Tan Linyuan actually had a hired driver all along. Occasionally, after drinking at business dinners, he would call the driver over to take the wheel.
Today, however, he called the driver over while he was sober, something he rarely did.
He simply couldn't concentrate on driving.
After getting in the car, Tan Linyuan gave the driver an address and then closed his eyes.
Along the way, the trees on both sides of the road had shed all their leaves, leaving only bare branches.
No flower can bloom all year round. Winter arrives unexpectedly before one even realizes it.
And some people also leave without warning.
The wheels rolled on the ground. The car had an excellent suspension system, gliding smoothly along without any extra noise. It was so quiet that only the faint sound of breathing could be heard.
As Tan Linyuan's personal vehicle, this car had only carried him for years.
He never thought about changing it, and the car had always served him well.
Later, Nan Yu got in this car.
They had made love in it, had heart - to - heart talks, and even driven all night on the highway just to catch a glimpse of the sun shining on the golden mountains on a whim.
At that moment, he had wished time could stand still.
But the sun always sets.
When they finally reached their destination, the driver gently stepped on the brake, smoothly pulling the big G over to the side of the road.
"Mr. Tan, we're here," the driver said.
Tan Linyuan slowly opened his eyes and stared expressionlessly out of the window.
It was a private - dining restaurant with the decoration style of a traditional courtyard house in the old city. There were two fruit trees of unknown species planted outside the door.
This restaurant was opened by Qu Gaolin back then when he was transferred from Jingbei to Jiangcheng. He said he missed the old flavors, so he had this place set up.
Most of the time, it was used to entertain big - shot guests and discuss major business deals. It was not open to the public.
The waiter in the courtyard naturally recognized him and quickly stepped forward to greet him. "Mr. Tan, Miss Qu is already waiting for you."
Tan Linyuan nodded expressionlessly and followed the waiter briskly.
As soon as he entered the room, Qu Jiaran greeted him with a smile. "Linyuan, you're here! Come and sit down quickly."
As soon as Tan Linyuan sat down, her arm slithered around him like a snake. She pouted and coquettishly said, "Was there a traffic jam on the way? You're so late."
Tan Linyuan slightly shifted his body and slowly pulled his arm out. Then he picked up the teacup and took a sip.
Qu Jiaran was used to his aloofness. She didn't seem to care and sat up straight. She imitated him and took a sip of tea.
Seeing that both of them had arrived, the restaurant staff quickly started serving the dishes and brought in a new pot of tea.
Qu Jiaran was in high spirits. While eating, she kept putting food on Tan Linyuan's plate, not caring whether he would actually eat it or not.
In fact, Tan Linyuan didn't even touch his chopsticks.
He just drank tea and listened to Qu Jiaran babbling in his ear:
Since they were skipping the engagement and going straight to the wedding, the original process would be simplified, with only the most important parts remaining.
The hotel for the wedding would be arranged by the Tan and Qu families. It would surely be the most high - end one in Jiangcheng.
As for the guests, they would naturally invite the well - known figures in the circle, as well as relatives and close friends of both families.
"Do you have any special requirements for the suit?"
Qu Jiaran was chatting enthusiastically. Biting her chopsticks, she daydreamed, "I want to have a designer custom - make it. Since our wedding is still a few months away, I think they can rush it if we ask them to."
Tan Linyuan's expression remained calm. "I have no requirements. Do as you like."
He didn't really care about these things.
"Okay, then I'll contact the designer later," Qu Jiaran shrugged. Suddenly, as if remembering something, her eyes lit up. "We need to take your measurements in advance for a custom - made suit. Let me measure you?"
Tan Linyuan looked at her indifferently. "How?"
"I have the tools." Qu Jiaran proudly took out a measuring tape from her handbag. "Go and stand over there. Be a good boy and let me measure you!"
Tan Linyuan didn't refuse. He stood up and walked to the open space next to the dining table, spreading his arms.
Qu Jiaran excitedly took the measuring tape and started measuring his waist and shoulder width.
Under the pretext of taking measurements, her actions were extremely ambiguous. She wrapped her arms around his waist and even hung herself on Tan Linyuan for a while.
He, on the other hand, showed no reaction. He just kept his arms outstretched, letting her do as she pleased.
When Qu Jiaran was measuring his arm length, she unexpectedly noticed that he had taken off his ring. "Where's your ring?"
She looked at his left hand back and forth in surprise, but his ring finger was still bare.
After Tan Linyuan saw that she had finished taking the measurements, he took a step back, turned around, and sat back on his chair.
He said calmly, his voice devoid of any extra emotion, "Nan Yu doesn't like it."
His voice was so calm that Qu Jiaran was stunned for a moment. It took her a few seconds to digest the meaning of his words before she finally reacted.
Her expression froze for just two seconds, and then she quickly forced a natural smile. "Well, anyway, I've already given it to you. Whether you wear it or not is none of my business."
Tan Linyuan was silent for a moment. He took out the ring from his pocket, placed it on the table, and pushed it in her direction.
"I won't accept the ring," Tan Linyuan said in a low voice. "The engagement will proceed as planned, but gifts are unnecessary."
The reason he came to this appointment was to return the ring to its original owner.
Since he had promised Nan Yu, he would fulfill every single one of his promises for her.
Even if she was completely unaware of it.
Qu Jiaran seemed not to expect him to do this. Her expression was a bit annoyed. "… Is it really necessary? No one has ever returned my gift before. I don't want to take it back."
"Then let the waiter deal with it later," he said indifferently, as if just unilaterally informing her that he wouldn't accept the ring.
As for what would happen to it later, it had nothing to do with him.
Looking at his cold expression, Qu Jiaran felt extremely bored. A look of annoyance and impatience flashed across her eyebrows.
Then, she walked up to him, put one hand on his shoulder, straddled his legs, and sat directly on his lap.
They were sitting face - to - face, her hips fitting snugly against his thighs.
"Linyuan, can't you even lie to me a little? I'm a terminally ill person, after all," she said.
After saying that, she rubbed against him as if casually adjusting her sitting position on him.
For the opposite sex, this was undoubtedly a temptation.
Tan Linyuan's expression didn't change at all. He just said softly, "In a deal, integrity is crucial."
His eyes were clear, and his voice was calm. He was completely unaffected by her blatant behavior.
Qu Jiaran laughed. She shrugged her chin nonchalantly. "Even if it's a deal, you're going to be my husband soon."
She tilted her head back, almost touching his lips. "Since we'll be husband and wife sooner or later, why not experience what a husband and wife do in advance?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she took off her top, revealing her smooth shoulders.
She stared into his eyes, the corners of her lips curling up. Her eyes were full of self - confidence. "Do you like it? It's a lace - trimmed style from Victoria's Secret."
She was bold, unrestrained, and flamboyant. One could even say she was… crazy.
No man could resist a woman who threw herself at him.
Especially when she was wearing sexy lingerie and sitting in his lap.
This time, she was determined to succeed.