Chapter 067: Childhood Sweethearts

Li Huan was momentarily stunned. He had only done a quick wash in the morning, never expecting to see Sun Feifei today, and now, here was a strikingly handsome man, seemingly perfect in every way. Li Huan felt a pang of insecurity; had he known, he would have gone home first to put on that expensive suit.

Sun Feifei stood up warmly, took Li Huan’s arm, and led him to the seat beside her, then introduced him, “This is my friend, Jin Jiangqun.”

“Nice to meet you,” Jin Jiangqun, the man with glasses, smiled politely, greeting Li Huan without a trace of discomfort, as if Li Huan’s sudden appearance didn’t bother him at all.

Sun Feifei turned her head and looked into Li Huan’s eyes, blinking mischievously. Before Li Huan could react, she declared, “Jiangqun, this is the one I told you about—my current boyfriend, Li Huan!”

Sun Feifei’s unexpected words left Li Huan dumbfounded. He couldn’t grasp her intention; it seemed incredible to him that she would announce their relationship so openly in front of someone else.

Seeing Li Huan staring at her blankly and saying nothing, Sun Feifei grew annoyed. This guy was really slow to react. Irritated, she extended her foot and pressed her heel lightly against his instep.

The slight pain brought Li Huan back to his senses. Seeing Sun Feifei signaling him incessantly, he realized what was happening. She was using him as a shield to fend off the handsome man’s pursuit.

Understanding this, Li Huan changed his expression, adopting a smug look as if he were performing a magic trick. He nodded at the slightly surprised man across the table and said, “That’s right. I’m Feifei’s boyfriend!”

Sun Feifei nearly jumped up to strangle Li Huan. Couldn’t he at least act a bit more convincingly? And at this moment, he still called her “Feifei Jie”!

Li Huan noticed his slip; he was used to calling her “Feifei Jie,” and it was hard to adjust suddenly. Seeing Jin Jiangqun frown slightly, Li Huan hurried to explain, “Haha, that’s just how we talk. Feifei is my senior. Ours is a ‘older woman-younger man’ romance.”

This time, Sun Feifei couldn’t hold back. She stomped hard on Li Huan’s foot with her high heel, then before he could cry out, she grabbed his hand tightly, pressing her fingertip into his palm.

“Li Huan, what would you like to eat? The dishes here are quite special—I’ve heard the chef is descended from the royal kitchens!” Sun Feifei quickly changed the subject, not giving Li Huan any chance to slip up. It was best not to let him talk much with Jin Jiangqun right now.

Li Huan had no idea what specialties were offered here; he wanted to try everything, but that was impossible. He was about to pick up the menu when inspiration struck. Looking at Sun Feifei with a meaningful expression, he said, “No need. You know everything I like. It’s all your favorites.”

There was a lot packed into that sentence, and Sun Feifei was momentarily dazed, but soon caught his meaning. She rolled her eyes at him, nodded gently, and adopted a tender demeanor, saying, “You’re the best.”

Li Huan’s heart skipped a beat, feeling awkward under Sun Feifei’s display of affection. Seeing her act so demure, he was stirred emotionally, thinking that if she behaved like this that night, he would surely lose all self-control.

Jin Jiangqun, sitting across from them, watched their affectionate performance, his brow twitching, but he maintained his composure. He signaled for a waiter and had the menus handed out for the three of them.

“Mr. Li, has Feifei mentioned that our families are old friends?” Jin Jiangqun seemed unconcerned with the deliberate intimacy between Li Huan and Sun Feifei. This performance was full of flaws, and anyone with insight could see through it.

“Ah?” Li Huan, brought along to play the role of Sun Feifei’s boyfriend, naturally knew nothing about the relationship between Sun Feifei and Jin Jiangqun’s families. The sudden question made him uneasy, so he shook his head and replied, “Feifei is a very independent girl. She rarely talks about family matters.”

Sun Feifei glanced sideways at Li Huan, secretly giving a thumbs-up. She hadn’t expected him to understand her so well.

Jin Jiangqun showed little reaction, smiling as he said, “Feifei is a wonderful girl—beautiful and capable. It must be stressful to be with such a strong woman, don’t you think?”

Though his words sounded like a tease, Li Huan sensed the underlying message: Sun Feifei possessed qualities unattainable for ordinary men, and only someone like Jin Jiangqun might be suitable for her.

“Yes, you’re right. But when we’re together, Feifei is just a girl who needs care and affection. I believe many strong women need someone to look after them, too.” Li Huan, seasoned in social circles, was skilled at spinning tales.

Jin Jiangqun was briefly taken aback, glancing at Sun Feifei with suspicion. Their earlier performance had been rather over-the-top, and he had noticed some inconsistencies. Yet Li Huan’s words made him less certain; after all, Sun Feifei was strong outwardly, but how she acted with someone she truly liked, he didn’t know.

“May I ask, Mr. Li, what line of work are you in?” Jin Jiangqun kept smiling, his manner impeccable, never giving off the slightest discomfort.

Yet, this very propriety made Li Huan uncomfortable. He preferred the company of rough friends like Li Gang and Xiao Yu, shooting the breeze over barbecue and beer at roadside stalls—that was his idea of ease.

“He just returned from abroad. We’re planning to start our own financial company—it’s still in preparation.” Li Huan had anticipated questions about his career but hadn’t thought of a good excuse. Sun Feifei, however, had already prepared the answer and spoke up for him.

“I see. Mr. Li, you’re quite accomplished at such a young age!” Jin Jiangqun offered an empty compliment, then shifted the conversation, looking at Li Huan, “What’s your opinion of the current financial industry in our country?”

Sun Feifei was startled and cursed Jin Jiangqun silently. Why so many questions? He wasn’t a census taker. Outwardly, she feigned calm, coughing to try and change the subject.

Li Huan, however, was unconcerned. He’d majored in finance and read numerous analyses from successful figures across industries. He had knowledge in both domestic and international finance. He promptly shared his views, leaving Jin Jiangqun so surprised he couldn’t interject for quite some time.

Li Huan wasn’t a bookworm; he had many original ideas. That was why he’d earned his mentor’s recommendation for direct admission to graduate studies. His perspectives were well regarded, and now, showing off his expertise, even Jin Jiangqun—an elite with five or six years in business—was impressed, praising him repeatedly.

Sun Feifei hadn’t studied finance, and her rise to general manager at Dancing with Wolves was entirely due to her personal abilities. She knew only the basics of finance, unable to keep up with deeper discussions, so she listened as the two men talked on and on.

Yet, seeing Li Huan dominate the conversation, Sun Feifei felt a surge of pride, as if this man really were her boyfriend. His display in front of others gave her an unprecedented sense of vanity.

“By the way, I almost forgot to mention something. It might not be entirely appropriate, but I think Mr. Li should know.” After discussing finance for some time, Jin Jiangqun realized Li Huan was indeed talented. Continuing further would not let him prevail, so he deftly shifted the topic, taking back the initiative.

Li Huan, still basking in the glow of his own knowledge, sensed something was off, but couldn’t refuse—after all, Jin Jiangqun hadn’t yet asked anything sensitive. So he nodded, “Go ahead.”

“Here’s the thing. Feifei and I grew up together, childhood friends, and our families have always been close. Now that we’re both grown, our families feel it’s time for us to settle down, so they hope we can be together…” Jin Jiangqun paused here, narrowing his eyes to observe Li Huan’s reaction.

Both Li Huan and Sun Feifei were stunned by the sudden turn in conversation. Jin Jiangqun had so bluntly stated his position—anyone, even a fool, could guess his meaning: there was a family-arranged connection between him and Sun Feifei. No matter who claimed to be Sun Feifei’s boyfriend, they would have to step aside unless they possessed a background strong enough to contend with both families.

Li Huan sat in silence for a moment, his expression awkward. Clearly, Jin Jiangqun was provoking him, and though he spoke in a casual tone, the implication was uncomfortable, even if Li Huan himself couldn’t quite explain why. After all, he knew perfectly well he was not Sun Feifei’s real boyfriend, but merely a stand-in.