Chapter 64: Turmoil

"What's wrong?" Xie Chenjing poured a glass of warm water and placed it in front of her, noticing her furrowed brow.
"Nothing!" At least not now; as for the future, who knew? She made a quiet resolve in her heart.
While they were enjoying their cozy meal, the adjacent private dining room was bustling with activity. "I wonder what brings Mr. Lu to invite me here today?" Chu Changyun took a sip of his wine. They had no business intersections nor any prior dealings, and he could not fathom the other man's true purpose.
"What is Mr. Chu saying? We are all business people; it's just a gathering to hang out and foster our relationship!" Lu Chengyun leaned back against his chair, raised his wine glass, and gestured with it.
Chu Changyun cast a suspicious glance at him and took a sip of wine in response. He had always been extremely cautious in his actions and conduct—neither standing out nor offending anyone. Hoping it was truly as the other man claimed, he smiled and said, "Mr. Lu is too polite."
Putting down his wine glass, Lu Chengyun leaned forward slightly and chuckled softly. "Actually, there is a business venture I'd like to collaborate on with Mr. Chu. I wonder if Mr. Chu might be interested?"
"Business?" His company was not considered prominent in the industry, whereas the Lu Corporation was vastly superior. Why would they bother inviting him to collaborate? It didn't quite make sense. After pondering for a moment, he politely declined, "Mr. Lu, I'm afraid I must disappoint your kind offer."
"Don't answer so quickly. There's no rush. Wait until I've finished, and then Mr. Chu can give me your reply."
"You mean...?"
"Well, I am a few years older than you. If you don't mind, you can call me Brother Lu, and I'll call you Brother Chu. How does that sound?" He knew full well that no one could resist such a massive temptation.
Chu Changyun gripped his wine glass, thinking about the business venture just proposed. It was indeed exceptionally lucrative. Most importantly, he was currently in dire need of funds, making this potentially a golden opportunity. Yet, he dared not fully believe it; after all, the Chu family was only a mid-tier player in the business world, and any standing he had was merely due to the lingering influence of his late father.
"Mr. Lu—"
"Time to change the form of address."
"Ahem, Brother Lu, might I presumptuously ask a question?" Without asking, he wouldn't be able to participate in the collaboration with peace of mind.
"Brother Chu, go right ahead." Lu Chengyun swirled his wine glass, nodded, and signaled for him to continue.
"Why me? The Lu Corporation could easily find much better partners—"
Waving his finger, Lu Chengyun burst into a chuckle. "Brother Chu, you really underestimate yourself. I still remember the boldness and resolve of Elder Chu back in the day. I trust my own judgment—don't you trust yourself?"
"Hehe, of course, of course I do." It seemed his father's shadow played a part in this. With that realization, he felt much more at ease and raised his glass. "Brother Lu, happy cooperation!"
"Happy cooperation!" The clinking of their wine glasses produced a crisp sound that echoed inside the private room. Two faces wreathed in smiles—yet who could tell what lay hidden behind those grins?
"Yiyi, I'll go get the car." Xie Chenjing gently instructed, "If you're tired, go inside and sit down."
"It's fine, I just want to catch some breeze." After finishing their meal, they passed by that private room once again. The door remained open, but the occupants were already gone, leaving the room empty. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes; she wouldn't dwell on it anymore. She would surely find the answers eventually. Pressing her fingertips between her eyebrows, she looked up into the distance and inadvertently caught sight of a scene that left her gaze frozen in place for a long time.
"Brother Chang, how did you manage to drink yourself into this state?" Yu Ying supported Chu Changyun as they stumbled toward the parking lot.
"Yingying, Yingying." He grinned broadly. "I'm—I'm so happy."
"Alright, alright, I know. You've gotten dead drunk, and the person who invited you didn't even bother to drive you back." Where on earth had he parked his car?
"I—I didn't let Brother Lu drive me. I wanted to see you and share my—my happiness with you." His speech was slurred as he waved his arms, clearly in a state of high emotional excitement.