Chapter 64: Who Gave You Permission to Touch Her

Lu Ming’s position as president of Haohan Corporation had always been a closely guarded secret.

Haohan Technology was founded single-handedly by his father, Lu Zhijun. When he was still in university, Lu Ming proposed the idea of developing a traditional-style MMORPG to his father. With his father’s support, Lu Ming joined the development team of "Tales of the Jianghu" as the chief planner.

Thanks to his outstanding academic record, he had already earned a doctorate from MIT at the age of twenty-three. After returning home, his father intended to hand over Haohan to him and focus on managing other businesses within the Lu Group.

But at that time, he discovered that Qu Wuyan and Fan Xiaoyun, mother and daughter, had started to eye Lian Youyou with increasing malice. Their persecution of her had escalated far beyond what it was before he left the country. In order to better protect Lian Meng’s only daughter, he chose to become a professor at Binhai University—the university that Lian Youyou had just been admitted to, and also his own alma mater.

His father temporarily handed the chairmanship of Haohan to his cousin, Lu Feng. Yet Lu Feng was only interested in playing games and knew nothing about game development. So although Lu Ming’s title was merely president, in reality, he was the true leader of Haohan.

As Lu Ming and Du Mao’s figures faded into the distance, the director trailing behind them muttered under his breath, “And they say she’s not relying on a sugar daddy—she’s even got the president of Haohan wrapped around her finger. That’s quite the catch.”

…

After the three groups of guests had finished dinner together that evening, the day’s shoot finally came to an end.

With nothing else to do, Lian Youyou wandered alone up to the rooftop of the inn to clear her mind.

Y City was a second-tier city. Though not as bustling as Binhai, it was precisely this difference that allowed for better greenery and air quality; the night sky, too, revealed far more stars than the one above Binhai.

Standing on the rooftop, bathed in gentle moonlight, she gazed out over the quaint little guesthouse. Beneath the yellow glow of the streetlamps, she could see the flicker of car headlights weaving through the streets, their passage occasionally punctuated by the sound of horns.

It had been a long time since she had gazed at the stars like this. Many nights as a child, she would sit in the courtyard or on the rooftop, lost in a daze beneath the sky.

“So this is where you are.” Tong Xing’s voice broke the night’s tranquility.

“How did you find me here?”

Her eyes landed on the white hoodie peeking out from under Tong Xing’s jacket.

Her daughter’s diary had mentioned how handsome Tong Xing looked in a white hoodie. But he was a boy—careless, always leaving it filthy. Her daughter would always take his dirty clothes back to her dorm to wash for him, scrubbing the cuffs and collar with soap, rinsing them over and over by hand. In winter, without hot water, her daughter’s hands would turn red from the cold.

What was most infuriating was that Tong Xing didn’t even seem grateful—he took it all for granted!

“I went out to buy milk tea,” Tong Xing explained. “When I went to your room, your assistant said you’d gone out to get some air on the balcony. So I found you here.”

“I have to watch my weight—I can’t drink milk tea.” Though she protested, her eyes kept darting toward the bag in Tong Xing’s hand.

“Medium cocoa milk tea, with pearls and oats, less ice, less sugar.” Tong Xing took out the cup, inserted a straw for her, and handed it over.

Who would have thought he still remembered her daughter’s favorite flavor?

But her daughter’s diary had recorded that Tong Xing never once bought milk tea for her. Instead, her daughter would line up every morning before class to buy his favorite from the milk tea shop.

He wouldn’t buy it for her when they were together, but now—after breaking up for years—he suddenly remembered to buy some for his ex-girlfriend?

“Youyou, I still really like you. I believe you haven’t forgotten me either, right?”

Youyou was stunned. “What?”

Tong Xing, holding his cup of mint tea, looked at her and said, “I admit that when I got close to you in high school, I had ulterior motives. At the time, I didn’t realize I liked you. But after I went to Korea, I found I couldn’t forget you. Youyou, I love you. Let’s start over.”

From the looks of it, he still had an agenda.

The diary said her daughter only agreed to Tong Xing’s pursuit because Lu Ming had gone abroad. Though they were never officially together, she had long since fallen for Lu Ming. Once he left, she felt hollow inside, to the point where she couldn’t eat or sleep. It was then that Tong Xing relentlessly pursued her. She was moved and thought that distraction might lessen her longing for Lu Ming.

So even though she knew Tong Xing was unfaithful, her daughter still agreed.

Who knew what Lu Ming was thinking? Her daughter had pined after him for years with no response, and now he returned, suddenly devoted?

Men—none of them are any good.

Seeing that Youyou didn’t reply, Tong Xing’s lips curled with confidence. “I know, you’re probably just overwhelmed by surprise and don’t know what to say. But trust me, Youyou—this time I’m sincere! I heard you’re now one of New Star Entertainment’s rising talents, right? Look, I’m a top idol now too. If we date, I’m sure your company would support it. The daughter of a celebrity dating the hottest male artist—that’s headline news!”

Youyou took a sip of milk tea. “Aren’t you afraid dating me will lose you fans?”

After all, for male idols, especially those with a fanbase made up mostly of ‘wife-fans,’ the fear of losing followers is why many don’t go public with relationships.

Tong Xing hesitated. “Well… that’s not a problem. But if we do get together, I hope you can put in a good word for me with your godfather. Help me get into your company.”

“My godfather?”

“Yeah, isn’t Richard your godfather?” Tong Xing nodded. “Everyone in the industry says there’s something going on between you two. Why else would he, a successful boss, suddenly become your agent?”

So this was his real reason for approaching her. But who started this ridiculous rumor about Richard being her godfather?

Tong Xing put on a fawning smile. “You’ll help me with this, won’t you? I’m telling you, if we date and I join New Star, we’ll be the company’s top duo. All the best resources will be ours.”

Youyou only laughed, not angry at all. She shook the cup in her hand. “You think a cup of milk tea is enough to buy me off and get you into New Star?”

Tong Xing rushed to explain, “Of course not—”

“I’m not helping you, and I don’t like you at all. And Richard is not my godfather,” Youyou said, setting down the cup.

She had just taken two steps toward the door when her feet suddenly left the ground—Tong Xing had scooped her up in his arms.

Though Tong Xing had a delicate, feminine face, he was still a man; his physical advantage made it impossible for Youyou to struggle free.

“What are you doing? Put me down!” she demanded. “Don’t go too far!”

“You’re still as stubborn as ever,” Tong Xing said, placing her on a wicker chair and looming over her. “No matter. I have ways to make you say you love me.”

“What do you want?” Youyou struggled, but it was useless.

A wicked smile twisted Tong Xing’s lips, so at odds with his gentle features. “What do you think couples do together? Youyou, no woman can resist saying ‘I love you’ in bed.”

“Tong Xing, have you no shame? Let me go!” Youyou’s panic was mounting; she’d lost all composure. Yet no matter how desperately she fought, she couldn’t make Tong Xing stop.

In the midst of their struggle, the door suddenly crashed open with a deafening bang.

Out of the corner of her eye, Youyou saw a figure in a dark gray overcoat rushing toward them. The shock of the noise jolted her to her senses; she hurriedly turned to the doorway, her hope for rescue.

It was none other than Lu Ming. He radiated a chilling, oppressive aura that sent shivers down her spine.

Taking advantage of Tong Xing’s momentary distraction, Youyou broke free.

“Lu Lu!” She flung herself into Lu Ming’s arms, trembling like a frightened bird.

“Who are you? Aren’t you just a fan of Youyou’s?” Tong Xing was baffled by the intimacy between them. “What’s going on here?”

“Who gave you permission to touch her?” Lu Ming’s voice was icy.

Youyou slowly raised her head from Lu Ming’s embrace. He fixed Tong Xing with a frigid glare, his expression thunderous. But when he looked at her, his gaze softened. “Youyou, are you alright?”

She hadn’t even realized she was crying until she felt the chill on her cheeks. When she looked up at Lu Ming, his figure was a blur. “I’m fine. You got here in time.”

Only then did Lu Ming let go of her, taking off his overcoat and draping it over her shoulders. His eyes were still fierce, but his voice was gentle as he spoke to her. “Go downstairs. Don’t be afraid. He won’t hurt you again.”

In his eyes, she saw not only concern but a trace of pain.

When had he arrived? Had he not left at all during the day?

Tong Xing, oblivious to the danger, continued to shout, “Lian Youyou! Dating you was me doing you a favor—don’t think too highly of yourself! Even without you, I can get into New Star. Even if I don’t, I’ll still do better than you. Who do you think you are? You only got where you are by sleeping with Richard, didn’t you? And you landed your first commercial by sleeping with Haohan’s boss, right? You’re nothing but a woman who sleeps her way to the top!”

Lu Ming guided Youyou to the door. “Wait for me outside.”

“Lu Lu, don’t… don’t go too far,” Youyou said, recalling how Lu Ming had single-handedly taken down all the bodyguards Qu Wuyan brought to Quan Qing’er’s house. She couldn’t help but worry for the scrawny Tong Xing.

The door closed, followed by the click of the lock.

Moments later, Tong Xing’s screams echoed from the rooftop, each one louder than the last.