He Lost Control with Jealousy — What Happened to Being Untouchable? - Chapter 15

“He’s not right for you.”

Lu Tingzhou clenched his fists as he spoke, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.

Seeing that he had already guessed her intentions, Sang Wan smiled faintly. “Why isn’t he right? ‘A woman three years older is a golden treasure.’ He seems to treat me better than my stepsister. Not only would this solve my financial problems, but it would also infuriate her, a perfect two-for-one deal.”

Lu Tingzhou sneered, his eyes darkening. “First, you couldn’t become my aunt, and now you want to be my niece-in-law. Isn’t that a bit of a rapid downgrade in seniority?”

Faced with his sarcasm, Sang Wan curled her lips. “It just proves that President Lu and I are fated, I can’t seem to escape the people around you.”

Lin Hao, sensing the tense atmosphere in the back, slowly pulled the car to a stop as they reached their destination. He softly reminded her, “Miss Sang, we’re here.”

Sang Wan’s final attempt had failed. She had thought that last night, Lu Tingzhou had shown concern for her.

Otherwise, why would he have let her lean on him and appeared just in time during her moment of crisis?

But now, it seemed she might have been overthinking it. He truly didn’t like her.

Ah, her love at first sight had come to an abrupt and fleeting end.

Sang Wan silently mourned her first crush for three seconds before pushing the car door open and stepping out.

“Thank you for bringing me back, President Lu. Sorry for the trouble.”

Lu Tingzhou said nothing in response.

Looking at his cold demeanor, Sang Wan felt a pang of bitterness in her heart.

Her first time liking a man had ended so hastily and briefly.

Only after she left did Lu Tingzhou turn to watch her go. Her slender waist, as delicate as a willow, made her appear fragile and small.

“Any movement from Wang Sheng?” Lu Tingzhou asked indifferently.

“He went to the old mansion today to see Madam, probably to plead for leniency.”

“Send a message to Director Luo. The Lu Group is planning to enter the film industry. We’ll invest in his upcoming project.”

Lin Hao was stunned. “President Lu, we’ve never considered venturing into film before. Isn’t this too sudden? Our drone project and the BeiDou navigation system-”

“We hadn’t before, but now we are. Diversification is the trend.”

Lu Tingzhou’s tone was low but brooked no argument. Lin Hao frowned. Even the greatest heroes falter at the beauty’s pass, it seemed his boss was no exception.

But why was he so stubborn? Clearly smitten, yet pretending to be indifferent.

“President Lu, Miss Sang has gone far. Shall we head home?”

Lu Tingzhou had been staring at Sang Wan’s retreating figure until she disappeared into the residential complex.

Where else could he go? This was the closest place to her.

After returning home, Sang Wan took a shower and was about to put on a face mask when a message from Lu Jinxuan popped up.

Lu Jinxuan: [Miss Sang, are you free for lunch tomorrow? The director suggested we meet for a casual chat.]

Sang Wan: [Sure! [smiley emoji]]

Sang Wan set her phone down, tapping her fingers lightly on the screen.

Then she sent a message to Xu Mingyue, how could she miss such a perfect opportunity?

The reply came instantly: [Sang Wan, you bitch! How dare you seduce Young Master Lu? Dad won’t let you get away with this!]

Imagining Xu Mingyue’s meticulously made-up face contorted with rage, Sang Wan couldn’t help but curl her lips into a faint smile.

There was a childlike glee in that smile, a hint of sweet revenge, light but radiant.

Then she picked up her phone again and sent messages to her agent, Bai Wei, and her assistant, Qi Qi.

After sending the message, she poured herself a glass of wine and walked out to the balcony, a nightly ritual before bed.

Ever since her mother passed away, she had suffered from severe insomnia. Over the past year, it had improved somewhat, but she still needed a couple of drinks before sleep, relying on the slight buzz to drift off.

The night breeze was cool, gently lifting the silk fabric of her nightgown, creating rippling waves that shimmered under the light like delicate water ripples.

Sang Wan tucked a stray lock of wind-blown hair behind her ear and took a sip of wine.

Every time she gazed at the sea of lights in the distance, she couldn’t help but think, how wonderful it would be if her mother were still here.

Her home would still be warm, and she would still be that carefree girl.

Leaning against the railing, Sang Wan held her wineglass. The deep red silk nightgown clung to her figure, accentuating her graceful curves: elegant, alluring, and effortlessly captivating.

Every movement she made was silently observed by the man standing across from her.

But she remained completely unaware.

Sang Wan had lived here for two years, and for those two years, the opposite apartment had been empty. She had already forgotten about the incident from the night before last.

Her mind wandered, if the script was decent, taking the role wouldn’t be a bad idea.

For one, it would give her more legitimate opportunities to interact with Lu Jinxuan. Xu Shiming and Lin Lan would surely be furious, and Xu Mingyue would be restless with envy.

Just imagining their stifled, helpless expressions lifted Sang Wan’s mood considerably.

Secondly, the male lead of this drama was Zhuo Fan. A second collaboration with him would likely maintain their popularity.

Besides, Zhuo Fan was one of the industry’s most reliable leading men, his presence alone guaranteed half the ratings.

For her, this was undoubtedly a good opportunity.

But then…

The thought of money made Sang Wan’s brows furrow again.

Three hundred million.

If Lu Tingzhou, that unyielding hard nut, refused to budge, how was she supposed to fill the astronomical financial hole left by Xu Shiming?

Was she really going to stand by and watch her grandfather’s lifelong efforts fall into the hands of that scoundrel Wang Sheng without a fight?

She took a deep breath, sipped her wine, and her gaze inadvertently swept across the opposite building.

There was someone there.

Only then did she remember, there had been a man standing there the night before last, tall and motionless.

Had the owner of the opposite apartment returned?

He was slightly bowing his head, cupping his hands to light a cigarette.

The orange glow of the flame flickered briefly in the darkness before extinguishing.

She couldn’t make out his face, but his silhouette was solitary and cold, inexplicably carrying an indescribable weight of sorrow, as though burdened with countless unspoken thoughts.

Sang Wan’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to him, lingering on his figure.

As if sensing her stare, the man turned his back to her, the ember of his cigarette glowing faintly between his fingers.

His sudden movement made Sang Wan feel a little embarrassed. She quickly averted her eyes, unsure if he had turned away because he noticed her watching.

Yet neither of them left. They simply stood there, and Sang Wan’s attention inevitably returned to the man’s back.

A few seconds later, he raised his hand and stubbed out his cigarette.

Then, without the slightest hesitation, he turned and walked back inside, decisive, without a trace of lingering.

He didn’t even glance in her direction.

That retreating figure felt strangely familiar, and Sang Wan’s heart skipped a beat.

Without warning, Lu Tingzhou’s cold, ascetic face flashed vividly in her mind.

And… that crisp, refreshing scent of cedar that had enveloped him in the hotel yesterday.

Deep-set eyes and tightly pressed thin lips made her involuntarily recall that cool, distant touch.

Sang Wan suddenly felt her cheeks grow warm.

Why was she thinking about him?

She must be losing her mind.

Sang Wan, oh Sang Wan, your love at first sight has already come to an end, ruthlessly snuffed out in its infancy by that utterly unromantic man.

She patted her forehead, but the corners of her lips unconsciously curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

Hidden within that smile was a sweetness she hadn’t even noticed herself, along with a trace of something she was reluctant to admit, anticipation and reluctance to let go.

The next day.

Bai Wei and Qi Qi came together to pick up Sang Wan. Bai Wei wasn’t particularly optimistic about Sang Wan’s plans.

“Wanwan, Director Zhang from Lu Jinxuan’s company doesn’t have any noteworthy works under his belt. Even though Zhuo Fan is involved, he only took the job out of respect for Lu Jinxuan. The production team is a bit weak,” Bai Wei said, flipping through Director Zhang’s profile.

“You’re at a crucial point in your career right now, you need to be careful about the roles you take. I’m still trying to secure the female lead role in Luo Zheng’s big-budget production Storm Rising for you. Even though Director Luo hasn’t agreed to meet with us yet, there’s still a chance.”

Director Luo Zheng was a heavyweight in the industry. Even a supporting role in one of his films could elevate an actor’s status.

But Sang Wan merely smiled faintly, her expression tinged with a hint of languid indifference.

“Let it be, Sister Wei,” she said, leaning back in her seat, her voice soft. “Besides, I’m going this time with… another purpose in mind. And with Zhuo Fan involved, even if it flops, it won’t be a complete disaster.”

Bai Wei, though dissatisfied, didn’t press further, deciding to wait and see the script first.

She knew Sang Wan too well, this girl might look delicate and gentle, but she had a stubborn streak.

The car soon arrived at the designated restaurant.

Lu Jinxuan was already waiting at the entrance, dressed casually, his hair meticulously styled. The moment he saw Sang Wan step out of the car, his eyes lit up.

“Miss Sang, please!”

His steps were light, his smile warm, though a hint of nervousness was evident. His clear eyes sparkled with undisguised delight.

Seeing him like this, a lovestruck young man, Sang Wan inexplicably felt a twinge of guilt.

After all, she was planning to use him this time.

“My apologies for keeping you waiting, Young Master Lu,” Sang Wan said gently, her smile perfectly polite.

Just as they were about to enter the restaurant, a group of people emerged from inside.

At the forefront was a man in a tailored suit, his strides steady and composed, Lin Hao, Lu Tingzhou’s assistant.

Sang Wan’s steps faltered slightly. She had a favorable impression of this assistant: steady, reserved.

Truly a man cut from the same cloth as Lu Tingzhou.

Lin Hao clearly noticed them too, his gaze flickering between Sang Wan and Lu Jinxuan before he nodded politely. “Miss Sang, Young Master Lu.”

Sang Wan returned the nod with a faint smile.

Lu Jinxuan, however, seemed a bit flustered, after all, Lin Hao represented his enigmatic uncle, Lu Tingzhou.

“Assistant Lin, is my uncle here?”

Lin Hao’s eyes swept over Sang Wan before he replied courteously, “President Lu is at the company. I’m here to meet a friend. I won’t disturb you, Young Master Lu.”

After a brief exchange, they passed each other.

Just then, Bai Wei’s phone suddenly rang.

She stepped aside to take the call while Sang Wan followed Lu Jinxuan toward the private dining room.

As Sang Wan and Lu Jinxuan had just taken their seats, Bai Wei followed them in, her face a mix of surprise and hesitation.

“Miss Sang, I truly didn’t expect you to be interested in our project,” Director Zhang said excitedly. His company had just been established and had yet to produce any notable works, so he was taken aback that a star of Sang Wan’s caliber would be willing to collaborate.

Of course, the involvement of the Lu family and Zhuo Fan likely played a role.

“Director Zhang, you’re too kind. If we do work together, I’ll count on your guidance,” Sang Wan replied graciously.

Bai Wei nodded politely along with the pleasantries, but her mind was in turmoil, wrestling with how to tactfully decline. After all, the lead role in Director Luo’s project was on an entirely different level, a major production with a renowned team. There was simply no comparison.

“Miss Sang, Manager Bai, I’m truly sorry,” Director Zhang said apologetically. “Personally, I would love to collaborate with Miss Sang, her image and acting skills perfectly match the character in my script. But… there are still some issues with the project’s preparation, and the script needs further refinement. It’s not quite ready yet.”

Bai Wei blinked, masking her emotions.