The bodyguard stepped forward to report, "Lu Shao, the study's documents have been checked one by one. Nothing is missing."
Manager Chen silently thanked his past self for having the sense not to take anything, only glancing at the files back then.
Hearing the report, he hurried to explain, "Mr. Lu, you've seen it yourself—we truly didn't dare to steal anything! We were just… going through the motions, pretending to—"
"Going through the motions?" Lu Junhan's cold smile deepened. "You break into my study just to 'go through the motions'? What am I here for, your stage prop?"
Vice President Liu's face drained of all color. Realizing there was no escape, he dropped to his knees, voice trembling, "Lu Shao, please… just this once, spare us! We know we were wrong. We swear it won't happen again—"
Suddenly, a sharp dagger flashed before their eyes, its cold edge glinting under the light.
With a boom, it struck the carpeted floor, the sound heavy and dangerous. Judging by its edge, it could slice through iron like mud.
Both men froze in terror, staring at the blade. "L-Lu Shao… this, this is—"
Lu Junhan bent slightly forward, his dark, fathomless eyes locking onto their panic-stricken gazes. His voice was low, almost casual:
"Leave your hand, and you can walk out of here."
"Lu Shao!"
Their faces turned ghostly pale. "We—we'll withdraw from the company! We don't need any compensation! If there's anything else we can—"
"No," Lu Junhan leaned back lazily on the sofa, cigarette between his fingers. "I have plenty of people to replace you."
"…"
"Three seconds," his tone dropped several degrees colder. "Choose—do it yourself, or shall I help?"
Cold sweat trickled down their temples as they exchanged desperate glances.
But they still clung to a shred of hope. "Lu Shao…"
"Three seconds are up," Lu Junhan's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Alright. I'll find someone to help you."
The two men collapsed, trembling violently. "No, you can't—"
"Dad! Don't call someone else! I'll do it! I can! I'll help you!"
The crisp, milky voice rang from the doorway.
Somehow, the study door had been silently pushed open.
In the next moment, a small girl in a white spaghetti-strap nightdress burst inside.
Her big, bright eyes instantly landed on the two villains—the very ones who, in the story she remembered, would bully her father in the future!
The book had said that after Dad cut off their hands, they held a lifelong grudge, hunting him down like madmen. If not for his vigilance and sheer luck, he would have died.
Not only that—after leaving the company, they deliberately sold many of its secrets, causing her father endless trouble.
Lu Li didn't care if her father was a so-called villain or not. To her, he was the best dad in the world, and no one could bully him!
The little girl marched forward, picked up the dagger from the floor—it was heavy for her small hands, but she gripped it tightly, pointing it at Manager Chen and Vice President Liu.
The blade was half her height, sharp and menacing. Those around her held their breath, terrified she might hurt herself.
Just as she was about to imitate her father's tone and threaten the two men, a large, well-defined hand snatched the weapon away.
The man's low, dangerous voice cut in, "Little girls shouldn't be playing with knives. Out."
"I'm not playing!"
Lu Li puffed her cheeks, arms akimbo, her pale little arms looking even thinner under the light. "They were bullying Dad! I'm going to cut off their hands to avenge you!"
Everyone: "…"
Wait—what did she just say?
Lu Junhan's gaze darkened.
His sharp eyes searched her face for any hint of pretense, but found none.
She truly meant it. This wasn't an act to please him—she genuinely believed he'd been wronged, and she was determined to defend him.
He had always been feared, never pitied. Even Song Qingwan, who raised him, never stood entirely on his side.
Yet here was someone—this tiny, milk-voiced girl—who stood before him without hesitation, declaring she'd avenge him.
The emotion that stirred in him was foreign, unwelcome. His brows knit.
He meant to call someone to take her out—this was no place for a child.
But when he saw her small frame planted protectively in front of him, he paused. For reasons he couldn't explain, he didn't speak.
Instead, irritation prickled in his chest.
Then he noticed her clothes—thin straps, bare shoulders, exposed collarbones, soft skin practically glowing under the light.
His eyes narrowed to slits.
Who in the hell had picked out such clothes for her? Did they have no sense? There were men everywhere here!
His gaze swept the room like a blade. Those who had been sneaking glances at the adorable child quickly looked away, spines stiff.
With a dark expression, Lu Junhan draped his suit jacket over her small frame and lifted her into his lap, wrapping her up completely.
From the outside, it looked exactly like the rumors—Lu Shao adored his daughter.
But Lu Li didn't notice her father's displeasure over her clothes. She was busy eyeing the dagger he'd tossed on the table.
She wanted to grab it and finish the job herself.
But her short arms couldn't reach. So she tried to wriggle out of his suit jacket, intending to climb onto the table.
She'd barely gotten halfway before Lu Junhan caught her and wrapped her back up again.
She squirmed. He pulled.
After a few rounds of this, her cheeks turned red with frustration. "Dad! Stop messing around! I have to kill them before they run away!"
Manager Chen and Vice President Liu, who were pinned to the floor and couldn't move even if they wanted to: "…"
Everyone else bit back laughter.
"What to chop!" Lu Junhan's tone was ice. His patience was fraying.
When she still wouldn't give up, he snatched the dagger from the table and handed it to Assistant Chen. "Not something you should be playing with."
He knew she was bold—never afraid of him or Song Qingwan—but this was beyond reckless. If she hurt herself, she'd cry for days.
"Dad's playing, why can't I? That's not fair!"
"I'm not playing."
"Yes, you are!" she huffed. "I saw you throw the knife at those bad uncles. It's your knife, you must've been playing with it!"
"…," he was speechless.
"Dad! Don't you want to cut off their hands? I can help! I'm really strong!" She patted her chest proudly. "I can do it all by myself—no need to trouble the uncles."
Everyone: "…"
This from the same little girl who almost dropped the knife two minutes ago.
Lu Junhan's brow furrowed tighter. What kind of life had she lived before, to be this comfortable talking about cutting people?
Finally, his cold voice cut her off. "I wasn't planning to cut their hands. You got it wrong."