Chapter 33 I'll Live with You
Steward/housekeeper?
Has the Lu family changed their butler?
The two men couldn't help but look at the woman upstairs again. She had already sat down and was no longer looking down. Her profile was beautiful, and every move she made exuded a charming and alluring aura.
Meanwhile, the two young masters, Lu Yingchi and Lu Xuan, had returned at some point, and were talking about something that made the woman opposite them laugh frequently.
This doesn't seem like a housekeeper at all; it's more like a family chatting.
Wait a minute, wasn't it said that the Lu brothers were at odds?
In the past, the Lu brothers had never appeared together at any of the Lu family's banquets, but today they were all present, just to welcome Lu Jinzhi?
Many people who noticed this detail secretly kept something in mind; the Lu family seemed to be quite different from what they had been rumored to be.
The atmosphere at the evening party reached its peak with Lu Jinzhi's arrival. Even though Lu Jinzhi disliked socializing, he would drink a few more glasses and say a few more words in this kind of occasion to save face for the Lu family. When he took a moment to look up again, there were hardly any people left in the original seats on the second floor.
Lu Yingchi and Lu Xuan weren't particularly interested in the banquet; they were just there to make an appearance.
Things were rather complicated tonight, and Qiao Wu couldn't stay in one place forever, so he went out after a while to start arranging for the guests to leave.
As for Lu Ning, she found that she couldn't get anything out of this stubborn person, and feeling extremely frustrated, she couldn't sit still for long at the teahouse.
Since her second uncle arrived, the place has become somewhat noisy.
And for some reason, it seems like more and more people are coming up to the second floor, and some even know who she is and come to greet her.
Lu Ning doesn't like being disturbed and is always ready to slip away.
But since she had already promised Zhong Hejing that she would take this simpleton out to play, she wouldn't easily go back on her word, so she put away her gift: "Do you want to stay here, or come out with me?"
Zhong Shixia glanced downstairs. His older brother and sister were still busy. It might be better to stay with Lu Ning, whom he knew, than with strangers, so he stood up as well.
Only after we left the banquet hall did he ask, "Where are we going?"
"Aren't you first in the grade?" Lu Ning said rudely. "I'll take you to do your homework."
Zhong Shixia: "..."
Five minutes later, the two arrived at the library.
Lu Ning buried herself in the computer for a while and finally found several math Olympiad problem sets for middle school students.
The library contains not only famous works by renowned authors, but also a wide variety of exercise books from first grade to twelfth grade, all designed to help the children in the family study well. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many books.
Lu Ning felt that as the host, she had already done quite a lot.
She placed the thick stack of exercise books in front of Zhong Shixia: "Here, you can play with them."
“.
Zhong Shixia glanced at her with a complicated expression, but since it was quieter here than the previous place, he didn't refuse. He sat quietly at the table, picked up a pen and some draft paper, and began to work on his problems.
No need to talk to this idiot anymore, Lu Ning relaxed completely, picked up the book she hadn't finished reading and continued reading, ignoring each other.
She had almost finished reading "Sophie's World" when she saw the note on the last page and couldn't help but pick it up and study it.
Actually, she didn't quite understand the book, so she didn't know how to write anything down.
"Hey, have you read this book?" she asked Zhong Shixia, who was engrossed in doing her homework.
The latter looked over and nodded.
"Do you know where Sophie's boat went?"
Zhong Shixia recalled the contents of the book and then said seriously, "It's just a symbol, it doesn't really indicate any direction. After all, in the book, she only untied the boat ropes."
Lu Ning frowned: "What are you babbling about? I didn't understand a word."
Zhong Shixia didn't expect to have any empathy with someone who had been ranked last in the grade for seven and a half years and was still very proud of it, but her eyes lit up slightly after seeing the words on the note.
"What's this?"
“My second uncle and Qiao Wu wrote it,” Lu Ning said. “It’s different from your answer.”
"I think this answer is very well written."
Zhong Shixia held the pen: "Can I write?"
"No." Lu Ning immediately closed the book. "You've met my second uncle, haven't you? He's that monkey."
Although she didn't understand why someone would call their uncle "monkey," especially someone as famous as him, Zhong Shixia expressed her respect: "I've met him."
“It’s him, he’s very fierce,” Lu Ning said. “He doesn’t allow anyone else’s words to appear in this.”
"Isn't this written by two people?"
“Yes, only he and Qiao Wu can write it.” Lu Ning pouted. “Isn’t he weird?”
Later, she tried secretly slipping a note inside, but every time she came back, the note was always left on the table. Who else but Lu Jinzhi would do such a thing?
"Not surprising."
"ah?"
Zhong Shixia said calmly, "Uncle Monkey likes Qiao Wu, right?"
"ah???"
Zhong Shixia: "You only have privileges if you like something."
In his mind, liking and disliking are the two simplest emotions.
If his world only has one specific person who can do one thing, then he must like that person.
Just like how he only allowed his brother into his room.
Lu Ning stared at the note in her hand, lost in thought.
She recalled Lu Jinzhi's attitude towards Qiao Wu; before going abroad, he had almost no communication with Qiao Wu.
As for Qiao Wu after returning to China, it seems that he didn't pay much attention to her, unlike Lu Yingchi and Lu Xuan who were always around her.
He treats everyone the same way, so you can't tell who has special privileges over him.
Yesterday, when they bumped into each other outside the square, he simply said "let me know you're safe" and then left after dropping her and Qiao Wu off in the parking lot.
Lu Ning shook her head: "No, it won't happen."
He didn't allow her to put notes on the paper because he thought her handwriting was ugly.
Zhong Shixia was merely expressing her own opinion and had no intention of persuading her, so she did not argue with her.
A short while later, Zhong Hejing called to say she had to go back, so Zhong Shixia tidied up the things on the table and said, "I'm leaving now, thank you for your hospitality."
Lu Ning glanced at the densely filled draft paper and thought to herself: What an idiot! He calls this hospitality?
She took Zhong Shixia back, and just as they arrived outside the banquet hall, they bumped into Lu Jinzhi, who was walking towards them.
Zhong Shixia hadn't forgotten what his older siblings had told him to be polite, and he respected other people's family culture, so he took the initiative to greet them: "Hello, Uncle Monkey."
Lu Jinzhi didn't quite realize at first that they were calling him.
Lu Ning: "!!!"
She shook her head frantically: "No, no, no, you... what nonsense are you talking about!"
"Didn't you say..."
Lu Ning covered his mouth and kicked him towards the door, yelling, "Shut up!"
Turning back again, she saw Lu Jinzhi looking at her with a half-smile: "It's only right that you're afraid of me."
Damn it, Zhong Shixia!
Lu Ning really wanted to betray Lu Yingchi, but the thought of having to do her homework under his supervision in the future made her swallow her anger and whisper her defense: "Don't take it personally with him. He's a bit slow and has an accent. He probably meant to say, 'Uncle, you're so silly...'"
Lu Jinzhi really suspected that Lu Ning had undergone a genetic mutation: "Don't use the two ounces of pork head on your head to measure other people's brains."
"..."
You Mua's Lu Jinzhi!
You're a monkey! A golden monkey! A big macaque!
As the banquet drew to a close, Lu Jinzhi, no longer wanting to deal with those people like a welcoming pine tree, turned onto a small path leading back to the main house.
Seeing that he was heading back to the main house, Lu Ning followed him at a distance.
But as she walked, she couldn't help but steal glances at Lu Jinzhi's back, and the words Zhong Shixia had just said kept replaying in her mind, making her feel strange.
"Second Uncle." But lately she'd become a bit bolder, and taking advantage of the fact that Lu Jinzhi hadn't turned around to look at her, Lu Ning mustered her courage and asked in a low voice, "Does Qiao Wu have any special privileges with you?"
Actually, she didn't have high hopes.
Lu Yingchi and Lu Xuan clearly care about Qiao Wu to death, and they compete with her for Qiao Wu every day. Today, Lu Xuan even openly used money to buy Qiao Wu's time, but they are still as stubborn as ducks.
If it were someone like Lu Jinzhi who didn't care, then there would be even less of an answer.
Her small amount of courage was extinguished again.
The next second, a faint "yes" fell beside her ear.
Lu Ning stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the back of the figure that never stopped walking.
have? !
She was more frightened than timid, so she took a few more steps forward and pressed on, asking, "So, do you like Qiao Wu?"
At such a young age, Lu Ning's understanding of liking someone is still quite basic. She simply means "like" someone, without any other implications, so her question was very direct.
But she forgot that the person in front of her was already 27 years old.
Lu Jinzhi stopped and turned to look at her. Under the streetlight, his eyes, which were slightly tinged with alcohol, looked even more profound.
"What did you say?"
“Well…” Lu Ning immediately shrank back and mumbled, “That person just said that you only have privileges if you like something.”
Lu Jinzhi frowned slightly.
What topics do these kids discuss every day? Are they running out of homework?
But he didn't like being forced to accept undeserved titles, so he lowered his eyes and said, "I don't like it."
"Then why do they have special privileges?"
Talking to idiots is indeed exhausting. Worried about catching their idiocy, Lu Jinzhi looked away and continued walking forward, his tone calm: "Because of recognition."
I acknowledge her existence, her abilities, and the past we shared.
These past experiences could give Qiao Wu special privileges in his presence.
But this is not the same as liking, and the two should not be confused.
Strictly speaking, the last time he met Qiao Wu was twelve years ago, when Qiao Wu was only ten years old, no matter how smart he was.
Although she was afraid of Lu Jinzhi, Lu Ning never doubted the truthfulness of his words, so she was quite disappointed: "Oh."
The resentment in her voice was so obvious that Lu Jinzhi couldn't quite understand her thought process.
What do you want to say?
Lu Ning pouted: "If you don't like it, fine. I'll save more money and work harder."
"Saving money?"
“Zhong Hejing is the older sister of that boy from earlier. She wanted to poach Qiao Wu and said she would give her a share of the company’s profits.”
Lu Ning did think it would be great if her second uncle really liked Qiao Wu. After all, her second uncle was the richest person in the family. If her second uncle liked Qiao Wu, then no one could use money to take Qiao Wu away in the future.
Lu Ning looked at the ground dejectedly: "Qiao Wu also said she would consider it."
Then she saw that tall, slender shadow suddenly stop under the streetlight.
Lu Ning: "?"
-
Although Lu Xuan only had 50,000 yuan in his card, which was given to him by himself, Qiao Wu still packed her things and agreed to this "business trip," since there was really no one else in the family who could do this job besides her.
Lu Jinzhi has to go to work, while Lu Yingchi and Lu Ning both have to go to school.
Moreover... she worried that if other people went on the show, the production team might start a fight between chickens and dogs.
Early in the morning, when people went to work or school arrived at the restaurant, they didn't see Qiao Wu anywhere.
"Where is Qiao Wu?" Lu Yingchi asked.
The maid said, "Butler Qiao is away on a business trip with the Third Young Master and won't be back until Thursday. She said you can call her if you need anything."
"Hmph." Lu Yingchi wouldn't make the call. "A card is enough to bribe her, why would I call her? How much money is it anyway?"
fifty thousand.
Lu Jinzhi, who had witnessed the whole thing while sitting on the other side, thought to himself.
Just a few days ago, he was telling Xu Chao not to use cheap lenses to measure Qiao Wu's value, but today she was lured away to another city for four days for 50,000 yuan.
He recalled what Lu Ning had said the day before: she might indeed consider the profit sharing that Zhong Hejing offered.
But Lu Jinzhi has his own scales. Just as he once told Lu Jiang, no one's job is irreplaceable. So if Qiao Wu's salary is higher than the value of her abilities, then he will no longer keep her.
Moreover, everyone is free, and if she really wants to leave, he cannot stop her.
However, even after a whole night of calculations, Lu Jinzhi still couldn't accurately determine how much money would be appropriate for Qiao Wu to continue working for the Lu family.
Which item was not included in the calculation?
After breakfast, Lu Yingchi and Lu Ning hurriedly left to catch 8 a.m.
After changing his clothes, Lu Jinzhi came to the living room. Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught sight of the code of conduct hanging on the wall. Unlike last time when he just glanced at it, this time he walked to the front and carefully read it from beginning to end.
This includes the goals set by several elementary school chickens for themselves.
If he remembers correctly, his home was in chaos before he went abroad, and no one would want to go to school at that time.
Lu Ning said last night that if she didn't live up to expectations, Qiao Wu would leave.
Therefore, Qiao Wu's need to work for the Lu family was not just for money; he also had other purposes.
The so-called "striving for excellence" was just a bargaining chip used by her family to keep her in the family.
At this moment, the scales in Lu Jinzhi's heart suddenly tipped, and the problem that had troubled him all night suddenly became clear. He put a slight question mark on the money side of the scale.
On the other hand, Qiao Wu's work ability has an additional trait - no one else can leave a mark on his books except her, and no one will call him Lu Jinzhi.
This is Qiao Wu's added value.
But what other incentives can he offer besides money?
The genius is once again caught in an intractable predicament.
Meanwhile, Qiao Wu and Lu Xuan had already arrived in the city where the program was being filmed.
As Lu Xuan walked out of the airport, he looked at his several large suitcases and his face darkened: "Where is my assistant?"
Before boarding the plane, his agent helped him with his luggage, but after getting off the plane, he was alone with Qiao Wu.
Young Master Lu had never suffered so much in his life.
Qiao Wu pushed his suitcase with ease, glanced at him, and laughed, "Who told you to bring so many clothes? Young Master, you don't have the money to hire an assistant anymore."
In the past, Lu Yingchi's agent and assistant's salaries were paid by him, but now his card has been suspended. With his current work ability, the company has given his agent more than just him as an artist, not to mention assistants.
"Is it still possible?" Qiao Wu asked.
Lu Xuan took a deep breath: "Why not?"
“What I mean is…” Qiao Wu pushed his suitcase in front of him and smiled, “If it’s feasible, you want the sugar daddy to carry his own suitcase?”
Lu Xuan's face turned green instantly.
For his first show, he got up early in the morning to have his hair styled and wore a haute couture outfit.
As a result, after getting off the plane, not only did I have to carry my own suitcase, but I also had to carry Qiao Wu's suitcase.
"Who is the butler?" he asked.
"It's up to you," Qiao Wu said with a smile. "Do you want me to accompany you as your butler, or as your friend?"
Lu Xuan's expression turned strange for a moment: "Friend?"
Qiao Wu suddenly realized: "I forgot, you don't care."
She held out her hand: "I can do it myself."
Before his hand even touched the suitcase, another hand with distinct knuckles landed on the handle.
Lu Xuan stubbornly pushed all the suitcases past her: "Let's go."
Qiao Wu paused for a second behind him, then smiled and stepped forward to share his work: "Let's do it together, friend."
It wasn't that she couldn't carry her own suitcase; she just wanted to take this opportunity to teach this person a lesson, so that she wouldn't waste all her money on her "business trips" again next time.
Lu Xuan was wearing sunglasses, but even with his eyes downcast, he could clearly see the outstretched hand.
She looks so thin and frail, yet she always manages to accurately grasp people's hearts.
friend?
Lu Xuan thought to himself that this was the first time in all these years that he had discovered he could have such a relationship with Qiao Wu, which sounded much more comfortable than the so-called young master or butler.
An hour later, he stood at his room door with his room key in hand, laughing in exasperation: "Friend, why is my room different from yours?"
The Third Young Master always stays in the top suites of hotels wherever he goes; this is the first time I've seen a room with a king-size bed.
He said, "Why did the hotel staff only take Qiao Wu's luggage and not his?"
Qiao Wu replied naturally, "I booked my room myself, while yours was booked by the production team, so of course they're different."
Without a second's hesitation, Lu Xuan turned around and pushed the luggage he had painstakingly brought back back.
Where are you going?
I want to come to you!
He knew that Qiao Wu's room definitely had more than one bedroom!
“I won’t sleep well staying here.” He didn’t even turn his head. “If I don’t sleep well, I won’t perform well, and if I don’t perform well, I won’t be able to win the award.”
What kind of twisted logic is this?
"What happens after I leave?" Qiao Wu shrugged. "I won't extend your room rate. You'll still have to come back and stay."
Lu Xuan didn't say anything, he just kept pressing the elevator buttons.
Knowing that he couldn't accept the change in circumstances, Qiao Wu sighed silently and ultimately couldn't bear to follow him.
She knew that with the Lu family's wealth, Lu Xuan could have avoided this kind of hardship, but she was worried.
Lu Xuan is already 23 years old. If this pampered young master doesn't experience any setbacks, he won't know the hardships of life. Any unexpected event will easily crush him. If he wants to be an excellent actor, he will need to face even more difficulties.
This is nothing.
In his dream, Lu Xuan couldn't endure any hardship, so he achieved nothing in the entertainment industry. Later, he was tricked and deceived after getting drunk, which ruined his reputation and brought a lot of negative impact to the Lu family. After that, he had a complete falling out with Lu Jinzhi and was trampled into the mud, unable to accept this kind of decline. He ended his life.
Lu Xuan does have many shortcomings, but ultimately he is just a crybaby who secretly sheds tears when he is wronged.
Qiao Wu hoped that he could become a capable adult.
She stepped forward, intending to block the elevator for Lu Xuan.
Just then, the elevator arrived, the doors opened, and there was another person standing inside.
Upon seeing Qiao Wu, the man's lips curved into a perfectly timed smile: "Butler Qiao, what a coincidence."
Qiao Wu nodded slightly: "President Qin."
Lu Xuan, who was in a bad mood, glanced between the two of them, pushed his suitcase and stood between them, forcing Qin Lian into a corner.
"You two know each other?" Lu Xuan asked.
Qiao Wu: "We met once last night."
"oh."
Then we're not friends anymore.
Qin Lian found the scene quite amusing; he was a butler, yet it was the young master of the Lu family who was carrying the luggage.
He asked, "What are you doing here?"
Lu Xuan knew Qin Lian; those who were good at business were all cunning, especially his younger brother, who was no better person.
So he answered before Qiao Wu could: "Work."
Qiao Wu nodded.
Sensing Lu Xuan's wariness of him, Qin Lian didn't bother asking any more questions and simply observed him silently.
Then he saw Lu Xuan extend his hand to Qiao Wu: "Room key."
Qiao Wu handed him a room key.
Lu Xuan added, "We'll talk about what happens when you leave. Anyway, I'll stay with you for the next few days."
Qin Lian raised his eyebrows high.
The elevator arrived, and he stepped out first.
After thinking about it, I still felt something wasn't quite right.
Although he didn't have much interaction with Lu Xuan and Lu Yingchi, the two playboys, before Lu Jinzhi went abroad, he often competed with or cooperated with Lu Jinzhi, and they were both enemies and friends, with more enemies than friends.
Lu Jinzhi doesn't deserve to have friends.
As far as he knew, after Lu Jinzhi took power, everyone in the Lu family should be under his management, including the butler.
Given Lu Jinzhi's picky nature, it's impossible for an ordinary person to reach this position without his approval. Therefore, the current scene is so interesting that Qin Lian is eager to see Lu Jinzhi's reaction.
He sent a message to Lu Jinzhi.
"Has the Lu family become so poor that the housekeeper has to share a room with the head of the household?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
