Chapter 4

That night, I received a call from Shao Rubai’s friend, Shi Song. I didn’t want to answer, but his incessant calls forced me to be extra vigilant and face another potential danger.

“Mr. Shi, is something wrong?” I asked cautiously.

“Call me Mr. Xiao Song,” Shi Song’s voice on the other end of the line was still flippant. “Coffee tonight, Miss Nanlu, or should I say… sister-in-law?”

Things were indeed not going to be that smooth. I let out a long breath and changed into my clothes to meet the expected challenge.

Chen Panqing, who was sitting in my room, pulled me back, her expression equally solemn. “Lin Nanlu, Shao Rubai is already falling in love with me. You can’t back out now and pull the ‘first love’ card.”

“I hope so.” I sincerely hoped Shao Rubai would fall for the real Chen Panqing, and that all my efforts would prove to be comically futile.

“I think you’ve misunderstood. I’m not CEO Shao’s girlfriend. I just happen to live in the same apartment building as him and sometimes hitch a ride home with him.”

Sitting in the coffee shop, faced with the surveillance footage Shi Song had laid out, I stubbornly denied everything.

“Oh,” Shi Song said, with his legs crossed. “Would ordinary colleagues be so close as to put their arms around each other?”

He pointed to a close-up photo of Shao Rubai embracing my waist. “Do you take me for a fool?”

I stared at the photo of Shao Rubai with his arm around my waist, gritted my teeth, and hardened my resolve. “Mr. Shi, actually,” I turned my head, putting on a fawning expression, “I was the one seducing CEO Shao, but he just played along for a few days and then dumped me, because the person he truly loves has always been Miss Chen Panqing.”

“Is that so? How can I believe that you’re fake and Chen Panqing is real?”

Shi Song propped his chin on his hand, silently watching my performance. “Also, Miss Nanlu, please make sure to call me Mr. Xiao Song.”

“Mr. Xiao Song is joking. CEO Shao has such excellent qualities; everyone is scrambling to get close to him. If I were really his girlfriend, why would I be willing to leave him?”

I’m not good at acting, and Shi Song’s gaze was too sharp. Stared at by him without blinking, I couldn’t help but lower my eyes. Shi Song gathered the photos from the table and placed a hand on my slightly trembling one.

“I’m also very rich. Do you want to try seducing me? I’m quite easily hooked.”

Shao Rubai’s friend, birds of a feather flock together. I wouldn’t fall into the same trap twice. Shi Song seemed to want to bully me more the softer I appeared, so I simply stood up, put the coffee money on the table, and made it clear I was done with him.

“You? I’m not interested.”