Chapter 60: Between People and People

In the hotel's front courtyard.

Gan Xiaoxi stood with her hands behind her back, head tilted, and her flashing eyes fixed on Lü Yao with a trace of mischief.

*You thought I forgot, didn't you?*

*I certainly didn't!*

*You're in for it now~ If you fail to deliver what you promised, I'm going to fleece you mercilessly~*

*I want you to compensate me tenfold, a hundredfold~*

However, Lü Yao had long anticipated her anticipation.

Therefore, Lü Yao deliberately said, "Oh my! There's no time to prepare at all. How about letting me off the hook in consideration of the gift I gave you?"

"No way!"

Gan Xiaoxi instantly put on an attitude. "Just tell me how you're going to compensate me~"

Lü Yao said, "Fine, isn't it just magic? Don't blink."

As he spoke, Lü Yao's arm sharply drew back and thrust forward, and suddenly a burning sparkler firework popped out from his hand. A tiny firework was burning brilliantly and fiercely at the very top of that sparkler.

Lü Yao deliberately claimed credit, "How is it? Are you satisfied?"

Gan Xiaoxi's eye twitched.

Just this?

Where was the plot twist?

Where was the surprise?

Satisfied your big head!

Glaring at Lü Yao with puffed-up cheeks, Gan Xiaoxi said, "You better still have a plot twist."

Lü Yao chuckled. "Want a plot twist? Here you go!"

Mid-sentence, he abruptly tossed the nearly burnt-out sparkler high into the air.

Gan Xiaoxi instinctively looked up, and then she saw a massive firework shoot out with a "bang" right behind that tiny sparkler, rapidly ascending into the sky.

When that firework reached its highest point—

"Bang!!"

A huge, brilliant firework suddenly burst open.

The entire night sky was illuminated and rendered gorgeous by this firework.

The sudden firework also caused many people inside and outside the hotel to raise their heads or lean out of windows to see what was happening outside.

The gorgeous, colorful brilliance of the fireworks was reflected in Gan Xiaoxi's astonished face, making her look not only sweet but also exceptionally cute at this moment.

A bit dazed and silly.

Amidst the gradually fading fireworks, Lü Yao smiled softly beside Gan Xiaoxi, "Tonight, the entire night sky is shining for you."

"Do you like this magic trick?"

Gan Xiaoxi nodded blankly. When the fireworks all over the sky gradually faded and extinguished in her pupils, she looked at Lü Yao beside her.

She saw Lü Yao's distinct jawline.

She also saw the faint and calm smile on Lü Yao's face.

There was still that faint aura of effortless swagger about him.

That faint swagger, which she hadn't found very appealing originally, suddenly seemed pleasing to the eye, even sophisticated, in this time and setting.

Gan Xiaoxi's emotions surged deep within her.

Like magma hidden beneath the ocean floor's tectonic plates.

Just as a man can never resist a perfectly straight stick, a woman can never resist anything sparkly and bright.

That is why women love jewelry.

And why they love fleeting fireworks.

And when Lü Yao presented the fireworks in this manner, the thing she liked turned into a surprise.

The gentle night became the best cover.

The hazy lights became the best filter.

So, under the influence of these emotions and this atmosphere, Gan Xiaoxi got instantly carried away. "Lü Yao, why don't you be with me! I'll support you!"

Huh?

What the hell kind of situation was this?

Hearing these words, Lü Yao instantly broke out in a cold sweat. Damn it, did he push a bit too hard this time?

No.

It was just that Gan Xiaoxi's train of thought was a bit too jumpy!

Suppressing his panic, Lü Yao calmly said, "Isn't this a bit too fast?"

But Gan Xiaoxi was running entirely on impulse. "A lot of things just need that single impulsive moment!" She raised her arms and cheered, "Between people, having that *moment* is enough~~"

Lü Yao thought rapidly!

And then he came up with a countermeasure.

He put on an expression of extreme, earnest attention and asked with utmost seriousness, "What is a *moment*?"

What on earth?

Gan Xiaoxi went black before the eyes, her brain nearly crashing.

The ambient atmosphere that had just enveloped her instantly vanished into thin air, and the romantic *moment* was instantly shattered.

Speechless.

Utterly speechless!

Lü Yao's performance left Gan Xiaoxi so speechless that she couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Crap!

Was this guy an atmosphere killer?

How did he manage to so precisely and effectively kill every bit of that atmosphere?

This speechless feeling was like asking Lü Yao a question, expecting him to answer "yes or no," and then having Lü Yao earnestly and firmly reply, "or"!

Utterly speechless to death!!

Gan Xiaoxi glared at Lü Yao, then turned around in a huff and walked away, every step she took heavy and forceful.

But Lü Yao felt a sense of lightness in his heart.

Right now, his social standing and status were still too low.

A woman from Gan Xiaoxi's social circle could only be admired from afar for now, not toyed with.

Lü Yao pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and slowly walked back into the hotel.

On the way back, Zhu Junyan scurried over sneakily. "Boss! How was it? Was my timing precise? Did Ms. Gan love it?"

Lü Yao nodded. "She loved it."

Maybe even loved it a little too much.

However, Lü Yao's unorthodox stunt had stabilized the situation, and matters had finally resulted in a relatively good outcome.

Zhu Junyan showered him with frantic flattery beside him, "I keep saying it has to be you, Boss! Damn it, if I were a woman, this routine of yours would have charmed me into a total retard."

Handsome!

High emotional intelligence!

And able to throw small surprises at you from time to time.

Many young women tended to be conquered by this type of man.

...

The next morning.

Lü Yao, carrying gift packages along with Rong Niangqing and the others, boarded a vehicle heading to Xingyang Airport to return to Shangnan.

On the journey back, Gan Xiaoxi kept narrowing her eyes, staring at Lü Yao with a look that made her teeth itch with frustration.

Lü Yao acted as if he didn't see it.

Upon returning to Shangnan City, just before parting ways, Rong Niangqing said to Lü Yao, "I'll finish the preliminary setup behind the shopping mall as soon as possible. When that time comes, quit your job at NFA and come work on my side."

As for the contract and penalty fees for breach of contract, Rong Niangqing would naturally handle them.

However, Lü Yao replied, "Just leave a workstation for me. I'll drop by when I have free time or if you need me for something."

Lü Yao didn't have the time to stay there around the clock.

He had his own plans.

Rong Niangqing wasn't particularly surprised either.

Although the way she met Lü Yao and his background weren't entirely conventional, through their interactions over this period, Rong Niangqing understood that Lü Yao was actually a man with ambitions.

Noncommittally, Rong Niangqing said, "We'll talk about it then."

Lü Yao added, "Oh right, don't you have aspirations in the design direction? You might want to pay attention to the domestic-chic luxury goods market."

Rong Niangqing frowned. "Do one thing well at a time. I think that's better."

Yet Lü Yao stated, "You can make preparations in advance."

"The domestic luxury goods market targeting the middle class is practically a blank slate. Once the shopping mall is operating stably, we will likewise need a breakout hit to completely make the mall's name known."

"So these two things don't actually conflict."

The ability of luxury goods to break through boundaries and generate traffic was still very strong.

Therefore, it could definitely become a breakout success.

Rong Niangqing nodded. "I'll consider it. I'll head back first. Thank you for your hard work these past few days."

Lü Yao waved. "Goodbye."

After bidding farewell to Rong Niangqing, Lü Yao went straight home, took a bath, and had a wonderful sleep.

By around four o'clock in the afternoon, Lü Yao was awakened by a ringing phone.

A shareholder's dividend agreement was delivered right into Lü Yao's hands.