No matter how much money she earned or how high her net worth climbed, in the eyes of the old money families, who had been affluent for generations, people like her would always be considered parvenus, unworthy of their company.
Xiang Wan knew this clearly.
There was an essential difference between her and the "born beautiful" rich girls whose status was inherited.
She could never enter a family like Lu Mingzhe's.
Therefore, she never harbored any such fantasies.
Lu Mingzhe had never expressed any emotion towards her beyond a desire for intimacy.
Even though they were interacting more now, Xiang Wan wouldn't be so naive as to believe he had fallen for her.
She maintained a clear professional distance with everyone.
Everyone knew she was single.
Lu Mingzhe's sudden intrusions could cause misunderstandings.
If this continued for a long time, it would make it inconvenient for her to find a boyfriend when she actually wanted one.
So, it was necessary to clarify some things.
Her live streams had been doing well the past couple of days, and everyone had worked very hard.
As the boss, her presence would prevent them from truly relaxing.
Taking this opportunity, it would be fine to leave first.
After Lu Mingzhe finished handing out coffee to everyone, Xiang Wan sent a message in the group chat, thanking them for their hard work and telling them to take a break and relax.
The two of them left the studio together.
Both had driven themselves there.
Since they had to work the next day and commute, Xiang Wan didn't plan on going in the same car as him and headed directly towards her own car.
As she walked, she spoke to Lu Mingzhe.
"Are you staying over at my place again tonight?"
Lu Mingzhe: "We haven't seen each other for a few days. Don't you miss me?"
They were adults; when genuine needs arose, there was no need to hide them.
Xiang Wan spoke the truth.
"Can't you just do what you used to? Take care of your business and go back home?"
Hearing her say that, and reflecting on his past actions, Lu Mingzhe couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.
He truly had been heartless and carefree back then.
To have such a beautiful woman right in front of him, yet to be able to use and discard her, never truly getting to know her in all these years.
Meeting Chen Jiaojiao felt like his comeuppance.
"Fine. Since you're so afraid of me disturbing you, I'll do as I did before."
Xiang Wan got into her car.
Lu Mingzhe walked over and got into her car as well.
"I've been drinking. I drove here after drinking."
"...Then how will you get back later?"
"Could you do me a favor and drive me back?"
"Young Master Lu, look at the time. I've been busy since eight this morning and I'm exhausted."
"Then I'll take a taxi myself."
"What about this car?"
"I'll take a taxi to pick it up tomorrow. You don't manage it, so I'll have to inconvenience myself to make two trips."
Back home, her younger brother had already gone to bed.
The two of them walked softly towards the bathroom, still wearing their socks.
The moment they entered, Lu Mingzhe pounced on her like a starving wolf.
After washing up, she didn't dare use the hairdryer for fear of waking her brother.
Xiang Wan returned to the bedroom with her hair wrapped in a towel, and Lu Mingzhe followed.
"Didn't you say you'd leave after we were done? Why are you following me?"
"After working so hard, you won't even let me rest? Do you dislike me that much?"
It wasn't that she disliked him.
Lu Mingzhe was good-looking, had a great physique, and was excellent in every aspect.
She hadn't yet found anyone around her who surpassed him.
Although she knew she wasn't good enough for him, some things were beyond her control.
Xiang Wan feared that after he had his way, he would just leave and she would be the one to suffer.
"Rest for a bit and then leave quickly."
After saying that, she left a crack in the window open and stood by the window, wiping her hair in the gentle breeze.
The soft lights from the residential complex shone on her, giving her skin a silvery sheen.
She was so graceful and alluring.
Watching her, Lu Mingzhe felt his desire rekindle.
He walked over and gently embraced her from behind.
"Are you done drying?"
"Don't you have eyes? Can't you see?"
"Let me help you."
Without her consent, he took the towel from her hand, gently held her hair, and began to dry it tenderly.
An electric current spread rapidly from the soles of her feet to the top of her scalp.
In the deep quiet of the night, the human mind and nerves are at their most sensitive and vulnerable.
With him making such a move.
Xiang Wan felt it was dangerous.
Yet, driven by an instinctive yearning, she couldn't bring herself to push him away.
She had to admit that Lu Mingzhe's recent excessive involvement in her life had become a source of distress.
They stood there, sharing the most intimate of physical connections.
But their hearts couldn't connect, and Xiang Wan felt a profound sadness.
Lu Mingzhe, however, was different.
He was the master, the manipulator of this relationship.
He could enter and retreat as he pleased.
He had never intended to take responsibility for Xiang Wan, so the emotions he displayed were always genuine.
His admiration for her beauty was purely that.
As he continued to dry her hair, he leaned close to her ear.
"That's about enough. I'll carry you over."
Xiang Wan immediately turned around.
"What are you doing?"
"Do you know why we've been together for so many years? Xiang Wan, you're so beautiful."
Perhaps no woman in the world could resist the allure of such words.
Knowing it was dangerous, Xiang Wan couldn't help but be drawn in again.
Ultimately, Lu Mingzhe did not leave.
In the dead of night, Xiang Wan couldn't bear to drive him away.
Lu Mingzhe held her close and fell into a deep sleep.
Xiang Wan, however, due to her various emotional turmoils, despite being exhausted, found herself unable to sleep.
When Lu Mingzhe was heartless towards her, she felt like an iron-willed woman.
Focused solely on her career, lacking nothing in terms of men or money, she felt energized and fulfilled every day.
She never experienced anxiety or indulged in romantic whims.
But today, to her surprise, she realized that she was just like most other women.
Her supposed strength, independence, confidence, and dominance were merely psychological suggestions she had made to herself.
She also longed to be loved, to have a lasting embrace, and to be affirmed by a man.
She was a weak woman with many desires.
This feeling was truly unpleasant.
After much consideration, Xiang Wan decided that while she wasn't too deeply involved yet, she needed to quickly stop this momentum from developing further.
She remained sleepless until dawn.
Her brother got up to make breakfast, and Xiang Wan joined him.
They were busy outside until the breakfast was laid out on the table, and then Lu Mingzhe emerged, his eyes heavy with sleep.
Her brother was delighted to see him again.
Xiang Wan, however, gently pushed Lu Mingzhe into the room.
"Come in for a moment, I have something to tell you."
Despite not sleeping all night, her skin was naturally good.
Her face was clean, her hair dark and lustrous, her skin as fair as snow, showing no signs of fatigue.
She had already changed into the clothes she would wear to work, looking breathtakingly beautiful.
Faced with such a beauty, as soon as Lu Mingzhe entered the room, he began to act indecently again.
Xiang Wan placed her hand on his chin to stop him.
"Behave yourself, Lu Mingzhe. I have something serious to discuss with you."
Seeing her serious expression and her evident displeasure, Lu Mingzhe finally composed himself.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't want to continue this with you."
"Let's be clear about this. That's all there is to it. Later, we'll delete all our contact information, and you shouldn't come to my place anymore."