Chapter 74: A Breakfast Meeting
Lu Jingyao gave Song Zhibai a deep look, scrutinizing his tanned yet still attractive face. After a long pause, he finally said, “She doesn’t like dark-skinned guys.”
Song Zhibai had expected various kinds of attacks—maybe about his background, maybe about his lack of wealth—but after all that buildup, that was it?
Lu Jingyao left in a hurry, while Song Zhibai didn’t immediately return to his room. Instead, he turned to Ouyang Ouyang and asked,
“Is being a top star really that lucrative?”
Ouyang Ouyang sensed that something about Song Zhibai had changed. The man still looked the same, but his gaze had become sharper, like a beast poised to strike—similar to the aura Lu Jingyao had just exuded.
“Of course! Haven’t you seen the recent news? A certain B-list male celebrity makes two million a day. Their daily earnings surpass what many small business owners make in a year. The income of the very top-tier celebrities is beyond most people’s imagination,” Ouyang Ouyang explained.
Song Zhibai nodded and asked, “I want to read more books, ones that can improve my acting skills and cultural knowledge. Do you have any recommendations?”
Due to his mother’s illness, Song Zhibai had dropped out of university and taken up various jobs. He still owed Xu Youyou a huge sum of money and had no plans to return to school, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want to continue learning.
Ouyang Ouyang’s eyes lit up. As a director, he didn’t fear actors striving for improvement—he feared them being blinded by empty praise. If Song Zhibai maintained this mindset, his future in the industry would be long-lasting.
“Don’t worry, Xiao Song! I’ll put together a reading list for you by tomorrow!”
Back in her hotel room, after taking a shower, Xu Youyou saw a message from Lu Jingyao.
He seemed eager to see the flowerpot but was still respectful of boundaries, scheduling their meeting for the morning rather than barging in at night.
“I’d like to sleep in. Let’s meet at ten in the morning,” Xu Youyou replied.
Lu Jingyao responded with a simple “Okay,” followed by another message: “Assistant Liu knows the local cuisine well. He’ll get us breakfast. How about we eat at 10:15?”
Xu Youyou’s eyes lit up. She had been dreading the hassle of finding breakfast. She replied with a quick “Sure.”
In his presidential suite, Lu Jingyao immediately instructed Assistant Liu, “Find out what the best local breakfast options are. It has to be the best.”
Assistant Liu was momentarily stunned. After working for Lu Jingyao for years, he knew his boss had never cared about food. This sudden request could only mean one thing—Xu Youyou.
“Yes, sir.”
That night, Assistant Liu downloaded Xiaohongshu, Douyin, and Kuaishou—apps he usually dismissed as time-wasters—to research the best breakfast spots. If he did this well, his bonus would be substantial.
Not only did he need to find breakfast, but he also had to scout good lunch spots. If his boss could extend the breakfast meeting into lunch, he had to be prepared.
—
The next morning, Lu Jingyao was up by 7 AM.
He almost ordered hotel breakfast but then hesitated—if only Xu Youyou were eating at 10:15, would she feel awkward? He decided to endure his hunger.
After all, having breakfast together was technically a date.
From 7 AM, he started picking out clothes, torn between formal and casual. It took him an hour and a half to decide. He had never put this much effort into any business negotiation before.
At exactly 10 AM, Assistant Liu returned with breakfast, carrying a brand-new thermal container.
“Mr. Lu, should I set the breakfast in the lounge?”
Lu Jingyao nodded but suddenly frowned.
“Tell the hotel that the flowers here are from yesterday. They’re starting to wilt. Have them bring a fresh arrangement.”
Assistant Liu glanced at the flowers, inspecting them carefully. After a long look, he finally noticed a single curled petal. Internally, he thought, Unless Miss Xu is carrying a magnifying glass, she wouldn’t even notice this.
After relaying the request to the hotel, Assistant Liu turned back to find the suite unnaturally pristine.
“Were the sofa cushions always arranged like this?” he asked.
Hotel staff had a standard arrangement for the cushions, but today, they were placed in a slightly different—yet aesthetically pleasing—configuration.
Lu Jingyao cleared his throat. “I didn’t like how the hotel arranged them.”
Assistant Liu resisted the urge to give his boss a strange look. Lu Jingyao had always been all about business and nothing else.
Who would have thought that after years of celibacy, the man would suddenly reek of lovesickness?
Assistant Liu even noticed the floor looked shinier—had Lu Jingyao called housekeeping first thing in the morning?
—
Xu Youyou arrived a few minutes early and knocked on Lu Jingyao’s door, holding the flowerpot.
Seeing that she was alone, Lu Jingyao was slightly surprised. “Where are your bodyguards?”
“The hotel is safe. I sent them out to buy local specialties.”
Lu Jingyao mentally translated that as: She feels safe with me.
Xu Youyou placed the flowerpot on the table. “Take a look—this is from the Qing Dynasty’s Imperial Workshop.”
Lu Jingyao barely glanced at it. “I trust your judgment.”
Xu Youyou shook her head. “It’s a valuable piece. You should have an expert verify it.”
Lu Jingyao responded, “When we were abroad, you were the expert I trusted.”
Xu Youyou couldn’t find a reason to argue with that.
Lu Jingyao changed the subject. “Let’s eat first. We can discuss the deal after breakfast.”
Assistant Liu swiftly laid out the breakfast spread.
Seeing two sets of utensils, Xu Youyou raised an eyebrow. “Did you oversleep?”
Lu Jingyao was the type to be extremely disciplined, and she couldn’t picture him sleeping in.
“No work today, so I slept in,” he replied smoothly. “After breakfast, do you want to visit some local attractions?”
Xu Youyou shook her head. “I’ve already been to the nearby spots. My flight’s at noon, so I can’t join you.”
Lu Jingyao was caught off guard. “You’re leaving so soon? I thought you’d stay another week.”
Xu Youyou shrugged. “I’ve finished my business here. No reason to stay.”
Lu Jingyao suddenly felt like his trip had been for nothing.
Xu Youyou took a bite of breakfast and praised, “Assistant Liu did well—this is the best meal I’ve had here.”
Assistant Liu smiled shyly, celebrating internally.
“You haven’t been eating well?” Lu Jingyao asked.
“I’ve been busy, so I haven’t paid much attention to food.”
Lu Jingyao immediately said, “Food is one of life’s greatest pleasures. I know a former state banquet chef who specializes in Hunan cuisine. You’d love it.”
Xu Youyou’s eyes lit up. “How do you know I like spicy food?”
Lu Jingyao glanced at her bowl—she had just added two heaping spoons of chili sauce to her spicy soup.
Xu Youyou chuckled. “I’ve loved spicy food since childhood. While my hometown isn’t as spice-crazy as Hunan or Jiangxi, our cuisine is still known for its bold flavors.”
Lu Jingyao knew where she was from but asked anyway, “Where’s your hometown?”
“Huangshan—the one from the saying ‘After seeing Huangshan, no other mountain compares,’” she replied.
Lu Jingyao immediately recited, “The thirty-six peaks shimmer in emerald mist, towering thousands of feet, veiled in clouds.”
Xu Youyou, proud of her hometown, suddenly found Lu Jingyao less annoying. After all, when a handsome man attentively caters to your preferences and says all the right things, it’s hard to dislike him.
Sunlight streamed through the suite’s floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing Lu Jingyao in golden light. He seemed to merge with the glow—dazzling, almost impossible to look away from.
Xu Youyou snapped herself out of it. Stay focused. He used to avoid me abroad. Besides, love is pointless—money is the priority!
She abruptly changed the topic. “I’m almost done eating. Let’s talk about the flowerpot price.”
