Chapter 26: The Invitation

The wide LCD screen displayed the annual industry report, yet who could have imagined that the presidents of the world’s five corporate giants had gathered in secret to discuss grand strategies? Such a clandestine family—how formidable their power must be.

Suddenly, Huo Lingtian’s private phone rang. Fewer than five people in the world knew this line. His brows, which had been furrowed in concentration, smoothed at once as he glanced at the screen, watching a stream of photos appear. The annoyance of being interrupted vanished, replaced by the eager docility of a loyal hound. With a wave of his hand, the surround sound system fell silent.

“Hello, darling?” The man’s voice unconsciously softened, low and intimate, brimming with affection. Gone was the cunning merchant; in an instant, he was like a wolf in disguise, all gentleness and longing.

“Is this really the Huo we know?” Gu Lingfei looked as if he’d seen a ghost, his almond-shaped eyes arching in disbelief. The other three shrugged in unison.

“When did our boss get so sappy? Back in the day, charging into battle with us, raiding enemies—he was nothing like this,” Yan Dong boomed, his gruff voice thunderous, clearly shaken.

“I’ll bet it’s a woman,” Xing Hao said, his tone mysterious.

“Shut up!” Li Mingze silenced the commotion. “Listen!” This was a key moment for gossip—these idiots nearly made them miss the crucial details.

Rong Qing held the phone in her palm, trying to suppress her excitement, her voice tinged with hesitation as she asked, “Did you need something?”

“Of course not. I’m completely free right now,” Huo Lingtian replied without missing a beat. The other four rolled their eyes in unison—classic case of putting romance before friendship! This was the annual report, the days that would decide the future of the Huo Corporation, and he was acting like this!

Rong Qing’s grip on the phone relaxed. At this moment, the person with whom she most wished to share her happiness was Huo Lingtian. With a trace of shyness, she said, “Shall we have lunch together?”

Huo Lingtian held his breath, as if those few words had struck his very soul like celestial music. His beloved had just invited him to a meal—such a breakthrough caught him utterly off guard. The head of the Huo family stood frozen, a foolish, tender smile spreading across his lips.

When there was suddenly no response from him, Rong Qing felt a hollow emptiness within. “If you’re busy, then never mind…”

“Who said I wouldn’t go?” Huo Lingtian answered in haste, inwardly vowing to destroy anyone who dared keep him from this lunch. “I was just thinking about which restaurant would be best.”

“Oh, don’t bother, I’ve already picked a place. My treat,” Rong Qing quickly added.

“Haha…” Huo Lingtian chuckled to himself, lost in delight.

The four bystanders could only watch in disbelief, feeling as if their world had turned upside down. “My god, he must have been replaced—this has got to be an illusion…”

Only Xing Hao’s eyes glinted with shrewd light, a faint, knowing smile curling at his lips. Beneath that calm exterior was a soul roaring and thundering: In just one month, Rong Qing had won over the master of the Huo Corporation, one of the world’s richest men! Judging by his demeanor, their young master was utterly bewitched, north and south confused, his intellect vanished. The future mistress of the house was indeed a formidable woman!

“Sweetheart, where are you right now? I’ll come pick you up.” “Wait there—I’ll be there in ten minutes.” Huo Lingtian grabbed his jacket and dashed out the door.

The others: …

The great tycoon: “Can anyone tell me what just happened?”

Xing Hao: “Our boss might be in love.”

The other three in unison: “No kidding!”

Xing Hao: “Haha… So you have noticed.” He dared not speak the future mistress’s name—if these unreliable fools ruined things, Huo would come for him first.

Downstairs, Rong Qing had barely waited a few minutes before a silver Lexus coupe screeched to a stop in front of her. The man inside jumped out to open the door for her with eager courtesy. Once inside, they vanished down the street in a flash.

At the film crew audition, three elderly directors sat eyeing the girl before them—her hair a chaotic mess of red and yellow, explosive in its wildness. The veins on their foreheads throbbed with irritation. Her short skirt revealed pale thighs; her sheer blouse left little to the imagination; and her fawning smile, paired with an overdone performance, was too much.

Finally, Wang Zhang slammed his hand down, smashing his porcelain cup to the table, sparks flying. Enough! He’d had it with this assault on his eyes—did they really take him for a pushover?

“This is an art film, not a smut shoot! Damn it! You show up in fetish wear and a punk hairstyle—if an adult film star looked like you, she’d go bankrupt!” Wang Zhang’s critique was scathing. Seeing the girl’s heavily made-up eyes rim with black tears, he only grew more incensed.

“Cry, cry, all you can do is cry… When I was a young man, I’d been scared off by a few tears and tantrums, but not anymore! Some people study scripts all night, carefully crafting their roles—pure, lovely, clever, destined for great things. And then there are those like you, playing at nonsense, dragging bad habits onto my set. Think I’ll just sit here and take it? Not a chance!”

Bang—the door was flung open as the girl, who’d entered provocatively, now fled in disgrace, a drowned rat. Director Wang Zhang’s explosive temper was truly something to behold—admirable, in a way.

---Author’s Note---

Favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite—Lanlan wants your favorites!