Enemies are bound to meet on a narrow road.

Two nights later, around 5:30 PM, Lu Han parked his car outside Feicui Garden.

He didn't have to wait long before Su Qingli emerged.

She wore a red chiffon dress, with a black wool coat over it due to the cold weather. Her makeup was impeccable, but her expression betrayed some reluctance.

Su Qingli opened the passenger door and got in, bringing with her a faint scent of perfume.

As he started the car, Lu Han asked, "Have you eaten?"

"No."

Su Qingli sounded gloomy. She had wanted to eat at home to reduce time spent with this despicable man, but her parents wouldn't allow it...

The elderly couple knew their daughter would be attending the auction with Lu Han tonight and hadn't prepared any food for her.

"Then let's go for Western cuisine," Lu Han said, not bothering to ask Su Qingli's opinion. He originally wanted to eat hotpot but feared the smell might linger, especially since the evening event involved many prominent figures.

Without further ado, he casually placed his hand on Su Qingli's thigh.

Finding the fabric uncomfortable, he lifted the side slit of her dress, revealing her shapely leg clad in black stockings, and began to caress it.

Driving luxury cars and touching beautiful legs—this was something he used to do with Chu Ruoyan, one of the few perks she offered him.

Now, the car belonged to him, and the woman beside him was Jiangcheng's top beauty with an even better figure.

Life could indeed be quite mundane at times, Lu Han mused, though he felt a bit sentimental about it. Su Qingli, however, remained calm and didn't stop him.

Resistance was futile; the man was shameless, and there was little she could do about it.

Better to get used to it than struggle pointlessly.

Su Qingli had already resigned herself to the situation, treating it as if she'd been bitten by a dog.

But when Lu Han parked the car outside Sofia Western Restaurant, Su Qingli couldn't hold back any longer.

"Why here?" she complained. Although this was her property, it held many unpleasant memories.

It was here that she had previously "met" with Lu Han for their arranged engagement, where she essentially "sold" herself to him and had a falling out with Chu Ruoyan.

Since then, Su Qingli hadn't returned and even considered selling the restaurant.

"Why let outsiders profit? Wherever we eat is fine," Lu Han replied with a smile. "Are you worried I won't pay?"

It wasn't about the money, Su Qingli thought helplessly, but she followed him inside.

They sat in the same private area as before, ordering similar items, except without the most expensive bottle of wine.

"I have two things to discuss with you," Lu Han said while skillfully cutting his steak. "First, getting our marriage certificate. You know about this; my father thinks it's best to take photos before the engagement. Do you have time tomorrow or the day after to take the photos?"

Su Qingli looked puzzled. "What photos?"

Lu Han gave her a strange look. "What else could they be? The ones for the marriage certificate."

Su Qingli was even more confused. "Aren't those taken by the staff at the Civil Affairs Bureau when we register?"

Lu Han pushed the cut steak towards Su Qingli. "As long as they meet the size and requirements, you can bring them yourself. The bureau's staff aren't great photographers, and they don't retouch photos. We might as well spend some money to get good shots."

"Oh... I see."

Su Qingli glanced at Lu Han and muttered, "You've never been married either, how do you know so much?"

Lu Han remained silent, unwilling to admit he had researched this online before proposing to Chu Ruoyan—it was embarrassing.

Seeing Lu Han suddenly quiet, Su Qingli guessed what he was thinking and felt a pang of jealousy.

If he was so considerate, it showed how well he had treated Chu Ruoyan in the past.

Su Qingli pretended to be nonchalant as she ate a small piece of steak. "And the other thing?"

"In a few days, it's... never mind, forget it," Lu Han started but then shook his head. Su Qingli was eager to hear more, but he stopped, leaving her feeling incredibly frustrated.

She wanted to ask but felt it unnecessary.

Not asking left her feeling stifled.

It was an indescribable discomfort.

Actually, Lu Han wasn't intentionally tormenting her. In a few days, it would be his mother's death anniversary, and he had wanted to take Su Qingli to pay respects.

But upon saying it aloud, he realized it might be pointless.

His mother's spirit wouldn't want to see a nominal daughter-in-law.

So, it would be enough to go with Lu Xue.

As for Lu Zhenxin, he could go alone; Lu Han had no intention of joining.

After dinner, they drove to Kangqian Tower on Changjiang Road, the venue for the auction.

The event was on the 18th floor, chosen for its auspicious meaning of prosperity.

"Hey, isn't this our Jiangcheng's top beauty? How does the nearly bankrupt Su Group afford such luxuries?" As Lu Han and Su Qingli waited for the elevator, a mocking voice rang out.

They turned to see a young playboy.

His face pale and steps unsteady, clearly indulged in wine and women. He held a heavily made-up woman, eyeing Su Qingli with envy and schadenfreude.

When she turned to Lu Han, she found him familiar but couldn't place him.

Seeing Lu Han's questioning look, Su Qingli whispered, "Changhe Industry's second son, Lin Wei."

Lu Han nodded. So, this was the heir of the Su Group's main competitor. What a coincidence.

Lin Wei walked up to Su Qingli, pointing at Lu Han. "Who's this, your kept man?"

Before Su Qingli could respond, he laughed loudly.

"Yes," Su Qingli admitted boldly, leaning into Lu Han's embrace. "Don't you think he's handsome and has a great body?"

Lu Han smiled and wrapped his arm around her waist.

Lin Wei stopped laughing. He had once pursued Su Qingli, hoping for a union between their families and genuinely liking her.

If successful, it would have been a perfect match.

Rejected repeatedly, he eventually gave up.

Now, Su Qingli claimed she had a kept man?

He, the second son of Changhe Industry, was less desirable than a kept man?

Feeling humiliated, Lin Wei sneered, "Since you're just a slut, I'll give you a chance. If you please me in bed, I might convince my father to spare your Su Group."

This blatant insult infuriated both Su Qingli and Lu Han, whose eyes narrowed dangerously.

Those who knew him recognized this as a dire warning.

Had Li Dongsheng been present, he would have pitied Lin Wei.

Before Lu Han could speak, the woman in Lin Wei's arms pointed at him, recognizing him. "I remember now! You were the one trending for beating someone up and making them kneel like a dog, right?"

Lin Wei was baffled. What was going on?

...

...