Chapter 7 What a coincidence, Young Master Lu

Lu Jinyuan was very gentlemanly. He didn't leave Jiang Qingying alone in the dark. He stood indifferently beside her, without saying a word or doing anything.

Jiang Qingying noticed this and gave him a lukewarm look. "Go back. I want to be by myself for a while."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jinyuan nodded slightly to bid farewell, turned and left without a trace of lingering affection.

Jiang Qingying stared blankly at his retreating figure. He had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, and his meticulously tailored suit fit him perfectly. His long legs, framed by straight trousers, were beautifully sculpted. His patent leather shoes were flat-toed, a pair from a top international luxury brand, costing an exorbitant amount equivalent to an average person's annual salary. However, he concealed more than half of his luxurious shoes with his trouser legs, so those who didn't look closely or lacked knowledge would have no idea that every step he took was inlaid with gold.

For some reason, Jiang Qingying suddenly changed her opinion of him. Like the leather shoes he was wearing, they were full of brilliance, but they were deliberately concealed.

Lu Jinyuan gives everyone the impression of being cold-hearted and ruthless. He is like a tall, dazzling skyscraper in this magical city, surrounded by low buildings that are eyeing him covetously and hungry like beasts, all wearing the guise of "cooperation and win-win".

He was powerful and calm, as if he didn't care about anyone else.

In Jiang Qingying's eyes, Lu Jinyuan was no different from how others viewed him. His face and demeanor were mature and composed. He faced great storms with ease, and often seemed detached from the main character. His excessive calmness could easily give people the wrong impression.

He was always the one in control, managing the overall situation.

They are like robots with fixed mindsets.

The latter is what Jiang Qingying believes.

Just like tonight's events, Lu Jinyuan greeted her politely, adopting his usual business negotiation style. Relying on his status as the head of the Lu family, he made his demands in a high-profile and straightforward manner. However, since the person opposite him was Jiang Qingying, he used the gentlemanly and modest manner he used when dealing with women, occasionally making sarcastic jokes, but always maintaining a good sense of propriety.

But Jiang Qingying sensed something slightly different.

It has no emotions.

He was never afraid for the other party to know that everything he did and every word he said was for his own purpose, for what he wanted to get.

Sometimes, if you have enough power, you don't even need to use cunning and calculation.

So straightforward. It's like unfolding a blank sheet of paper and writing everything on it in an orderly fashion with ink.

For the sake of the Lu Group, and also for the so-called establishment of a family and career.

This was what Jiang Qingying found truly terrifying. His intentions were clear and unambiguous, and everything seemed to be unfolding according to natural laws. Yet, throughout the entire affair, she had been fiercely resisting, opposing the arranged marriage with absolute clarity of mind from the very beginning.

The outcome now seems to be changing.

So Lu Jinyuan is like a mystery, and a sharp curiosity quietly arises, making her want to find the almost non-existent answer, even if it means standing in the fog and putting herself in a dangerous situation.

Only then did she realize that she had been drawn into an unknown black hole by him.

There was no solution; I was at a loss, my mind was completely blank.

On a clear summer night, the bright moon and gentle breeze created a stark contrast between the tranquility of the outdoors and the boisterous atmosphere of the indoors. The bright moonlight shone on Jiang Qingying's dress, making the delicate rhinestones sparkle with soft, transparent light, like stars falling from the sky onto her. Her eyes were drawn to the light; she glanced down at her dress, then looked up at the sky.

Suddenly, something came to mind.

Similar nights, similar scenes...

That year, Jiang Qingying was eighteen years old. She attended the seventieth birthday banquet of Old Master Lu with her parents. Ostensibly a birthday banquet, it was actually an occasion for exchanging fame and fortune. Jiang Qingying had been through many such occasions and naturally handled it with ease. However, it was in this kind of setting that she met Lu Jinyuan.

The moment Jiang Qingying saw him, she was surprised that he was there. Not only her, but everyone present was surprised; almost everyone's gaze lingered on Lu Jinyuan for a moment.

Doubtful, inquisitive, gossipy—in short, all with ill intentions.

When the birthday banquet was overflowing with people, Old Master Lu publicly announced Lu Jinyuan's identity—the future heir of the Lu family.

The news caused an uproar. The crowd's gazes became even more interesting. Jiang Qingying observed the expressions of those around her, scanning her way up to the main table, where the Lu family members were gathered.

Shock, indignation, and mostly dissatisfaction.

She watched silently, a hint of amusement on her face, and whispered to her mother beside her, "Mom, who is this person?"

Given the long-standing good relationship between the Jiang and Lu families, Qin Qing knew more about the situation than others.

"That young man is a distant relative of Chairman Lu, only one-quarter blood-related. Chairman Lu has no children of his own, so he has been secretly raising that child for a long time, probably for this day."

After hearing this, Jiang Qingying had a pretty good idea of ​​what had happened.

The Lu family is now in charge of Lu Qicheng. He has only one son. Instead of following him into business, his son insisted on joining the army against his wishes. As a result, his son sacrificed his life for the country in his fifties, and his daughter-in-law committed suicide for love, leaving no children behind.

Faced with immense benefits, blood ties are insignificant. Therefore, Lu Qicheng would rather choose someone who is only a quarter blood relative, but whom he personally raised from childhood, than any of the Lu family members seated at the main table.

Jiang Qingying had heard her father say that the Lu family, a prestigious clan with a history spanning centuries, had a complex and intertwined web of relationships. Living in an environment blinded by self-interest, the most tacit understanding among all the Lu family members was probably their desire for the highest position. Half a year ago, Lu Qicheng suddenly fell ill and was hospitalized for a long time. Even before a critical condition notice was issued, the desire in the eyes of his relatives was impossible to hide.

Internal strife and arguments have created complete chaos.

Fortunately, Lu Qicheng pulled through, but his health was not what it used to be, which is why he had no choice but to bring Lu Jinyuan out to make an appearance.

This wasn't Jiang Qingying's first time meeting Lu Jinyuan, but the feeling was completely different. Looking at the boys socializing with Lu Qicheng, she realized that life is unpredictable, and some people can be bumped into again just by turning around.

In different ways, with different identities.

Someone, trying to curry favor, mentioned "golden couple," referring to Lu Jinyuan and Shen Shuyun.

Jiang Qingying's gaze involuntarily locked onto those people. She saw Lu Qicheng smiling with satisfaction, Shen Shuyun looking down shyly, and Lu Jinyuan expressionless, standing aside.

Her gaze no longer lingered on him.

But after turning her gaze away, she heard Lu Qicheng say, "Shu Yun and my family had already arranged a marriage between them when she was little. Now that the two children seem to be a good match, it's quite appropriate."

Anyone with eyes can understand the meaning behind these words: either to sever ties with those who try to curry favor, or to have truly arranged a suitable husband for this "granddaughter" whom they love as their own daughter.

Anyway, from now on everyone in the high society will know that Shen Shuyun and Lu Jinyuan were betrothed as children.

Jiang Qingying's expression remained unchanged, seemingly oblivious to everything around her. She focused all her attention on the delicious food on the table. Her parents were constantly greeting people who came to offer toasts, and when they were occasionally mentioned, she would simply act like a little girl, nodding and smiling at them with food in her mouth.

Seeing her expression, Jiang Chen couldn't help but laugh and said, "If you dislike socializing so much, what will you do when you take over the group?"

“Dad, contracts are signed with a pen, and the cash flow problem can’t be solved by drinking.”

Jiang Chen patted her head and said, "Then how capable will you be to do whatever you want in the future?"

Jiang Qingying raised her beautiful eyebrows slightly, exuding confidence and arrogance. Her proud expression told the other person that she could definitely do it.

The chef for this dinner was really good; even someone as picky as her could eat until she was half full. Just as she was about to go find her girlfriends, Lin Tingwan rushed over, greeted Jiang Chen and Qin Qing, and then pulled Jiang Qingying outside.

"What is it?" Jiang Qingying asked.

Lin Tingwan turned around, her steps uninterrupted, and said breathlessly, "Nan Chun's parents are arguing in the back garden, and her mother is crying terribly."

Jiang Qingying frowned. "What happened? Her mother didn't come today, did she?"

"Her mother found out that her father was having an affair, and I don't know the specifics of what happened, but they started arguing. If we didn't intervene, things would get really serious."

"Didn't her mother always know that her husband was having an affair?"

Lin Tingwan slowed down, looked at Jiang Qingying with an unnatural expression, and whispered, "This time it's another one, and she's even taken advantage of the situation and came to our door. That's why her mother came to demand an explanation."

"What the hell..." Jiang Qingying had seen plenty of ridiculous things, but she had never seen anything this stupid. What was the point of demanding an explanation at a time like this, especially since they had to make a scene on the Lu family's territory?

When Jiang Qingying rushed over with Lin Tingwan, Nan Chun's father had already left, leaving behind a woman sitting on the ground, crying her heart out, completely unseemly. The red handprint on her face was very glaring, and there was a helpless girl next to her.

Jiang Qingying squatted down in front of Nan Chun and checked his body. "Are you injured?"

Nan Chun stared at her with bloodshot eyes, unable to utter a word, and could only shake his head.

Jiang Qingying wiped her face with a tissue, her ears filled with the sound of crying. Annoyed by the noise, she said, "Auntie, please stop crying."

The woman remained unmoved.

Jiang Qingying sighed, handed her a tissue, and seeing her take it, earnestly advised, "Please think about Nan Chun. Today is Grandpa Lu's birthday banquet. What are you doing all this for?"

"Do you want everyone to look at your daughter like she's a spectacle?"

"What do you know, you're just a child? Can you swallow the anger of being cheated on by your husband?"

Nan Chun held Jiang Qingying's hand and choked up, saying, "Qingying, don't worry about us. I'll take my mother away in a bit."

Jiang Qingying looked at her reassuringly, tidying her wind-blown, messy hair, but her words were directed at her mother: "You keep saying you can't swallow this, so why are you crying here? Everything Nan Chun's father did was with your consent. If you can't stand his behavior, just slap him and then divorce him with Nan Chun. But since you've chosen to endure it, you have to endure it to the end. What's the use of crying here with your daughter? Has that man even glanced at you? Has there been a trace of pity in his eyes?"

Jiang Qingying looked at her, her eyes almost expressionless, and said in a calm tone: "When you are weak, crying and making a fuss is just a joke in other people's eyes."

Jiang Qingying was met with a laugh.

A clear, melodious laugh rang out, low and soft, yet its presence was striking in the tranquil night. Everyone turned to look at the source and saw Lu Jinyuan, who had recently garnered all the attention at the banquet hall.

After all, it was a dishonorable thing. Regardless of what he was laughing about, Jiang Qingying composed herself and, together with Lin Tingwan, helped Nan Chun up.

Lu Jinyuan's gaze remained fixed on Jiang Qingying.

Jiang Qingying could see it, of course, but she ignored it completely. As she passed by him, she heard his cold voice say, "What a coincidence."

Jiang Qingying stopped, turned her head to look at him, and smiled. "What a coincidence." Her bright, dark eyes flickered as she scanned him from head to toe, then added, "Young Master Lu."