Before Yin Yao became close to Shang Xinglu, she had already had plenty of contact with Shen Wang.

When she used to work at her family company, there was a lot of business interaction with Shen Wang’s company, so it was impossible to avoid contact.

Despite the frequent interactions, Yin Yao didn’t really like Shen Wang.

Shen Wang was very good-looking, his personality was flamboyant, and he was very famous in the circle. Many girls liked him.

That alone wouldn’t be a problem.

But last year, when her grandfather passed away, her family had a major split, and it caused quite a stir.

Then, at work, she made a mistake—on an order, the number of boxes went from 2,000 to 1,000, meaning a batch of raw materials was missing, and the timeline for the project couldn’t be met, which would incur penalty fees.

Yin Yao admitted her mistake. Even though she was sure that she had written 2,000 boxes, not 1,000, it had come out as 1,000, so she couldn’t deny it.

It wasn’t a huge mistake, but her uncles would definitely hold it over her.

Yin Yao was frustrated but couldn’t show it. Instead, she quickly found a solution by getting the 1,000 boxes from another company.

That company happened to be under the Shen family.

After working non-stop for two or three days to fix the issue, it was soon spread around the social circle that Shen Wang had helped her because he was interested in her.

The truth was, she hadn’t even spoken to Shen Wang about this.

Her effort was small, but in their eyes, whether someone had ability didn’t matter. As long as they were good-looking, could catch a man’s attention, and had the man help them solve problems, that was enough.

Later, after what happened with Louise, Yin Yao couldn’t like Shen Wang even more.

However, during that period, she found Shen Wang’s motivation for stirring up this situation quite strange.

After thinking carefully, she came up with two possibilities:

Regret, or unresolved feelings.

Regardless of which one, it made her feel like Shen Wang was… just not that special.

Shen Wang wasn’t without merits, but he was too talkative, and Yin Yao was a bit indifferent to him.

Given their superficial relationship, Yin Yao never expected Shen Wang would come to her aid at this moment.

Rather…

Yin Yao quickly asked, “What are you doing here?”

“Ah?!” Shen Wang, still irritable, impatiently replied, “I just came to have a quiet dinner, and now I run into this kind of unpleasant scene?”

Ye Songtao waved his hand at him, “What are you saying, who are you talking about?!”

Shen Wang: “Whoever has no shame is the one you’re talking about. I wonder if you’ll take responsibility for this.”

When it came to being rude, especially when Shen Wang was angry, no one could top him.

Shen Wang’s temper was famous in the circle.

Ye Songtao probably realized that if he engaged in a verbal fight with Shen Wang, it might really escalate into something physical.

Shen Wang, when angry, was shameless, and he wasn’t backing down.

Moreover, he had recently gotten divorced and was still under public scrutiny.

Ye Songtao scoffed, saying, “I won’t stoop to the level of a mad dog.”

With that, he straightened his clothes and stormed out.

Shen Wang couldn’t help but look at him with disdain.

After Ye Songtao left, he turned his chin toward Yin Yao, saying, “You’re here for a blind date with someone like this? Yin Yao, you can’t be serious?”

“That’s just… desperate,” Shen Wang clicked his tongue.

Yin Yao: “…”

If you shut that mouth, you might still retain some heroic aura.

Shen Wang knocked on the table, “Aren’t you in a hurry? Get going.”

At this moment, Shang Xinglu, noticing that Yin Yao hadn’t come out for a while, snuck inside to check on the situation, bringing along Lin Heng. Yin Yao waved her hand at her to signal, then turned to Shen Wang, “Thanks for earlier, but it’s fine now, ‘she’ is here.”

Shen Wang turned around, saw Louise, and Lin Heng, who was quite annoying.

Shen Wang: “Tsk.”

But then he understood—it must have been Louise and Yin Yao putting on an act earlier.

Before Shang Xinglu came over, Shen Wang said, “If you don’t want a blind date, just reject it. Aren’t you supposed to be pretty capable? Don’t you know how to reject?”

Yin Yao was in a bad mood and didn’t feel like responding to him.

Shang Xinglu waved at them and first asked Yin Yao, “Where’s Ye Songtao?”

Then she punched Shen Wang on the shoulder, “Shen Wang, why did you suddenly show up? Where were you sitting? I didn’t see you.”

Maybe it was just that she hadn’t noticed Lin Heng earlier.

As soon as she finished speaking, she didn’t think much of it, but Shen Wang froze, and Lin Heng also paused, furrowing his brows before quickly returning to his usual expression.

Shang Xinglu then realized something was off…

Was her way of greeting Shen Wang a bit too familiar?

She had even punched his shoulder, like they were buddies…

But Shang Xinglu didn’t understand where this behavior had come from, so she awkwardly smiled.

Actually, Shen Wang was also shocked, surprised, in many ways.

He had known Louise since high school. She was a year older than him. Later, when she studied abroad for a year, she applied to Cambridge and became a junior to him.

Their circle was small, and after studying abroad, the circle of Chinese students became even smaller.

They had known each other for a long time.

They were even friends for many years.

Sometimes, Louise would greet him like this, casually and without any distinction from how she treated her male friends.

Shen Wang hadn’t expected that she would still do that.

She wasn’t…?

Shen Wang concealed his emotions, patted her shoulder, and said, “Stop with the physical gestures, what if you break something? I just came back from Australia, I’m too fragile.”

Shang Xinglu couldn’t help but retort, “…No, I won’t pay! Don’t come looking for trouble.”

Yin Yao, who was perceptive, immediately sensed the slight awkwardness between the group.

She naturally steered the conversation away, “Earlier, Ye Songtao was making things difficult for me, but Shen Wang came to my rescue.”

“Ah?” Shang Xinglu immediately became concerned, grabbing Yin Yao’s hand. “Did he do anything to you? If I had known, I would’ve brought someone else with me. I shouldn’t have left you here alone.”

Lin Heng furrowed his brow again.

Shen Wang looked displeased; Yin Yao also seemed unimpressed.

The two of them seemed a bit… strange together.

Lin Heng said in a deep voice, “If Ye Songtao really has bad intentions and comes prepared, what use would you be here?”

You’d just be another little lamb delivered straight to the tiger’s mouth.

Lin Heng had heard about Ye Songtao—he had some tricks up his sleeve, though they were far from respectable.

“Of course I’m useful here!” Shang Xinglu immediately protested. “I can… I can…”

She had originally wanted to say, I can call the police.

But in an emergency, by the time help arrived, Yin Yao might already be gone.

She quickly changed her words. “I… I can call you!”

Yin Yao: “…”

Shen Wang: “…”

Lin Heng: “……….”

Lin Heng let out a deep sigh.

If not calling him, then who else would she call?

On second thought, that answer was actually perfect in its own way.

“…That’s true,” Lin Heng admitted.

Yin Yao and Shen Wang immediately: “???”

Are you spoiling your wife a little too much?!

Once Ye Songtao left, the four of them finally had the peace of mind—and the appetite—to eat properly.

The waiter cleared the empty plates, and they ordered more dishes to truly enjoy the meal.

Although Lin Heng found Yin Yao and Shen Wang a bit of an eyesore, today’s Lulu was playing the role of mediator and social lubricant, making the atmosphere surprisingly pleasant.

After dinner, they parted ways.

Yin Yao and Shang Xinglu had come in the same car, Lin Heng had been driven over by his chauffeur, and Shen Wang had driven himself.

However, during dinner, after picking up on certain hints in their conversation, CEO Lin had quietly texted his driver, telling him to leave first.

So, in the parking lot, Lin Heng casually put an arm around Shang Xinglu’s shoulders, naturally bringing her into his “camp.”

The two “eyesores” were logically left to their own devices.

Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Lin Heng turned to Shen Wang and said, “Mr. Shen, I’ll trouble you to give Miss Yin a ride home.”

Yin Yao looked up, stunned. “???”

Shen Wang also looked up, completely dumbfounded. “???”

Shang Xinglu looked up too—but unlike the others, she wasn’t confused.

She was different from these foolish mortals.

After all, she was (once) the woman who knew the original storyline!

Shang Xinglu covered her mouth with both hands. “Ah~”

Hearing that little “Ah,” Yin Yao stared at her in disbelief.

Lulu, what are you doing?

Why are you betraying the organization?!

Shen Wang, who was still in shock, didn’t even have time to refuse before Lin Heng dropped another logical argument.

He said, “It’s late. It’s not safe for Miss Yin to go alone. Besides, there are two cars here.”

Or rather, there were only two cars here.

One for him and Louise.

That left the other two to pair up on their own.

Yin Yao quickly said, “No need to trouble anyone. I’ll just get a ride home.”

Of course, Lin Heng had plenty more reasons to persuade her, all perfectly logical.

But before he could speak, Shen Wang twirled his car keys and said, “Let’s go. What if Ye Songtao holds a grudge and wants revenge?”

Yin Yao: “…”

She stayed silent.

Shen Wang sneered. “What, do you expect me to invite you? My, my, Miss Yin, your ego is really something.”

Shang Xinglu nearly kicked him.

“Can you just talk nicely for once?!” She then turned to Yin Yao and said, “Yao Yao, don’t be mad. Wangcai is just naturally mean-mouthed.”

Yin Yao burst out laughing. “What did you just call him?”

Shen Wang frowned. “I dare you to say that again?”

The nickname Shang Xinglu had just blurted out—Wangcai—was actually his old school nickname.

In his social circle, his family was ridiculously wealthy and often treated others, so people started calling him Cai Zhu (which means “wealthy owner”).

And since the “Wang” in his name sounded like “Wang” in Wangcai (a common dog’s name in China), the nickname stuck.

But Shen Wang hated it. Hardly anyone dared to call him that.

Lin Heng also frowned and glanced at Shen Wang.

Of course, with her own personal “T-Rex” beside her, Shang Xinglu wasn’t scared at all.

But she still felt a little guilty. Why did that name just slip out? Was it because I’ve been annoyed with Shen Wang for too long?

So, she stopped calling him that and simply said, “Anyway… just give Yao Yao a ride.”

“That depends on whether she’s willing or not.”

Yin Yao said, “Then I’ll trouble you, Second Young Master Shen.”

Shen Wang just let out a light scoff and walked toward his car.

Yin Yao followed him.

Meanwhile, Shang Xinglu and Lin Heng got into their own car.

Today, they were driving Shang Xinglu’s car.

The seat was adjusted way too far forward, and there was a pair of her flat shoes under the seat for driving. Lin Heng didn’t bother adjusting the seat—he simply let her drive.

This was the first time Shang Xinglu had ever driven Lin Heng, and suddenly, she felt a bit nervous.

She rubbed her hands together and said, “Don’t worry, I’m actually a pretty good driver.”

Lin Heng calmly replied, “You forgot to fasten your seatbelt.”

Shang Xinglu: “…”

Lin Heng unbuckled his own seatbelt, leaned over, and helped her fasten hers.

…Or at least, that’s what Shang Xinglu thought he was doing.

As Lin Heng moved closer, the familiar scent of his woody cologne surrounded her completely. He lifted her chin slightly.

Shang Xinglu, not understanding his intention, simply tilted her head up.

The next second, Lin Heng kissed her.

In a short amount of time, he completely conquered her, pressing her into the seat with a storm-like kiss.

Finally, when Shang Xinglu was almost out of breath, Lin Heng let her go.

But he didn’t move away.

He stayed close, his lips barely brushing against hers as he murmured in a low voice, “Giving a pet your ex-boyfriend’s nickname… You’ve got some nerve.”

Shang Xinglu: “…”

Your honor, I’ve been wronged worse than Dou E! (A reference to the famous tragic Chinese play The Injustice to Dou E.)