Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Schadenfreude
Chapter 18
Before Ruan Yan could say anything, Liu Mengmeng ran over and hugged her. "Little Yanyan, my little Yanyan, you have to be strong! You have to hold on!"
Fang Yuan shook his head and sighed exaggeratedly: "Ah, ah, ah, another little girl is about to be gently broken."
"Just think of it as a great mission bestowed upon you by Heaven."
Even Zhao Tian patted her on the shoulder and, like other colleagues, looked at her with sympathy.
Yang Xiao, who had been simmering his emotions nearby for a while, also came over and gestured sarcastically, "Listen, thank you! Because of you, four seasons have been warmed. Ruan Yan, thank you for saving me from Lu Da's clutches!"
Lu Pei took him with him on his business trips the first two times.
Ruan Yan was a little panicked: "Is this true? It's just a transfer to a research institute, is it that scary?"
Everyone looked at each other and said in unison: "Yes!"
Ruan Yan: “…”
"Poor child, you don't know what kind of storm you'll face next," Liu Mengmeng stuffed a newly bought box of egg tarts into her hands. "Here, honey, eat it. Eat well so you can go on your journey."
“…”
Ruan Yan, who originally thought it was a small matter, became very depressed by everyone's reactions and decided to back off.
Otherwise, find a reason to decline?
She hesitated for a long time that night, making up countless excuses in her mind, repeatedly typing and deleting messages in the message box with Lu Peishi, and finally sent a tentative message - [Mr. Lu, are you busy? ]
After a while, a message sounded from the phone.
Ruan Yan nervously opened the box and saw that it was not Lu Peishi, but the "Yongshou Palace" group.
Liu Mengmeng posted a link to the "most comprehensive guide" for City A and @Ran Yan: [Baby, I can only help you up to this pointπ_π]
Zhao Tian followed closely behind and forwarded the post titled "Sharing detailed experience of my first business trip with my boss."
Ruan Yan sent back a crying emoji: [Sisters, I'm planning to find an excuse to tell him I can't go. Do you think I'll succeed?]
Zhao Tian: [? What excuse are you looking for?]
Liu Mengmeng: [You...are quite courageous.]
At this time, Lu Peishi's message also came in, and he replied with just one word: [Say]
Ruan Yan hadn't thought of a suitable excuse yet, so she clicked on Yongshou Palace again to ask for help.
Liu Mengmeng: [How about you just say your period is coming and you're not feeling well, so you can't go?]
Zhao Tian initially denied it: "I think it's a stretch. Mr. Lu is well-known for treating men and women equally. He's never been one to show any sympathy for women."
Liu Mengmeng: [Yeah, we under him don't get any preferential treatment for women. When I work with him, I often forget I'm a woman.]
Zhao Tian: [Well, here at Lu University, everything is based solely on ability, no other empty talk. It is precisely because of this that we at Zhuo Lu have been able to break the shackles of the industry and fairly allow every female architect to shine.]
Liu Mengmeng: [Yes, yes. Mr. Lu is not like some arrogant and incompetent male bosses. Not only do they disrespect women, they also suppress and exclude us at work and look at us with tinted glasses...]
【Ah, Lu Dazhen is my idol! 】
Ruan Yan: “…”
[Hey, hey, hey, stop it! What's wrong with you?! I asked you to give me advice, not to hold a commendation meeting for Lu Peishi!]
Zhao Tian: [Oh, pat sei pat sei.]
Liu Mengmeng: [Hahaha help me, I’m dying of laughter! ]
Ruan Yan looked at Lu Peishi's WeChat message countless times, but she didn't dare to send it to him. She couldn't pretend to be sick, act cute, or directly refuse. She was really anxious.
Ruan Yan: [I said I was airsick?]
Zhao Tian: [Lu Da will let you take the high-speed train.]
Ruan Yan: [So I'm saying I'm inexperienced and not up to the task?]
Liu Mengmeng: [Yang Xiao once used this excuse fearlessly, but ended up being severely disciplined by Lu Da to gain experience.]
Ruan Yan was about to collapse: [Oh, this is so annoying! I might as well just take cold showers all night and catch a cold. That way I don't have to make excuses not to go on the trip and can just call in sick!]
Three seconds after sending the message, Ruan Yan felt something was wrong. She looked back at the WeChat page and repeatedly confirmed that the note on it did indeed contain the three words "Lu Pei Shi".
!!!
Her eyes went dark and she felt like the sky was falling. With trembling hands, she quickly withdrew the wrong message.
Oh my god!
I was frequently switching between Lu Peishi and Yong Shougong’s WeChat accounts just now, and I accidentally became lame!
She used to see scenes of people sending messages incorrectly in movies and TV shows, and she thought it was ridiculous. How could someone with a different name send the wrong message? Now she truly understands what it means when art comes from life.
Ruan Yan watched the movement over there anxiously.
Don't panic, it's only a few seconds. Maybe he won't even have time to see it before I...
【There's no point in withdrawing. I've already seen it.】
Lu Peishi's message was like a knife slamming into her head, slamming the struggling fish on the chopping board to death.
“…”
Ruan Yan typed and deleted frantically.
Alas, it’s useless to post anything now.
Forget it, she might as well pretend to be dead...
Re-enter the Yongshou Palace group.
Zhao Tian and Liu Mengmeng were still giving her advice.
Ruan Yan posted a suicide emoticon.
[Sisters, no need to discuss, I'm already crazy π_π]
Zhao Tian: [? ]
Liu Mengmeng: [What's up? You didn't send the message you sent to us to the wrong person, did you? Hahahaha.]
Ruan Yan: [π_π]
Zhao Tian: [? ! !]
Liu Mengmeng: [What!!!!!!]
[Xiao Yanyan, you are so confused!!!]
*
The jewel-black Bentley drove slowly along the asphalt road. The tall and straight plane trees on both sides stretched to the end, with lush branches and leaves all the way, lush and green.
The carved iron gate in front of the villa opened and closed, and the car drove in steadily and gradually disappeared.
"Ashi, Xiaoli." Uncle Lin came up to them with a smile, and after the car stopped, he helped open the door.
Lu Yanli got out of the car and jumped on him, saying sweetly: "Uncle Lin, I missed you."
Uncle Lin patted his head lovingly: "Have you had fun recently?"
"happy!"
Uncle Lin took off the schoolbag on his back and looked up at Lu Pei who was getting off the bus. His smile became even more intense, and deep wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes.
"Ashi, you're back."
Even though Lu Peishi has grown up, in his eyes, he is still the well-behaved and sensible little boy who likes to pester him to tell stories.
Lu Peishi also looked at him with a smile: "Uncle Lin, you are still so energetic. It seems that you have won a lot recently."
When Uncle Lin has nothing to do, what he is most interested in is playing mahjong.
"This kid is teasing you, Uncle Lin, again."
As he said this, Uncle Lin raised his hand towards him seriously.
Lu Peishi took the opportunity to step forward and gave the old butler whom he respected the most a firm hug.
"The boss has been waiting for you inside since this morning," Uncle Lin patted his shoulder, "Go quickly."
The "big boss" that Uncle Lin mentioned refers to Lu Zhenlin, Lu Peishi's father.
When he was young, he followed Lu Zhenlin to build an empire, and this name is still used today.
Lu Yanli had already run into the house.
Lu Peishi followed him slowly, his eyes becoming increasingly gloomy under the bright sunlight.
This home is both familiar and unfamiliar to him.
He had moved away from here a long time ago. After his parents divorced, he had been living with his mother.
This was clearly the place where he had lived since childhood, but every time he walked into this house, he felt uncomfortable.
It felt like I was a stranger visiting.
In the garden, Lu Zhenlin was fiddling with his beloved flowers and plants.
Li Rongzhen was holding the cut fruits and saw from a distance that he was moving his favorite pot of black pine.
"Old Lu, watch your waist!"
Lu Zhenlin grunted as he moved the black pine tree to the other side of the courtyard. He looked at it again and again, then brushed off the dust from his hands with satisfaction.
"This patch of sunshine is good. My old friend will be happy if he basks in it often."
Li Rongzhen looked at him helplessly.
Lu Zhenlin has been raising this black pine tree for nearly nine years. He does all the watering, pruning, branching, and shaping by himself. No one else can touch it except him.
This level of meticulousness and patience is comparable to treating one's own son.
"Don't you look at your age and physical condition? You still think you are a strong and healthy young man?" Li Rongzhen put the fruit on the table, complaining with heartache in her eyes.
Lu Zhenlin washed his hands and sat down with a smile: "I'm not saying anything, but my body has been trained. Young men nowadays may not be able to beat me."
Li Rongzhen smiled and rolled her eyes at him.
"If you don't believe me, look at my muscles. They're so beautiful!" Lu Zhenlin rolled up his sleeves. "I'm in my prime, strong and healthy. Do you understand?"
At this time, the nanny came running over and told them that Lu Peishi and Lu Yanli were back.
When Lu Zhenlin heard this, he immediately stood up from his chair, smiling happily: "Ashi is back!"
Then he pretended to be weak and said to Li Rongzhen, "Hurry, help me in."
Li Rongzhen complained: "Isn't he still young and strong, in his prime?"
Lu Zhenlin stole a glance in the direction of the house and turned back to remind Li Rongzhen: "Don't let Ah Shi see the flaw later!"
Li Rongzhen hit him lightly: "Got it."
As she supported Lu Zhenlin and walked into the house, the smile in Li Rongzhen's eyes became fainter and fainter.
"Dad, Mom."
Lu Yanli sat on the sofa in the living room, his baseball cap thrown aside, drinking a glass of freshly squeezed watermelon juice.
Lu Zhenlin looked around but didn't see Lu Peishi.
"You kid, you had so much fun that you didn't want to come back." He said to Lu Yanli.
Li Rongzhen had already sat down next to her son. Having not seen him for over a month, she missed him so much that she put her arm around his shoulders affectionately. "Baby, are you tired from the journey? Look at your forehead, it's all sweaty."
As they were talking, Lu Peishi slowly walked into the living room.
Seeing this, Lu Zhenlin immediately sat up and said, "Ashi, you're back."
Lu Peishi nodded at him: "Dad."
Lu Zhenlin coughed lightly: "Well, sit... sit."
The two men spoke in such a polite tone that they didn't seem like father and son.
Lu Peishi didn't move, but just said: "No need, I just came to send Xiao Li back. After I send him back, I will leave first."
"Well, you have to wait until you've had dinner before leaving," Lu Zhenlin said hurriedly, "You haven't been back for so long, and you're leaving without even sitting down for a while."
Lu Yanli trotted over and took his hand: "Brother, let's eat first."
Li Rongzhen also stood up from the sofa and said carefully, "Ashi, dinner will be served soon. I made your favorite stuffed pork with chili peppers and golden sand tofu tonight. You can eat at home."
Lu Peishi glanced at her coldly and said to Lu Zhenlin, "Next time, I have something to do tonight."
Li Rongzhen looked a little embarrassed when she was ignored.
"Ouch... Ouch, ouch..." Lu Zhenlin suddenly covered his head and groaned.
"Are you okay, Lao Lu?" Li Rongzhen beside him held his shoulders.
Lu Peishi also hurried over: "Dad, what's wrong with you?"
Lu Zhenlin waved his hand: "It's okay, it's just an old problem..."
Then he sighed again: "Alas, my health is getting worse every year."
There was worry in Lu Peishi's eyes.
"Ashi, Dad hasn't eaten with you for a long time." He reached out and pressed Lu Peishi's arm. "At my age, every meal I eat is one less meal I have."
Lu Peishi couldn't stand hearing this kind of talk: "Dad, don't say that. I'll just have dinner with you."
The little trick worked, and Lu Zhenlin secretly gave Li Rongzhen a smug look.
Li Rongzhen smiled gently.
Lu Zhenlin retracted his gaze and said, "Ah Shi, play a few games of chess with me. It's been a while since we last played against each other."
Lu Peishi: "Do you want to go and have a rest? Can your body bear it?"
"It's just a game of chess, what's the problem?" Lu Zhenlin couldn't wait to take out the chessboard.
"Then I'll make you some tea." Li Rongzhen tactfully withdrew and took Lu Yanli's hand. "Come on, let's go play outside."
Looking back at the scene of the father and son sitting together warmly, Li Rongzhen felt quite emotional, and at the same time, a little bitter.
She knew that one of the reasons why Lu Peishi didn't want to stay at home was that he didn't want to see her as his stepmother.
He hated her, so after all these years, he still treated her as air and never called her.
…
During dinner in the evening, the table was particularly quiet. As usual, there was no sound of conversation.
Even Lu Yanli was tactful enough to keep quiet and just focus on eating his food.
Over the years, the few times they ate at the same table were always like this. Lu Peishi didn't speak or laugh, and everyone else didn't dare to say a word. The atmosphere was depressing and solemn.
Lu Zhenlin looked at everyone who was eating in silence. Just as he was about to say something to ease the dry atmosphere, Lu Peishi's cell phone rang.
It seemed to be a work call. He said a few words briefly and hung up.
After hanging up, he replied with a few more messages.
Lu Zhenlin found the starting point: "How is the company doing lately? Are you busy enough?"
Lu Peishi put his phone on the edge of the table: "It's okay. I'm preparing for the development project of City A recently. I will go to the site next week."
"Well, I trust you to do things."
Lu Zhenlin was about to say something when Lu Peishi's phone rang again.
Just now, Lu Peishi saw a message from Ruan Yan on his phone, asking him if he was busy, as if she had something to say.
As a result, when he opened WeChat, he saw a message that she had obviously sent to someone else by mistake.
…
This guy was actually trying to come up with an excuse to avoid his business trip on Monday.
At first he thought she had something important to say.
Seconds later, the message was retracted.
Haha. Too late.
He looked at the "typing" popping up from time to time on the dialog box, imagining her frantic face across from him. He snorted and replied slowly—[There's no point in withdrawing, I've already seen it.]
There was another long pause of "typing" over there, and finally, it finally stopped struggling in its death throes and resigned itself to silence.
Oh.
Lu Peishi seemed to see her despairing expression at this moment, and couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth in schadenfreude.
Lu Peishi's facial expressions throughout the whole process were seen by Lu Zhenlin who was standing beside him.
He saw his son first pick up the phone and take a look, then raised his eyebrows slightly. After a while, he replied to the message with a smile on his face. Yes, he was not mistaken. Lu Peishi was really smiling at the phone!
Lu Zhenlin was very surprised. It had been a long time since he saw Lu Peishi smile like this.
He couldn't help but wonder, who was that person on the other end of the phone? Was it a man or a woman?
-----------------------
The author has something to say:
Ruan Yan: When did you read the information so promptly?
Lu Peishi: My wife really doesn’t want to go on a business trip with me?
It’s the weekend, enjoy reading and be happy every day!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
