Chapter 29

Lu Yan never imagined that in her lifetime, there would be a day when Shen Kuo would ride a bike to carry her.

She looked at Shen Kuo’s strong back, the muscles in his shirt moving rhythmically with his pedaling, giving off a powerful sense of strength.

He was really quite sexy.

Even twenty years later, Shen Kuo had not gained weight like most middle-aged men. He managed his physique as strictly as he managed his behavior. Even in his forties, he was still in the prime of life, surrounded by admirers.

Wealthy, handsome, and exuding the charm of a mature man in every gesture.

Few women could resist someone like Shen Kuo.

Lu Yan now realized that Shen Kuo was wearing a suit today!

She patted his back and excitedly said, “So today, our Master Shen is dressing up like a gentleman! No wonder you were so gentle with me just now.”

Shen Kuo was startled by her pat, and he turned around, saying, “If you keep being so startled, I’ll throw you into a ditch.”

“No!” Lu Yan quickly grabbed the corner of his shirt and asked with curiosity, “Hey, you dressed so handsome today—where are you going?”

Shen Kuo didn’t answer her.

“Ah, I know, you went on a date, right?”

“…”

A date? Not a chance.

Lu Yan said, “If it’s not a date, then… work?”

“Mm.”

“Nice!”

His deep, mellow voice responded lightly, and he felt a sense of comfort in his heart.

He had been working hard and had never stopped. He felt that someone like him… deserved to dream, even if it was just a daydream.

He wanted her too.

Twenty minutes later, Shen Kuo stopped the bike in front of the Century City Grand Hotel.

Lu Yan looked up at the golden lion statue at the entrance of Century City and said, “I said I’d treat, but you really know how to take advantage!”

Shen Kuo calmly replied, “Wasn’t this a business meeting? Then it should look like one.”

Last time he had dinner here with Director Fang. Although they had gotten drunk, he still remembered that the sticky chicken feet at this restaurant were delicious. The first bite he had made him think… he wanted to bring Lu Yan here to try them.

“Fine, fine,” Lu Yan shrugged. “You’re happy today, so you’re the boss.”

—

In the private room, Lu Yan took several books related to internet studies out of her backpack, including two full English-language academic books.

She dumped them all in front of Shen Kuo.

“These, all for you. Consider this my investment in you!”

“You eat.”

“Shen Kuo, don’t drop out! Not only don’t drop out, but you also need to study hard and aim for the best university, and then study computer science. You’re really good at this! You’ll get everything you want.”

“Hurry up and eat, it’s getting cold.”

“…”

He handed the sticky chicken feet plate to her, looking at her earnestly: “Hurry up, eat.”

The look of anticipation on his face was like he was offering her some rare magical fruit.

Lu Yan picked up a chicken foot, tasted it, and found it was braised, soft and tender, melting in her mouth. She could even chew the bones, and the seasoning was special, filling her mouth with fragrance.

“Is it good?”

Lu Yan nodded repeatedly, her face lighting up with delight as she sucked on the bones: “So delicious!”

Shen Kuo’s lips curled into a faint smile again.

He was satisfied.

The two of them, wearing gloves, seriously ate the chicken feet, leaving a full plate of bones behind.

After eating and drinking to their hearts’ content, Lu Yan covered her stomach, looking completely satisfied.

Shen Kuo washed his hands and returned, then flipped open the books Lu Yan had given him.

Lu Yan immediately perked up and hurriedly said, “Take these with you and study them well to lay a solid foundation for your future college studies.”

Shen Kuo put the books down, a faint shadow passing through his dark eyes: “You should know, I’ve submitted my application to drop out.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay!” Lu Yan quickly said, “You can withdraw the application. The school will definitely be happy to keep you, your grades are so good, it would be such a shame to drop out.”

Shen Kuo looked at her: “You said you wanted to discuss business with me. What does that mean?”

“Ah, it’s like this,” Lu Yan looked at the books and smiled mischievously, “Starting today, I’m your career advisor, offering you… hmm… limited creative support. In short, if you follow my advice, you’ll definitely avoid many detours.”

On this, Lu Yan was confident. After all, she came from the future. Although she knew nothing about the computer field, she understood the general direction of the internet’s development and could provide the most accurate guidance to Shen Kuo.

Shen Kuo looked at the sincerity in her eyes and found it a bit interesting.

“Why do you trust me?”

Even he couldn’t say with 100% certainty that every step he was taking now was the right one.

“So it’s an investment, huh,” Lu Yan smiled, “No one can guarantee an investment will always succeed, right? Anyway, I’m backing you up with this stock. If you win, I’ll get a share of the spoils, if you lose… it’s on me.”

Shen Kuo curiously asked, “What kind of share do you want?”

Finally, he asked this question. Lu Yan suddenly held his hand with both of hers, excitedly saying, “I haven’t figured that out yet. When I do, I’ll ask you for something, but you have to promise me, you’ll definitely agree.”

Shen Kuo felt her cold, soft palms against his, and a shiver ran down his spine.

“What if you ask me to do something weird, like eating bugs or something?”

Lu Yan’s eyes were full of laughter as she nudged him with her elbow: “What are you thinking? I wouldn’t ask you to eat bugs! And I won’t ask you to do anything beyond your abilities.”

If one day Shen Kuo really clashed with Lu Zhen, she only hoped that he would show mercy and let Lu Zhen go.

Shen Kuo withdrew his hand, his smile fading as he fell into deep thought.

Shen Kuo, unlike most people, was very clear about what he wanted. Once he made a decision, he rarely changed his mind, and he had hardly ever been caught in a dilemma.

He looked at the computer science books filled with dense English text, clearly struggling.

The computer industry was indeed a rapidly emerging new sector, but because he hadn’t delved deeply into it, he didn’t have a full understanding.

He had only encountered computers in the school’s computer lab, but the school’s machines were extremely outdated, taking a long time to start up.

Coming from a socially mixed and rough background, he had also encountered some so-called hackers who could create shocking computer viruses and software, and they would swear that they could make a lot of money.

Because he understood it, Shen Kuo wasn’t particularly interested. He preferred to work hard, run a business, and make money.

“Shen Kuo, trust me.” Lu Yan looked at him, her black eyes shining with light. “The next 20, 30, 40 years… the world will belong to the internet. Trust me.”

Trust her and then stake his future on it, gambling it all.

Lu Yan knew that Shen Kuo couldn’t give an answer right away. He wasn’t impulsive like Lu Zhen, he would never make a reckless decision based on fleeting excitement…

He had always been a cautious and prudent man.

“It’s okay, you can think about it, or discuss it with your father. After all, it’s only halfway through the summer vacation.”

“Mm.”

After lunch, when they went to pay, Lu Yan was told by the front desk that the bill had already been settled.

She turned to look at Shen Kuo, helplessly saying, “I said I’d treat you.”

“Today, I received my salary.” He answered flatly.

In the past, all his efforts had been aimless. He’d earn money and save it for the future.

But now… he wanted to try the feeling of spending money on a girl he liked.

Lu Yan said she wanted to invest in him, and would take a share of the profits later. What she didn’t know was that everything Shen Kuo was doing now, everything he would have in the future…

It would all be hers, if she wanted it.

—

Although Meng Zhining said that boys should go through hardships and endure some grievances, she couldn’t swallow her pride.

What could a 15 or 16-year-old girl like Shi Ya possibly understand? How could she have such deep scheming to set up Lu Zhen and create a rift between father and son?

In the end, wasn’t it all due to her mother’s influence? Thinking this through, Shi Xuexian must have also been plotting against Lu Zhen at home. No wonder the relationship between Lu Zhen and his father had become worse over the years.

Meng Zhining, being protective of her son, couldn’t stand it anymore and decided to visit the Lu family that afternoon.

Lu Yan was leaning on the windowsill doing homework when she saw her mother’s Mercedes pull into the driveway. Meng Zhining, wearing sunglasses and towering heels, got out of the car with a fierce demeanor, heading straight toward the Lu house.

Lu Yan knew her mother’s fiery temper. Seeing her so angry, she figured that Shi Xuexian was in for a rough time today.

She jumped up, ran to Lu Zhen’s room, and grabbed her father, who was taking an afternoon nap.

“What’s going on?” Lu Zhen grumbled, his eyes still groggy and irritated from being woken up.

“Your mom’s here! She’s come to avenge you.” Lu Yan excitedly pulled him out of the room, pressing his head down as they both crouched by the second-floor staircase, peering down.

Lu Jian was still at work, and Shi Xuexian was used to inviting her friends over to play mahjong and have afternoon tea at this time.

So when Meng Zhining entered, the living room was already surrounded by mahjong tables. Shi Xuexian’s face darkened when she saw Meng Zhining: “What are you doing here?”

Without a word, Meng Zhining walked up to Shi Xuexian, and with a swift motion, slapped her across the face.

The sharp “slap” echoed, and five red finger marks appeared on Shi Xuexian’s pale face.

She was stunned by the slap, her cheek burning with pain, and she looked at Meng Zhining in shock and anger. “You… you… how dare you hit me?”

Meng Zhining suppressed the fury in her heart and said in a low voice, “This slap is to make you understand. Lu Jian may be blind, but I’m not. If you dare to harm a single hair on my son, I’ll rip your skull off. Do you believe me?”

Hearing this, Lu Yan felt a surge of satisfaction.

Her grandmother, Meng Zhining, truly deserved her reputation as a formidable woman in the business world, even when it came to a fight, she could do it with the force of an entire army.

Lu Zhen, watching Meng Zhining’s powerful presence, asked Lu Yan, “How did she find out?”

Lu Yan flashed a professional fake smile, showing her even teeth. “I didn’t tell you.”

“Well, if it wasn’t you, then who?” He patted the back of her head. “Don’t tell my mom about these things, it’s too embarrassing.”

“Then you better be smart and stop being so dumb, always letting people take advantage of you.”

“I…”

Before Lu Zhen could continue arguing with Lu Yan, a commotion started downstairs. Shi Xuexian, having just been slapped, was crying and wailing, trying to rush at Meng Zhining to settle the score.

She looked like an enraged shrew.

Meng Zhining stepped back two paces, and the housekeeper and servants quickly moved to protect her, blocking Shi Xuexian from getting any closer.

“You… who are you people working for?” Shi Xuexian’s hair had come undone, and she pointed at the servants in the room, shouting, “You all have the surname Lu, not Meng! How dare you protect her! I’ll have all of you kicked out!”

Meng Zhining crossed her arms and calmly looked at the woman acting like a madwoman. “They belong to this house. This house belongs to me, and you have no right to make them leave.”

“Meng Zhining, you’ve gone too far!” Shi Xuexian yelled.

Meng Zhining sneered. “Gone too far? When you were bullying my son, did you ever say that?”

“Don’t spit nonsense, who bullied your son?”

“Don’t deny it. I said, Lu Jian may be blind, but I’m not. Your little tricks won’t work here.”

Shi Xuexian had lost all dignity today. She had been slapped without even the chance to retaliate.

Her only backup was her husband, but Meng Zhining had the entire Meng Group behind her.

“Let’s ask everyone for judgment!” Shi Xuexian, using her usual crying and tantrum tactics, began complaining to the wealthy ladies in the room, “Everyone says that the eldest Miss Meng is refined and cultured, but this so-called cultured Miss Meng barged into my house today, slapped me, and humiliated me…”

Shi Xuexian scanned the surrounding rich wives with her peripheral vision as they whispered among themselves.

“I know, she’s always been jealous that I married our family’s Mr. Lu and took her ex-husband. She’s always been dissatisfied with me and has caused trouble for me before. I… I’m just a helpless, weak woman, and I don’t know what to do anymore.”

Lu Yan, hearing Shi Xuexian’s sob story, nearly vomited. Even the villainous female characters in ^[1]Qiong Yao dramas refer to TV series or films adapted from the works of Qiong Yao, a renowned Taiwanese writer famous for her romantic novels. Her stories often revolve around dramatic love triangles, … Continue readingQiong Yao dramas didn’t act as well as this.

Meng Zhining coldly looked at her and said, “Since you want to make this public, why don’t you tell everyone about how your daughter was kicked out of the Lu family?”

As soon as those words left her mouth, Shi Xuexian’s face instantly changed.

She had hoped to secure a good marriage for Shi Ya in high society. The rich wives around her were all being fawned over with the intention of arranging a good future for her daughter.

If they found out about what happened with Shi Ya… the news would likely spread throughout the circle, and her daughter’s reputation would be ruined.

The rich ladies, having nothing else to do, loved gossip and immediately spoke up, “Yes, Xuexian, if you want us to give you a fair judgment, you’d better explain what exactly happened, otherwise, we’ll be left in the dark and won’t know how to stand up for you.”

“Yes, yes, hurry up and tell us what happened.”

—

Shi Xuexian gritted her teeth, forcing a bitter smile, “N-Nothing, it’s just a misunderstanding. There’s nothing to it.”

“How is it a misunderstanding again? Xuexian, don’t be afraid of her. We’re backing you up.”

Shi Xuexian knew very well that these women weren’t actually going to stand up for her. They just wanted to hear the gossip and amuse themselves.

After all… Shi Xuexian had only married into a wealthy family to please others. No matter how much she flattered and tried to please them, they secretly looked down on her.

“You’re too embarrassed to say it, so I’ll say it for you,” Meng Zhining said. “Your daughter tampered with my son’s exam scores, and then, you and she worked together to report it to his father, making him think the child had a moral issue, almost getting him kicked out of the family. Shi Xuexian, you two mother and daughter really play your cards well. Even after so many years in the business world, I have to admit, your skills are impressive.”

The surrounding rich ladies gasped in shock and whispered among themselves, “How could she do something like that?”

“She really raised her daughter this badly.”

“I never expected… she’s actually this kind of person.”

Shi Xuexian seemed to have lost all her strength, collapsing onto the ground. She knew her daughter’s bright future had just been destroyed by Meng Zhining. If this got out, no one in the high society ladies’ circle would ever accept her daughter again.

“You… you’re talking nonsense, Yaya didn’t do it on purpose, it wasn’t intentional…”

Meng Zhining’s eyes grew colder. “Shi Xuexian, I advise you to live your peaceful life and stop thinking in the wrong direction. Everything in the Lu family will eventually belong to my son and daughter, and has nothing to do with you… not even a penny.”

Having said that, without waiting for Shi Xuexian to respond, Meng Zhining looked up at Lu Zhen and his daughter on the second floor.

“Lu Zhen, you’re the eldest son of the Lu family. Show a little bit of manliness. Stop showing off outside and letting people walk all over you when you get home.”

Lu Yan poked her dad with her elbow, whispering, “Did you hear that? Eldest son, speak up for yourself.”

The eldest son’s face instantly turned three shades darker.

“Uh…”