Xu Xuejiao rummaged through her bag, pulled out a Bluetooth earpiece, and stuffed it into Lu Chengwen's ear. With a raised eyebrow, she said, "Do exactly what I say."
Lu Chengwen nodded and stepped out.
Xu Xuejiao's voice came through the earpiece. "Walk over, act natural, sit across from her."
Lu Chengwen followed her instructions, sitting down opposite Chen Mengyun.
"Take her hand and start talking."
Lu Chengwen gently took Chen Mengyun's hand. She resisted briefly but then let him hold it.
"Good, you're holding her hand. She's flustered now, overthinking. Speak—say your lines! Make it emotional!"
Lu Chengwen looked at Chen Mengyun. Sure enough, though she was still sulking and gazing out the window, her cheeks were faintly flushed.
"Mengyun, I…"
He hesitated, feeling like he was about to deceive her. Wasn't this wrong?
Chen Mengyun turned to him. "What? Why'd you stop?"
Lu Chengwen stammered, "I… I like you. I've always liked you. I only like you, like you the most, I…"
Chen Mengyun stared, stunned. "You're not lying to me, are you?"
Xu Xuejiao's voice crackled urgently. "Say it's not a lie!"
"It's not," Lu Chengwen said quickly.
"Ugh, you idiot, don't just say that! Elaborate!"
Lu Chengwen felt guilty about lying, but with his life on the line versus the consequences of deceiving a girl, he figured… it was probably fine?
"I'm… serious. Today's not what you think. It's complicated, hard to explain in a few words. Bronze King's right outside—"
Xu Xuejiao groaned. "Stop rambling! Kiss her!"
"What?" Lu Chengwen blurted out loud.
Chen Mengyun frowned. "What?"
Xu Xuejiao hissed, "Kiss her! Touch her, make her brain short-circuit! If that doesn't work, strip her down. Come on, you're a guy—you know how this works! Hurry, we're out of time!"
Chen Mengyun sensed something was off. "Brother Chengwen, what's—"
Lu Chengwen gritted his teeth. [Here goes nothing!]
He suddenly pinned Chen Mengyun against the window's chaise lounge and kissed her.
Chen Mengyun froze, dazed. This guy's going straight for it?
Hmph! Back in the day, he at least sweet-talked me. Now he's skipping the charm and going full force!
But… it feels so good…
Once Lu Chengwen started, he was all in. His lips weren't the only thing busy—his hands were roaming too.
Xu Xuejiao coached through the earpiece, "Yes, yes, target the key spots. Girls lose their minds when you touch them right. Ugh, you're so clueless—that button doesn't work like that… Hey! Hey, Lu Chengwen! Enough! That's enough!"
Seeing him get too into it, Xu Xuejiao backtracked.
Lu Chengwen finally pulled back, looking at Chen Mengyun, at a loss for words.
Chen Mengyun, blushing as she fixed her buttons, snapped, "What's with that face after forcing a kiss?"
Lu Chengwen blurted, "Sorry."
Xu Xuejiao groaned in his ear. "Idiot, why apologize?"
Chen Mengyun said, "Xu Xuejiao, come out. I heard you coaching him through the earpiece."
Xu Xuejiao emerged from the other room, grinning sheepishly. "Heh, sorry, got a bit carried away there."
Lu Chengwen said, "Mengyun, we can talk about us later, but right now, my life's on the line. You have to help me."
Chen Mengyun nodded, still miffed. "Must be a big deal to make you 'stoop' this low."
"Mengyun, open the door. Remember, I'm Long Aotian."
"Got it."
As Chen Mengyun went to the door, Xu Xuejiao plopped into Lu Chengwen's lap. "I told you to act, not go full method!"
"I was following your instructions!"
"My instructions? Did I tell you to stick your hand up her skirt? If I weren't here, would you have gone all the way right then and there?"
"You're a girl—watch your mouth."
"I'm just talking. You're the one who got handsy!"
The door opened, and the three men walked in. They froze, then dropped to one knee. "Your subordinates pay respects to the Young Master!"
Lu Chengwen, with a sexy lolita in his lap, pinched Xu Xuejiao's chin, his hands wandering casually. "Who are you?"
"Your subordinate Bronze King, with my two brothers. We're here to deliver the second batch of funds and to eliminate that traitor, Iron King."
Lu Chengwen, fully in character, gave them a cold glance without speaking.
Chen Mengyun glided over gracefully, sitting on his other side. With two stunning women—one with an enviable chest, the other with killer legs—flanking him, Lu Chengwen looked like a king. Bronze King stole a glance and felt his heart pound with envy. These women are goddesses! Are there really girls this gorgeous? That lolita's skirt is torn to shreds—wild! And the elegant one, she's like she was born to please men!
Lu Chengwen's icy gaze swept over them, and the three quickly bowed their heads.
"Make sure you know who I am," he said. "Don't make the same mistake as others. Maybe I'm not worthy of being your Young Master."
Bronze King caught the jab about Iron King's blunder and rushed to respond. "Young Master, you're dashing and gallant, a true dragon among men, blessed with destiny, unyielding spirit, and commanding presence. How could there be another like you? Only a fool like Iron King would make such a stupid mistake. We were sent by the Strategist to serve you. Please, show us mercy and give us a chance to prove ourselves."
Lu Chengwen's hand slipped into Xu Xuejiao's clothes. She didn't flinch, leaning into him instead. He shot Bronze King a glare, and the man lowered his head again. Lu Chengwen withdrew his hand, pinching Xu Xuejiao's chin. "Girl, the Strategist sent three more. What do you think—keep them?"
Xu Xuejiao glanced back. "This Bronze King's got a silver tongue. A talkative guy must have some talent. Young Master, why not keep him for now? With some training, he could be useful."
Bronze King was thrilled. The Young Master's woman is vouching for me—this is halfway done!
Lu Chengwen released the two women and stood before the trio, who remained kneeling, sweat beading on their faces as they stared at his polished shoes.
"You three, listen up," he said. "I don't care how the Strategist or Branch Master do things—I'm different. Under me, merit is rewarded, mistakes are punished. I care about results, not excuses. If you're wishy-washy like that idiot Iron King…"
Bronze King jumped in. "My brothers and I are loyal to you alone, Young Master! Your orders are our law. We'll give everything to serve you!"
Lu Chengwen smirked. "The girl's right—you're a sharp one."
Chen Mengyun sidled up, wrapping her arms around him. "Young Master, I don't like them. Make them go. You promised to take me to new heights!"
Lu Chengwen nodded. "Leave a number with the girl. Keep your phones on 24/7. Each of you transfer 20 million to your accounts—that's your settling-in fee from me."
The trio was floored. Twenty million each? So generous! In the organization, the higher-ups feasted while the grunts barely sipped soup. The lowest ranks smelled the scraps without tasting them. The system was strict and brutal—join, and you're in for life. Try to leave, and you're dead. Salaries depended on the bosses' whims. Even the Four Kings, like Bronze and Iron, got decent pay—70,000 to 80,000 a month—but those below often earned less than 10,000. And now, the Young Master was handing out 20 million each!
The three kowtowed frantically. "Thank you, Young Master! Thank you for your boundless grace!"
Bronze King, overcome with excitement, clasped his hands. "We've heard of your righteousness and generosity. To serve you for the rest of our lives is a blessing—our ancestors' graves must be smoking, their tombstones struck by lightning!"
Lu Chengwen waved impatiently. "Enough with the flattery. Did I say you're with me for good?"
Bronze King grinned. "Young Master, you're magnanimous. Give us time to prove ourselves. We'll serve you with all our hearts, ready to hold your whip and reins, honored to do so."
Xu Xuejiao giggled. "This Bronze King's quite the talker, Young Master."
Chen Mengyun pouted playfully. "Don't be mad, Young Master. You're just upset about that useless Strategist and that fool Iron King. These three—tell them not to mention that pighead in your presence."
"Yes, yes, absolutely," Bronze King agreed.
Lu Chengwen snapped, "The Xuecheng branch is a mess, sending people who can't even dress properly. Get yourselves new outfits. I don't care how you dressed at the branch, but with me, Long Aotian, you can't look this cheap. You're embarrassing me!"
The trio exchanged glances, thinking, This isn't decent enough? The Young Master's standards are sky-high! Clearly, his experience far surpassed the Branch Master's.
"Yes, sir!" they chorused.
Lu Chengwen continued, "Don't rush to deal with Iron King. Prioritize what matters. He's small fry—kill him anytime. Focus on the big picture."
"What's the big picture, Young Master?"
"You—"
His phone rang. "Stand up. I need to take this."
Lu Chengwen stepped aside to answer, and his face fell. Before Leng Qingqiu could formally resign, Leng Tianhao had issued her dismissal and appointed Long Aotian as Qianfeng Group's president. But as soon as the decision took effect, Qianfeng was in trouble. The Dongfang Group from the South was aggressively squeezing Qianfeng's operations and launching a takeover bid.
It clicked.
Making Leng Qingqiu faint was to cripple the Leng family! Lu Chengwen had spared them, but Huo Wendong, now allied with Long Aotian, was moving in for the kill.
The Leng family was done for.
_
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