Chapter 1021: Seduction

The next afternoon, Ma Rui specifically tidied himself up, his hair combed meticulously, and headed straight for the Fast Boat Lang Cafe in the Central hotel.

He lowered his head to glance at his wristwatch; the minute hand was precise, caught exactly at the three o'clock position.

Jiang Wanyu appeared right on time, wearing a stylish dress with a daring cut; the neckline was just right, revealing collarbones and shoulder lines that were blindingly white under the lights, and the hem was short to the point of being unconventional, yet she wore it with a sense of justified sexiness.

Ma Rui stood up and gentlemanly pulled out a chair for her, "Miss Jiang, I didn't expect a beautiful woman could be so punctual."

Jiang Wanyu sat down smoothly, her red lips curving into a charming arc: "Meeting Boss Ma, how could I not be punctual?"

Ma Rui stopped the pleasantries, straightened his expression, and pulled two thick contracts from his briefcase; the leather covers were stamped with the company's gold-foiled logo. "Miss Jiang, I looked into the company's projects and really found two roles that are quite suitable for you. If you are interested, we can sign the contracts today."

Jiang Wanyu took the contracts, flipped through a few pages, and then gently closed them, "Boss Ma, these things of mine—contracts, pay, work arrangements—all have to go through my agent's process in the end. I can't make this call myself."

Upon hearing this, Ma Rui said casually: "I know a bit about that Hollywood process of yours; what star-rated hotel to stay in, how many hours you can't exceed per day, even what model of RV to provide and how many types of drinks must be stocked in the fridge, all have to be written clearly..."

He laughed heartily after saying this.

Jiang Wanyu rolled her eyes at Ma Rui and said: "Boss Ma, you're quite funny. I haven't eaten lunch yet! How about we change places?"

"But I have a negotiation tonight!"

"You can push it back! Is my charm not enough?" Jiang Wanyu said with justification, "I've already booked a table at the top-floor restaurant of the Grand Hyatt Hotel. We'll eat Italian food!"

Ma Rui frowned: "I'm here for serious business; I can't decline it."

Jiang Wanyu smiled and said: "What time is your appointment? I'll go with you."

"Isn't that a bit inappropriate?" Ma Rui said.

"I can step aside when you're talking business; I'm really hungry," Jiang Wanyu said.

"This, is it okay?" Ma Rui said with some hesitation.

"Don't dawdle, let's go now." Jiang Wanyu stood up and left.

Ma Rui hurriedly called for a car.

Five minutes later, a luxury Rolls-Royce was already parked at the hotel entrance; the person driving was none other than He Yuzhu.

However, he had disguised himself, looking very much like a person of mixed foreign heritage, and his age appeared to be in his thirties.

He Yuzhu looked at Ma Rui and Jiang Wanyu as if nothing were the matter and asked casually: "Boss, are we still going to the Taiping Building to see Mr. Roger today?"

Ma Rui nodded: "It's scheduled; I can't not go."

He Yuzhu said: "There isn't much traffic now; the trip will take about half an hour. Boss Ma, you should sleep for a while."

Ma Rui nodded.

He immediately leaned back against the seat, closed his eyes, and feigned the appearance of falling asleep.

Jiang Wanyu leaned against his shoulder, also feigning a look of exhaustion, and muttered: "After the party broke up at your place last night, we went on to Lan Kwai Fong to continue, drinking with several film company bosses, and didn't finish until five in the morning. My eyelids are fighting each other right now. After we eat later, I'm not going anywhere; I'm going straight back to the hotel to get some good sleep."

Ma Rui also replied listlessly: "Who's to say otherwise? I was tossed about all night too; my bones feel like they're falling apart."

Before he finished speaking, Jiang Wanyu leaned into his ear and said: "Boss Ma, you're different from me; you're tired because of women, right?"

Ma Rui opened his eyes abruptly, his tone becoming serious: "Miss Jiang, given our relationship, we shouldn't be talking about this kind of topic, right!" He hurriedly glanced at the driver, implying that the driver might snitch.

Jiang Wanyu didn't care, pursed her lips and chuckled, bumping her shoulder lightly against his: "Boss Ma, don't be so old-fashioned. We people from M Country are very open; if you like someone, you must tell them."

Ma Rui pondered for two seconds, leaned into her ear, and said: "Miss Jiang, I do have a good impression of you, but I am a married man."

Hearing this, Jiang Wanyu laughed even more charmingly, her fingertips twirling a lock of her hair: "Boss Ma, of all those hovering around me, which one isn't married?"

Ma Rui was stunned by her words, then shook his head and chuckled twice: "Miss Jiang, your personality is quite good; you don't hide anything."

The two chatted back and forth with sweet nothings, but Ma Rui felt his cheeks gradually heating up.

Jiang Wanyu thought Ma Rui was just shy, so she leaned even closer to him.

Ma Rui kept glancing at the driver in the front row from the corner of his eye.

Jiang Wanyu, however, thought he had the heart but not the courage, and spoke even more unscrupulously.

He Yuzhu kept his hands on the steering wheel, looking straight ahead, as if every word from the back seat couldn't drift into his ears.

The car turned into an old street and stopped steadily in front of a restaurant with an inconspicuous facade that nonetheless exuded a sense of history.

Ma Rui pushed the car door open and got out, while Jiang Wanyu directly hooked her arm through his, and Ma Rui did not refuse.

As they walked, Jiang Wanyu said: "Boss Ma, do you want to come to my hotel for a cup of coffee tonight?"

Ma Rui played dumb and asked: "Does the coffee you're talking about have a special meaning? I've never been abroad, so I don't quite understand."

Jiang Wanyu glared at him and said nothing.

The two entered the restaurant one after the other, passed through a dim corridor, and pushed open the door to a private room, where an Italian man with a high nose and deep-set eyes was already sitting at the table, slowly sipping from a teacup.

Ma Rui pulled out a chair and introduced: "Miss Jiang, this is Mr. Roger. His Chinese is very fluent; he studied at our National Language Institute a few years ago and is a genuine China hand. He has always had ideas about film, and this time he wants to cooperate with us to make a movie reflecting the lives of taxi drivers."

Jiang Wanyu sat down, scanned Roger with her gaze, and asked with interest: "Is there a female lead? Is the role significant? Can I try out for it?"

Ma Rui took the hot towel handed over by the waiter to wipe his hands and replied: "This film has a fragmented structure; there are several female leads... The investment isn't large, totaling less than five million People's Currency, not even one million US dollars. Does Miss Jiang really want to act in it?"

A flash of disdain crossed Jiang Wanyu's eyes, but her words remained polite: "Indeed... the budget is not high."

Ma Rui and Roger talked quite congenially, discussing everything from the script to the shooting schedule in depth. After the meal was finished, two contracts were spread out on the table, and both sides signed them decisively.

The banquet ended quickly, lasting no more than two hours in total.

After seeing Roger off, Ma Rui returned to the private room and saw Jiang Wanyu eating a portion of egg-fried rice noodles.

Ma Rui asked in confusion: "You're still not full?"

Jiang Wanyu put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth, and looked up at him: "Boss Ma, will you come back to the hotel with me? Honestly, compared to those fat-headed, greasy-mouthed bosses, you are much more interesting than them."

Ma Rui shook his head vigorously: "No, no, I really am a married man; I'm not joking with you."

Jiang Wanyu, however, ignored him and began to gently stroke Ma Rui's thigh with one hand.

Ma Rui's whole body tightened, and he said: "Miss Jiang, we can't be here; it's not appropriate."

"Boss Ma, if you come back with me, I guarantee you'll have an unforgettable night tonight."

Ma Rui thought to himself, my uncle was right; this is a female spy. How could an actress seduce someone like this? He knew well enough whether he was handsome or not.

He swallowed hard and said: "I can go back with you, but I can only stay for two hours at most. I must leave after two hours."

Jiang Wanyu nodded, the corners of her mouth curving into a faint, elusive smile: "I know you have a celebrity wife, I don't care."

Ma Rui turned his head to glance at the car and said, "Ride in my car."

Jiang Wanyu thought for a moment and agreed: "Fine, as long as you aren't afraid, I don't mind."