Three days before the anniversary reception, the Lu Group PR Department suddenly issued an internal email:
[Subject: President Lu Attends with Guest; All Departments to Cooperate]
Recipients: All Senior Management; CC: Su Wan.
Su Wan stared at the words "with a guest," her heart racing. Before she could recover, the intercom buzzed—
"Come in." The man's voice came through the receiver, low and magnetic.
In the president's office, Lu Tingchen stood with his back to the floor-to-ceiling windows, sunlight outlining his sharp shoulders. He tossed a gold-embossed invitation onto her desk: "Your female companion. You."
"May I decline?"
"Penalty fee: one million."
Su Wan immediately caved: "I'll go pick out a dress right now!"
The man tapped the table with satisfaction, delivering the final blow: "The haute couture boutique is booked. Tonight at eight, I'll personally accompany you."
The inner page of the invitation was pulled out, revealing an abrupt line of penmanship at the bottom—
The inner page of the invitation was pulled out, revealing an abrupt line of penmanship at the bottom—
Male Guest: Lu Tingchen Female Guest: Shen Ruolan.
The elegant handwriting felt like a declaration.

Eight o'clock at night, in a high-end boutique on the top floor of the CBD.
The dressmaker drew back the curtain to reveal a smoky gray gown draped across the mannequin. Its back plunged to the waist, the fabric barely enough to cover the skin.
At a single glance, Su Wan's ears burned crimson.
"It's too revealing..."
"Exactly the right amount of exposure." Lu Tingchen stood beside the mirror, two buttons undone on his black shirt, his collarbone faintly visible. He raised his hand to smooth her long hair, his fingertips seemingly brushing her waist-level birthmark as if by accident.
The cool touch sent a jolt through her like an electric current.
The dressmaker chuckled under her breath, "Mr. Lu has an eye for detail. That little mole is the perfect finishing touch."
In the mirror, the man's eyes darkened, his voice low and husky: "Indeed... only I can touch it."
In the shoe-changing area, he knelt to fasten her ankle strap, his palm enveloping her calf with a scorching warmth.
"The fit is perfect," he murmured, lifting his gaze. "You're not allowed to grow any taller from now on."
Su Wan's heart trembled at his teasing words, utterly unaware she was stepping deeper into the sweet trap he'd laid.
Outside the changing curtain, the PR director suddenly handed over a tablet: "Mr. Lu, the media has received the red carpet list. Miss Shen... has also confirmed her attendance."

On the way back, the Maybach's interior screen displayed the PR department's latest list—
[Final Guest List]
Lu Tingchen + Shen Ruolan (Dance Segment)
Su Wan froze. "But wasn't it... just a rumor?"
The man's expression turned icy as his knuckles tapped lightly on the armrest: "She certainly can't wait."
It turned out Shen Ruolan had leveraged Shen Corporation's resources to buy trending topics and parachute herself onto the list.
Su Wan clutched her skirt hem, whispering, "Maybe I should withdraw. I don't want to cause you trouble."
"Too late." Lu Tingchen turned his head, his gaze settling on her knuckles, white with tension. He reached out and covered them with his hand. "The troubles of Lu Tingchen are mine alone to decide."
He leaned in, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand like a seal. "Remember, you are my choice."
Neon lights flashed past the car window as a cold wave surged in the man's eyes—
"If Shen Ruolan wants to play games, let her play to her heart's content."
A push notification popped up on her phone:
#Lu Corporation Anniversary Gala: CEO Lu Attends with Mysterious Female Companion#
#Shen Family Heiress Returns to Claim Her Position#
Caption: Photo of Shen Ruolan in a white dress at the airport, with the text—
"Achen, I'm back."