Chapter 10: Redeeming Dignity

What is happiness?
To possess a tomorrow is the most extravagant form of happiness.

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Xue Zuining listened in a daze to the sudden busy tone coming from her phone. After three seconds of mental blankness, she finally understood the implication in the man’s words.
Arrive at Sunlight Mansion within half an hour? Was he toying with her?

She dialed his number again, but all she got was the mechanical voice: “The number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later.”

A thin layer of sweat broke out on her palm, a chill spreading from the tips of her nerves to the depths of her heart.

It was 7:43 p.m. Beijing time.

Inside the car with its windows raised, the faint scent of nicotine lingered around the man’s clear breath. The special design of the vehicle shielded all curiosity from the outside world, yet allowed those within to control the world beyond with ease.

Fifteen minutes later, a yellow taxi with its taillights blinking slowly approached the entrance of the residential complex.

The car stopped. A pair of white canvas shoes nimbly touched the ground. Black pencil pants made the girl's legs look even longer. She smiled devoutly, her youth and beauty shining through.

“Thank you,” Xue Zuining offered a faint smile to the driver through the lowered window, then stepped back to let the taxi turn around smoothly.

The security guard recognized her from the photograph, waived the registration, and let her pass without delay.

Some dozens of meters away, in the interior of a car, Lu Huaining’s indifferent gaze followed her figure. The corners of his lips curled up. “Follow her.”

One minute later, a white BMW glided past the girl’s hurried steps and came to a steady halt in front of the villa.

As Xue Zuining’s hesitant eyes recognized the tall figure stepping out of the car, she couldn’t even wait to approach before blurting out to his back, “Mr. Lu!”

Lu Huaining ignored her, strolling through the courtyard and heading directly for the door, his playful gaze lingering on the digits of the code lock.

Suddenly, a warm palm landed on his cool hand.

“Mr. Lu, I…” Xue Zuining looked up, only to meet his half-smiling eyes. With a sidelong glance, she realized that the cool object in her palm was not the wall but the man’s hand. She recoiled as if shocked by electricity, only to see his face break into a mocking grin.

His eyes swept over her embarrassed face. With steady fingers, he entered the code, the door swung open, and Lu Huaining stepped aside. “I don’t like discussing matters at the door.”

“Oh,” Xue Zuining mumbled, rubbing her canvas shoes against the doormat to ensure they wouldn’t dirty his expensive floors before mustering the courage to step into this villa where every inch was worth a fortune.

With a click, the lock fell into place.

Lu Huaining changed his shoes and looked at her, sitting primly on the sofa with her hands neatly folded on her knees like a schoolgirl. He turned toward the bar. “What would you like to drink?”

When he asked this, Xue Zuining was still organizing her thoughts. Looking up, she saw him already seated directly across from her, a glass of red wine in each hand.

“Thank you.” Xue Zuining accepted the wine he offered with pursed lips. “Mr. Lu, I came this time…”

“It’s for your mother, isn’t it?” Lu Huaining took a sip of the clear liquid in his glass. “While I admire your filial piety, Miss Xue, you seem to have forgotten the essence of business. We never choose a losing bargain.”

“But cooperation could bring benefits to the sanatorium,” Xue Zuining finally understood the reason for the long wait.

“How long? Ten years? Twenty?” Lu Huaining spread his hands. “And even if the sanatorium agrees to cooperate with the hospital, who can guarantee the project will succeed? Who can guarantee the money I spend hiring international experts won’t be wasted? Besides, healthcare has never been Sheng Tian’s main industry. The only reason we own Xishan Sanatorium is because of my late father’s personal interests. If the project fails, it could damage Sheng Tian’s reputation. For me, taking such a risk is entirely unnecessary.”

Xue Zuining watched the man’s calm posture, her slender fingers clenching tighter, her fist trembling with suppressed anger.

“Do you feel you’ve been played, Miss Xue?” Lu Huaining watched her repressed expression as he unfastened two buttons on his shirt cuffs. “I can guess what you’re thinking. I’ve never claimed to be a good person. I thought you’d understand the meaning behind my business card the day I left it with you. Unfortunately, your emotional intelligence seems far lower than your intellect.”

Shame and anger flared in Xue Zuining’s gaze, her fingertips digging into the leather sofa. She saw the man shift into an even more relaxed posture, his playful eyes unabashedly roaming her figure.

Lu Huaining draped one arm over the back of the sofa. Sensing the anger in the air, he lazily spoke, “Miss Xue, consider this: since you’re willing to curry favor with Mr. He at a dinner table, why not stay with me? Perhaps that way you could change your fate of being trampled by a thousand men. I don’t ask much of women—just absolute loyalty and tact. As for money…”

His brazen words made Xue Zuining spring to her feet, snatch the wine from his hand, and splash it hard across his face. “Filth!”

Crimson liquid quickly slid down his forehead, dripping onto the floor in scattered droplets.

His hawk-like eyes narrowed, their chilly gaze slicing across her angry face like a blade. His long eyes swept over her heaving chest, “Is this your attitude when seeking help?” Lu Huaining snorted coldly. “Has no one ever told you that if you want a favor, you must first kneel and offer up your dignity with both hands?”

“Have you ever heard this saying?” Xue Zuining’s lowered lashes swept over his wet face with disdain, “Before asking for help, make sure the one you’re begging is actually human. Because not everyone is worthy of being called that.”

Lu Huaining’s lips curled into a dismissive smile as he heard her last, almost bitten-off words. “Since Miss Xue is so proud, I’ll wait for you to buy back your dignity from my hands.”

With her eyes nearly closed, Xue Zuining turned her back to him, taking a deep breath to calm her trembling body. “If dignity can be bought and sold at will, then what is the point of being a living corpse?”

Lu Huaining could hardly resist applauding this woman who dared defy the heavens. “I never expected the drama department at W University to have such a talented student as Miss Xue. I’m sure Director Jiang would be immensely gratified.”

Xue Zuining froze. How much did this man know? Why did she feel as if, at that moment, his gaze was enough to utterly destroy her?

Lu Huaining watched her stiff figure by the door, her slender wrist resting on the handle, his voice faint yet laced with danger. “Remember, the door before you will not stay open forever.”

Her only response was to walk out with unwavering steps.

Lu Huaining regarded the silvery moonlight outside the door. The evening breeze stirred, carrying the faint fragrance of flowers from the courtyard. He smiled, but his eyes were darker than the night itself. Dignity? Xue Zuining, to me, your only dignity is dust beneath my feet, for me to trample as I please!