Chapter 17, the original male protagonist

After Lu Jinzhi finished speaking, his gaze slowly fell on Qiao Wu beside him.

Contrary to his expectations, Qiao Wu, aside from her initial surprise, had now regained her composure. She simply nodded slightly at him and did nothing else; it was impossible to detect any unsettling or sordid thoughts in her eyes.

Lu Jinzhi couldn't help but recall how she had looked sitting there just now. She showed no sign of the panic one would expect when taking on these miscellaneous tasks for the first time, nor any smugness. She was methodical and confident from beginning to end.

I was less emotionally affected than when I saw those two idiots prying open the safe at the Lu residence that day.

A familiar and inexplicable competitive spirit suddenly welled up inside him.

More than a decade ago, he also tried to peek into those calm eyes and see what secrets they held.

Thinking of this, Lu Jinzhi said nothing more, nor did he look at Lu Xuan again: "That's it."

Then, cleanly and decisively, the video call was disconnected.

Just like Lu Xuan said, he had no awareness of eavesdropping on other people's conversations here; on the contrary, he acted as if he were the master of this place.

that's all?

Qiao Wu understood from his words that he hadn't refuted what he had just done to those people, so did he acquiesce?

"I was originally discussing Mr. Lu's return to China with him." Xu Chao hurriedly picked up his laptop, afraid of being blamed for the feud between the wealthy brothers. "If there's nothing else, I'll head out now."

"Wait a minute," Qiao Wu called out to him, "Tell President Lu that I want to fire someone."

Xie Yi was somewhat surprised.

Although she was assisting President Lu, no one in the company knew her yet, and she didn't have any real power. So, they're going to fire her?

Moreover, it says "want," not "think."

"Who?" Xu Chao asked.

"Marketing Department Specialist, Xue Weihua."

That employee who was gossiping in the lobby?

Lu Xuan had specifically looked at the other person's employee ID, so he remembered it very clearly.

Xie Yi didn't go downstairs, and asked curiously, "What happened?"

Lu Xuan offered a brief explanation, then raised an eyebrow at Qiao Wu: "Didn't you say you wouldn't stoop to the level of someone like this?"

"That was my own thought," Qiao Wu said calmly. "As an employee of a listed company, if you can't control your mouth in public, no matter who you're talking about or whether what you're saying is true or false, it's wrong if anyone hears it. This time it was us, but what if next time you talk about a client? How smart can an employee be if he can't even say something bad behind people's backs? It's better to give more opportunities to people who are more capable than him."

Lu Jinzhi is the biggest villain in the book, which is inseparable from the fact that he has so many brainless geniuses around him. Who knows what kind of trouble they will cause in the future?

In the story, the male lead later comes to the company to discuss cooperation, but is treated poorly by some tactless people who look down on him and treat him differently. This is how his feud with Lu Jinzhi grew bigger and bigger.

Sometimes Qiao Wu felt it was quite absurd. Why were these brainless people assigned to Lu Jinzhi and his group, and why did they have to bear the consequences of their actions?

Let the two of them test each other out; it's really hard to say who will have the last laugh.

"Understood." Xie Yi nodded. "This matter doesn't need to go through President Lu. I'll have the HR department handle it in a bit."

After saying that, he gestured to Qiao Wu and left.

Once only the two of them remained in the conference room, Lu Xuan turned around and sat down, tossing his sunglasses on the table: "Listen to what Lu Jinzhi is saying?"

It's common knowledge that the money he earns from filming isn't even enough to buy him a bottle of wine.

Lu Jinzhi wants to suspend his card?!

How dare he!

Although Lu Jinzhi skipped a grade and started taking over the group's affairs during university, he has never cared about family matters, let alone their money, over the years. What's wrong with him now?

Back then, he argued with the old man and ran away from home because of his entry into the entertainment industry. Lu Jinzhi didn't even ask about it while he was abroad. Now, is he going to retaliate against him just because of these two sentences?

impossible.

Lu Xuan didn't believe it.

He remained silent for a long time, then suddenly turned his head and asked, "Do you know the combination to Lu Jinzhi's safe?"

Thinking back, it seems that Qiao Wu and Lu Jinzhi were the only people in the family who talked the most in the past.

Qiao Wu: "..."

She shook her head helplessly: "Even if he knew, he wouldn't put bank cards and money in the safe."

"He shouldn't be that free," Lu Xuan reassured himself.

Qiao Wu remained noncommittal.

Based on her understanding of Lu Jinzhi, he never jokes with anyone and always keeps his word.

However, if Lu Xuan's card is suspended, at least he won't have the resources to keep a minor celebrity like in the story, which is not bad.

Therefore, Qiao Wu did not intend to remind him to prepare in advance.

The surveillance footage from the company's conference room was quickly transmitted to Lu Jiang. Although he had intended to test Qiao Wu, Qiao Wu's performance was actually similar to, or even better than, what he had expected.

When he first decided to nurture Qiao Wu, he hoped that one day she would grow up to be like this.

Especially after seeing that Lu Jinzhi actually listened to the whole thing without expressing any objection, he felt even more that he had done the right thing, knowing that his second son had always been very picky.

Only now did he truly begin to consider what Qiao Wu had said.

In fact, ever since their differing ideologies led to the second son's peaceful departure abroad, the father and son have never been in contact again. To find out about the second son, one has to go through his secretary.

Even when he was asked to come back this time, it was only after I expressed my gratitude that he was informed. At the time, the second brother only replied with a "okay" and nothing more.

Lu Jiang had a terrible headache, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

After a long while, he came up with a brilliant idea and made a phone call without any psychological burden.

Thankfully, I wasn't blocked.

As soon as the call connected, without waiting for the other person to speak, he said directly, "Xiao Wu asked me to ask you if you want to take advantage of your return to China to host a banquet so that everyone can get to know you."

Lu Jinzhi: "..."

He sometimes wondered if the Lu family's bloodline was cursed.

Lu Xuan's current appearance owes much to Lu Jiang's genes.

If those people in China who have dealings with the Lu family don't know him yet, then all his years of hard work have been for nothing? What need is there for a banquet?

But as he was about to refuse, he suddenly remembered another name mentioned in the question.

Qiao Wu.

He wrote the name on a blank sheet of paper, looked at it for a few seconds, and responded softly.

"Um."

-

The next day, the Lu family servants watched as the two young masters and the young lady sat in the dining room early in the morning, each one keeping their ears down and their breath down.

Butler Xiao Qiao has been back in the country for two weeks, and she's managed to tame these troublemakers so well. They don't complain at all, even getting up so early, and their faces are glowing. What methods did she use?! Unbelievable!

That's strange.

When the group finished breakfast and went out with Qiao Wu, they had a strange feeling.

Just like when we were all little kids, we held hands and went to school together every day, and now there's a little one too.

Overall, I'm in a pretty good mood.

Qiao Wu was about to take Lu Ning to her new school, but she didn't forget the other two who were also going to "school." She turned to Lu Ning and reminded her, "Be careful on the road. Don't act impulsively if anything happens. Calm down and think it through. If you don't want to eat out for lunch, call home two hours in advance and have them deliver it. As for you..."

She looked at Lu Xuan: "You can't drink too much outside."

At that time, we will be at the mercy of others.

Lu Xuan clicked his tongue, closed the car window, honked the horn, and drove off.

Lu Yingchi followed closely behind, but after driving two steps, he turned back and pointed at Lu Ning's nose: "If I find out you're such a coward again, I'll beat you up next time too."

Lu Ning: "?"

She was sprayed in the face with car exhaust fumes, looked up and asked, "Is he encouraging me to hit someone?"

"He's worried you'll get bullied." Qiao Wu acted as an automatic translator. "That's just how he is, you know that, right? Otherwise, he'd get beaten up by the robots."

Lu Ning snorted: "Then I forgive him."

She was curious about what school Qiao Wu would choose for her. Would it be like the old school, with a gate smaller than Lu Yingchi's car trunk? Unexpectedly, it was the prestigious private school that Lu Yingchi used to attend.

"Didn't you say that students at this kind of school are all hypocritical?" she asked, completely confused. "You also said that it's all about who your father is here."

"Why not fight if you have the ability?" Qiao Wu said matter-of-factly, "It's yours to begin with anyway."

Private schools are also divided into lower and middle classes.

Schools like this, which are for children of noble families, have top-notch teachers. The people they come into contact with and the horizons they gain far surpass those of ordinary schools. Lu Ning is not a child from an ordinary family, so of course she has the right and ability to study here.

But Lu Ning, having been brainwashed by the idea of ​​self-reliance for too long, frowned and asked, "Then is this still called independence?"

“When you grow up, you’ll have plenty of time to prove your independence.” Qiao Wu gave her a push. “Although you were able to get into this school because of your family, whether this education is worthwhile depends on you. Having money is not something to be ashamed of.”

Lu Ning's eyes were strange: "Do you have a split personality?"

What they say changes every day.

"Just take it as that."

Lu Ning walked into the school with her schoolbag on her back. After taking a couple of steps, she realized something was wrong and turned around: "Why are you still following me? I'm not a three-year-old. I can't be so lost."

Qiao Wu chuckled, bent down to straighten her collar, and said gently, "What kind of child goes to find the teacher on their first day of transferring schools? It's not like we have no one else in our family."

The faint scent of books emanating from the woman wafted into my nostrils.

This was originally the smell that Lu Ning hated the most. She hated everything related to knowledge and disliked the pungent smell of ink on books even more. So why did Qiao Wu smell so good?

It's like opening a brand new picture book filled with vibrant spring flowers and lush greenery, captivating and stunning.

The Lu family has members, but in reality, it's no different from having no one.

At her previous school, she went to school alone on the first day of junior high, and even arrived late after going through many twists and turns. She got into a conflict with someone on the very first day of school.

When she came home from school, apart from the servants, there was no one in the huge Lu mansion who made her feel safe.

She could only go back to her room, piece together several band-aids, and stick them on her wound before quietly going to sleep.

Unlike today, when someone brought her here and someone told her to take good care of herself before leaving.

Lu Ning suddenly quieted down, gripping her backpack straps tightly with both hands, staring at Qiao Wu's slender yet upright back, and followed her to the office.

As soon as the two reached the door, they saw a tall boy standing against the wall with his head hanging down. The strap of his backpack was broken, and the whole bag was thrown at his feet. The half-open backpack was loosely draped with books, but he clearly had no intention of picking them up.

Lu Ning couldn't help but take a second look, because this was a spot she usually stood in.

I never expected that this is how it would feel to be an outsider.

Wait, this looks familiar.

A sudden sense of foreboding washed over her. Why did this person look so much like that arrogant bastard she had fought with on the first day of junior high?

Suddenly, the office door was opened from the inside.

A pair of exceptionally long legs encased in suit trousers emerged. The young man wore a handmade suit, his hair meticulously styled, though his tie was askew. As he opened the door, he unbuttoned his shirt, not expecting others to be standing outside. He paused, slightly raising his eyes.

His gaze paused for a moment when he saw the person standing at the door.

The woman's eyes narrowed slightly as she stood gracefully, her gaze seeming to cast a soft, luminous curtain over everything in her field of vision.

Qiao Wu didn't expect to run into Zhong Min, the male protagonist of the original book, here, but after her initial surprise, she didn't pay much attention and politely nodded, "Excuse me."

Zhong Min snapped out of his daze and stepped aside to make way.

Taking this opportunity, Lu Ning quickly moved to the other side and used Qiao Wu's body to cover her face.

She wasn't afraid of that bastard, she was just worried that if she caused any more trouble on the first day of school, Qiao Wu wouldn't agree to go shopping with her.

The teacher inside was already waiting there. Seeing someone enter, she smiled and came over to greet them while closing the door: "Are you Lu Ning? And who are you?"

The moment the door closed, Zhong Min heard a woman's clear, smiling voice come from inside: "Qiao Wu."

He couldn't help but turn around and take another look.

But apart from the dark, cold door panel, there was nothing else to see.

He pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and put it in his mouth, but considering that he was at school, he refrained from lighting it, though he felt increasingly agitated.

The thought of having to face those glib, hypocritical old men in a little while makes me even more annoyed.

He still couldn't adapt to this life bound by ties. Someone like him was a vermin living in the gutter; no matter how he dressed up, he could never be like…

Just like that person from before.

He exuded a confidence and arrogance that he could never reach.

He kicked the boy by the wall: "Pick up your things and let's go."

The boy slowly picked up his backpack, then suddenly said, "It's her."

"who?"

"Lu Ning".

Zhong Min frowned: "That child who went in just now?"

"Um."

Zhong Min suddenly laughed.

Of course he remembered who Lu Ning was. Zhong Shixia had a conflict with her on the first day of school. At that time, the other party's parents did not even show their faces, but Lu Ning threw 10,000 yuan at his face.

Lu Ning is rich and powerful, so the school won't do anything to her, but Zhong Shixia dropped out of school.

Thinking of this, Zhong Min took a deep drag on his cigarette and patted his younger brother's shoulder: "I'll pick you up from school later."

After leaving the office, Lu Ning did not see that person again.

She breathed a sigh of relief and grabbed Qiao Wu, who was about to leave: "You should finish what you start."

Qiao Wu asked, "What?"

"Come pick me up from school this afternoon." Lu Ning was very good at pushing her luck. "You always drive Lu Xuan to and from the company, aren't you going to pick me up on my first day of school?"

Qiao Wu wasn't very busy today, so he nodded and said, "Okay."

Back at the Lu residence, Qiao Wu was somewhat surprised to learn that Lu Jinzhi had actually agreed to host a welcome banquet upon his return to China.

However, I still looked through the lists that my father and Xie Yi had given her before, and it turned out that not just anyone had to be invited to the house.

Qiao Wu had a general impression of these companies and families.

When she saw the Zhong family, her eyebrows lifted slightly as she thought of Zhong Min, the male protagonist in the original story, whom she had met at school that day.

Strictly speaking, Zhong Min was not a child of the Zhong family in the past; he was an illegitimate child.

The Zhong family has a rather complicated family structure. The president of the Zhong Group is Zhong Ru, a strong woman. Her husband also married into the Zhong family. The two had a broken relationship and were only superficially married a few years after their marriage. They had a daughter, Zhong Hejing, whom they had in their early years.

Zhong Ru had always groomed Zhong Hejing as her successor, but she never expected that her daughter's health would deteriorate day by day and that she would no longer be able to continue working at such a high intensity.

That's why Zhong Ru took Zhong Min home.

Zhong Min is the child Zhong Ru had with another man during the time when her relationship with her husband broke down.

But her husband was unwilling to divorce her, and the two secretly had a very ugly falling out.

Zhong Ru had prepared herself to secretly give birth to the child and then sue the other party, but she never expected to discover that her lover was only with her for her money and had been cheating on her for a long time.

But at that time, she had no way to abort the child, so she had to give birth and have the child taken to an orphanage. She felt this was a ridiculous disgrace, and it was also because the anxiety she experienced during her pregnancy made her unable to have children again.

Now that Zhong Hejing is ill, she had no choice but to have someone find Zhong Min and bring him back to the Zhong family to be raised.

During Zhong Min's time away from home, he had a younger brother with whom he had no blood relation to depend on each other. It was because of this that Zhong Ru was able to control Zhong Min and agree to take the child back with her.

The Zhong family and the Lu family are not currently at odds, and both are on the invitation list.

So today at school, I met Zhong Min and his younger brother Zhong Shixia.

Lu Ning had a conflict with Zhong Shixia, so after Zhong Min gained power in the Zhong family, he always harbored prejudice against the Lu family.

Lu Ning didn't transfer schools back then, so she didn't have much interaction with Zhong Shixia later. Unexpectedly, they transferred to the same school now.

The reason this book is considered melodramatic is entirely due to the male and female protagonists.

Because of his background and upbringing, Zhong Min looks very distorted and has a warped value system. He was driven to despair by Zhong Ru. Before meeting the female lead, the most important person in his life was his younger brother, Zhong Shixia.

He's only in his early twenties, hasn't even finished university, and is currently being driven to the brink by Zhong Ru with no other choice.

Qiao Wu couldn't help but frown; it seemed that it was indeed necessary to pick up Lu Ning.

At the other end of the school, Lu Ning spent the most serious day of her life.

Although she didn't understand a single word the teacher said, at least her eyes never left the multimedia screen, and she even pretended to leave her homework for the day.

Private schools have a completely different teaching system from regular schools, and they also let students leave early.

So she packed her things early and prepared to wait for Qiao Wu at the school gate.

To my surprise, when I turned around, I saw someone leaning against the back door of the classroom.

She tightened her grip: "It really is you."

Zhong Shixia threw her schoolbag on the ground: "You still remember me?"

"What do you want with me?"

“Pay me back,” Zhong Shixia said. “You gave me 10,000 yuan back then, that was too much, and I haven’t had a chance to pay back the rest.”

"Are you free?" he asked.