Chapter 13

But Lu Zhi didn’t speak to her immediately. Her gaze swept past her as she first went to greet the elders.

Bai Lu’s heart trembled uncontrollably. She had happened to be at the company when the incident occurred. At first, she didn’t realize the severity of the situation and had followed other employees downstairs to look, only to face the smashing and trashing in the lobby directly. And her father, she had watched helplessly as her father was carried out of his office…

No comfort or cover-up could compare to the impact of witnessing it firsthand.

This was the first time she realized that her life of wealth and privilege was like flowers in a mirror or the moon reflected in the water. On the surface, it looked like a bed of beautiful blossoms, but inside, it was already tottering. And all she could do was watch, unable to do anything.

Reality had slapped her hard in the face, and she was utterly helpless.

“Shen Qing.” Bai Lu felt like she had waited an eternity before she saw Lu Zhi walk towards her. She opened her mouth, her voice carrying a trace of a tremor.

Lu Zhi made a sound of acknowledgment, pulled out a tissue to wipe her fingers, and asked, “Who’s all inside right now?”

Lu Zhi’s movements were natural, carrying a closeness without any awkwardness. Tears nearly spilled from Bai Lu’s eyes. She held them back and obediently listed a few names. “Uncle Li, Uncle Xu, Eldest Uncle, and a woman named Zhang Yanhong, I think she’s the head of the construction company.”

“How long have they all been here?” Lu Zhi asked again, tilting her chin towards the people sitting in the living room.

“They came just before seven, so probably over an hour now.”

Lu Zhi nodded, then said, “Go tell Aunt Wang to prepare some food. I suppose nobody’s had dinner yet.”

“Okay.”

“And have Aunt Wang ask the doctor if there are any dietary restrictions,” Lu Zhi added.

“Okay.”

Even though Bai Hao was dead, Shen Qing remained the nominal Mistress of the Bai family. Lu Zhi entertained everyone for dinner, then managed to dismiss the crowd with a mix of charm and firmness.

As for Father Bai, Lu Zhi had Bai Lu bring him food, instructing her not to come out after going in, but to stay by his side and learn how he handled this crisis.

Bai Lu was uncharacteristically obedient, doing whatever Lu Zhi told her to do.

It wasn’t until almost eleven o’clock that Secretary Li and his group finally dispersed.

“Shen Qing, Father wants to see you.” Bai Lu came out of the room, her eyes red as a rabbit’s.

Lu Zhi closed her laptop and got up to walk over.

Father Bai’s condition looked less frail than one might imagine, but his brow held an inescapable weariness.

In the original plotline, Bai Lu got into a car accident. At this point, Father Bai’s health should have rapidly deteriorated due to his daughter’s incident, and he should be recuperating in the hospital. But now, with Lu Zhi’s intervention, Bai Lu hadn’t been in a car accident, but the banner incident had happened instead.

The rise of a commercial empire naturally encroaches on others’ cheese. Since its founding, Yifang Group had become a behemoth not easily moved, but that didn’t mean it was invincible. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have ended up in bankruptcy and restructuring. Counting its enemies, above could be officials within the system, below could be a recently laid-off employee. All were old foxes on the business battlefield, and the feeding frenzy after a whale fall was precisely what they most wanted to see.

“You should already know the ins and outs of this.” Father Bai spoke. One of his hands was still on an IV drip, and his voice sounded somewhat low. “Shen Qing, what are your thoughts?”

Lu Zhi wasn’t surprised that Father Bai would ask for her opinion. She casually replied, “Since those people on the board dared to use the company’s name but can’t handle things properly, then chop off a hand to let some blood.”

Her words were blunt, but her tone was very calm.

Father Bai’s eyelid twitched. He raised his eyes to look at her, his gaze carrying the scrutiny of someone long accustomed to a high position.

Lu Zhi met his stare directly without changing her stance. “Swift and decisive action is the most effective method. Though it’s painful, the wound heals quickly, and you won’t be dragged to death.”

Father Bai pursed his lips tightly, his expression solemn. He clearly couldn’t make up his mind immediately.

Lu Zhi didn’t speak further. The company wasn’t hers, after all. The specific choices still had to be decided by Father Bai.

Besides, did Father Bai not know he should first remove the malignant tumor? Of course he knew. But in actual execution, pulling on one thread often moves the whole web. He had guarded this company for most of his life; besides wealth, personal relationships and favors were also of paramount importance.

Bai Lu’s eyes darted back and forth between Lu Zhi and Father Bai, finally resting on Lu Zhi. Her expression wasn’t well-controlled, revealing a hint of surprise and curiosity.

Lu Zhi looked over, and Bai Lu hastily averted her gaze.

“Lulu will report to the Secretariat tomorrow,” Father Bai suddenly said, no longer continuing the previous topic. He looked at Bai Lu standing to the side. “You’ve grown up. Since you’re willing to come to the company, then stay by my side and watch and learn.”

“O-Okay, Father.” Perhaps because she had witnessed the family’s upheaval firsthand, Bai Lu acted exceptionally well-behaved.

It was almost midnight by the time she came out of Father Bai’s room. Lu Zhi went to the living room to grab her laptop, intending to return to her own room.

Bai Lu followed her closely, step for step, like a little wife.

Lu Zhi stopped and turned back.

The conflict on Bai Lu’s face was practically overflowing.

“Something you need?”

Bai Lu pursed her lips, looking utterly pitiable. She walked over, her fingers gently clutching a corner of Lu Zhi’s clothing, and softly called her name, “Shen Qing…”

Actually, Lu Zhi hadn’t taken their previous unpleasant parting to heart. Looking at the anxious and uneasy girl before her, she felt a slight softening. She patted Bai Lu’s hair and said, “It’s alright. Go back and get some good rest.”

Bai Lu’s eyes lit up, and she immediately pushed her luck, asking, “So you forgive me?”

Then she quickly added, “I was wrong.”

Absolutely spineless.

Lu Zhi smiled at that, regarding her with amusement. “So, tell me what exactly you did wrong?”

Bai Lu looked utterly candid, listing her faults one by one. “I shouldn’t have skipped class. I shouldn’t have skipped work. I shouldn’t have always just wanted to play…”

She thought for a moment, her bright dark eyes darting a glance at Lu Zhi, and added, “And I shouldn’t have lied to you.”

Lu Zhi smiled wryly.

Bai Lu admitted her mistakes quite brazenly. Clearly, this was because making mistakes in her life had never led to severe punishment or reprimand, so she simply wasn’t afraid.

This was indeed a child raised in love, full of sincerity, never knowing inferiority or timidity.

Lu Zhi had a fondness for people like this. Throughout her many reincarnations, she had seen too much of the complex nature of humanity, good or evil, nothing could make her pay particular attention.

But…

She still mercilessly ordered Secretary Li to compile a dossier detailing everything Zhou Ying had done during this company crisis and place it on Bai Lu’s desk.

Although the banner incident had widespread repercussions, it wasn’t unsolvable. The only difficulty was choosing who to push forward as the scapegoat. However, the hidden hands behind this incident were being unraveled layer by layer. Among several unfamiliar names, Lu Zhi faintly discerned Zhou Ying’s presence.

This wasn’t surprising. In the original plotline, his hand was involved in the Bai family’s fall. Sudden betrayals and open spears and hidden arrows on the business field were nothing new.

Lu Zhi prompted Secretary Li, ordering an emphasis on investigating Zhou Ying, and very quickly, the details came to light.

Bai Lu had been deeply involved in the equity transfer between Yifang Investment and Zhou Ying’s Yingshi Capital. There was no other matter that could so clearly reveal the harsh truth to her, making her understand that the possibility between herself and Zhou Ying was absolute zero.

The day after the dossier on Zhou Ying was delivered to Bai Lu, Lu Zhi heard that Bai Lu had stormed over to confront him. With her domineering temper, she never knew the meaning of forbearance. Even towards someone she liked, she would confront them directly, face to face, drum to drum, gong to gong.

The company annual party was still held the week before the holiday as usual. Although the negative press surrounding the company hadn’t settled yet, this didn’t affect the management’s strenuous effort to maintain an appearance of calm internally.

Bai Lu was now in the Chairman’s Secretariat and was also the group’s Eldest Miss. Naturally, she couldn’t miss the company annual party like she had in previous years. And Lu Zhi, being a company shareholder, naturally received an invitation.

As expected, after just a few days without seeing her, Bai Lu seemed like a changed person.

Surrounded by the crowd, her face had completely lost its once charming and lively spirit. The despair of unrequited love and the betrayal of the one her heart yearned for cast a desolate air around her brow. Coupled with recent experiences and her family’s turmoil, she looked as if she had grown up overnight.

“Stop drinking.” Lu Zhi’s fingers gently took the glass from Bai Lu’s hand.

Bai Lu was startled, her fine brows furrowing slightly. “Shen Qing?”

Lu Zhi leaned lightly against the railing. Bai Lu was dressed relatively formally today, a white blouse under a pink blazer, an A-line skirt and high heels. Her hair was tied up, revealing a pretty face. After drinking, her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes glossy.

If this weren’t a company party but a nightclub, who knows how many people would approach her looking like this.

“You little drunkard.” Lu Zhi placed the glass on the tray of a passing server.

Bai Lu snorted softly and turned her head away, her expression seeming both angry and coquettish. “Are you satisfied now?”

“What am I satisfied about?”

“Zhou Ying.” Bai Lu emphasized the name, her voice aggrieved. “You never wanted me to like him, so you specifically had Uncle Li give me that information.”

Lu Zhi didn’t deny it, but asked instead, “So, do you still like him now?”

Bai Lu pursed her lips. A fleeting look of confusion crossed her face. She smiled bitterly. “I… I don’t know…”

Lu Zhi was noncommittal, then dealt her another heavy blow. “The contract for Yifang Investment has been signed. Party A is still the same—it’s still Zhou Ying.”

“What?” Bai Lu’s eyes widened, unable to comprehend. “Why? Why still him? He… he stabbed us in the back! Why choose him?”

“Because the Bai family doesn’t have a better choice. Yifang Group is currently at a disadvantage. Urgent restructuring is needed. These minor grievances can only be swallowed along with the blood from our own broken teeth.”

“But…” Bai Lu opened her mouth but couldn’t say anything. Her expression slowly turned into one of humiliation and fury.

Lu Zhi didn’t comfort her. This young girl had taken a single step out of the greenhouse and could now only face the harsh frost and cruelty of the outside world alone.

Just then, the most boisterous part of the lottery draw downstairs concluded. Several company executives stepped forward, cheerfully starting the champagne tower together. The cocktail party was slowly reaching its heated climax.

Lu Zhi and Bai Lu quietly watched Father Bai moving through the crowd downstairs, watching him deftly accept everyone’s flattery and praise. On the surface, it was a scene of peace and prosperity, looking as if nothing had affected them at all.