Fell Deeply In Love With My Ex-Husband's Fiancé - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Awkwardness

Lu Feiran truly doesn’t look forward to the next meeting…

When Zhai Qiance arrived at the reception room, he never expected Lu Feiran to be there.

Lance’s usually indifferent face softened in front of Lu Feiran like spring ice melting.

Zhai Qiance instinctively frowned, his heart instantly on high alert. Become friends? What common ground could they possibly have?

Zhai Qiance had already provided the marriage certificate to Devel Group’s due diligence team, but he didn’t know if Lance had seen it. If he had, why would he want to be friends with Lu Feiran?

The only explanation was that the Devel family operated purely on commercial logic. Their family and group were experiencing minor issues, and they needed his help, exchanging the condition of marriage for it.

Very good. Even if the other party was physically exceptional, to him, marriage was merely a means to achieve his interests. Devel’s ability to reach this consensus with him would save a lot of trouble later.

However, Zhai Qiance looked at Lu Feiran with a piercing, judgmental gaze, as if blaming him for not belonging there.

Lu Feiran coldly watched the change in Zhai Qiance’s expression, feeling that he was becoming more and more like his father, Lu Liyie.

But… fortunately, Zhai Qiance had entered. He wasn’t very keen on continuing the conversation with the Devel young master.

Lance was in a pleasant mood: “Feiran and I have a great rapport. If I had known earlier that Feiran was an employee of your company, I would have come more often.”

Zhai Qiance didn’t know what kind of “rapport” this was. After he and Noah got married, these two would be the relationship of ex-husband and current partner—was that considered rapport?

Lu Feiran lifted his eyelids and glanced at Zhai Qiance: “I’ll be leaving now, Mr. Zhai.”

He pursed his lips, his eyes dull with fatigue. Every interaction with them required him to be on twelve-hundred percent guard, leaving him exhausted after just a few minutes.

Zhai Qiance, however, was convinced he saw a hint of resentment in Lu Feiran’s eyes.

He thought, Is it because I didn’t introduce Lu Feiran in front of an outsider? If so, Lu Feiran was destined for disappointment; he would never introduce Lu Feiran to anyone.

Zhai Qiance took the opportunity to let Lu Feiran leave, then looked at Lance: “You’ve met?”

Lance’s smile instantly faded, and his gentle demeanor vanished without a trace.

This is how Zhai Qiance usually treats Lu Feiran.

Lance ignored Zhai Qiance, picked up the tea and snacks Lu Feiran had brought in, ate a little, and returned to a professional attitude: “Mr. Zhai, please introduce your proposal to me. It’s rare for me to visit; let’s not waste time.”

He sat back casually, yet with an assured composure. Compared to Zhai Qiance, he seemed more like the person in control of everything.

Lu Feiran had left, and Lance saw no one else in his eyes.

…

Close to quitting time, Lu Feiran noticed that several colleagues around him were clearly distracted, whispering among themselves. Looking up, he saw Lance leaning on the file cabinet by the aisle, smiling and looking directly at him.

Their office was open-plan, and with such a striking, handsome blonde man standing there smiling, many people were curious about who he was looking for.

Lu Feiran lowered his eyes, hiding his entire face behind the computer screen, but the seemingly tangible gaze remained, following him like a shadow.

Why… does he insist on getting to know me?

Although he didn’t want much contact with Lance, Lu Feiran couldn’t bring himself to dislike him.

He was good, gentle, and kind to strangers. The problem was himself: dark, awkward, and aloof.

Lu Feiran gave in. The other party was so proactive; he couldn’t keep treating him coldly.

So, he packed up his things exactly at quitting time and left the office with Lance.

Before Lu Feiran could speak, Lance asked first: “Would it be presumptuous to invite you out for dinner?”

Lu Feiran hesitated for a moment, then nodded: “That’s fine, but let me treat you. Consider it my thanks.”

Lance’s eyes curved into a delighted smile: “Alright.”

The other party’s smile was overwhelmingly beautiful; Lu Feiran was momentarily stunned for two seconds. Recovering, Lu Feiran carefully examined the details of Lance’s appearance, trying to guess his age.

Could someone who came to Tuowei to talk face-to-face with Zhai Qiance truly be a 21-year-old university student? Yet, his face gave no indication of his age.

Looking closely at Lance’s face, there were no fine lines or blemishes. Haven’t they said that foreigners age quickly? If he is Lance Devel, it shouldn’t be like this, right?

Lu Feiran shook his head slightly. He was thinking too simply. For a family like Noah’s, they probably start grooming their heirs to manage company affairs from their teens.

Compared to families like theirs, the Lu family was a small fry.

In the underground parking lot, Lance led Lu Feiran to the passenger side of the car, rested one hand on the roof, and suddenly leaned his face in very close, startling Lu Feiran.

Lu Feiran jumped, his back hitting the hard car door: “Wh-what is it?”

Lance’s smile didn’t waver: “I noticed you kept observing my face. Let me get closer so you can have a better look.”

The distance between them was minimal; even their breaths inevitably mingled. The emerald green eyes magnified before Lu Feiran, clearly showing every strand of texture within.

The atmosphere grew strange.

“I’m sorry.”

Lu Feiran’s face flushed, and he looked away. He had been too presumptuous.

Why worry about this? The other one hasn’t returned from abroad.

Moreover… Lu Feiran had seen Lance once when he was a child. The Lance he remembered barely smiled.

…

Once in the car, Lu Feiran said: “I don’t know your preferences, so how about you pick the restaurant?”

Lance didn’t hesitate: “Can we choose the place where I first saw you?”

“…Yes,” Lu Feiran agreed.

The car fell silent. Lance drove smoothly out of the parking lot, merging into the congested rush-hour traffic.

Lu Feiran followed Lance into Yulin, entering a familiar private room—the same place where Lu Feiran had seen Zhai Qiance and Lance dining.

Lu Feiran maintained a neutral expression, but his fingers were tightly clenched into a fist. He thought he had concealed his emotions perfectly, but Lance still sensed the abnormality.

“Feiran, don’t you like it here?” Lance asked.

Lu Feiran froze for a moment, released his hand, and feigned indifference: “No, not at all.”

Then, Lu Feiran changed the subject: “My friend and I have been looking forward to this restaurant for a long time, but never had the chance to come. Thanks to you today.”

Lance realized: “I saw you at the entrance of this restaurant that day, and I thought you had been here before, figuring you might like it. You’ve never eaten here before?”

Lance told Lu Feiran to order. After ordering, Lu Feiran frowned slightly. He found Lance’s words a bit strange. Was there a deeper meaning?

Is he doing this on purpose? Does he know my identity and is deliberately provoking me?

Thinking this, Lu Feiran became cautious, and his conversation topics grew sharper.

“I heard some news about you.”

“Oh? Tell me about it.”

Lu Feiran looked into Lance’s eyes and slowly asked, word by word: “I heard you’re getting married at the end of the year?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, the private room became silent enough to hear a pin drop.

Lu Feiran stared intently at Lance’s face, unwilling to miss any change in his expression.

Suddenly, Lance let out a chuckle.

“Who told you that?”

Lu Feiran narrowed his eyes and continued: “Is it false?”

“Half false,” Lance pondered for a moment. “I must choose the marriage candidate by the end of the year. The official wedding can be completed before June next year.”

Lance shifted his gaze downwards to the teacup on the table, a fleeting, almost imperceptible sadness passing through his eyes. Lu Feiran felt captivated by this hint of sadness and couldn’t help but frown: “Why the rush?”

“Family arrangement,” Lance said softly.

Lu Feiran had always disliked these forced marriages that disregarded the children’s wishes, seeing them as being driven purely by money and profit.

However, for people in their upper circles, marriage didn’t mean much. The couple wasn’t tied down, often leading separate lives. Even their assets weren’t necessarily intertwined; many couples exploit legal loopholes to manage their own wealth.

“Then… have you found a candidate yet?” The sudden urge for aggression vanished, and Lu Feiran felt sympathy for Lance again.

Lu Feiran lowered his head while asking this question, so he didn’t notice that Lance’s gaze was different from before.

The seemingly unintentional vulnerability and sadness from moments ago had completely disappeared, replaced by the amused observation of a spectator.

Lance’s mischievous side emerged. If I reveal the truth right here, how would Lu Feiran react?

Hmm… I’ll wait a bit. Let’s see how long Lu Feiran can endure.

Is it really okay to have dinner and befriend your husband’s fiancé?

Lance deliberately said: “Well, there’s someone I’m currently getting to know. What do you think of your boss?”

He observed every minute change in Lu Feiran, watching the spoon in Lu Feiran’s hand drop, hitting the edge of the porcelain dish with a crisp sound.

Lu Feiran didn’t look up, but his thick, dark eyelashes fluttered like the wings of a butterfly.

He was worried Lance would notice his distress. Yet, the anticipated anxiety didn’t appear in his heart. He was calm; he had already expected Zhai Qiance’s actions.

How despicable, getting involved with others after marriage.

Lu Feiran picked up the spoon again and calmly said: “I just started today; I don’t know much about the boss. Are you referring to Zhai Qiance, the chairman of Tuowei? I heard from colleagues that he is already married.”

He was attempting to warn Lance and observe his reaction.

Lance was very satisfied with Lu Feiran’s response, recognizing that he was fighting back.

Lance shook his head innocently: “I wasn’t aware. Is that true?”

Lu Feiran instantly looked at Lance with a hint of sympathy: “I also heard it through the grapevine. You can investigate him.”

“Is that so?” Lance smiled, pushed the freshly served dish toward Lu Feiran, suggesting he eat first, then rested his chin on his hand, saying with keen interest: “But I’m only looking for a business partner. Why would I need to investigate his marital secrets?”

A blatant lie. How will Lu Feiran respond?

“Hmm…?”

Lu Feiran had just taken a bite of the dish. Hearing this, he froze, his cheeks bulging, like a startled little hamster.

Lance was amused, his eyes narrowing in a smile, his chest shaking.

Lu Feiran was like a small, strutting stray tabby cat, pretending to be unconcerned, capable of hissing at people and adopting a defensive stance, but inherently fragile.

Lance watched Lu Feiran’s slightly naive attempt at camouflage, and joy and excitement overflowed from his heart, flowing into his limbs and consciousness with his blood.

Lu Feiran realized his misunderstanding, blushing from his cheeks to his earlobes. He silently lowered his head to eat, swallowed the food in his mouth, and drank a few sips of tea to calm down.

“My apologies, I misunderstood,” Lu Feiran mumbled, his hand movements stiff with embarrassment, unsure how to change the subject.

He had confused the marriage arrangement with a business partnership.

“It’s okay.” Well, it’s not entirely false anyway.

Lance was very understanding and skillfully changed the topic: “Tuowei’s chip technology has been struggling to break through, so they want to collaborate with Devel to produce the next generation of smart robots. But this is a business secret, Feiran, don’t tell anyone.”

“Alright,” Lu Feiran agreed.

Lance stopped teasing Lu Feiran, allowing him to finish his meal in peace.

Afterward, Lance drove Lu Feiran to Luyuan.

Lu Feiran thought about his haphazard conjectures over the past two days and felt deeply ashamed, unable to face Lance anymore.

Before getting out of the car, Lu Feiran said: “Could you wait for me for a moment? I’ll go get your umbrella.”

Lance replied: “Didn’t we agree I’d get it next time?”

“It will only take a moment…”

“Feiran, do you feel that dinner was unpleasant, and you don’t want to see me again?”

Looking at Lance’s innocent face, Lu Feiran couldn’t directly refuse.

But Lu Feiran truly doesn’t look forward to the next meeting.

He didn’t want to watch Lance being poised, calm, and composed, while he himself felt awkward despite his best efforts.