He Lost Control with Jealousy — What Happened to Being Untouchable? - Chapter 2

Lu Tingzhou’s deep, inscrutable eyes remained fixed on her, unmoving.

As their gazes locked, Sang Wan smiled coquettishly, her eyes sparkling. In contrast, Lu Tingzhou’s expression was complex, his face still cold and detached.

A heavy silence hung between them.

Just as Sang Wan thought he might make a move, even beginning to mentally rehearse the next steps of their “tug-of-war”.

Lu Tingzhou pressed his thin lips together and gave her an unreadable glance.

Instead of approaching her, he leisurely picked up his phone from the nearby side table and waved it in front of her.

The message couldn’t have been clearer: he had only come back for his phone.

Sang Wan’s smile stiffened slightly.

Without another word or even a second glance, Lu Tingzhou turned and walked straight out of the lounge.

Click.

The door closed softly behind him, shutting away the lingering tension in the room.

Sang Wan stood still, her fingers tightening slightly around the hem of her skirt.

The crisp scent of snow cedar that clung to him still lingered in the air, but the man himself had vanished like a passing breeze leaving no trace behind.

No interest in women?

Seems it’s true.

Just then, her phone buzzed insistently.

Her lashes fluttered as she glanced at the screen: Xu Shiming.

She had no intention of answering, but the call persisted.

With a quiet sigh, she swiped to answer.

“Dad.”

Her voice was soft, laced with a barely detectable chill.

“You’re back in Shencheng, why haven’t you come home? Do I have to rely on paparazzi to know your whereabouts now?”

“Is there something you need?” Her tone was indifferent, almost icy.

“Mr. Wang’s birthday party has invited you. Don’t embarrass me. The company’s funds are tight, we’re counting on his investment. Whether your grandfather’s legacy survives depends on whether you can get engaged to him by the end of the month.”

“If the company goes under, your grandfather would drop dead from rage even if he woke up tomorrow.”

The call ended. Sang Wan felt nothing. She had long stopped expecting anything from her father.

Not when he had married the company’s CFO less than six months after her mother’s death.

As the saying goes: A stepmother means a stepfather.

She wasn’t lucky enough to be the exception.

Two years ago, when she returned from filming, she found her bedroom had been given to her stepsister, she was relegated to the servants’ quarters.

Now, with the company in crisis, Xu Shiming was pushing her out as a bargaining chip.

He was willing to sell her off for money while introducing his stepdaughter to the eldest grandson of the Lu family.

When Sang Wan found out, she had protested but Xu Shiming used her grandfather and the company as leverage.

She had always known her father didn’t particularly care for her, but she never imagined he could be so cruel.

No comparison, no pain.

Her father treated his stepdaughter a hundred times better than his own flesh and blood.

But the eldest grandson of the Lu family?

He was nothing compared to the man who truly held power, Lu Tingzhou.

Sang Wan’s thoughts settled firmly on him.

After changing, she leaned back on the sofa.

“Should I cancel tonight’s dinner for you? This is such a niche brand, we still have the upper hand.”

Bai Wei, seeing her exhausted after wrapping up filming in the afternoon and now preparing for another event, felt a pang of concern.

“No. Leaving now would seem insincere and could backfire, people would accuse me of being a diva.”

Bai Wei didn’t understand Sang Wan’s motives. She hadn’t seen Lu Tingzhou and was genuinely puzzled.

“Out of all the brands courting you, why pick this small one?”

Sang Wan didn’t lift her eyes, her red lips parting slightly. “Sister Wei, let me rest for a while. If my condition isn’t good later and people start criticizing me, you’ll be the one who has to deal with it.”

Her soft, sweet voice made Bai Wei reluctant to press further. “Alright, alright, you rest.”

Bai Wei had been guiding Sang Wan since her debut. The young girl was delicate and soft-spoken, yet stubborn and full of her own ideas.

Though exhausted at the moment, Sang Wan’s mind was crystal clear.

The reason she took on this endorsement was because of a man, the very man she had just encountered.

The brand’s owner was Lu Tingzhou’s childhood friend, and this was the only way she could get close to him.

By the time Sang Wan arrived at the banquet hall, the evening event had already begun.

Lu Tingzhou sat at the head of the main table, next to the brand’s owner, Shen Yubai.

His noble yet aloof demeanor made him stand out effortlessly.

“Hey, the gorgeous Sang Wan is here,” Shen Yubai stood up to greet her. “Come, have a seat here.”

“My apologies for keeping everyone waiting.”

Sang Wan smiled gracefully, her gaze briefly sweeping past Lu Tingzhou. To her surprise, he was still there.

She thought to herself that she couldn’t miss such a perfect opportunity.

Deliberately, she chose to walk toward the seat next to him.

Bai Wei, seeing her not heading toward Shen Yubai, reached out to pull her back but failed.

She thought Sang Wan had made a mistake, the real sponsor was over there.

Lu Tingzhou remained expressionless, though his peripheral vision took in Sang Wan’s presence. Earlier in the lounge, he hadn’t paid much attention to her styling.

Now, he noticed that unlike the heavy makeup she wore during the contract signing, Sang Wan had changed into a chic ensemble, her makeup fresh and understated.

Every movement carried a blend of charm and elegance, her earrings swaying gently as she walked, the tiny diamonds catching the light in delicate sparkles.

Her beautiful shoulders and neckline were bathed in a soft glow.

She was, as always, radiant and captivating.

Once seated, Shen Yubai raised his glass, uncharacteristically earnest as he toasted.

“I never expected our little brand to have the honor of your presence, Miss Sang. Let me toast to the superstar first.”

Sang Wan curved her lips. “You flatter me, President Shen. I truly admire your company’s design philosophy, and with such a solid reputation, I’m sure you’ll continue on a steady path of growth.”

Shen Yubai raised an eyebrow, reverting to his usual playful demeanor. “Such sweet words, little girl. I’ll take that as a blessing.”

After downing her drink, Sang Wan stole a glance at the man beside her.

His shirt sleeves were slightly rolled up, revealing a glimpse of his firm forearm as he gazed at the wine in his hand.

The fingers toying with the glass were long and immaculate.

From the moment Sang Wan entered, most of the men in the room had their eyes on her, except for the one beside her.

It seemed he hadn’t spared her a single glance the entire time.

After several rounds of drinks, Sang Wan turned to Lu Tingzhou.

“President Lu, let me toast to you as an apology for what happened earlier.”

She brought up the rear-end collision, tactfully omitting the awkwardness in the lounge.

Lu Tingzhou lowered his gaze slightly, looking at the slender, jade-like hand before him, unmoved.

So, she knew it was his car she had hit.

Shen Yubai, chatting idly with others, watched them with amused interest out of the corner of his eye.

His lips twitched, Miss Sang was probably about to cry.

Seeing Lu Tingzhou’s lack of response, Sang Wan’s red lips curled into a smile. “If you don’t want to drink, that’s fine. How about adding me on WeChat so we can discuss the compensation details later?”

She slid her phone toward Lu Tingzhou, her eyes sparkling as she smiled at the unflappable man before her.

Lu Tingzhou tilted his head slightly, his gaze deep and inscrutable, his voice low and husky when he finally spoke.

“When did you start thinking of me?”

Sang Wan was caught off guard by his question, pausing for a second as she tried to recall when they had ever crossed paths.

Aside from brushing past each other at the airport a month ago, where else could they have met?

Or had he already noticed her feelings for him?

But since the big shot had said so, Sang Wan played along. “Mr. Lu, I’m honored you still remember me.”

Lu Tingzhou stared into her eyes for a few seconds before lowering his gaze again.

His fingers tightened imperceptibly around the wine glass in his hand, but he said nothing, his long lashes veiling the unreadable emotions in his eyes.

Seeing that he wasn’t inclined to elaborate, Sang Wan nudged her phone forward slightly, her gaze unwavering as she studied him.

“Mr. Lu, I’ll transfer the compensation to you via WeChat later.”

Their quiet exchange went unnoticed by those around them.

The phone in front of Lu Tingzhou might as well have been his own.

“There’s no need for that, Miss Sang. I don’t intend to settle this privately going through insurance is more convenient.”

As he spoke, his long, well-defined fingers pushed her phone back toward her.

Sang Wan bit her lip. Just as the rumors said, unyielding, indifferent to charm, and impervious to women.

She had been so obvious, yet he hadn’t even spared her a proper glance.

Was she disappointed?

A little.

After all, this was her first time actively trying to flirt with a man.

According to Su Mo, her eyes naturally carried a bewitching allure, even without trying, she was a siren who could ensnare any man.

So no man could resist her advances.

Yet, Lu Tingzhou had just slapped her pride with reality on her very first attempt.

Shen Yubai, who had been toasting those around him, noticed that Sang Wan hadn’t lost her composure despite the rejection. Instead, she seemed deep in thought, which only deepened his favorable impression of her.

“Little sister, it’s been years since we last met. You’re getting harder and harder to invite these days.”

Sang Wan forced a smile. In her memory, she had no real connection with this man, yet he addressed her so familiarly as “little sister.”

In Shencheng, the Sang family’s business wasn’t among the top-tier elites, they weren’t even qualified to sit at the same table as these men for business discussions.

But if someone wanted to act chummy, especially a potential client, she had no reason to refuse.

“You flatter me, President Shen. I’ll reserve all your products from now on, just don’t forget this little sister of yours.”

Shen Yubai’s brows lifted in amusement, a smug grin spreading across his face. “As long as you’re in this industry, big brother will always have your back.”

Lu Tingzhou frowned. This man was notorious for flitting through countless flowers without ever getting attached.

Sang Wan might not have noticed the obvious flirtation, but he certainly had.

Noticing Lu Tingzhou’s displeasure, Shen Yubai smoothly changed the subject. “Little sister, it’s rare for our Mr. Lu to attend events like this. You should toast him a couple more times. Trust me, if he lets even a fraction of his resources trickle your way, you’ll skyrocket overnight.”

Sang Wan curved her lips, unbothered, her voice soft and resigned.

“Too bad Mr. Lu doesn’t think much of me.”

Bai Wei only got a clear look at Lu Tingzhou after sitting down. The much-talked-about head of the Lu family, she hadn’t expected to meet him so casually.

At first, she thought Sang Wan had picked a great spot, but seeing how he kept his gaze lowered, she couldn’t quite gauge his mood.

Beside them, President Sun leered and teased, “Miss Sang, if Mr. Lu isn’t interested, I certainly am. Toast me instead, and I’ll offer you endorsements for my company’s products.”

Sang Wan glanced at him, lips pressed together. “Sorry, but I’ve already committed to President Shen’s collaboration. My schedule’s packed this year, I’m not one to get greedy.”

Bai Wei, fearing that Mr. Sun might hold a grudge against Sang Wan, quickly raised her glass with an apologetic smile. “Mr. Sun, let me toast to you. We can discuss any potential collaboration later. Such a wonderful atmosphere is perfect for drinking.”

Lu Tingzhou idly twirled his wine glass, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing at the corners of his lips.

Sang Wan might appear delicate and soft on the outside, but deep down, she wasn’t someone easily manipulated.

A moment later, Lu Tingzhou lifted his glass and lightly clinked it against Sang Wan’s. “Miss Sang, as you wish.”

After finishing his drink, he set the glass down and cast a sidelong glance at Shen Yubai. “I’ll take my leave first.”

Lu Tingzhou’s sudden initiative gave Sang Wan a flicker of hope.

But before the smile on her lips could fully bloom, he was already walking away.

Her spirits deflated instantly, and the corners of her mouth twitched slightly.

…

Seated in his car, Lu Tingzhou took a deep drag of his cigarette, exhaling a slow, curling plume of smoke that dissipated into the night outside the window.

Much like his thoughts at that moment, elusive, intangible.

“Look into… Sang Wan.”

The man’s cool voice lingered in the darkness, especially the two syllables of her name.

“Right away, Mr. Lu!”

Lin Hao glanced at him through the rearview mirror, noticing how his boss’s gaze remained fixed on the entrance of the club, lost in thought. He didn’t dare disturb him.

He had never seen his boss like this before, the only time he had ever been visibly unsettled was a year ago.

He remembered…

The car started moving slowly when suddenly a figure emerged from the elevator, her skirt brushing against the headlights in an uncanny coincidence.

Startled, Lin Hao slammed on the brakes.

“Screech…”

The tires screeched sharply against the plastic-coated ground.

Lu Tingzhou’s icy eyes lifted just in time to see the girl clutching her chest, clearly shaken by the close call.