Chapter 394: Jin Lu?

After settling Mu En in, Zheng Qian took Duan Qiran out to relax.

He knew that coming to Subei this time meant there would inevitably be a tough battle to fight.

If he didn't have some reliable bodyguards by his side, he wouldn't feel at ease.

After all, he didn't want to experience what the Li family in Hong Kong had gone through all those years ago.

His net worth was different now; if he really encountered a ruthless bandit like Zhang Ziqiang, he wouldn't even have a place to cry.

Duan Qiran had excellent combat skills, and with him around, Zheng Qian felt much more at ease.

Zheng Qian actually hadn't been in a very good mood back in the room; he hadn't expected Huo Muyan to say something like that.

He couldn't help but think of Jin Lu, who was far away in the United States.

If she were by his side, she would surely understand what happened just now, right?

She was a woman who understood the bigger picture, with both class and substance.

She was someone he could take out in public, and someone who could warm his bed and cook at home...

It was just that Jin Lu insisted on studying at business school, and even though he was reluctant, he respected her choice.

He wondered how she had been doing lately.

What if... he went to the United States to see her?

Duan Qiran followed carefully by Zheng Qian's side; he could sense that Zheng Qian was in a bad mood.

But regardless, putting everything else aside, Duan Qiran was truly satisfied with his role.

He was becoming increasingly accustomed to his current identity as Zheng Qian's exclusive bodyguard, and was getting used to thinking based on this role.

He truly admired Zheng Qian; despite his young age, he was able to control such a massive business empire.

The two of them wandered into a bar.

It was fairly lively, and looking at the men and women on the dance floor, Zheng Qian wanted to find a corner booth to have a casual drink.

But just then, a girl sitting not far away made him lose his focus for a moment.

"Jin... Jin Lu?"

No, impossible, absolutely impossible...

Zheng Qian's heart trembled slightly; he had just video-called Jin Lu two days ago.

She was currently preparing for a small exam and was usually swamped with work.

How could she suddenly appear here?

"Hmm? President Zheng, is she...?"

Duan Qiran instinctively looked in the direction of Zheng Qian's gaze and also couldn't help but freeze.

He knew about Jin Lu going to the United States.

It was absolutely impossible for her to return to the country without a word.

And to make matters worse, it wasn't Yebai, but Subei, which had absolutely nothing to do with her!

She looked so, so much like her.

If it were just Zheng Qian who thought so, he wouldn't have shown such an expression.

But since even Duan Qiran reacted so strongly, Zheng Qian couldn't help but think the same.

However, he quickly snapped back to reality.

No, absolutely not.

He was far too familiar with his fiancée; the girl in front of him gave off a... very strange feeling.

She looked like a pure young girl, but her eyes seemed as if they had experienced all the trials and tribulations of the mortal world.

Only someone who had seen too much of the world would have eyes like that, like an ancient, still well.

It seemed as if she could see through everything and understand the hearts of people everywhere.

"I'll go over and take a look. You find a place to sit nearby; I'm just going to chat for a moment."

Zheng Qian patted Duan Qiran on the shoulder and walked towards the girl on his own.

She was toying with a glass of crimson wine, but didn't seem to have any intention of drinking it.

Her eyes were constantly scanning the bustling crowd; although she was in the midst of the secular world, she seemed to keep a distance from everything around her at all times.

This kind of transcendent temperament was something Zheng Qian had never felt from a girl before.

Even an average man would feel inferior when speaking in front of her.

Even Zheng Qian felt a similar sensation.

But he found it too difficult to suppress his curiosity, especially since she was so similar to Jin Lu.

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"

Zheng Qian tried to be as polite as possible.

"Go ahead and sit."

She smiled faintly and nodded, not rejecting Zheng Qian.

The latter breathed a small sigh of relief, sat down slowly, and couldn't help but say, "I didn't mean to disturb you, and I'm not using this cliché topic to hit on you, it's just that..."

"You really look a lot, a lot like a friend of mine."

The girl seemed to always keep a distant smile on her face.

"Then your friend must be very beautiful."

An interesting answer.

Zheng Qian became more and more interested in this girl.

"May I ask, what should I call you? My name is Zheng Qian."

"Just call me Xiangxiang."

Xiangxiang?

So she wasn't planning on revealing her real name?

"Are you waiting for someone?"

Zheng Qian asked curiously.

"No, just like you, I just came to sit for a while," Xiangxiang said indifferently.

"How did you know I just came to sit for a while?"

"If you had come prepared, you would have definitely booked a booth in advance, instead of looking for a seat after coming in."

"Also, since you have bodyguards following you at all times, you shouldn't be poor, so it's illogical for you not to have a girl by your side."

"And it doesn't look like you came here looking for a fling, because I can't see any desire in your eyes."

"So, you must have something bothering you, and you came here to drink some depressing wine and pass the time, right?"

Xiangxiang continued to swirl her wine glass and said casually.

She... was truly amazing.

Zheng Qian's heart was beating extremely fast; he hadn't encountered such a feeling in a long time.

As for such a smart girl, he asked himself, apart from Jin Lu and Cui Ziqing, it seemed that no one could really compare.

No, from a certain perspective, she was the smartest girl he had ever known.

She and Jin Lu were even more alike now.

He even felt... that their way of speaking and their mannerisms had such a touch of overlap.

[Beep-beep—]

The phone ringtone rang at an inopportune time.

Xiangxiang glanced at the screen, then stood up gracefully, and pushed the wine glass in her hand toward Zheng Qian.

"I haven't drunk this glass of wine yet. I'm allergic to alcohol and never drink, so... I'll give it to you. Don't waste it."

Zheng Qian opened his mouth, about to say something, but she shook her head slightly.

She extended her right index finger and placed it over her crimson lips.

Watching Xiangxiang's retreating figure, ripples couldn't help but stir in Zheng Qian's heart.

The previously somewhat irritable mood vanished into thin air at this moment.

Replacing it was a feeling of loss.

This... this feeling was truly indescribable.

He downed the wine in the glass in one gulp.

He suddenly understood a little why Xiangxiang didn't drink alcohol but still ordered a glass of wine.

It was just because her temperament was too unworldly; if she didn't have a drink in her hand while sitting here, she would inevitably seem a bit out of place.

Perhaps, it was just a prop to make it easier for her to sit here without attracting attention.

It was just a pity that he hadn't added her on WeChat.

Hmm?

Just as he stood up to leave, he saw a familiar figure.

Immediately after, a surge of anger welled up in his heart.

Was he brainless?

Dammit...