Chapter 63: The Meeting Gift

The Lai family has four children. Due to their complicated family circumstances and four mothers, the struggle for inheritance has always been an open secret. They pretend to be brothers and sisters in front of their father, but outside they are no different from enemies.

But this time, Lai Yunjiao genuinely came to pick up Lai Shen.

The fact that their father allowed Lai Shen to venture into the mainland some time ago caused dissatisfaction among other family members. Once Lai Shen expands his business in the mainland, his words will definitely carry more weight with their father. Why should that good-for-nothing get such an opportunity?

But she never expected that not long after she arrived, people from the mainland would complain to her father, and her father got very angry that night.

Later she learned that Lai Shen had gotten into a conflict with the fourth son of the Lu family, one of the top wealthy families in mainland China, as soon as he arrived, and was even thrown out onto the street and taken to the police station.

Unfortunately, he covered his face at the time and was not photographed, otherwise his father would definitely have kicked him out of the house.

So many bodyguards couldn't protect this good-for-nothing. Lai Yunjiao would laugh herself awake in the middle of the night. This time, she even took the initiative to tell her father that she was coming to pick up Lai Shen and take him home, just to see him in such a sorry state.

I had heard of Lai Yunjiao from the Lu family before, mainly because of that woman named Qiao Wu, besides the fact that the Lu family was very wealthy.

Qiao Wu suddenly appeared in the circle a couple of years ago. She was a decent-looking person, but her behavior was extremely cheap. She was only able to get close to the circle because she kept saying that she had a relationship with the Lu family.

Like a fish, slippery to the point of being repulsive, vain and pretentious.

The Lu family was a gilded veneer for her; she claimed to have a good relationship with the young masters of the Lu family, and that everyone listened to her.

Especially Lu Jinzhi, she said that she and Lu Jinzhi were childhood sweethearts and that she would be the one to assist him in the future, and she even made ambiguous statements about her relationship with Lu Jinzhi.

Lai Yunjiao grew up in a family full of deceit and treachery, so she naturally wouldn't take such casual remarks to heart, nor would she have thought of getting involved with such a person. However, she never expected that Qiao Wu would take the initiative to provoke her.

Although both are in China, many people will intentionally or unintentionally compare Hong Kong's business districts with those on the mainland.

Especially those at the top, such as the four sons of the Lai family and the four sons of the Lu family.

They both have four children, yet they insist on arguing about who is better.

At a gathering, someone joked that Qiao Wu, who had drunk too much, really thought he was someone important and openly stirred up the Lai family's private affairs, making unwarranted comments about the birth of the Lai family's four children.

Although it's something that's generally accepted, anyone with a brain wouldn't say it to the person in question.

Lai Yunjiao didn't like being overshadowed, especially by someone so naive, so she slapped her across the face. But the arrogant girl then splashed wine all over her.

If it weren't for the people around her stopping her, she would have definitely had Qiao Wu skinned alive.

Later, people in the industry would generally avoid pairing her with Qiao Wu when organizing gatherings, and Lai Yunjiao didn't even know when he returned to China.

She looked down at her phone and searched for news about the Lu family in mainland China, only to find that the Lu family had been quite lively lately.

Lu Jinzhi returned to China, Lu Xuan was filming, and Lu Yingchi was photographed online a few days ago for messing with a good-for-nothing outside.

And there was a similar figure next to all these people.

Lai Yunjiao zoomed in on all the news photos and found that Qiao Wu in the pictures was not quite the same as she remembered. If it weren't for the face, his expression and eyes would not be the same person.

"Third Miss." The driver stopped the car. "They got out at the hotel entrance."

“She dared to stay at the Lai family’s hotel.” Lai Shen’s fists clenched so tightly they cracked. “She’s finished.”

Lai Yunjiao curved her lips slightly, showing no intention of stopping him.

If Lai Shen really causes trouble, Qiao Wu will be dealt with, and Lai Shen will be dealt with as well.

Why wouldn't she reap the benefits without lifting a finger?

However, having been wronged once in mainland China, Lai Shen was not in a hurry to take action. Qiao Wu still had many people around him, and he needed to go back to his father's place tonight, so he couldn't cause trouble at this critical juncture.

He instructed the driver: "Go and ask those people how long they booked their rooms."

The driver glanced at the third young lady subconsciously, and seeing that she seemed to agree, he got out of the car.

He ran back after a while: "I booked two apartments, one for one night and the other for two nights."

Lai Shen said, "I'll keep my usual room for two nights."

"OK."

Lai Yunjiao didn't say anything, but she sent a message to the hotel manager, asking him to reserve a room for her for two nights.

She wants to watch a play.

When Qiao Wu arrived at her room, the hotel manager was checking her in. She sat on the sofa and asked, "Has your Miss Lai returned to China?"

The manager, who had just received a message from the third young lady, turned around and asked, "Does the lady know our third young lady?"

"No."

The manager said apologetically, "We are unaware of the owner's whereabouts."

Upon hearing this, Qiao Wu looked up from her phone: "It's alright, I just wanted to ask you to give her my regards and pass on a message."

"Please speak."

Qiao Wu smiled and said to her, "I hope that nothing unexpected will happen to me and my partner at the Lai family's hotel."

The manager was somewhat doubtful, but still assured him, "Once you enter our hotel, we will definitely guarantee your personal safety, so please rest assured."

Qiao Wu took out one of his business cards and handed it to the manager: "Please give this to her for me."

“We can’t see Miss San all the time,” the manager said.

"It doesn't have to be a personal gift. As long as she knows my contact information, that's fine," Qiao Wu said with a smile. "Just ask her if she likes the gift I gave her."

Owed?

The manager nodded hesitantly.

It seems this lady really does know Miss San.

People who stay in the hotel's top suites are usually not ordinary people, so the manager didn't dare to neglect them. She accepted the business card and said, "I will do my best."

After everyone left, Qiao Wu returned to the sofa and sat down.

If nothing unexpected happens, Lai Shen has already returned. That petty person will definitely not let this go after what happened.

The reason she came along this time, besides the previous reasons, was also to deal with the hidden danger of Lai Shen.

She could tell from the store that Lai Shen was a jealous, simple-minded, impulsive, and domineering person. After suffering such a great loss, he would definitely hold a grudge against Lu Yingchi and implicate other members of the Lu family. He would definitely find out the Lu family's situation thoroughly.

Unfortunately, Lu Xuan was going to be filming in Hong Kong for a while, and she couldn't stay there all the time, so she had to make thorough preparations first.

So that day in the store, she suggested that Jiang Yuan contact the rest of the Lai family first, so that at least what happened to Lai Shen in the mainland would reach other people's ears.

Lai Yunjiao and Lai Shen are competitors, so naturally she would be happy to see this.

This was a gift she gave to Lai Yunjiao, and also a way for herself to come to the port area.

Lai Yunjiao is smarter than Lai Shen, she will definitely figure out the key to it.

When she received the call, Lai Yunjiao was sitting on a leather sofa, eating fruit and watching her father scold Lai Shen, that good-for-nothing.

Having grown up so much, he still doesn't know how to temper his brilliance, and he doesn't even know how to do business.

Her father never hit people in the face, but when he hit Lai Shen, it was really satisfying to watch.

The harder they beat us, the better. Then Lai Shen will pin all the blame on Qiao Wu and his gang.

But how did the Lu family get to this point? How could someone like Qiao Wu be able to assist the Lu family's leader?

They're all such good-for-nothings.

When she saw the hotel calling, she got up and moved a little further away, finding a better spot where she could neither obstruct the view nor the call: "What is it?"

"Miss, a guest named Qiao Wu in the hotel gave me a business card and asked me to pass it on to you to say hello, and also to say a word."

"Give it to me?" Lai Yunjiao asked as if she had heard a funny joke. "What are you talking about?"

"She said she didn't want any accidents to happen at the Lai family's hotel."

Lai Yunjiao raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly.

It seems that Qiao Wu deliberately went to the Lai family's hotel.

What do you mean? Did you know that you would be dealt with by Lai Shen after coming to this territory?

When did Qiao Wu develop such a clever mind?

"don't want."

After saying that, Lai Yunjiao prepared to hang up the phone.

The hotel manager hurriedly said, "She also asked you if you liked the gift she gave you."

What do you mean by owing a gift? She's dreaming.

Lai Yunjiao hung up the phone and was about to return to the sofa, but when she saw Lai Shen kneeling on the ground, beaten and not daring to utter a sound, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

After the call was disconnected, the manager pondered how to talk to Qiao Wu the next day, when he suddenly received a message from the Third Miss.

"Take a picture of your business card and send it to me. Prepare my room; I'll be there in a bit."

Huh?

When Lai Shen, who had just been severely beaten by his father, turned around, he found that Lai Yunjiao, who had been watching the show, was nowhere to be seen.

Well, he was in a hurry to pursue someone today and didn't have time for Lai Yunjiao, so she'd better not get involved.

He went upstairs and had the doctor apply the medicine to his wound. Then he received a message from the private investigator he had hired.

None of these are details that require further investigation. Qiao Wu has a close relationship with the Lu family and is their butler.

housekeeper?

His family's butler had to bow and scrape before him, but Lu Yingchi did the opposite when he saw Qiao Wu!

Qiao Wu's itinerary is difficult to trace, but Lu Xuan's is very easy to trace. Lai Shen doesn't want to let any member of the Lu family get away with it.

Since Lu Xuan is going to be filming in Hong Kong for a while, this person can be put on hold for now. Things in the entertainment industry are the simplest thing ever.

As for Qiao Wu...

Lai Shen called the hotel manager: "Send me an invitation."

When it was time for dinner, Lu Xuan came to Qiao Wu's room to find her.

But then she saw that Qiao Wu had changed her clothes; the light sweater she wore in the morning had been replaced with a simple yet elegant suit: "Where are you going?"

"The fourth young master of the Lai family invited me to dinner. Are you going?"

Who is that?

"We'll talk about it on the way."

On the way to the appointment, Lu Xuan frowned more and more as he listened to Qiao Wu's words: "Then how did he know you were in the port area?"

"Because the hotel we stayed at belonged to him."

“That still…” Lu Xuan still felt something was off. “How could someone like that willingly apologize to you? There must be something fishy going on!”

Qiao Wu gave him a rare look of appreciation: "Now you're quite sharp of hearing and sight."

"There are plenty of people like that around us."

Lu Xuan judged others by his own standards. If someone had humiliated him like that, even if his father had broken his legs, he would have used his bones to send that person to hell.

After he finished speaking, he paused for a moment: "You know?"

Qiao Wu raised an eyebrow silently.

All I can say is that Lai Shen has some brains, but not many.

He had a conflict with Lu Yingchi, but now he sent the invitation to a housekeeper. It's very likely because he saw that she had a good relationship with Lu Yingchi that day and investigated her. Otherwise, why would he ask a housekeeper to apologize?

From Lai Shen's perspective, he returned to Daogang District and was taught by his father that he knew he was wrong, so he apologized.

But from Qiao Wu's perspective, I only stayed at your hotel for one afternoon, and you even managed to find out my room number. Who would believe that?

"You knew that, yet you still went?!"

Lu Xuan was getting anxious. How could someone who usually seemed so smart be so dense now!

This is in the port area; if something happens, it's not easy to call for help immediately.

“I’m going back the day after tomorrow,” Qiao Wu said, “but I’m worried about you staying here.”

Lu Xuan immediately told the driver to turn around: "What can he do to me, a grown man?"

"Don't worry," Qiao Wu reassured him. "Nothing will happen. Otherwise, why do you think I booked this hotel?"

"You had this planned out all along?"

"Pretty much the same, I guess."

Seeing Qiao Wu's confident demeanor, Lu Xuan felt a pang of resentment.

So she didn't come with him; she came to clear obstacles for him out of concern for his safety.

Clearly, he is the older brother.

When will he finally be able to truly protect her?

An hour later, the two arrived at the place they had agreed upon with Lai Shen, only to find that it was a yacht.

If we go up there, we'll be in an unfamiliar place, which will be even more dangerous than being on land.

Lu Xuan glanced back at Qiao Wu's calm expression; she must have guessed it too.

So he didn't say much, but followed Qiao Wu onto the ship.

Lai Shen was already waiting on the deck. He didn't mind that there was one more person, and was even happier. The more people who came, the better, so he wouldn't have to deal with them one by one.

He acted very convincingly, completely unlike his arrogant demeanor at dinner that day, and walked up to me with a beaming smile: "I thought I was seeing things when I saw you at the airport today, what a coincidence!"

Perhaps because this was his territory, he spoke with much more confidence. He glanced at Lu Xuan and asked knowingly, "And who is this?"

“Lu Yingchi’s older brother, Lu Xuan, is the third son in the Lu family.” Qiao Wu took a step back and stood behind Lu Xuan. “I think if Young Master Lai wants to apologize, it would be better to talk to his brother, so I called him along. You don’t mind, do you?”

“Of course not!” Lai Shen happily stepped aside. “Please come in, both of you.”

As Qiao Wu passed by, Lai Shen lowered his eyes slightly.

These previous times he had only seen Qiao Wu from afar or through photographs, but seeing him up close was quite different from what he had imagined.

Even though she was walking behind Lu Xuan, she remained calm and composed, showing none of the submissiveness of the other housekeepers. She possessed a natural and natural elegance.

If you didn't know her identity, who would know she was a housekeeper?

But in the end, it's just a shell.

Although there are few people who look like her, Lai Shen is never short of beautiful women around him, and it is even more difficult for him to accept that an annoying person is hanging around him.

He still hoped to see the other person become pathetic, even more pathetic than him, groveling and begging for mercy.

As for Lu Xuan...

Lu Yingchi dared to embarrass him in public, so what's wrong with him disciplining Lu Xuan?

Thinking this, Lai Shen smiled sinisterly, greeted the crew, and followed them.

Lu Xuan, who was ahead, was deliberately slowing down, but as he walked slowly, Qiao Wu walked even slower, insisting on walking behind him. He couldn't help but ask, "Why are you walking behind me?"

“I’m the butler.” Qiao Wu gestured for him to look ahead. “Butlers are the ones who are easy to bully.”

"He dares!"

"Shhh."

This yacht has three decks and is very spacious.

Lai Shen walked up from behind and said with a smile, "The best time to enjoy the view is from the boat at night, which is why we chose this place for dinner. It's a good opportunity to take you on a tour. You don't mind, do you?"

Qiao Wu didn't speak, but gently poked Lu Xuan's back.

"..." Lu Xuan said with a dark face, "Whatever."

Lai Shen's smile deepened: "Then please sit down, I'll have the chef serve the dishes in a bit."

"What happened last time was a misunderstanding." He didn't even let anyone do anything, but poured the wine himself. "It was because that person named Hu Zhuo said some unpleasant things that I offended the Fourth Young Master in a fit of anger. Since the Third Young Master is here, please say a few words for me. Although we are far apart, when I go to the mainland in the future, our two families will inevitably have business dealings. It would be too ugly if things got too messy."

After he finished speaking, he took a sip of the wine himself, indicating that there was nothing wrong with the bottle.

Lu Xuan glanced at Qiao Wu, and seeing that the other party had no reaction, he said, "No, my family is very strict and doesn't allow me to drink outside."

Qiao Wu: "..."

Lai Shen: "?"

Don't think he didn't look at the information. Lu Xuan is someone who frequents all kinds of drinking parties and gatherings. Would he not drink?

"It's alright." His purpose wasn't the drink. "Miss Qiao, would you like a little?"

Lu Xuan said unhappily, "She's my housekeeper. Who will take care of me if she gets drunk?"

"It was my oversight. Shall I get you some other drinks? What would you like to drink?"

Seeing that Qiao Wu didn't interrupt him, Lu Xuan became more and more at ease. He could play this kind of role with ease: "Water, please."

His acting skills have really improved now; Qiao Wu didn't even notice when he said he had no money this morning.

Lai Shen didn't realize it either, and even asked someone to pour them water.

Unexpectedly, water was poured in, and Lu Xuan said with a stern face, "I don't usually drink filtered water, never mind."

Lai took a deep breath.

How come the third son of the Lu family is even more difficult to please than him!

"The boat has already set sail. How about we see if there's anything else you'd like to drink? I'll definitely treat you to something nice next time."

Lai Shen almost revealed his gritted teeth when he said the last few words.

"I'm not drinking anymore." Lu Xuan pushed the cup away, crossed his arms, and lazily leaned to the other side. "I'm a little seasick."

Qiao Wu, who had just felt a brain suddenly fall onto his shoulder, now only wanted to shove this overbearing person into the sea.

She smiled and said to Lai Shen, "That's how it is."

"I've heard that your family owns a port."

Qiao Wu said without changing his expression, "He's just a young master who hangs out in the entertainment industry. How would he know anything about port matters?"

The Lu family is a family of three ruined individuals.

Lai Shen chuckled inwardly, but said nothing: "It was my oversight. Shall we take a rest? The night view outside is nice, want to go and take a look to distract ourselves?"

"OK."

No one touched the things on the table.

Qiao Wu thought that even the most stupid person wouldn't tamper with food, but considering Lai Shen's actions, he wasn't so sure.

To be on the safe side, she would not consume any food or water that she was unfamiliar with.

There were several small sofas and a small brazier on the deck.

So it doesn't feel cold in this kind of weather. Lai Shen did all the pretense for this trip.

Because Lu Xuan played the role of someone who gets seasick to the extreme, Qiao Wu was forced to sit on the same small sofa as him.

"My head hurts." Lu Xuan nudged her shoulder. "Give me a massage."

Qiao Wu smiled slightly, tilted her head and whispered in his ear, "Can your brain withstand my strength?"

Lu Xuan: "..."

What, you're letting him act but not letting him take advantage of you a little?

He already agreed to that stupid withdrawal treatment, but he can't even stick it on for a little while?!

He's going to stick it on!

Thinking this, he bumped his head against Qiao Wu's shoulder even more.

"Too skinny." He pressed his forehead against the bone, dissatisfied. "Did Lu Jinzhi even pay you? You do so much work and he doesn't even pay you for food?"

Qiao Wu grabbed his wrist and squinted: "Watch your step."

Lu Xuan reluctantly withdrew his hand.

Seeing this, Lai Shen, who was sitting opposite the two, let out a low hum.

Anyway, he wouldn't be wriggling around on his own butler like that; there's definitely something wrong with those two.

Remembering how Lu Yingchi had run up to Qiao Wu and begged for a touch that day, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He took out his phone, secretly took a picture, then unblocked Hu Zhuo from his blacklist and sent the picture to him.

"Find a way to send it to Lu Yingchi."

The other side quickly replied with a "good".

Lai Shen glanced at the sea and estimated that it was about time.

He stood up and walked over to the two men: "If you're seasick, getting up and looking at the sea will help. It'll distract you. Want to try it?"

"No need." Lu Xuan lifted his eyelids. "As long as I don't see anything dirty, it'll be fine."

Lai Shen frowned: "Are you talking about me?"

Do you really have to take this personally?

"Lu Xuan," Lai Shen said arrogantly, raising his chin, "I invited you here today with good intentions to apologize. If you don't appreciate it, then this meal is off. Isn't there an old saying, 'Courtesy first, then force'?"

"Lai Shen," Qiao Wu asked in confusion, as if he had just noticed, "Weren't we supposed to be looking at the night view? But why can't we see the coastline anymore?"

“Of course.” Lai Shen put his hands in his pockets and grinned. “Because before I gave you the invitation, I had already had someone confirm the route. This ship isn’t here to see the night view; it’s coming to international waters.”

"Why?"

"You send the police to arrest me on the mainland, but who do you want to arrest me on the high seas?" Lai Shen whistled and walked to the railing. "Since you don't want to make peace, then I have no choice but to take revenge. You saw how I was humiliated by Lu Yingchi that day, didn't you?"

“He’s not here, so it’s just you…” He pointed his index finger at Qiao Wu and then slowly at Lu Xuan, “and his brother, who’s here to pay off his debts.”

Qiao Wu frowned: "What do you want to do?"

Lai Shen laughed twice, as if he was laughing at her naivety: "What else can I do? Help you, the seasick young master, to wake up. I heard that people who are seasick can overcome this physiological reaction if they are washed by seawater."

After speaking, Lai Shen gestured to the crew members not far away.

In an instant, a large number of bodyguards dressed in black rushed up from the first floor.

“I said that day,” Lai Shen said maliciously, “If anyone dares to touch me, I’ll have them pinned to the ground and trampled on.”

"Tie them up," he said to the bodyguards around him. "First, throw Lu Xuan into the sea to rinse him off."

Qiao Wu said coldly, "He is a member of the Lu family."

"So what?" Lai Shen shrugged. "Today he's the ancestor of the Lu family, and I'll still tie him up without hesitation. As for you... how you looked at me that day, I'll show you how I'll teach you a lesson today."

He said condescendingly, "You lowly thing, how dare you look at me like that, no matter what your status is."

"What are you standing there for?" Not seeing the bodyguards make a move, he dropped his previous friendly facade and said fiercely, "Go ahead and do it!"

“He said we can start now.” Lu Xuan rested his chin on Qiao Wu’s shoulder. “Then can I start now?”

Qiao Wu smiled and pushed his head away: "Mm."

"Really?" Lu Xuan sat up straight instantly. "You're not angry?"

"Don't be angry." Qiao Wu stood up, looked at Lai Shen who was immersed in his own world, and said with a light laugh, "It was justified for you to cripple him today."

Lai Shen suddenly realized something was wrong. Qiao Wu, who had been following Lu Xuan, suddenly stood up.

Even Lu Xuan had to verify her words several times before speaking to her.

She changed her previous attitude of always checking Lu Xuan's reaction before doing anything. Her expression became indifferent and detached. The sea breeze blew open her suit jacket, seemingly leaving a few frost marks on her eyebrows and eyes.

She stood there straight, scanning him with a look of utter disdain, as if he were trash, her gaze filled with mockery.

How dare a lowly butler look at him like that?!

Lai Shen was provoked. Regardless of whether the bodyguards made a move, he stepped forward and tried to grab her, making her kneel before him just as he had knelt before his father that day.

But before he could even touch Qiao Wu's collar, Lu Xuan, who was saying she was seasick and weak, suddenly moved.

Lu Xuanke learned martial arts from Qiao Wu since he was a child, and although he was not good at studying, he was still very good at these things.

So he instantly grabbed Lai Shen's hand and kicked him far away.

Lai Shen had already been beaten by his father today, and the pain from the wounds on his body when he hit the ground made his whole body convulse. Coupled with the excruciating pain from being kicked in the chest, before he could recover and get up, Lu Xuan kicked him again.

Lu Xuan usually appears lazy and nonchalant, but when his peach blossom eyes become sharp, they reveal an unprecedented edge and ferocity. He punched Lai Shen in the face, dragged his head to the bottom of the railing, held him up, and said coldly, "You can't even beat that weakling Lu Yingchi, yet you dare to lay a hand on me? If I let you touch her today, I've wasted the last twenty years of my life."

I didn't expect that Lu Xuan could still break through when there were so many people around.

Lai Shen roared, "Are they all dead! Hold them down!"

But the bodyguards remained motionless. At this moment, Lai Shen finally realized something was wrong and looked at Qiao Wu in horror.

The latter walked towards him slowly and deliberately: "Let him go."

Lu Xuan glanced back, then stepped on Lai Shen's leg with one foot and stood up to make room for Qiao Wu.

Qiao Wu casually pulled over a chair next to him, propped the chair legs against Lai Shen's body, and stepped on the seat, preventing him from having any chance to get up.

"you!"

Qiao Wu interrupted him with a smile: "Your four children are fighting over the inheritance. If the Lai family's fortune ends up in your hands, ruining so many years of hard work, your ancestors would be furious. So I've been thinking about it and decided to lend a hand to someone who is capable."

Lai Shen's heart skipped a beat, and a metallic taste rose in his throat.

Before he could speak, Qiao Wu smiled and raised her voice to the back, "Miss Lai, what do you think of this gift?"

The sound of rhythmic high heels came from behind the deck. Lai Shen turned his head with difficulty to look in the direction of the sound.

Lai Yunjiao, who had disappeared from home sometime earlier, walked over with a smile on her face.

She glanced at Lai Shen lying on the ground, then looked intently at Qiao Wu, raising an eyebrow and saying, "I like it very much."