Chapter 540 - 325: Getting Two Rooms

"That’s an excellent suggestion, and well worth taking."

Lin Jiang could tell that Tang Wan wasn’t just saying this to cozy up to him and secure more resources.

He was a complete novice, unlike her, who even had proper cycling shoes. The gap in their skill was immediately apparent, so it was only natural for her to assume he couldn’t win.

’But that’s the problem. Betting against someone who’s basically using a cheat code? Isn’t she just asking for it?’

"Alright, we have a deal. If you can beat me, the role of female lead in the next film is yours. Whether you can *truly* earn it, well, that will depend on your own talent and skill."

Tang Wan’s eyes lit up. She hadn’t expected this extra perk.

"President Lin, has the next film entered the preparation stage? What’s the genre?"

"The script is being written now. It’s another comedy. If you beat me, the female lead is yours."

"Then I’ll be sure to give it my all today," Tang Wan said.

"It’s a 20-kilometer loop. Let’s see who gets back first."

"No problem. Let’s go."

Tang Wan hopped onto her bicycle, looked at Lin Jiang, and said:

"Try to keep up, President Lin."

"Don’t get ahead of yourself. Let’s just ride."

The ride began, and Tang Wan shot out into the lead.

Lin Jiang didn’t rush, simply following behind and enjoying her fragrant trail.

Under normal circumstances, Tang Wan’s rear didn’t look particularly large. It just had a very nice, perky shape.

But once she was on the bike, the proportions and effect were completely different. From behind, it looked much more pronounced.

One could even describe it as massive.

As they rode, Tang Wan would occasionally glance back at Lin Jiang. Only when she saw that he hadn’t fallen behind would she gradually pick up the pace.

’He’s my boss, after all. Even if he’s easygoing, I still need to know my place. If I go out for a ride and immediately leave him in the dust, I might as well not bother showing up at the company anymore.’

Gradually, Tang Wan increased her speed to 15 km/h.

Compared to the cycling gods on TikTok who averaged 40 km/h, this was nothing. But for Tang Wan, it wasn’t a slow pace at all.

She glanced back and saw Lin Jiang still following closely, right on her tail.

’President Lin is pretty good. He can hit 15 km/h in that outfit and has kept up with me for this long. I guess men really do have better stamina than women.’

’Time to ramp up the intensity on President Lin.’

With this thought, Tang Wan steadily increased her speed, reaching 20 km/h.

This pace was already quite fast for Tang Wan, a real test of her physical fitness.

After riding for a few kilometers, Tang Wan glanced back again, only to find Lin Jiang still right behind her, his pace not slowing in the slightest.

Lin Jiang casually followed behind. For him, this pace didn’t even count as a warm-up.

Still, trailing her and catching her faint, sweet scent was both good exercise and a feast for the eyes. It was pretty nice.

’I love cycling.’

After about 10 kilometers, Tang Wan glanced back at Lin Jiang again. She was astonished to see he was still right there, showing no signs of falling behind.

’Is President Lin’s stamina really this good?’

After a moment of deliberation, Tang Wan decided to push her speed to 25 km/h.

At this speed, Tang Wan was already starting to get a little winded.

For a novice, this speed was already her limit.

After riding for a while, she realized she still hadn’t managed to shake Lin Jiang.

’No, I have to go faster. I have to win this role!’

Her mind made up, Tang Wan stood up on the pedals. Her body swayed with the bike, putting the shape of her rear on full display for Lin Jiang.

’She has this kind of Skill, too? You should have used it earlier!’

Lin Jiang enjoyed the delightful view, while Tang Wan was panting and gasping for breath. The contrast between their states was stark.

Soon, Tang Wan couldn’t keep it up any longer. Her speed gradually dropped to 15 km/h; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to make it back at all.

Lin Jiang pulled out his phone and glanced at the route he’d planned earlier. There were about three kilometers left, almost back to the starting point.

After enjoying her fragrant trail a little longer, Lin Jiang accelerated and pulled up alongside Tang Wan.

"Doing okay? Need to take a break?"

"I’m okay," Tang Wan said, panting heavily.

"Then I won’t wait for you."

With that, Lin Jiang accelerated and pulled ahead of her.

Tang Wan was dumbfounded.

’He’s a novice, and he passed me that easily?’

He stayed in front, letting Tang Wan draft behind him for a bit. Then, as they neared the finish line, Lin Jiang accelerated again, not waiting for her.

He finished about 500 meters ahead of her, the first to return to the starting point.

"Ready to admit defeat?"

Tang Wan gasped for breath, taking a long moment to recover. "President Lin, you liar! You’re not a novice at all."

"I’ve really never ridden before. I just have good stamina."

"Your stamina is way too good." Tang Wan took off her helmet, her forehead glistening with sweat. "I ride a few times a month, but compared to you, I’m a complete rookie."

"Keep your helmet on for now, it’s a little chilly out. Let’s get in the car first."

"Okay."

The two got back in the car, and Lin Jiang turned on the heat.

Tang Wan took off her helmet and unzipped her windbreaker. Her neck was covered in sweat.

Lin Jiang took out some tissues. "Here, wipe off your sweat."

"Thank you, President Lin."

As she wiped her sweat, Tang Wan looked at Lin Jiang.

"President Lin, you’re not even sweating."

"I am, just not as much as you."

Tang Wan wiped away her sweat, musing to herself, ’Is President Lin’s stamina a little *too* good?’

"President Lin, I lost the bet. Does that mean the next role has nothing to do with me now?" Tang Wan asked plaintively.

"I wouldn’t say that. It just puts everyone on the same starting line. You know what I mean?"

Tang Wan’s talent was undeniable. With proper coaching and development, paired with a good script, her future was bound to be bright.

But the principle of not putting all your eggs in one basket applied to this industry as well.

’If another suitable candidate comes along, I’ll naturally have to give them strong consideration. She needs to feel a little sense of crisis.’

"In that case, I’m not worried. I’ll win the role with my own strength."

"That’s the spirit."

Knowing she still had a chance, the gloom in Tang Wan’s heart vanished completely.

’I starred in the first movie, and it did great at the box office. I have the advantage of being the incumbent, so to speak. Plus, President Lin initially intended to give me the role anyway, so my chances must be huge.’

"Be more careful when you go cycling in the future. You’re a public figure, so don’t go to places that are too crowded."

"I understand, President Lin. I’ll be careful about my private life."

"But don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you can’t date. You should if you want to. Once you’re more established in your career, there will be time to go public."

"President Lin, I’m single right now. The two of us already broke up."

"Hm? You broke up?"

"We did. But don’t get the wrong idea, we didn’t break up because I got famous," Tang Wan said.

"You saw what happened that day. I really can’t stand the way he acts."

After a pause, Tang Wan continued:

"It’s fine for now, my workload isn’t that intense. But who knows what the future holds. I might be busy for months on end, and we might only see each other a few times a year. He’d just get more suspicious and paranoid, and it would be hard for us to last in the long run."

Lin Jiang recalled the incident from that day.

What Tang Wan was saying seemed to make perfect sense.

He had caused a huge public scene over something completely unfounded. In the future, Tang Wan would only get busier. They’d spend more time apart than together, which would inevitably lead to more problems. A breakup was a predictable outcome.

"I understand. You’re both adults, and it’s your private business. As long as you’ve thought it through, that’s all that matters."

"Mhm."

Tang Wan opened her bag and took out some snacks she had brought from home.

"President Lin, you should try this mousse bread. I eat it all the time. I highly recommend it."

"You have it. I’ll eat something else."

"I can’t eat this anymore. I have to watch my weight."

Lin Jiang smiled. ’Being an actress sure is tough.’

Time flew by as the two of them ate and chatted.

After they finished eating, Tang Wan gathered all the trash, careful not to dirty Lin Jiang’s car.

"Want to go for another lap?" Lin Jiang asked.

"President Lin, I can’t do it."

Tang Wan patted her legs. "They still haven’t recovered."

Lin Jiang was familiar with those words. Pretty much every other woman had said them to him at some point.

"President Lin, why don’t we enjoy the scenery for a bit and then head back?"

"Do you have somewhere to be?"

Tang Wan nodded. "My parents are arriving at three this afternoon. I have to go pick them up from the station, and I really can’t miss it."

"Picking up your parents is important. Let’s head out now."

Lin Jiang got out, moved to the driver’s seat, and glanced at his watch.

"It’s one-thirty now. We should have enough time to drive back and take a shower."

"There’s enough time. It’s just that the bathroom at my place might be a little small, as long as you don’t mind, President Lin."

"Hm? I never said I was going to shower at your place."

"Ah? Then what did you mean?"

"We’ll just go to the hotel. After we’ve showered, I’ll take you to the station."

"Won’t that take up too much of your time?"

"It’s fine, it won’t be a problem."

His meeting with Fang Jie was at five. The timing would be perfect after dropping off Tang Wan.

"Then thank you, President Lin!"

"Don’t mention it."

After that, they admired the scenery for a bit, took a few photos, and headed back.

Back at the Peninsula Hotel, Tang Wan put on the mask and sunglasses she had prepared in advance, completely concealing her identity.

After they got out of the car, Lin Jiang gestured, and a security guard came jogging over.

"There are two bicycles on the rack. Get them down."

"Understood, President Lin."

As instructed by Lin Jiang, the security guard took the bikes down from the car.

Lin Jiang pulled up Tang Wan’s home address. "Take a picture of this."

The guard did as instructed.

Lin Jiang looked at Tang Wan. "What time would be convenient to have your bike delivered?"

Tang Wan glanced at her watch. "Around four o’clock would be fine."

Lin Jiang nodded, then looked at the guard. "Deliver the bike around four."

"Understood, President Lin."

After locking the car, Lin Jiang headed for the hotel entrance. Tang Wan followed behind him like a little attendant.

She was only just realizing that President Lin was only so approachable when he spoke with her and President Fang.

When dealing with other people, even without a suit, he exuded the powerful aura of a domineering CEO.

THUMP THUMP THUMP—

Tang Wan’s heart began to race.

’When we go back to the room to shower later, what will happen if President Lin sees me come out wrapped in a bath towel?’

’Will he... make a move on me?’

Tang Wan’s face flushed red. She barely dared to imagine it...

Just then, Feng Shusong walked over.

"President Lin."

Lin Jiang nodded. "Two rooms, please."

Tang Wan: ???

’Two rooms?’