How could he hear what was going on inside that guy's head with such crystal clarity?
Zhang Shen'er didn't leave; she leaned against the railing and said, "Well? Let's hear it."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"What is actually going on?"
Lu Chengwen gave a helpless smile. "Chasing women! I've done plenty of absurd things, one more won't hurt."
"Lu Chengwen, don't think you can pull the wool over my eyes. You may have done plenty of wicked and absurd things, but when it comes to money, you never mess around. Pouring over ten billion into chasing a woman? You would never make a loss-making deal like that. Unless that person is Leng Qingqiu or Chen Mengyun. If you, Lu Chengwen, spend ten billion, you're bound to claw back thirty billion, or even more."
"What the hell does me making a few hundred million have to do with you?"
Lu Chengwen wasn't going to pamper this woman.
Now that his phone call was finished and he didn't need anything from her anyway—since she was Long Aotian's woman anyway—why bother putting on a nice face for her?
"Oh? Xu Xuejiao made over ten billion just by helping save someone, so I can't have made that phone call for nothing, can I?"
Lu Chengwen stood up, walked back over to the railing, and looked at Zhang Shen'er without the slightest trace of fear.
"Of course you didn't do it for nothing. In a few hours, when I get out of here, I'll buy you a set of sex toys. Whenever you're feeling lonely at home, you can picture my majestic physique and get yourself straight up to the clouds with your own hands. How does that sound?"
Zhang Shen'er was so instantly enraged that her face turned pale; she gritted her teeth. "Lu Chengwen!"
"I know, I know. I'm a piece of trash."
Zhang Shen'er had Lu Chengwen locked up in a shared cell.
Two hours later, Zhang Shen'er walked up to the cell door and looked utterly astonished.
The three local thugs inside were kneeling in a row on the floor.
One of them was polishing Lu Chengwen's shoes, while the other two sat up straight. All three of them had bruised and swollen faces.
Lu Chengwen sat on a chair, leaning against the wall, resting his head on his arms and whistling.
Sometimes, Lu Chengwen really couldn't wrap his head around it.
A guy like him should have been a pillar of society, a local economic powerhouse, a successful man in everyone's eyes.
Why on earth did he have to turn out to be a villain? And a simping villain at that?
He sat atop tens of billions in assets and was highly educated.
He had scaled snow-covered mountains, skydived from ten thousand meters, and run with the bulls in Spain. He spoke four languages, held a double master's degree, and excelled at boxing, swimming, skiing, and basketball.
He was also tall and handsome. Sure, he couldn't compare to those heavily made-up pretty boys, but once you put him in a high-end suit, he exuded pure, rugged charisma and leadership presence.
Why was he such a loser, insisting on playing the simping fool, blindly fighting Long Aotian for women, only to get beaten to death by him in the end?
Even if his libido went into overdrive and he fancied romantic flings, he should have just been like Chen Moqun!
With a flick of his finger, alluring little vixens would throw themselves into his arms. He could park a supercar anywhere in the CBD, and pretty, vibrant young girls would take the initiative to come over and ask for his WeChat.
Why on earth did he have to act like his brain was flooded, spinning exclusively around those few female leads?
Zhang Shen'er looked at the three men kneeling on the floor, beside herself with fury.
"Lu Chengwen, did you beat them up?"
"Disappointed?" Lu Chengwen stood up, walked over to the railing, and smiled. "Weren't you hoping they'd beat me up when you locked me in here?"
That was indeed what Zhang Shen'er had wanted. If this guy didn't suffer a little, she wouldn't feel satisfied.
But how could these three guys be so useless? Weren't they usually super arrogant and overbearing? Three of them couldn't beat one guy?
Zhang Shen'er barked, "Did he beat you up?"
Lu Chengwen turned around and looked at the three of them. "Speak up. Did I hit you?"
The three of them hurriedly waved their hands. "No, no, no. We bumped into things ourselves."
"Yeah, we bumped into ourselves."
"Young Master Lu is a great guy—civilized, polite. He shouldn't be in prison at all! Officer, did you guys make a mistake? You can't arrest a guy as good as this!"
Lu Chengwen looked smugly at Zhang Shen'er, his little eyes practically saying: *Did you hear that?*
Fuming, Zhang Shen'er said to the duty officer, "Open the cell door and let him out."
Lu Chengwen picked up his suit jacket, draped it over his arm, and walked out proudly.
When he reached the lobby, he was utterly astonished.
The person who had come to bail him out was none other than Leng Qingqiu!
Leng Qingqiu had just finished signing her name, turned around, and saw Lu Chengwen. She smiled faintly. "Are you alright?"
"Why is it you?"
"Can't it be me?"
Zhang Shen'er's expression was ashen. She walked up to the reception desk and slammed the paperwork down onto the counter. "Sign and get out."
Lu Chengwen signed his name.
Zhang Shen'er looked at Leng Qingqiu. "Leng Qingqiu, didn't you find him unbearably annoying? Why bother bailing him out?"
"I felt like it."
Zhang Shen'er let out a cold snort. "Figures. Capitalists really are heartless."
"Watch your mouth. Even the police have to follow the law."
"Yet you know he's a piece of trash."
"I know." Leng Qingqiu's expression was indifferent. "But I don't remember any law stating that a piece of trash deserves to be shot or thrown in prison. He and Jiao Shiheng were involved in a mutual scuffle; Jiao Shiheng has already signed a statement of reconciliation, and I've paid the two-thousand-yuan fine. All you need to do is release him immediately."
Just as Zhang Shen'er was about to flare up, she laughed instead. "I heard you two are getting engaged next month? Congratulations. May all wealthy people find each other in the end."
Knowing that she was purposely trying to disgust her with her words, Leng Qingqiu simply smiled faintly. "Thanks. I heard your family is forcing you on blind dates again? The guy this time should be a normal human being, right?"
Sparks literally flew between the two women's eyes in an instant.
Leng Qingqiu had been harassed by Lu Chengwen for a full three years—it was no secret anywhere in Snow City.
And the rumors that Zhang Shen'er was constantly being forced into blind dates and running into one weirdo after another were known to many in their social circle.
Both women had their own sore spots, and neither spared the other.
Lu Chengwen was secretly thrilled inside.
*Catfights between women are always a grand show! Absolutely riveting!*
*Still, I'd better be careful. These two chicks are fiercer than each other; I shouldn't go setting myself on fire.*
*Come to think of it, you two are at each other's throats right now, but once Long Aotian rounds you all up for his harem—heh, you'll be besties.*
Standing in the back, Lu Chengwen chuckled away to himself.
Suddenly, he felt his hair stand on end. He looked up and saw both women glaring at him furiously.
Lu Chengwen hastily turned and walked away, muttering under his breath, "I need to go home. My mom's calling me home for dinner."
Inside the car.
Leng Qingqiu sat facing Lu Chengwen.
Lu Chengwen looked like a primary school student.
*Damn it, what kind of crappy business van is this? Why are the seats facing each other? Where am I supposed to look?*
*Leng Qingqiu's legs are gorgeous. Wearing black stockings, she's simply mesmerizing. I could play with these legs for a year—no, three years—no! A lifetime!*
*Too bad the skirt is a bit of an obstacle. If she hiked it up a bit, and spread her thighs a bit wider...*
Leng Qingqiu wore a stony expression, glaring coldly at Lu Chengwen as she listened to his lascivious thoughts about her. Suddenly, she snapped her legs wide apart, and Lu Chengwen almost choked.
"Looking good?" Leng Qingqiu asked, her expression unchanging and icy.
"Not... not bad..."
Leng Qingqiu adjusted her posture and sat back properly. "Tell me, how did you know Jiao Shiheng was up to something? What was your intelligence channel? Did you plant a mole in my company?"
Lu Chengwen opened his eyes wide and began to fake astonishment. "He really is up to something? Look, didn't I say today wasn't a good day for signing contracts? Fortunately, I stepped in just in time, let me tell you—"
"Lu Chengwen, do you dare tell me a single word of truth?"
"Everything I'm saying is the truth."
Lu Chengwen was still putting up a stubborn front. Even if he racked his brains, he would never guess that not a single one of his innermost thoughts could be hidden, and that the female lead had heard every last one of them loud and clear.
Leng Qingqiu asked, "Why did you suddenly decide you didn't want to marry me?"
Lu Chengwen stammered, "I suddenly realized I still like Xu Xuejiao..."
"Xu Xuejiao is not your girlfriend at all. Cut the act."
Lu Chengwen sighed. "The truth is, I don't like you."
"Then what were the past three years?"
"My bad luck."
"Then what were your sweet words and attentive care towards me?"
"Your bad luck."
"Then why did you help me today? You were willing to go to jail just to help me! And back then, did you really want to kiss me?"
Lu Chengwen looked at Leng Qingqiu and suddenly laughed. "Big sis, you really have issues. Whatever personal grudges exist between Jiao Shiheng and me are one thing; as for you, we are completely through."
Leng Qingqiu looked at Lu Chengwen. "Lu Chengwen, don't regret saying things like this."
"Whatever I, Lu Chengwen, do, I never regret."
"I'm warning you, I hold grudges. Treat me like this today, and you'll never have a chance to be with me again."
"Ha! Perfect! From now on, we'll just exchange a token greeting when we run into each other. If I say one more word to you, I'm a bastard!"
Leng Qingqiu's heart broke.
Her nose actually stung, and her eyes grew damp.
"Get out," she said quietly. "Get out of the car."
***
Leng Qingqiu was summoned back by a phone call from her parents.
"Dad, Mom."
The meal had already been prepared in the room.
"Mm, you're back," Leng Tianhao gestured. "Sit down, let's talk."
Leng Tianhao, his wife, and Leng Qingqiu sat down to eat.
Leng Tianhao's face was expressionless. It wasn't that he was unhappy; he was simply a very stern person by nature.
Today, he uncharacteristically picked up some food and placed it in Leng Qingqiu's bowl, which took her by surprise.
A warmth welled up in Leng Qingqiu's heart. "Thank you, Dad."
Leng Tianhao gave a slight smile. "I heard Lu Chengwen went to your company and caused a scene today? He messed up one of your deals?"
Leng Qingqiu nodded. "Actually, he helped me."
"Oh? How so?"
"That Jiao Shiheng is a fraud. He bribed one of my auditing vice-presidents and tampered with the audit materials. Brother Chengwen found out about this through some channel and went and beat him up."
Leng Tianhao laughed. "Jiao Shiheng... that project of his is worth over two billion, isn't it? That was a close shave! Our Leng family cannot afford to have another two billion in cash tied up right now; that would be a fatal blow to our family. This cash has to turn a profit, otherwise I'm afraid it'll be hard for us to make a comeback."
"I'm sorry, it was my fault for misjudging people." Leng Qingqiu lowered her head slightly, speaking with utmost politeness.
Leng Tianhao waved a hand. "I'm not blaming you. But even you didn't spot the problem with that project—how did Lu Chengwen find out?"
"I have no idea," Leng Qingqiu said. "He looks carefree on the surface, but actually he's meticulous. Sometimes his methods are a bit foul, so I'm not surprised he managed to pull something like this off."
Leng Tianhao nodded in agreement.
"That Lu kid is quite a figure. If he can keep a steady head in the future, he'll be someone who stirs up the winds and clouds."
Leng Tianhao continued, "You're getting engaged on the tenth of next month, so prepare yourself mentally."
Leng Qingqiu fell silent.
Leng Mother hurriedly picked up some food for Leng Tianhao to show ingratiating favor.
Leng Tianhao was the chairman. Although he had delegated power to Leng Qingqiu to act as executive CEO, the vast majority of Qianfeng Group's shares remained in his hands.
This was a fairly common management model among major families.
Therefore, in the company Leng Qingqiu held the highest authority, but at home, the big boss was always Leng Tianhao.
Leng Mother knew that Leng Qingqiu was extremely resistant to this arranged marriage, and since father and daughter both had fiery tempers and both wanted to have the final word, they had already argued about it many times.
She was very worried they would start fighting again today.
Leng Tianhao said, "Don't blame your father for being cold-hearted. The Leng family has reached the brink of life and death. Although you've done well these past few years, we've never managed to pull off a major comeback. There are too many deep-seated corporate ills. You've worked hard."
"It's not hard. I have the confidence to lead Qianfeng back to its peak."
"Mm, I believe you," Leng Tianhao said. "That's why the support of the Lu family is indispensable. You must get engaged as soon as possible. Once you become part of the Lu family, everything will be different, and the situation you face will be much easier to handle. Furthermore, the Lu family will lend a hand—at the very least, we won't have to worry about a financial collapse."
Leng Qingqiu put down her bowl and chopsticks, causing Leng Mother to instantly tense up.
"Brother Chengwen and I will not be getting engaged."
Sure enough, those words were spoken after all.
Anxious, Leng Mother immediately glanced at Leng Tianhao.
Leng Tianhao was displeased as well and put down his bowl and chopsticks.
"How many times have I taught you? Those who achieve great things do not sweat the small stuff. You are Leng Tianhao's daughter, the CEO of Qianfeng Group! Not some office clerk in a small enterprise! Do you think you can be like an ordinary person, meeting some guy at a party who wears sweatpants, loves fitness, skateboards, and listens to rock music? Marrying for so-called 'love'?"
"Your marriage concerns the survival of the enterprise, the rise and fall of the family, with hundreds or thousands of people staring at you with eager eyes. A single correct choice is more effective than struggling for thirty years. Don't you understand this logic?"
Leng Qingqiu's face was expressionless. "You misunderstand. This time, it's not that I don't agree—it's Lu Chengwen who refuses."
Both Leng Tianhao and Leng Mother were stunned.
Leng Mother blurted out, "He refuses? What's going on? He's been chasing you for three years, how could he refuse? What did you do? Did you... did you get another man and let him find out?"
"No."
"Then why?!" Leng Mother panicked. "He liked you so much, why would he suddenly refuse?"
"I don't know either."
Leng Tianhao said angrily, "Did you deliberately offend him and now you're fobbing me off with talk like this?"
"Father, is that my style of doing things?"
Leng Tianhao froze.
True enough, his daughter was not someone who liked playing petty tricks.
She was strategic when it came to major matters, but she was definitely not the type of ordinary girl full of petty schemes.
Pulling such a little stunt was indeed not Leng Qingqiu's style.
"Then what on earth is going on?"
Leng Qingqiu said, "I told you, I don't know. Right now... he hates me."
"Hates you?!"
"Yes." Leng Qingqiu felt deeply aggrieved; sad inside, she still had to control her facial expressions.
"He acts like he wishes he could stay as far away from me as possible, maintaining a stance of never crossing paths again until the day we die."
Leng Mother panicked. "How could it... turn out like this?"
Leng Tianhao said, "The day before yesterday at the Lu family estate, I thought that kid looked off. Sure enough, there's a problem."
Leng Tianhao thought for a moment. "Here's what we'll do: I'll look into this matter. As for you, take the initiative and cozy up to him. As a girl, you need to soften up a bit; you can't always put on a 'stay away from strangers' face. He has feelings for you, so it'll be easy to win him back."
Leng Qingqiu shook her head. "I'm afraid it won't be that easy. In any case, with or without the Lu family, I will lead Qianfeng back to its peak. Please rest assured, Father."
With that, Leng Qingqiu stood up and left the table.
"I've eaten my fill. You two enjoy your meal."
Watching his daughter give him attitude, Leng Tianhao suppressed his rising anger. "If you two fail to get engaged by the tenth of next month, I will call a board meeting to re-appoint the executive CEO. Freedom or career—choose for yourself."
Leng Qingqiu stood by the door for a few seconds, said not a single word, pushed the door open, and walked out.
***
After making a phone call, Lu Chengwen found out that while he was cooling his heels in the cell, Xu Xuejiao had already alleviated the condition of Jiang Shihhan's mother over there.
Upon hearing that Lu Chengwen had been taken to the police station, Jiang Shihhan had immediately wanted to bring a lawyer to bail him out, but Xu Xuejiao had stopped her.
Now the person had been saved, but unfortunately, he had been scammed out of more than ten billion by that demon Xu Xuejiao.
Finding Xu Xuejiao put Lu Chengwen in a thoroughly rotten mood.
Anyone, even the richest person in the world, would undoubtedly feel unhappy being scammed out of more than ten billion like that.
Lu Chengwen wasn't the richest person in the world; ten-odd billion was practically enough to cost the Lu family their old lives.
The Lu family's total assets didn't even exceed two hundred billion. Ten-odd billion was an astronomical figure to an ordinary person, and it was definitely a huge sum to the Lu family as well.
Fortunately, it wasn't a cash loss. If they had lost ten-odd billion in cash, the Lu family's capital chain probably would have run into trouble.
If they were only losing shares in a pharmaceutical factory, it was acceptable.
Sitting across from Xu Xuejiao in a commercial cafe, Lu Chengwen clicked his tongue in wonder.
Xu Xuejiao didn't dress remotely like the new-gen helm of a wealthy family.
Leng Qingqiu wore professional attire every day and evening gowns to events—always regal, always neat and businesslike.
Chen Mengyun preferred a more traditional look, frequently wearing *qipao* or *hanfu*; though of course, most of the time she matched Leng Qingqiu in professional attire and high-end fashion styles.
Only Xu Xuejiao was different.
She rarely interfered in business anyway, preferring to travel and take photos everywhere she went. The clothes she wore were predominantly casual, and somewhat headstrong and free-spirited.
Yesterday she had worn a JK uniform to drop by the Chen family residence; today she wore a pink girlish dress.
With her hair tied in twin ponytails and a lollipop in her mouth, Xu Xuejiao looked the part.
Her pretty pink princess dress highlighted both her youthful vitality and her innocent, carefree charm.
A pair of slender legs clad in short socks and brown casual leather shoes made her look even more playful and adorable.
Right now, she was looking smugly at Lu Chengwen.
"Sign the contract, rich boy."
Lu Chengwen pulled the contract over, read it from start to finish, and gave a bitter smile. "When the media interviews you in the future and asks you which business deal of yours was the most successful, you'd better remember this one."
"Mmhmm."
Watching Lu Chengwen carefully read through the contents of the contract, Xu Xuejiao wore an ambiguous smile.
*Hmph! I want to see what kind of excuse you'll use to fob me off this time.*
Having finished reading the contract, Lu Chengwen nodded. "No problem."
Xu Xuejiao was rather surprised. "No problem?"
"Yeah."
Lu Chengwen picked up a pen and rattled off his signature with a few swift strokes.
Then he handed the contract back to Xu Xuejiao.
Without needing to look—since she had been staring the whole time—Xu Xuejiao saw that Lu Chengwen hadn't pulled any tricks; he had genuinely signed his name and even pressed his thumbprint.
At that moment, Xu Xuejiao didn't take the contract. Instead, she stared in shock at Lu Chengwen, the impact in her heart beyond measure!
Are you kidding me?!
What kind of joke is this guy playing?!
Because of a casual remark, he really just transferred over seventeen billion in equity to me?!
Does he even know what he's doing?
In this world, not even the richest person on earth would do something this stupid!
Is this guy a lunatic, a fool, an idiot, a total moron?!