Chapter 029: I’m Drunk—Have That Man Come Over

For the past few days, Lu Jingshan had been staying late at the company to follow up on project progress. After pulling two all-nighters in a row, his assistant finally forced him to go back to his apartment.

He had just finished washing up and was now wearing loose loungewear with a white towel draped around his neck, casually rubbing his damp short hair dry.

Moving with a lazy gait to the open kitchen counter, he held a glass of freshly squeezed juice in one hand while absentmindedly spinning his phone with the other.

He was still trying to guess where Fang Yimeng might be and debating whether or not to call her, when the rare sound of noise in the hallway caught his attention.

Unfortunately, the sound insulation in the apartment was excellent—he could only hear muffled voices.

But for some reason, Lu Jingshan’s heart gave a slight jolt. He put down his phone and walked toward the front door, pulling it open—

The moment he did, the noise outside became crystal clear. He could even hear every word distinctly.

“Sister Yimeng, do you need a live-in assistant who can move luggage? I just worked out at the gym a few days ago. Feel these muscles—they’re solid!”

One guy, dressed in a hoodie and jeans, had a style remarkably similar to Fang Yimeng’s outfit today. The two of them stood side by side, clearly out of place among the sea of men in suits, yet somehow they matched—visually, if not intentionally.

Lu Jingshan’s deep gaze narrowed. He automatically ignored the other men, focusing solely on the petite woman before him.

The colleague who had just been cracking jokes turned around in panic. When he saw Lu Jingshan, he stammered, “M-Mr. Lu…”

They had seen the decisiveness of Hualing’s CEO at negotiation tables, remembered that cold and aloof figure in a tailored suit. Seeing the same man now, dressed casually and standing right in front of them, was a shock.

“I thought you weren’t home,” Fang Yimeng said with her usual composure. “I was going to drop by later and say hi.”

Although she was momentarily surprised when the door opened, she was far more calm than her colleagues, who were completely stunned.

Lu Jingshan glanced around at the all-male crowd but kept his expression neutral and detached.

“Just got back,” he replied flatly.

Fang Yimeng nodded in understanding. Just then, the elevator arrived. The group swarmed into it like they’d been rescued. She was the last to enter and waved at Lu Jingshan before stepping in.

“It’s a company gathering. Let’s talk another time,” she said casually and politely, then disappeared behind the elevator doors.

Silence returned to the hallway.

Lu Jingshan dropped the composed facade he’d maintained moments earlier. His deep eyes, like whirlpools in a deep sea, churned with emotion. He glanced at the door of Unit 1902 across the hall before quietly closing his own.

Meanwhile, Fang Yimeng had led her group out of the Yuemei Luxury Apartments. Still in high spirits, she met up with Manager Meng Qing and the rest of her team at the reserved venue and walked together to their private room.

Technically speaking, tonight’s gathering was an internal celebration for their talent management team. Everyone had shed their usual professionalism, and the toasts and jokes flowed freely. As the agency’s core artist, Fang Yimeng became the target of the most toasts—tonight’s undisputed MVP.

After downing her final glass of red wine, she excused herself with a quick, “Going to the restroom,” and slipped out of the party room.

Outside the private venue, the atmosphere was serene and elegant, with the soft background sound of cello music adding to the refined ambiance.

Fang Yimeng could hold her liquor well—a few glasses of wine weren’t enough to take her down.

Still, alcohol is alcohol. As she walked along the quiet garden path outside the venue, the gentle night breeze brushed against her cheeks, blending comfort and calm with the faint haze of tipsiness.

She found a stone bench and sat down, planning to ride out the buzz.

But when she tried to quiet her thoughts, all she could picture was Lu Jingshan standing in his doorway earlier, looking at her and the others. She shook her head, trying to cast his sharp features from her mind. But like a spell, the image only grew stronger.

“Feeling unwell?” asked Meng Qing, who had followed her outside. As a sharp, always-on manager, she wouldn’t ignore her artist slipping away on her own.

Fang Yimeng glanced at her. Though she was feeling the effects of the wine, a mischievous idea began to form in her mind.

“No, I’m fine. Sister Meng Qing, do me a favor.” She opened her phone, pulled up Lu Jingshan’s contact, and handed the device over.

Meng Qing glanced at the name Lu Jingshan on the screen.

As adults, they both understood what it meant when someone tipsy called a man at this hour.

She made an “OK” gesture and took the phone. Dialing the number, the line didn’t even ring three times before it was picked up.

Such a small detail, yet Meng Qing instantly took notice. She looked up sharply at Fang Yimeng, but the latter stared back with innocent, round eyes.

“Mr. Lu?” Meng Qing spoke into the phone. “Yimeng mentioned you live on the same floor. Everyone here’s had a bit to drink, and we can’t reach her family. Would you happen to be free to come pick her up and bring her home?”

After Fang Yimeng had tossed out that casual farewell in the elevator, Lu Jingshan had been unable to settle down. In an effort to calm himself, he’d opened his laptop and resumed working remotely.

But as soon as he saw her name appear on his big screen, he abruptly ended the meeting, changed clothes, grabbed his car keys, and rushed out the door toward the address Meng Qing had given.

Back at the venue, Fang Yimeng never returned to the party room. Instead, she sat idly with Meng Qing in the lounge area. A little buzzed, she leaned her head on Meng Qing’s shoulder, thoughts drifting.

Suddenly, the shoulder she leaned on moved.

She sat up straight, and her hazy eyes immediately locked onto the figure of a man walking through the venue’s front doors.

It was him.