The annual party started precisely at seven in the evening.
Su He had finished her makeup and styling by noon. Lu Yanbei took her to a nearby restaurant for lunch. It was the first time Su He had dressed so formally, and she felt unaccustomed to the scrutinizing gazes around her.
Lu Yanbei held her hand, not letting go for a moment.
Su He was wearing high heels, and he was afraid she might fall.
After lunch, Lu Yanbei took Su He directly to the CEO's office at Lu Corporation.
This was Su He's first time in his office.
"There's a lounge inside. If you feel tired, you can lie down for a while," Lu Yanbei said solicitously, helping her to sit on the sofa. He then had his secretary bring in various snacks and drinks.
Su He knew he had work to do, so she nodded with a smile.
People who work diligently are always the most handsome.
Lu Yanbei was no exception. His back was straight, and his long fingers occasionally flipped through documents, a truly pleasing sight. Su He propped her head on her hand, watching his meticulous expression, unable to get enough of it.
Lu Yanbei signed a document, slowly put down his pen, and looked at Su He. "Ah Miao, you looking at me like that is making it hard for me."
"Ah?" Su He blinked in confusion.
"You watching me like this is distracting me," Lu Yanbei said, rubbing his temples and smiling at her.
Su He hummed and shifted her gaze, her ears faintly burning.
When he said that, it was as if she were a lecherous woman!
But he was truly handsome, the kind you could never get tired of looking at! She remembered Jiang Xiaoxiao teasing her, saying she had struck it rich and gotten an incredible deal. Thinking about it now, it truly was the case.
As Su He was lost in thought, the office door was suddenly pushed open, and a tall woman walked in.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Lu. Miss Laura insisted on seeing you, and we couldn't stop her..." the secretary explained immediately, seeing her boss's displeased expression.
Hearing Laura's name, Su He involuntarily looked towards the door.
She had to admit, the blonde, blue-eyed woman before her was very beautiful. Her features were exquisite, her attire fashionable. What Su He envied most was her stunning figure. Curvy and shapely, even as a woman, she couldn't help but swallow her saliva.
Su He admired the beautiful woman while listening to her cheerfully invite Lu Yanbei to be her dance partner.
Facing this uninvited guest who had barged into his office, Lu Yanbei's expression was calm to the point of being indifferent. "Laura, you should knock before entering an office. That's basic etiquette."
Laura faltered, admitting her fault. She then exited the office and meticulously went through the proper procedure.
Lu Yanbei didn't speak, merely looking at her coldly.
Laura met his gaze, which was devoid of warmth, and appeared flustered. She knew she shouldn't be acting on impulse, but she was truly anxious. She had heard that Lu Yanbei had brought a woman to the company and had been doting on her all along, which made her rush in without thinking.
She wanted to be the first to ask him to be her dance partner; she wanted to announce to everyone that she was determined to have him.
Unfortunately, Lu Yanbei gave her no opportunity. "Laura, I'm married. Tonight, I will only dance with my wife."
Upon hearing this, Laura's eyes gradually dimmed. "Even if I offer the cooperation of two families in exchange, is that not enough?"
"Business is business, and life is life. I hope you can keep them separate," Lu Yanbei said, not yielding an inch.
"Why her?" Laura asked unwillingly.
"She is my first love," Lu Yanbei replied in fluent British English.
Su He, who had been openly listening to their conversation from the sofa, clutched her chest, her heart pounding wildly.
Lu Yanbei said she was his first love!
Could it be that, before her, he had truly never liked anyone else?
But what about the photo on his phone's lock screen?
She couldn't believe that the heir of the prestigious Lu Corporation would be so childish as to use a girl's back as his lock screen. What would his partners think if they saw it?
The back view in the photo belonged to a petite girl. With pigtails, she looked like a cheerful and sweet girl. Her sailor uniform and pleated skirt made her appear to be a cosplay from an anime.
She had been curious about it at the time.
Lu Yanbei actually liked that type of girl!
But just now, he had said she was his first love. How was that possible! She bore no resemblance to the girl in the photo. Or perhaps, she looked like his first love?
For a moment, Su He's heart felt unsettled.
While she was touched by Lu Yanbei's declaration, she also doubted herself, wondering if she was being used as a replacement. Her inner turmoil was so intense that she didn't even notice Laura running out in tears.
The office became quiet again.
Lu Yanbei seemed to sense Su He's unusual state. He got up and walked to her side, sitting down slowly beside her. "Your hands are so cold. Should I turn up the air conditioning?"
Su He snapped back to reality.
She instinctively withdrew her hand from his.
Lu Yanbei's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He asked softly, "That was Laura who barged in just now. However, I promise you, I have no relationship with her. I made it very clear to her when I was studying abroad."
Su He didn't hear a word of Lu Yanbei's explanation.
She wasn't concerned about Laura; it was the girl on his phone's lock screen that bothered her.
From the beginning, she had been curious why a proud son of heaven like Lu Yanbei would take an interest in someone as ordinary as her. Now, she seemed to have found the answer in their recent conversation.
"You, you just said I was your first love..." Su He bit her lip, speaking with difficulty.
"Yes," Lu Yanbei's answer was firm.
Su He looked up, trying to discern something from his expression, but ultimately gave up. "Aren't you taking me as someone else's substitute?"
Hearing the word "substitute," Lu Yanbei was taken aback. "What are you thinking about?"
He ruffled her hair, as he always did.
The gesture was so natural, as if practiced a thousand times.
Su He couldn't help but wonder if he had used this same gesture to comfort that girl before. Because it was a habit, it came so naturally.
Thinking of this, Su He uncomfortably shifted to the side, avoiding his hand.
Lu Yanbei's hand froze in mid-air.
He sighed softly. "Ah Miao, let's talk."
Su He, however, was growing flustered.
She feared hearing the truth from his lips, feared that their recent sweet interactions were all fake.
"I'm sorry, I'm not feeling well," Su He suddenly stood up. "I'm afraid I can't accompany you to the annual party tonight."
With that, she hurried towards the office door.
Lu Yanbei stood stunned for a moment before reacting and chasing after her. "Ah Miao, what's wrong?"
He grabbed her slender wrist.
Su He lowered her eyes. "I feel a bit dizzy. I want to go back and rest."
Lu Yanbei knew she was lying but didn't insist. "Then I'll have the driver take you back first. I'll come back after I'm done with things at the company."
"No need, I'll take a taxi back myself." Su He looked up, forcing a smile.
Lu Yanbei wanted to say more, but Su He had already lifted the hem of her skirt and walked towards the elevator.
Lu Yanbei's hand, hanging by his side, involuntarily clenched.