He Lost Control with Jealousy — What Happened to Being Untouchable? - Chapter 22

The thought had crossed his mind, if he could secure a partnership with Lanqin, it might offset the losses from the past two years.

Unexpectedly, it had actually worked out.

Sang Wan watched the sudden brightness in his eyes, her heart tangled with indescribable emotions.

He was her father. Logically, seeing her own father happy should bring her joy.

But the bond between them was too shallow, so shallow that Sang Wan could hardly recall what paternal love even felt like.

Lowering her gaze slightly, she curled her lips and said, “I’ve scheduled a meeting with Lanqin this afternoon to discuss the collaboration. But, if I’m not there, the deal won’t happen.”

The joy in Xu Shiming’s eyes gradually faded as he stared at Sang Wan, his voice turning cold. “What do you want?”

She lifted her eyes to meet his gaze, enunciating each word with absolute clarity: “Before I go to Lanqin, I want to see my grandfather. Otherwise, I can have Lanqin terminate the collaboration at any time.”

Xu Shiming rubbed his hands together, adopting a troubled expression. “Wanwan, your grandfather isn’t in good health. He’s just gotten used to his new surroundings. You-”

“Xu Shiming.” Sang Wan cut him off, her voice icy. “I’m not a child. If I don’t see my grandfather, don’t even think about this deal.”

Just then, Xu Shiming’s secretary entered, excitement in his voice. “President Xu, Manager Li from Lanqin has requested that you and the young lady come over this afternoon.”

The secretary’s words convinced Xu Shiming, without Sang Wan, this deal with Lanqin truly wouldn’t happen.

Xu Shiming studied Sang Wan’s clear yet resolute eyes, his mind rapidly calculating.

The connection with Wang Sheng was completely severed. Although Lu Jinxuan had invested money, after filling the financial hole left by Wang Sheng’s project, there was almost nothing left.

The Lanqin project was the real moneymaker. If he could secure it, Sang Corporation’s crisis would be resolved, and he wouldn’t have to dance to Wang Sheng’s tune anymore.

Moreover, he suddenly realized that Sang Wan might be far more valuable than he had imagined.

She had landed the lead role in Storm Rising and now had connections with Lanqin…

Wang Sheng couldn’t inject funds into the project, so he probably wouldn’t bring up marrying Sang Wan again.

If the Lanqin deal succeeded, Sang Wan would become his golden goose.

Narrowing his eyes, he weighed the pros and cons before finally breaking into a smile. “Alright, Wanwan, whatever you say. I’ll have your grandfather brought back immediately.”

…

An hour later, Sang Wan finally reunited with her grandfather at the nursing home after four long months apart.

The old man had grown thinner, but his spirits seemed steady, though his gaze remained vacant.

“Grandfather!”

Unable to hold back any longer, tears streamed down Sang Wan’s face as she rushed to the wheelchair-bound old man and tightly grasped his hands.

The caregiver, Uncle Liu, quickly reassured her, “Wanwan, your grandfather has been doing well these past months. He hasn’t suffered any hardships. Don’t be upset.”

Sang Wan nodded through her sobs, carefully examining her grandfather. Seeing him clean and in relatively good spirits, the heavy weight in her heart eased slightly.

“Uncle Liu, thank you,” she said sincerely.

Only after ensuring everything was settled for her grandfather did Sang Wan take a deep breath, change her clothes, and head to Lanqin with Xu Shiming.

Manager Li was already waiting in the conference room. Upon seeing the father and daughter, he stepped forward to greet Sang Wan first.

“Miss Sang, we meet again.”

Sang Wan gave a slight nod. “Thank you for the opportunity, Manager Li.”

Xu Shiming forced a smile and followed up with his own greeting. “I didn’t get to meet you last time, Manager Li. It’s an honor to finally do so today.”

Deputy General Manager Li smiled politely at Sang Wan and said, “My sincerest apologies for not being able to make time last occasion.”

After exchanging pleasantries, Deputy General Manager Li got straight to the point: “Miss Sang, the positioning of our new product at Lanqin aligns perfectly with your current influence among young people.”

He paused, looking at Sang Wan with admiration in his eyes. “Especially now that you’ve just been officially announced as the female lead in ‘Storm Rising,’ which adds even more value to this collaboration.”

The underlying message was clear, they valued Sang Wan’s commercial appeal and future potential.

“And as for the chip project we’re preparing to develop, everyone in the industry knows it’s a surefire success. Choosing to collaborate with the Sang Group is primarily because we see promise in you, Miss Sang, and your sincerity.”

Xu Shiming thought to himself, indeed, Sang Wan would truly be his golden goose.

With a practiced smile, he nodded repeatedly. “Wanwan truly has potential!”

The way he looked at Sang Wan was no longer filled with disdain and impatience as before, but now carried a hint of calculation.

“Our CEO Luo also admires Miss Sang greatly, so he fully agrees with the proposal for collaboration. Here’s our letter of intent. Please take it back to review, President Sang, and we can discuss any questions you may have.”

Xu Shiming’s hands trembled as he took the letter of intent. He hadn’t even been able to get an audience last time, yet now they had a letter of intent ready. The shift in attitude was a complete 180-degree turnaround.

Deputy General Manager Li glanced meaningfully at Xu Shiming. “President Xu, you’ve raised a fine daughter who never forgets to ease your burdens. I heard she offered to endorse our products for free to facilitate this collaboration between us.”

Xu Shiming responded with humble courtesy, “Yes, Wanwan has always been a well-behaved child, rarely giving me cause for concern.”

Sang Wan felt uncomfortable hearing this. She had never realized before how hypocritical her father could be, spinning his neglect and indifference into something commendable.

But as a professional actress, if Xu Shiming could put on a performance, she certainly wouldn’t drop the ball.

“Manager Li, you might not know this, but my father has poured 100% of his energy into the company. Since I was little, I’ve never seen him leave work on time. I’ve always envied other children who had their parents around.”

Sang Wan finished with a sweet glance at Xu Shiming, knowing he couldn’t miss the subtext of her words.

Now that she thought about it, it was almost laughable. All those nights she and her mother had spent waiting, perhaps he had been flirting with Lin Lan at the company.

No, not flirting. Cheating.

The thought made her unwilling to keep up the act any longer. She excused herself to the restroom.

Just as she was about to leave, she overheard two people entering, chatting casually.

“Hey, I just saw Sang Wan. She came with her father to discuss the collaboration. She’s so beautiful, even prettier than on TV.”

“Of course I know. I drafted the contract myself.”

“Some people are just born lucky, gorgeous and from a good family.”

“Her family background isn’t even on our CEO Luo’s radar.”

“Then why choose her as the spokesperson and collaborate with the Sang Group? Is there a story behind it?”

“With the Lu Group’s CEO backing her, how could we not collaborate?”

“Lu Tingzhou?”

“He personally called CEO Luo, I was right there. CEO Luo even joked that he’d finally stepped down from his pedestal to experience earthly pleasures.”

Sang Wan hadn’t expected a trip to the restroom would lead to this revelation.

After seeing Lin Hao at the Sang Group in the morning and now hearing this in the afternoon, Sang Wan wasn’t stupid.

First, investing in the Sang Group, to outsiders, it would appear that the Lu Group had high hopes for the Sang family. At this point, Lanqin would naturally be more inclined to agree to her collaboration request.

Thinking it over, Lu Jinxuan’s hesitant tone on the phone earlier must have been out of guilt.

But Sang Wan didn’t understand, Lu Tingzhou had already rejected her, so why was he helping her now?

Was someone like him really playing hard to get?

Meanwhile, at the Lu Group’s headquarters, inside the CEO’s office.

“Uncle, why did you suddenly invest in the Sang Group?”

Lu Jinxuan couldn’t figure it out and was afraid Sang Wan would press him further, exposing his lack of knowledge.

“Aren’t you dating the second daughter of the Sang family? When someone is in trouble, how can I, as an elder, stand by and do nothing? Especially since it was because of your great-uncle that the Sang Group is facing financial strain.”

Lu Jinxuan’s earlier confusion seemed to dissolve with just that one sentence.

At Wang Sheng’s birthday banquet, Sang Wan’s words had been hard to misinterpret.

But Lu Tingzhou hadn’t clarified anything.

When he learned that the Lu Group had suddenly invested in the Sang Group, he had initially thought his usually indifferent uncle had taken an interest in Sang Wan. Now, it seemed he had overthought it.

“Uncle, I’m not actually dating Xu Mingyue. She’s the one clinging to me, I have no feelings for her.”

Lu Jinxuan wanted to ask more, but his phone suddenly buzzed loudly.

Seeing the name on the screen, Lu Tingzhou’s outstretched hand paused mid-air.

Assuming it was an important call, Lu Jinxuan tactfully excused himself and left.

He had only come to the company for this matter, Sang Wan had questioned him earlier that morning, and out of curiosity, he had dropped by to ask since he happened to be passing by.

Lu Tingzhou picked up his phone but hesitated to answer. In the end, however, he couldn’t resist and swiped to accept the call.

“Who is this?”

Sang Wan heard his usual cool, detached voice and hesitated for two seconds before mustering the courage to speak.

“It’s Sang Wan. I hope President Lu still remembers me.”

Lu Tingzhou fell silent for a moment, doing his best to keep his tone neutral.

“Of course. I don’t have dementia.”

Sang Wan choked on her words and quickly clarified, “I-I didn’t mean it like that.”

Lu Tingzhou didn’t question how she had gotten his number and simply asked, “Is there something you need?”

After a brief pause, Sang Wan let out a soft, playful laugh.

“There’s a little mystery in this lady’s heart. I wonder if President Lu could enlighten me?”

Hearing her amused tone and teasing words, the corner of Lu Tingzhou’s lips curled slightly.

But his response remained as cool as ever.

“Miss Sang, you’ve got the wrong person. My apologies.”

As if sensing he was about to hang up, Sang Wan hurriedly pleaded, “Wait, don’t hang up! Lu Tingzhou, I really have something to ask you.”

When silence stretched on the other end, she checked her phone to confirm the call was still connected.

Lu Tingzhou hadn’t hung up, but he wasn’t speaking either.

Realizing he was waiting for her to ask, Sang Wan softened her voice and spoke sweetly.

“Lu Tingzhou, was it your doing, investing in our family, having Lanqin approach me for an endorsement, and giving Xu Shiming a chance to collaborate?”

Without hesitation, Lu Tingzhou replied with a simple, “Yes.”

“Why are you helping me?”

Sang Wan’s heart fluttered with excitement, an irrepressible joy making her pulse race.

“Miss Sang, I think you’ve misunderstood. I’m not helping you. I’m the primary investor in Storm Rising. If your reputation suffers because of your family’s troubles, my losses would far exceed the investment in the Sang Group. And since this is an investment, there are returns to consider.”

“As for Lanqin, Director Luo approached you for the endorsement because I invested in Storm Rising, but the collaboration with the Sang Group was negotiated by you, it has nothing to do with me. So, Miss Sang, you’ve misunderstood.”

The excitement in Sang Wan’s heart faded bit by bit, and the light in her eyes dimmed gradually.

Yet she still couldn’t let go, asking nervously, “Then, was the female lead role in Storm Rising because of you?”

Lu Tingzhou paused for a moment before replying, “No. Jinxuan wanted to accomplish something, so I helped him. Of course, it was also to expand the Lu Group’s business.”

Sang Wan gradually calmed down. Perhaps she had really been overthinking things.