Chapter 45 Chairman Qiao
"Who wants to see her?" Lu Yingchi shoved the phone directly into Ye Liang's hand. "You can see it if you want."
It makes me angry.
Ye Liang: "..."
He glanced down at the person on the screen, unable to understand why Lu Yingchi, who had come to watch Lu Xuan's performance, would be upset by someone else.
This is someone from his family, but not his sister.
Judging from what he said, she wasn't his girlfriend. So who was this person who managed to break Young Master Lu's guard with just a few words?
At this time, Lu Jiang, remembering the broadcast time of the program, opened the webpage in his study when the time came.
Just as he thought, the third brother couldn't endure any hardship. Even in the interviews on the show, he was living in a suite. What else could he be expected to do?
The comments on the screen were so jarring that it was almost unbearable to watch. After running away from home for so long and spending a year in the entertainment industry, this is the result? Qiao Wu even said he had perseverance. What perseverance whatsoever.
It was Qiao Wu, who had grown up with him, who thought he was clumsy.
Just as Lu Jiang was about to turn off the program video because he couldn't stand it anymore, the scene shifted to the car, where Qiao Wu was taking him to the studio.
"You don't get any special privileges on the show, can you stick with it?"
If I can't stick with it, I'll change my surname to yours.
Lu Jiang was somewhat surprised.
He finally saw how Qiao Wu talked to and interacted with his sons. Although it sounded a bit like coaxing children, every word he said was exactly at the right moment, making them understand the importance of things at that instant.
The teaser was very short, only lasting for the last sentence.
The next thing was the preview for the first episode, which showed Lu Xuan sitting on the sofa in profile for just a few seconds.
It has to be said that Lu Jiang did see a bit of an actor in him at that moment, having reportedly taken a lot of classes at the company.
He could barely wait and watch.
Just don't say your name is Qiao Xuan when you come back next time.
His stupid son is definitely capable of doing it.
Lu Jiang watched for a while, then called Xie Yi: "What kind of people are the audience members of Lu Xuan's show? They say all sorts of things?"
Although retired from the company, Xie Yi, Lu Jiang's secretary, remained silent for two seconds: "Sir, this kind of person is called a hater in the entertainment industry. They are people who specialize in saying bad things about a certain celebrity."
"When did it become anyone else's place to criticize my son?"
Lu Jiang frowned. "Think of a way."
“That’s right.” Xie Yi said somewhat awkwardly, “Miss Qiao specifically instructed us that we should not interfere with the Third Young Master’s work unless there are special circumstances.”
Lu Xuan has always been very high-profile in the industry. Anyone with a keen eye can easily find out that he is the third young master of the Lu family. This makes Lu Jiang uncomfortable: "Let these people curse me?"
"That's true for now," Xie Yi said. "Miss Qiao said this is an inevitable path for the Third Young Master. He has to get through this hurdle to go on in the long run. This little bit of pressure is nothing."
Lu Jiang was completely speechless.
After hanging up the phone, he suddenly rewound to the part where Qiao Wu was being interviewed.
He was wrong; Qiao Wu wasn't simply trying to appease these rebellious sons.
She took Lu Yingchi out for drinks and racing because she was there; she could control the situation and ease his emotions. Although she said she favored the third brother, she didn't hold back in her actions and still put pressure on him.
If he remembered correctly, he didn't send Qiao Wu to train kindergarten teachers back then.
On the other end, the actor training camp program team.
Manager Meng Xingxing finally managed to find some time to visit Lu Xuan. She squeezed in during a break in the recording and her heart sank when she saw Lu Xuan's current condition.
"Brother, are you alright?"
Although he is much older than Lu Xuan, his status as a young master is undeniable, so calling him "brother" is not a loss.
At this moment, Lu Xuan was wearing the costume of Jiang Qi's group, and she looked like she had just come out of a coal mine. However, Jiang Qi was very good at finding the strengths in others. Although she was dirty, Lu Xuan's makeup was still very artistic, with a kind of messy beauty in the wasteland style.
Meng Xingxing felt that Lu Xuan seemed to have lost a lot of weight. Even though he had only been on the show for a little over a week, his eyes had changed and he looked a bit dejected.
Lu Xuan leaned lazily against the wall and sat down on a small stool, tidying his hair with his head slightly lowered. He thought the hairstyle itself was ugly and dirty.
But Jiang Qi insisted that he dress like this, and he was almost losing patience. Every day, he spoke with a sharp and sarcastic tone.
The day after Qiao Wu left, his suite was confiscated by Shui Lingling, and he was immediately sent back to his original king room by the hotel manager.
Without even a second thought, it must have been Lu Jinzhi who did it.
But he had just promised Qiao Wu that he would persevere, and he couldn't give up the next day. He had been eating and sleeping poorly all day and had managed to endure until now. He felt like he was about to become an immortal.
Moreover, Jiang Qi is a troublemaker; if anything is wrong, he'll immediately start yelling at you. He's really been putting up with this guy for a long time.
Seeing that he was staring intently at Teacher Jiang Qi, as if he wanted to bite a piece of flesh off her, Meng Xingxing quickly said, "Miss Qiao asked me to come and see you."
Lu Xuan paused for a moment: "Qiao Wu?" His phone would be confiscated during filming, and he could only use it when he returned to the hotel. But recently he had been finishing filming in the early hours of the morning, and no one could contact him at that time, which was the most frustrating thing.
"The pilot episode aired today," Meng Xingxing said. "Want to know how it went?"
"In no mood."
It's just a teaser trailer; what else can people say besides being captivated by his good looks?
Meng Xingxing comforted her, "If you don't think things through, a lot of people are criticizing you."
Lu Xuan raised his eyes, which were full of resentment, and said in a cold voice, "You think you're good with words?"
"Why are you insulting me?" he scoffed. "Is being handsome a crime?"
“They’re just haters, don’t pay them any mind,” Meng Xingxing said. “They’re just saying things like you’re rich and act like a big shot, that you have no talent and your private life is messy.”
Lu Xuan didn't know if this person was genuinely lacking in emotional intelligence or what, but he was so angry that he said, "Thank you, I know the content now even without reading it."
"You're welcome," Meng Xingxing said. "Miss Qiao asked me to say this as well."
Lu Xuan scoffed, "She doesn't have your eloquence."
“Really,” Meng Xingxing said. “She said you’ll definitely prove these people wrong after your show ends.”
Finish?
Lu Xuan felt that he would lose his temper and storm out today.
That day, Qiao Wu told him that he would experience hardships and things he had never experienced before on the show. At the time, he didn't take it seriously, but now he feels like he's going crazy.
Meng Xingxing handed him the box she had been holding: "Look, I specially went to your house to get this for you."
As soon as the lid was opened, the aroma of pastries made by the Lu family's top pastry chefs filled the air.
Lu Xuan was stunned. Qiao Wu had used the same trick to coax him back to the Lu residence.
This trick still works!
She keeps saying she's grown up, but she still uses the same methods she used when she was a child to coax people.
childish.
He looked away: "My hands are dirty."
"I'll feed you; I've washed my hands."
Meng Xingxing carefully used the matching fork to bring the snack to Lu Xuan's mouth.
Although the young master's face didn't show any indifference, his body betrayed him, and he ate it right under his hand.
Meng Xingxing's anxious heart, which had been pounding before she arrived, suddenly calmed down.
After taking over Lu Xuan, he was always worried that he couldn't handle this young master. Although he usually attended classes at the company, he rarely communicated with others and his temper was still the same.
Now it seems Miss Qiao was right; he is indeed quite easy to coax.
When filming the show, the crew ate the show's boxed lunches together. As soon as the aroma of the pastries wafted out, Dog Temper would follow the smell.
"What does it taste like?" Jiang Qi hadn't realized that someone had been trying to kill him all along. His eyes lit up when he saw the pastries. "Lu Xuan, give me one too!"
Before he could even get close, he was stopped by Lu Xuan's dirty hands.
Lu Xuan raised his long leg and braced it against the opposite wall, blocking his path, and raised an eyebrow: "Mine."
Jiang Qi tried to step over it, but being older, he lacked the flexibility of the young man: "It's just a snack, aren't you afraid I'll make things difficult for you!"
Are you wearing too little clothing now?
Lu Xuan beckoned with his finger: "Keep feeding."
Jiang Qi: "You can't eat too much! You need to control your sugar intake!"
"Teacher Jiang, this was specially made, it doesn't have too much sugar," Meng Xingxing said softly. "Miss Qiao also asked your chef to make it."
"Um."
Lu Xuan felt a surge of satisfaction as his emotions, which had been suppressed for many days, suddenly improved.
Then Meng Xingxing said, "Miss Qiao also prepared some for other people. You take these first, and I'll go get them for them."
Lu Xuan: "?"
Then he saw Meng Xingxing followed by two assistants, each carrying a large box and hurrying over. One of the boxes of snacks was handed to Jiang Qi: "Teacher Jiang, these were made by the chef at Brother Lu's house. Thank you for your hard work these past few days."
Jiang Qi finally smiled and sat down next to Lu Xuan, holding the box: "That's more like it."
Lu Xuan frowned.
He didn't even have an assistant, but now he's brought two with him, and they're sharing the food his chef makes with the people who criticize him.
That's outrageous.
"Stay away from me," Lu Xuan said, displeased.
"Where do you get so many problems?"
"It's filthy."
Jiang Qi slapped his shoulder, and while eating his snacks, he became more talkative and less fierce than before: "Is this dirty? I even left some blank space on your face. We built this set ourselves. If you go to shoot in the mountains, rivers, wind, or rain, it will be even dirtier. In this line of work, don't be afraid of being wronged or tired. If you are afraid, give up as soon as possible, you know? I may have high standards when I work, but the finished product is also for your benefit."
Having worked in the industry for so many years and played so many roles, how could Jiang Qi not see that this kid was becoming more and more sullen and angry every day? Lu Xuan was never one to hide his emotions.
But he never indulges anyone. If you've made a choice, you have to bear the hardship. If you can't handle it, then don't do it. There are plenty of people who need this opportunity, no matter how rich you are.
But nowadays, he's obligated to speak up, so saying a few more words won't hurt him. Everyone started out as a young person.
“Don’t always have a long face. If you feel bitter, you’ll only feel more bitter,” Jiang Qi said. “You were in pretty good shape on stage that day. You were quite confident, weren’t you? You even knew how to create a sense of disappointment for yourself.”
He was referring to the fact that Lu Xuan released a scene where his acting was terrible, but his performance was surprisingly good.
Lu Xuan said nonchalantly, "The artist director told me to say that."
Jiang Qi: "...You really didn't know there were cameras shooting footage."
"So what?" Lu Xuan said with a sour face. "Even those who didn't do anything are being talked about terribly online, so why would I be afraid of being photographed if I did?"
These words were so arrogant that Jiang Qi couldn't tell whether it was a persona his company had given him or his true nature. It was quite amusing and straightforward.
“Actually…” Meng Xingxing said from the side, “That wasn’t said by Director Yu, it was said by Miss Qiao.”
“Miss Qiao?” Jiang Qi remembered this person. “Your very beautiful friend.”
Lu Xuan suddenly turned his head: "What did you say?"
“Brother, didn’t you know?” Meng Xingxing said, “I send Miss Qiao a copy of your daily schedule. If there are any work arrangements for the company, she will hold a meeting with us in advance to discuss them. We will only give them to you if she thinks they are suitable. It was also her suggestion that you come to this program this time.”
"So some of the arrangements the company made for you were her ideas."
Lu Xuan didn't know, how could he possibly know? Qiao Wu would never tell him these things.
"Then it seems this Miss Qiao is indeed a very good friend of yours," Jiang Qi said with envy. "I don't even have friends like that."
Unusually, Lu Xuan remained silent.
He looked at the pastries in his arms, then at Jiang Qi's.
Her tastes were different from his; this was the only one made especially for him because she knew his preferences.
The entire group, consisting of five trainees and staff, received snacks and would say "Thank you, Teacher Lu" from afar.
Does she have three heads and six arms? How can she do all these things while being so busy all day?
Ignoring how dirty his hands were, he picked up his fork and continued eating the rest of his food, asking somewhat vaguely, "Did those people insult her?"
"Which ones?" Meng Xingxing thought for a moment. "You mean those haters? No, most of them just praise her for being pretty, but they're blind."
Only someone blind would think that a spoiled brat like Lu Xuan is clumsy and believe that he could succeed.
Of course, some people speculated that the two might be in a romantic relationship, but Meng Xingxing didn't say anything. This kind of topic is quite sensitive, and if she said it, people with ulterior motives would hear it and start making things up.
Lu Xuan finished eating everything and stuffed the empty box into Meng Xingxing's arms: "Who's blind here?"
“Go back, don’t come to see me,” he said. “I’ll stay until the last day.”
Meng Xingxing nodded hurriedly: "Okay!"
"Have you finished eating?" Lu Xuan stood in front of Jiang Qi. "Time to go to work."
Jiang Qi laughed: "Now you don't feel like I'm insulting you anymore?"
Young Master Lu put his hands in his pockets and gave a curt "hmm" after a few seconds without any emotion.
Go ahead and curse, it won't hurt you.
Just don't scold her.
He has no ambition and doesn't want to suffer any injustice.
But he didn't want to lose, because she had worked so hard and he didn't want her to suffer.
Watching Lu Xuan and Jiang Qi leave, Meng Xingxing was surprised to find that the dejected look on Lu Xuan's body had almost completely disappeared.
He couldn't help but think that Miss Qiao was truly prescient.
He had told him beforehand that he must come to see Lu Xuan at this time. When he first saw Lu Xuan, he was worried that Lu Xuan would go back with him directly.
A few words and a box of pastries were enough to appease him.
-
Qiao Wu, who was far away in southern Jiangsu, felt a little relieved after receiving the message from Meng Xingxing.
She believed in Lu Xuan's perseverance, but this was the first time in so many years that he had climbed up from the bottom on his own without any background. It was normal for him to be a little emotional, and she could just coax him a little.
The charity forum is nearing its end, and the cocktail party is just around the corner. She was just about to ask Lu Yingchi if he wanted to come to the cocktail party tonight when she received a message from him.
There were only four words: "I'm not going."
This isn't like him; he seems to be in a bad mood.
She asked, "What's wrong?"
What's wrong? You still have the nerve to ask what's wrong?
Lu Yingchi angrily typed: "Go back to your biased past!"
Qiao Wu: "..."
Did he watch the show? But what's with the anger?
Qiao Wu couldn't understand their elementary school-like behavior of vying for attention. Oh well, as long as he could stay at school, that was fine. He could experience it for himself.
It was time for the awards ceremony, and the Lu family's charitable foundation, as the donor to the largest charitable project in the country every year, had consistently won the top prize.
She put her phone away.
On the other side, Lu Yingchi, who was walking with his classmates on a path in the ancient town, stared at his phone screen for a long time.
No, she only said one sentence and that was it?
She tacitly agreed?!
Well done, Qiao Wu! I will not bow down to you either!
"Lu Yingchi." Fei Jingming walked to his side. "The female students want to take photos, so we plan to split up and meet up at the appointed time. Do you want to come with us or go by yourself?"
Lu Yingchi wasn't interested in the ancient towns in southern Jiangsu. His family already owned a house there, left by his grandparents, which was much nicer than this place.
He was extremely depressed and didn't know where to wander off to by himself, so he asked, "Where are you going?"
Fei Jingming gestured to his companions: "There's a street over there full of bars. Let's go sit in a quiet bar and enjoy the night view. We'll split the cost. Do you want to come?"
Qiao Wu said that one cannot get drunk, but he did not say that one cannot drink alcohol.
"Okay." He nodded.
He paused, then said with a sour face, "I'll only drink a little."
"Don't worry." Fei Jingming patted his chest. "I also need to make sure everyone gets back to the guesthouse safely."
The group left in a grand procession.
It wasn't peak tourist season, but there were plenty of seats in the bar. The group pushed several tables together to sit down. Knowing that Lu Yingchi was quite tall, they specially reserved a corner seat for him so he could stretch his legs.
Lu Yingchi has now naturally accepted this kindness, saying that he will pay the bill later, even if it means splitting the bill.
Young Master Lu has never heard the term "AA" (split the bill) when he goes out with others.
Not long after everyone sat down, another group of people walked in from outside.
"They're from the construction industry," Ye Liang said. "Are they on an autumn outing today too?"
"I didn't notice." Fei Jingming glanced back. "Most of them have happened in the last two weeks, which is normal."
The Coke bucket wasn't very strong, and Lu Yingchi, who was sitting casually in the corner, had already downed several cups. Hearing this, he looked up and asked, "What's wrong?"
"From the construction industry," Ye Liang explained in a low voice. "We used to play ball together, but we had a little unpleasantness."
Fei Jingming patted his arm and said to the people at the table, "Just have fun when you're out having fun, and keep quiet."
The others felt the same way and didn't say anything more.
Seeing this, Lu Yingchi also looked away.
He didn't play basketball after starting college, but he did play at a private high school. Back then, no one dared to cause trouble for him. But things on the court are nothing special, so there's no need to take them too seriously.
What he's really arguing about now is something else entirely.
Half an hour had passed, and Qiao Wu still ignored him.
Is he still on the forum at this point?
He thought for a moment, then with a dark expression, he turned on the economics channel he never watched, and sure enough, he saw a charity forum being broadcast live.
There were just too many cameras filming the stage, and he couldn't find Qiao Wu anywhere.
Until the host said—
"Now, please welcome our charity star of the year, the representative of the Lu's Charity Foundation, to the stage!"
Everyone present knew that Lu's Group had recently undergone a major reshuffle at the top, with the young Lu Jin taking the stage. This was his first public appearance since returning to China, but the venue was too large for anyone to see him.
So now everyone couldn't help but look towards the side of the stage.
Mr. Lu should be sitting in the first row.
Immediately afterwards, everyone saw a slender figure stand up. The person was wearing a long black dress, with her black hair flowing down. She gently lifted the hem of her dress as she walked onto the stage, and even just looking at her back, her temperament was extraordinary.
Between rounds of applause, the audience asked each other, "The Lu family doesn't seem to have a daughter? Who is this?"
"Who knows? The person who can represent the Lu family must not be a simple person either; he might be a high-ranking official."
It wasn't until the black figure stepped onto the stage and revealed its face that the crowd showed expressions of surprise.
Where would you find such a young executive? He's probably even younger than Lu Jinzhi!
If you didn't know better, you'd think this face belonged to a celebrity who had come to perform.
The woman's black dress was formal and elegant, and her accessories were simple, yet she wore it with an extraordinary flair.
At that moment, all the media cameras present focused on the dazzling person on the stage.
Some people who had attended banquets at the Lu family's residence naturally recognized who this person was at a glance.
That butler?
That can't be right!
Lu Yingchi, watching from outside his phone screen, kept his eyes fixed on the person walking onto the stage.
She didn't wear a dress even for the family dinner that day, but she wore one for the cocktail party today.
Because it was a charity forum reception, her dress was understated and elegant, but the black dress made her skin look even whiter.
As the camera zooms in, her eyes appear even clearer and more direct without her glasses.
The person who was gently coaxing him on the phone this morning is now shining brightly and calmly standing on such a big stage.
Moreover... it's out of reach.
Lu Yingchi's throat bobbed slightly.
"Lu Yingchi, aren't you going to drink?" Fei Jingming nudged him. "What are you looking at?"
"Oh, this!" Ye Liang saw his screen. "That pretty lady with Lu Xuan!"
"What do you mean 'together'?" Lu Yingchi frowned. "Lu Xuan is Lu Xuan, and she is her. They are not together. She is busy with her own things."
"Oh!" Ye Liang exclaimed enviously, "I've really seen something new. The celebrity participating in the show is your brother, and he's participating in... what is this? A charity forum, holy crap... is this the kind of event we can even watch?"
“But she’s really beautiful,” Fei Jingming praised. “Judging from her demeanor and conversation, she must be a very capable person to be able to attend such an event.”
Lu Yingchi had no way to refute it.
At that moment, through the lens of others and their praise, he finally gained a clear understanding.
Qiao Wu is really amazing.
During the live broadcast, Qiao Wu calmly accepted the Charity Star certificate and the microphone handed to him by the host, facing the audience with a calm and gentle voice: "Hello everyone, I am Qiao Wu, Chairman of the Lu's Charity Foundation. It is an honor to accept this weighty honor as a representative of Lu's. In the future, Lu's will continue to dedicate itself to carrying out public welfare undertakings and shoulder its social responsibility..."
Hey hey hey! Where are you guys going? Long time no see, let's grab a drink together!
The sudden loud noise from the table outside drowned out the volume of the phone, and Lu Yingchi looked up in displeasure.
Ye Liang craned his neck to take a look and cursed, "It's the Youth League secretary and her gang again. It's that damn bastard again. They couldn't get someone, so they're harassing them, huh!"
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