Chasing My Husband! The "Crown Prince" of the Beijing Circle Is Wildly Unruly! - Chapter 97

The weekend arrived, and it was time for their appointment.

Lu Jingze led Wang Xinghe to the storage area of the manor where gifts were kept.

“Brother, you’re close with Zhao Yan, so you pick something for him. I’ll handle the gift for He Zheng.”

Wang Xinghe nodded and scanned the shelves. His eyes landed on a tin of Yunnan Golden Melon Tribute Tea, which seemed quite sophisticated. He took it down and paired it with a set of jade-carved Ruyi (ceremonial scepters symbolizing good fortune).

“Zhao Yan loves tea and jade,” Wang Xinghe said as he brought them over. “These two should be plenty.”

Meanwhile, Lu Jingze was lugging a box containing twenty pounds of gold bars. “He Zheng prefers cash. He’ll definitely love this.”

Wang Xinghe was speechless for a moment, but then he remembered that as He Zheng’s boss, Lu Jingze certainly understood his assistant better than anyone. He didn’t argue.

Lu Jingze drove his Bugatti Tourbillon, carrying Wang Xinghe toward He Zheng’s home.

Ding-dong— Lu Jingze rang the doorbell.

Click. The door opened.

He Zheng was the one who greeted them. Seeing the two of them, he smiled and stepped aside to let them in. “President Lu, Mr. Wang—having you both at my humble abode truly brings grace to the house. Please, come in!”

Lu Jingze pointed to the box on the floor. “Carry that in. It’s for you.”

He Zheng leaned down to pick it up, and the weight nearly caught him off guard. “What is this? It’s so heavy.”

“Open it and see,” Lu Jingze said with a cryptic smile.

When the wooden box opened, the blinding shimmer of gold made He Zheng’s eyes go wide. “Boss… isn’t this a bit much?!”

He estimated the weight to be about twenty pounds. At current international gold prices, this was worth seven or eight million yuan.

“Small change,” Lu Jingze dismissed it casually, still holding the bags Wang Xinghe had picked for Zhao Yan.

Just then, Zhao Yan walked over. The moment he saw Wang Xinghe, his eyes lit up.

Wang Xinghe was wearing a waistcoat made of Kesi silk with a golden peony pattern, layered over a pure white cotton base and paired with white casual trousers. Standing in the doorway, he looked like a radiant deity. It was no wonder He Zheng had said that the current Wang Xinghe was different from before.

However, Zhao Yan noticed that Wang Xinghe’s eyes were still as gentle as ever—nothing had changed there.

“Long time no see, Xinghe,” Zhao Yan said with a smile.

“A-Yan, long time no see,” Wang Xinghe replied warmly.

He Zheng and Lu Jingze’s gazes happened to meet. Lu Jingze promptly stuffed the shopping bags into Zhao Yan’s hands. “My Brother picked these out for you personally.”

“Thank you, Xinghe. And thank you, Master Lu,” Zhao Yan said, addressing him respectfully. Although Lu Jingze hadn’t officially returned to the Lu family industries yet, everyone acknowledged that no one was more fit for the position than he was.

“You’re Xinghe’s friend; there’s no need for such formalities. You can call me by my name from now on,” Lu Jingze said. He had a very high opinion of Zhao Yan—a man of principle and a gentleman who hadn’t taken advantage of Xinghe’s vulnerability.

“I’ll stick with President Lu; otherwise, it wouldn’t feel right,” Zhao Yan chuckled.

In the living room, a Ragdoll cat was basking in the sun on a balcony shelf, looking lazy and beautiful. Wang Xinghe was immediately drawn to the fluffy creature.

“Can I pet him?” Wang Xinghe pointed to the little cutie.

“Please, feel free,” He Zheng said while brewing tea.

Zhao Yan walked to the balcony, expertly picked up the cat, and looked at Wang Xinghe. “He sheds a bit.”

Wang Xinghe took the cat from him. It was heavy—at least ten or fifteen pounds—but the fur was incredibly soft and the body was warm. Wang Xinghe’s eyes sparkled. The kitten seemed to sense that the person holding him was exceptionally gentle; he went limp in Xinghe’s arms, nuzzling him and letting out a loud purr.

“Xiaonian really likes you,” Zhao Yan said, reaching out to stroke the cat. “When a cat purrs, it means they like you and feel comfortable.”

Wang Xinghe, having never owned a pet, looked up in delight. “Is that so? Xiaonian? What a cute name.”

He held the cat like a small infant, repeatedly cooing, “Xiaonian… such a cute kitty…”

“Meow—” Xiaonian responded in perfect harmony, leaning lazily against him.

Lu Jingze sat at the tea table, his eyes fixed on the natural interaction between Zhao Yan and Wang Xinghe.

He Zheng cleared his throat and poured tea for Lu Jingze. “President Lu, my ‘wife’ loves me very much. You have nothing to worry about.”

Lu Jingze took the tea, glanced at He Zheng, and smirked. “Oh? My Brother loves me very much too. Why would I be worried?”

Both men hid a trace of a smile in their eyes.

“I should also thank you, President Lu,” He Zheng said sincerely. “If it weren’t for the perfect union between you and Mr. Wang, A-Yan and I might never have had a chance in this lifetime.”

He meant it. If Wang Xinghe hadn’t met Lu Jingze, he would have remained the person Zhao Yan pined for. Given Zhao Yan’s personality, he would have kept watching over Xinghe indefinitely. If Xinghe had eventually been moved by that devotion, He Zheng would never have had an opening.

It was Lu Jingze’s powerful entrance that made He Zheng certain there was no longer a possibility for Zhao Yan and Wang Xinghe, giving him the courage to make his move. He Zheng was confident that no one in the world loved or cherished Zhao Yan more than he did.

“Everyone has their own fate,” Lu Jingze remarked. Then, lowering his voice, he asked, “But is that story about the ‘Rabbit God’ (Tu’er Shen) true? Where is the shrine?”

He wanted to pray for a love that would last until their hair turned white.

“There are shrines in the Bay Area and Fujian,” He Zheng replied. He had researched it beforehand for the exact same reason.

“I see. Good. Send me the detailed address and a travel guide. I want to go,” Lu Jingze nodded.

He Zheng moved quickly, sending the address and a full itinerary to Lu Jingze’s phone. Lu Jingze was satisfied; He Zheng was truly a professional.

“Do you need help with the Chen family matter?” Lu Jingze asked. He was the type of man who investigated a person’s background thoroughly before employing them. When he first hired He Zheng, it was a probationary period, so he didn’t pry into private affairs. But now, he fully recognized He Zheng’s ability and character—he was even willing to develop a personal friendship.

Back when He Zheng was still known as Chen Zheng, his mother had died tragically and the Chen family went bankrupt—a downfall aided by several hidden hands.

He Zheng looked up, touched by the offer, but eventually shook his head with a smile. “President Lu, some debts can only be collected by oneself.”

Lu Jingze nodded, though he didn’t truly intend to drop the matter. After all, the Ji family had also played a part in the Chen family’s ruin.

“Have you told Zhao Yan about your past?” Lu Jingze asked. According to the background check, He Zheng’s time studying abroad had been exceptionally difficult.

He Zheng shook his head, instinctively glancing toward the balcony. Under the sunlight, Zhao Yan looked refined and untainted.

“Let the past stay in the past. Heaven has been kind to me; at least it left me with A-Yan.”

Lu Jingze, however, believed in total transparency. “If the topic ever comes up, you should tell him. Hearing it from someone else feels completely different than hearing it from you.”

He Zheng looked at Lu Jingze in surprise, his eyes crinkling with a smile. “President Lu, you’ve really changed quite a bit.”

Lu Jingze didn’t confirm or deny it. He simply turned his gaze toward Wang Xinghe, his eyes full of nothing but tenderness.