Chapter 70: Dunhuang 108

The 108-kilometer trek in Dunhuang was like a devil’s training camp.

Shang Zhitao tightened her sun hat and face mask, then said to Lumi beside her, “I think there’s sand in my shoe; I need to empty it.”

“I think I have some too,” Lumi lifted her mask and spat. The two of them left the group to shake out the sand, cursing under their breath: “That damn Dony, what an idiot to suggest everyone participate. Participate my ass! The team leader didn’t even check if everyone’s straps were tied properly; Luke had to check each one.”

Lumi couldn’t stand Dony since she found out he tried to hit on Shang Zhitao—she wanted to snap his neck in half.

“I don’t know how to deal with this either!” Lumi was getting impatient.

“Let me see.”

They looked up and saw Luan Nian, both a bit surprised. When Luan Nian helped everyone organize their gear in the morning, they were handling logistics. Everyone else was fine except for them—they ended up with sand in their shoes.

“No need…” Shang Zhitao instinctively refused, but Lumi slapped her arm, “Thank you, Luke.”

“Stand up.” Luan Nian didn’t say much. He instructed them to put their shoes back on and stood up so he could check their gear. Kneeling on one knee, he looked like a gentleman. Lumi lifted her mask and made a silent scream gesture at Shang Zhitao, who couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Luan Nian ignored the strange interaction between the two and said to Shang Zhitao, “Your turn.”

Shang Zhitao responded with an “Oh” and stepped in front of Luan Nian, feeling a bit nervous. Luan Nian’s palm rested against her calf as he helped her fasten her gaiters. Shang Zhitao felt a hidden flutter in her heart. She didn’t dare look at Luan Nian, fearing that one glance would betray her feelings.

After Luan Nian finished adjusting their gear, he told them, “Take a few steps and see how it feels.”

“Oh.” The two took a few steps, and Lumi gave Luan Nian a thumbs-up: “Our Luke is amazing, knows everything, can do anything.”

“Do you know why pretty girls often lose points?”

“Why?”

“Because they talk too much.”

Lumi pouted, but at least he still complimented her on being pretty, right?

Luan Nian glanced disdainfully at them: “Aren’t you leaving yet? You’re falling behind.” Then he sent a message to Shang Zhitao: “Why are you nervous? Haven’t I touched you before?”

Shang Zhitao almost dropped her phone. Luan Nian appeared perfectly normal, looking dignified and composed.

Finally, they reached the rest point. Everyone sat drinking water, tidying up, and chatting. Luan Nian was talking to Dony when he noticed Dony’s gaze fixating somewhere. Following his line of sight, Luan Nian saw Shang Zhitao tilting her head back to drink water. Her fair face was flushed, and her ponytail swayed behind her, making her look like a student still in school.

“Dony.” Luan Nian called him.

“Where were we just now?” Dony asked Luan Nian.

But Luan Nian shrugged: “When you figure it out, come find me again.” He turned and walked away. That look Dony gave Shang Zhitao earlier irritated him—it was the look of a man determined to conquer a woman. He asked Tracy: “How’s the background check going?”

“Just starting to get some leads.”

“Too slow.”

“Why are you in such a hurry?”

Luan Nian didn’t respond.

After a while, Tracy called him: “Are you free?”

Luan Nian slowed his pace, falling to the back of the group: “Yes, what’s up?”

“It’s interesting.” Tracy told Luan Nian.

“Just say it.”

“Scandal. Sexual scandal. Dony left his previous company because of a sexual scandal.” Tracy explained.

Luan Nian thought about that naked, determined look Dony gave Shang Zhitao and asked Tracy: “How bad was it?”

“Apparently, it caused quite a stir, which is why he managed to return to the country through connections.”

“Get me the details.”

“Not yet available. Wait for my update.”

After hanging up, Luan Nian thought that the company had assigned him an opponent lacking even basic professional ethics—an insult to him.

The first day of the hike ended, and everyone was too exhausted to speak.

However, the marketing department still had work to do, arranging dinners, accommodations, and other tasks. As the acting head of the marketing department, Luan Nian gathered everyone for a quick meeting. Seeing his usually energetic team now disheveled and drooping, he softly laughed: “Tired?”

Everyone nodded. Lumi said, “Dead tired.”

“After the event ends, everyone gets two days off. But for now, let’s review the next steps. Let’s start with Lumi.”

“There’s a problem with the supplier.” Lumi spoke directly: “I still don’t understand why the supplier for this event bypassed the bidding process.”

The supplier chosen by the planning department came in through a special process, quickly taking on the job without proper checks. What kind of nonsense was this? Only when they started working did they realize the supplier knew nothing: “Using such a supplier for this kind of event will cause problems. What if extreme weather hits? What if someone gets sick? We only discovered on-site that the supplier hadn’t prepared any of the contingency plans confirmed earlier.”

“Let’s not worry about the supplier for now. What’s our contingency plan?” Luan Nian asked her.

“Two colleagues from the marketing department know first aid. Today, we assigned one to the front of the group and one to the back. However, we lack equipment and hiking experts.”

“I’ll count as one.” Luan Nian told her: “I know first aid and hiking. Tomorrow, I’ll still check the gear. Male colleagues, stay behind; I’ll teach you.”

“Okay.”

“Next, Flora.”

“I’m in charge of catering. I noticed the actual food provided doesn’t match the menu the supplier promised. I’ve already communicated with the hotel and supplier urgently. We refused to pay for the last-minute changes.”

“Good, thank you for your hard work.”

Going through the processes one by one, everyone realized there were many issues. Fortunately, Luan Nian was there. With experience, he solved one problem after another. And today, he was unusually mellow. Working with him was pleasant, except for his high standards for subordinates. Especially when he was in a good mood, it felt like basking in spring sunshine. He comforted the team: “Regarding the supplier issue, no need to trace it back. This special approval process will expose unreliable suppliers, preventing future occurrences. For now, let’s focus on solving the immediate problems. Thank you all for your hard work.”

Lumi said to Shang Zhitao: “How is he not tired?”

Shang Zhitao glanced at him and shook her head: “I don’t know.”

How could he not be tired? He had dry eye syndrome and stomach issues. Sometimes, Shang Zhitao wondered why he worked so hard when he lacked nothing. What was he striving for? While checking the banquet food, she saw Luan Nian sitting on a chair beside a dimly lit path, applying eyedrops.

When they were alone, she always helped him apply the drops. He would tilt his head back, and she stood between his legs, helping him apply the drops, then gently cupped his face and kissed him.

“Flora.”

She heard someone call her name and turned around to see Dony. Luan Nian opened his eyes and saw Dony and Shang Zhitao standing on the path.

Shang Zhitao took a step back: “What is it, Dony?”

“You’ve worked hard today.”

“It’s part of the job.” Shang Zhitao stuffed her hands into her pockets and took another step back: “I need to check the meals now.”

“When we arrive at the destination the day after tomorrow, let’s have dinner together?”

“We have a lot of wrap-up work the day after tomorrow.”

“Alright. I just feel you’ve worked hard and want to treat you to dinner.”

“Thank you, Dony.”

“I’m free.” Luan Nian emerged from the shadows and smiled at Dony: “Thank you, Dony, for caring about my temporary department employees. I know a good restaurant. Let’s go together the day after tomorrow.”

“Sure.” Dony never said anything inappropriate, but adults understood the implications. A high-level player casually flirted, ready to pick a flower. If he succeeded, great; if not, no harm done—you couldn’t even find fault.

As Lumi put it: “Mowing grass and hitting rabbits, nothing delayed.”

Luan Nian saw through Dony’s seemingly sunny and refined exterior, hiding a rotten core worse than a sewer. Having such a person within Shang Zhitao’s line of sight made him uncomfortable.

Turning to Shang Zhitao, he said: “Isn’t Flora supposed to check the meals?”

“Yes.”

“Go ahead.”

“What does Luke usually do for entertainment at night? I know two fun places in Beijing.”

“I know some entertainment spots too.” Luan Nian said: “You know, the biggest perk of working at Lingmei is staying at the forefront of fashion. Let’s hang out sometime.”

Luan Nian exchanged pleasantries with him, walking together to the banquet hall and separately chatting with clients, showing no signs of anything unusual. Jiang Lan had known Luan Nian for over three years and was sharp. Leaning close to Luan Nian, she whispered, “Luke, you’re angry.”

Luan Nian looked at her, saying nothing. Jiang Lan was smart—if you denied being angry, she’d think you considered her a fool.

Jiang Lan squinted her eyes: “This Dony is interesting.”

“What’s interesting about him?”

“He says he likes fitness and combat sports.” Jiang Lan winked at Luke: “He brought it up unexpectedly during a private visit.” Such hints were obvious, but Jiang Lan didn’t like it. She preferred someone like Luan Nian—aloof, distant, yet irresistibly attractive.

“Congratulations, Miss Jiang. He’s totally your type.” Luan Nian’s tone was lukewarm.

“Is he? My type isn’t like that.”

Jiang Lan chuckled softly and walked away. After checking the meals, Shang Zhitao returned to the banquet hall, saw everything set up, and found a seat. She felt as if her legs were filled with lead, sore and swollen, every step requiring great effort.

“Are you alright?” Lumi collapsed onto the chair next to her, watching the seemingly relaxed clients, especially Jiang Lan, who still sashayed with charm: “These cunning people!”

Shang Zhitao pulled Lumi’s hand and took her to a secluded place: “Lumi.”

“Hmm?”

“Dony asked me out to dinner.” Shang Zhitao told Lumi.

“What did you say?”

“I said I didn’t have time. I know he’ll ask again. I suspect his intentions aren’t romantic. He sees me as timid and mild-mannered, thinking I’m easy to bully.”

Lumi glanced inside. Even amidst such a lively scene, all sorts of characters were present.

“What are you planning to do?”

“I haven’t decided yet. But I think I might need your help.”

“Help you deal with maggots? I’d be more than happy to.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Fool.”

Luan Nian often called Shang Zhitao a fool, but she wasn’t really foolish. While busy outside, she received a message from Luan Nian asking: “Has Dony harassed you?”

“No.”