Just then, the bar manager walked up to Gu Anran.
"Good day, Mrs. Lu. I am the manager of this establishment. Our boss would like to invite you upstairs."
Hearing the man address her as Mrs. Lu, Gu Anran instantly became alert. Her marriage to Lu Zhenyu had never been made public.
"Who is your boss, and why should I go see him?" Gu Anran asked coldly.
"Our boss is the Young Master of the Xie family," the manager explained politely. "He told me to inform you that Mr. Lu is currently upstairs with him."
Hearing that Lu Zhenyu was here, she didn't hesitate. "Okay then, lead the way."
As she followed him, she subtly clutched her handbag a little closer. Inside was a canister of pepper spray.
"This way, Mrs. Lu," the manager gestured, leading her toward the exclusive VIP zone.
Standing guard outside the double doors, Lin Feng gasped when he saw her. "Madam! How come you're here?"
"Is Lu Zhenyu inside?" she asked, completely ignoring his question.
"Yes, Madam. Sir is inside with Young Master Xie and the others," Lin Feng replied awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"There's... a bit of a situation in there right now."
Gu Anran misread his awkwardness as guilt. A cold smile played on her lips. "Very well then. Open the door."
"Yes, Madam," Lin Feng answered immediately, not daring to delay.
Inside the room, Secretary Jin was already on the verge of tears.
"Sir, how would I ever dare touch your phone or answer your calls?" Jin Mu pleaded, her palms sweating profusely. No matter what, she had to deny it. "The only reason Assistant Lin saw me touching your phone was because it was sitting too close to the edge of the lampstand. I was only adjusting its position, I swear!"
"You had better tell me the truth, because I won't ask a second time," Lu Zhenyu said calmly, rhythmically tapping the armrest of his chair. "Lin Feng is already on his way to retrieve the surveillance footage."
"President Lu, I've been working faithfully by your side for seven years! You should know what kind of person I am," Jin Mu cried, completely losing her composure.
Desperate, she reached out, attempting to grab the hem of Lu Zhenyu's pants.
Lu Zhenyu's eyes flashed with disgust, and he was just about to kick her away when the heavy doors swung open.
Gu Anran walked in majestically, her posture elegant and commanding, with Lin Feng trailing quietly behind her.
"Miss, if you don't mind, please move away from my husband," Gu Anran said smoothly, a beautiful but icy smile on her face. "You're getting far too close to him."
Jin Mu froze, her eyes gritting with immediate jealousy. "You're... President Lu's wife?"
The moment Gu Anran heard her voice, her eyes narrowed. It was an exact match. This was definitely the woman from the phone call.
Looking down at Jin Mu kneeling on the floor, Gu Anran easily pieced together the situation. A chilling smile spread across her face. She walked over and sat down gracefully right next to Lu Zhenyu.
Lu Zhenyu's icy aura melted the second his wife sat beside him.
"Wife, why did you come here?" Lu Zhenyu asked, taking her hand and gazing at her affectionately. "This place isn't good for your health. There are far too many unclean things here."
"If I hadn't come, I would have missed such a marvelous show," Gu Anran replied, casting a sharp, meaningful glance at Jin Mu. "And besides, since you're in here, it means you've been exposed to something filthy. Allow me to deal with this mess, and we can go home in no time."
"I will listen to my wife," Lu Zhenyu said, his voice dropping into a low, ambiguous purr. "You can clean me thoroughly when we get home."
Gu Anran's face instantly flushed bright red.
Across the room, Fu Qingshen and the others let out sudden coughs to hide their amusement. They were now absolutely certain—the ruthless Lu Zhenyu was nothing more than a hopeless slave to his wife.
Only Jin Mu was raging, her mind practically fracturing with jealousy. What right does Gu Anran have to sit beside him? I am the one who has been by his side for seven years!
Gu Anran ignored her glare and looked toward the assistant. "Lin Feng, tell me, who is she? Why is she kneeling and showing so much respect to my husband and me? Isn't it a bit too early for New Year's greetings?"
Pfft.
Xie Niangli and the others burst out laughing. As expected, their sister-in-law knew how to throw a devastating insult with absolute elegance.
"Madam, she is one of Sir's secretaries," Lin Feng replied, keeping his head down.
"A mere secretary dares to be this haughty with me?" Gu Anran's voice turned imposing, the aura of the legitimate Mrs. Lu completely suffocating the room. "What exactly gave you that courage? Did you really think I couldn't handle you and your pathetic little tricks?"
Jin Mu squeezed her eyes shut, instantly shifting into a pitiful, wronged act. "Mrs. Lu, I am just a simple secretary. Just because I share a close, special relationship with Lu Zhenyu, you shouldn't bully me like this!"
"Secretary Jin, you will address me as President Lu," Lu Zhenyu interrupted, his voice cutting through the room like a frozen blade. His expression was filled with unvarnished loathing. "I feel entirely disgusted just hearing my name come out of your mouth."
Gu Anran secretly gave her husband a massive thumbs up in her heart.
At least this man of hers knew exactly how to trample a green tea bitch without saving her an ounce of face.
Jin Mu froze when she heard Lu Zhenyu harsh words, while the spectators let out a laugh. Jin Mu face burned with shame when she saw the others laughing at her, she used to me a high and mighty secretary who received respect when she became a laughing stock.
"Yes, everything changed because of the appearance of Gu Anran. President Lu used to treat me well but now everything has changed because of this Gu Anran"
She thought to herself casting a fierce and hateful gaze at Gu Anran.