Chapter 3

Shen smiled and said, "I live in the southern part of the city, and you, General Manager Li, live in the northern part. It is really out of the way, so I won't trouble you."

Zhou raised the mobile phone in his hand and took a "click" photo of Shen Lai and the greasy Mediterranean.

Lü Dekai opened his mouth, intending to say that Shen Lai did not seem like that kind of person, but upon recalling the colorful hat that Shen Lai had given Zhou Ji, he found it difficult to speak. Matters concerning this couple are not easy to meddle in

Zhou slowly put away his phone into his pants pocket, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips as he walked towards Shen. "Long time no see, is this your new boyfriend? I didn't expect your taste to change so much after a few years."

Shen's hand moved to her waist, she took a deep breath, preparing to execute a shoulder throw on the Mediterranean, whose middle-aged, greasy demeanor and foul breath were simply unbearable for her.

Now that I think about it, I can't help but laugh. A honking sound came from behind; it turned out the green light was on. Shen came back to his senses, shook his head, released the brake, and pressed the accelerator.

Zhou smiled again and said, "Of course, I believe it." Then he took out his phone and asked, "Should I first call 110, and then prepare to call 120?"

When Shen Lai and Zhou Ji parted ways, not only did they tear their faces apart, but they also left each other bloodied. Naturally, there was no expectation for either party to have kind words upon their next meeting

It has been four or five years since Lü Dekai last saw Shen Lai. After her divorce from Zhou Ji, it was said that she went abroad, but unexpectedly, she has returned now. Although younger women have their appeal, seeing Shen Lai makes one feel that older women can also be quite charming, possessing an indescribable allure that seems to be even more captivating.

Lü Dekai stepped forward, but saw Zhou Jiqi not moving, so he had no choice but to stay behind and watch the excitement

As soon as Li Donglai stepped out, a thunderclap echoed in the sky, indicating that a thunderstorm was inevitable

It has already started to rain outside, and today's weather forecast has long issued an orange rainstorm warning. Even after meal times, it is still difficult to hail a ride on the app

However, Shen Laijian established her studio solely out of her passion for design, not truly for the purpose of making a living. This is something she must thank her mother for, as it allows her to live without worries about food and clothing. Her mother raised her like a precious pearl, not to endure such humiliation.

It was merely an unfortunate turn of events; the assistant received a phone call midway, informing her that her mother had fallen down the stairs and fractured her pelvis. At this moment, the ambulance is transporting her to the hospital, and when the assistant returned after the call, her eyes were filled with tears

Throughout the gathering, it was Shen Lai's assistant who helped her fend off drinks, as she made the excuse of driving and only agreed to drink juice. The Mediterranean guest appeared somewhat displeased, but Shen Lai understood that if she wanted to avoid trouble, it was best not to touch the alcohol.

Li Donglai turned back and threatened Shen Lai, saying, "Tell him to delete the photos, otherwise I will make you regret it." After saying these harsh words, the Mediterranean man angrily went outside, swinging his beer belly, to wait for his car

Li Donglai could see Shen Lai's reluctance, and inwardly cursed her for being unappreciative. However, despite his complaints, Shen Lai had an exquisite face, outstanding temperament, and a stunning figure. Such a rare beauty was comparable to the retouched models in magazines, and even on television, they were not often seen. It was hard for him to let her go without feeling a sense of regret.

Li Donglai was feeling the effects of alcohol. The reason he came alone today was that he had something on his mind, and he was feeling quite restless. His inhibitions were somewhat disregarded, and since he was drunk, he boldly approached again. This time, he directly wrapped his arms around Shen Lai's waist, "I have more than one homestay investment. Have you heard of the Seaside Cloud Sky at Cuihai? I am planning to renovate it soon. Miss Shen, are you interested in the design of that garden?"

As they reached the entrance of the restaurant, Li Donglai said, "Miss Shen, your car has been taken by the assistant; why don't I give you a ride instead"

Zhou had been watching for quite a while from the side. He saw Shen Lai and Mediterranean walk into the lobby. He had just returned from a business trip, had taken a shower, and answered a call from Lü Dekai before coming over together. He did not expect to witness that scene as soon as he entered the restaurant lobby

Shen Lai has now reached the age where he desires money rather than people

"Where are you going? Let me give you a ride," Zhou walked up to Shen Lai.

Shen Li glanced at Zhou Ji and did not speak again. As a couple, she understood that Zhou Ji had a bit of a stubborn temperament; sometimes, the more you tried to stop him from doing something, the more he would insist on doing it. For instance, at this moment, if she truly asked Zhou Ji to delete the photos, he might very well post them on his social media.

"Is it really not going up?" Lu Dekai saw that Li Donglai had already wrapped his arms around Shen Lai's waist.

This Mediterranean businessman intends to open a guesthouse by Dongsha Lake, located outside the fourth ring of Jiangcheng, with a considerable investment. He is looking for someone to design the garden, and it took several layers of connections for Shen Lai to finally arrange a meeting with him. If he can secure this project, it may lead to a remarkable representative work that could open doors, alleviating the need to work so hard to attract clients in the future

The client is a middle-aged, greasy man with a receding hairline, who, due to having a bit of money, mistakenly believes he possesses an irresistible charm akin to an aphrodisiac, and during the meeting, he quite overtly suggests that Shen should use his body to exchange for the contract

In any case, the pure will cleanse themselves, while the impure will sully themselves. Having lived to the age of 30, she can no longer be bothered by too many rumors and gossip. She simply turned around, took out her phone, and began to genuinely call for a ride on the app, realizing that the earlier claim about the driver arriving was merely a deception.

Zhou cast a sidelong glance at Lü Dekai and said, "If you want to be a hero saving the beauty, go ahead, but be wary that she might only be half-hearted about it."

Shen looked at the clock; it was mealtime, making it the worst time to hail a taxi. The entire city was congested, and even on the ride-hailing app, it showed that there were still over 40 people waiting ahead. It was estimated that it would take at least half an hour to arrive.

Originally, Shen Lai did not feel embarrassed; she was about to counterattack. However, upon being called out by the newcomer, her face instantly flushed with heat, regretting that she hadn't given the Mediterranean a shoulder throw earlier

Lü Dekai has regained some sense; previously, when looking at Shen Lai, although stunningly beautiful, it lacked the intense allure that it possesses now. One might as well describe it as sensual. No wonder that Mediterranean-faced man is so insistent on entangling himself in public, disregarding everything else.

Lü Dekai glanced a couple of times and felt that the energy emanating from Shen Lai could not be aptly described as sensual; it was not that vulgar. It should be termed as "alluring," indeed very alluring.

Shen did not even lift his head and said, "No need, I will call a car"

In order to avoid drinking, Shen Lai specifically drove there herself. While waiting at the traffic light, she noticed an advertisement on the giant LED screen across the street for a brand of diamond rings that can only be customized once in a man's lifetime. She scoffed sarcastically, noting that while this brand only allows for one purchase, there are countless other diamond ring brands available. Moreover, many times, men simply do not need to buy diamond rings at all

It is hard to imagine that in the past, she was the kind of person who would threaten to run away from home if Zhou Ji was not the first to wish her a happy birthday at midnight. When Zhou Ji is attentive to others, he always has his ways; every year's birthday celebration is unique, but the longevity noodles are invariably cooked by him personally.

Zhou cast a sidelong glance at Lü Dekai, then stepped towards the elevator. When his peripheral vision caught Shen Lai's hand reaching for his waist, he suddenly turned around and called out, "Shen Lai"

Li Donglai is not afraid of his wife, but he is afraid of her divorcing him, especially when there is "evidence". The man in front of him looks somewhat familiar; perhaps they have mutual acquaintances. Thus, Li Donghai, feeling somewhat exasperated, said: "Who are you? Delete the photo, or do you believe I will kill you"

Shen stepped aside to make way, and the first time she couldn't shake off Li Donglai's hand. The second time, she shook it off forcefully before breaking free from his grasp. She shook the phone in her hand and said, "My ride has arrived, Mr. Li"

Today, Shen Lai is wearing a professional suit, her waist so slim that it seems to be the width of an A4 paper, paired with a white mulberry silk shirt and cropped trousers that reveal her delicate, fair calves. On her feet are black strappy sandals, with her toes painted in a burgundy nail polish, accentuating the whiteness of her feet. Overall, her outfit is quite normal with a slightly conservative touch, yet it inexplicably captivates attention, making one curious about how those straps would feel wrapped around her.

"Shen, come here."

Cuihai is a 4A-level tourist attraction in Jiangnan Province, and Haishang Yuntian is a popular guesthouse by the lake. When Shen came to investigate the background of the clients, he naturally knew that Li Donglai was also the owner of Haishang Yuntian. If he could indeed take over the renovation of the garden design for Haishang Yuntian, it would indeed be a significant temptation

"Not a bother, not a bother. I am only afraid that beautiful women will not come to trouble me," Li Donglai insinuated bluntly. "Miss Shen and I hit it off at first sight, and I would like to get to know her better. Regarding the matters of the garden, I was too preoccupied with drinking earlier. Once we get in the car, I would like to ask Miss Shen to elaborate further on your ideas."

I remember her first birthday was in Fiji, and she refused to treat the pasta as longevity noodles. At around three in the morning, she boldly knocked on the doors of three Chinese guests and managed to get a pack of instant noodles to serve as longevity noodles. At that time, Shen laughed for an entire night.

Li Donglai, emboldened by the effects of alcohol, walked over and placed his arm on Shen Lai's shoulder, saying, "I may not have the time another day"

Zhou intentionally waved his phone in front of Shen and said, "Let's go"

Shen Lai turned to look at Zhou Ji, and although the Mediterranean's hand loosened a bit, it still shamelessly remained around Shen Lai's waist

Shen Lai was perfunctorily responding with feigned sincerity; to her, this society had become less black and white. As long as the Mediterranean did not engage in any excessive actions, she would not offend such a potential client too harshly. She was a landscape designer, and the design community in Jiangcheng was quite small, making reputation extremely important.

At this point, there is nothing left to misunderstand; the man before him is clearly looking for trouble. Today, Li Donglai has come to seek pleasure and has no lackey by his side. Seeing that Zhou Ji is followed by Lü Dekai, both of whom are a head taller than him, even if he calls for the driver, he would certainly be unable to win, and he cannot act tough. He can only resign himself to his misfortune and, before leaving, viciously throws a classic line at Zhou Ji, "You just wait for me."

Lü Dekai looked at Zhou Ji, who was walking ahead without turning back and merely waved his hand at him, and cursed, "Damn, I thought you could really hold back and not go up there." Lü Dekai was well aware of how much Zhou Ji used to protect his wife, and he had often teased Zhou Ji, saying that he could play the role of a domineering CEO in his true colors.

Shen handed the car keys to the assistant, "Drive my car, since you've been drinking, don't drive yourself. Get a designated driver; it will be more convenient to use the car for any matters."

Today is Shen Lai's thirtieth birthday. On WeChat and QQ, many people have sent system-generated greeting cards, but they are all meaningless platitudes. However, Ms. Zhang Xiuran did make a phone call inviting her to come home for dinner. Nevertheless, Shen Lai had already forgotten that today was her birthday, as she had made an appointment with a client two days ago and saw no need to reschedule just for a birthday.

At the next traffic light, a delivery rider passed by Shen, and she suddenly remembered that she had not ordered herself a bowl of longevity noodles yet. This birthday was becoming increasingly casual, to the point where it seemed as if she no longer cared whether her mother had given birth to her or not

The assistant left with countless thanks, leaving Shen alone to deal with the Mediterranean. Naturally, Shen had no desire to continue the battle, as the Mediterranean's unwelcome advances had already moved from her shoulder to her thigh. No matter how good the project was, it was not worth her body in exchange, so she claimed that it was getting late and stood up to call the waiter to settle the bill

Shen Laiwei irritably raised her head, thinking that this person truly had a knack for bringing up the wrong topic. After that news broke, the number of single women calling for rides in the evening indeed decreased significantly, especially among those single women who considered themselves attractive

After returning to her home country for a year, Shen opened a studio. Currently, she does not have any particularly outstanding representative works, not due to a lack of talent, but rather because building relationships and seeking projects is not her forte. In recent years, her temper had been somewhat spoiled by Zhou Ji, and later she endured quite a bit of hardship, which ultimately led to her current level of skill.

Of course, Lü Dekai recognized Shen Lai and could see that the Mediterranean man was taking advantage of him. He glanced at the motionless Zhou Ji beside him and asked, "Aren't you going to intervene?" After all, they had been a couple for one night, which should amount to a hundred nights of affection. Lü Dekai did not expect that Shen Lai had fallen to such a level, being groped by a greasy middle-aged man.

"Did you not see the news about that flight attendant last year? Do you still dare to use ride-hailing apps at night?" Zhou Jidao said

Zhou smiled and said, "What’s the rush? Let me share it on my Moments and see if anyone recognizes this Mediterranean uncle next to you. It would be good to send it to his wife as well."

Shen looked at Li Donglai's eyes, which were clearly clouded by desire, and said, "Everyone has had too much to drink today; let's discuss this in Li's office another day."

Delete the photo. Shen Lai did not waste any words with Zhou Ji.

Shen Lai's face turned from red to white. The Mediterranean also released the hand that was holding Shen Lai's waist and strode aggressively towards Zhou Ji.