Chapter 152 Ungrateful
Fan Huaiyuan took a deep breath, trying his best to make his voice sound sincere:
“Mr. Lu, Mrs. Lu, you have misunderstood. Corning’s funding for me was for business investment purposes; we are cooperating on a cross-border e-commerce project.”
Xie Yutong sneered, pointing her bright red nail polished finger at Fan Huaiyuan, "Oh? Then Mr. Fan, why don't you tell me what kind of project requires my daughter to buy you a Vacheron Constantin watch and a custom-made Armani suit?"
She deliberately emphasized the word "project," her eyes full of sarcasm.
"That was a specially prepared outfit for attracting investment and conducting business negotiations..."
Fan Huaiyuan gave a wry smile.
Like Lu Jianhong and Xie Yutong, he once thought that Lu Kangning had romantic feelings for him.
When he was kicked out of the Fan family, he did fantasize about making a comeback by clinging to the daughter of the Lu family, just like in those third-rate romance dramas.
My memory flashes back to that blindingly sunny afternoon.
When Lu Kangning pushed a black gold card in front of him in the most secluded booth in the coffee shop, he almost couldn't help but smile smugly.
"Kang Ning, you're so good to me..."
He immediately adjusted his posture, letting the sunlight perfectly outline the superior lines of his profile, and deliberately lowered his voice into a magnetic, bubbly tone: "I will definitely treat you well in the future."
He reached out to touch Lu Kangning's fair fingers, but was slapped away with a sharp slap.
Fan Huaiyuan was stunned.
The next second, Lu Kangning pushed a neatly bound business plan in front of him. "I've seen all the project data you've handled. This money isn't charity; I want a 30% stake."
Fan Huaiyuan's expression froze instantly.
"What?" Lu Kangning tilted his head slightly. "You don't think this is a payment for keeping you, do you?"
Her dark pupils were deep and unfathomable, and Fan Huaiyuan had the strange feeling of being stripped naked in public.
It was only then that he realized that his carefully planned ambiguous actions and aloof attitude were probably as ridiculous as a clown in her eyes.
He tried to hide his embarrassment by laughing out loud.
A rich girl who is still in high school is actually talking to him, a seasoned businessman, about equity distribution.
"Your Southeast Asian market expansion project, led by Fan's, saw a 67% increase in net profit." Her voice was still soft, but her tone was firm. "In my projects, this figure must reach over 85%."
Fan Huaiyuan unconsciously tightened his grip on the project proposal.
The data did indeed come from him, but how could this girl in a school uniform possibly understand the business logic behind it?
It's probably just a bunch of fabricated stories cobbled together from some financial column, just to save face for this down-on-his-luck young man.
“Alright, shareholder Lu.” He deliberately used a nonchalant tone to mask his inner shock. “I’ll show you the quarterly report next month.”
But that night, back in his cramped rented room, Fan Huaiyuan inexplicably opened his long-forgotten laptop.
He initially intended to fabricate some data to get by, but he became increasingly engrossed in compiling the market analysis.
"This is unbelievable..."
At three in the morning, he stared at the sophisticated financial model on the screen and muttered to himself.
What shocked him was not only his rekindled fighting spirit, but also Lu Kangning's amazing business acumen in his plan.
When the first order payment arrived, Fan Huaiyuan stared blankly at the bank text message for a long time.
What shocked him even more was a conversation that followed.
When the Lu family scandal was making headlines, Fan Huaiyuan, facing the calm-looking Lu Kangning, tried to say something comforting: "Don't take those recent news reports too seriously."
Lu Kangning suddenly chuckled.
"The family business? They have no intention of letting me inherit it. They're just hoping I'll marry into a powerful family and curry favor with some influential people."
Fan Huaiyuan then came to his senses.
Lu Kangning invested in him not out of sympathy, nor out of any girlish sentimentality.
Instead...
She is finding a way out for herself.
Lu Kangning stood through the gap in the curtains on the second floor, coldly watching Fan Huaiyuan being roughly pushed out the door by the security guard.
The slap mark Huo Wenyan left on her face last night was still faintly burning.
Last night, the Huo family hosted a banquet, and the crystal chandelier illuminated the restaurant as bright as day.
Lu Kangning sat quietly next to Huo Wenyan, with the knife and fork neatly placed on the napkin.
Old Master Huo took a sip of red wine and suddenly spoke up: "Shouldn't we start planning the marriage between Wenyan and Kangning?" He smiled kindly, "The two children are childhood sweethearts, so why not get engaged first and then get married when they come of age?"
Lu Kangning was stunned.
She and Huo Wenyan did indeed know each other since childhood, and their families often joked about their "childhood betrothal."
But she always thought that in this day and age, it was just a joke that the elders would make over tea.
Marry him?
Lu Kangning lowered his eyes and caught a glimpse of Huo Wenyan casually swirling his wine glass.
To be fair, Huo Wenyan is handsome and academically excellent. He was known as the school heartthrob and was the dream man of countless girls.
But she was only fifteen years old.
She also knew that girls from her background were mostly destined for arranged marriages.
That's why she sought cooperation with Fan Huaiyuan, started her business early, and left herself a way out.
But, engaged at fifteen?
Isn't that a bit too absurd?
Lu Kangning suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.
She was fully aware of the Lu family's current predicament.
The father's company was on the verge of collapse, and the mother spent her days in tears.
The Huo family is now the Lu family's lifeline, and she really can't afford to offend Old Master Huo in public at this time.
"I'm still young, let's talk about it later..."
Lu Kangning forced out a perfectly timed shy smile.
But her parents were clearly not satisfied.
Xie Yutong put down her knife, and Lu Jianhong's hand, which was holding a glass, froze in mid-air.
Old Master Huo's smile faded slightly.
He slowly put down his wine glass, the crisp sound of the glass hitting the marble like a verdict.
“Jianhong,” the old man’s voice carried an undeniable authority, “our Huo family needs a clear answer.”
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Lu Jianhong's forehead, and he forced a smile: "Don't worry, Ningning is the most sensible child..."
Lu Kangning held back his words.
After the banquet, Lu Kangning stopped Huo Wenyan in the garden.
Under the moonlight, she mustered her courage and said, "Wenyan, we both know that talking about engagement now is absurd. Haven't we always been like siblings..."
Huo Wenyan suddenly turned around, his gaze so unfamiliar it startled her.
"So," his voice was terrifyingly soft, "Is it because I'm not good enough?"
"No!" Lu Kangning hurriedly explained, "I just feel that we are still too young, and there are too many possibilities for the future..."
"Possibility?" Huo Wenyan chuckled lightly, but his eyes were icy. "Do you think there will be someone better in the future?"
Lu Kangning frowned, "That's not what I meant..."
Before she could react, Huo Wenyan had already closed in, his hand gripping her waist like an iron clamp.
“Give it a try,” he whispered in her ear, his warm breath brushing against her neck, “maybe you’ll like it…”
"Smack!"
Lu Kangning was startled and instinctively slapped him, the sound ringing out crisply in the night.
Huo Wenyan touched his face, then suddenly slapped him back across the face.
Lu Kangning's ears were ringing, and he tasted the blood in his mouth.
"What are you pretending to be so high and mighty for?" He grabbed her hair. "Your family has a history of intellectual disability, and I didn't look down on you. Now you're looking down on me? It's like I'm doing charity work if I even want you!"
At Lu Kangning's fifteenth birthday party, Huo Wenyan overheard Lu Jianhong and Xie Yutong's conversation.
The Lu family even has a mentally challenged daughter in a mental hospital.
He didn't reveal this secret, only feeling that Lu Kangning should be grateful to him.
Huo Wenyan did not understand why his grandfather insisted on this marriage.
The Lu Group has become a laughing stock in the business world. Although Lu Kangning has a beautiful appearance and her achievements are comparable to his, there are countless socialites like her in the industry.
Since the Huo family has already shown their favor, she should kneel down to receive the imperial decree.
Instead of being so ungrateful.
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