Ning Nan didn't hesitate. He cautiously scanned the surroundings a few times, and only after confirming the area was safe did he remove his mask and sunglasses, beaming at Xia Yan.
"It's you?" Xia Yan stared at Ning Nan in surprise. Wasn't this the man she'd seen at Club Nine a few nights ago? Back then, she'd been so focused on Lu Zhengting that she hadn't bothered to study Ning Nan's features. Now, watching him—fair-skinned, red-lipped, grinning endlessly at her—Xia Yan felt as if dark clouds had gathered over her head.
She instinctively shifted a step away. "Are you a celebrity?"
"You don't recognize me? Haven't you seen any of my work?" Ning Nan asked, incredulous. How could someone not know him when he was this famous?
"I hardly watch idol dramas." Xia Yan had meant to say she never watched fluffy, brainless shows, but given the warning flashing in Ning Nan's eyes, she chose her words carefully.
Hearing this, Ning Nan frowned. He'd stopped doing idol dramas ages ago and had been on a break lately. If it weren't for this campus youth idol drama he'd signed half a year ago, he wouldn't be here at all.
Xia Yan never dreamed Ning Nan would turn out to be a celebrity. That night at Club Nine, the lighting in the private room had been dim, and with Ning Nan constantly grinning and joking, she'd automatically pegged him as a spoiled rich kid, a playboy. Who would've guessed it turned out like this?
Ning Nan put his mask and sunglasses back on and forcibly grabbed Xia Yan's hand. "I've heard Jiangda's campus is beautiful. Take me for a stroll?"
"Please, spare me. With you being every woman's dream guy, I wouldn't dare be seen with you. If the school girls find out, who knows what kind of trouble it'll stir up."
"'Stir up again'? Has something happened before? Tell me about it—does it have to do with Lu Zhengting?"
"How can a grown man be so nosy?" Xia Yan's face darkened. She strongly suspected Ning Nan was deliberately picking a fight.
"Have you forgotten what I do for a living?" Ning Nan said smugly, looking at Xia Yan. Seeing her resistance, he thought for a moment, pulled a new mask from his bag, and handed it to her. "Put this on, and no one will recognize us."
"Ning Nan, let go. I have things to do. Find someone else to show you around..."
"You're the one, sister-in-law." Ning Nan dragged Xia Yan along without another word. Then he paused, stopped, pulled out his phone, and tugged Xia Yan into his arms. "Smile."
*Click.*
"What are you doing?" Xia Yan glared at Ning Nan belatedly. Were all of Lu Zhengting's people this domineering, never caring about anyone else's feelings?
Ning Nan shot a sly, mischievous glance at the bristling Xia Yan and quickly sent the photo to Lu Zhengting.
Seeing this, Xia Yan's first instinct was to grab the phone. "Are you crazy?"
"How'd you know?"
"Ning Nan, delete that photo right now."
"Oh, Xia Yan, if you raise your voice any louder, my identity will be exposed, and then..."
"Stop. Shut up. Don't provoke me right now." Xia Yan fanned herself with her hand. The summer heat was already unbearable, and Ning Nan's antics made it even worse.
Xia Yan was helplessly dragged along by Ning Nan. Everyone passing by couldn't help but stare at them. She hung her head in frustration, trying to shake off his hand, but the harder she struggled, the tighter he held on.
As they reached the teaching building, Ning Nan's phone suddenly rang. He finally let go of Xia Yan's hand, pulled the phone from his pocket, and glanced at it—it was his agent. Without a second thought, he hung up. When it rang again, he saw it was Lu Zhengting calling, and a grin spread across his face as he shot Xia Yan a flirtatious look.
Xia Yan shuddered. *What an eyesore.*
"Ah Ting, guess where I am? Guess who I'm with right now?"
"Where's Xia Yan?"
"Her? She's right here with me. Did you see the photo I sent? Don't you think we look good together?"
Hearing this, Lu Zhengting narrowed his eyes. The small gesture made his secretary, who was reporting in the office, freeze. He rubbed his brow and said coldly into the phone, "Xu Su is already at Jiangda."
"Ah Ting, that's so unfair of you!" Ning Nan's least favorite person right now was Xu Su. All he'd done was drag Xia Yan along to tour the campus, and Lu Zhengting had called Xu Su over. This brotherly bond was fragile—stabbing a friend in the back for a woman.
"Put Xia Yan on the phone."
Hearing this, Ning Nan knew when to fold. He decisively tossed the phone to Xia Yan. "It's Lu Zhengting."
Xia Yan took the phone, confused. "You need something?"
"Who told you to mess around with Ning Nan?"
At Lu Zhengting's icy tone, Xia Yan was baffled. "I was forced into it. You think I wanted this? I tried to say no—would he listen?"
"There are reporters tailing Ning Nan. If you don't want to make headlines, get away from him immediately."
"Reporters?" Xia Yan didn't hesitate. She hung up and tossed the phone back to Ning Nan. "You have reporters following you—why didn't you say so?"
"You didn't ask." Ning Nan looked at her innocently, grinning.
She wanted to curse. Was that even allowed?
Xia Yan shot Ning Nan a glare. "Let's go."
In a few minutes, classes would let out, and a flood of students would pour out. Someone was bound to recognize him. If they didn't leave now, she'd be dragged into disaster. Her worry had barely surfaced for a second when a girl walking by seemed to sense something, her eyes fixed on Ning Nan. And Ning Nan, ever the show-off, flashed her a smile.
A sharp shriek rang out, and Xia Yan instantly knew the truth.
Ning Nan wasn't just a show-off—he loved teasing women.
Xia Yan, exasperated, grabbed Ning Nan and started running. The girl had clearly recognized him, and as they bolted, she chased after them without a second thought.
The chase grew as more people joined. Xia Yan glanced back at the surging crowd, sweat beading on her forehead. She was seriously considering ditching Ning Nan and running off alone.
From the teaching building to Mist Bridge, and from Mist Bridge to the Science and Engineering Building, Xia Yan felt like she'd run for an eternity. She was parched. When they finally stopped to catch their breath, she spotted a familiar black Maybach parked not far ahead. Without thinking, she sprinted toward it at full speed. As she got closer, a stranger got out of the driver's seat.
"Miss Xia, please get in."
Xia Yan knew this car belonged to Lu Zhengting, so she climbed into the back without hesitation. When Ning Nan caught up at a leisurely pace, the driver blocked him with an outstretched arm and said flatly, "Master Ning, Mr. Lu instructed that you cannot get into this car."
"Why?"
"Mr. Lu only said you couldn't get in, without giving a reason."
Ning Nan's face darkened. *Lu Zhengting, you childish jerk!*
Finally able to rest and catch her breath, Xia Yan lounged in the car, blinking at Ning Nan outside the window with a brilliant grin. After being forced to run so far for no reason, she was firmly on Lu Zhengting's side.
The swarm of girls who'd chased after them surrounded Ning Nan, trapping him in the crowd. He was overwhelmed, but luckily his agent arrived quickly, easing the chaos. He stared intently at Xia Yan, who was enjoying the show. *Both of them are just as sly.*
Ning Nan's white shirt had somehow gotten a long tear. As he straightened his clothes, he caught sight of Xu Su arriving late, his face cold and expressionless as he scanned Ning Nan. Ning Nan silently lowered his head, avoiding Xu Su's gaze.
"Get in my car." Xu Su's icy voice cut through the air. Even Xia Yan, sitting in the car, felt an inexplicable chill. She was considering rolling down the window when the driver in the front seat handed her his phone.
"Miss Xia, it's Mr. Lu."
"Lu Zhengting."
"Yeah. Don't get involved in Ning Nan and Xu Su's business." Lu Zhengting said calmly. After a pause, silence fell between them as they held the phones, unsure what to say next. Lu Zhengting let out a low chuckle. "Xia Yan, do you still need to handle your school withdrawal procedures?"
Hearing this, Xia Yan remembered what she'd come back to school for. Seeing that the chaos outside had been brought under control, she carefully slipped out of the car and snuck back to her dorm.
She fished her phone out of her bag—it had died and shut down on its own.
******
Lu Group.
The driver who'd returned from Jiangda was reporting the scene to Lu Zhengting. Dressed in a formal suit, Lu Zhengting rubbed his brow, the motion revealing the watch on his wrist. He leaned back, folding his hands together on the desk.
"What about Ning Nan?"
"He left with Master Xu."
Lu Zhengting nodded. *That Ning Nan really needs to be taught a lesson.* He'd been too idle lately—time to give him something to do.
"Mr. Lu, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
Lu Zhengting focused on the documents on his desk. Among them was a file he'd had someone investigate earlier—about Xia Yan's biological father. His slender fingers tapped lightly on the desk, producing a muffled sound. He pursed his lips and picked up the encrypted file.
All morning, Lu Zhengting had been handling company paperwork. The Lu Group's ventures weren't limited to real estate—they also covered entertainment, luxury hotels, and more. He glanced at the past few days' headlines, almost all centered on Ning Nan. Aside from work-related promotions, there were only photos of him with women.
Lu Zhengting had planned to give Ning Nan something to keep him busy, but seeing how often he'd been making headlines, he quietly suppressed the gossip about him. For that, he'd have to get something out of Xu Su.
Speak of the devil, and he appears.
Xu Su pushed open the office door without knocking, his face grim as he walked to the lounge area and sat down. Ning Nan followed close behind, stopping in front of Lu Zhengting and shooting him a sharp glare. "That was really unfair of you."
"Yeah, is this your first day knowing me?" Lu Zhengting glanced at Ning Nan dismissively.
"You're something else. Why don't you use that trick on Xia Yan?" Ning Nan taunted, then added, "I was just helping you two bond."