Lu Jingming despised hypocrites who pretended to be virtuous. Had it not been for the sake of his brother’s future happiness, he wouldn’t have bothered interacting with such a foolish woman.
To achieve his goal, Lu Jingming chose to overlook the stench of "green tea" emanating from Gu Ruo through the screen. He continued to play along with her, humoring her performance.
[Is it really a blessing for her to marry my brother? She grew up in the countryside and never went to college. She lacks both cultivation and worldly experience. Can she even adapt to a family like ours? When attending banquets or socializing, I’m afraid she won’t even be able to hold a conversation.]
[Besides, although my brother is disabled, his mind is as sharp as ever. He is still that brilliant, masterful Lu Jingyan in the business world. They are simply not equals. Being with him will not make your sister happy.]
Gu Ruo did not care whether Gu Qing felt wronged or would be happy. She only cared about how to ruin the engagement between Gu Qing and Lu Jingyan. She wanted to meet Lu Jingming right now to discuss how to sabotage the marriage, but she had to wait; she couldn’t appear too eager.
Having received no reply after sending his message, Lu Jingming knew Gu Ruo was playing hard to get, so he continued to lead her on.
[She lied to the outside world about graduating from a prestigious university. Being looked down upon is one thing, but if the Gu family is rumored to have used shameful tactics to marry into the Lu family, it will be your entire family that becomes the laughingstock of Beicheng.]
One had to admit, Lu Jingming knew exactly how to strike at Gu Ruo’s heart. He knew she was feigning kindness, so he offered her a way out. Sure enough, shortly after the message was sent, Gu Ruo replied.
[You’re right. My sister is timid; she will surely be bullied if she marries into the Lu family. Furthermore, our family will certainly be branded with the reputation of being unscrupulous for the sake of our goals because of her lies. If she really marries into your family, it will only bring shame upon you all.]
Lu Jingming looked at the long string of messages she sent and despised her from the bottom of his heart. *Fool. Who would dare look down on the Lu family? Who would dare laugh at us?* A second ago, she was claiming it was a blessing for Gu Qing to marry into their family, and the next, she immediately agreed with him. Judging by her attitude, she had agreed to cooperate.
Just as Lu Jingming thought this, he received another message from Gu Ruo: [Although I know this is wrong, for the sake of my sister and our family, I agree to cooperate with you.]
*Tsk.* She made it sound so reluctant, as if she were standing on the moral high ground. If Lu Jingming weren't so desperate to keep Gu Qing from marrying his brother, he wouldn't bother talking to a person like her.
Lu Jingming let out a cold snort and replied: [You really are kind.]
Upon seeing this, Gu Ruo couldn't help but blush. Was Lu Jingming complimenting her? Throughout her life, many had praised her, but never a man of Lu Jingming's status. Moreover, if she remembered correctly, rumors held that Lu Jingming was arrogant and willful, never prone to giving compliments. *Could it be that Lu Jingming is interested in me?*
Looking at the text, Gu Ruo couldn't help but let her imagination run wild. Since Lu Jingyan was now a disabled man with crippled legs, Lu Jingming was the only logical heir to the Lu Corporation. His attitude toward her must mean he had feelings for her, right? If she couldn't land Lu Jingyan, landing him would be a fantastic alternative.
Gu Ruo was thrilled and replied coyly: [Young Master Lu, you flatter me. I’m just concerned about my sister; it’s not really about being kind. After all, she is my own sister. If I don't look out for her, who will?]
Lu Jingming didn't even bother replying to that. *What a stupid woman.*
Gu Ruo didn't forget her primary mission and asked, [So, where and when should we meet?]
Lu Jingming hadn't decided yet and replied dismissively, [Wait for my news.]
Gu Ruo replied, "Okay," followed by a cute emoji. Lu Jingming ignored it, tossed his phone aside, and headed to his brother’s study.
—
"Knock, knock, knock."
Lu Jingyan was reviewing documents at his desk. He didn't look up when he heard the knocking, simply saying, "Enter."
As soon as he finished speaking, the door was pushed open. Lu Jingming burst in, saying urgently, "Brother, is it true that Gu Qing claims she graduated from Yale? Let me tell you, don’t you dare believe her! She is just a—"
"Out!"
Lu Jingyan interrupted him with a cold voice before he could finish. He knew his brother well and knew what he was going to say.
Lu Jingming was surprised by his brother's tone but persisted, "Brother, you..."
Before he could say more, Lu Jingyan looked up at him. His sharp brow furrowed slightly, and his dark eyes were filled with a glacial chill. Lu Jingming knew this was a warning. He had been afraid of his brother since childhood; faced with that stern expression, he subconsciously backed down. Not daring to say anything else, he left in a huff.
Lu Jingyan glanced toward the direction where Lu Jingming had left, his eyes somewhat hollow.
Once kicked out, Lu Jingming thought back to his brother’s indifferent attitude and combined it with Gu Ruo’s performance. Gu Qing and Gu Ruo were sisters; if Gu Ruo was this terrible, Gu Qing couldn't be much better.
Lu Jingming suddenly let out a frustrated laugh. The Gu sisters were truly a piece of work—one was a green tea bitch, the other a pathological liar. Even if his brother were now crippled, they were nowhere near good enough to marry into their family. He was determined to stop this marriage.
Thinking this, Lu Jingming immediately set a time and place, sent a message to Gu Ruo, and confirmed their meeting for the next day.
The next day.
A flashy, fire-red car sped along the road, the man in the driver's seat staring straight ahead. As he turned a corner, his phone, tucked inside his jacket, began to ring. Lu Jingming took it out, glanced at the caller ID, and answered. "Mom, what is it?"
"What is it? I should be asking *you* what it is!" Madam Lu asked from the other end. "Why weren't you at the company today?"
Lu Jingming didn't want to tell her why he hadn't gone to the office, so he prevaricated, "I’m taking a day off. I have important matters to attend to."
Madam Lu didn't care. "What 'important' matters could you possibly have besides eating and playing around? Get back to the office immediately."
*That phrase again.* In her eyes, he would always be a child who understood nothing, only good for frittering away time. Lu Jingming hadn't originally wanted Madam Lu to know he was out trying to sabotage the engagement, but he hated being treated like a child. His temper flared, and he retorted unpleasantly, "The reason I’m out is, of course, for my brother’s future! If you won't care about him, can't I?"
"A woman like Gu Qing—no looks, no education—she isn't fit for my brother at all. I don't know what you're planning, but even if my brother is disabled, he is still the eldest son of the Lu family."
"At the very least, he should be looking for a wife from a family of equal standing. How could you find such a tasteless woman to marry him? Don't you care about whether my brother is willing? Don't you care about his lifelong happiness?"
Lu Jingming’s roar left Madam Lu in silence.