Chapter 62

It was barely six o’clock when Xu Zhiyi and Jiang Sixun arrived at the old mansion.

Their early arrival didn’t surprise Uncle Zhuang. Over the past week, Jiang Sixun had called him twice to schedule a meeting with Old Lu. Meeting his grandfather today was important, so naturally, they came early. But as luck would have it, the lawyer was already in the old man’s study.

“I’m afraid the lawyer is upstairs. Why don’t you keep Zhiyi company in the courtyard, or go inside and have something to eat?” Uncle Zhuang suggested regretfully.

Jiang Sixun glanced at the study window on the second floor. “The lawyer’s here?”

“Yes.”

“And he’s staying for the family dinner tonight?”

“Correct.”

“To defend Shen Qingfeng?”

Uncle Zhuang dodged the question. “You’ll find out in an hour. Be patient.”

“I’ll bring tea upstairs,” Jiang Sixun said, excusing himself.

The weather wasn’t on their side today—it had been a gloomy, rainy day, with the downpour stopping only shortly before their arrival.

Xu Zhiyi gazed at the misty sea in the distance, sighing, “Last time we came, it was cloudy too. Seems like it is again today.”

Jiang Sixun replied softly, “When the sun finally comes out, I’ll bring you back here again.”

He took her hand, guiding her toward the villa.

Before they got far, a car pulled into the driveway. Xu Zhiyi turned to glance at it, the license plate vaguely familiar—it was his cousin’s car.

She hadn’t expected his cousin to arrive this early.

No one in his family ever showed real affection; sitting together and pretending to care for one another was nothing but exhausting. Redirecting her gaze, she asked, “Shall we sit in the left courtyard?”

“Alright,” Jiang Sixun agreed, turning with her toward the garden.

“Sixun.” His cousin’s voice rang out from behind. She had guessed her younger cousin would show up early today, and she was right.

Jiang Sixun didn’t look back. He released Xu Zhiyi’s hand and ruffled her hair gently. “You go on ahead and wait for me.”

Xu Zhiyi held his hand, gently stroking it as if to comfort him. “Whatever she says, don’t take it to heart. Come find me quickly.”

“Okay.”

As he spoke, he kissed the tips of her fingers, his lips brushing them with barely a touch.

Xu Zhiyi felt the warmth linger on her fingertips, her heart stirred.

His cousin, who had been waiting by the car, couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Even at a time like this, they had the nerve to flirt.

Jiang Sixun let go of her hand and took off his jacket, handing it to her. “It’s windy over there.”

Xu Zhiyi took the jacket and put it on as she walked away.

His cousin, Lu Kaijing, finally got her chance, nodding toward the villa. “Let’s talk inside.”

Jiang Sixun’s expression was cold, and his patience thin. “Say whatever you have to say here.”

Lu Kaijing gave a faint, amused snort. She was used to her cousin’s indifferent attitude by now.

The wind picked up in the courtyard. She opened her car door, taking out a shawl to drape over her shoulders.

“Do you know why Grandpa called us here today? Take a guess. If you can’t figure it out, I’ll give you a hint.”

Jiang Sixun’s patience snapped. “Lu Kaijing, enough with the riddles.”

“I’m not teasing you. I’m giving you time to prepare yourself. Do you remember the last family meeting? Of course, you do. You won’t forget it anytime soon.”

That was the first time their grandfather hadn’t invited them in person, instead announcing part of the inheritance via the family group chat.

“You listed my father’s crimes on countless pages, forcing him to step down early. And what came of it? My brother ended up with 6% of the shares, and Grandpa gave them to him willingly. What did your fourth uncle manage to get for you?”

She chuckled lightly. “Grandpa’s lawyers have been coming and going from the house lately, and it’s not to defend Shen Qingfeng.” She looked straight at her cousin. “Now do you understand what Grandpa has been working on?”

“For Xu Zhiyi, you’ve torn this family apart. We’ve become a laughingstock. Why don’t you guess what Grandpa will do to make it up to us?”

“Don’t think that just because you’re in charge now, you’ve won.”

Jiang Sixun’s interest evaporated the moment he realized it was about the inheritance. If it had been related to Shen Qingfeng’s case, he might have stayed to listen. Instead, he turned and walked away.

Behind him, Lu Kaijing called out, “Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention—my father put me in charge of the Jin Yun project.”

In the left courtyard, Xu Zhiyi sipped the hot tea Uncle Zhuang had just brought out. Casually, she glanced toward the right and saw Jiang Sixun approaching.

A smile spread across her lips. “Back already?”

“There’s nothing worth discussing with her,” Jiang Sixun replied coolly.

“One useful bit of information: Lu Kaijing will be handling the Jin Yun project from now on.”

Xu Zhiyi knew little about this cousin. She had assumed their only interactions would be at the annual family banquet and had never bothered to investigate her background.

“How does she compare to Shen Qingfeng?”

Jiang Sixun thought for a moment, then motioned for her to stand up.

Xu Zhiyi pointed to the empty chairs around them. “There are plenty of chairs—why mine?”

“Sit here,” Jiang Sixun said, ignoring her protest. He pulled her up and sat down, placing her on his lap.

Xu Zhiyi adjusted his jacket around her shoulders. “Talking business while sitting on your lap seems inappropriate.”

“This is home, not the office,” Jiang Sixun countered. “Who do you know that treats their love life like a business meeting?”

Xu Zhiyi laughed and settled back in his lap, not moving again.

“So, tell me,” she repeated, “how does Lu Kaijing compare to Shen Qingfeng?”

Jiang Sixun: “It’s true what they say: Birds of a feather flock together.”

Xu Zhiyi: “Is Lu Kaijing just as crazy?”

Jiang Sixun: “Not quite crazy. She’s not exactly like Shen Qingfeng. She has her limits, and some conscience—though not much. She’s pretty much a mirror image of my uncle. He’s too busy to handle the Jin Yun project, so he’s passed it on to her.”

Xu Zhiyi fell into thought. Acquiring shares from Jin Yun wouldn’t be as straightforward as with KEVE.

Sensing her concern, Jiang Sixun reassured her, “Leave Lu Kaijing to me. She’s been unable to deal with me since we were kids.”

Xu Zhiyi didn’t respond.

Jiang Sixun wasn’t bothered by Lu Kaijing’s involvement in the Jin Yun project. The real key player was Shang Ningwei. “Forget about Lu Kaijing. Think about what’s more interesting—how much of the inheritance will Grandpa divide tonight, and how much will Lu Jianliang get.”

He chuckled. “If I don’t get much, don’t feel bad.”

Xu Zhiyi knew a little about the previous two inheritance splits. The eldest brother’s family received the most, followed by the second and third. Lu Jianbo had almost nothing.

Maybe there were some cash gifts on the side, but compared to what the other three brothers got, it was insignificant.

Everyone knew that Grandpa favored his eldest son, Lu Jianliang.

Jiang Sixun had held a grudge for years because of his grandfather’s favoritism toward his uncle.

Trying to lift his spirits, Xu Zhiyi teased, “If you don’t get anything, it’s fine. I’ve got money.” She smiled playfully. “After we’re married, I’ll make sure your pocket money is the highest in the group.”

Jiang Sixun pulled her closer, his arms tightening around her as he smiled at her. “You better keep your word, because I’m taking this seriously.”

Sitting on his lap, Xu Zhiyi was slightly taller than him. She looked down at him, bargaining. “I’ll give you pocket money, but you have to spend it on me, deal?”

Before he could respond, she leaned down and kissed him, laughing softly as she did.

Jiang Sixun’s hand slid up from her waist, lightly caressing her back before gently cupping the back of her head. Their lips pressed together, their breaths mingling, the kiss deepening.

“I’ve still got plenty of secret funds,” he whispered against her lips, “and I’ll spend it all on you.”

With that, he tightened his grip on her head, parting her lips with his.

Their lips and tongues intertwined.

Xu Zhiyi had thought that being in a higher position meant she could control the kiss. But within seconds, Jiang Sixun turned the tables, taking control with ease.

Their kiss only ended when Uncle Zhuang sent someone to call them.

As they parted, Xu Zhiyi tugged playfully at his arm. “Tell me, just how much secret money do you have?”

Jiang Sixun chuckled. “I don’t remember. When we get home, I’ll screenshot all my account balances for you.”

Satisfied, Xu Zhiyi smiled. “No need.”

Hand in hand, they began walking, Jiang Sixun replying to Lu Jianbo’s messages as they went.

Xu Zhiyi lagged a few steps behind, and Jiang Sixun gave her hand a gentle tug, pulling her along.

At 6:52, everyone except Lu Jianbo had arrived.

Tonight, Grandpa came downstairs earlier than usual, accompanied by two lawyers.

Jiang Sixun wasn’t familiar with these lawyers, but the rest of the family recognized one of them—they had handled the previous inheritance discussions.

Second Uncle glanced at his eldest brother, Lu Jianliang, trying to read his expression. But his brother’s face remained neutral, as if he knew something they didn’t.

It seemed likely that Grandpa was once again using Shen Qingfeng’s downfall and Lu Jianliang’s family’s misfortunes as an excuse to redistribute the inheritance, compensating his eldest son.

While things hadn’t reached the point of utter ruin for Lu Jianliang’s family, they were certainly in disarray. His wife was in jail, his eldest son had distanced himself, and the younger son he’d reconciled with had no real loyalty to him, especially since he couldn’t enter the family business.

Xu Zhiyi whispered to Jiang Sixun, “Who are those two?”

Jiang Sixun replied, “They’re probably lawyers.”

Xu Zhiyi nodded, her eyes saying it didn’t matter. Inheritance or not, she had money.

Jiang Sixun gave a faint smile and placed some food on her plate with his chopsticks.

Grandpa sat down, glancing at the empty seat next to Jiang Sixun. He addressed the rest of the table. “You all go ahead and eat. No need to wait for the fourth.”

The family exchanged confused looks. Was Grandpa skipping the usual scolding session that came with family dinners?

Lu Jianliang spoke up, “Dad, why don’t you just tell us what’s going on? No one can eat in peace without knowing.”

Grandpa replied, “The fourth hasn’t arrived yet.”

Uncle Zhuang chimed in, “The fourth is here!” He could hardly believe it himself, but a glance through the floor-to-ceiling windows confirmed it—it was indeed the fourth brother’s car pulling into the driveway.

“And early, too,” Uncle Zhuang muttered to himself, checking his watch. “Six minutes early.”

Unheard of.

Grandpa seemed equally shocked, letting out a cold snort. “Did he send his secretary to eat in his place again?”

It wouldn’t be the first time. Lu Jianbo had once sent his secretary to attend a family dinner in his stead.

If there was an award for unfilial behavior, he’d be first in line.

Uncle Zhuang watched intently as the figure emerged from the car. His voice was filled with disbelief. “It’s not the secretary. It’s the fourth himself!”

Lu Jianbo had come early after hearing that Grandpa’s personal lawyers would be present. If there was going to be another division of the inheritance, he was determined to fight for it—not for his ungrateful son, but for his grandchildren.

In Jiang Yue’s eyes, this was his last remaining purpose.

Lu Jianbo took off his jacket and sat next to his rebellious son.

Jiang Sixun handed him a pair of chopsticks. “Eat up. This probably has nothing to do with you.”

Lu Jianbo was silent.

Grandpa reached for the folder one of the lawyers handed him.

“Since none of you seem to have an appetite, I’ll get to the point.”

He never liked to waste time with emotional speeches. When it came to money, there was no need for sentiment. “In the past few days, I’ve made arrangements for all of my personal assets.”

Shock was written plainly across everyone’s faces, even Lu Jianbo’s. His hand, mid-motion as he picked up food, froze.

No one had ever expected the old man to divide all his assets while still alive. It was a shared belief—one that even Lu Jianbo himself had taken for granted.

He had never truly understood his father, even now.

Lu Kaijing was dumbfounded. All of the assets? Was the old man really going to distribute billions?

Grandfather wasn’t concerned with their reactions. Adjusting his glasses, he said, “This time, I will make the announcement myself.”

Everyone, including Xu Zhiyi, held their breath.

Everyone cared—some for money, others for sentiment—but in moments like this, money and sentiment often go hand in hand. No one could deceive themselves into thinking they’d be happy with less simply because the old man “liked them more.”

Uncle Zhuang found himself a chair and sat down. He wasn’t sure how the assets would be divided, but he feared standing might be too much for him if it went badly.

The old man picked up the file, and with his glasses now on, every number became clear.

“The family charity will be managed by my second son. I’ll transfer the shares of 36 companies into the foundation, and no family member will benefit from them.”

He pulled out the list of companies and handed it to his second son.

Second Uncle was a bit stunned. “Dad, why are you giving me the charity to manage?”

Grandfather replied, “Because it’s a good deed, and you’re the best person to accumulate virtue for the Lu family.”

Second Uncle: “…”

Well, that was a subtle jab.

The charity was already sizable, and now with 36 company shares added to it, the dividends would flow endlessly. While the rest of the family couldn’t touch the money, as the manager, Second Uncle would have his ways of pocketing some for himself.

But Grandfather wasn’t done. “Second son manages, fourth son will supervise to ensure the charitable funds are properly used.”

Second Uncle: “…”

Grandfather continued, “I still hold 40% of the group’s shares.”

At this, all eyes focused back on him.

Grandfather opened another file. “From this 40%, I’ll transfer 10% into LuShi Trust. Your eldest brother will manage it as the chairman of the board. All four families will be beneficiaries of the trust. The division of shares will be explained by the lawyers.” He was distributing the assets early, but he retained absolute control over the family trust during his lifetime. Otherwise, these ungrateful descendants wouldn’t take him seriously.

Lu Jianliang was somewhat content with managing the LuShi Trust and his father’s decision.

Xu Zhiyi glanced between Grandpa and Lu Jianliang.

Second Uncle scoffed, “Favoritism at its finest.”

Grandfather owned three family trust companies, each with professional teams managing different business areas. Currently, LuShi Trust had the largest capital and the most diverse investments. By injecting another 10% of the group’s shares into it, the other two trusts paled in comparison.

Father had handed LuShi Trust to the eldest brother, while all Second Uncle got was a charity. Favoritism had never been so blatant.

“Dad, this isn’t fair.”

Grandfather responded, “Is there anything in this world that’s fair? Name one thing.”

Second Uncle opened his mouth, but seeing that there were still massive overseas assets and 30% of the shares yet to be distributed, he decided to hold his tongue. He had learned from past mistakes not to provoke his father.

Grandfather continued, “All my overseas assets will be transferred into LuGang Trust, managed by—”

Before he could finish, Lu Jianliang interrupted, “Dad, are you planning not to divide any of it? Putting everything into trusts?”

Second Uncle added, “At least divide some of it.”

Grandfather’s gaze turned to his eldest son, his eyes calm and unwavering.

He had never looked at anyone this way before, and it made Lu Jianliang uneasy.

After a long pause, Grandfather asked, “Weren’t the previous two divisions enough?”

Lu Jianliang faltered, his confidence wavering. “Not much.”

Grandfather replied, “If anyone interrupts me again, the gift will be revoked.”

His words carried an unspoken authority.

The room fell silent. No one dared to speak.

Xu Zhiyi leaned in and whispered to Jiang Sixun, “Would he really revoke it?”

Jiang Sixun answered, “He’s done it before. During the first division, my second uncle was dissatisfied, and Grandpa revoked a third of his share.”

Xu Zhiyi was speechless.

No wonder they were all too afraid to defy him openly.

Grandfather resumed, “LuGang Trust will be managed by the fourth son, responsible for global investments.”

“What?!”

“Why?!”

Lu Jianliang and Second Uncle both shouted in unison.

Though they didn’t technically interrupt, they were clearly expressing their discontent. Their thoughts were perfectly aligned.

Lu Jianliang said, “I don’t agree.”

Grandfather replied, “You don’t agree? Fine. Then you manage LuGang Trust and handle the global investments, and your fourth brother will take over LuShi Trust.”

He glanced at his watch. “You have two minutes to decide.”

“Hmph.”

Lu Jianliang clenched his glass, veins bulging on his hand.

His father had calculated that he wouldn’t give up the 10% of the group’s shares, and indeed, he couldn’t bear to part with them.

Second Uncle proposed, “Dad, I’ll switch with my fourth brother.”

Finally, Lu Jianbo spoke up, his voice devoid of emotion. “You think I’m dead? You can switch just like that?”

Lu Jianliang looked up and responded firmly, “No need to make it sound so harsh.”

Lu Jianbo met his elder brother’s cold, calculating gaze. “I can say something even harsher, want to hear it?”

Their father sipped warm water to soothe his throat. “Your two minutes are up. Are you switching or not?” He looked straight at the eldest son.

Lu Jianliang stayed silent.

He couldn’t let go of LuShi Trust, which was the largest in scale. But now, the overseas assets being poured into LuGang Trust made it just as tempting.

Second Uncle was irritated. “Why are you dividing it like this, Dad?”

Grandfather replied sharply, “Because your fourth brother has thirty years of investment experience. Because he’s the most conscientious and responsible of you all. The trust’s wealth in his hands will be preserved for generations. Your great-grandchildren and beyond will benefit. Even if you squander your own wealth, they’ll still have something to live on. Is that reason enough?”

Second Uncle fell silent, unable to argue.

Jiang Sixun turned to his father. “Congratulations, it looks like your dad finally sees you.”

Lu Jianbo: “…”

The rebellious son didn’t bother to lower his voice, and everyone at the table heard him.

Grandfather continued, “The company will be managed by the third son, with Kaichi assisting him. The two of you won’t have any other roles.” Then, he moved on to the smallest of the family’s trust companies. “Kaijing, Kaizhou, Kaiyue, the three of you will handle this one. Learn from the professional team and see if you can grow the wealth over the next two years.”

Xu Zhiyi glanced at the three cousins across the table—two of them were the sons of the second and third uncles, all about her age.

As Grandfather closed the folder and passed it to his grandchildren, she couldn’t help but think how easily others gained wealth and management rights, while Jiang Sixun had spent six years meticulously planning for control of the group, even sacrificing much of his own interests in exchange.

She leaned over to comfort Jiang Sixun, “What your uncle gets is as good as yours.”

Now, only 30% of the shares remained. Lu Jianliang thought that surely this portion wouldn’t go into a trust, and it would be divided among the family.

Split equally between the four families?

He was the first to disagree with that idea. His family had four children, while the fourth son’s family only had one. Second and third uncles wouldn’t agree to an equal split either; they each had three children. If the shares were divided into four equal parts, they would be at a disadvantage too.

Under the intense gaze of everyone at the table, Grandfather spoke again. “I won’t be dividing the remaining shares. All 30% will go to Sixun.”

“Dad, are you out of your mind?” Lu Jianliang shot up, his chair scraping loudly as it fell over with a crash.

“Dad!” Lu Kaijing quickly grabbed her father, fearing he’d do something unforgivable.

“Lu Kaijing! You traitor!” Lu Jianliang shook off his daughter’s hand in anger.

But Grandfather remained unmoved. “Kaijing, let him go. Let him come here.”

Lu Jianliang wouldn’t dare to physically confront his father. After all, there were bodyguards stationed nearby. If he made a move, he wouldn’t make it out of the room.

Seething, he spat, “You’re giving all 30% of the shares to Jiang Sixun?” He let out a bitter laugh. “You’ve taken favoritism to new heights!”

Second Uncle chimed in, “Dad, if you go through with this, this will be my last time coming home.”

Grandfather looked around the table. “If anyone has an issue, speak now. If you’re dissatisfied, get lost! And hand back everything I gave you before. If it’s really your last time, make sure you remember that.”

Second Uncle went silent immediately.

Grandfather turned to his eldest son. “Do you have any idea how much I’ve given you over the years?”

Lu Jianliang suddenly wasn’t sure what his father was implying.

Grandfather nodded to the lawyer. “Show him the breakdown you prepared, and check if it’s accurate.”

Not just Lu Jianliang, but Second and Third Uncle were also handed a detailed summary of the assets they’d received.

Grandfather said calmly, “Everything I’ve given you over the years, I’ve kept track of. What your fourth brother has gotten is barely a fraction. So yes, I’m giving Jiang Sixun the 30% shares. It’s more than you’ve received, but only a bit more. If you want to talk about loyalty, Jiang Sixun is the only one who’s shown me any.”

Under the table, Xu Zhiyi squeezed Jiang Sixun’s hand and raised an eyebrow playfully. “Finally, you’re the favorite.”

Jiang Sixun gripped her hand, smiling quietly.