Chapter 21 Let him get out

Even Zhong Hejing, who had seen many storms, couldn't quite control her expression. She vaguely felt that she had a great misunderstanding about everyone in the Lu family.

If Lu Xuan really is that kind of person, then no one can truly understand him.

Perhaps because the expressions of the people around him were too shocked, Lu Xuan calmed down a little from his rage and realized that there were other people present.

It's all Lu Jinzhi's fault.

He adjusted his sunglasses, picked up his idol image again, and remained silent, unwilling to embarrass himself in front of outsiders.

Qiao Wu offered him a way out: "We'll talk about it later. I'll see the guests out first, and you can drive the car to the garage."

The only response she received was Lu Xuan's silent back.

The Porsche sped away again. Although Zhong Hejing had composed herself, her worldview had been almost completely turned upside down.

After seeing Qiao Wu off, Lu Xuan sat on the sofa with a gloomy expression.

"Don't try to fool me." He had already realized what was going on. "I don't even have money for food right now."

Forget about proving himself. Even if he were to rob someone, he'd still need to spend money on equipment, and driving to the bank would take time!

He took off his sunglasses and pointed to his face: "Do you know how much it costs to maintain this face?"

Because of his work, he is often away from home and cannot come to the beauty salon at home, so he has to spend money.

After listening to him finish speaking, Qiao Wu stepped forward and looked at his face carefully as if admiring a work of art. Indeed, there was nothing to criticize.

"Know."

It's worth spending more money for this face.

“It’s worth it.” She nodded in agreement.

Lu Xuan felt uncomfortable under her direct gaze and tilted his head away: "What are you looking at? Did you pay for this?"

In fact, Qiao Wu was just a little nearsighted, so he naturally had to focus his gaze more intently when looking at people.

Unaware of Lu Xuan's awkwardness, she stood before him and said gently, "How about we make a deal?"

"trade?"

Could she really have something going on with his face?!

Lu Xuan subconsciously sat up straight.

"You should know your brother's temper better than I do; he won't give you the money."

Lu Xuan frowned.

Therefore, assassinating him would be the more reasonable course of action.

Qiao Wu then added, "But I can give it to you."

Lu Xuan suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze becoming very complicated.

Seeing his lips move slightly, as if he was struggling with something, Qiao Wu waited patiently, and then heard him say, "GS is a legitimate company."

"Um?"

Lu Xuan straightened his collar, his ears turning bright red as he expressed his stubbornness: "I sell my art, not my body."

Even spending money won't work.

"..." She was amused by this fool's thought process. "Your street performances aren't worth much money."

"So you really want me to sell myself?!"

Qiao Wu took a deep breath: "I have even less interest in your body."

Lu Xuan was not happy to hear this. No matter how many haters he had, no one had ever criticized his looks or physique. Did Qiao Wu even know what a "top-tier" guy was?

He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his muscular forearms, leaned back, and put his long legs on the table, arrogantly uttering two words: "Tasteless."

"I can cover your daily expenses." Qiao Wu didn't want to discuss such strange topics with him. "This includes your food, clothing, housing, transportation, and necessary social interactions. I'll also provide you with reasonable funds. What do you think?"

Actually, it doesn't cost much. Brands will deliver the everyday clothes that Lu Xuan needs to his home for him to choose from, or they will be custom-made. He doesn't have to pay for these things himself; Qiao Wu has always been in charge of these basic needs.

As for the money Lu Xuan usually spends when he goes out, it's not like she can't afford it.

But he only spends his money on the right things.

Lu Xuan never expected that just a few days ago he was provoking Qiao Wu for not having money to buy her jewelry, but now it was Qiao Wu who wanted to buy him jewelry.

Although being broke is really frustrating, he found the feeling novel and didn't dislike it.

"Then what kind of deal are you talking about?"

"Attend classes on time, work diligently, do not break the law or regulations, do not act recklessly, reflect on your actions beforehand, eat healthily, drink alcohol in moderation, and be cautious in making friends." Qiao Wu glanced at him again, "Given that you are still an artist and have to be responsible for your image, you need to have your body fat checked every week and exercise to shape your body every day."

Lu Xuan's expression became more and more distorted as he listened.

"Elementary school student conduct guidelines?"

"Lu Xuan's code of conduct." Qiao Wu readily agreed. "I will compile these into a document and send it to you along with other matters you need to pay attention to."

What if I don't want to?

“Then go and assassinate Lu Jinzhi.” Qiao Wu raised an eyebrow. “I’ll provide you with his flight information back to China.”

“.

Does Lu Jinzhi know how ruthless you are?

Damn it, why didn't he think to ask Qiao Wu for the safe's combination before!

"Are these things difficult to do?" Qiao Wu asked him in return. "They sound like a lot, but they should all be very simple and not at all disadvantageous to you."

Lu Xuan couldn't explain it.

But he just felt that these rules and regulations were very un-Lu Xuan's way!

No, but what benefit does he gain from doing all this? What kind of deal is this?

What are you after?

"I want you to become a household name and a superstar." Qiao Wu leaned down slightly, a faint smile in his light eyes. "Then I'll be the sugar daddy behind the superstar, how cool is that?"

Lu Xuan raised his eyes and stared at her for several seconds without saying a word.

"I've said this much, think it over." Qiao Wu quickly looked away. "Or you have other options, like going to Lu Ning, Lu Yingchi, or your dad. They would probably be happy to help you."

Are you kidding me? If you actually went back there, you'd never be able to hold your head up high again!

Seeing Qiao Wu turn to leave, Lu Xuan grabbed her wrist.

The temperature at home was always just right, but her skin felt cool, a stark contrast to the heat of his palm.

Lu Xuan's gaze lingered on the spot where the two had touched, until Qiao Wu moved, at which point he suddenly released his hand and placed it naturally on his knee, his fingertips still loosely closed.

“I agreed,” he said.

A smile instantly appeared in Qiao Wu's eyes, and she extended her hand: "Then it will be a pleasure to cooperate."

Lu Xuan tilted his head and grasped that slightly cool hand again.

"It's a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Qiao. Oh no," he said, emphasizing each word, "my sugar daddy."

-

After returning home, Zhong Hejing didn't say anything and prepared to pack her things to move to her other apartment, which was closer to the company.

Even though she owned other properties in the past, she had always lived with her parents since she was a child.

Zhong Ru and her husband had a falling out and she was having an affair, which led to their divorce. However, due to a series of events that followed, Zhong Ru became somewhat extreme and has not mentioned the divorce again for many years. Although they no longer live together, they have remained entangled and disgusted with each other to this day.

Over the years, her father has not lived at home, and she has lived alone with Zhong Ru. Later, Zhong Min and Zhong Shixia joined her, so Zhong Hejing could not imagine that anyone would have any ill intentions towards her.

The houses there are regularly cleaned, but there are no maids or servants, and they lack any sense of life.

Although Qiao Wu's reminder was somewhat sudden, it was all beneficial. If she wanted to disconnect from the past and investigate, she had to be in a new environment, alone.

Because she doesn't trust anyone.

The next day, she ran into Zhong Ru, who was returning from a business trip, as soon as she went out.

Zhong Ru glanced at her suitcase and frowned: "Where are you going?"

“I don’t want to travel so far to and from the company, and I don’t have the energy for it, so I’ll stay in another house for a while,” Zhong Hejing said.

This answer barely satisfied Zhong Ru: "Let's go to the study first."

Zhong Hejing had no choice but to put down her suitcase.

When I arrived at the study, I saw that Zhong Min was also there.

Zhong Ru sat down and took out an invitation from the drawer: "Do you know that Lu Jinzhi is going back to China?"

"Um."

“You used to frequent the Lu family and have a good relationship with him,” Zhong Ru said. “This time, take Zhong Min with you so he can meet more people and learn some manners, especially Lu Jinzhi.”

As she spoke, she looked at Zhong Min again: "Lu Jinzhi has already established a stable momentum in the international market. Now Lu Jiang has begun to gradually relinquish power. From now on, Lu Jinzhi will be in charge of Lu's Group. Everyone else can be put aside for now, but you must talk to Lu Jinzhi and make him notice you, do you hear me?"

Zhong Min had heard of Lu Jinzhi's name from many people. He was nothing more than the future head of the Lu family, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, a young genius with great potential.

He scoffed, "You think too highly of me. What am I to deserve his attention?"

Zhong Ru ignored his sarcastic remarks and simply said, "I heard you want to transfer Zhong Shixia to another school."

Sure enough, Zhong Ru knew everything that happened at school, but she never interfered.

Zhong Min really didn't want Zhong Shixia to continue studying in that place. The social classes were unequal, and those people didn't have any good intentions towards his younger brother, but he had no choice.

“I don’t care what you are,” Zhong Ru said coldly. “Even if you’re just a pheasant, you’ll have to wear a phoenix coat for me now.”

Then, remembering something, she glanced at Zhong Hejing and said, "Since your sister is moving out, you should all move in with her and learn from her."

Zhong Hejing immediately said, "No."

“Why not? You’re siblings, it doesn’t matter where you live. Your house can accommodate you. Find a few more people to go and take care of him. I don’t have much time to teach him.” Zhong Ru didn’t give her a chance to refuse. After putting down the invitation, she got up and walked out. “If you don’t want to, then don’t leave.”

The study door slammed shut, and the room fell silent once more.

Neither of them looked too good.

Zhong Hejing knew Zhong Ru's character well; she always kept her word. If Zhong Ru hadn't agreed to let Zhong Min go today, she definitely wouldn't have been able to leave the Zhong family home.

However, she had her illness before Zhong Min came, so it had nothing to do with the brothers. In her own territory, she was in charge, so that was fine.

As for the two brothers, let's just pretend we don't see them.

"Go pack your things," she said.

Zhong Min suddenly felt like a dog being ordered around.

He has to come whenever others need him, and leave whenever they don't need him; he has no say in where he goes.

“I’m not going,” he said.

He wanted to stay here to annoy Zhong Ru.

"I don't want to argue with you." Zhong Hejing wasn't in the mood for anything else. She picked up the invitation from the table. "Can't you be a little more mature?"

"Do you even consider me a human being?" Zhong Min roared. "I said I don't want to go!"

“I’ll give you five minutes. If you can convince Mom, you don’t have to go,” Zhong Hejing said. “But I have to leave. If you affect me, don’t blame me for being impolite.”

Zhong Min slammed the door and left.

Zhong Hejing returned to her room and waited for five minutes. When the time was up and Zhong Min still hadn't returned, she knew the answer.

She called her bodyguard, then took her luggage and went to the garage herself.

Five minutes later, the bodyguards shoved the bound and gagged Zhong Min and Zhong Shixia into the car behind.

Zhong Hejing didn't want to sit with them; it would definitely be noisy and annoying.

She suddenly remembered Lu Yingchi and Lu Xuan, whom she had seen at the Lu family home, and Lu Ning, whom she had seen at school that day.

These people were once the talk of the town as spoiled rich kids. Although many of them didn't dare to say it openly, they secretly enjoyed seeing the Lu family make a fool of themselves.

Many people are even coveting the Lu family's current wealth.

They were delighted with the good-for-nothing brothers of the Lu family. Lu Jiang had always been at odds with his sons, and his second son had even been driven abroad for two years without returning.

If the Lu family were to truly fall apart one day, it would be devoured by those who have been secretly eyeing it for a long time.

Although it's shameful, Zhong Hejing was once one of these people.

But now she feels that the Lu family is different from before.

Although Lu Yingchi and Lu Xuan did seem... not very smart and not capable of taking on important responsibilities, they were at least more obedient than the people in the car behind her.

Qiao Wu is just a housekeeper, how did she manage to do that?

-

Three days later, Qiao Wu received a call from Zhong Hejing, who invited her to afternoon tea.

When they arrived at the address, they found Zhong Hejing looking even more haggard.

It was just a large, single-level apartment, quiet and spacious. Zhong Hejing's slender figure looked very small standing in the middle. She smiled and said, "Sit down, I'll pour you some water."

"Let's talk when you're thirsty." Qiao Wu sat down next to her. "It seems like you've got results."

This time, Zhong Hejing didn't argue with her anymore, but nodded directly: "You're right, there is indeed a problem."

In fact, such private matters should not be discussed with Qiao Wu, someone with whom I have only recently reunited and with whom I do not yet know very well.

But when the results came out, Zhong Hejing spent a long time alone and realized that there was no one around her she could trust, not even her mother.

Only Qiao Wu, who had once warned her.

She thought about it and realized that even if Qiao Wu harbored malicious intentions, what help could the Zhong family offer the Lu family now?

Compared to life, nothing is anything.

So she made her only call to Qiao Wu.

She took out several boxes of medicine and placed them on the table, giving a bitter smile: "From health supplements to the medicines I took later, none of them were normal."

That was the home she had lived in since she was a child.

After leaving home, she temporarily stopped taking her medication and sent everything she usually ate for testing. She hasn't eaten anything from the Zhong family in the past few days.

“If it were an outsider, that would be fine,” she said, “but I can’t figure out who it could be.”

Zhong Ru wouldn't want her to get sick; at least she's much easier to control than the currently disobedient Zhong Min.

“It’s actually quite easy to guess,” Qiao Wu said. “There were problems even before Zhong Min came. If it weren’t for you and Zhong Min, who would be the ultimate beneficiary, and who could quietly get close to you? You should have the answer.”

Zhong Hejing felt a dryness in her throat but couldn't make a sound, and her eyes gradually reddened.

How could she not guess? She knew the moment she received the result.

But no matter what, she is still his daughter.

Even though they didn't live under the same roof, and even though he had many conflicts with Zhong Ru, he never said a harsh word to her.

That's why she didn't want to think about that possibility, and there was no one she could talk to.

Qiao Wu didn't press the issue further, but instead asked, "Are there any side effects to stopping now?"

"What has been accumulated over the years will also take years to recover."

We still can't have too much pressure or be too tired, after all, this wasn't an illness at first, but now it's turned into one.

"It's good that we can raise them." Qiao Wu nodded. "As long as they survive, there's nothing we can't do."

Zhong Hejing lowered her eyes. There was a thick folder on the table, which she had marked extensively, all for Zhong Min to see.

Her face was pale: "It's not that simple."

She's so lost right now. If it were a competitor or a stranger, she could send them to jail right now.

But why, of all people, was it her father?

Zhong Hejing never imagined that her greatest enemy in life would not be in the business world, but at home.

Her mother disregarded her body and wishes, forcibly pressing her together with Zhong Min.

Her father, I don't know when it started, wanted her dead.

Her younger brother has not returned home since he slammed the door and left the house the day he came back.

Zhong Hejing felt that her life had been a complete mess.

"What should I do?" she murmured.

Qiao Wu responded almost immediately: "You must survive."

Zhong Hejing subconsciously looked at her, just like when she was looking for outstanding people, trying to find some guidance from the other person on where she should go.

"You might have thought about not living anymore," Qiao Wu said with a smile.

really.

I've thought about it more than once.

"Why? These medications? Or is it because of the stress you're under?"

"Yes, I have them all," Zhong Hejing said honestly.

Qiao Wu said calmly, "It's all pressure from others. They want to harm you. Why are you bearing it and risking your life? Aren't you just making those people happy?"

From the moment they met until today, every time Zhong Hejing saw Qiao Wu, he appeared calm, collected, and strategic.

Only now does Qiao Wu seem to show a hint of obvious displeasure.

"Actually, living isn't that easy these days," Zhong Hejing forced a smile.

"Because of yourself?"

“Because…” Zhong Hejing was stumped by the question.

"What would you do if you didn't have that stress, if you didn't get sick?"

Zhong Hejing thought for a moment: "Learn and work like an ordinary person."

That's all.

They might also have their own hobby, and then meet up with friends for meals, drinks, and travel after get off work or on weekends.

"So if it's not your own fault, then why are you bothering with all this?" Qiao Wu glanced at the documents on the table. "Isn't the premise of taking responsibility that the other party also has a responsibility to you? If not, then what gives you the right? Ordinary blood is only worth 200 yuan at 10. Calculate how much your own blood is worth. You and a chimpanzee have 99% genetic similarity, so why care about that extra 1%?"

Zhong Hejing: "..."

Why does it feel like I've been doused with a bucket of cold water?

Qiao Wu: "I don't advise people to live, because it's really stupid to advise them without experiencing what they've been through. But I also think it's stupid to not want to live because someone else is making you miserable. If someone doesn't want me to live, I won't let them live either."

As she was speaking, she suddenly reached out and overturned the documents on the table, scattering them all over the table.

Zhong Hejing's eyelids twitched.

Qiao Wu looked at her: "See, the world didn't explode, did it?"

Zhong Hejing just stared blankly at Qiao Wu the whole time, watching her movements.

But the moment the files on the desktop collapsed, her heart skipped a beat, as if a huge rock that had been pressing on her heart for many years had finally fallen.

Qiao Wu suddenly remembered Zhong Ru's little tricks in the past and asked with a smile, "If we follow your mother's plan, and if you are healthy, you should try to please Lu Jinzhi and find a way to marry him, would you be willing to do that?"

Marry Lu Jinzhi? Are you crazy?

Although he is rich, handsome, and very capable.

But to be honest, in the eyes of a genius like Lu Jinzhi, everyone is trash, and his mouth is so poisonous that he could poison himself with just a lick of his lips.

She really resisted it.

“I don’t want to,” she said.

Upon hearing this answer, Qiao Wu fell silent, leaving the rest for Zhong Hejing to ponder.

Perhaps because she had just escaped death, or perhaps because Qiao Wu's words were too direct and incisive, Zhong Hejing has now emerged from her initial confusion and begun to deal with the things around her.

She was born into the Zhong family, and her education and experiences far surpassed those of ordinary people. It's unrealistic for her to say that she would just be an ordinary person going to work.

When she was in good health, company matters were not enough to cause her stress. She just disliked Zhong Ru's oppression of her since childhood and that abnormal family environment.

In the past, she endured it all because they were her parents.

But when she said she was moving out that day, Zhong Ru only told her about Zhong Min and didn't show any other concern for her health.

If Zhong Min is trained, will she then be of no use to Zhong Ru?

She originally wanted to give Zhong Ru a way out before she died.

But now she has no way out.

As for Zhong Min, he was also a victim to some extent. If he had stayed obediently in the Zhong family, she wouldn't have minded giving him shares in the company so they could inherit the family fortune together.

However, now that the victim is inflicting the harm he suffered on her, she is becoming very impatient.

Zhong Hejing got up, got a glass of water, and placed it in front of Qiao Wu: "I have something I'd like to ask you."

Qiao Wu took it: "Go on."

“Although I understand some things, I also know what kind of person I am.” Zhong Hejing sat down next to her, quite frankly. “A businessman who only cares about profit, although not a completely wicked person, is not exactly pure of heart, nor is he that magnanimous.”

“I have lived with my parents for many years and have my own way of making decisions, but there are two exceptions in the family.” She paused. “You should know the general outline of what’s going on with the Zhong family. Originally, Zhong Ru brought Zhong Min back because I was going to die. In fact, Zhong Ru didn’t approve of him, and he didn’t want to stay in the Zhong family, let alone be threatened by Zhong Ru. As for my relationship with him, it was just so-so, or even nonexistent, so I can’t tell the difference.”

She asked, "What would you do if you were in that situation?"

In Zhong Hejing's memory, Qiao Wu had always kept the Lu family members in line since he was a child, and now he was even more impressive to her.

Qiao Wu is now the Lu family's housekeeper, so he should be more experienced than her in handling family matters.

The moment Zhong Hejing finished speaking, the sound of a fingerprint unlock came from the doorway, and the door clicked open.

Zhong Min, who had no feelings for Zhong Hejing, stood outside the door.

Perhaps not expecting there were other people in the house, he momentarily forgot to conceal the displeasure and hostility on his face, and met Qiao Wu's gaze directly.

Zhong Min didn't expect Qiao Wu to be here. This person, who was also aloof and whom he disliked, was a bit special. The scene of Qiao Wu pressing down on a fat man with one hand that day was still clearly in his mind. He was so stunned that he forgot to change his shoes.

Qiao Wu glanced at the door and then looked away, as if he hadn't seen anyone return.

"If it were me, I wouldn't want to stay here."

She picked up the water, took a small sip, smiled gently at Zhong Hejing, and spoke in a calm and clear voice.

"Then let him get lost."

The last word, "get lost," was a bit too harsh. Although the other party didn't name names, Zhong Min, who had just arrived at the door, instinctively felt like he was being targeted.

And for no reason, I shivered.