After I Was Gone, Mr. Song Said He Loved Me - Chapter 70 - Lu Passed Away...

Ren Hechuan seemed lost in the sorrow of his past, his hands covering his face as he sighed deeply.

Though I wasn’t particularly interested in his story, since he shared it with me, it would be impolite not to respond.

“So, what do you want me to do?” I asked cautiously.

Ren Hechuan lifted his head to look at me, then pulled me closer, his hand reaching for my waist.

He was straightforward, just like when he asked me to be his lover, leaving no room for ambiguity, expressing his intentions through his actions.

It turned out all those emotional preludes were merely to mask his true desire.

I had to admit, compared to those wealthy men who only sought physical pleasure, Ren Hechuan was somewhat innovative.

“Mr. Ren…” I slightly leaned away, trying to evade his touch.

But as soon as I moved, his words froze me in place.

“Mr. Bai, be my lover, and I’ll grant any request you have, as long as it’s within my power,” Ren Hechuan said, his hand slipping under my shirt, gently caressing my spine.

This was both an opportunity and a warning.

Ren Hechuan was telling me that if I complied with his wishes, getting Huanya into the electric company would be a piece of cake; otherwise, there was no hope.

Moreover, he wasn’t looking for a fleeting affair; he wanted a long-term relationship.

I had thought I would need to work hard to get on Sun Shengju’s good side, but unexpectedly, a hot spring party had serendipitously earned me Ren Hechuan’s favor.

This was an opportunity many companies could only dream of.

The olive branch was extended; whether to accept it was up to me.

If it were just about creating achievements for Song Yu, I would have walked away without hesitation. But now that it involved Lu, I had to lower my head.

“Mr. Ren, if I agree, will you ensure that Huanya’s corporate qualifications are listed under the electric company, annotated with a national trade mark, and granted an international enterprise code?”

If Ren Hechuan agreed to my request, it would mean that Huanya could represent the country in international trade, from defense technology to everyday necessities, all legally and reasonably, with low taxes and the backing of the state, eliminating any concerns about the funding chain.

Ren Hechuan pulled me onto his lap, lifting my shirt halfway, smiling at me, “Little thing, you have quite the appetite.”

My breathing was erratic, my palms sweaty, but I steeled myself and said, “If you promise me, I’ll promise you.”

I was aware of my own worth, knowing I wasn’t significant enough to secure such an important project.

Even so, I had to try.

A little bravery might yield unexpected surprises.

While I was wrestling with my thoughts, considering this and worrying about that, Ren Hechuan casually agreed to my request without a moment’s hesitation, making me feel as if he was toying with me.

“Mr. Ren, won’t you reconsider?”

“Reconsider what?” Ren Hechuan chuckled.

“It’s just… you agreed so quickly, I…”

“You think I’m deceiving you?” Ren Hechuan asked with a smirk.

I hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded.

“The electric company is owned by the state, not by me personally. No matter which company joins the electric company, it doesn’t concern me. Any benefits Huanya enjoys are granted by the state; the profits are the state’s. I’m merely playing a coordinating and managerial role.”

“So approving Huanya’s entry into the electric company is just one of my tasks. Why hesitate?”

It dawned on me then that for Ren Hechuan, even though he is the chairman of the electric company, the actual control lies with the state. He’s just a worker on the state’s payroll.

Thus, who gets into the electric company doesn’t affect him. He can still get what he wants, making him the one who benefits.

Ren Hechuan’s hand lingered at my waist, his voice low, “So, have you made up your mind?”

Another choice, as if everything since meeting Song Yu has been about choices, ones I can’t refuse.

I lowered my eyes slightly, my lashes obscuring half my view, not daring to meet Ren Hechuan’s gaze.

This moment of choice would directly determine the future for Lu and me.

I would become Ren Hechuan’s lover.

Lu, with a clean slate.

It seemed unfair, yet perfectly fair.

Song Yu was right; not everyone can possess wealth others can’t achieve in a lifetime at a young age, nor does everyone have the luck to gain Ren Hechuan’s favor. Even though I was unwilling, thinking of how Lu would risk everything for me, I had no reason to refuse.

Finally-

“I agree, as long as Huanya can smoothly obtain the enterprise qualification, I’ll be yours.”

Ren Hechuan’s face lit up with satisfaction as he pushed me down onto the sofa, leaning over…

…

I wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes, clutching my trembling body as I sat up from the sofa. These two hours were the most agonizing moments of my life.

It wasn’t physical pain but psychological torment.

Being with someone I didn’t like felt like being a soulless doll.

I thought he would go straight to me, but he only sought excitement on me. I didn’t know if he wanted something new or was just incapable.

Either way, I escaped a disaster.

Ren Hechuan zipped up his pants and pulled out a few wet wipes from the coffee table, handing them to me.

“Clean your face; it’ll sting if it gets in your eyes.”

I held the crumpled shirt against my chest, reached out for the wipes, and wiped away the sticky mix of sweat and tears.

Suddenly, a golden business card appeared before me.

I looked up, “What’s this?”

Ren Hechuan smiled, “It’s my business card.”

I took the thin gold card, my eyes filled with confusion.

What does giving me a business card mean?

“With my business card, you can discuss Huanya’s registration with the electric company anytime,” Ren Hechuan said casually.

I was stunned. Could a business card solve such a big issue?

Ren Hechuan seemed to read my thoughts. He bent down and slipped the card between my closed legs.

“My business card is like a pass; with it, no one will obstruct any procedures.”

I looked down at the thin card, feeling a mix of emotions.

Such an inconspicuous item could make others fight tooth and nail, even sacrificing their bodies.

At that moment, I felt all my dignity, self-respect, and shame were crushed and ground into the dirt.

Both filthy and despicable, yet helpless.

Ren Hechuan didn’t linger long. As he was leaving the mansion, he asked where I was headed, and I replied, “Back to the office.”

He chuckled and said, “You don’t need to go to that company anymore; I’ll take care of the money.”

I gave him a half-hearted smile and said, “Alright, once I finish handing over this project, I won’t go anymore.”

Once Lu’s situation is resolved, neither Ren Hechuan nor Song Yu will matter. They’ll be out of my life, and I’ll be free, with no one to control or influence me.

I’ll truly be a free person.

Ren Hechuan seemed pleased with my compliance.

He held my hand on his leg and said earnestly, “Mr. Bai, it’s been years since I’ve felt this excited, like I’ve returned to my youth, full of energy.”

“But as one ages, sometimes the body can’t keep up with the demands…” Ren Hechuan sighed deeply, then added, “But in this regard, I’ll do my best to satisfy you.”

Such candid words made me want to find a hole to hide in.

Turns out, he really is struggling.

But it’s a blessing in disguise that his age spared me from being ravaged.

Truly a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

Ren Hechuan dropped me off at the company, and I was about to head straight to the thirty-third floor to find Song Yu when I ran into Chi Jin, who looked frantic.

He grabbed my arm and pulled me aside, demanding, “Where have you been? I’ve been calling you since noon, and you haven’t answered.”

I thought, “Oh no, Chi Jin must have found out about President Xu’s issue yesterday and is here to confront me.”

I forced a guilty smile, “My phone ran out of battery.”

In reality, I had turned off my phone to avoid interruptions during lunch and forgot to turn it back on.

“Do you need anything? I have to-”

“Fan Lu is dead,” Chi Jin suddenly said.

“…”

His words hit me like a long beep in my head, taking a while to fade away.

“What did you say?” I asked, my eyes smiling but my tone cold.

“I said your friend Fan Lu, the one you wrote about in your calendar, is dead!” Chi Jin shouted, like an atomic bomb exploding in my mind.

In an instant, I was stunned.

But after a brief moment of shock, I regained my composure.

Lu had clearly returned to Guiyang; how could he be dead?

“Chi Jin, are you crazy? What nonsense are you spouting?”

“I’m warning you, if you dare say such things again, I don’t care if you’re a leader or whatever, I won’t be polite.”

I glared at him and pushed him away, heading towards the elevator.

“Fan Lu never returned to Guiyang; he died over a month ago in Yuanguang Detention Center,” Chi Jin shouted behind me.

My hurried steps froze, like someone hit pause.

The reason was the mention of “Yuanguang Detention Center,” the place where Lu was held.

How did Chi Jin know about this?

Could he have investigated Lu’s situation?

But why would he say Lu died over a month ago?

Song Yu clearly told me Lu returned to Guiyang.

Yet… Lu suddenly stopped answering my calls and hasn’t contacted Zhang Chenyang either.

The timing matches, about a month…

Thinking about this, my heart sank into the abyss, a foreboding thought creeping in.