Chapter 11: Equal Distribution of Favor

Lu Xuan was completely drunk, and Wang Ran, too embarrassed to stay any longer, left in a hurry without even bothering about Liao Liao.

Lu Xuan, leaning on her shoulder, was mumbling incoherently. Worried that he might feel uncomfortable in the car later, Qiao Wu first asked a waiter for a glass of honey water.

Those familiar with Lu Xuan’s temperament in the circle knew that he was most manageable when drunk—just a little coaxing, and he would invest. That’s why so many people wanted to get him drunk.

But even though he was drunk now, no one dared to approach him, all because of that “assistant” by his side.

With a “Big Dog” hanging on her shoulder, she leaned leisurely on the sofa, flipping through her tablet, occasionally responding to the clingy Lu Xuan. Her every move was elegant yet imposing, noble yet unapproachable, as if she were the main character here.

Some wanted to step forward, but as soon as she cast a casual glance their way, their feet froze.

It was as if she were someone they couldn’t possibly handle or reach.

Qiao Wu didn’t care about the looks people around her were giving her. While waiting for the honey water, she continued to select a suitable agent for Lu Xuan.

Liao Liao stood still in place, openly staring at the person on the sofa for a long time. Unfortunately, the other party didn’t seem to care and didn’t notice her again. Yet, she inexplicably had a strong delusion, wanting to have a place in the other’s eyes, to have some sense of existence.

“Sister.”

Qiao Wu nodded slightly, “Hmm?”

“Thank you,” Liao Liao said softly.

Every time she was in a mess, it was this sister who helped her out. She was very grateful.

“Hmm.”

Liao Liao tentatively said, “I’ve washed the clothes from last time and sent them to the dry cleaners.”

Qiao Wu had long forgotten about that piece of clothing. She was used to people wearing various masks, so the anxiety in Liao Liao’s eyes was not lost on her.

She smiled, “What is it?”

Liao Liao was dazzled by the smile on the other’s lips. She had just entered society and had never seen such a radiant person, someone she aspired to become.

Even though she had been rejected last time, she mustered up the courage, “Can I have your phone number? I want to invite you to dinner, no other intentions, just simply want to get to know you!”

Qiao Wu was somewhat surprised.

To be honest, she didn’t have a deep impression of Liao Liao. After all, she had seen too many people more outstanding, beautiful, and wealthy than Liao Liao. The so-called heroine didn’t hold in her eyes.

But she always admired those with courage.

Only now did she truly start to pay attention to the girl in front of her—indeed clean, speaking without beating around the bush.

In Qiao Wu’s limited free life, apart from the Lu Family, she didn’t have any other close relationships. So, when she met someone she didn’t dislike, she didn’t mind developing a connection.

She took out her phone, “Qiao Wu.”

Liao Liao’s eyes lit up immediately, and she hurriedly stepped forward to add the contact, sending her name over, “Sister Qiao!”

Seeing her type “Sister Qiao” on the screen, Qiao Wu’s eyes curved into a smile, “Don’t apply the survivor bias to yourself. Not every time will someone appear when you need them. Only you are worth believing in.”

Liao Liao wasn’t a fool; she knew this was advice. Blushing, she nodded, “I will be more careful in the future.”

Having made her point, Qiao Wu didn’t say more.

Seeing someone talking to Qiao Wu, a few bolder individuals quietly approached, but no one dared to offer her alcohol. Anyone who smelled strongly of alcohol would find themselves kicked out by the unconscious Teacher Lu, who seemed to have an alcohol tester installed, even with his eyes closed. He was fiercely protective.

Qiao Wu didn’t stay long either. Once Lu Xuan’s condition improved a bit, she took him home first, instructing someone to take him upstairs. She then planned to listen to the servants’ report on the day’s events at home and arrange the important matters for the next day before returning to the villa.

As she walked through the corridor on the first floor, she felt as if something was watching her.

Barely concealed.

She turned her head and came face to face with a large horse’s head.

Followed by a pair of sturdy long legs.

“Oh, you’re back.”

Lu Yingchi was riding a tall black horse against the light, his arrogant features wearing a sarcastic smile.

Qiao Wu reached out to smooth the horse’s mane, helplessly asking, “Who let you ride in the garden?”

The Lu Residence was vast, with its own equestrian field and stables.

Lu Yingchi’s Friesian horse was a birthday gift he had asked for when he was five. Now thirteen years old, the horse had grown tall and strong, its coat glossy and magnificent.

Lu Yingchi petulantly moved the horse’s head away, “Don’t touch my Princess!”

No one knew why he insisted on calling a stallion “Princess.”

“How childish,” Qiao Wu pointed to the courtyard gate, “Take Princess back, or I’ll do it myself.”

The garden was tended by a dedicated gardener, and many of the flowers were precious, mainly expensive.

“Why do you care so much?” Lu Yingchi rode the horse slowly around her, sneering, “Isn’t managing Lu Xuan enough?”

As far as Qiao Wu knew, Lu Xuan hadn’t been back for a long time, and they hadn’t even met today. How did this conflict with the young master arise?

She wondered, “What did Lu Xuan do to you?”

“Don’t think I don’t know. When I went out drinking, you poured alcohol all over me. When he drank, you helped him back and even gave him hangover soup.” Lu Yingchi grew angrier as he spoke, leaning forward slightly, wishing Princess would kick her, “And you were so eager to go out with him. What do you take me for!”

Qiao Wu was momentarily stunned.

Seeing her reaction, Lu Yingchi knew he had guessed correctly. Since childhood, Lu Xuan had bullied him for being younger and competed with him for Qiao Wu’s attention, even excluding him from homework sessions.

And all that talk about being most loyal to him? Utter nonsense!

No wonder she was so harsh on him, wielding sabers and ghosts.

But with Lu Xuan, she was so attentive. He had seen it all!

She clearly knew how much he hated Lu Xuan.

Lu Yingchi wanted Princess to trample over her face, but he held back in the end, coldly saying, “Qiao Wu, from now on, don’t think you can control me! If I listen to another word from you, I’m a dog!”

Tomorrow he would dismantle the Morning Alarm, and he’d dismantle it every time it was repaired! He’d also hide the keys by the door.

Ahhhhh!

He had even secretly told her where he hid his keys before!

This heartless woman! She deserves to be struck by lightning!

Qiao Wu was getting a headache from his constant swearing. These two brothers were quite in sync, both fixated on this so-called first priority.

She sighed, “Stop swearing. Look at what Lu Ning has learned from you.”

“Oh, I forgot, there’s also Lu Ning.”

Damn it, even angrier now!

Qiao Wu chuckled, “I didn’t take you for anything.”

“Fine, not even pretending anymore,” Lu Yingchi said through gritted teeth. “Still not taking me seriously.”

“…I meant, you’re family.”

Princess, the horse, was yanked fiercely by the enraged Lu Yingchi, almost pulling out her mane: “I wonder how many people are in your family, Butler Qiao?”

Noticing Princess’s discomfort and restlessness, Lu Yingchi eased his grip and lifted his chin arrogantly: “Anyway, I don’t care, and don’t think too highly of yourself. I couldn’t care less about who you’re close to. I just don’t like being deceived.”

“I didn’t deceive you,” Qiao Wu said, handing him a box. “Look, I brought you a gift.”

Lu Yingchi, who was about to leave, suddenly stopped and looked down: “As if I care.”

“Alright,” Qiao Wu didn’t indulge his stubbornness and withdrew her hand. “Then I’ll give it to Lu Xuan.”

“Come back!” Lu Yingchi immediately dismounted and snatched the box from her hands. “If it’s for me, then it’s for me! I’d rather throw it away than give it to him!”

Qiao Wu: “You wasteful thing, be gentle!”

Gentle was out of the question. Afraid the item might fall into Lu Xuan’s hands, Lu Yingchi quickly opened it and froze when he saw what was inside.

Inside the box was a limited edition, diamond-encrusted figurine, perfectly packaged.

There was no way this was meant for Lu Xuan. That dog wouldn’t appreciate something so valuable!

He sharply turned his head, his deep gaze fixed on Qiao Wu as if trying to see through her.

She leaned against a garden pillar, smiling: “Alright, throw it away.”

“…”

Lu Yingchi carefully closed the box. “I don’t need you to tell me. I’ll find a place to throw it.”

He turned around, holding the box, and led the horse: “Princess, let’s go!”

They hadn’t gone far when a deafening alarm suddenly blared above them. Security guards from every corner instantly mobilized, rushing toward the main house.

Qiao Wu straightened up immediately. Princess, startled by the alarm, broke free from Lu Yingchi and reared up.

Lu Yingchi reacted swiftly, pulling the reins forward, but his body was still flung ninety degrees.

He was about to mount the horse, but slowed down because he was holding something. Suddenly, a shadow flashed before his eyes.

Qiao Wu smoothly mounted the horse, took the reins from his hands, leaned forward, and pressed tightly against Princess, gradually bringing the out-of-control horse back into a smaller circle.

Just then, the alarm suddenly stopped.

Once Princess calmed down, Qiao Wu lowered her head, breathing heavily, her voice deep: “Are you okay?”

Their positions had switched, and Lu Yingchi realized how he had been looking down at her moments ago.

With a kind of intimidating superiority and overwhelming pressure.

“Yeah,” he blinked slowly, averting his gaze. “Let’s go check it out.”

Qiao Wu called a security guard to watch over Princess and hurried into the main house with Lu Yingchi.

In all these years, the Lu Residence had never experienced such a situation. The house was now brightly lit, and many security guards had gathered downstairs. Lu Ning, startled awake, sat on the sofa clutching a doll, clearly still in shock.

As Qiao Wu and Lu Yingchi arrived, the security captain stepped out of the elevator. He pushed through the crowd, his expression complicated: “Little Qiao Butler, Fourth Young Master, you’re just in time!”

“What’s going on?” Qiao Wu asked.

“It’s that…” The security captain hesitated, looking up at the sky and then down at the ground. “The Third Young Master… he entered the Old Man’s study.”

Qiao Wu: “?”

Lu Yingchi: “???”

“The Third Young Master won’t let anyone touch him,” the security captain stammered. “There are many valuable items in the study, and we’re worried he might break something. We didn’t dare act rashly, so we had some people come down first. The situation is special, and I haven’t informed the Old Man yet. Maybe you two should go up and take a look?”

Qiao Wu suddenly felt an ominous premonition. She quickly got into the elevator and pressed the button for Lu Jiang’s floor.

Lu Yingchi and Lu Ning squeezed in at the last moment, their eyes gleaming with a strange light.

Ha, Lu Xuan had caused trouble.

Whoever missed this spectacle would be an idiot!

“I told you he’s not a good person,” Lu Yingchi seized the opportunity to stir the pot. “He gets carried away after a few drinks, completely lacking composure.”

Unlike him, who drank quietly and calmly.

Qiao Wu could hear the schadenfreude in his voice: “You’re so composed that a group of nameless people can drink hundreds of thousands worth of your liquor in one night.”

Lu Yingchi’s face immediately fell: “Are you scolding me for him? Qiao Wu, get this straight, I’m not the one causing trouble here!”

At this, he remembered something and called the servants downstairs: “Go to the wine cellar and bring up a bottle of wine.”

After a pause, he added: “Bring the cheapest one.”

After hanging up, he locked his gaze on Qiao Wu and said darkly: “You’d better treat everyone equally, or I’ll personally pour the wine down his throat.”

Qiao Wu: “Childish.”

The top floor was entirely Lu Jiang’s rooms, with the study set apart, just around the corner.

When they arrived, the security guards had surrounded Lu Xuan, at a loss for what to do.

Seeing Qiao Wu and Lu Yingchi, they made way, revealing Lu Xuan sitting on the carpet, still “hard at work” trying to crack the safe.

Qiao Wu’s forehead twitched: “Lu Xuan.”

Hearing her voice, Lu Xuan looked up. He hadn’t changed his clothes, his dark blue shirt half-buttoned, his hair disheveled. With a dazed look, he made a shushing gesture: “I haven’t figured out the Old Man’s password yet.”

“…”

Of course.

Lu Yingchi, unaware of the underlying issue, rushed forward, grabbed Lu Xuan by the collar, and yanked him up, furious: “You unfilial son! What are you doing opening the Old Man’s safe?”

As he walked over, he made sure to place the gift box he was carrying far away.

Lu Xuan squinted, probably trying to figure out who was in front of him.

Realizing it was Lu Yingchi, he clicked his tongue and slapped his hand away, frowning: “How much did you get?”

“What?”

“How much did you get from the Old Man’s will?”

Will?

Lu Yingchi was confused: “He made a will?”

Such a big thing and he wasn’t informed?!

No wonder he took Lu Ning aside this morning!

Lu Yingchi took a deep breath, walked around Lu Xuan, and crouched down behind him with practiced ease: “How many passwords have you tried? Did you try the Old Man’s birthday? What about Mom’s?”

“You didn’t get anything either?” Lu Xuan was shocked.

“How the hell would I know!”

Lu Ning, holding a phone that was recording, had originally planned to capture Lu Xuan’s misdeeds to replace her “thank you” Morning Alarm, but she hadn’t expected to catch this.

She looked up at Qiao Wu, equally bewildered: “I just took a nap. Did something big happen outside?”

Qiao Wu pinched her mouth shut: “Alright, stop talking.”

If the Old Master were here, he would probably be so furious that he’d pass out.

She looked at the two pigs who were bent over, struggling with the safe, and kicked them from behind in frustration, coldly scolding, “Let go of your paws!”

The two of them froze in unison.

“You have one minute to restore everything here to its original state,” she pressed down on their shoulders, word by word, “and then go downstairs.”

Three minutes later, Lu Yingchi and Lu Xuan were sitting on the sofa, while Qiao Wu stood in front of them with her arms crossed. Lu Ning sat on the other end, secretly recording the scene with her phone, afraid to miss such a dramatic moment.

The servants had already brought sobering medicine for Lu Xuan, and even Lu Yingchi had sobered up quite a bit, hanging his head in guilt.

Qiao Wu dismissed the others, not wanting the two young masters to feel embarrassed when they fully regained their senses.

“He was drunk, and so were you?” She shot a glare at Lu Yingchi. “Causing trouble together.”

Lu Yingchi, who had acted impulsively, now muttered weakly, “How was I supposed to know…”

He had never seen anyone get drunk and try to crack open a safe. What a criminal hobby.

Qiao Wu: “Tomorrow, go apologize to your father.”

Lu Yingchi immediately shook his head: “No!”

“Lu Yingchi,” Qiao Wu’s gaze swept down, her tone calm but firm, “Have you not learned what responsibility means after growing up this much? All you know is acting on impulse? Whether the Old Master has made a will or not, even if he has, with your current attitude, even if he doesn’t leave you a share, what right do you have to question it?”

Lu Yingchi’s back stiffened.

“You recklessly tried to break into the safe without considering his feelings. What are you relying on?”

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Even Lu Ning quietly put down her phone.

Lu Yingchi remained silent for a long time because he had never seriously thought about this question.

Qiao Wu knew he had been misled by “certain people” for too long, and no one had guided him properly, so she softened her tone: “Will you listen now?”

Lu Yingchi’s fingers twitched slightly.

“Mm.”

In the midst of the serious atmosphere, only one person stood out as out of place.

Lu Xuan, unable to read the room, wondered why Qiao Wu had spoken so much without it being his turn.

He took the initiative, pulled out his phone, and dialed a number he hadn’t called in years, thinking to himself: Apologizing isn’t hard. Just wait, I’ll call the Old Man right now!

In the middle of the night, Lu Jiang was awakened from his sleep. Seeing the caller ID was Lu Xuan, he hung up without hesitation, patting his chest: “Just a nightmare.”

A moment later, the phone rang again. Finally more awake, he answered the call.

Before he could speak, Lu Xuan’s proud voice came through the phone: “Old Man, I just cracked open your safe! Sorry about that!”

Lu Jiang: “…”

This was worse than a nightmare!!!

Qiao Wu, caught off guard: “…”