Chapter 18 The Dinner
Wen Chu had planned to sleep in, but was woken up early by a phone call. Still half asleep, she answered the phone with her eyes closed, using the formal, official tone she used at work: "Hello, what can I do for you?"
"Chu Chu? Is this Wen Chu? I didn't dial the wrong number, did I?" The voice on the other end of the phone sounded a little doubtful, as if the person was holding the phone away to confirm the name.
"Mom?" Wen Chu's mind cleared, and her voice returned to normal as she sweetly asked, "What's wrong?"
"Oh, I thought you'd dialed the wrong number just now because of your tone," Mrs. Wen said sullenly, then asked, "I just wanted to ask you, are you really going to the Lu family's dinner party tonight?"
"Yes, didn't we agree with Dad?"
Mrs. Wen's tone on the phone was even more cheerful, as if her daughter had finally made some progress. She then asked, "Have you picked out all the clothes and stuff yet?"
"Huh? I think... I've already picked something out, right?" Wen Chu scratched her hair and sat up. She planned to use the changing room to change into something decent.
"Look, I can tell from your tone that you're not prepared at all! You need to come back right away. To be honest, I'm not too confident about your taste... The evening gowns I ordered for you have arrived. Let's go pick out the best one together and get a suitable hairstyle. This is your first time appearing in public, so we can't be careless. We might get photographed by reporters. Mom is so excited! Come on, come on!"
Wen Chu was flattered; she hadn't expected the mothers here to be so considerate of her. Thinking about it, she realized it had been a long time since she and her mother had gone shopping and chatted together.
She agreed, quickly washed up, and went out. As soon as she opened the door, she saw her neighbor getting into her car and leaving.
Lu Ming was standing by the car door. Hearing the commotion from her side, he looked over, made eye contact with her for a second from a distance, and then got into the car without giving her a chance to say hello.
Obviously, I forgot again.
Ugh, resetting, resetting... endless resetting... when will this ever end!
Wen Chu clenched her fists, wanting to stomp the ground beneath her feet. Could something unexpected happen tonight so she could boost her favorability rating and break through to the next level, like a terrorist attack where she heroically saves the man?
"System, can you tell me what Lu Ming's highest level of affection for me is so far?" Wen Chu clutched her heart, holding her breath as she waited for an answer.
She hadn't asked because she was afraid the numbers were too low and would affect her work enthusiasm, but always avoiding it wasn't a good idea either.
System: "Detecting, please wait."
System: "As of now, the male lead's maximum favorability towards the host is 15%."
"What?! Which day?? Why didn't you tell me? This is definitely the final step!" Wen Chu was about to explode from the smell of the SUV's exhaust fumes.
System: "I will only remind you when the favorability rating is about to exceed the threshold, such as after 18%."
6. A missed opportunity?
Could it have been the night before last? That's the most likely possibility.
Wen Chu was filled with regret. If she hadn't fallen asleep, she might have already broken through to the next level. The next stage after 20% is 50%. Although Lu Ming's favorability towards her would be reset to zero again, the initialization time would be reduced to one month, and he would retain some of his memories of her. This was clearly more advantageous for her, as she wouldn't have to repeat the same thing over and over again.
She sighed, got into the car, and silently told herself, "Calm down, calm down..."
System: "Attention, the host has a total of seven chances to check the male lead's favorability rating. One has already been used, leaving six chances."
Wen Chu was startled again. This was too much! There was even a limit to the number of times she could ask. It seemed she couldn't ask too often.
Lu Ming glanced at the car following behind him through the rearview mirror and frowned. For some reason, seeing Wen Chu, this tagalong, today stirred up more emotions in him than usual. He couldn't quite put his finger on whether it was annoyance or something else, since he usually just ignored her.
"Old Chen, drive faster, don't let her follow," Lu Ming said coldly.
Old Chen nodded and started stepping on the gas to accelerate: "Okay, okay."
Wen Chu became increasingly annoyed by what she thought about it and didn't want to see the man surnamed Lu again for the time being. She even felt that his presence was like a constant mockery of her bad luck, where she was just one step away from success but had to start all over again.
She stepped on the gas, overtook the car in front, and sped away.
Upon seeing this, driver Lao Chen hesitated and said, "Miss Wen doesn't seem to be with us today..."
A hint of surprise flashed in Lu Ming's eyes, and his emotions inexplicably fluctuated more, making him feel restless and irritable. He took a deep breath and said expressionlessly, "That would be best."
Two hours later.
"Oh dear, this one's beautiful, and this one's beautiful too. Which one should I choose?" Mrs. Wen said, looking at the two haute couture pieces in the sales assistant's hands. "How about I try this one instead?"
Wen Chu originally thought she would just be trying on a couple of clothes, but she didn't expect to spend the whole morning choosing. Her mother had high standards and was very picky, so Wen Chu was running back and forth trying on clothes until her legs were about to give out.
She thought several of them were fine, but her mother still wanted something more stunning.
"My dear mother, is this alright?" Wen Chu was already very charming in a white, body-hugging, backless, and lace satin evening gown. She spread her arms and twirled around. The simple style only accentuated her outstanding temperament and perfectly outlined the lines of her body. Even the shop assistants praised her highly.
Mrs. Wen examined it carefully from head to toe, saying, "It looks nice, but this one is fine for everyday wear. It's not really suitable for today. It's Chairman Lu's birthday, and it would be unlucky for you to wear white to celebrate. I think red would be better. It's eye-catching, festive, and auspicious. You'll be the center of attention as soon as you walk through the door. Change into it and let me see!"
Wen Chu sighed, "Can we go get lunch after I finish trying this on? I didn't eat breakfast and I'm starving."
"I've told you so many times to eat breakfast, why don't you listen! Let's go have lunch first, then try it out, and do the makeup and styling all at once this afternoon."
Wen Chu's voice was barely audible: "Okay...okay."
Just as Wen Chu and Mrs. Wen were having dinner, the system's voice popped into her head: "Three-day novice mission complete! Congratulations, host, for collecting 29 emotions of the male lead, mission completion rate is as high as 90%! Achievement obtained - Emotion Harvester title, reward SSS-level item: Rebirth Card!"
"Rebirth Card: Do you want a second chance? Applicable to: Host only. How to use: When the host dies in the world, this card can be used to return to any point in the past, rewrite the ending, and prevent the mistakes from happening again."
Wen Chu was eating when she heard this and almost jumped up and shouted "Yes!" Her excited expression startled Mrs. Wen. "What's wrong? Why are you suddenly grinning like that? Did something good happen?"
Wen Chu forced herself to remain calm, trying hard to suppress the wide grin that stretched to her ears, but her eyes still gleamed: "No, nothing, I just think this foie gras is delicious. I really like it."
Mrs. Wen laughed: "Really? It's rare that you say you really like something. How about I invite the chef from this restaurant to our home, and he can cook it for you whenever you want?"
Wen Chu was taken aback by her mother's bold words and quickly waved her hand, "No, no, no, that's not necessary."
“If you want it, just buy it. If you like something, you should get it.” Mrs. Wen said, then suddenly thought of something and hesitated, “But… we can’t force someone to like something. If it doesn’t work out, we can just find someone else to like. It’s not a big deal.”
Wen Chu understood what her mother meant, smiled and said, "Don't worry about this. I'm sure I can handle him. He'll definitely like me."
After all, it's all or nothing.
Seeing that her daughter was determined to never give up, Mrs. Wen didn't know what to say and sighed as she looked at Wen Chu with a heavy heart.
Anyway, we're still young, so let people do as they please.
Wen Chu put down her chopsticks, full of energy: "I'm done eating! Let's go try on clothes! Go go go!"
She thought to herself, "You've finally been reliable for once. I've worked so hard for three days, jumping around like a monkey in a circus. I deserve this reward."
This is practically a lifesaver. With this, she can be fearless and try all sorts of different paths.
Wen Chu was in a great mood and cooperated very well during her afternoon makeup and styling session.
The banquet will begin at 6 p.m. at a renowned luxury hotel under the Baiyue Group.
Wen Chu was unable to be Lu Ming's date, so naturally she rode with Chairman Wen and Mrs. Wen in the family's nanny car to the banquet venue. On the way, she chatted with them and discovered that many of her childhood memories had been extracted by the system and had become the memories of the two elders.
So when she talked to the two of them, it was almost like talking to her own parents. There was less of the falseness of this world and more of a sense of intimacy. However, in reality, her parents did not live such a luxurious life, which inevitably led to constant arguments over traditional and worldly matters such as studies, work, and marriage.
Money really can solve a lot of problems. She needs to work harder and achieve financial freedom as soon as possible.
Their car slowly came to a stop on the side of the road. Wen Chu checked the time; it was just past five o'clock. But looking out of the car, she could see that most of the people had already arrived and were walking around the hall, chatting and laughing.
Her eyes were like radar; she spotted Lu Ming in the center of the hall, greeting guests from afar. He was dressed impeccably today, in a well-tailored black suit with what appeared to be embroidered black patterns, giving him a more wild and colder aura.
The man stood tall and straight, with several other people standing beside him, presumably Chairman Lu, his wife, and his two insignificant, filler NPC brothers.
Mrs. Wen immediately noticed who her daughter was looking at. She first shook her head helplessly, then said confidently, "Don't worry, when you get out of the car later, I don't believe that kid won't even look at you."
"Huh?" Wen Chu didn't react.
Chairman Wen snorted from the back seat, "You're practically glued to him. Can't you be a little more dignified? Men don't like women who throw themselves at them. You need to give him a little attitude sometimes, then he'll pay attention to you! When we go inside, you're not allowed to approach him first. Don't embarrass me in this kind of setting!"
Wen Chu gave a stern salute, feigning seriousness: "Yes, sir, I promise I will not fail in my mission!"
In the center of the hall, Lu Mingxiao had just finished exchanging pleasantries with an old friend. As soon as the friend left, his face darkened, and his eyes seemed to be filled with thorns as he looked at Lu Ming. "Where is everyone? Why are you alone! Didn't you invite them?"
Lu Ming lowered his head expressionlessly and explained, "I was too busy with work and forgot."
"Don't give me that nonsense! I think you've gotten too big for your britches now and dare to try and outsmart me!"
Lu Ming lowered his head and listened quietly to the reprimand, completely giving the impression that he would accept whatever punishment he was given but would not change his ways.
"You'll drive me crazy one of these days!" His fists were hitting cotton; Lu Mingxiao couldn't vent his anger in public, so he could only lower his voice and threaten, "We'll settle the score after this is all over!"
"Mingxiao!" A man with graying temples but a steady gait and bright, piercing eyes walked over.
Lu Mingxiao turned around, his eyes darkening, seemingly completely unprepared for this person's arrival. However, he quickly put on a smile and strode over to greet him, saying, "Brother Qi! Why did you come in person! This is truly an honor for me!"
The visitor was Chairman Qi of Xierui Group, who had been an old friend of Lu Mingxiao in his youth. He laughed and said, "Hey, why are you saying that! We've known each other for so many years, I had to come and congratulate you on your 60th birthday!"
Chairman Qi patted the smiling young man beside him and introduced him, "Do you recognize him?"
The young man he pointed to was dressed in a bright white suit with gold trim, and a valuable sapphire brooch was pinned to his chest. He had deep-set eyes and delicate features, like a porcelain doll.
The young man smiled and greeted everyone gently: "Uncle Lu, Aunt Li, it's been a long time. You are still so young, it seems like you haven't changed at all. It's a pleasure to see you again."
Lu Mingxiao scrutinized the person carefully, then asked somewhat uncertainly, "This, this is Siyan?"
“That’s right!” Chairman Qi said with a smile, “He’s been back from abroad for a while now, but hasn’t had a chance to visit. This is a good opportunity to bring him along to meet people!”
Lu Mingxiao patted Qi Siyan on the shoulder: "Wow, time flies! Siyan has grown up so much in the blink of an eye. She's already graduated from abroad and is back."
Mrs. Lu smiled and made her presence known, saying, "I remember you were a bit slow to develop and shorter than other kids your age when you were little, but you've grown so tall now."
Chairman Qi sighed, “Yes, he’s reached the age where he needs to settle down and take over the company properly. That’s why I’ve been entrusting him with some of the group’s affairs lately, letting him get some experience. Young people are bound to be a bit impetuous when they first start out. If he does something rash, please bear with him. I’m getting old and want to enjoy my retirement for a couple more years, so I don’t get involved in the group’s internal affairs much anymore.”
Lu Mingxiao sneered inwardly. This was an attempt to use a single sentence to completely absolve Xie Rui of any responsibility for the recent underhanded tactics employed in the "Mingjin" project.
He wanted to get the project by any means necessary, but he didn't want to openly break ties with him. He wanted to have his cake and eat it too.
No wonder he felt that Xie Rui's behavior had become more aggressive recently; it turned out they had changed the executor. Chairman Qi's grand attendance at his birthday banquet was probably because he was eager to help his son network more in the industry and establish a firm foothold.
Lu Mingxiao, still magnanimous, said, "That's called being young and promising. It's normal for young people to have ambition! I'm not afraid he won't do a good job, I'm afraid he won't even try. Brother Qi, you're in for a treat!"
Chairman Qi waved his hand: "Not at all. In terms of good fortune, you are three times as lucky as me. I only have one son, and my family is usually very quiet. Before, we barely spoke a few words to each other all year. On the other hand, you have three sons, all by your side. Especially Lu Ming, who is now known in the industry as a rising star. He will definitely achieve great things in the future. Your good fortune is yet to come!"
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Chairman Qi skipped over Lu Haoxuan and Lu Haowen when talking about their achievements, praising only Lu Ming. This caused the five members of the Lu family to have different expressions, but it was an unavoidable fact, so they could only maintain appearances and let it pass with a smile.
The fact that Lu Ming was Lu Mingxiao's illegitimate son was known throughout City A. Lu Mingxiao felt embarrassed and didn't want to admit it, but there was nothing he could do. His two sons were useless. He said with a forced smile, "Brother Qi, you flatter me. He still has a lot to learn. He is young and honest, and doesn't know how to be flexible."
Take your time!
As they were talking, a horn sounded at the door, indicating that more guests had arrived, but this time it caused quite a stir among the guests at the door.
Mrs. Lu looked outside curiously: "Who's here?"
They looked in the direction of the sound and saw that the guests standing near the entrance had respectfully made way for the newcomer to be seen by everyone in the hall.
A vibrant red color immediately caught the guests' eye.
A note from the author:
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