"
Xu Xuda had a splitting headache too. "Jian Ran, put that away. Don't annoy Brother Lu!"
Despite their protests, Jian Ran withstood the pressure and kept his phone raised.
This was a test.
If Lu Yanting refused to pay like those other idiots, he certainly wouldn't waste his time.
And so, under the dumbfounded stares of the special assistant and the agent, Lu Yanting leisurely picked up his phone, unlocked it with facial recognition, his expression languid and unrestrained, then opened WeChat's scanner.
Su Yuan blurted out in shock, "Brother Lu, that's your private account."
Before he had finished speaking, the friend request had already gone through.
"Emperor Lu, Brother Lu!" Xu Xuda followed him to the building's entrance, his face pleading. "Won't you wait a little longer? Our boss will be here any minute."
Lu Yanting didn't stop, striding on his long legs toward the black, dragonlike Maybach at the curb.
Su Yuan blocked Xu Xuda. "Please stay here. I'll contact you if there are any developments."
"But..." Xu Xuda pulled a miserable face. "We haven't discussed any terms yet."
Other than a talisman that had been thrust on him.
That bastard Jian Ran!
"Take care!" Jian Ran was still waving at Emperor Lu's straight-backed figure, musing to himself, "Nice car."
He should be able to afford to pay.
He probably wouldn't dodge the bill like those other scumbags.
Watching the Maybach drive away, Xu Xuda silently lamented that his career might have just come to an end, and the culprit...
He turned and glared viciously, only to discover that Jian Ran looked deeply regretful too.
Xu Xuda paused, thinking, Has this lunatic finally developed a conscience and started reflecting on his ridiculous, outrageous, absurd behavior?!
Just as that thought crossed his mind, he heard Jian Ran's beautifully shaped lips move. "There wasn't enough time. Otherwise,"
"I could've read his palm too."
"..." Xu Xuda's expression cracked. "Get lost-"
Before you continue