Chapter 231 I've Caused a Major Disaster
Cheng Zhou received Shang Wu's signal.
He looked at Lu You's profile, which was pale with anger and her eyes were red, yet she was holding back her tears. His heart felt like it was being ripped out.
He regretted the angry words that had just slipped out.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his frustration and confusion, and quickly stepped forward to block Lu You's path.
"Sister You..."
His voice was hoarse, filled with deep apology, "I'm sorry, what I said just now was out of anger, it was nonsense, I didn't mean it that way, I've never been grateful... I..."
He was so anxious that he became incoherent, clumsily trying to explain, "I was just so angry with my mom and Coco that I lost my mind, and then your words provoked me, so I said something I shouldn't have. I'm sorry, I'm really sorry!"
Lu You turned her face away, refusing to look at him, her voice cold and choked with sobs.
"There's no need to apologize. Young Master Cheng is right. I have a bad temper and a sharp tongue, and I'm not worthy of the high standards of your Cheng family."
From now on, we'll go our separate ways. If I meddle in the Cheng family's affairs again, I'm a dog!
"No, Lu You." Cheng Zhou tried to grab her hand in a hurry, but Lu You shook him off forcefully.
He had no choice but to continue stopping her.
“It’s me who’s not good enough for you, it’s my family’s mess that makes me not good enough for you. I know you’re so angry because you care about A-Wu and Lu Rang. You’re right, my mom and Coco went too far. It’s only right that I apologize.”
He lowered his head and said in a low voice, "I came to see you tonight not to make things difficult for A-Wu, but to tell you that I have already booked my plane tickets."
I'm forcibly sending Coco to a language school abroad the day after tomorrow. I'll have a trusted friend keep an eye on her, and I absolutely won't let her come back to cause trouble anytime soon.
Upon hearing this solution, Lu You's tense expression eased slightly, but she still didn't turn around.
Cheng Zhou watched her distant figure, his eyes struggled for a moment, as if he had made up his mind, before continuing with difficulty, "It's just that my mother... she went to see A-Wu this afternoon, and when she came back she had another fight with me. She made a condition."
Lu You finally turned her head, frowning as she looked at him: "Conditions? What conditions?"
Cheng Zhou's eyes flickered, avoiding her gaze, and his voice lowered further: "She said that as long as I don't stop Coco from contacting Lu Rang, she'll consider no longer opposing our relationship."
"What?" Lu You's eyes widened suddenly as she stared at Cheng Zhou in disbelief, as if she were seeing him for the first time.
"Cheng Zhou! You actually considered agreeing to such a condition?! You're trading my brother and Shang Wu's peace for your mother's approval? Is our relationship something that can be bought with this kind of deal?"
Disappointment and anger surged up again, and Lu You felt a chill run through her body.
She turned to leave.
"No, I didn't agree."
Cheng Zhou hurriedly explained, "How could I possibly agree! I'm just telling you her exact words! I'm also very confused right now and don't know how to resolve this completely."
On one side, his mother was threatening suicide, and on the other side, Coco was going on a hunger strike and acting out.
He didn't know what to do.
Just then, Shang Wu, who had been silently observing, suddenly spoke up.
Her voice was calm:
"Cheng Zhou, agree to your mother's conditions."
Lu You suddenly turned to look at Shang Wu, her eyes filled with shock and confusion.
"Awu, do you know what you're saying?"
Lu stepped forward, his brows furrowing.
Cheng Zhou was even more stunned: "A-Wu. This..."
Shang Wu stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over Cheng Zhou before finally settling on Lu You.
“Sister You, so that A-Rang and I could live here in peace, you took the initiative to go back and take over the mess that the Yu family had made, sacrificing your own freedom and happiness to deal with Lu Zheng.”
"Now, we just have one more troublesome Cheng Keke among us, so what? She's just a spoiled child who can't cause much trouble."
She paused, looked at Lu Rang, and their eyes seemed to meet in a tacit understanding.
“Lu Rang only has me in his heart, and I know that better than anyone else. No matter how much Cheng Keke tries to cause trouble, she will only humiliate herself. Since Madam Cheng has put forward this condition, we might as well go with the flow and keep her calm for now.”
"At least this way, there will be one less major obstacle between Cheng Zhou and Sister You. As for Cheng Keke..."
Shang Wu's lips curled into a cold smile: "If she wants to come, then let her come. It'll be a good opportunity for her to give up completely. This is a small problem that A-Rang and I can handle."
Although Lu Rang felt sorry for Shang Wu being harassed because of this, he understood Shang Wu's intentions.
She was using this method to clear obstacles for Lu You and Cheng Zhou.
This was also a more drastic way of forcing the Cheng family to educate their daughter themselves.
Lu Rang remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded, indicating his support for Shang Wu's decision.
"Okay, we'll listen to A-Wu, we'll be fine."
Cheng Zhou looked at Shang Wu and Lu Rang, his eyes filled with complex emotions: gratitude, guilt, and utter shame.
He never expected Shang Wu to be so magnanimous, even willing to sacrifice her own peace and quiet to accommodate him.
Without further hesitation, Cheng Zhou grabbed Lu You, who was still in shock, and spoke firmly.
“Lu You, I will handle this matter in my own way and will never let Keke bother A Wu and A Rang again. You come back with me to see my mother.”
Lu You was forcibly pulled along by him, looking back at Shang Wu and Lu Rang every few steps, her eyes filled with worry, but in the end she was still forcibly taken away by Cheng Zhou.
The corridor finally returned to silence.
Lu Rang closed the door and embraced Shang Wu.
"Actually, it doesn't have to be like that."
Shang Wu leaned against him and shook her head: "Sister You has sacrificed so much for us, this little grievance is nothing, and besides, I believe in you."
She looked up at him, her eyes becoming serious. "However, there's something I have to tell you. That Qi Yan, he was probing into the Zhou family's affairs too obviously today. I suspect that his request for jewelry design from me was just a pretense; he really has ulterior motives."
Lu Rang's eyes sharpened instantly.
"I was just about to tell you this. This person has a complicated background and unclear motives, and I'm very worried. Could you try to minimize contact with him? As for the design drafts, could you have Aying handle the communication or communicate via email as much as possible?"
Shang Wu nodded: "I understand, I also feel that something is wrong with him. I will be careful."
Just then, her phone rang, and the caller ID showed it was Aying.
As soon as Shang Wu answered the phone, A Ying's voice came through, trembling with tears and panic.
"President Shang! I'm so sorry! I... I've made a mess of things! I broke Mr. Qi's brooch!"
Shang Wu's heart sank: "What? What happened? Don't panic, tell me slowly."
"I wanted to take it up to the light to check the setting details, but I slipped and dropped it. The main stone came loose and scratched the metal wire next to it, so it's deformed now and has a deep scratch..."
Ah Ying's voice was filled with despair, "Mr. Qi said this was very important to him, it was his mother's birthday present, what are we going to do, President Shang..."
"Don't cry, stay in the studio and don't move, I'll be right there."
Shang Wu hung up the phone. "Aying broke Qi Yan's brooch."
Lu Rang's expression instantly turned cold.
The name Qi Yan is now practically synonymous with trouble for him.
He picked up the car keys.
"Walk."
The two rushed back to the studio as quickly as possible.
Shang Wu pushed open the door and saw A Ying standing helplessly by the workbench, her eyes red and swollen, with tear stains on her face.
A soft cloth was laid on the workbench, and the brooch, which was already taking shape and had an exquisite design, was now lying on it.
The prong setting that should have been used to set the main stone was slightly crooked, and a jagged scratch on the side ruined the overall smooth lines. Several thin metal wires were also deformed.
The damage was more severe than Shang Wu had anticipated.
It's almost impossible to fix; it can only be redone.
"Mr. Shang, Mr. Lu..."
When Aying saw them, tears welled up in her eyes again, and her voice trembled.
"I really didn't mean to, I just wanted to..."
Lu Rang frowned as he looked at the damaged brooch.
He was already wary and displeased with Qi Yan's approach, and now he felt a mixture of irritability and anger.
His gaze was sharp as he swept over Aying, his tone cold and stern, a tone rarely heard from Shangwu.
"Who gave you permission to touch the brooch? Don't you know who Qi Yan is? Can you handle the consequences?"
Aying trembled with fear, tears streaming down her face, unable to utter a word.
Although Shang Wu was also extremely anxious, seeing Lu Rang scolding A Ying like this, she still stood in front of A Ying to protect her.
"Why did Lu tell you to yell at her? Aying didn't do it on purpose. She's been with me for so many years, when has she ever made such a mistake? It was just an accident."
She understood Lu Rang's anger, but taking it out on the already terrified A Ying wouldn't solve the problem.
Seeing Shang Wu's protective attitude, Lu Rang suppressed his anger, but his face was still unpleasant.
He knew Shang Wu valued loyalty and friendship, but what angered him was that this unexpected incident happened to Qi Yan's order.
Shang Wu turned around and gently patted A Ying's shoulder.
"It's alright, I'll handle it."
She took out her phone and dialed Qi Yan's number.
This matter cannot be hidden, nor should it be hidden.
The phone rang a few times before being answered. There was some background noise on Qi Yan's end. Was he at a social gathering?
His voice carried a hint of lazy laughter: "Miss Freya? Is there some good news to tell me at this hour? The brooch is finished ahead of schedule?"
Shang Wu's throat tightened, and she spoke with difficulty: "Mr. Qi, I'm very sorry. I have to tell you some bad news. Your brooch had an accident in the studio. It was accidentally dropped and damaged."
On the other end of the phone, Qi Yan's voice turned cold: "Miss Freya, I hope you're joking."
"I wish this were a joke, but unfortunately, it's true."
Shang Wu tried her best to remain calm and professional. "It was my assistant who accidentally dropped it while checking, and I take full responsibility. I am willing to bear all the losses and do my best to remedy the situation. If you are willing to give us a chance to remake one, we are willing..."
"Remake?" Qi Yan interrupted her, his voice barely concealing his obvious anger. "Shang Wu, tell me, what about the time? My mother's birthday banquet is next week! What am I going to give her as a gift? Do you think money is the biggest problem? I want that brooch!"
"This is a birthday gift that I personally designed, incorporating elements that my mother loves most! And now you're telling me it's broken?"
His anger was clearly transmitted through the phone, carrying an unmistakable sense of oppression.
Shang Wu was in the wrong and could only apologize repeatedly.
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Qi, I know this can't be measured in money..."
"Of course you know!" Qi Yan's voice turned icy cold. "I don't want compensation. I just want the brooch delivered exactly as it was, on time. Otherwise..."
Lu Rang couldn't resist taking the phone from Shang Wu's hand.
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