After Anya calmed down, she immediately rushed out of the room, wanting to find Lu Cheng to apologize to him, to… confess to him.
However, as soon as she ran to the door, her younger sister, Mu Xing, stopped her.
"Sister! Don't go!"
Mu Xing's face showed a hint of "difficulty" and "pity," and her voice was very low, as if she truly felt for him… "Mr. Lu… he said he doesn't want to see anyone right now."
"Although this was the price he anticipated."
"But the whole world is scolding him, misunderstanding him; he wants to be alone for a while."
When Anya heard this, her already guilty heart ached even more!
In her mind, a tragic scene uncontrollably emerged—a man, for the sake of the woman he loved, enduring the world's misunderstandings and curses alone in an empty room… This deep affection, this sacrifice, made her feel as though her heart was about to burst from the immense emotion!
But… in the end, she still didn't go.
She just whispered, as if talking to herself.
"Lu Cheng…"
"Thank you…"
"And… I'm sorry…"
…And at this moment, what was the man Anya believed to be "suffering alone" doing?
Paris, France.
A private jet belonging to Lu Corporation was slowly landing on its exclusive tarmac at Charles de Gaulle International Airport.
Lu Cheng stepped off the gangway.
His target today, or rather, his client, was none other than Ji Yao, whom he had met on set before!
Leaving the airport, Ji Yao was already waiting.
She wore large sunglasses, covering most of her face, but her exposed red lips still formed a captivating curve.
Her words were direct and had a commanding tone.
After all, she had genuinely paid… "The contract states you'll accompany me shopping and dining."
"For the flight ticket here, I'll have my assistant reimburse you."
She didn't know that Lu Cheng had come on his own private jet.
In her eyes, this man, whose appearance and physique were perfect, was still "Lu Feng," the new actor she had "kept" for five hundred thousand a month.
Lu Cheng merely shrugged indifferently, "Taking people's money means resolving their troubles."
"Whatever you say, boss."
…Paris, Champs-Élysées.
Lu Cheng, with extreme "professionalism," played the role of a perfect "male companion."
He accompanied the celebrity beside him, moving from one opulent luxury store to another.
Carrying bags, swiping her card, chatting, smiling… every detail was impeccable.
However, he soon discovered that Ji Yao, this "sugar mommy," although she bought many, many things, almost filling the trunk, her attention, it seemed, was not on these dazzling goods.
She seemed to be… observing him, testing him… While resting at a cafe.
Ji Yao finally dropped a bit of her pretense.
She took off her sunglasses, her eyes scrutinizing Lu Cheng from head to toe, and suddenly asked, "Do you… fight?"
Lu Cheng was slightly taken aback, then chuckled and shook his head.
"Why?"
"Does Ms. Ji Yao think my face looks like someone who fights?"
Ji Yao looked at him, her expression becoming more serious than ever.
"I need a bodyguard."
"A man… who can fight, who can help me solve some… troubles."
She paused, her tone growing somewhat cold.
"If you're just a pretty face with no substance, then our contract will only last this month…"
A hint of understanding flashed in Lu Cheng's eyes.
[So that's it.]
[The 'keeping' is fake; finding a handsome and capable tool is the real goal.]
[And for something that can trouble her…]
[It seems that guy isn't simple either.]
…Just as the two were talking.
Outside the cafe, several burly Eastern European men, who clearly looked like trouble, approached with ill intentions!
They directly cornered the two of them in this secluded spot.
The bald leader, with a ferocious scar on his face, grinned and spoke to Ji Yao in broken English:
"Miss, long time no see."
"The boss wants you to come back!"
"We hope you'll be sensible and come with us!"
"Otherwise… if you make him unhappy."
Ji Yao's face instantly changed, yet there was a stubborn defiance in her refusal to yield!
However, facing the men, she instinctively leaned closer to Lu Cheng.
Lu Cheng, however, remained calm and composed, slowly sipping his coffee.
He even offered a highly "professional" critique to the bald man in front of him:
"Kidnapping isn't done like this."
He shook his head, a look of "disappointment" on his face, as if regretting their incompetence.
"Choosing a busy area, with many eyes, is the first major taboo."
"Having a clear target but not clearing the area beforehand is the second major taboo."
"The positions of you few also have flaws everywhere; look, that one, and that one, have completely exposed their backs within my attack range…"
"Sigh…"
He finally concluded: "Too unprofessional."
…The Eastern European men were stunned by Lu Cheng's "professional" critique.
Then came a surge of anger!
"What the hell are you pretending for?!"
They roared, brandishing their iron fists, each the size of a cooking pot, and charged at Lu Cheng!
"Ah!"
Ji Yao instinctively closed her eyes, letting out a short gasp of surprise!
However, she didn't hear Lu Cheng's expected scream of agony.
She only heard a series of dull "bang bang bang" impacts and the bone-crunching sound of shattering bones!
When she cautiously opened her eyes again.
The several burly men who had been so aggressive just moments ago were now sprawled on the ground, clutching their arms or legs, groaning in pain, completely incapacitated.
Meanwhile, Lu Cheng was elegantly wiping his hand—which hadn't even a speck of dust on it—with a pristine white tissue.
He turned his head and gave a brilliant smile to Ji Yao, who was completely dumbfounded by the scene before her.
"It seems, Ms. Ji Yao."
"Your investment was well worth it."
"However…"
He paused, the smile on his lips deepening.
"Solving this level of trouble… requires more money!"