Chapter 37: My Future Wife

The next morning, He Lian took Jiang Yu on a helicopter back to downtown Jinzhou. Looking down, she saw towering skyscrapers and bustling traffic—the most prosperous core of the Northern business district.

Before long, a skyscraper nearly a hundred stories high came into view.

The helicopter landed smoothly on the rooftop helipad.

The Secretary-General of Dingsheng Group’s Executive Office was already waiting there. Wearing a well-tailored white suit, the woman didn’t look surprised at all upon seeing Jiang Yu, clearly already aware of her existence.

“CEO He, Miss Jiang.”

The Secretary-General stepped forward: “The representatives from NG brand are ready, and the driver is waiting downstairs.”

He Lian nodded slightly, leaned down toward Jiang Yu, and said with a light smile, “Let’s go. I’ll buy you a few new outfits. Wearing children’s clothes all the time really isn’t proper.”

Jiang Yu put on a feigned half-understanding expression and obediently grabbed the back three fingers of his left hand.

With the corners of his lips raised high, He Lian led her downstairs.

Dingsheng’s business scope was vast, spanning from logistics and seafood imports at the bottom to national security special projects at the top. The entire office building had a clear division of labor across departments, and employees walked briskly without a single sound of chatter or laughter.

Furthermore, because Shen Jin had given prior notice, no one gave Jiang Yu so much as a second glance when they saw her beside He Lian.

As Jiang Yu observed this, only one impression formed in her mind.

Order.

The people working under He Lian—whether they were team members at the Fortress or corporate employees at Dingsheng—possessed a strong sense of discipline and order. Yet, ironically, he himself was a unbridled, lawless rogue.

Half an hour later, a black Bentley pulled up outside the NG Building. The brand manager hurried over to welcome them, guiding the two through the doors toward the private VIP elevator that led straight to the top floor.

The first two floors of the NG Building functioned as its own flagship mall, where many customers were currently shopping, mostly women. The sudden appearance of a 192 cm man in such a vast space naturally drew everyone’s gaze.

He Lian was not someone inherently unrefined; he knew better than anyone how to dress appropriately for any occasion. Today, to match Jiang Yu later, he had specifically chosen a black ribbon-accented suit.

Stepping in matching Oxford leather shoes, his broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs, and exquisite, deeply contoured face instantly ignited a chorus of shy, breathless gasps.

However, anyone looking at He Lian inevitably noticed the girl beside him.

Jiang Yu was thin and small. Malnourished during her growth years, she barely managed to reach 160 cm, standing just below his shoulder. Being suddenly stared at by so many people, she instinctively leaned a bit closer to He Lian.

Goodness, it felt like being brought to an execution ground.

The manager held the elevator door: “Mr. He, right this way, please.”

Accustomed to being the center of attention, He Lian pulled Jiang Yu into his embrace as he stepped into the elevator. The guards following behind him smoothly stepped in as well, blocking Jiang Yu from view.

The moment the elevator doors closed, countless whispers erupted simultaneously.

“Was that… was that He Lian of the He family?”

“That’s him! I saw him on the military news. Oh my god, he’s ten thousand times handsomer in person than in photos!”

“He’s completely my type! I can’t take it, I really want to go up and ask for his contact info.”

“Are you dreaming? Didn’t you see the girl beside him?”

“Is that He Lian’s younger sister?”

“I’ve seen He Zhiyi, she doesn’t look like that at all.”

While they were talking, a rapid clatter of high heels rushed over. A woman with a graceful figure ran up to the crowd holding up her voluminous skirt, asking anxiously, “Who were you talking about just now? He Lian is here?”

The sales associate followed behind her, out of breath.

“Miss Xiran! Please slow down!”

The crowd glanced at the price tag still hanging from her dress and nodded awkwardly.

Anyone able to shop at NG was either wealthy or noble in Jinzhou. Although they couldn’t reach the top floor, they had all heard various romantic scandals among the prominent business dynasties.

It was widely rumored that the eldest daughter of the Xie family was deeply infatuated with He Lian and willing to act as his plaything. No one expected it to be true—the moment she heard He Lian’s name, she threw all composure to the wind.

A flush of excitement spread across Xie Xiran’s delicate face. Snapping off the price tag, she smoothed her well-maintained long hair and paid no heed to the strange looks around her as she hurried toward the private elevator.

She hadn’t seen He Lian in so long; she missed him desperately.

On the other side, inside the private fashion runway on the building’s top floor.

The decor was ostentatious and luxurious, the air infused with a pleasant handcrafted fragrance.

He Lian sat sprawling casually on the sofa, leaning back with a glass of red wine in hand. Shifting his gaze away from the models walking back and forth on the runway, he said to Jiang Yu beside him, “A-Yu, which sister’s outfit do you like?”

Jiang Yu blinked, unable to resist taking a deep breath.

She knew the He family was immensely powerful and that He Lian had more money than he knew how to spend, but it wasn’t until today that she truly appreciated the full weight of the title “Crown Prince of Jinzhou.”

Her father, Yan Beian, had been considered middle class in Yangcheng. Before the tragedy occurred, although she was confined indoors, she had lived without worry for food or clothing.

Today, she was finally having her eyes opened.

So this was how truly wealthy people bought clothes.

The manager stood nearby with his staff. Seeing Jiang Yu look somewhat bewildered, he bowed respectfully and said, “Miss Jiang, today’s models were selected based on your height and weight. Whichever pieces you like, we will wrap them up for you.”

Jiang Yu’s eyes were slightly overwhelmed.

Whether it was skirts or dresses, the styles were all exquisitely designed to the absolute extreme.

In any case, every single piece was better than the children’s hoodie she was wearing.

Fiddling with her fingers, she realized that if she could only pick one, it would actually be a tough choice.

Thinking she didn’t like any of them, He Lian looked toward the runway, happening to lock eyes with a model walking directly toward them.

The model’s face flushed instantly, her steps mysteriously slowing down.

He Lian looked far from refined in a suit; instead, he carried a lazy, wild edge. As the model’s gaze drifted from his handsome features down to his tightly pressed lips, her mind began to wander.

Yet the next second, those lips parted to utter an outrageously blunt command:

“Pick up the damn pace!”

The model nearly sprained her ankle, turning around in a panic to head back.

Jiang Yu was also startled by his booming voice. Just as she reached out her hand to point, a broad palm covered her head from above, accompanied by the man’s low chuckle hovering overhead.

“Can’t choose? Then we’ll take them all.”

The manager was both shocked and overjoyed: “We prepared over a hundred outfits for Miss Jiang today. Are you sure you want all of them?”

Jiang Yu turned around in astonishment, looking up at He Lian.

He Lian pressed his slender fingertips against his brow: “Was I not speaking Chinese?”

Flustered, the manager nodded frantically and instructed a staff member to tell the models backstage to stop changing, ordering them to package every single exhibition outfit scheduled for today and send them straight to Han Palace.

They made an absolute fortune today!

Jiang Yu had no reason to stop him. Besides, this tiny amount of money was a drop in the bucket for He Lian, and only a fool wouldn’t take advantage of it.

He Lian pulled her up to walk out. Just as they reached the runway exit, they saw Xie Xiran being blocked a few meters away by two guards. Spotting him, the woman waved her hand in wild delight: “Mr. He!”

However, her joy lasted for only a second before being shattered by Jiang Yu standing beside He Lian.

Seeing their clasped hands, Xie Xiran’s face froze. Gathering strength from who knows where, she shoved the guards aside and ran over, looking extremely uneasy: “Mr. He, who is this young lady?”

He Lian cast a cold glance at her. Whether speaking his true feelings or simply trying to crush her hopes, he pulled Jiang Yu into his arms and said indifferently:

“My future wife.”

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