Long Tian

"No, Tian Tian! I'll meet you within the hour! Kay? Love you!" Blowing the man a kiss, Lu Jin disconnected the call. As she looked at the black bracket on her wrist, a lost look appeared in the woman's eyes.

"Was that Long Tian?" A deep, gruff, male voice sounded from the other side of the room, causing her to startle out of her thoughts. Forcing a stiff smile on her face, Lu Jin turned and looked at the naked man lying on her bed.

"Hmm. It was Long Tian. He wants me to meet him at the Disco Club."

Walking into the walk-in closet, she opened her wardrobe and withdrew a change of clothes.

"What does he want? It can't be...?"

"Can't be what?"

"It can't be he wants to take you home, right?" When Lu Jin heard these words, her heart thumped in her chest.

Long Tian was going to take her to the Long Mansion?

He was going to introduce her to his parents?

Her eyes brightened and a sweet smile spread across her lips that brightened her entire face.

"Do you really think he's taking me to meet his parents?"

The man got out of bed and appeared behind her. His hands slipped under her arms and roamed over her chest.

"Haha...If he is, then that'd be even better! This Long Tian, he's the son of Commander Long. How come he can't tell you only love his money and not him? Haha...Babe, tell me the truth. Why is he so enamored with you? What other ways did you service him, hmm?" Lu Jinn flushed, both from shame and pleasure.

"Service him? How can you even say that? Gu Yan, you know you're the only one I love." She cried and tried to push him away, but Gu Yan wasn't having it.

He forced his knee between her legs and he squeezed her chest. Laying his chin on her neck, he breathed in her ear. Lu Jin shivered in reaction.

"You love me? Then prove it. You can't leave today until you please me." Wrapping his arms around her waist, he carried her to the bed.

Half an hour later, Lu Jin got off Gu Yan's hover to meet Long Tian.

Bang!

"Gu Yan, don't wait for me. I don't know when I'll get out."

"Babe, don't worry. I can wait. After all, right from the start, this was my plan." Gu Yan smiled sinisterly and stretched his hand and pinched Lu Jin's chin.

"Lu Jin, just remember your role. Don't fall in love with the man."

Lu Jin's heart thumped at Gu Yan's words. But there wasn't the slightest change in her expression.

"You...what are you saying? How can I fall in love...with him."

"Hmm. As long as you know. Because if you fall in love with him, then it won't end well for you. Now go. I'll come in to pick you when he leaves."

Lu Jin nodded her head and stepped back. Once the hover drove past her, she turned and walked towards the Disco Club.

Steel grey with neon lights flashing on its signboard, the Disco Club was the second place most frequented by the new generation after Pleasure Town.

Lu Jin walked to the door and showed the guard her membership card. Also black, it was given to her by Long Tian along with the CellCom bracelet.

"Have a good time, miss." Seeing her black card, combined with her designer clothes and good looks, the guard immediately mistook her for a rich heiress.

Lu Jin didn't try to correct him and instead, raised her head proudly and strode in.

What was there to correct?

Even if she wasn't the heiress of a rich and wealthy family, once she married Long Tian, she would be the rich, wealthy, and powerful madam of the Long Family.

The lights in the Disco Club were dim, with only the stage lights bright enough to light the place. Lu Jin familiarly walked to the counter and set down her purse, smiling up generously at the server.

"A shot of NW Vodka, please."

The drink mixer blushed upon seeing her pretty appearance.

"Yes, miss. Give a second."

A minute later, he returned with her drink. An enamored smile on his face, he slid the glass across the counter and dazedly stared at her.

Lu Jin smirked.

The server's lost expression pleased her and boosted her self-confidence. She languidly crossed her legs and swept a scornful glance over the rowdy crowd, appearing like a queen overlooking peasants.

As two females got on stage and dance battled, an urge to join in the fun sprouted in her heart. But she shook her head and immediately suppressed the desire.

"Long Tian isn't here yet...but I still need to maintain my proper lady façade until I pass the Long Family threshold." Sighing dejectedly, she picked up her drink and took a sip.

At this moment, heads began to turn and the light in the Disco Club seemed to dim and focus on a certain spot.

Sensing the strange tension in the air, Lu Jin furrowed her brows and turned her head to look. When she saw him, her breath caught.

Of course. Only he is capable enough to silence a crowd with his mere presence.

Long Tian was ducked in black, with a blue necktie and vest. His midnight-black hair glimmered under the nightlight as he walked to the counter like a king.

If she said she wasn't attracted to the man...Lu Jin would be lying.

A man like Long Tian was one in a million. And in the New World Formation where the cost of living was sky-high, having a relationship with the son of the Great Commander was tantamount to securing a cash cow.

There were many instances where Lu Jin felt tempted to dump Gu Yan and cling onto the money-bags Long Tian. But she stomped on the impulse before it could take control of her mind.

If she ditched Gu Yan to chase after Long Tian, then Gu Yan wouldn't spare her. He would ruin her career and ruin her image in Long Tian's eyes.

Not only would he expose how she'd only approached him for his money. He would also embellish their love affair while she dated him.

By then, let alone Long Tian, even the luxurious life and status she enjoyed as Long Tian's girlfriend would be gone.

No...I can't lose this status...but I also want the man, Long Tian.

Gu Yan, you can only blame yourself for sending me to Long Tian's side...

A malicious gleam appeared in Lu Jin's eyes as she gritted her teeth and vowed to remove the stain, Gu Yan, from her life forever.

Upon hearing the dull footsteps resounding behind her, Lu Jin immediately schooled her expression and a wide, gentle smile graced her delicate features.

"Tian Tian, you're here." Pushing out of her seat, she took the initiative to grab his arm, her heart pounding in joyous delight when the females' envious and jealous glares landed on her figure.

"Hmmm..." The man coldly nodded.

Lu Jin threw the glaring women a possessive and victorious smirk and still clutching his arm, guided him to the counter.

That's right...the most handsome and richest man of the New World Formation was her boyfriend!

They can glare in jealousy or stare in envy.

Either way, Long Tian was hers, Lu Jin's.

Although she approached him on Gu Yan's instructions and acted in certain ways to attract his attention, once she came to know the perks of being Long Tian's girlfriend, she had a change of heart.

She wanted to rid herself of Gu Yan, marry Long Tian, and become the Young Madam of the Long Family!

But Gu Yan...how was she going to clear him out of her way?

She frowned then raised her head and smiled radiantly at the breathtaking man across from her.

"Tian Tian, why did you want to see me at this time? Is something the matter?"

"My father wants me to marry his friend's daughter." Long Tian expressionlessly said.

"What!? Your father wants you to marry his friend's daughter?" Lu Jin was stunned. Of all the things she expected to hear, this wasn't one of them.

How can Long Tian marry someone else? What about her and her dreams?

Wasn't Long Tian supposed to take her to meet his parents? Then where did this other woman come from?

Lu Jin panicked. The cash cow she was eyeing was about to slip out of her hand. How could she possibly remain calm?

Her head spanned as various questions floated in and out.

Long Tian saw her face turn pale and missing taking it for heartache, his cold mask melted away.

He sighed helplessly and squeezed Lu Jin's hand, his face turning gentle as he softly comforted.

"Lu Jin, don't worry. I won't marry her. I already told my father that I want to marry you."

"Really!? Then...what did he say?" Lu Jin's soul returned to her body when she heard his words.

He wants to marry me!

Heart pounding in her ears, she expectantly fixed her shining eyes on the man.

"He said he won't accept you as his daughter-in-law. If I dare to make you my wife even after his objections, he will disown me. But don't worry. No matter what my father says, I'll still marry you. Even if I get kicked out of the Long Family register and become homeless, I'll never abandon you, okay?"

"How can that be...?" Lu Jin's eyes turned from shiny to vacant in a matter of seconds. Shocked speechless, she dazedly slumped back in her seat.

"He's your father! How can he disown you?"

Marry a Long Tian that was disowned and homeless...?

Why would she do that?

The Long Tian she loved was the son of the Great Commander.

The one and only heir of the New World Formation's powerful Long Family.

If he gets disowned and abandoned by his family, he would be nothing more than a poor, homeless guy. Worse than even Gu Yan who at least started his own company.

Even if Long Tian was better looking than Gu Yan, so what?

Why would she marry a homeless guy when she could find herself another rich man?

But should she really give up on him? As much as she hated to admit it, Lu Jin loved the man's noble aura and masculine looks.

If he convinced his father somehow, then maybe, they could still be together?

"Besides, I'm not completely hopeless. I've got my own company running well. Even if my Father disowns me, we won't be short of money. Don't worry, I won't let you starve."

In the New World Formation, more than looks and bodies, money and status mattered.

Lu Jin was thinking of how wretched her life would be if she married a homeless Long Tian that she didn't even hear his words.

On the other hand, Long Tian was unaware of the fact that the woman he was planning a future with was already thinking of ditching him.

With a stiff smile on her face, Lu Jin grabbed Long Tian's hand and looked at him with an aggrieved expression.

"Tian Tian, I don't want to be the cause of your family breaking apart. I don't want to see you get disowned by your father. If possible, could you try to convince him, instead? No matter how long it takes, I don't mind waiting."

Long Tian's heart softened when he heard her words.

This was one of the other reasons why he liked Lu Jin. Aside from being mature and modest, she was also kind and considerate and didn't have questionable relationships with multiple individuals.

In this period where sincerity was only a façade and modesty hard to find, he liked Lu Jin for she possessed both.

Besides, she was simple and straightforward...