Friday!
Today is the day of the bidding and investment promotion conference for Jiangcheng Development Zone.
At the bidding meeting,
The cold light from the crystal chandelier poured down, illuminating every face—whether tense, calculating, or determined—in perfect detail.
The air was filled with a complex mix of scents: paper, perfume, and the silent smoke of gunpowder.
Lu Qingzhou led Mu Shaohua, Su Qingyao, Leng Yue, and the others into the venue. His sharp gaze swept across the room like a hawk's, a cold smile curving his lips—sure enough, he didn't see Mo Weilin, that scoundrel!
Just as he turned to walk to his seat, a commotion suddenly broke out at the entrance of the venue!
A group of reporters swarmed forward, their flashes instantly bursting with blinding white light, and the rapid clicking of camera shutters like a torrential downpour, "Click! Click! Click!" instantly drowning out all other sounds.
The camera greedily focused on several middle-aged men who were walking in.
Several bodyguards in black quickly stepped forward, roughly blocking the camera that was almost right in their faces, clearing a path for the middle-aged men.
Lu Qingzhou's gaze pierced through the chaotic crowd and collided violently with the gaze of the leader in mid-air!
It was as if time had frozen at that moment.
Lu Qingzhou clenched his fists tightly at his sides, his knuckles turning white from the force.
A chill emanating from the depths of his bones, mixed with overwhelming hatred, almost broke through the dam of reason.
That hand had appeared countless times in Lu Tianhua's office, handing over documents, patting his shoulder, and smiling broadly... but in the end, it handed over a death warrant!
Mu Shaohua gently grasped Lu Qingzhou's hand, feeling the warmth from her palm like a faint electric current.
Lu Qingzhou took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger that was about to burst his chest.
He slowly loosened his fist, but his gaze, like a sharp blade tempered with ice, was fixed firmly on Jiang Hai's well-maintained face, refusing to yield an inch.
Jiang Hai pushed aside the bodyguard blocking his way, a seemingly gentle but actually extremely hypocritical smile plastered on his face, and strode forward.
His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly pierced through the surrounding noise, carrying a condescending, scrutinizing tone.
"Young Master Lu, it's been years since we last met. You seem... to have matured quite a bit." Every word was like a poisoned needle.
Lu Qingzhou met his gaze, her face as calm as a still, deep pool.
His voice was completely devoid of emotion; only the undercurrent surging deep within his eyes revealed a deep-seated hatred.
"Thanks to President Jiang, I'm doing well."
Jiang Hai's smile deepened, but his eyes behind his glasses were as sharp as a hawk's. He nodded slightly and said in a tone that was almost admiration, but was actually full of malicious mockery:
"As expected...just like your father, arrogant, hehehe..."
Jiang Hai's words, "Just like your father, you're arrogant," were like a poisoned ice pick, precisely piercing the deepest scar in Lu Qingzhou's heart.
Five years ago,
Did Lu Tianhua, the father, feel the same humiliation and despair as he stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of his office on the top floor of the Lu Group?
Finally, the window opened, and with all its pride and resentment, it resolutely plunged into the abyss.
Lu Qingzhou's body tensed almost imperceptibly for a moment, and Mu Shaohua, holding his hand, could clearly feel the hatred that erupted in that instant, almost burning away his reason.
But the next moment, his clenched fist slowly loosened, and even a very faint, cold smile appeared on his face.
"President Jiang, you flatter me." Lu Qingzhou's voice was as calm as a deep pool, without the slightest ripple.
"My father's pride was an unyielding backbone. As for my meager skills, I'm just learning to survive in the mud and then... to collect the debts I owe, one by one, with interest."
His gaze was sharp as a knife, staring directly into Jiang Hai's eyes. There was no fear or retreat in his eyes, only a will that had been tempered and refined over five years.
Jiang Hai's smile faltered slightly, and Lu Qingzhou's gaze sent a chill down his spine.
This kid is no longer the naive young man who could be easily manipulated and forced into a corner.
He snorted coldly: "Young man, don't speak too confidently. The business world is full of ups and downs. You're standing here today, but tomorrow... humph."
He glanced meaningfully at Su Qingyao and Mu Shaohua standing next to Lu Qingzhou, then turned and led the Hengsheng Group people to their designated seats. His posture remained arrogant, but his pace seemed a little faster than before.
"Xiao Lu..." Mu Shaohua called out worriedly in a low voice. She could sense the turbulent undercurrents beneath Lu Qingzhou's calm surface.
"I'm fine." Lu Qingzhou gently patted the back of her hand, giving her a reassuring look, then turned his gaze to Su Qingyao and Leng Yue, "Proceed according to plan, stay calm."
Su Qingyao nodded emphatically, her eyes resolute.
Leng Yue warily scanned the surroundings of the venue.
Just then,
Lu Qingzhou's phone vibrated violently in his pocket. It wasn't a call, but a text message. Sender: Unknown number.
The content consisted of only one line, yet it exploded in his mind like a bomb:
"Lu Qingzhou, look at your woman now! Within ten minutes, I want to see a statement from 'Lu Yao' and 'Teng Hui' announcing their withdrawal from the bidding on the big screen in the venue!"
Don't call the police, otherwise, the next photo will be of her barely clothed, posted all over the internet! Location: Hongxing Chemical Plant, West of the City. I'll only be waiting for you for half an hour, or I'll be late! — Mo Weilin.
Attached to the text message was a photo. The photo was a bit blurry and dimly lit, but Lu Qingzhou recognized it at a glance as Chen Xiaoxi! She was tied to a dilapidated chair, her hair disheveled, her eyes angry and stubborn, but her mouth was taped shut.
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