Chapter Fifteen: It Was Him Who Lost Out

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Yeah, what exactly does Lu Yu want? Jiang Mengnan dashed into the bathroom, scrutinizing herself with a serious and objective eye. Her looks were decent enough, but the entertainment industry was full of beautiful women. She guessed that to Lu Yu, she was at best someone with pleasing features. Was he after her looks, or was it money? That couldn’t be right—Jiang Mengnan was still thirty million in debt! How could she have any money for him to want? Besides, he wasn’t short of cash himself. Jiang Mengnan rested her chin on her hand, utterly baffled. She had been overthinking so much that she’d even forgotten to reply to messages.

“Sea Bass” saw that she wasn’t responding, said “Good night,” and logged off.

Jiang Mengnan fell into deep thought, unable to find an answer, and lost sleep over it. By three in the morning, exhausted, she finally drifted into a restless slumber. She overslept again.

During the few days Lu Yu was away, Jiang Mengnan lived comfortably and at ease. Fortunately, due to Lu Yu’s schedule, the bookstore hadn’t been filming any shows recently. Every day, Jiang Mengnan could sleep until she woke naturally, then leisurely head to the bookstore to help out.

Today, when Jiang Mengnan arrived at the bookstore, Shang Yunshu and Zhang Jingyan were both there. Seeing their solemn expressions, Jiang Mengnan immediately understood: they were here to settle accounts after the fact.

She waved cheerfully, “Good morning, lovely ladies.”

Shang Yunshu pointed upstairs. “Madam Lu, let’s have a talk upstairs.”

The emphasis on “Madam Lu” was painfully sharp. Jiang Mengnan leaned in, forcing a smile. “Jingyan, Yunshu is calling you.”

Zhang Jingyan shook her head. “Don’t play dumb, they want to ask you something.”

With that, Zhang Jingyan pulled Jiang Mengnan upstairs.

Xiao Zhao from the cafe delivered three cups of coffee. Knowing that when these three women got together, it would surely be serious, Xiao Zhao wisely set up a screen to give them privacy.

After Xiao Zhao left, Shang Yunshu tapped on the table. “Come on, you secretly registered your marriage with the movie king and didn’t tell us—how rude is that?”

“It’s not too late to explain now,” Jiang Mengnan said awkwardly, holding her coffee to cover half her face.

Zhang Jingyan asked, “So, was it love at first sight or a reunion after a long separation?”

Jiang Mengnan tilted her head, thinking. “More like affection growing over time.”

Shang Yunshu calculated with a finger. “You’ve known each other for just a few days offline, and you dare say affection grew over time?”

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Zhang Jingyan did the math for Jiang Mengnan. “At most half a month, definitely no more.”

Jiang Mengnan looked at Shang Yunshu and blinked in return. “Mrs. Qi, how many days did you know Qi Gou before registering your marriage?”

Shang Yunshu was speechless. Indeed, it had been less than a week, let alone half a month.

Tsk, now Shang Yunshu had no grounds for gossip. Only Zhang Jingyan was left.

Elbowing Zhang Jingyan, Shang Yunshu gestured for her to continue.

Just as Zhang Jingyan was about to speak, Jiang Mengnan interjected, “May I ask, Second Sister-in-law, how long did you know Lu Gou before you got together?”

Zhang Jingyan took a sip of coffee and remained silent.

Shang Yunshu sighed. “After all, his status is special, and we were worried about you…”

Jiang Mengnan cut in. “Worried I’d be deceived?”

Shang Yunshu shook her head. “He wouldn’t dare.”

Jiang Mengnan asked again, “Worried I’d suffer losses?”

Zhang Jingyan imagined her idol’s charming image, then looked at Jiang Mengnan with regret. “Feels like he’s the one at a loss.”

Though stinging and bitter, Jiang Mengnan kept smiling. “Well, that’s good then. What is there to worry about?”

Zhang Jingyan took Jiang Mengnan’s hand. “No matter what, if you ever feel wronged, tell us. We’ll teach him a lesson.”

“That’s right. I’ll have Qi Yihuai blacklist him.”

“I’ll write a long exposé, revealing all his misdeeds to the public!”

Jiang Mengnan squinted and gave a dry laugh. “Thanks, my dear sisters.”

It seemed that three years from now, Lu Yu might face a fierce onslaught.

Ah, well, future matters could wait until later.

After chatting for a while, Qi Yihuai personally came to pick up Shang Yunshu.

Seeing Jiang Mengnan, Qi Yihuai sighed deeply. This “husky” Lu Yu actually targeted people he knew well. When the truth came out, how would he explain? If he told Yunshu he was innocent, would she believe it?

Unaware, Shang Yunshu tugged on his sleeve and casually complained, “Stop sighing all the time. You sound like an old man.”

Qi Yihuai was speechless. Better to keep quiet for now.

After Shang Yunshu left, Zhang Jingyan remained upstairs, staring at her phone with a gloomy expression.

Now it was Jiang Mengnan’s turn to gossip.

“Come on, what’s going on? You look distracted.”

Zhang Jingyan put away her phone and brushed back her long hair. “Nothing.”

Jiang Mengnan didn’t believe her. “You’ve checked your phone at least ten times in a minute. That doesn’t look like ‘nothing’ to me.”

Clearly, she was waiting for an important message. But it still hadn’t arrived.

Zhang Jingyan propped her head up weakly. “I kind of regret registering the marriage.”

Jiang Mengnan’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “Why?”

Zhang Jingyan slammed the table in frustration. “I suspect he used me as a shield to propose.”

Jiang Mengnan nervously touched her earlobe. “Not everyone needs a shield, you’re overthinking.”

After all, it wasn’t Lu Tianyu who was forced into marriage.

At dinner at the Lu residence that day, Lu Tianyu had acted arrogantly the entire time, even ignoring Old Master Lu. Who else could threaten him?

“You’re just overthinking. We’ve all seen how Lu Gou treats you—there’s no mistake about it.”

Jiang Mengnan’s reassurance worked; Zhang Jingyan’s mood lifted a bit. “Really?”

Jiang Mengnan’s eyes were sincere. “Really!”

Before she could say more, Zhang Jingyan was called away for an interview by her company.

After sending Zhang Jingyan off, Jiang Mengnan went downstairs and idly tidied the bookshelves.

Yawning, she heard footsteps behind her.

Turning around, she was startled to see Lu Yiqin standing there.

Lu Yu’s prediction had proven true.

Jiang Mengnan instinctively stepped back a few paces, trying to keep a safe distance.

Her obvious reaction was clearly seen by Lu Yiqin.

He smiled and took a step closer. “Looks like my little brother has badmouthed me quite a bit, huh, sister-in-law?”

Seeing Lu Yiqin’s sinister smile, Jiang Mengnan tensed up and fell silent.

Seeing she was easily intimidated, Lu Yiqin pulled out a check. “You two come from worlds apart. I suggest you take this money and leave early.”

Jiang Mengnan hid her hands behind her back, clearly refusing.

What a joke! Leaving now would mean breaching the contract. She couldn’t afford the penalty.

Misreading her meaning, Lu Yiqin sneered. “Too little? Fine, I’ll add more. One hundred million. From now on, you and your bookstore will disappear from this city altogether. How’s that?”

His words were shocking. Jiang Mengnan couldn’t help but repeat, “One hundred million?”