Just as Lu Yan had expected, within a few hours, Ning Anmiao's call came in.
"You're being a bully!" As soon as the call was connected, the angry voice on the other end came through. "Didn't you say you'd give me time to think?"
Lu Yan frowned slightly, his voice calm. "Didn't I?"
"Yes, you did." Ning Anmiao couldn't help but laugh out of anger. "You said you'd give me time to think, but right after that, you told Yanyan to shorten the design schedule."
Ning Anmiao pouted indignantly. "You didn't give me any choice at all. You just wanted to force me to go to Europe with you for the dinner party obediently."
Lu Yan put down the pen in his hand and leaned back casually in his chair, answering quite naturally. "As the client, I have every right to make my demands."
"The orders assigned to your studio this time are for the new - season promotion of the artists under me. It's only reasonable for me to urge you to speed up the progress."
Lu Yan spoke slowly, each word with a serious attitude. "Or does Miss Ning think that if I don't shorten the schedule, you'll keep delaying indefinitely?"
Ning Anmiao's heart skipped a beat.
The relationship between her and Lu Yan was no longer that of husband and wife. It was now a cold, profit - oriented cooperation.
That was why she was seeing this side of Lu Yan for the first time.
Lu Yan, who was unyielding to sentiment and completely impartial.
He was right. As the investor, Lu Yan did have the right. On the contrary, it seemed unreasonable for her to call and demand an explanation.
For a moment, Ning Anmiao was at a loss.
"Ning Anmiao." Lu Yan said in a commanding tone. "Don't forget what you said. We're divorced now, and I won't have any extra sentiment for you."
Ning Anmiao's breath caught suddenly, and she unconsciously tightened her palm.
Lu Yan had always been clear - headed. From the moment she decided to divorce, he had clearly drawn the line between them.
Only she was still confused about the boundary, not knowing how to handle the relationship properly. Just now, she even sounded a bit like a spoiled child complaining.
At this moment, Ning Anmiao realized that it had always been herself who had been entangled.
She fell silent.
"If Miss Ning really doesn't want to go, I won't force you."
Lu Yan's tone obviously turned cold. He continued, "As for the schedule, if you really can't finish it on time, I'll arrange to extend the deadline."
"In my opinion, Miss Ning is a person who can distinguish between public and private affairs. But now it seems..."
He paused, unable to hide his disappointment. "I might have expected too much."
Ning Anmiao tightened her grip on the phone. She bit her lip, thought for a while, and then suddenly said, "I'm willing."
Lu Yan raised his eyebrows and played with the pen in his hand. "Willing to do what? Be clear."
"I'm willing to go to Europe with you." She said with some hesitation. "But I request that the order schedule be extended. If I go to Europe with you, Yanyan will be alone..."
"Okay, that's fine." Lu Yan's voice was flat. "We'll follow the original contract then."
After all the detours, Ning Anmiao finally fell into Lu Yan's trap without even realizing it.
"If there's nothing else, I'll hang up. I'm still busy."
Hearing that Lu Yan was about to end the call, Ning Anmiao quickly interrupted. "Wait a minute..."
"Hmm?" Lu Yan's voice rose slightly, patiently waiting for her to continue.
Thinking of what had happened at the Zheng family, Ning Anmiao said, "I want to know what happened during the three months when I lost my memory."
Since she was going to Europe with him anyway, it shouldn't be a problem for him to agree to such a small request.
Lu Yan calmly agreed. "Sure, I'll tell you when I'm free. I'm a bit busy now."
Then, without waiting for Ning Anmiao to say anything else, he ended the conversation. "Goodbye."
Immediately afterwards, there was a series of beeps indicating the call had been disconnected.
That was Lu Yan's style.
Ning Anmiao's hand slipped slightly, and the phone fell onto the sofa from her palm.
She felt a strange sense of emptiness in her heart.
Actually, Lu Yan had done nothing wrong. He was just standing from the perspective of a client, calmly making his demands and handling everything in a business - like manner.
While she was always being emotional.
She angrily scratched her head. Thinking of how she had lost her composure just now, she couldn't help but feel regretful.
She and Lu Yan were now strangers. They were neither lovers nor husband and wife. She really had no right to comment on his decisions.
She pursed her lips, sat on the sofa in a daze for a while, and finally went back to her room to rest.
It was just a dinner party. If Lu Yan could be so calm, why should she be so hesitant?
She'd go. Who was she afraid of!
...
Within the stipulated time, Ning Anmiao designed the suit that Lu Yan would wear and sent it over.
The other side said they were very satisfied and reminded her that the plane tickets to Europe had been booked. She was told to remember to pack her luggage.
Hearing that Ning Anmiao was going to attend the royal dinner party with Lu Yan, Yin Yanyan was quite surprised. "Miaomiao, did I hear you right?"
"Is this the condition for Xinghe Capital to extend the deadline?" She opened her mouth in surprise. "This Lu Yan... is so cunning."
Ning Anmiao sighed and tried not to think too much. "Actually, it's nothing. In such a formal occasion, with his status, he really needs to bring a female companion."
"There are millions of women in Shanghai. Is he out of his mind?"
Yin Yanyan rolled her eyes. "There are so many women who are eager to throw themselves at him, but he doesn't want them. He has to pester you, his ex - wife. What else could it be but a crazy idea?"
Ning Anmiao thought the same way, but she still explained. "Maybe he just doesn't want to be pestered by women."
Yin Yanyan gave her a strange look.
Ning Anmiao continued to explain. "Look, we're divorced. I definitely won't have any other thoughts about him. Even after the dinner party, I won't keep pestering him."
"It's easier than dealing with those women outside who want to get close to him. At least I won't be so self - conceited as to think there could be something between us."
Yin Yanyan's look became even stranger.
"I think both you and Lu Yan are crazy."
Yin Yanyan pursed her lips, looking disappointed. "Miaomiao, have you been brainwashed by Lu Yan? With your looks, if there were something between you two, it should be him who is self - conceited."
Ning Anmiao didn't say anything.
If it weren't for that phone call, she would have suspected, just like Yin Yanyan, that Lu Yan had other motives.
But Lu Yan had made it very clear.
In his eyes, she was just a business partner. There was no other extra relationship.
If she thought any more about it, she would just be being self - indulgent.