Chen Mengyun arrived at the Lu residence with a dozen assistants in tow, carrying heaps of gifts, both large and small. As soon as she stepped inside, she sensed something was off. The foyer was cluttered with all sorts of presents, far more than usual. Chen Mengyun was no stranger to the Lu family—she'd been a frequent visitor back when she and Lu Chengwen were dating. She knew well that the Lus weren't fond of receiving gifts; getting them to accept anything was a challenge. But today, the sheer volume of packages was overwhelming.
Worried about mixing up her gifts with the others, Chen Mengyun instructed her assistants, "Place our things over there, separate from the rest."
"Yes, Miss," they replied.
Catching sight of Lu Guanghong and Mother Lu trying to slip out through a side entrance, Chen Mengyun called out cheerfully, "Uncle! Auntie!"
Lu Guanghong froze, forced to turn back with a strained smile. "Oh, Mengyun's here! Chengwen's inside, go find him."
"Uncle, Auntie!" Chen Mengyun hurried over, looping her arm through Mother Lu's. "I came to see you two, not that guy Lu Chengwen. I brought you lots of nice things!"
Lu Guanghong thought to himself, If only you'd ignore him and treat him like dirt, that'd be ideal. But who was she kidding? Why else would she bring gifts if not for Lu Chengwen? It had been ages since she'd visited like this.
Mother Lu forced a smile. "No need to go to such expense! We're practically family. Um… Chengwen, Mengyun's here!"
Lu Chengwen, already overwhelmed, trudged to the side corridor and looked at Chen Mengyun. "What are you doing here?"
Chen Mengyun's heart sank, a hundred grievances bubbling up. Not even a shred of courtesy? Am I that annoying to you?
Her face stiffened. "I'm not here for you. I came to see Uncle and Auntie."
Lu Chengwen nodded. "Alright, Dad, Mom, she's here for you. Have a chat." He turned to leave.
Mother Lu's patience snapped. She stormed over, yanking Lu Chengwen back, her eyes blazing. "How old do you think your father and I are? Can we handle this kind of chaos? What have you been up to lately? Why are they all showing up at our door? Did you do something to them?"
Lu Chengwen whispered, "I didn't do anything! They're the ones acting crazy."
"Nothing? And they're all flocking to you? You think you're some kind of heartthrob? You caused this mess, so deal with it! Your dad and I want to live a few more years!"
She turned back to Chen Mengyun, who looked crestfallen, and softened her tone. "Mengyun, don't mind his nonsense. He's been talking about you lately. You two chat. I'm taking your uncle to the doctor for his heart condition."
"Heart condition?" Chen Mengyun blinked.
Mother Lu nudged Lu Guanghong, who was still dazed. He quickly clutched his chest, groaning, "Oh, no, no, my heart…"
"Old man, slow down!" Mother Lu said.
"I need a doctor!" Lu Guanghong wailed.
"Slow down, I said!"
"I need a doctor!"
"Slow down…"
Chen Mengyun watched, bewildered. This couple is acting like they've seen a ghost. Their upper bodies trembled dramatically, but their legs moved with startling speed, practically sprinting. They reached the front courtyard, made a sharp turn at the fountain, and vanished.
"What… what's wrong with Uncle and Auntie?" Chen Mengyun asked.
"Nothing to do with you," Lu Chengwen said brusquely. "What do you want with me?"
"Do you have to treat me like this?" Chen Mengyun's voice trembled with hurt. "I'm a woman! I have my pride!"
"If you've got pride, then leave me alone. I'm already like this, and you're still coming around?"
Chen Mengyun's eyes welled up. "What did I do to make you hate me so much?"
"You dumped me back then! That kind of betrayal is unforgivable. We're done for good!"
Chen Mengyun shrieked, "You were the one who cheated!"
"Your brother got me drunk and threw two women into my bed!"
"And you just let them stay there?"
"I was passed out! Those two just sat there playing on their phones, each pocketing fifty grand. I didn't do anything!"
"Then why didn't you explain?!"
"Did you give me a chance? I barely woke up before you splashed a vase of water in my face and slapped me in front of everyone!"
"So it's my fault?!"
"Whose else would it be?!"
Chen Mengyun's lips quivered with rage as she bit them hard. "Then why are you being so nice to me now?"
Lu Chengwen's eyes widened. "Nice? You think this is nice? Are you masochistic? I don't want anything to do with you!"
Chen Mengyun's voice broke. "So in your eyes, I'm just some cheap fling you've lost interest in, is that it?"
Lu Chengwen stared at her, his tone cold and final. "Yes."
Tears streamed down Chen Mengyun's face. She wanted nothing more than to turn and leave, but a flicker of reason held her back. Something wasn't right. Lu Chengwen might be a scoundrel with a knack for mischief, but he was never this cruel to women, especially not to her. He was always smooth-talking, charming, and coaxing, even after their breakup. He'd never spoken ill of her before. This sudden hostility felt deliberate.
I need to stay calm, she told herself. Her tear-filled eyes sparkled with determination. Even if I lose, I'll lose knowing why.
"You don't hate me," she said firmly. "There's a reason for this. Is it because of Long Aotian? You think I'd fall for him?"
"Like whoever you want. It's got nothing to do with me."
"No way!" Chen Mengyun stepped forward, pressing a hand against a pillar to block his path. "You're explaining yourself today, or I'm not leaving!"
"Spare me, please! Your family's worth billions. You can have any man you want. If you're desperate, I'll hire a couple of male models for you—top-notch looks and physique, guaranteed!"
Chen Mengyun roared, "Lu Chengwen, you're despicable! You don't get to humiliate me like this! Explain yourself, now!"
Their argument echoed outside, while inside, in the lounge area, Leng Qingqiu and Xu Xuejiao sat glaring at each other.
Xu Xuejiao smirked. "He's brutal."
Leng Qingqiu sighed. "He could just talk it out. Why hurt her like that?"
Xu Xuejiao leaned in, whispering, "Their bond runs deep. I always suspected Mengyun never got over Brother Chengwen, and I was right. If he's not firm, it'll be hard to cut her off. He's doing the right thing."
Leng Qingqiu's lips twitched, but she stayed silent. A sudden fear gripped her—what if Lu Chengwen turned that same cold ruthlessness on her? She was too proud, always the shining star surrounded by admirers. She couldn't bear the thought of a man humiliating her like that.
Chen Mengyun sensed something was off. Everything felt wrong—the way Uncle and Auntie Lu fled in a panic, Lu Chengwen's harsh tone, his anxious demeanor. Her instincts kicked in. "Is someone inside?"
"Huh? No," Lu Chengwen said quickly.
That denial confirmed it for her. She strode toward the lounge, thinking, Let's see who's in there.
Lu Chengwen hurried after her. "Hey, there's really no one! Don't just barge into people's homes! Where's your manners?"
"Your house is like my backyard. I've always walked right in."
Chen Mengyun reached the lounge and froze. Two women—familiar faces—stood up awkwardly.
Xu Xuejiao forced a smile. "Sister Mengyun."
Chen Mengyun's eyes widened. "Xuejiao? Leng Qingqiu? What are you two doing here?"
Leng Qingqiu sighed. "Same reason as you."
Lu Chengwen slapped his forehead, thinking, You couldn't have phrased that worse.
Chen Mengyun turned to him. "Who do you actually like?"
Lu Chengwen rubbed his temples. "Ladies, I'm exhausted. I fought tooth and nail to stop Long Aotian's schemes and protect the family business. You have no idea what I've been through or how hard it was. The pharmaceutical company's stock is plummeting, our drugs are piling up unsold, and our reputation's taken a hit. The shantytown project is short over ten billion in cash, and I've been begging for funding everywhere. I've pissed off the organization behind Long Aotian, and who knows when they'll send a mob to make my life hell."
He looked at them, exasperated. "I don't have time for this drama. Go home. I'll make sure the shantytown project doesn't lose you money, even if I have to sell off Great Sage Group's shares. If it comes to it, I'll take my parents back to the countryside to farm. Why are you all so obsessed with me? I'm not that great! With your status, you don't need me. What's this about?"
Xu Xuejiao softened, feeling a pang of sympathy. "Oh, come on, the pharmaceutical stuff will work itself out. Stock fluctuations aren't new—we win some, we lose some."
"Exactly," Chen Mengyun added, noticing his distress. "For the shantytown project, break even if you can. If not, a loss is fine. We're making money elsewhere. Think of it as contributing to our hometown."
Leng Qingqiu stood, approaching Lu Chengwen with an unprecedented gentleness in her eyes. "You're too stressed. You need to relax. I won't push you today. We'll talk another time." With that, she left decisively.
Lu Chengwen watched her go, unexpectedly moved. Damn, Leng Qingqiu can be so understanding when she wants to be. What a woman.
That left Chen Mengyun and Xu Xuejiao, who stood in awkward silence. They weren't exactly best friends, but they'd always been on decent terms. Facing Leng Qingqiu, they'd have fought tooth and nail, but with each other, it was different.
Xu Xuejiao bit her lip. "I'll head out too. We'll talk later."
Chen Mengyun, head lowered, mumbled, "If you hate me that much, I'll go too."
Once all three women were gone, Lu Chengwen collapsed onto the sofa, grinning. Think you can take me on? You're still too green!
His phone rang. He picked it up and heard a frantic voice: "Chengwen! Save me! I've been cornered! I sent you the address—I can't hold out long. Hurry, and bring backup, they've got numbers!"
Fatty Chen?! Lu Chengwen groaned, grabbed his jacket, and bolted out the door.
_
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