After Breaking Up with the Stoic CEO - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: A Silent Invitation

The Li Corporation possessed the most professional and comprehensive team of elites. Whether it was the risk assessment of financial investments or the myriad details regarding the publication of physical books, this group of people could handle matters with precision and efficiency in the shortest possible time.

In just one hour, the contract was signed, and everything was finalized. Regarding the customized work, Lu Wu didn’t need to expend much effort; she only needed to conceptualize and create based on the requirements, leaving the rest to the specialists.

When the meeting ended, Du Lin politely escorted Lu Wu downstairs.

Even before the physical book was officially published and released, one million yuan would be deposited directly into her account. Her means of transportation could finally be upgraded from a two-wheeled Yadea electric scooter to a four-wheeled Volkswagen.

Lu Wu initially wanted to call her friends immediately to share the good news. However, the thought soon dissipated perhaps because the million came so easily that it felt surreal, or perhaps… simply because Li Jin had not appeared today.

Lu Wu wasn’t as happy as she had expected to be. She still clearly remembered their kiss last night; at that time, the other woman hadn’t refused and had even shown a faint tendency to respond. Yet today, the one who came to discuss the cooperation was Du Lin.

Lu Wu understood that as a manager, there were many things to deal with every day; this was inevitable. Moreover, it was the Li Corporation; a million-yuan deal was likely an inconspicuous drop in the ocean of their countless collaborations.

But Li Jin didn’t seem entirely indifferent to her. Was she truly too busy with work to get away, or did she view that kiss as a trivial accident and intend to brush it aside? Lu Wu couldn’t guess the answer.

Worse still, she didn’t have Li Jin’s contact information. she had no initiative whatsoever, let alone the chance to meet and ask anything in person.

Feeling restless, Lu Wu blamed it on the omnipresent July heat.

Beep.

She turned on the air conditioner. The indoor temperature slowly dropped to 26°C while the classic film The Shawshank Redemption played on the projector. Lu Wu sat on the sofa, took a sip of iced Nutrition Express, and let out a comfortable sigh. Immersed in the relaxing atmosphere, the tangles and confusion finally cleared from her mind.

As the clock struck 14:00, the movie ended, and her phone vibrated. She glanced at the screen. It was a news notification.

Since 2019, the Li Corporation has accumulated 500 public welfare libraries in impoverished mountainous areas across the country. Previously, reporters interviewed the group’s CEO, Li Jin…

Clearly, the 500 libraries were the focus of the report, but as soon as she saw those two words, Lu Wu’s mind was filled entirely with that kiss in the cramped space, smelling of light alcohol.

It was Li Jin again.

While her thoughts were wandering, her phone rang. Caller: Tan Xingxue.

Lu Wu slid the screen and answered. Tan Xingxue spoke first, the background noise on her end quite loud. “Are you okay?”

Lu Wu knew she was asking about the Weibo controversy. Even though she had checked in with the group chat last night, Tan Xingxue still called.

“Better than ever,” Lu Wu replied cheerfully. “I just finished a movie.”

Tan Xingxue wasn’t entirely convinced, but after all these years, she knew Lu Wu’s personality. Usually optimistic and open, Lu Wu seemed to talk about anything with her friends, but if she didn’t want to say something, no one could pry it out of her.

“Remember to call me if anything happens.”

Lu Wu answered obediently, “I know.”

Tan Xingxue closed her car door, walked to the elevator, and pressed the button. “How did that matter go?”

Lu Wu didn’t follow. “What matter?”

Tan Xingxue huffed. “What else? Your sky-high compensation issue, of course. How is it?”

Compensation… Lu Wu was a bit distracted. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know??” Tan Xingxue’s voice rose. She paused for a few seconds before adding, “How much did she ask you to pay? If it’s not enough, I’ll lend it to you.”

Lu Wu shook her head. Li Jin hadn’t mentioned compensation from beginning to end, and even when Lu Wu proactively brought it up, the other woman refused. Realizing Tan Xingxue couldn’t see her, she explained, “She doesn’t want it.”

Tan Xingxue breathed a sigh of relief, her tone laced with relief. “Then you’re lucky. You met a good person.”

Lu Wu replied, “She is indeed very good.”

Not only good-looking and good-smelling, but also good to kiss.

Not catching the deeper meaning in Lu Wu’s words, Tan Xingxue thought for a moment and suggested, “Buy her a small gift as an apology? At least show a sincere attitude.”

Tan Xingxue left the second half of her thought unsaid: Lu Wu was something of a public figure, and her online reputation was already sensitive. If she left a bad impression on someone influential, it could become a problem later.

Lu Wu pulled a nearby blanket over her face and mumbled, “I want to.”

Her voice was small, but Tan Xingxue heard it. She narrowed her eyes. “Want to? I don’t want you to ‘want to,’ I want you to do it, okay? Go out now, and I’ll help you pick a gift.”

Lu Wu guessed that Li Jin didn’t care about that day at all and didn’t need a so-called apology gift. The woman hadn’t even left her a way to contact her.

She stared at the ceiling, looking dejected. “Do you know Li Jin?”

“Li Jin? That exceptionally talented young entrepreneur? She gave a speech at the school a few years ago. What does that have to do with what we’re talking about?” Tan Xingxue asked, confused.

Lu Wu: “What if I told you the owner of that Bentley is Li Jin?”

The air went silent for a moment. Tan Xingxue snapped back to her senses and blurted out, “WHO???”

The weather forecast had predicted rain, so the sky remained a gloomy gray, and the perceived temperature had dropped significantly. The atmosphere was nice, suitable for reading.

After finishing her call with Tan Xingxue, Lu Wu found a comfortable spot on the balcony to sit down. Before she could open her book, her phone rang again.

“Hello?”

“You have the guts to chase Qing He’s clout, aren’t you afraid of shortening your life? Look in a mirror and see what level you’re at. When are you going to get out.”

Beep… Beep…

Even though she hung up immediately, Lu Wu’s mood was inevitably affected by those nasty words. She scrolled through her phone; the chat window with Liu Xiang was still stuck on the confrontation she had sent yesterday afternoon.

Lu Wu rubbed her temples and finally made a decision. I’ve decided to terminate the contract. Let’s start the process.

There was no reply; Liu Xiang was likely busy. If she could forget that harassing phone call, the entire afternoon had been fairly peaceful. But that peace lasted only until evening, when the phone rang again.

Lu Wu hesitated but ultimately chose to answer.

“Hello?”

On the other end was a man with a raspy, unpleasant voice. “Houwu District, Liuyun Jiayuan, Building 10, Unit 3, 6th Floor, Apt 1.”

This time, it wasn’t just harmless verbal abuse. The man stated her home address with perfect accuracy.

Almost uncontrollably, Lu Wu felt a cold shiver run down her spine. She kept her voice steady. “Searching for someone’s address without authorization is illegal. I don’t know your purpose, but I hope you know I reserve the right to report this to the police and sue you.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end before the man spoke again, his tone mocking. “You can try.”

“We will notify you immediately if there’s any progress in the case. If you encounter any further threats to your personal safety, please tell us at the first opportunity.”

By the time she left the police station and grabbed a quick dinner, it was nearly 8 PM. She didn’t want to go home, so she wandered aimlessly through the streets.

Walking along, she unconsciously arrived at a familiar place: La Point.

The bar where she had run into Li Jin last time. Lu Wu stopped and looked up uncontrollably. Would Li Jin be here? It was an unrealistic fantasy, but after stepping through the door, Lu Wu witnessed that fantasy turn into reality.

That familiar figure was sitting there, resting her chin on one hand, her suit jacket draped casually to the side. It was exactly like the scene from that night, with one difference: a woman was standing beside her.

The woman was good-looking—a mature, charming “Big Sister” type. She had a seductive smile as she spoke, her body leaning softly against the sofa. It looked as if Li Jin only had to nod, and the woman would swallow her whole.

Lu Wu watched and suddenly remembered Du Lin’s words. Li Jin was busy. Indeed, she was very busy too busy to meet her, but with plenty of time to flirt with someone in a bar.

A wave of bitterness rose in her chest. She didn’t go to Li Jin; instead, she silently found a seat near the entrance.

A waiter walked over. “Hello, what would you like to drink?”

Lu Wu looked at Li Jin again. She seemed to be having a very pleasant conversation with the person in front of her. As the woman’s wrist swayed, the light reflected the layers of pale blue and warm orange in the glass.

Lu Wu pointed. “The same as hers.”

The waiter followed Lu Wu’s finger, and seeing Li Jin, a look of understanding crossed her face. She smiled. “That is our signature special, Sunset Hour. I hope you have a pleasant night with the one you like.”

‘The one you like.’ Lu Wu touched her burning earlobes and let the comment slide. “Thank you.”

After a brief exchange of less than a minute, when Lu Wu turned back, the person beside Li Jin was gone. With the person blocking her view gone, the array of empty glasses on the table was exposed. It didn’t look like she was savoring the drink; it looked more like she was intentionally trying to get drunk.

Li Jin… getting drunk? When a person as rational and self-controlled as her was associated with those words, the situation took on a bit of an absurd and surreal quality. Yet Li Jin remained elegant, her features calm and soft, appearing to retain her composure.

Lu Wu looked down, almost doubting her own eyes. When she looked up again, Li Jin had already sensed her gaze and was looking over from a distance.

Under the dim, flickering lights, the other woman’s lips moved, seemingly saying something. But the distance was too great; Lu Wu couldn’t hear it. Li Jin didn’t speak again; she only smiled a lazy, ambiguous expression that felt like a silent invitation.

Lu Wu’s heart skipped a beat, and she almost forgot how to breathe.

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