Noah reached Lu Corporation and headed straight to the President's office, where Lu Lijun was deep in discussion with Xiao Min.
Lu Lijun raised an eyebrow. "Weren't you on leave today?"
"I wasn't," Noah said, taking a seat.
Xiao Min got the file and left.
Lu Lijun finally turned to Noah. "Seems like Jake didn't do that well. You look perfectly fine."
Noah frowned. "Did he tell you about it?"
"He didn't, but it was obvious from the way you two left the pub last night."
"Forget about it. Let's talk about work."
Lu Lijun nodded. "If you feel uncomfortable, you can tell and go ho."
In frustration, Noah slamd the file on the table. "Will you stop treating like a woman?
It was just sex, and you and Jake are acting like I'm so delicate virgin."
"I was just worried."
"I had painkillers. Will you stop worrying now? If you don't, I'll stuff a few more."
"Where? In your ass?" Lu Lijun chuckled.
"Yeah, will you help stuff them?"
"Bend forward," Lu Lijun laughed.
"You're becoming more and more shaless, Lijun. If it weren't for the important project today, I wouldn't tolerate you," Noah warned. "It's ti we leave."
Lu Lijun didn't tease him further, and they left for the bidding. Today was the day he would face Victor Magnus' son head-on.
After half an hour, they reached the venue where the bidding process was held. Inside the grand hall, representatives from all the companies were present, seated at their reserved tables. Lu Lijun, Noah, and Xiao Min were guided to their place, naturally at a table in the first
row.
As they settled down after exchanging pleasantries with the host, the table next to them was occupied. They noticed a man who had been the talk of the town recently—a foreigner and a powerful businessman from the West.
A tall man with well-styled short ash-gray hair, wearing a perfectly fitted black-lined suit and spectacles over his high-bridge nose, exuding an aura of authority and dominance.
Jared Magnus, the eldest son of Victor Magnus, a man in his late thirties.
His light gray eyes t Lu Lijun's as they looked at each other. Though it was their first ti seeing each other face to face, they knew each other well.
After everyone had presented their projects, the results were announced. Undoubtedly, the project went to Lu Corporation. Jared looked at Lu Lijun and offered him a light nod. In response, Lu Lijun did the sa. After the event, Jared approached Lu Lijun, and another businessman introduced them to each other.
"It's my pleasure eting you, President Lu," Jared said as they shook hands.
"Nice to et you," Lu Lijun replied.
"I have heard a lot about you, President Lu. I wish to get to know you better. How about a al together?" Jared asked.
"Sure," Lu Lijun said, then turned to Noah. "Arrange it according to my schedule. Noah will inform you," he added, addressing Jared.
Jared nodded to his assistant, and they parted ways. Once inside the car, Noah comnted, "He seems so eager to et you, asking for a al right at the first eting."
"He must have sothing important to discuss. He's not here for nothing," Lu Lijun replied, his expression serious. He knew the eting wouldn't be just for pleasantries.
"Or he just took a liking to your handso appearance," Noah chuckled. "I noticed his gaze lingered on you. And you were the sa. Seems like mutual affection at first sight."
"He would be disappointed. He knows well that I have the most beautiful woman by my side."
"Well, he has a beautiful wife and two kids. Who knows, another spark might ignite between you two."
"If I had to light a spark with soone," Lu Lijun turned to look at Noah, "I have you. Wife at ho and mistress at the office."
Noah almost choked on his own words. "Lijun, are you sure you're straight? Perhaps bi?"
"I could be bi for you."
Noah moved away from Lu Lijun. "You give chills. I'm taken."
"So am I," Lu Lijun smirked. "Planning to cheat on Jake? Let know, and I'll offer you to Jared."
"Shut up. I'm not the type to cheat," Noah retorted.
Lu Lijun simply raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
Noah understood the implication. "Alright, I was with those girls because there was nothing between him and . We didn't even tell each other."
"But you knew how Jake felt about you," Lu Lijun countered.
"Am I a god to understand his feelings? He started acting on them after I ca here with
you."
"Yeah, and here you didn't hesitate to go with those models working for Jake's brother. How cruel can one be?"
"I was just trying to maintain my distance from him, and that was my way."
"Did it work?" Lu Lijun asked.
Noah didn't reply, and silence filled the car. Xiao Min pretended to be engrossed in a file, while the driver focused on driving.
After a while, Noah broke the silence. "Were you always aware of us?"
"Yes," Lu Lijun replied.
"Since when?"
"Since I t you two for the first ti in school."
"What?" Noah exclaid. "We were so young. I don't think there was anything like that between him and back then..."
"I was twelve, but you two were older than . I skipped two grades," Lu Lijun explained.
"I don't think I had any such thoughts about Jake or anyone else, not even any girl," Noah looked confused. "Was I that obvious even then?"
"Not you, but Jake."
"Jake?" Noah exclaid again. "Don't you think your observation was off? Jake was always fighting and so rebellious. Among the three of us, he'd be the last one to have such feelings
for anyone, let alone his friend."
"Why did he often fight?" Lu Lijun asked.
"Those kids used to bully us."
"Not us, but you. They used to bully you, and Jake fought for you."
"As a friend, even I would do that for you or Jake."
"But I wouldn't treat you like you were delicate if you got hurt during sports or for any simple reason. I rember how Jake used to worry if you had even a little scratch. I noticed it from the beginning. He was overly protective of you even then. Maybe he wasn't aware of it, but I'm sure between you two Jake was the first to have feelings."
Noah stayed quiet for a mont before speaking. "Those were the best days when we were just ignorant of things. Growing up only makes things difficult." He looked at Lu Lijun. "That night, when I was in trouble, despite feeling distant from him, the first person I thought to call for help was him. He was always the first one to co to my mind for anything, even
though you were my friend."
"I know," Lu Lijun said softly.
"That night, I called him so many tis, but he didn't pick up. It broke entirely."
"He must not have done it intentionally," Lu Lijun comnted.
"I'm not sure because I never asked him. He didn't show up for an entire month, and I don't
know what he was up to," Noah sighed. "If he knew what happened that night and why I
called him, I wonder what his reaction would have been."
"He would have beaten them all until he killed them," Lu Lijun said.
"Do you think so?" Noah asked, looking at him.
Lu Lijun nodded, eting Noah's eyes. "I'm sure of it."
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