Chapter 21: Let Him Get Lost

Even Zhong Hejing, who had seen her fair share of storms, was struggling to control her expression. She vaguely felt that she might have greatly misunderstood every member of the Lu Family.

If Lu Xuan really had such a brain, then indeed, no one could figure him out.

Perhaps it was because the expressions of those around him were too shocking that Lu Xuan also calmed down slightly from his rage, realizing that there were others present.

It was all Lu Jinzhi’s fault.

He adjusted his sunglasses and picked up his idol persona again, remaining silent, unwilling to embarrass himself in front of outsiders.

Qiao Wu gave him an out: “We’ll talk later. I’ll see the guests out first, and you can drive the car to the garage.”

The only response she got was Lu Xuan’s silent back.

As the Porsche sped away again, Zhong Hejing had already composed her expression, but her worldview had been turned upside down.

After seeing the guests off, Qiao Wu arrived at the main house to find Lu Xuan sitting on the sofa with a gloomy expression.

“Don’t try to fool me,” he had already realized. “I don’t even have money for food now.”

Forget about proving himself; even if he wanted to rob, he would need money to buy equipment, and driving to the bank would take time!

He took off his sunglasses and pointed at his face: “Do you know how much it costs to maintain this face?”

Due to work, he was often away and couldn’t use the family’s beauty room, so of course, he had to spend money.

After listening to him, Qiao Wu stepped forward and looked at his face as if admiring a piece of art. Indeed, there was nothing to criticize.

“I know.”

It was only right to spend a little more money on this face.

“Worth it,” she nodded in agreement.

Lu Xuan felt a bit uncomfortable under her direct gaze and turned his head away: “What are you looking at? Did you pay for it?”

In fact, Qiao Wu was just a bit nearsighted, so she naturally had to focus her gaze when looking at someone.

Unaware of Lu Xuan’s discomfort, she stood in front of him and said gently, “How about this, let’s make a deal?”

“A deal?”

She couldn’t really have any ideas about his face, could she?!

Lu Xuan instinctively sat up straight.

“You should know your brother’s temper better than I do. He won’t give you the money.”

Lu Xuan frowned.

So it would be more reasonable to assassinate him.

Qiao Wu continued, “But I can give it to you.”

Lu Xuan suddenly looked up, his gaze becoming very complex.

Seeing his lips move slightly as if struggling with something, Qiao Wu patiently waited, then heard him say, “GS is a legitimate company.”

“Huh?”

Lu Xuan straightened his collar, his ears red as he expressed his stubbornness: “I sell my skills, not my body.”

Not even for money.

“…” She was both amused and exasperated by this fool’s logic. “Your skills aren’t worth much either.”

“So you really want me to sell my body?!”

Qiao Wu took a deep breath: “I have even less interest in your body.”

Lu Xuan didn’t like hearing that. No matter how many anti-fans he had, no one had ever criticized his looks or physique. Did Qiao Wu even know what a top-tier dish was?

He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his well-defined forearm muscles, leaned back, and propped his long legs on the table, proudly uttering two words: “No taste.”

“I can cover your daily expenses,” Qiao Wu said, unwilling to engage in such a strange topic. “This includes your clothing, food, housing, and transportation. I’ll also provide reasonable funds for necessary social engagements. How does that sound?”

In reality, it wouldn’t cost much. The daily outfits Lu Xuan needed would be delivered to his home by brands for him to choose from, or they would be custom-made. These expenses wouldn’t come out of his own pocket, as Qiao Wu had always been responsible for such basics.

As for the money Lu Xuan needed for his outings, she could certainly afford it.

But only if he spent it on the right things.

Lu Xuan hadn’t expected that just a few days ago, he was taunting her for not having enough money to buy Qiao Wu jewelry, and now she was offering to buy him jewelry instead.

Although being broke was really annoying, this feeling was novel, and he didn’t dislike it.

“So, what’s the deal?” he asked.

“Attend classes on time, work diligently, don’t break the law or act recklessly, reflect on your actions before making decisions, maintain a healthy diet, drink alcohol in moderation, and choose your friends carefully,” Qiao Wu listed, glancing at him. “Since you’re still a public figure and need to maintain your image, I’ll check your body fat percentage weekly, and you’ll need to exercise daily to stay in shape.”

Lu Xuan’s expression grew more and more twisted as he listened.

“Elementary school behavior guidelines?”

“Lu Xuan behavior guidelines,” Qiao Wu replied smoothly. “I’ll compile these into a document, along with other things you need to pay attention to, and send it to you.”

“What if I refuse?”

“Then go assassinate Lu Jinzhi,” Qiao Wu raised an eyebrow. “I’ll provide you with his flight information when he returns to the country.”

“…”

Does Lu Jinzhi know you’re this ruthless?

Damn it, why hadn’t he thought to ask Qiao Wu for her safe’s combination before?

“Are these things really that hard to do?” Qiao Wu countered. “It sounds like a lot, but it should all be quite simple and won’t harm you in any way.”

Lu Xuan couldn’t quite put it into words.

But he just felt that these rules and restrictions were very un-Lu Xuan!

Wait, but what did Qiao Wu gain from this? What kind of deal was this?

“What’s in it for you?”

“I want you to become a household name,” Qiao Wu leaned in slightly, her light eyes holding a faint smile. “Then I’ll be the Financial backer behind the big star. How cool is that?”

Lu Xuan looked up, locking eyes with her for several seconds without speaking.

“I’ve said my piece. Think it over,” Qiao Wu quickly averted her gaze. “Or you have other options—go to Lu Ning, Lu Yingchi, or your dad. They’d probably be more than willing to help you.”

What a joke! If he went to them, he’d never be able to hold his head up again!

Seeing Qiao Wu turn to leave, Lu Xuan grabbed her wrist.

The temperature at home was always just right, but her skin felt cool, a stark contrast to the heat of his palm.

Lu Xuan’s gaze lingered on the point where their skin touched, and he only let go when Qiao Wu moved, casually resting his hand on his knee, his fingers loosely curled.

“I agree,” he said.

A smile instantly appeared in Qiao Wu’s eyes as she extended her hand. “Then, a pleasant partnership.”

Lu Xuan tilted his head slightly and took her cool hand again.

“Pleasant partnership, Boss Qiao. Oh, no,” he said deliberately. “Financial backer.”

—

After returning home, Zhong Hejing didn’t say a word and began packing to move to another apartment closer to her company.

In the past, even though she had other properties, she had always lived with her parents since childhood.

Back when Zhong Ru and her husband’s relationship fell apart due to an affair and they were on the verge of divorce, a series of events caused Zhong Ru to become somewhat extreme. Over the years, she never brought up divorce again. Although they didn’t continue living together, they remained entangled in mutual resentment to this day.

During these years, her father also didn’t live at home. She lived alone with Zhong Ru, and later Zhong Min and Zhong Shixia joined them. So, Zhong Hejing couldn’t imagine anyone harboring ill intentions toward her.

The house over there was regularly cleaned by housekeepers, but there were no live-in maids or servants, and it lacked any sense of life.

Although Qiao Wu’s warning came suddenly, it was beneficial. To sever all ties with the past and investigate thoroughly, she needed a new environment—one where she was alone.

Because she trusted no one.

The next day, as soon as she stepped out, she ran into Zhong Ru, who had just returned from a business trip.

Zhong Ru glanced at her suitcase and frowned, “Where are you going?”

“The commute to the company is too far, and I don’t have the energy. I’m going to stay at the other house for a while,” Zhong Hejing replied.

This answer somewhat satisfied Zhong Ru. “Come to the study first.”

Zhong Hejing had no choice but to put down her suitcase.

When she entered the study, she saw Zhong Min was also there.

Zhong Ru sat down and took an invitation out of the drawer. “Did you know Lu Jinzhi is returning to the country?”

“Yes.”

“You used to spend a lot of time at the Lu Family and have some rapport with him,” Zhong Ru said. “This time, take Zhong Min with you. Let him meet more people and learn some etiquette, especially from Lu Jinzhi.”

As she spoke, she turned to Zhong Min. “Lu Jinzhi has already established a stable presence in the international market. Now, Lu Jiang is gradually handing over power. The Lu Family will soon be under Lu Jinzhi’s control. You can put others aside for now, but you must get Lu Jinzhi’s attention. Do you understand?”

Zhong Min had heard Lu Jinzhi’s name from many people—nothing more than the future head of the Lu Family, born with a silver spoon, a young genius who had achieved success early.

He scoffed, “You’re overestimating me. What am I to deserve his attention?”

Zhong Ru ignored his sarcasm and said calmly, “I heard you wanted to transfer Zhong Shixia to another school.”

Indeed, Zhong Ru was fully aware of everything happening at the school, but she had never intervened.

Zhong Min really didn’t want Zhong Shixia to continue studying there. The social class disparity was too great, and those people didn’t have good intentions toward his younger brother, but he had no other options.

“I don’t care what you are,” Zhong Ru said coldly. “Even if you’re a pheasant, you’ll have to dress like a phoenix now.”

She then seemed to remember something and glanced at Zhong Hejing. “Since your sister is moving out, you two should move with her. Learn from her properly.”

Zhong Hejing immediately objected, “No.”

“Why not? You’re siblings. It doesn’t matter where you live. Your house has enough space. I’ll arrange for a few people to take care of you. I don’t have much time to teach him.” Zhong Ru didn’t give her a chance to refuse. After putting down the invitation, she stood up and walked out. “If you’re not willing, then don’t leave either.”

The study door slammed shut, and the room fell silent again.

Both of their expressions were grim.

Zhong Hejing knew Zhong Ru’s character well—she always followed through on her words. If she didn’t agree to let Zhong Min move in today, she wouldn’t be able to leave the Zhong Family.

But her illness had existed before Zhong Min arrived, so it had nothing to do with the brothers. In her own territory, she was allowed to make her own decisions, which was fine.

As for these two brothers, it was best to just ignore them.

“Go pack your things,” she said.

Zhong Min instantly felt like a dog being ordered around.

He was expected to come whenever needed and leave whenever he wasn’t, with no control over where he went.

“I’m not going,” he said.

He wanted to stay here and annoy Zhong Ru.

“I don’t want to argue with you,” Zhong Hejing had little patience. She picked up the invitation on the table, “Can’t you be a bit more mature?”

“Do you even see me as a human being?” Zhong Min shouted angrily, “I said I don’t want to go!”

“I’ll give you five minutes. If you can convince Mom, then you don’t have to go,” Zhong Hejing said, “But I have to leave. If you get in my way, don’t blame me for being harsh.”

Zhong Min slammed the door and left.

Zhong Hejing returned to her room and waited for five minutes. When the time was up and Zhong Min hadn’t returned, she knew the answer.

She called the bodyguards, picked up her luggage, and went to the garage first.

Five minutes later, the bodyguards stuffed Zhong Min and Zhong Shixia, both tied up, into the back of the car.

Zhong Hejing didn’t want to sit with them; it would surely be too noisy and irritating.

She suddenly remembered Lu Yingchi and Lu Xuan from the Lu Family, as well as Lu Ning from that day at school.

These people were once the talk of the town as the worthless sons of a rich family. Although many didn’t dare to say it openly, they secretly enjoyed watching the Lu Family’s misfortunes.

Many were even eyeing the Lu Family’s wealth.

They took pleasure in seeing the Lu brothers, who were like mud that couldn’t be helped onto a wall. Lu Jiang had always been at odds with his sons, even driving his second son to stay abroad for two years without returning.

If the Lu Family ever truly fell apart, it would be devoured by those who had long been lurking in the shadows.

Though it was shameful, Zhong Hejing had once been one of those people.

But now she felt that the Lu Family was different from before.

Although Lu Yingchi and Lu Xuan seemed… not very bright and unfit for major responsibilities, at least they were more obedient than the people in the car behind her.

Qiao Wu was just a housekeeper. How did she manage it?

—

Three days later, Qiao Wu received a call from Zhong Hejing, who invited her for afternoon tea.

When she arrived at the address, she saw an even more haggard Zhong Hejing.

It was just a large apartment, quiet and empty. Zhong Hejing’s frail figure stood in the middle, looking very small. She smiled, “Sit, I’ll get you some water.”

“I’ll drink if I’m thirsty,” Qiao Wu sat down beside her, “You seem to have reached a conclusion.”

This time, Zhong Hejing didn’t beat around the bush but nodded directly, “You’re right, there is indeed a problem.”

Actually, such private matters shouldn’t be discussed with Qiao Wu, who had just reconnected with her and wasn’t yet very familiar.

But when the results came out, Zhong Hejing spent a long time alone and realized there was no one around her she could trust, not even her mother.

Only Qiao Wu, who had once warned her.

She thought about it—even if Qiao Wu had ulterior motives, what could the Zhong Family offer the Lu Family now?

Compared to her life, nothing else mattered.

So she made the only call to Qiao Wu.

 She took out several boxes of medicine and placed them on the table, letting out a bitter laugh. “From health supplements to the medicine I’ve been taking, none of it was normal.”

That was the home she had lived in since childhood.

After leaving home, she temporarily stopped taking the medication and sent everything she usually consumed for testing. These past few days, she hadn’t eaten anything from the Zhong family.

“If it were an outsider, I could understand,” she said. “But I can’t figure out who it could be.”

Zhong Ru wouldn’t want her to fall ill. At the very least, she was easier to control than the now disobedient Zhong Min.

“It’s actually quite easy to guess,” Qiao Wu said. “There were issues even before Zhong Min came back. So, if you and Zhong Min were out of the picture, who would be the ultimate beneficiary? Who could quietly get close to you? You should have the answer.”

Zhong Hejing’s throat felt dry, but no words came out. Her eyes gradually reddened.

How could she not have guessed? She knew the moment she got the results.

But no matter what, he was still her father.

Even if they didn’t live under the same roof, even if he had major conflicts with Zhong Ru, he had never once spoken harshly to her.

That’s why she didn’t want to consider this possibility, and there was no one she could talk to about it.

Qiao Wu didn’t press further and instead asked, “Are there any side effects now that you’ve stopped taking it?”

“Years of accumulation will take years to recover from.”

She still couldn’t handle too much stress or overexert herself. After all, it wasn’t an illness at first, but it had been dragged into one now.

“As long as you can recover, that’s what matters,” Qiao Wu nodded. “As long as you’re alive, there’s nothing you can’t overcome.”

Zhong Hejing lowered her gaze. Thick folders still lay on the table, filled with annotations she had made for Zhong Min to review.

Her face was pale. “It’s not that simple.”

She was too lost now. If it were a competitor, a stranger, she could have sent them to prison by now.

But why did it have to be her father?

Zhong Hejing had never imagined that the greatest enemy in her life wouldn’t be in the business world but within her own home.

Her mother ignored her health and wishes, forcing her and Zhong Min together.

Her father, at some point, had started wanting her life.

Her brother, who had stormed out the day he returned and hadn’t come back since.

Zhong Hejing felt like her entire life was a tangled mess.

“What should I do?” she murmured.

Qiao Wu responded almost without hesitation. “You need to survive.”

Zhong Hejing instinctively looked at her, just as she had once sought guidance from those she admired, trying to find some direction in her own life.

“You might have thought about giving up,” Qiao Wu said with a faint smile.

It was true.

She had thought about it more than once.

“Because of the medicine, or the pressure?”

“Both,” Zhong Hejing admitted honestly.

Qiao Wu’s voice was calm. “The pressure was given to you by others. They’re the ones trying to harm you. Why should you bear it and throw away your life? Wouldn’t that just make them happy?”

From the moment they met until now, every side of Qiao Wu that Zhong Hejing had seen was composed and in control.

Only now did Qiao Wu seem to show a hint of clear displeasure.

“Living isn’t exactly easy right now,” Zhong Hejing forced a smile.

“Because of yourself?”

“Because…” Zhong Hejing was stumped.

“If there were no pressures, no illness, what would you do?”

Zhong Hejing thought for a moment: “Study and work like an ordinary person.”

That’s all.

Perhaps she would also have a hobby of her own, and then meet friends for meals, drinks, and travel on weekends.

“So if it’s not your own fault, why bother with these things?” Qiao Wu glanced at the documents on the table. “The premise of responsibility is that the other party also has a responsibility towards you, isn’t it? If not, then why should you? Ordinary blood is only worth 200 yuan for 10 units. Calculate how much your blood is worth? You share 99% of your genes with a chimpanzee, why care about the less than 1% difference?”

Zhong Hejing: “…”

Why did she feel like she had just been doused with a bucket of cold water?

Qiao Wu: “I don’t persuade people to live, because it’s too foolish to advise without experiencing what they’ve been through. But I also think it’s equally foolish not to want to live because others make you suffer. If others don’t let me live, I won’t let them live either.”

As she spoke, she suddenly reached out and overturned the documents on the table, scattering them all over.

Zhong Hejing’s eyelid twitched.

Qiao Wu looked at her: “See, the world didn’t explode, did it?”

Zhong Hejing just stared blankly at Qiao Wu, watching her actions.

But at the moment the documents fell, her heart suddenly skipped a beat, as if a heavy stone that had been pressing on her heart for many years had finally fallen.

Qiao Wu suddenly thought of Zhong Ru’s little tricks in the past and asked with a smile: “If according to your mother’s plan, if you were healthy, you would try to please Lu Jinzhi and find a way to marry him. Would you be willing to do that?”

Marry Lu Jinzhi? That’s crazy.

Although he is rich, handsome, and very capable.

But honestly, in the eyes of a genius like Lu Jinzhi, everyone is trash, and his words are so venomous that he could poison himself just by licking his lips.

She really resisted the idea.

“No,” she said.

Hearing this answer, Qiao Wu didn’t say anything more, leaving the rest for Zhong Hejing to think about herself.

Perhaps because she had walked through the gates of death once, or perhaps because Qiao Wu’s words were too direct and hit the nail on the head, Zhong Hejing had now emerged from her initial chaos and began to sort out the things around her.

She was born into the Zhong family, and both her education and experiences surpassed those of ordinary people. Talking about being an ordinary person going to work was unrealistic.

When her health was good, the affairs of the company didn’t weigh her down. What she truly disliked was the lifelong suppression from Zhong Ru and the toxic family environment she had grown up in.

In the past, because they were her parents, she had endured it over and over again.

But that day, when she mentioned moving out, Zhong Ru only instructed her about Zhong Min, showing no concern for her health.

If Zhong Min were to be groomed into a capable successor, would she then become completely useless to Zhong Ru?

Originally, she had intended to leave Zhong Ru with some semblance of a lifeline before her death.

But now, she had no lifeline left.

As for Zhong Min, in a way, he was also a victim. If he had obediently stayed in the Zhong family and followed the rules, she wouldn’t have minded giving him shares in the company and letting him inherit the family wealth alongside her.

However, now this victim was projecting the harm he had suffered onto her, and she was growing increasingly impatient.

Zhong Hejing stood up, poured a glass of water, and placed it in front of Qiao Wu. “There’s something I’d like to ask your advice on.”

Qiao Wu took the glass. “Go ahead.”

“Although I’ve thought through some things, I’m well aware of the kind of person I am,” Zhong Hejing said, sitting down beside her with complete candor. “A profit-driven businesswoman. While I’m not a heartless villain, my heart isn’t exactly pure, nor am I particularly magnanimous.”

“Having lived with my parents for so many years, I’ve developed my own way of making decisions. But there are two exceptions in the family.” She paused. “You probably have a general understanding of the Zhong family’s situation. Originally, Zhong Ru brought Zhong Min back because I was dying. In reality, Zhong Ru doesn’t approve of him, and he doesn’t want to stay in the Zhong family either. He’s unwilling to be threatened by Zhong Ru, and as for my relationship with him—it’s practically nonexistent. So, I’m at a loss.”

She asked, “If it were you, what would you do?”

In Zhong Hejing’s memory, Qiao Wu had always been adept at handling the Lu family members, and now she found herself even more impressed by her.

Qiao Wu was currently the Housekeeper of the Lu family, so she should have more experience than Zhong Hejing in dealing with family matters.

Just as Zhong Hejing finished speaking, the sound of a fingerprint unlocking the door echoed from the entrance. With a click, the door opened.

Zhong Min, the one with whom Zhong Hejing had no emotional connection, stood at the doorway.

Perhaps he hadn’t expected anyone else to be home, as the displeasure and hostility on his face momentarily slipped through, directly meeting Qiao Wu’s gaze.

Zhong Min hadn’t expected Qiao Wu to be here. This person, who also carried an air of superiority that he disliked, was somewhat unique. The image of Qiao Wu effortlessly pinning down a burly man with one hand was still vivid in his mind. He was so stunned that he even forgot to change his shoes.

But Qiao Wu merely glanced at the door and then looked away, as if she hadn’t noticed anyone returning.

“If it were me, since he doesn’t want to stay here,” she said, taking a sip of water and smiling gently at Zhong Hejing, her voice calm and clear.

“Then let him get out.”

The word “out” was emphasized slightly, and though she hadn’t named anyone, Zhong Min, who had just stepped inside, instinctively felt it was directed at him.

And for no reason, he shivered.