Chapter 12, the bastard.

U.K.

"Mr. Lu, do you think the meeting should still be scheduled for today?" the secretary in the president's office asked the man in the chair cautiously and nervously.

The man wore a dark green shirt with subtle patterns. He was tall and imposing. Even though his hair wasn't styled, it couldn't hide the aloofness that came from the depths of his being. However, his dark eyes often held a faint, gentle smile, concealing all the intimidating pressure within them, making him impossible to fathom.

Only those close to him know how difficult and unpredictable such a boss can be.

He arrived in the UK at the age of 25 and within just two years, he used swift and decisive methods to gain a unique place for himself in this financial center. Who would dare to underestimate him?

Today, President Lu suddenly postponed the meeting and sat in his office staring at the computer screen for half an hour, his expression never changing.

Importantly, Mr. Lu lit a cigarette, which gave the secretary a sense that a storm was brewing, and she didn't dare to breathe loudly.

Just as the secretary was sweating profusely, she finally heard the man's calm and indifferent voice.

"Ten minutes."

The secretary was overjoyed: "Okay, I'll take care of it right away!"

He paused, then said, "Mr. Lu, regarding your request to contact the domestic authorities to dismiss the new housekeeper, Mr. Lu's side seems to disagree for the time being. What do you think?"

Lu Jinzhi lowered her phoenix eyes slightly. If she remembered correctly, her father hadn't liked her very much in the past.

That dark gaze fell on the screen once again.

He has the Lu Zhai Zong alarm system installed on his phone to provide early warnings so that he can be notified immediately in the event of a major incident. So after receiving the alert tonight, he had his people in China synchronize the monitoring.

He also witnessed the chaotic scene of chickens and dogs running rampant in the main house.

The scene was unfamiliar, so unfamiliar that it seemed like someone else's surveillance camera. He spent half an hour watching it repeatedly before he was sure he wasn't hallucinating.

That family suddenly changed because of someone.

Lu Jinzhi stubbed out his cigarette, which he hadn't even smoked yet, and looked at the flickering embers, saying, "No rush."

A faint smile played on his lips: "It's been too long since I've been back to China, and I've forgotten some of the people I know."

-

When Qiao Wu arrived at the Lu residence the next day, only Lu Ning came downstairs.

Actually, because everyone in the family has a different schedule, Qiao Wu no longer rings the whole house morning bell. Instead, he had someone come and modify the program so that it can connect to each room individually.

She sat down next to me, flipping through some documents, and casually chatted, "You don't have to go to school these two days, why are you up so early?"

"Oh." Lu Ning's sleep schedule has been regulated, mainly because she can't sleep if she thinks about seeing Lu Yingchi and Lu Xuan's reactions after they wake up this morning.

Holding the milk, she casually moved next to Qiao Wu and found him looking at script project planning materials. The only person related to this industry was Lu Xuan.

Thinking of the gift she received last night, Lu Ning held back her anger and leaned against the sofa back, muttering, "Aren't you the housekeeper? You're even interfering with Lu Xuan's work?"

"Um."

“Grandpa Qiao didn’t care about these things before.”

But judging from Qiao Wu's recent demeanor, he seems more like one of the assistants or secretaries around Grandpa, no, even more comprehensive than them.

“If you only need to take care of your basic needs, just hire a few more attentive nannies.” Qiao Wu’s fingers flew across the screen, but it didn’t affect her speaking speed or clarity at all. “It wouldn’t be worth bothering me.”

"Although I'm not good at studying, isn't it a bit derogatory to use the word 'alarm' to describe you?"

Hearing this, Qiao Wu finally raised her head and chuckled, "Do you have some misunderstanding about my abilities?"

The Lu family's butler is different from that of ordinary wealthy people; he needs to be both literate and skilled in martial arts.

She must be able to be a right-hand woman to the person in charge, and manage the Lu family household well. Therefore, her abilities must be all-round. Her father spent decades accumulating experience to rise from a driver to a position, and she has already achieved and surpassed that. In a sense, she is the face of the Lu family.

The reason the Lu family collapsed so quickly in the story is because their internal structure had already been thoroughly eroded.

Lu Ning didn't understand this. In her eyes, Qiao Wu in the past was just an opportunistic, cunning, and disloyal lackey. Therefore, his true abilities had long been overshadowed by these inferior qualities.

But when she saw Qiao Wu's resume in the next ten minutes, her worldview was shattered for the first time.

Regardless of the near-perfect scores every year, the sheer number of awards, trophies, and certificates is dazzling.

Lu Ning couldn't connect the person on the resume with the past Qiao Wu; it felt very unreal.

Actually, Qiao Wu hadn't expected this. Her body had been controlled by the plot for so long, yet the results of some important stages in her life still reflected her true strength. Later, she thought that perhaps an ordinary person couldn't smoothly become the Lu family's butler, and then the subsequent plot wouldn't be able to proceed.

"Then why are you still here?" Lu Ning's expression was complicated.

With Qiao Wu's abilities and family background, starting a business or reaching a higher level should be easy for him. Why would he be willing to stay confined to the Lu residence?

“Everyone’s pursuits are different.” Qiao Wu said frankly, “There are things I want to do at each stage. Right now, the most important thing for me is to stay by your side. Money is not very important. I’m only 22 years old. If I really need it, I will naturally have many opportunities and channels to get what I want in the future.”

Before she transmigrated to this world, she was just an ordinary person who lived her life earnestly, full of all sorts of fantasies about the future, but in the end, all she wanted was a happy and fulfilling life every day.

Now she has more money than she could have earned in several lifetimes, she is healthy, and she has learned a lot from various sources, making her spiritually fulfilled.

The only thing she lacked was the family affection she hadn't received in her previous life, so the warmth she received over ten years in this world made her very content and she didn't want to give it up.

Lu Ning, whose thinking was still quite shallow, shook her head: "I don't understand."

She didn't understand what was worthwhile about staying around the Lu family.

“You’ll understand in the future.” Qiao Wu smoothed her hair. “But one thing is certain: I have choices now because I’m capable, and I hope you can make choices for yourself in the future too.”

Lu Ning's thought process was rather peculiar: "So you're just like the tentacle monster, choosing among us?"

Qiao Wu was rarely silenced by her.

She lowered her head and leaned on Lu Ning's shoulder, laughing uncontrollably: "I didn't make a choice, I want you all."

The sudden physical contact almost caused Lu Ning to spill the milk from her hand onto the sofa. Her face darkened. "What do you mean?"

"The choice I'm referring to is to stay here or leave."

"You're leaving?!"

"Who knows?" Worried that it might hurt her, Qiao Wu took off his glasses and said casually, "Choose a tree to perch on and a master to serve."

"I got 20 points in Chinese."

Lu Ning pushed her face away, "Don't talk to me in classical Chinese."

Qiao Wu poked her puffed-up cheek with his glasses: "What I mean is, you guys need to step up your game to be able to afford to hire me."

Lu Ning: "Why are you telling me this? I'm only thirteen years old. Do you want me to go with them to break into a safe?"

Go tell Lu Jinzhi, and tell those two idiots who still don't dare to come down!

Growing angrier by the thought, she asked, "Why haven't you woken them up yet today?"

"You got up so early just to see them make a fool of themselves, didn't you?"

Lu Ning took a sip of milk as a cover-up.

But Qiao Wu knew those two too well, especially Lu Xuan, who had such a heavy burden: "They're too ashamed to come down. Have someone bring breakfast to their room later. Now that you're awake, why don't you come out for a walk with me today?"

Where to?

"I didn't have time to get my glasses yesterday."

Lu Ning paused for a moment: "Get your facts straight, who's the housekeeper? Why are you making me accompany you?"

Qiao Wu raised an eyebrow: "Are you going or not?"

"……snort."

Qiao Wu not only needed to get new glasses, but also needed to give the two young masters upstairs some time to adjust, so he sent them away.

Sure enough, not long after, Lu Xuan sneaked downstairs and bumped right into Lu Yingchi, who was also sneaking around like a dog.

Lu Xuan wore sunglasses at home, looking so meticulously groomed from head to toe that it seemed she was about to walk the red carpet. The moment she saw Lu Yingchi, she immediately raised her chin.

However, Lu Yingchi was much more at ease than him, since he hadn't gotten drunk last night.

The two stood in the elevator, but neither pressed a floor button. After a long silence, Lu Yingchi, with his hands in his pockets, suddenly spoke: "I look down on you."

"Lu Yingchi, watch your mouth." Lu Xuan leaned against the elevator wall, not even looking at him, and said lazily, "I don't have that good a temper."

"Really? I think she's quite nice to watch, crying and making a scene." Lu Yingchi said sarcastically, "When did you two become this close?"

Suddenly, Lu Xuan laughed, as if thinking of something: "We've always been close. She said she'd be my dog ​​forever. Do you want to see that?"

My guess was right; Qiao Wu must have sent the message to a group!

Lu Yingchi took two deep breaths, clenched his fists tightly, and spat out the words through his clenched teeth: "Coincidentally, she also sent it to me. Let me show you?"

"..."

After a two-second silence, Lu Xuan scoffed, "Who cares? If you care so much, here you go."

After saying that, he pressed the elevator button, and as soon as the elevator doors opened, he walked towards the main entrance without looking back.

Lu Yingchi stood behind him and roared, "If you don't want it, I don't want it either!"

Lu Xuan ignored him and didn't fasten her seatbelt immediately after getting into the car. Instead, she sat for several minutes before she came to her senses.

Since waking up this morning, every scene from last night has been playing on a loop in his mind, causing him to have a bit of a stress reaction.

He gripped the steering wheel tightly, wondering how many people Qiao Wu had messaged, regardless of the past.

But after last night, she really can't keep it.

hateful.

He took off his sunglasses, revealing a pair of slightly red and swollen eyes.

Then I drove to the hospital to upset the old man—oh no, I mean apologize.

-

After arriving at school, Lu Yingchi became increasingly angry, and taking advantage of the fact that he had no classes in the afternoon, he rode his bicycle to the suburbs.

Hu Zhuo watched him leave with a gloomy expression, then dialed a number: "Hong Cheng, where did he go?"

"Zero loop".

Zero Ring Road is located on a mountain, far from the city center. The entire mountain is a luxurious money pit, surrounded by a racing loop. At the top of the mountain is a huge, top-tier entertainment complex, just waiting for the race to end so that people's adrenaline will surge and they can spend lavishly. Lu Yingchi likes to ride motorcycles and is generous with his money, so everyone likes to go with him.

On the other end of the phone, Hong Cheng was driving after Lu Yingchi's motorcycle: "I'm telling you, you've already offended him, so stop acting up. I'll find a chance to get you two together at a table?"

"No need, I'll be over in a bit. You can keep an eye on his phone for me when you have the chance."

"Are you really going to deal with his butler? He's a member of the Lu family, after all."

Hu Zhuo exhaled a puff of smoke, his eyes dark: "His housekeeper doesn't even look as old as us. I had someone check, and she should be one of President Lu's people. She's only been back in the country for a few days and she already thinks she's someone important. Lu Yingchi doesn't think much of her. Last time, he was so angry that he asked me how to deal with her."

Hong Cheng thought about it and agreed, since the servants in his house weren't that important anyway: "Okay."

At this moment, Qiao Wu was listening to the salesperson recommend eyeglass frames. This store had many luxury eyewear brands and offered one-on-one professional service. Even when choosing eyeglasses, she didn't want to skimp on herself.

After watching for a while, she suddenly asked Lu Ning, who was sitting on the sofa eating a small cake without saying a word, "Do you have any suggestions?"

Lu Ning stared wide-eyed, speechless for a moment.

Why do we feel like we're out shopping together?

The clothes and accessories that her family usually wear are custom-made, or brand-name items are delivered directly to their home. So she has never been shopping much in her life, and no one has accompanied her. She really has no experience in giving advice.

She felt inexplicably nervous, put down the cake, and asked suspiciously, "You believe me?"

"Take a look, you always play with cotton dolls, right? The clothes you put together are quite nice."

“The doll is much prettier than you.” Even though she said that, Lu Ning still walked up to look at the frames and then subconsciously turned her head to look at Qiao Wu.

Qiao Wu didn't wear his glasses for the audition, and when he looked at me intently, his eyes seemed to be filled with tears.

Lu Ning suddenly felt that none of these frames were worthy of her eyes.

"This one."

She pointed to a pair of thin-framed silver-edged glasses.

“Just what I wanted.” Qiao Wu gestured to the salesperson, “This one will do.”

"Okay, please wait a moment."

Unexpectedly, she was so decisive. Lu Ning's heart swelled with emotion, and she pursed her lips and gently pressed her chest.

Suddenly, Qiao Wu said, "As a thank you for helping me, I'll buy some clothes for your doll later."

Lu Ning's hand was still pressed against her chest. She opened her mouth, but was frightened by the pounding of her heart.

Because her grandfather disliked people who didn't do proper work, and because her grades weren't good, she never told anyone that she liked dolls, not even Qiao Wu.

Qiao Wu not only knew this, but she also wanted to buy clothes for her doll.

She remained silent for a long time until Qiao Wu's phone rang.

Who is it?

Hong Cheng paused for a moment on the other end of the phone, thinking to himself that the butler sounded quite young and had a nice voice. He softened his tone and said, "Is this Butler Qiao? My name is Hong Cheng. I'm Lu Yingchi's friend. Young Master Lu came to Linghuan Line today and got drunk. He insisted on running laps with people. We couldn't stop him. Why don't you send a few people over?"

Upon hearing this, Qiao Wu raised an eyebrow. She didn't know whether Lu Yingchi was a speed demon or not, but she knew exactly what kind of person Hong Cheng was.

These young masters were having so much fun, how could they possibly think of calling her?

But she still said, "Address."

After Hong Chengcai finished giving the address, he heard a cold dial tone from the other end of the line, and he laughed in anger.

This housekeeper has quite a temper; he dared to hang up on him!

Hu Zhuo is right, she'll be in for a beating when she gets here.

Qiao Wu did not call Lu Yingchi, but dialed another number instead.

The other end answered quickly this time, the man's voice as deep yet clear as ever: "What is it?"

Qiao Wu asked, "Do you have the phone number of the boss of Zero Ring Line?"

"reason."

"Lu Yingchi".

The man asked again in a slow voice, "Who am I?"

Qiao Wu was puzzled: "Lu Jinzhi?"

A faint laugh came from the receiver: "I'll send you a WeChat message."

Less than a minute later, Qiao Wu's phone vibrated. After opening it, she first saw the phone number, and then her gaze was fixed on the messages on it.

"I will always be yours. I don't want any title. Can I see you just once...?"

A glance at the screen reveals a sea of ​​green, all proof of "her" past wishful thinking.

Lu Jinzhi never replied to her, so the chat box had long been deleted.

Qiao Wu's breathing stopped abruptly: "!!!"

She was so busy that she forgot about it.

Before she could react, a second white WeChat message appeared below the green chat bubble.

Lu Jinzhi: "Qiao Wu, this is the second time."

Qiao Wu was bewildered.

The second time what?