Chapter 7 [07]

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The 100th delivery center of Mingyue has been put into use in Yuanjiang City.

Lu Mingxiao attended the opening ceremony, personally delivered new cars to users, and explained driving procedures.

The incident lasted all morning, was widely reported by major media outlets, and even became a trending topic on Weibo.

In the afternoon, Lu Mingxiao visited universities and interacted with students majoring in vehicle engineering.

The auditorium was packed. During the Q&A session, one student said, "There's a schedule circulating online of yours: you get up at 5:30 in the morning, start exercising at 6:00, have breakfast an hour later, arrive at the company at 8:00 to begin a high-intensity workday, balancing career and hobbies, with a full schedule of various activities, and go to bed at midnight. I'd really like to know how to become a person with such high energy levels like you."

Lu Mingxiao had also seen that schedule; it was forwarded to him by Cheng Wang.

Facing many expectant eyes, Lu Mingxiao frankly said, "Let me start by debunking a myth. I wake up at five o'clock. If I'm not on a business trip, I arrive at the company at seven-thirty, make a cup of coffee, and start working. As for high energy, I only need to sleep five hours a day to reach a fully charged state. If I'm idle and doing nothing, I feel very bored. But not everyone is in the same state as me. So, no one has to become anyone else or be like anyone else. What suits you is the most important."

The audience erupted in applause, and countless students raised their hands to ask questions.

The host selected a girl, who excitedly took the microphone handed to her by a staff member.

"Mr. Lu, you are a well-known eligible bachelor in the automotive industry. On behalf of all the women here, I would like to ask what your criteria are for choosing a partner."

Lu Mingxiao: "I reasonably suspect that you are an undercover agent sent by my dad. When asked the same question, I replied with four words—'No comment.' Just kidding, my relationship with my dad is still quite good. There are strict standards for car manufacturing. Every step, from assembly and testing to delivery, must be done with the utmost precision. But choosing a spouse is different. You can't just apply a framework to everything. Only when you meet the right person can you form a standard."

...

After the exchange meeting, Lu Mingxiao attended a dinner hosted by the department leadership team. By the time he returned to the Caxia Hotel, it was already 10 p.m.

He didn't drink alcohol, and he maintained his exercise routine before bed. After confirming tomorrow's schedule with Xiao Xie, he stepped onto the treadmill.

An hour later, Lu Mingxiao went to take a shower.

She came out wearing a bathrobe, her hair covered with fine water droplets.

He sat on the sofa, drying his hair with a towel, when his phone vibrated.

I slid to unlock the screen, and Lao Lu sent me a video on WeChat.

It was his speech at the afternoon exchange meeting that was posted online.

Lao Lu gave him a big thumbs up.

Lu Mingxiao frowned slightly and pressed the phone screen to ask him.

[Lu Mingxiao]: Why aren't you asleep yet, it's so late?

Lao Lu sent him his latest completed paper-cutting masterpiece.

[Old Lu]: Is it possible that your high energy level is actually inherited from me?

Lu Mingxiao didn't refute, just said "Yes, you're right," and sent the person off to wash up.

He showed no signs of fatigue, sitting down at his desk and opening his laptop. After reading a few industry news articles, another message arrived on WeChat from his college roommate, Luo Hanzhou.

The last time I met Luo Hanzhou was three months ago, when Lu Mingxiao brought Cheng Wang along to play ball with him.

Because Lu Mingxiao's blocks were too brutal, Luo Hanzhou was furious and blocked him on WeChat for seventy-two hours.

"Immature and a sore loser." Lu Mingxiao shook his head helplessly and opened the message.

Luo Hanzhou said that it had been too long since they last met and she wanted to ask him out for a meal, asking him to pick a time.

Lu Mingxiao opened his schedule. Today is Saturday; he's going back to Dongchuan on Monday.

Tuesday night was fine; he chose that day.

The next day, Luo Hanzhou arranged a place: a private Chinese-style restaurant.

Unexpectedly, on the appointed date, before Lu Mingxiao set off, he was already in the car with the navigation set up when Luo Hanzhou sent a message, changing the destination to a small bar at the last minute.

When meeting old friends, Lu Mingxiao didn't care where they went.

However, the tavern was a rather unusual location, and he guessed that Luo Hanzhou must have encountered some troubles.

Dongchuan has a famous bar street on Jianghuai Road, adjacent to the Tao River.

The restaurant Luo Hanzhou chose was called "Poetry and Wine." It was a small shop with only one store and a wooden decor.

When Lu Mingxiao arrived, a light drizzle began to fall.

Enveloped in mist, he pushed open the door and entered. By the dim light, he saw Luo Hanzhou sitting at the round table, having already finished a bottle of whiskey.

Luo Hanzhou booked the entire venue.

After ordering, Lu Mingxiao asked him what was wrong.

"How could she lie to me?"

As Luo Hanzhou spoke, he opened another bottle of wine and poured it into his glass. "I care about her and cherish her, yet she finds pleasure in toying with me."

Her? Lu Mingxiao's first thought was his girlfriend.

As far as I can remember, every time I saw Luo Hanzhou, he was always accompanied by a different woman.

He thought such a person wouldn't be trapped by emotions, so he was somewhat surprised at this moment.

"I must have owed her something in my past life, because I've been completely fooled in this one."

"I thought she was innocent, but it turns out I'm the clown."

"I will never look at her with prejudice again, never!"

Luo Hanzhou continued to pour out his grievances.

When it comes to matters of the heart, it's no use for outsiders to say too much, so Lu Mingxiao decided to be a listener.

If Luo Hanzhou wanted to cry, he could hand him tissues; if things got worse, he would be ready to call 120 at any time.

The boss delivered the food.

With limited options available, and Lu Mingxiao was indeed hungry.

I ordered the signature black truffle fried rice and paired it with a mojito.

Luo Hanzhou was talking to himself when he smelled the aroma of food and his voice stopped abruptly.

Seeing Lu Mingxiao holding chopsticks and moving slowly and deliberately, she couldn't help but ask, "I'm in such a miserable state, how can you still eat?"

"I'm not heartbroken."

Lu Mingxiao said matter-of-factly, "I can't go and settle accounts with the other party for you. You can complain to me, that's the greatest moral support I can give you."

Luo Hanzhou retorted, "Who told you I was dumped?"

Lu Mingxiao looked at him in confusion: "Why such a big reaction? Aren't you talking about your girlfriend?"

"I'm talking about my sister."

"..."

From the very first day he became roommates with Luo Hanzhou, Lu Mingxiao knew that he had a younger sister.

The other people in the dormitory were all only children, which became something Luo Hanzhou could brag about.

"My sister is the cutest in the world."

"Look, she won an award in a dance competition today."

That year, during his freshman year, Luo Hanzhou posted the award certificate in the dormitory group chat. Lu Mingxiao opened it and found it was just a low-level commemorative award.

Another roommate joked, "I love cute little girls the most. When are you going to bring her to meet us? We'll take her to the amusement park and buy her candy."

"Dream on. Don't think I don't know what you're thinking."

Luo Hanzhou scoffed, "My little cabbage will never be taken by a bunch of jackals like you."

Therefore, the name on that certificate was blurred out.

Luo Hanzhou dotes on his younger sister.

When his younger sister cries, he will skip school and rush home to comfort her.

They'll light up when they see a plush toy, saying, "My sister will definitely love it," and then wrap it up as an exquisite gift to take away.

As a top student, he felt it was a source of pride for his sister if she could score 60 points in every subject.

The label of "sister complex" was already deeply rooted in Lu Mingxiao's heart.

He overturned his previous thoughts and suddenly became curious about what his sister had done to make Luo Hanzhou doubt his life and lose his composure like this.

Luo Hanzhou filled his cup with wine and sighed deeply.

"This is a TV series, and it all starts with her failed business venture."

——

Every year, tens of thousands of people start their own businesses, like waves surging on the sea.

As one wave recedes and disappears without a trace, a new wave quickly follows, in an endless cycle.

Everyone longs to ride the waves steadily and become a winner.

But the harsh reality often only allows a very small number of people to get a share of the pie; failure is a very common occurrence.

Some people are burdened with huge debts and can never recover, while others have lost their families and live in constant fear.

But for the Luo family, there is obviously no need to worry about such things.

As one of the top wealthy families in Dongchuan, its industries cover multiple fields such as real estate, tourism, electrical equipment, and pharmaceuticals.

Even Luo Hanzhou himself, operating independently from the family, has managed to run the game company with great success.

"Is Luo Hanzhou really that serious? His sister lost ten million in her business and he comes to you for comfort. That's nothing to him. The gifts he's given to his ex-girlfriends alone would cost more than that."

The following morning, after the meeting, Lu Mingxiao invited Cheng Wang to his office.

At the coffee corner, Cheng Wang leaned over and fiddled with the teacups and utensils on the table, listening to Lu Mingxiao recount the events of the previous night, finding it all utterly unbelievable.

"It has nothing to do with money, I just can't stand the way young girls want to be lazy and give up."

Lu Mingxiao took the coffee cup that Cheng Wang had chosen and placed it on the coffee machine. "The failure of the business was the fuse. Based on this, Luo Hanzhou considered letting his sister go to the company to gain experience and be toughened up by society, but he couldn't make up his mind until the girl tricked him."

Cheng Wang disagreed: "I can't speak for others, but what's wrong with the Luo family's little princess being a lazy bum? It's not like they can't afford to support her."

While extracting coffee, Lu Mingxiao replied, "Luo Hanzhou thinks far ahead. You can love your sister, but you can't spoil her. A young girl will eventually have to face life independently. That makes sense. He can't protect her forever."

"From what you've said, it's clear you have good intentions."

Cheng Wang nodded in agreement, "Alright, the Luo family has so many companies, it's not difficult to put any one of them aside."

Lu Mingxiao handed him the prepared American-style coffee: "As long as she's the eldest daughter of the Luo family, she can go in sideways and come out sideways. The current situation won't change at all."

Cheng Wang took a sip of coffee and suddenly realized something.

"You're not trying to tell me that Luo Hanzhou is going to send his sister to Mingyue."

Lu Mingxiao did not deny it; he made himself a glass of flat white before returning to Chengwang.

"I've never met the girl before, and Luo Hanzhou thinks it's just right. He believes I can be ruthless and deflate her arrogance."

Cheng Wang's eyes widened: "So in Luo Hanzhou's eyes, you're not only the King of Scrolls, but also the Demon King."

Lu Mingxiao, holding a coffee cup, walked to Cheng Wang's side and leaned against the bar.

“I owed Luo Hanzhou a favor some time ago, but he never asked me for anything before. This is the first time.”

Cheng Wang indicated that he understood: "Where do you plan to place the person?"

Lu Mingxiao took a sip of his flat white: "It's up to you. After the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, arrange an interview. You can decide on the position."

Cheng Wang's face was full of resistance: "You're throwing this hot potato at me."

"I didn't drink coffee for nothing."

Lu Mingxiao chuckled, then patted Cheng Wang on the shoulder, "She is, after all, someone else's precious daughter. To avoid the young lady suing me and causing her a work injury, you are more suitable."

[Author's Note]

Brother: I haven't realized it yet...

Xiao: I didn't realize it at that moment either...

Moon: I'm devastated right now.