《Wedding Night: I Became the Female Supporting Character and Married the Villain!》


 Chapter 1

    ¡°Sister, that¡¯s great! Lu Zhao finally agreed to divorce you!¡± Tian Tian sat there, beaming with joy. She looked really happy for Luo Ying.


    However, Luo Ying, who was lying on the bed, clutched her head and wanted to shout, ¡°Good, my ass!¡±


    She was a top movie queen. She was rich, beautiful, and had an alluring figure. At home, she was the pearl in her parents¡¯ hands, the little sweetheart of her four brothers, and outside, she was the idol of many fangirls and girls. She was the dream lover of many handsome suitors. In the end, all she did was read a book recommended by her best friend and casually complained about it a little. When she woke up, she was actually dressed as the cannon fodder, female, supporting character with the same name as her in the book, an unlucky female artiste.


    If God thought that she was living in too much bliss, he could just strike her to death with lightning. He didn¡¯t need to waste so much energy and time torturing her and making her lose everything overnight.


    However, the truth was that God had so much time in his hands that he had brought her here. Now that she¡¯s here, so be it. She was magnanimous and generous. She wasn¡¯t someone who would take things too hard. But even if she was to experience something as outrageous as being transported into a novel world, couldn¡¯t she be given the role of someone else? Why did she have to end up as this doomed, supporting character?


    It wasn¡¯t that Luo Ying was picky, but she really couldn¡¯t stand the stupid things Luo Ying did in the book that resulted in her equally stupid ending.


    In the original book, the original Luo Ying was like a demon possessed, falling headlong to the whims of her feelings for the male protagonist Lin Su. She was already married and already had a husband, but she was still relentless. She tried her best to force her husband, Lu Zhao, to divorce her. After that, she dementedly stirred up trouble between the male and female protagonists, repeatedly getting hit in the face by the backfiring of her plans. In the end, the male and female protagonists had no choice but to retaliate forcefully, and not even a corpse remained. This also caused her ex-husband, Lu Zhao, to turn into the final boss of the book, driving the male and female protagonists to end up in the same tragic ends as the original Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying was waking up in the hospital because the original Luo Ying had threatened Lu Zhao to divorce by jumping off the building. Lu Zhao finally agreed in disappointment, but the original body slipped from the 18th floor in excitement and fell on the protective pad, fainting from the shock.


    The woman nagging by the side was the original Luo Ying¡¯s best friend, Tian Tian. ¡°That¡¯s great! You can finally get rid of this perverted man and be with Brother Lin Su!¡±


    Although Tian Tian kept calling Lu Zhao a perverted man, she actually loved Lu Zhao very much and wanted to be Mrs. Lu with all her heart. That was why she kept instigating Luo Ying to divorce Lu Zhao and trying to push Luo Ying to Lin Su.


    Luo Ying listened to her talking about Lin Su¡¯s good deeds and felt her head hurt even more. She couldn¡¯t hold back her temper and ran out. She impatiently snapped, ¡°Shut up!¡±


    Tian Tian had never been treated with such an attitude by Luo Ying before. She was stunned for. moment and widened her eyes in disbelief. ¡°You¡­ What did you just say?¡± She must have misheard it.


    Luo Ying snorted to herself. She was afraid that she would derail matters beyond her control, so she could only demonstrate her superb acting skills as a movie queen. She held her head and said, ¡°I just woke up and my head still hurts. You¡¯ve been talking so much that my head is getting dizzy, and the pain is getting worse.¡±


    Judging from her expression, Tian Tian could tell that she wasn¡¯t faking it. Thus, she had no choice but to suppress her anger and say compassionately, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was too happy that you could finally start a new life, so I didn¡¯t think about your physical condition.¡±


    Start a new life? Bah! Is it the beginning of a journey to hell? Luo Ying had no strength to retort.


    Just as she was about to shoo away the malicious fly, she heard Tian Tian say, ¡°But, Brother Lin Su just called to ask you out to meet. I thought you must really want to see him now, so I agreed on your behalf.¡±


    Luo Ying immediately recalled the plot of the book. The original Luo Ying had dashed out of the hospital to meet Lin Su, but had a dispute with Lin Su because of the female lead, Su Ran. He had threatened and pushed her to the ground. Not only that, but her old man, Lu Zhao, also found out about it. In a fit of anger, he signed the divorce agreement, and the original Luo Ying officially started heading down her path of endless misfortunes.


    On the other hand, Tian Tian was still vexed. ¡°Why don¡¯t I go and apologize to Brother Lin Su? I¡¯ll tell him that you¡¯re not feeling well, and we can meet again next time.¡±


    No! This matter couldn¡¯t be dragged on any longer. For the sake of her happy life, she had to get rid of these annoying flies one by one, before Lu Zhao officially files for divorce!


    Luo Ying, who had made up her mind, immediately got out of bed. She had to move now.


    Sure enough, at the mention of Lin Su, Luo Ying would have to get up even if she was disabled. Tian Tian felt proud and a little disdainful at the thought of pinching Luo Ying¡¯s Achilles¡¯ heel, but she still had to show concern on her face. ¡°Is your body okay?¡±


    ¡°I can do this much.¡± Luo Ying gave her a meaningful look. Some things should be done sooner rather than later.


    Upon hearing Luo Ying¡¯s words, Tian Tian thought she couldn¡¯t wait to be with Lin Su. Her goal had been half-achieved, so she was overjoyed. She attentively helped Luo Ying out of the hospital and dutifully drove her to the rendezvous.


    The place where Tian Tian and Lin Su had agreed to meet was a high-class nightclub. Luo Ying got out of the car and walked in. She found that the waiters and waitresses were all good-looking young men and women with attractive figures. They were all smiling brightly at them.


    Luo Ying raised her eyebrows and looked at the seats in the lobby. She pointed to a private room on the second floor.


    She didn¡¯t have to be disturbed by the deafening music and could even enjoy the view of the handsome men and beautiful women coming and going through the glass window.


    Well, this one was okay. His hairstyle is an injustice to his appearance, but his facial features were rugged, and he was a reliable-looking man. This one had handsome features, but he was a little short, like a baby who had not weaned from his mother.


    Tian Tian was still trying her best to instill in Luo Ying just how good Lin Su was, and how happy she would be with Lin Su. Luo Ying was perfunctory with her words, but her eyes were constantly scanning the handsome men downstairs. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. The man who just walked in was quite tall and handsome.


    Tian Tian suddenly said, ¡°Ah, Brother Lin Su is here.¡±


    That man was Lin Su? Luo Ying frowned.


    Sure enough, the man stopped a passing waiter and asked a few questions. He glanced in the direction of Luo Ying and the others with an unfriendly look, then walked through the crowd and went straight in their direction.


    Tsk, it¡¯s rare to see someone pleasing to the eye. It¡¯s actually the male lead who did not even grant her the dignity of a whole corpse. Luo Ying lost all interest.


    Lin Su obviously came with bad intentions. As soon as he stepped into the private room, he shouted at Luo Ying, ¡°Luo Ying, what does it take for you to hand it over?!¡±

 Chapter 2

    Lin Su was furious at Luo Ying. If Luo Ying had not threatened him with Su Ran¡¯s secret, he would not have taken the initiative to meet Luo Ying.


    The book mentioned that Su Ran had once been raped, and the process was recorded. Very explicit footage of her naked body had been involved. Lin Su didn¡¯t want Su Ran to remember these painful memories, and he didn¡¯t want others to look at Su Ran in a different light. So, he didn¡¯t want these films to be leaked out.


    In the end, the footage fell into Tian Tian¡¯s hands. The original Luo Ying had used it as leverage.


    Luo Ying had always hated such acts, so she despised this particular arc. She turned to look at Tian Tian, feeling wronged. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you warn me that this would be the tone of our meeting?¡±


    Tian Tian¡¯s mouth was agape. She wanted to say that she was the one who had planned this, so did she need to remind her?


    Before she could speak, she heard Luo Ying continue, ¡°But, Brother Lin Su, you don¡¯t have to worry. The copy in my hand is just a backup. The original video is in Tian Tian¡¯s hands. If you want it, you can just ask her for it.


    Luo Ying¡¯s abnormal actions stunned the two people present.


    Lin Su¡¯s murderous gaze shifted to Tian Tian. ¡°What did she mean by that?¡±


    Tian Tian shuddered inexplicably at his intimidating aura, and she quickly denied it. ¡°I¡¯m not. I didn¡¯t. I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Luo Ying put on an innocent face and pointed in the direction of the sofa. But isn¡¯t the phone that recorded it in your bag?¡±


    Tian Tian subconsciously wanted to turn around to protect the bag, but Lin Su was tall and had long legs. He took a big step forward and picked up the bag. With a strong jerk, the contents unceremoniously clattered to the ground. One of the mobile phones of dark red was particularly conspicuous. Lin Su immediately picked it up.


    ¡°What¡¯s the password?¡± He interrogated Tian Tian. Tian Tian was so frightened that she could only step back. Lin Su frowned as he glanced at the screen. He forcefully pulled her hand over and pressed the fingerprint sensor. The phone was unlocked with a beep.


    Lin Su looked at Luo Ying as he operated the mobile phone. ¡°Your copy! Hand it over!¡±


    Luo Ying spread her hands. ¡°I just came out of the hospital. I didn¡¯t bring my phone with me.¡± After all, when the original Luo Ying staged that suicidal stune, she didn¡¯t have her phone with her. ¡°If you¡¯re still worried, I¡¯ll get my phone and delete it in front of you tomorrow or the day after.¡±


    Lin Su sneered, ¡°What? Is this your new way of getting to my good side?¡±


    Luo Ying was speechless. You¡¯re thinking too much.


    However, Lin Su did not believe her. His face was full of disdain. ¡°I¡¯ve said it before. No matter what tricks you play, I will never view you favorably. I will only hate you more.¡±


    As a pampered little princess who was loved by everyone, when had Luo Ying ever been despised like this? She could make up for the mistakes that the original Luo Ying had made, but that didn¡¯t mean that she would allow others to bully her. She was not going to let this continue any further!


    ¡°Are you deaf or do you not understand human language? Anyway, it¡¯s up to you whether you want the video!¡± Luo Ying said impatiently.


    However, Lin Su concluded that she was playing hard to get. ¡°I advise you not to waste your time. No matter how many times I see you, I said I wouldn¡¯t like you and I mean it. So, you better take out your phone now and delete the video!¡±


    Who in this era doesn¡¯t bring their phones out? Luo Ying is trying to stall for time and find an excuse, but she can¡¯t come up with a decent one. She is really stupid.


    Lin Su¡¯s thoughts were written on his face. It made Luo Ying laugh.


    Seeing this, Tian Tian hurriedly added, ¡°Brother Lin Su, Yingying really didn¡¯t bring her phone. She was so excited to see you that she rushed out without preparing herself. She knew she could buy more time with you if she came without a phone.¡±


    According to Luo Ying¡¯s original plan, she was going to use this video to threaten Lin Su and force him to be with her. Tian Tian didn¡¯t know why Luo Ying would suddenly change her mind and drag her into this. She was furious and guessed that Luo Ying had forgotten everything the moment she saw Lin Su and only cared about following his wishes.


    After all, Lu Zhao had seen Luo Ying pestering Lin Su with her own eyes. He had also agreed to the divorce because Luo Ying had jumped off a building. Therefore, Tian Tian was certain of it. Since Luo Ying had caused her to be held accountable by Lin Su today, she didn¡¯t want things to go too smoothly for Luo Ying.


    As expected, Tian Tian¡¯s words made Lin Su even more certain that Luo Ying was just playing hard to get and that she was trying to find an excuse to spend more time with him. He sneered. ¡°If your acting skills were any better, I might have believed you more!¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes widened in an instant. This guy actually doubted her acting skills!


    As a top movie queen, all the reporters in the industry who had interviewed Luo Ying knew one thing: you could say that Luo Ying wasn¡¯t beautiful, but you could never say that she could not act!


    If not for the fact that the original Luo Ying¡¯s previous crimes were just as malicious as they were hopelessly stupid, Luo Ying would have demolished Lin Su on the spot. She didn¡¯t expect him to actually attack her acting skills!


    The corners of her lips curled up, and she started to ridicule him. ¡°It seems that my pestering has given you the illusion that you¡¯ve really become that person who is loved by everyone and who is the center of the universe.¡±


    Lin Su was not really that narcissistic, but it was strange for Luo Ying to say this. He was stunned for a moment and retorted, ¡°At the very least, I think that¡¯s how I am in your eyes.¡±


    ¡°Maybe, for a time. After all, it¡¯s said that love is blind, so it¡¯s normal for your eyes to be blinded by a veil and for reason to fly out the window. However, no matter how thick the veil was, it would not stay in place forever. Without that veil, people will eventually return to reality. There is only one thing that can make me love for a lifetime and never turn back, and that is money. I¡¯m sorry, my man.¡± Luo Ying glanced at him from head to toe. ¡°You are still far from this standard.¡±


    Lin Su¡¯s face turned ugly in an instant. Luo Ying had grown surprisingly eloquent today, and she was even more difficult to deal with than before. This realization gave Lin Su even more of a headache, and he felt unusually irritated.


    On the other side, Luo Ying was not yet done. ¡°I see that you¡¯re unhappy. Could it be that while you dislike me for pestering you, but you actually like me in your heart? Is that why you¡¯re not happy when I say that I wouldn¡¯t pester you?¡±


    After she finished speaking, she looked at him as if she was looking at a pervert.


    Lin Su was stunned. A thought did flash through his mind just now. If Luo Ying really stopped pestering him, what would the future be like?


    This thought had come and gone in a flash. He didn¡¯t care too much about it at first, but now that Luo Ying said it, he had the ridiculous sensation that a secret in his heart had been exposed.

 Chapter 3

    Thinking of this, Lin Su¡¯s face turned even colder, especially when he saw Luo Ying¡¯s eyes, viewing him as if she was looking at something strange. ¡°I think you¡¯re the one who has some form of delusion, right? ¡±


    Luo Ying spread her hands. ¡°Who knows? After all, you were the one reacting strangely. When I pestered you, you were unhappy. When I said I wouldn¡¯t pester you, you were still unhappy.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because I view you with such little regard. I cannot take any of your words at face value.¡± Lin Su snorted. ¡°Who knows what you¡¯re up to this time?¡±


    ¡°Whatever you say, that¡¯s your own business. Just don¡¯t pour your heart out to me, I don¡¯t want to hear it.¡± Luo Ying picked up her bag. ¡°You¡¯re like a nagging old lady, it¡¯s annoying.¡±


    ¡°F*ck you!¡± Lin Su pointed at her. He was so angry at her description that he was speechless.


    ¡°Alright, enough of that, enough of throwing a tantrum like a teenaged girl.¡± Luo Ying pushed his finger away. ¡°You better contact me quickly before I block you.¡±


    Lin Su took two deep breaths to suppress his anger. ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve gotten under my skin. Happy? You have my attention now. That was your plan, right?¡±


    Luo Ying, who was about to step out, rolled her eyes. She clicked her tongue and turned back to smile at Lin Su. Her eyes lingered on his face and body for a while. ¡°Your face and body do suit my tastes. It¡¯s a pity that you have a mouth, and the way you look at people is quite annoying. If I poison you mute and blind you, you should be much more pleasing to the eye than you are now.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s excited and eager expression, as well as her deliberately low and long vocalization, which made her sound particularly gloomy, successfully made Lin Su shiver.


    Why did he feel that Luo Ying was going crazy? Why did he actually believe her words? Even Tian Tian, who was standing beside her, was shocked.


    After successfully seeing a trace of fear in their eyes, Luo Ying laughed wildly. However, the next second, she saw the person standing outside the door, and her laughter stopped abruptly.


    This man was too handsome!


    If Lin Su had the sunny and handsome appearance of a reliable gentleman, the man in front of her was cool and handsome. He produced a strong sensual aura that made people drool and drove their imaginations wild.


    Compared to the former, the man outside the door was obviously more in line with Luo Ying¡¯s aesthetic!


    At the first sight of the other party, Luo Ying¡¯s fangirl nature almost gushed out. She subconsciously covered her face. She actually didn¡¯t manage her expression well just now. This was too unprofessional!


    However, the next second, something even more embarrassing happened.


    ¡°President Lu, why are you here?¡± Tian Tian was still immersed in the terrifying atmosphere that Luo Ying had deliberately created, but she had caught a glimpse of the person outside the door from the corner of her eye.


    A glint flashed across Tian Tian¡¯s eyes. She glanced at Lin Su, who was pursing his lips and not saying a word, and then at Luo Ying, who was frozen in place with her face covered. ¡°President Lu, let me explain. It¡¯s just a coincidence. Yingying and I agreed to come out and play. She definitely didn¡¯t run out of the hospital on purpose to meet Lin Su.¡±


    When she said this, the three people present produced different expressions.


    Luo Ying was dumbfounded. This handsome man in front of her was actually the Lu Zhao, who was about to divorce her?


    Luo Ying slapped her thigh in her heart and scolded the original Luo Ying in her heart again for being so blind and stupid. She had such a handsome husband, but she turned a blind eye to it and was still focused on Lin Su?


    Lin Su¡¯s sharp ears had heard the word ¡°hospital.¡± So, Luo Ying actually ran out of the hospital to see him. If it was true, then could it be true that she said she didn¡¯t bring her phone? However, if she wasn¡¯t lying, then what she had just said was true? This guess made Lin Su¡¯s mood complicated.


    As for Lu Zhao, he turned around and left. Luo Ying¡¯s decisiveness made him completely cold-hearted, and he decided to let go of her and not ask about her anymore. However, when he heard that Luo Ying had run out of the hospital and come to this clubhouse, he couldn¡¯t help but come out of his private room to take a look. As a result, as soon as he walked over, he heard Luo Ying¡¯s words about poisoning Lin Su mute and blinding him.


    It turned out that in Luo Ying¡¯s heart, Lin Su had already become such a deep-seated obsession. She wanted to get him by all means, even if it was just a shell in his likeness.

 Chapter 4

    This realization shocked Lu Zhao, and it even made him gaze upon himself with self-ridicule. At the same time, the sense of powerlessness in his heart grew stronger. Tian Tian¡¯s words had completely shattered the last bit of hope he had. At that moment, Lu Zhao only felt that he, who had deliberately run out, was a huge fool, so he turned and left.


    Tian Tian¡¯s words just now had been meant to stir up another fight between Lu Zhao and Luo Ying, to make them fight until they signed the divorce papers immediately. However, she didn¡¯t expect Lu Zhao to leave without a word, and Luo Ying to react so passively about it.


    Tian Tian, who had always felt that she was in control of the overall situation, suddenly panicked. She had a nagging feeling that everything was going out of control today.


    On the other side, Luo Ying looked at Lu Zhao¡¯s back and suddenly had an intuition in her heart. If she didn¡¯t chase after him now, she would lose this man forever. Luo Ying¡¯s intuition had always been accurate, and it had helped her avoid a lot of trouble since she was young.


    In the beginning, Luo Ying only wanted to cut the Gordian knot quickly and settle the dispute between Lin Su and Tian Tian. As for the engagement with Lu Zhao, she hadn¡¯t thought about how to deal with it yet. From the original book, Lu Zhao was undoubtedly a very good marriage partner. But she was the famous Luo Ying. There had never been a lack of excellent suitors around her, but she had never taken a fancy to any of them.


    That was why Luo Ying didn¡¯t think that she could easily take a liking to Lu Zhao. But now that she had seen Lu Zhao with her own eyes, she instantly changed her previous thoughts!


    Therefore, as soon as this intuition appeared in her mind, Luo Ying¡¯s first reaction was¡ªno! She threw all her previous considerations and speculations to the back of her mind and immediately caught up with him.


    Lu Zhao was nearly 1.9 meters tall and had long legs. Coupled with the anger in his heart, he was walking very briskly. Luo Ying had been lying in bed for two days and had just woken up today, so she was already in poor shape. She was panting and could not catch up to him, even when they ran to the parking lot.


    When she saw Lu Zhao take out his car keys, Luo Ying panicked and fell to the ground, letting out a loud cry.


    Lu Zhao heard movement behind him and stopped in his tracks, but he didn¡¯t turn back. He unlocked the car with a beep and was about to get in when Luo Ying¡¯s completely different sweet voice came from behind him.


    ¡°Hubby, I fell, and it hurts. I can¡¯t even stand up. Are you really going to leave me here?¡± Luo Ying was half-lying on the ground in a beautiful and tender posture, looking at him pleadingly with tears in her eyes.


    Lu Zhao was triggered by the word ¡°Hubby¡±. He took a deep breath and slammed the car door shut. He walked up to Luo Ying and looked down at her. ¡°Did you drink so much that you damaged your brain? Can¡¯t you recognize me?¡±


    Luo Ying disregarded his icy demeanor. She propped herself up and sat on the ground, stretching out her hands to look at him. ¡°Hubby, lift me up.¡±


    Lu Zhao looked at her trusting eyes and the sweet smile on her lips, and his heart ached a little.


    It turned out that she would also show this side in front of the person she liked, and not in front of him. In his presence, her whole body bristled with thorns. She would be ready to stab people at any time.


    Lu Zhao closed his eyes tightly. When he opened them, he saw that Luo Ying still had her arms stretched out, smiling and looking like she was asking for a hug. He really wanted to leave, but he was afraid that something would happen if he left a delirious girl here.


    Helplessly, he could only squat down and look at her. ¡°Luo Ying, look clearly. Who am I? ¡±


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t avoid his gaze. Instead, she held his face with both hands and rubbed it. ¡°I see it, as clear as day, you are my husband.¡±


    Lu Zhao, who had never been treated like this before, widened his eyes and subconsciously wanted to slap her hands away. However, Luo Ying seemed to have read his intent. She reached further back and pressed her entire body against his. She wrapped her arms around his neck, leaned her head on his shoulder, and gently rubbed his ear.


    The warmth and itchiness in his ear made Lu Zhao¡¯s body instantly stiffen. ¡°Luo Ying, wake up!¡±


    It was bad enough that Luo Ying had mistaken him for Lin Su, but she was even treating him as a substitute!


    Lu Zhao, who had always been proud, would allow her to be willful this once, on the account that she was his wife, but he would never allow her to step on his dignity again.

 Chapter 5

    Lu Zhao raised his hand to push her away, but he suddenly heard Luo Ying whisper in his ear, ¡°Hubby, let¡¯s not get a divorce, okay?¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s raised hand froze in midair. He frowned and thought for a moment to make sure he had not misheard it. Luo Ying had just uttered the word ¡°divorce,¡± so Luo Ying had not mistaken him for someone else and even called him hubby?


    Lu Zhao frowned. ¡°What are you getting at?¡±


    ¡°Hubby, can you carry me home?¡± With her chin over his shoulder, Luo Ying¡¯s nose twitched proudly out of his sight, but she continued to act coquettishly. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten anything all day. I¡¯m so hungry and exhausted.¡±


    At that moment, her stomach made a gurgling sound.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s hand was still frozen in the air, and he didn¡¯t know whether to pick her up or push her away. He couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Are you expecting me to praise you for that? You didn¡¯t eat all day, but decided that it was a good idea to come from the hospital to the clubhouse to get hammered?¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Zhao realized that something was wrong.


    Initially, he thought Luo Ying was drunk and acting crazy, but now that they were embracing one another, there was no smell of alcohol on Luo Ying, except for disinfectant and hospital medicine. She had not drunk at all, nor was she acting crazy.


    At that moment, Lu Zhao and Lin Su had the same thought. What was this woman up to this time? He didn¡¯t think that Luo Ying was trying to go back on her word. After all, in order to force him to divorce, she had even resorted to jumping off a building, or at least threatening to do so. Then what was the reason for Luo Ying¡¯s abnormal behavior now? Lu Zhao couldn¡¯t wrap his mind around it.


    Luo Ying obviously didn¡¯t want to give him a chance to figure it out. ¡°Hmph, it¡¯s all your fault. You knew I was chasing you, but you still walked so fast. In the end, I panicked and fell.¡±


    Lu Zhao didn¡¯t understand her intentions and didn¡¯t dare to act rashly. Seeing that she was still trying to blame her plight on him, he laughed in anger. ¡°I did not ask to be chased.¡±


    In any case, every time the two of them quarreled, and he turned around to leave, Luo Ying had never once attempted to chase him. Now that the two of them were about to get a divorce, and she had finally fulfilled her long-cherished wish, what was she trying to pull here?


    Was she pitying him? Lu Zhao thought to himself that she¡¯d better not even head down that path, or he wasn¡¯t sure what he would do.


    Luo Ying said matter-of-factly, ¡°You¡¯re my husband. Of course, I¡¯d chase you.¡±


    Lu Zhao was speechless for a moment. Were the two of them that close?


    Luo Ying was still mumbling, ¡°Look at you. You¡¯re so tall and your legs are so long. My short legs need to work twice as hard to keep up, and you just had to walk so fast. That made things really difficult for me.¡±


    Luo Ying had looked in the mirror before she left. The Luo Ying in the book looked exactly like her. This made Luo Ying wonder if the author of the book hated her and deliberately wrote her into the book and then tortured her in this fictional work.


    However, these were all just Luo Ying¡¯s speculations. She didn¡¯t know if they were true or not. Of course, this wasn¡¯t the main point. Regardless, both Luo Yings were in the entertainment industry as idols, so she naturally wouldn¡¯t be short.


    She was 168 cm tall, which was the ideal height for both singing and dancing idols on stage and actors. However, she ended up being petite in front of Lu Zhao, who was over 190 cm tall.


    This was also one of the reasons why Lu Zhao could allow Luo Ying to hug him and make a scene without losing his composure, and why he did not push her away just yet.


    One of his palms could cover her back. He was afraid that if he pushed her away, he would accidentally break her.


    Thus, Lu Zhao could only jab away with his mouth. ¡°According to what you¡¯re saying, this is all my fault?¡±


    Luo Ying gently nodded her head that was resting on his shoulder. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s your fault.¡±


    Lu Zhao felt so little strength being exerted by her, but her sharp chin seemed to stab straight into his shoulder blade, turning his legs into jelly.


    He moved his shoulders uncomfortably, but Luo Ying hugged him even tighter, and he dared not move. ¡°Since you despise me so much, why don¡¯t you let me go?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who caused me to be in this state. You¡¯re not allowed to leave me behind.¡± Luo Ying pressed the attack. ¡°I¡¯m clearly giving you a chance to make up for your mistakes.¡±


    Lu Zhao raised his eyebrows. ¡°Am I supposed to thank you for that?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessary,¡± Luo Ying said generously. ¡°I¡¯ll punish you by carrying me home.¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes darkened, and he confirmed it again. ¡°Luo Ying, do you hear yourself speak? Are you sure about this?¡±

 Chapter 6

    ¡°Of course, I know what I¡¯m talking about.¡± Luo Ying pouted. ¡°So, tell me, are you going to carry me or not? My feet hurt so much. I can¡¯t walk at all.


    Lu Zhao was helpless. ¡°Can you let go of me, first?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± Luo Ying refused, squeezing her throat and pretending to sob. ¡°Do you want to leave an injured and weak woman like me here? This parking lot is so big and quiet. What if a criminal suddenly shows up? I¡¯m so beautiful, and I take such good care of my figure. What if they have bad intentions? My leg is injured again, and I won¡¯t be able to run away at all. A day as husband and wife means a hundred day of gratitude. Can you really bear to see me in danger and turn a blind eye? Oh, why is my life so bitter? I don¡¯t want to live anymore.¡±


    Lu Zhao was speechless. Nothing had happened yet, and he was already the heartless man who didn¡¯t care about her well-being? Unable to stand up to Luo Ying¡¯s pestering, Lu Zhao had no choice but to pick her up and put her in the passenger seat.


    ¡°Alright, stop pretending to cry. Put on your seat belt. Where do you want to go? I¡¯ll take you there.¡±


    ¡°Of course, we¡¯re going back to our home.¡± As Luo Ying fastened her seat belt, she skillfully opened the glove compartment and rummaged through it, trying to find some snacks.


    Lu Zhao glanced at her and said nothing. He turned the steering wheel and drove out of the parking lot.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you have any snacks in your car?¡± Luo Ying rummaged around but couldn¡¯t find anything to eat. She touched her growling stomach and was a little dissatisfied.


    Lu Zhao pursed his lips. ¡°I eat my three meals a day normally. I don¡¯t partake in snacks.¡± Besides, it would mess the car up.


    This didn¡¯t fit Lu Zhao¡¯s lifestyle at all, but of course, he left the last part out.


    ¡°Then your life must be so tragically boring. Snacks are so delicious, and you don¡¯t allow yourself the indulgence?¡± Luo Ying couldn¡¯t understand it.


    Lu Zhao smiled indifferently. ¡°You are constantly starving yourself to stave weight off. Why would you think about snacks?¡±


    Luo Ying pinched her arm. It was so thin that it was almost skin and bones. It looked like a thin bamboo branch, which displeased her.


    She had been trained in dancing since her childhood, so her muscles were particularly toned and her figure filled her clothes out gracefully. One look, and you could tell that she had been trained for a long time, unlike her current body, which was soft and limp. One look, and you could tell that she was borderline anorexic.


    Luo Ying had always believed in eating well and training well. She put her hand on her chin; her face stern and solemn. After this accident, I¡¯ve completely understood that people should really eat well. Otherwise, what if my legs go weak and I fall off a building again?¡±


    After Lu Zhao heard this, he sneered. ¡°What, you want to jump off again?¡±


    Luo Ying wagged her finger. ¡°No, no, no. Jumping off a building once is enough.¡± She looked at Lu Zhao with a dark expression. ¡°You may not know this, but when people have a close brush with death, many things become as clear as crystal.¡±


    ¡°So after you jumped off the building once, you learned that you have to eat well?¡±


    ¡°How can I only comprehend that little? Jumping off buildings to gain inspiration would be awfully wasted on me.¡± Luo Ying touched her chin. ¡°At least after this, I understand who I should cherish and what I should do.¡±


    The original Luo Ying¡¯s personality was too extreme, too stupid, and too repressed. Luo Ying didn¡¯t like it, and she wanted to live as she wished. So, she wanted to use the incident of jumping off the building as an excuse for her sudden change in personality.


    Upon hearing her words, Lu Zhao was silent for a moment. ¡°So, is this why you¡¯re having second thoughts about our divorce?¡±


    Luo Ying nodded her head repeatedly and told the truth, ¡°Yes, because I just realized that you are too handsome. I can¡¯t bear to let you go.¡±


    However, Lu Zhao only thought she was talking nonsense. ¡°I¡¯ve already asked the lawyer to draft the agreement. We can sign it immediately when we get back.¡± When he saw Luo Ying pouting unhappily, he added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the agreement was drawn up according to your request. After all, no matter what you do, you¡¯re still my wife in name. I won¡¯t mistreat you.¡±


    He, Lu Zhao, wasn¡¯t a petty person.


    Luo Ying grabbed the seat belt with both hands, leaned over, and stared at his face with a pair of burning eyes. ¡°But, no matter how much money you give me, it¡¯s not as cost-effective as me having you as a hubby.¡±

 Chapter 7

    Luo Ying¡¯s gilded words shocked Lu Zhao so much that he jerked on the steering wheel, and the car ran in a Z-shape on the road. Fortunately, there weren¡¯t many cars on this road, and Lu Zhao had regained control in time, so nothing major happened. But the jolting still gave the two of them a shock.


    ¡°Do you want to die?¡± Lu Zhao scolded her sternly. ¡°Hurry up and sit back down.¡±


    Luo Ying stuck out her tongue mischievously and patted her frightened little heart. She cherished her life very much and sat back down obediently, not daring to tease him anymore.


    Without any further disturbances from Luo Ying, the two finally returned to the villa safely.


    As soon as the car stopped, Luo Ying reached out to him. ¡°Carry me in.¡±


    Housekeeper Zhang, who was in the villa, heard the commotion and came out. She saw that the two individuals, who often gave each other equally cold shoulders, had returned in the same car. She was surprised when she saw Lu Zhao actually open the door to the front passenger seat and princess-carry Luo Ying out.


    Although she didn¡¯t know what was going on, she still ran over and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is Madam not feeling well?¡±


    Lu Zhao first put Luo Ying on the sofa in the living room, and then went to the entrance to change his shoes.


    Luo Ying was wearing a knee-length skirt today. As soon as she sat down, her skirt hiked up, revealing her two injured knees.


    Luo Ying was able to become a top singer and dancer at such a young age and win the throne of the best Actress. There was no clearer indication of her efforts and dedication into her arts. Therefore, when she fell on cement ground just now, instead of faking it like some actors, she could bite down on the pain and put on an act that diverted his attention from her very real injuries.


    On the way home, the bruises had begun to scab. In addition, the bruises had begun to turn purple, so her knees looked red, blue, and purple. It was quite serious.


    Luo Ying knew in her heart that the wound only looked terrible, but such pain was nothing to her.


    But the other two were not sure. When Zhang saw this, she shook her head repeatedly. ¡°Oh dear, how did you take such a bad fall?¡±


    Lu Zhao had thought she was just fooling around with him, so he had not taken a closer look at her. Now that he saw the wound, he couldn¡¯t help but frown.


    He instructed Zhang, ¡°Give Dr. Fu a call and ask him to come over quickly.¡±


    Such a wound was not a big deal when she was practicing her dance and acting. Luo Ying didn¡¯t want to waste any more time, so she quickly stopped her, ¡°There¡¯s no need to go through all that trouble. Just bring the first aid kit over, disinfect the wound, and apply some medicine.¡±


    Zhang, who had just picked up the phone, hesitated for a moment. She didn¡¯t know who to listen to. ¡°Should I still call Dr. Fu over?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s already so late, don¡¯t bother the old man over such a petty incident.¡± From the original book, she knew that Dr. Fu was a famous specialist. He had once injured his wrist and could no longer perform surgery, so he retired prematurely. However, because of his outstanding medical skills, the Lu family paid a high price to hire him as their family doctor. He would occasionally treat them for some minor illnesses and check on their bodies.


    ¡°It¡¯s rare for you to be this considerate.¡± Lu Zhao remarked snidely, and Luo Ying rolled her eyes at him.


    His gaze moved down from the wound on Luo Ying¡¯s knee. She had already kicked off her shoes and socks, revealing a pair of white and delicate feet. Her ten toes were currently entangled with each other.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes lingered on her delicate feet for a moment, then he looked away. Since she was still in the mood to play with her toes, it could not be as bad as it looked, so he instructed Zhang, ¡°Don¡¯t call the doctor yet, bring the first aid kit over.


    Zhang nodded and was about to turn around to get the first aid kit when she heard Lu Zhao say, ¡°I¡¯m a little hungry. Can you cook two bowls of noodles first?¡± He glanced at Luo Ying and paused for a moment. ¡°No scallions for one of them. Just coriander.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Wow, how did you know I don¡¯t like to eat onions? You¡¯ve really been paying attention to me.¡±


    Lu Zhao raised the corners of his mouth and said venomously, ¡°I wonder. I wonder, what caused that incident last time? Just because there were more green onions in the dish, someone lost their temper and sent their bowl flying. It caused such a big scene. How could I not remember it?¡±


    Luo Ying recalled the plot in the book and realized that it was indeed true. At that time, the original Luo Ying had decided to get a divorce and wanted to take every opportunity to displease Lu Zhao, so she had used this as a spark.


    Sigh, every sin that the original Luo Ying had committed was about to turn around and bite her.

 Chapter 8

    Luo Ying lamented in her heart about the difficulties that lay ahead of her. She scratched her nose in embarrassment and tried to change the subject. ¡°Ah! Hahaha, so something like this happened. Why don¡¯t I remember?¡±


    Lu Zhao didn¡¯t bother to discern whether she really forgot or pretended to forget. He took the first aid box from Zhang and took out the iodophor from inside. ¡°I¡¯ll wash your wound first. It¡¯ll hurt a little, so bear with it.¡±


    Luo Ying said in a low voice, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Lu Zhao originally thought that Luo Ying would definitely fidget during this process, but he didn¡¯t expect that, in spite of her delicate appearance, she didn¡¯t make a sound during the process of treating the wound.


    He clearly saw her gasp in pain several times, but she still didn¡¯t cry out in pain or flinch. This made Lu Zhao gain a little respect for her, and at the same time, his impression of Luo Ying was refreshed.


    By the time the wound was treated, Zhang had already finished cooking the noodles. The finely cut chicken was served with broth, refreshing side dishes, bean sprouts, and shredded cucumber. A bowl of hot chicken noodles was ready.


    Considering Luo Ying¡¯s previous appetite, Zhang only gave her a bowl that was just slightly over half-filled. The bowl in front of Lu Zhao was a full, hearty serving.


    When Luo Ying saw the difference, she unhappily pouted and complained, ¡°Zhang, you¡¯re biased. Why did you give him so much and me so little?¡±


    Zhang had seen her send bowls flying before and thought that she was unhappy and was going to make a fuss again. She rubbed her hands nervously and didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Lu Zhao waved her off, then personally switched their bowls. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s eat¡±


    Luo Ying looked at the bowl full of noodles in front of her and smiled very happily, but she playfully remarked, ¡°You¡¯re eating so little, won¡¯t your stomach rumble at night? Why don¡¯t you have mine?¡±


    Lu Zhao, who wasn¡¯t hungry to begin with, looked up at her. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s switch then.¡±


    Luo Ying immediately shut up and quickly picked up a bowl of noodles with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth. ¡°Ah, too late. I¡¯ve already eaten, so I can¡¯t give you this bowl of noodles.¡±


    Lu Zhao could only helplessly shake his head at the rascal.


    After finishing their meal, Luo Ying also took her phone and sat on the sofa.


    First, she blocked all the messages and video calls from Tian Tian, who was losing her mind. Then, she tried her best to search for any information related to the original Luo Ying.


    Although she had read the novel, she needed more firsthand details. She had to get used to this body and the surrounding environment as soon as possible.


    Lu Zhao came out of the study with a document in his hand and placed it in front of Luo Ying. ¡°Take a look. If there are no problems, sign it.¡±


    Sigh, she still had to deal with this matter.


    Luo Ying sighed. She put down her phone and picked up the divorce agreement. After reading it from beginning to end, she raised her eyebrows. ¡°You¡¯re this generous to such a treacherous, wilful wife!¡± Her tone was so casual, as if she was referring to someone else.


    Lu Zhao did not elaborate any further and spoke lightly. ¡°I¡¯m giving you everything that I ought to give you.¡± Then, he handed her a black pen and said, ¡°If there are no problems, please sign your name.¡±


    Luo Ying was puzzled. He was such a good man, but the original Luo Ying did not even spare him a glance. How was she this blind?


    ¡°But I don¡¯t want to sign it.¡± Luo Ying didn¡¯t take the pen in front of her. Then, she used force with both hands, and the agreement was torn into two halves in the middle. Then, she folded and tore it in two, and it became four pieces.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Lu Zhao thought she was messing around again, and a hint of anger flashed across his eyes as he warned her in a dangerous tone.


    ¡°Luo Ying, my patience has a limit.¡± Don¡¯t test me again and again. I am not sure what I would do.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you so many times just now. I don¡¯t want to sign this. I don¡¯t want to divorce you.¡± Luo Ying looked at him with a serious face.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°You were the one who wanted a divorce, and now you¡¯re also the one tearing up the divorce agreement. Luo Ying, what do you take me for? Am I someone expected to come to heel when you call, just as casually as you would send me off?¡±


    Luo Ying threw the agreement on the table. ¡°I¡¯ve told you just now. After my near-death experience, I¡¯ve thought it through. You¡¯re the one I want to cherish, so I don¡¯t want a divorce.¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s face darkened, and he stared at her for three seconds, then turned back to the study. ¡°I¡¯ll get the lawyer to prepare another agreement. You should think it through as soon as possible and sign it. It spares everyone a lot of pain.¡±

 Chapter 9

    Luo Ying looked at his retreating back, put her hands to her mouth, and shouted through her makeshift loudspeaker, ¡°If I say I won¡¯t sign it, I won¡¯t sign it. No matter how many copies you prepare, I won¡¯t sign it.¡±


    Lu Zhao slammed the door of the study.


    ¡°You¡¯re just going to leave me here like this and not carry me back to my room?¡± Luo Ying pouted, then put on her slippers and limped up the stairs to the second floor.


    When he heard that, Lu Zhao opened the study door and saw her climbing the stairs step by step. Although she was a little slow, her movements were still nimble, completely different from how she had been crying and screaming just now.


    ¡°Liar!¡± Lu Zhao coldly slammed the door shut again.


    Luo Ying heard the collision and looked back. She only saw the closed study door and muttered, ¡°What was that about?¡± What did the door ever do to him?


    Lu Zhao, who was in the study, was lost in thought. Luo Ying had been abnormal in every way today, as if she had changed into a different person. Did she really hurt her head?


    He gave his assistant a call. ¡°Make an appointment for the Madam with the best psychiatrist.¡±


    As Lu Zhao¡¯s most trusted aide, Xiao Ting naturally knew what had happened between him and Luo Ying. So when he found out that the two were going to get a divorce, he had heaved a sigh of relief. He believed that Lu Zhao was finally free and didn¡¯t have to face that crazy woman Luo Ying anymore.


    Now, in the middle of the night, Lu Zhao actually asked him to make an appointment with a psychiatrist for Luo Ying?


    Could it be that Luo Ying had damaged her brain, or had she just been discharged from the hospital and was causing trouble again?


    Xiao Ting was extremely curious, but he did not dare to probe him about it. He could only hold it in and continue speculating. Would his boss be alright?


    Luo Ying still didn¡¯t know that Lu Zhao suspected that she had damaged her brain. After a whole day of torment, she only felt like her bones were falling apart. Even so, she was finally cleaned up and was lying on a soft bed. She was so tired that she could fall asleep the moment she closes her eyes.


    However, sleep did not come easily. No matter how well she could take matters in stride, how could she remain completely indifferent to this inexplicable transmigration?


    She had been in the entertainment industry for a long time, so she was used to hiding her emotions and pretending in front of outsiders. Now that she was the only one in the big room, she could shed the mask. Her longing for her family and the panic and uneasiness in an unfamiliar environment all came out at once.


    In the complete silence, Luo Ying¡¯s heart was calling for her parents and her brothers. She bit the blanket and cried hard to express her grievances. She felt euphorically better, but she still couldn¡¯t fall asleep in the darkness.


    At that moment, there was thunder outside, and it started to rain. Luo Ying sat in the dark with a pillow in her arms for a while, then climbed out of bed.


    Ever since they got married, Luo Ying had metaphorically flailed and kicked and threw everything but the kitchen sink in protest, so the two had been sleeping in separate rooms. After Lu Zhao finished dealing with the company¡¯s affairs, it was already past twelve. He came out of the bathroom and was about to go to bed when he heard a knock on the door.


    He did not even have to guess who would be so daring. Lu Zhao originally wanted to ignore it, but the person outside kept knocking on his door. He couldn¡¯t take it anymore, so he got out of bed and opened the door, only to see Luo Ying standing outside with a pillow in her arms.


    ¡°It¡¯s thundering outside. I¡¯m scared. Can I sleep with you tonight?¡±


    Lu Zhao rubbed his temples, feeling a headache setting in. ¡°Luo Ying, have you lost it? Do you even know what you¡¯re saying?¡±


    Seeing that he didn¡¯t reject her immediately, Luo Ying knew that she had a chance. She ignored his cold face and directly ducked under his arm, entering the room. Lu Zhao wanted to stop her, but Luo Ying pointed at the wound on her knee. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me. What if my legs give way and I fall again?¡±


    In order not to touch her wounds, Luo Ying wore a short nightdress today, so she stood there, revealing the two wounds on her knees. It was just enough for her to complete her pitiful, coquettish act.


    Lu Zhao saw that she was still talking about the injury on her knee and prepared to mock her for climbing the stairs so swiftly just now. When she entered his room, her hands and feet had been so nimble. Did her legs have any reason to buckle, now?


    However, the moment he was about to open his mouth, he noticed that the corners of Luo Ying¡¯s eyes were red, and there were obvious signs of crying. He was stunned for a moment, and unconsciously swallowed the words he was about to say. He said stiffly, ¡°I¡¯m not a very gentle sleeper. If I accidentally kick you, that¡¯s on you.¡±

 Chapter 10

    When she realized that Lu Zhao wasn¡¯t going to chase her away, Luo Ying smiled happily. ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t sleep well either, so when I get into bed, I don¡¯t know who¡¯s going to kick who.¡±


    Lu Zhao said nothing, but when the two of them laid down, he immediately regretted letting her in. As soon as they laid down, Luo Ying turned over and directly snuggled into his arms. Using both her hands and feet to burrow in, she ended up with her entire body half-sprawled on him.


    He could not determine if it was the sweet scent of her shower gel, her shampoo, or her skin care products, but his nose was instantly filled with her scent. The unbelievably soft sensation of her skin pressed against his chest. Lu Zhao¡¯s breathing became heavier, and his mind went blank for a moment.


    He gritted his teeth and asked the question he had asked for the umpteenth time tonight. ¡°What are you doing?!¡±


    Just as he was about to push her away, Luo Ying unhappily jerked her waist twice. The trembling and throbbing caused by the body-to-body contact made Lu Zhao freeze. He did not dare to move again.


    Luo Ying adjusted her position and laid down more comfortably. Perhaps she was too sleepy, or perhaps it was because she had read enough of the novels to know that this person would not hurt her. Whatever the case was, her tense cognizance finally eased up. Within a few seconds, she fell asleep, and her breathing became long and even.


    After Lu Zhao felt the change in her breathing, he almost chuckled in manic anger. Luo Ying found him to be such a nice bed?


    Did she regard him so nobly, or was she taking him so lightly?


    Unfortunately, Luo Ying was already in a deep sleep, so there was no way to answer this question.


    Lu Zhao was afraid of waking Luo Ying up and causing trouble again. Neither of them would be able to have a peaceful night, so he did not dare to move again.


    But even so, he was a hot-blooded, 25-year-old man, with a woman in his arms, and this woman was one he had once loved deeply. How could Lu Zhao not react at all?


    He looked up at his lower body. There was already a bump there. He took two deep breaths, suppressed the vigor in his body, lay down again, and closed his eyes. He tried to ignore Luo Ying¡¯s existence in his heart. In his mind, he went through the company¡¯s matters again and again. He stayed up late into the night. When he finally couldn¡¯t take it anymore, he fell asleep.


    Luo Ying slept all the way until dawn. When she woke up, she was the only one left on the bed. She rubbed her eyes and yawned as she went downstairs. She happened to see Zhang packing her things, so she casually asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Lu Zhao?¡±


    Zhang was facing Luo Ying alone. She was still a little scared because of what had happened before. Her voice unconsciously carried an undertone of jitteriness. ¡°Sir woke up at seven and drove out after breakfast.¡±


    Luo Ying looked up at the time and realized that it was already past ten. No wonder, when she looked out from the balcony just now, the sun had already risen high.


    Noticing the nervousness in Zhang¡¯s expression, Luo Ying knew that this was the sin of the original Luo Ying. She was not in a hurry to restore her image, so she just asked casually, ¡°Is there anything to eat in the kitchen? I¡¯m hungry.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, yes. Old Chen got up early this morning and made some small wontons. They can be put into the pot immediately. Would you like a bowl of small wontons, or would you like Old Chen to prepare a Western-style breakfast for you?¡±


    Old Chen was the chef hired by the villa. He had something to do at home yesterday, so he took a leave of absence and went home. Because Lu Zhao loved to eat Chinese, he had picked a piece of fresh meat when he passed by the market early in the morning, chopped it by hand, and wrapped it in some small wonton.


    Lu Zhao had a bowl in the morning, and he and Zhang had also eaten some, so there was still about one person¡¯s portion left, which had been specially reserved for Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying couldn¡¯t help but swallow her saliva when she heard the word ¡®small wonton¡¯. ¡°I¡¯ll have small wonton, then. Do be generous with them.¡±


    Seeing that she didn¡¯t have too many requests and didn¡¯t make things difficult for her, Zhang immediately heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Okay, no scallions, just coriander, right? I¡¯ll get Old Chen to prepare them. It¡¯ll be ready in about ten minutes.¡±


    Luo Ying made an ¡°OK¡± gesture, indicating that she would go up to wash up first and come down later.


    As soon as she went downstairs, her cell phone, which happened to be in her room, rang again. It was a call from her fake best friend, Tian Tian.


    After last night¡¯s incident, Tian Tian had received a warning from Lin Su and felt very aggrieved. In addition, Luo Ying didn¡¯t quarrel with Lu Zhao, and instead chased after him. She was very worried that something would happen to their divorce, so she started to call Luo Ying like a demented woman.


    Unfortunately, Luo Ying only had Lu Zhao in her mind last night and completely blocked her. Now that she was free, she could play with her.


    Luo Ying put on the isolation cream on her face and put it on speaker.

 Chapter 11

    ¡°Luo Ying, woman, are you crazy? Why didn¡¯t you answer my calls? Do you know how many times I called you since last night?¡± As soon as the call connected, Tian Tian¡¯s anxious voice could be heard from the other end of the line.


    Luo Ying moved closer to the mirror and spotted a pimple on her face. She was a little unhappy. She thought that she should head to a Beauty Club to do her beauty, but she didn¡¯t know which club had better services. Should she go and check her bag to see which Beauty Club¡¯s VIP card she had?


    As she thought about these questions, she casually replied, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I just only got a hold of my phone. You do remember that I ended up falling off a building the other day when I threatened Lu Zhao for a divorce, so I didn¡¯t know where it went. It was only when I remembered it this morning that I asked the attendants at home and found out that Lu Zhao helped me pack my things and brought them home that very day. I was thinking of buying a new one today, but I guess there¡¯s no need for that now.¡±


    When she heard from Luo Ying that Lu Zhao was so attentive to her, Tian Tian was very unhappy, but she was already used to holding it in, so she reined in her emotions. ¡°You know, I saw you chasing after him yesterday, and I was worried that Lu Zhao would do something to you. I was afraid that something might have happened to you, and I couldn¡¯t contact you. That was why my tone was so harsh, just now.¡±


    Luo Ying made a gagging expression in front of the mirror and said perfunctorily, ¡°I know. Tian Tian, you¡¯ve always been the best to me.¡±


    After she had crossed that hurdle, Tian Tian immediately brought up the pressing matter in her mind. ¡°Speaking of which, why didn¡¯t you pick a fight with Lu Zhao yesterday? Why did you chase after him, instead? Did you want something from him?¡±


    Lu Zhao, who had forgotten an important document and had rushed back from the company, happened to be on the second floor. Just as he was about to open the door and enter the study, he heard the phone ringing in Luo Ying¡¯s room. His hand paused, and he didn¡¯t open the door, but listened quietly.


    Lu Zhao was also very curious to know why Luo Ying would chase after him and change her mind about not signing the divorce papers.


    Luo Ying was unaware that Lu Zhao was outside the door. As she popped her pimples, she casually said, ¡°I wanted something from Lu Zhao, of course. The moment I spotted him, it set in. Although he agreed to the divorce, we haven¡¯t settled the terms in the divorce papers yet.¡±


    Tian Tian¡¯s heart tightened at the mention of the divorce agreement. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you¡¯d agree to whatever conditions Lu Zhao sets, as long as a divorce is happening?¡±


    Luo Ying continued working in front of the mirror. ¡°Originally, I thought so too. But while I lay in the hospital bed, I realized the gravity of the situation. It¡¯s a full-fledged. If I don¡¯t make something out of him, I¡¯d be at a huge disadvantage. If I get a divorce, I¡¯d have to prepare for a second marriage.¡±


    Outside the door, Lu Zhao heard Luo Ying¡¯s words and laughed self-depreciatingly. So this was her plan, and that was why she tore up the divorce agreement?


    But after having a moment for his thoughts, he was a little uncertain. Something did not add up. If Luo Ying was simply trying to gain more benefits from him, then she would not have mentioned anything along the lines of him being ¡°very generous¡± after reading the divorce papers last night.


    On the other end of the phone, Tian Tian¡¯s reaction was much more intense than the two prospective divorcees. She had set her heart on becoming Mrs. Lu, so in Tian Tian¡¯s eyes, Lu Zhao¡¯s assets were her assets.


    Luo Ying was aiming to get more of Lu Zhao¡¯s assets. Wasn¡¯t that the same as taking her assets?


    ¡°No!¡± She shouted into the phone in agitation.


    After that outburst, she realized that she had lost her composure. She was afraid of arousing Luo Ying¡¯s suspicion, so she continued, ¡°Haven¡¯t you been in a hurry to divorce him? He¡¯s finally agreed to your request, so you should hurry up and get him to sign it. What if Lu Zhao reneges on his promise? So, I think the most important thing now is to sign the divorce papers with him.¡±


    Although Tian Tian reacted quickly and gave an explanation, Lu Zhao, who had heard every word outside the door, knew that something was wrong.


    From what Tian Tian said, why was she in such a hurry to get Luo Ying to divorce him? The urgency in her attitude was even more extreme than Luo Ying¡¯s. What puzzled Lu Zhao even more was how Luo Ying seemed to take it all in stride.

 Chapter 12

    The pimples were finally cleaned up. When she heard Tian Tian¡¯s next words, she sneered silently at the mirror. ¡°Hurry up and get a divorce, so you can have some space, alright?¡±


    ¡°I wish for that too,¡± she said. ¡°But look at Lu Zhao. It¡¯s true that he¡¯s a little temperamental, he¡¯s quite the man of his word. Since he has already given me his word, we can rest assure that he¡¯ll keep them.¡±


    Outside the door, Lu Zhao¡¯s cheeks stiffened up, trapped between an unsure smile and a grimace. It was rare to hear Luo Ying praise him. If this topic did not involve their divorce, he might have been a little happier.


    ¡°You know all too well how badly I want to enter the entertainment industry. If I leave Lu Zhao, living without money or power will take some getting used to. I also wouldn¡¯t know when I¡¯ll be able to make a name for myself. If I don¡¯t make a safety net for myself now, how am I going to live my life in the future?¡±


    Tian Tian didn¡¯t expect Luo Ying to say something like that. Wasn¡¯t love more important than anything else in her life? Her heart was only set on brother Lin Su. She never worldly possessions like money a second thought.


    Tian Tian could not understand why Luo Ying seemed to have changed into a completely different person in just a few days. Yesterday, she had been uncharacteristically harsh to Lin Su and even dragged her down with her. Today, she was planning to take a cut of Lu Zhao¡¯s flesh. She had clearly wanted to stay as far away from Lu Zhao as possible and draw a clear line with him. She seemed to repulse every aspect of his existence.


    Tian Tian didn¡¯t know why this change had occurred. She was afraid that Luo Ying and Lu Zhao would get more entwined with each other, and the longer they dragged on, the more variables would appear in their divorce. So, she continued to defame Lu Zhao as she usually did, hoping to scare Luo Ying. ¡°Have you forgotten what I told you?¡±


    ¡°Lu Zhao is a demon trapped in human flesh. The reason the Luya Group grew so rapidly over the past few years is because Lu Zhao took the helm. That man who would do anything to achieve his goals. He won¡¯t stop, even if they are far from legal. His methods are also particularly cruel. Those who have stood in his way or offended him have all been dealt with particularly miserably by him. You cuckolded him, but instead of hiding far away, you¡¯re trying to approach him and demand for a cut of his assets. Are you tired of living?¡±


    Outside the door, Lu Zhao raised his eyebrows. He was indeed swift and decisive in his actions, but he was still far from the level of a demon, right? Lu Zhao¡¯s heart felt a pang of bitterness. Luo Ying had been so cantankerous to him all this time. Was it because she believed the slander her best friends had against him?


    Lu Zhao, who didn¡¯t realize that he had not been far off the mark, felt a heart of lead weighing down his chest. For a moment, he didn¡¯t know if he should explain himself to Luo Ying, but then he heard her say, ¡°I don¡¯t know what Lu Zhao is like out there, but he¡¯s been quite tolerant of me.¡±


    If Lu Zhao was really as ruthless as Tian Tian said, he would not have put up with the antics of the original Luo Ying. If he had caught her confessing to another man and forcing him to divorce her by jumping off a building, he would¡¯ve crushed her into pieces a long time ago. Why would he give in to her and even draft such a generous divorce agreement?


    When she remembered how Lu Zhao carried her all the way home, carefully treated her wounds, and even asked Zhang to prepare noodles for her, Luo Ying¡¯s heart warmed up, and she couldn¡¯t help but defend Lu Zhao.


    Tian Tian¡¯s heart skipped a beat when she heard Luo Ying¡¯s words. Didn¡¯t Luo Ying hate Lu Zhao to death before? Why would she suddenly turn around and speak for him? She said anxiously, ¡°That¡¯s because you were still married to him, so he put up with you. But now that he has agreed to divorce you and draw the line, there is nothing between the two of you anymore. If you continue to anger him, who knows what that demon would do?¡±


    After hearing what she said, Lu Zhao was now completely certain that there was something acutely wrong with Tian Tian. He just didn¡¯t know what Luo Ying was thinking, and whether she would continue to listen to her.


    At this thought, Lu Zhao took out his phone and sent a message to his assistant, asking him to check on this woman, Tian Tian.


    ¡°Ohh¡­¡± Luo Ying deliberately dragged out that utterance. While Tian Tian was burning with anxiety, she suddenly threw a random question. ¡°If Lu Zhao is such a dangerous person, why did you encourage me to divorce him and push me to Lin Su¡¯s side? Aren¡¯t you afraid that I¡¯ll anger him, and he¡¯ll come after me?¡±

 Chapter 13

    Tian Tian was shocked to hear Luo Ying¡¯s words. This had never dawned upon her before, so where did all this astuteness come from?


    Fortunately, Tian Tian had already thought of an answer to this question. Therefore, she only panicked for a moment on the other end of the phone before she calmed down. ¡°I¡¯m just watching you live in pain all day. You¡¯re so devoted to Lin Su, but you can¡¯t get him. You and Lu Zhao were pushed into this marriage. But perhaps, it¡¯s better to have a short bout of pain than a long, chronic one. That way, you can at least live with Lin Su, and you won¡¯t have to be entangled with Lu Zhao for the rest of your life, suffering.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you had given it all so much thought. I¡¯m sorry, I misunderstood you.¡± Luo Ying pretended to be very touched. Outside the door, Lu Zhao didn¡¯t see Luo Ying¡¯s contemptuous expression as she drew her brows, so he thought that she had fallen for Tian Tian¡¯s words yet again. He was resentful that she had failed to live up to his expectations.


    On the other hand, Tian Tian was a little afraid that Luo Ying would soon investigate and learn why she had repeatedly interfered in their marriage, so she could only suppress the anxiety in her heart. She thought that even if Luo Ying really wanted to get a divorce and split the family assets, Lu Zhao probably wouldn¡¯t agree to it. This mess would take some time to settle, so she could still find another opportunity to stir things up.


    After making up her mind, she immediately changed the topic and asked in a reproachful tone, ¡°Why did you suddenly change your attitude yesterday? Didn¡¯t you say that you wanted to use that video to threaten Lin Su and force him to be with you? Why did you suddenly change your mind and just give him the video? You even insulted Lin Su and made him angry!¡±


    Of course, what she really meant to ask was, why did she point out that the original video was with her and dragged her into the water? Lin Su¡¯s ire had been directed to her as much as it was to Luo Ying.


    As soon as Tian Tian said this, Lu Zhao, who was standing outside the door, suddenly stood up straight. He clenched his fists subconsciously and listened attentively to Luo Ying¡¯s answer.


    ¡°I was too stupid before, and I took it for granted.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s voice was deep, and her tone was full of remorse. ¡°Lin Su only has Su Ran in his mind. He will not spare any other woman a second glance. If I threaten him like this, it will only make him hate me more. So, I thought that instead of angering him and pushing him further away, I might as well give him the video. This way, I can change his impression of me and perhaps appease him.¡±


    Tian Tian panicked. Luo Ying had actually knocked her loose screws into place and was thinking like a regular person! Things were getting out of her control!


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that brother Lin Su will claim credit from Su Ran after he gets the video back?¡± she asked anxiously. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t their relationship get better and better from there? When they express their feelings for each other and affirm their relationship, you won¡¯t have the chance to interfere anymore. By then, you¡¯ll really lose Lin Su forever!¡±


    Luo Ying was silent for a moment, then choked up. ¡°I know, but a forced melon is not sweet. True love is the act of hoping that the other party can be happy, not to force the other party to be by your side. Just like you said, if you force someone you love to be together with you, you¡¯ll only end up as a resentful couple. I was once blind, that¡¯s why I did so many things to make Lin Su angry. I was not loving him, I was only hurting him.¡±


    Luo Ying stopped crying and said in a firm tone, ¡°So, I¡¯ve decided to let go. I¡¯ll let go of brother Lin Su, and I¡¯ll let myself go.¡±


    After expressing her determination, Luo Ying also sincerely thanked her, ¡°Thank you, Tian Tian. It was your words just now that made me see the truth for what it is. I¡¯ve come to my senses, and that¡¯s why I made this decision.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s words acted like a knife stabbing into Tian Tian¡¯s heart. She was so angry that she almost couldn¡¯t breathe. Her hands were shaking, and she was at a loss for words.


    The makeup on her face had just been finished, and Luo Ying didn¡¯t wait for Tian Tian to lose her mind yet again. She quickly hung up the phone. She was humming a little song and packing her things when she turned around and saw Lu Zhao standing at the door with a complicated expression.


    She was shocked. She didn¡¯t know how long he had been standing there, and if he had heard their conversation.


    When Lu Zhao opened his mouth to speak, she hurriedly rushed over and put her index finger over his mouth, shushing him. Lu Zhao looked at the tender, white, well-proportioned, and slender index finger pressing against his lips. He felt the urge to bite it.


    Luo Ying pushed him out of the room and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t make a sound.¡±

 Chapter 14

    Lu Zhao didn¡¯t know what was going on. Just as he was about to ask Luo Ying what she was trying to pull, he saw her unlock her phone and call the police. The call went through very quickly. Luo Ying immediately put on a panicked look and shouted into the phone, ¡°Police, help!¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes widened, not understanding what she was trying to do. It was illegal to make a false police report. He was about to snatch the phone away when he heard Luo Ying say, ¡°I found a bug in my room. I¡¯m being monitored!¡±


    A tapping device! A trace of ruthlessness flashed across Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes. Who was it? Someone actually stretched their tendrils into his very house!


    He took out his phone and was about to call for his security to search the villa. Luo Ying gave the address to the police and hung up the phone. When she realized what he was doing, she immediately stopped him. ¡°Leave it to the professionals. We only have to wait.


    Lu Zhao saw that she had already made up her mind. After a moment of silence, he said to the person on the other end of the phone, ¡°Postpone the examination for now.¡±


    When she saw him being so cooperative, Luo Ying beamed gleefully. She patted his shoulder as a reward.


    Lu Zhao turned his body slightly to avoid her palm. ¡°So, you know who installed these bugs?¡±


    Luo Ying nodded, and Lu Zhao¡¯s mind whirred. He remembered walking into the middle of their conversation and seeing Luo Ying¡¯s crocodile tears being shed in a bid to placate Tian Tian, who had been on the other side of the phone. ¡°Tian Tian?¡±


    Luo Ying raised her eyebrows. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re so smart. You figured it out.¡± When he remained stiffly silent, she said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Zhang and the others clean the house every day. They don¡¯t even miss the dust in the cracks, so there shouldn¡¯t be any bugs outside this room.¡±


    As for the bug in her room, the original Luo Ying disliked having the servants in the room because they were all Lu Zhao¡¯s men. The second reason was because Tian Tian had always placed the tapping device in her bags or in her gifts.


    If the original Luo Ying didn¡¯t notice it, no one else would.


    Lu Zhao didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Since you¡¯ve seen through her, why do you still hang out with her and listen to all that crap?¡±


    Luo Ying waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Didn¡¯t I just only find out recently? That¡¯s why I¡¯m stopping all of this, from becoming a train wreck.¡±


    Lu Zhao studied her expression. ¡°You don¡¯t look sad.¡±


    After being betrayed by one¡¯s closest friend, normally, one would be consumed by anger, grief and disappointment. Luo Ying¡¯s expression was a little too calm.


    Luo Ying snorted coldly. ¡°It¡¯s not worth getting sad for a woman like Tian Tian.¡±


    Lu Zhao remained silent for a moment, and he couldn¡¯t discern the feeling in his heart.


    He didn¡¯t want Luo Ying to be sad and disappointed in a woman like Tian Tian, but Luo Ying¡¯s nonchalant attitude seemed all too cold. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he also weighed that little in her heart.


    As he thought of this, Lu Zhao laughed at himself. According to how Luo Ying avoided him like the plague, she probably hated him more than anything.


    Luo Ying had no clue about Lu Zhao¡¯s internal struggle, so she asked curiously, ¡°Didn¡¯t you go to the company early? Why did you suddenly come back?¡±


    Only then did Lu Zhao remember. He went back to the study and took out a document from the safe. He handed it to his assistant, Xiao Ting, and asked him to take it back to the company to deal with it.


    Xiao Ting was a little hesitant. ¡°This meeting is very important. Don¡¯t you have to be there in person?¡±


    Lu Zhao shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re the Vice President. It¡¯ll suffice. If anything happens, just call me.¡±


    Xiao Ting sighed in his heart. As expected, whenever Lu Zhao got involved with Luo Ying, he would become irrational.


    He had been working hard on this project for more than half a year, but at such a critical moment, he was willing to give up on it because of Luo Ying.


    As a subordinate, Xiao Ting was very worried about working beneath a lovestruck boss. He finally understood how the officials in history felt when they saw their rulers indulging in beauties and ignoring court affairs. In order to prevent repeats of such disastrous affairs, traditions were changed. Monarchs were not allowed to attend court early. Officials were allowed to discuss matters in their absence. Such was how the votes of no-confidences would be passed. Xiao Ting could not help but ask, ¡°Have you signed the divorce agreement with the madam?¡±


    Lu Zhao glared at him, and Xiao Ting immediately shut up. He bowed and apologized. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, President Lu. I overstepped my boundaries and spoke out of turn.


    ¡°Remember your place. Don¡¯t talk about things you shouldn¡¯t be concerned about.¡± Lu Zhao warned Xiao Ting, then turned around and returned to the villa, waiting for the police to arrive.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going back?¡± Luo Ying saw him sitting unmovingly on the sofa.

 Chapter 15

    ¡°A spy has made her mark in my house. How could I go to work in peace?¡± Although Lu Zhao was remaining at home, he didn¡¯t indulge in lust and bring any of Xiao Ting¡¯s worries to life.He answered Luo Ying¡¯s questions while taking out his tablet and viewing the group¡¯s financial report.


    When he started to work in earnest, his entire being turned particularly stern. Luo Ying sat on the single sofa at the side. She originally wanted to chat with him to improve their relationship, but when she saw this, she did not dare to disturb him.


    Luo Ying was about to turn her head away to play with her phone, but Lu Zhao suddenly said, ¡°There are snacks in the cabinet on your left.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes lit up. She quickly opened the cabinet and saw a large bag full of colorful snacks. ¡°Wow, there are so many snacks hidden here.¡±


    She casually took out a bag of potato chips and popped it open it with a ¡°bang.¡± She stuffed a piece into her mouth and crunched it. She said in surprise, ¡°It¡¯s mustard! I like mustard!¡±


    Lu Zhao saw her squeezing her eyes shut in bliss. She even stood up and bounced on the tips of her toes. He could not understand why she was so satisfied with just a bag of snacks, but when he saw her joy, he felt a warmth spreading in his heart. The snacks he had specially asked Xiao Ting to prepare last night had not been in vain.


    How did he feel when he suddenly received a call from his boss in the middle of the night, asking him to prepare all kinds of snacks and to send them to his house early in the morning?


    Xiao Ting could only shrug. Who asked the Lu Group to pay better than its peers, and for Lu Zhao to be particularly generous? He could only resign himself to fate and get out of bed. Then, he drove to a 24-hour shopping mall, filled a truck with snacks, and delivered them to the villa early in the morning.


    Initially, he thought that his mission would be completed once he delivered the snacks to the villa. He did not expect Chairman Lu to personally climb up the truck and check through each bag. Then, he picked through them and left half of them behind. He put a portion of them in the storage cabinet in the living room and asked him to put the smaller ones in the car.


    Xiao Ting was stunned for a while before he found his tongue. He pointed at the other half of the snacks that had been picked out and asked, ¡°What should we do with the rest?¡±


    He had clearly seen President Lu being particularly fixated on three flavors of snacks: mustard, tomato, and matcha.


    Lu Zhao didn¡¯t even look at the remaining snacks. ¡°Do as you see fit.¡±


    This time, Xiao Ting was no longer confused. He happily carried a large box of snacks and placed it on the back seat of the car.


    When he was picking out the snacks last night, he had picked the expensive ones. He would not make such an expensive purchase for himself.


    It would be a waste to throw away such premium snacks, so he decided to use it to demonstrate his generosity. He would take it back tonight to please his girlfriend. Regardless, his girlfriend was not as picky as Luo Ying when it came to flavors.


    Xiao Ting thought to himself. ¡®I no longer despise my boss for asking me to work in the middle of the night.¡¯ He also thought of going back to ask his girlfriend if she had any expensive cravings in particular. If these snack-runs became a routine, he could use his official position for his personal gain.


    All in all, it was a truckload of snacks, which pleased the four of them.


    Luo Ying opened a bag of potato chips. After eating two chips in satisfaction, she tossed it aside and then opened a bag of biscuits. ¡°This is delicious too.¡± After eating one piece, she opened another bag of beef jerky.


    Lu Zhao saw that she had opened seven or eight bags of snacks in a short time, and only one or two pieces were taken from each bag before they were thrown on the table. He was puzzled. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just call it delicious? Why did you stop after a few bites?¡±


    Luo Ying swallowed the dried mango in her mouth and had a ¡°you wouldn¡¯t get it¡± expression on her face. Although snacks are delicious, she had to rein herself in. She was a female celebrity, and maintaining her figure was a belief that had been engraved in her DNA. So, although she did not diet and loved to eat snacks, she would not indulge herself. She would still be very restrained when eating, only tasting a little of each dish to satisfy her craving.


    ¡°What about the rest?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to seal it up and keep it, of course.¡± Although Luo Ying had never been short of money since she was a child, thanks to her old man¡¯s education, she had developed a good habit of cherishing food since she was young. They could easily last for a week with a sealant clip, so she could eat a little every day.


    Lu Zhao wanted to mention that it wasn¡¯t good to keep the snacks open for too long, and if she couldn¡¯t finish them, he could get someone to dispose of them, but when he saw Luo Ying happily asking Zhang to get them stored in airtight containers, he fell silent.


    Just then, the police arrived. Luo Ying let out a gleeful yelp and threw away her snacks excitedly. She opened the door to welcome the police.

 Chapter 16

    The police dispatched three police officers, two men and one woman.


    The three of them drove into the villa area. An Cui, a female police officer intern in the back seat, looked around. ¡°Anyone who could live in this place are either rich or powerful,¡± she gossiped. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s possible that a some rich husband has installed a bug in the house to prevent his wife from cheating on him?¡±


    After all, it was common for rich people to involve old husbands and young wives. Therefore, the police would occasionally come into contact with such strange cases.


    ¡°What¡¯s the biggest taboo for a police officer?¡± Officer Hou, the senior police officer who was leading the team today, coughed twice and them.


    The other trainee police officer who was driving had opened his mouth to answer, but as soon as Officer Hou said that, he immediately shrank back. His eyes shot back straight ahead to the road, and he remained silent.


    An Cui returned to her seat, a little embarrassed. ¡°Preconceived notions are the number one enemy,¡± she replied carefully.


    ¡°Since you clearly know that, don¡¯t speculate about the social relations of the person who reported the case, as well as the cause and effect of the case, before you uncover the truth.¡±


    The two of them obediently fell silent.


    The car arrived at the place. Before the three of them could ring the doorbell, the door of the villa opened, and a young girl came out to greet them. The moment they saw the girl, their eyes lit up.


    Today, in order to cover the wound on her knees, Luo Ying had deliberately selected a ginger-yellow long dress. Against her jade-white skin, her entire body seemed to glow. When they got closer, they realized that she was not only fair, but she also had particularly delicate facial features, a slender figure, and an outstanding temperament. Even with only light makeup on, she was still an eye-catching beauty.


    ¡°You guys are finally here.¡± Luo Ying pretended to be faint and covered her heart with her hand. ¡°You have no idea how scared I was when I saw the bug.¡±


    Officer Hou followed her in. He looked around and asked, ¡°Are you the only one at home now?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Luo Ying replied. ¡°My husband is also at home. Also with us is our housekeeper, Zhang, our chef, Old Chen, and our driver, Old Wu.


    As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Zhao appeared at the door. Luo Ying¡¯s eyes lit up, and she pointed at him and introduced him to the three of them. ¡°He¡¯s my husband. His name is Lu Zhao.¡±


    The three of them looked up, and their eyes lit up again. They had not expected the caller to be so beautiful. Her husband was also a man of striking appearance. The two of them stood together to create a beautiful picture, and they were a good match. They even lived in this big villa.


    This comparison, this gap between their status, made the three police officers couldn¡¯t help but feel a little envious.


    Officer Hou was the first to snap back to his senses. He held Lu Zhao¡¯s outstretched hand and said, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Hou. I¡¯m a police officer from the Nanshan branch. Are you the husband of the person who reported the case, Ms. Luo?¡±


    Lu Zhao glanced at Luo Ying and saw that she was all smiles. Not only did she not refute him, but she even nodded proudly. He stuck his tongue out of his cheek and replied, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m her husband.¡± When the word ¡°husband¡± came out from the tip of his tongue, it almost tasted bitter. He paused for a moment. ¡°My name is Lu Zhao.¡±


    His slight abnormality didn¡¯t escape Officer Hou¡¯s experienced eyes. His eyes flashed, but his expression remained unchanged. He began his routine line of inquiry. ¡°Then, Ms. Luo, where did you find the bug?¡±


    Luo Ying raised her hand. ¡°In one of my bags.¡±


    ¡°Where is the bag now?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still in my room.¡± Luo Ying took them to the second floor and into the master bedroom. ¡°After I found the bug, I was so scared that I left my bag there. I didn¡¯t dare to remain in the room.¡±


    She opened the door and they were greeted by a spacious room with a two-meter-wide, comfortable-looking bed. Officer Hou glanced at the bed, then at the various decorations in the room. He concluded that Ms. Luo was the only one living in the room.


    All sorts of speculations flashed through his mind, but he was suddenly interrupted by a cry of surprise from behind.


    An Cui covered her mouth in embarrassment. It had not been her fault. Luo Ying¡¯s cloakroom was far too gorgeous. It took up a space of about twenty to thirty square-meters. Various branded clothes, gowns, bags, and jewelry were displayed in different glass cabinets. It didn¡¯t look like a cloakroom, but a small exhibition hall full of jewels.


    She had only seen such a scene on TV. Which girl wouldn¡¯t want to have such a cloakroom?

 Chapter 17

    Officer Hou turned around and glared at her. An Cui blushed and hid behind her colleague. Officer Hou apologized on behalf of his subordinate.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. She¡¯s just a kid who hasn¡¯t seen much of the world, so she lost control of herself.¡±


    Luo Ying took the initiative to help her out. ¡°No, I think she¡¯s very cute. If she could cry out like that, my cloakroom must have been very well-designed. As the host, that makes me very happy. She winked at An Cui after she finished speaking.


    A lively beauty was winking at her. Despite being straight, An Cui couldn¡¯t help but feel his heart fluttering. An Cui instantly flushed crimson.


    Officer Hou silently watched the interaction between the two of them, but said nothing. Other than An Cui¡¯s initial exclamation, the three of them acted rather professionally.


    The other police officer took out an electronic detector and scanned the bag that Luo Ying had mentioned. As expected, a warning sound came from the detector. Officer Hou glanced at Luo Ying and Lu Zhao. He saw Luo Ying cowering behind Lu Zhao in fear. Her pair of watery eyes were wide open, staring at the detector with both fear and curiosity.


    The moment the detector rang, Lu Zhao¡¯s brows furrowed, and his face turned cold.


    Officer Hou took out the bug and tried to see if he could trace the source of its signal. However, Officer Hou was not expecting much. After all, without bringing it back to the lab, it would not yield much results.


    The police officer looked around again and placed the electronic detector in the glass display cabinet at the side. However, the moment the detector was placed there, the alarm went off again.


    Immediately, everyone in the room looked in that direction. There was more than one bug in the room!


    Officer Hou walked over, picked up the electronic detector, and scanned in that direction. Finally, he found a pinhole camera on a thumb-sized pearl earring.


    So not only was Ms. Luo being eavesdropped, but she was also being monitored? Who had she offended? Was it really as An Cui had guessed, that her husband was worried that she was having an affair?


    ¡°I remember this earring being a birthday gift from Tian Tian. However, she¡¯s my best friend. Why would she be monitoring me?¡± Luo Ying¡¯s face was filled with disbelief.


    Officer Hou took down Tian Tian¡¯s name and scanned the cloakroom from top to bottom with the detector. In the end, he found three bugs and a pinhole camera.


    While coming out of the cloakroom, Lu Zhao glanced at the master bedroom and suggested,¡±Why don¡¯t we check the master bedroom as well?¡±


    Officer Hou didn¡¯t have any objections to that. He started to scan without saying anything. After scanning the bedside cabinet, he was about to end the detection work when he suddenly felt the detector reacting again. He paused, looked at the messy bed, and asked Luo Ying, ¡°May I check this bed?¡±


    Luo Ying crossed her arms, her face full of panic and uneasiness. She nodded repeatedly, ¡°Yes, yes. Please do look carefully. Don¡¯t miss any corners.¡±


    The other police officer first checked the top of the bed and found nothing unusual. Then, he squatted down and stretched his hand under the bed. The detector rang loudly.


    There was actually one under the bed! He reached inside and took out a small square box. ¡°Is this a weight monitor?¡±


    ¡°What is a weight monitor?¡± Luo Ying could not understand.


    ¡°It basically monitors changes in weight. If it¡¯s installed under the bed, upon exceeding a certain value, the monitor will send a message to the phone of the person who installed it.¡± He did not expand on the implications of how it could be used to detect more than one person on the bed.


    Although the police officer left that part unsaid, everyone present came to the same conclusion.


    Luo Ying exclaimed, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I usually don¡¯t allow anyone to enter my room.¡±

 Chapter 18

    Seeing that Luo Ying was not doubting her husband in the slightest, Officer Hou could not lead the conversation that direction. He could only ask, ¡°Then, did your good friend, Tian Tian, ever enter your master bedroom?¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s face turned ugly. She bit her lip and said, ¡°She has been in there a few times.¡±


    When Officer Hou heard this, his expression turned grave. ¡°May I ask about your relationship with this Ms. Tian Tian?¡±


    ¡°We grew up together. She¡¯s my best friend, and she cares about me the most. She was by my side when I was at my lowest.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s tone was a little choked up with disbelief. ¡°So, it can¡¯t be her, right?¡±


    ¡°This Tian Tian.¡± Lu Zhao, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly cut in. ¡± Is she the one who¡¯s been encouraging you to divorce me behind my back?¡±


    As soon as he said this, all the police officers present were surprised. While looking at the interaction between the two just now, and the trust and attachment Luo Ying showed to Lu Zhao, there had been no indication that this couple as on the verge of divorcing.


    Only Officer Hou remained unsurpised. Just by looking at the states of the rooms and the interaction between the two, he had guessed that something was off.


    He also noticed that when this lady walked, she seemed a little clumsy. She must have been recently injured.


    However, all these details had little to do with the case for the time being, so he didn¡¯t pursue them. After asking the basic information, Officer Hou packed up the evidence and brought them back to the police station. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we will summon Ms. Tian Tian to the police station to cooperate with the investigation. If there is anything else that needs to be clarified, the two of you may come to the police station again. Similarly, we will inform you after we have the results of the investigation.:


    Lu Zhao handed over a business card. ¡°This is my lawyer. If you have any questions, you can contact him. We only hope that no innocents are caught up in this, while the rightful criminals are caught.¡±


    On the other side of things, after Luo Ying hung up on Tian Tian, she had been so angry that she smashed things in her room to vent her anger. After she calmed down, she turned on her phone, hoping to spy onLuo Ying. Perhaps she could learn why she had changed so drastically.


    At that moment, her mother came in and asked her to go out. ¡°It¡¯s your grandfather¡¯s birthday, the day after tomorrow. Come with me to pick out a gift and go shopping. We can pick out our outfits for that day.¡±


    Shopping was Tian Tian¡¯s favorite activity. Upon hearing this, she immediately put down her cell phone and went to the mirror to dress up. Then, the two of them went shopping together.


    When the two of them returned after a long time, Tian Tian was about to pick up her mobile phone, when the police knocked on the Tian family¡¯s door.


    ¡°Hello, Ms. Tian. We have a case regarding illegal surveillance on someone. You¡¯re one of the suspects. Please cooperate with the police. We¡¯re here for an investigation.¡±


    The entire Tian family was dumbfounded, especially her mother. She held her daughter¡¯s hand and refused to let go. ¡°Did you make a mistake? Our daughter is so obedient. How could she be involved in such a dirty affair?¡±


    Meanwhile, Tian Tian stood rooted to the ground in a daze. There was only one thought in her mind ¡ª she was finished!


    She could not understand. How did she get found out? Now, the police had shown up at her doorstep. In other words, not only did Luo Ying know about this matter, but Lu Zhao also probably knew about it.


    Tian Tian was well aware that Lu Zhao would never let her off the hook if she were to meddle with the Lu family.


    While her mother was still dealing with the police, Tian Tian took out her phone to call Luo Ying with trembling hands.


    She was only twenty-three years old and had a bright future ahead of her, so it was absolutely impossible for her to be charged and sent to prison! So she had to find a way to get herself out of this.


    Tian Tian¡¯s first reaction was to look for Luo Ying. Luo Ying was so stupid. As long as she could trick her, Luo Ying would believe her.


    As for Lu Zhao, at this point, Tian Tian could only begrudgingly accept the truth. Lu Zhao valued Luo Ying dearly, so he would only let her go if Luo Ying did the pleading with Lu Zhao.


    After sorting out this logic, Tian Tian¡¯s flustered heart calmed down a lot. However, Luo Ying had already blocked all of her contact information, so Tian Tian was destined to be disappointed. No matter how much her mother threw a tantrum and flailed around, Tian Tian was still taken away by the police.

 Chapter 19

    Tian Tian relied on Luo Ying¡¯s trust in her, and boldly owned up to her actions. Therefore, before the Tian family, in spite of all their haste, failed to find a lawyer and get to work, the police had already found the records of her purchase of listening devices, micro surveillance cameras, and weight detectors. The case was closed, and the next step was for the police to interrogate her and find out her motive for committing the crime.


    After Luo Ying received the response from the police, she happily swung her little feet and waited for Zhang to feed her afternoon tea.


    She saw Lu Zhao calmly sitting on the sofa. He was dealing with work. She asked him curiously, ¡°If you¡¯re so busy, you can actually go back to the company. You don¡¯t have to stay here with me.¡±


    When Lu Zhao didn¡¯t respond, she automatically added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t run.¡±


    Lu Zhao put away the tablet and squinted his eyes to size her up from head to toe a few times, before asking the question that had almost taken up permanent residence in his mind. ¡± Luo Ying, which one is the real you?¡±


    Was she the one who had been so dissatisfied with him that she wanted to divorce him by jumping off a building? Or was she the one acting all cute and coy in front of him? Or was she the one pretending to be a victim in front of the police in order to send her best friend behind bars?


    Having viewed Luo Ying¡¯s many faces, Lu Zhao suddenly became uncertain. Who was she? Did he really understand her? Which side of her did he love?


    Luo Ying met his suspicious gaze. She turned serious. ¡°If I told you that I was possessed by someone before, and now my primordial spirit has returned to its original position, would you believe me?¡±


    Lu Zhao picked up his phone and called Xiao Ting. ¡°About the shrink. Ask him if he push forward the appointment.¡±


    Luo Ying quickly stopped him. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be honest. There are multiple personalities living in my body. They often come out to take over the body, so every face you see is a part of me.¡±


    Lu Zhao spoke into the phone, ¡°Bring it forward to tomorrow. No, it¡¯s best if it¡¯s tonight.¡±


    Luo Ying leaned on the sofa and pretended to cry. ¡°You don¡¯t believe me! You think I¡¯m sick! You¡¯re too much!¡±


    When he saw how dramatic she was, Lu Zhao took a deep breath. ¡°As long as your excuse is more reliable, I can give you the benefit of the doubt.¡±


    Luo Ying, who was in the middle of shedding more crocodile tears, stopped crying and sighed slightly in her heart. She was clearly telling the truth, and Lu Zhao was simply being rational.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll find a more reasonable excuse.¡± Luo Ying stopped pretending to cry and got up from the sofa. She touched her chin with her finger and looked at Lu Zhao. ¡°Actually, every person you see is me. Of course, it¡¯s also possible that none of them are completely me. After all, I¡¯m a female star who aspires to be a movie queen.¡±


    Lu Zhao stared at her for a few seconds, and Luo Ying graciously let him look. She even twisted her waist and threw him a very feminine wink.


    Lu Zhao froze for a moment and looked away stiffly. ¡°If you¡¯re that great of an actress, there wouldn¡¯t be so many people online mocking you for ¡®cerebral palsy acting¡¯.¡± His tone was a little playful. ¡°Movie queen?¡±


    When Luo Ying thought of how the original Luo Ying performed in the book, she felt a little disgusted.


    A talent scout had approached her sorely for her face. With absolutely no training or experience, she was stuffed into a talent show. Because of her outstanding appearance, she attracted a wave of fans, so even if she was bad at singing and dancing, she still ended up in a high position.


    However, in the entertainment industry, in order to maintain long-term popularity, ability was the supreme foundation. Unfortunately, the Luo Ying lacked precisely this. She could not sing and dance, and her acting was atrocious. The management company she signed with had no longterm plans for her. They only wanted to make the most money in the shortest time possible, so they arranged for her to feature in several low-quality dramas, hoping to ride upon her viral wave. Her acting skills were so bad that it made her stand out among the industry. She became an infamous meme.


    Amid all the pressure, the original Luo Ying lost her mind. When she could not get Lin Su, she accidentally realized that he had fallen in love with Su Ran.

 Chapter 20

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    On one hand, she was jealous of Su Ran, but on the other hand, she thought that Lin Su liked women like Su Ran.


    The original Luo Ying, who had undeniably beautiful and elegant features, soon learned how to dress like Su Ran. She made herself look plain and frail all day long, put on unsuitable makeup, and wore unsuitable clothes. She made herself look a few levels worse.


    Coupled with her eye-piercing acting skills, almost all her fans who originally fawned over her looks ran away. Luo Ying soon became a meme of endless bad decisions. Lu Zhao¡¯s evaluation of her acting career had not been far from the truth.


    But that was just an evaluation of the original Luo Ying. Now, Luo Ying was a top actress in singing, dancing, and acting. How could she let these bad labels continue to be associated with her?


    ¡°That¡¯s because I didn¡¯t put my heart into acting before,¡± she said. Lu Zhao did not look convinced. ¡°Look, when I really settle down and start acting, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be able to amaze the world with a single brilliant film.¡±


    Lu Zhao did not deny her words, but when he spoke, he sounded flat. ¡°Your performance in front of the police just now was indeed quite amazing. At least, it shocked me.¡±


    At least, even he had trouble telling which side of her was the real her.


    Luo Ying snorted coldly. Just you wait and see.


    Just then, her manager, Xia Lan, who had not appeared for several days, suddenly showed up.


    ¡°Luo Ying, you¡¯re scheduled to show up at the WeChat¡¯s Fashion Night tomorrow. You have to walk the red carpet and perform a song on stage. Are you ready?¡±


    Luo Ying had looked through her phone last night and knew that this was the only appearance the original Luo Ying had been scheduled for throughout the entire month. Naturally, she had to pay attention. However, Luo Ying, who had read the original book, knew very well that the company had not done this for her benefit. Instead, they wanted her to be Su Ran¡¯s backdrop.


    After more than three years of turmoil, Luo Ying¡¯s commercial value had fallen sharply. The company was ready to give up on her and was ready to promote the best newcomer, Su Ran. Therefore, the company had specially arranged for the two of them to walk the red carpet together and perform on stage together. They wanted to use Luo Ying to set off Su Ran¡¯s rise.


    In order to achieve their goal, they did not hesitate to exchange the company¡¯s resources and borrow the latest season¡¯s branded dress for Su Ran. They also hired a famous teacher to train her in secret, so that she could shine on the red carpet.


    At the same time, in order to make her stand out even more, they gave Luo Ying a gown that didn¡¯t suit her at all. They also put on makeup that didn¡¯t suit her at all. It was all so that she could stand beside Su Ran and be overshadowed by her. This was the perfect backdrop for Su Ran.


    Luo Ying looked at the message and sneered. No one had ever been able to step on her to get to the top. Not in the past, and not in the future. She replied with a short ¡°oh¡± to show that she understood.


    Xia Lan seemed to have been expecting Luo Ying¡¯s reply. She immediately replied, ¡°The company has already prepared the dress and the makeup team for you. You just need to remember to arrive at the company before three in the evening tomorrow.¡±


    Luo Ying couldn¡¯t be bothered to entertain this snake. She put down her phone. She rested her chin on her hands and stared at Lu Zhao with a pair of fiery eyes. ¡°Can you do me a favor?¡±


    With such an intense gaze, Lu Zhao¡¯s mind wavered for a moment. He frowned and looked away from the report, raising his head to look at her. ¡°What would that be?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to attend a red carpet event tomorrow, and I¡¯m lacking a gown and a makeup team. Can you help me with that?¡±


    Lu Zhao retorted, ¡°Didn¡¯t your company prepare it for you?¡±


    Luo Ying rolled her eyes. ¡°Do you think they would know how to dress me up?¡±


    Luo Ying stood up and struck a pose. ¡°With my figure and looks, it would be a waste if I don¡¯t put on a show on the red carpet!¡± After saying that, she stood on the tip of her toes and turned in a circle.


    The hem of her ginger-yellow dress swayed with Luo Ying¡¯s movements like waves in a sea of flowers, and a faint, sweet scent brushed against the back of Lu Zhao¡¯s hand on his knee. Lu Zhao¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, and after a long time, he replied, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll get someone to prepare it for you.¡±


    ¡°Wow, I know you¡¯re the best, hubby!¡± Luo Ying clapped her hands and pounced on Lu Zhao. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. ¡°I¡¯d better get to practicing for tomorrow!¡±


    Luo Ying stomped up to the specially designed training room on the second floor, leaving Lu Zhao frozen in the living room.

 Chapter 21

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying and Su Ran were scheduled to perform a dance song for their stage collaboration. The company had already arranged the choreography and sent it to Luo Ying in advance. Luo Ying opened it to have a look, and realized that the company was really biased. They had actually given her all the difficult and mistake-prone songs.


    In the original book, not only was Luo Ying humiliated on the red carpet, but she also frequently went out of tune on the stage. She danced out of rhythm, and her hands and feet were uncoordinated, forming a sharp contrast with Su Ran, who was on the same stage.


    ¡°Hmph, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to disappoint you this time.¡± This dance was indeed difficult for the original Luo Ying, but it was nothing for Luo Ying, who had practiced dancing since she was a child. It only took her less than half an hour to master the dance and quickly practice the movements and positioning.


    To her, the only difficulty was that this wretched body was useless. She was already panting after a dance.


    The next problem was singing. The original Luo Ying had not undergone any systematic vocal training. Even if Luo Ying knew how to vocalize, there was a very real problem in front of her. She did not have enough lung capacity, so it was very difficult for her to sing the high notes.


    Fortunately, they shared the same body, even if one had been trained since childhood, while the other had been grossly neglected. It had some innate talent in singing. Her body had a knack for vocal fries. She could replace the high notes with a rocky twist. She would eventually train this body to hit actual clean, high notes. Even so, there was no time for that.


    However, Luo Ying had a lot of experience on stage, so she had a way to deal with this situation, which was to skive. If she had to approach some high notes, she could emulate them with a touch of falsetto. After all, dance music were not that technically demanding.


    After practicing the song a few times, Luo Ying began to practice it with the dance.


    Lu Zhao, who had just finished some work, heard some moving music coming from the rehearsing room when he was going upstairs. His mind flickered, and he turned around and walked to the rehearsing room.


    The door of the rehearsal room was not closed tightly. He looked in through the crack of the door and saw Luo Ying facing the camera, swaying her body. The movement traveled from her shoulders to her proud bosom, and then to her slender waist. It was both powerful and gentle.


    Her hand brushed across her face, sliding down from her heart. Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t help but follow her hand down. He felt as if her index finger had also slid down his heart, and a wave of numbness washed over him.


    The image of Luo Ying touching the side of her face like a dragonfly treading the water appeared clearly in his mind.


    Before Lu Zhao could immerse himself in these emotions, Luo Ying¡¯s hand suddenly pulled back along with the beat of the drum and stretched out. Her hair, had been permed in elegant curls, was flung to the side neatly, like a blanket of clouds spreading in the sky, and then naturally fell on her shoulders.


    She winked seductively at the camera, then smiled cheekily. Lu Zhao¡¯s breathing caught in his throat. It was only a short, eight-beat movement, but in a few seconds, his mind was completely drawn in, and his emotions rose and fell with her movements.


    Luo Ying obviously knew the camera very well. She knew how to show her beauty in front of the camera and how to ¡°seduce¡± the audience behind the camera. Such control over the camera and stage was not something that could be mastered overnight.


    What Luo Ying had just said was not a lie. If she put her mind to it, she could blow the world away.


    Luo Ying continued dancing. Lu Zhao¡¯s hand gripped the doorknob tightly, his mind filled with thoughts, but he couldn¡¯t bear to go in and interrupt her.


    Luo Ying moved with confidence and full mastery over her body. Her whole being seemed to glow. She was so beautiful that it enchanted people. They yearned for her, and they would fantasize her. He wanted her beauty, her talents, all for himself.


    Realizing that he had actually come up with such a thought, Lu Zhao was shocked. How could he have such a selfish thought? Such an excellent and beautiful Luo Ying should be born to stand on the stage.


    As the dance ended, Luo Ying breathed a sigh of relief. She wiped the sweat off her face with her hand and unscrewed the bottle of mineral water she had temporarily used as a microphone. She took a few sips slowly and finally felt the heat in her heart that was about to explode ease a little.


    ¡°What?¡± She looked up and saw Lu Zhao from the reflection of the camera. ¡°Why are you standing there?¡± She turned around and smiled. ¡°If you want to watch, you can come in.¡±


    Veteran performers were never shy of an audience. They would fear performing in the absence of one.

 Chapter 22

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lu Zhao was silent for a moment. ¡°I just happened to pass by and wanted to remind you to close the door when you practice. Otherwise, it would only cause noise pollution and bring trouble to others.¡±


    Luo Ying looked hurt when she heard him say that. ¡°I thought you came here to see me dance.¡±


    Lu Zhao pressed his fingers together, and his expression stiffened up for an instant. ¡°Of course, if you¡¯re inviting me, I can always make the time to come.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s face broke into a smile within a second. She bent down and made an inviting gesture. She spoke with a Standard Broadcasting accent, ¡°May I ask the Honorable President Lu Zhao if I may be granted the honor to invite you to come in and watch a dance?¡±


    Lu Zhao pursed his thin lips and nodded in a reserved manner. ¡°Sure.¡±


    He pushed the door open and walked in. Just as he sat down on the stool, a camera was stuffed into his hand.


    ¡°It just so happens that we only have a triangular frame at home, and I¡¯ve already used it as a front shot. If you¡¯re free now, can you help me take a side shot and let me view the stage from multiple angles as a reference?¡±


    Lu Zhao was speechless. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say that I¡¯m an honored guest? Why did you order the guest to do your work as soon as they were seated?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a small favor. You won¡¯t deny me this little kindness, right?¡± Luo Ying¡¯s eyes widened and looked at him pitifully.


    Compared to the unreasonable and irrational Luo Ying from before, Lu Zhao could not deny that the current Luo Ying, who wielded her vulnerabilities like a weapon, was far more lethal to him.


    Lu Zhao could not help but cover her eyes with his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that.¡±


    Luo Ying pressed the attack. She let him cover her eyes and only slightly tilted her head beneath his fingers. ¡°Why?¡±


    As she spoke, her eyelids were fluttering, like a fan stroking his palm. The sensation was odd.


    ¡®Because, if you look at me like this, no matter what you say, I¡¯ll agree. But, why am I falling for this?¡¯


    Lu Zhao grumbled in his heart, but he spoke curtly. ¡°There¡¯s no reason. I don¡¯t like you looking at me like that.¡±


    Luo Ying rolled her eyes to herself and said, ¡°But I want to.¡±


    Lu Zhao was once again defeated. He raised the camera out of her reach and demanded, ¡°Do you want me to record you, or not?¡±


    He was using the camera as leverage to get himself outside her line of fire.


    Luo Ying had no choice but to compromise. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll stop looking.¡±


    When she conceded so easily, Lu Zhao was not pleased. If Luo Ying didn¡¯t look at him with such eyes, then who would she look at with such eyes? Lin Su?


    At this thought, Lu Zhao instantly regretted his actions and felt like slapping himself.


    Just as he was about to say something, Luo Ying had already stood up and turned on the music to prepare for a new round of practice. She even directed him. ¡°Please, stand in that corner and shoot, okay?¡±


    Lu Zhao tightened his grip on the camera, then obediently walked in the direction she pointed and started recording.


    Luo Ying practiced a few more sessions without rest. Lu Zhao looked at her worriedly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you still injured? Why are you putting yourself through such high-intensity training?¡±


    Yesterday, she had still been struggling to walk, but now, she had been jumping around for the entire session without a single cry of pain.


    Luo Ying waved dismissively. ¡°It¡¯s common for a dancer to get injured.¡±


    If she had been afraid of pain and injury, she would not have been able to persist in so many years of training, and she would not have earned herself the opportunity to stand on the stage to shine and become a top singer and dancer.


    ¡°You love the stage.¡± Lu Zhao said, with a tone of finality.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Luo Ying did not even hesitate.


    She really loved the stage. The stage was a very magical place. When she stood on it and looked at the audience below the stage, the rush brought by the surge of adrenaline was incomparable to anything else.


    Anyone who had been on stage and enjoyed the stage would develop a form of attachment to the stage.


    Lu Zhao was slightly perplexed. ¡°Since you love it so much, why didn¡¯t you take the stage seriously before?¡±


    Luo Ying knew that the difference between her and the original Luo Ying was striking. She had not yet dug into further details of the original¡¯s habits, but Luo Ying did not intend to crush her feet to fit into the shoes of the original.

 Chapter 23

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    She managed to come with a good excuse for herself. In a whimsical tone, she said, ¡°People, especially in their youth, spend a great deal of time stumbling about, confused and blind. They will waste time on unnecessary matters and unnecessary people. Fortunately, I have come to my senses and realized that I¡¯m more suited to stand on stage, in front of the camera, doing what I like.¡±


    Luo Ying continued rehearsing. At some point, Lu Zhao was called away by a phone call.


    It was a call from his lawyer. ¡°Mr. Lu, I¡¯ve redrawn the divorce agreement you mentioned. Do I need to send it to you for your perusal?¡±


    Lu Zhao turned around and glanced at the rehearsal room. He was silent for a moment. ¡°Let¡¯s postpone the divorce for now.¡±


    At noon the next day, the door of the villa was ceremoniously flung open. A fashionably-dressed man came with his team.


    ¡°Hello, Mrs. Lu. I¡¯m the stylist in charge of your red carpet today. You can call me David.¡±


    Luo Ying came here through a book, so she didn¡¯t know much about the fashion world of this world. She didn¡¯t know that the man in front of her was the most famous stylist in the fashion world.


    She had been worried about David¡¯s ability, but after seeing the few gowns he had brought, her worries quickly fizzled out.


    ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll leave myself in your hands.¡± Luo Ying sat in front of the dressing table.


    David looked at Luo Ying from head to toe. Her previous stylist was either a fool, or blind. She had such a good figure and such beautiful features, but they dressed her up like that?


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Lu. Your beauty and my taste will turn you into the most beautiful woman in the world.¡± David gave her his word.


    It was past four, and Luo Ying¡¯s makeup was mostly done. Today, she had departed from her usual style and chose a red silk high-split dress with thin shoulder straps, which completely displayed her perfectly proportioned head, shoulders, collarbones, her graceful and slender waist, and long and well-proportioned legs.


    David had his stylist put on bright and retro makeup for her, which completely highlighted her vivid and elegant facial features. The misty eye shadow and eyeliner made her look particularly charming.


    Luo Ying stood in front of the full-length mirror and turned around twice, watching intently. Then, she picked up the eyeshadow brush, dipped it in red, and gently swept it over her lower eyelids. She picked up the eyeliner pen and gently prodded a mole into existence under her right eye.


    David had looked at Luo Ying¡¯s makeup and was very satisfied. Luo Ying was already very beautiful without makeup. After his skillful hands made their mark, Luo Ying¡¯s beauty was almost magical.


    In a red dress, she appeared like a peony in full bloom. The moment she emerged, everything around her paled in comparison.


    This was the most satisfying canvas he had ever worked on in his many years in the industry. David took out his phone and was about to call Lu Zhao to claim credit, but when he looked up, he saw Luo Ying holding a brush. She was about to change her makeup on her own accord!


    ¡°Ah, stop!¡± David shouted, so anxious that his voice cracked.


    He rushed over just in time for Luo Ying to finish drawing the mole and put away her pen.


    ¡°Why did you change your makeup on your own?¡± David was on the verge of breaking down. ¡°Hurry up and let me see what you¡¯ve done. Let¡¯s see if I can fix it.¡± This was arguably the pi¨¨ce de r¨¦sistance of his career, and he couldn¡¯t let Luo Ying ruin it.


    Upon a closer look, he realized that Luo Ying had not been acting out of ignorance. The two red spots under her eyes actually amplified her looks. When she lowered her eyes slightly, she looked a little broken. With that mole, she carried the visage of an imperfect, broken, delicate girl.


    There was a sense of fragmentation in her dazzling beauty. Luo Ying¡¯s face looked more like a story. People would yearn to unravel the pages and learn more about her. She became more than a beautiful face, she became an ethereal myth.


    ¡°What magic did you just perform on your face?¡± David blinked in surprise.


    Luo Ying looked at him. ¡°How is it? Does it look good?¡±


    David couldn¡¯t help but give her a thumbs up. He had learned something new today.


    The corners of Luo Ying¡¯s mouth lifted arrogantly. The phone she had thrown on the sofa was already exploding with calls from her manager. Now that her makeup was done, she had the time to bother herself with these mortal affairs.

 Chapter 24

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    As soon as the call was picked up, the manager¡¯s flustered voice came through. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to come to the company before three? Where are you? Don¡¯t you want to walk the red carpet today?¡±


    Luo Ying scraped at her manicure and said casually, ¡°Oh, I forgot. But I have something to do now. Why don¡¯t you go to the hotel first? I¡¯ll meet you there.¡±


    The manager was speechless. ¡°So, you¡¯re not going to do your red carpet makeup anymore?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll sort it out, so don¡¯t you worry about it.¡±


    As a veteran in the fashion circle, David was very experienced with the nuances within the circle. From Luo Ying¡¯s tone, he knew that complicated matters were playing out behind the scenes. However, he was only here for Lu Zhao¡¯s sake, so he wasn¡¯t very interested in Luo Ying¡¯s matters.


    He looked at the time and said, ¡°It¡¯s about an hour¡¯s drive to Luofeng Hotel. If you¡¯re an artiste, you¡¯ll have to wait at the venue half an hour in advance. If you leave now, you¡¯ll be just in time.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already prepared the costumes and wardrobe changes for your performance tonight,¡± David said. I won¡¯t be accompanying you on this trip. ¡°My student, Annie, will be with you:


    ¡°Okay, thank you.¡± Luo Ying thanked him.


    David clapped his hands. ¡°Such beautiful makeup. It would be a pity if we don¡¯t immortalize this moment in pictures.¡± David clapped his hands, and an assistant handed him a camera.


    Luo Ying took a final look at her makeup and immediately struck a pose. David cheered and then took a lot of photos.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to edit this picture, just post it.¡±


    Luo Ying was also very satisfied with the post. She was ready to post it on her social account after walking the red carpet.


    At the venue, a staff member rushed over. ¡°Almost all the artistes have arrived. Is Luo Ying not here yet?¡±


    Luo Ying was not picking up her phone. The manager was about to have a panic attack, but she didn¡¯t dare to lose his temper at the staff on the red carpet. ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t reach her.¡±


    The staff member was a little dissatisfied. ¡°You¡¯re her manager, and you can¡¯t contact your own artiste? If Luo Ying doesn¡¯t want to walk the red carpet, you can just say so. There¡¯s no need to make a scene at the last minute and say that you can¡¯t find her.¡±


    Xia Lan thought of the company¡¯s arrangements. If Luo Ying didn¡¯t show up, the effect of their painstaking efforts would be greatly reduced. She quickly apologized and asked him to make an exception.


    The staff member was impatient. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll give you another five minutes. If she¡¯s not here by then, I¡¯ll take her name away. Also, isn¡¯t Luo Ying going on stage tonight? The Executive Director is already displeased about her not showing up to the rehearsal. If she doesn¡¯t show up tonight, your company will have to face the Executive Director¡¯s fury.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, a crisp voice came from outside the door. ¡°Sorry I¡¯m late.¡±


    As soon as Xia Lan heard Luo Ying¡¯s voice, she lost her temper out of habit. ¡°Where the hell have you been?!¡±


    But when she looked up, the person who walked in was not Luo Ying, who she was familiar with, but a dazzling beauty.


    Xia Lan¡¯s mouth hung wide open, and she swallowed her words of complaint. She thought to herself, ¡°Since when did such an outstanding figure appear in the industry? It would be great if I could sign her. With a face like this, she would become famous even if she stood still.¡±


    The staff member was also stunned and had the same thoughts as Xia Lan.


    However, he didn¡¯t know Luo Ying very well, so her appearance was not particularly jarring to him. While Xia Lan was positively shell-shocked, he only admired her beauty for a moment.


    ¡°You must be Luo Ying? Why are you so late?¡±


    Luo Ying apologized to him, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. There was a traffic accident on the way, so I was delayed for a while.¡±


    A celebrity, and a delicate beauty at that, was looking at him with watery eyes and saying such soft words to him. The staff¡¯s heart immediately softened, and his tone quickly softened. ¡°It¡¯s good that you just made it in time. Just be more careful next time. Since you¡¯re here, hurry and wait for your turn.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you.¡± Luo Ying followed him obediently and was about to go in, but Xia Lan grabbed her arm and stopped her.


    A trace of impatience flashed across Luo Ying¡¯s brows. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°You are Luo Ying?¡± Xia Lan looked at the familiar face and had to accept the fact that this beautiful woman was indeed Luo Ying.

 Chapter 25

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°What¡¯s with your makeup?¡± Xia Lan was furious. How was Su Ran going to outshine Luo Ying, when the latter was dressed like this?


    Therefore, she could not allow Luo Ying to walk the red carpet tonight, not looking like this.


    Xia Lan, who had already made up her mind, pressed the attack. ¡°The company has already gone through the trouble of selecting a dress and a makeup team for you. You are dismissing all their hard work by coming to the red carpet dressed like this!¡± The moment she opened her mouth, she immediately worked on habitually suppressing her.


    Just as Luo Ying was about to speak, her sharp eyes spotted a girl who was doing a live stream. She was walking towards them. The girl was wearing the logo of the organizer¡¯s platform. She suddenly remembered the contents of the original novel. In order to gain publicity, the organizer of this red carpet event had specially arranged for multiple staff to carry out live streams in front of the red carpet to warm up the event.


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes flashed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Xia. I couldn¡¯t make it to the company at the last minute, so I gave you trouble.¡± She paused for a moment and asked, ¡°Is my makeup ugly? It¡¯s embarrassing for the company. Should I change it before it starts?¡±


    ¡°How is it not good?¡± The girl in charge of the livestream had just walked over, when she heard the conversation between the two. She quickly said, ¡°Your makeup is amazing! It¡¯s such a pity to change it!¡±


    Xia Lan was in a foul mood. When a third party interrupted her, she turned her head and was about to throw a tantrum when she spotted the camera. She was stunned for a moment, but she quickly realized that this was one of the many official live streams of the event. She could only suppress her anger with an ugly expression.


    Luo Ying paid no heed to Xia Lan¡¯s reaction. When she heard the girl¡¯s praise, she happily clasped her hand. ¡°Are you serious? Do I really look good dressed like this?¡± She looked like a child who was trying hard to please others.


    Luo Ying¡¯s actions struck a chord within the live streamer¡¯s heart, as well as the hearts of the viewers. They had overheard the entire conversation of her appearance being shot down by her manager.


    Just now, the manager had turned her head and glanced at the camera. That brief glimpse of her expression had been terrifying. Most people who had witnessed this scene automatically imagined a poor little artiste trembling in the hands of the manager, and then automatically placed that image on Luo Ying.


    A beauty was always eye-catching, but a pitiful beauty was heart-wrenching.


    The girl held Luo Ying¡¯s hands. ¡°It¡¯s true. We happened to catch you on camera, and the comment section is already going wild. They all want to see the pretty lady.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Luo Ying showed a surprised smile, and a burst of tears flashed in her eyes. She performed tears of joy to the point.


    The girl was touched and said, ¡°You¡¯re Luo Ying, right? During the talent show, I even voted for you, just because you¡¯re so pretty.¡±


    [Oh my God, she¡¯s that Luo Ying!]


    [Is Luo Ying that good-looking?]


    A bunch of question marks floated through the bullet screen. They couldn¡¯t believe that the beauty in front of them was actually Luo Ying.


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± the staff agreed. ¡°You¡¯re especially beautiful today, so be more confident.¡±


    With the live broadcast camera on, Xia Lan didn¡¯t dare to pull Luo Ying away, even while being as disgruntled as she was. She could only watch on as Luo Ying followed the staff into the waiting area.


    Luo Ying¡¯s ranking wasn¡¯t high, and Su Ran was a newcomer, so the two of them were arranged to be in the front. Luo Ying came in from the back door and walked forward. When she passed by other artistes, she clearly heard a few gasps.


    ¡°Luo Ying?¡± Compared to the others¡¯ surprise, Su Ran¡¯s expression was more complex. There was a hint of disgust, disdain, and a faint anger layered in her disbelief.


    It was impossible for Su Ran not to know about the company¡¯s arrangements. However, the moment she saw Luo Ying, she knew that she was going to lose on the red carpet today!


    Su Ran gritted her teeth. She was about to negotiate with the company staff to see if they could be separated, but she did not expect the emcee to call out their names the next second.


    Xia Lan was about to call the company to report this, but the company¡¯s call came in first. ¡°Su Ran is the star of the show today. Why is Luo Ying trending? What¡¯s with her makeup?¡±


    Xia Lan was dumbfounded. ¡°What?¡±


    As soon as she turned on her phone, she realized that Luo Ying had only appeared for a short while in the live broadcast. In just a few minutes, she was already trending!


    It just confirmed her worse fears. Luo Ying was a person who could become famous with her face!


    In a corner that she had not noticed yet, the term ¡°Luo Ying¡¯s manager suppressing her artistes¡± slowly climbed up the trending list.

 Chapter 26

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The previous guest had already entered, and the cameras on the red carpet were now focused on the waiting area.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, it¡¯s our turn to make our appearance.¡± Luo Ying took the initiative to hold Su Ran¡¯s hand and flashed a playful smile to the camera. The audience watching the live broadcast in front of the screen couldn¡¯t help but be moved.


    [Oh my God, this woman is too ruthless.] This bullet screen expressed the thoughts of all the viewers.


    WeChat had always been the largest video platform in the country. It held many large-scale events every year, so it had always been very popular. Therefore, it was no surprise for many people to be watching the red carpet live stream. In addition to the hot searches, some netizens who had been stunned by Luo Ying¡¯s viral beauty had also been drawn in.


    They never expected to be blasted in the face by Luo Ying¡¯s smile at the moment of entering the stream. It was like watching a hundred flowers bloom in a garden. Even the screen seemed to light up before their very eyes.


    Even diehard fans of other stars had to admit that Luo Ying was truly beautiful in this dress. She was so beautiful that once you saw her, everyone else became fleeting images.


    Luo Ying had suddenly reached out to hold her arm. Su Ran¡¯s body stiffened. Her skin was cool, but the moment it touched her arm, it felt like a hot, scalding iron.


    Su Ran subconsciously wanted to shake her arm free, but she was forced to restrain herself.


    Today, she was wearing a pure white but embellished eastern-style dress, taking on the theme of a dreamy fairy. She did look like a fairy on the surface, but she paled in comparison to Luo Ying, who was wearing a fiery red dress.


    On top of that, the difference in their looks was obvious. One was bright and dazzling, while the other was plain and elegant. The two were not comparable.


    In the face of absolute beauty, all the grace and finesse amounted to nothing.


    As soon as the two of them walked on the red carpet, everyone¡¯s eyes automatically focused on Luo Ying, and there was even a continuous clamor in the crowd.


    The camera flashes were relentless. Even the photojournalists that the company had specially bribed in advance couldn¡¯t help but turn their cameras to Luo Ying discreetly, out of professional concern for beauty after they had hurriedly taken obligatory photos of Su Ran.


    Her side profile, her visage, the graceful curvature of her back, her smile, her raised eyes, her lowered eyes. Luo Ying¡¯s every move, every freeze-frame, every shot was like a delicate poster, and the photographers did not want to miss a single one.


    The moment the two of them stepped on the red carpet, the total number of viewers broke the highest record for the night. The bullet comments flew through the screen. When the main director saw this scene, he quickly picked up his walkie-talkie.


    The host on the red carpet was interviewing Su Ran. He asked her what she thought of being shortlisted for the Best Newcomer Award tonight. This was a common question, and the team had already agreed on the answer, so Su Ran acted appropriately.


    According to the original arrangement, after the host finished asking this question, he would invite them off the stage and into the venue. However, just as he was about to say the closing words, the director¡¯s latest instructions came through the headset. He asked him to interview Luo Ying, who had not said a word, so that the two of them could stay on the red carpet for a while longer.


    The host didn¡¯t know much about Luo Ying. However, he had been instructed to buy her more screentime. He racked his mind to think of a topic for the interview. He could only use today¡¯s stage as the topic. ¡°As far as I know, this is your first time performing on stage after the audition team disbanded. And you¡¯re not even standing with your teammates. Are you particularly nervous?¡±


    When she heard the host ask Luo Ying a question, the smile on Su Ran¡¯s face froze for a moment, but she had no choice but to pass the microphone to Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying took the microphone and nodded politely to express her thanks. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m nervous, but it¡¯s because of this tension that I take every stage seriously.¡±


    As soon as she said this, those who knew Luo Ying and had seen her on stage laughed. How could she be serious about the stage with her uncoordinated limbs and her tone-deafness?


    The host knew this much. He heard that Luo Ying had not even shown up for the rehearsal. How could she ever take the stage seriously?


    His smile naturally carried a hint of disapproval. ¡°Okay, then we¡¯ll wait and see your wonderful performance tonight.¡±


    The two of them got off the stage and out of the camera¡¯s range. The smile on Su Ran¡¯s face immediately disappeared. She broke free from Luo Ying¡¯s hand and walked back to the artists¡¯ lounge backstage to prepare for the performance later.

 Chapter 27

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying shrugged slightly and slowly walked backstage.


    As it was her first time here, she didn¡¯t know where the artistes¡¯ lounge was. After walking around backstage, Luo Ying had to pull over a staff member with a staff card and ask for directions.


    The staff member pointed her in a direction. ¡°The artistes from your company are all arranged to be in Section D. I¡¯m not sure which room you¡¯re in, but you can work your way there.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you.¡± Luo Ying glanced at the name on her work pass and smiled. ¡°Cutey Yinyin.¡±


    The staff member¡¯s face turned red. She held her face and watched Luo Ying leave in flash of red. She murmured, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve been seduced by a fairy.¡±


    After walking around the corridor of Section D, Luo Ying finally saw her and Su Ran¡¯s names in the corner. Just as she was about to push the door open and enter, she heard Xia Lan¡¯s voice coming from inside.


    ¡°The company¡¯s opinion is to not let Luo Ying perform on stage later.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s hand paused. She stopped in her tracks and stood in front of the door.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea. I think Luo Ying is looking forward to tonight¡¯s stage. If she finds out that her act has been canceled, she will be very disappointed.¡± When she heard the company¡¯s decision, Su Ran was happy inside, but she pretended to be worried and spoke up for Luo Ying.


    Xia Lan¡¯s tone was filled with disdain. ¡°With her singing and dancing skills, she¡¯ll only embarrass herself on stage. When the broadcast gets out, the audience will blast our company for pushing such a useless person onto the stage.¡±


    When Luo Ying heard this, she laughed in anger. If the company was truly aware of this, they wouldn¡¯t have stuffed the original body, who had no experience on stage, into a talent show and made her appear with other incomparably better-groomed girls. After her disastrous debut, they threw her to a bunch of subpar shows, ruining her prospects.


    Why didn¡¯t the company do anything about her poor performances when they relied on her to earn money?


    Now that she had been wrung dry of her commercial value, they had turned on her and accused her of being incompetent.


    ¡°But, we just had an interview on the red carpet. Everyone knows that Luo Ying is going to perform tonight. If she suddenly doesn¡¯t show up, the audience will only suspect that something has happened. That will be even worse.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? At most, she¡¯ll just find an excuse to brush it off. Anyway, she doesn¡¯t have many fans right now, and not many people are looking forward to her stage performance. The audience will just talk about it for a while, and it¡¯ll be over.¡± Xia Lan didn¡¯t think this was a problem at all.


    ¡°Besides, the company is doing this for her own good. After sending her reputation crashing down for so long, she finally managed to get it back on the red carpet. If she exposes herself on stage again, it will cause an even bigger wave of backlash.¡±


    When Su Ran heard this, she perked up attentively. ¡°You just said that Luo Ying regained her popularity on the red carpet. Is she on the hot search?¡±


    Even Xia Lan couldn¡¯t help but be impressed. ¡°That¡¯s right, her face showed up in the live-stream, so she¡¯s on the hot search.¡±


    When Su Ran¡¯s expression change, Xia Lan didn¡¯t dare to continue. At that moment, Luo Ying wasn¡¯t just on the hot search. She had just taken a quick look and found that the scene of Luo Ying walking the red carpet had quickly spread on various platforms.


    The internet was a terrifying entity. If everything went as expected, Luo Ying would probably flood the platform for the next few days. This was an achievement that most artistes wanted to achieve, but Luo Ying had achieved it with her face alone. It really made people envious and jealous.


    Su Ran took out her phone and swiped into the hot search. She saw that Luo Ying¡¯s name was in the top five of the hot search list. Su Ran was in the top 11.


    Su Ran knew very well that many artistes would be attending tonight. As a newcomer, she must have been promoted by her company to be able to occupy a single hot search. However, at a time when everyone wanted to grab a spot on the hot topic list, Luo Ying had relied on herself to carve a bloody path and become a top search.


    Su Ran bit her lip. She was very unwilling to accept this, but she also understood that the entertainment industry was not a place that could be reasoned with. As the saying goes, ¡°A blip of fame depends on connections, but a major leap to stardom was up to fate.¡± However, Su Ran did not want to believe in fate so much.


    She raised her head. ¡°Let Luo Ying go on stage with me.¡±


    Su Ran had managed to make a name for herself in the industry. She did not get there by being caught up in pettiness. Since Luo Ying was so popular now, there must be a lot of people paying attention to her, so she had to make use of her power.


    Su Ran knew very well how terrible Luo Ying¡¯s singing and dancing were. She was not afraid at all. So what if she was good-looking? Before the camera, on the stage, their skills would speak for themselves.


    If she could really rely on her looks, then Luo Ying wouldn¡¯t have been ridiculed for this long.

 Chapter 28

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Su Ran was determined to have Luo Ying go on stage with her. Xia Lan had no choice but to agree, after consulting the company.


    Seeing that they had finally come to an agreement, Luo Ying sneered and put away her phone.


    Xia Lan didn¡¯t know much about Su Ran¡¯s plan, so she didn¡¯t know what she was up to. However, Luo Ying, who had read the novel and understood Su Ran¡¯s nature, had a good guess about it.


    Su Ran was about to have a rude awakening. Unfortunately, she was Luo Ying, so she would only end up humiliating herself.


    She wanted to trample on her to set herself up as the terrifying newcomer? Not so soon!


    Luo Ying pushed the door open and went in. She sat down in front of the empty dressing table.


    When Luo Ying strode in without even greeting her, Xia Lan¡¯s expression turned ugly. Frowning, she ordered the staff beside her, ¡°What are you waiting for? She¡¯s going on stage soon, so hurry and do her makeup and change her clothes.¡±


    The makeup artist had been arranged by the company. The one in charge of Su Ran was a well-known makeup artist in the industry, who was bound to make her shine on the stage. The one in charge of Luo Ying was an assistant in his team.


    When she saw a person approaching her with a cotton pad, Luo Ying evaded them. ¡°No need. I¡¯ve found another friend to do my makeup today.¡±


    ¡°Do you know how much resources the company put into their makeup team? They set up the red carpet, they arranged the stage. Are you trying to go against the company?¡± Xia Lan was very unhappy and felt that she was deliberately messing with her.


    What was going on? Although Luo Ying had always been willful and temperamental, she would still listen to the company¡¯s arrangements. Why did she become so rebellious now?


    ¡°Haven¡¯t I always been like this?¡± Luo Ying flashed her a fake smile.


    Xia Lan was stunned. Was she still living in the past? At that time, fresh-faced Luo Ying was a new popular celebrity. Her fans paid for her, and she could even make money for the company. But now, what commercial value did Luo Ying have left?


    Xia Lan stopped herself from complaining. No matter how much she looked down on Luo Ying, she was still an artiste under her company. If something happened to her, she would be the one to take responsibility.


    While suppressing the anger in her heart, Xia Lan had no choice but to soften her voice and say, ¡°There¡¯s still half an hour before the stage, and we have to go to the waiting area in advance. We don¡¯t have that much time to wait for your friend. We¡¯d better get your makeup done quickly, change our clothes, and wait for orders backstage. It¡¯s just a stage performance, you don¡¯t have to go through so much trouble.¡±


    At that moment, Luo Ying¡¯s phone rang. She turned around without sparing Xia Lan a glance.


    She got up to open the door and saw Annie with her makeup team.


    David was one of the best stylists in the country, and his student, Annie, was also quite famous in the industry, so Xia Lan recognized her at first glance.


    Xia Lan looked at Luo Ying in surprise. ¡°The friend you mentioned is Annie?¡±


    Although Annie was a girl, she had short hair, thick smokey-eye makeup, a lip piercing, and a leather jacket. She looked cool.


    When Xia Lan recognized her, Annie nodded at Xia Lan as a greeting. Then, she looked at Luo Ying and said, ¡°Time is a little tight. Let¡¯s get the makeup out of the way first and then get you changed.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded silently. She sat back in front of the dressing table. The team brought by Annie swarmed up and surrounded Luo Ying. Some did her makeup, and some did her hair.


    When Su Ran saw this, she pinched her own thigh and took a deep breath. Then, she instructed the makeup artist. ¡°Keep working.¡±


    She kept consoling herself in her heart. She was a capable person, and she did not need to care about people like Luo Ying, who only had her face going for her. This would only lower her level.


    The style that David designed for Luo Ying this time produced the image of an ice queen. It changed the previously smokey and mysterious style on the red carpet to one that featured glitter and high contrast to wield the dazzling lights of the stage.


    A short black vest outlined her ample chest and framed her thin waist. It was matched with a high-waisted short skirt. On her feet was a pair of asymmetrical, half-tube boots that ended just in the middle of her calves, making her legs look slender and well-proportioned.


    After her makeup was done, Annie clapped her hands in satisfaction. Compared to the bright and sexy red dress on the red carpet just now, Luo Ying seemed to have changed completely. She looked sultry and energetic.

 Chapter 29

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying winked in front of the mirror playfully, then pirouetted lightly to make sure that her clothes and hair wouldn¡¯t affect her dancing. She finally nodded in satisfaction.


    Xia Lan looked at Luo Ying¡¯s lively appearance and recalled the time when Luo Ying had just entered the safe zone. Her feelings became complicated.


    At that time, Luo Ying had been like an ignorant little deer. She plunged into the big dye vat of the entertainment industry and was pushed to the front of the stage as a tool. Accompanied by applause and criticism, she walked alone.


    She still remembered that on the night of the talent show, Luo Ying met the cruel, harsh side of reality. When she finally got hold of her phone, she saw a string of curses from the internet. She secretly hid in the toilet and cried for a long time. She sadly asked her manager if she was truly suitable for the entertainment industry.


    At that time, Luo Ying was at the peak of her popularity and the company had already decided to make her one of their money trees. They were just about to reap the profits and of course, they would not allow her to have any problems and retreat. So, Xia Lan had to comfort her and tell her that this was a process that every artiste had to go through and that it was normal.


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t seem to be convinced, but she still pulled herself together. Then she went to film according to the company¡¯s arrangements and had no time to think about these problems.


    As time passed, the light in Luo Ying¡¯s eyes grew dimmer and dimmer, and she became more and more cynical. She began to ignore the negative comments on the internet. She became more and more mechanical in her acting work, and her temper went through the roof.


    As Luo Ying¡¯s manager, Xia Lan was anxious, but she knew one thing very well. An idol like Luo Ying was an assembly line product, and her best moments ended during the night of the talent show.


    Therefore, after they had been used up, they would be eliminated, and then look on as the next generation of assembly line products rise and easily replace them. This was the fate of most of the candidates.


    Therefore, after Xia Lan learned of the company¡¯s policy, she watched Luo Ying¡¯s change with cold eyes and began to pick her next training partner in her heart.


    The staff came to remind them to get into position backstage. Su Ran, who had finished her makeup, went out first without any expression on her face. Luo Ying watched as Xia Lan stood up from the sofa. She knew that Xia Lan would talk to the director in a while and ask him to focus on Su Ran during the live broadcast.


    When Luo Ying walked past her, she paused and asked in a low voice, ¡°You want to sign Su Ran, right?¡±


    Xia Lan was shocked. She didn¡¯t know why she would ask this. She avoided Luo Ying¡¯s gaze and said, ¡°Su Ran has her own manager. Why would I be in charge of her?¡±


    Luo Ying flicked her hair and looked at her with a faint smile. ¡°I heard that Madam Zhao is going to resign. She wishes to take care of her baby. She won¡¯t be taking in any new stars.¡±


    Madam Zhao was Su Ran¡¯s current manager, Zhao Suo. She had not yet submitted her official notice, but the higher-ups in the company were more or less aware of it.


    Hence, Xia Lan¡¯s attention had long fallen on Su Ran. As a newcomer, Su Ran was indeed rather capable. Moreover, Su Ran had a close relationship with the company¡¯s new CEO, Lin Su.


    With this relationship, Su Ran would easily be a top star. So if Xia Lan could tag along, she would be able to reap the benefits with little effort.


    After Xia Lan received the news, she went to organize some activities and received the support of two of the higher-ups. This was also the reason why she was so cooperative with the company. This was why she was willing to drag Luo Ying down to be Su Ran¡¯s foil.


    However, Luo Ying was a veteran in the industry, and a veteran novel-reader. Xia Lan looked at her in shock.


    Luo Ying smiled mysteriously. ¡°Not only do I know that she¡¯s going to change her manager, I also know who her new manager is.¡±


    ¡°Impossible!¡± Xia Lan denied it. The company had yet to decide where Zhao Suo¡¯s artists would go.


    Luo Ying softly uttered a name, ¡°Meng Lin.¡±


    Xia Lan¡¯s eyes widened. Meng Lin was the head of their company¡¯s Artist Department and the top manager in the company. She had brought up several major stars. She was the company¡¯s biggest contributor, and one of their shareholders.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since she¡¯s managed an artiste.¡± Xia Lan didn¡¯t believe her. ¡°Besides, Su Ran¡¯s a newbie.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s lips curved into a slightly sardonic smile. ¡°Su Ran is the person Lin Su admires. She is also the daughter of Meng Lin¡¯s good friend.¡±


    Xia Lan was shocked. If that was the case, Meng Lin might truly step up.


    With Lin Su and Meng Lin backing her up, Su Ran would never fall into the hands of others. Then why had she put in so much effort helping them?

 Chapter 30

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°What do you mean by this?¡± Xia Lan¡¯s heart was in turmoil. Was Luo Ying acting so strangely, because she knew that Xia Lan was going to give up on her?


    ¡°I still have a year left in my contract with the company.¡± Luo Ying just wanted to live a more leisurely life. ¡°Since you¡¯re still my manager, we¡¯re bound together, for good or for bad. During this remaining year, I won¡¯t ask you to go out of your way to make things work, but I won¡¯t appreciate you causing me any trouble either.¡±


    With her secret exposed, Xia Lan¡¯s face turned red and white. She spun around in circles and decided to call the two executives at the company to ask them what was going on.


    In the end, the news she received was indeed not as she had hoped. From the other party¡¯s tone, although they had not made their decision, they did have a candidate in mind.


    Xia Lan stood there in a daze for a while before rushing to the stage. She looked at the director who was directing the show on the podium and hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she did not walk over.


    Luo Ying was dressed in a youthful and beautiful stage outfit. She walked from the lounge to the backstage, attracting the attention of many people.


    She met a few groups of artistes who were also going on stage to perform. Those with good attitudes would smile at her. Those with bad attitudes would pretend not to see her and turn their heads away. When Luo Ying walked past, they would speak ill of her behind her back.


    ¡°Luo Ying actually wants to dance!¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t she say that she wouldn¡¯t dance anymore when she disbanded her team? I thought she had a semblance of self-awareness.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s willing to lose face, what does that have to do with us?¡±


    ¡°She moves like a crab. Even a dolled-up crab would still move like one.¡±


    As soon as this line was uttered, several people laughed out loud, because ¡°crab¡± was the meme that the audience had used to describe Luo Ying¡¯s dance.


    The night of the red carpet had always been a time for various artistes to compete for beauty. In the end, no one expected that before the red carpet event even began, Luo Ying would be the first to get claim the to spot in the hot search.


    Many artistes disliked her for it. They believed she was too scheming, so they were all secretly waiting to see her make a fool of herself.


    Luo Ying also heard the discussion behind her, but she acted as if she didn¡¯t hear it. In this circle, only the weak depended on the wagging of their tongues to get by.


    She saw the staff approach her with an ear-monitor. She said, ¡°Please, get me a mic.¡±


    The staff was stunned for a moment, then tactfully reminded her. ¡°The higher-ups have a rule that you can¡¯t lip-sync on the platform.¡±


    The old-school mic she was requesting for lacked a filter. Her voice would come raw and clean, unfiltered and unedited.


    Lip-syncing was off the table, but most performers would still use filters and autotunes. As an experienced singer and dancer, how could Luo Ying not understand this? This was precisely why she wanted the microphone.


    ¡°Yingying, stop it.¡± Su Ran, who had just put on her own ear-monitor, quickly stopped her. The two of them were performing on the same stage. If Luo Ying had a handheld mic, then what was the point of her wearing an ear-monitor?


    ¡°If you¡¯re not comfortable, you don¡¯t have to follow suit.¡± Luo Ying turned to the director and said, ¡°Please turn off my autotune, too.¡±


    Upon hearing this, all the staff at the scene were in an uproar. Luo Ying was being a little arrogant, wasn¡¯t she?


    ¡°She can¡¯t have given up, right?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid she¡¯s trying to drag Su Ran down with her.¡±


    Some of the staff members were secretly discussing behind her back.


    ¡°Your sudden change of mind is adding to their workload.¡± Su Ran pursed her lips, her face full of disapproval.


    ¡°Scared?¡± Luo Ying gave her a provocative look.


    ¡°Why should I be afraid?¡± Although she was not professionally trained at singing and dancing, she had practiced this dance for a week and was definitely not worse than Luo Ying.


    ¡°Disable all filters and autotunes,¡± Luo Ying immediately turned around and said to the director.


    Su Ran saw that Luo Ying had directly taken advantage of the situation. She immediately regretted it, but she did not dare to change her words in front of everyone.


    The director knew that this was going to create sensational news either way, and agreed.


    The audience who had seen the teaser already knew who was about to go up the stage.


    [I¡¯ll mute the audio and focus on her face.]


    [I heard that she¡¯s a terrible performer. I¡¯m here to see if it¡¯s true.]


    [Can¡¯t wait to see the memes this performance is bound to create.] [Another crab-dance meme?]


    ¡°Ready!¡± The stage director¡¯s instructions came through their ear-monitors. ¡°One, two, three, go!¡±


    The lights flickered, and the two of them appeared on camera. Su Ran, who was in a daze, was a beat slower. Luo Ying, on the other hand, masterfully stuck to the beat and let out a high note. Coupled with the dynamic music, it blew up the entire audience.


    Everyone in front and behind the stage, including the audience watching the live broadcast, froze in shock!


    [Wow!]


    The bullet screen was silent for a moment before it surged wildly. Was this the tone-deaf Luo Ying?!

 Chapter 31

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The arrangement sent by the agency actually didn¡¯t have this high note, but when Luo Ying heard the song, she felt that if she could add a high note at the beginning. It would draw in the audience and raise the atmosphere of the song.


    Hence, she had added this high note on her own accord. It could only be said that Luo Ying, as a top singer who was good at singing and dancing, had a very good understanding of music, so the effect of this improvisation was like a nuclear bomb.


    However, this sudden change had undoubtedly caused Su Ran, who was sharing the stage with her, to suffer. She was already a little slow because she had been distracted, and then she was shocked by Luo Ying¡¯s voice. Her hand movements became messy.


    Su Ran became even more anxious, and her movements became even stiffer.


    Unlike her, Luo Ying was quite calm and composed. Every movement and every extension was on point, and her movements were clean and neat. It was not an exaggeration to call her a star.


    The contrast between the two of them was very obvious.


    Su Ran had obviously noticed this problem, but she was not a professional singer, after all. She lacked stage experience, so even if she had noticed the issue, she did not know how to adjust it in the head of the moment.


    The prelude of the song was almost finished, and the song was about to start. According to the arrangement, the first line should have been sung by Su Ran. However, judging by her flustered expression, it was obvious that she had lost her way.


    Luo Ying glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, then raised the microphone and started singing.


    Su Ran only realized the problem after the metronome in her ear was fired. She quickly picked up the microphone and started singing, but she was still two beats too slow. She subconsciously looked at Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying subtly skipped to the rhythm, and as she moved, she guided Su Ran back to the original beat.


    At that moment, the bullet comments were very lively.


    Many of them were attracted by Luo Ying¡¯s looks and performance.


    [You¡¯re amazing! ]


    [So beautiful, so skilled! I love you!]


    There were also some who were shocked by her sudden improvement.


    [Luo Ying is blowing my mind. Is she really singing?]


    [Who said Luo Ying couldn¡¯t do it? This is such a slap to your face, ha!]


    [Is this really the Luo Ying I know?]


    But no matter what they thought, ¡®Luo Ying¡¯ on the stage was blowing up the atmosphere.


    Su Ran was getting worried.


    [Oh my God, what a tragic comparison!]


    [Is she here to be funny?]


    Some fans still defended Su Ran.


    [Su ran is an actress. It¡¯s already very impressive that she has the courage to perform on stage. You can¡¯t judge her by professional standards.]


    In the end, he was directly rebuked by a passerby.


    [She¡¯s an actress. Why is she singing and dancing on the stage? ]


    [She can¡¯t dance well, but she still insisted on dancing. She dug her own grave.]


    They finally reached Luo Ying¡¯s part, which was the part Lu Zhao had seen through the door yesterday.


    Luo Ying had gone deep into the zone. She was in a state of extreme excitement. There were no distractions, no thoughts in her mind, only the music and dance steps.


    She sang to her heart¡¯s content, danced to her heart¡¯s content, and showed off her charm to the camera to her heart¡¯s content.


    At that moment, Lu Zhao turned on his phone to watch the live broadcast. Yesterday, her performance had blown his mind. The director had focused the camera on Luo Ying. Luo Ying¡¯s eyes were directly staring into the camera, and Lu Zhao got twice the shock, compared to yesterday.


    Luo Ying winked at the camera, and Lu Zhao¡¯s hand on the chair clenched up, his breathing becoming heavier.


    Even though he had already seen it once and was mentally prepared, it still hit him hard in the heart.


    Lu Zhao only felt a surge of agitation in his body. His mouth felt a little dry. He couldn¡¯t help but pick up the cold water on the table and gulp it down in two mouthfuls, but he still couldn¡¯t suppress the restlessness in his body. Instead, it only grew more intense as Luo Ying danced in the camera.


    Even the calm, stoic Lu Zhao was losing his mind. The audience watching the live broadcast were barely conscious. Their hearts were racing, as if they were completely out of breath.


    It wasn¡¯t until the director cut the camera to Su Ran that the atmosphere suddenly shattered. They finally remembered to breathe, and their fingers hurriedly worked to type comments. The screen was filled with a flood of comments.


    Many years later, this classic performance, which was the rebirth of Luo Ying¡¯s career, was still often replayed and talked about with relish.

 Chapter 32

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    By the end of the song, Luo Ying was gasping for breath, staring out into the audience.


    The feeling of going all out on stage was just exhilarating! As expected, she still loved the stage.


    Luo Ying smiled at the camera. This smile wasn¡¯t a perfunctory smile from that supermodels had been trained to tune in for the camera, like cogs falling into place, but a sincere smile from the heart. It wasn¡¯t picture-perfect, but it was infectious. People could easily feel Luo Ying¡¯s love for the stage. Many people looked at her and couldn¡¯t help but smile with her.


    ¡°Why did you help me just now?¡± After they got off the stage, Su Ran stopped Luo Ying with a dark face. ¡°Were you doing it out of pity?¡±


    Luo Ying rolled her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t overcomplicate everything. I just didn¡¯t want this stage to be destroyed.¡± After she finished speaking, she walked past Su Ran and returned to the rest area.


    This time, the naysayers she met along the way dared not meet her eyes.


    ¡°You were glorious, you lit the stage up!¡± In the dressing room, Annie gave her a hug.


    Luo Ying was a little flattered. ¡°I¡¯ll have to thank you and your teacher for that.¡±


    Annie seemed indiffierent. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Lu Zhao paid us well.¡±


    The tip of Luo Ying¡¯s ears twitched. ¡°You know Lu Zhao well?¡±


    A hint of disdain flashed across Annie¡¯s eyes. ¡°Who wants to know a massive iceberg like him? We just happened to be classmates for a while.¡±


    Luo Ying criticized her in her heart. Annie was not much different, in terms of ice-queen demeanors.


    She happily took out her phone. ¡°Why don¡¯t we add each other as good friends? We can chat when we¡¯re free.¡± This way, she could indirectly learn more about Lu Zhao¡¯s school days.


    After watching the live broadcast, Lu Zhao, who was buried in work again, suddenly shivered. He frowned and turned to Xiao Ting. ¡°Increase the temperature in the room.¡±


    At that moment, he had no idea that his embarrassing school days were about to be uncovered.


    After ending her performance with a bang and making it to several trending lists, Luo Ying went home happily. She ended up in a cold, dark room.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Lu Zhao?¡± She searched the bedroom, the study, and the gym, but couldn¡¯t find Lu Zhao. She could only turn to Zhang. ¡°It¡¯s so late, is he still working overtime at the company?¡±


    Zhang was a little confused. ¡°Didn¡¯t Sir go on a business trip?¡±


    Luo Ying felt hurt for a second. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that he had a business trip?¡±


    Zhang had no choice but to remind her. ¡°Sir left you a note. It¡¯s on the bedside table next to the bedroom.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? I didn¡¯t see it.¡± Luo Ying blinked innocently. She had slept all the way until dawn and even went to the rehearsal room to practice a few songs. After that, she had been busy with her makeup and wardrobe, so she never noticed the note on the bedside table at all.


    ¡°What era is it now? He¡¯s still leaving notes. What¡¯s the use of his phone?¡± Luo Ying said, as she ran up to the second floor.


    She did not know that Lu Zhao did not even intend to leave a note. After all, Luo Ying never cared about his existence, including his comings and goings. Only in the past few days did their relationship suddenly improve. Luo Ying seemed to have changed overnight. He was afraid that if Luo Ying woke up and couldn¡¯t find him, she would throw a tantrum again, so he left a note.


    It was a brief, simple line: I¡¯m going on a business trip abroad and will be back in three days.


    ¡°Hmph, wretched man, you can¡¯t even say that you¡¯ll miss me. You¡¯re so boring.¡± Although Luo Ying uttered those displeased words, she still kept the note in the drawer.


    She turned on her phone and sent Lu Zhao a message.


    [Why didn¡¯t you tell me that you were on a business trip? I rushed home happily and didn¡¯t see you. I¡¯m so sad.] She added a sad emoji at the end.


    Lu Zhao was stunned for a moment when he saw the message. He didn¡¯t expect her to really care about where he had gone. He held his phone and scrolled through it before finally replying, [I left you a note.]


    Luo Ying felt wronged. [I didn¡¯t see it. You didn¡¯t look for me today. I¡¯m crying.]


    Lu Zhao pursed his lips, thinking that she was the one who hadn¡¯t contacted him today, but in the end, he only replied with one sentence: [I¡¯m busy.]


    Luo Ying pursed her lips. [I won¡¯t keep you from your work. Remember to rest early.]


    Lu Zhao wanted to mention that he was overseas right now, and it was afternoon here. However, it had been a long time since someone had been this thoughtful about him like this. His finger swiped across the short message, and warmth emerged in Lu Zhao¡¯s heart.


    After Luo Ying sent that perfunctory message, she put down her phone and went into the bathroom to fill the bathtub. She was ready to soak and unwind.


    This body had been neglected for too long. Over the past two days, she had put it through intense training, so her entire being was sore. Now that the performance was finally over, she could finally relax.

 Chapter 33

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    After the bathtub was filled, Luo Ying soaked in it with her tablet. She watched the feedback of her performance.


    After a few hours, her red carpet and stage shots had been widely circulated on all major platforms, with high views and shares.


    The aftermath had been tremendous. In just a few hours, she had almost gained 100,000 fans.


    100,000 fans was nothing, compared to those top celebrities who had tens of millions of fans. However, these were not fans that she had bought with money. They were 100,000 genuine fans, and they meant far more.


    As her popularity continued to ferment, the number of her fans would continue to grow over the next few days. No one could predict how much more they would rise.


    Luo Ying was very satisfied with these results.


    When the water was almost cold, Luo Ying finally climbed out of the bathtub. At that moment, she saw Lu Zhao¡¯s reply on her phone. It was a simple sentence.


    [You too.]


    How boring. Luo Ying deleted the message, then logged in to the social platform and posted one of her red carpet shots. It immediately received a lot of comments and shares. Every time she refreshed her account, she could see that the number of fans was constantly increasing.


    After reading the netizens¡¯ praise for her, Luo Ying gamed happily on her tablet. After playing for some time, she finally felt tired. She looked at the time and saw that it was already past midnight, past her usual sleeping time.


    Luo Ying immediately got up, tore open a sleep mask, and put it on her face. Then, she lay back in bed and massaged her neck with some cream while sending a message to Lu Zhao. [I can¡¯t sleep alone. I miss you so much.]


    Lu Zhao had just sent off a guest who came to visit at the last minute when he heard his phone¡¯s notification. He turned on his phone and instructed Xiao Ting, ¡°That guy was just tiptoeing around the subject. Postpone the project for now. If he doesn¡¯t speak plainly, we¡¯re pulling out. He has-.¡±


    Xiao Ting, who was following behind him, was quickly jotting down his words on his phone when he suddenly saw Lu Zhao stop. He looked up and saw Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes staring at his phone.


    ¡°Sir?¡± He gave a light reminder.


    Lu Zhao came back to his senses, and the thoughts in his mind were connected again. He continued, ¡°Cancel all the discounts we promised before and contact their head.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll remember that.¡± Xiao Ting glanced at his work notes. ¡°Do you have any other instructions? ¡±


    ¡°I want to rest for a while. If there¡¯s nothing urgent, don¡¯t disturb me for the time being.¡± Lu Zhao entered the study and closed the door tightly, his eyes still fixed on the text message Luo Ying had just sent.


    In the past, Luo Ying would argue with him every day, and it drove him up the wall. Now, Luo Ying was bothering him even more. However, they gave him completely different emotions.


    Luo Ying saw that he didn¡¯t reply, so she added: [Sleep with me, okay?]


    Lu Zhao¡¯s breath caught in his throat. Her words were too ambiguous, as if she was sending some kind of signal. Lu Zhao couldn¡¯t help but start a video call. He wanted to see her and hear her voice.


    As soon as the video call request popped up, Luo Ying immediately threw aside her lotions and creams and sat up on the bed. She ripped off the mask on her face, patted her skin down with a tissue, and then turned off the bedroom light, leaving only the dim yellow bedside lamp on. For good measure, she ruffled up the pillow.


    After a series of smooth and natural movements, in less than five seconds, she got back into bed, lay sideways on the pillow, and then answered the video call.


    The screen lit up, and Lu Zhao saw Luo Ying lying on the pillow, pouting and looking at him with a wronged expression. A meatball had been squeezed out of her pouting face by the pillow, and under the dim yellow light, it was pink and tender, looking extremely cute.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s hand itched. He wanted to go through the screen and poke the meatball.


    When she saw Lu Zhao¡¯s stunned expression, Luo Ying was extremely pleased. As an actress and idol who had received strict training, she was an expert at filming. Naturally, she knew how to work lights, cameras, and her face.


    Sigh, she was already trying so hard. When would this man fall into her hands?


    On the surface, she still maintained her aggrieved expression and coyly said, ¡°I can¡¯t hug you to sleep. The bed is so empty. When are you coming back? I¡¯ve missed you so much.¡±

 Chapter 34

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°What do you want me to do? I can¡¯t go back now.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s voice was almost addictive, causing the disquiet in Lu Zhao¡¯s body to flare up again.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me a story? I might be able to fall asleep if I listen to your voice,¡± Luo Ying said coquettishly.


    Lu Zhao was speechless.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t telling stories something that only parents do to their children? Are you trying to be my daughter?¡± He couldn¡¯t help but complain.


    Luo Ying thought about it for a moment. That wasn¡¯t impossible. After all, she had a responsible, rich, and handsome father like Lu Zhao. She should be very happy to be his daughter.


    Thus, Luo Ying threw a flirtatious look at the camera and said in a coy voice, ¡°Then, daddy Lu, can you tell me a story and put me to sleep?¡±


    Lu Zhao, who had lived for 25 years and still had no experience in relationships, was just making a casual remark. He didn¡¯t expect Luo Ying to be so thick-skinned and take advantage of the situation, even roleplaying with him.


    As soon as Luo Ying called him ¡®Daddy Lu¡¯, his breathing became heavier, and his ears turned red. He chided softly, ¡°Stop messing around. If your father were to hear this, he would say that you¡¯re an unfilial daughter.¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡± Luo Ying grinned and chuckled. She brought the camera closer and said in a low voice, ¡°Then I¡¯ll just call you Daddy secretly under the blanket. Let¡¯s not let him hear it, okay?¡±


    A certain scene appeared in Lu Zhao¡¯s mind. Luo Ying was lying under him, calling him ¡°Daddy¡± with her charming eyes and begging him for mercy.


    His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, and he felt the fire that he had just suppressed reignite and spread throughout his body.


    Seeing that Luo Ying was still looking at him expectantly, Lu Zhao forced himself to look away. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± As soon as he opened his mouth, he realized that there was something wrong with his voice. He could only cough twice and clear his throat before continuing, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted me to tell you a story? What story do you want to hear?¡±


    When he looked away, he didn¡¯t notice Luo Ying¡¯s silent laughter on the other side of the video. He only heard Luo Ying cheerfully say, ¡°Then I want to listen to ¡®Little tadpoles looking for their mother.¡¯ Read this story to me.¡±


    As soon as Lu Zhao heard the childish title, he felt as if his childhood memories had suddenly awakened, and all the ambiguous bubbles from just now burst.


    He sighed. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll read it to you. You can sleep quietly, okay?¡±


    Otherwise, if this vixen continued to cause trouble, he really wouldn¡¯t get anything done today.


    ¡°Okay, I promise to sleep.¡± Luo Ying immediately lay down and put her phone next to her pillow.


    Lu Zhao searched for the story on the internet and then read it word by word. He thought he would have to read a few more books, but he didn¡¯t expect that Luo Ying had already closed her eyes and fallen asleep halfway through the passage.


    She had just complained about how she couldn¡¯t sleep, but in the blink of an eye, she was already fast asleep. Lu Zhao still finished the story, and then quietly looked at Luo Ying.


    In the end, he didn¡¯t hang up the video call. Instead, he put the phone on the stand and placed it in front of the desk. He found a bluetooth headset and connected it, turning it on silent mode. This way, he could see Luo Ying at a glance while he was working without waking her up.


    Then, he opened the door and went out. He instructed Xiao Ting, ¡°Help me schedule my work. For the urgent matters, prioritize them. As for the other secondary matters, put them at the back. You must finish everything by today and then arrange a flight back to China.¡±


    ¡°Did something happen to the company in China?¡± Xiao Ting asked.


    According to their original schedule, they still had more than two days on their journey. If it wasn¡¯t for something particularly urgent, Lu Zhao usually wouldn¡¯t change his schedule so easily.


    Lu Zhao paused for a moment, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. ¡°No, someone is waiting for me to go back.¡±


    At first, Xiao Ting was madly guessing in his mind whether the old crooks in the company were being up to no good again. He did not expect to hear such an answer. He was silent for a few seconds and complained madly in his heart. ¡®Could it be that troublesome Madam again?¡¯


    However, even if he had a hundred ironclad stomachs, he would not dare to say it out loud. He could only reply respectfully, ¡°Alright, Sir. I¡¯ll see to it at once.¡±

 Chapter 35

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    On the other hand, Luo Ying still didn¡¯t know that Lu Zhao had changed his schedule at the last minute because of her coquettish words and was working overtime desperately. She was tired from the day before and had a very deep sleep that night. She slept comfortably until dawn.


    She woke up in the warm bed and felt that she had been stretched from head to toe. When she turned around, she realized that her phone was dead.


    Luo Ying was very confused. She didn¡¯t remember using her phone much yesterday. How did it run out of battery so quickly? Was it broken?


    She shook her head, thinking that if that was the case, she would have to get a new phone. She charged her phone and turned it back on. Only then did she realize that she had video-called Lu Zhao for more than seven hours last night!


    So after she fell asleep last night, Lu Zhao didn¡¯t hang up the video call?


    Luo Ying¡¯s toes curled up under the blanket. She felt a little warm glow in her heart, but at the same time, she felt a little embarrassed. She was so tired yesterday. She didn¡¯t snore when she slept, did she? She didn¡¯t say anything in her sleep that she shouldn¡¯t have said, right?


    ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll just pretend to not know.¡± Luo Ying gave up and threw her phone on the bed. She ran into the bathroom to wash up and had a comfortable breakfast.


    Just as she was thinking about what to do today, the police station suddenly called.


    Officer Hou¡¯s voice came from the other end of the phone. ¡°We¡¯ve found some of Tian Tian¡¯s purchase records, but she¡¯s denying it. She also asked to see you. So, if it¡¯s convenient for you, can you come to the police station?¡±


    Luo Ying thought about it for a moment. She really had nothing to do today, so she agreed.


    After a day and two nights of questioning, although Tian Tian had been stubborn and refused to give in, it was clear that this incident had traumatized her. She looked as if she had suddenly aged ten years.


    The moment she saw Luo Ying, a murderous look flashed across Tian Tian¡¯s eyes. However, she immediately remembered that her future was still in Luo Ying¡¯s hands, so she immediately restrained her murderous intent and put on a pitiful look. ¡°Yingying, you¡¯re finally here. Tell the police that I didn¡¯t do this. It¡¯s all a misunderstanding.¡±


    Since she wanted to act, Luo Ying decided to play along with her. ¡°The police just told me that it all matches up to your purchase record. There was also a camera hidden in the pearl earrings you gave me. How can I believe you?¡±


    Luo Ying sobbed. ¡°Tian Tian, we grew up together, and I¡¯ve always treated you as my best friend. Why do you have to treat me like this?¡±


    ¡°I know I¡¯ve gone too far, but I did it because I was worried about you,¡± Tian Tian pleaded while crying. ¡°Lu Zhao¡¯s so scary. I was afraid he¡¯d do something to you if you pissed him off, so I had to keep an eye on you.¡±


    Luo Ying did not look convinced. ¡°If it¡¯s really like what you said, that you¡¯re worried about me, then you could have just warned me. Why did you hide it from me?¡±


    Tian Tian was stunned. ¡°I was afraid that if I told you, you¡¯d raise Lu Zhao¡¯s suspicions. If that happened, all these cameras and bugs would have been installed for nothing.¡±


    As soon as Tian Tian said these words, the police officers outside the door subconsciously avoided her gaze. Who would believe such a poor excuse?


    But apparently, some people were more gullible than most. Luo Ying bit her lip and hesitated, ¡°Are you telling the truth? You¡¯re not lying to me again, are you?¡±


    Seeing that her attitude had softened, Tian Tian was overjoyed. ¡°Think about it, we¡¯ve been friends for so many years. What good would it do me to harm you?¡±


    Luo Ying answered her in her heart, ¡°Of course, you¡¯d get Lu Zhao.¡±


    ¡°My mind is in a mess right now. I don¡¯t know if I should believe you or not. Let me think about it.¡± Luo Ying covered her head and turned her head away, not willing to look at her again, as if she was afraid that her heart would soften.


    ¡°After so many years, don¡¯t you know how I feel about you?¡± Tian Tian rolled up her sleeves and asked, ¡°Do you still remember this scar?¡±


    Luo Ying turned around and looked at the scar on her arm that was almost an inch long. She pursed her lips and said nothing, but she had a question mark in her heart.


    The original novel never mentioned such details, so Luo Ying knew nothing about it. In order to prevent herself from being exposed, she could only pretend to be in pain.


    Acting as if she was immersed in her memories, Tian Tian said, ¡°This is the scar left behind when I was 12 years old, trying to catch you when you fell from the tree. I was even willing to give up my life for you. Why are you still doubting my feelings for you?¡±

 Chapter 36

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying was a little shocked. It turned out that the two of them shared such a history.


    She stood up in a flash. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re telling the truth or not, but for the sake of our past relationship, I¡¯ll let this matter go.¡± After she finished speaking, she covered her face and ran away, crying.


    The female police officer, An Cui, saw Luo Ying out of the police station. When she saw her sad face, she tactfully advised her, ¡°You can¡¯t judge a book by its cover. Sometimes, you can¡¯t even tell if the person you¡¯re sleeping with is a human or a wolf, let alone a friend.¡±


    Luo Ying thanked her. ¡°Actually, I know that Tian Tian has really gone overboard this time. However, her feelings for me are genuine too. So, I can¡¯t really send her to jail.¡±


    Upon seeing her innocent look, An Cui sighed in her heart. When she returned to the police station, she sighed to Officer Hou. ¡°Only rich families would raise innocent princesses like Luo Ying.¡±


    Officer Hou¡¯s lips curled up. In his mind, An Cui was the innocent one.


    As a senior police officer who had been fighting on the front line for more than 20 years, Officer Hou had developed a pair of sharp eyes. Although Luo Ying and Tian Tian were pouring out their hearts to each other, even the best actors in the world would not escape his eyes.


    Luo Ying drove out of the parking lot. When she passed by the entrance of the police station, she glanced inside and smiled sardonically. This was just an appetizer.


    Luo Ying knew that Tian Tian did come from a considerably powerful family. Even if she insisted on filing the lawsuit, Tian Tian would be sentenced to three years in prison at most. If the Tian family spent more money, the sentence would be even shorter. If the Tian family were to create grounds for her to require medical care, Tian Tian might not even need to go to prison.


    When she recalled what Tian Tian had done to the original Luo Ying in the book, Luo Ying sneered. This punishment was too light.


    In the original novel, the male protagonist Lin Su, the female protagonist Su Ran, the original Luo Ying¡¯s step-mother and step-sister, her best friend Tian Tian, and some other female cannon fodder were all accomplices that led to the original Luo Ying¡¯s death. None of them were innocent, so she would not let Tian Tian off so easily.


    Coincidentally, Luo Ying had just thought of the male lead, Lin Su, when his phone call came.


    Luo Ying glanced at it and lazily picked up the phone. ¡°Mr. Lin, what¡¯s the matter? ¡±


    After Lin Su got through, he did not waste any time. He said directly, ¡°I¡¯m in my office on the top floor. Come over now.¡±


    When she heard his commanding tone, Luo Ying didn¡¯t say a word and hung up the phone.


    Who did he think he was, to actually dare to speak to her like this?


    Lin Su had thought that as long as he asked, Luo Ying would run over to him as she used to. However, he didn¡¯t expect Luo Ying to hang up on him as soon as he uttered one sentence.


    He called back angrily. ¡°Luo Ying, what are you doing? How dare you hang up on me?¡±


    Luo Ying smirked. ¡°Oh, Mr. Lin. So you do know who you¡¯re talking to. You didn¡¯t even say anything and just barked out orders. I thought you called the wrong number and mistook me as one of your assistants.¡±


    Lin Su choked and said faintly, ¡°You¡¯re an artiste under our company. Aren¡¯t you my subordinate?¡±


    This time, it was Luo Ying¡¯s turn to curse. It was all the original Luo Ying¡¯s fault. In order to get closer to Lin Su, she had actually signed a contract with his company. This had put her in a difficult position. She was displeased about it.


    She snorted coldly and spoke like TikTok¡¯s text-to-speech. ¡°Then, dear Boss Lin, what be thy bidding?¡±


    Lin Su was upset. The sarcasm stabbed him deep in the heart. ¡°Come to my office right now.¡±


    Luo Ying exclaimed, ¡°Boss Lin, you¡¯re suddenly calling your employee up. Are you trying to cut a deal, one under the desk perhaps? I don¡¯t remember the contract we signed to have included this.¡±


    ¡°The hell are you saying?¡± Lin Su gritted his teeth. ¡°When did you become so eloquent? Since you¡¯re so good at talking, why don¡¯t I throw you into some talk show so that you can display your talents?¡±


    Luo Ying was overjoyed. ¡°Thank you, boss, for giving me this job opportunity. Let¡¯s get rich together!¡±

 Chapter 37

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lin Su¡¯s anger soared. He could not help but raise his voice, ¡°I¡¯m not joking with you. Come over immediately and bring your things along.¡±


    Lin Su paused for a moment and emphasized, ¡°You do know what I¡¯m talking about, right? I¡¯ll only give you an hour. You¡¯d better get there on time, or else,¡± he paused deliberately, ¡°you don¡¯t want to know the consequences.¡±


    Luo Ying slammed her hand on the steering wheel and hung up the phone. Pfft, then just you wait!


    Originally, she was quite close to the company and only needed less than ten minutes to drive there. But Lin Su¡¯s arrogant tone made her very unhappy, so Luo Ying turned the steering wheel and drove to another place.


    When she was browsing the news in the same city last night, she saw a popular food blogger recommending a new local dessert shop. He swore with his life that it was the best thing he had ever tasted, so Luo Ying decided to give it a go.


    After Lin Su hung up the phone, he set an hour-long alarm to see if Luo Ying could arrive within an hour.


    He waited and waited. An hour had almost passed, but Luo Ying was still nowhere to be seen. He was getting more and more annoyed. At the last minute, when the alarm was about to ring, he immediately picked up his phone and called Luo Ying. The first thing he said was, ¡°You¡¯re late. Prepare to be punished.¡±


    In the next second, there was a knock on the door, and the door was pushed open. He looked up and saw Luo Ying wearing a floral dress, a velvet hat, and a pair of brown sunglasses.


    Her white skin, red lips, and the sunlight that shone in from behind made her look fresh and beautiful, like a fairy among the flowers.


    Lin Su was stunned for a moment. Then, he saw Luo Ying waving the phone in her hand with a faint smile on her face. ¡°Three more seconds. I¡¯m not late.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, the alarm clock that Lin Su had just set rang immediately, proving that Luo Ying was indeed not late.


    He turned off the alarm clock with a blank expression. ¡°Where is it?¡±


    Luo Ying took out an envelope from her bag and threw it on his desk. ¡°The chip is inside. You can check it yourself.¡±


    Lin Su¡¯s fingers pressed on the envelope, but he didn¡¯t open it to check. Instead, he stared at Luo Ying. ¡°How do I know if you have other copies?¡±


    Luo Ying puffed up her cheeks and took a sip of the milk tea in her hand. She was amused. ¡°Yeah, how can you be sure that I don¡¯t have a backup? Would you believe me if I said I didn¡¯t? If I say I do, would you believe me?¡±


    Lin Su¡¯s face was dark. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s on your mind. I can¡¯t trust you.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Luo Ying shrugged her shoulders slightly. ¡°Then that¡¯s your problem. It has nothing to do with me.¡±


    Seeing that she was about to leave, Lin Su said, ¡°Sign a confidentiality agreement.¡±


    As if she had heard a ridiculous joke, Luo Ying sneered and turned to look at him. ¡°Lin Su, do you really think you can control my fate?¡±


    Lin Su clasped his hands and placed them on the table, looking like he was ready to negotiate. ¡°If you¡¯re not guilty, then why don¡¯t you dare to sign this contract?¡±


    Unfortunately, Luo Ying didn¡¯t fall for his goading. ¡°Didn¡¯t your mother tell you that you can¡¯t say things randomly and you can¡¯t sign things randomly?¡±


    Lin Su threatened her. ¡°Do you know that it¡¯s illegal for you to hold that thing in your hand?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you totally should call the police.¡± Luo Ying squeezed out a bright smile. ¡°I welcome you to use the law to protect your own interests, provided that you can, and if Miss Su is willing to let the world see her naked ass.¡±


    She was someone who had gone to college. Lin Su really thought that she was ignorant of the law.


    When he saw that she truly did not care, Lin Su¡¯s face turned black. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that I¡¯ll ban you? Your contract hasn¡¯t expired yet.¡±


    Luo Ying retorted sarcastically, ¡°If that¡¯s all you can do, then do as you please.¡± She would not gain anything by remaining in this lousy company. She was already lucky that she had not been used as a stepping stone for another rising star.


    Seeing that both hard and soft tactics did not work, Lin Su slammed the desk in anger. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°What if I agree to be with you?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Luo Ying couldn¡¯t help but pick her ear. ¡°Say it again. I didn¡¯t hear you.¡±

 Chapter 38

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    A trace of humiliation flashed across Lin Su¡¯s face. He pursed his lips and repeated his words.


    Su Ran¡¯s dream was to have a place in the entertainment industry, so her records had to remain clean. For Su Ran¡¯s sake, Lin Su would rather put himself in a difficult position and accede to Luo Ying, agreeing to her conditions.


    Luo Ying stood where she was. She felt such intense secondhand embarrassment on his behalf that her toes curled up. ¡°Lin Su, are you selling yourself for Su Ran?¡±


    Lin Su didn¡¯t like the word ¡°sell¡± that she used. ¡°Isn¡¯t this what you¡¯ve always wanted? As long as you sign this confidentiality agreement, I can promise to meet you once a week.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, but there¡¯s no need.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Lin Su was very angry. He had already lowered his status to this extent. What was Luo Ying not satisfied with?


    He stood up, forced Luo Ying to the corner, and gave her a warning. ¡°It¡¯s better not to be too greedy.¡±


    Luo Ying was so angry that she cackled. ¡°Mr. Lin, didn¡¯t you learn the famous words of Socrates when you were in school? Know thyself.¡±


    She poked Lin Su¡¯s chest with her finger and pushed him away. ¡°Who gave you the confidence to rate yourself so highly? Aren¡¯t you afraid of being struck by lightning?¡±


    Lin Su was as confused as he was furious. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not joking?¡±


    Luo Ying raised her eyebrows. ¡°Why? Do you really think that you are the treasure of the universe and that everyone is fighting over you?¡±


    When she saw Lin Su standing there in a daze with a look of disbelief, Luo Ying was too lazy to argue with him. ¡°Whatever, I will not sign any confidentiality agreement.¡±


    She dusted her hands. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not interested in either you or Su Ran. I won¡¯t dirty my hands for you.¡±


    She would look for an opportunity to trample on these people, but she would not use such a method.


    Luo Ying said it so casually, as if what happened between him and Su Ran was really not worth mentioning in her heart.


    Lin Su did not know why, but he suddenly panicked and subconsciously grabbed Luo Ying¡¯s hand. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to leave.¡±


    Luo Ying thought he was going to pester her again, so she gave him a backhanded slap. The sound of the slap reverberated throughout the entire office. Lin Su had never thought that Luo Ying would hit him. He instantly let go of Luo Ying¡¯s hand and froze in place.


    ¡°I¡¯ve said it before. There¡¯s no clause in the contract that says I¡¯ll accept your touchy-feelers.¡± Luo Ying turned her red wrist. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m already married. What are you trying to pull? What if my husband finds out? What if he misunderstands?¡±


    Luo Ying threw the almost-finished milk tea into the trash can. Under the secretary¡¯s horrified gaze, she pressed the elevator button. Lin Su¡¯s roar and the sound of things smashing came from behind her, but she didn¡¯t even turn her head.


    As soon as the elevator door closed, Luo Ying immediately opened her palm and saw that it was red. She blew on it with heartache and thought to herself, ¡°It felt good just now, but his face is probably made of rock. Too many fillers?¡±


    However, as red as her hand was, Lin Su¡¯s face should have fared worse. After all, she had used all her strength in the slap just now.


    Thinking of something, Luo Ying immediately took out her phone, took a photo of her reddened palm, and sent it to Lu Zhao with the caption: ¡°Hubby, it hurts. Hurry up and blow on it for me.¡±


    As soon as the message was sent, the phone rang again. The caller ID showed that it was Luo Hao, the father of the original Luo Ying. They were not on good terms.


    It seemed that today was indeed an eventful day. Things came one after another. Luo Ying sighed with a tired heart and then picked up the phone.


    ¡°I heard from your Aunt Hong that you jumped off a building a few days ago just to force Lu Zhao to divorce you? ¡°Hao Luo¡¯s furious voice came out from the phone.


    ¡°Nope.¡± Luo Ying denied.


    ¡°If not, then why did the Lu family cancel the project that our two families are working on? Is it because you¡¯ve angered him?¡±


    ¡°Nope again.¡±


    Luo Hao didn¡¯t believe her. ¡°If you really didn¡¯t, then you should bring Lu Zhao back tonight.¡±


    ¡°Lu Zhao went on a business trip.¡±


    ¡°How can there be such a coincidence? I don¡¯t care.¡± Luo Hao gave her an ultimatum. ¡°You have to bring Lu Zhao home tonight, or you won¡¯t be able to come back ever again!¡±

 Chapter 39

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Hao¡¯s words were cruel enough. In the original Luo Ying¡¯s eyes, this father was only busy with his business. When she was very young, he never took notice of her and her brother. He only had eyes for her stepmother and step-sister. In the end, when they grew up, things go to the point where her brother was forced to run away from home. Since then, there had been no news of him.


    For the sake of the company¡¯s interests, the original Luo Ying was even forced to marry Lu Zhao, whom she didn¡¯t like, causing her a lot of pain.


    However, Luo Ying had read the novel, so she knew very well that Luo Hao was simply a father who didn¡¯t know how to express his feelings. He actually doted on his son and daughter, but he didn¡¯t know how to express his good intentions at all. Every time he said something, it would cause a quarrel between the two sides.


    The reason he was in such a hurry to marry the original to Lu Zhao was because he knew that he was sick, so he wanted to help the original Luo Ying find a good home. Then, he rushed to start the cooperation project with the Lu family, so that she and her brother could have more capital to establish themselves.


    Unfortunately, the original Luo Ying never learned about his good intentions. Instead, she was forced to walk on a different path. In his rush, Luo Hao made a critical mistake, bringing the company to ruin. His illness worsened, and he was eventually confined to the bed. After hearing the news of the original Luo Ying¡¯s death, he passed away from the shock.


    Luo Ying decided to go back.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Lu Zhao?¡± Luo Hao poked his head out from the living room. When he saw that she was alone, he immediately frowned.


    Luo Ying took off her coat and handed it to a servant. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? He¡¯s on a business trip abroad.:


    Luo Hao was very unhappy that Lu Zhao didn¡¯t come. ¡°Then, call him!¡±


    ¡°Right, right.¡± Luo Ying took out her phone and made a video call, but no one picked up. Only then did she realize that Lu Zhao hadn¡¯t replied to the photo she had just sent.


    Luo Ying couldn¡¯t help but mumble in her heart. He had not replied to her messages, and he was not answering her video calls. Was Lu Zhao angry? Had she misspoke, last night?


    Seeing that there was no response from his phone, Luo Hao put his hands on his waist. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did Lu Zhao coincidentally stop accepting video calls?¡±


    Her stepmother, Liao Hong, who was sitting at the side, echoed, ¡°Yingying, you don¡¯t have to be sp stubborn. Our family isn¡¯t an open-minded family, but you got divorced, not long after you got married. It¡¯s not a good look for you, a lady.¡±


    Luo Hao¡¯s anger rose to another level after being provoked by her. ¡°She doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s good for her! She doesn¡¯t even know how to appreciate someone like Lu Zhao, and she still wants to be a superstar!¡±


    The two of them didn¡¯t seem to understand human language. If Luo Ying didn¡¯t care about Luo Hao¡¯s love for his daughter, would she have put up with them for so long?


    ¡°I told you, we¡¯re both fine. We¡¯re not divorced!¡±


    ¡°Sister, you don¡¯t have to worry. Even if you¡¯re divorced and have nowhere to go, our family will always open the door for you.¡± His stepsister, Luo Wan, came down the stairs.


    Luo Wan was certain that the two would definitely get a divorce. After all, she had specially inquired about it. Lu Zhao had seen Luo Ying and Lin Su¡¯s confession scene and was threatened by Luo Ying to a divorce, over the edge of a rooftop.


    She found it impossible for Lu Zhao to keep up with her.


    Luo Ying couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes. This mother-daughter pair was determined to confirm her divorce with Lu Zhao. She spread her hands and said, ¡°Yes, yes, yes, Lu Zhao and I are really going to get a divorce. We¡¯ve even prepared the divorce agreement. When he comes back from his business trip, he¡¯ll sign it immediately.¡±


    Before the mother and daughter could celebrate, Luo Hao stood up with a gust of wind, pointed at her and scolded her, ¡°I told you that the project was going well. Why didn¡¯t the Lu family show any signs of pulling out? I¡¯ve long guessed that there was a problem on your side, but whenever I asked you about it, you always evaded the question!


    ¡°How old are you this year? Don¡¯t you know how to think for yourself? Are you still thinking about Lin Su? Let me tell you this, unless I¡¯m dead, you can forget about being with Lin Su, for the rest of your life!¡±


    Luo Hao was so angry that he sat back down with his hand clutching his chest. Liao Hong quickly patted his chest and advised him, ¡°Yingying, it¡¯s not that I want to criticize you, but if the Lin family¡¯s kid likes you too, your father and I will take your childhood friendship into consideration and permit it. But look at that Lin family brat, he¡¯s so haughty. He¡¯s never had you or the Luo family in his eyes, but you still had to go after him. You offended the Lu family and caused the company to get into trouble now. Do you really want to drive your father to his grave¡­?¡±


    Before Liao Hong could finish her accusation, the servant at the door suddenly shouted, ¡°Mr. Lu is here!¡±

 Chapter 40

    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The living room fell silent, and everyone spun around to look. They saw the tall and slender Lu Zhao, dressed in a business suit, walking in from the door.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Luo Ying¡¯s eyes lit up, and she immediately jumped up from the chair and pounced on him.


    Lu Zhao was still holding a briefcase in his hand. Realizing that he didn¡¯t have time to hand it to Zhang, he could only let go of the briefcase and let it fall to the ground. Then, he opened his arms and hugged her. ¡°I called Zhang and found out that you went back to your parents¡¯ house, so I rushed over as soon as I got off the plane.¡±


    Luo Ying was still speechless after being criticized by Luo Hao and the others, but now that she saw Lu Zhao, she suddenly felt a little wronged. ¡°Then, why didn¡¯t you reply to my message just now and answer my video call?¡±


    Lu Zhao patted her head. ¡°I fell asleep on the plane and didn¡¯t see your message. After I got off the plane, my phone was already out of battery.¡±


    Luo Ying was sharp enough to catch the loophole in his words. ¡°You¡¯re lying. You just said you called Zhang.¡±


    ¡°That was Xiao Ting.¡± Lu Zhao was weary. ¡°Can you come down first? Everyone is watching.¡±


    Luo Ying reluctantly jumped down from his body.


    Lu Zhao greeted Luo Hao, ¡°Dad, I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m late.¡±


    The moment he saw Lu Zhao, Luo Hao, who had just been so angry that he was about to have a stroke, immediately simmered down. He nodded at Lu Zhao. ¡°It¡¯s fine as long as you¡¯re here.¡±


    Luo Wan¡¯s eyes turned red with jealousy as she watched the intimate interaction between the two.


    Everyone said that she and her mother were vixens, having seduced Luo Hao to cast his own children aside and only care for them.


    However, only the mother and daughter knew that Luo Hao¡¯s heart was on Luo Ying and her brother, and he had always been on guard against them. Like Luo Ying and Lu Zhao¡¯s marriage, everyone knew that Lu Zhao was the ideal son-in-law, but Luo Ying was blind and didn¡¯t like Lu Zhao, so she kept making a fuss about not wanting to marry him.


    Liao Hong had asked Luo Hao indirectly that since Luo Ying was so unwilling, it was better to let Luo Wan marry into the Lu family. But, as soon as those words lingered in the air, Luo Hao immediately shot them down, saying that the person who was engaged to Lu Zhao was Luo Ying, and that was final!


    So, even though Luo Wan was crazy with jealousy, she could only watch begrudgingly as Luo Ying married Lu Zhao. She had thought that she would never have the chance to get close to Lu Zhao in this life, but, not long after they got married, she heard that the two were going to get a divorce.


    Luo Wan suddenly felt that her chance had come. She looked at Lu Zhao with doe eyes. ¡°Brother-in-law, people are saying that you and my sister have divorced, so I thought you would never come to the Luo family again.¡±


    When Luo Hao heard this, he glared at her unhappily. She had truly prodded at a sore spot!


    Lu Zhao glanced sideways at Luo Ying, who pursed her lips. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you several times that we¡¯re fine, but you just don¡¯t believe me and keep running your mouth off.¡±


    However, Lu Zhao didn¡¯t answer the question. Instead, he looked at Luo Ying, which made Luo Wan even more certain that they were indeed up to something. She was afraid that they were putting up an act.


    However, she didn¡¯t think about it. If the two were really going to get a divorce, why would Lu Zhao work with Luo Ying to put on an act?


    ¡°Ahem.¡± Luo Hao cleared his throat. ¡°Since you¡¯re fine, then that¡¯s good.¡±


    Although he wanted to ask why they suddenly pulled out of the project since there was no conflict between the two, he saw Lu Zhao¡¯s tired face and held back. ¡°Come in and rest for a while.¡±


    Luo Wan jumped out again. ¡°I¡¯ll go pour some tea for brother-in-law.¡±


    She went into the kitchen and took out Lu Zhao¡¯s favorite tea. Just as she was about to get a kettle, the helper next to her stopped her. ¡°It¡¯s freshly boiled. Be careful not to burn your hand.¡±


    Luo Wan¡¯s hand paused, and she peeked out of the living room. She saw Luo Ying and Lu Zhao sitting affectionately on the sofa. Why did Luo Ying still want Lu Zhao, even after the divorce?


    An evil thought rose in Luo Wan¡¯s heart. If only Luo Ying wasn¡¯t here, then she would be the only daughter of the Luo family, and she could marry Lu Zhao.


    She put the teacup back and replaced it with a bigger purple clay teapot. ¡°It¡¯s rare for my brother-in-law to come today, so I¡¯ll show him my tea making skills.¡±


    A few minutes later, Luo Wan came out with a tea set and a kettle filled with boiling water on a large tray. She glanced at the two people on the sofa, who were laughing and talking, and then looked down at the carpet in the living room.


    A bright smile appeared on Luo Wan¡¯s face. ¡°Sister, brother-in-law, I¡¯ll show you guys a dance!¡±


    The moment she fell, she pushed her hand forward, and the contents of the tray were all thrown at Luo Ying¡¯s face!

 Chapter 41 - 41 A Wounded Man

    41 A Wounded Man


    On the tray was an entire set of fragile glass tea cups and a full pot of boiling water.


    If all of this landed Luo Ying¡¯s face, it would either kill her or disfigure her.


    Luo Wan fell forward, sneering to herself.


    ¡®Luo Ying, as long as you disappear from this world, the Luo family and Lu Zhao will be mine.¡¯


    Before Luo Ying could react, the man in front of her had already held her tightly in his arms. What followed was the sound of the tea set breaking.


    The purple clay teapot struck Lu Zhao¡¯s shoulder, and the fabric on his shoulder were all scalded.


    The man frowned silently.


    The rest of the boiling water flowed on the ground, giving off hot steam and covering the ground with glass shards.


    If not for Lu Zhao¡¯s quick reaction, the pot of boiling water would have already struck Luo Ying¡¯s face. Coupled with the broken tea set, this would be a proper plastic surgery package.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, brother-in-law, sister. I didn¡¯t mean to!¡± Luo Wan stood up and lowered her head slightly. She seemed to be apologizing, but the discontent was clear in her eyes.


    ¡®Why has Lu Zhao seemed to have changed into a different person? Why was he being so protective of Luo Ying?¡¯


    Lu Zhao ignored to Luo Wan¡¯s apology. Instead, he helped Luo Ying sit up straight and carefully looked at Luo Ying to see if she was injured.


    In an instant, Luo Ying felt a little touched.


    He had several layers of fabric on him, but the water would have scalded him, nevertheless. Even so, his first reaction was to check if she was alright.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said. Luo Ying shook her head and reached out to touch Lu Zhao¡¯s shoulder.


    Lu Zhao shook his head and grabbed her hand. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to go to your room to tidy up.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded and quickly led Lu Zhao to her room. She took Lu Zhao to the bathroom, then found suitable clothes and a first-aid kit from her brother¡¯s room. She went back to her room.


    Just as Luo Ying was walking back to her room with a fresh set of clothes and the first-aid kit, she saw Luo Wan standing hesitantly at the door.


    In the original book, Luo Wan liked Lu Zhao very much. Later on, even if she had to suffer along with the Lu family as they incurred heavy losses brought by her actions, she only had Lu Zhao in her sights.


    ¡°Luo Wan, is incest your hobby?¡±


    Luo Wan heard Luo Ying¡¯s voice and jumped up in shock. She looked at Luo Ying with hatred in her eyes.


    ¡°Mr. Lu is an honored guest of our family. Besides, I messed up just now. What¡¯s wrong with coming to apologize to him?¡± Luo Wan raised her chin and spoke confidently to Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying wasn¡¯t angry. She smiled. ¡°Where exactly did you mess up? The fall, or the target?¡±


    The carpet in the Luo family¡¯s house had a velvety texture. It was not slippery, certainly not enough to trip people up.


    ¡°My dear younger sister, your clumsiness knows no bounds. How did you manage to fall in our home? You practically grew up with that carpet.¡±


    Luo Wan¡¯s face alternated between a deep blush and a deathly white. She couldn¡¯t keep up with the act any longer. ¡°You! I¡¯m concerned about your husband! What areyou getting at?¡±


    ¡°You said it yourself. He¡¯s my husband, so stay away from him. Stop trying to get your paws on him, it¡¯s so blatant that I¡¯m having second-hand embarrassment.¡± Luo Ying smiled, held the door handle, pulled the door open, and walked in.


    As soon as she walked in, she saw Lu Zhao, who was only wrapped in a bath towel, standing by the bed and looking at her with burning eyes.


    Her pink bath towel barely covered some important bits, exposing his broad shoulders, eight-pack abs, and eye-catching striations.


    Luo Ying¡¯s face burned red. It was broad daylight, and such a handsome man was standing by the bed, with her bath towel around him. Her mind was suddenly filled with depraved obscenities.


    She quickly looked away and handed the clothes in her hands to the man. ¡°Get changed in the bathroom.¡±


    Lu Zhao took the clothes and walked into the bathroom.


    Luo Ying then remembered what she had just said to Luo Wan, ¡°He¡¯s my husband, so stay away from him.¡±


    She didn¡¯t know if Lu Zhao, who was standing in the room, had heard her.


    Luo Ying opened her first-aid kit and deftly found bandages and burn ointment. Before she found herself in this life, she had been a very dedicated actress. She took part in many scenes by herself and was unwilling to have stunt doubles take her place.


    Therefore, she took many bumps and falls, and grew skilled at treating her wounds.


    Just as she finished preparing, Lu Zhao walked out of the bathroom.


    ¡°Will you be helping me?¡± The man¡¯s voice came from behind Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying turned around, only to see that the man was still undressed. There was a large red burn mark on his bare shoulder.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Luo Ying slowly approached Lu Zhao¡¯s side with some alcohol and burn cream.

 Chapter 42 - 42 Dinner

    42 Dinner


    Luo Ying¡¯s movements were very gentle. Her eyelashes were lowered, and she was focused on the red scars on the man¡¯s body.


    The cotton stick covered the wound with a cool burn ointment. The burn ointment was applied to the place where the skin was scalded. Lu Zhao felt the pain and hissed.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did I hurt you?¡± she asked. Luo Ying raised her eyes and looked at him in panic.


    The woman¡¯s watery eyes pleased Lu Zhao.


    His expression softened. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Continue applying the medicine.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded and continued to help the man deal with the burns on his body. The man¡¯s eyes seemed to be on her body and never once left.


    After she finished applying the medicine, Lu Zhao put on his clothes. His eyes were still fixed on Luo Ying.


    I¡¯m sorry, ¡± Luo Ying said. ¡°My stepsister has always been like this.¡±


    ¡°I heard your conversation outside the room.¡± Lu Zhao interrupted her and pulled her into his arms.


    She sat on the man¡¯s firm thighs and blushed for a moment.


    The man¡¯s breath encroached upon her ear.


    ¡°You told your sister that I¡¯m your husband. What do you mean by that?¡±


    No matter how good of an actress she was, Luo Ying couldn¡¯t keep her cool in such an intimate scene. Her body felt as if it had been electrified from head to toe.


    ¡°I¡¯m just saying that I don¡¯t want to get a divorce with you. Why don¡¯t we just continue living like this?¡±


    ¡°Live on? As what exactly?¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s voice was very soft, as if he was whispering into her ear.


    ¡°As an ordinary couple¡­¡± Luo Ying said.


    ¡°Do you know what your duty as a wife is?¡± the man asked.


    Luo Ying¡¯s face turned red. She only knew that if she wanted to survive, she had to hold on to this man¡¯s thighs with every fiber of her body and prevent a divorce from ever occurring, but she hadn¡¯t thought about whether she wanted to be an actual wife to Lu Zhao.


    She had not expected Lu Zhao to be so direct.


    ¡°No, I¡­¡± Luo Ying was about to say something, but Lu Zhao¡¯s lips had already landed on her neck. He sucked gently.


    He nibbled her skin teasingly.


    Luo Ying felt as if her body had caught fire. ¡®No, there was no need to be so fast!¡¯


    ¡°Sis, have you treated the wound? Dad is calling you downstairs for dinner.¡± Luo Wan¡¯s voice came from the door.


    Luo Ying stood up reflexively and was about to open the door when she saw Lu Zhao.


    ¡°Best neaten up before you open the door.¡± The man¡¯s voice came from behind.


    Luo Ying turned around and looked at Lu Zhao in confusion. Lu Zhao pointed at her collar.


    Luo Ying walked into the bathroom and spotted a hickey.


    This wretched man!


    When the two came out of the room, Luo Wan stared at Luo Ying. When she saw that Luo Ying had changed into a dress with a slightly higher neckline, her eyes were burned with flames.


    ¡®What was wrong with Luo Ying? Wasn¡¯t she avoiding Lu Zhao like the plague? How did it come to this?¡¯


    Luo Ying¡¯s stepmother, Liao Hong, was also confused.


    When Lu Zhao and Luo Ying came out of the bedroom, they were holding hands, just like an actual couple.


    Had Luo Ying truly changed after jumping off the building that time?


    Luo Hao was about to say something, but after seeing how close the two were, he softened his tone, ¡°Let¡¯s eat. We¡¯ll talk after we¡¯re done.¡±


    Lu Zhao sat down next to Luo Ying.


    The dishes on the table were all Luo Ying¡¯s favorites. It was obvious that Luo Hao had arranged this in advance.


    This frigid man¡¯s appearance belied his warm heart. He truly loved his daughter. At one point, he got in the way of Luo Ying¡¯s pursuit of Lin Su and instead got her together with Lu Zhao. He had only done so out of the wishes of a loving father.


    During the meal, Liao Hong and Luo Wan chatted with Lu Zhao warmly and even put some food on his plate.


    ¡°Brother-in-law, I made these prawns. They¡¯re delicious. I peeled one for you to try.¡± Luo Wan put the peeled shrimp meat on Lu Zhao¡¯s plate.


    Lu Zhao only shot Luo Wan a cold glance.


    ¡°Brother-in-law, please forgive me for my carelessness. I didn¡¯t mean it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Liao Hong chimed in. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Luo Ying, you wouldn¡¯t have been injured.¡±


    Luo Ying found her words utterly ridiculous. It was as if she had poured the boiling water on Lu Zhao herself.


    Just as she was about to say something, a half-filled bowl of shrimp meat with mustard and soy sauce was placed in front of her.


    Those were her favorite seasonings.


    ¡°Please, eat.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s expression softened, and his eyes were filled with warmth as he looked at her.


    Luo Wan clenched her fists tightly when she saw this scene. ¡®What right did Luo Ying have?¡¯

 Chapter 43 - 43 Public Display

    43 Public Display


    Luo Wan spoke slowly. ¡°Such a lovely couple. I¡¯m so envious of your love. But I¡¯m a little curious. It doesn¡¯t add up. In spite of such deep love, why did is the partnership still being called off?¡±


    Before Lu Zhao could say anything, Luo Hao put his chopsticks down with an audible click.


    ¡°It¡¯s a family dinner today. There will be no talking about business at the table.¡± When he saw his daughter and son-in-law getting along so well, Luo Hao felt a huge weight being lifted off his chest.


    Business was a distant concern. Lu Zhao and Luo Ying seemed to have mended fences, he would have plenty of time to talk to Lu Zhao later.


    ¡°Dad, didn¡¯t we ask brother-in-law to come over to inquire about the project? Why isn¡¯t he saying anything? I¡¯m happy to see them being such a lovely couple, but the world still moves on around them. They can¡¯t ignore family matters.¡±


    Luo Ying could tell that Luo Wan was trying to sow discord.


    Luo Ying looked at Luo Hao. His heart problems were getting to him. His lips were a little dark, and he was panting heavily.


    ¡°Father, I don¡¯t think a company as big as the Lu Corporation would cancel a cooperation for no reason. As far as I know, this partnership concerns electronic chips. The market for electronic chips is shrinking year by year, and this path may not hold much promise in the future.¡±


    Luo Ying still remembered some contents of the book. Lu Zhao had indeed rejected the proposal, but in turn, he counter-offered Luo Hao a better and more promising project.


    ¡°You¡¯re just a B list star. What would you know? Chen Zhi told me that although electronic chips won¡¯t have much prospects, they¡¯re still good for making a quick buck,¡± Luo Wan said anxiously.


    Chen Zhi was Luo Wan¡¯s cousin and the child of Liao Hong¡¯s younger sister. He was now working in the Luo family¡¯s company and was fully in charge of the collaborative project.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that Chen Zhi¡¯s own project didn¡¯t get approved. But what does it have to do with our family¡¯s partnership with the Lu family?¡± Luo Ying asked with a smile.


    She didn¡¯t expect Luo Wan to give herself away so quickly.


    In the original book, the Luo family¡¯s company went to the rocks, and Chen Zhi and Luo Wan¡¯s contributions in that matter could no longer be hidden.


    Luo Hao frowned. ¡°We have always been stringent with Q.C.¡±


    He had not expected his daughter, who had never been interested in business, to know so much.


    Luo Ying looked at Luo Hao¡¯s white hair and felt a little sad. This man had always been looking out for his son and daughter, and had never thought for himself.


    ¡°Oh, dad, we¡¯re not in a hurry to start a new project. Our family¡¯s projects have been stable recently. You should find time to rest and get a physical examination. I¡¯ve made an appointment for you for next Monday¡¯s physical examination. Remember to go.¡± Luo Ying smiled as she took out a physical examination card and handed it to Luo Hao.


    For a moment, Luo Hao¡¯s eyes betrayed the warmth within.


    Lu Zhao looked at the petite woman in front of him. She had truly changed a lot. She used to disobey her father, but today she was so considerate of Luo Hao.


    ¡°Dad, I¡¯ll consider the project, but there¡¯s indeed a problem with the project that Chen Zhi handed over. If he¡¯s managing it in the future, I¡¯m not going to give it much through,¡± Lu Zhao said coldly.


    This sentence was equivalent to a death sentence for Chen Zhi. This was his only foothold in the company.


    Liao Hong looked at Luo Ying, and a trace of ruthlessness flashed in her eyes. Luo Ying was now starting to break down her hold in the company. She had not seen this coming. Did the doctor give Luo Ying a new brain after she jumped off the building?


    Luo Hao and Luo Ying enjoyed the meal thoroughly.


    After the meal, Luo Ying and Lu Zhao got ready to leave.


    Luo Wan had not taken Luo Ying¡¯s warning to heart. Instead, she smiled at Lu Zhao and said, ¡°Brother-in-law, why don¡¯t you stay for the night? Sister¡¯s room is a little small, but we do have a guest room.¡±


    Luo Ying looked at Luo Wan discontentedly. This woman would not leave her husband alone, and she had harmed the original Luo Ying many times over.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, your brother-in-law won¡¯t be able to sleep without me.¡± Luo Ying looked at Luo Wan and laughed.


    ¡°Luo Ying, how can you be so shameless?¡± Luo Wan frowned and looked at Lu Zhao.


    Lu Zhao nodded. ¡°We won¡¯t disturb you tonight. I most certainly can¡¯t sleep at night without Luo Ying.¡±


    Luo Wan was so angry that she dropped all pretenses and threw an ugly scowl across the room. Luo Ying was here to make things difficult for her. She clearly said that she would definitely divorce Lu Zhao, but now she has gone back on her words and even brought Lu Zhao here to show off. Wasn¡¯t she clearly provoking her?


    ¡°Alright, since you¡¯re going back, do be careful.¡± Luo Hao interrupted their conversation and let Luo Ying and Lu Zhao go home.

 Chapter 44 - 44 A New Manager

    44 A New Manager


    Lu Zhao and Luo Ying¡¯s residence was not very close to the Luo family¡¯s house. It would take about half an hour to drive, and they would have to pass by a highway.


    After a long day, Luo Ying was a little tired. She leaned against the seat and fell asleep.


    When they arrived at the villa, Luo Ying was still sleeping soundly.


    Lu Zhao carried Luo Ying out of the car and only stopped when she was in the bedroom.


    She rarely slept in their bedroom, but last night, she came over by herself. So, would it be the same tonight?


    Lu Zhao looked at the woman¡¯s sleeping face, and the tender part of his heart was touched.


    He did not know why, but it felt good to be relied on by this woman.


    When Luo Ying woke up, the man in front of her was staring at her. She reached out to Lu Zhao and said, ¡°Hold me.¡±


    Lu Zhao didn¡¯t say anything. He just leaned over and slowly hugged Luo Ying.


    At that moment, Luo Ying was like a demure little woman. She was no longer the sharp-tongued force of fury at the dinner table with Luo Wan. Lu Zhao didn¡¯t know why, but his heart softened at that sight.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you in a few days. I¡¯ve missed you so much.¡± Luo Ying buried her head in Lu Zhao¡¯s arms. ¡°It¡¯s so tiring to travel alone. It¡¯s better to be with you.¡±


    Lu Zhao reached out and touched the top of Luo Ying¡¯s head. ¡°Cancel your contract with Lin Su. You don¡¯t have to be an artiste anymore. I can support you.¡±


    Luo Ying shook her head. She couldn¡¯t give up this job so easily. She still wanted to develop her acting career and give Lin Su a good slap in the face!


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll open an acting agency for you, and you can terminate your contract with your current company,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    Although the Lu Corporation had not invested much in the entertainment industry before, it was not too much trouble for them to open an entertainment company, if it was for her sake.


    Luo Ying shook her head again. If she abruptly terminated the contract with her current company, it might become a dark history for her in the future. She planned to use this year to regain her reputation and renown, and then build her own studio.


    However, from Lu Zhao¡¯s point of view, it seemed like Luo Ying was unwilling to be separated from Lin Su.


    Somehow, he was a little jealous and lowered his head to kiss Luo Ying¡¯s lips.


    Luo Ying¡¯s face blushed when she was suddenly kissed, but she reacted and began to reciprocate Lu Zhao¡¯s kiss.


    As they kissed, the two of them lay down on the soft bed. Lu Zhao¡¯s hand wandered all over her body. Luo Ying came back to her senses from the hot kiss and slowly panted.


    Lu Zhao looked at the gentle little woman lying in his arms. ¡°If you like it, I can help you open a studio right now. Lin Su¡¯s company won¡¯t dare to ask you for compensation for the breach of contract.¡±


    Luo Ying shook her head. ¡°If you say something like this now, it¡¯s like you¡¯re asking me to use my beauty in exchange for the studio.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re my wife. Even if you want the stars in the sky, I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± Lu Zhao touched Luo Ying¡¯s hair.


    This was the first time Lu Zhao had said something like that. Luo Ying happily snuggled into his arms. ¡°In that case, can you help me investigate something?¡±


    ¡­


    Lin Su¡¯s management company had a regular meeting with the managers and artistes every Monday, mostly to be updated on their work.


    Generally, artistes had to sit together with their managers.


    When Xia Lan walked into the room, she realized that her seat had been taken by another girl. The director of the artist management Department, Zhang Qi, looked at her sharply.


    Xia Lan shuddered and walked to Luo Ying¡¯s side. ¡°What are you doing? Why is someone else sitting there?¡±


    Next to Luo Ying was a fair-skinned boy. If Xia Lan was not mistaken, he was a manager who had been fired.


    ¡°Madam Xia, let me introduce you to my new manager, Chi Tong.¡±


    The boy looked at Xia Lan and nodded.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree that we¡¯ll live in peace for this year? Luo Ying, what are you doing? ¡± Xia Lan said to Luo Ying in a hushed tone.


    ¡°Xia Lan, come here!¡±


    Just as Luo Ying was about to speak, Zhang Qi interrupted their conversation.


    ¡°I heard that you sold the business data of our company¡¯s artistes to other companies and even paid an internet army to defame our artistes?¡±


    Zhang Qi¡¯s voice was stern. ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to work with Luo Ying to promote a few hosts for a music program and a Fashion Week project?¡±


    She had specifically come to Luo Ying for these projects, but Xia Lan didn¡¯t want Luo Ying to become famous through these projects, so she had suppressed the projects and prepared to give them to Su Ran.


    ¡°I just thought that Luo Ying wasn¡¯t very suitable¡­¡± Xia Lan¡¯s voice wavered.


    It was a taboo for managers to turn down an artiste¡¯s project without permission and keep it in their hands.


    ¡°Besides that, you also fired a newcomer, right?¡±

 Chapter 45 - 45 A Job Opportunity

    45 A Job Opportunity


    The person that Xia Lan had maliciously fired was Chi Tong, who was sitting next to Luo Ying.


    ¡°According to our company¡¯s rules, you have lost all managerial rights over Luo Ying. However, our company doesn¡¯t plan to fire you directly. The resources in your hands should have been handed over to Su Ran, right? You may ask Su Ran if she¡¯s willing to let you be her manager.¡±


    Su Ran¡¯s manager, Zhao Suo, had officially resigned this week, and it was time to choose a new manager.


    Xia Lan looked at Su Ran with pleading eyes.


    She had helped Su Ran with many things. The projects she had received were all funneled to Su Ran. She had even paid an army of fake reviewers to suppress Luo Ying¡¯s popularity after her performance last week.


    Su Ran stood up in front of everyone, and an apologetic expression flashed across her face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sister Xia Lan. I know that you¡¯ve done a lot for me, but I¡¯ve already talked to Sister Meng Lin. From now on, Meng Lin will be my manager.¡±


    Everyone sucked in a cold breath.


    Luo Ying was the only one who did not react. She yawned lazily.


    She had already found out about this when she asked Lu Zhao to investigate Xia Lan.


    Even after what Luo Ying had said to Xia Lan, Xia Lan had not repented. She rejected the next project for Luo Ying and was even prepared to hand it over to Su Ran.


    Luo Ying was not an unreasonable person, but Xia Lan had truly let her down.


    Therefore, she bribed Zhao Suo and made her resign in advance. Then, she reported Xia Lan¡¯s dereliction of duty to Zhang Qi.


    Xia Lan¡¯s face turned pale as she looked at Su Ran.


    ¡°However, Sister Xia Lan has done so much for me and has worked hard for the company for so many years. Director Zhang, I hope you won¡¯t fire Sister Xia. Don¡¯t you agree, Luo Ying?¡±


    Luo Ying laughed coldly. Su Ran was such a malicious orator. By making such a statement, she would be the kind and innocent maiden, while Luo Ying would be given a choice to be as kind-hearted as she was, or to be the cruel villainness.


    ¡°I¡¯m not as kind as Su Ran. I hope that we can deal with Xia Lan according to the company¡¯s rules.,¡± Luo Ying said coldly.


    She could let the occasional transgression slide, but for so many years, Xia Lan had treated the original Luo Ying like a fool and fed her with lies. Even after she had given her a fair warning, Xia Lan still did not repent, so she would have to pay the price for her actions.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said. Zhang Qi nodded. ¡°Xia Lan, since you don¡¯t have any artistes to manage anymore, you can take a break for now.¡±


    Xia Lan bit her lip and nodded reluctantly.


    Although it was a temporary leave, she had a feeling that her dismissal notice would come soon.


    She had not expected Luo Ying to gain so much wit and intelligence in so short a time.


    She had not seen this coming.


    After dealing with Xia Lan, Luo Ying felt a weight lifted off her chest.


    ¡°Sister Luo Ying, why did you choose me to be your manager?¡± Chi Tong asked her cautiously.


    Luo Ying remembered the character Chi Tong in the original novel. He was hardworking, capable, and was dutiful. Later on, he became a very good manager. Although he was previously framed by Xia Lan and left the company, he still managed to gain a high standing in the industry with his own abilities.


    However, he had harbored a hatred for the company and constantly attempted to take revenge on Lin Su, Xia Lan, and Su Ran. In the end, he was driven to suicide.


    Luo Ying did not want such a good seedling to die in this way, so she chose him to be her manager.


    ¡°Because I think you¡¯ll definitely become a great manager in the future,¡± Luo Ying said with a smile. ¡°I don¡¯t have much ability, but I¡¯m good at judging people. Trust me.¡±


    Chi Tong nodded. He had a feeling that Luo Ying was destined for greatness.


    After changing her manager, Luo Ying¡¯s job opportunities came, one after another. The performance clip from the party a few days ago was pulled out again for marketing purposes. Then, famous music centers for music programs sent Luo Ying a selection of choices.


    This time, she was to host a music program, interviewing singers and idols who had been singing recently. There would be a special stage for the host every week. The offer was a solid one, and the competition in terms of candidates was fierce.


    Many of the hosts who served on this show had gone on to become regular guests of variety shows. With the aid of endorsements, their popularity among the people would also rise.


    It was a valuable stepping stone.


    Luo Ying had already made preparations for it.


    On the day of the selection, Luo Ying saw a familiar figure as soon as she got out of the car. It was Su Ran.

 Chapter 46 - 46 Fans

    46 Fans


    Su Ran was wearing an elegant little dress and was walking toward the broadcasting station.


    A red carpet had been laid out for her at the entrance of the broadcasting station. Su Ran, who was wearing an apricot-colored dress, walked gracefully on the red carpet.


    Although there were many idols and actors who came to interview for the host¡¯s position this time, most of the fans were here for Su Ran.


    They were holding up light signs and all kinds of flowers, cheering wildly when Su Ran arrived.


    The cheers startled Luo Ying, who was in the car.


    Luo Ying couldn¡¯t help but remember the time of her previous life, when she had a lot of fans. They swarmed over her each time. But now, not even a single one of them turned up.


    She believed that as long as she worked hard, she would be able to work her way up again.


    Su Ran walked into the broadcasting station building.


    Luo Ying slowly got out of the car. She was wearing a white shirt with a black vest, a brown-yellow pleated skirt and long boots today.


    Her long hair was let down, and it was as black and beautiful as a raven¡¯s tail.


    The fans who were still mesmerized by Su Ran¡¯s beauty all stopped and turned to look at Luo Ying.


    She had not put on any brightening cosmetics or lipstick today. She only put on a light layer of foundation, and her makeup was so light, that it was almost invisible.


    However, this light makeup made her look delicate and pretty, like a university campus belle who radiated with a special kind of innocent beauty.


    ¡°Am I seeing things? Is that Luo Ying?¡±


    ¡°Oh my God, is Luo Ying that beautiful?¡±


    ¡°All she did was change her makeup and hairstyle, right?¡±


    The crowd burst into a heated discussion.


    Luo Ying smiled at the camera at the door. Her eyes were bright, and her smile was sweet.


    The fans and reporters who were holding their cameras kept pressing the shutter, afraid that they would miss a moment of Luo Ying¡¯s beauty.


    After Luo Ying left, everyone finally reacted. Luo Ying seemed to have changed into a different person recently.


    As soon as Luo Ying arrived at the waiting hall, she saw many old acquaintances.


    She spotted the fashionably dressed Cheng Yue, a new idol who had just become popular, and Lin Lu, who had recently appeared in several idol dramas and was known as ¡°the little sister next door¡±¡­


    It seemed like this was a highly coveted assignment.


    Su Ran also noticed Luo Ying coming in. She narrowed her eyes and looked a little dumbfounded.


    Luo Ying¡¯s current styling team was too powerful. How could she change so much in such a short time? Before, she looked like a vixen dotted up with wood paint, but now, she looked like a gentle, reliable girl-next-door.


    ¡°Are you here for the interview too?¡± Su Ran asked as she looked at Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying nodded and looked at Su Ran in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is there something else going on here?¡±


    ¡°This role doesn¡¯t suit you. Can you stop pestering Lin Su? He¡¯s already working his hardest to stay out of your way. I hope that you won¡¯t make things difficult for him. There¡¯s still a year left on your contract. Can¡¯t you just live your life in peace?¡±


    Luo Ying frowned and looked at Su Ran. ¡°I¡¯m contracted to work from four to six. My revenue for this job will also be distributed to the company and indirectly, to Lin Su. Lin Su has nothing to lose, and all to gain, if I take this job.


    ¡°You still care about him, don¡¯t you?¡± Su Ran¡¯s eyes were fixed on Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying was already cursing Lin Su and Su Ran¡¯s names every single day. This man and woman were really a match made in heaven.


    Was she now being treated as a bootlicker, even when she was doing what she was supposed to do?


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about him, I care about my career.¡± Su Ran choked on her words. She didn¡¯t expect Luo Ying to say something like that.


    When Luo Ying said this, her eyes were clear and unwavering. Was she speaking the truth, that she was going to walk the path of the entertainment industry?


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Su Ran. I couldn¡¯t care any less about your man, Lin Su. I only care about getting this job. It¡¯s very important to me. Do you understand?¡±


    Luo Ying patted Su Ran¡¯s shoulder and smiled slyly. ¡°My husband is rich, handsome, gentle, and considerate. Why should I fight with you over such an ordinary man?¡±


    After saying this, Luo Ying raised her small bag and left Su Ran¡¯s line of sight.


    Su Ran stood in place, confused. Did Luo Ying lose her brain by jumping off the building? Had she replaced it with a new one?


    In the past, Luo Ying hated Lu Zhao so much. How could she have said something like ¡°my husband is rich, handsome, gentle, and considerate¡±?

 Chapter 47 - 47 Interview

    47 Interview


    Luo Ying went to the bathroom and touched up on her makeup.


    According to her memory, Lin Su had originally fought hard for Su Ran to land this role. However, Lin Lu, who had a more powerful backer, beat him to the punch. The recording of Su Ran¡¯s audtion was soon uploaded to the internet.


    Lin Lu soon relented under the pressure of public opinion. Su Ran found her breakout stardom after this incident.


    Later on, a director took a fancy to her acting skills and invited her to star in a TV drama. The female lead of that TV drama was a national idol.


    Luo Ying practiced her smile in front of the mirror. She was going to overthrow the original plot..


    Luo Ying¡¯s timeslot was ahead of Su Ran¡¯s and behind Lin Lu¡¯s.


    Luo Ying sat in the preparation area and looked at Lin Lu.


    Lin Lu was a mediocre performer. She was tone-deaf when she sang, and her dancing was barely satisfactory. Although she was very beautiful, she always had a blank expression. There was no sense of identity in her movements, and she was not particularly bright either. She did not look like she had the quick wits needed for interviews and hosting.


    It was no wonder that Su Ran¡¯s fans had attacked her so thoroughly.


    The music center¡¯s producer, Zhang Yong, was sitting on the judging panel. To his left was Lin Su, to his right was a man with a big belly, and behind him was a delicate-looking woman.


    That should be the legendary sugar daddy of Lin Lu.


    After Lin Lu finished her performance, she bowed to the judges.


    Both Lin Su and Zhang Yong frowned. The big-bellied man said to Zhang Yong, ¡°What do you think? My recommendation to you isn¡¯t bad, right?¡±


    Lin Lu opened her eyes wide and looked at Zhang Yong innocently.


    Zhang Yong forced a smile. ¡°Mr. Wu, Ms. Lin Lu is so popular. She is bound to receive have a lot of acting offers. It¡¯s a waste of her talent to grace our stage.¡±


    The big-bellied man laughed and said, ¡°How so? This job is much better than filming. No, no, I think this job is a perfect fit for Lin Lu.¡±


    The two of them went back and forth for a while before Zhang Yong called out the next person¡¯s number.


    Zhang Yong was a veteran producer, and the variety shows he produced were all big hits in the book. It was the same for the host of the music center. All his picks went on to be major stars.


    He was originally very picky about the host and guest selection, but in the past few years, due to the pressure from various forces, he had grown disillusioned and no choice but to use subpar material.


    Luo Ying walked to the front of the judges and smiled at them.


    Lin Su found an excuse to get up and leave.


    The other judges on the judging panel also turned their faces away. How did a person like Luo Ying, who couldn¡¯t do anything, get a spot for the interview?


    ¡°Our interview will be divided into two segments. One will be a stage that is prepared in advance, and the other will be an impromptu speech. Are you ready?¡±


    Luo Ying nodded.


    She had already prepared her own song for the stage. It was a song that she had used to make a name for herself on a talent show.


    She was dressed very youthfully today, and when she jumped up, her hair bounced up and down animatedly.


    What was even more shocking was that she sang with no visual aids or filters.


    The dance for this song was very difficult and also very physically draining. It was filled with jumping movements, but after the entire song, she wasn¡¯t even panting, and even had the time to school her expression.


    The judges and staff in the audience were all stunned. A few of them even took out their phones to record her singing and dancing.


    Zhang Yong nodded. Luo Ying did have potential. She had been wasted in soulless TV shows for so many years. It was really unfair.


    ¡°I hope your company still has plans to release a solo album for you.¡± Zhang Yong said.


    The large-bellied Wu Wei shot a venomous glare at Luo Ying.


    This woman was probably Lin Lu¡¯s biggest competitor, but why didn¡¯t he notice that there was such a stunner in the entertainment industry? If he had the chance, he would like to try this woman out.


    Luo Ying noticed Wu Wei¡¯s eyes, but she only glanced at him indifferently.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s move on to the next segment.¡±


    The next segment also went very smoothly. Luo Ying had been a host before, so she was very familiar with the entire process and could also improvise some interesting jokes according to some situations.


    Zhang Yong nodded and found it a pity. If it wasn¡¯t for Wu Wei, Luo Ying would have been his pick.

 Chapter 48 - 48 An Invitation

    48 An Invitation


    Su Ran looked at Luo Ying. The woman had made it all look so effortless. Su Ran was a little saddened.


    When it came to singing and dancing, she had only trained for a few months. Naturally, she couldn¡¯t be compared to Luo Ying.


    The song she chose was also very simple. It was a retro singing and dancing song. Although it contained both singing and dancing, the dance intensity was very low. The main theme of the performance was that of an elegant lady¡¯s style.


    She was also wearing a cheongsam and a shawl today, and she exuded a vague, timeless form of sexiness.


    Lin Su had returned to the judges¡¯ table and was looking at Su Ran, mesmerized.


    Zhang Yong furrowed his brows as he watched Su Ran¡¯s performance. He could not deny that she was far better than average, but after watching her sing and dance with her filters fully turned on, everything felt like an itch through his socks.


    Su Ran¡¯s hosting abilities were also decent, but she was still not as good as Luo Ying.


    The interview ended quickly, and the judges gathered together to discuss.


    ¡°I think Luo Ying is very suitable to be a host,¡± Zhang Yong said.


    Lin Su thought there was something wrong with his ears when he heard this.


    ¡°What did you just say? Luo Ying, did I mishear it? Zhang Yong, is your brain broken? How could you choose Luo Ying?¡±


    Zhang Yong shook his head. ¡°Luo Ying¡¯s performance was really good this time. She easily made the stage hers. I can even imagine what her stage would be like.¡±


    Lin Su felt as if his world was about to collapse. The woman who could do anything but seduce him every day was actually being praised for her excellent stage performance.


    The woman sitting behind Zhang Yong finally broke her silence. ¡°I think Luo Ying¡¯s performance was also very good. From a director¡¯s point of view, I think she was very expressive.¡±


    That woman was a new female director, Cheng Yang. Most of her works were famous for their beautiful scenes and superb acting. When she chose her actors, she paid a lot of attention to their close-up expressions on camera.


    Lin Su felt as if he was going to lose his mind.


    He had thought that the biggest obstacle was Lin Lu, who had a powerful backer, but he didn¡¯t expect Luo Ying to come out of nowhere.


    ¡°Mr. Wu, what do you think of this?¡± Lin Su asked.


    Wu Wei was now the sponsor of the event, so his words had a decisive impact to a certain extent.


    ¡°Me? I don¡¯t know much about these things. I only fear that Lin Lu will mess up this show. It¡¯s better for you to choose the people. Director Zhang, I won¡¯t get in the way.¡±


    Wu Wei¡¯s change in attitude confused Lin Su all the more. He spun around to address the group. ¡°I think Su Ran¡¯s performance was outstanding.¡±


    Zhang Yong sighed. ¡°That¡¯s a pity. You missed the greatest performance because you had to pee.¡±


    Lin Su was at a loss for words.


    Since he could not influence the opinions of the judges or the investors, Lin Su finally fell silent.


    Even if Luo Ying could deceive the judges, she couldn¡¯t deceive the netizens. He had already thought of a way to make Su Ran the host of this show.


    Luo Ying sat in the waiting room, waiting for the director to come out and announce the news. She had no idea why her heart was pounding.


    Zhang Yong walked out of the waiting room and looked at everyone. I hereby announce that our final choice of the host is Luo Ying. For the next year, Luo Ying will be our host. As for Luo Ying¡¯s partner, I will interview some male idols tomorrow and then make a decision.


    After Zhang Yong said this, the entire waiting room was in an uproar. Luo Ying? Not Lin Lu or Su Ran?


    Su Ran clenched the corner of her shirt even more tightly. How could it be Luo Ying? Luo Ying must have pulled some strings.


    Luo Ying evenly met everyone¡¯s eyes. Some were jealous, some were envious, and some were angry. She quickly carried her bag and left the scene.


    She walked to the bathroom and took a deep breath.


    This could be considered her first step. Starting from this program, she would completely subvert the original Luo Ying¡¯s image and build up her career step by step.


    ¡°Good luck!¡± Luo Ying encouraged herself in a low voice, and a chuckle came from behind her.


    ¡°Are you in the bathroom celebrating your selection?¡±


    Luo Ying turned her head and saw a woman. She looked mature and had a temperament of perceptiveness.


    ¡°Director, what are you doing here?¡±


    Luo Ying recognized the woman who was sitting behind Zhang Yong. She was the new director, Cheng Yang.


    ¡°You know me?¡± Cheng Yang smiled and handed her a business card. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll skip the introductions. I¡¯m making a movie in the entertainment industry and I would like to invite an actress who can sing and dance to be the female lead. I think you¡¯re very suitable. Give me a call when you¡¯ve thought about it.¡±

 Chapter 49 - 49 Public Opinion

    49 Public Opinion


    Luo Ying was dumbfounded.


    Wasn¡¯t this a movie that exploded in popularity, ¡°Dancing Shoes and Summer¡±?


    In the original book, this movie had skyrocketed Su Ran to stardom.


    Now that this opportunity was in her hands, of course she had to grab it!


    Luo Ying nodded and accepted Cheng Yang¡¯s business card. ¡°You¡¯ll definitely hear from me.¡±


    Cheng Yang looked at Luo Ying and nodded.


    She admired this girl very much. Her eyes were bright and ambitious. This was the actress she was looking for.


    ¡­


    It was already evening when Luo Ying got home. She went to buy a lot of clothes that suited her taste.


    The host¡¯s wardrobe was mostly filled with colorful and odd clothes, which did not suit her taste.


    In the future, when hosting on a weekly basis, she would have to wear her personal clothes to work. Some people who were very good at this would turn the road to work into their private fashion show.


    Of course, she would not let go of this opportunity to gain more exposure in social media.


    After tidying up her clothes and choosing a few sets of clothes to wear, Luo Ying changed into her pajamas and sat on the bed to read the entertainment news.


    She had just opened Weibo when her phone almost crashed.


    The number of times she had been mentioned by netizens and privately messaged surpassed the default display count.


    The most popular one was the one announcing that she would be the new host of the Music Center.


    The netizens were overreacting to that post.


    [Why did they make Luo Ying the host? Isn¡¯t she completely useless?]


    [How much money did the Music Center receive? Producer Zhang Yong, don¡¯t you have a reputation to uphold?]


    [Why didn¡¯t you choose our little cutie, Su Ran?!] [Su Ran¡¯s singing, performance, and appearance are all way superior to Luo Ying¡¯s!]


    This comment was highly liked. When she clicked on this person¡¯s home page, she saw a video that had just been released.


    In the video, Su Ran was wearing a cheongsam. She was slowly moving around and singing an alluring and gentle little song.


    The comments below couldn¡¯t hide their desire to trample on her.


    [Su Ran sang this song so well. Su Ran didn¡¯t want to be an idol because she wanted to give you idols a good life.]


    [If Su Ran does become an idol one day, all of you pretty girls who can¡¯t sing or dance, but only have pretty faces will die of shame.]


    [That¡¯s absolutely right. I wonder how much money Luo Ying gave the Music Center.]


    Luo Ying yawned.


    It did not matter to her. As a celebrity, sometimes negative exposure could still be considered exposure.


    However, she was about to pull a veteran move of turning this to her advantage.


    Luo Ying suddenly had an idea in her mind.


    She immediately put her plan into action. She quickly placed an order for a camera and a light for the live broadcast. In less than 20 minutes, her manager, Chi Tong, arrived at Luo Ying¡¯s house with a full set of equipment and a script that had been prepared.


    Luo Ying looked at Chi Tong and laughed.


    It was no wonder that he was able to become a top manager. He was so efficient.


    ¡°Luo Ying, I¡¯ve already prepared the script for you. I¡¯ve also gotten a video of your performance from the staff,¡± Chi Tong said, as he handed the script to Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying glanced at the script and smiled. ¡°This is good, but I think I have something better. Hear me out.¡±


    Chi Tong helped Luo Ying set up the camera for the live broadcast. In less than a few minutes, Luo Ying¡¯s face appeared in the live broadcast.


    Her haters rushed in at the first moment.


    [How do you have the audacity to start a live broadcast? Are you trying to show off that you got in through the back door and became a host at Music Center?]


    [With a face like this, it¡¯s obvious that she had plastic surgery. It definitely looks high-tech!]


    Luo Ying chuckled. ¡°Of course, I¡¯d start streaming now. Otherwise, how can I convince you people?¡±


    She looked at the comment about plastic surgery and reached out to pinch her chin and nose, making a face. ¡°They¡¯re all natural. I sleep on my stomach. If I had plastic surgery, I¡¯d have mushed it all out of shape by now.¡±


    Chi Tong looked on, breaking out in a cold sweat.


    It wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d seen people sucking up to their fans like this. Some people would say that they were being upfront, but Luo Ying¡¯s relationship with the public was so bad, so sucking up to her fans like this was simply adding insult to injury. He didn¡¯t understand what Luo Ying¡¯s intentions were.

 Chapter 50 - 50 A Livestream

    50 A Livestream


    Chi Tong watched as the number of people in the live broadcast room increased, and the comments became harsher and harsher. He clenched his fists nervously, and his palms were sweating.


    Luo Ying wasn¡¯t planning to argue with these uneducated netizens, was she?


    Chi Tong felt his brain buzzing. He never thought that he would have to deal with such a troublesome matter right from the start, after being rehired.


    He looked nervously at the streams of texts. This platform had been specially designed for dancing idols. At that moment, Luo Ying¡¯s stream had been pushed to trending section.


    Most of the text in the comment section was unsightly.


    [She¡¯s still not turning off her stream. She¡¯s got quite a thick hide. People are slamming her ancestors out of their graves, and she hasn¡¯t skipped a beat.]


    [How shameless. She¡¯s trolling. Stop giving her attention. You¡¯re playing into her hands. I¡¯m leaving.]


    [That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right. I don¡¯t know how she got her hands on the role, but I wonder if she realizes just how many lives she has ruined by displacing them from this opportunity.]


    [The entertainment industry has no place for witches like her.]


    Luo Ying sneered in her heart as she read the chat.


    This was exactly what she wanted.


    She put down the things in her hand and slowly sang.


    Without any accompaniments, she sang an acapella rendition of the song she had used at the auditions.


    It was a far more complex song than Su Ran¡¯s.


    It had the melody, the high notes at the climax, and even percussive rap. It was a well-rounded, youthful song.


    The comments gradually slowed down, and some praises slowly popped up.


    [Luo Ying¡¯s acting skills are still a major turnoff, but she definitely found herself some singing chops. This song is no joke.]


    [Yeah, and she¡¯s singing it acapella. It¡¯s as unplugged and as raw as it gets.]


    [She¡¯s really amazing. The music department students said that she could even qualify as a teacher in our school.]


    Chi Tong looked at the public opinion that was gradually sawing back, and his heart broke out in cold sweat.


    Luo Ying was taking a big risk. It would be bad if vulgarities from the chat ended up with her account being suspended.


    However, he never expected Luo Ying to be this fortunate. It seemed that even God was rooting for her.


    Just as Chi Tong was about to heave a sigh of relief, a fresh wave malicious netizens appeared on the bullet screen.


    [Isn¡¯t it just an acapella? Su Ran could also do that.]


    [Yeah, she¡¯s doing the bare minimum. You guys are acting as if it¡¯s the eighth wonder. For all you know, money or some sex deal with Music Center¡¯s producer played a role in this.]


    Luo Ying looked at the comments on the screen and sneered. ¡°Dear haters, just shush for a second and let your idol compete with me. As for the sex deal, I¡¯d like to see some evidence. Otherwise, my team will track you down and sue you in court.¡±


    Luo Ying smiled innocently. ¡°If anyone is willing to provide evidence, I¡¯m willing to reward you with a million Yuan.¡±


    The chats abruptly stopped.


    A million. Luo Ying was really rich.


    The flow of the comments quickly changed.


    [Rich lady, I¡¯m hungry. Please, feed me!]


    [Do you need anything else? Do you need a social media army? A million Yuan could get a lot done, don¡¯t you know?]


    One particular comment caught her eye.


    [Miss Luo, may I post the song you just covered on my social media account?]


    The person who posted this comment was none other than Min Yu, the producer of the song Luo Ying had just sung.


    Min Yu had only been around for two years, but her productions have all caught steam.


    All the singers that she had groomed had all achieved varying degrees of success.


    Luo Ying looked at her name and recalled her character arc.


    In the book, Min Yu had a relationship with her brother, Luo Feng.


    However, she got the unwanted attention of some powerful elite. After being violated, she got addicted to drugs.


    Luo Feng was a broken man. He veered off into the deep end, committing acts that only grew worse and worse.


    She had to take this opportunity and save her brother from a terrible fate.


    Luo Ying quickly went off the stream and returned to her room to flip through the calendar.


    Chi Tong was unprepared for the stream¡¯s abrupt end. It took him several long moments to react.


    When he finally looked her name up on the internet, the negative sentiments about Luo Ying had mostly dissipated.

 Chapter 51 - 51 DCorporeal

    51 D¡¯Corporeal


    On the top floor of his empire, on Lu Zhao¡¯s desktop, was the recently ended stream.


    The public relations manager who stood beside him spoke up., ¡°We have already reached an agreement with the streaming platform. In the future, even if someone livestreams their feces in Miss Luo Ying¡¯s stream room, they¡¯ll keep her stream up.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Lu Zhao said. ¡°That¡¯s too much. I¡¯m just looking out for those naysaying trolls.¡±


    The public relations manager nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll take care of them. Do you want to ban any of the bad comments?¡±


    Lu Zhao shook his head. He was quite curious to see what kind of method this woman would use to restore her reputation in the entertainment industry.


    Within half an hour after Luo Ying¡¯s live broadcast : Luo Ying¡¯s shuts haters down with a live acappella.], [Luo Ying is a millionaire.], [How did Luo Ying do it?] were all on the hot search, and they remained high on the list.


    At first, the internet had jumped to Su Ran¡¯s defense, but now, the tide had changed to Luo Ying¡¯s side.


    Meanwhile, Luo Ying was busy working on a flowchart. She had organized her thoughts about the novel¡¯s plot and arranged it in chronological order.


    According to the timeline in her memory, Min Yu¡¯s incident should have happened recently.


    The certain elite who was preying upon Min Yu seemed to have some relationship with Lin Su. They had a joint venture abroad.


    Luo Ying frowned as she looked at the information on the tablet. There was nothing unusual about his foreign company, but Luo Ying still sensed something amiss.


    Just as she was about to continue reading, a man¡¯s voice rang out beside her. ¡°What are you looking at?¡±


    ¡°D¡¯Corporeal?¡± Lu Zhao frowned. Wasn¡¯t Lin Su one of the founders of this group?


    Why was this woman still looking into Lin Su¡¯s affairs?


    In an instant, Lu Zhao¡¯s face darkened.


    ¡°There¡¯s something off about this company. There¡¯s this nagging feeling my gut.¡± Luo Ying did not notice the man¡¯s dark face.


    Lu Zhao asked, ¡°Something off? I didn¡¯t know you were interested in finance. Tell me, what¡¯s off?¡±


    Luo Ying pointed at the content on the paper with a serious face. ¡°Look, they have very few sponsors. Their main business is labor dispatch and outsourcing, but they don¡¯t have any labor dispatch agencies, nor do they have any records of cooperation with other companies. This company seems to be a shell company.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s family used to run a huge business. Although her passion lay elsewhere, she knew enough to analyze the situation.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Where is this company located at?¡±


    ¡°At the border of M-Country. What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    When the woman¡¯s eyes widened as she looked at him, Lu Zhao felt smug. He reached out and touched Luo Ying¡¯s hair, saying something that he would never expect himself to say. ¡°Kiss me and I¡¯ll tell you.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s face turned red.


    It had only been a few days, and this man had become so bold.


    She turned her head away. ¡°I don¡¯t want to. Hurry up and take a shower. I don¡¯t want to kiss you before you take a shower.¡±


    Lu Zhao laughed, stood up, and walked into the bathroom.


    Luo Ying continued working. She searched for information about the border of M-Country on her tablet.


    It was a territory that could be reached without a passport or visa. There were refugees and shameless opportunists everywhere, and there were also many occurrences of drug and human trafficking.


    Wasn¡¯t Lin Su heading this company? Was he involved in such transactions?


    Luo Ying slowly lay on the bed and yawned.


    It had been a rather eventful day. Luo Ying was a little tired. She felt her eyelids fighting hard to close.


    Soon, she succumbed to her fatigue.


    After Lu Zhao came out of the bathroom, he saw the woman lying on the bed.


    His heart melted.


    Had this woman really thought things through? Was she willing to be with him?


    He turned over to the bed and took the iPad from Luo Ying¡¯s hand.


    The screen lit up, showing information about the M-Country border.


    Luo Ying had circled around terms like human trafficking and drugs.


    Was she worried that Lin Su would go astray?


    Lu Zhao put the iPad on the bedside table, turned around, and lay down in the direction of the wall.


    Was this just a show, and did she actually want to return to that man¡¯s side?


    It irked him to no end.

 Chapter 52 - 52 Lan Yu Bar

    52 Lan Yu Bar


    Lu Zhao turned around to sleep, but he was still troubled by Luo Ying¡¯s actions.


    Just as Lu Zhao was about to fall asleep, he felt a pair of soft little hands embrace him.


    ¡°You¡¯re so big. I can barely wrap my arms around you,¡± the woman mumbled unconsciously.


    Lu Zhao turned around, grabbed Luo Ying¡¯s hand, and pulled her into his arms.


    The girl moved closer to his chest and snuggled around until she was comfortable. Her soft bangs were scrunched up, and her small face was wrinkled up, looking like a cute little rabbit.


    He hugged her even tighter.


    Why did this little woman always make his heart ache so much?


    The two of them slept in each other¡¯s arms the entire night.


    When Luo Ying woke up, the sky was already bright, and there was no one beside her.


    Luo Ying sighed. It wasn¡¯t easy for Lu Zhao to run a company well at such a young age. He left early and returned late every day.


    Luo Ying put on her slippers and walked out of the bedroom in her silk pajamas without changing her clothes.


    ¡°Madam, you¡¯re downstairs. Do you want to have breakfast with Sir?¡± the servant asked.


    ¡°What?¡± Luo Ying turned her head to look at the dining table. Lu Zhao was wearing a white shirt and was eating breakfast at the table. The food on his plate hadn¡¯t been touched, and the coffee in his cup was no longer steaming.


    Had Lu Zhao been waiting for her?


    Luo Ying was shocked.


    Lu Zhao looked at her and frowned. He picked up his coat from the sofa and walked toward Luo Ying.


    His face was dark. Luo Ying was so scared that she didn¡¯t dare to speak. His gentle tone surprised her. ¡°It¡¯s cold at home. Don¡¯t run around in a spaghetti strap dress.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll go back and change now.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, have breakfast with me.¡±


    Luo Ying, with Lu Zhao¡¯s coat draped over her, slowly sat down at the dining table.


    The servant came up and replaced the cold breakfast with a new one.


    All kinds of food were served. There were Western sandwiches and milk, Chinese soy milk and fried dough sticks. They all looked delicious.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Luo Ying said in a low voice.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Lu Zhao started to eat his breakfast.


    Lu Zhao ate in a refined manner and was even listening to the financial news.


    D¡¯Corporeal had completed an acquisition. They were expected to host a celebration party at the Lan Yu bar that night.


    Suspected internal strife among Lin Su¡¯s company¡¯s artistes. Veteran singer and dancer Luo Ying¡¯s ratings have broken the record. It has started a fire in the agency.


    Luo Ying heard the news and thought of her arrogant performance yesterday. She didn¡¯t know if Lu Zhao had seen it.


    ¡°You livestreamed yesterday?¡± Lu Zhao asked suddenly.


    ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Luo Ying nodded. ¡°I was just responding to those false rumors, nothing else.¡±


    Lu Zhao hummed in agreement. ¡°I¡¯ll take a look today.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t, don¡¯t. It¡¯s too embarrassing. I was dissing the netizens the whole time. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll ruin your impression of me,¡± said Luo Ying.


    The corner of Lu Zhao¡¯s mouth curled up into a smile. In fact, he had watched Luo Ying¡¯s livestream last night. If anything, he thought that she was extremely cute.


    ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t look,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    After the two finished their breakfast, Luo Ying took the briefcase and saw Lu Zhao to the door.


    Lu Zhao looked at the well-behaved Luo Ying. His heart swelled up with warmth, but his face remained cold. ¡°You can drop me off here. Don¡¯t you have something to do?¡±


    Luo Ying nodded and pulled on Lu Zhao¡¯s coat.


    She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Lu Zhao on the cheek. ¡°I¡¯ve paid back what I owe you.¡±


    Lu Zhao nodded, turned around, walked out of the gate, and got into the car.


    The driver had been waiting in the car for two hours. ¡®President Lu always went to work at eight. What was going on today?¡¯


    Furthermore, the driver felt that his eyes were playing tricks on him. The usually stern President Lu was actually smiling?


    ¡­


    After changing her clothes and checking the route, she arrived at Lan Yu Bar.


    Lan Yu Bar was a distance away from L-City, where they lived. It was built on the mountainside, and there were racing tracks and casinos nearby. It was a place for the rich and powerful to have fun.


    Luo Ying showed in black velvet sportswear, carrying her small bag.


    If she remembered correctly, the original Luo Ying had applied for a card here in order to seduce Lin Su.


    She swiped her card at the entrance, and the balance on her card showed that she still had a few hundred thousand Yuan.


    The guards hurriedly invited her in. She was a major customer who spent millions a year there.


    ¡°Mr. Lin Su is not here today,¡± a guard said.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not looking for Lin Su today.¡± Luo Ying yawned. ¡°Open a table for me at the casino. Get me 10000 chips.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said. The security guard nodded and left.

 Chapter 53 - 53 Perfect Pair

    53 Perfect Pair


    Luo Ying walked to the elevator door and was ready to enter the casino on the basement first floor. Through the reflection of the elevator door, she spotted a figure slinking behind her.


    ¡°Tian Tian?¡± Luo Ying turned her head and looked sharply at the woman who was about to escape. ¡°Well, I¡¯d be. You were bailed out so soon?¡±


    Luo Ying yawned and looked at Tian Tian calmly.


    After staying in the detention center for a few days, her long hair had been cut off, and now she had a head full of messy thatch.


    ¡°Why are you in such a sorry state now?¡± Luo Ying looked at Tian Tian, who was holding a baseball bat in her hand. She didn¡¯t back away, nor was she in a hurry to call for help.


    ¡°You¡¯re finished today, Luo Ying. I¡¯m going to kill you today.¡± Tian Tian¡¯s eyes flickered with anger.


    ¡®What a b*tch. This woman actually got Lu Zhao to scheme against me.¡¯


    Although she was successfully bailed out, her parents had to borrow a high-interest loan in order to get the bail. Now, her family had become the lambasting deadbeats of everyone.


    Tian Tian couldn¡¯t leave the country, even if she wanted to.


    Luo Ying looked at Tian Tian and smiled. ¡°You only have yourself to blame for this. I didn¡¯t tell Lu Zhao anything. You deserve all of this.¡±


    Tian Tian¡¯s emotions flared up. She raised her baseball bat and ran toward Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying spun around and dodged the baseball bat effortlessly.


    Luo Ying grabbed the baseball bat and twisted. Before Tian Tian could react, Luo Ying had already pulled her down to the ground.


    ¡°You¡¯re overestimating yourself.¡± Luo Ying yawned. ¡°You can¡¯t beat me.¡±


    Before Luo Ying had transmigrated, she had practiced self-defense and mixed martial arts for a year for a drama. She could hold her own against an untrained person.


    Tian Tian fell flat on her back, and before she could react, the security guards had rushed over and pulled her away.


    ¡°It¡¯s our mistake, it¡¯s our mistake. This lady was tailing you and we didn¡¯t notice her. We didn¡¯t protect you in time. We¡¯ve failed in our duties,¡± the leading security guard said.


    ¡°She did?¡± Luo Ying did not notice that Tian Tian was following her.


    ¡°We spotted it in the cameras, so we rushed over. We¡¯re sorry for being one step behind. Regardless, we¡¯ve already recorded the surveillance video of her following you,¡± the leading security guard said.


    ¡°That¡¯s good, just call the police. This woman is still on bail.¡± Luo Ying reached into her pocket and took out a stack of cash and stuffed it into the security guard¡¯s hand. ¡°You know what to do.¡±


    When he looked at the green notes, the security guard almost wept.


    ¡°Alright, leave it to us, Miss.¡±


    After dealing with Tian Tian, Luo Ying went down to the casino in the basement.


    This was a casino, and also the largest underground auction house in L-City.


    In the novel she had read, Min Yu was humiliated and sold here.


    Her brother had been in the casino. He had to look on helplessly as his sweetheart was humiliated and auctioned off.


    He soon lost his mind and indiscriminately attacked Min Yu¡¯s family and his own family. In the end, he jumped into the sea by the shores of M-Nation and ended himself.


    The people here all wore masks, and Luo Ying also had a cat girl mask on. She was looking around, trying to find where her brother was, or where Min Yu was.


    Just as Luo Ying was looking around, someone grabbed her and pulled her into the bathroom.


    The man took off Luo Ying¡¯s mask and his own mask, looking a little flustered and exasperated.


    ¡°What are you doing here today? Don¡¯t you know that today is the celebration party for the successful acquisition of D¡¯Corporeal?¡±


    The person was none other than Lin Su¡¯s younger brother, Lin Ping.


    ¡°Are you here to ruin my brother¡¯s big day? Are you here to seduce him again?¡±


    Luo Ying took the mask from Lin Ping¡¯s hand and sneered. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you? Is it a crime for a major regular customer to have some fun here?¡±


    Lin Ping frowned. Obviously, he did not believe Luo Ying¡¯s words.


    After all, a woman like Luo Ying would only be here for Lin Su.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you. You must be trying to ruin my brother¡¯s celebration party or you¡¯re trying to get into his pants again.¡± Lin Ping¡¯s face turned red with fury, and he kept repeating these two sentences.


    ¡°Young boy, grow up a little. You can let your imagination run wild elsewhere,¡± Luo Ying patted Lin Ping¡¯s head and returned the mask to her face.


    Just as Luo Ying was about to leave, she heard a familiar male voice.


    ¡°Lin Ping, is this the girl you¡¯ve taken a fancy to?¡±

 Chapter 54 - 54 Wu Weis Deal

    54 Wu Wei¡¯s Deal


    ¡°How is that possible? She¡¯s the girl who¡¯s been pestering my brother.¡± Lin Ping rolled his eyes and said to Wu Wei, who had just walked over.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you invite her over to play with us? She has such a hot body. She¡¯s pretty comparable to Min Yu¡¯s,¡± Wu Wei said.


    Upon hearing Min Yu¡¯s name, Luo Ying slowly turned around and looked at Wu Wei.


    Although he was wearing a mask, Luo Ying could instantly recognize that it was Wu Wei. After all, his greasy bald head and pudgy body were unmistakable.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, babe? Do you want to play a round with me?¡±


    Luo Ying chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of this Min Yu before. I¡¯m quite interested to see her.


    ¡°Sure, let¡¯s play a round.¡±


    When he took in Luo Ying¡¯s seaweed-like long hair and graceful figure, Wu Wei couldn¡¯t suppress his dirty desires. This girl was much more energetic than Lin Lu.


    Wu Wei brought Luo Ying to his own booth.


    Lin Ping, who was standing behind Luo Ying, frowned and looked at Luo Ying. ¡®What was this woman up to now? Was she trying to attract his brother¡¯s attention with such a coquettish and cheap route?¡¯


    ¡°Mr. Wu, this woman has been pestering my brother. She might ruin our celebration party. Why did you let her in?¡± Lin Ping said worriedly.


    Wu Wei looked a little annoyed. ¡°Young man, you wouldn¡¯t understand. If this woman would pursue your brother, who knows? She may pursue me in the future. A woman¡¯s heart can be easily bought.¡±


    ¡°Boss Wu, you¡¯re so generous. What are we playing?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°How about blackjack?¡± Wu Wei raised his eyebrows. He had a good memory and was very good at blackjack. He could even count cards to a limited extent.


    Luo Ying nodded. ¡°If I win, I¡¯ll have that.¡±


    Luo Ying pointed at the woman tied up in the corner.


    Her messy hair covered her face, and she looked very disheveled. She was wearing a bunny girl¡¯s costume, complete with a set of bunny ears, looking very pitiful.


    ¡°Babe, why would you be interested in such a filthy thing?¡± Wu Wei clapped his hands and laughed. She¡¯s just a shriveled-up toy who was pretty mediocre, to begin with. She won¡¯t be able to fetch a good price.¡±


    Luo Ying smiled. ¡°It¡¯s okay, she¡¯ll do. What do you want, Mr. Wu? I¡¯m ready to hear it.¡±


    Wu Wei snapped his fingers, and a group of bunny girls served seven cocktails of different colors. This was the ¡°rainbow cocktail,¡± a local specialty, which was made with a variety of spirits and fruit juices.


    It was a heavy-hitting, hard drink.


    ¡°Miss Luo, if you want to take Min Yu away from me, it¡¯ll take more than a victory in blackjack. You¡¯ll have to drink seven glasses of this.¡± Wu Wei looked at Luo Ying¡¯s body from head to toe. ¡°But if you lose, you will replace this woman in my bed tonight. How about it?¡±


    Lin Ping looked at Wu Wei, not daring to speak.


    Wu Wei probably didn¡¯t know that this woman¡¯s husband was Lu Zhao.


    ¡°Mr. Wu, we don¡¯t have to place such high stakes. This woman has a husband. Her husband is¡­¡± Lin Ping wanted to warn Wu Wei, but he was pushed away.


    ¡°Oh, now I¡¯m really interested. After all, women who don¡¯t get enough attention at home would come out to play around.¡±


    Luo Ying was smiling, but she could almost taste bile in the back of her throat.


    This pig-like man treated the entire world as his own hunting ground. He already possessed Lin Lu, and now, he had harmed Min Yu.


    ¡°Let¡¯s do it,¡± Luo Ying said with a smile.


    In the corner of the casino, a man was looking at them with a Jade Mahjong tile in his hand. It was his turn, he he remained as still as a statue.


    ¡°My dear Lu, what¡¯s the matter with you today?¡± the man beside him asked. ¡°Why do you keep looking at that woman over there?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Lu Zhao set the tile down.


    He had come to play with a few friends, but he had not expected to meet Luo Ying here.


    She was wearing velvet sportswear and a cat girl mask, looking lofty and flirtatious.


    Did she come here to celebrate the acquisition of D¡¯Corporeal with Lin Su?


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you so interested in a woman. If you keep staring at her, I¡¯m going to go up there and invite her here myself.¡± The man who spoke again. He was wearing a leather suit and had exuded an unruly temperament.


    ¡°Lin Xun, if you have nothing to do, you can go over and keep watch over her,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    When Lin Xun heard this, he knew that he had misspoke. He quickly walked to the booth to see what was going on.


    Lin Xun was shocked.


    Rainbow cocktail? This was serious!

 Chapter 55 - 55 Special Rules

    55 Special Rules


    That cocktail was bad news. It was slow-acting, but once it struck, it incapacitated just about anyone.


    In the underground casino, there were some unspoken rules to this cocktail.


    It was laced.


    Some people who wanted to use this cocktail to win over a bunny girl attendant or a beauty would naturally make use of this rainbow cocktail.


    Lin Xun was getting a little nervous.


    This big-bellied masked man was obviously trying to trick Luo Ying. How could this be?


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t notice Lin Xun, who had come and gone in a hurry. Her eyes were focused on the cards.


    The card-dealer girl held cards made of crystal in her hand and used wooden chips to distribute the cards to Luo Ying and Wu Wei.


    According to the rules, the cards given to Luo Ying and Wu Wei were a mix of eight decks of cards.


    This game seemed to be a test of luck, but people with skills could judge the cards by memory.


    Wu Wei was a businessman, and his memory and calculation ability were solid. He did not think that he was going to lose against this petite and demure girl.


    Wu Wei looked at the cards in his hand, his cloudy eyes gleaming.


    The rules of this game were very simple. Whoever had 21 cards in their hands would win.


    At that moment, the two players on the field had already dealt their fourth card.


    Usually, when this happened, the winner would already be determined.


    Wu Wei looked at the cards in his hand, and a lecherous smile appeared on his face. He had been in the casino for many years, and no one had been able to beat him on blackjack.


    ¡°Little girl, it¡¯s not too late for you to admit defeat now. Before things turn ugly, why don¡¯t we end this on a friendly note?¡±


    Wu Wei looked at the cards he had just received and smiled.


    He had just gotten a crucial card, and with this card, he had exactly 21 points.


    Now that he had already won, he naturally wanted to see Luo Ying¡¯s panic.


    Luo Ying chuckled, and there was even some contempt in her eyes. She didn¡¯t seem to have any intention to react to Wu Wei¡¯s victory.


    ¡°Mr. Wu, there¡¯s still one more card. Aren¡¯t you calling it too soon?¡±


    Luo Ying revealed the last card with a smile.


    Luo Ying had a total of five cards in her hand, and the five cards added up to 12.


    This was a very special rule for blackjack ¡ª five stars. If the five cards did not exceed 12 points, the players who had already formed 21 points on the field would be eliminated, and they would immediately win.


    ¡°What?¡± Wu Wei¡¯s mouth was wide open in shock.


    This rule could only be played if one was able to memorize more than ten decks of cards and was extremely lucky.


    Luo Ying yawned and beckoned to the waiter to serve the wine.


    Wu Wei gritted his teeth and ordered his men to bring Min Yu over.


    Tears flowed down Min Yu¡¯s face, and her entire body was trembling. She looked at Luo Ying with eyes full of gratitude.


    ¡°Mr. Wu, accept your defeat.¡±


    Luo Ying picked up the cocktails and began to drink it, one by one.


    Just as she was about to pick up the fourth glass, a pair of warm hands took the glass from her hand.


    Immediately after, Wu Wei¡¯s voice rose.


    ¡°What are you doing? Don¡¯t you know who I am?¡±


    The green wine dripped down Wu Wei¡¯s face, making him look extremely pathetic.


    Wu Wei took out a handkerchief and wiped the alcohol off his face. He looked at the man standing beside Luo Ying in disbelief.


    The person standing beside Luo Ying was none other than Lu Zhao.


    Lu Zhao had just taken the wine glass from Luo Ying¡¯s hand and poured it directly on Wu Wei¡¯s face.


    ¡°Mr. Wu, I congratulate you for D¡¯Corporeal¡¯s victory. Here¡¯s a toast to you.¡±


    Lin Ping, who was standing at the side, looked at Lu Zhao and frowned. ¡°Mr. Lu, it is inadvisable to offend Mr. Wu.¡±


    Before Lin Ping could finish his sentence, a glass of wine was splashed on his face.


    Lin Ping took off his mask. His bangs were wet, and he looked very disheveled.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, you!¡± Lin Ping protested loudly.


    ¡°If you dare to touch my woman, I¡¯ll splash it on anyone who¡¯s here today, even if it¡¯s your brother, your father, or your grandfather.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s voice seemed to be immersed in ice.


    Lin Ping lowered his head when he heard this.


    ¡°Lin Ping, you¡¯re on your own. Lin Xun, deal with Mr. Wu,¡± Lu Zhao said.

 Chapter 56 - 56 Chaos in the Bathhouse

    56 Chaos in the Bathhouse


    ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Xun replied.


    Very quickly, a few people came up and pulled Wu Wei back. They injected some strange liquid into Wu Wei¡¯s veins.


    It was a type of poison. Although it would not kill him, Wu Wei would suffer for a time.


    ¡°Throw him to Neverland Island.¡± Lu Zhao gave the order.


    Contrary to what its name implied, Neverland Island was a heavily-fortified island-prison, and no one there ever experienced a good end.


    Lin Xun nodded.


    The drug in Wu Wei¡¯s body had already taken effect, and he writhed his heavyset body in pain. He tried to crawl to Lu Zhao¡¯s side and grab the bottom of Lu Zhao¡¯s pants.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch Lu Zhao! You filthy old man!¡± When Luo Ying saw Wu Wei¡¯s grubby hands reaching out to Lu Zhao, she stamped on them without hesitation.


    She was a little drunk at the moment, so her speech was heavily slurred. ¡°How dare you touch Lu Zhao? I¡¯ll bring down the moon on your head!


    Lu Zhao silently watched the angry petite woman, who was obediently nestled in his arms. Her eyelashes were moist, and she was mumbling incoherent words.


    ¡°You sweaty Martian, why did you have to go for Min Yu?¡± Luo Ying was not done rambling.


    Lu Zhao picked up the woman and ignored the chaos in the casino. He walked toward the parking lot with his bodyguards leading the way.


    Luo Ying was drunk. Her small hands were groping around at his body as she laughed foolishly.


    ¡°Your body is so nice to touch, hehe.¡± Luo Ying smiled. It lit a fire in his body.


    Lu Zhao frowned. Wu Wei must have laced the cocktail. Otherwise, Luo Ying would not act so ridiculously.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s frown deepened.


    Why was Luo Ying so interested in D¡¯Corporeal? Why did she meet up with Wu Wei?


    Was she really here for Min Yu?


    Was she still trying to attract Lin Su¡¯s attention?


    Lu Zhao grabbed Luo Ying¡¯s mischievous hand and pulled her into his arms. He sent a text message to Lin Xun on his phone.


    [Keep an eye on Lin Su¡¯s movements for the next few days.]


    ¡­


    By the time Lu Zhao arrived home, Luo Ying was already too far gone. She had tried to undress herself. A large portion of her chest was exposed.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s shirt could not escape her either. Several of his buttons were undone, and she had planted lipstick marks on his exposed skin.


    Lu Zhao strode into the bathroom. His expression had taken on a mixture of stoicism and harassed regality.


    The servants had already filled the tub with water with rose petals.


    Luo Ying automatically took off all her clothes and walked into the bathtub. Her charming face was redder than a blooming rose.


    Lu Zhao watched the scene in front of him. His eyes darkened.


    ¡®Luo Ying, you asked for this.¡¯


    He slowly moved closer to Luo Ying and kissed her gently.


    The water in the bathtub rippled in an ambiguous manner. Droplets dotted the ground.


    Luo Ying woke up the next morning.


    When the patterns on the ceiling came into focus, Luo Ying felt a headache setting in.


    Lu Zhao was sleeping soundly beside her. One arm was still wrapped around her body. It was as if he was declaring his sovereignty over her..


    She only remembered that after drinking, her body had started to heat up. She had thrown herself at Lu Zhao, touching and kissing every inch that she could access.


    Broken images appeared in her mind. Rippling waves, Rose petals stuck to her skin, and the intimate distance between them.


    She and Lu Zhao¡­


    Luo Ying felt the man stirring. She turned just in time to see him open his eyes. Their eyes met. There was an awkward silence.


    ¡°Hi, good morning.¡± Luo Ying said stiffly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to get up and go to work?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m too tired from yesterday. I¡¯m going to sleep a little longer.¡± Lu Zhao pulled Luo Ying into his arms.


    Luo Ying felt an explosive amount of information rush into her mind. What did he mean by that?


    Did she rape Lu Zhao in his sleep?


    No way, just how ridiculous had she been?


    ¡°No, did I go too far yesterday?¡± Luo Ying poked her head out of Lu Zhao¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Yes, you were a little overboard.¡± Lu Zhao nodded.


    Luo Ying felt extremely embarrassed. She reached out from under the blanket to grab her clothes. She needed to calm down now.


    She had drunk too much last night and had even raped Lu Zhao.


    Lu Zhao watched the woman hurriedly put on her clothes. His eyes narrowed.


    What was she doing? Was she unhappy with this outcome?


    Did she really not want him to touch her that much?


    ¡°You don¡¯t want me to touch you?¡± Lu Zhao sat up and slowly threw the question.


    Luo Ying was in the middle of getting dressed. She froze. She felt a dangerous presence looming behind her.


    Her next words could seal her fate.

 Chapter 57 - 57 Min Yu

    57 Min Yu


    Luo Ying stiffly put on her clothes. She turned to look at the man and shook her head.


    Based on her memory, the original Luo Ying shouldn¡¯t have done it with Lu Zhao before.


    ¡°It was supposed to be our first time. It¡¯s supposed to mean something, not some sloppy, drunken mess. Besides, I¡¯ve never done it before. I¡¯m shy, alright?¡± As Luo Ying spoke, a faint blush appeared on her face.


    Lu Zhao was pleased to hear that.


    Had this woman been so concerned about their first time?


    He could accept such an excuse.


    ¡°I can make it up for you next time. Name the location or the position you want. We also run a Hotel and Tourism line of business,¡± Lu Zhao said. ¡°There are endless hotels and places for you to select.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s blush deepened all the more when she heard Lu Zhao earnestly trying to improve their acts of depravity. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that anymore. Hurry up and get dressed. Breakfast is downstairs. It¡¯s time for work.¡±


    Before she could finish, she was pulled into Lu Zhao¡¯s arms.


    ¡°There¡¯s no hurry. I still have a question for you. Why were you there yesterday?¡±


    ¡°You were there. I made a bet with that Wu guy to save Min Yu.¡± Luo Ying sounded a little aggrieved. ¡°Min Yu helped me during the livestream. I want to help her too.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    Luo Ying nodded like a chicken pecking at rice. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not interested in the D¡¯Corporeal group at all.¡±


    Lu Zhao nodded and rested his chin on her shoulder. ¡°Okay, I believe you.¡±


    Luo Ying heaved a long sigh of relief in her heart. Lu Zhao had probably misunderstood her again. Even the guards had thought that she was there for Lin Su.


    ¡®Sigh, darn that Lin Su.¡¯


    Lu Zhao hugged her affectionately for a while more before getting up to leave.


    The two of them washed up together and had breakfast. Lu Zhao went to work. Luo Ying received a phone call of gratitude from Min Yu.


    They were barely acquaintances, so Min Yu was very grateful that Luo Ying had gone this far to help her.


    Min Yu did not have a powerful family. She was just an ordinary working class citizen.


    However, Min Yu had a talent for composing since she was young. She had dropped out of high school and signed a contract with a small company.


    While under the company¡¯s employment, she had written many good songs for a top-class boy band that later hit the charts. It was the breakout point of her career.


    Later on, she gained enough fame to open her own studio.


    Although she was talented and capable, she often found herself being strong-armed according to the whims of the rich and powerful.


    This time, she had refused to write a song for Lin Lu. It had led her to the state where Luo Ying found her.


    Lin Lu wasn¡¯t terribly outstanding, and she had relied on underhanded means to get to where she was. Min Yu took pride in her work and wasn¡¯t willing to give her song to such a person.


    ¡°I would really like to thank you. If it wasn¡¯t for you, who knows what would have happened to me,¡± Min Yu said.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. You helped me during my livestream, so I should help you too. Let¡¯s be friends,¡± Luo Ying said.


    ¡°As thanks, I¡¯ll make an album for you in the future. However, I might not be in a good mental state recently, so you¡¯ll have to wait for a while.


    ¡°No hurry, no hurry,¡± Luo Ying said hurriedly.


    Min Yu was a top producer in the original novel. She was proficient in writing songs, lyrics, and arrangements. She never sold any failed albums.


    With Min Yu¡¯s support, her future career path should be smoothsailing.


    The two of them chatted for a while more before Luo Ying hung up.


    In the original novel, her brother Luo Feng had been in the casino that day, watching Min Yu go through her torment.


    Luo Ying had wanted to find her brother after saving Min Yu. She had not accounted for Lu Zhao¡¯s interference.


    She did not know how to find her brother now.


    Luo Ying sighed.


    Other than Luo Feng, she had other priorities.


    She needed to re-plan her upcoming career paths.


    After swapping her manager out, she rejected some weak offers from sub-par variety shows and bad films, so the rest of her time was free.


    Chi Tong had arranged some of the popular variety and advertising resources for her to choose from.


    The most popular variety show recently was the ¡°Idol sports event¡± that was currently being recorded.


    It was a gathering of singers, dancers, and actors who participated in sports competitions, including artistic gymnastics, sports dance, archery, and other events.


    The show was already in its second season. In the novel, it was a big hit.


    In the novel, Su Ran had performed an amazing dance sequence in the artistic gymnastics competition and won the reputation of being an all-rounded artist.


    Luo Ying frowned as she read the notice. She had been practicing dancing for so many years, so it would be easy for her to win this competition.


    How could she not seize such a good opportunity?

 Chapter 58 - 58 Training

    58 Training


    In the end, Luo Ying decided to fill her time with artistic gymnastics and archery.


    If she was going to participate in a sports program, she would have to train her body up.


    Although Luo Ying had been trained in artistic gymnastics and folk dance, this was not the body she had trained in. The original Luo Ying was so frail that the wind could carry her away. She needed to work on it.


    There was still half a month before the competition. This period of time was just right for training.


    Early in the morning, Luo Ying came to the gym that was being sponsored by the variety show.


    In order to ensure that filming would go smoothly, the broadcasting station had specially contracted a gym for the participating players to train.


    When Luo Ying arrived at the gym, some celebrities were already in the middle of their workout.


    When they saw Luo Ying, a few artistes greeted her.


    After the livestream, Luo Ying¡¯s reputation in the entertainment industry had improved drastically. Many artistes took the initiative to greet Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying had already booked a physical fitness teacher in advance and developed a physical training plan for herself.


    Luo Ying ran on the treadmill for an hour.


    As she was running, she heard a cry of surprise from the side of the gym.


    ¡°Oh my God, they¡¯re actually going to participate in the sports dance competition together?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a perfect match, they look really compatible.¡±


    Luo Ying turned her head and looked around. She spotted the source of the commotion.


    Lin Su and Su Ran were standing at the door of the gym in their sports dance training clothes.


    Everyone stopped what they were doing and gathered at the door.


    For a moment, it looked like a fan meeting.


    Sports dance was an international social dance competition that was only opened this year.


    According to the original novel, they never signed up for this. What had changed?


    What had she done to alter the course of the original novel?


    Luo Ying was a little confused.


    Lin Su looked at Luo Ying coldly. The contempt could not be hidden from his eyes.


    Su Ran looked at her trimphantly.


    Was Su Ran declaring her sovereignty?


    Did Lin Su and Su Ran sign up for the national standard dance competition together just for her?


    Such a thought suddenly appeared in her mind.


    If that was the case, it was truly amusing.


    Luo Ying turned away and ignored the two. She continued training.


    These two people from the original novel were quite interesting. Couldn¡¯t they focus on their own lives? Why were they working so hard to put on a show for her?


    After that session, Luo Ying went to the dance studio, ready to stretch her muscles and practice her basic skills.


    That day¡¯s routine was the hammer exercise. The song she of her choice was not difficult, but it involved some splits and acrobatics that needed polishing.


    The moment she entered the dance studio, she saw the couple again.


    Sun rays had entered the room. The two of them were very close together, dancing a waltz. They put on an admirably elegant display.


    The people around him looked at him with envy.


    A small-time artiste named He Yue had been watching them silently. She saw Luo Ying and quickly pulled her over. ¡°You look amazed. Lin Su and Su Ran are a perfect match. They dance so well. I think they¡¯ll definitely shine at the idol games.¡±


    Luo Ying was confused.


    She turned to watch them a little more closely. They weren¡¯t very professional, but the ambiguous atmosphere they gave off when they touched each other was quite apparent.


    Luo Ying yawned. ¡®They¡¯re not bad. I hope the two of them can continue entangling themselves and not complicate matters for me.¡¯


    Lin Su¡¯s eyes went past Su Ran and fell upon Luo Ying. His feet moved a few steps in a panic.


    ¡°Focus,¡± Su Ran said.


    Lin Su nodded.


    He didn¡¯t know why, but Luo Ying was being eeriely calm.


    Based on Luo Ying¡¯s character, she should have already bared her teeth in hatred and tried to pounce on the two and tear them apart. How could she stand there so calmly?


    Had she truly give up on him?


    Su Ran looked at Lin Su, who was in a daze, and a strange feeling flashed through her heart.


    When the dance moves changed direction, Su Ran deliberately looked in the direction where Lin Su was looking at just now, and her eyes met Luo Ying¡¯s.


    Luo Ying was standing in the same place. She looked bored. Her expression remained neutral and impassive.


    What¡¯s going on? This is not how she should be reacting. Has this woman truly given up on Lin Su?


    Su Ran looked at Luo Ying¡¯s calm expression and gritted her teeth in anger.

 Chapter 59 - 59 A Fever

    59 A Fever


    Luo Ying watched them for a while. When it became clear that they did not plan to leave anytime soon, she moved to another dance studio to practice for a while.


    Luo Ying went home after she finished her training for the day.


    The original Luo Ying¡¯s body was far more fragile than she had imagined.


    The simple training today had already exhausted her. Her waist was still aching.


    As soon as she got home, she called for her servant, Zhang. She needed help applying the medicine.


    Madam Zhang was a patient old lady. Her daughter was about the same age as Luo Ying.


    When she was applying the ointment on Luo Ying¡¯s waist, the door of the house opened.


    As soon as Lu Zhao entered the door, he saw Luo Ying lying on the sofa. Her slender waist was exposed.


    His eyes darkened, and he felt his throat tightening. Heat rose up in his body.


    ¡°Hi!¡± Luo Ying saw Lu Zhao and raised her head to greet him.


    Lu Zhao didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he walked to Luo Ying¡¯s side. He took the ointment from nanny Zhang¡¯s hand and applied it on Luo Ying¡¯s waist.


    The cold ointment and the man¡¯s warm fingers gently stroked Luo Ying¡¯s waist.


    Luo Ying reflexively squirmed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± The man¡¯s low voice rang in her ear.


    ¡°Why would you suddenly have back pain?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    ¡°I went to exercise. Maybe I overdid it. It¡¯s made me really sleepy. But it¡¯s okay,¡± Luo Ying said with a smile.


    ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    Luo Ying nodded and only reacted after a long while, understanding what Lu Zhao was getting at.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not that just. Next time, be a little gentler,¡± Luo Ying said softly.


    Lu Zhao felt an odd sensation of pride swelling in his chest. The movement of his hands on her waist became slower and gentler.


    After applying the ointment, Lu Zhao massaged Luo Ying for a while.


    ¡°Why the sudden intensity in training?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be joining the idol games and contest soon. I can¡¯t constantly be huffing and puffing on camera now, can I?¡±


    Lu Zhao looked at Luo Ying with some suspicion.


    In the past, Luo Ying had been so focused on Lin Su that she barely even took care of herself, let alone train herself intensely. She was only obsessed about how to get close to Lin Su and make things difficult for Su Ran.


    Ever since she jumped off the building, Luo Ying seemed to have changed completely. She was actually working hard on her career.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is it that odd? I was planning to surprise everyone at the idol games.¡± Luo Ying raised her face with pride.


    ¡°I never knew that you were so career-minded.¡± Lu Zhao looked at her with a probing gaze.


    Luo Ying noticed his probing gaze and knew that Lu Zhao must have misunderstood matters again.


    Lu Zhao might have thought that she was doing this to attract Lin Su¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Ah, you don¡¯t have to worry. I¡¯ve really thought it through this time. I want to do well in my acting career. I¡¯ve wasted too much in the past. Now that I think about it, I¡¯m a little sorry to my fans.¡±


    As Luo Ying spoke, she hugged Lu Zhao. ¡°You work hard on your career at the company every day, so I should do the same too, right?¡±


    Lu Zhao touched her hair, feeling very comfortable with the sensation of this little woman in his arms.


    ¡°If you want, I can start up an entertainment company. I¡¯ll give you any role you can dream of.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need, there¡¯s no need.¡± Luo Ying raised her little face and looked into Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes. ¡°There¡¯s no need to go through so much trouble. I¡¯m very capable. I¡¯ll do this with my own strength.¡±


    Lu Zhao nodded. He seemed convinced for the time being.


    He had received the results of Lin Su¡¯s investigation today. Lin Su had not been present yesterday and did not seem to be interested in the celebration.


    It truly seemed like Luo Ying had not been looking for Lin Su.


    He heaved a sigh of relief.


    Half a month passed by quickly, and the idol games were held as scheduled.


    Luo Ying¡¯s event was around the corner.


    During the opening ceremony, Su Ran was the one to take the oath as the representative of the idol games.


    She was dressed in purple sportswear and stood on the podium. Everyone¡¯s eyes were on her.


    Lin Su was the representative for the boys.


    They were both attractive people. They practically lit the stage up.


    The audience and the bullet comments were going crazy.


    [Su Ran is so pretty. She looks so good even in sportswear.]


    [That¡¯s right. Lin Su is such a stunner. The two of them really look like they have been made for each other.]


    [ Lin Su is running an entire company on his own. He still found time to participate in such a show. He¡¯s quite something.]

 Chapter 60 - 60 Change

    60 Change


    Lin Su had long made a name for himself as a star. He had only started his company two years ago.


    As the main artiste under Lin Su¡¯s company, Su Ran was naturally highly favored. Her backing was solid.


    However, it was truly uncommon to see someone in his position take part in an idol sports event with his own employees.


    With Lin Su¡¯s status, he was simply giving the show ratings from nothing.


    Naturally, the bullet comments were all speculating about the relationship between Su Ran and Lin Su.


    Luo Ying was standing in the line. She was wearing a set of yellow sportswear today. She didn¡¯t stand out in the crowd, but Luo Ying was very fair. Her face stood out all the more among the crowd.


    She had permed her hair into big wavy waves and had a yellow hairpin in her hair. She looked like Disney¡¯s Princess Bell.


    When the cameras shifted to Luo Ying, the bullet screen started rippling.


    After Luo Ying¡¯s last livestream, the public opinion on the internet began to change.


    Prior to it, everyone had said that Luo Ying did not have the ability and was just a flower vase, but more and more people have popped up to affirm her beauty and singing skills.


    [Luo Ying¡¯s beauty is also on point today.]


    [Luo Ying¡¯s makeup team and styles have been outdated or ill-fitting. Everything seems to have fallen into place now. Her team has been doing a stellar job.]


    [That¡¯s right. Her yellow sportswear is too amazing. It does wonders for her figure.]


    However, there were also some haters who continued to express their opposition.


    [No matter how good-looking she is, she just f*cked her way to the top. Because of her, I don¡¯t even want to watch Music Center anymore.]


    [Yeah, she¡¯s not as pretty as our little cutie Su Ran.]


    These unfriendly comments did not bother her. She was here on a mission, and the mission was to dance well.


    In the crowd, another person was looking at her. It was Lin Su¡¯s younger brother, Lin Ping.


    Lin Ping wasn¡¯t an artiste, but he was a freshly minted manager. He had come to the show to promote the movie.


    His eyes scanned Luo Ying¡¯s body.


    Luo Ying had completely changed. She used to be like a sunflower in Lin Su¡¯s hands. Wherever Lin Su went, Luo Ying¡¯s eyes would fall on him.


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes currently fell on the audience, as if she was greeting the audience.


    This was much unlike her.


    Luo Ying quickly noticed Lin Ping looking at her and smiled at him.


    Lin Ping turned his head in disgust.


    So what if she was pretty? She was still a flower vase.


    After the complicated ceremony ended, it was time for the official competition.


    The first event was the artistic gymnastics that Luo Ying had participated in.


    When she went backstage to change, Luo Ying saw that Su Ran had also changed into an artistic gymnastics dress. It was a white dress inlaid with colored diamonds, which looked like a ballet dress.


    Su Ran put in all her effort for her two events.


    When Su Ran saw Luo Ying, her eyes were a little unfriendly.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is there something on my face?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    Su Ran was a little embarrassed by her question and looked away. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to predict your stunt of the day.¡±


    Luo Ying yawned. ¡°You¡¯ll be disappointed. I¡¯m not interested in Lin Su. I¡¯m more interested in getting fans.¡±


    Luo Ying smiled at her. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me snatching Lin Su away. You should be worried me snatching your fans away.¡±


    After saying this, Luo Ying turned around and walked into the fitting room to change her clothes.


    Su Ran stood still and looked at Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying had truly changed into a completely different person. It was as if she had been possessed. She had no interest in Lin Su at all. She even seemed to be intent on pursuing her career.


    Moreover, her tongue had grown glib and a lot sharper.


    Su Ran produced her phone. She turned off the recording function. She had wanted to record their conversation for Lin Su.


    However, Luo Ying seemed to have lost all interest in Lin Su. Su Ran¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡®Was this woman playing hard to get?¡¯


    She could not seem to calm herself down.


    Soon, the competition began. Su Ran and Luo Ying were first and second.


    The song Su Ran chose was a gentle folksong. Her dancing foundation was average, and all her movements were more like poses for the camera, rather than technical substance.


    Paired with her dance dress of the day, she looked like a swan.

 Chapter 61 - 61 Stunning The Audience

    61 Stunning The Audience


    Su Ran started to dance slowly to the music of the guzheng and flute. Her skirt fluttered, and the ribbons in her hands danced along with it.


    The audience below the stage exclaimed in shock.


    The bullet screen went bonkers.


    [Su Ran is so beautiful. Not only is she a good actress, but she¡¯s also a terrific dancer. She¡¯s a rare talent in the entertainment industry.]


    [Let¡¯s cheer for Su Ran!] [Su Ran is amazing. She¡¯s the future star of the entertainment industry.]


    [If Su Ran doesn¡¯t seriously get into singing or dancing, those cute little singers and dancers can just rest easy. If Su Ran becomes a singer, why should they even exist?]


    [Tell me, are you talking about Luo Ying?] [Hahahaha.]


    It quickly started a fight in the chat.


    Luo Ying was not in the mood to read the text.


    The skirt she had brought with her had been cut open, and there was a big hole in her waist.


    Luo Ying looked at the dress with a frown.


    Her dress had been fine when she was talking to Su Ran just now. How did this happen?


    Chi Tong was originally going to urge Luo Ying to make the preparations, but when he saw Luo Ying¡¯s dress, he went crazy with anxiety.


    ¡°What should we do now? We don¡¯t have a spare dress, but it¡¯s too late to get another now¡­¡± Chi Tong clutched his head in frustration. He had been too na?ve. He should have prepared for such incidents.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Luo Ying gave the dress a once-over. She studied the hole on it. There was a way to solve this.


    ¡°Do you have scissors?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    Chi Tong quickly nodded and handed the scissors to Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying stretched out her hand and cut the one-piece outfit. She cut the white shirt she was originally wearing into a crop top.


    Chi Tong was stunned.


    For a time, Luo Ying had learned basic tailoring. Her brother back in her old life was a famous fashion designer in that world. He had imparted much of her good aesthetics and simple tailoring skills.


    The cut skirt was tied together with a bow made of torn cloth from the shirt.


    Lo and behold, a black-and-white split dance dress was produced in Luo Ying¡¯s hands.


    Chi Tong¡¯s mouth was wide open in shock. This set of clothes was even more beautiful than the original set, and it fit Luo Ying¡¯s figure even better.


    ¡°Luo Ying, it¡¯s time to go up!¡± Just in time, the staff member in charge of urging Luo Ying to go on stage showed up.


    Luo Ying took her props and walked through the corridor towards the field.


    However, a staff member wearing a hat suddenly rushed out and bumped into Luo Ying.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. I was in a hurry and didn¡¯t see where I was going.¡±


    It sounded like a woman. She was wearing a baseball cap and a mask, so no one could tell who she was.


    Luo Ying frowned and gave Chi Tong a look.


    Her intuition told her that something was wrong with this woman.


    Chi Tong understood her tacitly and turned around to follow the woman.


    Luo Ying turned around and walked towards the stage. The light shone on her, making her fair skin and graceful figure glisten.


    Everyone¡¯s attention was on her.


    This outfit suited her very well, completely highlighting her playful and lively temperament.


    As the music started, she stood on her tiptoes and slowly began to dance.


    This set of movements involved a lot of flexibility and waist-bending movements. Luo Ying¡¯s sense of balance was excellent, and every movement was flawless.


    The bowknot on her skirt bounced along with the rhythm, as if beautiful butterflies were dancing around her.


    Many people in the audience. A great majority had not come for Luo Ying. Even so, they raised their cameras and quickly pressed the shutter, capturing every expression and every movement.


    Some of the people who specialized in selling snapshots had a feeling that they were about to make another of money!


    The bullet screen was filled with screams.


    [Ah ah ah! She is so beautiful. Can I be a dog and bark for her?]


    [Sister, how do I claim a place in your heart? I wouldn¡¯t mind it, even if you have an entire neighborhood in your heart.]


    [Luo Ying is really beautiful. I feel like she¡¯s 10,000 times more beautiful than she was in the talent show. Where did all these skills come from?]


    From the audience, Lin Su¡¯s eyes unconsciously followed Luo Ying.


    He had never seen her being so beautiful and lively. This was nothing like the annoying girl who always pestered him.


    She shone like an idol.


    The camera turned to Lin Su, and the live broadcast camera also captured him in his momentary daze.


    Some people in the bullet screen noticed Lin Su¡¯s gaze. It triggered another wave of discussion.


    [Lin Su looks awestruck. Luo Ying is a goddess.]


    [What? Lin Su is just being an appreciative gentleman. Lin Su and Su Ran are the golden couple in the entertainment industry. Can passers-by not mess up the relationship?]

 Chapter 62 - 62 Catching the Murderer

    62 Catching the Murderer


    In the blink of an eye, the chat was filled with blood.


    At the end of the song, they had completely changed tunes.


    ¡°That¡¯s great. I didn¡¯t expect Luo Ying to be this good. She managed to pull up the ratings all by herself.¡± Zhang Yong, who was sitting backstage, clapped his hands.


    He had created the idol games. The ratings have always been solid, but no matter how star-studded the cast was, the ratings never once reached such heights.


    But Luo Ying had done it.


    Zhang Yong was even more determined to make Luo Ying the host of the Music Center.


    Su Ran, who was also sitting backstage, felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.


    Wasn¡¯t Luo Ying about to leave the industry? How did her popularity rise so much in the blink of an eye?


    She looked at Lin Su with a frown. He seemed fully immersed in Luo Ying¡¯s performance. A sense of crisis emerged in her heart again.


    ¡°You¡¯re just playing to the gallery.¡± Lin Ping, who was standing beside her, snorted. ¡°What¡¯s there to see? Isn¡¯t it just a dance?¡±


    Su Ran glanced at Lin Ping. Lin Ping may be saying that, but his eyes were still fixed on Luo Ying on the screen.


    Luo Ying was ready to leave the stage, but Lin Ping¡¯s eyes never left.


    Su Ran¡¯s heart was suddenly filled with a sense of defeat.


    Luo Ying¡¯s change after jumping off the building was ridiculous.


    Her singing and dancing seemed to have suddenly been enlightened, and her expression control was also ten thousand times better than before.


    Before, ten Luo Yings couldn¡¯t even compare to one of her fingers. But now, Luo Ying was leap and bounds ahead of her.


    The company¡¯s original plan was to sacrifice Luo Ying, promote her, and harvest two groups of fans. But now, even if the company deliberately suppressed Luo Ying, she would outshine them all.


    Su Ran stood up and walked out of the backstage. She gave up on competing altogether. Even though she and Lin Su were going to have a sports dance event next, she was filled with disappointment. The battle was over before it even began.


    As soon as Luo Ying left the stage, Chi Tong rushed to the stage and handed Luo Ying a bottle of mineral water and some candy.


    Before such a competition, Luo Ying would eat nothing the day before so that she would fit the fashion industry¡¯s image.


    However, the original Luo Ying¡¯s body had low blood sugar. She had been hungry for an entire day and had performed a very intense dance. At that moment, she was already feeling dizzy. She only felt better after putting the candy in her mouth.


    ¡°Sister, you were so awesome today!¡± Chi Tong gave Luo Ying a thumbs up. ¡°After this, public opinion of you will probably change completely.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded, but she seemed distracted.


    Chi Tong¡¯s eyes were filled with hesitation. ¡°Something came up. Brace yourself. You know this person.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded. Of course she knew this person. It would be strange if she didn¡¯t.


    ¡°It¡¯s your former manager, Xia Lan,¡± Chi Tong said.


    Luo Ying frowned and motioned for Chi Tong to continue.


    ¡°She knows that you¡¯re going to have this job and has already admitted that she was the one who cut the clothes.¡±


    Xia Lan?


    Why would she dirty her own hands?


    ¡°I¡¯m going to see her,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Chi Tong nodded and brought Luo Ying to a dressing room.


    In the dressing room, Xia Lan was tied to a stool. She kept screaming, ¡°This can¡¯t be legal. Luo Ying only has a good husband. What¡¯s the big deal about that!?¡±


    ¡°Well, I won¡¯t slander my own artiste and then pay others to defame her.¡± Luo Ying walked in slowly and sat on the chair opposite her.


    ¡°You cut my clothes, right?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°Pfft, I cut it. So? You ruined my future. What¡¯s wrong with me cutting one of your clothes? What¡¯s wrong with me making a fool of you?¡±


    Chi Tong wanted to go up and scold her, but he was stopped by Luo Ying.


    ¡°You were just fired by the company. I didn¡¯t remove you from the industry. Although Lin Su¡¯s company is massive, the industry is even bigger. How could you not get a job?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all because of your lovely husband. They blacklisted me. Everyone in the agent industry knows about me!¡±


    Xia Lan looked at Luo Ying, and her eyes shone with a malicious light.


    Lu Zhao?


    His company did have that sort of influence.


    But Luo Ying had not expected Lu Zhao to actually do this for her.

 Chapter 63 - 63 Major Changes

    63 Major Changes


    Evidently, Lu Zhao cared about her more than she had imagined.


    Luo Ying massaged her temples and looked at the woman who was relentlessly cursing her.


    ¡°Even so, you shouldn¡¯t have ruined my costume. You put yourself in that spot by trying to ruin my career for someone else.¡± Luo Ying was not a soft-hearted person.


    Xia Lan could not help but shiver.


    The woman in front of her was nothing like what she remembered.


    This version Luo Ying did not look so forgiving.


    The previous Luo Ying was a little girl who couldn¡¯t tell right from wrong and was easily soft-hearted. As long as Xia Lan pressed down on her with a little weight, Luo Ying would cave in.


    This time, Luo Ying seemed determined to see this to the end.


    ¡°Luo Ying, you forced me into a corner. I had no choice,¡± Xia Lan said with a sneer.


    ¡°You¡¯re not wrong there. You no longer have a choice. But that was not the case before. After you left the company, you could have simply walked away. Instead, you made the choice to try bringing me down, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Luo Ying smiled coldly.


    Previously, in her livestreams, she was bombarded by waves and waves of hate comments.


    Chi Tong had investigated the source of these comments and soon found out the company Xia Lan had bought these people from.


    ¡°You very well know what happened. You forced me to do it. Luo Ying, are you seriously trying to blame it all on me?¡± Xia Lan¡¯s face turned pale when she realized that she could no longer hide the truth.


    ¡°Right back at you. Lu Zhao isn¡¯t an unreasonable person, and he¡¯s not that ruthless. If you had not gone out of your way trying to bring me to ruin, he would not have gone out of his way to do the same to you.¡± Luo Ying stood up and looked at Xia Lan. ¡°You¡¯re on your own now. Prepare to receive a letter from my attorney.¡±


    Luo Ying left the room after she finished speaking.


    She returned to the dressing room and picked up her phone. She wanted to say something to Lu Zhao, but after typing and backspacing several times, she gave up.


    Lu Zhao had been treating her very well.


    Although he was ruthless in bed, he respected her opinions.


    Originally, she had thought of Lu Zhao as a character in the game. After completing the character¡¯s questline and raising the affection level of the character, she could conquer them.


    But for some reason, his actions had tugged at her heartstrings. She was touched.


    She shook her head. Her finger hovered over the call button, but she still didn¡¯t know what to say to Lu Zhao.


    She finally put down her phone and prepared to go on stage to receive the award.


    Of course, Luo Ying won the first place. The runner-up was Su Ran.


    For some reason, Su Ran seemed to be distracted during her performance. In the end, she only got second place.


    The netizens were also a little disappointed with her performance.


    [I thought it would at least be competitive. I didn¡¯t expect it to be so anti-climatic.]


    [Su Ran seemed a little off. Was she having the jitters?]


    [It doesn¡¯t matter. Su Ran is crying, and Lin Su is comforting her. Let¡¯s capture this moment with our eyes.]


    Luo Ying stood on the podium and smiled at the camera.


    The gold medal around her neck was shining brightly. Her smile was dazzling and confident.


    Her photo also made it to the hot search, and the public opinion quickly swayed to her.


    The idol games program was originally meant to let Su Ran shine. In the end, Luo Ying stole the spotlight.


    Su Ran went backstage and clenched her fists when she saw the comments left by netizens on her phone.


    Luo Ying was currently optimistic, confident, and generous. She was no longer the crafty and domineering Luo Ying.


    It was as if she had become a completely different person. She could not even recognize her.


    Moreover, her singing and dancing skills seemed to have been drawn from some magical realm.


    Artistic gymnastics required a lot of professionalism. She had picked it up very rapidly and proficiently.


    Su Ran felt a sense of danger crushing down on her, making it hard for her to breathe.


    On top of that, Lin Su¡¯s eyes fell on Luo Ying from time to time. Su Ran felt the world pressing upon her from all directions.


    However, a voice in her heart seemed to tell her that Luo Ying had not done anything wrong.


    She simply improved herself to a point beyond measure.


    Su Ran put her phone aside and sighed deeply.


    At that moment, Luo Ying was giving out the cookies she had brought to the staff. Her smile was so beautiful and kind.


    Anyone would like a woman like her.


    Would Lin Su fall in love with her one day?


    Su Ran clenched her fists at the thought of this.

 Chapter 64 - 64 Physical Examination

    64 Physical Examination


    The other two and a half days of recording went by quickly. Luo Ying didn¡¯t go home. Instead, she went back to the Luo family.


    For the past two days, Lu Zhao had gone out of town to attend some conference, so there was no one at home. Luo Ying decided to head home and take her father for a check-up.


    As soon as she got home, she was greeted by a sharp glare from Luo Wan, who was sitting on the sofa.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Luo Wan snorted coldly. ¡°Luo Ying, you¡¯re a real piece of work. You ratted out my mother¡¯s trusted aides in the company, right? How else could all my cousins be fired within a month?¡±


    Luo Ying sneered when she heard Luo Wan¡¯s words. ¡°They got caught. How else?¡±


    Liao Hong, who was sitting nearby, looked at Luo Ying with an unfriendly gaze. ¡°Just mind your own business. You¡¯re already married, so don¡¯t interfere with the family matters.¡±


    Luo Ying had been working hard on her training and rehearsals. Where would she find the time to meddle?


    Luo Ying had a strange premonition in her heart. Could this also be Lu Zhao¡¯s doing?


    ¡°Go cling to your dear husband and leave us alone!¡± Luo Wan looked at Luo Ying and frowned. ¡°You traitor!¡±


    ¡°You know very well just how much Chen Zhi and his two brothers have embezzled.¡± Luo Ying shot the two of them a cold glare.


    In the original book, Luo Ying¡¯s family¡¯s company fell into hot soup because of these two sanctimonious cousins. No one ever found out how much money those two had embezzled.


    Just as the three of them were quarreling, there was a knock on the door.


    Luo Hao pushed the door open. Silence immediately fell.


    ¡°I heard the racket from outside. What¡¯s wrong?¡± Hao Luo¡¯s eyes darted between his two daughters and his wife.


    ¡°Were you chased back by Lu Zhao?¡± Luo Hao asked Luo Ying.


    Previously, when Luo Ying was married, she had been trying to hide the truth from them. Every day, she thought about how to be with Lin Su. Every day, she courted death and even ran back to her mother to stir up trouble.


    When he saw Luo Ying like this, Luo Hao thought that it was the same old routine.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m here to pick you up for a physical examination. Didn¡¯t I make an appointment for you before?¡± Luo Ying came over and said to Luo Hao.


    Luo Hao was a little surprised. Since when was Luo Ying this sensible?


    ¡°What physical examination? My dear sister is just here to strut her peacock feathers in our face. She said that Chen Zhi deserved to be kicked out of the company! Luo Wan said loudly.


    ¡°Dear, Chen Zhi really slipped up this time, but he¡¯s still our relative. Why don¡¯t you give him a chance?¡±


    Liao Hong also chimed in.


    Luo Hao looked at the mother and daughter pair. A rare moment of frustration welled up in his heart.


    It was not the first or second day that Chen Zhi and the others had received kickbacks from several projects. When he was dealing with it, he found a funding gap of hundreds of thousands. These two were currently dealing with this matter.


    When he heard their complaints, Luo Hao was a little annoyed. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll take care of the company¡¯s matters. Don¡¯t interfere.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Dad, let¡¯s go to the hospital now,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Luo Hao also wanted to have a good chat with his daughter, so he agreed and followed Luo Ying to the hospital.


    As soon as they arrived at the hospital, Luo Ying took her father to the cardiology department.


    In the original book, Luo Ying¡¯s father had died of a heart attack.


    She was already noticing some early symptoms of heart disease.


    When they arrived at the cardiology department, Luo Hao was arranged to take an X-ray. While they were waiting in line, Luo Ying chatted with her father.


    ¡°Dad, you have had dark circles under your eyes these days. Did you stay up again?¡±


    Luo Hao sighed. ¡°Your aunt¡¯s two nephews are true idiots. Their projects are on the rocks. They¡¯re not even trying to help themselves.¡±


    Luo Ying looked at Luo Hao¡¯s fatigued face and sighed. ¡°Dad, if it¡¯s convenient for you, you can let me or Lu Zhao handle some matters. Don¡¯t burn yourself out.¡±


    ¡°If only your brother was still here. He would definitely be able to help me with something.¡±


    Luo Hao sighed, his eyes filled with sorrow.


    Luo Feng had always been the biggest regret of the father and daughter pair.


    ¡°Perhaps I¡¯m really getting old. I¡¯ve been having a sore throat recently. Medicine doesn¡¯t seem to do much.¡± Luo Hao saw Luo Ying¡¯s expression darken and quickly changed the topic.


    Sore throat?


    It was an atypical symptom of heart disease.


    Luo Ying¡¯s heart felt a pang.

 Chapter 65 - 65 A Chance Encounter

    65 A Chance Encounter


    The results did not take long.


    The doctor looked at Luo Hao and furrowed his brows, ¡°He¡¯s been experiencing arrhythmia and thrombosis for a long time. Why hasn¡¯t he come for a check-up? ¡±


    Luo Hao furrowed his brows. Although he was old, he had always been healthy. How could he have heart disease?


    ¡°Doctor, what should we do now?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°Fortunately, you came in time. If you had let it stew for a little longer, he would have been at an increased risk of sudden death. This was a silent killer.


    Luo Ying gasped.


    In the original book, Luo Hao had died of a heart attack. He had collapsed in an empty corridor and was only discovered a long time later.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hurry. Dad, go through a few more examinations with them, then we¡¯ll try to fix a surgery.¡±


    ¡°Doctor,¡± Hao Luo said, ¡°my body has always¡­¡±


    ¡°Not another word, Mr. Luo. You¡¯ll be hospitalized today.¡± The doctor completed the admission procedures very quickly.


    When he saw Luo Ying¡¯s determined expression, Luo Hao also nodded.


    After all, if he didn¡¯t go through this surgery, he would face the risk of sudden death, which was something he didn¡¯t want to experience.


    After settling her father down, Luo Ying was about to head off to buy some daily necessities for her father. She didn¡¯t expect to meet an acquaintance in the supermarket near the hospital.


    Lin Ping¡¯s expression was dark. He was basically glaring at the shelves. When he saw Luo Ying, his glare became even colder.


    ¡°You¡¯re here? Why don¡¯t you go and see my brother?¡±


    Luo Ying was confused by the question. ¡°Who is your brother to me? Why should I go see your brother?¡±


    ¡°My brother was going to a meeting in another city today, but someone had to T-bone him along the way. He broke his leg. Aren¡¯t you going to see him? ¡±


    When she heard about Lin Su¡¯s broken leg, Luo Ying¡¯s expression remained as bored as ever. ¡°What does it have to do with me? Just take good care of your brother.¡±


    ¡°Are you women all so fickle? Didn¡¯t you love my brother very much before? Why did you have a change of heart so suddenly? Do you not even care if my brother is sick?¡±


    Luo Ying found it extremely ridiculous. When she fancied Lin Su, everyone tried to shake her off as if she was annoying flea.


    But now, she no longer pestered Lin Su. Were they trying to gaslight her into visiting him?


    ¡°Last I looked, your brother has a functioning brain and is a grown man. He¡¯s not an orphan, so I don¡¯t need to show him my love.¡± Luo Ying looked at Lin ping with a cold smile. ¡®Besides, I don¡¯t like Lin Su anymore. Is that not what you all hoped for? Don¡¯t think of using me just because you need a free nurse. No way.¡±


    After Luo Ying finished speaking, she left the supermarket.


    Lin Ping was behind her, looking at her back in a daze.


    He didn¡¯t know why, but the moment he heard her say that she no longer liked Lin Su, he actually felt a little happy.


    Luo Ying took her things back to the ward and helped Luo Hao settle down.


    That night, the caretaker had not arrived yet, so she stayed with her father in the ward for the entire night.


    The father and daughter talked about a lot of things. Gradually, Luo Ying got to know that the original Luo Ying never really understood her father.


    She decided to treat her father well.


    The next day, after the nurse came, Luo Ying went home to rest.


    Just as she reached the door, she saw an anxious-looking Zhang.


    ¡°Zhang, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°Sir has been drinking the entire night and didn¡¯t allow us up the second floor. We don¡¯t know what happened.¡±


    ¡°Drinking? Lu Zhao is back?¡± There were still two or three days before Lu Zhao¡¯s business trip, so why did he suddenly come back last night?


    I don¡¯t know, either. I heard from Mr. Lu¡¯s assistant that Mr. Lu seemed to have gone to the hospital to see a patient. He started drinking the moment he came back.


    He saw a patient?


    A strange guess appeared in Luo Ying¡¯s mind.


    Had Lu Zhao seen her in the hospital and mistakenly thought that she was there to see Lin Su?


    ¡°Which room does he usually stay in on the second floor?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    Zhang had been a servant in the Lu family for several years, so she knew Lu Zhao well.


    ¡°There¡¯s a recording studio on the second floor. He should be there.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded and went up the stairs.


    When she reached the door of the recording room, she smelled alcohol.


    The door was unlocked, so she nudged it open with a light push.


    There were no windows in the recording studio. The projector was playing old movies, and Lu Zhao sat in the middle of room, surrounded by wine bottles.


    The mottled light and shadow hit his face.


    His face looked haggard from a lack of sleep and his depression.


    His usual sharp edge had been diluted, and there was a faint trace of sorrow in his eyes.


    He looked like an abandoned puppy.


    Luo Ying¡¯s heart ached.


    Was she that important to Lu Zhao?

 Chapter 66 - 66 Wont Leave

    66 Won¡¯t Leave


    ¡°Lu Zhao, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Luo Ying walked over and helped him up.


    As soon as her hand touched Lu Zhao¡¯s, she felt a cold and wet patch on her hand.


    The wine on Lu Zhao¡¯s hand had been mixed with red blood, and his hand was full of small wounds. Some of them had already formed scabs, and some seemed to have been torn open again after the scabs had formed.


    Luo Ying felt the pain just looking at it.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? What¡¯s going on?¡± Luo Ying frowned as she looked at the broken wine bottle on the ground.


    Had Lu Zhao smashed the wine bottle earlier?


    ¡°I had too much to drink and accidentally knocked it over. Then, I pressed my hand on it.¡± Lu Zhao wasn¡¯t as cold and calm as usual. Instead, there were faint tears in his eyes.


    He was acting like a boyfriend who was complaining to his girlfriend.


    ¡°Get up, I¡¯ll help you bandage it.¡± Luo Ying reached out to pull Lu Zhao up.


    But of course, she couldn¡¯t move a man who almost stood two meters tall. After stumbling, she was pulled to the ground by Lu Zhao.


    Lu Zhao didn¡¯t let her fall to the ground. Instead, he used himself as a human cushion to catch Luo Ying and slowly put her on his lap.


    He hugged her from behind.


    It looked like an ordinary hug, but Luo Ying felt his arms and legs holding her with protective ferocity, not letting her leave.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Luo Ying felt Lu Zhao¡¯s vulnerability and asked softly. She did not struggle.


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave me, okay?¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s voice was soft, and his breath gushed into her ears. His voice was almost pleading.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t leave you.¡±


    Lu Zhao shook his head and leaned against Luo Ying¡¯s shoulder like a child.


    ¡°Please, please don¡¯t leave me. It wasn¡¯t easy for you to come back. Don¡¯t leave me.¡±


    Luo Ying sighed in her heart.


    The original Luo Ying had truly hurt Lu Zhao too many times before, and just one misunderstanding without any evidence seemed to be enough to make Lu Zhao defense collapse.


    ¡°You¡¯re acting like this because you saw me go to the hospital, right?¡± Luo Ying said slowly.


    The air was silent for a moment, and a small voice came from beside her. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just ask me about it?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°What?¡± Lu Zhao was a little confused.


    ¡°Ask me why I was at that same hospital as Lin Su.¡±


    Lu Zhao didn¡¯t reply and just leaned his head on her shoulder like a spoiled child.


    ¡°My father might have to undergo surgery soon, so I went to the hospital to help him settle down.,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Like a child who had done something wrong, Lu Zhao lowered his head even more.


    ¡°I won¡¯t leave you, don¡¯t worry,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Lu Zhao sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but I have a feeling that you¡¯re going to leave me. You¡¯re going to sneak away one night.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± Luo Ying said.


    She could feel Lu Zhao¡¯s deep affection for the original Luo Ying.


    If anything, these feelings should not be for her. They should be for the soul that had once been in this body.


    Luo Ying almost broke down on the spot. Lu Zhao¡¯s love for the original Luo Ying was as pure as storybooks get.


    The original Luo Ying had betrayed him time and time again, even stealing his trade secrets and giving them to others. In spite of all that, he chose to forgive her.


    When the original Luo Ying pulled a stunt that endangered her very own life to force the male protagonist to look at her, he finally lost hope.


    After that, Lu Zhao sealed off his love and devoted all his energy to his career.


    Under his management, Luya Group became one of the top companies in the world.


    In the midst of all the success, Lu Zhao was never happy with himself.


    He left his family in ruins and sought out the original Luo Ying, who didn¡¯t treat him well at all. In the end, he naturally fell into a long period of loneliness and depression.


    When she recalled the original plot, Luo Ying felt some resentment toward the author and original character.


    She reached out and held Lu Zhao¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, you have to believe me. I won¡¯t leave you,¡± Luo Ying said.


    She said this not out of sympathy, nor was it to survive in this world.


    She had truly fallen for him.

 Chapter 67 - 67 We Have Each Other

    67 We Have Each Other


    Lu Zhao nodded.


    Luo Ying struggled out of his arms. ¡°Please, let¡¯s leave this place. I¡¯ll take you to the bedroom to get your hand looked at. Those are deep cuts, they may get infected.¡±


    Lu Zhao nodded.


    He was like an obedient little wolf in front of his master. He allowed Luo Ying to lead him into the bedroom.


    Luo Ying took out the first aid kit from the cabinet and pulled Lu Zhao¡¯s hand to hers.


    Lu Zhao looked at Luo Ying, his eyes burning.


    Luo Ying pulled Lu Zhao¡¯s hand over and pressed the alcohol-soaked cotton on his hand a few times.


    Lu Zhao endured the pain and frowned.


    ¡°Tell me the truth. Did you use your hand to grab the glass?¡± Luo Ying looked at the wound on Lu Zhao¡¯s hand. It did not look like a simple accident. This could only have been the result if he had grabbed the shards with force.


    Lu Zhao lowered his head and didn¡¯t look into Luo Ying¡¯s eyes.


    In the original novel, this was precisely how Lu Zhao acted. When he was in a bad mood, he would torture himself with the pain.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ever hurt yourself like this. If you do this again, I¡¯ll leave you,¡± Luo Ying said, looking at Lu Zhao.


    Lu Zhao shook his head and looked up into Luo Ying¡¯s eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t leave me. I won¡¯t hurt myself anymore. I promise.¡±


    Luo Ying looked into Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes and nodded. ¡°I won¡¯t leave you.¡±


    Luo Ying lowered her head and helped Lu Zhao treat his wounds and wrap them in gauze.


    After putting Lu Zhao to bed, she went out and asked Zhang to prepare some food for Lu Zhao to eat when he woke up.


    Lu Zhao quickly fell asleep. It was probably because his insecurities had been put to rest.


    Luo Ying went downstairs. Zhang looked at Luo Ying and sighed. ¡°Sir used to be like this for a few days. Now that you¡¯re here, he should be much happier. You should come back more often to accompany him.¡±


    From what Zhang said, the original Luo Ying seemed to often stay out and left Lu Zhao alone at home.


    ¡°Did he break down many times like this?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Madam. Actually, Sir has always wanted to have a family. I watched him grow from childhood. He has never regarded anyone else as preciously as you. I hope that you can do the same for him.¡±


    Zhang¡¯s words had come from the heart. Luo Ying nodded, trying to keep the tears out of her eyes.


    She would never leave him.


    Just as Zhang and Luo Ying were chatting, a phone call came in.


    Luo Ying frowned.


    It was Lin Lu.


    Lin Lu was Lin Su and Lin Ping¡¯s elder sister. Lin Su¡¯s mother had died very early, so Lin Lu was like a mother to the two of them.


    Lin Lu liked the original Luo Ying very much and hoped that Luo Ying would marry her younger brother. Therefore, she often contacted Luo Ying and helped her make new plans to win over her younger brother.


    ¡°Hello, Sister Lin Lu. What¡¯s the matter?¡± Luo Ying said.


    ¡°Luo Ying, Lin Su is injured. Why don¡¯t you come and see him?¡± Lin Lu asked.


    ¡°Sister Lin Lu, I¡¯m already married. I might not have so many opportunities to visit Lin Su in the future.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but didn¡¯t you say you hated Lu Zhao and even wanted to divorce him?¡± Lin Lu sounded a little anxious.


    She couldn¡¯t believe that Luo Ying, who used to like her brother so much, had suddenly changed into a different person and would utter something about being loyal to her marriage.


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Sister Lin Lu. I¡¯ve thought about it for a long time and decided to forget about Lin Su and me. After all, I¡¯m a married woman. Moreover, Lu Zhao accidentally cut his hand today, so I have to take care of him,¡± Luo Ying said.


    When she heard Luo Ying¡¯s insistence, Lin Lu didn¡¯t say anything more. She just sighed. ¡°Alright, but you have to take care of yourself. Caring for someone else is tough. Don¡¯t tire yourself out.¡±


    Lin Lu hung up the phone and looked at Lin Su, who was lying on the bed and drinking medicine.


    Lin Su frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is she going to come and take care of me again? I knew it. How could this woman give up so easily¡­?¡±


    ¡°No, Luo Ying said Lu Zhao¡¯s hand was cut, and she had to take care of Lu Zhao.¡±


    The ward was silent for a moment. Lin Su and Lin Ping did not speak.


    Lin Ping¡¯s mouth was hanging wide open, as if Lin Lu had said something funny. ¡°Sis, you¡¯re not lying to me, are you? Would Luo Ying say such a thing?¡±

 Chapter 68 - 68 Pursuing Luo Ying

    68 Pursuing Luo Ying


    ¡°I¡¯m convinced that Luo Ying has completely given up on you. You didn¡¯t cherish her when her attention was directed at you. Look at you now. You¡¯ll regret this. I really don¡¯t know what you¡¯re looking for in love,¡± Lin Lu said unhappily. ¡°Luo Ying is such a good girl. She was so devoted to you.¡±


    Lin Lu had really hoped that Luo Ying and Lin Su would be together.


    ¡°You have to think of a way to get her back, understand?¡± Lin Lu sighed.


    Lin Su was lying on the bed, frowning in silence.


    Had Luo Ying really changed?


    For some reason, Lin Su found it a little strange that she had so blatantly refused to take care of him. It did not seem possible.


    He originally hated Luo Ying¡¯s pestering, but when Luo Ying stopped doing so, he felt very uncomfortable and sometimes even a little anxious.


    Did he want Luo Ying to keep pestering him?


    ¡°Luo Ying has changed a lot recently. Even so, Brother, you seem to have changed a lot too.¡± Lin Ping said.


    ¡°I¡¯ve changed? How so?¡± Lin Su asked.


    ¡°You actually looked disappointed just now.¡± Lin Ping sneered at him.


    If it was the original Lin Su, he would have been overjoyed to hear that Luo Ying was not coming to see him.


    Lin Su had really changed.


    ¡°Are you hallucinating? I¡¯ve never been so happy. I can¡¯t wait to pop a champagne to celebrate this jinx¡¯s departure from my life. Hahahaha!¡± Lin Su laughed a few times, then suddenly lowered his head and covered his wound.


    He had laughed too hard just now and pulled on his wound.


    ¡°If you¡¯re so happy, does that mean you won¡¯t mind if I pursue Luo Ying in the future?¡±


    Lin Su and Lin Lu both looked at Lin Ping in surprise.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Lin Lu¡¯s eyes lit up.


    Lin Ping did not reply and continued to look at his phone.


    Lin Su looked at Lin Ping with a tinge of hostility in his eyes.


    ¡­


    A few days later, filming for Music Center took place.


    Luo Ying was at the recording studio at least three days a week.


    It was quite a distance from Luo Ying¡¯s home, so Lu Zhao had booked a hotel nearby for Luo Ying.


    The male host was absent for today¡¯s recording because he had an event to attend. The festival team had found a temporary replacement guest host.


    The guest host was none other than Su Ran.


    When she saw Su Ran backstage, Luo Ying still politely greeted her.


    But for some reason, Su Ran¡¯s eyes were filled with anger.


    After the makeup tem was finished and left the two of them in the dressing room, Su Ran slowly opened her mouth.


    ¡°You¡¯ve heard the news, right?¡±


    Luo Ying was on Lu Zhao¡¯s WeChat and didn¡¯t hear Su Ran¡¯s words.


    Su Ran stood up and snatched the phone from Luo Ying. ¡°I¡¯m talking to you. What¡¯s with your attitude?¡±


    Su Ran glanced at Luo Ying¡¯s phone.


    The chat box stopped at Luo Ying acting coquettishly, asking Lu Zhao to bring back some good food tonight.


    Su Ran snorted. ¡°Looks like President Lu is really good to you. What right do people like you have to be happy?¡±


    Luo Ying snatched the phone back from Su Ran¡¯s hands. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. What¡¯s wrong with me talking to my own husband? Does it offend you?¡±


    ¡°Husband, huh? Are you two-timing now? Can Lu Zhao accept you being with him while thinking about Lin Su?¡±


    Luo Ying thought that Su Ran was being ridiculous. She had never thought of pestering Lin Su.


    Ever since she came here, she had tried her best to avoid Lin Su and stay far away from them in order not to be seared by their so-called protagonist aura.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be crazy. When did I pester Lin Su?¡± Luo Ying asked with a frown.


    Su Ran reached out and unbuttoned her shirt.


    Her body was covered with all kinds of purple marks. Luo Ying was not an innocent girl, so she naturally knew what those marks meant.


    ¡®No way, was Lin Su playing so wildly?¡¯


    ¡°Why did you find someone to drug and rape me? They almost succeeded, did you know that?¡± Su Ran looked at her with a venomous look in her eyes. ¡°You just want to destroy me and get together with Lin Su, don¡¯t you?¡±

 Chapter 69 - 69 Accussations

    69 Accussations


    ¡°Lin Su didn¡¯t give you those hickeys?¡± Luo Ying frowned.


    ¡°Of course not. Didn¡¯t you ask the director of ¡°Full Moon¡± to drug me and make me sleep with him?¡± Su Ran laughed bitterly.


    Luo Ying had heard that Su Ran was already slated to be the female lead for ¡°Full Moon¡±, but she didn¡¯t know that there were so many twists and turns behind this.


    ¡°You just want that disgusting old man to defile me and then make Lin Su abandon me. That way, you can be with Lin Su, right?¡±


    ¡°If I say no to that, would you believe me?¡± Luo Ying said as she looked at Su Ran.


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes were resolute and pure, and Su Ran was speechless for a moment.


    At that moment, she doubted herself.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know the director of ¡°Full Moon,¡± and I¡¯ve never had any contact with him.¡± Luo Ying frowned and looked at Su Ran.


    The director of ¡°Full Moon¡± was a big shot in the industry, and his works won several awards internationally.


    Su Ran had wanted to star on one of his works as a launchpad for her career. This way, she could walk the path of both reputation and popularity.


    Luo Ying had rarely been involved in the shooting of movies and had little communication with the directors of these movies.


    ¡°Do you think that just because you say you don¡¯t know those directors, you can shed all accountability?¡± Su Ran laughed coldly. ¡°Who else could blackmail Xia Lan and get her to help you?¡±


    ¡°Xia Lan?¡± Luo Ying was even more confused.


    She and Xia Lan had already cut off all contact, so how did Su Ran even make such a connection?


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t the one who ordered Xia Lan to do that. Are you kidding me? Xia Lan almost destroyed my costume, and I was even prepared to take legal action. How did Xia Lan even get into this picture?¡± Luo Ying said.


    However, Su Ran was now completely certain that Luo Ying was the one who did it. She was beyond reason.


    ¡°Who else would do such a thing besides you?¡± Su Ran looked at Luo Ying. ¡°No matter what the outcome is, this role will be mine. No one would send their competitor to the director¡¯s bed, only you would.¡±


    Su Ran¡¯s eyes were filled with tears, and she looked pitiful. ¡°After you destroy me, Lin Su would be yours.¡±


    Luo Ying was confused by Su Ran¡¯s logic.


    Was this the clich¨¦ way female novel protagonists went in circles as they took readers for a roller coaster ride in their internal monologue?


    No matter how she tried to defend herself, the blame would still spin itself back to her.


    ¡°Even if I destroy you, how would Lin Su be with me if he doesn¡¯t like me?¡± Luo Ying smiled helplessly. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ve thought this through?¡±


    ¡°You know that Lin Su cares about a girl¡¯s innocence the most,¡± Su Ran said immediately. ¡°So, you¡¯re trying to ruin my innocence and then be with him, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Luo Ying understood what she was getting at now.


    So, Lin Su was still a virgin.


    ¡°Su Ran, listen to me. First of all, I don¡¯t like Lin Su anymore. I won¡¯t even blink if Lin Su takes off all his clothes and pole-dances in front of me.¡± Luo Ying looked at Su Ran and spoke coldly.


    ¡°Secondly, I won¡¯t drug you, and I don¡¯t even have to. If you want to defend your rights, I can help you find a lawyer and expose what the director did,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Su Ran looked at Luo Ying¡¯s determined eyes and was at a loss for words.


    ¡°Also, if Lin Su only likes pure girls and only cares about so-called chastity, then I can tell you that I¡¯m a married woman. That¡¯s two strikes.¡±


    After Luo Ying finished speaking, she glanced at Su Ran, turned around, and left the room.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think that I¡¯ll let you off just because you said this!¡± Su Ran shouted.


    Luo Ying turned around. Her gaze was as cold as ice. ¡°You¡¯re hilarious.¡±


    After saying this, Luo Ying left the dressing room.


    Su Ran had been blinded by love.


    Why didn¡¯t she call the police? Why did she come to her?


    ¡­


    Soon, it was time to film. Luo Ying went backstage to wait.


    Today, apart from the interview and the interlude, she also had to record a scene on stage where she would be working with Su Ran.


    The theme of today¡¯s stage was the cool summer, so both of them were wearing beach holiday dresses with flowers.

 Chapter 70 - 70 Pursuit

    70 Pursuit


    Luo Ying¡¯s dress was a red two-piece. The top was a red lace tube top, and the bottom was a red dress with a floral skirt.


    The red only made her fair skin stand out all the more.


    The dress flaunted her beauty.


    However, she had to be very careful when she danced in this dress. If she wasn¡¯t careful, she could easily fall.


    When the filming was about to begin, Su Ran rushed backstage. Her expression was normal, as if the breakdown that happened a few minutes ago had not taken place.


    ¡°Are the two of you ready? It¡¯s time to go on stage if you¡¯re ready.


    ¡°You¡¯re ready too, Su Ran.¡±


    Su Ran flashed a bright smile.


    She had paired a fitting white top and a skirt. Her exposed legs did not show any signs of being abused.


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t pay attention to her smile, but walked to her place and prepared to start.


    The music started playing.


    Su Ran looked at Luo Ying, and her eyes turned cold.


    Ha, she would make her pay.


    The music started, and the two of them began to dance to the music.


    This was a rather soothing, serenade-like dance song.


    Because it was a recorded broadcast, there were audience members in the seats.


    The audience watched their performance and slowly swayed to the music.


    Some people starting talking in low voices.


    ¡°Su Ran is very pretty. She looks like an innocent country girl.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a pure goddess. She¡¯s dressed so innocently. Look at Luo Ying. She¡¯s showing off so much skin. She won¡¯t be able to depend on her sex appeal for her entire career.¡±


    ¡°But Luo Ying¡¯s dancing is fantastic.¡±


    At the beginning, the two of them were still far aprt, but as the music went on, they approached each other.


    The moment their eyes met, Luo Ying saw a smug smile on Su Ran¡¯s face.


    Luo Ying¡¯s guard went up.


    It wasn¡¯t as if she had never experienced such a thing before. Previously, when someone wanted to get her into trouble, they had tried to pull a stunt during a live recording.


    As expected, Su Ran grabbed her by the lapels of her clothes as she turned around.


    From the audience¡¯s point of view, it looked as if Luo Ying was deliberately getting close to Su Ran.


    Luo Ying¡¯s hands were sharp and quick. She grappled with Su Ran. Su Ran wanted to use this moment to trip her, but Luo Ying was experienced in such antics and did not budge.


    After that pirouette, the distance between the two of them widened again.


    Later on, when Su Ran tried to get close to Luo Ying again, Luo Ying used all sorts of methods to avoid her.


    Some sharp-eyed audience members found it odd.


    ¡°Did Su Ran make a mistake just now?


    ¡°Luo Ying saved her skin, right? Why does it look like Luo Ying has been busy evading Su Ran?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps Su Ran isn¡¯t too familiar with singing and dancing. She¡¯s been making mistakes in her positioning.¡±


    Lin Su was also standing below the stage. He had specially accompanied Su Ran to the show today.


    He watched the two of them and clenched his fists.


    Luo Ying seemed to have been trying to embarrass Su Ran.


    Su Ran looked at him with a pitiful expression.


    ¡°Director, stop!¡± Lin Su suddenly shouted.


    The director looked at Lin Su with a frown, but he still stopped the music.


    There were still tens of seconds left before the song ended. Why the sudden stop?


    Luo Ying looked at the recording team below the stage in confusion, and sure enough, she saw Lin Su standing beside the director.


    ¡°You two, come over here.¡± Lin Su shouted.


    Luo Ying frowned and looked at the director.


    The director was just as confused. He didn¡¯t quite understand what was going on.


    The two of them walked over to the staff.


    Lin Su stared at Luo Ying warily. ¡°Are you planning to take advantage of the recording to push Su Ran down?¡±


    ¡°Ha?¡± Luo Ying almost broke into laughter.


    The author of this book must not have any knowledge of the entertainment industry. A few minutes of recording required the hard work of dozens of staff members. The audience also had to wait from morning to night, but he stopped just like that.


    He had stopped it for such a baseless reason.

 Chapter 71 - 71 Im Late

    71 I¡¯m Late


    ¡°You¡¯re funny, Lin Su. Where did you see me pushing her?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Lin Su. This has nothing to do with Luo Ying. Don¡¯t blame her. It¡¯s my fault for not being familiar with my positioning.¡± Su Ran looked at Lin Su with her big, pitiful eyes.


    Lin Su¡¯s expression darkened all the more.


    ¡°You grabbed at my accessories just now. When I spun at the end of the first chorus, what were you trying to pull? Do you want the director to replay it?¡± Luo Ying tilted her head and said with a smile.


    There were many cameras positioned at multiple angles, and one of them was an overhead camera providing a bird¡¯s eye view. From that position, Su Ran¡¯s little tricks would be exposed.


    ¡°I¡¯m warning you, I know everything you¡¯ve done. Don¡¯t push your luck.¡± Lin Su sized Luo Ying up with cold eyes.


    He seemed to be certain that Luo Ying was the culprit.


    Luo Ying sneered. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me what I did wrong?¡±


    Lin Su looked at the audience behind him and lowered his voice. ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know that you got the director of ¡®Full Moon¡¯ to prey on Su Ran.¡±


    Luo Ying sneered. ¡°Do you really think you¡¯re that important? Do you think I have to destroy a girl¡¯s innocence for an old-fashioned scumbag like you?¡±


    ¡°What did you just say?¡± Lin Su¡¯s eyes widened.


    The director grew worried and immediately asked the staff to guide them backstage.


    When he got backstage, Lin Su dropped all pretenses. He reached out and poured a glass of water on Luo Ying¡¯s face.


    Although Luo Ying¡¯s makeup today was waterproof, the water just now had gotten the sequins stuck on her eyes into them. Her eyes stung.


    ¡°Lin Su, aren¡¯t you old-fashioned? It¡¯s the 21st century. Do you think that a girl¡¯s innocence is your own property? Are you so angry because of Su Ran¡¯s welfare?¡± Luo Ying shut her eyes and drawled at him, sounding more tired than annoyed. ¡°Or are you angry because Su Ran¡¯s virginity should have been yours to take?¡±


    Lin Su was speechless.


    Lin Su should be pursuing the direct culprit of this incident, the director of ¡°Full Moon.¡± Instead, he was here, hounding Luo Ying.


    ¡°Cut the crap. If it wasn¡¯t for your sister Luo Wan¡¯s timely tip-off and a certain manager who didn¡¯t want to harm anyone for you, Su Ran would have been raped a long time ago.¡±


    Xia Lan? Luo Ying felt a headache setting in.


    Apparently, everyone had a motive but her.


    ¡°Look, I don¡¯t have that much time on my hands, much less pull off such stunts around you,¡± Luo Ying said.


    ¡°You¡¯re just trying to get my attention. What reason does Luo Wan have to lie to me?¡± Lin Su frowned and looked at Luo Ying.


    Su Ran was in tears. ¡°Don¡¯t say anything more, Lin Su. I¡¯m begging you.¡±


    Lin Su hugged Su Ran affectionately.


    Luo Ying felt nauseated. This pair of lovebirds would not leave her alone, as much as she wanted to get away from them.


    Before she could react, a slap landed on her face.


    Luo Ying was stunned by the slap. Her stinging eyes were on fire now.


    Her ears were also ringing. If this slap had been slightly off, she could have gotten deaf.


    Luo Ying glanced at the surveillance camera on the wall and sneered, ¡°Lin Su, don¡¯t go too far. There are surveillance cameras here.¡±


    Lin Su looked at the surveillance camera and frowned. ¡°You know just how much power I have in the broadcasting station. You must apologize to Ranran today, or I¡¯ll teach you a lesson today.¡±


    When Luo Ying heard this, she could not hide the scorn on her face.


    This world was most definitely playing tricks on her.


    ¡°What authority do you have in the television station? The authority to hit people?¡± A low male voice sounded behind them.


    Just as the two of them were in a deadlock, someone pulled Luo Ying into his arms from behind. It was Lu Zhao.


    Lu Zhao looked at Luo Ying¡¯s swollen face and reached out to caress it a few times.


    ¡°Wait for me in the car. I¡¯m going to have a word with Lin Su.¡± Lu Zhao looked at Luo Ying, his anger barely suppressed in his voice.


    Luo Ying shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll do something stupid.¡±


    Lu Zhao laughed. Even now, she was worried about him. ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded and walked out of the door.


    ¡°Come with me.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes turned to Lin Su.


    Lin Su didn¡¯t know why, but he was shivering. He had not had many business dealings with Lu Zhao before, but when he heard the command from the ruthless and decisive President of Luya Group, he felt fear from the bottom of his heart.

 Chapter 72 - 72 The Confrontation

    72 The Confrontation


    ¡°Why should I go with you?¡± Lin Ssu stood his ground.


    ¡°D¡¯Corporeal or your home. You choose.¡± Lu Zhao fidgeted with the key in his hand, his face expressionless.


    Lin Su¡¯s eyes changed at the mention of that name, and he followed Lu Zhao out of the door.


    ¡°What are you getting at? Are you really planning to ruin the relationship between the Lu family and the Lin family for that shameless woman?¡± Lin Su asked.


    Before Lin Su could finish his sentence, his face went on fire. His head tilted to a side as he staggered back.


    ¡°I own 5% of the Lin family¡¯s shares, but it¡¯s just for your sake. I never said that our companies are related.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes coldly swept across Lin Su¡¯s face.


    ¡°You know of the dealings behind D¡¯Corporeal.¡±


    Lin Su looked at Lu Zhao, his mouth wide open in surprise.


    How could Lu Zhao have known?


    Before he could react, he felt his vision blur. He ended up on the ground. Lu Zhao pulled his foot back.


    ¡°Lu Zhao? What are you doing? All this for a woman! Don¡¯t you know?¡± Lin Su shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t you know how hard she tried to get into my pants before?!¡±


    Lu Zhao looked at Lin Su, the mockery on his face deepening.


    Lin Su shuddered, and his voice began to falter. ¡°The person she cares about the most can¡¯t be you. Don¡¯t you know that first love is the most unforgettable? I¡¯m the moonlight of her life. Don¡¯t you feel disgusted that your wife is such a woman?¡±


    Lu Zhao squatted down and looked at him, his eyes looking murderous.


    ¡°Lin Su, you should know this. It¡¯s a good thing to love someone. At least she knows what true courage is, unlike you, who only dares to hide behind skirts and be a yes-man,¡± Lu Zhao said, his voice firm and powerful.


    ¡°I do know that she only has me in her heart right now. There¡¯s no one else. I have that confidence.,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know this, but in order to get me, she didn¡¯t hesitate to ruin Su Ran¡¯s innocence. If it wasn¡¯t for Luo Wan and Xia Lan, Su Ran would have lost her virginity! She¡¯s done a lot of dirty things in the past,¡± Lin Su said. ¡°She even tried to blackmail me into sleeping with her, don¡¯t you know that?¡±


    He looked at Lu Zhao sarcastically. ¡°Wake up, it¡¯s impossible for Luo Ying to like you. In order to get me, she would stop at nothing, so it¡¯s clear that her love for you isn¡¯t real.¡±


    Lu Zhao sneered and reached out to grab Lin Su¡¯s jaw. ¡°It¡¯s best not to spout such baseless lies, because the truth may just shock you.¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°You ask if Luo Ying is true to me, but are you even true to Su Ran? From what you¡¯re saying, it sounds like you care a great deal about Luo Ying doing these things to you, for you, purported or otherwise.¡±


    Lu Zhao stretched out his hand and struck Lin Su¡¯s other side.


    ¡°You¡¯d better not have any thoughts about Luo Ying, and don¡¯t think about slandering Luo Ying. Otherwise, I¡¯ll make you and your company die an ugly death.¡±


    Lu Zhao stood up and left the room.


    Lin Su felt extremely humiliated.


    When Lu Zhao got into the car, Luo Ying had already treated the wound on her face. She had applied a cold ointment on her face and was lying on the sofa in the car, leisurely drinking fruit juice.


    ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± Luo Ying¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw Lu Zhao.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s anger dissipated the moment he saw Luo Ying.


    He reached out and held the woman in his arms. He gently lifted her chin and looked at the wound on her face.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you get hurt again,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. The swelling¡¯s gone down. Besides, you¡¯ve helped me beat him up.¡± Luo Ying snuggled in Lu Zhao¡¯s arms and said with a smile.


    ¡°How did you know?¡± Lu Zhao frowned.


    Luo Ying grabbed Lu Zhao¡¯s hand. The cut had opened up.


    She held up the man¡¯s hand tenderly and applied the rest of the ointment on it.


    ¡°How hard did you hit that man? It¡¯s all split open again.¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±

 Chapter 73 - 73 Heartache

    73 Heartache


    ¡°How is that fine? My heart aches,¡± Luo Ying muttered in a low voice, her little face scrunched up.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s heart melted. This woman was so endearing that he could not help himself but fall deeper in love.


    He didn¡¯t want her to leave him. He did not want her to leave him for a single second.


    He reached out and hugged Luo Ying, holding her tightly in his arms.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you leave me,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    Luo Ying contentedly snuggled in Lu Zhao¡¯s arms.


    ¡°I know, I know.¡± Luo Ying sat up and wrapped her arms around Lu Zhao¡¯s neck, pressing the half of her face that wasn¡¯t covered in medicine against Lu Zhao¡¯s neck.


    ¡°I¡¯ve asked the director for a leave. He said that he¡¯ll find someone to replace me this week, and that I¡¯m free to take the entire week off. We don¡¯t have to stay in the hotel anymore. We can go straight home!¡± Luo Ying¡¯s face was red with excitement when she talked about going home.


    Lu Zhao ran his fingers through her hair. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go home.¡±


    While Luo Ying and Lu Zhao basked in warmth, the backstage of the TV station painted an entirely different picture.


    Su Ran was helping Lin Su deal with the wounds on his face. ¡°Lu Zhao is too much. How could he do this to you? Our company¡¯s Annual Meeting is next week, and you still have to give a speech on stage. How could he ruin your face now¡­?¡±


    Lin Su¡¯s eyes were cold. He stared at Su Ran in silence.


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? I didn¡¯t think that Lu Zhao would actually do such a thing for Luo Ying.¡± Su Ran used a cotton swab dipped in alcohol to apply it on Lin Su¡¯s face.


    ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have told you about those things. I caused you to be humiliated by Lu Zhao.¡±


    For Lin Su, being slapped in the face and kicked to the ground was utter humiliation.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯d do anything for you.¡± Lin Su reached out and touched Su Ran¡¯s hair. ¡°You¡¯ve been through a lot. I¡¯ll definitely make Chang Yuan pay.¡±


    Chang Yuan was the director of ¡°Full Moon¡±. He was the man who had almost ruined Su Ran.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone else to know about this. My career will be ruined.¡± Su Ran¡¯s eyes were filled with tears.


    In the entertainment industry, reputation paved the way for most paths.


    Even if they were violated and humiliated, they had to hold their silence.


    Artistes like Su Ran had meticulously crafted pure images for themselves. It was all the more important for them.


    She could not afford to let even rumors of this spread.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let this spread. Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s just a director. We¡¯ll find a way.¡± Lin Su gritted his teeth in hatred. ¡°Lu Zhao and Luo Ying are going to get their just desserts, too.¡±


    Su Ran nodded and continued to apply the medicine on Lin Su.


    As he looked at the demure lady beside him, Lin Su¡¯s desire to protect her reached its peak. He would not let any attempt to hurt her go unanswered.


    ¡­


    When Luo Ying returned home, Zhang had already prepared their meal.


    On the table were sea bass soup noodles, braised pig trotters, honeyed tomatoes¡­ They were all good for healing wounds.


    The two of them sat down and began to eat.


    ¡°You should eat more pig trotters. It¡¯s good for your wound¡¯s recovery.¡± Luo Ying put a big pig trotter on Lu Zhao¡¯s plate.


    Lu Zhao was stunned.


    For so many years, no one had ever put food in his bowl when he ate at the Lu family¡¯s house. This was the first time someone had done so.


    Luo Ying had never treated him like this before.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s peered carefully at Luo Ying. He wanted to keep Luo Ying by his side forever.


    ¡°If you¡¯re not happy working at that company, don¡¯t do it. Shake yourself free from the contract. I¡¯ll help you open a studio,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    It was not easy to work beneath Lin Su.


    Luo Ying had not wanted to resort to this. After all, the penalty fee was very high.


    ¡°I want to find a few suitable individuals to be my colleagues in the future. What do you think?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    Before she transmigrated, she had always wanted to open a studio and create a group that she liked.


    Lu Zhao nodded. ¡°Sure, just let my assistant know who you want to sign.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded and immediately sent a message to Chi Tong, asking him to take note of a few up and coming newcomer artistes.


    It did not take long for Chi Tong to send over videos of the few of them.


    Luo Ying saved the video files.

 Chapter 74 - 74 The Ball and Chain

    74 The Ball and Chain


    After eating and drinking their fill, Lu Zhao went to take a shower, while Luo Ying sat on the sofa and started watching the videos Chi Tong sent.


    It was a selection of male artistes.


    The show was filled with artistes who were currently not signed to any company or internet celebrities. They all had a certain level of popularity and singing and dancing skills. After several rounds of competition and elimination, a seven-man boy group would be selected.


    This competition seemed fair, but many underhanded tricks still took place behind the scenes. In fact, the seven people who would come out on top had already been decided. The remaining contestants may be just as capable as them, if not more, but they would be eliminated all the same.


    Chi Tong planned to choose one or two contestants that he liked from the remaining contestants and sign them on. After the show, they would directly become the contestants who would debut.


    The video was raw footage of the boys singing and dancing.


    Luo Ying was used to seeing handsome men in the entertainment industry. Their looks were not a priority. Her sharp eyes looked out for any unpolished gems.


    Some of them looked like they had potential.


    One of the boys, Su Huan, caught Luo Ying¡¯s attention.


    Although this boy did not stand out among his peers, he had a good stage presence and was quite good-looking.


    He was also dressed lightly. A sleeveless black vest outlined his muscular figure.


    There were all sorts of accessories hanging around his neck.


    His song of choice was an alluring one. His actions and expressions were very sensual. He even teased the audience by lifting his shirt from time to time.


    Luo Ying was watching with great interest. She did not notice the man behind her staring at her with burning eyes.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is he your type?¡±


    Luo Ying was so shocked that she almost flung the iPad out of her hand.


    ¡°No.¡± Luo Ying turned around and found that Lu Zhao had already finished his shower. His hair was still wet, and he was wearing a white t-shirt. The water from his hair had not dried up and was still dripping on his clothes. The outline of his muscles could be vaguely seen through his clothes.


    Luo Ying swallowed her saliva.


    The outline of Lu Zhao¡¯s muscles under his clothes was even more attractive than that of those young hunks in the video. She wanted to reach out and touch him.


    What was going on? When did she become such a perverted woman?


    Just as she was feeling restless, the man handed her the hairdryer. ¡°Help me dry my hair.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded and took the hairdryer from Lu Zhao¡¯s hand.


    The warm wind blew out from the hairdryer, passing over Luo Ying¡¯s fingers and blowing through Lu Zhao¡¯s soft, black short hair.


    The two of them were facing a mirror.


    The hairdryer was a little stifling, so Lu Zhao lifted his shirt to fan away the heat.


    The lines of his abdominal muscles appeared in Luo Ying¡¯s eyes.


    This man was dangerous for her heart.


    Luo Ying quickly moved her eyes away and did not notice the man¡¯s slightly curved lips in the mirror.


    ¡°If you like that type, sign the contract and train him well. He¡¯ll definitely be famous,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    ¡°No, those people were all chosen by Chi Tong. I was just about to ask Chi Tong to select someone else. Someone who works so hard on being a sex symbol is going to get into a scandal sooner or later. It¡¯s bad for the industry. He¡¯s definitely a scumbag,¡± Luo Ying replied.


    When Lu Zhao¡¯s hair was almost completely dried, Luo Ying put down the hairdryer and kneeled behind Lu Zhao, helping him set his hair.


    ¡°Lin Su has never shown his body in front of you. Is that why you liked him so much before? ¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t seen it¡­¡± Luo Ying was about to answer and suddenly realized that something was wrong. ¡°No, who wants to see his body?¡±


    What kind of logic is this?! Was this man trying to get information out of her?


    Luo Ying¡¯s face was red. Lu Zhao looked at the little woman¡¯s red cheeks in the mirror, and his mood quickly improved.


    Lu Zhao looked at the deflated little woman and turned around to pull her into his arms.


    Luo Ying¡¯s entire body was pressed against Lu Zhao¡¯s body. His clothes were very thin, and the muscle lines that had just appeared in the mirror were now pressed against her hand.


    It was as if he was inviting her to touch it.


    Luo Ying reached out and touched his abdominal muscles lightly. The man spotted this small gesture.


    Lu Zhao straightened up slightly, pulled Luo Ying into his arms, and gently touched her hair.

 Chapter 75 - 75 The Annual Party

    75 The Annual Party


    In bed, Lu Zhao gently held Luo Ying in his arms.


    The room fell silent for a moment.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t always bear everything on your own in the future,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    He looked at Luo Ying¡¯s slightly red and swollen cheek and felt very distressed.


    ¡°You too. But what did you say to Lin Su today?¡± Luo Ying was a little curious.


    ¡°He said that you were pestering him,¡± Lu Zhao said indifferently.


    Although he seemed to be indifferent, Luo Ying took in a whiff of jealousy from his tone.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you jealous?¡± Luo Ying looked at Lu Zhao and laughed. She reached out and messed up his neat hair.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± Lu Zhao shook his head.


    He actually didn¡¯t care about Luo Ying¡¯s past. He simply looked at the little woman in his arms and was afraid that she would suddenly disappear or become someone he didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°But I think there¡¯s something definitely fishy about Su Ran¡¯s incident,¡± Lu Zhao said indifferently.


    ¡°Did Lin Su tell you?¡± Luo Ying was a little curious about what Lu Zhao was thinking.


    ¡°If you did it, I¡¯d lock you up at home and never let you see Lin Su again.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s face was taut. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t leave me, I don¡¯t care about anything else.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t leave you.¡± Luo Ying hugged Lu Zhao and looked into his eyes.


    For some reason, she could feel Lu Zhao¡¯s worries and insecurities.


    ¡°You won¡¯t suddenly leave?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    ¡°I won¡¯t. Otherwise, you can install a tracker on me, and you¡¯ll know where I am.


    ¡°If it really doesn¡¯t work, you can install a surveillance camera,¡± Luo Ying said with a smile.


    For some reason, Lu Zhao¡¯s ears went a little red.


    Those would be the actions of an obsessive pervert.


    ¡°Alright, I really won¡¯t leave you. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Luo Ying hugged Lu Zhao and buried her head in Lu Zhao¡¯s arms, gently snuggling against him.


    The two of them lay there quietly and drifted off to sleep.


    For the few days that Luo Ying didn¡¯t go to the program recording, the two of them had a very happy time at home.


    Other than resting at home, Luo Ying was also investigating Su Ran¡¯s matter.


    Before Lin Su¡¯s company¡¯s annual appreciation party, she had already done her research.


    The day of the annual meeting soon arrived.


    The annual party of Lin Su entertainment company was not an ordinary company party.


    There were many famous actors and dancers beneath Lin Su¡¯s company. Every movement of these celebrities was closely watched, so the annual meeting was, of course, broadcasted live.


    This year¡¯s theme was a banquet for the rich and powerful.


    The company¡¯s building was decorated like a TV set portraying a wealthy family. The banquet hall was also set with a long table and all kinds of exquisite snacks. It looked like a real banquet of a wealthy family.


    The red carpet was laid out from the company¡¯s entrance to the banquet hall, and the fence kept the fanatical fans and media outside. Only a few photographers from the official media outlets were allowed inside.


    The dress Luo Ying chose today was from David¡¯s team. It was a see-through dress with rose motifs strategically covering up her modesty. It was incredibly sexy without going over the top or feeling cheap.


    Her hair was draped over one shoulder, making her look mysteriously alluring.


    The camera of the livestream found itself settling upon Luo Ying. Luo Ying smiled at the camera and made a heart shape with her fingers.


    The chatroom erupted.


    [When did Luo Ying¡¯s taste improve so much?! The dress this time is even bolder than the last one!]


    [Yeah, see-through dresses always risk making you look like a slut. But Luo Ying made it look so classy. She really looks great.]


    [Luo Ying can enter the fashion industry. She knows how to wield fabrics.]


    Luo Ying lifted her skirt and walked into the hall. The cheers outside did not dissipate for a long time.]


    Compared to the previous red carpet event, she clearly had more fans this time.


    To an artiste, the love of their fans was the most precious thing in the world. When she spotted the fans waiting outside, Luo Ying said to Chi Tong, ¡°Have you prepared the gifts?¡±


    Chi Tong nodded his head. Just as he was about to speak, an even louder wave of cheers suddenly erupted from outside.

 Chapter 76 - 76 Unforeseen Events

    76 Unforeseen Events


    Luo Ying turned her head and saw Lin Su and Su Ran walking on the red carpet, hand in hand.


    Behind the two of them was a person Luo Ying didn¡¯t know.


    Su Ran was wearing a simple white long dress today, which suited her pure persona very well.


    The crowd did not stop with the ¡®oohs¡¯ and ¡®aahs¡¯ of admiration for her.


    However, some were also wondering who the person behind them was.


    That person was wearing a beautiful red dress that made a bold, loud statement. Her hair was tied up high, and she had an expression that kept strangers away.


    She raised her head and glanced around the hall. Her eyes fell on Luo Ying¡¯s face.


    In an instant, her face was filled with disdain.


    ¡°Boss, who is that?¡± Chi Tong said.


    He had noticed her unfriendly gaze.


    Luo Ying thought hard about it, and realized that she was possibly the other sister of Lin Su and Lin Ping, Lin Jin.


    Lin Jin had pursued Lu Zhao before, and she had not been discreet about it.


    Back then, for some reason, Lu Zhao had turned down the Lin family¡¯s marriage and instead agreed to the Luo family¡¯s marriage.


    The Lin family was much more powerful than the Luo family. What¡¯s more, Luo Ying had been vehemently against the marriage and only wanted to be with Lin Su.


    Ever since then, Lin Jin bore a deep hatred for Luo Ying.


    Having solved the mystery, Luo Ying no longer paid them any attention and turned to walk into the banquet hall.


    Annual meetings like this were one of the few occasions where she allowed herself to let loose on her dietary restrictions.


    As soon as she entered the hall, she began to enjoy the snacks.


    The people at the party sat in groups of two or three, and some even danced on the dance floor. It was a lively and peaceful atmosphere.


    The big screen was also showing the achievements of the artistes of the year.


    The banquet officially began with Lin Su¡¯s entrance.


    Lin Su walked up to the podium and bowed to the audience.


    ¡°I¡¯m Lin Su, the boss of Lin Entertainment. I¡¯m also an actor, myself.¡±


    Lin Su smiled and briefly introduced the company¡¯s background. ¡°Now, I will play a video to show everyone the works of our company¡¯s artistes this season.¡±


    The lights in the venue went off, and the camera that was filming the live broadcast turned to the big screen.


    The big screen suddenly lit up, and discordant images and sounds were transmitted.


    ¡°Director Chang, what do you think of this role, Director Chang?¡± The woman with a pure face lay in the arms of the man with the big belly.


    The two of them stumbled toward the hotel door.


    This wasn¡¯t an ordinary hotel, but a very high-class hotel for sex. The entire hotel was emitting an ambiguous red light, which set off the subtle expressions of the two people.


    It didn¡¯t look like a video, but more like a scene from a third-rate film.


    Everyone was shocked.


    The viewers in front of the bullet screen were also devastated.


    [What is this? Did someone hack his video feed?]


    [Why does this woman look so familiar? Isn¡¯t she the new girl from Lin Su¡¯s company?]


    [That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right. Isn¡¯t that man the veteran director, Chang Yuan? He¡¯s a model husband, isn¡¯t he? How did the two of them end up together?]


    The netizens were no slouches when it came to looking up information online. In less than ten minutes, they had connected all the dots.


    Chang Yuan¡¯s latest movie, ¡°Full Moon,¡± had just officially announced Su Ran as the female lead.


    Such a decision had been made without any official announcements, it had been snuck in.


    However, Su Ran had been rather popular lately, and Chang Yuan was a known veteran, so everyone had not found it odd.


    However, after seeing this video, things did not seem so simple anymore.


    By then, the banquet hall was in a mess. The video on the screen was cut off, and a woman¡¯s heart-wrenching scream came from the dining room.


    The person who was shouting was not Su Ran, but Chang Yuan¡¯s wife, Chen Jia.


    Chen Jia was grabbing Su Ran¡¯s hair tightly and pinning her against the table.


    Su Ran¡¯s white dress had been dyed red by the red wine. She looked very disheveled, and her hair was dripping with water.


    ¡°Who are you to seduce my husband? You slut!¡± Rage had fuelled Chen Jia with manic strength. She held Su Ran tightly and kept slapping her face with her other hand.


    Su Ran was on the verge of tears. Her entire body was trembling, and she looked extremely pitiful.


    Lin Su stepped forward and tried to pull the two apart, but Chen Jia forced him back.


    ¡°Ms. Chen, you¡¯re looking at the wrong person. From what I know, Su Ran never wanted this.¡± A mean female voice rang out in the banquet hall. ¡°Someone drugged and framed her.¡±

 Chapter 77 - 77 A Framing Attempt

    77 A Framing Attempt


    The entire place fell silent.


    Drugged?


    She was an artiste from Lin Entertainment, and she had extremely powerful backers. Making a move on Su Ran was the same as making a move on Lin Su, and the entire group would retaliate.


    Who could be so bold?


    Everyone turned to look at the person who spoke.


    That person was none other than Lin Su¡¯s second sister, Lin Jin.


    Lin Jin looked at the crowd, her eyes sweeping across everyone.


    Her sharp gaze sent chills down one¡¯s spine.


    Even the ones in charge of the live feed forgot their duties. Everything was still being streamed.


    The chatroom had long run wild.


    [Who is this woman? She¡¯s so confident.]


    [She seems to be the Second Miss of the Lin Group. Her words carry a lot of weight.]


    [Oh my God, this is so dramatic. I didn¡¯t expect this matter to involve so many people!]


    The crowd was watching the commotion, and the guests in the banquet hall were also nervously waiting for Lin Jin to speak.


    For some reason, Lin Jin¡¯s eyes settled on Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying frowned and looked at Lin Jin. She had an ominous premonition that she was about to be blamed for this.


    ¡°Everyone, a moment please. I¡¯ll call someone over,¡± Lin Jin said to the security guard beside her.


    The security guards escorted a woman in. The woman looked haggard. The moment she saw Luo Ying, she wanted to pounce on her.


    ¡°Luo Ying, you¡¯ll die a horrible death. I¡¯ve done so many horrible things for you, but you locked me out of the entire industry. You¡¯re shameless!¡±


    The security guard seemed to have deliberately let Xia Lan go. Xia Lan pounced at her like a wild tigress.


    Luo Ying frowned and grabbed Xia Lan¡¯s wrist, holding her in place.


    She reminded herself to stay calm. It was not the time to retaliate.


    Xia Lan was not willing to give up just yet. She reached out with her other hand and tried to hit Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying pinned her to the ground with her self-defense training.


    [Isn¡¯t this woman Luo Ying¡¯s previous manager? Why are they fighting?]


    [Luo Ying¡¯s so skilled.]


    [Putting two and two together, we can see that Luo Ying is the perpetrator.]


    Xia Lan¡¯s face was twisted as she looked at Su Ran. ¡°Su Ran, Luo Ying was the one who ordered me to set you up. She was the one who drugged you. She asked me to find out your schedule. She planned all this!


    ¡°She gave me a branded bag and said that she would give me a sum of money after it was done so that I could go back to my hometown and start a small business.¡± Xia Lan raised the bag in her hand.


    Luo Ying looked at Xia Lan. The original Luo Ying had indeed gifted her this bag, but it was not for this purpose.


    ¡°You used to be my manager. It wouldn¡¯t be odd for me to gift you a bag. But this was not a recent gift, right? Well then, Ms. Su Ran, when did this happen?¡±


    Su Ran¡¯s eyes were red, and she stared at Luo Ying with hatred.


    ¡°You did this, Luo Ying. You did this!¡± As she spoke, she rushed up and grabbed Luo Ying¡¯s arm, shaking her. ¡°I knew you¡¯ve always had a crush on Lin Su. I can¡¯t believe you would resort to such means!¡±


    This sentence was like a sudden clap of thunder, causing the entire place to blow up.


    Everyone knew about Luo Ying¡¯s feelings for Lin Su. Lin Su had also been vocal about his support for Su Ran recently. They had not expected this to have taken place behind the scenes.


    [I¡¯m really shocked. Is the entertainment industry always so chaotic?]


    [Luo Ying is vile. She actually used such a disgusting tactic. Isn¡¯t she afraid of retribution?]


    [You guys shouldn¡¯t be so quick to judge. After all, that manager did not exactly have a stellar reputation for her treatment of her artistes either.]


    Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to Luo Ying. Luo Ying pulled Su Ran¡¯s hand off her body. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be in such a hurry to question me, it¡¯s almost like you guys are jumping ahead of the script.


    ¡°Tell me then, Xia Lan, do you have any direct evidence that I was the one who drugged her?¡± Luo Ying asked Xia Lan.


    Xia Lan seemed to be looking in Lin Jin¡¯s direction.


    Luo Ying sneered in her heart. This group of people was indeed in cahoots.


    ¡°Xia Lan gave me a video that can prove that you were the one who drugged her. Why don¡¯t we play it now?¡±

 Chapter 78 - 78 Video

    78 Video


    Everyone held their breath, waiting to see Luo Ying¡¯s reaction.


    Luo Ying just crossed her arms lazily, as if it did not concern her. She didn¡¯t even lift her eyelids.


    The chat also went wild. Some of Su Ran¡¯s fans were already throwing hate at Luo Ying without even waiting for the video.


    [Luo Ying is really crazy. She¡¯s a total psycho!]


    [This is it, her downfall.]


    [Poor Su Ran. I feel so sorry for her.]


    Xia Lan walked to the big screen and worked on it for a few moments. A video appeared on the screen. It was a surveillance video, but the quality was a little blurry.


    A woman dressed like Luo Ying snuck in from the door and put a bag of medicinal powder into the wine in the waiter¡¯s preparation area.


    The waiter in the food preparation area returned with the wine very quickly and placed the bottle of wine on Chang Yuan and Su Ran¡¯s table.


    Chen Jia watched the video and clenched her fists. She rushed to Luo Ying and tried to slap her.


    Luo Ying ducked under her swinging arm.


    The slap landed on the man standing behind her.


    ¡°Ms. Chen, calm yourself. This is the Lin Family¡¯s territory, after all.¡± Lin Ping¡¯s voice rang out lightly. ¡°We need to hear Ms. Luo Ying¡¯s explanation on this matter.¡±


    Lin Su, Su Ran, and Lin Jin all looked at Lin Ping.


    Why was this kid speaking up for Luo Ying?


    Luo Ying spoke slowly. ¡°Those are my clothes, it¡¯s true. But the quality of the video is atrocious. How can you prove that it¡¯s me?¡±


    ¡°The bag that the woman in the video is carrying is the work of the world¡¯s master designer, Nois. This bag should be a gift from your husband for your wedding,¡± Xia Lan said.


    ¡°There¡¯s only one such bag in the world, and the woman in the video is carrying it. How can it not be you?¡±


    Luo Ying sneered. ¡°My turn, then.¡±


    Luo Ying took out a USB drive from her handbag and walked to the computer.


    She plugged the USB into the computer and played a video.


    The time of the video coincided with Xia Lan¡¯s video. In the video, Luo Ying was eating desserts in a dessert shop while playing with her phone.


    This surveillance video was very clear, even the expression on her face could be clearly seen.


    ¡°I was at the dessert shop the entire time that night. Xia Lan, that¡¯s a very interesting doppelganger.¡±


    ¡°You could have easily altered the time of the video!¡± Xia Lan shouted.


    Everyone looked at Luo Ying and observed her closely.


    Luo Ying was actually laughing at her.


    She turned off the video and displayed a notary certificate.


    It was a fair statement regarding the authenticity of the video. It had been notarized two days ago to ensure that the video was completely true.


    Xia Lan was dumbfounded. She never thought that Luo Ying would have made such preparations in advance.


    ¡°You!¡± Lin Jin was just as surprised.


    Luo Ying said slowly, ¡°The notarization is legally binding, but your video isn¡¯t. The quality is also atrocious. That bag is one of a kind, but it still doesn¡¯t mean that I¡¯m the person in the video.¡±


    Xia Lan¡¯s face turned pale.


    ¡°Which brings us to this.¡± Luo Ying opened up another video. It was a video of Xia Lan stealing things from her closet.


    The original Luo Ying was a carefree person. She had not noticed Xia Lan stealing anything from her in the past.


    Luo Ying had done a quick inventory check on her closet and discovered this only recently.


    ¡°There we have it. Theft and slander alone would mean a few years in prison. You can do the rest of the math yourself.¡±


    She looked at Su Ran and said, ¡°You¡¯ll also have to bear legal responsibility for slander. How do you plead, Ms. Su Ran?¡±


    Chen Jia also realized that something was wrong.


    She was the first to react. She walked to Luo Ying¡¯s side and grabbed her arm. ¡°Ms. Luo, I¡¯m really sorry. I allowed my emotions to control me. I¡¯m really sorry.¡±

 Chapter 79 - 79 The Toll

    79 The Toll


    Luo Ying shook her head and looked at Chen Jia¡¯s sincere eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I understand where your worries came from.¡±


    When Chang Yuan was young, he had been unruly, drug-addled, and promiscuous. If it wasn¡¯t for Chen Jia, he probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to get to where he was now.


    Moreover, he had always portrayed himself as a model husband who loved his wife. Chen Jia¡¯s world would probably collapse if he crossed that line.


    Luo Ying looked at Su Ran again.


    ¡°Ms. Su, we¡¯ve talked about this before. I gave you an answer and even offered to get you some help. I have to be honest, I saw this coming, but it doesn¡¯t change the fact that I¡¯m still really disappointed with your actions.¡±


    If Luo Ying had not made preparations in advance, she would have been ruined by now.


    Since ancient times, people were quick to jump to conclusions as unsubstantiated rumors flew about.


    If Luo Ying attempted to talk her way out of it and explain herself on social media, it would have been far too late.


    Her sharp glate made Su Ran¡¯s hair stand on end.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I got you into trouble without investigating it any further. I¡¯m really sorry. I¡¯ll make a public apology later.¡± Su Ran lowered her head.


    Lin Jin turned her face to the side.


    She was a pampered young lady of the Lin family. How could she apologize for such a small mistake?


    ¡°Ms. Lin, you¡¯re the one who called Xia Lan here, right? There appears to be some misunderstanding between us. I suggest you clear it up now.¡± Luo Ying looked at Lin Jin.


    Lin Su, who was standing at the side, was a little flustered. He just realized that they had forgotten to stop the broadcast and everything had gotten out.


    He quickly stopped the live feed.


    He had been fully aware of his sister¡¯s intentions and actions tonight.


    Luo Ying looked at Lin Su¡¯s actions and smiled coldly.


    As expected, Lin Su was still protecting his sister¡¯s reputation.


    ¡°As a rich young lady, you¡¯ve always wanted to break up other people¡¯s marriages. Am I right?¡± Luo Ying looked at Lin Jin.


    ¡°Yes, what¡¯s wrong? How can someone like you be worthy of him?¡±


    Now that things had come to this, Lin Jin gave up trying to maintain her facade. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the same? You even threatened him by jumping off the building. What right do you have to earn his love?¡±


    Luo Ying walked in front of Lin Jin and reached out to slap her on the face. ¡°What you did today almost ruined my acting career. Whether I deserve his love or not is a matter between us. You have such a strong background, but you¡¯re still busy thinking about being the third woman in a relationship. Isn¡¯t that simply ridiculous?¡±


    Lin Jin bit her lips tightly and did not say a word.


    Lin Su stood in front of Lin Jin and lowered his head slightly. ¡°Please don¡¯t hurt my sister. I am the on in charge of the company and this banquet. This is all on me.¡±


    Lin Su thought that he would make Luo Ying waver.


    But Luo Ying¡¯s eyes bore into him like cold steel.


    Lin Su felt that his heart sinking. He was not used to this absence of shy anticipation.


    No, this wasn¡¯t his style. When did he start to care about this woman?


    ¡°Apologize, compensate for me in court, nothing less,¡± Luo Ying said slowly.


    Lin Su¡¯s legs had not recovered yet. He moved slightly and bowed to Luo Ying. ¡°Please forgive my sister. I will definitely compensate you for your loss.¡±


    When she looked at Lin Su, who was bowing and scraping for his family, Luo Ying felt her eyes moisten a little.


    She recalled that before finding herself in this world, she had a few brothers like him. No matter what trouble she got into, they were willing to stand by her side.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have my manager and attorney talk to you about this.¡± After saying this, Luo Ying turned around and left. Her eyes were beginning to sting.


    Luo Ying walked to the rooftop outside, wanting to get some fresh air.


    It was a little cold on the rooftop. Just as she crossed her arms and was about to find a place to sit down, a warm coat fell on her shoulders.


    She turned around and was surprised to see him.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, why are you here?¡±


    ¡°I should have come sooner, but I was delayed by a meeting. I didn¡¯t expect you to suffer.¡±


    The moment she saw Lu Zhao, all of Luo Ying¡¯s defenses fell apart. She wanted to hide in Lu Zhao¡¯s arms and cry.


    ¡°Cry if you want to. It¡¯s my fault. I didn¡¯t get there in time.¡± Lu Zhao touched her hair lovingly, his heart and eyes full of love.


    If not for the meeting, he would have rushed over to get rid of those people.

 Chapter 80 - 80 Grievances

    80 Grievances


    Luo Ying shook her head and looked at Lu Zhao.


    ¡°I¡¯ve fended them off by myself. I can do this.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s eyes were still filled with tears, but she seemed to be trying her best to smile.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s heart ached even more.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go home first.¡± Lu Zhao carried Luo Ying in his arms and walked back to the banquet hall. ¡°Even so, I don¡¯t plan to let these people remain so arrogant.¡±


    When the people in the banquet hall saw Lu Zhao carrying Luo Ying out, they were all stunned.


    This legendary and unreasonable entrepreneur was actually showing such a doting expression to Luo Ying.


    What could have transformed this tyrant?


    Lu Zhao¡¯s cold gaze swept across the people in the hall and landed on Xia Lan.


    ¡°It seems like barring you from the industry wasn¡¯t enough.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s voice was cold. Ms. Xia, perhaps you should start packing up. Perhaps I should bar you from the country.¡±


    Everyone sucked in a cold breath.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s methods were ruthless, so it wasn¡¯t impossible for him to sell her to some casino.


    ¡°We still have some room on Neverland Island. I¡¯ll get someone to send you there later,¡± Lu Zhao said coldly.


    Neverland Island was a prison that housed many prisoners. Life there was simply a nightmare.


    ¡°President Lu, I really didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± Xia Lan screamed as she was dragged out.


    When Lu Zhao turned his glare to Su Ran, she instinctively stepped back. However, she had been deceived by Xia Lan, so she knew that she would not get it as badly.


    ¡°President Lu, I was just blinded by Xia Lan. I¡¯ll investigate this matter properly in the future. I¡¯m really sorry. I hope you can forgive me.¡± Su Ran lowered his head slightly and smiled meekly.


    Lu Zhao didn¡¯t look at her, but his eyes coldly swept over to Lin Su, who was standing at the side with an ashen face.


    ¡°You will pay for this.¡± With that, Lu Zhao carried Luo Ying out of the hall.


    Whispered discussions immediately started in the cold hall.


    ¡°President Lu, he¡¯s such a dangerous man. He¡¯s so swift and decisive. Su Ran was so terrified that her knees almost buckled.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve offended Lu Zhao. If Lu Zhao wants them to die, they¡¯d have to obediently give themselves up.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, look at Lin Su¡¯s face. That¡¯s the face of a broken man.¡±


    Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to Lin Su.


    He had offended someone of Lu Zhao¡¯s level at his own company¡¯s annual meeting. His future days would not be easy.


    Lin Jin¡¯s eyes were still fixed on the door.


    She had watched this man grow up to be who he was now. She had watched him become a magnificent creature, becoming the perfect lover in her heart. However, this man seemed to only have eyes for Luo Ying, that evil woman.


    He even said that he would make the Lin Family pay in front of so many people. Just thinking about it was terrifying.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s call it a day. It¡¯s my fault for not being able to host you well.¡± Lin Su¡¯s face was dark as he started working to clean up the mess. The way he looked at Su Ran was no longer as affectionate as before.


    Meanwhile, Luo Ying was carried into the car by Lu Zhao.


    As soon as she got in the car, Luo Ying¡¯s phone lit up.


    She looked at her messages. It was Lin Su¡¯s elder sister, Lin Lu.


    ¡°It¡¯s Lin Su¡¯s fault for not keeping Su Ran in check today. Don¡¯t worry. As long as you get a divorce, I¡¯ll definitely make Lin Su marry you.¡±


    Luo Ying turned off her phone and frowned.


    She was annoyed. This family was truly shameless. They had almost destroyed her reputation tonight.


    How could Lin Su marry her? Lin Su had tried to ruin her time and time again.


    Luo Ying buried herself deeper in Lu Zhao¡¯s arms, wondering why Lin Lu was still so persistent.


    ¡°Are you still unhappy?¡± Lu Zhao rubbed the space between her eyebrows.


    ¡°I won¡¯t be unhappy if you¡¯re here.¡± Luo Ying pressed her face against Lu Zhao¡¯s body.


    If she told Lu Zhao about Lin Lu, Lu Zhao might get angry and even suspect her.


    Lu Zhao in the original book was a deep-minded and guarded man, so it was better not to worry him with such matters.


    ¡°If there¡¯s something on your mind, you must let me know. I will help you deal with your enemies.¡± Lu Zhao touched her hair.


    Luo Ying shook her head.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s gaze was dark with barely-concealed wrath.


    Lin Su had crossed the line.


    ¡°They ruined my night. Can we go have some fun now? I want to loosen up.¡± Luo Ying raised her head and looked at Lu Zhao, her eyes glimmering.


    ¡°Where do you want to go?¡± Lu Zhao touched her head.


    ¡°How about going to the Wave Domain?¡±

 Chapter 81 - 81 Small-time Gambler

    81 Small-time Gambler


    ¡°Wave Domain?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    ¡°I want to drink and gamble a little!¡± Luo Ying looked at Lu Zhao with a smile.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said. Lu Zhao took out his phone and sent Xiao Ting a text message, asking him to arrange them a room.


    Luo Ying often played cards with her brothers. Money was rarely involved, and if any wagers were made, they were small pocket change.


    Xiao Ting had already arranged everything when they arrived at Wave Domain.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s good friends and their girlfriends were already there.


    Lin Xun, whom she had met last time, was also there.


    ¡°Sister-in-law? I was fortunate enough to witness your heroics at blackjack. I¡¯m impressed,¡± Lin Xun said with a smile.


    Luo Ying laughed and felt a little embarrassed. It sounded overly dramatic.


    Soon, they sat down and started playing cards while drinking.


    Lu Zhao had told them in advance that they were here make Luo Ying happy, so everyone was feeding cards to Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying soon noticed that something was wrong.


    Why did it seem like these people were feeding her cards?


    ¡°Did Lu Zhao put you guys up to this? Just let me have my way. It¡¯s so boring to play like this.¡±


    After winning the third round, Luo Ying was a little unhappy and pushed her cards forward.


    She reached out and prodded Lu Zhao, who was sitting with his arms around her. ¡°Go over there and play with all your might. If someone still feeds me cards, you¡¯ll get it.¡±


    Lu Zhao looked at the little woman in his arms who was smiling coyly and rubbed her face. ¡°What if I win? Do I get something?¡±


    Luo Ying could feel the man¡¯s burning eyes. Her cheeks were red, but her mouth was still unforgiving. ¡°Okay, sure.¡±


    Lu Zhao chased Lin Xun out of his seat and sat opposite Luo Ying.


    The cards were quickly shuffled and placed in front of the few people.


    Lu Zhao was a businessman. His calculations and memory were excellent, and he could almost count cards on an amateur¡¯s level. He played very quickly and looked very confident.


    Luo Ying suddenly had an evil thought.


    She chuckled, took off her shoes under the table, and used her feet to gently grope the man¡¯s legs.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s expression still remained calm as he continued to look at the cards in front of him.


    Luo Ying felt a little defeated and continued to tiptoe around the man¡¯s legs.


    Suddenly, her ankle was grabbed by the man, and Lu Zhao¡¯s rough fingers carressed them, making Luo Ying a little restless.


    She had originally wanted to confuse Lu Zhao, but instead, she had lost everything.


    Although Luo Ying lost, her mood was much better.


    After a few rounds, she wanted to go out for some fresh air.


    Lu Zhao said that he would accompany her, and the two of them walked to the small garden outside the wave domain.


    The little garden here was very well-built. There were European style pavilions everywhere, which was very suitable for two people to sit together and talk.


    It was the season for roses to bloom, and the surroundings were filled with the fragrance of roses.


    Luo Ying took a deep breath of the courtyard¡¯s fragrance.


    Lu Zhao put his coat on Luo Ying and put his arm around her waist.


    ¡°Are you feeling better?¡±


    Luo Ying nodded and hugged Lu Zhao.


    The garden was very quiet, and Luo Ying¡¯s heart also calmed down.


    In this world, the only person she could rely on seemed to be Lu Zhao. After tonight¡¯s incident, her feelings for Lu Zhao had grown.


    Lu Zhao looked at the little woman¡¯s quiet face, gently leaned over, and kissed her on the forehead. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I definitely won¡¯t let you suffer again.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded. She leaned into his arms, raised her head, and gently kissed the man¡¯s chin.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s jawline was very nice, as if it had been chiseled by a sculptor.


    She gently moved over, wanting to kiss Lu Zhao¡¯s lips.


    Suddenly, the flowers not far from them seemed to be rustled by something.


    Luo Ying saw a familiar person standing among the flowers.


    She stopped what she was doing and looked at the man.


    It was a man wearing a black motorcycle jacket. Among the flowers, his body seemed transparent, as if he didn¡¯t belong to this world.


    When she looked again, the man was no longer there.


    She suddenly stood up and walked over.


    The flowers in the flower garden swayed gently, and there were traces of someone standing here in the flower bed.


    ¡°Who is it?¡± Luo Ying said to herself.


    ¡°Did you see anyone just now?¡± Lu Zhao frowned as he looked at the footprints on the ground. It was a pair of men¡¯s shoes.

 Chapter 82 - 82 Third Brother

    82 Third Brother


    ¡°Someone you know?¡±


    Luo Ying sensed the danger in Lu Zhao¡¯s tone and frowned. ¡°He looked like one of my brothers.¡±


    ¡°A brother?¡± Lu Zhao mulled over these words. ¡°Is he your biological brother? Didn¡¯t Luo Feng disappear for a long time? From what I know, you don¡¯t have a brother, right?¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s mind was still spinning with the man she had just met, and she was upset.


    That person wasn¡¯t Luo Feng, but her real brother.


    He wasn¡¯t someone from this world. He was her third brother, someone from her original world.


    Her third brother was the closest to her among her four brothers. Although they often played around, their temperaments and personalities were the most similar.


    What was he doing here? Was she here to take her home?


    Lu Zhao looked at Luo Ying¡¯s suddenly happy expression and touched his cheek, a little impatient. ¡°So, who is it?¡±


    Luo Ying realized that she seemed to be too happy.


    ¡°He¡¯s someone from my past. I just didn¡¯t know where he was until now, so I¡¯m a little confused.¡± Luo Ying lowered her head to hide her happiness.


    Lu Zhao caught this small detail with his eyes.


    What did she mean? Was it another man she liked other than Lin Su?


    He had a lot of enemies.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back first. Otherwise, it won¡¯t be good for Lin Xun and the rest to keep waiting.¡± Lu Zhao said, reaching out to pull Luo Ying into his arms, and the two of them went upstairs together.


    Luo Ying was a little absent-minded in the second half of the game.


    She felt an indescribable strangeness.


    Since her third brother had a way to get here, it meant that she might be able to go back soon, but when she looked at Lu Zhao, she felt a little reluctant.


    She had been here for less than a month, but why did she feel a sense of dependence when she looked at this man?


    If she was asked to leave this place immediately, she would actually have second thoughts.


    Luo Ying found an excuse and was about to go to the bathroom to sober up.


    She dipped her hand in the water and patted it on her face. The cold water made her sober up.


    Was that person really her third brother? It wasn¡¯t a bad thing for her to go back now, but why did she feel so sad when she thought of this?


    This was not the sorrow that came from being too deeply immersed in the character, but the actual reluctance to leave.


    Luo Ying could not understand why she had grown so attached to this place, this soon.


    ¡°You¡¯re here. I¡¯ve finally caught you. I knew you would be here.¡± The man¡¯s voice was cold.


    It was still a greasy voice that made one feel nauseated.


    Luo Ying turned around and looked at the man, frowning.


    His leg was in a cast, and his face was full of scars from being tortured.


    It was Wu Wei, the man she had offended before.


    ¡°Boss Wu, how did you survive that place?¡± Luo Ying smiled coldly. Although she was beginning to panic, she still maintained a poker face.


    This man would not come to her for anything good.


    ¡°You caused me to lose my job and my family. It wasn¡¯t easy for me to find a way to escape from that place. Don¡¯t you think I should take revenge on you?¡±


    Luo Ying slowly moved towards the door and reached out to open it.


    The sharp knife in the man¡¯s hand glimmered.


    ¡°This is Lu Zhao¡¯s territory. You¡¯re not thinking of doing anything to me, are you? Don¡¯t forget how badly Lu Zhao made you suffer before,¡± Luo Ying said. ¡°If you do anything to me, you may not live through it.¡±


    ¡°What do I have to live for?¡± Wu Wei¡¯s smile was sinister.


    Everything he had was destroyed. What he wanted to do most now was to destroy Luo Ying as well. If he wanted to go to hell, he had to find someone to accompany him.


    Lu Zhao would probably die from the pain.


    Wu Wei smiled as he walked over to Luo Ying.


    Although Luo Ying had some training, she did not intend to put her skills to the test against a knife-wielder.


    She moved slowly, trying to put some distance between her and Wu Wei, waiting for a suitable opportunity to escape.


    The moment Wu Wei approached her, she raised her leg and kicked him in the stomach. She had aimed for his crotch, but missed.


    Luo Ying cursed to herself.


    Wu Wei revealed a sinister smile. ¡°Don¡¯t be so anxious, little beauty. To be honest, I would like to have some fun before I kill you!¡±

 Chapter 83 - 83 Vanished

    83 Vanished


    Luo Ying made a grab for the man¡¯s dagger, but the man suddenly fell backward.


    Standing behind the fat man was a man in a black suit. He had a mask and a baseball cap on, but a section of his red hair was exposed.


    ¡°Third Brother!¡± Luo Ying shouted.


    The man subdued Wu Wei, stood up, and wanted to say something to Luo Ying. The door behind Luo Ying was suddenly pushed open, and Luo Ying turned around to look.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s men had arrived and surrounded Wu Wei.


    Lu Zhao strode in and held Luo Ying in his arms. ¡°What took you so long? You made me so worried.¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s embrace was warm. Luo Ying looked up to see her Third Brother again, but he was already gone.


    ¡°Lu Zhao,¡± she said, frozen in place. ¡°Someone just saved me, but he vanished.¡±


    Lu Zhao slowly let go of Luo Ying and frowned. ¡°Vanished? What do you mean?¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes wandered around. The people who came were all Lu Zhao¡¯s men, and there was no sign of her brother.


    ¡°No, he was clearly here just now.¡± Luo Ying was a little anxious. ¡°He was in a biker¡¯s suit.¡±


    ¡°A man in the ladies¡¯ room?¡± Lu Zhao frowned dubiously. However, he still ruffled Luo Ying¡¯s hair. ¡°There are surveillance cameras here. I¡¯ll find this person.¡±


    Lu Zhao brought Luo Ying back to her room.


    Luo Ying¡¯s heart was still racing.


    Perhaps she could let Lu Zhao investigate this matter. Lu Zhao held considerable power over the city, so she could perhaps track down her Third Brother.


    However, if he was traveling between two different worlds, it would not be so easy to find him.


    Luo Ying¡¯s mood became downcast.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you want to go home?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    Luo Ying shook her head. ¡°No, I just feel like drinking.¡±


    Lu Zhao asked his men to bring whiskey and other spirits.


    ¡°You can drink whatever you want. I¡¯m here. Even if you get drunk, I¡¯ll protect you.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded and looked at the various drinks on the table. She really needed to drown her sorrows.


    Luo Ying opened the bottle and drank one glass after another.


    Why was she here? Why did she have to go through all this? Why did she have to be separated from her brothers? Why had she fallen for this man?


    She could not understand it at all.


    After several glasses, she finally loosened up. She leaned into Lu Zhao¡¯s arms, her eyes misty.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day, we¡¯re going home.¡±


    When the others heard Lu Zhao¡¯s words, they quickly left.


    After everyone had left, Luo Ying still lay on the table. ¡°Why did you all leave? I still want to drink.¡±


    Her hand gently wrapped around Lu Zhao¡¯s arm. ¡°I want more. Give me the wine.¡±


    The smell of alcohol had mixed with her fragrance. Lu Zhao felt his mind wandering, and strange thoughts swirled in his mind. He kind of wanted to take that woman right there and then.


    However, his rationality won over his lust.


    He carried Luo Ying to the car.


    Luo Ying was barely conscious, talking nonsense in Lu Zhao¡¯s arms.


    ¡°What do you think I should do?¡± Luo Ying hugged Lu Zhao, her eyes dazed.


    ¡°You said you wouldn¡¯t leave me.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s hot breath blew into her ear.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll leave either. What should I do, Lu Zhao? I don¡¯t seem to want to leave you.¡± Luo Ying sounded sorrowful as she spoke.


    A hint of sorrow flashed through Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°I won¡¯t. I won¡¯t let you leave me this time.¡± He held the woman tightly in his arms.


    Luo Ying soon fell asleep.


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t wake up until she was put on the bed by the man.


    ¡°Why am I here? Weren¡¯t we at Wave Domain?¡± Luo Ying¡¯s voice was slow. She sat up and looked at the room, feeling a splitting headache.


    ¡°You fell asleep, so I brought you back. This is some hangover soup. Have a sip.¡± Lu Zhao helped Luo Ying up and fed her the soup, spoon by spoon.


    The soup had a sweet, herbal fragrance, and Luo Ying enjoyed it. She half-squinted her eyes in satisfaction and leaned on Lu Zhao.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, you¡¯re so good. Will you always be this good to me?¡±


    Lu Zhao hummed in acknowledgment and gently put her back on the bed, helping her into her pajamas.


    Luo Ying lay on the bed and slowly fell asleep.

 Chapter 84 - 84 Dreamscape

    84 Dreamscape


    Luo Ying dreamed of the time she used to spend with her four brothers.


    His eldest brother was the President of the corporation. He was always away and rarely asked about the family matters.


    Third Brother and Fourth Brother were the ones who hung out with her the most.


    Third Brother had the best relationship with her. He had always been by her side, no matter what she did.


    Third Brother was a race car driver, and he had a collection of racing suits.


    She still remembered that when she was still in school, he once took her to a race on the mountain roads.


    It was a very dangerous path. Luo Ying held her third brother¡¯s clothes tightly and looked at all kinds of dangerous cliffs and curves whistling past her.


    She was very afraid, afraid that she and her third brother would fall down.


    Of course, Third Brother won the race.


    However, after getting out of the car, Luo Ying panted and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to play such a dangerous game again. It¡¯s too dangerous. What if you fall to your death or lose your memories?¡±


    Third Brother had even laughed at her cowardice.


    He took out a small box from his backpack. Inside the box was a jade pendant with a flower carved on it.


    ¡°Take this. Even if I lose my memory, I can still find you with this.¡±


    Luo Ying sat up and panted heavily.


    The slumbering man beside her seemed to be a little dissatisfied with her sudden departure from his arms. He reached out and pulled Luo Ying into his arms.


    Luo Ying sighed softly. When would she be able to see her relatives again?


    When she woke up again, it was almost noon. Lu Zhao had not left. He sat downstairs and prepared to eat with Luo Ying.


    ¡°My head hurts.¡± Luo Ying walked to Lu Zhao¡¯s side and complained, ¡°I drank a lot yesterday, and now my head is so dizzy and painful.


    Luo Ying pouted and acted coquettishly with Lu Zhao.


    Lu Zhao held her in his arms and rubbed her head. ¡°I might be going on a business trip to Country D for a while in the next two days.¡±


    Country D was a dangerous country, and the base of D¡¯Corporeal was there. Luo Ying¡¯s heart missed a beat.


    In the original book, Lu Zhao had never been to Country D. It was too dangerous there, and Luo Ying didn¡¯t want Lu Zhao to go.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it extremely dangerous? Why do you have to go? Your company has no reason to set foot there. It¡¯s fine for you to remain here, right?¡±


    Luo Ying hugged Lu Zhao coyly. She didn¡¯t want Lu Zhao to go to such a dangerous place.


    Lu Zhao hugged her. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll be careful. You have to be careful too. I¡¯ll leave Xiao Ting behind to protect you.¡±


    Xiao Ting was Lu Zhao¡¯s assistant, and he was skilled in martial arts.


    ¡°No, take Xiao Ting with you. I can do it myself,¡± Luo Ying said.


    She didn¡¯t want anything to happen to this man. He was the only person she could rely on in this place.


    If he left, she really didn¡¯t know how she could continue her life here.


    ¡°Be good.¡± Lu Zhao ruffled her hair.


    Luo Ying realized that she couldn¡¯t argue with this man, so she broke free from his arms. She offered him her pinky. ¡°You must come back without a single hair missing.¡±


    Lu Zhao smiled and hooked his pinky with hers. This woman was really cute.


    ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that he would definitely be in danger this time, he really wanted to keep her by his side.¡±


    After Lu Zhao went on a business trip, Luo Ying¡¯s life became very mundane. She went to the studio every week and attended a few variety shows.


    Xiao Ting remained by her side.


    One day, Luo Ying took out an invitation letter from the mailbox at home.


    It was an invitation from the auction house.


    Luo Ying flipped through the booklet of the auction items in boredom.


    She wasn¡¯t interested in auctions. After all, in such novels, the places where these things were auctioned were usually platforms for several men to fight bitterly over the female lead. If she went to such a place, she would definitely meet that adulterous couple.


    Luo Ying looked at the auction items and suddenly sat up.


    There was a jade pendant among the items on display.


    A small hibiscus had been carved upon it.


    Wasn¡¯t this the jade pendant that her third brother had given her?


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes narrowed. It seemed like she would have to attend this auction.


    She flipped to the last page of the auction booklet. One of the organizers of this event was the Lin Family.

 Chapter 85 - 85 The Auction

    85 The Auction


    How could this be? How could this item be related to the Lin Family?


    Luo Ying frowned and casually flipped through it a few more times. There was a precious Paraiba Tourmaline ring inside.


    In the original novel, Lin Su had bought this item for Su Ran.


    Su Ran had really wanted this piece, so Lin Su fought for it.


    Of course, the original Luo Ying was also at this auction, but she didn¡¯t win the bid for the ring. Instead, she was humiliated by Su Ran.


    Three days later, Luo Ying appeared at the auction house in a black cheongsam with golden threads.


    As soon as she appeared, the entire place was abuzz.


    ¡°Is that a celebrity? She has such a presence!¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you guys see the video of Luo Ying slapping Su Ran in the face? Oh my God, she¡¯s the new up-and-coming goddess!


    ¡°But how did she get here? Aren¡¯t all the guests invited to the auction only from influential families?¡±


    While the onlookers remained confused, Luo Ying took out a gilded invitation.


    It was not a simple piece of paper. Only the VVIPs of the auction house would be handed such invitations.


    This invitation meant that she had bought at least 100 million Yuan worth of items in the auction house this year.


    This was not a small sum.


    The attendant led Luo Ying into the auction house.


    By some happenstance, Lin Ping ended up sitting next to her. Luo Ying was sure that the novel¡¯s world was playing tricks on her.


    In front of her was Lin Su, and naturally, Su Ran was beside him.


    Lin Lu sat beside them.


    She had been granted a first-row seat to the show. Luo Ying was a little speechless. If it wasn¡¯t for the appearance of her third brother¡¯s jade pendant, she wouldn¡¯t have any interest in this kind of auction.


    Naturally, Su Ran also noticed Luo Ying. She looked at Luo Ying with a complicated expression and turned her head.


    Lin Su also looked at Luo Ying, showing a dissatisfied expression.


    The previous incident had humiliated the both of them.


    Su Ran also caused quite a bit of controversy, and the drugging incident ended with a public apology from one of Chang Yuan¡¯s assistants.


    The assistant admitted that he was jealous of Su Ran and that was why he used such a method to harm her. However, he had not expected Su Ran to find out.


    Su Ran also received a lot of sympathy, but some people said that she did it on purpose to gain sympathy from others.


    This time, Lin Su had taken her out, precisely because she was in a bad mood.


    ¡°The two of them seem to be very dissatisfied with you,¡± Lin Ping said with a smile.


    He didn¡¯t know why, but after the last incident, his view of Luo Ying had changed.


    Luo Ying seemed to be more attractive than Su Ran.


    He really didn¡¯t know what Lin Su was thinking before. He had neglected such a bright pearl and covered her in dust. Since Lin Su didn¡¯t want her, he, Lin Ping, would take her.


    Lin Su was waiting for the auction to start when the phone in his pocket suddenly rang. It was a call from Lin Lu.


    Lin Lu asked him to invite Luo Ying for dinner together after the auction.


    Lin Su displayed a disgusted expression. He didn¡¯t understand why his sister, Lin Lu, liked Luo Ying so much that she pushed him so much to marry her.


    Marriage was something that both parties needed to consent to.


    Lin Su couldn¡¯t figure it out, but he had always suspected that Luo Ying had been working hard to please Lin Lu. She had to have been constantly badmouthing Su Ran to make Lin Lu think that way.


    It seemed like he had to think of a way to change his sister¡¯s opinion of Su Ran.


    Even so, he didn¡¯t have the right to refuse his sister¡¯s order. He turned to Luo Ying and said, ¡°After the auction is over, let¡¯s go have a meal together with my sister.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes were looking somewhere, and she ignored Lin Su.


    ¡°Luo Ying, were you listening?¡± Lin Su was a little angry. Luo Ying had never ignored him before.


    ¡°Oh, yeah, I heard you.¡± Luo Ying didn¡¯t even lift her eyelids.


    The Luo Family had some ongoing business dealings with Lin Lu, so she had to somehow show Lin Lu some respect. However, she still had to make things clear later. After all, she didn¡¯t intend to have any relationship with Lin Su.


    ¡°Why do you have such an attitude towards Lin Su now? It¡¯s really strange.¡± Lin ping sneered. It was the first time he had seen Luo Ying being so arrogant to him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll treat him the same way he treats me. Why? Does it displease you?¡± Luo Ying¡¯s eyes fell on Lin Ping.


    ¡°No, I just think it¡¯s interesting. But since my sister wants you to marry into our Lin Family so much, why don¡¯t you consider me instead of Lin Su?¡±

 Chapter 86 - 86 Ruby

    86 Ruby


    Luo Ying rolled her eyes at him.


    The men of the Luo family were really interesting. It was as if they had some hereditary narcissistic genes in their bloodline. Whatever the case was, they all believed that they were irresistible to her.


    ¡°I¡¯m married, kid.¡± Luo Ying showed Lin Ping the diamond ring on her hand. It was her wedding ring with Lu Zhao, and she had been wearing it on her finger recently.


    Lin Ping looked at the ring on Luo Ying¡¯s hand and said nothing. He was a little confused. It was rumored that Luo Ying didn¡¯t like Lu Zhao at all, so she was probably putting on an act by wearing the ring now.


    For some reason, Lin Ping felt that Luo Ying might still be putting on an act to trick Lin Su.


    She was clearly in love with him before, so how could she do a one-eighty and love someone else?


    The auction soon began. Luo Ying looked on as various items took their turns on stage one by one, but her eyes remained indifferent. She did not show any intention of partaking in the made scramble.


    ¡°The third entry is our first item of the night to feature a starting price of more than five million. It¡¯s a Paraiba Tourmaline Ring from the Middle Ages.¡±


    Paraiba was a rare gem. It gleamed with clarity and brilliance in a class of its own. Its ring holder was shaped like a flower bud.


    The entire ring looked like a rose that was about to bloom.


    ¡°That ring is simply stunning.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. One with this purity comes once every few centuries.¡±


    ¡°This ring was once a gift from a Duke to his wife, but he lost his life in the war. His wife never got married again, so this ring is also a symbol of undying love.¡±


    The people below the stage all exclaimed in admiration.


    Su Ran¡¯s eyes lit up. Wasn¡¯t the pure and innocent show of love what she wanted?


    Lin Su could tell that she wanted the ring. He raised his sign first. ¡°Seven million!¡±


    ¡°Seven million five hundred thousand! Eight million!¡±


    Signs rose and fell, and Lin Ping looked at Luo Ying with some doubts.


    Luo Ying was yawning and looking at the game on her mobile phone, feeling sleepy. This was not her style.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Doesn¡¯t that ring attract you?¡± Lin Ping asked.


    ¡°What¡¯s so good about something that symbolizes love without freedom and restraint?¡± Luo Ying yawned lazily. If Lin Su and Su Ran wanted such a shallow, fairy tale-like form of love, so be it.


    She would never use her chastity and obsession to imprison the other person for life.


    Everyone should be left to pursue their own happiness.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so open-minded.¡± Lin Ping shrugged.


    ¡°How is that being open-minded? Having a mindset like Lin Su¡¯s is simply too feudal. They can¡¯t wait to make a chastity Memorial Arch and carry it on their backs.¡± Luo Ying smiled.


    Lin Su noticed Luo Ying, who was sitting behind him and sneering. He frowned. For some reason, he felt that Luo Ying was still putting on an act.


    How could she be as free and easy as she said? How could she be so uninterested in this ring?


    This was probably just a trick to confuse him.


    At the thought of this, Lin Su¡¯s heart suddenly relaxed. He raised his sign with ease and won the ring for 30 million.


    He carefully placed the ring on Su Ran¡¯s hand.


    The audience burst into thunderous applause.


    Only Lin Lu, who was sitting in the back seat, had an ashen expression.


    Luo Ying suddenly felt that this trip was worth it. It was as if she had watched a family drama for free.


    Soon, the auction began for the hibiscus jade, which was only for three million.


    Luo Ying slowly raised her board. ¡°Six million.¡±


    Her voice was calm, but it was firm.


    Lin Su frowned. The jade pendant was clearly not of outstanding quality. The most valuable feature on it was the flower carved by a master craftsman.


    It was almost life-like.


    Why would Luo Ying want this jade pendant, even if she had to pay twice the price?


    A strange feeling flashed through Lin Su¡¯s heart. For some reason, he raised his hand and said, ¡°6.1 million.¡±


    Su Ran looked at Lin Su¡¯s actions and was stunned. She whispered, ¡°Why would you want it? It looks very ordinary. It doesn¡¯t seem to be particularly well-made.¡±


    Luo Ying looked at Lin Su and rolled her eyes. She¡¯s surrounded by crazy people!

 Chapter 87 - 87 Dinner

    87 Dinner


    Luo Ying calmly kept bidding, and Lin Su followed closely behind. The small jade pendant was soon raised to a pricetag of ten million.


    Although Su Ran tried her best to maintain her composure, her heart was in complete shambles.


    Was this a ploy of Luo Ying? Had she successfully attracted Lin Su¡¯s attention?


    She had truly underestimated this woman.


    Luo Ying ignored the gazes of these people and continued to raise her sign. ¡°Eleven million.¡±


    Just as Lin Su was about to raise the bid, his phone vibrated. It was a message from Lin Lu.


    [Cut that out.]


    Lin Su put down his hand that was about to raise the sign and watched Luo Ying bid for the jade pendant.


    He really didn¡¯t understand why his sister wanted so badly for something to happen between him and Luo Ying so much. She had even asked him to give in to Luo Ying.


    Su Ran¡¯s eyes drooped slightly after reading the message. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Lin Su. It¡¯s just a jade pendant. I can help you find a similar one in the future.¡±


    Su Ran¡¯s family was not wealthy. However, they were in the jade business. Her father had some collections that she could give to Lin Su.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, I don¡¯t want it anymore.¡± Lin Su shook his head.


    He didn¡¯t understand what he had just done. Why did he suddenly want to outbid Luo Ying for the jade pendant?


    There was nothing special about the jade pendant, so why did Luo Ying want it so much?


    Lin Su turned to look at Luo Ying, who was holding a business card with a trace of sorrow in her eyes.


    What was this woman so sad about? What was the origin of this jade pendant? Why had it shaken her to that level?


    Lin Su¡¯s mind was full of questions. When he finally reacted, he suddenly came to a terrifying revelation. Luo Ying had made him react emotionally just now. This should not have happened.


    Su Ran, who was standing beside him, held his hand gently. He felt a little apologetic to her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I just¡­¡± Lin Su said.


    Su Ran shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. That jade pendant was very beautiful. I¡¯m sorry that you didn¡¯t get it.¡±


    Luo Ying put the jade pendant in her palm, and the appearance of her third brother, who had appeared in front of her that day, reappeared in her mind.


    There was no way she could have been mistaken. The biker suit, red hair, and those deep eyes-that was obviously Third Brother.


    He had come to this world, to her side.


    She held the jade in her hand as if she was holding the key to go home.


    But soon, Lu Zhao¡¯s face appeared in her mind.


    If she really wanted to leave this place, what would Lu Zhao do? How could she face Lu Zhao and leave him?


    With a shake of her head, Luo Ying cleared these thoughts out of her mind.


    The few remaining items in the auction were all ordinary items and were quickly auctioned off.


    After the auction ended, Lin Lu immediately walked to Luo Ying¡¯s side and held her arm.


    ¡°Yingying, you haven¡¯t been to my house for a long time. How about we go today?¡± Lin Lu suggested with a smile.


    The Luo family and the Lin Family had been on good terms for so many years. She could not decline this invitation.


    ¡°Sister Lin Lu, I¡¯m going to eat, but I¡¯ll be going back after that.¡± Luo Ying smiled and said, ¡°I have plans tomorrow.¡±


    A scheming look flashed across Lin Lu¡¯s eyes. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s just a meal. I know you¡¯re guarded against that woman.¡±


    ¡°No, Sis, listen to me.¡± Before Luo Ying could speak, she saw Lin Su walking over with Su Ran.


    Su Ran¡¯s face still had a pitiful expression.


    When Lin Lu saw Su Ran, her eyes immediately filled with disdain.


    How could the daughter of a small-time jeweller like Su Ran be a good match for her brother?


    ¡°Su Ran will be coming to our house for dinner tonight,¡± Lin Su said coldly.


    After saying that, he turned his eyes to Luo Ying, wanting to see her angry expression.


    Many times before, when he brought Su Ran to attend banquets, Luo Ying had angrily thrown a tantrum.


    But Luo Ying did not react. She just looked at the phone in her hand. No one knew what she was looking at.


    Was he truly no longer attractive to this woman? Why was she so calm?


    ¡°Then, Ms. Su, you can come with us. But you can¡¯t stay at our house tonight. You¡¯re a young lady, and it won¡¯t be good for your reputation if word gets out.¡±


    ¡°Our Lin family has always valued family upbringing,¡± Lin Lu said. ¡°Lin Su is also a child with a sense of decency. You should understand that as well.¡±

 Chapter 88 - 88 Double Standards

    88 Double Standards


    Su Ran bit her lip and nodded.


    She caught the meaning behind Lin Lu¡¯s words. It was a backhanded insult.


    She was implying that she had no manners and was trying her best to cut ties with her.


    However, she could not let go of Lin Su. She simply could not.


    ¡°Sis, don¡¯t say that about Su Ran. She¡¯s the one I love. She won¡¯t do anything to us, even if she stays in our house,¡± Lin Su said.


    ¡°Child, her purity is not yours to comment on. You have no power over it. If she stays in our house, can you prevent bad rumors from spreading?¡± Lin Lu said with a smile.


    Lin Lu¡¯s smile was like a sharp knife, stabbing into Su Ran¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Alright, sister. I¡¯ll be careful. Su Ran looks like she¡¯s close to tears.¡±


    Lin Su¡¯s heart ached as he held Su Ran in his arms. He must marry this woman.


    The group arrived at the Lin Family¡¯s house. The Lin Family¡¯s servants had already helped to prepare all the food.


    Luo Ying glanced at the dishes. There were a lot of coriander and a lot of spicy dishes.


    The original Luo Ying had loved all of this in the original novel. Su Ran did not eat coriander or spicy food at all. The moment she touched such food, she would break out in rashes all over her body and suffer from stomach aches.


    As expected, Su Ran frowned when she saw the food on the table.


    Lin Lu looked at Su Ran¡¯s expression and rolled her eyes. What a rude child.


    A girl with such an upbringing wanted to enter their family?


    ¡°Luo Ying, come and eat. I know you like this, so I asked them to make it. It¡¯s your favorite boiled beef and duck blood curd.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded and ate quietly.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you guys divorced yet? I don¡¯t want to criticize you, but a girl¡¯s youth is short, so you should think about it carefully.¡±


    Luo Ying shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve grown very close to Lu Zhao now. Thank you for your concern. I¡¯ll bring Lu Zhao to have dinner with you later.¡±


    Lin Lu was stunned for a moment, but she still smiled and said, ¡°That¡¯s fine, that¡¯s fine. As long as you¡¯re happy, I¡¯ll be at ease.¡±


    Lin Lu had always been concerned about Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying could not understand it. After all, the original novel never expanded on this matter.


    Su Ran felt a little awkward at the dining table. There was nothing to eat, so she could only lower her head and eat her rice.


    Lin Su¡¯s heart ached for Su Ran, so he rinsed the spicy vegetables in the tea before giving it to Su Ran.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Su Ran said, biting her lip.


    Lin Lu laughed. ¡°Ah, such a picky eater. I¡¯m really sorry, but our children aren¡¯t that picky. Besides, we didn¡¯t know you would be coming, so we didn¡¯t prepare anything for you. But our housekeeper¡¯s cooking is very good. Do you want to try it?¡±


    Lin Lu even used the serving chopsticks to give Su Ran some boiled beef after she finished speaking.


    Fiery red chili rings had been sprinkled on the beef. Even Luo Ying found them very spicy. At that moment, she felt a little sorry for Su Ran.


    She clearly couldn¡¯t eat spicy food, but she still had to swallow her pride for this man. What was it for? Was it worth it?


    Luo Ying looked at Su Ran and said, ¡°Sister Lin Lu, didn¡¯t you say that you¡¯ve prepared some white fungus soup? I kind of want to eat it now. Can you bring me to the kitchen to get it?¡±


    Lin Lu¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°Luo Ying, you¡¯re so sensible. Sometimes I think that it would be great if Lin Su was as sensible and smart. Just you wait, I¡¯ll get it for you.¡±


    Lin Lu turned around and walked into the kitchen.


    Su Ran heaved a sigh of relief. She rinsed the beef in the tea and put it into her mouth. Tears were already welling up in her eyes.


    Lin Su glared at Luo Ying. Luo Ying was too scary. She had bought his family over to his side and forced him to submit.


    It was really too detestable.


    Lin Lu brought the soup up.


    She placed the cup in her hand in front of Luo Ying. ¡°Here, I knew you were coming, so I made this especially for you.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded, lowered her head, and began to drink the white fungus soup. She didn¡¯t want to say it, but their cooks were rather skilled, and the White fungus soup was very sweet.


    Lin Lu watched as Luo Ying drank the white fungus soup, mouthful by mouthful, and a smile appeared in her eyes.


    ¡°After you finish your meal and send Ms. Su home, hurry up and come back home. Lin Su, I still want to have a chat with you and Yingying later.¡±


    Su Ran was extremely embarrassed. Her eyes wavered as she looked at Lin Su pitifully.


    ¡°Sister, don¡¯t be like this. You can also let Su Ran stay and have a chat,¡± Lin Su said as he hugged Su Ran, feeling sorry for her.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m sorry for disturbing you. I¡¯ll leave now.¡± Su Ran picked up her bag, stood up, and was about to leave.

 Chapter 89 - 89 Drugged

    89 Drugged


    Lin Lu¡¯s actions were no different from a slap to her face.


    Su Ran bit her lip and looked at Lin Lu. She nodded slightly. ¡°Since I¡¯m not welcome here, I¡¯ll take my leave. I won¡¯t disturb you anymore.¡±


    Luo Ying peered at Su Ran for a long while. She didn¡¯t actually hate this girl. For the sake of so-called love, she was willing to discard her pride and grovel in the mud. From a certain perspective, she was quite admirable.


    ¡°Sis, you guys are really too much!¡± After saying this, Lin Su chased after her.


    Lin Lu and Luo Ying were left in the living room.


    Lin Lu didn¡¯t pay attention to what her brother had just said. Instead, she asked Luo Ying to sit down.


    ¡°How about you talk to me for a while? Do you want to stay for the night? I haven¡¯t talked to you in a long time,¡± Lin Lu said with a smile.


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t know why, but the ingratiating and careful gleam in Lin Lu¡¯s eyes unnerved her.


    She didn¡¯t understand why Lin Lu had such a strong obsession with her.


    Marriage was a matter of mutual love. Nobody could force them into it. Luo Ying could not understand why Lin Lu kept trying to match her with Lin Su.


    ¡°Lin Lu, I never got to tell you that I¡¯m not planning to get a divorce. You don¡¯t have to put in so much effort to matchmake Lin Su and me,¡± Luo Ying said as she sat down.


    Lin Lu was obviously stunned. She didn¡¯t expect Luo Ying to reject her so openly.


    ¡°Yingying, I know that Lin Su has hurt you, but don¡¯t be down about. I still have the final say,¡± Lin Lu held Su Ran¡¯s hand, her face full of concern. ¡°I know you still like Lin Su.¡±


    Lin Lu¡¯s hand was a little cold. A clammy, nauseating sensation crawled up Luo Ying¡¯s throat.


    Why did Lin Lu have such a strong obsession with her?


    ¡°No, please, listen to me. I only like Lu Zhao now, and no one else. I don¡¯t want to have anything to do with Lin Su anymore. I think Su Ran might be a good candidate for your younger brother¡¯s wife. What do you think?¡± Luo Ying said with a smile.


    Lin Lu shook her head, a look of disdain in her eyes. ¡°How could a child from a small family like that marry into our Lin Family?¡±


    Lin Lu picked up a cup of plum juice from the tray and placed it in Luo Ying¡¯s hand. ¡°You must be thirsty. Have some. There is still much to talk about.¡±


    Luo Ying took a sip of the plum juice and suddenly felt that something was wrong. She didn¡¯t know where the faint fragrance was coming from, but it made her a little drowsy and dizzy.


    This was getting dangerous. It seemed to be a kind of spice.


    Luo Ying stood up. ¡°Lin Lu, I¡¯ll be taking my leave. I have something to do at home tonight¡­¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, she felt her vision go black, and she fell straight to the ground.


    The last scene that appeared before his eyes was the scheming expression in Lin Lu¡¯s eyes.


    As expected, Lin Lu had planned this.


    When she woke up again, Luo Ying felt sore and weak. She looked around at the unfamiliar environment. It should be the guest room of the Lin family.


    Luo Ying tried to stand up, and a strange hot feeling came up from her lower abdomen.


    She realized that she must have been drugged with an aphrodisiac. The drug was very effective. She must have ingested it during the dinner. It could have been the soup or the plum juice.


    It could also be a culmination of both liquids reacting.


    Luo Ying dragged her sore legs and looked for the exit in the room. The door was locked, and there were no other secret doors or secret compartments.


    She ran to the window. This was the fifth floor, and there were security guards downstairs.


    Luo Ying felt dizzy, and Lu Zhao¡¯s face suddenly appeared in her mind.


    If only Lu Zhao knew about her current situation, he would definitely come to save her.


    Hot tears rolled down her cheeks.


    She originally had a happy life and a smooth career. If it wasn¡¯t for this wretched transdimensional travel, she wouldn¡¯t have been trapped here.


    She felt her body temperature rising, and she felt very uncomfortable.


    At that moment, footsteps suddenly came from the door.


    Thank you for reading on https://www.novelhall.com

 Chapter 90 - 90 Conspiracy

    90 Conspiracy


    Luo Ying walked to the door, and suddenly there was a more fragrant smell coming from the door.


    Suddenly, the drug in her body took effect. Luo Ying¡¯s legs went soft, and she fell to the ground. She lost all her strength.


    She slowly moved to the door and listened to the footsteps.


    The footsteps belonged to two people, and it was mixed with intermittent talking.


    ¡°Why are you so obsessed with that small-time actress? She¡¯s useless to us! What¡¯s the point of marrying her? What kind of drug did she give you to make you so devoted to her?¡± It was Lin Lu¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Sister, you don¡¯t know what love is. I really like Su Ran, but I don¡¯t like Luo Ying. It¡¯s very simple. I feel annoyed just by looking at her. I feel disgusted even talking to her, let alone getting married.¡± It was Lin Su.


    His voice was sharp and questioning, ¡°Sister, why do I have to marry Luo Ying? What does she have? Did she cast a spell on you? Why are you doing all this?¡±


    Lin Lu lowered her voice. ¡°Lin Su, do you not see it? Luo Ying¡¯s mother used to be a famous doctor. It was said that she produced several long-lost prescriptions. Rumors has it that Luo Ying has been drinking a lot of her medicine since she was young. She is practically an enhanced human. The blood in her body may yield some amazing secrets.¡±


    When Luo Ying heard Lin Lu¡¯s words, she opened her mouth in surprise.


    This was never mentioned in the novel!


    It explained Lin Lu¡¯s zealous efforts. She had even resorted to drug her.


    Luo Ying clenched her fists and dug her nails into her flesh for a brief moment of clarity.


    From what Lin Lu had said, she wanted Lin Su to settle the matter with her tonight and then force her to marry Lin Su.


    Luo Ying smiled coldly. She would not let them have their way.


    Lin Su¡¯s voice came from outside again. ¡°Sister, those are just fairytales. Why would you listen to all that nonsense? Even if I marry Luo Ying, would she let us study her?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re really stupid. Luo Ying will be in our hands. She will eventually reveal the formula, and there¡¯ll be plenty of opportunities to get her blood. Our family is mainly in the pharmaceutical line, and everything¡¯s going downhill. If we don¡¯t use this method, what else can we do?¡± Lin Lu said.


    Imprison and research?


    Did this group of people really think of her as a lab rat?


    Luo Ying propped herself up, moved to the side of the cabinet, and held the lamp in her hand.


    If Lin Su really came in, she would knock him out and plan her escape.


    ¡°Sister, will Luo Ying give in if you do this?¡± Lin Su said with a cold smile.


    ¡°My silly brother, isn¡¯t this what women care about the most? Luo Ying definitely likes you. You simply broke her heart. If you sleep with her tonight, maybe her feelings for you will rekindle.¡± Lin Lu¡¯s voice took on a cunning edge.


    Lin Su smiled bitterly. ¡°Sister, I will figure out a way to deal with the family matters. I will not touch Luo Ying.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re really stubborn.¡± Lin Lu sneered. ¡°You¡¯re the heir of the Lin family. Some thing must be done.¡±


    Lin Lu raised her voice. ¡°Come on then. Two of you, throw Lin Su in.¡±


    Immediately after, Lin Su was restrained and thrown in by two huge men. Lin Lu followed him in. She looked around, but didn¡¯t see Luo Ying. However, she heard the sound of water in the bathroom.


    Lin Lu was overjoyed. ¡°My dear brother, this is a God-given opportunity. Luo Ying is taking a bath inside. Go in and settle the matter now.¡±


    Lin Lu gave the servants a look, and the three of them walked out of the door together.


    Lin Su sat on the ground and laughed at himself. His family had lost their minds.


    He looked at the lights in the bathroom, and his eyes suddenly blurred.


    The faint fragrance coming from outside made him a little dazed.


    His body started to heat up, and a strange desire took over his mind.


    He couldn¡¯t control his legs and walked towards the bathroom. For some reason, Luo Ying¡¯s face appeared in his mind.


    Luo Ying¡¯s graceful body seemed to be in front of him, and desire occupied his mind.


    Perhaps this wasn¡¯t a bad idea.


    At the very least, he could marry Luo Ying and fulfill his obligations. Then, he could let Su Ran be his lover. After all, it was normal for men to have some dirty dealings outside.


    Besides, Luo Ying was also a stunner, so he was not going to lose out if he slept with her.

 Chapter 91 - 91 The Confrontation

    91 The Confrontation


    The footsteps outside gradually approached, and the man¡¯s swaying figure could be seen outside the frosted glass.


    Luo Ying was holding the shower head in her hand, and her hair was stuck to her sweaty face, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.


    However, she did not dare to let go of the shower head in her hand. Her eyes were fixed on the door in front of her.


    This family was ridiculous. They drugged her and planned to make her their lab rat.


    Luo Ying bit her lip hard. She had originally wondered why Lin Lu so insistent on introducing her to Lin Su. She had not expected it to be this ridiculous.


    The doorknob was twisted open. Luo Ying held her breath and looked at the door.


    The door opened a crack, and Lin Su¡¯s eyes appeared through the crack. Luo Ying smiled coldly. This man was indeed a beast.


    She raised the shower head and drenched Lin Su.


    He looked at the woman in front of him, and his eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Luo Ying, what are you doing? Do you know what you are doing?¡±


    ¡°Of course I know, Lin Su. I heard it all,¡± Luo Ying said with a cold smile.


    Lin Su felt his blood run cold. ¡°You know everything?¡±


    Luo Ying looked at him, her eyes full of disappointment.


    ¡°Yes, I know.¡± Luo Ying laughed. ¡°Your family wants the secrets of my mother, right?¡±


    Lin Su¡¯s heart sank. ¡°Look, I¡¯m not here for that.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re here to talk about a collaboration.¡± Luo Ying smiled coldly.


    Lin Su looked at Luo Ying¡¯s eyes and was a little flustered. Cold water fell from his hair and dripped into his eyes. He had sobered up a little.


    Only then did he realize that his dirty thoughts had been seen through by Luo Ying, and he had no way to hide in front of her.


    ¡°Listen to me, I didn¡¯t mean it that way.¡± Lin Su said as he moved closer to Luo Ying. ¡°They have drugged you. I can make you feel better.¡±


    Luo Ying took a step back and raised the shower head again. She kept him at bay with water. ¡°Forget it. I won¡¯t let you touch me. I¡¯d rather die from this.¡±


    Lin Su looked at Luo Ying and sneered. ¡°My sister has already set this trap. We can¡¯t walk out of here without doing anything today. Luo Ying, you¡¯d best stop struggling.¡±


    Luo Ying ignored Lin Su¡¯s threat. Instead, she looked around at the surrounding environment, looking for tools that could protect her.


    Lin Su took a few more steps forward and reached out to take the shower head from her.


    The moment he grabbed her hand, that crazy desire ran rampant in his body.


    He had forgotten how he had vowed to Su Ran a few hours ago that he would only love her. Instead, lust took over his mind like a man possessed.


    Luo Ying struggled with all her might, but she could not break free.


    The shower head was thrown on the ground, and the ground was covered with water. Luo Ying was in Lin Su¡¯s arms.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Luo Ying. Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯ll be very gentle to you.¡±


    The woman¡¯s fragrance overwhelmed him, and he reached out to undo Luo Ying¡¯s clothes.


    ¡°Lin Su, wait.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s voice softened, and she seemed to be panting slightly.


    He stopped and asked, ¡± What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    In the next second, he felt something heavy hit his head. The trimmed rose hood fell down, and glass shattered all over the ground. Some glass fragments flew across his handsome face, leaving a bloody trail.


    It was the vase in the bathroom. Luo Ying held the vase in her hand, and her hand was bleeding from the thorns of the rose.


    This was the scene Lin Su saw before he lost consciousness. How much did this woman hate him? She would go to such an extent just to avoid his touch.


    The room quieted down, and only Luo Ying¡¯s breathing could be heard.


    She wanted Lu Zhao by her side. She firmly believed that Lu Zhao would definitely come to save her.


    A few hours passed by quickly. Lin Lu sat on the sofa in the living room, clenching her hands tightly. She was also a little nervous.


    The drug would last for six hours, which was enough for something to happen between Lin Su and Luo Ying.


    Just in case, she had even called a reporter. As long as the reporter reported their activities, they would have to get married against all other wishes.

 Chapter 92 - 92 Save Her

    92 Save Her


    ¡°Young Miss, someone¡¯s here.¡± A servant shouted.


    Lin Lu stood up immediately, guessing that it was the reporters she had invited. ¡°Hurry up and invite them in. We have to treat these reporters well.


    ¡°Reporters? Lin Lu, your actions have just sealed the fate of your company and your family.¡±


    The man strode into the Lin family¡¯s house as he spoke. His body reeked of blood and a cold wind, making him look like a demon.


    Lin Lu was taken aback. Why was Lu Zhao here? She had spent a lot of effort to come up with a trick to lure the tiger away from the mountain.


    ¡°Did you think D¡¯Corporeal could keep me there?¡± Lu Zhao sneered.


    Lin Lu¡¯s heart sank into an ice cellar.


    ¡°I know all the tricks you¡¯ve been up to,¡± Lu Zhao said, his eyes as sharp as an eagle. ¡°Where did you hide Luo Ying?¡±


    Lin Lu laughed hideously. ¡°Look, aren¡¯t you injured as well, Mr. Lu? I won¡¯t hand her over. You definitely won¡¯t like a withered flower that has been defiled by my younger brother.¡±


    Lu Zhao didn¡¯t pay attention to her words. He reached out and took out a gun, aiming the dark muzzle at the crystal lamp on the ceiling.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Lin Lu¡¯s eyes widened.


    Lu Zhao had even drawn a gun for her sake.


    Those who were familiar with Lu Zhao knew that although Lu Zhao was a decisive person, he had principles.


    He never resorted to violence in the city. He would never get involved in illegal but highly profitable businesses.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t hand over Luo Ying right now, I¡¯m not sure what I¡¯ll do.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s voice sounded as if he had been soaked in ice water.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, I gave them the latest aphrodisiac that our family developed. It¡¯s very potent, and seven hours have already passed. You don¡¯t think your wife can bear it that much¡­¡±


    ¡°Pa!¡± A gunshot interrupted Lin Lu¡¯s words.


    The chandelier on the ceiling was struck down, falling straight down.


    Lin Lu was quick to react and dodged to the side. The next second, the glass of the crystal lamp shattered, and the entire room was filled with the sound of glass shattering.


    ¡°Lin Lu, don¡¯t make me ask again,¡± Lu Zhao said, the black muzzle already pointed at Lin Lu¡¯s face.


    Lin Lu stood up, trembling.


    Lu Zhao wasn¡¯t a human, he was clearly a devil.


    She took Lu Zhao up the steps, almost falling in the process.


    Lin Lu opened the guest room¡¯s door with trembling hands. The room was silent, and they could hear only the sound of water.


    They walked to the bed. The bed was still clean and tidy, as if no one had laid on it.


    Lin Lu¡¯s heart was in her throat. It seemed like they had done it in the bathroom last night. If Lu Zhao witnessed the sexual aftermath, would he also shoot her?


    She hesitantly turned the door handle of the bathroom, but the gun was already pointed at the back of her head.


    ¡°Don¡¯t play any tricks with me,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    The door was opened, and the scene in front of them made everyone suck in a breath of cold air.


    In the room, the floor was covered with roses and glass shards. Lin Su lay on the ground. The blood on his head had dried up. In a corner, Luo Ying was trembling while holding the shower head.


    Her clothes were torn into a mess, outlining her beautiful body.


    ¡°Get out!¡± Lu Zhao roared.


    Lin Lu tried to walk over and drag Lin Su out, but Lu Zhao kicked the prone man on the shoulder. ¡°Get ou, or I¡¯ll end your brother¡¯s life with a bullet.¡±


    Lin Lu rolled and crawled out of the room.


    Lu Zhao walked in front of Luo Ying and gently held her in his arms.


    ¡°I¡¯m here, Luo Ying,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    Luo Ying looked at him with dazed eyes. They slowly returned to normal. In an instant, tears gathered in her eyes. ¡°Lu Zhao, I want to go home.¡±


    Lu Zhao took off his coat and wrapped it around Luo Ying.


    Her entire body was wet and trembling. He couldn¡¯t imagine how she had spent the last eight hours.


    If he hadn¡¯t found out about this, she might have been tortured to death by these two perverted siblings.


    ¡°I knocked him out. He never got to touch me,¡± Luo Ying said.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about that. I only care about your pain,¡± Lu Zhao said tenderly.

 Chapter 93 - 93 Self-Blame

    93 Self-Blame


    ¡°I¡¯m not hurt.¡± Luo Ying shook her head and buried her head in Lu Zhao¡¯s arms. ¡°Just take me home.¡±


    The effects of the drug hadn¡¯t completely worn off, but she felt very safe in Lu Zhao¡¯s arms, and she subconsciously snuggled against the man¡¯s body.


    Lu Zhao picked her up and strode out of the door.


    ¡°Xiao Ting, clean this place up,¡± Lu Zhao said coldly and kicked Lin Su to the side.


    Lin Lu¡¯s legs had long given way. She helplessly sat on the ground.


    Her brother lay motionless. His face was pale and he did not seem to be breathing. She didn¡¯t know if he was still alive.


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes fell on Lin Lu.


    Lu Zhao met Luo Ying¡¯s eyes and slowly said, ¡°I won¡¯t let them off.¡±


    Luo Ying shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t care about them. I only care about you.¡±


    Just as Luo Ying was about to say something, she felt her vision go black and she fainted.


    She wanted to ask why Lu Zhao had rushed back so early, and also where the blood on Lu Zhao¡¯s body came from.


    But it didn¡¯t matter. She could ask him when she woke up.


    It was already dark when she woke up again.


    Luo Ying slowly opened her eyes. Under her was the warm and soft bed at home, and she felt a sense of security.


    She turned to look at the clock on the wall. It was already eight in the evening.


    She slowly got up but didn¡¯t see Lu Zhao.


    Where did Lu Zhao go?


    Luo Ying put on her clothes and went downstairs. She saw Xiao Ting downstairs.


    ¡°Mr. Xiao, where did Lu Zhao go?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    Xiao Ting did not answer her and pointed at a woman sitting in the living room. ¡°Madam, this is Dr. Cheng. President Lu has instructed me to check your body after you wake up.¡±


    Luo Ying sat down slowly, waiting for the doctor to examine her.


    Dr. Cheng was an experienced doctor, and she quickly gave a diagnosis. ¡°You were drugged rather heavily. At heavier doses, it could have caused permanent damage, but fortunately that is not the case for you. You just need to rest for a few days and take some medicine.¡±


    Dr. Cheng looked at Luo Ying¡¯s hand again. ¡°The wounds on your hand haven¡¯t been treated. I¡¯ll give you a tetanus shot and you¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    Luo Ying looked at her hand and then remembered the situation at that time. She had grabbed a bouquet of thorny roses to free the vase and use it as a weapon.


    Luo Ying nodded. She did not know why, but the doctor seemed to be surveying her with a hostile gaze.


    ¡°Mr. Xiao, you haven¡¯t answered my question. Where¡¯s Lu Zhao?¡± Luo Ying looked up at Xiao Ting while waiting for the injection.


    Xiao Ting shook his head. ¡°President Lu has his own matters to deal with.¡±


    Luo Ying grimaced in pain when the doctor practically stabbed her with the syringe. What was going on?


    ¡°Forgive me for being blunt, but I¡¯ve been working for President Lu for so many years. You don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you.¡± The doctor put away the needle and looked at Luo Ying coldly as she spoke.


    Luo Ying finally realized that Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes and eyebrows were somewhat similar to the doctor¡¯s.


    ¡°Who are you, really?¡± Luo Ying frowned.


    ¡°I¡¯m Lu Zhao¡¯s aunt. I¡¯ve watched Lu Zhao grow up. I don¡¯t know why, but even after you betrayed him, he still treats you the same as before. You must be really good at this.¡±


    Luo Ying was confused. What betrayal?


    She had never betrayed Lu Zhao.


    ¡°President Lu is injured. He sustained the injuries overseas. He was trying to settle some disputes with D¡¯Corporeal. But for some reason, his whereabouts were exposed, and an assassination attempt was carried out,¡± Xiao Ting said coldly.


    ¡°Most of the people who know our whereabouts are our own people. That includes you, Ms. Luo.¡± The doctor¡¯s eyes were sharp, like a sharp blade stabbing Luo Ying. ¡°In order to save you, he went on a rampage at the Lin Family¡¯s residence. His wound reopened. He¡¯s in a coma now. I don¡¯t know when he will wake up.¡±


    Luo Ying quickly stood up. ¡°I want to see him.¡±


    ¡°Why would you want to do that? Haven¡¯t you done enough harm?¡± Dr. Cheng said coldly.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do it, but I really need to see him now.¡± Luo Ying stood up and suddenly thought of something. She rushed to the room she had stayed in before and took out a small box from the bedside table. Inside it were a few pieces of paper that had turned yellow.


    ¡°These are the prescriptions left behind by my mother. They¡¯ve been lost for a long time. If you can use them, take them,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Dr. Cheng frowned as she looked at the prescription. As she looked at it, her eyes suddenly widened.


    These were practically magical formulae. Why would Luo Ying have this?


    ¡°My mother used to be a famous doctor,¡± Luo Ying said. ¡°I only found out about these prescriptions by chance recently.¡±

 Chapter 94 - 94 Awakening

    94 Awakening


    Luo Ying only remembered this when Lin Lu reminded her of it. In the original book, the host¡¯s mother had left a box for her.


    Apparently, the box contained what Lin Lu¡¯s family had been dreaming of.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you the benefit of the doubt for now.¡± Dr. Cheng put away the prescription. ¡°Mr. Xiao, let Madam go and see Lu Zhao.¡±


    Xiao Ting¡¯s eyes flickered, ¡°The formula¡­¡±


    Dr. Cheng was well aware of the value of this prescription. If this prescription were to be put into production, it could bring in billions of dollars of wealth.


    But Luo Ying had unhesitatingly handed her the prescription, which showed that Luo Ying¡¯s feelings for Lu Zhao were sincere. He might have to continue digging deeper for the mole.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said. Xiao Ting nodded and brought Luo Ying to a room upstairs.


    The room was filled with the strong stench of medication. Lu Zhao¡¯s face was a little pale, and he was lying on the bed in a deep sleep.


    ¡°Why does Lu Zhao look so haggard?¡± Luo Ying could not understand it.


    ¡°The assassin didn¡¯t use a gun. President Lu was struck by a poisoned dart. The poison was very potent, but fortunately, Dr. Cheng got him through the worst. However, in his bid to rescue you, President Lu did not wait for his body to recover¡­¡± Xiao Ting said.


    Luo Ying¡¯s heart clenched up.


    This man had disregarded his own life to save her.


    Luo Ying was frustrated.


    She reached out to hold Lu Zhao¡¯s hand. She hoped that Lu Zhao would wake up soon. She was willing to stay by his side.


    Xiao Ting walked out of the room.


    The doctor was already waiting outside.


    ¡°Maybe we can trust Luo Ying,¡± she said.


    ¡°Why?¡± Xiao Ting frowned.


    I¡¯ve asked around, and the formula and its contents are all true. In fact, we can already use part of it to help Lu Zhao wake up soon,¡± she said.


    ¡°I need you to find us the mole, Mr. Xiao.¡±


    Xiao Ting nodded.


    As she watched Luo Ying holding Lu Zhao¡¯s hand and sitting by his bed through the crack of the door, the doctor grimaced to herself.


    Lu Zhao was an illegitimate child, and his mother had lost her life in a struggle with the rich. Lu Zhao had grown up under her protection, and when he returned to the Lu family, he founded the company without the Lu Family¡¯s support.


    Each step along the way had been rife with danger.


    The higher Lu Zhao climbed, the lonelier he became.


    All these years, other than a few of his old subordinates and herself, his aunt, this girl seemed to heavily affect him.


    Lu Zhao clearly loved her very much. She had never seen Lu Zhao lose his composure to this extent for someone before.


    This girl was more complicated than she seemed.


    She hoped that she would stay by Lu Zhao¡¯s side obediently.


    Luo Ying waited for Lu Zhao the entire night.


    Lu Zhao still hadn¡¯t woken up. She shook Lu Zhao¡¯s hand and spoke softly.


    ¡°You¡¯re so stupid. How could you save me without caring about your own health? Am I that important to you?¡±


    Lu Zhao didn¡¯t react.


    ¡°You have to wake up soon, or your company will be in my hands. When that happens, I¡¯ll sell your company, open a club, and take all the handsome boys in the entertainment industry in.¡±


    Lu Zhao still didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°You can¡¯t leave me alone. Didn¡¯t you ask me to promise you not to leave you? Are you going to leave me now? I won¡¯t allow it. You have to stay with me, don¡¯t you know that?¡±


    Luo Ying put her face on Lu Zhao¡¯s hand.


    She suddenly felt Lu Zhao¡¯s hand move.


    She looked up and saw Lu Zhao slowly opening his eyes and looking at her.


    He still looked a little weak.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake. I¡¯ll call the doctor now. Wait for me.¡± Luo Ying stood up and was about to leave, but Lu Zhao unexpectedly grabbed her hand.


    ¡°You can¡¯t leave me.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s voice was soft, but it was firm.


    ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t leave you.¡± Tears fell. ¡°Why are you so stupid? How could you save me when you¡¯re so seriously injured? I was so worried.¡±


    Luo Ying grabbed his hand and put her face on Lu Zhao¡¯s hand.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of myself,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go get the doctor now. You stay here and be good, okay?¡± Luo Ying said.


    Lu Zhao nodded obediently. He didn¡¯t look like a decisive and ruthless magnate. He looked like a little puppy.

 Chapter 95 - 95 Recovery

    95 Recovery


    ¡°He¡¯s awake, but his readings are far from normal. I worked on this prescription last night. Let¡¯s hope this works.¡± She placed the pills on the bedside table.


    ¡°Thank you, Aunt,¡± Lu Zhao said as he drank the medicine with Luo Ying¡¯s help.


    Luo Ying took a napkin and wiped the water from the corner of his mouth.


    ¡°I have some news to tell you,¡± Dr. Cheng said lightly. ¡°The old man called to ask about your well-being when you were unconscious.¡±


    Lu Zhao smiled coldly. ¡°A courtesy call? For me? He¡¯s just worried there¡¯s no one to run the business.¡±


    They were speaking of Lu Zhao¡¯s grandfather, Lu Wei. This old man had always been as flirtatious as Lu Zhao¡¯s father, and he seemed to have never been satisfied with Lu Zhao and Luo Ying¡¯s marriage.


    Luo Ying remembered this old man attempting to harm the original Luo Ying many times.


    Lu Wei was not concerned about Lu Zhao¡¯s survival, he was here to ensure that in the event of Lu Zhao¡¯s death, the company would fall into his hands.


    Bah, what a rotten old man.


    The doctor nodded. ¡°It¡¯s the old thing¡¯s birthday next month. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to take Luo Ying to the Lu Residence.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Luo Ying started feeling anxious.


    The original Luo Ying had paid Lu Zhao a visit before she got married. The Lu Family relatives were never easy to deal with. They were even more difficult to deal with than Su Ran.


    The original Luo Ying had stumbled about in her naivety and offended them all. They were going to rip her to shreds in this meeting.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to go if you don¡¯t want to. It¡¯s fine.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s warm hand held Luo Ying¡¯s hand and slowly rubbed it, making her feel extremely safe.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I can go. You don¡¯t have to worry,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Seeing Luo Ying¡¯s determined eyes, Lu Zhao reached out and touched Luo Ying¡¯s head. ¡°You¡¯re not going to enjoy this visit.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I must go through this.¡± Luo Ying shook her head.


    The doctor coughed and said, ¡°In that cast, you should rest well. I¡¯ll come back for a checkup later. I¡¯ll let Xiao Ting handle the company¡¯s affairs for the time being.¡±


    After saying that, she left.


    The room fell silent. Lu Zhao reached out to pull Luo Ying into his arms. ¡°I messed up. If I¡¯d discovered the Lin Family¡¯s deception in advance, you wouldn¡¯t have suffered so much.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s not your fault. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Luo Ying buried her face in his arms and rubbed it a few times. ¡°I believe you.¡±


    Luo Ying raised her head and gently kissed Lu Zhao¡¯s cheek. ¡°I won¡¯t leave you. You have to promise me that you won¡¯t ruin your body like this, do you understand?¡±


    Lu Zhao nodded and hugged Luo Ying even tighter.


    He simply carried Luo Ying to the bed. Luo Ying nestled in his arms, and that small bundle in his arm made his heart ache.


    ¡°I¡¯ll definitely protect you,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Luo Ying buried her head deeper in Lu Zhao¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Lin Su didn¡¯t do anything to me that day. He shouldn¡¯t be in any danger, right?¡± Luo Ying said in a low voice.


    ¡°No, if anything happened to him, the Lin Family would already be making their move. But you don¡¯t have to worry, I¡¯ll make sure they die horrible deaths,¡± Lu Zhao said coldly.


    This time, when he went to deal with the matter with D¡¯Corporeal, he soon learned that it was a trap. They tricked him into entering a casino and then attempted the assassination.


    After a quick search of the assassin¡¯s body, his men found evidence that the person had contacted Lin Lu, and that was when they discovered Lin Lu¡¯s plan to lure the tiger out of the mountain.


    ¡°I was careless. I should have protected you better,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    Luo Ying laughed. ¡°Has the poison gotten to your mind? Why do you keep saying the same thing? I don¡¯t need you to help me take revenge. I just want you to be fine. I¡¯m satisfied that we can be together like this.¡±


    Luo Ying looked at him seriously, and Lu Zhao couldn¡¯t help but kiss her.


    It was a long and gentle kiss. Lu Zhao gently stroked her hair and tenderly hugged her tighter.


    That night, the two of them slept in each other¡¯s arms.


    With the care of Dr. Cheng and Luo Ying, Lu Zhao recovered very quickly.


    Luo Ying also began to continue her work.


    Their lives returned to their original track.


    However, an uninvited guest came and disrupted their peaceful life.


    ¡°So, why are you still here? Don¡¯t you know that you caused Lu Zhao to be injured? Oh my God, how thick is your skin?¡±


    A man in an overly flamboyant suit stared at Luo Ying, frowning and looking puzzled.

 Chapter 96 - 96 Sirius

    96 Sirius


    Luo Ying had never seen this man before. It seemed that the original Luo Ying had no recollection of him, in spite of the fact that he was practically dressed like a walking peacock


    ¡°You actually don¡¯t know who I am? Oh, you cruel and unscrupulous woman.¡± The man pinched his thumb and middle finger together, his face full of disdain.


    Luo Ying finally realize that this person was Lu Zhao¡¯s good friend in the original novel. SIrius was a character who strongly opposed Luo Ying and Lu Zhao being together.


    The book described Sirius as an effeminate man, and many people even suspected that Lu Zhao had some other relationship with him.


    ¡°I¡¯m here, what about it?¡± Luo Ying look at Sirius and said.


    Although Sirius was being particularly unpleasant to her, she knew him as a man of character. He was a friend who had risked his life for Lu Zhao several times over, so Luo Ying could not bring herself to hate him.


    ¡°If I were Lu Zhao, I would have signed the divorce papers before you jumped off the building. How could I have let you stay until now?¡± Sirius dramatically sat on the sofa and rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Lu Zhao divorced you yet? Seriously, I¡¯ve told him this so many times. Dating will only ruin his life.¡± He put the cushion on the sofa aside and looked at Luo Ying.


    ¡°Luo Ying and I won¡¯t get a divorce anytime soon. Don¡¯t worry.¡± The man¡¯s steady voice came out.


    Lu Zhao had just come down from upstairs, wearing simple home clothes, which looked to be the same as what Luo Ying was wearing.


    ¡°What? You¡¯re not getting a divorce? I¡¯ve hired the best divorce lawyer for you. I¡¯ve even found many blind dates for you. Why are you not getting a divorce?¡± He stood up and sized up Lu Zhao and Luo Ying.


    Lu Zhao looked like a different person.


    The moment Lu Zhao went downstairs, Luo Ying had run over and snuggled into Lu Zhao¡¯s arms. The two of them hugged each other tightly, as if they were glued together by supernatural forces.


    This was most uncharacteristic of Lu Zhao.


    Moreover, Luo Ying never once let Lu Zhao touch her before.


    ¡°You, did you cast a spell on Luo Ying?¡± Sirius pointed at Lu Zhao and asked.


    Luo Ying smiled. ¡°I just had a change of mind. There were no spells involved. I don¡¯t want to divorce Lu Zhao anymore. I want to be with Lu Zhao.¡±


    Sirius¡¯ eyes flew wide open. ¡°Are my ears damaged?¡±


    Everyone knew that Luo Ying despised Lu Zhao. She had almost run away on her wedding day and stirred up a lot of drama to leave Lu Zhao. Later, she even threatened Lu Zhao with her own life.


    It had not been easy for Lu Zhao to agree to the divorce, but why did she go back on her word?


    ¡°A woman¡¯s heart is like a needle at the bottom of the ocean. Be careful. Don¡¯t be bewitched by this woman.¡± Sirius looked at Lu Zhao warily.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve found some information about the casino,¡± Sirius said.


    Sirius suddenly stood upright. He stopped fidgeting, and his gaze turned stern.


    Lu Zhao also tensed up.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk in the study,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    Luo Ying watched the two of them walk into the study and was a little puzzled. D¡¯Corporeal seemed to have attempted to pull a major stunt. Even someone like Sirius had flown back here in person.


    Luo Ying knew that she couldn¡¯t help much, so she decided to cook a good meal with Zhang for them.


    After all, this man was Lu Zhao¡¯s good friend, and Luo Ying did not want to continue being spited by him.


    Luo Ying had participated in a cooking variety show before she flew into this novel. She was severely berated on camera by the celebrity chefs there, but she had learned some valuable lessons from it.


    Although she couldn¡¯t make anything overly complex, she could still make simple congee, side dishes, and desserts.


    Luo Ying was making snacks in the kitchen while watching videos on her laptop.


    She had been making preparations for her studio, and she needed to see if there were any suitable internet celebrities she could sign.


    As she watched, she suddenly stopped working on the dough. She stared unblinkingly at the video that had just appeared on the screen.


    At midnight, a man on a motorcycle was speeding up the mountain. Even the drone camera could not catch up with his speed.


    His red hair fluttered in the air, and his black motorcycle suit outlined his body.


    Third Brother?


    Luo Ying looked at the man in the video in a daze.


    This was her third brother. She had not been wrong. Third Brother must have found a way to come to this world. Was Third Brother going to bring her home?

 Chapter 97 - 97 A Change of Character

    97 A Change of Character


    In the study, Sirius sized Lu Zhao up.


    ¡°You don¡¯t really need me to get some faith healer to help you, do you? Why do I feel that this little girl has put a spell on you?¡± Sirius said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about serious matters.¡± Lu Zhao sat in his seat and looked at his unruly friend.


    ¡°This time, we passed by a logistics company in the middle of the delivery. The person in charge of it was called Wu Wei. Wu Wei has been married once overseas. Can you guess who he was married to?¡±


    ¡°Someone from the Lin Family?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    Wu Wei had offended Luo Ying before, so he had already been dealt with.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. He was married to Lin Lu. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s funny?¡± Sirius said.


    Lu Zhao frowned.


    Wu Wei had a close relationship with D¡¯Corporeal. He had thought that it was only because of his close relationship with the Lin brothers, Lin Ping and Lin Su. He had not expected the real bridge to be Lin Lu.


    Moreover, he was also having an affair with a small-time star who shared her name. It was an absolutely abnormal relationship.


    ¡°Also, this Wu Wei seems to be involved in illegal trades. He¡¯s connected to a drug cartel family overseas. However, I haven¡¯t seen any evidence of him engaging in drug trade yet. It¡¯s a pity.¡± Sirius shrugged.


    Lin¡¯s enterprise was a pharmaceutical company, but recently, their business had been in a very bad state. It would not be surprising for them to resort to desperate measures.


    Moreover, Lin Su had a lot of connections in the entertainment industry. It was not entirely impossible to expand his own industry chain in this way.


    ¡°It¡¯s so disgusting. Anything else?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I came back personally to check on Wu Wei¡¯s situation. I used to have a personal relationship with that small star, so I can help you investigate it.¡± As Sirius spoke, he threw Lu Zhao a flirtatious look. ¡°After I succeed this time, can you promise me one thing?¡±


    ¡°What is it,¡± Lu Zhao said tiredly.


    ¡°Get a divorce,¡± Sirius said.


    ¡°No, I love her.¡± Lu Zhao raised his eyes and looked at Sirius.


    Sirius sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t believe that a person would suddenly change into a different person and fall in love with someone she used to despise.


    She didn¡¯t actually want to ruin their marriage.


    ¡°Tell me about it. Her personality overnight, you went overseas, then they tried to assassinate you, and another party tried to rape her. She has been having an ambiguous relationship with the Lin Family for so many years. It¡¯s hard for me not to view any of this without suspicion,¡± Sirius said.


    Lu Zhao shook his head. ¡°I believe in her, and I love her.¡±


    Sirius¡¯ mouth was wide open in surprise. Since when could his friend utter the word ¡°love¡±?


    ¡°How did this even happen? You never wanted to argue with her in the past because you wanted to save face. Why are you even saying such things now?¡± Sirius said.


    ¡°She has truly changed. She has convinced someone as careful as me. I know for a fact that she loves me deeply.¡±


    Sirius¡¯ jaw almost dropped to the ground. ¡°I don¡¯t want to criticize you, but since when have you become so narcissistic? Everyone knows about her and Lin su, and you know about it too.¡±


    Just as the two of them were arguing, someone knocked on the door.


    ¡°Who is it?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    ¡°Zhang has finished cooking. Let¡¯s go down and eat.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s sweet voice was heard.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said. Lu Zhao stood up and prepared to go downstairs.


    Sirius shook his head and sighed. Love was the number one killer of great men.


    He walked to the dining table, which was full of dishes.


    There were tribal cuisines with light sweet fragrance and Western food.


    A beef Wellington had been set in front of his seat.


    In the original novel, this was indeed Sirius¡¯ favorite meal.


    Sirius gradually relaxed.


    Luo Ying had truly changed. She was actually cooking according to his preferences.


    He sat down and reluctantly said, ¡°Sorry to trouble you, sister-in-law. This beef Wellington is serious stuff. Thank you for your concern.¡±


    Luo Ying was a little happy when she saw Sirius finally easing up.


    She should be able to win his friends over, one at a time.

 Chapter 98 - 98 Family Dinner

    98 Family Dinner


    Sirius ate very happily, but he tried not to smile.


    When did Luo Ying¡¯s cooking become so good? The tribal dishes on the table were all very authentic.


    ¡°She rarely ever cooks. You should enjoy this while you can. You have no idea how much of a privilege this is,¡± Lu Zhao said with a smile.


    After the three of them finished their meal, they went upstairs to discuss business with Lu Zhao, while Luo Ying went to the small greenhouse behind the house to shoot.


    Luo Ying¡¯s popularity had soared recently because of Music Center. Many advertisers had come to her, hoping that Luo Ying could help them shoot some publicity photos.


    Today¡¯s brand was a makeup brand.


    It was a small company that lacked resources, so Luo Ying asked Chi Tong to bring the photographer to their greenhouse at home to shoot.


    The makeup was done in a youthful and beautiful manner, and the clothes she wore were skimpier, revealing her white thighs and shoulders.


    Her bubbly clothes and colorful makeup made Luo Ying look mischievous.


    The photographer praised her. ¡°I¡¯ve taken publicity photos for many brands, but none have given me as much pleasure as your session, Ms. Luo Ying. You are truly a natural artist.¡±


    Luo Ying smiled and made a variety of different poses uninstructed.


    ¡°This brand has also invited Ms. Su Ran, but she was not quite on form during her shoot,¡± the photographer said.


    ¡°When did that happen?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°The 5th of this month,¡± the photographer replied.


    The 5th was the day after her accident. Su Ran must have been in a foul mood.


    Luo Ying felt sorry for Su Ran in her heart. Su Ran may not be an angel, but she had put herself through such torture for the sake of love. There was also the fact that the one occupying her heart was an utter scumbag. Yet, she was still so loyal to him.


    It was tragic.


    After taking about a hundred photos, Luo Ying walked to the monitor and looked at the photos that were being edited.


    ¡°You pose so well and know how to work the lighting to your advantage. These photos don¡¯t even need much editing.¡± The photographer praised her.


    Luo Ying, who was wearing a short skirt, stood among the flowers like a fairy. She almost looked like a spirit of the mountain forest. Every frown and smile of hers had a spiritual ambience that could bewitch people.


    ¡°These are such great shots. I have decades of experience. I don¡¯t give my praise freely, but I must say that you¡¯re head and shoulders above the rest. Why had nobody noticed this sooner?¡±


    Many brands had indeed approached Luo Ying with many offerings, but because of Xia Lan¡¯s management, many of them pulled out. There were even rumors that Luo Ying was acting like a pampered princess. If Luo Ying had not transmigrated here, the original Luo Ying would have been left none the wiser to the reason behind her prolonged suffering.


    ¡°Can we use a few of these shots for her own portfolio?¡± Chi Tong asked.


    A popular artiste like Luo Ying had to post one or two sets of beautiful photos every month to maintain her exposure and also to communicate with her fans.


    ¡°I sure don¡¯t see why not.¡± The photographer handed the iPad to Luo Ying. ¡°Ms. Luo, feel free to choose.¡±


    Luo Ying held the iPad and thought of some evil ideas.


    There were a few very sexy photos in it. What would happen if she sent these to Lu Zhao?


    Luo Ying picked out a few decent photos and posted them on Weibo, while some of the more sexy ones were directly packaged and sent to Lu Zhao¡¯s inbox.


    [Lu Zhao, I want to choose a few photos to send to my fans. Why don¡¯t you choose?]


    Lu Zhao didn¡¯t respond for a long time. The photographer and Chi Tong had already packed their things and were ready to leave.


    The door to the greenhouse opened, and Lu Zhao strode in.


    When he saw Luo Ying still in a sexy little dress, he frowned and practically smothered her with a massive coat.


    Luo Ying quickly vanished from the world. In her place was a human-height mountain of fabric and a muffled voice.


    ¡°Thank you for your hard work. We have prepared some desserts. Please take them with you when you leave.¡± Lu Zhao smiled as he looked at Chi Tong and the photographer.


    The two of them saw that the master of the house had arrived, so they tactfully left.


    ¡°I want to eat Zhang¡¯s desserts too.¡± Luo Ying sensed danger, so she tried to follow Chi Tong out.


    She didn¡¯t expect to be pulled into Lu Zhao¡¯s arms.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Leaving now? Didn¡¯t you send me those pictures?¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s voice carried a predatory undertone.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m just giving the fans some benefits.¡± Luo Ying blinked her big eyes and looked at Lu Zhao.


    Lu Zhao felt an evil fire burning all over his body. This woman was asking for trouble.


    ¡°Absolutely not. They can only be my benefits, understand?¡±

 Chapter 99 - 99 Mentoring

    99 Mentoring


    Lu Zhao held Luo Ying in his arms.


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t struggle and let him hold her.


    ¡°On what basis? I¡¯m a celebrity. You¡¯re getting in the way of my career,¡± Luo Ying said disdainfully, but she still gently hugged Lu Zhao¡¯s waist.


    ¡°What if I can¡¯t make money in the future? You can support me,¡± Luo Ying said with a smile.


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll support you. Isn¡¯t my company enough to support you?¡± Lu Zhao said with a smile. He lifted Luo Ying¡¯s chin and lowered his head to kiss her.


    As their lips and tongues intertwined, the two of them got closer and closer. Luo Ying¡¯s hand was wrapped around Lu Zhao¡¯s neck, and her whole body was leaning against Lu Zhao.


    The fragrance of the flowers drifted, and Luo Ying felt a little overwhelmed.


    Lu Zhao sensed Luo Ying¡¯s unprecedented enthusiasm and hugged her even tighter. Luo Ying¡¯s entire body was pressed into Lu Zhao¡¯s arms.


    Lu Zhao unbuttoned his coat and snuck a hand into Luo Ying¡¯s skirt, stroking her thigh.


    When his fingertips touched something, Luo Ying¡¯s face suddenly turned red.


    ¡°No, Lu Zhao, wait. It¡¯s here today.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s face was red.


    Luo Ying¡¯s period just came today.


    She felt that her face had been burned to the color of a tomato.


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡± Luo Ying lowered her head and whispered, ¡°I just only remembered.¡±


    Lu Zhao didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. Was she trying to torture him?


    ¡°Alright, don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll take you back to rest, okay?¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s voice softened as he whispered into her ear.


    Luo Ying nodded and snuggled into Lu Zhao¡¯s arms, and Lu Zhao carried her to the bedroom.


    Lu Zhao put Luo Ying on the bed and covered her with a blanket.


    ¡°I still have something to do, I¡¯ll come down to accompany you,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Luo Ying shouted, and she reached out to Lu Zhao. ¡°Hug me before you leave.¡±


    Lu Zhao was charmed by Luo Ying¡¯s actions and slowly put his arm around the little woman.


    Luo Ying planted a kiss on Lu Zhao¡¯s face, and Lu Zhao was stunned for a moment.


    ¡°You¡¯re really such a tease.¡± Lu Zhao rubbed Luo Ying¡¯s head. ¡°Rest well.¡±


    Lu Zhao left after he finished speaking.


    Not long after, Zhang brought over a weighted blanket. The warmth quickly put her to sleep.


    When she woke up, she was woken up by the heat. Lu Zhao was holding her, his fingers slowly caressing her face.


    Gentle eyes fell on her face. At that moment, Luo Ying felt truly loved.


    ¡°Have you finished your discussion with Sirius?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    She had just woken up with a hoarse voice and looked very adorable.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you jealous?¡± Lu Zhao asked with a smile.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not. He¡¯s your good friend¡­¡± Luo Ying lowered her head and buried herself in Lu Zhao¡¯s arms.


    Lu Zhao ruffled her hair. ¡°I know that my friends still hold the past against you, but it¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll make it clear to them. I only like you, and we won¡¯t get a divorce anytime soon. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Luo Ying felt her face lighting up.


    Such affirmation truly warmed her heart.


    ¡°I actually have something to tell you today.¡± Luo Ying sat up and handed the iPad to Lu Zhao. ¡°Can you help me find this person?¡±


    There was a blurry figure on the iPad. He had fiery red hair and his face was covered by a mask, only revealing his handsome eyebrows.


    ¡°This person?¡± As Lu Zhao spoke, he touched his chin. ¡°Why are you looking for this person?¡±


    ¡°This person participated in a motorcycle race before, but he disappeared after he won the race. Many people have tried to contact him, but they couldn¡¯t get in touch with him. I want to sign him as an artist in my studio. What do you think?¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes sparkled as she looked at Lu Zhao.


    She wasn¡¯t lying, but she also couldn¡¯t explain to Lu Zhao that this man was actually her third brother.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get Xiao Ting to do it.¡± Lu Zhao nodded in agreement, but the expression on his face was complicated.


    This woman had actually mentioned another man in front of him. It was almost like she was trying to make him jealous.


    ¡°But why him?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    Luo Ying was at a loss for words. It was indeed a little difficult to explain herself.


    She wrapped her arms around Lu Zhao¡¯s neck. ¡°I think this guy is very handsome. If he becomes a star, many people will fall for him. Maybe he can make a lot of money for me.¡±

 Chapter 100 - 100 Ruffling Feathers

    100 Ruffling Feathers


    Lu Zhao looked at Luo Ying¡¯s smile. He reached out, lifted Luo Ying¡¯s chin, and kissed her. It was a long and gentle kiss.


    Luo Ying was dazed by Lu Zhao¡¯s sudden kiss.


    But one thing was for sure¡ªLu Zhao was jealous.


    ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Luo Ying said with a smile.


    Lu Zhao hugged her tightly and didn¡¯t answer. Even so, his actions said it all.


    ¡°I know. It¡¯s okay. You¡¯re much more handsome than him in my heart,¡± Luo Ying said while holding back her laughter.


    Lu Zhao was quite cute when he was jealous.


    Lu Zhao hugged her even tighter. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but I¡¯m always afraid that you¡¯ll leave me. I¡¯m afraid that you¡¯ll suddenly become a different person one day and ignore me.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t, don¡¯t worry.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s heartstrings were inexplicably tugged at by Lu Zhao¡¯s expression. This man¡¯s love for her was deeper than she had imagined.


    ¡°I won¡¯t leave you, don¡¯t worry. I promise I will always love you,¡± said Luo Ying.


    Lu Zhao nodded.


    The two of them fell onto the bed in each other¡¯s arms and slowly fell asleep.


    When she woke up again, it was already bright outside.


    Lu Zhao had already returned to the company to deal with some matters. On the table was a note: Get ready after you eat. I¡¯ll take you to a family dinner tonight.


    The family dinner Lu Zhao was talking about was none other than Grandfather Lu¡¯s birthday.


    Lu Zhao wasn¡¯t close to his family.


    Luo Ying recalled the plot in the novel.


    Lu Zhao was the illegitimate son of Grandfather Lu¡¯s eldest son. Grandfather Lu had four sons and two daughters.


    These two daughters were not easy to deal with, either. Neither of them ever got lawfully married, but they had brought in men to live under the same roof as the rest of the family.


    In the original novel, the daughter of the Lu family¡¯s first daughter, Lu Yao, was Su Ran¡¯s good friend.


    The original Luo Ying had been at odds with Lu Yao, so she would have to expect trouble from her.


    However, she was not afraid. With Lu Zhao around, she felt assured.


    At night, in the Lu Family¡¯s old mansion, Lu Yao was talking to her cousin, Lu Yu.


    ¡°I heard that the b*tch is coming too.¡± Lu Yu said. Whenever she mentioned Luo Ying, she would always use uncouth words.


    ¡°Su Ran told me that this woman shamelessly went to the Lin Family¡¯s banquet a few days ago, and now she¡¯s coming to our Lu Family. I really don¡¯t know what our dear cousin is thinking, letting this woman embarrass our family. He¡¯s really lost it,¡± Lu Yao said.


    Both of them hated Luo Ying and would often badmouth her when they were together.


    ¡°You two, be careful. Lu Zhao is bringing her back today for a reason. If Lu Zhao hears about this, wouldn¡¯t he wring your necks?¡± The eldest Lu Family daughter, Lu He, spoke up. She was a little worried. After all, her husband was working closely with the Lu Group.


    ¡°She¡¯s just a small-time actress. She does have a decent family background, but she¡¯s just an actress. It¡¯s not like anyone will hear what I¡¯m saying. What¡¯s there to worry about?¡± Lu Yu said.


    Lu Yao also chimed in from the side. ¡°That¡¯s right, mom. She¡¯s just a lucky actress who got into a relationship with Brother. Besides, she¡¯s never been to our family¡¯s banquet before.¡±


    ¡°Ahem.¡± A sudden cough broke the silence in the living room.


    The three of them turned to look at Lu Zhao and Luo Ying. They had shown up, and Luo Ying was holding on to Lu Zhao¡¯s arm.


    Where did this woman find the audacity to show up here? She was shameless!


    ¡°Sister-in-law, you¡¯re here. Hope you haven¡¯t lost your way,¡± Lu Yao said unhappily. ¡°This is the Lu Family, not the Lin Family.¡±


    Lu He patted her daughter¡¯s hand, indicating for her to stop spouting nonsense.


    ¡°I have nothing to do with the Lin family. I¡¯m Lu Zhao¡¯s wife. If I don¡¯t show up here, where else, then?¡± Luo Ying smiled and looked at everyone in the living room.


    Lu Yao was a little surprised to see Luo Ying. Luo Ying and Lu Zhao looked very intimate today, and the makeup on Luo Ying¡¯s face was completely different from usual. It was no longer the caked-up, overdone makeup, but it was clean, clear. It did not get in the way of her features, but complimented them.


    ¡°Ms. Lu He, Master Lu Zhao, please come with me. The Master and the Lady are waiting for you upstairs.¡± The family¡¯s steward, Li, walked over and spoke politely.


    Lu Zhao patted Luo Ying¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯ll head up first. You stay here. Call me if you need anything.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded and watched Lu Zhao go upstairs.

 Chapter 101 - 101 Conflict

    101 Conflict


    As she watched her brother walked up the stairs, Lu Yao smiled. ¡°Luo Ying, why are you here? Were you not trying your darn hardest to break free from us?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you may be an actress, but you don¡¯t have to make your real life so dramatic.¡± Lu Yu also spoke up.


    Luo Ying sat on the other side of the sofa and looked at her two sisters-in-law coldly.


    She remembered that one of them was Su Ran¡¯s friend. She was not even going to try playing nice with this one.


    ¡°Whatever you say. I¡¯m Lu Zhao¡¯s wife now, and we won¡¯t be getting a divorce anytime soon. Is that dramatic enough for you?¡± Luo Ying said.


    ¡°I know. Su Ran told me everything.¡± Lu Yao looked at Luo Ying with disdain. ¡°In that case, you do owe us an explanation. What¡¯s going on between you and that Lin Su? Their eldest sister invited you over, and you even stayed there for a night after the meal, right?¡±


    Lu Yao rolled her eyes at Luo Ying. ¡°Su Ran knew that you stayed at Lin Su¡¯s house for a night. She was so sad. You¡¯re already a married woman, but you¡¯re still hooking up with men on the outside. Where is your human decency?¡±


    Some relatives who were not familiar with Luo Ying were sitting in the living room, but they had more or less seen Luo Ying on the internet.


    When those relatives heard Lu Yao¡¯s words, they all started to discuss animatedly among themselves.


    ¡°Luo Ying is so shameless. I don¡¯t know what Lu Zhao was thinking, when he married such a woman.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a woman in the entertainment industry. It doesn¡¯t surprise me. Lin Su might not even be her only target.¡±


    ¡°She even jumped off a building to get rid of Lin Su. Now, she shamelessly showed up here.¡±


    Luo Ying noticed the unfriendly words and eyes of the surrounding people.


    She curled her lips into a smile. ¡°Ms. Lu, you¡¯re Su Ran¡¯s friend, and Su Ran is my colleague. You keep referring to my career like it¡¯s a bad thing. By extension, you¡¯re insulting your dear friend, right?¡±


    Lu Yao¡¯s face turned red and then white, but she refused to back down. ¡°How can you compare yourself to Su Ran? Su Ran is a proper actress, unlike you. Without my brother, would you even have a presence in the industry?¡±


    ¡°Dear lady, I¡¯ve participated in a proper talent show before. Please consider my status when you open your mouth. Even without Lu Zhao, I still have signed with a company and resources. But what do you have? Don¡¯t forget that you also participated in that talent show.¡± Luo Ying curved her lips and smiled.


    ¡°Ms. Lu Yao, was it? If memory serves me right, you were ranked 95th in a competition with only 99 people. On top of that, two of them have already pulled out from the competition,¡± Luo Ying said with a smile.


    Lu Yao¡¯s face was completely red.


    Back then, she even had to pay an entry fee. She had even paid to be featured in advertisements and had backdoor dealings with cameramen and crew. Even so, there was barely a smidgen of her footprint online. She was eliminated before she could even see Luo Ying.


    ¡°You¡¯re a spiteful vixen, aren¡¯t you?!¡± Lu Yao was filled with righteous indignation. ¡°You should first fix your stupid matters before researching nobodies like me!¡±


    ¡°I did have some emotional entanglements with Lin Su before, it¡¯s all long buried. I¡¯m now Lu Zhao¡¯s wife. Do you need me to show you the marriage certificate?¡± Luo Ying retorted sarcastically.


    The divorce had never picked off, and now that Lu Yao was trying to pick a fight with her, the Lu family¡¯s relatives might use this matter to prod at Lu Zhao¡¯s back, so she had to gain some ground for him today.


    ¡°You!¡± Lu Yao said.


    Luo Ying looked at Lu Yao and sneered. ¡°Don¡¯t forget that you told your dear friend, Su Ran, about the grudge between you and that top-class man. He already has a girlfriend, so what were you trying to do with him?¡± Luo Ying said and left the hall.


    The Lu Family was full of problematic humans. She did not want to share a room with them any longer than necessary. She walked out of the living room and went to the small garden outside.


    The Lu Family¡¯s garden was massive, and it was filled with all sorts of flowers. The roses were just beginning to bloom.


    Luo Ying couldn¡¯t help but walk into the depths of the rose garden. The fragrance of roses filled her nose.


    Just then, a group of servants walked past her, and one of them bumped into Luo Ying.


    A cup of coffee fell on her.


    She was wearing a long white dress, and the coffee instantly stained it.

 Chapter 102 - 102 Framing

    102 Framing


    ¡°Ms. Luo, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry.¡± The servant kneeled down. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I didn¡¯t mean it.¡±


    Luo Ying never liked to make things difficult for others, so she said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Please get up. Just help me find a room to change my clothes. I have some spare clothes.¡±


    She had already expected a tumultuous dinner. Luo Ying had already prepared spare clothes in advance.


    The servant glanced at Luo Ying. Her eyes narrowed in cunning.


    ¡°I¡¯ll bring you to the guest room. Please follow me.¡±


    The servant took Luo Ying through the rose garden and into a small house at the back. It was a small house in an older section of the compound that was no longer occupied.


    The house had been well-maintained.


    The servant opened the door and led Luo Ying in. She pointed to one of the rooms and said, ¡°Miss Luo, you can change here. I¡¯ll wait for you outside.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded and walked into the room with the spare clothes in her arms.


    She was suspicious of the situation and turned around to look at the furnishings in the room.


    She spotted a simple bed, a cabinet, and a bookshelf.


    There was a window without any curtains, and right there was a large bush.


    This bush was an ideal hiding place.


    Luo Ying stared at the bush. She didn¡¯t change her clothes.


    In the dark bushes outside the window, Lu Yao was staring at her closely. There was a young man beside her.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t Luo Ying fall for it? Why hasn¡¯t she gotten changed? Did she notice something?¡± Lu Yao frowned and slowly turned the camera in her hand toward Luo Ying.


    ¡°Hey, Driver. What¡¯s your name again? Chen? Can you go beat up Lu Yao? Just knock her unconscious,¡± Lu Yao said to the man beside her.


    Chen¡¯s voice trembled as he replied, ¡°Madam, isn¡¯t this a little inappropriate? After all, Luo Ying is Master Lu Zhao¡¯s wife. If we do anything to her, we may both lose our lives.¡±


    ¡°What are you afraid of? If something happens, I¡¯ll help you. Besides, Grandpa will protect me. I¡¯ll protect you.¡± Lu Yao sounded a little impatient.


    ¡°She¡¯s really cautious. She¡¯s not going to bare it all for us now. I¡¯ll leave it to you, Chen,¡± Lu Yao said.


    She knew that Luo Ying had somehow gotten hold of a video of Su Ran almost being violated and even used it to spread rumors about Chang Yuan and Su Ran. She had been holding a grudge against her for a long time.


    Today, she was going to avenge her friend and let Luo Ying have a taste of what it was like to be photographed by others.


    Luo Ying looked at the swaying bushes outside and darted to the side of the closet.


    The moment she hid beside the closet, the window was pushed open. A strong man climbed over the window and stood in the middle of the room. He looked around and muttered, ¡°Where did she go? How did she disappear?¡±


    Chen was a little flustered. Could Luo Ying have found him?


    Just as he was about to jump back to the bush, a slender hand chopped his neck from behind.


    Chen fell unconscious.


    Luo Ying clapped her hands free of dust and looked at the man on the ground.


    Lu Yao, who was standing outside with a camera in her hand, trembled all over.


    After Luo Ying beat up Chen, she had looked out of the window and smiled at her through the camera.


    It was like meeting a ghost. This woman was too sharp.


    Lu Yao put away her camera in a panic and was about to run in the other direction, but she was caught by Luo Ying, who had jumped out of the window.


    ¡°Lu Yao, I didn¡¯t expect you to be a voyeur. The Luo Family is truly full of talents,¡± Luo Ying said with a smile.


    Lu Yao tried to struggle, but Luo Ying easily got her in a chokehold.


    ¡°You¡¯d better not do anything to me. Otherwise, my grandfather will not let you off. Help! Help!¡± Lu Yao shouted.


    Luo Ying covered her mouth. ¡°Behave yourself, or I¡¯ll throw you into your lake.¡±


    Lu Yao stopped struggling. Luo Ying was serious.


    Luo Ying let go of the hand covering Lu Yao¡¯s mouth. Lu Yao spluttered, ¡°You vicious woman, you¡¯ll get your just desserts in the future.¡±

 Chapter 103 - 103 Accusations

    103 Accusations


    ¡°Just desserts? How am I vicious?¡± Luo Ying was a little confused.


    She actually couldn¡¯t understand where Lu Yao¡¯s hostility towards her was coming from. In the original novel, these two characters had not even met.


    The two of them were never supposed to end up confronting each other here.


    ¡°Why are you still pretending? You can go ahead and lie to my brother, but you¡¯re trying to pull off the same thing with me. You¡¯re really disgusting!¡± Lu Yao said, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for you, Su Ran wouldn¡¯t have been framed twice in a row. She almost lost her virginity and was even caught on camera.¡±


    Luo Ying pondered over Lu Yao¡¯s words. Su Ran had almost lost her virginity twice. Once was with Chang Yuan, and the other was a long time ago.


    She did not know how Lu Yao came to such an understanding.


    When Luo Ying said nothing, Lu Yao scolded her, ¡°Luo Ying, you¡¯re really shameless. How can you live in such bliss now? Poor Su Ran was victimized time and time again. You deserve to die.¡±


    Luo Ying reached out and hit her on the neck. Everything fell silent.


    Luo Ying loosened her shoulders, moved Lu Yao to the side of the bed, and threw her into the room. At that moment, she picked up a strange scent.


    It was just like it was at the Lin Residence. It was the aphrodisiac.


    Lu Yao had not held anything back for the sake of her friend. This aphrodisiac was probably meant to make her do something with the man, and Lu Yao was holding a camera in her hand.


    Unfortunately, Luo Ying would not let her ridiculously misguided idea of revenge go as she wished.


    She walked to the place where the fragrance was coming from and snuffed out the incense. The ashes were poured into the ashtray. She looked at Lu Yao and the unconscious man and frowned.


    She decided to leave the two of them there.


    She stood up and walked to the bathroom next door. She changed into a set of spare clothes and walked out.


    The servant saw Luo Ying and opened her mouth in surprise. ¡°Ms. Luo, why are you here?¡±


    Luo Ying smiled at her. ¡°I¡¯m done changing. What¡¯s the matter? Is something odd?¡±


    A hint of panic flashed past the servant¡¯s eyes. Something had not gone to plan.


    Did Ms. Lu Yao change her plans?


    The servant brought Luo Ying back to the banquet hall in confusion.


    The banquet hall was already full of guests. Only Lu Zhao and the Old Master were not present.


    Several elders frowned.


    ¡°Ms. Luo, have you been looking at our garden for too long?¡± Lu He asked. ¡°Why have you only come now?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s really rude to make the whole family wait.¡± The one who spoke was the daughter-in-law of the Lu Family¡¯s second son, Hu Ya. She had never liked Lu Zhao, and she hated Lu Zhao¡¯s impolite wife even more.


    ¡°A servant spilled coffee on my clothes just now, so I went to the small house in the back to change,¡± Luo Ying said.


    The moment she finished speaking, everyone fell silent.


    The small house behind the garden was not a simple structure. It used to be the matriach¡¯s residence, but a terrible scandal had happened there, decades ago.


    She had affairs with multiple servants in that house.


    From then on, this place became a forbidden zone for everyone.


    ¡°Who allowed you to go to that place? Don¡¯t you know that it¡¯s a forbidden area in our family?¡± Lu He screamed loudly, ¡°You¡¯re too much! You even got changed there! How dare you?!¡±


    ¡°Aunty, I¡¯m sure someone like Luo Ying would have done more than just changed her clothes. After she married my brother, she was still thinking about how to seduce other people. I¡¯m sure there was ample time for her to complete a full session with someone there!¡± Lu Yu said.


    Lu Yu knew about Lu Yao¡¯s plan. It was odd that Luo Ying came back with none of their servants, but she was here, nonetheless.


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes lingered on Lu Yu for a moment. She roughly understood what the pair had been planning and smiled knowingly¡­


    ¡°That sounds interesting. Oh, my. How scandalous of me! Why don¡¯t you come with me, Ms. Lu? I¡¯ll help you find evidence of it.¡±


    Lu Yu furrowed her brows. What was Luo Ying playing at? Did nothing really happen?

 Chapter 104 - 104 Firestarter

    104 Firestarter


    ¡°Ms. Luo has spoken. Let¡¯s go with her. It will clear the air and save us all the trouble,¡± Lu He said.


    ¡°You should also know by now that we don¡¯t allow anyone to go to that place in our house. I¡¯m going to see if you¡¯ve stolen anything from there.¡±


    Luo Ying smiled and nodded. ¡°Please do.¡±


    The group of people walked in the direction of the small house.


    For some reason, Lu Yu was a little flustered. By now, Lu Yao should have arrived with the recording. Could something have happened?


    The more Lu Yu thought about it, the more terrified she felt.


    Luo Ying brought the people to the room where she had changed her clothes.


    ¡°Here we are. Are you satisfied now?¡±


    Lu Yu bit the bullet and nodded. ¡°Our family has always been strict. Someone like you does not suit us. You¡¯d best open the door and stop playing any tricks.¡±


    Luo Ying remained calm. She smiled under everyone¡¯s scrutinizing gazes.


    She pushed the door open, and everyone filed in. They were greeted by a scene beyond their imaginations.


    Lu Yao was lying on the bed in the middle of the room, while one of their drivers, Chen, was lying on the other side.


    Their clothes were still intact, and it didn¡¯t seem like anything had happened.


    However, a man and a woman being alone in a room like this was enough for people to jump to conclusions.


    The group did not need any encouragement to start discussing amongst themselves.


    ¡°Why is Ms. Lu Yao here? She¡¯s such a chaste lady. How could she be with the driver?¡±


    ¡°Lu Yu, is this your method of informing us about your cousin¡¯s habits? Isn¡¯t it a little too much?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. She¡¯s still your cousin. You could have tried talking her out of it before going nuclear.¡±


    Lu Yu¡¯s face alternated between red and white. She stared at Lu He in fear.


    ¡°Lu Yu, what exactly are you up to here? Why did you bring us here to humiliate my daughter before the entire family? ¡± Lu He shouted loudly. She quickly walked to the side of the bed and shook Lu Yao awake.


    Lu Yao slowly woke up. She looked at the entire room and realized what had happened. Tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°I was walking outside. I have no idea why Luo Ying knocked me out and threw me in here.¡±


    Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to Luo Ying.


    It seemed like Lu Yu and Luo Ying had colluded to frame Lu Yao.


    ¡°How shameless. You worked with Lu Yu to frame my daughter. You put my daughter together with the servant and then arranged for Lu Yu and yourself to call everyone here to catch her in the act of adultery. You¡¯re really vicious,¡± Lu He said.


    ¡°Aunt, what does this have to do with me? All of this was clearly arranged by Luo Ying¡­¡± Before Lu Yu could finish her sentence, she felt Lu Yao¡¯s venomous gaze on her.


    ¡°Mom, Lu Yu and Luo Ying must have planned this. This driver was originally Lu Yao¡¯s lover, and I found out about their affair, which led to this.¡±


    ¡°Lu Yu!¡± Lu Yao screamed. ¡°We grew up together! Why are you doing this? Are you jealous of me being close to Jin Shi?¡±


    Jin Shi was one of Lu Yao¡¯s many targets in her attempt to have an affair.


    He was a top celebrity with a girlfriend, but Lu Yao still kept pestering him. This scandal had once made the headlines in the entertainment industry.


    ¡°Why bring Jin Shi up now? Lu Yao, you¡¯re such a schemer. Why didn¡¯t I realize that about you much sooner?¡± Lu Yu said.


    ¡°Mom, Lu Yu is a traitor. She sided with an outsider like Luo Ying to humiliate me.¡± Lu Yao was crying like a pear blossom tree bathed in rain.¡± Lu He felt rage overwhelm her.


    ¡°Our Lu Family is one of honor and respect. How did we even raise such wretched women like you? Men, punish her!¡± Lu He said through gritted teeth.


    ¡°Before you invoke the family law, you should first get to the bottom of the matter. Aunt, what evidence do you have to prove that I was involved in any way?¡± Luo Ying said in a calm voice, and the whole room fell silent.


    Everything they had heard so far was Lu Yao¡¯s one-sided story. Perhaps the truth could be something else entirely.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you saying that my daughter sacrificed her innocence to wound you? You¡¯re really shameless. You can say anything you want.¡±


    Lu He seemed to grow even angrier.


    ¡°What if I have the evidence to suggest otherwise?¡±

 Chapter 105 - 105 Bygones

    105 Bygones


    Everyone stared at Luo Ying. They wanted to see what evidence she could come up with.


    ¡°I have a camera here that Lu Yao had planned to use to frame me just now. There should be a recording in it. I¡¯ll play it for everyone to hear,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Lu Yao¡¯s eyes widened when she heard what Luo Ying said. Was Luo Ying going to play everything? That would also implicate Su Ran¡­


    Lu He patted her daughter¡¯s back. ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯m not worried.¡±


    Lu He wasn¡¯t worried that her daughter would do anything. After all, she had watched her daughter grow up. Moreover, this was the Lu Family. Even if this woman wanted to stir up any trouble, she did not have much power over the other people.


    Luo Ying pressed the play button.


    The conversation between Lu Yao and the driver played on.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t Luo Ying fall for it? Why hasn¡¯t she gotten changed? Did she notice something?¡±


    ¡°Hey, driver. What¡¯s your name again? Chen? Can you go beat up Lu Yao? Just knock her unconscious.¡±


    ¡°Madam, isn¡¯t this a little inappropriate? After all, Luo Ying is Master Lu Zhao¡¯s wife. If we do anything to her, we may both lose our lives.¡±


    ¡°What are you afraid of? If something happens, I¡¯ll help you. Besides, Grandpa will protect me. I¡¯ll protect you.¡±


    Everyone in the room was shocked when they heard that.


    Lu Yao had actually schemed against his own sister-in-law so brazenly. She had even invoked her grandfather¡¯s name.


    ¡°How dare you! Anyone can use text-to-speech these days. Luo Ying, you¡¯re shameless!¡± Lu Yao shouted.


    However, her words no longer sounded convincing. After all, how could Luo Ying have synthesized her voice in such a short time?


    Luo Ying looked at Lu Yao and laughed coldly. ¡°You¡¯re only going against me because of Su Ran, aren¡¯t you? Put away your pitiful sense of loyalty. Do you think you¡¯re the only one capable of such schemes? Wait for the day when someone tries it on you.¡±


    Luo Ying sized Lu Yao up. ¡°Wait, do you actually believe that Su Ran would protect you from the aftermath? She has to, right? You took such a big risk for her.¡±


    Lu Yao shuddered violently. Luo Ying had hit the mark.


    ¡°Luo Ying, what are you doing? Why are you humiliating your in-laws?¡± Lu He asked.


    Luo Ying laughed. Why was she getting the blame again?


    ¡°Looks like we¡¯re at an impasse. Why don¡¯t we leave this to the law, Aunt?¡± Luo Ying suggested.


    While everyone fell silent, an old man¡¯s voice was heard. ¡°What are you guys doing here?¡±


    Everyone made way for an elderly man to be wheeled into the room by a servant. This man was none other than Old Master Lu.


    Behind him was Lu Zhao. Lu Zhao quickly walked to Luo Ying¡¯s side and reached out to pull her into his arms.


    Old Master Lu¡¯s eyes scanned Luo Ying from head to toe. Then, he looked at the driver and Lu Yao on the bed.


    ¡°Get that man out of my sight. He no longer works for us,¡± he said.


    His eyes stopped on Lu Yao. ¡°Lu Yao, what¡¯s wrong with you? Are you not satisfied with the marriage I arranged for you? Every time you start a fuss, I learn that you¡¯re either trying to get into the pants of some small-time actor or a servant.¡±


    ¡°Grandfather, no, I¡­¡± Lu Yao stammered. ¡°Luo Ying did this.¡±


    Old Master Lu looked at Lu Zhao. ¡°What¡¯s up with your wife? Why is she preying on my granddaughter?¡±


    Lu Yao was overjoyed. It seemed like her grandfather was taking her side. Her eyes lit up. ¡°Luo Ying wanted to harm my best friend, Su Ran. I stood up for her, so this happened.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? Ms. Lu, why don¡¯t we ask everyone who just heard the recording if they think so, or should I play the recording for your grandfather?¡± Luo Ying said with a cold smile.


    Lu Yao shivered and lowered her head.


    Lu He spoke up. ¡°Lu Zhao, whoever the culprit is, I won¡¯t hold it against you anymore. Please calm your wife down too. Today is the Old Master¡¯s birthday banquet. We can¡¯t disrespect him by squabbling on such a day, right?¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s gaze was cold and sharp as he looked at Lu He. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying, Aunt. Why are you letting her off so easily now? Did she not just try to ruin your daughter¡¯s life? Shouldn¡¯t you investigate this matter thoroughly?¡±

 Chapter 106 - 106 Family Ruling

    106 Family Ruling


    The entire place fell silent at Lu Zhao¡¯s words.


    Everyone had heard the recording, and they all knew what Lu Yao was up to. However, Lu He was trying to let this matter slide under the pretense of respect for the Patriarch¡¯s birthday.


    ¡°Aunt, are you willing to let me go? So, it¡¯s true that there¡¯s an affair between the driver and Lu Yao?¡± Luo Ying said coldly.


    Lu He was rendered speechless by the rebuttal of the two.


    After all, if they were to investigate this matter in detail, they would definitely find out that Lu Yao had attempted to set Luo Ying up. However, if they did not work on this case, the private affair between Lu Yao and the driver would remain hanging in the air, open to speculation and conjecture. The cruel society would not hesitate to gossip about this for decades to come.


    ¡°Aunt, I think you should investigate this matter. What do you think, Grandpa?¡± Lu Zhao looked at Old Master Lu, his voice steady.


    Old Master Lu did not sound pleased. ¡°Lu Yao, you have misbehaved. From today onwards, you no longer have to work at the company anymore. No allowance for the next few months as well. Stay home and reflect on your mistakes.


    Old Master Lu seemed to have passed decisive judgment, but he was just trying to keep the peace. Lu Yao was a sleeping boss within the company, so it made no difference.


    As for the matters of the allowance and self-reflection, they mattered even less


    Lu Yao¡¯s reputation had indeed been ruined, but it did not matter to the Lu Family.


    At the same time, this also meant that Luo Ying could no longer pursue the matter.


    Lu Zhao remained silent for a moment. He stared coldly at Lu Yao. ¡°I won¡¯t be seeing you at work.¡±


    Lu Yao nodded while trembling slightly. She was very afraid of this cousin of hers.


    Although he was an illegitimate child, he was ruthless. No one in the Lu Family could compare to him.


    The rumors she had heard also seemed to have been inaccurate. He seemed to care a lot about his wife. If she tried to harm her again, she would not be let off so lightly.


    ¡°Aunty, you have gained a lot from collaborating with my company. Perhaps it¡¯s time to stop.¡± Lu Zhao looked at Lu He and said coldly.


    Lu He¡¯s husband indeed worked with the company.


    However, he had also embezzled a lot of money by using his position, but this was almost an open secret.


    If Lu Zhao decided to stop turning a blind eye, it was a simple matter.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, you!¡± Lu He shouted.


    Lu Zhao had already walked out of the door with Luo Ying in his arms, ignoring Lu He¡¯s loud screams behind him.


    The crowd also made their way to the banquet hall.


    Lu Zhao stroked Luo Ying¡¯s hair. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if the old man doesn¡¯t deal with Lu Yao, I have my own ways to deal with my aunt and uncle.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded. ¡°What did your grandfather say to you?¡±


    She vaguely remembered that in the original novel, the old man didn¡¯t seem to be very fond of Luo Ying. Today¡¯s events had confirmed it. The old man had let Lu Yao go with barely a slap on the wrist.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t say anything.¡± Lu Zhao subconsciously raised his chin.


    It was his habitual twitch whenever he was frustrated.


    If anyone opposed him and Luo Ying being together, he didn¡¯t mind destroying the other party completely, even if they were his family.


    Everyone sat down in the banquet hall, and the banquet officially began.


    Lu Yu¡¯s eyes were fixed on Luo Ying¡¯s face.


    Although Lu Zhao had always been ruthless, he had never taken revenge on anyone for personal reasons, much less threaten them publicly.


    However, he had just dealt Lu He a blow in front of Luo Ying. It seemed that Luo Ying could not be underestimated.


    Luo Ying had been able to charm Lu Zhao to an extent that none of them ever saw coming.


    ¡°I offended you just now. Please don¡¯t take it to heart, Ms. Luo,¡± Hu Ya looked at Luo Ying and said.


    Her seat was right next to Luo Ying¡¯s, and she was enthusiastically pouring wine and serving food for Luo Ying.


    The second son of the Lu Family also worked in the company. If Lu Zhao coughed, their family would probably be in trouble.


    ¡°Second Aunt, you don¡¯t need to be so polite. After all, you never said anything out of line, right?¡± Luo Ying looked at Hu Ya with a smile.


    Hu Ya couldn¡¯t help but tremble.


    Why was Lu Zhao¡¯s wife as scary as Lu Zhao himself?


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Second Aunt. You can eat by yourself. I¡¯ll take care of the food for my wife. Second Aunt, you just have to do your own thing,¡± Lu Zhao said.

 Chapter 107 - 107 A Mysterious Identity

    107 A Mysterious Identity


    Hu Ya¡¯s hand that was holding the chopsticks froze. She looked at Luo Ying and smiled awkwardly. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it that way. After all, I said some unpleasant things. I hope you don¡¯t take them to heart.¡±


    Luo Ying ignored Hu Ya¡¯s words and started to eat.


    People like Hu Ya bullied the weak and feared the strong. If Luo Ying forgave her so easily, she might pop back up to annoy her in the future.


    Since Luo Ying and Lu Zhao were ignoring her, Hu Ya put away her chopsticks dejectedly.


    Because of Lu Yao¡¯s matter, the old man was in a foul mood. He simply went through the motions and retired to his study early.


    Many guests tactfully took their leave.


    Lu Zhao sat in the car and held Luo Ying¡¯s hand. ¡°In the future, don¡¯t hold back. You must keep me in the loop, understood?¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Luo Ying slowly leaned on Lu Zhao.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s broad shoulders gave her a sense of security.


    Just a few days after the banquet, the branch where Lu He¡¯s husband worked was closed down, and Lu He¡¯s husband was fired.


    Luo Ying sighed with emotion as she watched the news. Lu Zhao was as efficient as he was ruthless.


    She lay on the bed and ate some snacks while reading the news on her phone.


    The season¡¯s filming of Music Center was almost done, and she could finally take a short vacation.


    After that, she was going to hire more key individuals. By the time Music Center was released, her studio would almost be complete. Then, she could leave Lin Su¡¯s company and draw a clear line with that b*stard.


    She was watching a recently released TV series. As she lazily scrolled through the news, her hand suddenly stopped.


    The person on the news was none other than Jin Shi, the man whom Lu Yao had been pestering.


    Oddly, Jin Shi looked exactly like her third brother.


    Red hair, sharp eyes, and a temperament that repelled strangers.


    Luo Ying was shocked.


    Was this man really her third brother?


    Luo Ying dug deeper and read on.


    Jin Shi used to be one of the top celebrities in the entertainment industry. His career kicked off during a talent show. He was an independent artist with an annual income of tens of millions of dollars.


    A small advertisement endorsement with him was already worth a few million.


    However, more than a year ago, he seemed to have temporarily left the entertainment industry to settle some family matters. But now, he had announced his comeback.


    Some people speculated that this top celebrity had concealed his identity and become a racer. After all, a mysterious red-haired player had won the world motorcycle cross-country race that had recently ended.


    Luo Ying called Chi Tong¡¯s phone to inquire about him.


    ¡°Jin Shi?¡± Chi Tong found it a little odd. ¡°He is indeed rather popular, but the female stars that he worked with in the past often suffer from online abuse because of the various scandals surrounding him. You¡¯d take a big risk working with him.¡±


    ¡°No, no, no. It¡¯s not about that. I think he¡¯s a good actor. Moreover, he¡¯s an independent artist and is not attached to any studios. I was thinking¡­¡± Before Luo Ying could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by Chi Tong.


    ¡°Well, Jin Shi¡¯s family is very rich, and he¡¯s actually with the best studio in the city. There is no way we can offer him anything, but you might be able to sign up as an artist in his studio.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes lit up. This could work. After all, as long as she could meet Jin Shi, she could confirm whether this person was her third brother.


    ¡°How about this? There¡¯s a new movie called ¡®Dancing Shoes and Summer¡¯. It¡¯s Director Cheng Yang¡¯s new movie. There¡¯s a role for you there. It¡¯s a young girl. She doesn¡¯t have many scenes, but we can try to get her. This movie is Jin Shi¡¯s comeback feature, so we can use this to get in touch with him.¡±


    ¡°Dancing Shoes and Summer¡±?


    If Luo Ying remembered correctly, this movie was Su Ran¡¯s breakout role. Su Ran played the role of the male lead¡¯s girlfriend in the movie, and she skyrocketed to popularity.


    However, in the original novel, the male lead was played by Lin Su. Why was it Jin Shi now?


    The world had changed.


    Luo Ying looked at the man on the screen and fell into deep thought.

 Chapter 108 - 108 Giving Up The Role

    108 Giving Up The Role


    On the day of the audition, Luo Ying arrived at site on time.


    This drama could almost be called a female idol drama. There were more than a dozen female characters, and the entire hall was filled with girls in all kinds of beautiful clothes.


    Luo Ying also saw Su Ran among them.


    Su Ran seemed to have recovered quite well. She wore a white ballet dress, and she was practicing some basic ballet.


    She was probably auditioning for the role of the female lead, a girl who liked ballet.


    Luo Ying was suddenly pulled into the room behind her.


    ¡°What the?¡± Luo Ying shook off the man and spun around. She saw a familiar face.


    It was Lin Su.


    Lin Su¡¯s face had not fully recovered from the blow she delivered the other day. It was no wonder that he had not been active recently, saying that he was sick and recuperating at home.


    This was probably why he was not the male lead in this movie.


    ¡°Luo Ying, what have you done to our family?¡± Lin Su growled and looked at Luo Ying. He grabbed Luo Ying¡¯s wrist and Luo Ying grimaced in pain.


    ¡°What could I possibly do to your family?¡± Luo Ying was a little impatient, not understanding what Lin Su was up to.


    ¡°I know what my sister did that day was wrong, but you can¡¯t send my brother-in-law to that kind of place, right? Also, why would you expose the relationship between my brother-in-law and that small-time star?¡± Lin Su said. ¡°Our family¡¯s stock price has taken a major dip. Aren¡¯t you trying to kill our family?¡±


    Luo Ying smiled coldly.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Lin Lu single? What brother-in-law are you talking about? Also, that small-time star always already involved with Wu Wei. What does it have to do with you?¡± Luo Ying suddenly put on an expression of sudden realization. ¡°Wait. Wu Wei helps you run D¡¯Corporeal. It all makes sense now. Is he your actual brother-in-law?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Lin Su was rendered speechless by Luo Ying¡¯s rebuttal.


    These things were indeed the secrets of the Lin family, and Luo Ying should not have known them.


    ¡°I know what you want to say, Lin Su. But I can¡¯t easily let slide what your family has done to me. Do you understand?¡± Luo Ying said.


    ¡°I know my sister crossed the line, and I would like to apologize to you, but can you call Lu Zhao off first?¡± Lin Su looked at Luo Ying with pleading eyes.


    ¡°Please, we¡¯ve been friends for so many years,¡± Lin Su said.


    Luo Ying almost felt like laughing.


    They had acted like sub-humans, yet they were still begging for forgiveness. She could not imagine how shameless they could be.


    ¡°I really didn¡¯t know anything about it. My sister knows that she¡¯s in the wrong. Our family can give you whatever compensation you want, or I can apologize to you. If you want me to be with you, that¡¯s fine too.¡± Lin Su sounded anxious.


    This was getting complicated.


    The Lin Family was already on the verge of collapse. After so many years of poor management, in addition to the fact that their original source of income had been cut off, their family was fated for doom.


    ¡°Please, I beg you. We can¡¯t do this anymore.¡±


    Lin Su looked at Luo Ying and fell on his knees with a thud. ¡°Can you let my family go, on account of how much you liked me before?¡±


    Luo Ying was shocked. Since when could this man put himself beneath others?


    ¡°Look. I have not sent your entire family to prison. Did you notice that? I don¡¯t know what else you want me to do, but Lu Zhao¡¯s actions against you aren¡¯t unfounded. It¡¯s not like you¡¯d expect him to forget about the assassination attempt on him,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Lin Su felt his blood run cold. Didn¡¯t Luo Ying¡¯s words mean that Lu Zhao was going to completely destroy their family?


    The Lin Family¡¯s many years of business was going to be destroyed, just like that?


    Lin Su was unwilling to accept this.


    ¡°Lin Lu has treated you well for so many years. Can you at least let the Lin Family live on for Lin Lu¡¯s sake?¡± Lin Su pleaded.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you think of this when you tried to rape me into marriage and use me as a lab rat? Don¡¯t expect any forgiveness from me. Go and ask God for it.¡± Luo Ying turned around and was about to leave when she was pulled back by Lin Su.


    Lin Su¡¯s hand clamped down on her, and a sharp knife was pointed at her neck.


    ¡°Luo Ying, you really left me with no choice. Lu Zhao cares so much about you. You can be a hostage for our safety.¡±


    Lin Su¡¯s voice was like a ghost¡¯s. He had already lost his mind.


    Luo Ying felt nothing but disappointment.


    Human and drug trafficking, attempted rape, and now, forced coercion at knifepoint. She had to hold back her laughter.

 Chapter 109 - 109 I Believe Him

    109 I Believe Him


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t struggle. She remained still.


    She knew that Lu Zhao would definitely come and save her.


    The voices outside covered the sounds in the room. Lin Su was slightly trembling behind her.


    ¡°You¡¯re holding me hostage, but why are you so scared?¡± Luo Ying smiled and said, ¡°Are you afraid of Lu Zhao? ¡±


    Lin Su snorted. ¡°Why would I be afraid of Lu Zhao? He¡¯s an unscrupulous thug. Why should I be afraid of him?¡±


    Luo Ying found it funny. During her time with Lu Zhao, she had never noticed him partaking in anything illegal. On the contrary, Lin Su who had let her see his true colors again and again.


    ¡°You¡¯re the thug. You didn¡¯t think that I wouldn¡¯t know what D¡¯Corporeal was involved in? Lin Su, don¡¯t think that you can hide behind Wu Wei¡¯s actions. Your family does not have clean hands, either.¡± Luo Ying laughed sarcastically.


    Lin Su had never felt this powerless in his life.


    Luo Ying had a sharpened her tongue and had fallen to Lu Zhao¡¯s side, criticizing him. She had once devoted her entire life to him, but she was now gone.


    After about half an hour, the noise outside stopped, and the door was violently opened. Lu Zhao appeared in the room with his men.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, you¡¯re here.¡± Lin Su looked at Lu Zhao. His eyes were full of hatred.


    ¡°If you want Luo Ying to live, you¡¯d better let the Lin Family go.¡±


    Lu Zhao laughed coldly. ¡°What right do you have to ask that of me? Based on your capabilities, or based on the love that you think Luo Ying still has for you?¡±


    Lu Zhao looked at Lin Su. His eyes lit up with sarcasm.


    Lin Su felt that he had been ruthlessly humiliated, but Lu Zhao didn¡¯t care about his threat at all.


    ¡°Luo Ying, did you hear that?¡± Lin Su said. ¡°You don¡¯t matter to Lu Zhao. He¡¯s not even willing to let the Lin Family go for you.¡±


    Luo Ying thought that Lin Su was really stupid. Lin Su certainly couldn¡¯t beat so many people by himself.


    He did not have any control over the situation. If anything, he was a laughingstock.


    Just as Lin Su was about to say something, a gunshot was heard. A bullet grazed past his knee. It was a flesh wound that had deliberately missed his bone.


    The glass behind him cracked.


    ¡°You¡¯ve brought a sniper?¡± Lin Su let go of Luo Ying in pain and kneeled on the ground.


    Luo Ying threw herself into Lu Zhao¡¯s arms and hugged him tightly.


    ¡°There¡¯s your so-called Lu Zhao, the white knight who isn¡¯t a thug. Luo Ying, you¡¯re so funny,¡± Lin Su said with a cold smile.


    Luo Ying ignored Lin Su¡¯s words. Instead, she looked at Lu Zhao.


    Lin Su felt like breaking down. He covered his bleeding leg and collapsed on the ground. ¡°Lu Zhao, do you feel happy to have a woman I once had?¡±


    ¡°Lin Su, do you still think this is a game?¡± Lu Zhao asked coldly. He looked at Lin Su as if he had been frozen in an ice cellar.


    ¡°Sure I do,¡± Lin Su laughed self-deprecatingly. ¡°If only you¡¯ve seen how she tried to climb into my bed before, you¡¯ll find it very interesting.¡±


    Before Lin Su could finish, Lu Zhao had bolted up.


    Luo Ying quickly stopped Lu Zhao. ¡°We don¡¯t have to do anything to him.¡±


    Lu Zhao looked at Luo Ying. The woman¡¯s eyes were full of concern for him. He retracted his hand and slowly sat down, sizing up Lin Su with cold eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a merciless killer, but if you do this to Luo Ying again, I won¡¯t let you off.¡± After Lu Zhao finished speaking, he left with Luo Ying.


    The audition was still going on, but they had moved upstairs.


    ¡°Are we going home?¡± Lu Zhao looked at Luo Ying and asked.


    Luo Ying had prepared heavily for this audition, but after this incident, he did not know if she was still up for it.


    ¡°I¡¯m carrying on. Don¡¯t worry about me,¡± Luo Ying said to Lu Zhao.


    She needed to meet Jin Shi and confirm if Jin Shi was her brother.


    Lu Zhao nodded. I¡¯ll get Xiao Ting to protect you here.


    Luo Ying wanted to refuse, but when she thought of what Lin Su had just done, she decided to let Xiao Ting follow her.

 Chapter 110 - 110 Accident

    110 Accident


    Many had come for the audition, and they were all gathered in the hall upstairs.


    Luo Ying walked up the stairs. She had just changed into a new dress. It had a very long hem that could easily trip people up.


    Luo Ying walked up carefully, afraid that she would trip over her skirt when she walked.


    She was abruptly stopped by a jerk. Luo Ying felt that her skirt seemed to have snagged on to something.


    She turned around and saw that the handsome man frowning at his button, where her skirt had found purchase.


    Luo Ying smacked her forehead. Her greatest fear had come true.


    Luo Ying looked up at the other party. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. My dress is quite a handful.¡±


    The moment their eyes met, Luo Ying saw her third brother.


    He looked exactly like her third brother, but his style was completely different.


    His red hair had turned silver, and the makeup on his face brought out the handsome devil in him. The soft lines on his face had been trimmed and highlighted to sharpen his features.


    At first glance, he was almost unrecognizable.


    Luo Ying was stunned for a moment. She wondered if the other party recognized her.


    However, the other party coldly freed his button from her skirt. ¡°Don¡¯t try to attract my attention this way. I¡¯m not the only one who decides on the casting.¡±


    After that, Jin Shi walked past Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying was too shocked to react for a long time.


    Her third brother was also this cold to others, but they always joked with each other. He had never treated her so coldly.


    Perhaps Jin Shi was not her third brother.


    Luo Ying sighed and looked at her torn dress. She simply tore off the extra length. Now, the dress looked more like a simple ballet dress.


    Luo Ying had not noticed that from upstairs, a pair of sharp eyes was staring at her.


    When she went upstairs to the audition area, Luo Ying saw an old acquaintance. It was Min Yu.


    The moment she saw Luo Ying, Min Yu¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Are you here for the audition?¡±


    Luo Ying nodded. ¡°Are you here for the audition, too?¡±


    Min Yu shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m here on behalf of the studio to talk to them about the interlude. Our studio has recently written a few songs that are very suitable for the interlude of this movie.¡±


    Luo Ying smiled. ¡°Your songs are all excellent. You¡¯ll definitely be chosen.¡±


    Min Yu smiled humbly. ¡°We still need Jin Shi and Director Cheng Yang¡¯s advice. After all, we hope that Jin Shi will sing the interlude of this movie himself.¡±


    Jin Shi had very high standards for his songs, so Min Yu was a little worried.


    The audition had already started, and Luo Ying stood at the end of the line.


    She saw Su Ran standing in the middle of the line. Su Ran had lost the chance to work with Chang Yuan, so she would most definitely try to get a spot in Director Cheng Yang¡¯s work.


    Luo Ying was not concerned about Su Ran getting the role. She was here to get to know Jin Shi.


    If he recognized her, he was her third brother. If not, she had nothing to lose in making friends with this doppelganger of her brother.


    Soon, it was Luo Ying¡¯s turn.


    She had to attempt the female lead¡¯s monologue.


    The female lead of ¡°Dancing Shoes and Summer¡± was a girl who dreamed of becoming a leading ballet dancer. After going through all kinds of hardships, she finally succeeded.


    It seemed to be an inspirational story, but the female lead in the movie was a rebellious girl through and through. Her struggles with her family and the teachers at school were the highlight of the movie.


    Luo Ying was stunned when she saw the script sent by the staff.


    The role she was auditioning for was not the female lead, but the male lead¡¯s sister. Why was she given the role of the female lead?


    Just as Luo Ying was about to inquire about it, the door opened. ¡°Luo Ying, you¡¯re up.¡±


    Luo Ying suppressed the doubts in her heart.


    Since it had come to this, she should just take it in stride. She could think about it after the audition.


    The girl in front of Luo Ying was called Han Min. She was Jin Shi¡¯s recent girlfriend.


    She was a top girlfriend, but a mediocre actress.


    She faltered during the delivery of her lines, and she could not express herself well enough.


    Cheng Yang, who was sitting on the judging panel, frowned.

 Chapter 111 - 111 Audition

    111 Audition


    ¡°Director Cheng Yang, how was it?¡± Jin Shi, who was sitting beside her, asked.


    Cheng Yang shook her head. ¡°Mr. Jin, do you want me to make your girlfriend the female lead of our movie? It¡¯s quite a stretch.¡±


    ¡°Director Cheng, don¡¯t say that. I¡¯m not asking for a special route in.¡± Jin Shi laughed teasingly. ¡°I¡¯m just asking you for a chance. Otherwise, I won¡¯t hear the end of it from her.¡±


    Cheng Yang was bewildered. This top celebrity was different. He had pushed his girlfriend into the audition, but did not use his power to let her pass.


    Luo Ying had already changed into her ballet shoes in advance. She slowly walked in and bowed to the judges.


    When Cheng Yang saw Luo Ying, her eyes lit up.


    When she auditioned for Music Center, she thought that this girl had great potential. She didn¡¯t expect her to come for an audition.


    ¡°I¡¯m Luo Ying.¡± She looked at the judges and slowly bowed.


    She had learned ballet before, so she was very clear about the etiquette in ballet.


    Jin Shi also looked at her with interest.


    ¡°Alright, we can start now,¡± Cheng Yang said.


    Luo Ying¡¯s performance did not disappoint Cheng Yang.


    She didn¡¯t start with her lines like the other actors who had auditioned before. Instead, she jumped a little and seemingly stumbled while doing so. She sat on the ground and started to say her lines while holding her legs.


    The lines here were the soliloquy of the female protagonist after she received a lashing from her teacher. It was to portray her feelings of loss and confusion.


    Luo Ying added a small dance for herself, showing her confusion.


    When she started to read her lines, her voice gradually changed from disappointment to determination, and her eyes gradually brightened.


    It was as if a person in a desperate situation had finally seen hope.


    The staff and the other judges held their breath as they watched Luo Ying¡¯s performance. Cheng Yang looked at the girl¡¯s face on the monitor and couldn¡¯t stop smiling.


    They always needed someone solid to be take the leading role.


    After Luo Ying¡¯s performance, she stood up and bowed to the judges.


    When she looked at Jin Shi, he was only looking at his script.


    Luo Ying was a little disappointed. Evidently, this man was not her third brother.


    ¡°Alright, you can go out and wait for the results now. Good luck.¡± Cheng Yang said to Luo Ying with a smile.


    She had already chosen Luo Ying as the female lead, but she still needed to talk it over with the others.


    Luo Ying had just walked out of the door when she heard a scream from the crowd outside.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Do you know how much my clothes cost?¡± Luo Ying frowned and looked at the crowd. In the middle of the crowd, she saw Min Yu, who was covering her face.


    The person standing beside her was Han Min.


    Jin Shi had been in the industry for many years and was rarely involved in scandals. Apparently, he and Han Min were already in the talks of marriage.


    Han Min was not some insignificant lady. Her family was very rich, and her mother was a famous manager in the industry who had a lot of resources.


    However, this royalty of the entertainment industry didn¡¯t want to be a manager like her mother. Instead, she wanted to go on stage and become an artiste, who was in the limelight.


    She wasn¡¯t good at singing and dancing, and her acting skills were average. However, she had a lot of connections and resources.


    At that moment, she was frowning at Min Yu. There was a green tea stain on her white dress.


    ¡°You¡¯re just a fledgling composer. How dare you pour water on me?¡± Han Min said.


    Simple insults did not seem to be enough to vent her anger. She reached out, grabbed Min Yu¡¯s hair, and pushed her to the ground. ¡°Apologize to me, understood?¡±


    Min Yu¡¯s hair and clothes were in a mess. She bit her lip and allowed Han Min to humiliate her in front of the crowd.


    A few people wanted to stop her, but they were also pulled away.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t offend Han Min. You know what kind of person her mother is.¡±


    ¡°Min Yu is skilled and popular, but Han Min¡¯s mother could end her overnight, right?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t meddle in other people¡¯s business. Han Min¡¯s boyfriend is one of the judges for this audition. We can¡¯t afford to offend Jin Shi.¡±


    Luo Ying heard their discussion and snorted in her heart. She stepped forward and grabbed Han Min¡¯s hand when her slap was about to land on Min Yu¡¯s face.

 Chapter 112 - 112 A Lesson

    112 A Lesson


    ¡°Luo Ying? There is no quarrel between us, right? What are you doing?¡± Han Min looked at Luo Ying¡¯s hand that was holding her wrist.


    Han Min tried to shake off Luo Ying¡¯s hand, but Luo Ying held on tightly. Luo Ying was slender, but she was well-trained.


    Han Min frowned. ¡°What is the meaning of this? Let go. Don¡¯t you know my background?¡±


    ¡°Oh, everyone knows your background, alright. Is this how your mother taught you?¡± Luo Ying spoke slowly.


    Han Min felt the killing intent in Luo Ying¡¯s eyes. She suppressed a shudder and glared at her with hatred. ¡°My mother wouldn¡¯t let go of anyone who ruined my clothes.¡±


    Han Min raised up her dress and showed it off. ¡°Do you know how much this dress costs? It¡¯s the work of the famous designer David. This one costs ten million.¡±


    Min Yu lowered her head. Her hair was disheveled. She couldn¡¯t help but tremble when she heard the price Han Min mentioned.


    This was not a small number.


    Min Yu¡¯s family were only blue-collar workers. She had been fairly successful in her career, but she had just only opened up her studio. It was a shaky period. She was afraid that it would take years to repay that sum.


    ¡°Ten million?¡± Luo Ying looked up and down at Han Min¡¯s clothes.


    She had worked with David before. This was not his style. This piece of clothing probably had no deep relationship with David. It was just a sub-brand of his studio.


    In the early stages of Min Yu¡¯s career, she didn¡¯t have many connections and didn¡¯t know much about such luxury, so she naturally had to suffer in silence.


    ¡°Even so, you shouldn¡¯t have struck her, Ms. Han Min.¡± Luo Ying pulled Min Yu up and looked at her with pity.


    Su Ran, who was standing at the side, spoke up. ¡°Luo Ying, you can¡¯t always protect Min Yu. This matter was originally her fault. If it wasn¡¯t for her carelessness, Han Min wouldn¡¯t have been so angry.¡±


    Su Ran¡¯s voice was gentle, and almost everyone in the room looked over to her.


    ¡°Su Ran is so kind. She¡¯s even helping Luo Ying out of trouble, even after that debacle with Lin Su.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. Look at Luo Ying. She even dared to offend Han Min.¡±


    Luo Ying glared at Su Ran. ¡°Su Ran, you¡¯re being a bit naive here. Getting into a physical altercation with someone can be considered anything from minor provocation and causing trouble, to more severe intentional harm. If I recall correctly, Ms. Min Yu even turned down the opportunity to write a song for Ms. Han Min at one point.¡±


    ¡°Is it too much to say that you don¡¯t have a personal vendetta against the poor woman?¡± Luo Ying¡¯s eyes stared straight at Han Min.


    Han Min avoided her gaze. She had indeed done this out of spite.


    Min Yu had turned her down many times before. Even when she offered a very high price, Min Yu had not agreed to her request.


    Today, she saw Luo Ying talking to Jin Shi. Apparently, she also had a good relationship with Min Yu, so she took it out on her.


    Luo Ying was in the limelight now, and she couldn¡¯t afford to offend her, but she could still make things difficult for Min Yu.


    ¡°Your mother probably wouldn¡¯t want you to make things difficult for others, right, Ms. Han? You probably wouldn¡¯t want your mother to have to defend her name, right?¡± Luo Ying smiled at Han Min.


    Han Min couldn¡¯t help but tremble.


    It was a light statement, but the implications were heavy.


    ¡°She still caused this damage. How about this? Let Min Yu compensate me, and I¡¯ll pay for the emotional damage. What do you think?¡±


    Min Yu began to cry silently again. No amount of emotional damage could amount up to ten million.


    Luo Ying¡¯s heart ached.


    This was her future sister-in-law. How could she let her sister-in-law suffer?


    ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, Mr. David is a designer, but he doesn¡¯t produce his own line. Production is left to some other party. This dress shouldn¡¯t be at this price, either. Should I call him now?¡±


    Luo Ying shook the phone in her hand.


    Since she started working with David, he often chatted with her. She had a unique view on fashion and styling, and David wanted to poach her to be a designer in his company.

 Chapter 113 - 113 Paying Off A Problem

    113 Paying Off A Problem


    When Han Min glanced at Luo Ying¡¯s chat history with David, she grew a little worried.


    Her mother had power and influence, but she wasn¡¯t close to David.


    The dress was only 300,000 Yuan in total, not even 10 million.


    ¡°Forget it, I won¡¯t pursue the matter. Just give me 300,000.¡± Han Min frowned.


    If David heard of this matter, she was afraid that her fashion resources would be in danger in the future. She did not want to leave such an impression on a master designer.


    Luo Ying smiled. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Let¡¯s ask Mr. David how much this dress costs. I¡¯d like to know, too.¡±


    Luo Ying could tell that Han Min was scared.


    Su Ran, who was standing at the side, did not seem to understand the twists and turns of this matter. She said, ¡°Anything between 10 million to 300,000 isn¡¯t much. Why can¡¯t you just pay up? It doesn¡¯t take much to be a philanthropist.¡±


    ¡°Well said. I¡¯ll let you have the honors of being the philanthropist.¡± Luo Ying glared at Su Ran coldly. ¡°If you don¡¯t know how much this dress costs, you can just ask Han Min. Why are you pretending to be a good person here?¡±


    Su Ran was about to say something, but her eyes stopped behind Luo Ying. Her mouth suddenly opened wide in surprise.


    Luo Ying followed Su Ran¡¯s gaze. Jin Shi was standing behind her. He sized her Su Ran up with a frown.


    ¡°Mr. Jin Shi, why did you come out?¡± Su Ran asked with a smile. Her smile was one filled with relief. It was as if she had found a protective umbrella.¡±Min Yu happened to spill tea on Min Min. She¡¯s just a little stressed up about it. Please don¡¯t be angry.¡±


    Jin Shi was Han Min¡¯s boyfriend, so it made all sense for him to take her side.


    Jin Shi¡¯s eyes scanned Su Ran from head to toe and coldly asked, ¡°Are you here for the audition today? Why don¡¯t I have any recollection of you?¡±


    Everyone was stunned when they heard this. Even Su Ran was stunned.


    ¡°I¡¯m here to interview for the female lead role. Han Min and I are friends in the entertainment circle.¡± Su Ran¡¯s voice was growing softer.


    Jin Shi was one of the judges, but he didn¡¯t even seem to recognize her. It seemed that she had failed the audition today.


    ¡°Han Min, I didn¡¯t address the scandal with you because I didn¡¯t have the time before. Your mother has also begged me time and time again to open up a path for you. Yet now I see you using your mother¡¯s power and my reputation to oppress others,¡± said Jin Shi coldly. ¡°I think that¡¯s the end of it.¡±


    Everyone present was shocked by his words.


    It turned out that Jin Shi and Han Min¡¯s relationship was just a publicity stunt!


    ¡°Han Min, you didn¡¯t pass the interview, so our cooperation ends here.¡± Jin Shi turned to Luo Ying. ¡°Congratulations on becoming the female lead of Dancing Shoes and Summer.¡±


    This sentence was like a bolt of lightning in the crowd. Even the staff members at the sidelines were shocked.


    Luo Ying was a little confused. ¡°No, wait, what? The female lead? But I auditioned for the sister of the male lead¡­¡±


    When Jin Shi heard her words, he frowned. ¡°You¡¯re holding the script for the female lead, and the interview you attended was also for the female lead. What¡¯s wrong? Are you trying to act like a big shot now?¡±


    Jin Shi¡¯s eyes narrowed.


    Luo Ying closed her mouth. Well, she had not clarified it sooner. She could only bite the bullet.


    ¡°Alright, you can all go back now. The results are out, so there¡¯s no need to wait for us.¡± Director Cheng Tang, who was standing at the side, spoke up.


    Voices of confusion and shock came from the crowd.


    ¡°She actually got the role? How is that possible? Isn¡¯t that role more suitable for Su Ran?¡±


    ¡°I heard that the female lead role was already decided on Su Ran. Why did they change their minds?¡±


    ¡°Han Min and Su Ran look so embarrassed.¡±


    Han Min looked at Luo Ying with an ashen face and said fiercely, ¡°Luo Ying, don¡¯t be so smug now. You¡¯ll have a hard time in the future.¡±


    Luo Ying smiled. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll be waiting. Do you still want the 10 million?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°No need.¡± Han Min gritted her teeth. ¡°Forget about it.¡±


    After saying that, she turned around and left.


    Beside her, Su Ran¡¯s face turned pale and then red. She had not expected the situation to turn around in such a shocking manner.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was too impulsive just now,¡± Su Ran said.


    ¡°I know. You¡¯re not a bad person, but you have to stop getting yourself into trouble like that.¡± After Luo Ying finished speaking, she left without even looking at Su Ran.

 Chapter 114 - 114 Luo Fengs Location

    114 Luo Feng¡¯s Location


    Luo Ying brought Min Yu to the parking lot.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go back by myself, you don¡¯t have to worry about me.¡± Min Yu looked at Luo Ying with gratitude in her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re always helping me like this, but if you need me in the future, I¡¯ll definitely repay you.¡±


    Luo Ying suddenly recalled that in the original book, Luo Feng had been using an anonymous identity to communicate with Min Yu.


    Min Yu might not yet know that Luo Ying was her future sister-in-law.


    ¡°I treat you as my good friend. Good friends don¡¯t talk like that.¡± Luo Ying ruffled Min Yu¡¯s hair.


    This girl was strong yet gentle. She could see why Luo Feng would take a fancy to her.


    Unfortunately, Luo Feng had disappeared after the incident at Wave Domain. Luo Ying had tried to find him a few times, but to no avail.


    However, Min Yu might know his whereabouts.


    As she thought of this, Luo Ying pulled Min Yu along and said, ¡°You were kneeling for so long just now. Your knees must be bruised. How about we go have a meal nearby? Let¡¯s get your knees looked at.¡±


    In the face of Luo Ying¡¯s insistence, Min Yu no longer tried to talk her way out of it and got in the car with Luo Ying.


    Lu Zhao was originally sitting in the back, but when he saw Min Yu at the door, his eyes turned cold. ¡°Ms. Min, please sit in the front. Yingying and I will sit in the back.¡±


    Min Yu was startled by Lu Zhao¡¯s gaze. Was this the highly talked about President Lu? As expected, he was a decisive person.


    Luo Ying saw that Min Yu was frightened and quickly walked over to hold her arm. ¡°Min Yu is injured. I need to apply medicine for her. You sit in front.¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s originally cold face softened a little, and he looked at Luo Ying with eyes as gentle as flowing water. ¡°Okay.¡±


    He got out of the car nimbly and sat in the front passenger seat.


    Min Yu got into the car. She was a little envious of Luo Ying and Lu Zhao¡¯s public display of affection.


    It was a shame that her lover couldn¡¯t accompany her like this. She didn¡¯t know where in the world he was doing some secret mission.


    The car started. Luo Ying took out the ointment from the medicine box in the car and slowly pulled up Min Yu¡¯s skirt.


    Min Yu¡¯s legs were full of scars. Some of the old scars were probably from the time she was kidnapped by Wu Wei.


    The large patch of red on her knee was fresh. There were even a few shoe prints on her thigh.


    Luo Ying¡¯s heart ached.


    ¡°Han Min is a lunatic,¡± Luo Ying said as she applied the medicine.


    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I was careless,¡± Min Yu said.


    Even though she said that, she had never been more careful in navigating her way among a group of important people while carrying a cup of tea. However, Han Min had practically rugby-tackled her.


    ¡°It¡¯s never that simple,¡± Luo Ying said.


    In the original novel, Han Min was a recurring side character who had been written to be utterly reprehensible. Luo Ying had some insight into her train of thought.


    ¡°I¡¯ll look into it. You don¡¯t have to worry. Are you living alone now?¡± Luo Ying asked again.


    ¡°I¡¯m living alone in an apartment outside,¡± Min Yu replied.


    ¡°It¡¯s not safe to live alone. Why don¡¯t you get your boyfriend to accompany you? Won¡¯t he come to pick you up from work?¡± Luo Ying asked casually.


    Everyone in the circle knew that Min Yu had a mysterious boyfriend.


    In the original novel, Min Yu and Luo Feng spent most of their time in long-distance and online relationships.


    ¡°We¡¯re in different places. The circumstances of his job are a little special, so we don¡¯t see each other much in a year.¡± At the mention of Luo Feng, a hint of tenderness flashed across Min Yu¡¯s face. ¡°But he¡¯s very good to me. He pampers me with gifts and sweet nothings. Whenever he¡¯s done with his assignments, he¡¯ll always contact me.


    Luo Ying¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    From what Min Yu said, Luo Feng seemed to be running field missions, which sounded very dangerous.


    Looking for Luo Feng might be troublesome. As she thought of her father, who was still undergoing surgery in the hospital, Luo Ying felt a little sad.


    The family needed Luo Feng right now.


    ¡°Your boyfriend must be very capable. But if that¡¯s the case, he won¡¯t have much time with his family,¡± Luo Ying said.


    ¡°Yes, he doesn¡¯t have a good relationship with his family. His stepmother has been making things difficult for him time and time again. Previously, his stepmother forced him to leave the family business.¡± Min Yu seemed to sadden at the thought.


    Luo Ying¡¯s pupils contracted. Luo Feng didn¡¯t leave the Luo Family because he didn¡¯t get along with his father, but because his stepmother made things difficult for him. There was no end to Liao Hong¡¯s venom.

 Chapter 115 - 115 Depressed

    115 Depressed


    While they were talking, the car pulled up in front of a restaurant. It was a private restaurant.


    Luo Ying helped Min Yu out of the car and walked in, not noticing Lu Zhao¡¯s slightly dark face behind her.


    Luo Ying guided Min Yu to her seat and ordered a lot of light dishes.


    While he stared at the dishes Luo Ying had ordered, Lu Zhao furrowed his brows. Luo Ying liked spicy food, so she rarely ordered such light dishes.


    Lu Zhao raised his chin. He suddenly realized that he seemed to be jealous of a woman.


    The dishes were served quickly, but Luo Ying quickly spotted some items that she had not called for. She took a closer look and found that they were all her favorite.


    There was boiled beef, duck blood, and spicy crayfish.


    ¡°Waiter, I didn¡¯t order these¡­¡± Luo Ying called the waiter, slightly confused.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, these are specially prepared for our VIP customers. We will give three to five dishes for free every time. Mr. Lu Zhao is our VIP customer,¡± the waiter said and left.


    Luo Ying looked at Lu Zhao. The man was wearing gloves and peeling crayfish with his head lowered.


    The crayfish¡¯s shell was very hard, and the man was having a hard time peeling it. In front of him was a bowl full of crayfish.


    For some reason, Luo Ying¡¯s heart melted. Lu Zhao really doted on her and always thought of her.


    ¡°Luo Ying, your boyfriend is very good to you.¡± Min Yu¡¯s eyes were also full of envy as she looked at Luo Ying.


    ¡°I hope your boyfriend returns and keeps you company like this.¡± Luo Ying held Min Yu¡¯s hand.


    She had to find a way to get her brother back.


    After sending Min Yu home, Lu Zhao took Luo Ying home.


    Luo Ying kept talking about what happened on that day, and Lu Zhao listened to her quietly.


    When the car arrived at her house, Luo Ying was about to open the door and get out of the car, but she found that the door was locked. The driver quickly opened the door and left, leaving only the two of them in the car.


    For some reason, Luo Ying felt that the quiet atmosphere was a little unusual.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Aren¡¯t we going home?¡± Luo Ying turned her head and asked.


    Lu Zhao wordlessly extended his hand to Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying gently placed her small hand on Lu Zhao¡¯s hand.


    She didn¡¯t know why, but she felt that Lu Zhao was in a bad mood today.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Luo Ying smiled and moved closer to him. She even scratched his palm with her finger. ¡°I know I made you worried today, but I¡¯m fine now. Don¡¯t be unhappy.¡±


    When Luo Ying¡¯s beam filled his vision, Lu Zhao reached out and pulled Luo Ying into his arms.


    He hugged her very tightly, burying his head in Luo Ying¡¯s neck and wrapping his arms around her tightly, as if he was trying to press Luo Ying into his body.


    Luo Ying let the man hug her like this. She had never experienced such dedication.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s possessiveness and desire to protect her were very strong, and his love for her was so overpowering yet comforting.


    When she first came to this world, she immediately wanted to bail out of this life and return to her world, but now, she quietly leaned towards Lu Zhao.


    If a day came when she could leave, would she be willing to leave Lu Zhao?


    Luo Ying reached out and hugged Lu Zhao back. She reached out and gently touched the man¡¯s hair. ¡°Okay, okay, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll really protect myself.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s voice was low as he moved closer to her ear. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to have any contact with Lin Su in the future, understood?¡±


    Luo Ying knew that Lu Zhao was jealous.


    She wanted to joke with Lu Zhao. ¡°That won¡¯t do. He¡¯s still my boss, and my contract is still tied to him.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Lu Zhao tightened his embrace. The strength of his hug made Luo Ying feel a little suffocated with happiness.


    ¡°No, I can open a management company and sign only you. Don¡¯t come into contact with him in the future. I¡¯m afraid he will hurt you,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    Luo Ying laughed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will probably terminate my contract after filming these two shows.¡±


    There were still about eight months left before her contract ended, so it wasn¡¯t too long.


    ¡°You¡¯re also not allowed to be with that man, do you understand?¡± Lu Zhao said.


    ¡°Which man? Why are you so jealous?¡± Luo Ying asked with a smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to get too close to Jin Shi, do you understand?¡± Lu Zhao felt like he was about to be driven to his grave by this woman. He was obviously jealous, but this woman was forcing him to state the obvious.

 Chapter 116 - 116 Sowing Discord

    116 Sowing Discord


    ¡°I know,¡± Luo Ying broke free from Lu Zhao¡¯s arms and leaned over to kiss the corner of Lu Zhao¡¯s lips. Okay, okay, don¡¯t be jealous anymore. Let¡¯s go home, okay?¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s kiss won Lu Zhao¡¯s favor, and he was like an angry puppy that was pretending not to enjoy a good patting. He nodded, unlocked the car door, and led Luo Ying home.


    The two of them interlocked their fingers. Although Lu Zhao had been coaxed, he still seemed to be in a grumpy mood.


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t understand what had happened, but she comforted him nonetheless.


    Over the following days, Lu Zhao went on a business trip again because of work.


    This time, he needed Sirius¡¯ expertise, so they two men traveled together.


    Before the plane took off, Lu Zhao was still looking at his phone.


    ¡°When did you get glued to your phone like that? You¡¯re always hugging it. Do you have a little lover somewhere in your phone?¡± Sirius said with a smile, but quickly realized that he was wrong.


    Lu Zhao did indeed have a little lover now, but that little lover had betrayed him before.


    ¡°No way, Lu Zhao. What¡¯s gotten over you?¡± Sirius leaned over and was almost scared to death by the loving and kissing expressions on the screen.


    ¡°When did you become so smitten with love?¡± Sirius sighed heavily. ¡°Do I need to remind you again? That woman has done terrible things to you before. Don¡¯t you think you¡¯ve been acting strange recently?¡±


    Lu Zhao put away his phone and looked at Sirius. ¡°I like her very much. Since she¡¯s willing to be with me now, then let¡¯s be together.¡±


    ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re saying?¡± Sirius felt like he was losing his mind. ¡°Don¡¯t you know how she tripped over herself trying to chase after Lin Su before?¡±


    The sound of the plane taking off rang in his ears. Lu Zhao turned off his phone and looked at Sirius coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t care about her past, I only care if she will remain with me in the future. You don¡¯t have to ruin the atmosphere.¡±


    Sirius sighed heavily. ¡°Do you want me to investigate her for you? I don¡¯t know what she¡¯s trying to do. I don¡¯t believe that people would suddenly change their feelings in such a manner. You must have something that she wants.¡±


    ¡°Just you wait. I¡¯ll definitely prove it to you,¡± Sirius said with a frown.


    ¡°If you dare to do anything to her, I¡¯ll throw you off the plane right now.¡± Lu Zhao put away the small table and gave Sirius a dangerous glare.


    Sirius sneered. ¡°Don¡¯t fret it. I don¡¯t have to do much to know the truth.¡±


    ¡°I know that you¡¯ve been hurt in love before, but not everyone is as heartless as that woman. I know that Luo Ying is not that kind of person,¡± Lu Zhao said coldly.


    At the mention of the past, Sirius almost unbuckled his seatbelt to get up and leave.


    ¡°That only serves to prove my point, right? That woman was so much better than Luo Ying, but I was still deceived by her. You¡¯re too naive, Lu Zhao.¡± After saying that, he turned his head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t think you two are suitable for each other. Besides, don¡¯t forget about that matter.¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes were cold. ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten, but she doesn¡¯t have to know either. Do I make myself clear?¡±


    Lu Zhao slowly put on his eye mask and prepared to take a short nap on the plane.


    Sirius sighed and prepared to lie down for a while.


    They had to meet up with a supplier for lunch, and then have a meeting with other partners in the afternoon.


    Lu Zhao had been holding his phone the whole time and chatting with Luo Ying.


    Sirius¡¯s brows furrowed deeper and deeper.


    Lu Zhao seemed to be immersed in love every day. He was frighteningly deep in love. This only made Sirius all the more worried.


    Lu Zhao had a traumatic past and a deeply scarred psyche. His mental illness hadn¡¯t been completely cured, so he had always been worried that he might have a relapse.


    After hesitating for a long time, he called Wen Du over.


    When Wen Du arrived at the hotel they were staying at, he looked furious. ¡°Why did you call me? Hasn¡¯t Lu Zhao been very stable lately?¡±


    Wen Du was Lu Zhao¡¯s psychologist.


    ¡°Has Lu Zhao mentioned anything about that woman?¡± asked Sirius.

 Chapter 117 - Chapter 117: Stay Away From Her

    Chapter 117: Stay Away From Her


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Lu Zhao was originally dealing with official business, but he was a little surprised to see a woman walking in with Wen Du. She looked cute and demure.


    ¡°This is my assistant, Chen Lin.¡±


    Chen Lin was very young. She looked at Lu Zhao with sparkling eyes.


    Lu Zhao didn¡¯t look at the woman. He kept his eyes on Wen Du. ¡°I did not call for you. I¡¯ve been doing fine. Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s true that Sirius thinks you¡¯ve been very stable as of late. I¡¯m only here for a follow-up. If the results are good this time, we can change the time of the next examination to once every six months,¡± Wen Du lied without changing his expression.


    ¡°I¡¯m indeed feeling better recently. I¡¯m in much better spirits. Ever since Luo Ying came back, I¡¯ve never felt much any happier.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s expression lit up as he spoke of her.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t that woman betray you before?¡± Wen Du showed a curious expression. ¡°She has been pursuing Lin Su like an unhinged woman, hasn¡¯t she? Has that changed?¡±


    He was asking Lu Zhao a leading question to see how much he relied on Luo Ying.


    This woman had been so infatuated with Lin Su before. She was willing to take on the judgment of the entire world to be with him. He didn¡¯t believe that Lu Zhao would open up his heart to her this soon.


    ¡°I believe her. Her love for me now is all real,¡± Lu Zhao said, his words very firm.


    Wen Du paused for a moment. The situation seemed to be more difficult than he had imagined. Lu Zhao¡¯s obsession with Luo Ying had already exceeded his imagination.


    ¡°Why are you so assured of this? Is it possible that she¡¯s manipulating you yet again?¡± Sirius pressed.


    ¡°That¡¯s not possible. She has changed.¡± Lu Zhao lowered his head, his eyes full of love. ¡°I¡¯m only worried about her going back one day, but I will never doubt the love she has for me now.¡±


    Sirius frowned. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®going back¡¯?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s tone turned cold in an instant. ¡°You won¡¯t understand. I don¡¯t care what you think of her. I just want you to know that I don¡¯t intend to break up with her. We¡¯ve got something very beautiful going on now, so don¡¯t you ruin it.¡±


    Lu Zhao was protecting Luo Ying ferociously. Sirius felt a headache beginning to kick in. What kind of poison had this friend of his been drugged with, to be so loyal to this woman?


    Wen Du did not pursue the matter further and continued to guide him patiently. ¡°How are you and your grandfather doing recently?¡±


    Lu Zhao had never been acknowledged by his family before, and this was one of the reasons why Lu Zhao had such a fragile psyche.


    At the mention of Old Master Lu, Lu Zhao clenched his fists tightly.


    That cunning, coldhearted old man had not stopped circling over his head like a vulture. He was hoping, waiting for his grandson to be rendered incapable of running his company.


    ¡°He threatened me with my mother¡¯s matter. Heh, does he still think he still controls the monopoly in the city?¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s words were full of ridicule. However, Wen Du heard something unusual. ¡°He¡¯s threatening you?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lying, Lu Zhao. We signed this on paper. We do not lie to each other,¡± Wen Du said coldly.


    Wen Du¡¯s statement almost sounded like a threat.


    Lu Zhao had been very violent when his illness acted up. Several psychologists were quickly burned through by him, but only Wen Du had remained. Wen Du had proven himself to be an excellent practitioner, so Lu Zhao had signed a long-term treatment agreement with Wen Du after he recovered.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me,¡± Wen Du¡¯s eyes were fixed on Lu Zhao.


    ¡°The old man did not threaten you with your mother, but with Luo Ying, right?¡± Wen Du said slowly.


    He had some understanding of the old man¡¯s temper. The old man was a


    demon of the business world in his heyday. He did not exactly disapprove of Lu Zhao, but he set impossible standards on him. He wanted Lu Zhao to function like an emotionless, efficient machine.


    Besides, if he could get his grandson to abandon Luo Ying, he might be able to build a good relationship with the Lin Family.. What was there to lose?

 Chapter 118 - Chapter 118: Seduction

    Chapter 118: Seduction


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what the old man said, but I won¡¯t give up on Luo Ying because of this. I love her,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    His eyes were firm and unyielding.


    Even Sirius was startled.


    He had never seen his friend so obsessed with a woman.


    ¡°It¡¯s true that my grandfather threatened me with Luo Ying, but I won¡¯t let that wretched old thing have his way.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s hands were tightly clenched, and his eyes were filled with ruthlessness.


    ¡°You guys know that I hate being threatened,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    ¡°You don¡¯t hate being threatened, but you can¡¯t give up on Luo Ying, right?¡± Wen Du said with a smile.


    ¡°If your mental state can¡¯t bear the risk of losing her, this puts your mental wellbeing at risk,¡± Wen Du said slowly.


    Lu Zhao clenched his fists. ¡°I won¡¯t let my illness act up.¡±


    He wanted nothing more than to protect Luo Ying now.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, are you really stupid? This woman treated you like dirt, and you¡¯re still speaking up for her? That woman is just an ordinary young lady from an influential family. If you want women like her, there are plenty of them in the world. Why must it be her?¡±


    ¡°She is who she is. You wouldn¡¯t understand at all.¡± The veins on Lu Zhao¡¯s hands bulged.


    ¡°You were injured because she exposed your whereabouts, but you¡¯re still here protecting her. You¡¯re really funny, Lu Zhao,¡± Sirius said.


    He didn¡¯t expect his friend to be so crazy about this woman.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not get excited. Lu Zhao, I¡¯ll just get you through a simple psychological counseling session to prevent your mental state from having any problems after this. Is that okay?¡± Wen Du asked.


    Lu Zhao nodded and followed Wen Du into the small room of the hotel suite. It was quieter. It was a good place for psychological counseling.


    ¡°Mr. Sirius, you don¡¯t have to be so agitated. Mr. Lu¡¯s mental condition is not as serious as you think. Please believe in Dr. Wen.¡± Chen Lin, who had been silent all this while, finally spoke up. She smiled and a dimple appeared by the side of her mouth.


    ¡°I¡¯m not worried,¡± Sirius said.


    If Lu Zhao did not want to leave this bad woman, he could think of a way to make this woman leave Lu Zhao.


    ¡°Do you like Lu Zhao?¡± asked Sirius.


    He had just noticed the woman¡¯s eyes on Lu Zhao, which were as gentle as water.


    ¡°I only admire Mr. Lu. I don¡¯t dare to like him.¡± The woman¡¯s face was slightly red.


    A man like Lu Zhao, who had a good family background, was capable, and handsome, was a fatal dream to the women of the city.


    If this woman liked Lu Zhao, he could use her to get rid of Luo Ying.


    ¡°I can help you get close to Lu Zhao, if you help me.¡±


    It didn¡¯t take long for Lu Zhao to receive treatment, and he and Wen Du soon walked out of the door together.


    ¡°I¡¯ll host a banquet tonight. How about we have a meal together and go for a drink later?¡± asked Sirius.


    ¡°Yes, Dr. Wen. Were you not lamenting about not having a drink for a long time? Isn¡¯t this a good time now?¡± Chen Lin laughed and played along.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see why not. How about it, Lu Zhao?¡± Wen Du asked.


    ¡°Sure.¡± Lu Zhao agreed, and his originally furrowed brows relaxed a little. It had been a rather productive session.


    When the others were not looking, Sirius gave Chen Lin a look.


    The four of them ate together. During the meal, they only talked about the recent events in the city and did not talk about any problems about Luo Ying. When they reached the drinking area, Chen Lin opened the wine first and toasted Lu Zhao.


    ¡°I¡¯ve long heard of your name, Mr. Lu. This is the first time I¡¯m meeting you.


    You really live up to your reputation.¡±


    Lu Zhao just reached out and clinked his glass with hers. ¡°Ms. Chen.¡±


    His eyes didn¡¯t even remain on Chen Lin for a second.


    Chen Lin was a little deflated, but she still put on a gentle smile. ¡°I¡¯ve seen Ms. Luo Ying¡¯s variety show before. I think she¡¯s very beautiful.. Do you think I can get closer to her?¡±

 Chapter 119 - Chapter 119: Phone Call

    Chapter 119: Phone Call


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°You can get to know my wife through her fan channels. You don¡¯t have to get to know her through me.¡± Lu Zhao gave Chen Lin a disinterested once-over.


    ¡°Mr. Lu, you really live up to your reputation of protecting your wife,¡± Chen Lin said with a smile.


    Chen Lin and Sirius exchanged a look.


    Chen Lin stopped asking questions about Luo Ying. They continued to drink.


    After three rounds of drinking, Wen Du went out to take a phone call. He soon excused himself and left.


    Lu Zhao and Chen Lin remained in the private room. Chen Lin smiled. ¡°Mr. Lu, you¡¯re such a steadfast leader, but you¡¯re so gentle to your wife.¡±


    ¡°It has nothing to do with you, right?¡± Lu Zhao did not want to engage in conversation and responded lazily.


    Chen Lin wasn¡¯t discouraged by Lu Zhao¡¯s attitude. She poured the wine into her glass and raised it in front of Lu Zhao.


    ¡°To be honest, I¡¯ve always admired you, but you already have a wife now. I¡¯m afraid that what I¡¯m saying now might make you feel uncomfortable.¡± Chen Lin¡¯s eyes were gentle. She looked like an innocent, awestruck fangirl.


    ¡°Then you don¡¯t have to say anymore,¡± Lu Zhao replied coldly.


    What kind of people were under Wen Du¡¯s employ? He would have to talk to Wen Du about this.


    Chen Lin persevered and continued to hand the wine glass forward. Lu Zhao was losing his patience and reached out to knock over the wineglass in her hand.


    The wine spilled all over the floor. Lu Zhao¡¯s pants were stained with the wine.


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I¡¯ll help you wipe it now.¡± Chen Lin¡¯s face was red as she reached out to wipe Lu Zhao¡¯s body with a napkin.


    Lu Zhao smacked her hand away almost instantly, stood up, and strode out of the room.


    As soon as he opened the door, he ran into Sirius, who had just returned.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to drink a little longer?¡± asked Sirius.


    ¡°No need. We¡¯re going back to the hotel now,¡± Lu Zhao snapped irritably. He stood up and strode out the door.


    Sirius sighed and frowned as she looked at Chen Lin, who seemed a little defeated.


    It seemed that this matter was not as simple as he had imagined.


    Back at the hotel, Lu Zhao felt dizzy and wanted to rest for a while before replying to Luo Ying¡¯s message. He didn¡¯t expect to fall into a deep sleep as soon as he lay down.


    Luo Ying was reading her script at home.


    After reading for a long time, she grew frustrated. She threw the script on the bed and started to look at her phone.


    Her chat history with Lu Zhao had stopped at ten minutes ago. She had acted coquettishly and asked Lu Zhao to buy some snacks from where he was on a business trip.


    Lu Zhao didn¡¯t reply.


    Didn¡¯t he say that he would return to the hotel after drinking tonight? Why hadn¡¯t he replied to her message yet?


    Luo Ying sent another message to Lu Zhao.


    [Why aren¡¯t you replying to me?]


    [Still not back?]


    [What¡¯s wrong? Aren¡¯t you going to bring me some snacks?]


    Just as Luo Ying was about to make a call, an unfamiliar number called.


    ¡°Hello, Ms. Luo. We¡¯re from the TV station and would like to interview you¡­¡±


    Luo Ying started to focus on her work and listened intently to the TV station¡¯s questions.


    Meanwhile, on Lu Zhao¡¯s end, he was anxiously calling out for Luo Ying.


    Lu Zhao had a fever and was talking nonsense on the bed with his eyes closed. The doctor had already come and said that there was no big problem.


    Sirius and Wen Du were taking care of Lu Zhao.


    When Luo Ying finished the call and called Lu Zhao again, his phone was already turned off.


    Luo Ying looked at the phone in confusion. Did he fall asleep because he was too tired? The two of them had agreed to call each other before going to bed.


    When Lu Zhao woke up again, it was already the next morning.


    Lu Zhao sat up and looked at Sirius in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    As soon as he sat up, he felt weak all over.


    ¡°You had a fever yesterday. Wen Du, Chen Lin and myself took care of you.¡± Sirius¡¯ face darkened. but you kept calling Luo Ying¡¯s name in your dream. I called Luo Ying, but she didn¡¯t answer the phone.¡±


    ¡°What did you say? You called Luo Ying?¡± Lu Zhao stood up and stared at Sirius.


    Sirius felt a chill run down his spine.


    ¡°I think she needs to know that you¡¯re seriously ill.. Otherwise, what¡¯s the point of you two being a married couple?¡±

 Chapter 120 - Chapter 120: Pampering

    Chapter 120: Pampering


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Sirius tried to look innocent. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°You know damn well, what¡¯s wrong.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s cold eyes darted around Sirius¡¯ face. ¡°Why did you call Luo Ying? Don¡¯t you know what she means to me?¡±


    Sirius was startled by Lu Zhao¡¯s cold gaze and said darkly, ¡°I¡¯m doing this for your own good, Lu Zhao. You¡¯re so obsessed with her now, but she doesn¡¯t even pick up your phone when you¡¯re sick. What if you died last night?¡±


    ¡°You are really starting to piss me off. Go take a break at Neverland and clear your mind. I have a wife to tend to,¡± Lu Zhao said coldly. ¡°This is my marriage. If you continue to stick your nose where it doesn¡¯t belong, I will not hold back, even if it¡¯s you.¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s words sent a chill down his spine.


    Sirius had never seen him like this.


    ¡°You¡¯re really hopeless, Lu Zhao.¡± Sirius sat on the sofa in defeat.


    However, he had other ways. He had to keep Lu Zhao away from this dangerous woman. This woman was going to end up hurting him.


    On the other hand, Luo Ying arrived at the entrance of a hotel.


    Xiao Ting asked in a trembling voice, ¡°Madam, are we really going to such a place?¡±


    On the huge door of the hotel, the words ¡°Luya Hotel¡± were emblazoned in gold.


    His boss owned this hotel. What was he doing, standing in front of the hotel with his wife?


    ¡°Madam, even if you really want to have fun, you can¡¯t use this place,¡± Xiao Ting said. ¡°I won¡¯t tell my boss about what you¡¯ve done.¡±


    Luo Ying rolled her eyes at Xiao Ting. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. I¡¯m not here to have fun. I¡¯m here to see what my dear sister is up to.¡±


    Luo Ying glanced at the text message on her phone. It was from Luo Wan, and the content was: [I have evidence of your husband¡¯s extramarital affair. If you don¡¯t want me to make it public, I¡¯ll see you at room 308 in the afternoon.] Choosing Luya Hotel as the meeting location was comical, even for her.


    Luo Ying walked to the room that Luo Wan had mentioned. Before she knocked on the door, she looked around the room.


    ¡°Xiao Ting, wait for me outside. You¡¯re good with electronics, right?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    Xiao Ting was surprised. ¡°Yes, do you need any help?¡±


    ¡°I see some bugs placed around us. Check them out. Start with that one.¡± Luo Ying knocked on the door and walked in.


    Luo Wan was dressed in a branded business suit and looked at Luo Ying who had entered.


    ¡°Sister, I didn¡¯t expect to actually find you on the other side of adultery.¡± Luo Wan laughed wildly.


    ¡°Cut the crap. What do you want?¡± Luo Ying frowned and looked at Luo Wan.


    Luo Wan threw a stack of photos in front of Luo Ying.


    They were candid shots of Lu Zhao and another woman.


    They were drinking together in the hotel, and the woman was taking care of Lu Zhao.


    ¡°What about it?¡± Luo Ying looked at the photo and sneered.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Aren¡¯t you shocked? Aren¡¯t these evidence of your husband¡¯s affair?¡± Luo Wan looked at Luo Ying with a smile, trying to see the panic on her face.


    However, Luo Ying didn¡¯t panic. She just stood in place and looked at Luo Wan calmly.


    Luo Ying looked confident, as if she had already seen through her conspiracy.


    Luo Wan, you¡¯re so naive. What would these photos prove? ¡± Luo Ying¡¯s finger swiped across the photo and she chuckled. Do you think I¡¯ll break up with Lu Zhao because of this?¡±


    ¡°That woman¡¯s name is Chen Lin, and she¡¯s the assistant of Lu Zhao¡¯s psychiatrist. She¡¯s prettier than you and knows Lu Zhao better. Can¡¯t Lu Zhao go after someone else? Why would he fancy a woman like you? You¡¯re always chasing the coattails of other men,¡± Luo Wan said, her hands clenched tightly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if Lu Zhao knows this, but you have completely fallen for Lu Zhao, haven¡¯t you?¡± Luo Ying smiled and held the photo in front of her eyes.


    Luo Wan was too shallow-minded. These photos would not change a single thing. Even if Luo Wan tried to circulate them, Lu Zhao would not be affected in the slightest.


    His resources and manpower would snuff such a weak attempt out in no time. He might not even hear of it..

 Chapter 121 - Chapter 121: Getting Jealous

    Chapter 121: Getting Jealous


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Are you particularly bored on this day?¡± Luo Ying looked at Luo Wan and smiled. ¡°Or are you actually trying to shake my marriage up?¡±


    Luo Wan¡¯s face darkened.


    ¡°Sister, I¡¯m doing this for your own good. Lu Zhao is a violent and arbitrary man. What do you even see in him?¡± Luo Wan pretended to be heartbroken. ¡°If you get hurt, my heart would break.¡±


    Luo Ying looked at Luo Wan coldly.


    In the original novel, the original Luo Ying was easily deceived by such words.


    If anything, Luo Wan was out to get Lu Zhao all to herself.


    ¡°I¡¯m not listening to a single word from you.¡± Luo Ying enunciated each word clearly.


    Luo Wan stood up and put the most ambiguous photo in front of Luo Ying.


    ¡°Dear sister, are you stupid? Look at this. He¡¯s practically kissing the woman in the bar.¡±


    Against her own will, Luo Wan was losing control of herself. She gritted her teeth as if Lu Zhao had betrayed her, and not Luo Ying.


    ¡°The lighting and angle of this photo are very ambiguous. I could get a small-time actor to take a photo with you. It¡¯ll look just like that. Do you think I¡¯ll believe in such things?¡± Luo Ying didn¡¯t even seem to glance at the photo.


    Luo Wan¡¯s attempt to trick her was pathetic.


    ¡°Sister, why won¡¯t you listen to my advice?¡± As Luo Wan spoke, she walked closer to Luo Ying. When she was in front of Luo Ying, she quickly raised the glass of water in her hand to pour it on Luo Ying. Luo Ying¡¯s guard was up. She caught Luo Wan¡¯s hand.


    Luo Wan could not break free.


    ¡°Luo Ying, what are you doing?¡± Luo Wan said through gritted teeth.


    Luo Ying sneered and turned the cup over.


    The water was poured onto her head.


    ¡°What are you doing, Luo Ying!¡± Luo Wan spluttered furiously.


    These words didn¡¯t sound like an angry cry of injustice, but more like a flustered and exasperated one of having one¡¯s plot exposed.


    ¡°Are you trying to trick a preschooler? You even chose this damn hotel as your


    location. If you plant bugs all over the place here, aren¡¯t you afraid that I¡¯ll have


    Lu Zhao sue you in court?¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes looked at Luo Wan coldly.


    Luo Wan shuddered.


    ¡°Also, who gave you these photos? You¡¯d better tell him to be careful. They deal with such shady folk in a way that you wouldn¡¯t wish upon your greatest enemy.¡±


    Luo Wan looked at Luo Ying, her eyes full of anger.


    ¡°To whomever who is listening in, just watch it. If, I mean, when you get caught, it¡¯ll be too late for regrets.¡±


    Luo Ying turned around and walked out of the door. Xiao Ting was already waiting for her.


    ¡°Did you find them?¡±


    Xiao Ting frowned. ¡°How did you spot the first one?¡±


    Luo Ying took the camera and looked at it slowly in her hand. It was a pinhole camera, which should be the latest model. It was very small and not easily spotted.


    If Luo Ying didn¡¯t guess wrong, Luo Wan should have hidden another person in the room today. That person would be in charge of taking pictures and recording audio to incriminate her.


    Regardless of the outcome, bad attention would be brought to Luo Ying, even if they did not outrightly ruin her reputation.


    ¡°Call the police. Illegal snooping, or whatever you call it.¡± Luo Ying shrugged and looked at the closed door of the room, smiling.


    When Luo Ying got home, Lu Zhao had already returned.


    He was sitting on the sofa and reading the news on his phone.


    When Luo Ying saw Lu Zhao, she hurriedly pounced on him and hugged his waist.

 Chapter 122 - Chapter 122: I’ve Missed You

    Chapter 122: I¡¯ve Missed You


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying hugged Lu Zhao tightly and reached out to touch Lu Zhao¡¯s forehead.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s fever had already subsided, but he looked a little pale. He was far from 100%.


    Luo Ying¡¯s heart ached a little, and she gently stroked Lu Zhao¡¯s back.


    ¡°I¡¯ve missed you so much.¡± Lu Zhao reached out and hugged the woman tightly.


    The woman¡¯s fragrance soothed his chaotic thoughts.


    ¡°I miss you too. Don¡¯t give your phone to anyone else in the future.¡±


    Luo Ying sounded a little cross.


    ¡°Someone else?¡± Lu Zhao raised his head and looked straight at Luo Ying. ¡°What other people?¡±


    Luo Ying pouted unhappily. ¡°There was an interview yesterday. I wanted to call you at that time, but I couldn¡¯t get through to you. In the middle of the night, I called again, and a woman picked up.¡±


    Luo Ying pouted. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to bring your beautiful little secretary with you on a business trip. Are you trying to make me jealous?¡±


    Lu Zhao thought that her jealous pout was really cute and reached out to stroke her hair.


    ¡°She¡¯s my doctor¡¯s assistant. When I was sick, she and Sirius took care of me, but I¡¯ve already told my doctor not to bring this woman again,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    Luo Ying deliberately pinched Lu Zhao¡¯s body twice. ¡°Great. Aren¡¯t you afraid that I¡¯ll go to your doctor¡¯s place to find out about her? I get jealous easily.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m very happy to know that you¡¯re so jealous.¡± Lu Zhao lowered his head and gently touched the tip of Luo Ying¡¯s nose with his. He was still sick and didn¡¯t want to transfer his illness onto Luo Ying, so he held back from kissing her.


    ¡°Are you trying to kiss me?¡± Luo Ying asked, raising her head to kiss him.


    Lu Zhao shook his head and reached out to touch her forehead. ¡°I¡¯m still sick. You¡¯re going to shoot a movie and attend a press conference soon, so it¡¯s better if you don¡¯t catch what I¡¯m having.¡±


    Luo Ying buried her head in Lu Zhao¡¯s arms, and the two of them quietly hugged each other.


    ¡°I hope you will always be by my side,¡± Lu Zhao suddenly said affectionately.


    His words made Luo Ying¡¯s heart ache.


    She didn¡¯t know if she would suddenly leave, just like how she suddenly came here. It was going to be devastating for the both of them.


    She was already in love with Lu Zhao.


    Just as Luo Ying was about to say something, the doorbell rang.


    ¡°Cheng Li, open the door,¡± Lu Zhao shouted.


    Cheng Li was his new assistant. Xiao Ting had been following Luo Ying recently, but he still needed an assistant of his own.


    Cheng Li brought in a box of desserts. It was a box that looked like a birdcage with beautiful patterns carved on it, and it looked very sophisticated.


    ¡°It¡¯s a servant from the old residence. He said that the Old Master has sent some pastries for you and Madam to try.¡± Cheng Li placed the box on the coffee table.


    Luo Ying looked at the box curiously.


    Lu Zhao grabbed Luo Ying¡¯s hand and looked at Cheng Li. ¡°Take it out and deal with it.¡±


    His hand was trembling slightly. His order was almost like a roar, which also startled Luo Ying.


    Cheng Li was still relatively calm. ¡°At once, sir.¡±


    Luo Ying reached out and held Lu Zhao¡¯s face. Lu Zhao¡¯s eyelashes trembled slightly, and he frowned. ¡°Was it because of that box of snacks? What was in that box of snacks?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did Grandpa send something over?¡± Luo Ying felt a little strange.


    Lu Zhao took a deep breath. ¡°When I was still at my mother¡¯s place, Grandfather also sent this over. Although my mother didn¡¯t feel anything unusual after eating it, she disappeared not long after.¡±


    He had always suspected that there was something in the box. It could be a threatening note, or a severe insult.


    Lu Zhao took a deep breath and held Luo Ying in his arms. ¡°I won¡¯t let my grandfather hurt you.¡±


    Luo Ying was lost in thought about the box. What could destroy a woman¡¯s emotional defense to such an extent?


    Luo Ying couldn¡¯t understand it.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m fine. You don¡¯t have to worry.¡± Luo Ying looked at Lu Zhao with heartache.


    ¡°But I want to know, is Grandpa really against our marriage and wants us to get a divorce? ¡®


    Lu Zhao¡¯s brows suddenly furrowed, and he looked into Luo Ying¡¯s eyes.. ¡°What do you mean by this?¡±

 Chapter 123 - Chapter 123: Gossip

    Chapter 123: Gossip


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°We won¡¯t divorce, ever. You promised me that.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s arms around her tightened, as if warning her not to leave.


    ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t leave you. I just want to know what your grandfather wants.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s voice softened. She could sense Lu Zhao¡¯s anger.


    After all, they had indeed promised not to divorce.


    ¡°I just want your family to acknowledge me,¡± Luo Ying said in a low voice.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to care about what they think. It doesn¡¯t matter. As long as you¡¯re with me, no one will dare to touch you.¡± Lu Zhao reached out and ruffled Luo Ying¡¯s hair.


    No one could separate him from Luo Ying, not even the old man.


    If necessary, he didn¡¯t mind pointing his sword at his estranged, wretched family.


    ¡°I won¡¯t get a divorce with you, don¡¯t worry.¡± Luo Ying comforted Lu Zhao. Lu Zhao nodded, and the two of them held each other with more strength.


    ¡°It¡¯s late. You¡¯re a patient, so you should rest early.¡± Luo Ying stood up with a smile and was about to go to the bedroom with Lu Zhao, when her phone suddenly rang.


    Chi Tong was calling.


    Luo Ying picked up the phone, and Chi Tong¡¯s surprised tone almost scared her.


    ¡°Boss, you will never guess what happened! It¡¯s really a good thing. Your contract termination should be completed soon.¡± Chi Tong¡¯s tone was filled with surprise.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    He sounded so happy. Had Lin Su been struck by lightning?


    ¡°Lin Su has been indicted. It turns out that he was working with your sister to¡­¡± Chi Tong suddenly paused for a moment before carefully asking, ¡°How is your relationship with Luo Wan¡­?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s crap, don¡¯t mind her,¡± Luo Ying said.


    However, she was a little confused. She had called the police today because Luo Wan had wanted to frame her for going to a hotel with another man.


    However, when the police went to arrest her, they discovered Lin Su. Was Lin Su the instigator of all this? Was the person in the hotel room also Lin Su?


    Luo Ying curiously clicked on the link to the hot search.


    A splash image of Lin Su being taken away by the police filled the screen. Several police officers surrounded him, and his hands were cuffed. He looked extremely embarrassed.


    The room number behind him was the room number Luo Wan had given her.


    What was Lin Su doing this for?


    Did he want to confirm their relationship? If there was a scandal between the two, it would definitely affect the speculation of the public about their relationship.


    Didn¡¯t he keep his chastity for Su Ran? Why would he want to create a scandal with her now?


    Luo Ying couldn¡¯t understand it.


    The comments on the internet also varied.


    [Lin Su really knows how to play around. I¡¯ve got no words for this.] [He¡¯s really a prison celebrity now. He better keep a tight grip on the soap.]


    [Wasn¡¯t Lin Su, Luo Ying, and Su Ran¡¯s love triangle all over the news before?


    How did Luo Wan get involved in this? The upper-class circle is really messy.]


    It was already the weekend night, but the news still spread at an astonishing speed on the internet.


    There were also people who predicted that the Lin Family¡¯s shares would plummet.


    Luo Ying was browsing the news and didn¡¯t notice Lu Zhao¡¯s dark face behind her.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you still concerned about your old lover?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    ¡°No way. Why would I care about him? I¡¯m just a little curious about what happened between him and Luo Wan.¡± Luo Ying rested her chin on her hand.


    ¡°How did they get together?¡±


    ¡°Lin Su has always been restless. This time, it¡¯s over for him,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Luo Ying turned her head and looked at Lu Zhao. ¡°Does this have anything to do with you?¡±


    Lu Zhao said slowly, ¡°Since he¡¯s plotting against you, I¡¯ll plot against him, too.¡± Upon hearing this, Luo Ying¡¯s gaze on Lu Zhao suddenly changed.


    Lu Zhao felt a little strange under her gaze.. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you think I did something wrong?¡±

 Chapter 124 - Chapter 124: Hotel Meetup

    Chapter 124: Hotel Meetup


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Of course not. You have my endless gratitude. But how did you know that two of them tried to pull one on me?¡± Luo Ying was a little puzzled. She had not asked Xiao Ting to tell Lu Zhao about this.


    ¡°Xiao Ting works for me. It¡¯s a given for him to report every single thing to me.¡± Lu Zhao reached out and ruffled Luo Ying¡¯s hair. ¡°Don¡¯t keep things to yourself in the future. You¡¯ll only keep me worried.¡±


    ¡°I got it.¡± Luo Ying buried her face in Lu Zhao¡¯s arms.


    Lin Su¡¯s career as he knew it should be finished.


    Because of this scandal, all the employees of Lin Su¡¯s company were called back for an emergency meeting. The artistes were also present.


    When Luo Ying and Chi Tong arrived at the meeting room, they saw Su Ran¡¯s ashen face.


    Su Ran glared at Luo Ying with hatred.


    Luo Ying looked away and ignored Su Ran¡¯s gaze.


    Su Ran had never once stopped being suspicious of her. Now that this had happened, she knew that words would be impossible to reach the other woman. On top of that, Su Ran¡¯s reputation and career had also taken a hit.


    Su Ran walked over to Luo Ying, determined to get her attention.


    Before she could say anything to Luo Ying, Luo Ying had already stood up and walked to the other side.


    At that moment, the door of the meeting room was opened. Lin Su stood outside.


    The dark circles under Lin Su¡¯s eyes almost reached his mouth. It looked like he had not slept all night to deal with this matter.


    In their world, the netizens formed a hive-mind entity. Their voice was their gods. When those gods lose their faith in you, there was no place left to run to.


    The public relations team had spent an entire night trying to remove the stains on the internet, but there was no end to it.


    The entire nation already had their eyes on him and his company.


    ¡°Something has happened recently. I¡¯m sure everyone has seen the trending news. I will try my best to protect the interests of all my artistes and friends, but I hope that no one will think anv less of the company because of this.¡± Lin Su¡¯s voice was slow and sounded a little old.


    ¡°What right do you have to say that? Do you know that the two endorsements I¡¯ve taken on recently have been canceled because of you? How could you have the gall to say that?¡± An older and more experienced artiste, Mei Lu, spoke up.


    In the short term, they would not encounter any major problems.


    However, this scandal would soon be synonymous with his company¡¯s name. Advertisers and investors would all have opinions about the artistes because of this issue.


    The artists of such companies were also at greater risk. Many advertisers would try to avoid working with artists from such companies.


    Lin Su rubbed his tightly furrowed brows. ¡°I will pay out of my own pocket to protect everyone¡¯s interests. This incident is purely a misunderstanding. I will speak with Luo Wan later to prove my innocence.¡±


    ¡°How are you going to prove your innocence? I think you might as well marry Luo Wan. That way, your relationship with her can be considered legitimate. We¡¯ve seen how you treated Ms. Su Ran and how you created a scandal with her,¡± Mei Lu said sarcastically.


    She had not planned to renew the contract this year, and Lin Su¡¯s incident gave her a good reason.


    ¡°It¡¯s written in the contract that we have to end our cooperation if there are any scandals involving either party. What¡¯s wrong? Are you going to pretend such a clause doesn¡¯t exist?¡± Mei Lu asked aggressively.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Mr. Lin. Your scandal might get more people caught up in this. I think you should stop struggling and just pay the compensation and terminate the contract,¡± said another artist.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you all remember how the Lin Group treated you in the past. Is a single scandal all that it takes to expose your disloyalty? After all, the resources that the Lin Group gave you were the best in the industry.¡± Su Ran spoke up. She could not bear to see Lin Su being put in a difficult position.


    ¡°Besides, I won¡¯t leave. I¡¯ll stay here and help the Lin Family solve their crisis.¡± Su Ran looked very determined, and her eyes were shining. ¡°Lin Su has done no wrong.¡±


    ¡°Sure, you can say that. Do you have any evidence? Didn¡¯t something happen between him and Luo Wan at the hotel yesterday? Was it just a simple social call at the hotel?¡± Luo Ying said coldly..

 Chapter 125 - Chapter 125: Hitting Someone While They Were Down

    Chapter 125: Hitting Someone While They Were Down


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    As soon as Luo Ying finished speaking, Lin Su¡¯s vicious eyes looked at Luo Ying.


    ¡°Luo Ying, the company has done a lot for you. What are you doing now? Are you trying to hit me while I¡¯m down?¡± Lin Su said.


    ¡°That¡¯s something else entirely. This is an eye for an eye. I¡¯m sure you can see where I¡¯m coming from.¡± Luo Ying looked at Lin su and sneered.


    Lin Su felt sorrow in his heart.


    The woman who had chased his coattails had truly disappeared. Now, Luo Ying only had Lu Zhao in her heart.


    She was even suspecting if he had really done it with her sister.


    Lin Su was very uncomfortable. It was as if everything had fallen out of his control. He did not like that sensation.


    Lin Su, you remember, don¡¯t you? Do you need a reminder?¡± Luo Ying asked coldly.


    Lin Su suddenly felt a chill down his spine when he heard this.


    Was Luo Ying already aware of what had happened?


    Lin Su looked up at Luo Ying stiffly.


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes were clear. They practically bore through him, as if she could read his mind. Lin Su shivered.


    While Lin Su was flustered, Luo Ying stopped talking and slowly sat down in her seat.


    The meeting ended very swiftly. Although many artistes wanted to terminate their contracts, it was not a good time now. The process would take some time, so most people chose to wait and see.


    When Luo Ying walked out of the meeting room with Chi Tong, someone blocked her way. It was Su Ran.


    Su Ran¡¯s eyes were filled with hatred. ¡°What did you do? Why are you doing this to Lin Su? You¡¯ve been in this company for so many years. Don¡¯t you have any loyalty?¡±


    ¡°What are you even getting at? Not everyone is like you. I¡¯m just here for my job. I¡¯m not tying down my entire life to it, and I won¡¯t develop any unusual relationship with my boss,¡± said Luo Ying with a mocking smile.


    Su Ran deflated even more. She did not know why Lin Su¡¯s attitude towards her had turned cold as of late. He did not indulge her willfulness as he did before. This made Su Ran very scared.


    When Lin Su looked at Luo Ying just now, there was not only anger in his eyes, but also a kind of desperate possessiveness.


    If Su Ran had guessed right, Lin Su might have some feelings for Luo Ying. This knowledge made her panic.


    ¡°You just don¡¯t know what Lin Su has done to me. When you find out, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll be disappointed in this man.¡± Luo Ying sneered. ¡°Don¡¯t give me that look. I¡¯m not interested in Lin Su.¡±


    Su Ran¡¯s gaze made her feel disgusted. She did not want to become Su rRan¡¯s love rival.


    ¡°If you really did anything to harm Lin Su, I won¡¯t let you off,¡± Su Ran said as she looked at Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying turned around and left. There was no point arguing with this blinded woman.


    Today was the last day of recording for Music Center. She still had a session to attend in the afternoon.


    Usually, before filming, she would walk a long way from the car to the recording studio. Fans would crowd the streets along the way.


    However, the atmosphere today was a little unusual.


    A few well-dressed fans were standing among the fans.


    They didn¡¯t hold any light signs or cameras. Their hands were in their pockets, as if they were waiting for something.


    Luo Ying was wearing a light blue dress and a white spaghetti strap top today. She looked youthful and beautiful.


    Everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on Luo Ying as soon as she got out of the car.


    happy recording at Luo Ying Music Center! ¡°Luo Ying, we will always support you!¡±


    The fans¡¯ cheers only grew louder and louder.


    Most of these fans had become her fans after her livestreams. The Music Center also released several live shots of her performance. These video shorts had pushed Music Center¡¯s ratings through the roof.


    Luo Ying responded to the fans with a smile and asked Chi Tong to give the gifts she had prepared to the fans standing at the door.


    At that moment, the well-dressed fans took out eggs and plastic bottles from their pockets and threw them at Luo Ying.


    ¡°Who do you think you are? How dare you frame our Brother Lin Su?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s you, right? You failed to pursue Lin Su. Now, you¡¯re framing him.. How shameless!¡±

 Chapter 126 - Chapter 126: The Black Draft

    Chapter 126: The Black Draft


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Throughout her years in the industry in her past life, Luo Ying had experienced this before. She reacted on her trained instinct and turned around to avoid the attacks. Xiao Ting quickly walked in front of the troublemakers and tried restraining their hands.


    However, some mineral water bottles still flew at Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying was about to be hit by the bottle. Suddenly, a figure appeared behind her, holding a black coat and shielding Luo Ying. The two left together.


    When she walked into the recording hall, Luo Ying realized that the person who helped her was none other than Jin Shi.


    Jin Shi looked at her with a hint of annoyance. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, woman? You¡¯ve garnered quite a few haters for yourself. Would it affect the popularity of the new movie?¡±


    Luo Ying glanced at him unhappily. ¡°Bad attention is still attention. Don¡¯t you know that these people are all here because of Lin Su¡¯s scandal? What can I do about them?¡±


    At the mention of Lin Su, Jin Shi narrowed his eyes. ¡°Your boss is a real piece of work. Isn¡¯t he with that small-time actress? What was her name again? Su


    Ran? Why is he still fooling around?¡±


    Lin Su had become a well-known laughingstock in the entertainment industry.


    Luo Ying smiled and shrugged. ¡°Beats me. Whatever the case is, I¡¯m still contracted to his company. I¡¯ve got obligations to fulfill.¡±


    ¡°If it were me, I would have terminated the contract immediately. Even if I have to pay the penalty, I¡¯d do it. I¡¯m not going to torture myself by keeping it in for such a long time. Our new drama is also about to be officially announced,¡± Jin Shi said discontentedly. ¡°I hope you wrap this up soon.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded.


    Luo Ying walked into the studio and started the day¡¯s recording.


    It went on as usual, and there were no problems.


    But when Luo Ying walked out of the studio, Chi Tong walked up with a serious expression.


    ¡°Boss, something serious has happened.¡± Chi Tong looked a little anxious.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Luo Ying asked with a frown.


    Chi Tong handed the tablet in his hand to Luo Ying. On it was a manuscript that aimed to defame her.


    It also implicated Jin Shi.


    It mentioned how Jin Shi had protected Luo Ying at the audition. It also outlined the face that Jin Shi had still protected Luo Ying, even after Luo Ying had a SDat with his ex-girlfriend.


    Not long after this announcement was released, two topics started trending.


    One was [Knight in Shining Armor Saves Damsel in Distress.]


    The other one went: [Entertainment Industry¡¯s Social Butterfly.]


    It referred to none other than Luo Ying. Luo Ying read the content and felt her scalp go numb.


    The person who posted this article had a targeted goal. Luo Ying was painted as a villain who turned against her original company for her own interests.


    Previously, Luo Ying had been pursuing Lin Su fervently, but because something had happened to Lin Su, she turned to Jin Shi.


    Luo Ying had been in the entertainment industry for many years and could see the direction of public opinion that this person wanted to set them on. He wanted to tarnish her name and make her a promiscuous woman who slept with many people for her own benefit.


    By then, public opinion had already exploded.


    [I heard that they¡¯re going to make an official announcement today. It should be concerning a new series. If the female lead is really Luo Ying, then this matter must be true.]


    [It¡¯s an open secret that Luo Ying is pursuing Lin Su. I wonder what she did to Jin Shi.]


    [I hope she can stay away from Jin Shi. Jin Shi finally got rid of that annoying woman. Is he going to b e haunted by nasty ladies for the rest of his life?]


    The hot search was filled with ugly words, and Chi Tong had a difficult expression on his face.


    ¡°We can handle this later. I¡¯m more concerned about Lin Su and Su Ran¡¯s social media. ¡±


    Luo Ying searched for their names and read their posts.


    One of them was from Lin Su. [Many cooperative relationships start with deception and end with deception. I didn¡¯t expect everyone to end up in such a disgraceful manner.]


    However, Su Ran¡¯s picture was different. It was a picture of a cup of green tea with the caption: [Not everyone has a conscience.]


    All of this hinted to Luo Ying.


    Under the wild imagination of the netizens, Luo Ying had become a succubus that doomed her own company¡¯s bosses as her stepping stones while also tearing down everyone else around her.


    Luo Ying read their posts and sneered. These two were a match made in heaven..

 Chapter 127 - Chapter 127: Unperturbed

    Chapter 127: Unperturbed


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Just as Luo Ying was scrolling through Weibo, Lu Zhao¡¯s call came in.


    She picked up the phone. ¡°Hello? What¡¯s the matter? Did you miss me?¡± Lu Zhao almost choked on Luo Ying¡¯s words.


    As soon as he got out of the day¡¯s meeting, he saw the news about Luo Ying. Most of the news was nonsense. Although it did not bother him, he was a little worried that Luo Ying would not take it well, so he called her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll deal with these troublemakers,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    Luo Ying smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry. I¡¯m more experienced than you in dealing with the entertainment industry.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t difficult to deal with this matter. Moreover, when she investigated Xia Lan, she had obtained some crucial information, which could be put to good use now.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said. I¡¯ll be home for dinner tonight.¡±


    Luo Ying found it odd for him to say that, but she still agreed.


    After ending the call with Lu Zhao, Luo Ying passed the information to Chi


    Tong. ¡°Send this out, and also release the surveillance footage from that day.¡± Chi Tong nodded.


    The surveillance video Luo Ying was talking about was the surveillance video of Lin Su and Luo Wan entering the hotel together.


    After Xiao Ting had removed the camera, he had decrypted the contents and obtained this video.


    Soon, an article was quickly pushed to the top of the search list.


    It listed the resources that the Lin Family had provided Su Ran over the past few years. Many newcomers had no way of obtaining these resources. Someone even specially tabulated the data and compared these resources and ratings.


    The conclusion she got was that Su Ran¡¯s demographics did not match her supposed resources. Moreover, the investment and return ratio didn¡¯t match.


    It was obvious that manv strings were being Dulled to help Su Ran.


    Since Lin Su and Su Ran started this war, she would respond in kind.


    In a short while, public opinion exploded again.


    The official account of ¡°Dancing Shoes and Summer¡± had released a photo of Luo Ying and officially announced her as the female lead.


    [Luo Ying ended up as the female lead.]


    [Didn¡¯t they say that Su Ran was slated to be the female lead? How did it become Luo Ying overnight?]


    [Luo Ying is such a villainess. She had just trampled on Su Ran not long ago, and now she¡¯s getting her resources. I really don¡¯t know what these producers are thinking.]


    At first, many lambasted Luo Ying, but because of Su Ran¡¯s incident, some voices of doubt also rose up.


    [ Luo Ying¡¯s performance at Music Center has been very good recently. Her acting skills might have improved.]


    [Her previous TV series was pretty bland, but this audition was personally checked by Director Cheng Yang. Director Cheng Yang has always been a principled professional.]


    While the internet was in chaos, Jin Shi released a statement.


    In the statement, Jin Shi seriously explained why he chose Luo Ying as the main character. He also posted the clip of Luo Ying¡¯s audition.


    After watching the videos, many people were full of praise for Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying had not expected Jin Shi to take her side. It was bizarre.


    Jin Shi had always stayed away from such boring drama. Even when it was a scandal involving himself, he rarely clarified it personally.


    This action only convinced some people that Luo Ying had something to do with him.


    [Jin Shi has never addressed any rumors out there. This is a first.]


    [In the original ¡°Dancing Shoes and Summer¡± novel, the male protagonist protected the female protagonist like this. I didn¡¯t expect Jin Shi to protect Luo Ying like this too.]


    [Is something really going on between the two of them? I¡¯m starting to look forward to the drama.]


    Fans always chose the dramatic over the realistic and mundane


    Luo Ying looked at the slowly changing public opinion and closed her iPad. It seemed that Lin Su¡¯s video didn¡¯t need to be released for the time being.


    At that moment, on the top floor of a grand building, Lu Zhao was looking at his phone. His expression did not look good.


    Cheng Li, who was standing at the side, was trembling with fear. ¡°Boss, I followed your instructions and removed the hot topics, but I don¡¯t know why it has become like this.¡±


    ¡°What is this crap about a knight and a damsel in distress?¡± Lu Zhao pointed at the few words on the computer for Cheng Li to see..

 Chapter 128 - Chapter 128: Jealous

    Chapter 128: Jealous


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°It¡¯s showbiz. They just love their dramatic wording.¡± Cheng Li was also a fan of celebrities, so he knew what these fans were thinking.


    ¡°Fans ship couples out of the blue, especially if it creates a beautiful fantasy in their minds. ¡±


    This had been supposed to be a very simple matter.


    ¡°So you¡¯re saying that the netizens are all fantasizing about Jin Shi and Luo Ying, not me and Luo Ying?¡± Lu Zhao frowned as he read the comments.


    The internet moved at a terrifying speed. Some netizens had even started to post short fanfics about the two.


    Lu Zhao looked at the more erotic content and frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t people have anything better to do these days?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir. You¡¯re not a celebrity, and you¡¯ve always maintained a low profile, so it¡¯s unsurprising that no one would put the two of you together.¡± Cheng Li felt that his brain was about to blow up.


    His boss paid little attention to the red carpet, but he wasn¡¯t easy to fool, either.


    ¡°Have any of these fantasized couples ever come to fruition?¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s expression was dark. He seemed to be very dissatisfied with this matter.


    ¡°Some celebrities do play along, but it¡¯s a mutual arrangement between the


    two. They¡¯re just riding the wave of popularity. You should know that it¡¯s hard for love to develop between colleagues.¡± Cheng Li scratched his head, thinking of a way to convince Lu Zhao.


    Lu Zhao looked at Cheng Li. His expression was still cold, but his gaze had softened significantly. He was no longer as paranoid.


    ¡°I have something that I need your help with.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s expression eased up. He started to assign tasks to Cheng Li.


    Cheng Li wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.


    Luo Ying saw that things had settled down. She put the surveillance video aside.


    However, she was indebted to Jin Shi. After looking around, she realized that she didn¡¯t have Jin Shi¡¯s phone number or contact information.


    A text message suddenly lit her phone up.


    ¡°How are you going to thank me?¡± It was from Jin Shi.


    Luo Ying opened her social media app and added Jin Shi¡¯s contact information to her phone number.


    [Thank you for today. If it wasn¡¯t for you, I might not have been able to do public relations for today.]


    [Sure, and how are you going to thank me?]


    Luo Ying looked at this sentence and thought for a long time. This sentence was very reminiscent to what her third brother would say.


    [I can treat you to a meal, or you can name your price.]


    After a long while, Jin Shi replied: [The PR costs will be deducted from your pay.]


    If such a big shot came out of his seclusion to PR on her behalf, how much would he cost? She had a feeling that she was going to act in his series for free.


    Jin Shi seemed to be very busy, so he didn¡¯t continue to chat with her. Instead, he added her to the group of directors and actors.


    When Luo Ying entered, she was surprised to find that Min Yu was already in the group.


    It seemed that Min Yu¡¯s song had been approved.


    She sent a text message to Min Yu: [Congratulations, they used your song!]


    [Yeah, it¡¯s all thanks to Director Cheng Yang and Jin Shi. They said that they would give me another chance, so I stayed up all night to make something out of it.]


    Luo Ying could sense her excitement through the screen.


    After all, this film would be featured in many film festivals. Her music could follow this film to the world.


    [I hope that my boyfriend gets to hear it.] Min Yu was a little sad. Luo Feng hadn¡¯t contacted her recently.


    Luo Ying asked: [Did something go wrong with his mission?]


    In the original novel, Luo Feng had gone through a near-death experience in order to take revenge. Even though Min Yu was fine, Luo Feng was probably doing something very dangerous, and this made Luo Ying very worried.


    She hoped that her brother could quickly return to her and her father¡¯s side.


    [That could be the case, but I firmly believe that he¡¯ll be able to return safely.] Min Yu said.


    Luo Ying was still a little worried. She had changed many things in the novel. She hoped that her brother had not been caught in the turbulence..

 Chapter 129 - Chapter 129: Rampant

    Chapter 129: Rampant


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    After chatting with Min Yu for a while, Luo Ying got ready to head home and have dinner with Lu Zhao.


    Everything was going smoothly on Luo Ying¡¯s side, but it was not the case on Lin Su¡¯s side.


    Lin Su frowned as he looked at the public opinion that was gradually shifting towards Luo Ying.


    [Luo Ying must have been wrongly accused. We don¡¯t have to believe her, but we¡¯re not going to call Jin Shi and Director Cheng Yang liars, right?] [Yes, yes. Lin Su did something wrong, and he¡¯s trying to bury it.]


    [Lin Su hasn¡¯t even cleaned up his own mess yet. He¡¯s just trying to pull everyone down with him. How nefarious.]


    He clenched the phone in his hand. There were more than a dozen unanswered calls to Luo Ying.


    He really wanted to talk to Luo Ying now. He wanted to know why she had become like this.


    He didn¡¯t know why, but ever since Luo Ying started to distance herself from him, his longing for her had spiraled out of control.


    He had no interest in Luo Ying at all.


    However, it seemed that ever since that incident, he had become more and more concerned about Luo Ying, even more so than his obsession with Su Ran. He grew crazy with his desire for Luo Ying, and he wanted to see her pester him and make things difficult for him again.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is Luo Ying not picking up?¡± Su Ran walked over and gently patted Lin Su¡¯s shoulder.


    She looked at Lin Su, who was frowning and staring at the phone in his hand wordlessly.


    Su Ran noticed his phone screen and looked over. Lin Su had called Luo Ying more than ten times, but Luo Ying had not replied.


    Su Ran¡¯s blood ran cold.


    Su Ran knew that something had gone horribly wrong. Lin Su had a desire for Luo Ying. Lin Su had never been so persistent about anything.


    She still maintained a gentle and kind look on her face and patted Lin Su¡¯s hand gently. ¡°If we can¡¯t contact her, we can handle this crisis ourselves.¡±


    Lin Su nodded dejectedly. He knew that the source of this desperation ran deeper than the crisis on social media.


    He laughed at himself and looked at the computer. He had more important work to do now and could not waste time on such a relationship.


    When Luo Ying returned home, she didn¡¯t expect the house to be empty and dark.


    Was Zhang not around today?


    Luo Ying reached out to touch the switches, but she was unexpectedly pulled into a warm and scorching embrace.


    The man held her tightly, the minty scent of his body enveloping her. She could feel his hot breath.


    His breath tickled her ear, and she shivered.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you turn on the lights? It¡¯s only been a day, and you¡¯re already sticking to me,¡± Luo Ying whispered.


    ¡°I saw the fuss over you and Jin Shi.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s words seemed to be said in a fit of pique.


    Luo Ying laughed. This man was really cute.


    ¡°We¡¯re colleagues. Besides, he helped me through a rowdy crowd. I¡¯ll have to pay him out of my pocket. If it were you, you¡¯d do it for free.¡±


    Lu Zhao buried his head in her neck and breathed gently, as if he was afraid that his breath would blow Luo Ying away.


    ¡°Why are you always afraid that I¡¯ll leave you? I¡¯m clearly here and won¡¯t go anywhere.¡± Luo Ying wrapped her arms around him and gently leaned on his shoulder.


    Lu Zhao sighed and continued to rest his head on Luo Ying¡¯s neck. ¡°I¡¯ve tried to grab hold of many things, but I¡¯ve never been able to hold on to them.¡±


    Luo Ying had read the original novel. Lu Zhao had a deep obsession with the original Luo Ying. The original Luo Ying met a swift end, and he never got married. It was as if he was waiting for something.


    ¡°Do you like the me who jumped off a building for Lin Su?¡± Luo Ying asked the question she was most concerned about.


    She had always felt that Lu Zhao¡¯s obsession seemed to be directed at the Luo Ying of the past. If she hadn¡¯t transmigrated and become this Luo Ying, would Lu Zhao have still felt the same?


    Lu Zhao was silent for a moment. ¡°You¡¯ve indeed changed a lot, but your warmth has grown familiar to me now. It feels as if this had been your nature from birth. Do you understand what I¡¯m saying?


    Lu Zhao looked up at Luo Ying.


    In the pitch-black room, his eyes seemed especially bright. Luo Ying nodded, not fully understanding what he meant..

 Chapter 130 - Chapter 130: A Date

    Chapter 130: A Date


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Although she didn¡¯t quite understand what Lu Zhao meant, she could feel that Lu Zhao seemed to be able to distinguish between her past and her current self.


    ¡°Then why did you forgive what happened before?¡± Luo Ying asked curiously.


    ¡°I¡¯m not forgiving you. I just don¡¯t care. I don¡¯t care about your past, but your future. So, I hope you will never leave me.¡±


    There was a faint sense of fragility in the man¡¯s eyes, and this fragility made it difficult for Luo Ying to meet his eyes.


    She had never seen Lu Zhao like this.


    Luo Ying¡¯s heart ached as she massaged the man¡¯s furrowed brow. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad. I¡¯m here with you, aren¡¯t I? I won¡¯t leave you again.¡±


    When Luo Ying smiled, Lu Zhao nodded and smiled.


    After all that had happened, Lu Zhao felt that he and Luo Ying had gained a better understanding of each other.


    ¡°I have someplace to show you.¡± Lu Zhao took Luo Ying¡¯s hand and walked out of the door.


    Cheng Li was already waiting at the door. He respectfully opened the car door and let the two of them in.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Luo Ying was a little curious. It was so late, and all the entertainment facilities were probably closed.


    Lu Zhao took out a black lace ribbon from the car, inlaid with pearls and diamonds.


    He reached out and tied the ribbon around Luo Ying¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Why are you being so mysterious?¡± Luo Ying said with a smile, but she still let the man put the black lace around her eyes.


    ¡°I have a surprise for you,¡± Lu Zhao said with a smile.


    Luo Ying reached out and took Lu Zhao¡¯s hand, leaning her head on the man¡¯s body.


    The car was driving very fast. Luo Ying felt that she was going up. It was as if the car was climbing a mountain.


    It seemed to be a winding mountain road.


    The centrifugal forces of the sharp corners jerked Luo Ying¡¯s limbs around. Luo Ying smiled and hugged Lu Zhao¡¯s waist.


    ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± The woman¡¯s soft voice made Lu Zhao¡¯s evil fire burn.


    However, he couldn¡¯t do such a thing. Today, he wanted to take her to relax for a day, and there were many things he wanted to clear up with her.


    The car finally stopped. Luo Ying felt herself being picked up. She climbed onto Lu Zhao¡¯s neck and buried herself in his arms.


    They seemed to have arrived at the top of a mountain. The wind was whistling.


    From the whistling wind, Luo Ying took in the sweet fragrance of roses.


    Luo Ying curiously reached for the fabric around her eyes, but she didn¡¯t pull it off.


    ¡°Be good. Just a bit longer.¡± Lu Zhao coaxed Luo Ying in a low voice and touched her head.


    Luo Ying was led by Lu Zhao into a hall-like place.


    She heard the violin playing her favorite song, and the faint scent of roses lingered at the tip of her nose.


    Lu Zhao walked behind Luo Ying and pulled off the lace.


    The scene in the hall was displayed in front of Luo Ying.


    This was a very romantic restaurant. Everything had been decorated with roses. In the middle of the hall, a violinist in a gorgeous long dress was playing the violin.


    This should be the one and only mountaintop restaurant in the city. Usually, many people would be trying to make reservations, and the waiting list stretched for months.


    How did Lu Zhao manage to get them a place on this night?


    ¡°Have you been planning this for a long time?¡± Luo Ying asked with some doubt.


    ¡°As long as it¡¯s something you like, I¡¯ll prepare it seriously.¡± Lu Zhao avoided the question and looked at her affectionately. ¡°Do you like it?¡±


    Luo Ying nodded. ¡°I like it very much.¡±


    ¡°I am honored to bring you pleasure,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    Luo Ying wondered why Lu Zhao¡¯s expression was so unnatural when he said these sweet words.


    She looked at Cheng Li, who was standing in a corner. Cheng Li¡¯s eyes were a little listless, and he seemed to be a little sheepish.


    Cheng Li must have prepared a script for him.


    Luo Ying lowered her head and smiled. Lu Zhao, who always hated corny words, actually learned these words from Cheng Li just for her sake. He was really too cute.


    Luo Ying reached out and interlocked her fingers with Lu Zhao¡¯s. She stood on her tiptoes and gently planted a kiss on Lu Zhao¡¯s face.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s face turned red.


    This kiss was different from the previous ones. It was a pure kiss that carried


    no desire.


    Even if it was just the light touch of lips and cheeks, it was enough to make his heart flutter.


    He felt like a schoolboy experiencing love for the first time in his life..

 Chapter 131 - Chapter 131: Anniversary

    Chapter 131: Anniversary


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The two of them sat down, and the pre-planned courses were served.


    All the vegetables had been meticulously carved into the shape of roses, and the drinks were pink. There were also rose-shaped snacks and ice cream.


    Luo Ying looked at the food and couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    ¡°Did you prepare all of these?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    Lu Zhao nodded.


    Among the desserts made of ice cream and roses, a few were irregularly shaped, and they looked charmingly haphazard.


    ¡°You made these, right?¡± Luo Ying asked with a smile.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s ears turned red. The desserts he made were very different from the ones made by the pastry chef.


    When she spotted the band-aid on the man¡¯s hand, Luo Ying smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll enjoy eating anything you make. Be careful when you use a knife next time.¡±


    Luo Ying thought of the powerful magnate wearing an apron and a chef¡¯s hat, clumsily preparing snacks in front of the cooking table. She found the image very cute.


    Even if he produced misshapen lumps of dough, she would still eat it, let alone something produced with such care.


    When Luo Ying smiled, Lu Zhao felt that everything he had done was worth it.


    The two of them began to eat, and Luo Ying ate all the snacks Lu Zhao made.


    The snack had the essence of rose oolong tea. They were sweet, but not greasy. She had not expected Lu Zhao¡¯s cooking to be so good. They did not look good, but they were quite delicious.


    ¡°They taste great. Next time, it¡¯s my turn to make them for you.¡± Luo Ying smiled mischievously.


    Lu Zhao laughed at Luo Ying¡¯s words and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll finish it all too.¡±


    The Luo Ying of the past never even spared him a glance, but now, she was sitting in front of him and saying that she wanted to cook for him.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes were bright, as if they were glittering like stars.


    ¡°I want to know why you¡¯re giving me a surprise today. What day is it today?¡± Luo Ying asked curiously.


    ¡°Today is our wedding anniversary.¡± Lu Zhao looked at Luo Ying. He seemed a little disappointed. ¡°You actually don¡¯t remember.¡±


    Luo Ying was a little flustered. The original Luo Ying¡¯s phone and calendar never marked down such a day, which was no surprise to her.


    Luo Ying lowered her head in embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t remember this and didn¡¯t prepare a gift for you.¡±


    Lu Zhao looked at her and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s okay, take it slow. I think you might need some time before you can really fall in love with me.¡±


    When he said this, he sounded a little sad.


    ¡°I¡¯ll definitely remember next time,¡± Luo Ying said.


    She felt like a scumbag who was deceiving the feelings of an innocent young man.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I have a gift for you,¡± Lu Zhao said, snapping his fingers.


    The waiter pushed a dining cart to Lu Zhao and Luo Ying¡¯s table and placed a covered tray on the table.


    Luo Ying opened the tray. It was not jewelry or other small gifts, but a remote control.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Luo Ying looked at Lu Zhao doubtfully.


    ¡°Try pressing it,¡± Lu Zhao said with a smile,


    Luo Ying pressed the button, and suddenly, fireworks in the shape of roses exploded from the floor-to-ceiling window.


    The sky was filled with pink fireworks in the shape of roses.


    Looking at the fireworks, Luo Ying was stunned. These fireworks were so beautiful. They were more beautiful than any fireworks she had ever seen.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the observation deck and watch.¡± Lu Zhao smiled and pushed Luo Ying to the side of the observation platform.


    The observation deck was next to the mountains and was the highest point in the city. From the observation deck, one could see the forest outside, a whole field of rose flowers, and the lights of the city.


    The scenery was beautiful beyond words.


    Luo Ying praised Lu Zhao in her heart for his good choice of location.


    The strong fragrance of the plants in the forest filled the tip of her nose with a faint rose fragrance, refreshing her heart.


    Luo Ying stood at the edge of the observation platform and looked at the fireworks in the distance. She felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.


    Although her brothers had arranged a similar fireworks show for her when she was at home before, she was still a little worried.


    In this world where she had been cut from her family, Lu Zhao was her only family and her only lover.


    He treated her differently from his brothers. He cherished her with all his heart and soul.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, thank you..¡±

 Chapter 132 - Chapter 132: Surveillance

    Chapter 132: Surveillance


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    When he heard the woman¡¯s thanks, Lu Zhao felt that everything he had done was worth it.


    Lu Zhao reached out and ruffled Luo Ying¡¯s hair. He buried his face in Luo Ying¡¯s hair and embraced her from behind.


    ¡°I love you so much,¡± Lu Zhao said softly.


    Although this sentence was said softly, Luo Ying could feel Lu Zhao¡¯s heartful of love.


    Luo Ying turned around, put her arms around Lu Zhao¡¯s neck, and tiptoed to plant a kiss on Lu Zhao¡¯s lips.


    Lu Zhao responded to the kiss lightly, softly and without any desire, as if it was the most precious thing in the world.


    After the kiss, Lu Zhao rubbed Luo Ying¡¯s cheek.


    I actually love you very much, ¡± Luo Ying said softly. ¡°Maybe I haven¡¯t done enough yet, but¡­¡±


    Before she could finish speaking, Lu Zhao pulled Luo Ying into his arms, his arms tightening around her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need you to do much. It¡¯s fine, even if you don¡¯t love me that much. I¡¯m a competitive man,¡± Lu Zhao said softly. ¡°I must love you more than you love me.¡±


    It was a gentle sentence that carried massive force. It struck Luo Ying¡¯s heart like a tidal wave, and she shook with the aftershock.


    ¡°In that case, don¡¯t get jealous anymore in the future. Don¡¯t get jealous of my colleagues or whatever, because I really do love you,¡± Luo Ying said. Lu Zhao nodded.


    The wind blew through the forest, and the leaves in the forest rustled. Luo Ying¡¯s eyes were attracted by a flash of light in the forest.


    It seemed suspiciously familiar.


    She was very familiar with camera flashes. It was no wonder she felt like she was being watched. Who else could be watching her at this time? Luo Ying picked up her phone and removed Lin Su from the blacklist.


    Lin Su¡¯s call came through in less than three minutes.


    ¡°You¡¯re not picking it up?¡± Lu Zhao looked at the name on it and frowned slightlv-


    ¡°Do you want me to?¡± Luo Ying asked with a smile.


    ¡°I won¡¯t interfere with your work. If it¡¯s business, just take it.¡± Lu Zhao nodded. Luo Ying suddenly felt that Lu Zhao was extremely cute, like a little puppy.


    He clearly didn¡¯t want her to answer the phone, but he still frowned and persuaded himself to encourage her. It was so cute.


    Luo Ying turned on the phone and answered the call.


    Lin Su¡¯s anxious voice came from the other side. ¡°Luo Ying, how did you do it? What did you offer Jin Shi?¡±


    Luo Ying said slowly, ¡°I acted well. He liked my audition. That¡¯s all there is.¡±


    ¡°Even if you can¡¯t have me, you don¡¯t have to use such a disgusting thing to take revenge on me. Are you such a woman who will destroy everything you can¡¯t have? I¡¯ve really misjudged you. The Lin Group has lost a lot because of you¡­¡± Lin Su¡¯s voice was filled with anger.


    Luo Ying yawned lazily and smiled. ¡°Do you think that I don¡¯t know what you did at Luya Hotel?¡±


    Lin Su choked.


    ¡°I did it all for you. If I¡¯m still willing to give you a chance now, will you come back to my side?¡±


    Lu Zhao gripped Luo Ying¡¯s hand tighter.


    Luo Ying seemed to sense the aggression coming from the man.


    Lin Su was as ridiculous as before. There was no helping him.


    ¡°It¡¯s true that I¡¯ve pursued you before, but you should get over yourself by now.¡± Luo Ying sneered, ¡°What did you do when I was giving you my all? You humiliated me time and time again, and now you want me to change my mind? I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m done.¡±


    Lin Su was silent.


    Lin Su had not expected Luo Ying to say such hurtful words to him.


    ¡°What have you not tried? You tried to make me look like the cheating married woman. You tried to make me look like the cuckolded victim. You tried to force yourself upon me. You put my career at risk, again and again,¡± Luo Ying said with a cold smile.


    ¡°If anything really happened, I¡¯d be willing to protect you. You can marry me and be a housewife,¡± Lin Su said.


    ¡°Lin Su, you¡¯re really selfish. This world is not your playground. You can¡¯t control anyone you want to.¡±


    He seemed to only know how to treat others as his puppets..

 Chapter 133 - Chapter 133: Jealousy

    Chapter 133: Jealousy


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Lin Su, don¡¯t call my wife anymore,¡± Lu Zhao said. Lin Su¡¯s heart fell into a bucket of ice water.


    Luo Ying was truly with Lu Zhao now.


    ¡°Did you hear that, Lin Su? Don¡¯t call me again.¡± After Luo Ying finished speaking, she hung up the phone.


    Lin Su looked at the monitor screen and his phone, which had been hung up. He was manically frustrated. He flung his phone to the ground.


    Since when did Luo Ying wrap him around her finger?


    He laughed at himself. Luo Ying¡¯s every move now bothered him to no end.


    Even though Luo Ying had said such harsh words to him, he didn¡¯t want to blame Luo Ying. He was just afraid that Luo Ying would ignore him again.


    He was also filled with intense jealousy toward Lu Zhao. Why did Lu Zhao easily obtain Luo Ying¡¯s love, while he had nothing?


    In the surveillance camera, Luo Ying and Lu Zhao were standing on the observation deck, kissing each other.


    He didn¡¯t know why he had such a serious desire for Luo Ying.


    When he saw Lu Zhao and Luo Ying kiss, he would think of all the things that a couple would do.


    As he thought of this, his mind was filled with violent and destructive thoughts.


    If only he could replace Lu Zhao, he could do better than Lu Zhao and make Luo Ying happier.


    Why was it Lu Zhao?


    While suppressing his desire, Lin Su leaned on the table and panted heavily. He reached out and smashed the monitor into pieces with a punch. His hand was pierced by the glass shards, and blood flowed out.


    He was unwilling to accept this.


    Ever since he was young, there was nothing he couldn¡¯t get his hands on.


    Lu Zhao must have done something to Luo Ying. He had to find a way to win Luo Ying¡¯s heart back.


    Meanwhile, Lu Zhao took Luo Ying to a small villa by the sea.


    The sea could be seen from the window of the small villa.


    The lights were not on in the house, but the sound of the waves outside could be heard, making people feel at ease.


    Luo Ying stretched her body as she looked at the sea and the starry sky outside.


    ¡°Did you arrange all these for me today?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    Lu Zhao nodded and hugged her from behind, handing her a white dress. It was a very beautiful holiday-style dress.


    ¡°Change into this, and let¡¯s go for a walk by the beach.¡±


    Luo Ying went to the fitting room to change into the dress, only to find that this dress was very sexy. Her entire back was exposed. The high slit displayed her long and white legs.


    Luo Ying walked out of the fitting room. Her face was still slightly red.


    She reached out to take Lu Zhao¡¯s hand and followed him to the beach.


    The sand by the beach was soft, and for some reason, she wanted to dance. She held Lu Zhao¡¯s hand and started to walk around aimlessly on the beach.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s hand was on her exposed waist. His ears were a little red. Luo Ying looked so attractive tonight.


    She was like a fresh and sweet fruit, waiting for him to pick and taste.


    Finally, he lost control of his desires. He lowered his head and kissed Luo Ying¡¯s lips.


    It was a passionate kiss.


    The one-year anniversary ended at home. Luo Ying had never felt the overwhelming gentleness of the waves.


    The man held her in his arms, gently stroking her and kissing her.


    He removed her hand from her face and gently leaned over to kiss her neck.


    She called Lu Zhao¡¯s name softly. Her voice was as gentle as the lapping waves.


    The sensation of floating up and down between the pillow was like rolling in the waves.


    Luo Ying followed Lu Zhao¡¯s rhythm and panted lightly.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s hand gently pushed away the bangs on her face and gently kissed her cheek.


    Luo Ying saw that Lu Zhao¡¯s face was also very red.


    When their love reached its peak, the two of them would kiss and look at each other. For some reason, they would suddenly feel embarrassed together.


    Lu Zhao stopped kissing her and gently touched the tip of Luo Ying¡¯s nose with the tip of his nose. His actions were gentle and innocent.


    ¡°I really love you,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    ¡°Me too.¡± Luo Ying reached out and interlocked her fingers with his.


    The night went on..

 Chapter 134 - Chapter 134: Friendly Match

    Chapter 134: Friendly Match


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying and Lu Zhao enjoyed the next few days. Good days were always short, and Luo Ying would soon have to go to work.


    Before the filming of ¡°Dancing Shoes and Summer,¡± the actors would go to a few shows to publicize the series. On the one hand, they could get to know each other better. On the other hand, they would be filming in Prague, and their team needed time to set up their facilities and equipment there.


    These programs were also a way to warm up.


    Today, Luo Ying and some of the other cast members were to participate in a video game show.


    The game show was called ¡°Idol Contest¡±, and the game of the season was called ¡°Doomsday Survival¡±.


    In the game, everyone would be left on a deserted island. Some players started off on the human team, while others started off on the zombies team. The human team could pick up some weapons and medicine, while the zombies were left to run rampant.


    The zombies could choose to attack the infected humans.


    Humans needed to work together to fight against the enemy or even kill zombies. As time passed, the space available for use would become smaller and smaller, so zombies and humans would meet more frequently.


    If a human was the last man standing in the end, the humans would have won. Otherwise, it would be the zombies who won.


    Each round took place for 30 minutes, and because of the zombie mechanism, the game was very exciting.


    Luo Ying genuinely enjoyed such games during her breaks in recording.


    She also gamed during her free time. Naturally, her ID ¡°ERISA¡± had become very famous in the game recently, and she was also leading in the survival rate rankings.


    Luo Ying had also recently joined a team called the Scavenger Team.


    This team specialized in playing as humans, and they were famous for their survival rate.


    When Luo Ying arrived at the recording studio, it was still early. She was ready to try it out.


    As soon as she got online, she found that the ID of ¡°Little Genius¡±, who used to play with her often, was also online.


    She sent an invitation to the little genius.


    He was a young lad, and his voice was extremely cute. He sounded like he was in his early twenties.


    Whenever they were in a team, he was very good at building defense facilities and finding shelters.


    Whenever Luo Ying and him formed a team, she played the role of a sniper. Her marksmanship was very accurate, basically killing zombies with one shot.


    Luo Ying opened the game. While the game was loading, she found a lounge. It was quiet here, so no one should disturb her.


    When she pushed the door open, she found the lounge to already be occupied.


    Lin Ping and Jin Shi were sitting inside with their phones in their hands. They seemed to be playing ¡°Doomsday Survival¡± as well.


    Lin Ping¡¯s eyes turned cold when he saw Luo Ying.


    Lin Su had been on the hot search for the whole day yesterday, and he was still being criticized by people.


    When Lin Su came back last night, his hands had been full of wounds, which seemed to have been cut by glass shards.


    Lin Ping had never seen his brother in such a pitiful state before. It was as if he had lost his beloved toy and was in a daze.


    No matter how much Lin Ping probed him, Lin Su would not open up.


    He had checked Lin Su¡¯s call history and was shocked.


    Lin Su had called Luo Ying dozens of times, and she had only answered him once at night.


    Luo Ying must have done something to his brother.


    Luo Ying noticed Lin Ping¡¯s gaze. She wanted to leave, but this lounge was the only relatively empty one left.


    Just as Luo Ying was hesitating, Jin Shi said, ¡°Come in. We¡¯re both playing games. We won¡¯t disturb you.¡±


    Jin Shi¡¯s sharp eyes glanced at Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying could only bite the bullet and walk in. She sat beside the two.


    The game started, and ¡°Little Genius¡± turned on his voice chat. His tone was light. ¡°Sister, my friend and I will play with you today. How about it?¡± When Luo Ying heard ¡°Little Genius¡±, her jaw almost dropped in surprise.


    His voice had not just come from the headphones.


    It was coming from right beside her.


    She glanced at Lin Ping, the source of the voice.


    Luo Ying typed a line of words on her phone: [It¡¯s not convenient for me to speak now. I¡¯ll be up to speed, don¡¯t you worry..]

 Chapter 135 - Chapter 135: Coincidences

    Chapter 135: Coincidences


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°I can make do without any voice comms, myself.¡± Lin Ping¡¯s voice was light, and Luo Ying felt her brain about to explode.


    How could Lin Ping be this ¡°Little Genius¡±?


    She had thought that ¡°Little Genius¡± was a university student with too much free time on his hands and liked to play games. How could he be Lin Ping?


    Luo Ying used her acting experience from the past few years to cover up the panic on her face. She continued shooting zombies, but her heart had long been in a panic.


    How could there be such a coincidence?


    As she was shooting the zombies, Jin Shi said, ¡°The person playing the game with you is pretty skilled. She killed one-shotted a zombie.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, ERISA is really good. I used to play with her every day. She¡¯s very famous in our team.¡± For some reason, there was a hint of pride in Lin Ping¡¯s tone.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it quite common to fall in love with your teammates while playing games? I think you¡¯re almost there,¡± Jin Shi said with a smile.


    He had known Lin Ping for a while. Lin Ping may seem frivolous, but he was very serious about relationships.


    He rarely tried to introduce his friends to one another. However, he had brought this girl to play with him, which meant that he valued her.


    Upon hearing Jin Shi¡¯s words, Luo Ying felt goosebumps on her back. Jin Shi¡¯s words echoed in her mind, ¡°falling in love with your teammate¡­¡± Luo Ying began to recall the scene of her playing games with Lin Ping.


    Lin Ping always liked to follow her and call her ¡°sister¡±. Whenever they encountered a shelter, he would be the first to let her in and help her pick up her equipment.


    ¡°Sister, Sister, I¡¯ve found the shelter. You should go in. The void will come soon. ¡±


    ¡°Sister, there¡¯s an AK47 here. You can take it.¡±


    ¡°Sister, you are amazing.¡±


    Luo Ying felt her goosebumps rising. She just wanted to find someone to play games with. How did she end up playing with Lin Su¡¯s brother? The world was too small for her liking.


    She did not know whether to laugh or cry.


    ¡°Well, she¡¯s pretty good, but I think you¡¯re still the better shot. Did you step down to give her the limelight?¡± Jin Shi¡¯s words made Luo Ying¡¯s ears prick up.


    Lin Ping was a better sniper than her?


    ¡°Of course, but the first time I met her, she saved me from a horde of zombies. She said it was her first time playing the game. I decided to change my build and support her.¡±


    Lin Ping beamed with joy as he said this. Luo Ying was terrified.


    ¡°I think you¡¯re crazy. What if you meet her in real life and find that she¡¯s not pretty?¡± Jin Shi asked with a smile.


    It was not rare for such online relationships to break up the moment they met.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I do like her very much,¡± Lin Ping said. His words were full of adoration for the other party.


    Luo Ying felt goosebumps all over her body. She tried to focus on the game.


    ¡°What if she¡¯s someone you especially hate?¡± Jin Shi asked.


    As Lin Ping looked for a bunker, he smiled and said, ¡°I hate that lady who keeps pestering my brother the most. If she was that woman, I wouldn¡¯t even consider her.¡±


    Luo Ying was at a loss for words. Her hand slipped. She accidentally shot Jin Shi.


    Jin Shi sighed. ¡°She needs more practice with her aiming.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Lin Ping said. ¡°I¡¯ll heal you up.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not the lady of your dreams, why are you protecting me?¡± Jin Shi joked.


    Luo Ying wailed in her heart. She could not believe the situation she¡¯s been caught in.


    Luo Ying worked harder, wanting to end this game as soon as possible and escape from this terrible space.


    She had played so many games with Lin Ping, and he actually fancied her. No matter how she thought about it, this was very scary..

 Chapter 136 - Chapter 136: Sister

    Chapter 136: Sister


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The game ended very quickly.


    Jin Shi was still not done playing. ¡°She¡¯s really good. If you guys ever have another game, do bring me along.¡±


    Lin Ping agreed with a smile.


    ¡°Well. She¡¯s good, but she¡¯s not as good as my sister,¡± Jin Shi said with a smile. He looked at the game with a doting expression.


    Luo Ying¡¯s ears perked up. Did Jin Shi have a sister too?


    ¡°Your sister? I thought you guys weren¡¯t that close?¡± Lin Ping said.


    Lin Ping was not referring to Jin Shi¡¯s biological sister. He was referring to the daughter of his troublemaking sister. She was technically his niece, but she was around his age and had been raised as his sister.


    Jin Shi¡¯s sister had eloped with a drug dealer when he was still a child, and she soon became addicted to drugs.


    It did not take long for an overdose to take her life. The child survived, but she had been addicted to drugs since birth.


    It caused much concern for his family, but she was eventually cured.


    Jin Shi¡¯s mother could not take the grief and named the child after her deceased mother.


    Jin Shi had always hated this sister of his. Why would he suddenly mention her?


    Jin Shi was stunned for a moment. He seemed to have thought of something and laughed dryly. ¡°Jin Ning is all grown up now, and I can¡¯t keep holding a grudge against her. She¡¯s been doing very well recently. My parents have been spending a lot more time with her.¡±


    Jin Shi had not been referring to Jin Ning, but his real sister.


    Luo Ying had guessed right. Her third brother was in this world.


    However, his form of transmigration into Jin Shi¡¯s body was not quite the same as her case.


    At first, only his consciousness traveled into this world. He viewed it as a disembodied spirit.


    Once, he saw Luo Ying about to jump off the building.


    Back then, Luo Ying was standing on the roof of Luya Group and was threatening Lu Zhao that if he didn¡¯t sign the divorce papers, she would jump off the building.


    Jin Shi had flown over as Luo Ying jumped off the building.


    He somehow caught her. She had looked at him with a strange expression, as if she didn¡¯t know him.


    The people around them didn¡¯t seem to be able to see him.


    Before he could figure out what had happened, he had transmigrated back to his world.


    At first, he thought it was just a dream, but the dreams returned to him again and again.


    Half a year ago, he had transmigrated into Jin Shi¡¯s body.


    The Luo Ying in this world looked just like his sister, but they were two completely different people.


    In this world, Luo Ying was desperately pursuing a man who didn¡¯t like her at all. She had shamelessly approached him and even threatened her husband with suicide.


    If it was his sister Luo Ying, she would not do such a thing.


    Just as Jin Shi was reminiscing, Lin Ping said, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Jin Ning in a long time. How is she doing?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s been working hard. She¡¯s also very good at ¡°Doomsday Survival¡±. She¡¯s probably the most sweet and innocent child in the world,¡± Jin Shi said subconsciously.


    ¡°That¡¯s such a high evaluation. Why didn¡¯t I see it?¡± Lin Ping said with a smile.


    Only then did Jin Shi realize that he wasn¡¯t talking about Jin Ning, but his younger sister, Luo Ying.


    He laughed at himself. ¡°Well, I guess everyone can change.¡±


    He looked at Luo Ying, who was staring at the game interface in a daze.


    He only felt sorrow in his heart. He felt alone in this world. Although the woman in front of him had his sister¡¯s face, she looked at him with the eyes of a stranger every time.


    Jin Shi saw some traces of Luo Ying in her, but when he thought of her and Lin Su¡¯s history, he shook the association away.


    From birth, Luo Ying had always been free-spirited and independent. How could she do those crazy things for a man who did not deserve it?


    Based on this, Jin Shi was certain that Luo Ying was definitely not his sister.


    Luo Ying seemed to sense his gaze and looked up. She didn¡¯t know why, but Jin Shi reminded her of her brother.


    ¡°Luo Ying, you¡¯re also on our team today, right? There¡¯s still time. Let¡¯s play a round together.¡± Jin Shi called out to her..

 Chapter 137 - Chapter 137: Online Dating

    Chapter 137: Online Dating


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Upon hearing Jin Shi¡¯s words, Lin Ping glanced at Luo Ying. Luo Ying looked like she had lost her soul. He didn¡¯t know what was wrong with her.


    Luo Ying had just heard Jin Shi talk about her sister, so she was a little sad.


    Even though she knew that this man wasn¡¯t her brother, she felt very sad when she heard this man praising his sister.


    This man looked iust like her third brother. In this world, he had his own family and his own sister.


    He loved his sister very much. For some reason, Luo Ying felt as if her position had been replaced by someone else. For a moment, the heartache filled her heart.


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll pass. I¡¯ve just started, and I¡¯m not good at it. I¡¯ll just practice first.¡¯ Luo Ying smiled and refused the two¡¯s invitation.


    If she used her own ID to play with them now, wouldn¡¯t that expose her identity?


    She was still having a headache over Lin Ping. She would probably change her ID to play this game in the future and try not to meet Lin Ping again.


    It was one of the most terrifying experiences in her life.


    Lin Ping sneered after hearing Luo Ying¡¯s words. ¡°You, Jin Shi, and myself are on the same team today. Don¡¯t embarrass us.¡±


    Luo Ying sneered in her heart. She had been afraid that he would be sad if he knew the truth.


    Luo Ying walked out of the lounge and walked towards the broadcasting hall.


    Su Ran was also present.


    In the end, Su Ran managed to get the role that Luo Ying had wanted. She would be going to Prague with them to film.


    Su Ran did not look like she had a good night¡¯s sleep. Her dark eye circles were covered by a thick layer of foundation.


    She looked away at the first sight of Luo Ying.


    She used to be a flower with a bright future, but because of Luo Ying, her future was uncertain now.


    What was even scarier was that Lin Su, who had no interest in Luo Ying at first, was now madly in love with her. It was as if he had been bewitched. This drove Su Ran up the wall.


    She didn¡¯t know what Luo Ying had done, but ever since she jumped off the building, she seemed to have changed into a different person.


    Since the program was a live broadcast, there was a segment where they could interact with the chat.


    When they entered the chatroom, it was already brimming with activity.


    [Both Luo Ying and Su Ran are here. I thought Su Ran would stay under the limelight after all that mess.]


    [She¡¯s still shamelessly participating in the show with Luo Ying. Su rRan is really shameless.]


    [Su Ran, just quit. You stole so many resources from Luo Ying.]


    Some of Luo Ying¡¯s fans were also standing up for her.


    Of course, there were also some fans who liked seeing Luo Ying and Jin Shi together. When they saw the two of them enter the venue together, they started screaming wildly.


    [Jin Shi and Luo Ying are together again!!!]


    [The two of them look so good together. Hurry up and fall in love!]


    Luo Ying looked at the bullet screen and didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry.


    She sat down in her seat.


    There were a total of ten actors present today, and these ten people were divided into two different teams.


    Luo Ying, Jin Shi, Lin Ping, and two other less experienced actors were in one group, while Su Ran was in another group with the rest of the people.


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t use her own phone, but Chi Tong¡¯s account.


    The few of them logged into the game.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take the sniper¡¯s position, and Jin Shi will find us bunkers. Luo Ying, you can be the medic, okay?¡± Lin Ping was the highest-level player among them, so naturally, everyone listened to his commands.


    Luo Ying nodded.


    The role that Lin Ping assigned to her was the least important one. As long as she could find a first aid kit and keep her stocks filled, she would be fine. Anyone could carry out the role.


    Luo Ying felt Lin Ping¡¯s disdain for her, but she didn¡¯t care about it. As long as Lin Ping didn¡¯t know who she really was in the game, it was fine.


    The team chose their landing spots.


    Luo Ying chose a secluded mountain. There were several abandoned hospitals on the mountain, and there were many first aid boxes to pick up.


    Lin ping and Jin Shi acted separately. Lin Ping was responsible for protecting Luo Ying and finding supplies, while Jin Shi acted alone to find the bunkers they needed.


    The other team played as zombies. As soon as the match started, Su Ran immediately started looking for Luo Ying.


    Her goal today was to kill Luo Ying in the game..

 Chapter 138 - Chapter 138: The Suspension Bridge Effect

    Chapter 138: The Suspension Bridge Effect


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying looked for her gun while looking for her medical kit.


    Although Lin Ping had told her to just do her job as a medic, she still needed to be able to defend herself.


    In the beginning, when the playing area was still relatively large, Luo Ying was more relaxed.


    The zombies were easily taken care of by Lin Ping, and Jin Shi quickly fortified a few bunkers.


    ¡°Luo Ying, if you can¡¯t play, just stay in the base. You can leave when we tell you to,¡± Jin Shi said.


    ¡°Yeah, if you don¡¯t know how to play, just stay there.¡± Lin ping echoed.


    Luo Ying understood what Lin Ping meant. Lin Ping actually didn¡¯t think much of Luo Ying¡¯s gaming skills, and he was still a little angry about Lin Su.


    However, the netizens thought differently. They were discussing it crazily in the chat.


    [Luo Ying is the team¡¯s favorite. Both of her teammates are protecting her.] [I¡¯m so envious. I also want to be like Luo Ying. She¡¯s being protected by everyone.]


    [Still, what the f*ck is Luo Ying doing? Is she trying out some last-minute shooting practice?]


    The stream shifted to Luo Ying¡¯s point of view. Luo Ying wasn¡¯t just looking for the first aid kit. She had two not-so-good guns in her hands, and she was taking pot-shots at zombies with them.


    When Su Ran glanced at the chat, she lost her temper.


    The people in the comments were actually believing that Luo Ying was the group pet being protected by everyone.


    A sour feeling spread from her heart.


    Why was Luo Ying everyone¡¯s baby? Everyone was clearly on her side before.


    Luo Ying did not have a good reputation in the entertainment industry. When she participated in variety shows, she became everyone¡¯s punching bag.


    However, in just a few months, Luo Ying had become the group¡¯s pet in everyone¡¯s eyes.


    Su Ran didn¡¯t want to see such a thing happen. She wanted to eliminate Luo Ying from the game as soon as possible.


    Her eyes were filled with jealousy.


    Soon, the playing area in the game was further compressed, and a few people and zombies were trapped in a small courtyard.


    There was a basement in the yard, which was Luo Ying¡¯s bunker.


    Jin Shi and Lin Ping were guarding the place.


    Su Ran hid around and waited for Luo Ying to come out.


    Eventually, the playing area was further diminished. Luo Ying¡¯s bunker was no longer safe. The moment Luo Ying walked out of the basement, Su Ran rushed out and pounced at her.


    ¡°Be careful!¡± Jin Shi and Lin Ping shouted.


    The two of them moved to block Su Ran¡¯s path.


    If Su Ran wanted to get close to Luo Ying, she would have to get rid of Lin Ping and Jin Shi. She bit her lip.


    These two men were also taking that woman¡¯s side?


    Her character started tussling with Lin Ping in melee combat. Soon, her teammates surrounded her and infected Lin Ping¡¯s character.


    There were three minutes left. These three minutes were enough to finish off Jin Shi and Luo Ying.


    Lin Ping was the only one among them who seemed skilled in combat.


    The chatroom was soon filled with nervous words.


    [I didn¡¯t expect Lin Ping to lose. I guess Su Ran lucked out.]


    [There are still three minutes left. It¡¯s still too soon to tell. Maybe they can turn the tables.]


    [Jin Shi can¡¯t really fight and Luo Ying¡¯s a total newbie at this. It¡¯s over for them.]


    [I bet 100 yuan that Su Ran will definitely win!]


    While the netizens were nervously paying attention to Lin Ping¡¯s dire situation, a line of small words appeared on the game¡¯s prompt.


    [Contestant Su Ran was killed by contestant Luo Ying.]


    Almost everyone in Su Ran¡¯s team was finished off by Luo Ying.


    Lin Ping looked at the big screen in surprise, forgetting what he was doing.


    ¡°Lin Ping, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and settle this!¡± Jin Shi reminded.


    Lin Ping realigned his focus.


    At that moment, Luo Ying was playing like an experienced veteran.


    While others were struggling to find an opening to reach Su Ran, she went around and ambused her in one fell swoop.


    Su Ran was considered the backbone of the opposing team, so getting rid of Su Ran was equivalent to getting rid of the opposing team.


    Lin Ping looked at Luo Ying. Luo Ying¡¯s eyes were sharp, and her hands were operating wildly on the screen.


    He was stunned. He had never seen Luo Ying like this.


    Strange emotions rose up in his heart.


    Could this be the suspension bridge effect?

 Chapter 139 - Chapter 139: Crooked Thoughts

    Chapter 139: Crooked Thoughts


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The suspension bridge effect happened when people who had no feelings for each other would develop feelings similar to love when they encountered danger together.


    At that moment, Lin Ping was experiencing such a cycle of emotions.


    In his mind, he even seemed to see Luo Ying and ERISA overlapping. He looked at Luo Ying and shook his head in self-mockery. How could it be? ERISA was such a gentle and beautiful sister. How could it be this shameless woman who pestered his brother?


    Jin Shi looked on in confused silence.


    Lin Ping had been staring at Luo Ying since the end of the match.


    Luo Ying was rubbing her wrists. She had strained herself a little. She was also feeling famished.


    They still had one more match to attend. She stood up to get something to eat and didn¡¯t notice Jin Shi¡¯s probing eyes behind her.


    What has gotten over Lin Ping?


    Jin Shi was also a little confused. He stood up and followed Luo Ying out. There was a tearoom specially prepared for artistes, and all kinds of snacks and food were already placed there.


    It was bound to be a long day at the studio, so they had prepared a lot of food for the artistes.


    Luo Ying picked up a small piece of cake from the table and chewed it in small bites.


    While she was focused on eating, a sneer came from behind her. ¡°You seem to be enjoying yourself.¡±


    Luo Ying turned her head and saw Su Ran standing behind her. She was glaring at her resentfully.


    ¡°What does my happiness have to do with you?¡± Luo Ying didn¡¯t understand. Did Su Ran have nothing better to do? Why wouldn¡¯t she leave her alone? ¡°What did you do to Lin Su? He¡¯s barely a husk of himself. It¡¯s all because of you!¡± Su Ran said.


    ¡°Let me get this straight. I¡¯ve stopped paying attention to him, which was exactly what he has always wanted, and he can¡¯t stand it. Instead of trying to fill the void in his heart, you¡¯re coming to me?¡± Luo Ying found Su Ran¡¯s words funny.


    At this point, Su Ran was just as irrational as Lin Su. Because Luo Ying did not respond to Lin Su¡¯s pursuit, she came to warn her not to hurt Lin Su.


    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in Lin Su, and I have done everything I can to stay out of his way. He just won¡¯t leave me alone. So, what do you think I should do?¡± Luo Ying looked at Su Ran with a smile.


    I remember that you¡¯ve always been reluctant to accept Lin su¡¯s pursuit. Is it the other way around now?¡± Luo Ying said with a smile.


    Su Ran was at a loss for words. She glared at Luo Ying. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you did, but I¡¯ve never seen Lin Su like that.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s none of my business.¡± Luo Ying was too lazy to argue with Su Ran. She got up co leave me pantry.


    Su Ran grabbed Luo Ying¡¯s wrist. ¡°Why do you have to fight with me for everything? Music Center, the roles, and now Lin Su?¡±


    Luo Ying mournfully looked at Su Ran¡¯s angry expression. She had never thought of fighting with Su Ran for anything. She just wanted to take back what originally belonged to her.


    ¡°Did you come to this show today because of Lin Ping or Jin Shi?¡± Su Ran looked at Luo Ying and asked fiercely, ¡°Are you going to seduce anything that moves, just like what the rumors say?¡±


    Luo Ying was really speechless. She reached out and pried of Su Ran¡¯s fingers open.


    ¡°Ms. Su, weren¡¯t you the one who started those rumors?¡± Luo Ying flung Su Ran¡¯s arm away and walked outside.


    Just as she was about to walk through the corridor to return to the studio, she saw a figure standing outside the corridor.


    Jin Shi looked at Luo Ying with a whimsical expression.


    ¡°What are you doing here? Were you eavesdropping?¡± Luo Ying asked with a smile.


    Jin Shi shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Most definitely not. I was about to come to the pantry to grab a bite, but I don¡¯t know how I ended up hearing such an interesting story.¡±


    Luo Ying laughed. ¡°Do you also believe the rumors? In that case, why are you helping me so much?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just looking out for Director Cheng Yang¡¯s drama.¡± Jin Shi shook his head.


    Luo Ying was a little saddened to hear this.


    Although she knew that Jin Shi wasn¡¯t her brother, those words affected her more than she wanted them to.


    Her brother would most certainly take her side. He would not ask any questions, he would not even doubt her for a single second. ¡°I have to say, you¡¯re actually quite the gamer, huh?¡±

 Chapter 140 - Chapter 140: Interrogation

    Chapter 140: Interrogation


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Jin Shi looked at Luo Ying coldly, as if she had done something terrible.


    Luo Ying felt oddly comfortable with it. Jin Shi¡¯s vigilant questioning look was very much like her third brother.


    As she thought of this, Luo Ying missed her brothers even more. She didn¡¯t know when she would be able to meet them.


    ¡°You are most definitely a veteran at the game, right? Why were you pretending that you don¡¯t know how to play it?¡± There was a trace of inquiry in Jin Shi¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Are you doing this to draw attention to yourself, or are you trying to find an excuse for yourself?¡± Jin Shi¡¯s question stunned Luo Ying.


    Jin Shi and Lin Ping were good friends. Jin Shi was not her brother, so he would naturally stand on Lin Ping¡¯s side.


    From an outsider¡¯s point of view, her actions just now seemed to be a little suspicious, so it was no wonder that Jin Shi was asking her this.


    However, she didn¡¯t know how to explain her history with Lin Ping.


    Finally, Luo Ying sighed and said, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you a secret, but this stays between us.¡±


    Jin Shi frowned. What was this?


    Was she truly like what the rumors said? Was she making a move on him?


    ¡°Actually, Lin Ping¡¯s online crush in that game is none other than me,¡± Luo Ying said, frowning unhappily.


    ¡°What?¡± Jin Shi almost shouted out.


    This was a dangerous woman. Lin Ping took his relationships seriously, but of all people, Luo Ying had to grab his attention.


    Luo Ying used to like Lin Su so much, and Lin Ping liked Luo Ying too. What a love triangle.


    Jin Shi crossed his arms and looked at the woman in front of him. He didn¡¯t understand why this woman was telling him this.


    ¡°Let me make this clear in advance. I¡¯m not as gullible as Lin Su and Lin Ping. I chose you as the female lead only because your acting skills are really good. It has nothing to do with anything else. And I won¡¯t help you confess to Lin Ping, ¡± Jin Shi said coldly.


    Those two brothers were really interesting. Luo Ying was another matter herself.


    ¡°You can¡¯t blame me for viewing it this way, can you? You were chasing after Lin Su like a rabid cat, and now you¡¯re tangled up with Lin Ping, whether you want it or not. Do you really want to marry into the Lin Family that much?¡± Jin Shi asked with a frown.


    When he first took over Jin Shi¡¯s body, he had tried to get in touch with Luo Ying. However, Luo Ying had been blindly obsessed with Lin Su. Naturally, he knew that this crazy woman was not his sister.


    ¡°After jumping off the building, I¡¯ve thought it through. There¡¯s no need to get entangled with a man who doesn¡¯t love me. I have someone I love now. That¡¯s the past, ¡± Luo Ying said. ¡°The future is all that matters.¡±


    Jin Shi smiled, and his heart was slightly moved. ¡°You sound like someone I know.¡±


    ¡°Someone you know?¡± Luo Ying asked with a frown.


    Jin Shi nodded.


    She had once told him that ¡®the future is all that matters¡¯.


    He once got into a car accident during one of his wild races. He broke his leg, and the doctor had advised him not to participate in car races again. Luo Ying had given him such words of encouragement.


    ¡°Is it the sister you mentioned just now?¡± Luo Ying asked tentatively.


    Jin Shi subconsciously nodded. ¡°My sister.¡±


    But after a while, he realized that everyone would think he was referring to Jin Ping. ¡°Well, not Jin Ping. It¡¯s complicated. You don¡¯t need to know. Also, don¡¯t judge my sister so casually.¡±


    Jin Shi suddenly felt like telling the woman in front of him about his sister. It was a strange feeling.


    Moreover, this woman seemed to be different from before. She no longer looked like the lunatic who fell over chasing Lin Su.


    When Luo Ying heard Jin Shi¡¯s words, she was a little saddened. This man wore her third brother¡¯s face. He seemed to have his own sister and his own family, and he was living a happy life.


    She lowered her head sadly.


    ¡°I won¡¯t say anything about this, but if you have any other ideas, I won¡¯t let you off. Lin Ping is my friend,¡± Jin Shi said. ¡°If you hur him, I won¡¯t let you off.¡±


    Jin Shi went back to his room after he finished speaking, leaving Luo Ying to gaze at his retreating back..

 Chapter 141 - Chapter 141: Brother

    Chapter 141: Brother


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying remained staring at Jin Shi¡¯s back in a daze.


    Her third brother acted just like Jin Shi. He would do anything for his friends. He was also very cold to people he didn¡¯t like. Jin Shi was really like her third brother.


    This only added to the loneliness in Luo Ying¡¯s heart.


    Moreover, it sounded like Jin Shi doted on his sister very much. Her third brother treated her the same.


    Luo Ying sighed, feeling a little teary.


    She tidied up her makeup and walked back to the studio.


    The second round was about to begin.


    Su Ran, who was sitting opposite her, forced a smile. When their eyes met, Su Ran quickly looked away with hatred.


    Jin Shi intentionally separated Lin Ping and Luo Ying.


    Lin Ping found it odd.


    Jin Shi also noticed that Luo Ying wasn¡¯t in a good mood. Her eyes were a little red.


    For some reason, he blamed himself. It was probably because this woman looked just like his sister.


    Jin Shi would think of his sister when he saw her with such an expression. It was not Jin Ning, but his sister from another world.


    Whenever she was in a stressful situation, she would silently endure it and then find a place to cry quietly.


    Perhaps he had been too harsh just now. Jin Shi guiltily helped Luo Ying a little more in the game.


    The second round quickly ended with Jin Shi and Luo Ying taking the trophy.


    Luo Ying returned to the lounge, packed her things, and left the studio.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s car was waiting outside.


    Just as Luo Ying was about to walk towards the car, Jin Shi patted her back. ¡°I might have said something a little harsh today. Don¡¯t take it to heart.¡±


    Jin Shi¡¯s eyes softened. Although his voice was cold, something told her that he was truly sincere about it.


    Luo Ying sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not your problem, don¡¯t worry abou it. I¡¯m leaving first.¡±


    She smiled at Jin Shi, turned around, and walked down the steps to get into the car.


    Jin Shi only felt even more guilty for some reason.


    Lin Ping walked behind Jin Shi and playfully grabbed hold of him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What¡¯s with you and Luo Ying today?¡±


    Jin Shi put on his usual cynical expression. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just learned a little more about her.¡±


    ¡°Wait, are you also interested in her?¡± Lin Ping frowned as he looked at Jin Shi.


    Jin Shi shook his head. ¡°No, I just think that she has truly changed a little after she stopped pestering your brother.¡±


    Jin Shi had just finished speaking when he suddenly felt something unusual.


    Why did Lin Ping use the phrase ¡®also interested¡¯?


    Had Lin Ping already realized that Luo Ying was his internet crush?


    Lu Zhao embraced Luo Ying as soon as she got into the car.


    Lu Zhao rested his chin on her shoulder like a big dog.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You got off work so early today. You actually made time to pick me up.¡± Luo Ying reached out and gently stroked his hair.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re going to Florence.¡± As Lu Zhao spoke, he buried his head in Luo Ying¡¯s hair and sniffed her scent.


    ¡°You can¡¯t bear to part with me.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s mood improved a little because of Lu Zhao. She reached out and wrapped her arms around Lu Zhao.


    ¡°If you¡¯re not around, what should I hug to sleep at night?¡± Lu Zhao said.


    Luo Ying smiled. When Lu Zhao acted coquettishly, he was like a child. ¡°I¡¯ll buy you a kitten. You can hug the kitten to sleep at night.¡¯


    Lu Zhao looked up from her hair and cupped her face. He leaned in gently and touched the tip of her nose. ¡°How can a kitten compare to you?¡±


    Lu Zhao looked at Luo Ying¡¯s face and suddenly realized that her eyes were slightly swollen. She must have just cried. ¡°Did someone bother you today?¡± Luo Ying nodded. ¡°It¡¯s about my brother.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve sent people to investigate Luo Feng¡¯s matter, but it¡¯s not that easy. He changed his name and whereabouts many times after he left the country, and many of the people I sent lost track of him.¡± Lu Zhao frowned.


    Luo Feng had been working for a mysterious organization recently. Even though this organization was not strictly illegal, their missions were extremely dangerous. Their agents risked their lives and limbs daily. Lu Zhao had tried to get his men to protect Luo Feng..

 Chapter 142 - Chapter 142: Gossip

    Chapter 142: Gossip


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying nodded. She knew that Lu Zhao wasn¡¯t talking about Third Brother, but Luo Feng.


    ¡°Thank you for helping me find my brother,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Lu Zhao pulled Luo Ying into his embrace. ¡°Silly girl, there¡¯s no need to thank me for this.


    The two of them returned home together. As soon as they entered the door, Luo Ying saw a few clothes racks that had been arranged in the living room.


    There were all kinds of beautiful princess dresses and suits on the shelf. They were the latest lineups of the major brands. There were also clothes without tags on the shelf, but they were immaculately styled and very well-crafted.


    These were usually custom-made one-offs.


    ¡°What are these?¡± Luo Ying asked uncertainly.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to Florence? I¡¯ve prepared a lot of clothes for you. You can wear them when you¡¯re there. I asked the director of our company to prepare all of this,¡± Lu Zhao said. His ears were a little red, as if he was a little embarrassed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you like, but they all say that these are the latest trends.¡±


    Luo Ying founder herself enjoying the sight of Lu Zhao¡¯s bashful appearance. She glanced at the clothes on the hanger and suddenly found something unusual.


    Although the climate in Prague was mild, it was summer over there, and the weather was relatively warm. However, most of the clothes Lu Zhao prepared for her were practically drapes.


    They were either long dresses or had long sleeves. Most of them covered her ankles and neck.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t you have any short skirts?¡± Luo Ying said as she rummaged through her clothes.


    What was even more ridiculous was that there was not even a single nightgown with spaghetti straps inside.


    Lu Zhao had been found out. Although he did not show it on his face, his eyes were a little evasive.


    ¡°I guess it¡¯s the latest trend,¡± Lu Zhao said without changing his expression.


    Luo Ying burst out laughing. She did not expect Lu Zhao to be so paranoid. ¡°What if I get a rash in such hot clothes?¡± she said in a somewhat reproachful tone.


    ¡°But you can¡¯t wear straps outside. I don¡¯t want others to see so much of you,¡± Lu Zhao muttered unhappily.


    The headstrong and decisive magnate was now complaining about her clothes like a nagging wife. Luo Ying found him especially cute.


    ¡°I need some of those. After all, I¡¯ll need some short skirts for promotional shoots.¡±


    Lu Zhao sighed and hugged Luo Ying from behind. ¡°It would be great if you didn¡¯t have to act. I¡¯ll really miss you.¡±


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t want to work so far away either.


    However, Director Cheng Yang¡¯s crew had very high requirements. Almost all the actors and actresses had to stay there for three months. In the first month, they had to experience the filming environment and learn how to dance so that they could settle into the mood as soon as possible.


    ¡°When I think of Lin Ping and Jin Shi being there, I can¡¯t be at ease,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    He had also watched the live stream today. He was a little jealous when he saw the two of them playing games with Luo Ying.


    He was starting to regret not being in the entertainment industry. That way, their relationship would be under the spotlight for most people to view.


    Lu Zhao grew agitated at that thought. He lowered his head and kissed Luo Ying fiercely.


    Luo Ying knew that he was being jealous, so she gently responded to his kiss.


    The two of them leaned against each other for a while before separating.


    ¡°I won¡¯t leave you.¡± Luo Ying looked into Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes. ¡°Trust me. You¡¯re the only one in my thoughts.¡±


    She had not just proclaimed her love for him, but she had also proclaimed his exclusivity and affirmed his possession over her.


    This made Lu Zhao very happy. He reached out and hugged Luo Ying tightly. ¡°You have to pay attention to your well-being when you go on a business trip there. If I have time, I¡¯ll go there to see you.¡±


    Over the next few days, Luo Ying began to pack her luggage.


    Luo Ying would be gone for three months. The seasons would change, so she had to prepare for multiple climates. Moreover, Luo Ying was a little picky about what she ate. She was afraid that she might not be used to the local food, so she brought lots of Bibimbap sauce.


    Just as she was packing her things, Chi Tong called.


    ¡°Boss, have you been watching the news? Is it about you?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Luo Ying had been busy and had no time to watch the news. She flipped open her social media app..

 Chapter 143 - Chapter 143: Gossip

    Chapter 143: Gossip


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The first item that caught her attention was a blurry photo.


    The photo showed two people hugging each other.


    Behind them was the mountaintop restaurant. The photograph had captured the atmosphere very well. There were faint lights, swaying trees, and a man and a woman hugging each other.


    Luo Ying glanced at the text.


    It was probably some spiel about a mysterious tycoon booking a luxurious restaurant just to earn a smile from a beauty.


    This restaurant was always fully-booked, and it would cost hundreds of thousands to book the entire place.


    Such tycoons were not all too common in the city. Moreover, the article hinted that the woman was a popular female star in the entertainment industry.


    Luo Ying palmed herself in the face. She didn¡¯t know who had taken this photo and posted it online.


    The comments below were rampant.


    [Is this what the romance of the wealthy is like? This is really over-the-top.]


    [Whatever you want to say, you can¡¯t deny that they really kept themselves in shape. Look at those figures, both of them! Moreover, they have money. What a great life. I can only dream about it.]


    [Is everyone just going to speculate on their identities? I¡¯m curious. Didn¡¯t they say that there are people from the entertainment industry?]


    Luo Ying flipped through the comments. There were several guesses, but her name did not appear.


    She let out a long sigh of relief and sent Chi Tong a message. ¡°Just focus on your work. There are still many things to be done in Prague.¡±


    After sending the text message, Luo Ying realized that they only had a few days left to spend together. She decided to go to the company at noon to deliver food to Lu Zhao.


    Luo Ying had long wanted to send Lu Zhao food at his workplace.


    After finding out about Lu Zhao¡¯s favorite restaurant from Xiao Ting, Luo Ying went to the restaurant early in the morning. She wanted to learn a few dishes that Lu Zhao liked from the chef and personally deliver them to Lu Zhao later.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s favorite dishes were very simple. Luo Ying even chose a few pretty-looking desserts.


    Luo Ying had learned how to cook before, so she learned very quickly. Her knife skills were also very good. Chi Tong and Xiao Ting, who were beside her, were surprised to watch her at work.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect her to be this good. Looks like I can sign her up on some cooking variety shows in the future.¡± Chi Tong nodded.


    ¡°She¡¯s better than good. She¡¯s not afraid of the knife, she¡¯s totally owning it. I definitely can¡¯t offend her in the future.¡±


    After Luo Ying finished cooking, the group went to the company together.


    It was exactly 12:30 in the afternoon, which was time for lunch.


    The two of them followed Luo Ying to the office on the top floor, where Cheng Yang was already waiting for them.


    ¡°Madam, President Lu is still in a meeting. Please wait here,¡± Cheng Yang said.


    Luo Ying nodded and sat down in her office. Cheng Yang and the others left her alone.


    Luo Ying sized up the interior design of the office. Lu Zhao¡¯s office was just like the man himself, cold and clean.


    She walked to the table and placed the lunch box on the table. She thought of giving Lu Zhao a surprise later.


    On the desk, the computer was on standby. She accidentally touched the mouse and the computer screen lit up.


    On the screen was a picture of her sleeping face. It was probably taken not long ago.


    In the photo, she was wearing pajamas and lying quietly in his arms. She was peacefully asleep.


    Luo Ying¡¯s face turned red. She wanted to tease Lu Zhao about it. She stood up and used her birthday to unlock the computer. She chose a picture of a pig as the new background for Lu Zhao¡¯s computer.


    After doing all this, she quietly hid under Lu Zhao¡¯s table. She planned to wait Lu Zhao to come back and give him a surprise.


    Unexpectedly, she did not see Lu Zhao. Instead, someone else showed up.


    That person was wearing a decent suit and high heels as he walked into Lu Zhao¡¯s office.


    She didn¡¯t notice Luo Ying¡¯s bag on the sofa. Instead, she sat by the side and placed the documents on the coffee table.


    ¡°I¡¯m already in Mr. Lu¡¯s office. You don¡¯t have to worry. I¡¯ll definitely discuss the plan with him today.¡± A woman¡¯s voice rang out in the room.


    Luo Ying frowned. Why did this voice sound so familiar?


    Just as she was about to stand up from under the table, the woman¡¯s second sentence stunned her.


    ¡°Luo Ying is shallow and pretentious. Mr. Lu would take a fancy to a talented woman like me. Even if the Lin Family and Lu Zhao are not on good terms now, he would not have any reason to turn down any decent proposal from me..¡±

 Chapter 144 - Chapter 144: Substitute

    Chapter 144: Substitute


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    This woman was none other than Lin Jin, Lin Ping¡¯s second sister.


    Lin Jin did not notice Luo Ying¡¯s bag or the lunch box on the dining table. She was just flipping through the proposal in her hands.


    Ever since she spotted Lu Zhao at the hotel last time, she was even more determined to destroy the relationship between Lu Zhao and Luo Ying.


    Although this man was decisive and ruthless, he was unambiguously tolerant towards his wife.


    Even though Luo Ying had pursued Lin Su in such a disgraceful manner previously, Lu Zhao still doted on her so much.


    Lin Jin gritted her teeth in anger at the thought of this.


    She had also seen the news this morning. She did not expect Lu Zhao to treat Luo Ying to such an extravagant dinner.


    She smiled coldly. She did not believe that Lu Zhao would remain with such an idiot.


    Lin Jin was on the phone with her elder sister, Lin Lu. The other party was frantically advising her not to look for Lu Zhao.


    Lu Zhao was a very terrifying man. Previously, he had almost caused the Lin Family to go bankrupt. If not for the fact that the Lin Family had once helped him, he would have twisted the knife.


    Lin Lu couldn¡¯t understand why her younger sister wouldn¡¯t listen.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sister. I believe in myself. I can definitely take him down,¡± Lin Jin said with a smile.


    Luo Ying squatted under the table and felt Lin Jin walking towards the table.


    She scuttled deeper in and remained out of sight.


    Lin Jin walked to the desk and placed the documents on it.


    She noticed the lunchbox on the table, picked it up, and sized it up.


    ¡°How childish. Who made this?¡± Lin Jin put the food aside in disgust.


    Luo Ying made a disdainful gesture under the table. Why was this woman¡¯s taste so horrendous?


    At that moment, the office door was pushed open. Lu Zhao stood outside the door and sized up Lin Jin coldly.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Lu Zhao shot a cold glare at Lin Jin.


    Lin Jin put on a gentle smile, and her voice softened. She looked at Lu Zhao and smiled lightly. ¡°I know you just finished a meeting. I¡¯ve already redone the proposal that I told you about before.¡±


    ¡°Pass it to the Ministry of Commerce. Give it to me after the Ministry of Commerce vets it.¡± Lu Zhao looked at Lin Jin and spoke coldly.


    This woman had been making excuses to work with him on business projects recently, but if anything, the projects she gave him were of little value.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m here for something else.¡± Lin Jin bit her lip. She had specially put on makeup today, curled her hair, and even dolled herself up. Of course, like her narcisstic siblings, she did not seem to notice Lu Zhao¡¯s outright aversion.


    ¡°Can you just give this a look? I¡¯ve submitted it many times before, but it never reached you.¡± Lin Jin softened her voice and looked at Lu Zhao with her gentlest expression.


    Lu Zhao walked to his desk expressionlessly and sat down.


    The lunchbox on the table caught his attention.


    It was a cute lunchbox with a piglet on it. It looked pink and tender, and it was very similar to a certain someone¡¯s style.


    He smiled fondly at the lunchbox.


    Lin Jin looked at the lunch box and suddenly realized something.


    Lu Zhao was interested in this lunchbox. This was a very good opportunity.


    ¡°I specially made this for you. You have to take care of yourself,¡± Lin Jin said.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s suspicious gaze stopped on Lin Jin¡¯s face. His intense stare made Lin Jin feel a little uncomfortable.


    ¡°Really?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    ¡± Of course.¡± Lin Jin was a little guilty. ¡°I made it especially for you. Try it.¡¯


    Lu Zhao reached out and was about to throw the lunch box into the trash can beside him when he felt someone tug at the hem of his pants.


    He looked down and saw a frowning, pouting face.


    He chuckled and placed the lunchbox on the table.


    Lin Jin laughed along inexplicably.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, President Lu?¡± Lin Jin asked hesitantly.


    ¡°Then tell me, what¡¯s in this lunch box?¡± Lu Zhao crossed his arms and looked at the woman in front of him calmly. He wanted to see how far this woman would go.


    Under the table, Luo Ying was poking his calf.


    The girl¡¯s teasing unsettled his usual stoic self.


    If Lin Jin wasn¡¯t here, he would have lowered his head and kissed her..

 Chapter 145 - Chapter 145: Jealousy

    Chapter 145: Jealousy


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°There are some snacks and dishes inside. I made them myself and brought them to you.¡± Lin Jin¡¯s voice was already beginning to tremble.


    Lu Zhao sized up Lin Jin.


    ¡°I never accept frivolous, fraudulent business partners. You should reflect upon yourself before coming to me with another proposal.¡± Lu Zhao pointed at the door.


    Lin Jin¡¯s face turned red and white. The embarrassment of being exposed made her wish she could bury herself in the ground.


    As soon as Lin Jin left the room, Lu Zhao picked Luo Ying up from under the table. He placed Luo Ying on the table and reached out to gently pinch her waist.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did you hide under the table because of her?¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s gaze was a little playful.


    ¡°Of course not. I was hiding here to give you a surprise. How could I have expected her to come in?¡± Luo Ying picked up the lunch box and looked at it with some heartache.


    ¡°The two of you shook it around so much that they¡¯re all probably broken up.¡±


    The snacks she made were butterfly puffs and pastry, which could not withstand so much jolting.


    In the car just now, she had carefully cradled the box in her arms.


    ¡°I like it even if it¡¯s broken.¡± Lu Zhao patted Luo Ying¡¯s head.


    Luo Ying¡¯s actions made him feel very pleased.


    Luo Ying opened the snack box with heartache. Fortunately, the snacks inside were not badly broken.


    She reached out to pick up a puff and put it at Lu Zhao¡¯s mouth. ¡°I made it myself. Try it.¡±


    Lu Zhao ate the puff with Luo Ying¡¯s hand.


    The outer skin of the puff was soft, and there was a lot of cream inside. It was very sweet, and the excess cream squeezed out of the puff and smeared onto Luo Ying¡¯s hand.


    Lu Zhao did not hesitate. He stuck out his tongue licked the cream up.


    Luo Ying¡¯s pretty face turned red at his flirtatious actions.


    ¡°You¡¯re acting like a hooligan,¡± Luo Ying said unhappily.


    ¡°When did I act like a hooligan? I¡¯m eating.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s smile deepened when he saw her. Why was his little girl being so shy?


    ¡°You can just eat it. Why did you have to lick my hand?¡± Luo Ying¡¯s voice became softer as she spoke. She puffed up her face in protest like a cute little squirrel.


    Lu Zhao reached out and pinched her cheek to rub it.


    He lowered his head and gently kissed Luo Ying¡¯s lips.


    Luo Ying pouted in protest. The man¡¯s lips and teeth still had the fragrance of the cream. As their lips and teeth met, Luo Ying felt a little breathless. She reached out and hugged Lu Zhao¡¯s neck.


    After the kiss, Luo Ying leaned against Lu Zhao. ¡°You¡¯re kissing way more than actually eating.¡±


    Lu Zhao smiled and took a piece of snack from the snack box and put it into


    Luo Ying¡¯s mouth. ¡°Why are you bringing me food?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going overseas soon. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll be lonely, so I¡¯m leaving you with some good memories,¡± Luo Ying mumbled. ¡°How is it? Are you satisfied?¡± Lu Zhao nodded. ¡°Very much so.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get the chef to send it to you every day,¡± Luo Ying said with a smile.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Lu Zhao nodded and looked at her dotingly.


    The two of them ate together.


    Luo Ying had already eaten prior to the visit, so she didn¡¯t eat much. She sat at the side and started playing games.


    It had been a long time since she returned to the game.


    After being traumatized by Lin Ping, she had long lost the mood. After all, she had no intention of developing anything with him.


    She opened the game and found that Lin Ping was online.


    She did not even have time to close the game when Lin Ping¡¯s message arrived. It was a voice message. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you been online recently? You hardly play with me. I still miss you.¡±


    Before Luo Ying could react, the game had already played Lin Ping¡¯s voice.


    The entire room fell silent.


    Lu Zhao looked at her, and his gaze had already become dangerous.


    ¡°You better explain this,¡± Lu Zhao looked at her and said.


    ¡°I sure can.¡± Luo Ying raised her hand and swore, ¡°I swear, it¡¯s nothing like that.¡±


    Luo Ying pouted and looked extremely cute. Lu Zhao nodded. ¡°What else?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s just someone who plays games with me.¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­ sounds like you¡¯re close.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes were filled with playfulness. A sentence flashed through Luo Ying¡¯s mind repeatedly, ¡®I¡¯m done for.¡¯


    ¡°It¡¯s true. You have to believe me,¡± Luo Ying said. ¡°Then why does he sound like Lin Ping?¡±

 Chapter 146 - Chapter 146: Dealing With the Lin Family

    Chapter 146: Dealing With the Lin Family


    ¡°That¡¯s Lin Ping, right?¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s gaze turned murderous. His grip on Luo Ying tightened.


    Lu Zhao looked up at Luo Ying¡¯s face, wanting to see a flustered expression on her face.


    However, Luo Ying did not panic. Instead, she hugged him and smiled.


    ¡°When I was playing games, I joined a team. I played a few games with him. Perhaps I was too good at it, so he fell in love with me,¡± Luo Ying said. Lu Zhao frowned, clearly not believing what the woman in front of him was saying.


    ¡°I swear, it¡¯s the truth.¡± Luo Ying pouted and acted coquettishly. She held the phone in front of Lu Zhao. ¡°Look, there¡¯s a match record here.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± Lu Zhao looked at the screen.


    Luo Ying had indeed played a few games with Lin Ping. In these few games, Luo Ying had performed very well.


    It was no wonder this kid would be tempted.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes darkened.


    ¡°But I don¡¯t have any feelings for him at all. I can reject him now and delete him from my friendlist,¡± Luo Ying said.


    When she saw that the man still did not believe her, Luo Ying stood up and raised her left hand to make an oath.


    ¡°I swear, I only like Lu Zhao.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s eyes were clear.


    Lu Zhao looked into her eyes and felt his heart beating violently.


    This was the first time Luo Ying had said that she liked him so formally. The man¡¯s possessive fervor was satisfied.


    He reached out and rubbed Luo Ying¡¯s hair. He buried his head in her hair and took in the faint fragrance on her body.


    ¡°I believe you. I really only love you,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    Luo Ying felt even more reluctant to part with Lu Zhao as the man hugged her. ¡°I¡¯ll be gone for a long time this time. I¡¯ll miss you very much.¡±


    Lu Zhao was pleased by Luo Ying¡¯s words. He looked up from her hair and gently kissed her soft lips.


    ¡°Boss, the Lin family has sent another letter of intent for cooperation¡­¡± Suddenly, the door was pushed open and Cheng Yang appeared.


    ¡°Ah, ah, I¡¯m sorry, Boss.¡± Cheng Yang saw that the two of them were ferociously making out and realized that he had intruded.


    Lu Zhao looked at Cheng Yang coldly, while Luo Ying shyly buried her head in I Zhao¡¯s arms-


    ¡°Another time then.¡± Cheng Yang saw that the situation wasn¡¯t right and prepared to run away.


    ¡°Stop right there. How did Lin Jin get in?¡± Lu Zhao asked coldly.


    His office required a password and a smart card. Other than Cheng Yang, Xiao Ting, and himself, no one else had the authority to enter the office.


    ¡°Boss, I forgot to lock the door after letting Madam in just now¡­¡± Cheng Yang lowered his head and said. He had messed up. It seemed that Lin Jin had done something wrong, and he might be punished for it as well.


    He thought that Lu Zhao was going to punish him severely, but he did not expect Lu Zhao to only say indifferently, ¡°Be careful in the future. Don¡¯t let the


    Lin Family in and terminate all cooperations with them.¡±


    Cheng Yang froze on the spot. Lu Zhao was only punishing the Lin Family.


    He looked up at his boss, who was frowning at him.


    He instantly understood what Lu Zhao meant and nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go now.¡±


    After Cheng Yang left, Luo Ying raised her head from his arms and smacked Lu Zhao reproachfully.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you not satisfied with the Lin Family¡¯s punishment?¡± Lu Zhao raised his eyebrows and asked.


    Luo Ying shook her head and looked at Lu Zhao. ¡°I just don¡¯t want to affect your business. If the collaboration with the Lin Family is very important, you don¡¯t have to reject them for me.¡±


    ¡°The Lin Family is an unscrupulous bunch. We shouldn¡¯t have let them off last time.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes darkened when he remembered how Luo Ying was almost harmed by them last time.


    The people from the Lin Family were getting bolder and bolder.


    Luo Ying sensed the danger in Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes. She reached out and cupped his face. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not talk about such unhappy things anymore. I¡¯m leaving the day after tomorrow. Let¡¯s not talk about them.¡±


    When he looked at Luo Ying¡¯s coquettish demeanor, Lu Zhao¡¯s heart softened. He reached out and pressed her neck, kissing her gently.


    Two days passed quickly, and it was almost time to set off.


    When Luo Ying arrived at the airport, Lin Ping and Jin Shi had already arrived. Beside Jin Shi was a little girl who looked like him.


    Lin Ping had an ugly expression. He kept looking at his phone with a dark face, while Jin Shi, who was standing beside him, looked at Luo Ying with a complicated expression.


    The little girl saw Luo Ying and smiled warmly. ¡°Are you Luo Ying? I¡¯m a fan..¡±

 Chapter 147 - Chapter 147: Hyperactivity

    Chapter 147: Hyperactivity


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying studied the little girl¡¯s smile. For some reason, she was unnerved by it.


    The girl¡¯s face remained innocent. ¡°I heard that Brother¡¯s costar is you, Sister Luo Ying, so I could not miss the world to travel with him and meet you.¡± So, this was Jin Shi¡¯s younger sister, Jin Ning.


    Her eyes flashed with excitement. ¡°I¡¯ve been a fan since the time you were in the talent show. Can you give me an autograph?¡±


    The girl took out a card album from her bag. It was filled with various shots of Luo Ying. Other than the ordinary album cards, there were also all kinds of out-of-print cards. Each one was worth a few thousand Yuan.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been collecting these for a long time. I really like you. I even voted for you during the talent show!¡± Jin Ning was so excited that she could not stop talking.


    Just as Luo Ying was about to say something, Jin Shi said coldly, ¡°Jin Ning, don¡¯t be so quick to idolize anyone you meet. You don¡¯t know even what your idol¡¯s private life is like.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true. Luo Ying is great. What would you know, Brother?¡± Jin Ning hugged Luo Ying¡¯s arm. ¡°Dearest idol, can I stay in the same room as you?¡±


    Luo Ying smiled and nodded at Jin Ning before looking at Jin Shi.


    Jin Shi looked at her with a complicated expression.


    Luo Ying was a little baffled. She did not know how she had gotten herself into this.


    Soon, it was time to board the plane. Jin Shi and Luo Ying sat in the same row.


    When Luo Ying sat down, Jin Shi frowned and said, ¡°Have you forgotten what we talked about?¡±


    Luo Ying was confused. ¡°What?¡±


    Jin Shi snorted. ¡°Why are you pretending to be stupid? What did you do to Lin Ping? He told me last night that he had a breakup and quit the game. He hasn¡¯t been in a good state today.¡±


    Luo Ying was speechless. Jin Shi was so protective. She had told Lin Ping not to play games with her in the future.


    ¡°If I didn¡¯t draw a line and make it clear to him, am I supposed to keep misleading him?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    Jin Shi was rendered speechless by Luo Ying¡¯s rebuttal.


    He was actually very surprised that his good friend would be so obsessed with a woman. The surprise was only compounded by the fact that said woman also had relationship with his brother before.


    ¡°In any case, you¡¯d better stay away from Lin Ping in Prague. If he gets hurt because of you, I won¡¯t forgive you.¡± After saying that, Jin Shi stood up from his seat and walked to the other side.


    He and Jin Ning switched seats.


    Jin Ning sat beside Luo Ying and excitedly hounded her with questions.


    Luo Ying answered Jin Ning¡¯s questions with a smile, but she was still bothered by Jin Shi¡¯s remarks.


    Although she knew that this man was not her third brother, she still felt a little sad to see him taking Lin Ping¡¯s side so fervently.


    In the past, her third brother would protect her unconditionally, no matter what she did.


    It hurt to see someone with her third brother¡¯s face being so hostile toward her.


    ¡°Sister Luo Ying, why are you distracted?¡± Jin Ning reminded her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Luo Ying quickly apologized to Jin Ning.


    Jin Ning shook her head and continued to speak.


    Luo Ying suddenly realized what was wrong with Jin Ning.


    Compared to the average person, Jin Ning spoke a lot and moved a lot. It was as if her strength was endless.


    Was Jin Ning born with some kind of disease?


    ¡°Sister Luo Ying, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something you want to ask me?¡± Jin Ning asked in confusion.


    ¡°What kind of person do you think your brother is?¡± Luo Ying didn¡¯t ask Jin Ning about her own matters. Instead, she diverted her attention.


    ¡°Although my brother is very fierce to me, he really takes good care of me. My parents gave birth to me when they were very old,¡± Jin Ning said sadly. ¡°I was sick, and my brother has been treating me ever since then.¡±


    ¡°My brother didn¡¯t like me very much before, but ever since he was injured in a car accident, he seemed to have changed into a different person and started to actually take care of me. What¡¯s wrong? Do you like my brother?¡± Jin Ning asked.


    Luo Ying was drinking water and almost spat it out.


    A car accident? A personality change?


    Wasn¡¯t that similar to her jumping off a building and transmigrating?

 Chapter 148 - Chapter 148: Su Ran Strikes Again

    Chapter 148: Su Ran Strikes Again


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°What happened?¡± Luo Ying asked anxiously.


    Jin Shi loved racing. During a race, he lost control of his car and rolled off the cliff. It resulted in head trauma.


    Although the hospital stabilized his condition, he remained in a coma for more than ten days.


    Jin Shi had always been cold to Jin Ning and had never taken care of her.


    However, after he woke up, Jin Shi seemed to have changed into a different person. Although he was still characteristically mean to Jin Ning, he also took on the responsibility of a brother. He accompanied Jin Ning to her doctor appointments and took her to his filming locations.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because Brother has been through a near-death experience, so he thinks it¡¯s precious to be together as a family,¡± Jin Ning said.


    Even so, she did not understand why her brother seemed to have changed into a different person in such a short period of time.


    ¡°When did that happen?¡± Luo Ying asked as she dug her nails into her flesh.


    ¡°It happened a year ago,¡± Jin Ning replied.


    A year ago. She was not here yet.


    A bold guess appeared in her mind. Perhaps Jin Shi was her third brother.


    Perhaps Jin Shi had interacted with the original Luo Ying before and wanted to know if Luo Ying was his sister. However, she clearly was not his sister, so he had been assured of that ever since.


    Luo Ying was so nervous that her heart was pounding.


    She was going to be here for three months. Perhaps, she would be able to reunite with her brother soon.


    But how should she bring this up to Jin Shi? She needed a suitable reason. Luo Ying patted Jin Ning¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You have a very good brother.¡±


    Jin Ning nodded. ¡°Although my illness is not life-threatening, it¡¯s caused a lot of problems. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to trouble him for the rest of my life.¡±


    Luo Ying could roughly guess what kind of illness Jin Ning had. It was probably attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which made it hard for her to focus on tasks and made her ramble incessantly.


    ¡°You¡¯ll definitely get better.¡± Luo Ying patted Jin Ning¡¯s shoulder.


    Jin Ning looked at Luo Ying and nodded.


    After the plane touched down, the crew quickly headed to the hotel.


    Luo Ying also returned to her room. As soon as she entered, she opened her suitcase and found the jade pendant.


    She had bought that jade pendant from an auction previously. It was a gift from her third brother.


    She held the jade pendant in her hand. The jade pendant emitted a gentle glow. Luo Ying sighed.


    If she wore this jade pendant, Jin Shi might pick up on it.


    The crew did not rest for long before they started filming.


    The first scene that Director Cheng Yang had arranged involved someone falling into the water. It was a conflict between the younger sister of the male lead, played by Su Ran, and the female lead, played by Luo Ying.


    Su Ran needed to push Luo Ying into the water.


    Although it was the late spring, the lake in the forest was still cold. Luo Ying looked at the lake and was a little scared. She had fallen into the water once before, and was a little afraid of the water.


    Su Ran looked at Luo Ying, her eyes filled with hatred.


    She had spoken to Lin Su before the trip. She had been willing to accept Lin Su¡¯s feelings to be with him.


    However, Lin Su had stammered that his family was in a crisis and practically fled from the scene.


    Su Ran knew that this was not the real reason why Lin Su rejected her. She knew Lin Su had already fallen in love with Luo Ying.


    As she thought of this, Su Ran clenched her fists and stared at the lake.


    ¡®Luo Ying, you¡¯ve taken everything from me. I¡¯ll make you pay this time.¡¯


    The two of them walked to the designated spot by the lake.


    ¡°Action!¡± Director Cheng Yang shouted.


    The camera and lights were aimed at the two of them.


    ¡°Why did you seduce my brother? What happened to you and the dancer boy? I thought you were a good person! Why did you do such a thing?¡± Su Ran shouted at Luo Ying.


    Although she was speaking her lines, her anger and jealousy towards Luo Ying were written all over her face.


    ¡°Xiaoyue, listen to me. You¡¯ve misunderstood this. We¡¯re not what you think we are.¡± As Luo Ying spoke, tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. It¡¯s just a misunderstanding.¡±


    ¡°A misunderstanding.¡± Su Ran sneered, her eyes cold. ¡°I don¡¯t believe in misunderstandings. I only believe what I see.¡±


    After saying that, a cold smile appeared on Su Ran¡¯s lips.


    She reached out and grabbed Luo Ying. She shoved Luo Ying into the water with all her might..

 Chapter 149 - Chapter 149: Murder

    Chapter 149: Murder


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The ice-cold lake water poured into Luo Ying¡¯s mouth and nose. The water smacked her face like an ice-tempered hammer, and pain shot into her bones.


    Memories of falling into the water flooded her mind, and she struggled desperately.


    However, Su Ran, who was standing over her, did not let go. Her eyes were filled with a faint chill.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to snatch everything from me? Now, I also want you to experience my pain.¡± After Su Ran finished her line, she pressed her head down and the two of them entered the water together.


    Jin Shi looked on, frowning.


    ¡°This wasn¡¯t in the script. What is she doing?¡± Jin Shi was the first to react.


    The others thought that Su Ran was improvising and kept the cameras rolling.


    Jin Shi had already taken off his coat and shoes and jumped into the water.


    It was much too violent. Su Ran almost looked like she was intent on drowning the other woman.


    Jin Shi felt a chill run down his spine.


    Was Su Ran trying to kill Luo Ying?


    He had a good relationship with Lin Su previously, so he naturally knew Su Ran. Previously, he knew Su Ran as a kind and beautiful team player, but he did not expect that she would actually try to kill Luo Ying.


    Originally, he would have looked on, but for some reason, when he saw Luo Ying struggling in the water, he thought of his sister from the other world.


    His fifth sister was also terrified of water.


    Su Ran kept Luo Ying¡¯s head under the water. The lake was not deep, but Luo Ying was helpless.


    She could only feel Su Ran¡¯s fingertips tightly choking her airway, while her other hand pressed her head down and pushed her into the water.


    The cold lake water gushed into her mouth and nose again and again, and she wanted to gag.


    Luo Ying struggled to open her eyes. She saw Su Ran¡¯s murderously bloodshot eyes.


    She felt her blood run cold.


    Su Ran had finally lost it.


    She raised her head and looked at the sunlight on the surface of the water. She felt a chill in her heart.


    Perhaps dying here was also a form of release. If she died here, she might wake up in her original home, with her parents and brother.


    Luo Ying closed her eyes in despair.


    The moment she let the darkness take her, there was a splash on the surface of the lake, as if someone had jumped into the water.


    That person swam very fast and quickly reached Luo Ying¡¯s side. He forcefully separated Su Ran and Luo Ying and pulled Luo Ying to the surface of the water.


    Luo Ying felt a sense of familiarity from that person, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little jealous.


    A second before she lost consciousness, she called out softly, ¡°Third Brother.¡±


    Jin Shi couldn¡¯t help but tremble when he heard this. Only his sister, Luo Ying, would call him that.


    His eyes were sore and painful. He didn¡¯t know if it was because of the water or the pain in his heart.


    Jin Shi pulled Luo Ying out of the water and placed her on the stretcher.


    The medical team had already rushed over. When the doctor saw that Luo Ying had fainted, he immediately began to treat her.


    When the doctor started CPR on Luo Ying¡¯s chest and forced water out of her mouth, Jin Shi couldn¡¯t bear the sight. Luo Ying¡¯s clothes were pulled open, and the jade pendant on her neck fell out.


    It was a carbon copy of the pendant he had given to his sister before.


    Jin Shi almost reeled off balance. Why had he not considered the possibility of his sister transmigrating into this world?


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Lin Ping asked.


    Jin Shi ignored Lin Ping and continued watching Luo Ying.


    Lin Ping followed Jin Shi¡¯s gaze, feeling a little puzzled.


    He had never seen Jin Shi so concerned about any girl, not even Jin Ning. This was very odd. It was not the concern one would show his lover, but the concern one would snow ms blood relative.


    What was the relationship between Jin Shi and Luo Ying?


    Lin Ping was puzzled.


    Fortunately, Luo Ying soon regained her breath.


    Su Ran, who was draped in a blanket, looked at Luo Ying with hatred.


    Why was everyone siding with Luo Ying now? Even Jin Shi had risked everything to save Luo Ying!


    What kind of magic power did Luo Ying have?

 Chapter 150 - Chapter 150: Reuniting

    Chapter 150: Reuniting


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    When Luo Ying woke up, night had already fallen. The sky outside was pitch black.


    She looked to the side. Jin Shi was sitting at the side and looking at her.


    The memory of falling into the water flooded into her mind. When it all went dark, Jin Shi had saved her.


    ¡°Thank you. I didn¡¯t expect you to save me.¡± Luo Ying tested the waters, unsure of the situation.


    Jin Shi stared at her intently, making her feel a little lost. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? Do you need some kind of reward?¡±


    ¡°Does a brother need any compensation for saving his sister?¡± Jin Shi raised his head and looked at Luo Ying as he spoke slowly.


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Her eyes were a little sore, and tears blurred her eyes.


    She was right. Her third brother had come to this world. He was beside her.


    Jin Shi looked at Luo Ying. His eyes were red.


    He had just asked his subordinates to investigate what happened to Luo Ying. He felt nothing but grief now.


    ¡°Third Brother, it really is you. You finally recognized me.¡± Tears flowed out of her eyes as Luo Ying threw herself into her third brother¡¯s arms.


    In this strange world, she was no longer alone. Her third brother, who loved her the most, was also here with her.


    Jin Shi hugged Luo Ying and rubbed the top ot her head. He sighed deeply. ¡°I took far too long. I had already ruled you out.¡± ¡°I came here half a year ago,¡± Luo Ying said. ¡°When you jumped off the building?¡± Jin Shi asked.


    Luo Ying nodded.


    Jin Shi reached out and pinched Luo Ying¡¯s arm. ¡°When you jumped off the building, you injured your arms and legs. Are you still in pain?¡±


    His pampered fifth sister did not handle pain well.


    He couldn¡¯t imagine how Luo Ying had recovered from such a serious injury after jumping off a building.


    ¡°I only woke up when I was almost fully recovered. I didn¡¯t experience any pain,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Jin Shi nodded. Tears rolled down from the corners of his eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve suffered.¡±


    He roughly guessed what she had gone through.


    The original Luo Ying had anchored herself within a horrible reputation in the entertainment industry. She was even ostracized by her own agency and manager.


    As for his fifth sister, she had been a child star since she was young and had a smooth life in the entertainment industry. Starting over in this place was easier said than done.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t all that rough, Third Brother.¡± Luo Ying reached out and wiped away the tears on her third brother¡¯s face. ¡°The moment I came, I gained a lot of popularity and resources. It wasn¡¯t that difficult. Besides, I even took care of that woman, Xia Lan.¡±


    Luo Ying waved her fist and made a punching gesture.


    Jin Shi chuckled in amusement.


    ¡°Even so, aren¡¯t you married? That man¡­¡± Jin Shi finally asked the question he was most concerned about.


    Luo Ying grew a little sheepish. ¡°Lu Zhao is very good to me. Actually, the reason why I was able to have such a smooth career in the entertainment industry was also because he has helped me a lot. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Lu Zhao?¡± Jin Shi heard Lu Zhao¡¯s name.


    He was a ruthless, demon-like existence in the business world. Would such a person treat his sister well?


    Moreover, previously, Luo Ying had wholeheartedly liked Lin Su and made Lu Zhao a cuckold for so long. Would he let Luo Ying off?


    From a man¡¯s perspective, Jin Shi firmly believed that Lu Zhao would definitely take revenge on Luo Ying because of Lin Su.


    Jin Shi¡¯s eves were filled with doubt. ¡°The Jin Familv has a verv good lawver. If you need to file a divorce lawsuit, I will most definitely help you out. If this man has hurt you before, I will definitely make him die without a grave.¡±


    Third Brother was still the same as before. He was willing to give up everything for her. Luo Ying felt a little touched and tears fell.


    Jin Shi quickly reached out to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes. ¡°That


    Lu Zhao bullied you, didn¡¯t he? I knew it.¡±


    ¡°No, no.¡± Luo Ying shook her head and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. ¡°He looks a little scary, but he really treats me very well. Third Brother, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve never been in a relationship before. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll be played for a fool. I¡¯ll personally meet this Lu Zhao later and see what kind of person he is,¡± Jin Shi frowned and said..

 Chapter 151 - Chapter 151: Sick

    Chapter 151: Sick


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying nodded and wiped the tears off her face.


    Jin Shi helped Luo Ying lie down and took out some medicine from the bedside table.


    ¡°I asked them to send the medicine over. You¡¯ve been in the water for so long just now. You might have a fever at night. Take the medicine now. Don¡¯t suffer later.¡± Jin Shi took out the medicine, poured hot water, and placed the straw under the blanket.


    Luo Ying felt a little melancholic when she saw Jin Shi taking care of her like before.


    ¡°My turn to ask you questions. What happened to you before?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°I was in a car accident, too. I woke up here. But I didn¡¯t suffer much,¡± said Jin Shi.


    Jin Shi did not tell Luo Ying the entire truth.


    His body was injured when he fell down from the mountain during a car race. There were dozens of fractures all over his body. Jin Shi had to lie bedridden in a broken body for half a year before he recovered.


    Moreover, Jin Shi¡¯s parents were old and sick, so he had to take care of his sister, Jin Ning.


    ¡°Jin Ning has a serious case of ADHD,¡± Jin Shi said. ¡°She may be a stranger to me, but she is still the sister of the original body. However, in my heart, you are definitely more important than her.¡±


    Luo Ying shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s okay. We owe these bodies so much. Besides, I like Jin Ning very much too. I¡¯m willing to treat her as my sister.¡±


    Jin Shi looked at his sister, who had always been obstinate and said such words. He was very pleased, but he was also a little saddened.


    ¡°It¡¯s really hard for you to bear all this alone.¡± Jin Shi touched Luo Ying¡¯s hair.


    ¡°No, all is going to be well now.¡± Now that her brother was truly here with her, Luo Ying felt like she could take on the world.


    The two of them chatted for a while more. Luo Ying suddenly noticed that Jin Shi¡¯s face looked a little sickly red.


    ¡°Third Brother, are you having a fever?¡± Luo Ying looked at Jin Shi worriedly.


    Jin Shi had just been immersed in the joy of reuniting with his sister and did not notice the abnormality in his body. When Luo Ying said it, he felt a wave of heat and chills. His old fractures also groaned in icy agony.


    He waved his hand and wanted to tell Luo Ying that he was fine. However, in the next second, his vision suddenly turned black, and he fell straight to the ground.


    ¡°Third Brother!¡± Luo Ying screamed, ¡°Is there a doctor?!¡±


    Jin Shi wasn¡¯t seriously ill. He just had a fever.


    After the car accident, his body had not been in good condition. His old wounds kept nagging at him. This time, he had exerted himself in the cold water for a long time, so it was not surprising for him to fall ill.


    Luo Ying watched him guiltily as he rested in bed.


    If only she had been more careful today and discovered Su Ran¡¯s evil intentions earlier.


    ¡°Miss Luo, don¡¯t worry. Mr. Jin is fine for the time being.¡± The doctor noticed the worried expression on Luo Ying¡¯s face and said gently.


    ¡°What do you mean by nothing serious?¡± Luo Ying frowned and asked.


    ¡°Mr. Jin was in a car accident before,¡± the doctor said awkwardly. ¡°But he didn¡¯t wait until he fully recovered and started traveling all around the world. He¡¯s a little weak and his foundation isn¡¯t stable. He might need to be examined.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s heart sank.


    Her third brother had always been in good health and full of energy.


    She had never thought that her brother would become so frail.


    ¡°But you don¡¯t have to worry. Mr. Jinshi just needs to go for a check-up and recuperate well,¡± the doctor said, sensing Luo Ying¡¯s worry.


    Luo Ying nodded.


    The doctor left after giving some other instructions.


    Luo Ying took care of Jin Shi for a while and realized that the kettle beside her was out of water. She took the kettle and walked out of the door, ready to get some water.


    When she was refilling the kettle, she met the last person she wanted to see.


    Su Ran stood rooted to the ground. Her eyes were flashing with malice.


    ¡°You are really lucky.¡± Su Ran sneered. ¡°You¡¯re just as I imagined you to be.


    You¡¯re such a shameless person.¡±


    Luo Ying put down the kettle and crossed her arms as she looked at Su Ran. ¡°How am I shameless? You¡¯re the shameless one to show up here after trying to drown me.¡±


    After Luo Ying finished speaking, she observed Su Ran¡¯s expression.


    Su Ran shuddered violently. ¡°I was just improvising for the sake of filming.. Also, why would Jin Shi save you today? Did you secretly seduce him behind Lu Zhao¡¯s back?¡±

 Chapter 152 - Chapter 152: Discovered

    Chapter 152: Discovered


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°So you think that I seduced my way to the top?¡± Luo Ying sneered at Su Ran.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the case? Previously, you wouldn¡¯t leave Lin Su alone. Now that Lin Su has finally fallen into your honeypot, you¡¯re moving on to Jin Shi. Bonus points for having Lin Su jealously chasing after you even as you¡¯re working on the next man. He does all the hard labor for you.¡± Su Ran¡¯s gaze was like a dagger dipped in poison, one that was aimed at Luo Ying¡¯s heart.


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Lin Su and Jin Shi, would you be in such a good position?¡± Su Ran asked.


    She thought that Luo Ying would look flustered.


    However, Luo Ying remained unmoved. She just looked at her with a distant mocking smile on her lips.


    ¡°Do you even hear yourself? Su Ran, you¡¯re the one relied on men to get to where you are today, not me.¡± Luo Ying leaned closer to Su Ran and reached out to gently tap her shoulder.


    ¡°You instigated the accident on the two-man stage. The audition was also a fair competition between the two of us.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s eyes were clear. Su Ran felt a


    ¡°But those results can be manipulated,¡± Su Ran said indignantly. ¡°Lu Zhao has a lot of power, he can pull a few strings.¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be what Lin Su did for you? We¡¯re getting nowhere with this.


    Let¡¯s see who wins the popularity award at the awards ceremony in a month. How about that?¡± Luo Ying interrupted Su Ran.


    In a month, the variety show¡¯s grand ceremony would take place. The most popular artiste of the year would be selected.


    This award did not rely on ratings, but was voted for by the audience. This award was verified by an impartial organization and monitored by the IT big shots in real time to prevent any vote fraud.


    This award could be said to be the fairest and most transparent award to measure a person¡¯s popularity.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Su Ran gritted her teeth and looked at Luo Ying. ¡°I will definitely expose your true colors to the world.¡±


    Su Ran was still living in her own fantasy.


    The world might have revolved around her before, but from the moment Luo Ying came to this world, this had completely changed.


    Luo Ying picked up the kettle, passed Su Ran, and said softly, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be waiting.¡±


    After Luo Ying left, Su Ran looked at her phone, gritted her teeth, and dialed a familiar number.


    ¡®Luo Ying, don¡¯t you like to seduce men? I want you to have a taste of being called a femme fatale.¡¯


    Luo Ying returned to her room and continued to take care of Jin Shi.


    Jin Shi was burning up. The medications did not seem to be doing him much good.


    She decided to cool his body externally. She would have to wipe his body with hot water and alcohol.


    However, Luo Ying knew that it was inappropriate for her to do so.


    She thought of the most suitable candidate.


    Lin Ping was still a little confused when he was pulled into the room. ¡°Why are you so concerned about Jin?¡±


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t answer Lin Ping¡¯s question. Instead, she handed the alcohol cotton swabs to Lin Ping. ¡°Dab him up. He has a high fever and needs physical cooling. ¡±


    Lin Ping looked almost comically confused.


    ¡°You can¡¯t expect me to do it, right? I¡¯m a married woman. It¡¯s more suitable for you to do it,¡± Luo Ying said to Lin Ping.


    Lin Ping frowned. ¡°Jin Shi is sick. Why are you taking care of him?¡±


    Luo Ying choked. Everyone else knew that Jin Shi and her were not on the friendliest of terms. It would seem odd.


    ¡°I almost drowned today. Jin Shi who saved me. I can only do this much for him. Hurry up.¡± Luo Ying stuffed the alcohol swabs into Lin Ping¡¯s hand. ¡°Hurry up. If you don¡¯t wipe it, he¡¯ll cook himself silly.¡±


    Although Lin Ping was a little puzzled, he nodded and began to help Jin Shi wipe his body.


    However, his mind was filled with more questions. Jin Shi and Luo Ying did not like each other. Why would Luo Ying step above and beyond a courtesy visit? That alone would have sufficed.


    What kind of magic did this woman have? Even a flower like Jin Shi, who was on a mountain peak, would revolve around her!


    As Lin Ping thought about this, he realized that he was a little jealous of Jin Shi.


    He did not know where this jealousy came from. He shook his head. Did he also fancy Luo Ying?


    As soon as this thought appeared, he quickly extinguished it.. How could he fall for this shameless woman?

 Chapter 153 - Chapter 153: Gossip

    Chapter 153: Gossip


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    With Luo Ying¡¯s care, Jin Shi recovered in a few days.


    Due to their health issues, the production team postponed their scenes and let others shoot first.


    Luo Ying and Jin Shi took a few days off.


    Jin Shi did not plan to stay in the hotel while recuperating. Since the siblings had reunited, Jin Shi wanted to bring his sister out to play.


    Prague was beautiful, and there were many antique shops. The two of them decided to shop for outfits.


    Luo Ying was wearing a black woolen sweater, jeans, and a black beret. She followed Jin Shi through the streets of Prague.


    Previously, the siblings had very similar fashion tastes. After shopping for the entire morning and buying more than ten articles of clothing, the two of them decided to sit at a cafe.


    Luo Ying chose a dessert shop that looked more low-key and sat down.


    When Jin Shi went to the front desk to take their order, Luo Ying was looking down at the bill.


    At that moment, someone sat in front of Luo Ying.


    ¡°Brother, why didn¡¯t you bring the cake back?¡± Luo Ying looked up. She didn¡¯t see Jin Shi. What she saw was an angry and twisted face.


    Luo Ying snorted coldly in her heart. How unlucky.


    Lin Su sat in front of her, wearing a baseball cap and sportswear.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Lin Su frowned as he looked at Luo Ying.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t I be here? I¡¯m filming here!¡± Luo Ying sneered. ¡°What about you? Shouldn¡¯t you be dealing with the Lin Group¡¯s crisis back home? Why are you here?¡±


    Luo Ying was staring at him like she was looking at trash. Lin Su choked.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on between you and Jin Shi? Are you in love with Jin Shi now?¡±


    So, that was the case. Luo Ying looked at Lin Su in annoyance and got up to leave.


    Lin Su reached out and grabbed Luo Ying¡¯s wrist. ¡°Can you stop fooling around? I know you still like me. Can you not hook up with these men? I don¡¯t want to see you like this.¡±


    Luo Ying was confused. She shook off Lin Su¡¯s hand, her eyes filled with contempt and disdain. ¡°Do you actually think I still like you?¡±


    Lin Su choked up. He had not expected Luo Ying to ask him this.


    Luo Ying had always hounded him like a stalker. He had never thought that Luo Ying would one day talk to him like this.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you get it? I don¡¯t like you anymore, and I won¡¯t like you in the future.¡± Luo Ying looked at Lin Su and spoke coldly.


    Lin Su did not give up and reached out to grab Luo Ying¡¯s hand, but Luo Ying broke free.


    While the two of them were arguing, Jin Shi¡¯s voice rang out.


    ¡°Lin Su, what are you doing?¡± Jin Shi reached out and pushed Lin Su¡¯s hand away. He stood in front of Luo Ying and protected her.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Lin Su frowned and looked at Jin Shi. ¡°Are you guys playing some kind of unspoken game?¡±


    ¡°Stop talking nonsense, Lin Su. Go run off and do what you came here to do.¡± Jin Shi didn¡¯t want to prolong the conversation. The two of them were good friends before, but after Luo Ying¡¯s incident, they might not be friends any longer.


    ¡°Why are you protecting Luo Ying? Do you actually like this promiscuous woman now?¡± Lin Su sneered.


    Jin Shi reached out and grabbed Lin Su¡¯s collar. ¡°Watch your mouth.¡±


    When he looked at Jin Shi¡¯s furious expression, Lin Su laughed out loud. ¡°Did Luo Ying cast black magic on you? Why are you all so in love with each other?¡± ¡°What do you know?¡± Jin Shi punched Lin Su¡¯s face.


    The results of his investigation yesterday brought up some information about Lin Su, including the fact that Lin Su had attempted to rape Luo Ying.


    ¡°You had Luo Ying drugged and tried to force yourself on her, didn¡¯t you?¡± Jin Shi looked at Lin Su coldly. ¡°You wanted the magical medical secrets in her body¡±


    Lin Su¡¯s eyes widened.


    Not many people knew about this. Only he and his sister knew the secret behind it.


    ¡°Since you¡¯ve said it, are you after the same thing, then?¡± Lin Su wiped the blood off his face. His originally handsome face now looked ferocious and terrifying.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less about that, but if you dare to touch her, I will make sure you die without a grave.¡± Jin Shi glanced at Lin Su, picked up the things on the seat beside him, and left with Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying patted her chest as she got into the taxi. ¡°That scared me to death. Why the hell would he be here?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why he¡¯s here here, but Yingying, are you hiding something from me?¡± Jin Shi asked..

 Chapter 154 - Chapter 154: He’s Here

    Chapter 154: He¡¯s Here


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying was stumped. She smiled innocently. ¡°I didn¡¯t hide anything from you. What are you talking about?¡±


    Jin Shi patted Luo Ying¡¯s head. ¡°Don¡¯t pretend. I don¡¯t know the details of your medical mystery, but Lin Su seems really intent on getting it.¡±


    ¡°Third Brother, look outside. What is that?¡± Luo Ying tried to say something to divert Jin Shi¡¯s attention, but Jin Shi did not give her the chance. He grabbed her ear and turned her head around.


    ¡°Tell me, what is it?¡± Jin Shi¡¯s gaze was sharp.


    At that moment, in the cafe, Lin Su slowly got up and took out a tissue from his pocket to wipe the blood on his face.


    Just as he was about to leave the cafe, a huge force suddenly pulled him over.


    The man grabbed his collar and pressed him against the wall. His eyes were filled with anger.


    This man was almost superhumanly strong. Lin Su felt his vision blur, and his internal organs were almost squeezed out.


    When he saw who it was, he smiled lightly. ¡°So may men, all protecting a single woman today, right?¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t remain in the city like a good man. Do you have a death wish?¡± The man¡¯s eyes flashed with killing intent.


    Lin Su looked at him and smiled. ¡°Lu Zhao, why are you here too?¡±


    Lu Zhao was wearing a simple black coat, and he looked like a grim reaper.


    ¡°Stay away from Luo Ying.¡± Lu Zhao ignored Lin Su¡¯s words. Instead, he grabbed his collar, his eyes emitting a dangerous light.


    Lin Su stretched out his hand, wanting to move Lu Zhao¡¯s hand away, but Lu Zhao was far too strong for him.


    ¡°You saw it too, right? Jin Shi is also protecting Luo Ying. Previously, Luo Ying cheated on you because of me. Now, she¡¯s also cheating on you because of Jin Shi. Don¡¯t you know who this woman is?¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s pupils constricted.


    Lin Su caught the wavering look in Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes and smiled lightly.


    ¡°I know that you¡¯re also bewitched by Luo Ying now, but I have to tell you that Luo Ying doesn¡¯t like you at all. She¡¯s only pretending to like you now, but the one she likes is still me,¡± Lin Su said with a smile.


    ¡°Shut up.¡± Lu Zhao tightened his grip, and the danger in his eyes became even stronger.


    ¡°Luo Ying is just a woman who chases after every man she sees. Is that someone you should give your heart to? I don¡¯t think she loves you at all. When you were injured previously, did she take out her prescription to save you?¡± Lin Su guided him patiently.


    ¡°What prescription?¡± Lu Zhao frowned.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know this yet, right? Luo Ying¡¯s mother was a famous doctor. She left her many prescriptions. Each of these prescriptions is worth thousands. Besides, her blood has medicinal properties,¡± said Lin Su. ¡°When I was injured, she gave me a blood transfusion to save me. You probably don¡¯t know this, poor you.¡±


    Lu Zhao reached out and grabbed Lin Su¡¯s neck.


    ¡°You can choke the life out of me, but that won¡¯t do you any good. Now that she likes Jin Shi, why don¡¯t the two of us work together to capture her and use her for research? I don¡¯t need the profits from the research. I just want her.¡± As Lin Su said this, his face rippled with a malicious smile.


    Since Luo Ying had also lied to Lu Zhao, he might as well work together with Lu Zhao to get this woman.


    ¡°There is no helping you.¡± Lu Zhao let go.


    Lin Su sank to the ground. His legs had long given way. The smile on his face had not disappeared, and his entire person looked ridiculous and comical.


    ¡°Lin Su, you better be careful.¡± Lu Zhao left Lin Su where he was, turned around, and walked out of the cafe.


    Xiao Ting followed him.


    ¡°Get someone to throw Lin Su back home,¡± Lu Zhao said coldly.


    Xiao Ting nodded. ¡°I just saw Ms. Luo and Mr. Jin get into the car together.¡±


    He spoke carefully. They had just arrived in the morning. They did not expect to see Luo Ying, Jin Shi, and Lin Su having a conflict as soon as they arrived.


    Xiao Ting¡¯s heart ached for his boss. He had been cuckolded by the same woman twice.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hotel.¡± Lu Zhao ordered him coldly.


    Xiao Ting nodded and wiped the cold sweat off his forehead.


    His boss was really unlucky to have to deal with Luo Ying. That woman was the devil in human flesh.


    The car stopped at the entrance of the film crew¡¯s hotel. There was a taxi in front of them.


    Just as Lu Zhao was about to get out of the car, the door of the taxi in front opened. Jin Shi and Luo Ying got out of the car side by side..

 Chapter 155 - Chapter 155: Encounter

    Chapter 155: Encounter


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying was about to enter the room with Jin Shi when she was suddenly grabbed by a huge force.


    The next second, she fell into a familiar embrace.


    The other party¡¯s movements were very fast, and she could not react in time.


    The familiar minty scent made her a little confused, and she instinctively rubbed against the other party¡¯s body.


    She looked up and saw Lu Zhao looking at her with a dark face.


    ¡°Why are you here, hehe?¡± For some reason, Luo Ying felt a little guilty.


    In this world, she was not related to Jin Shi by blood. It seemed a little too much to be this close to Jin Shi.


    Lu Zhao pinched her face and looked at Jin Shi, who was standing close by. ¡°Who is he?¡±


    Luo Ying felt a headache setting in. She couldn¡¯t possibly say that she had transmigrated from another world.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s gaze fell on the item in Jin Shi¡¯s hand.


    The two siblings reunited. Jin Shi had originally wanted to get drunk with his sister, so he had bought a carton of beer.


    ¡°Why are you plotting against Luo Ying?¡±


    In Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes, this beer became evidence that Jin Shi had bad intentions toward Luo Ying.


    The siblings exchanged glances. This question was indeed a little difficult to explain.


    ¡°We became fast friends in the blink of an eye,¡± Luo Ying said. ¡°He likes men.¡±


    Jin Shi almost fell over. He looked at Luo Ying¡¯s pleading eyes and nodded. ¡°It¡¯s true that I like men, but I¡¯m the one on top.¡±


    Lu Zhao had not expected such an answer. He frowned and looked at Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying quickly nodded. ¡°Jin Shi and I hit it off while we were filming. We clicked without even knowing what happened. Don¡¯t tell anyone, or else the dreams of a thousand girls will be shattered.¡±


    Jin Shi had many female fans. If they heard what Luo Ying said, they would probably tear Luo Ying apart.


    ¡°Room 409, you go in first.¡± Lu Zhao took out the room card from his pocket. His gaze was still locked onto Jin Shi, and his entire body emitted a dangerous aura.


    If she left now, Jin Shi would probably be beaten up.


    Luo Ying shook her head and hugged Lu Zhao¡¯s arm coquettishly. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to go back. You just arrived, and I miss you so much. I just want to hold you longer.¡±


    It was Jin Shi¡¯s turn to be shocked. He looked at Luo Ying, who was hugging Lu Zhao. He could not believe that this was his sister.


    When did his sister become so clingy to a man?


    His gaze lingered on Lu Zhao for a while.


    This person should be his brother-in-law. He looked handsome, but his eyes were filled with danger.


    Jin Shi couldn¡¯t help but shiver. His intuition told him that this man was complicated.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you want Luo Ying to leave first so that you can start swinging at me?¡± Jin Shi said.


    Lu Zhao looked at Jin Shi, and the danger in his eyes intensified.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care if you like men or not, but you¡¯d better not have any ideas about my woman,¡± Lu Zhao said coldly.


    He held Luo Ying in his arms with one hand and grabbed the beer in Jin Shi¡¯s hand with the other.


    Lu Zhao was very strong. The pitiful bag was on the verge of ripping apart.


    Luo Ying¡¯s heart ached when she saw this. She reached out to take it. ¡°I still want to drink it tonight. If you two don¡¯t plan to drink it, don¡¯t ruin it for me.¡± Lu Zhao loosened his grip.


    However, Jin Shi¡¯s eyes were fixed on Lu Zhao¡¯s hand. There was a certain tattoo on Lu Zhao¡¯s hand.


    This man was even more dangerous than he had imagined. Yingying was a fool. He hoped that she had not been deceived.


    ¡°I¡¯m also warning you. You¡¯d better not do anything to let Luo Ying down. Otherwise, I¡¯ll teach you a lesson too,¡± Jin Shi said coldly.


    Lu Zhao held the shopping bag in his other hand and smiled coldly. ¡°What right do you have to say this to me?¡±


    ¡°Because I¡¯m Luo Ying¡¯s¡­ good sister. We sisters have to look out for each other,¡± Jin Shi braced himself and said.


    Luo Ying held back her laughter when she saw her third brother¡¯s embarrassed face.


    Third Brother always hated having his masculinity questioned. She didn¡¯t expect him to call himself a sister today because of her.


    ¡°Before you warn me, you should first settle your own matters.¡± Lu Zhao said coldly, ¡°It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t know about your collusion with D¡¯Corporeal.¡±


    After Lu Zhao said this, he hugged Luo Ying and left..

 Chapter 156 - Chapter 156: Missing You

    Chapter 156: Missing You


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying allowed Lu Zhao to lead her away, but her mind was repeatedly mulling over what Lu Zhao had just said.


    Wasn¡¯t D¡¯Corporeal used by Lin Su to conduct illegal business? How could Third Brother be related to them?


    Had Third Brother been hiding something from her?


    Had he been forced to be complicit in such acts?


    Luo Ying felt her mind reeling.


    When he saw her deep in thought, Lu Zhao was a little dissatisfied. He stretched out his hand and tightened it. His large hand was placed on Luo Ying¡¯s waist, and the scorching temperature brought Luo Ying back to her senses.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you thinking about Jin Shi?¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s words cleared Luo Ying¡¯s mind.


    ¡°What? Someone is jealous, I see,¡± Luo Ying said with a smile. She felt the bitterness in Lu Zhao¡¯s words.


    ¡°Treat him like you would treat any of my girlfriends. Don¡¯t be jealous.¡± Luo Ying leaned her head on the man¡¯s shoulder and rubbed her head against him. She did not notice the man¡¯s dangerous gaze.


    With a beep, the door to the room was opened. After putting down the items in his hands, Lu Zhao grabbed Luo Ying¡¯s waist and put her on the bed.


    The two of them were very close to each other. As long as they spoke, their lips would collide.


    Luo Ying felt that her body beginning to burn up. His legs were tightly pressed against hers, and that dangerous part of his anatomy was pressed against her lower abdomen.


    Jealous men were really dangerous.


    ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other for so long. Should we get used to each other


    first?¡± she asked carefully.


    ¡°Who was the one who said that she missed me and wanted to be with me all the time?¡± Lu Zhao stared at her. His black eyes gleamed dangerously. Luo Ying felt that her face was at the risk of turning red. She quickly changed the subject.


    She reached out and gently pushed Lu Zhao back. ¡°I¡¯ve been shopping outside for the whole day. My body is covered in dirt. I need a bath.¡± Lu Zhao grabbed her hand and held it above her head. ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡±


    With that, he lowered his head and gently kissed Luo Ying¡¯s lips.


    The two of them hadn¡¯t had such intimate contact for a long time. The sudden kiss made Luo Ying tremble. An electric current shot through her entire body. She raised her head slightly and allowed the other party to press her neck as she gently responded to his kiss.


    When Luo Ying responded, Lu Zhao deepened the kiss, and his fingers gently drew circles on her waist.


    Luo Ying felt her legs go soft from Lu Zhao¡¯s teasing, and her face was about to turn red.


    After the kiss, Luo Ying felt her body losing strength. She fell into Lu Zhao¡¯s arms.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t answered me. Why are you here?¡± Luo Ying asked as she calmed her breathing.


    ¡°I missed you.¡± Lu Zhao didn¡¯t look at her. Instead, he buried his head in Luo Ying¡¯s neck and gently took in the sweet scent of her body.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you. If you miss me so badly, why don¡¯t you put me in your pocket?¡± said Luo Ying.


    ¡°I¡¯d like that very much. I¡¯d bring you wherever I go,¡± Lu Zhao said with a smile, his lips brushing past her collarbone.


    ¡°No, I still have to work. So, why did you come?¡± asked Luo Ying.


    Lu Zhao propped himself up and reached out to caress her cheek. ¡°I won¡¯t let you encounter danger again in the future.¡±


    Even without Lu Zhao saying anything, Luo Ying knew that Lu Zhao must have come because of her falling into the water.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Look at me. I¡¯m fine,¡± Luo Ying said.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ve already invested in this drama. No one will dare to touch you like this in the future. I¡¯ll get Cheng Yang to replace Su Ran,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    Su Ran had actually dared to harm his woman.


    Luo Ying did not speak.


    She had let Su Ran off many times before. This time, Su Ran might really need to learn a lesson to understand that the universe did not revolve around her. Lu Zhao slowly approached her. ¡°Don¡¯t think about other matters anymore.


    Focus.¡±


    Luo Ying reached out and grasped Lu Zhao¡¯s shoulder. ¡°No, it¡¯s still daytime.¡±


    Lu Zhao smiled lightly. ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡¯


    Luo Ying shook her head and pointed at the bag on the coffee table. ¡°No, I want to drink today. Let me have some first.¡±


    Lu Zhao smiled as he carried her and sat her up. ¡°When did you become an alcoholic?¡±


    However, she was even more seductive when she was slightly tipsy. The man¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Sure, I haven¡¯t drunk in a long time.. Why don¡¯t the two of us have a few drinks today?¡±

 Chapter 157 - Chapter 157: Explanation

    Chapter 157: Explanation


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lu Zhao somewhat regretted letting Luo Ying drink.


    Luo Ying did not even drink much. Somehow, she ended up hugging him and talking nonsense.


    He reached out to clean up the bottles and glasses on the table while letting Luo Ying rub herself against his back.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, I miss you so much.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, can you not leave? I want to be with you forever.¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s hand paused. He put Luo Ying down and placed her on the coffee table.


    Luo Ying reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck.


    ¡°I also want to be with you forever. Can you not leave me? When you left me before, I searched for you for a long time before I found you,¡± said Lu Zhao. ¡°When you jumped off the building, I thought I was going to lose you.¡±


    Luo Ying seemed to be a little drunk. She didn¡¯t seem to understand what Lu Zhao was saying and playfully tickled the tip of his nose.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s heart fiercely rumbled in his chest.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave you either, Lu Zhao,¡± Luo Ying said. She was drunk, and her words were more coquettish than usual.


    ¡°But I¡¯m afraid that I won¡¯t be able to see you when I wake up one day,¡± Luo Ying said.


    The alcohol had loosened her tongue considerably.


    ¡® Do you know that I actually came from another world? I have my own life and family in that world.¡± As she spoke, she grew visibly sad.


    ¡°But it¡¯s good that you¡¯re here.¡± Luo Ying opened her eyes. She was blushing so deeply that Lu Zhao felt his rationality slipping.


    ¡°I want to be with you forever, but I also miss my family.¡± As she spoke, tears fell from the corners of her eves.


    ¡°I can be your family.¡± Lu Zhao stroked her hair sadly.


    ¡°Do you know that Jin Shi is actually my third brother? He also transmigrated from that world. So, don¡¯t be angry with him, okay?¡± Luo Ying pouted. The woman¡¯s eyes seemed to be brimming with tears. Lu Zhao¡¯s heart ached when he saw her.


    Why would he be angry with her? He had lost her and found her again. He couldn¡¯t be any happier now.


    ¡°I really like you, Lu Zhao,¡± Luo Ying said.


    ¡°Me too.¡± Lu Zhao hugged Luo Ying tightly.


    ¡°So don¡¯t leave me, okay?¡± Lu Zhao said softly.


    After he said this, the air suddenly fell silent.


    He waited for Luo Ying¡¯s answer for a long time. When he turned around, he realized that Luo Ying had already fallen asleep on his shoulder.


    He smiled bitterly as he waited for her answer.


    He carried Luo Ying up, placed her on the bed, and covered her with the blanket.


    At the same time, his phone rang.


    The moment he glanced at it, Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes darkened.


    Jin Shi was waiting for Lu Zhao in the cafe on the top floor of the hotel.


    This was the highest point of the city. From here, one could see the tall buildings and the lights of thousands of houses outside.


    The coffee in his hand had already turned cold. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the elevator. He was waiting for Lu Zhao to appear. Ding dong. The elevator door opened, and Lu Zhao strode out.


    ¡°You¡¯re here,¡± Jin Shi said.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Lu Zhao looked at Jin Shi. His body released an aggressive aura.


    ¡°I know what I¡¯m going to say next might be a little hard for you to believe, but I think since you like my sister, it¡¯s better for me to make it clear,¡± Jin Shi said seriously.


    Lu Zhao nodded. ¡± I know what you¡¯re going to say. The two of you came here from another world, right?¡±


    Jin Shi froze.


    He did not expect Lu Zhao to answer him like this, much less that Luo Ying had actually told Lu Zhao about this matter.


    ¡°Did Luo Ying tell you the same thing?¡± Jin Shi asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Lu Zhao nodded.


    ¡°And you believe her?¡± Jin Shi was dumbfounded.


    ¡± I believe everything Luo Ying says. However, dear Third Brother, you¡¯d better explain what happened between you and D¡¯Corporeal, ¡± Lu Zhao said coldly. His eagle-like sharp eyes were boring into Jin Shi.


    Jin Shi¡¯s expression turned stern.


    ¡°I do have a partnership with D¡¯Corporeal, but I¡¯m not involved in their illegal business,¡± Jin Shi said.


    When he transmigrated, Jin Shi and Lin Su were already in the middle of a collaboration. He did not make many changes to it, but he also rejected many of Lin Su¡¯s unreasonable suggestions.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did they do something bad to Luo Ying?¡±

 Chapter 158 - Chapter 158: Third Brother

    Chapter 158: Third Brother


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lu Zhao nodded.


    ¡°How is that possible? I¡¯ve checked before. I¡¯m only in charge of some medical matters here.¡± Jin Shi frowned and looked at Lu Zhao.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what Luo Ying has, but Lin Lu had always hoped that Luo Ying would marry into the Lin Family. Luo Ying has something that they need,¡± Lu Zhao said slowly.


    Jin Shi¡¯s eyes turned cold when he heard that.


    He didn¡¯t know anything else, but he knew Lin Su well.


    In order to get what he wanted, he would do anything. He had no bottom line. He was even more dangerous than a demon king like Lu Zhao.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t he just accept Luo Ying when she was pestering him?¡± Jin Shi said,


    Lu Zhao thought for a moment. ¡°That was the Luo Ying of the past. When that narcissist was no longer hounded by his persistent stalker, his pride could not handle the blow.¡±


    Jin Shi nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll pay attention to his movements. Don¡¯t you worry.¡±


    ¡°But I have a question to ask. Why would you believe Luo Ying¡¯s words that the two of us came from another world?¡± Jin Shi¡¯s eyes were fixed on Lu Zhao¡¯s face, wanting to see something unusual on his face.


    Lu Zhao only smiled, his face carrying a faint trace of gentleness.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I will believe everything Luo Ying says unconditionally.¡± He looked at Jin Shi. ¡°She¡¯s the only one I¡¯ve wanted since the beginning.¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes were filled with sincerity, and he could not find any flaws.


    ¡°Although you are Luo Ying¡¯s third brother, I¡¯ll still have to give you a customary warning. Don¡¯t do anything that puts Luo Ying in harm¡¯s way. Otherwise, I won¡¯t let you off,¡± Lu Zhao looked at Jin Shi and said.


    Jin Shi nodded. His sister might have found a good man.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Jin Shi nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll say the same to you.¡±


    Jin Shi extended his hand. ¡°Then let me introduce myself again. I am Luo Ying¡¯s third brother, Jin Shi.¡±


    Lu Zhao reached out and held Jin Shi¡¯s hand.


    When Luo Ying woke up, she found herself lying in Lu Zhao¡¯s arms.


    The familiar body temperature and breath made her snuggle deeper into his arms.


    Lu Zhao was still asleep. Her eyes were tightly shut, and her beautiful eyelashes drooped down. She reached out and gently counted the man¡¯s eyelashes.


    Suddenly, the man reached out and grabbed her hand. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him.


    Lu Zhao opened his eyes. There was a trace of fatigue in them.


    ¡°You drank too much,¡± he said.


    Luo Ying was a little sheepish. She knew that her alcohol tolerance was not good, but she had still drunk with reckless abandon. It seemed that she had caused some trouble for Lu Zhao.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything stupid yesterday, right?¡± Luo Ying felt a little guilty. She leaned on Lu Zhao¡¯s chest and rubbed against him gently.


    ¡°Of course. You said you didn¡¯t want to leave me. You also said you didn¡¯t want to work anymore and wanted to go home,¡± Lu Zhao said softly.


    ¡°Ah?¡± Luo Ying was confused. How could a career-oriented woman like her say that she didn¡¯t want to work and wanted to go home?


    ¡°No, I take my career seriously, don¡¯t you know that.¡± Luo Ying blinked her big eyes and acted coquettishly with Lu Zhao. ¡°You know I won¡¯t give my career up.¡±


    Lu Zhao smiled at her, clearly amused.


    He reached out and ruffled Luo Ying¡¯s hair. ¡°Alright, get up. Don¡¯t you have to go back to filming today? I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s short break ended today.


    Luo Ying abruptly jumped with surprise. She had clearly forgotten. She quickly got up to put on her clothes and put on her makeup.


    Lu Zhao also tidied himself up.


    As soon as Luo Ying opened the door, she saw Jin Shi standing outside.


    She squinted at Jin Shi, as if she was berating him with her gaze alone. ¡°What are you doing here? Lu Zhao doesn¡¯t want to see you, so why are you still here?¡± Before Jin Shi could react, Lu Zhao was already standing behind Luo Ying.


    The door was slammed shut.


    Luo Ying screamed in her heart. This was bad. These two men wouldn¡¯t fight here, right?


    Just as Luo Ying was thinking about how to stop the fight, Lu Zhao was already standing beside her.


    ¡°Morning, Third Brother.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s voice rang out.


    Luo Ying was almost dumbfounded when she heard him call her third brother.


    What was going on? It had only been a night, and Lu Zhao had already acknowledged her third brother.


    Lu Zhao would not casually call others ¡®brother¡¯. Jin Shi raised his eyebrows proudly at Luo Ying.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll take you to the set..¡±

 Chapter 159 - Chapter 159 Gossip

    Chapter 159 Gossip


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The three of them arrived at the set. Luo Ying was still curious to know what had transpired between the two men. Just as she was about to ask Jin Shi about it, she suddenly noticed the people around her pointing at them.


    Cheng Yang stood in front of the camera with a serious look in her eyes.


    Jin Shi also noticed the strange atmosphere.


    ¡°Director Cheng Yang, what happened?¡± he asked with a frown.


    ¡°We might have to postpone the filming of our drama. Didn¡¯t you see the trending searches? Your scandal with Luo Ying and Lu Zhao was exposed last night.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes widened when she heard Cheng Yang¡¯s words.


    How was that possible? They were both working here. How could there be a scandal?


    Cheng Yang handed the phone to Luo Ying.


    It was a trending topic on social media. The top trending topic was: [An A-lister meets two men in one night.]


    The insinuation of such a scandalous title disgusted her.


    She opened the news and saw a few blurry pictures.


    The first picture was a picture of Luo Ying and Jin Shi shopping together yesterday. There was nothing special in the picture. If anything, they were in rather close proximity with one another.


    The second picture was Luo Ying leaning into Lu Zhao¡¯s arms. The two of them stood intimately at the door of Jin Shi¡¯s room. Jin Shi was standing at the side with a dark expression.


    Luo Ying felt her scalp go numb.


    It was odd to find paparazzis who would fly overseas with them over such a distance.


    Moreover, the picture in the hotel corridor was a still shot from the hotel¡¯s surveillance video.


    The article held nothing back in its attempt to explain in graphic detail how Luo Ying was filming overseas and going on a date with two people in a single day. One was a famous young celebrity, and the other was a rich young master whose identity was unknown.


    The comments below were filthy.


    [I thought Luo Ying had cleared her name. I just didn¡¯t expect her to be such a snake.]


    [Luo Ying is really something. Previously, she was chasing after Lin Su and refused to let go. Now, she¡¯s completely threesoming them.]


    [Previously, Jin Shi helped to clarify things for her. Looks like they¡¯re just in it together.]


    Luo Ying¡¯s hands trembled as she read.


    Cheng Yang reached out and patted Luo Ying¡¯s back. When she had just entered the industry, she had also been rumored to be involved in such filthy matters. She could completely understand Luo Ying¡¯s feelings.


    ¡°I understand that you must be very flustered now, but I¡¯ve already found the public relations department to resolve these matters. You don¡¯t have to worry,¡± Cheng Yang said.


    Luo Ying shook her head. This matter was not that simple.


    The writing was somewhat familiar to her. It was probably written by the same person as the article that smeared her previously.


    This very person had dragged her into the water a few days ago.


    She had not yet given up.


    Lu Zhao stood at the side and held Luo Ying¡¯s shoulder. His gaze was cold.


    He knew who was behind this. He had not expected this woman to be so unrepentant, in spite of the punishment he had already meted out. He had failed Luo Ying again.


    Jin Shi was reading the reactions of his fans.


    Most of the fans still supported Jin Shi and felt that he was innocent.


    If anything, they all shifted the blame to Luo Ying.


    [It¡¯s all because of Luo Ying. If it weren¡¯t for this movie with Luo Ying, how could Jin Shi be harmed by such scandals time and time again?]


    [Luo Ying is the number one slut in the entertainment industry. She has sexed her way up to the top.]


    [You slut, stay away from my brother. Those rich young men must have drilled you loose by now?]


    There were tens of thousands of comments.


    Jin Shi rubbed the space between his eyebrows.


    He could not respond immediately.


    If he posted an article saying that he had not been seduced and that there was nothing between him and Luo Ying, those fans would probably continue to attack Luo Ying.


    ¡°Jin Shi, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll wait for the public relations company to come up with a solution,¡± Cheng Yang said.


    Luo Ying seemed to have thought of something. Her eyes widened. ¡± Do you still have the underwater camera footage from that day?¡±


    ¡°Underwater camera?¡± Cheng Yang frowned and asked.


    When they were filming the scene of Su Ran falling into the water, they had such cameras in place for safety precautions. Su Ran¡¯s actions should have been recorded on tape.


    ¡°I do.¡± Cheng Yang took out the hard drive.


    ¡°Where is Su Ran now?¡± Luo Ying frowned and asked.


    ¡°Su Ran seems to have been assigned elsewhere. She seems to have a flight today. The crew¡¯s driver has already sent her to the airport¡­¡± Cheng Yang did not understand it. What did this have to do with Su Ran?


    Luo Ying took the hard drive from Cheng Yang¡¯s hands and even took the car keys from her desk and handed them to Lu Zhao.


    ¡°Director Cheng, we¡¯ll handle this.¡±.

 Chapter 160 - Chapter 160: Catching Up

    Chapter 160: Catching Up


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    A car traveled steadily down the highway. A woman in sunglasses was sitting in the passenger seat. She looked at the road ahead coldly.


    The suitcase in the trunk was full of clothes.


    She had been supposed to stay here for three months. It had not even been a month, but she had already been chased back to China.


    Su Ran clenched her fists so tightly that her nails almost dug into her palms. This was all because of Luo Ying. Otherwise, she would have been the female lead of the movie. Moreover, she would not have been chased out of the production team after only filming a few scenes.


    Luo Ying had even seduced Lu Zhao. Lu Zhao had invested in this drama. She could not allow it. She could never allow Luo Ying to get away with all of this.


    Just as Su Ran was lost in her thoughts, the chauffeur beside her exclaimed in surprise.


    ¡°Ms. Su, can you help me take a look at the car behind us? Is it Director Cheng Yang¡¯s car?¡± the driver asked.


    Su Ran looked at the rearview mirror and her eyes suddenly widened.


    That car was indeed Cheng Yang¡¯s car, but why were Luo Ying and Lu Zhao sitting in it with murderous looks on their faces?


    ¡°It¡¯s not Cheng Yang¡¯s car, but I¡¯m sure it¡¯s a paparazzi car. Accelerate and lose them,¡± Su Ran said coldly.


    The driver had encountered such a situation many times, so he was familiar with such situations.


    He skillfully turned the steering wheel and sped up.


    Su Ran bit her lip hard and stared at the car in the rearview mirror.


    Was Luo Ying already onto her? Or were they coming after her for revenge after the water incident?


    The two cars sped along the highway.


    The other cars swerved out of the way.


    The chauffeur was already driving like a maniac, but Lu Zhao still kept up.


    ¡°Ms. Su, why don¡¯t we stop? They seem to be really intent on catching up to us. Maybe it¡¯s urgent.¡± The driver was a little nervous. If they went any faster, he could lose control.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stop, don¡¯t let them catch up!¡± Su Ran screamed.


    She grabbed her hair tightly. It was as if she had gone crazy.


    Why couldn¡¯t everything go as she wished? Everyone was protecting Luo Ying like zealots. She was innocent, so why was Luo Ying getting all the benefits? It was unfair!


    She stretched out her hand and pointed at the driver with her sharp nails. ¡°I¡¯ll give you 100,000 yuan. You have to shake them off, do you understand? If you can¡¯t shake them off today, don¡¯t expect to be employed any longer.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Su Ran, calm down.¡± The driver sped up.


    Why did Su Ran, who usually looked gentle and demure, suddenly look like she had lost her mind?


    Luo Ying was sitting at the edge of her seat. She leaned forward and stared at the car ahead.


    ¡°Quick, get her!¡± Luo Ying said with a frown.


    Lu Zhao skillfully turned the steering wheel. His eyes were cold. He was a better driver than most.


    The car overtook Su Ran¡¯s car at a turn and forced her to stop.


    Su Ran took off her sunglasses as she watched Luo Ying get out of the car.


    She tried her best to school her facial expression. Then, she rolled down the window. ¡± hat¡¯s wrong, Luo Ying? I¡¯m leaving today. Is there something you want to tell me?¡±


    Luo Ying looked at the woman playing dumb. Her eyes darkened. ¡°Don¡¯t try me. What did you do?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything. After all, I¡¯m an artiste. A lot of things are handed over to my manager and financial team to do.¡± Su Ran still maintained a gentle smile. ¡°Are you talking about the scandal yesterday? I¡¯ve told my management team about it, but they couldn¡¯t do anything about it. After all, it¡¯s part of their job.¡±


    Luo Ying sneered and reached out to open the car door. She grabbed Su Ran¡¯s collar and pulled her out. ¡°You better tell me the truth, or I¡¯ll teach you a lesson.¡±


    Su Ran looked at Luo Ying¡¯s furious expression and swallowed her saliva.


    ¡°What can I do? You misunderstood me. I¡¯ve stopped being jealous of you a long time ago. Lin Su is not worth ruining our relationship over,¡± Su Ran said.


    She tried her best to look sincere..

 Chapter 161 - Chapter 161: Ambush

    Chapter 161: Ambush


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying did not pay attention to Su Ran¡¯s words. She just stared into Su Ran¡¯s eyes.


    Su Ran felt goosebumps all over her body. ¡°Luo Ying, I know what I did was wrong in the past. Now that I¡¯ve been punished, please forgive me and let me go back, can¡¯t you?


    ¡°I think Cheng Yang and the others will have a way to deal with this scandal. Let me go first.¡±


    ¡°You can deal with this problem right now.¡± Luo Ying coldly interrupted Su Ran and placed the hard drive in front of Su Ran. ¡°Do you know what¡¯s inside this?¡±


    Su Ran pretended to be calm and smiled. ¡°Luo Ying, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. Isn¡¯t this just an ordinary hard disk?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a video of you trying to drown me.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s cold gaze landed on Su Ran.


    Su Ran could not help but shiver.


    How could there still be footage of this? Didn¡¯t she get someone to delete them all that day?


    ¡°You may not know this, but Director Cheng Yang has the habit of backing up her filming materials. So, whatever you do is recorded on this hard disk. You should also know that your actions would not simply be considered an attempt to cause bodily harm, ¡± Luo Ying said. ¡°This is attempted murder.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s words were like a sharp knife stabbing into Su Ran¡¯s ears.


    The pool had been very deep, and the camera accurately recorded her action of pulling Luo Ying into the water.


    This footage would not only ruin Su Ran¡¯s reputation, but she could also end up in jail.


    Su Ran¡¯s eyes were filled with fear. ¡°What do you mean? Do you want me to go to jail?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget what else you¡¯ve done. You were behind all of this, right?¡± Luo Ying turned on her phone and placed several articles in front of Su Ran.


    ¡°The IP address and style of writing of these two articles are very similar to one another. Need I say more?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    Su Ran gave up on hiding. She sneered.


    ¡°Yes, I did it. So what? Luo Ying, I¡¯m very jealous of you. Everything you have now should have been mine. Lin Su, the role of the female lead, and those fans should have belonged to me.¡± Su Ran roared in despair and grabbed her hair.


    ¡°I really hate you and envy you. You stole everything that was mine. How did you even do it? My life was ruined by you.


    ¡°I reallv tried to bring vou down. Did vou know that? Of all neonle. Tin Shi actually spoke up for you. Back then, in the water, I wanted to kill you. Why? Does it frighten you?¡±


    Su Ran, who was sitting on the ground, had ripped out her hair and tore her clothes to shreds. She was no longer a glamorous actress. Instead, she had turned into a deranged animal.


    The driver was so scared that he froze.


    Luo Ying approached Su Ran and stared into her eyes as she said coldly, ¡°Su Ran, you brought this on yourself.¡±


    She stretched out her hand and showed Su Ran the things on her phone.


    Su Ran¡¯s pupils dilated. She revealed an expression of disbelief.


    It was a live stream. Everything that just occurred had been broadcasted live.


    The chat was flooded.


    [Su Ran is so disgusting. I used to love watching her dramas.] [It¡¯s over for her. She¡¯s probably going to jail for this.]


    [She was so relentless about this. I can¡¯t fathom it.]


    She had admitted her crimes in front of thousands of people.


    ¡°That takes care of things.¡± Luo Ying turned off the live stream. ¡°Su Ran, you forced my hand. You tested my patience, time and time again. Enough is enough.¡±


    Luo Ying turned around and left.


    Su Ran watched Luo Ying leave, her eyes emitting a furious light. She suddenly stood up and pounced toward Luo Ying, producing a knife.


    Lu Zhao rushed over and shielded Luo Ying.


    Su Ran¡¯s knife stabbed into Lu Zhao¡¯s arm.


    It was a portable Switzerland Army knife that was emitting a faint silver glow. Blood flowed down from it.


    Su Ran froze in shock..

 Chapter 162 - Chapter 162: The Silly Child

    Chapter 162: The Silly Child


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Su Ran was taken away by the police.


    Luo Ying and Lu Zhao returned to the car. The wound on Lu Zhao¡¯s arm was not deep, but it had bled a lot, dyeing Lu Zhao¡¯s clothes red.


    Luo Ying used the first aid kit in the car to stop Lu Zhao¡¯s bleeding. Her eyes were filled with grief.


    ¡°Does it hurt?¡± She pressed an alcohol cotton pad on Lu Zhao¡¯s wound.


    Lu Zhao reached out and ruffled Luo Ying¡¯s hair. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Better me than you.¡± Luo Ying felt a little guilty. She had caused Lu Zhao to get hurt, over and over again.


    ¡°Don¡¯t take such risks in the future. I¡¯ll fight your battles,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    He regretted not getting rid of Su Ran sooner. Luo Ying had almost been injured.


    Luo Ying was a little sheepish. Lu Zhao had seen her and Su Ran¡¯s confrontation just now.


    ¡°Was I very fierce just now? I¡¯m sorry. I won¡¯t be like this in the future,¡± Luo Ying whispered.


    Lu Zhao had never seen Luo Ying brandishing her fangs and claws like this.


    ¡°It was actually very cute.¡± Lu Zhao said.


    Luo Ying looked at the man¡¯s sincere eyes and felt her cheeks turning red.


    ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± After she bandaged Lu Zhao¡¯s wound, Xiao Ting and the others finally arrived.


    The two of them got into the car and prepared to return to the hotel.


    While sitting in the car, Luo Ying received a call from Cheng Yang.


    ¡°Thank you for this. I didn¡¯t expect it to be settled so soon,¡± Cheng Yang said gratefully.


    ¡°It was my mess. I should clean it up. I didn¡¯t expect so many people to watch the live stream. I thought¡­¡± Luo Ying said.


    ¡°Mr. Lu¡¯s clarification also played a big role,¡± Cheng Yang said.


    What clarification?


    Luo Ying hung up Cheng Yang¡¯s call and opened her social media app.


    The Su Ran incident was popular, but it was not at the top of the list.The relationship between the chairman of Luya Group.


    The first post Luo Ying clicked on was Lu Zhao¡¯s Weibo post.


    There was a picture of her attached to the picture, and the words were simple: My wife.


    The comments section below was filled with fans screaming.


    [I¡¯ve long heard that Luo Ying¡¯s husband is a rich man. I didn¡¯t expect it to be Lu Zhao. He¡¯s a monster.]


    [The person in the photo yesterday was definitely Lu Zhao. Such a lovely couple. You could see how much they adore each other.]


    [I didn¡¯t expect my Prince Charming to be married. However, if it¡¯s a peerless beauty like Luo Ying, I¡¯d wholeheartedly admit defeat.]


    Luo Ying looked at Lu Zhao in surprise.


    This had indeed been the easiest path.


    However, after so many years, their marriage had never been announced.


    Everyone only knew that Luo Ying and Lu Zhao were both married, but they never would have dreamed of pairing them up together.


    This was equivalent to making their relationship public.


    ¡°I wanted to do this long ago. This time, God gave me a chance,¡± Lu Zhao looked at Luo Ying and said.


    Luo Ying nodded. She was touched.


    At that moment, in the Lu Family¡¯s house far away, a white-haired old man was looking at the computer in his hand.


    Lu Zhao had announced his wife¡¯s identity.


    His butler, Chen, stood beside him and looked at him. ¡°Old Master, it seems like the young master has decided to wage all-out war against you.¡±


    Old Master Lu snorted coldly. ¡°It¡¯s just a young man¡¯s whims. He would never choose this woman over his own mother.¡±


    ¡°The doctor said that his illness has acted up again recently.¡± Butler Chen said.


    Old Master Lu frowned.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s manic symptoms had always been a secret. They would act up when he was under a lot of pressure.


    ¡°Monitor him,¡± Old Master Lu said, his turbid eyes revealing a shrewd light.


    ¡°We could also get his sister involved.¡±


    The doctor, Wen Du, had a sister. Wen Yu was also a psychiatrist.


    She was also the granddaughter-in-law that Old Master Lu had originally chosen.


    But for some reason, Lu Zhao had always wanted to marry that small celebrity.


    ¡°He¡¯ll understand later. Those so-called love stories are just fantasies.¡± Old


    Master Lu snorted coldly. ¡°Let him fool around for now. One day, he will come to regret it..¡±

 Chapter 163 - Chapter 163: Later Than Secret

    Chapter 163: Later Than Secret


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lu Zhao was wounded, but the scandal was resolved. The filming was suspended for a period of time.


    Cheng Yang gave everyone a day off.


    Luo Ying originally wanted to have fun with Lu Zhao in Prague for a while.


    However, there seemed to be an emergency at Luya Group. Lu Zhao returned home and booked a flight for Luo Ying in a few days.


    After getting caught in the open by the paparazzi, Luo Ying had been very careful and rarely went out during the day.


    She had held it in for too long today. She finally decided to go out for a drink with her third brother and Director Cheng Yang.


    She and Cheng Yang were meeting at a small tavern.


    Luo Ying found some light sportswear, put on a baseball cap and sunglasses, and walked out of the hotel.


    The pub was only two turns away from the hotel, and they arrived in less than ten minutes.


    When she reached the second alley, Luo Ying suddenly sensed that something was wrong. This alley was very quiet. The light from the pale yellow streetlamps revealed the cobbled road before them, and everything looked normal.


    However, she still heard faint cries and took in the faint scent of blood.


    She walked towards the source of the sound, and the wailing grew louder and louder. It was a girl, and she seemed to be speaking Luo Ying¡¯s mother tongue.


    ¡°Help, save me!¡±


    She looked at the corner of the alley. There were two burly local men there. They were wearing singlets and had huge muscles.


    The two of them had tattoos on their backs and looked very scary. Luo Ying assumed that they were local mobsters.


    The two of them approached the girl with a sinister smile and even said some foul words.


    ¡°Such a beauty. I got the jackpot today.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, why is such a sweet girl walking alone at night?¡±


    Luo Ying was startled. An event from the original novel appeared in her mind.


    In the original book, Sirius¡¯ ex-girlfriend, Su Su, was defiled here.


    Luo Ying took a good look at the two big men.


    It was impossible to fight them, but she may be able to catch them by surprise.


    Luo Ying found a brick. She weighed it in her hand. It should be enough to knock a grown man out.


    She hid at the entrance of the alley and threw the brick in her hand.


    She had been forced by her third brother to learn how to throw javelins for a period of time, so she was quite accurate.


    The two burly men were so focused on dealing with the woman in front of them that they did not notice the brick flying toward their heads.


    The brick hit one of the brawny men on the head.


    The burly man staggered about and collapsed.


    The other man stood up in horror. He looked around, trying to find their attacker.


    He carefully walked to the entrance of the alley and looked left and right. There was no one at the entrance of the alley.


    He turned his head suspiciously, and a brick smashed down on his face. In an instant, blood flowed out.


    The burly man covered his eyes and roared. He swung wildly with his other hand.


    Luo Ying had not even waited for him to retaliate. She had already scurried out of reach. She pulled the girl, who was trembling in fear, and ran outside.


    ¡°Run!¡±


    Su Su didn¡¯t know who the person in front of her was, but she knew that she had just been saved by this person. She tightly grabbed Luo Ying¡¯s hand.


    The burly man stumbled after them. His loud footsteps terrified the ladies.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. Come with me,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Su Su looked at the girl in front of her, who was wearing a baseball cap.


    Although she looked to be about the same age as her, she had an extraordinary presence.


    From the way she had attacked those men, she definitely knew how to take care of herself.


    The two of them ran through a few alleys and stopped when they reached a crowded area.


    The burly man gave up chasing them.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Su Su looked at Luo Ying and said gratefully.


    Her clothes were torn, and her exposed skin was bruised. Some of her old scars were revealed.


    This person should be Sirius¡¯ ex-girlfriend, Su Su.


    Luo Ying stared at the scars with some heartache. This girl was about the same age as her, but she had experienced so much misfortune.


    ¡°I¡¯ll head back home first,¡± Su Su said.


    ¡°Wait a minute. Come with me to my place. I¡¯ll help you apply some medicine,¡± Luo Ying said..

 Chapter 164 - Chapter 164: Su Su

    Chapter 164: Su Su


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    When Luo Ying took out the first aid kit to apply some medicine on Su Su, she realized that her body was riddled with dozens of scars of various sizes, including those inflicted by knives and bullets.


    Su Su sheepishly looked at Luo Ying. She was a little embarrassed.


    ¡°I was caught up in the wrong crowd if that explains all these wounds.¡± Luo Ying sighed and asked her, ¡°Are you from Lan City? You have a Lan City accent. ¡±


    Su Su nodded. Her eyes were filled with sorrow. ¡°Yes, but I can¡¯t go back.¡±


    She smiled bitterly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see Sirius?¡± Luo Ying looked into Su Su¡¯s eyes.


    Su Su¡¯s eyes widened as she looked at Luo Ying in disbelief. The name that she had buried deep in her heart was mentioned by a strange woman in front of her. She had not expected to hear it again in her lifetime. ¡°How did you know?¡± Su Su carefully studied Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying took off her baseball cap and sunglasses.


    ¡°Luo Ying?¡± Su Su knew that Sirius and Lu Zhao were good friends, and she also knew about Luo Ying and Lu Zhao¡¯s marriage. However, she did not expect to be saved by Luo Ying in a foreign land.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Luo Ying nodded.


    Su Su grabbed Luo Ying¡¯s hand and pleaded softly, ¡°Please, don¡¯t tell Sirius about this!¡±


    Luo Ying looked at Su Su with heartache in her eyes. ¡°What have you gotten vourself into?¡±


    In the original novel, Su Su¡¯s subplot only stated that she left Lan City because her family went bankrupt and came here. When she was mentioned again, she was already dead.


    ¡°It¡¯s not easy to survive alone. My father¡¯s former enemies are also seeking revenge, so I¡¯ve been in constant hiding.¡± Su Su¡¯s eyes were filled with sorrow.


    The Su Family was originally a wealthy family in Lan City. She was also a pampered young lady. If not for the turmoil in her family, she would not have taken the risk of getting close to Sirius.


    Unfortunately, her plan had failed. Sirius was not so easily blinded by love.


    Therefore, she gave up and told Sirius that he was simply a substitute for another man before leaving.


    Such hurtful words had remained as an agonizing thorn in her heart.


    ¡°I know. I¡¯m sorry, but I was too young at that time. For the sake of the Su Family, I could only do this.¡± Su Su lowered her eyes.


    ¡°You still love Sirius, don¡¯t you?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    Su Su¡¯s eyes darkened.


    Someone like her did not have the luxury of love.


    ¡°As long as I survive, that¡¯s all that matters. I don¡¯t have time to think of love.¡± Su Su¡¯s eyes dimmed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be found by Sirius. Besides, if I return to Lan City now, I won¡¯t survive.¡± Su Su grabbed Luo Ying¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°I¡¯m begging you. I really miss Sirius, but I don¡¯t want to go back and pull at his heartstrings again.¡±


    Her eyes were filled with tears, and her eyes were pleading.


    Luo Ying¡¯s heart ached when she saw Su Su like this.


    This girl had come here alone since she was in her twenties. She had no relatives, and her father¡¯s enemies were out for her blood. It had not been easy for her all these years.


    ¡°I can keep your whereabouts from Sirius, but you have to accept my help,¡± Luo Ying looked at Su Su and said.


    In the original novel, Su Su had died in Prague. When news of her death spread back to the country, Sirius did not seem to react much to it. However, not long after, Sirius began to work together with Lu Zhao.


    The two of them cut through the thorns and stood on the high ground of Lan


    City.


    However, the woman he had been longing for would never come back.


    ¡°You can stay with me for now. I¡¯ll get my brother to help you find a new place to live in,¡± Luo Ying said to Su Su.


    After taking care of Su Su, Luo Ying walked to the rooftop alone and sorted out her chaotic thoughts.


    Sirius had never liked Lu Zhao dating her, so she could perhaps use Su Su to work her way around his heart.


    Luo Ying turned on her phone and dialed Lu Zhao¡¯s number. She wanted to tell Lu Zhao about Su Su.


    The phone rang a few times before it suddenly cut off..

 Chapter 165 - Chapter 165: Returning Home

    Chapter 165: Returning Home


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying looked at the disconnected call in surprise. Lu Zhao had always picked up her calls. Why would he suddenly hang up today?


    When she called again, Lu Zhao¡¯s line was already engaged.


    Just as Luo Ying was about to send a text message to Lu Zhao, Jin Shi called.


    Luo Ying suddenly remembered that she was supposed to meet up with Jin Shi and Cheng Yang for a drinking session.


    She quickly went downstairs to look for Jin Shi.


    Somewhere else, Lu Zhao was in a room. The floor of the room was filled littered with glass fragments.


    Wen Du was standing at the door with a woman. Both of them had grave expressions.


    Sirius hurried over and asked Wen Du, ¡°What¡¯s the situation now?¡±


    Wen Du shook his head. ¡°He has remained calm for a while now. The symptoms this time are very serious. I can only sedate him heavily for now.¡±


    Sirius nodded. ¡°What happened to him overseas? He hasn¡¯t told you anything?¡± Wen Du shook his head.


    ¡°What could have happened? It¡¯s all because of that woman. She¡¯s a black widow.¡± Sirius sneered.


    He had just seen the entertainment news. Luo Ying and Su Ran¡¯s matter had caused a stir. Coincidentally, Lu Zhao had been overseas for a few days. It was obvious that Lu Zhao¡¯s illness this time had been caused by Luo Ying.


    ¡°Do you have any suggestions?¡± Sirius asked.


    Wen Du sighed. ¡± It¡¯s hard to find a substitute for love. However, we can think of a way to separate the two of them and let Lu Zhao meet someone new. This should be able to alleviate Lu Zhao¡¯s symptoms.


    Sirius nodded. His gaze landed on the woman beside Wen Du.


    The woman¡¯s eyebrows were very similar to Wen Du¡¯s, and she looked gentle and benevolent.


    ¡°If only Wen Yu could marry Lu Zhao.¡± Sirius sighed.


    He had previously heard from the elders of the Chi Family that the old master¡¯s favorite granddaughter-in-law had always been Wen Yu. Because Lu Zhao insisted on it, he had ended up with Luo Ying.


    If Luo Ying had agreed to divorce Lu Zhao back then, Wen Yu would probably be by Lu Zhao¡¯s side now.


    ¡°So, did Luo Ying suddenly change her mind?¡± Wen Yu frowned and asked.


    The story of Luo Ying pestering Lin Su was very famous in their circle. Why would she suddenly pursue Lu Zhao?


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why either, but that woman told me last time that she really likes Lu Zhao and wants to be with him,¡± Sirius said.


    He had always found it strange. He had tried to trip Luo Ying up last time, but it only seemed to improve the relationship between the two of them.


    ¡°Looks like I have to think of another way. The old man said that Lu Zhao must divorce Luo Ying,¡± said Wen Du.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s voice rang out in the room. He seemed to have just broken another bottle.


    The sound of broken pieces echoed in the corridor.


    ¡°This can¡¯t go on. I¡¯ll call Luo Ying back and have a good talk with her.¡± Sirius looked at the tightly shut door and frowned.


    He didn¡¯t believe that this woman was that magical. He was sure he could break her spell.


    Three days later, Luo Ying returned home.


    As soon as the car reached the entrance of the villa, Luo Ying rushed out of the car and rushed into the villa.


    She quickly climbed the stairs. She wanted to reach Lu Zhao¡¯s side as soon as possible.


    Lu Zhao was currently in the small attic on the top floor.


    Luo Ying also knew about that small attic. It was the room that Lu Zhao had prepared for her mother.


    When she walked to the door, Luo Ying saw Sirius, Wen Du and Wen Yu. Sirius had a dark expression.


    ¡°Why? Weren¡¯t you enjoying yourself overseas? All this while, your husband was suffering here. He was locked up in his own house like a prisoner, did you know that?¡± Sirius smiled coldly.


    ¡°Let me in first.¡± Luo Ying did not understand why Sirius was saying these words.


    ¡°Ms. Luo, please wait for a while. Mr. Lu just took his medicine and fell asleep. If you go in now, you might disturb his rest,¡± Wen Yu said gently.


    She was also sizing Luo Ying up.


    Unlike the gentle and generous Wen Yu, Luo Ying¡¯s appearance was bright and beautiful, like the dazzling afternoon sun. Wen Yu looked at the woman¡¯s beautiful face. She was certain it was her imagination, but her eyes were stinging.


    So, this was the girl Lu Zhao liked. It was no wonder Lu Zhao never once gave her a chance.


    ¡°And you are?¡± Luo Ying looked at Wen Yu in confusion.


    ¡°I¡¯m Wen Du¡¯s younger sister, Wen Yu. I¡¯m also a psychiatrist. I¡¯ve been in charge of treating Lu Zhao..¡±

 Chapter 166 - Chapter 166: Cure

    Chapter 166: Cure


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°What happened to Lu Zhao?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°After Mr. Lu returned to the country, he received a call from Old Master Lu. By the end of the conversation, he turned out like this,¡± Wen Du said.


    Old Master Lu. Luo Ying lowered her eyes and pondered. There were very few scenes depicting Old Master Lu in the original novel, but she knew that Old Master Lu did not like the original Luo Ying.


    When the original Luo Ying died, Old Master Lu only muttered some lines about how she deserved it.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s condition was also inextricably related to Old Master Lu.


    ¡°He must have said something to Lu Zhao,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Sirius laughed scornfully. ¡°Luo Ying, what right do you have to say such things?¡±


    He sized Luo Ying up. ¡°You had a vacation overseas while Lu Zhao suffered alone here. Now, you return here, acting like you¡¯re some sort of saintess?¡±


    ¡°I know you¡¯re a good actress, but I hope you can bear the pain my friend has suffered.¡± Sirius¡¯ words were cold.


    Luo Ying could not understand why Sirius would be so hostile toward her.


    ¡°Alright, Sirius, leave Ms. Lu alone.¡± Wen Yu interrupted Chi Yu.


    ¡°Ms. Luo, Mr. Lu¡¯s emotions are very unstable now. I hope you don¡¯t go in just yet,¡± Wen Yu said.


    Whenever Lu Zhao went crazy, the surrounding people would not dare to approach him. They risked injury if they got too close to the fire.


    Previously, whenever his illness acted up, Wen Du and Sirius were able to care for him. This time, Lu Zhao seemed adamant on keeping everyone else away from him.


    She had wanted to go in and talk to him a few days ago, but she was chased out.


    ¡°So, what did Old Master Lu and Lu Zhao say?¡± Luo Ying frowned and asked her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what they said, but it must be related to you,¡± Sirius replied.


    Old Master Lu had never approved of Lu Zhao and Luo Ying¡¯s marriage. He had even threatened Lu Zhao about it before.


    This time, Old Master Lu probably lost his temper because Lu Zhao had announced his relationship with Luo Ying online.


    He might have said something to trigger Lu Zhao¡¯s condition.


    It might have even involved Lu Zhao¡¯s mother.


    ¡°Luo Ying, I hope that you take a closer look at the definition of what a wife is.


    A wife should be helping her husband, supporting him, and taking care of him. Yet, here I see you treating him like some toy.¡± Sirius¡¯ eyes narrowed in suspicion.


    He had long convinced himself that Luo Ying had changed her mind because she saw the value in Lu Zhao.


    Lu Zhao was rich and loved her. If she wanted the stars in the sky, he could pluck them for her.


    Being together with Lu Zhao was not a bad thing for Luo Ying.


    ¡°If you are using Lu Zhao, I¡¯ll come for your throat, ¡± Sirius said.


    Luo Ying was confused.


    She had rushed back from her vacation to see Lu Zhao. She did not come here to argue with Sirius about such nonsense.


    She looked at Wen Yu. ¡°If none of you can enter, let me try.¡±


    She gently placed her hand on the door handle. The door was unlocked, and she easily pushed it open.


    It was dark inside. The light from the corridor fell to the floor, and the glass fragments on the floor glittered in the light. At the opposite end of the glass fragments, Lu Zhao was sleeping soundly.


    Luo Ying closed the door and sat by Lu Zhao¡¯s bed in the dark.


    Suddenly, her wrist was grabbed by the man, and then her entire body fell into a scorching hot arm.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, Lu Zhao, are you awake?¡±


    Lu Zhao didn¡¯t kiss the back of her neck like he usually did. Instead, he obediently pulled her into his arms and said softly in his sleep, ¡°Please don¡¯t leave. Don¡¯t leave me behind.¡±


    His voice was laced with tears and sounded very fragile.


    Luo Ying¡¯s heart was torn apart by Lu Zhao¡¯s words.


    In the original novel, Lu Zhao¡¯s mother had left Lu Zhao a long time ago, and Lu Zhao had been searching for her all this time.


    She wondered if Old Master Lu had a part to play in his mother¡¯s disappearance.


    Luo Ying turned around in Lu Zhao¡¯s arms and reached out to press the man¡¯s head into her arms. She reached out and gently stroked his hair.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s hair was surprisingly soft. It did not match his personality.


    ¡°Sleep, sleep. I won¡¯t leave you. You have to get better quickly, Lu Zhao,¡± Luo Ying said softly..

 Chapter 167 - Chapter 167: Nightmare

    Chapter 167: Nightmare


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lu Zhao had been trapped in a pitch-black nightmare for years.


    In the darkness, the woman pulled the young him into her arms. The surrounding darkness was filled with demons and monsters.


    They opened their terrifying eyes and mouths as if they wanted to devour him and his mother.


    His mother was a very ordinary girl, but she fell in love with his father and did not hesitate to become his father¡¯s mistress.


    He had always wanted to ask his mother: Why? What kind of love made her breach her morals, time and time again, until she was beyond any help?


    In the dream, their family once had a happy moment.


    His father would suddenly show up with gifts.


    During major festivals, his father would never come to visit them. In the past, Lu Zhao thought that his father had some unforeseen circumstances. Later, he found out that on those days of family reunions, his father was laughing and enjoying himself with another family¡ªhis other family.


    However, his mother could only live a lonely life with him in a small rented house.


    Later, his mother left him, and his father brought him into that hellish home.


    There was no kinship in that family, only endless schemes.


    His father had many illegitimate children. If he did not crawl to the top with his capabilities, he would not be able to escape the fate of being abandoned.


    In the dream, all the demons and monsters attacked him. Endless pain and agony wracked his body. There was nothing he could do to escape it.


    When he finally woke up from the pain, he realized that someone was hugging him and gently patting his back.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, Lu Zhao. Don¡¯t be sad.¡±


    For a moment, he remained in a daze. It was as if he had returned to the day when he was separated from his mother.


    His mother would also hug him gently and whisper to him, ¡°Lu Zhao, don¡¯t be sad.¡±


    He reached out and hugged the person in front of him, burying his head in her neck.


    ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s voice was nasal.


    ¡°Yes, I didn¡¯t get through to you. They told me you were sick, so I came back to see you,¡± Luo Ying said.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for scaring you,¡± Lu Zhao said. He thought of the bottles that he had smashed on the ground and felt a little guilty. He should not have let Luo Ying see him in such a sorry state.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. What happened? Did Grandpa say something again?¡± Luo Ying asked softly.


    She wanted to know what the old fox had done to make Lu Zhao like this.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes turned dark.


    The old man had sent him a photo a few days ago. The background of the photo was a dirty room. Everything in it was dirty.


    His mother lay curled up in a corner like an abandoned toy.


    His grandfather had told him, ¡°Your mother suffered because of you. Think about it carefully. Are you going to give up on your ridiculous love?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Lu Zhao buried his head in Luo Ying¡¯s arms.


    He would not tell Luo Ying about this. Luo Ying had nothing to do with what happened to his mother.


    If it weren¡¯t for the old master making things difficult for him, things wouldn¡¯t have turned out like this.


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re fine. How many days have you been here?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°Not much, just three days,¡± Lu Zhao replied.


    ¡°Then you have to take a shower, or you¡¯ll stink,¡± Luo Ying said unhappily.


    She didn¡¯t ask Lu Zhao about Old Master Lu. She knew that Old Master Lu didn¡¯t want Lu Zhao to be with her. He must have said something bad.


    Lu Zhao would not tell her either.


    She would have to investigate this matter on her own.


    ¡°There¡¯s a charity dinner tomorrow. You have to accompany me there,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    This charity banquet was not simple. All the upper-class folk in the city would participate.


    Lu Zhao probably intended to remind everyone of their relationship. Of course, Old Master Lu would be one of his targets.


    Lu Zhao was not someone who would surrender easily. Old Master Lu had used his mother to threaten him into leaving Luo Ying. He was going to fight to the end.


    He wanted everyone to know how much he cared about Luo Ying.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have a good rest today and prepare for it, shall we?¡± Luo Ying said.


    Lu Zhao nodded and slowly got up. He princess-carried Luo Ying and walked out of the room.


    Outside the room, Sirius and Wen Yu felt their jaws hitting the floor in surprise..

 Chapter 168 - Chapter 168: Conversation

    Chapter 168: Conversation


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Sirius had not expected Luo Ying to possess such a magical touch.


    He narrowed his eyes and sized up Luo Ying, who was curled up in Lu Zhao¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, you have not fully recovered. You must take care of yourself,¡± Sirius said.


    ¡°Yeah, if you feel better, do you want me to do a checkup?¡± Wen Yu asked with a smile.


    Lu Zhao stared coldly at his good friend and Wen Yu. ¡°There¡¯s no need to trouble yourselves. I¡¯m already fine now. You guys can leave first.¡±


    After Lu Zhao finished speaking, he carried Luo Ying and left. He left the two of them standing there in a daze.


    Wen Yu mournfully looked at the back of Lu Zhao cradling Luo Ying.


    ¡°Mr. Sirius, I think Lu Zhao truly loves Luo Ying. Maybe you shouldn¡¯t break them up,¡± Wen Yu said in a daze.


    She had been told by her parents since she was young that she would marry Lu Zhao in the future.


    However, Lu Zhao had always been curtly cold to her. Even after she and her brother treated Lu Zhao¡¯s illness, Lu Zhao never showed any feelings for her that went beyond friendship.


    Today, she had seen Lu Zhao¡¯s expression of true love for someone else. He was filled with domineering possessiveness. Even if others glanced at Luo Ying, he would get jealous.


    She probably should have realized long ago that Lu Zhao would not marry her because of the so-called family agreement.


    ¡°That woman has some voodoo shit going on with her.¡± Sirius sighed deeply when he saw his good friend¡¯s infatuated expression.


    ¡°That¡¯s not the makings of a spell. Mr. Lu truly loves her. Mr. Sirius, I¡¯m a psychologist. I know what I¡¯m looking at. We can¡¯t force this,¡± said Wen Yu.


    ¡°Sigh, I know what blind love is. Even so, we¡¯re talking about Luo Ying. Luo Ying is a vicious woman. Wen Yu, is there really no other way?¡± Sirius asked anxiously.


    Wen Yu shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good decision to break them up now. Mr. Sirius, you should try to understand Mr. Lu.¡±


    Sirius lowered his head.


    He had once been hurt by love, so he knew how badly this could turn out. He was afraid that his good friend would also suffer such pain.


    Wen Yu adjusted her clothes. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry too much about them.


    Perhaps you also need some psychological treatment.¡±


    After Wen Yu finished speaking, she nodded slightly and left the corridor.


    Wen Yu¡¯s words echoed in Sirius¡¯ ears.


    Yes. Ever since that woman left, he had not come out of the gloomy nightmare ever since.


    Luo Ying took good care of Lu Zhao and sent him to the bathroom before leaving the room.


    Today, she had one more thing to do.


    When she walked into the living room, she saw Sirius, who had been waiting there for a long time.


    ¡°Sirius, are you still not leaving?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°I want to stay here and guard my friend.¡± Chi Yu sized Luo Ying up. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you accompanying Lu Zhao? Why did you come down?¡±


    ¡°You should know what Old Master Lu said, right? Was it about Lu Zhao¡¯s mother and me?¡± Luo Ying asked tentatively.


    Sirius looked up at her again. His flustered expression gave Luo Ying the answer.


    This woman was really smart.


    ¡°I might as well tell you this. I promised Lu Zhao that I wouldn¡¯t tell you about this, so don¡¯t think about finding out anything from me,¡± Sirius said.


    ¡°What if I have a secret to trade with you? I know Su Su¡¯s whereabouts,¡± Luo Ying said softly.


    Sirius almost jumped up from his chair.


    ¡°How did you know about Su Su? Did you investigate me?¡± Sirius reached out and grabbed the fruit knife on the coffee table. ¡°You¡¯re not going to use Su Su to threaten me, are you?¡±


    This woman was far more dangerous than he expected. She knew that he did not approve of her being together with Lu Zhao. She was going to use Su Su to threaten him.


    ¡°Well, I won¡¯t tell you. I promised Su Su,¡± Luo Ying said slowly.


    ¡°So what if you don¡¯t tell me? She doesn¡¯t love me. Even if you tell me, that changes nothing.¡± Sirius slowly calmed himself down.


    Memories of his pain and suffering resurfaced in his mind. He must not think of that woman again.


    Because of that woman, he had already sealed his heart. Just because of her sudden reappearance, he was not going to yield so easily..

 Chapter 169 - Chapter 169: Bringing Her Out

    Chapter 169: Bringing Her Out


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°What if she does love you?¡± Luo Ying tilted her head and looked at Sirius.


    ¡°What about it? I don¡¯t love her anymore.¡± Sirius turned his head away. His slightly moist eyes betrayed him.


    ¡°Try telling yourself that, not me. If you interfere with the relationship between me and Lu Zhao, I won¡¯t let you off,¡± Luo Ying said coldly.


    ¡°You chased after Lin Su like that before. I don¡¯t believe that any human could turn a one-eighty and fall in love with another man out of the blue. You¡¯re only good to Lu Zhao because of Lu Zhao¡¯s identity, right?¡± Sirius coldly sized up Luo Ying¡¯s expression, wanting to see the expression of someone who had been exposed.


    However, to his disappointment, Luo Ying did not look flustered at all. Her eyes were clear. It anything, there seemed to be a trace of disdain for him.


    ¡°Of course not. I don¡¯t need Lu Zhao to provide me with any resources. I really like Lu Zhao,¡± Luo Ying said lightly.


    For some reason, Sirius believed her.


    Ever since she jumped off the building, this woman seemed to have changed into a different person. Now, he could almost believe that she liked Lu Zhao.


    As his gaze wavered, Luo Ying slowly said, ¡°Su Su is currently overseas. She¡¯s not doing well. But don¡¯t worry, I will help her. But you must know that she does love you. She had to make some hard choices.¡±


    ¡®How ridiculous. It sounded like a convenient excuse.¡¯


    At the thought of this, Sirius laughed coldly. ¡°Stop trying to act all saintly. I don¡¯t care how she¡¯s doing. She discarded me like a toy.¡±


    Sirius had a dangerous glint in his eyes.


    That woman had suddenly barged into his life and practically tripped over herself chasing him. All the time, she had said that she would always love him.


    For her sake, he defied his parents and even dealt with the person who had betrayed her. In the end, this was what she said.


    The person they had been dealing with was the one she really liked. He was just a substitute.


    ¡°Do you truly believe that?¡± Luo Ying asked. ¡°She had said those words to protect you and her family. Now, she¡¯s bearing all the danger upon her very own shoulders.¡±


    ¡°I saved her. Look at what I got in return? She betrayed me and ran off somewhere. Do you think I¡¯ll forgive her?¡± Sirius said with a smile.


    ¡°Save your strength, Luo Ying. You can pull out more of your cards, but it won¡¯t change my mind.¡± Sirius believed that Luo Ying was just trying to use Su Su against him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll never agree with you being with Lu Zhao. I know what kind of person my friend is.¡± Sirius stood up and prepared to leave.


    ¡°I won¡¯t watch Lu Zhao continue like this. I want to save him,¡± Luo Ying said.


    ¡°If you want to save him, then leave him,¡± Sirius laughed. This woman was truly overestimating herself. She was delusional to think that she could save him by herself.


    ¡°Fine, I might as well tell you. Do you know why Lu Zhao went crazy? That old man had said that if he doesn¡¯t ditch you, he won¡¯t tell Lu Zhao about his mother¡¯s whereabouts. So, if you really love Lu Zhao, you must find the resolve to let go of Lu Zhao. Do you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes widened.


    Old Master Lu actually hated her so much that he even used Lu Zhao¡¯s mother to force Lu Zhao to divorce her.


    She was visibly shocked. That was why Lu Zhao had been struggling so much. He had hugged her and told her not to leave because of this.


    Sirius was surprised to see her reaction. ¡°You know how important Lu Zhao¡¯s mother is to Lu Zhao. For you, he defied the old man and tried to find his mother¡¯s whereabouts himself.¡¯


    ¡°Luo Ying, you¡¯re truly heartless. Do you know that Lu Zhao didn¡¯t even let us tell you about this? He was keeping all this to himself.¡±


    Luo Ying found it incredulous. Why didn¡¯t Lu Zhao tell her that he was facing such a battle alone?


    She leaned against the wall and gently pressed her temples.


    He would rather be trapped in a whirlpool of emotions than tell her about this..

 Chapter 170 - Chapter 170: Settlement

    Chapter 170: Settlement


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying remembered Lu Zhao¡¯s journey in the original novel.


    At that time, he had worked with superhuman effort to find his mother. His mother had left him when he was very young.


    Luo Ying lowered her head and stared at the ground, holding back her tears.


    Lu Zhao had gone to war with his grandfather for her. It was going to be even more difficult for him to find his mother.


    Sirius noticed Luo Ying¡¯s expression and felt a little guilty.


    This woman was not as heartless as he had imagined.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I hated you so much before, Luo Ying.¡± Sirius¡¯ eyes fell on Luo Ying. ¡°I was once trapped by love and paid dearly for this, so I hope my brother won¡¯t experience this.¡±


    Sirius¡¯ words pierced Luo Ying¡¯s heart like a knife.


    She could not imagine what Lu Zhao had gone through.


    ¡°I understand.¡± Luo Ying took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯ll handle this matter. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t drag Lu Zhao down.¡±


    When Sirius saw Luo Ying¡¯s determined expression, his next words did not leave the tip of his tongue.


    Luo Ying had indeed changed a lot. After the jumped off the building, she had transformed into a different person. Her feelings for Lu Zhao were not as insincere as he had imagined.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Chi Yu nodded.


    For some reason, he had a feeling that Luo Ying might save his brother or help him.


    ¡°Oh, right. There¡¯s one more thing.¡± Sirius hesitated.


    ¡°What is it?¡± asked Luo Ying.


    Sirius thought about it and shook his head. He wanted to say something but hesitated.


    ¡°I understand.¡± Luo Ying caught on.


    He still cared about Su Su. Although it had been so long, Su Su still took a place in his heart. A part of him would still be worried about her.


    ¡°Su Su is fine, don¡¯t worry. She already has a roof over her head,¡± Luo Ying said. ¡°She¡¯s safe now.¡±


    Sirius nodded, sighed, and said softly, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Sirius may no longer be actively trying to ruin her relationship with Lu Zhao.


    However, Old Master Lu was even more troublesome than Sirius.


    In the original novel, Luo Ying had died in the early chapters. Old Master Lu did not make things difficult for Lu Zhao for her sake.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s mother¡¯s whereabouts were also briefly mentioned.


    Although Luo Ying had some guesses, she could not connect the dots just yet. She rubbed her aching eyebrows.


    ¡°I¡¯ll think of a way to deal with Lu Zhao¡¯s mother. But I might need your help,¡± said Luo Ying.


    She looked at Sirius.


    Sirius nodded. He wanted to choose to believe Luo Ying.


    The two of them chatted about Lu Zhao¡¯s mother for a while more before he left.


    Luo Ying walked back to the bedroom.


    Lu Zhao was lying on the bed, sleeping soundly.


    After the illness acted up, Lu Zhao was like a wounded puppy. He had exhausted his strength and needed to find a warm place to sleep.


    Luo Ying reached out and gently stroked his forehead. She had to think of a way to help Lu Zhao find his mother.


    Suddenly, Lu Zhao opened his eyes and reached out to grab Luo Ying¡¯s hand. His eyes were filled with fatigue, but he still looked at Luo Ying gently.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    Lu Zhao nodded and placed his face on Luo Ying¡¯s palm, like a puppy looking for warmth.


    ¡°In the future, if you ever face troubles, don¡¯t fight them by yourself, do you understand?¡± Luo Ying said gently.


    Lu Zhao opened his eyes and stared at her. ¡°Sirius told you?¡±


    Luo Ying nodded. ¡°Do not hold it against him for that.¡±


    Luo Ying slowly lay down, wrapped her arms around Lu Zhao¡¯s waist, and buried her head in his embrace. ¡°You should have told me about this. The two of us can think of a solution together. It¡¯s better than you keeping it to yourself.¡±


    Lu Zhao caressed her hair. ¡°You didn¡¯t need to know. This is my business. I don¡¯t need you to share it.¡±


    Luo Ying reproachfully patted Lu Zhao. ¡°How can you say that? If I¡¯m the reason you can¡¯t reunite with your mother, that would weigh heavily on me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡± Lu Zhao shook his head.


    How could he blame Luo Ying? She was the love of his life.


    Old Master Lu was the culprit. For some reason, he had gone all out to split the two of them apart.


    Luo Ying hugged him even tighter.


    ¡°Trust me. I will definitely help you find your mother,¡± Luo Ying said, ¡°Why don¡¯t we fake a divorce? That way, we can deceive Grandpa.¡±


    Lu Zhao shook his head and smiled. Why was his Luo Ying so silly?


    ¡°Do you think he would buy that? He has even more resources than I do..¡±

 Chapter 171 - Chapter 171: Confession

    Chapter 171: Confession


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying sighed. ¡°There has to be a way.¡±


    Lu Zhao nodded and buried his face in Luo Ying¡¯s hair. He gently took in the sweet scent on her body.


    He could not explain it either. When he hugged Luo Ying, he felt an unprecedented sense of security.


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave me in the future. Don¡¯t take on these burdens alone,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Lu Zhao nodded. The air quieted down.


    Luo Ying suddenly thought of something. ¡°Wiat a minute. What¡¯s your relationship with Wen Yu?¡±


    Lu Zhao raised his head and met Luo Ying¡¯s reproachful gaze.


    He liked it when she was jealous.


    ¡°She¡¯s Wen Du¡¯s younger sister. We grew up together.¡± Lu Zhao deliberately said something that would make Luo Ying jealous. ¡°Grandfather hopes I can get married to her.¡±


    Luo Ying turned away from him. ¡°Oh, no wonder. Sirius seemed hellbent on pairing the two of you together.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Sirius has always hoped that we can be together. She can also be in charge of my treatment.¡± As Lu Zhao spoke, he looked at Luo Ying with a smile on his face.


    Luo Ying reached out and gently pushed Lu Zhao. ¡°Then you can divorce me and marry her.¡±


    Lu Zhao smiled. He visibly eased up.


    ¡°I have no feelings for her. I only like one person now. The current Luo Ying, the Luo Ying in front of me,¡± said Lu Zhao.


    Luo Ying turned her head and met his serious gaze.


    She had always been afraid that Lu Zhao had only liked the original Luo Ying.


    However, Lu Zhao¡¯s words deeply touched her heartstrings.


    ¡°I know,¡± Luo Ying lowered her head and said.


    ¡°So don¡¯t leave me.¡± Lu Zhao hugged Luo Ying in his arms.


    The sky outside had already darkened, and the two of them fell asleep.


    On the other side of the city, in the Lu Family¡¯s old residence, Old Master Lu was smoking and looking at the news on the computer in front of him.


    Wen Du and Wen Yu stood by his side. They were silent.


    The news on the computer informed him of Luo Ying¡¯s secret return today.


    ¡°How¡¯s that kid¡¯s illness?¡± Old Master Lu asked slowly.


    ¡°It¡¯s still the same. It¡¯s probably because of the condition you mentioned before,¡± Wen Yu replied.


    A scheming glint flashed across Old Master Lu¡¯s eyes. ¡°He still doesn¡¯t intend to give in? Is that woman that charming?¡±


    ¡°Ms. Luo Ying¡¯s charm is boundless. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t compare to her,¡± Wen Yu said with some difficulty.


    The air fell silent.


    Wen Du raised his head and looked at the old man. The old man¡¯s hand was stroking the edge of the ashtray.


    In the next second, the ashtray was thrown at Wen Yu.


    Wen Du dove in front of Wen Yu. The ashtray brushed past the siblings¡¯ bodies and shattered into pieces on the wall behind them.


    ¡°Trash,¡± Old Master Lu said.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t raise the two of you to tell me you can¡¯t beat the opposition.¡± Old Master Lu snorted. He picked up the teacup from the coffee table and took a sip.


    He had controlled the Lu Family for many years. When the Wen Family was in shambles, he took in Wen Yu and Wen Du, the siblings, to nurture them. Then, he placed them by Lu Zhao¡¯s side.


    In order to do this, he had spent a lot of effort, but he did not expect these two people to be so disappointing.


    ¡°I think you should know very well how the Wen Family managed to remain in Lan City.¡± Old Master Lu¡¯s stern gaze landed on Wen Yu¡¯s face.


    ¡°Think of a way. I don¡¯t care if you have to seek out the enemies of the enemy. Isn¡¯t that right, Wen Yu?¡±


    Wen Yu¡¯s eyes widened. She had never thought of using such a method to deal with Luo Ying¡¯s enemy.


    ¡°Thank you, Old Master. I understand.¡± Wen Yu lowered her head. A faint tinge of viciousness was hidden in her eyes.


    ¡°And you, Wen Du, continue to monitor Lu Zhao for the next few days. You have to report to me regularly,¡± Old Master Lu instructed him.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Wen Du nodded.


    ¡°Also, help me keep an eye on the matter with the Hedes Group, understand?¡± Old Master Lu put down his teacup and smiled coldly. ¡°Lu Zhao is still trying to escape from my grasp. He¡¯s still far too green.¡±


    It was late at night, and the Lu Family manor was quiet.


    Wen Du and Wen Yu walked out of the villa and got into the car.


    Wen Du wanted to say something, but his sister¡¯s gloomy face silenced him.


    ¡°Brother, I think it¡¯s time for us to start our original plan,¡± she said softly. Wen Du remained in silent contemplation for a long time before he nodded..

 Chapter 172 - Chapter 172: Playing Tricks

    Chapter 172: Playing Tricks


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    A phone call woke Luo Ying up. The person on the other end sounded very nervous.


    ¡°Ms. Luo, something bad has happened. Can you come to the company now? Liao Hong and Luo Wan are here now.¡± It was Yao Xi, the vice president of the Luo Group.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Luo Ying frowned and asked.


    ¡°Madam Liao and Second Miss have ruthlessly attacked while the chairman was undergoing surgery. Come quickly. You¡¯re the only one who can save the company now.¡± Yao Xi was very anxious. Her words made Luo Ying frown.


    She had only been out to film for a few days. Why was the company in such a mess?


    She quickly put on her clothes and prepared to get out of bed.


    Her movements woke Lu Zhao up. He reached out and grabbed her wrist.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Something happened at the company,¡± Luo Ying frowned and said.


    Although that man was not her real father, he truly loved her.


    He was still in surgery. If anything happened to the company at such a moment, she was afraid to imagine the consequences.


    After Lu Zhao heard Luo Ying¡¯s words, he got out of bed as well. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you over.¡±


    When they arrived at the conference room on the top floor of the Luo Corporation, Luo Wan and Liao Hong were sitting at the top of the conference room.


    Luo Wan was dressed in branded clothes. She had a smug smile on her face.


    Liao Hong was wearing a mink fur coat. Her hair was tied up high. Her eyeliner had almost disappeared into the depths of her hair.


    ¡°Luo Ying, you¡¯re here. I have something to announce to you. The Luo Corporation is already ours.¡± Luo Wan grinned at her.


    The other shareholders in the meeting room silently stared at Luo Ying.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Luo Ying asked coldly.


    ¡°While Dad wasn¡¯t in the company, I found a loophole in Dad and Brother¡¯s documents.¡± Luo Wan stretched out her hand and looked at her bright red nails. She said proudly, ¡°A whole 20 million. I wonder where dad and Luo Feng took it.¡±


    Luo Ying looked at the company¡¯s account displayed on the screen. There was indeed a deficit of 20 million, and it had been transferred to Luo Feng¡¯s account.


    Luo Ying frowned and looked at Yao Xi, who was standing at the side. She asked, ¡°Yao Xi, what¡¯s going on?¡±


    Yao Xi looked at the report on the screen and said, ¡°Chairman Luo had assigned it to us some time back. He had said that he planned to open a branch overseas, but there¡¯s no sign of the branch yet. We don¡¯t know where Luo Feng is, either.¡±


    ¡°Did you hear that, Luo Ying? Dad has embezzled so much. Mom and I still have to clean up his mess here. Why don¡¯t you hand over the shares in your hands and give the company to us?¡± Luo Wan said impatiently.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Luo Ying. If the company collapses, none of us can save it. You don¡¯t want to see your father die of anger after the company collapses, do you?¡±


    Luo Ying clenched her fists tightly and looked at the two women in front of her.


    Something was suspiciously off. From what she knew of her father and Luo Feng, they weren¡¯t greedy for wealth.


    ¡°Also, we¡¯ve secured an order from D¡¯Corporeal. You might not be aware of this. How could you?¡± Liao Hong said with a smile.


    Wasn¡¯t that Lin Su¡¯s company?


    Lin Su was also involved in this matter.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes darkened when he heard that.


    ¡°This order can just make up for the deficit. When the company¡¯s shareholders heard about this, they all hoped that Luo Wan and I will be in charge now,¡± Liao Hong said proudly.


    Lu Zhao sensed the panic of the woman beside him. He reached out to hold her hand and gently stroked it to comfort her.


    Luo Ying was a little flustered. There was no description of this maneuver in the original novel. She regretted not paying attention to the company¡¯s operations sooner.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have any objections, do you, Luo Ying?¡± Yao Xi seemed a little sheepish. ¡°Chairman Luo is sick now. He needs to rest. I think it¡¯s better to leave the company¡¯s matters to Luo Wan.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we think so too. After all, Luo Wan has been in contact with the company for some time.¡±


    ¡°Girl, you¡¯re just a small celebrity. You don¡¯t know about such matters. Why don¡¯t you leave it to the Second Miss?¡±


    The remaining shareholders agreed.


    The smug smile on Luo Wan¡¯s face grew wider and wider. See, Luo Ying, at the end of the day, you still lie defeated at my feet.


    Just as everyone was clamoring around her, a cold male voice sounded in the meeting room.


    ¡°Luo Corporation is very capable. I¡¯m interested in investing,¡± Lu Zhao looked at the shareholders and said.


    All the shareholders were stunned. The person in charge of the Luya Group said that he was interested in the Luo Group.. Wasn¡¯t this a godsent opportunity?

 Chapter 173 - Chapter 173: Investigation

    Chapter 173: Investigation


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Naturally, the shareholders were delighted to hear this news.


    Although the Luo Group had achieved good results in their latest projects, there was still a noticeable decline..


    Luo Feng¡¯s departure caused the Luo Corporation¡¯s stock price to plummet, and it never returned to its peak level.


    This was also why they were in a hurry to let Liao Hong and her daughter take over. After all, Liao Hong and her daughter had granted them a lot of authority.


    ¡°What do you think, shareholders? If there are no objections, I would like to ask for Madam Liao Hong¡¯s opinion.¡± Lu Zhao looked at Liao Hong.


    Liao Hong was a little flustered. Her face had already turned as red as a pig¡¯s liver.


    The company must not be bought over by the Luya Group.


    There was no other reason than to conduct a detailed investigation of the financial situation of a company.


    As long as they dug deep, they would find out everything that Liao Hong and her mother had done in the past. For Liao Hong and her mother, this matter was no longer a simple corporate merger, but a criminal investigation that put them both at risk.


    ¡°Mother-in-law, what do you think?¡± Lu Zhao looked at Liao Hong and said.


    He held Luo Ying¡¯s hand tightly, signalling her not to panic.


    ¡°Son-in-law, I¡¯m truly touched by your actions. However, since Luo Ying is a married daughter, she¡¯s like water that has been poured out. Why would I trouble you with the acquisition of such a trashy company?¡± Liao Hong said in a panic.


    ¡°Liao Hong, what are you getting at? Doubling the stock price is a good thing for us and the Luya Group. What reason do you have to refuse?¡± Yao Xi stared at Liao Hong.


    ¡°D¡¯Corporeal would never even come close to doubling our stock prices. Perhaps you are hiding something from us, Ms. Liao?¡± Yao Xi sneered.


    Yao Xi¡¯s words made Liao Hong speechless.


    Liao Hong tugged at her sleeves and looked at Yao Xi with bloodshot eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯ve done so much for the company. Is this how you repay me?¡± Liao Hong looked at the remaining shareholders.


    The remaining shareholders did not look at Liao Hong. Instead, they all turned to Lu Zhao.


    They were not philanthropists, nor did they feel any sense of belonging with the Luo Family. Anything that benefited them would be their golden goose.


    It was obvious that cooperating with Luo Ying and Lu Zhao would bring them greater benefits.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll get someone to investigate later.¡± After Lu Zhao finished speaking, he pulled Luo Ying and turned to leave.


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t know much about the business world, but she understood what Lu Zhao meant. He didn¡¯t really want to take over the company. He was just helping her.


    The shareholders filed out of the meeting room.


    Liao Hong and Luo Wan were left standing in the office.


    Luo Wan was already trembling.


    ¡°Mom, what if what if they find us out?¡± Luo Wan gripped her phone.


    ¡°You were the one who did all that. What can I do about it?¡± Liao Hong frowned and looked at Luo Wan. ¡°Transfer the shares in your hands to me and then turn yourself in.¡±


    Luo Wan¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Mom, what is the meaning of this? Are you planning to sacrifice me?¡±


    Most of the forged records were performed by Luo Wan. She was also the person who made contact with Lin Su.


    Luo Wan finally realized that she was the only one accountable. She was truly the only one bound for prison.


    Luo Wan clenched her fists.


    Her morner was truly gomg co Detray ner.


    Luo Ying was guided back to the car by Lu Zhao.


    ¡°Xiao Ting, start the acquisition process and hand a lawyer¡¯s letter to Liao Hong,¡± Lu Zhao said to Xiao Ting.


    ¡°President Lu, this is all very sudden. May I know what¡¯s going on?¡± Xiao Ting asked in puzzlement.


    ¡°If I tell you to do it, do it. Don¡¯t ask nonsense.¡± Lu Zhao held Luo Ying¡¯s hand with a reassuring grip.


    Luo Ying felt the man¡¯s warm gaze on her.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Lu Zhao. Thank you.¡± Luo Ying shook her head.


    Doubling the stock price to strong-arm terms to favor him had not been a wise business decision. Lu Zhao was going to be lambasted from all sides for this.


    Luo Ying¡¯s heart ached all the more for Lu Zhao.


    ¡°I fear that Grandpa will have words for you,¡± Luo Ying said.


    ¡°Even if all my employees have a say about it, I will help you protect your company,¡± Lu Zhao said indifferently.


    Luo Ying nodded and leaned her head on the man¡¯s shoulder.


    At that moment, Luo Ying¡¯s phone rang. The moment she gazed at the screen, Luo Ying frowned..

 Chapter 174 - Chapter 174: Caught

    Chapter 174: Caught


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    It was already nighttime, and the villa was pitch black.


    Wen Yu carefully lay down under the table and reached out to find a suitable place to plant the camera.


    Instead of suspiciously going in and out of the house as a doctor everyday, it was better to install a surveillance camera.


    She had procured the most advanced pinhole camera available.


    Just as she was stroking about for an appropriate spot, she felt a sticky feeling on her hand.


    Apparently, someone else had planted similar cameras here.


    Wen Yu frowned. She would have to be more careful.


    Just as she placed the camera, the lights went on.


    She was unable to react to the blinding light. Her eyes stung.


    When she covered her eyes and slowly crawled out from under the table, someone gently placed a hand on her head.


    Wen Yu¡¯s blood ran cold.


    ¡°Ms. Wen Yu, what are you doing here?¡± Luo Ying softly asked as she looked at Wen Yu, who was kneeling under the table with a surveillance camera in her hand.


    Her best friend, Tian Tian, had once installed surveillance cameras in the study room. Why was Wen Yu installing surveillance cameras in the same position now?


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you remain silent. I don¡¯t mind telling Lu Zhao about this.¡± Luo Ying tilted her head and looked at Wen Yu.


    Wen Yu was not as flustered as she had imagined. Instead, she pocketed the camera. ¡°Mr. Lu¡¯s mental state is unstable. As a doctor, I want more data on Mr. Lu¡¯s behavior, so I used this method. I¡¯m sorry, Madam.¡±


    Luo Ying sized Wen Yu up.


    Wen Yu and Wen Du looked very similar. They both had very demure looks, but they belied deep, scheming hearts.


    Luo Ying looked at Wen Yu and her eyes darkened. ¡°Ms. Wen, do you take me for a fool?¡±


    ¡°You felt it, didn¡¯t you?¡± Luo Ying smiled slightly and looked at Wen Yu¡¯s slightly flustered eyes. ¡°My friend had tried to bug my room too.¡± ¡°She is no longer my friend, but a prisoner,¡± Luo Ying said lightly.


    Wen Yu¡¯s body trembled.


    It was said that Luo Ying was a flower vase.


    However, every question and threat she had faced today made her shudder.


    Even if Luo Ying was a flower vase, she had thorns and smarts.


    ¡°So you don¡¯t intend to believe me?¡± Wen Yu looked at Luo Ying and gently took out a dagger from her sleeve.


    ¡°You¡¯re working for Old Master Lu, right?¡± Luo Ying looked at the tip of the dagger and sneered. ¡°Wen Yu, are you making your move now?¡±


    Wen Yu gritted her teeth. ¡°Madam, it¡¯s true that I¡¯m here to spy on you. But now that I¡¯ve been exposed, isn¡¯t it normal for me to get rid of you?¡±


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t intend to rat you out,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Wen Yu¡¯s eyes flickered as she looked at Luo Ying and slowly asked, ¡°What is this about?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the only one who has access to Old Master Lu¡¯s sanatorium. You¡¯re going to help me with something.¡± Luo Ying picked up a piece of snack from the plate at the side. ¡°Come and have a piece. How about we sit down and talk?¡±


    Wen Yu was a little speechless. Although this woman was pretty and intelligent, she was unnervingly calm in the face of a blade.


    ¡°Madam, are you letting me go?¡± Wen Yu asked.


    Luo Ying yawned slowly and waved her off dismissively.


    There was no need for her to get rid of Wen Yu. Of the two siblings, Wen Du seemed to be the more famous, but Wen Yu was actually more skilled. Moreover, she had access to a certain sanatorium hidden overseas.


    That sanatorium was Old Master Lu¡¯s secret property. She had only recently found out about it.


    Perhaps Lu Zhao¡¯s mother was locked up there.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re not interested in marrying Lu Zhao. If anything, you want to be free of Old Master Lu¡¯s control, right?¡± Luo Ying said with a smile.


    At the end of the original novel, Wen Yu betrayed Old Master Lu and joined Lu Zhao.


    Wen Yu smiled bitterly. ¡°I underestimated you. I didn¡¯t expect you to be so perceptive.

 Chapter 175 - Chapter 175: Termination of Contract

    Chapter 175: Termination of Contract


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying was not surprised to see Wen Yu agreeing so readily.


    In the original book, that shrewd old man was the real reason for the bankruptcy of Wen Yu¡¯s family. It seemed that Wen Yu had long known about this matter.


    ¡°I need you to help me check on a certain patient.¡± Luo Ying bent down and looked into Wen Yu¡¯s eyes. ¡°But you have to promise me that you won¡¯t tell Lu Zhao about this.¡±


    Wen Yu sat on the ground, while looking up at Luo Ying.


    For some reason, she felt a strong sense of oppression.


    She had been trained by the old fox for many years. Very few people could make her feel so oppressed.


    Luo Ying was one of the few.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Wen Yu nodded.


    When Lu Zhao returned, Luo Ying was just about to send Wen Yu out.


    Lu Zhao saw the two of them sitting together and was a little surprised. ¡°Wen Yu, am I due for a checkup today?¡±


    Wen Yu shook her head. ¡°No, I was here to talk to Madam about your illness.


    It¡¯s getting late, I should go.¡±


    After Wen Yu finished speaking, she nodded at Luo Ying and took her leave.


    Luo Ying stretched comfortably on the chair and opened her arms to Lu Zhao. ¡°Lu Zhao, hug me.¡±


    When Luo Ying acted coquettishly, Lu Zhao felt that coming home after a long day was all worth it.


    ¡°Why are you so proactive today?¡± Lu Zhao directly carried Luo Ying up and held her in his arms.


    Luo Ying wrapped her arms around Lu Zhao¡¯s neck. ¡°Wen Yu said that if we want you to get better quickly, you need to be given a lot more love.¡±


    Lu Zhao ruffled her hair. ¡°I only need you by my side.¡±


    Luo Ying hugged Lu Zhao tightly. She was actually a little sad. Wen Yu had just told her about Lu Zhao¡¯s childhood in the Lu Family.


    After hearing this, her heart ached. Lu Zhao had been in the Lu family for so many years, but he suffered worse than most.


    There were many illegitimate children in the Lu Family, but few became true descendants of the Lu Family in the end.


    They were faced with harsh tests and elimination at birth.


    Lu Zhao had only managed to reach his position through a lot of hardship and struggle.


    ¡°I was thinking about how you managed to persevere in the Lu Family for so many years.¡± Luo Ying sighed.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you feel sorry for me?¡± Lu Zhao smiled lightly.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s for my mother, or maybe it¡¯s because I want to be with you now,¡± Lu Zhao looked into Luo Ying¡¯s eyes and said.


    ¡°You¡¯re lying. You haven¡¯t even met me at that time. How can you say that you did all that to be with me?¡± Luo Ying stretched out her hand and hit Lu Zhao with her fist in rebuke.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes flashed with an emotion that Luo Ying could not understand. He looked at Luo Ying seriously and said, ¡°Maybe I really got to where I am today because of you.¡±


    Luo Ying smiled.


    How could they have met before?


    ¡°I¡¯ll help you find your mother. Don¡¯t be too stressed over it.¡± Luo Ying changed the topic and brought up Lu Zhao¡¯s mother.


    Lu Zhao rubbed the space between his brows. He had been thinking of ways to find clues about his mother these past few days, but the heavens seemed to be against him. Investigate all the clues was going to be very difficult.


    If they wanted to investigate matters, they had to go through the old man.


    ¡°This weekend, my grandfather plans to invite an old friend to hold a banquet at the Lu family¡¯s house,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    This old friend was probably not someone to be trifled with.


    After forcing Lu Zhao and Luo Ying to get a divorce, he probably planned to plant his own people by Lu Zhao¡¯s side.


    Perhaps this old friend had something to do with the person the old master intended to plant.


    Luo Ying nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you. However, there¡¯s one thing I don¡¯t understand. Why hasn¡¯t Old Master ever thought of solving the problem from my side?¡±


    If he wanted Lu Zhao and Luo Ying to get married, he could also make Luo Ying give up on her own accord.


    However, the old master did not seem to take notice of her, much less coerce her into giving up the marriage by herself.


    Luo Ying was even more puzzled.


    Lu Zhao reached out and gently touched her hair. ¡°If the old master does anything to you, I won¡¯t let him off.¡±


    Luo Ying smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. I¡¯m just a little confused.¡±


    Lu Zhao ruffled her hair. No matter what, this woman could always stab him in the heart.


    ¡°What else did Wen Yu say to you?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    ¡°You have to recuperate well,¡± Luo Ying said. ¡°You can¡¯t allow yourself to get too stressed, do you understand?¡±


    Luo Ying reached out and rubbed Lu Zhao¡¯s furrowed brows. ¡°Stop frowning. You don¡¯t look good anymore..¡±

 Chapter 176 - Chapter 176: Family Banquet

    Chapter 176: Family Banquet


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Friday arrived in no time at all. The Lu Family¡¯s banquet was held at the Lu Family¡¯s old residence halfway up the mountain.


    Ever since Old Master Lu abdicated his position and Lu Zhao established the Luya Group, the Lu Family had not held such a large-scale banquet.


    Almost all the dignitaries in the city had come to the Lu Family¡¯s banquet. It was said that Old Master Lu had something important to announce today.


    Luo Ying held Lu Zhao¡¯s arm and got out of the car. She was wearing a purple gauze dress today and a white suit. Her hair had been curled into waves and hung on her shoulders. She looked like an otherworldly deity. The moment she appeared, she became the center of attention.


    Almost all the socialites looked at her.


    Recently, she and Lu Zhao had just announced their relationship online, and everyone had been very surprised.


    After all, Luo Ying had always been a female idol with a bad reputation, but Lu Zhao was different. Even so, it was rumored that he was a violent man who only cared about benefits.


    However, his looks, prominent family background, and the power of the Lu Family in his hands made him the ideal bachelor that many of the city¡¯s socialites yearned for.


    The two of them walking together still made many people feel disgusted.


    ¡°How could a woman like Luo Ying marry Lu Zhao? Didn¡¯t she say that she would die if she didn¡¯t marry Lin Su?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right. She even jumped off a building for Lin Su. Why is she clinging onto Lu Zhao now and refusing to let go?¡±


    ¡°You guys don¡¯t know it yet, right? Something happened to Luo Ying¡¯s family. I reckon that if she doesn¡¯t cling to Lu Zhao¡¯s thigh, the Luo Family will be finished in the future.¡¯


    Ear-piercing comments came from beside her. Luo Ying gave them absolutely no reaction. She just held Lu Zhao¡¯s hand and walked into the old residence. Lu Zhao patted her hand lightly. ¡°You¡¯ve suffered a lot, being here with me. ¡® When she was with him, she got attacked from all angles.


    ¡°They¡¯re just jealous that I can be with you. I¡¯m not angry. Don¡¯t forget why we¡¯re here today.¡± Luo Ying made a face at Lu Zhao.


    Lu Zhao nodded and reached out to put his arm around her waist.


    The main purpose of their visit today was to investigate his mother.


    Lu Zhao asked Luo Ying to sit on the sofa in the hall and wait for him. He went to greet a few old acquaintances.


    The main hall of the old mansion was massive. At that moment, many people were already there. Lu Zhao¡¯s two cousins, who had a conflict with Luo Ying previously, did not come. It was said that because of the previous incident, their parents¡¯ properties had been confiscated by Lu Zhao.


    Second Aunt Hu Jing and Lu Zhao¡¯s Aunt Lu He were there, but they looked at Lu Zhao and Luo Ying with vigilance.


    ¡°Aunt, you¡¯re here too.¡± Luo Ying looked at Lu He and said with a smile.


    Lu He forced out a smile. ¡± Long time no see. I just find it odd to see you here today. Don¡¯t you know that the old man has something to announce?¡±


    ¡°This is the Lu Family¡¯s banquet. I¡¯m Lu Zhao¡¯s wife. Why shouldn¡¯t I be here?¡± Luo Ying said lightly.


    Lu He sneered. ¡°You might not know this, but Old Master has already found a new marriage partner for Lu Zhao. You¡¯re going to have to get a divorce with Lu Zhao very soon.¡±


    What Lu He said was true. She was the old master¡¯s most beloved daughter, and he would tell her anything.


    At today¡¯s banquet, the old master was going to announce the news of Lu Zhao¡¯s divorce.


    Luo Ying frowned. Even if he had a new marriage partner, he would have to announce it after she and Lu Zhao divorced. Wouldn¡¯t it cause the Lu family to fall into turmoil if he announced it so rashly?


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t everyone here know that Lu Zhao is a married man?¡± asked Luo Ying.


    ¡°Who do you think would care about a person like you?¡± Lu He sneered. ¡± Old Master is Lu Zhao¡¯s relative, and Lu Zhao¡¯s mother is also in Old Master¡¯s hands. Who dyou think Lu Zhao will listen to? You or Old Master?¡±


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t want to get entangled with Lu He.


    Lu He did not have much ability. If not for the old master¡¯s help, she would have starved to death on the streets. That was why she was willing to be the old master¡¯s tool and let him dictate her life.


    But Lu Zhao was definitely not cut form the same cloth.


    Luo Ying ignored Lu He and prepared to get up and walk around.


    At that moment, Lu He suddenly grabbed Luo Ying¡¯s arm. ¡°Where are you going? Are you trying to ruin the old master¡¯s plan?¡±


    Luo Ying trmea to DreaK tree.


    ¡°Let go,¡± she said coldly with a frown..

 Chapter 177 - Chapter 177: Encounter On A Narrow Road

    Chapter 177: Encounter On A Narrow Road


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Just as Luo Ying and Lu He continued arguing, a pair of hands grabbed Lu He¡¯s hand and pulled it away from Luo Ying¡¯s hand.


    Luo Ying frowned as she looked at the person¡¯s face.


    Although she had expected to meet him here, she had not expected him to appear in such a way.


    ¡°Madam Lu He, it¡¯s impolite of you to hold Luo Ying like this. Although this is the Lu Family¡¯s banquet, you can¡¯t be so rude.¡± The person had a gentle smile on his face and looked at Lu He with a gentle gaze.


    Luo Ying felt nauseous.


    This man was a pretentious snake.


    Lu He let go of Luo Ying¡¯s hand and sneered, ¡°Luo Ying, you seem to have your future all set out for you. After divorcing Lu Zhao, won¡¯t you have men lining up for you?¡±


    Luo Ying glanced at the man standing in front of her and turned her head away in disgust. ¡°I have nothing to do with Lin Su. Aunt, I¡¯m already married to Lu


    Zhao. Do you want me to say it again?¡±


    Lin Su looked at the woman standing in front of him.


    This woman was still as beautiful as before, but she no longer clung to him.


    Lin Su felt a pang in his heart.


    ¡°Ms. Lu He, do you mind leaving first? I have something to tell Luo Ying.¡± Lu He¡¯s eyes were filled with ill intentions. She sneered and walked away.


    She would let this adulterous couple spend some time alone. When Lu Zhao saw them later, he would probably know why the old master insisted that he change his marriage partner.


    Atter Lu He lett, Lin Su looked at Luo Ying witn pleading eyes. ¡°Luo Ying, can I invite you for a dance?¡±


    Luo Ying rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Lin Su, do you want me to remind you again and again that I don¡¯t like you anymore? I¡¯m a married woman now. I won¡¯t cheat on you or get a divorce.¡±


    Lin Su¡¯s hand that had been extended to Luo Ying trembled. His eyes were filled with sorrow.


    He was not supposed to attend today¡¯s banquet. He came because he wanted to see Luo Ying too much. He wanted to fight for it.


    Moreover, according to his investigation, Old Master Lu seemed to be very dissatisfied with Luo Ying. This was a great opportunity for him.


    ¡°Luo Ying, don¡¯t you remember. We first met at a banquet. You asked me for a dance. That was when you fell in love with me, right?¡± Lin Su said.


    At that banquet, they were not even eighteen years old. After that dance, the original Luo Ying fell madly in love with Lin Su and chased after him.


    She was even willing to lay down her life for him.


    ¡°Lin Su, don¡¯t be too narcissistic. It¡¯s true that I liked you in the past, but I won¡¯t like you forever. You should give up,¡± Luo Ying said.


    She could not understand it. She had already rejected Lin Su so many times. She must have said these words ten thousand times. Why was Lin Su so out of touch with reality?


    ¡°I¡¯m regretting it now. I still remember you wearing a purple dress at that banquet. I just thought that you were very beautiful. I regret it very much. I should have fallen in love with you from that moment on.¡±


    Lin Su recalled the past with a tender expression. It was as if he had already loved Luo Ying for many years.


    Luo Ying knew very well that he said this to satisfy his possessiveness.


    ¡°Alright, Lin Su. Since you like me, why did you let D¡¯Corporeal buy my family¡¯s company?¡±


    Luo Ying looked at Lin Su and smiled. ¡°You like me so much that you want to use my family¡¯s company to kidnap me while reminiscing about the past with me. Is that it, Mr. Lin?¡±


    After hearing this, Lin Su¡¯s body trembled. ¡°How did you know about this?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I know. Lin Su, you¡¯re working with Liao Hong and Luo Wan, and now you want me to be with you. Don¡¯t you find it funny?¡± Luo Ying said sarcastically.


    Lin Su had the confidence of a protagonist. it was as if the world was prepared for him.


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t want to pay any further attention to Lin Su. Just as she was about to turn around and leave, Lin Su grabbed her arm.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know why Old Master Lu invited us all here today?¡± Lin Su looked into Luo Ying¡¯s eyes and asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have too much time on your hands? No matter what the old man does, it has nothing to do with you.¡± Luo Ying turned her head in disgust.

 Chapter 178 - Chapter 178: Jin Shi’s Concern

    Chapter 178: Jin Shi¡¯s Concern


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying was stunned for a moment before she turned around and smiled. ¡°Lin Su, do you think your words will have any effect on me?¡±


    She thought that after experiencing so many things, Lin Su should at least understand that it was impossible for the two of them to be together. He should not say such flippant words and expect her to chase after him like before.


    ¡°I like Lu Zhao very much. Lu Zhao also likes me very much. Our relationship can¡¯t change because of the old master¡¯s actions, let alone because of you,¡± Luo Ying said coldly.


    Her eyes seemed to freeze him over.


    Only now did Lin Su realize that no matter what he did, Luo Ying would never return to his side.


    ¡°I thought that if something happened to your family¡¯s company, you would at least come to beg me.¡± Lin Su laughed at himself.


    When Luo Ying heard Lin Su¡¯s words, she suddenly thought of those third-rate novels that she liked to read many years ago.


    Most of the male leads in the movie would torture the female leads until they were covered in bruises. However, for some reason, those ladies seemed to suffer from a severe case of Stockholm Syndrome. They seemed to only view the male leads in their eyes and no one else, even if it meant losing their lives.


    According to the original novel, Luo Ying was bound to serve as nothing but Lin Su¡¯s stepping stone.


    Since she now possessed this body, she was not going to let this happen.


    ¡°Lin Su, you¡¯re overthinking it. I¡¯m not the kind of person who will follow you after a slap or a sweet date.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s eyes turned to cold steel.


    Lin Su could only feel the bone-piercing cold running through his body.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think of separating me from Lu Zhao.¡± Luo Ying looked at Lin Su as she uttered it word by word, ¡°Also, I¡¯ll settle my company¡¯s matter myself. You better hope our internal investigation doesn¡¯t end up uncovering D¡¯Corporeal¡¯s dirty laundry. It¡¯s better for you to tuck your tail between your legs.¡±


    When Lin Su heard this, he could not help but shudder.


    On the surface, D¡¯Coporeal was not his company, but in tact, he was the one who ran all the shadowy matters. His hands were not that clean.


    Lin Su stared at Luo Ying¡¯s back as she left. He smashed his fist on the coffee table. The liquid in the wine glass on the coffee table swayed for a long time.


    How did Luo Ying know about all this? Did Lu Zhao tell her?


    If Lu Zhao knew, he would be finished.


    Lin Su gritted his teeth.


    He would have to think of a way to get rid of Lu Zhao.


    Luo Ying left the coffee table and went to the dessert area. From afar, she saw a redhead in a motorcycle uniform.


    Jin Shi also arrived.


    Jin Shi saw Luo Ying beckoning and walked over, handing the tray in his hand to Luo Ying.


    The plate was filled with butterfly pastries, strawberry mousse, and strawberry fudge, all of which Luo Ying liked to eat.


    ¡°Third Brother. You truly understand my taste.¡± Luo Ying took it with a smile, picked up a piece of strawberry cake, and put it into her mouth.


    ¡°Eat with some dignity, would you? Nobody¡¯s snatching that from you,¡± Jin Shi said with some disdain.


    His sister was good in every way except for her bad eating habits. She always ate like she had been starving in the desert.


    ¡°Also, you should eat less. Director Cheng Yang wants you to start filming next month. You can¡¯t possibly go there as fat as a ball, can you?¡± Jin Shi casually took a piece of pastry and put it into his mouth.


    Luo Ying frowned.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s mother had not been found yet. Luo Ying was a little worried about leaving Lu Zhao here.


    ¡°Brother, I actually¡­¡± Before Luo Ying could finish, Jin Shi already knew what his sister was going to say.


    ¡°You really like Lu Zhao. Lu Zhao is different from us,¡± Jin Shi said with a frown. ¡°He¡¯s not a real person. We have no idea when we¡¯ll fly back to our world.¡±


    Luo Ying was stunned.


    Her genuine happiness with Lu Zhao had driven the reality of this world out of her mind.


    ¡°I know you like Lu Zhao. After all, in novels, such troubled prince-like characters always have their agonizing charming. However, I still have to remind you that no matter what kind of person Lu Zhao is, he¡¯s the perfect flawed love interest carefully crafted with words. He¡¯s not a real character.¡±


    Jin Shi¡¯s words made Luo Ying fall silent.


    A lover made out of words¡­


    She chuckled in her heart. Every day felt as real as it could be. If only Lu Zhao could go to the same world as them.


    ¡°I¡¯m already looking for a way to go back. Maybe one day, we¡¯ll go back to our home together..¡±

 Chapter 179 - Chapter 179: Consequences

    Chapter 179: Consequences


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The line between the different worlds was already very vague to Luo Ying.


    She knew that she was already starting to treat this body like her very own. Here, she and Lu Zhao had fallen into a relationship that she had never even thought of.


    Luo Ying looked crestfallen.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t you want to go back?¡± Jin Shi had grown up with her and could tell what she was thinking at a glance.


    Jin Shi¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Go back to the real world. I can introduce you to anyone you want. I¡¯ve already investigated Lu Zhao. The man is very dangerous. I¡¯m worried about you staying here with him.¡±


    Jin Shi had been investigating Lu Zhao in all aspects. How could a man who had fought his way out of the Lu Family since he was young be a kind person? He was afraid that his sister would be deceived and used by that person.


    Moreover, even if this man truly cherished her, she would still be targeted by the family behind him.


    Jin Shi hoped that Luo Ying would live a comfortable and rich life. ¡°I understand, Third Brother.¡± Luo Ying lowered her head. Her brain, which had been filled with excitement for the past two days, calmed down in an instant.


    She was prepared to give everything up for Lu Zhao and help Lu Zhao realize his wishes. Even so, she could not quite bite down on that innate fear.


    Jin Shi sighed. ¡°I ruined the mood. I actually don¡¯t even know if we can go back. I just hope that you remember where we¡¯re at. Just treat it like a game that you can conquer.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded and sighed softly in her heart.


    She and Lu Zhao had experienced so much together. How could she treat Lu Zhao as a character in a game?


    However, it seemed impossible to return to the real world now, so it was more important to solve the problems here first.


    At that moment, Old Master Lu appeared in the hall. Lu He stood behind him with a smug smile on her face.


    She stared at Luo Ying hard, as if she was determined to see Luo Ying make a fool of herself.


    Luo Ying stood her ground and looked around for Lu Zhao.


    But strangely, Lu Zhao seemed to have disappeared.


    Luo Ying¡¯s heart was suddenly filled with an ominous premonition.


    Old Master Lu spotted Luo Ying. His eyes were filled with disgust.


    ¡°Welcome to the Lu Family¡¯s banquet. I¡¯m here to announce two things today,¡± Old Master Lu said slowly.


    Everyone looked at Old Master Lu and held their breaths.


    ¡°I will officially step down from the Lu Family¡¯s business and no longer hold any positions.¡±


    Previously, Old Master Lu still held some form of power, but this time, he would be completely relinquishing it.


    ¡°I¡¯m prepared to choose a suitable heir among my descendants, but I¡¯m still a little conflicted. Originally, I thought that Lu Zhao was the most outstanding heir, but one of my third son¡¯s children has just returned from abroad recently.


    I think he has the right to compete with Lu Zhao.¡±


    At that moment, the door opened, and a handsome man walked in.


    He wasn¡¯t wearing a suit, but he was in a simple school uniform. He had curly hair and looked less than twenty years old.


    However, his eyes were very sharp. After circling around the field, he locked his gaze on Luo Ying¡¯s face and smiled at her.


    Luo Ying felt nauseous.


    This person gave her the feeling of staring at a serpent hidden in a doll. He would use his cute appearance to throw others off, but was capable of lethal venom.


    Jin Shi also stared at him.


    ¡°This is my third brother¡¯s child, Lu Wen,¡± Lu He said proudly. It was as if Lu Wen wasn¡¯t her nephew, but rather her son.


    The old man glanced at the excited Lu He and smiled. ¡°Lu Wen will start working at the company starting from tomorrow. After that, I will choose one of them to be my successor based on his and Lu Zhao¡¯s performance.¡±


    When everyone heard this, they also applauded. The city had not witnessed such an exciting competition between wealthy families for many years. Lu Wen seemed to be really young. It would be really interesting to watch him compete with Lu Zhao.


    ¡°There¡¯s one last piece of news. Lu Zhao is about to get engaged to the daughter of the Lin Group, Lin Jin.¡±


    The noisy atmosphere suddenly quieted down. Everyone looked at Luo Ying in surprise.


    What was going on? Wasn¡¯t Lu Zhao already married to Luo Ying?


    Moreover, he seemed to be glued to Luo Ying..

 Chapter 180 - Chapter 180: Weight

    Chapter 180: Weight


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    For a moment, the entire place was buzzing with discussions.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Luo Ying already married to Lu Zhao? Has the Lu Family finally lost their patience? Are they finally getting rid of their immoral in-law?¡±


    ¡°Luo Ying wasn¡¯t worthy of Lu Zhao, to begin with. I really don¡¯t know what Lu Zhao is thinking. Maybe he¡¯s finally gotten over it.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Lin Jin ten thousand times better than Luo Ying? She¡¯s also the daughter of the Lin Group, and she¡¯s elegant and dignified. How can someone like Luo Ying compare to her?¡±


    Luo Ying ignored those words.


    Old Master Lu must have announced this news at this time because Lu Zhao was not present.


    Where could he have taken Lu Zhao?


    Luo Ying grabbed Jin Shi¡¯s hand. ¡°Third Brother, Lu Zhao is missing. Can you help me find Lu Zhao?¡±


    Jin Shi obviously understood what Luo Ying meant. He dialed his subordinates¡¯ numbers, and they happened to be nearby.


    On the stage, the old man was looking at Luo Ying with a smile on his face.


    Today, he had sent someone to tell Lu Zhao about his mother¡¯s whereabouts. At this moment, Lu Zhao should have gone to the sanatorium.


    This was the perfect time to sow discord between them.


    ¡°Dad, it¡¯s working like magic. Luo Ying will definitely be disappointed in Lu Zhao because of this.¡± Lu He laughed.


    ¡°In that case, why don¡¯t you hurry up and complete your mission?¡± Old Master Lu asked.


    Lu He quickly nodded and headed downstairs.


    Luo Ying had been to the old mansion a few times, so she naturally knew the layout of the old mansion. She walked up the stairs and searched room by room on the second floor.


    She searched all the places where she could hide, but she did not see Lu Zhao. He did not even pick up the phone.


    The carpet covered with flowers and carved with complicated patterns on the wall was like a big mouth that swallowed Lu Zhao whole.


    Luo Ying clenched her fists tightly and looked at the end of the corridor. Her eyes were filled with tears.


    ¡°Ms. Luo, are you looking for Lu Zhao?¡± Lu He¡¯s voice came from behind her.


    Luo Ying turned to look at Lu He. She quickly walked up to her and grabbed her collar.


    Lu He was obviously shocked. In her impression, Luo Ying was just a smalltime celebrity who lived like a pampered princess. She struggled for a long time, but she couldn¡¯t break free.


    ¡°Lu He, tell me, where did you take Lu Zhao?¡± Luo Ying¡¯s eyes were fixed on Lu


    He.


    Lu He smiled lightly. ¡°You should know about the agreement between Lu Zhao and the old master, right? Lu Zhao would have to get a divorce with you to learn the location of his mother.¡±


    Luo Ying felt her heart sink.


    Had Lu Zhao really agreed to the old master¡¯s request? She suddenly felt her mind reeling.


    According to the setting of this novel, she and Lu Zhao had to get a divorce before the rest of the plot could start. Therefore, the story would try very hard to push them in that direction.


    The more Luo Ying thought about it, the more fearful she became. Had the author of this novel caught on to her? Was he trying to fix his derailed story?


    Lu He saw that Luo Ying was stunned and laughed. ¡°Luo Ying, do you really think that Lu Zhao loves you? You¡¯re so funny. No matter how much he loves you, he can¡¯t love you more than his mother.¡±


    Lu He understood the love of a young girl the most. It was just a love caused by the hormones of young people. How could it be more important than the love for one¡¯s mother?


    Moreover, Lu Zhao had abandoned Luo Ying for his mother today. With Luo Ying¡¯s personality, she would not get over it so easily.


    Luo Ying let go of Lu He and stood rooted to the ground. In this world, everyone was trying so hard to stop her from being with Lu Zhao. There was no way they could have a happy ending.


    At that moment, Luo Ying¡¯s phone rang.


    Luo Ying regained her thoughts. She took out her phone and saw the name on it. She immediately feared the worst.


    ¡°Wen Yu, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°Boss, I just found out that Old Master Lu is going to announce Lin Jin and Lu Zhao¡¯s engagement tonight. Moreover, Lu Zhao will be hidden by them¡­¡± Wen Yu¡¯s voice was very anxious.


    ¡°I already know. Wen Yu, thank you¡­¡± Luo Ying said lightly.


    ¡°No, no, no. Lu Zhao may be in danger. They probably lured Lu Zhao to the sanatorium and to capture him there. According to their plans, Lu Zhao should be here soon.. You must think of a way to contact Lu Zhao!¡±

 Chapter 181 - Chapter 181: Trap

    Chapter 181: Trap


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°What?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°Quickly think of a way to contact Lu Zhao. Old Master has prepared many traps in the sanatorium, and his mother isn¡¯t there.¡± Wen Yu was sitting in the monitoring room. Her forehead was sweating profusely.


    The old man had prepared a lot of traps in the sanatorium, especially in the area surrounding the underground secret room. There were snipers and many other thugs.


    This time, the old master was determined to abduct Lu Zhao.


    Luo Ying turned to look at Lu He. ¡°You did this?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. The old master wanted the two of you to get a divorce, so how could it be my idea alone?¡± Lu He laughed wildly.


    She was pleased to see Luo Ying so unnerved.


    She was jealous of Luo Ying. Although Luo Ying had not been born into a prestigious family, she seemed to be living a very happy life. She even had a


    man like LU Lnao, one wno woma protect ner even ne naa to aDanaon tne entire world.


    Moreover, as long as Luo Ying and Lu Zhao divorced, Lu Zhao would definitely suffer a huge blow. When that happened, she would also be able to get a share of the Lu Family¡¯s profits.


    ¡°Luo Ying, just give up. The old man has made up his mind. Nobody ever changes it.¡± Lu He crossed her arms and looked at Luo Ying calmly.


    Luo Ying turned around and walked out of the corridor.


    She could not afford to get entangled with this woman now. Otherwise, Lu Zhao might very well fall into Old Master Lu¡¯s trap.


    Luo Ying hurried downstairs. The banquet was only halfway through. Old


    Master Lu had wheeled down by Lu Wen to drink and chat with the guests.


    Lu Wen spotted Luo Ying. He smiled at Luo Ying through the crowd.


    He innocently blinked his round eyes, but the smile on his lips was a little off. It was like an owl disguising itself as an owl moth. A camouflage within a camouflage.


    ¡°Are you looking for Brother Lu Zhao?¡± He looked at Luo Ying and mouthed.


    Luo Ying felt fear run down her spine. This was a dangerous young kid. This matter might have something to do with him.


    However, now was not the time to try deciphering his plan.


    She quickly walked towards Jin Shi, who also had a serious expression on his face, and took out the car keys from his pocket.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t found Lu Zhao yet¡­¡± Just as Jin Shi was speaking, Luo Ying had already turned around and left the banquet hall.


    Luo Ying walked very quickly. Jin Shi jogged to catch up with her.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Jin Shi asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to look for Lu Zhao. Old Master Lu has set a trap for Lu Zhao. I have to go over now.¡± Luo Ying walked quickly.


    Jin Shi also understood Luo Ying¡¯s words and frowned.


    Old Master Lu was crazier than they had imagined.


    ¡°I¡¯ll drive. Think of a way to contact Lu Zhao.¡± Jin Shi took the car keys from Luo Ying¡¯s hand and opened the car door before Luo Ying did.


    The car quickly drove out of the Lu Family¡¯s manor.


    Jin Shi was a racer, so the car sped through the road.


    Luo Ying kept calling Lu Zhao¡¯s phone, but she could not get though.


    Had the old man even disabled Lu Zhao¡¯s phone?


    Luo Ying held the phone tightly in her hand and kept praying.


    Lu Zhao had already arrived at the sanatorium.


    At night, the sanatorium shone with warm lights and looked very warm.


    It was already eight o¡¯clock in the evening. Most of the patients should be reading books or watching television. This was a relatively free time for patients every day.


    Lu Zhao walked to the front desk of the ward. The gentle-looking head nurse said to him, ¡°Hello, it¡¯s not visiting hours now. Please come back tomorrow.¡±


    Lu Zhao ignored the head nurse¡¯s words. His eyes wandered around the head nurse¡¯s hand.


    The head nurse¡¯s hand looked very delicate. However, the web between her thumb and index finger had pale white calluses. This head nurse wasn¡¯t as simple as she seemed.


    He sized up the head nurse.


    The head nurse frowned. ¡°Hello, do you not understand what I¡¯m saying? It¡¯s not visiting hours now¡­ Ah¡­¡±


    Lu Zhao reached past the front desk and picked up a notebook.


    He opened the notebook and saw a small pistol lying inside.


    This gun looked very exquisite. It should be German-made.


    Lu Zhao sized up the head nurse with a cold gaze. He fiddled with the gun in his hand a few times. ¡°That old man must have set up quite a party here.¡±


    When the woman heard Lu Zhao¡¯s words, her expression changed slightly. ¡°This is Old Master Lu¡¯s property. No matter who you are, you¡¯d better not go against his wishes.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s gaze swept coldly across the ward in the corridor.


    He raised the pistol and quickly flicked the safety. Two gunshots broke the silence in the hospital..

 Chapter 182 - Chapter 182: Wounded

    Chapter 182: Wounded


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    When Luo Ying rushed to the sanatorium, it was dark. Only the top floor was lit up, and even then, they were flickering.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s car was parked outside the sanatorium. It looked like the perfect setting for a horror story.


    Luo Ying did not hesitate and walked towards the sanatorium.


    Jin Shi pulled Luo Ying back. ¡°Are you really going to save Lu Zhao?¡±


    Luo Ying did not quite understand her brother. It was obvious that Lu Zhao was in danger. Of course, she could not give up on Lu Zhao just like that.


    ¡°According to my understanding of Old Master Lu over the years, he¡¯s not that easy to fool. There¡¯s no need for us to go to war with such a man,¡± Jin Shi said in a deep voice.


    Luo Ying widened her eyes and looked at her brother in disbelief. ¡°Third


    Brother, what do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you get hurt, nor do I want to see you suffer for someone who isn¡¯t real.¡± Jin Shi knew what Old Master Lu was like.


    He believed that today¡¯s scheme had been targeted at Luo Ying.


    After all, Old Master Lu only wanted to control Lu Zhao.


    The best way for him to do that was to destroy Luo Ying, the love of his life.


    Luo Ying looked at Jin Shi and shook her head. ¡°Brother, I¡¯ve already made it very clear. I really love Lu Zhao. I won¡¯t let him step into the trap.¡± Luo Ying let go of Jin Shi¡¯s hand and walked toward the dark sanatorium.


    Jin Shi gritted his teeth and took out a big box from the car.


    ¡°Luo Ying, catch.¡± He threw a gun to Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying turned around and caught the gun. She smiled at Jin Shi. ¡°Thank you, Third Brother.¡±


    Jin Shi also took two rifles and bullets for himself and walked into the sanatorium.


    The moment they went through the doors, the air was filled with dust and the heavy stench of blood. Luo Ying¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Was Lu Zhao inside?


    Jin Shi followed Luo Ying inside. ¡°Do you know where Lu Zhao went?¡±


    ¡°It should be a room underground. Old Master Lu told him that his mother is there,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Jin Shi nodded. He stood behind Luo Ying and looked around with his gun.


    Although this was a sanatorium, there didn¡¯t seem to be any real patients. All the rooms were empty, and the facilities of the sanatorium had been placed in storage. Plastic sheets covered them. It was eerie.


    Was this sanatorium a cover?


    Luo Ying looked at the empty room and frowned.


    ¡°This is Old Master Lu¡¯s family¡¯s prison. The sanatorium above is just for decoration. The real focus is the secret room downstairs,¡± Jin Shi whispered.


    The moment he transmigrated, he had done everything to learn about this world


    In his youth, the old man was an absolute tyrant, compared to his mellowed-down current self. He had established this sanatorium to deal with his business competitors.


    It looked like a hospital, but in fact, it was a prison where murders mysteriously took place.


    The two of them walked toward the secret chamber together.


    The sanatorium was very quiet. There was not even a doctor. Luo Ying could hear her own heartbeat, beating against her chest like a drumstick.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Jin Shi said.


    The two of them walked down the secret stairs and headed toward the secret room.


    Suddenly, the sound of bullets piercing through the air could be heard in front of them. A chaotic gunfight was taking place in the dark corridor ahead. Luo Ying turned to look at Jin Shi, and the two of them stopped.


    Luo Ying felt anxious.


    She kept feeling that Lu Zhao was inside.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Jin Shi looked at the darkness in the corridor in front of him. His eyes flew wide open.


    The sound of a bullet breaking through the sound barrier rushed at them. The bullet seemed to be flying toward Luo Ying.


    Jin Shi wanted to push Luo Ying away, but they were no match for the speed of a bullet.


    At that moment, a black shadow darted out and threw Luo Ying onto the ground. The bullet brushed past the man¡¯s back.


    The bullet tore through the man¡¯s clothes, and a faint smell of blood wafted out.


    At the same time, someone pointed a gun at Jin Shi¡¯s head.


    Jin Shi slowly turned his head to look at that person, his mouth wide open in surprise. ¡°Xiao Ting? Why are you here?¡±


    Luo Ying was pushed to the ground by the black shadow. She was seeing stars. After looking carefully for a long time, she recognized that the other party was Lu Zhao.


    He seemed to be completely different from usual. There was a faint smell of blood on his body, and his entire being emitted a murderous aura.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± He looked at Luo Ying and asked.


    Luo Ying shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    For some reason, she suddenly fell unconscious. The world went dark..

 Chapter 183 - Chapter 183: Lu Wen

    Chapter 183: Lu Wen


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    When she woke up, it was already the next day. Luo Ying felt sore all over. Wen Yu was nursing her.


    As soon as she opened her eyes, Luo Ying looked at Wen Yu and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Lu Zhao?¡±


    The last thing she remembered was Lu Zhao shielding her from gunshots. The faint smell of blood and dust still lingered at the tip of her nose.


    Luo Ying quickly sat up and grabbed Wen Yu¡¯s hand. ¡°How is Lu Zhao now?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Lu is fine. He was just grazed. He only suffered some superficial injuries.¡±


    Wen Yu took a glass of water from the bedside table and handed it to Luo Ying. ¡°Drink some water. You need to rest well now. You must have been poisoned by some kind of gas.¡±


    ¡°Gas?¡± Luo Ying was puzzled.


    Wen Yu nodded. She used to study medicine. Under Old Master Lu¡¯s training, she could be said to be the best drugmaker in the city.


    This poison was a colorless and odorless gas. If it was released into the air, it would not be detected at all.


    However, anyone who inhaled it may rapidly lose their strength and lose consciousness.


    However, that was all it did. It was a knockout gas without any lasting effects


    ¡°In that case, were my brother and Lu Zhao also poisoned?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    Wen Yu nodded. ¡°But I keep sensing that something is off about it.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°Its purely a knockout gas. You¡¯ll be fine after you wake up. Some robust individuals won¡¯t even fall unconscious,¡± Wen Yu said with a frown. Jin Shi and Lu Zhao had remained conscious. If anything, they were more exhausted than usual.


    Luo Ying had almost gone into shock yesterday.


    When Lu Zhao carried Luo Ying into the consultation room, Wen Yu had been shocked.


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes were tightly shut at that time. Her face was flushed red, and she looked like she was in great pain.


    ¡°Is my health that poor?¡± Luo Ying probed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to investigate. I¡¯ve never seen anything like this before,¡± Wen Yu replied. Actually, she had a guess in her heart, but she did not dare to tell Luo


    Ying.


    ¡°Have a good rest first. Lu Zhao is currently dealing with matters at the sanatorium. He¡¯ll come back to see you when he¡¯s done.¡± After Wen Yu finished speaking, she left the room.


    Luo Ying sensed that something was wrong.


    On the one hand, she suspected that her blood must have somehow reacted to this gas. On the other hand, Lu Zhao had never left her alone before. Why was he dealing with official business now?


    Luo Ying couldn¡¯t figure it out. Just as she was about to get up and go out to ask what was going on, she felt dizzy again. She lay back down on the bed.


    In the intensive care unit next door, Sirius and Xiao Ting were waiting outside.


    Wen Yu walked over and looked at Xiao Ting. ¡°He should be out of danger for the time being, but there¡¯s something strange.¡± ¡°What¡¯s strange?¡± Chi Yu frowned and asked.


    Wen Yu recalled the scene from yesterday.


    After Lu Zhao arrived at the sanatorium, the people in the sanatorium did not seem to resist much and let Lu Zhao in.


    On the contrary, when Luo Ying came in, a battle broke out.


    ¡°The old man must have targeted Luo Ying,¡± said Wen Yu slowly.


    Sirius nodded.


    While they were talking, Lu Zhao, who was lying in the ward, slowly woke up.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Luo Ying?¡± The first thing Lu Zhao said when he woke up was to ask where Luo Ying had gone.


    Wen Yu quickly made him lie down. ¡°Luo Ying is not in good spirits right now. Don¡¯t disturb her now.¡±


    Lu Zhao frowned and looked at Wen Yu. ¡°Bring me over. Now.¡±


    Sirius sighed deeply. He remembered seeing Lu Zhao yesterday.


    When Lu Zhao carried Luo Ying to their family¡¯s hospital, Lu Zhao¡¯s body was covered in blood. There was a long gash on his back, and the blood that gushed out of the wound was black. It was clearly a sign of poisoning.


    Moreover, Lu Zhao¡¯s entire face was pale, and his lips were a little purple.


    ¡°You should worry about yourself. Lu Zhao, the poison in your body is much more severe than the poison in Luo Ying¡¯s body,¡± Sirius said.


    Lu Zhao frowned and looked at Sirius. ¡± Luo Ying was poisoned? ¡±


    This man had been consumed by love.. In the face of such a serious matter, his first reaction was not the poison in his body, but the poison in Luo Ying¡¯s body?

 Chapter 184 - Chapter 184: Poisoned

    Chapter 184: Poisoned


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Sirius helplessly stared at his good friend.


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? How is Luo Ying now?¡± There was an IV tube in Lu Zhao¡¯s hand, and his face was pale.


    He reached out to yank at the IV tube.


    Sirius quickly walked to his side and grabbed his hand. ¡°Luo Ying was struck by simple knockout gas. She¡¯s already out of the waters. You should be worried about yourself now.¡±


    Lu Zhao frowned and looked at Wen Yu.


    Wen Yu took out a tube of blue liquid from the test tube box. It was a deep blue and carried the color of the ocean. It looked like the venom of a poisonous snake. ¡°I extracted this from your wound. It¡¯s a non-toxic poison.¡±


    Lu Zhao frowned. How could something non-toxic be poison?


    ¡°It¡¯s something that the people on Neverland Island concocted. There¡¯s no antidote for this.¡± Wen Yu placed the test tube back into the test tube box and looked at Lu Zhao with a frown.


    Neverland was a hellish place. Not only were the enemies of some powerful elites imprisoned there, but some people with special abilities were also imprisoned there.


    Many highly-skilled poison researchers were also there, living a carefree life. Every single day, they passionately buried themselves in their research.


    ¡°This poison will soon enter your bloodstream and leave traces in your body along your blood vessels.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes darkened.


    ¡°In other words, this poison has already spread all over my body?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    ¡°Of course, but this poison has not started rearing its head just yet. It has not been activated,¡± Wen Yu said. ¡°It exists in your body, but it won¡¯t hurt you.¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s so dangerous about this poison?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    Those lunatics would never develop anything harmless. This poison should have a very special way of taking effect.


    ¡°This poison will only react with another type of poison. I¡¯ve seen this technique before, but I haven¡¯t found out what the other poison is yet,¡± Wen Yu said.


    This was a very advanced method of poisoning. As long as the poison was placed in a person¡¯s body, they could be held hostage by the other party.


    The one holding the reactive agent would be the one pulling the trigger.


    Upon hearing this, Sirius couldn¡¯t help but shiver. ¡°In other words, the other person now owns Lu Zhao?¡±


    Wen Yu sighed and shook her head. ¡°Unless Lu Zhao goes to a place that is completely isolated from the world, he will always be exposed to such a risk.¡±


    Lu Zhao ran many massive conglomerates in the world. How could he isolate himself?


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°What reaction might happen when the poison gets activated?¡±


    ¡°I believe it would either cause madness or unbearable pain,¡± said Wen Yu. These people rarely used poison for lethal purposes. Dying too quickly was no tun. ¡®l¡¯nelr concoctions were used to torture people.


    Lu Zhao was such a strong person. If he was tortured into a lunatic who would go crazy at any time, or if he had to endure unbearable pain day after day, it would be a torture that was more severe than death.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°We can¡¯t tell Luo Ying about this. Also, we have to find out the solution to this medicine as soon as possible.¡±


    Wen Yu nodded solemnly. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best.¡±


    Although she was also proficient in making poison, she was no match to the minds of such lunatics.


    As they continued the discussion, the door was suddenly pushed open and Luo Ying¡¯s face appeared outside.


    Wen Yu and Sirius turned pale with fright.


    ¡°Luo Ying, didn¡¯t I tell you to have a good rest? Why are you here?¡± asked Wen


    Wen Yu was very worried that Luo Ying had heard something. Lu Zhao had just instructed them not to tell Luo Ying anything, yet Luo Ying had come here by herself.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t sit still. I wanted to see Lu Zhao,¡± Luo Ying said to Wen Yu and Sirius with a smile.


    Sirius observed Luo Ying¡¯s expression and didn¡¯t find anything strange. She had seemed to have heard it.


    Sirius heaved a sigh of relief and left the room with Wen Yu.


    As the two of them left the room, Luo Ying sat beside Lu Zhao and reached out to hug him. She took a deep breath.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you resting?¡± Lu Zhao reached out and pulled Luo Ying into his arms. He gently stroked her hair..

 Chapter 185 - Chapter 185: Heart-to-heart

    Chapter 185: Heart-to-heart


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying buried her head in Lu Zhao¡¯s arms. She had been terrified beyond measure when the bullet was fired at her.


    She was afraid of death, afraid of Lu Zhao¡¯s death in shielding her.


    ¡°Everything is fine now.¡± Lu Zhao stroked her hair, his tone slowly becoming gentle.


    ¡°I almost thought I wouldn¡¯t be able to see you again.¡± Luo Ying said. She did not expect Lu Zhao to risk his life to save her.


    Lu Zhao hugged Luo Ying tighter. ¡°I was too impulsive.¡±


    The old man had pressed the right buttons to make him take the more irrational of choices. He had abandoned Luo Ying to save her.


    Lu Zhao was guilty. ¡°I should have told you, but I really wanted to see my mother so much that I didn¡¯t expect it to be a trap.¡±


    Luo Ying raised her head and looked at Lu Zhao. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I also hope that you can find your mother as soon as possible.¡±


    In the original novel, Lu Zhao had a loving, doting mother. She was tormented by the whims of the powerful and rich.


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes darkened. If Lu Zhao divorced her, would he be able to look for his mother? ¡°If the two of us fake a divorce, would it get him off our backs¡­¡±


    Lu Zhao shook his head and chuckled. ¡°How is that possible? The old man was already going to give Lin Jin to me tonight. Do you think our fake divorce can really fool him?¡±


    Luo Ying sighed.


    Jin Shi and her words flooded into his mind.


    Was she not destined to be with him? Whenever they were together, bad things happened.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, do you think there¡¯s a possibility that even the heavens don¡¯t want the two of us to be together?¡± Luo Ying whispered.


    ¡°Why are you so superstitious now?¡± Lu Zhao asked Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying shook her head. This world was not real.


    If the novel was going to give them both a tragic end, was this all worth it?


    ¡°If fate decides that the two of us can¡¯t be together, no matter how hard we try, we won¡¯t be able to be together.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s voice was getting softer and softer. It almost broke her heart to say these words.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes were fixed on her. ¡°Do you mean to break up with me now?¡± His hand on Luo Ying¡¯s body tightened, and his eyes darkened.


    Luo Ying had never seen Lu Zhao like this. His eyes seemed to be a little wet. He was like a puppy that was about to be abandoned.


    Luo Ying was speechless.


    Jin Shi was right. She was already deeply in love with Lu Zhao and could not leave him at all.


    However, if leaving him causes Lu Zhao to suffer even more pain, she would rather suffer with him.


    While she was distracted, Lu Zhao had already scooped her up onto the bed and hugged her tightly in his arms.


    He buried his head in Luo Ying¡¯s neck and gently bit the soft flesh on her neck.


    Luo Ying was shocked and reached out to push Lu Zhao. ¡°Are you a dog?¡± Lu Zhao smiled and nodded.


    Luo Ying was embarrassed by his shameless attitude. She quickly forgot about her grief.


    Lu Zhao gently kissed Luo Ying¡¯s neck. ¡°But this dog¡¯s owner is about to ditch him, so he¡¯s going crazv.¡±


    Luo Ying blushed at Lu Zhao¡¯s words.


    ¡°What¡­¡± She looked at Lu Zhao and wanted to push him away.


    Lu Zhao grabbed her hand and raised his head to kiss her lips.


    It was a slow and gentle kiss. Luo Ying felt that her body going limp. She reached out to push him away again, but Lu Zhao grabbed her hand. Their fingers were interlocked.


    The kiss lasted for a long time.


    Luo Ying could no longer sit upright. She hugged Lu Zhao¡¯s waist and lay in his arms, panting lightly.


    Lu Zhao stroked Luo Ying¡¯s back. ¡°No matter who set the rules and forbade us from being together, I will find him and kill him.¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes darkened.


    He would not let Luo Ying leave him. Of course, no one could take Luo Ying away from him.


    After all, in order to get Luo Ying back to his side, he had already put in a lot of effort.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Luo Ying nodded.


    At that moment, she wanted to believe that this man had the ability to break the powers that be..

 Chapter 186 - Chapter 186: Termination of Contract

    Chapter 186: Termination of Contract


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying and Lu Zhao rested for a few days and were almost fully recovered.


    Luo Ying also prepared to return to the company. After experiencing Lin Jin¡¯s incident, she wanted nothing more than to terminate her contract with Lin Su.


    She could no longer stay in Lin Su¡¯s company.


    Luo Ying took a deep breath and pushed open the door at the top floor.


    Lin Su was sitting in his seat. He was staring at the computer screen.


    His eyes lit up when he saw Luo Ying walk in.


    ¡°Luo Ying, why are you here?!¡± Before he could finish, he saw the item in Luo Ying¡¯s hand.


    In an instant, his smile froze at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes dimmed.


    What Luo Ying threw on the table was a contract termination agreement.


    ¡°Please cancel the contract,¡± Luo Ying said indifferently. She didn¡¯t want to engage with him in conversation.


    Lin Su picked up the termination contract and casually flipped through it. There was nothing special about the contents. Both parties had voluntarily terminated the contract, and there was no need for any compensation.


    ¡°But isn¡¯t there still half a year left on our contract?¡± Lin Su looked at Luo Ying nervously. You don¡¯t have to be so anxious. Moreover, Director Cheng Yang¡¯s new work is still in the midst of filming. In that case, when the time comes¡­¡±


    ¡°The revenue will be split according to the originally agreed ratio.¡± Luo Ying interrupted him. ¡°But I want to terminate the contract immediately.¡±


    ¡°Why¡­¡± Lin Su asked the question that he already knew the answer to.


    Previously, he had limited Luo Ying¡¯s resources for such a long time and even wanted to use Luo Ying to support Su Ran.


    Also, he knew all too well what had happened with Lin Jin. It would be strange if Luo Ying continued to stay here.


    Lin Su looked at Luo Ying¡¯s cold eyes and felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife.


    If he really signed the contract termination agreement, he would have nothing to do with Luo Ying from now on.


    ¡°Please reconsider. I can give you the best resources. I have a lot of resources in my hands now.¡± Lin Su took out a few notices from the folder beside him.


    ¡°As long as you stay, I can let you go to these jobs.¡±


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t even look at those top-notch resources. She stared coldly at Lin Su. ¡°If you don¡¯t sign, I¡¯ll find someone to file a lawsuit. Don¡¯t forget that you hamstrung me in the past.¡±


    If she ever brought up those matters in a lawsuit, Lin Su had no chance of winning.


    Moreover, if an artiste like Luo Ying went to court, it would immediately attract the attention of the media. If the media brought bad attention upon his company, it was very likely that many people would have to terminate their contracts.


    ¡°Sign it.¡± Luo Ying handed the folder to Lin Su.


    Lin Su gritted his teeth and closed the folder.


    Originally, he didn¡¯t want to confirm this matter so early. However, if this was the last resort that could save Luo Ying, he didn¡¯t mind using it.


    He raised his head and looked at Luo Ying. ¡°The company will be acquired very soon. It might be very troublesome then. I suggest that you don¡¯t terminate the contract now.¡±


    ¡°Acquired?¡± Luo Ying frowned.


    The Lin Group was considered a famous company. She had never heard of any news of an acquisition.


    Suddenly, the door of the office was pushed open, and a man walked out.


    Luo Ying looked at him and frowned.


    How did Lin Su hook up with Lu Wen?


    Lu Wen was still wearing an ordinary casual jacket and pants. His curly hair was well-groomed, and he looked like an unassuming high school student.


    Luo Ying looked at him warily.


    Although Lu Wen looked innocent on the outside, Luo Ying didn¡¯t have a good impression of him.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°Sister-in-law, no, I should call you ex-sister-in-law now. You should have heard it at the family banquet last time, right? I told Grandpa that I¡¯m going to take over some business,¡± Lu Wen said with a smile.


    He paused for a moment. It was as if he wanted to admire the expression on Luo Ying¡¯s face.


    However, Luo Ying only looked at him indifferently and said nothing.


    The Lin Family and the Lu Family did not get along before, but Lu Wen wanted to cooperate with the Lin Family as soon as he came up. He should have made up his mind to overthrow all the order established by Lu Zhao.


    ¡°So, can you sign the termination agreement now?¡± Luo Ying took the folder from Lin Su¡¯s hand and handed it to Lu Wen.


    Lu Wen still had a smile on his face, which made people¡¯s hair stand on end. ¡°Of course, I can.¡± Lu Wen reached out and signed Luo Ying¡¯s termination agreement.


    Lin Su wanted to stop him, but he froze..

 Chapter 187 - Chapter 187: Plan

    Chapter 187: Plan


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying took the plan and turned to leave. Lin Su looked at Lu Wen and frowned. ¡°Lu Wen, don¡¯t forget what you promised me.¡±


    A mysterious smile appeared on Lu Wen¡¯s face. ¡°This is just a part of my plan.¡±


    Lin Su looked at Lu Wen and was a little confused. ¡°What are you getting at? You said that as long as I sell the entertainment company to you, you can help me get Luo Ying back.¡±


    ¡°Hopeless romantic.¡± Lu Wen snorted coldly. ¡°I can help you get what you want, but your sacrifice only makes me laugh.¡±


    Lu Wen¡¯s face was full of mockery. He clearly did not think it was worth sacrificing this much for a woman.


    Lin Su lowered his head. He didn¡¯t know why, but he could not get over his obsession for Luo Ying. If he couldn¡¯t get Luo Ying, his life was meaningless.


    Even if he had to hand over the entire Lin Group to someone else, he would still make such a decision.


    ¡°You have to keep your distance from her in the meantime. Give her time and space to remember how good you were to her in the past. If you try so hard to persuade her to stay, she¡¯ll only hate you more. Don¡¯t forget what you promised me,¡± Lu Wen reminded him.


    When Lin Su heard Lu Wen¡¯s words, he trembled.


    ¡°But when the time comes, you must ensure her safety,¡± Lin Su gritted his teeth and said.


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯m just going to draw her blood, it¡¯s not like I plan to drain her dry. What are you afraid of?¡± After Lu Wen finished speaking, he casually threw the document in his hand and turned around to leave the room.


    Lin Su stood where he was and clenched his fists tightly.


    The other condition that he had agreed to was the use of Luo Ying¡¯s blood as an exchange.


    Luo Ying would have to provide Lu Wen with a certain amount of blood.


    The blood in her body had a miraculous effect. Her mother used to be a famous drug maker on Neverland Island.


    Lin Su¡¯s eyes darkened.


    He was caught between a rock and a hard place, but he wanted to be gravity itself


    Luo Ying returned to the car. Chi Tong looked at Luo Ying expectantly. ¡°How did it go, boss?¡±


    Luo Ying waved the document in her hand. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡±


    Chi Tong nodded. ¡°The studio¡¯s establishment permit has been approved. We can now run our company properly!¡±


    Chi Tong had already terminated the contract with Lin Su¡¯s company a long time ago and helped Luo Ying prepare for her studio.


    ¡°Do you think any of the artistes I showed you back then are still promising prospects?¡± Chi Tong asked.


    He had picked out a few artistes that he liked for Luo Ying. Most of them were fair and tender young hunks who were good at singing and dancing.


    Luo Ying took a look at them. She was so scared that she almost smashed the tablet.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? This person is very popular on the Internet now. He was originally a doctor, but because he injured his hand, he can¡¯t perform surgery anymore. That¡¯s why he started posting videos of his singing on his own channel. He has a lot of fans now!¡±


    Luo Ying looked at the familiar baby face on the screen and was a little dazed.


    The person on the screen had a very cute face, round eyes, and a pair of dimples. He was wearing a loose black sweater and a pair of black round-rimmed glasses.


    Wasn¡¯t this person her second brother?


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter with his hand?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°According to what he said to his fans during the live broadcast, he probably experienced a fall accident, which is why he injured his hand. ¡®I lost my footing when I was climbing the mountain¡¯ Chi Min said. ¡®¡±I fainted on the spot. Although I managed to survive, my hand hit the mountain rock when I landed, and my bones were seriously fractured.¡¯


    He was in a coma, had an accident, and had a face that resembled her second brother.


    She suspected that her second brother had also come to this world.


    ¡°Help me reach this person.¡± Luo Ying looked at the name in the lower right corner. It was a single letter¡ªK.


    ¡°This person goes by K. But it¡¯s not easy to get his contact information,¡± Chi


    Tong said. ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem to accept gifts or advertisements. I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll be drawn by money.¡±


    This was indeed much like her second brother. In the other world, her second brother was a top hacker and a famous doctor. Even if his hands could not perform surgery now, he definitely had other ways to make money.


    ¡°Just keep giving him tips.¡± Luo Ying took a look at the platform that he was streaming on. It was a platform that could not declined donations. ¡°Reward him until he takes the initiative to contact us.¡± Chi Tong gasped..

 Chapter 188 - Chapter 188: Press Conference

    Chapter 188: Press Conference


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying closed the iPad. She closed her eyes to pretend to rest, but her heart was already surging with excitement.


    Second Brother was also here.


    For some reason, from the moment she came to this world, her relatives have come to this world one by one.


    Sometimes, she wondered if the world they lived in was fake and the world they were in now was the real one.


    If that was true, what did her existence even mean?


    If this world was fake, then who was Lu Zhao?


    Luo Ying¡¯s mind replayed what Jin Shi had said previously.


    She opened her eyes and sighed deeply. She looked at Chi Min and asked, ¡°Are there any jobs lying around? I want to do something before I go back to Prague.¡±


    Although finding Second Brother was also very important, too many things had happened in too short a time. She wanted to distract herself with work.


    Otherwise, it would be easy to let her imagination run wild when she was idle.


    ¡°Recently, a program that¡¯s filming a live vlog approached us. They hope that we can participate in the recording of some live vlogs with the artistes they¡¯ve chosen.¡± Chi Tong handed the information to Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying casually flipped through them. Basically, they were all daily vlogs.


    It wasn¡¯t a very difficult task, but when Luo Ying flipped to the second page, the guests on the list made her frown.


    Lin Ping and Lin Jin¡¯s names were also among the invited celebrities.


    ¡°Both of them?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    Lin Ping was a director, so it was understandable. But why was Lin Jin¡¯s name here?


    ¡°This show doesn¡¯t only invite celebrities. It also invites people from other fields. Lin Jin is a famous socialite in Haicheng, so she¡¯s also been invited.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s eyes coldly swept across Lin Jin¡¯s photo.


    Chi Tong wasn¡¯t from a wealthy family, so he naturally didn¡¯t know about Lin Jin and Old Master Lu.


    ¡°Also, I heard from the production team that Lin Jin said she¡¯s your fan, so she came to this show.¡± Chi Tong didn¡¯t know about the grudge between the two of them. He only remembered that Su Ran and Lin Jin had once ganged up to bully Luo Ying at the banquet.


    ¡°The incident with Su Ran has already passed. Lin Jin has also released an apology online. I think taking on this might be able to calm down some of the public opinion.¡±


    Luo Ying sighed. Chi Min was still a little naive sometimes.


    However, she could put on a strong front just like Lin Jin.


    ¡°But shooting a personal vlog shouldn¡¯t be something that you would come into contact with, right? Why would Lin Jin mention this?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°Some of the content of the program will also have to be recorded in the studio. When the time comes, there will be some reaction scenes. We have to do three episodes, and one more episode will have to be filmed outside with Lin Jin and


    Lin Ping.¡±


    Luo Ying looked at the schedule. This was indeed a cost-effective job, and the timing was just right.


    Luo Ying nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s continue.¡±


    She wanted to see what tricks Lin Jin was up to.


    At that moment, Lin Jin was sitting on the third floor of the Luya Group. She had been doing her internship here recently, which was also Old Master Lu¡¯s intention.


    Old Master Lu hoped that Lin Jin could use this opportunity to get close to Lu Zhao.


    However, Lu Zhao did not intend to give her this chance.


    On the first day she came to the company, she was informed that she was not allowed to attend meetings with Lu Zhao around. Her work reports were also to be reported to her direct superiors.


    Lin Jin couldn¡¯t even touch Lu Zhao.


    At the thought of this, Lin Jin gritted her teeth and looked at the message on her phone.


    If she couldn¡¯t get an opportunity with Lu Zhao, she could start from Luo Ying.


    She had already asked Lin Su to set up her public relations. At noon today, Old Master Lu announced that Lin Jin was Lu Zhao¡¯s fianc¨¦e at the Lu Corporation¡¯s banquet.


    Lin Jin bit her nails as she watched the time pass. She was a little nervous.


    She really wanted to see Luo Ying¡¯s reaction when she saw the video being exposed.


    Moreover, once this video was exposed, public opinion would probably lean toward her.


    After all, Luo Ying had no name or status. She was the wife of Lu Zhao, who was hand-picked by the old master.


    At the thought of this, Lin Jin was a little excited.


    The clock finally pointed to 12 0¡¯clock. Lin Jin excitedly opened the social media site, but there were no traces of scandals on the social media site. She was dumbfounded. What was going on? Wasn¡¯t it twelve o¡¯clock?


    Where¡¯s the video?

 Chapter 189 - Chapter 189: Gossip

    Chapter 189: Gossip


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lin Jin refreshed the video website in frustration, but nothing appeared.


    Her surrounding colleagues were already preparing to get off work for dinner. Only Lin Jin stood in front of the computer with her phone in her hand, not knowing what to do.


    How could that be? Had something happened to her brother¡¯s public relations team?


    Lin Jin walked to a quiet hallway and dialed Lin Su¡¯s number.


    ¡°Second Brother, what¡¯s wrong with your team? Why don¡¯t I see the video? Did you cancel the upload?¡± Lin Jin asked angrily as soon as the call went through. She was already prepared to slap Luo Ying in the face. How could she not post


    ¡°I¡¯ve already asked them to deal with it. I don¡¯t know why it hasn¡¯t been posted yet.¡± Lin Su also sounded very angry.


    Lin Su was staring at his subordinates working on the computer. For some reason, they had uploaded the video early in the morning and the website had also reviewed it. However, at twelve o¡¯clock, the upload failed.


    The programmers Lin Su had recently hired were all sent by Lu Wen. They were a group of programmers brought back from overseas and were all top-notch hackers. For some reason, they couldn¡¯t solve this problem.


    The leader of the hackers said, ¡°This problem isn¡¯t difficult to solve. But for some reason, nothing is working. It seems that the data of this video has been permanently blocked by the website.¡±


    Permanently blocked by the website?


    ¡°Is it a problem with the website?¡± Lin Su took out his phone and was about to call the person in charge of the social media site.


    The hacker shook his head. ¡°No, it seems like someone more powerful than us did it.¡±


    Lin Su was shocked. The hackers sent by Lu Wen were all world-class hackers.


    How powerful would someone be if they were even more powerful than this group ot hackers?


    Had Lu Zhao discovered it and already made preparations in advance?


    ¡°Did we tell anyone about this operation?¡± Lin Su looked into the hacker¡¯s eyes.


    Lu Zhao could only have done this if he had been informed by a mole.


    Lin Su scratched his head in annoyance. Why hadn¡¯t he notice any of Lu Zhao¡¯s men by his side?


    ¡°What clues can you find?¡± Lin Su stared at them.


    ¡°We have only found the IP address of the person who intercepted it, but a hacker of this level is likely to have a virtual address,¡± the leading hacker said nervously.


    His code name was Mask. He had never seen such a powerful hacker in all his years in the industry. After all, the organization behind him, Ka, was already the top hacker organization in the world.


    There were no more than ten people in the world who were more powerful than him.


    If one wanted to hire such a top-notch hacker, one would definitely need a considerable amount of financial resources or a considerable amount of favors.


    The masked man shook his head and sighed as he looked at Lin Su.


    Lin Su was a little mad. His problem had not been resolved, but Lu Zhao¡¯s spies had already reached him.


    An unknown fire suddenly erupted in his heart. Lin Su reached out and swept the documents on the table to the ground. Several hackers frowned and looked at him.


    ¡°You guys go out first.¡± Lin Su realized that he had lost his composure and let them go out first.


    He stood where he was and rubbed his chest. It seemed like he had to quickly push forward the cooperation with Lu Wen.


    Lin Jin did not receive a response from her brother. He stood in the corridor in frustration and called Su Ran.


    ¡°Su Ran, my brother is really unreliable. He originally said that he wanted to upload the video, but who knew that he wouldn¡¯t help me do it now,¡± Lin Jin complained.


    ¡°Don¡¯t hide at home all day long now. Come out and deal with Luo Ying with me.¡± Lin Jin said.


    She didn¡¯t know that Su Ran had already rolled her eyes countless times. After the live broadcast, she had lost countless fans and people sent her threatening emails every day.


    However, Su Ran did not dare to say that to Lin Jin. She had not terminated her contract yet. The matter of her debuting again in the future would depend on Lin Su¡¯S wishes. She did not dare to offend Lin Jin now.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be anxious. There¡¯s more than one way to deal with Luo Ying. You can think of other ways. It¡¯S not like you don¡¯t know my current situation,¡± said Su


    Ran. ¡°I want to help you, but I can¡¯t do anything about it.¡±


    Lin Jin sighed in frustration. ¡°But I can¡¯t see Lu Zhao now, so I can only think of a way to deal with her. Oh, right, I¡¯m planning to participate in the same variety show as her in the future.. Do you have any good ideas?¡±

 Chapter 190 - Chapter 190: Conspiracy

    Chapter 190: Conspiracy


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Participating in the same variety show?¡± Su Ran asked.


    She was very familiar with this. She had participated in many variety shows before and had a lot of experience. She knew very well how to establish a persona in such variety shows.


    Moreover, she could use this opportunity to think of a way to take revenge on Luo Ying.


    Su Ran¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve got an idea. Just listen to me.¡±


    When Lin Jin heard Su Ran¡¯s words, she was overjoyed. As long as Su Ran was willing to help her, she should be able to teach Luo Ying a lesson.


    ¡°That¡¯s great, Su Ran. I¡¯ll definitely listen to you and make Luo Ying suffer,¡± Lin Jin said confidently, not noticing the danger already behind her.


    ¡°Who do you want to make suffer?¡± A deep male voice suddenly sounded behind her.


    Lin Jin¡¯s expression changed drastically. She turned around and looked at the man behind her. The phone slipped from her hand and clattered to the ground. A spider web crack formed on the surface of the screen.


    On the other end, Su Ran also heard the commotion. She did not say anything and quickly hung up the phone.


    The man sized up Lin Jin with a dangerous gaze.


    Lin Jin blushed. This was the first time Lu Zhao had stared at her like this.


    She did not feel the danger emanating from the other party at all. Instead, she took in Lu Zhao¡¯s face and was smitten.


    Her eyes roamed greedily over the man¡¯s body. Lu Zhao looked at her infatuated expression and frowned.


    ¡°You¡¯re Lin Jin?¡± The man¡¯s deep voice sounded.


    Lin Jin¡¯s heart was pounding, and the tips of her ears were red.


    She lowered her head and pretended to be shy. She said in a mosquito-like voice, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m the bride that Grandpa Lu chose for you.¡±


    Lu Zhao had been staring at her. Did this mean that Lu Zhao was interested in her?


    Lu Zhao noticed Lin Jin¡¯s expression and probably knew that Lin Jin was smitten with him. He rolled his eyes at Lin Jin.


    ¡°That¡¯s Grandpa¡¯s idea. I don¡¯t want to get married. Besides, I won¡¯t let the video of the marriage announcement that day spread,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    ¡°Watch yourself. If I find out that you¡¯ve done anything harmful to Luo Ying, I¡¯ll make sure you die a horrible death.¡± After Lu Zhao finished speaking, he turned around and went upstairs.


    Lin Jin was still in the same position as before. The blush on her face had not faded, but she was trembling slightly.


    The man¡¯s words were extremely dangerous. Although she was not very smart, she understood what Lu Zhao meant.


    Lu Zhao must have found out about her attempt to upload the video today.


    Moreover, Lu Zhao had just heard that she was going to deal with Luo Ying.


    It seemed that she was really done for this time.


    Lin Jin squatted down and picked up the phone with trembling hands.


    Although the screen was broken, it was still usable. She dialed Lin Su¡¯s number with trembling hands. ¡°Lin Su, I seem to have caused trouble¡­¡±


    Lu Zhao walked back to his office and closed the dialog box on the screen. It was an encrypted chat software.


    The name of the app was ¡°Bounty Version.¡± This app was specifically used to post missions.


    ¡°K¡± had sent Lu Zhao a message.


    [The video has been intercepted. If there is any related information in the future, it will be intercepted.]


    K sent Lu Zhao a video.


    He opened the video. The video was a little blurry, and the camera was shaking. It was probably taken in secret.


    Lu Zhao looked at the screen and surmised the angle of the camera. This angle had captured everyone in the Lu Family and the few people from the Lin


    Family, so it was most likely not taken by the Lu Family or the Lin Family.


    So who was the one who recorded the video and posted it?


    [The commission.]


    The person on the other end sent another message.


    Only then did Lu Zhao open the dialog box and type:


    [The vlog will be recorded next week. Help me monitor the public opinion on the Internet and see if anyone has posted negative comments about Luo Ying.


    The commission will be tripled.]


    After Lu Zhao typed this line, he transferred three million yuan to K¡¯s account.


    At that moment, in Prague, on the other side of the world, a man sitting in a cafe stretched and looked at the extra three million in his account.


    The computer screen went black, revealing a cute baby face.


    ¡°The two orders add up to more than 10 million. The Luya Group is really amazing. They¡¯re so rich.¡± He turned on his phone and casually searched for information about Luo Ying. As he looked at it, he suddenly frowned. Could this Luo Ying be¡­


    He sat up and searched for information on the computer in disbelief.


    Could she be here too?

 Chapter 191 - Chapter 191: Sweet Filming

    Chapter 191: Sweet Filming


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Recording commenced quickly. The first thing to be recorded was the introductory film. A crew headed to Luo Ying¡¯s house and shot some clips of Luo Ying¡¯s daily life.


    Most of the clips were about Luo Ying¡¯s hobbies and skin management.


    When Lu Zhao reached home, Luo Ying was lying on the sofa, watching the program that the production team had just released.


    The video of her removing her makeup in the bathroom was playing.


    The video was very simple. It was just a shot in front of the makeup mirror. There was no lighting. The content was also very simple. Luo Ying stood in front of the mirror to remove her makeup.


    However, Luo Ying¡¯s skin was very good and fair. Her eyebrows and eyelashes were naturally thick. Even without makeup, she was still a beauty with red lips and white teeth.


    The audience was spamming the bullet screen like crazy.


    [Luo Ying is really too good-looking.]


    [Luo Ying removed her makeup and blinded me.]


    [Thank you to the production team for letting me know that a deity is still a deity after removing their makeup.]


    Lu Zhao moved to Luo Ying¡¯s side and looked at her on the screen. He put his arm around Luo Ying¡¯s shoulder.


    Luo Ying did not look up. She reached out and took a few grapes from the fruit plate beside her and stuffed them into Lu Zhao¡¯s mouth.


    After Lu Zhao finished eating the grapes, he stuck out his tongue and licked Luo Ying¡¯s palm.


    Luo Ying pretended to be angry and hit him.


    ¡°What are you doing? I¡¯m feeding you. Why are you provoking me?¡± Although Luo Ying said that, she looked happy.


    Lu Zhao buried his head in Luo Ying¡¯s neck and gently sniffed her scent.


    ¡°You have to go to work again in two days. I can¡¯t bear to part with you.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s tone sounded a little coquettish.


    ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Luo Ying put down her phone and reached out to pat Lu Zhao¡¯s head.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s hair was very smooth. She felt like a cute little animal.


    ¡°I know you can¡¯t bear to part with me, but I have to go out and earn money to support myself,¡± Luo Ying said.


    ¡°I can also earn money to support you,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    Luo Ying nudged Lu Zhao. Lu Zhao got up, and she buried herself in Lu Zhao¡¯s arms.


    ¡°When the time comes, can¡¯t you just visit me?¡± Luo Ying looked up at Lu Zhao.


    ¡°Oh right, how¡¯s the poison in your body?¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes darkened. After his accident last time, Wen Yu had been studying what kind of poison would erupt in his body, but she had never been able to figure it out.


    The people from Neverland Island were ruthless as always.


    Moreover, he had made many enemies during this period of time. Who knew when they would strike?


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Wen Yu helped me remove it.¡± Lu Zhao reached out and stroked Luo Ying¡¯s hair. Of course, he couldn¡¯t tell Luo Ying the truth.


    Luo Ying would be deathly worried about him.


    Luo Ying caught a hint of hesitation in his eyes. Lu Zhao must be hiding something from her.


    With that thought in mind, Luo Ying hugged Lu Zhao tightly.


    Lu Zhao was the same as in the original book. He was a person who did not want others to worry about him and kept everything to himself. This made Luo Ying¡¯s heart ache.


    It seemed that she had to think of a way. If anything happened, she could take precautions in advance.


    ¡°Then promise me that if I¡¯m not by your side, you won¡¯t do such dangerous things.¡± Luo Ying stretched out her pinky, wanting to hook Lu Zhao with it.


    Lu Zhao smiled and reached out to grab Luo Ying¡¯s little finger.


    ¡°Why are you always like a child?¡± Lu Zhao said with a smile.


    The two of them hugged each other again.


    Soon, it was time for the recording. Lu Zhao personally drove Luo Ying to the hotel where the recording was going to take place.


    When they arrived at the hotel lobby, the production team had not arrived yet.


    Lin Jin and Lin Ping sat in the hotel lobby with their suitcases.


    When he saw Lu Zhao beside Luo Ying, Lin Ping¡¯s eyes darkened. He continued to put on his earphones and immersed himself in the game world.


    Lin Jin, on the other hand, shivered and hid in a corner.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s warning last time made her a little afraid.


    ¡°You have to be careful,¡± Lu Zhao instructed Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying nodded and pulled Lu Zhao to sit on the sofa on the other side.


    When the two of them ignored her, Lin Jin stuck her head out from behind Lin Ping and looked at Luo Ying with a halo of jealousy flashing in her eyes.


    Lin Ping sneered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you envious, Second Sister?¡±


    Lin Jin reluctantly retracted her gaze. ¡°Grandpa Lu has already promised me. I don¡¯t think Lu Zhao will refuse him..

 Chapter 192 - Chapter 192: Cameras

    Chapter 192: Cameras


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lin Ping sneered. Why was this second sister of his even more gullible than a primary school student?


    ¡°In what world would Lu Zhao leave Luo Ying and be with you? You think too highly of Old Master Lu. If Old Master Lu could control Lu Zhao, Lu Zhao would have divorced long ago.¡± Lin Ping mercilessly shattered Lin Jin¡¯s fantasy.


    ¡°Hmph, even if the old man doesn¡¯t have the ability, I have a way.¡± Lin Jin still remained optimistic.


    Lin Ping glanced at Lin Jin. ¡°Second Sister, are you trying to strike at Luo Ying?¡± Lin Ping hit the nail on the head.


    Lin Jin did hear some ideas from Su Ran, but nothing mattered more than Su Ran¡¯s own actions.


    ¡°I¡¯m not that kind of person. However, Luo Ying is bound to fall sooner or later,¡± Lin Jin said fiercely.


    Lin Ping was about to retort when the director¡¯s team came in. They greeted Lin Ping and Lin Jin.


    The show was to be filmed in an amusement park. Several celebrities needed to experience the life of being attendants in different parts of the amusement park for a few days.


    The hotel they were staying at was also a hotel in the theme park.


    When everyone saw Lu Zhao and Luo Ying together, they greeted them, one after another. A few young ladies from the director¡¯s team discussed among themselves quietly.


    ¡°That¡¯s Lu Zhao. He¡¯s so handsome.¡±


    ¡°Luo Ying must have saved the world in her past life. Why is she so good-looking and her husband so handsome? I¡¯m so envious.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, I¡¯m really envious.¡±


    Lin Jin stood by the side. The more she listened, the angrier she became.


    This man should be her fianc¨¦. She glared at Luo Ying fiercely.


    If this went according to plan, Luo Ying would be finished.


    Lu Zhao noticed Lin Jin¡¯s gaze.


    His eyes were filled with warning. Lin Jin quickly averted her gaze.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s gaze was really terrifying.


    ¡°Since everyone is here, we¡¯ll distribute the room cards. Tomorrow morning, we¡¯ll start putting on makeup at eight o¡¯clock and filming at nine o¡¯clock in the morning,¡± the director smiled and said to everyone.


    After getting the room card, Lu Zhao carried his luggage and brought Luo Ying to the elevator.


    Lin Ping looked at Luo Ying from time to time.


    Lu Zhao and Luo Ying held hands tightly the entire time.


    Did he really like her that much? He lowered his eyes. This woman had been chasing after Lin Su before, but now she was so close to Lu Zhao. He was a little sad and even a little jealous.


    For some reason, when this thought appeared in his mind, he was shocked.


    After all, his feelings for Luo Ying were not like this in the past.


    He shook his head and expelled the distracting thoughts from his mind. The person he liked was clearly the person who had left without saying goodbye on the Internet.


    Luo Ying¡¯s room was next to Lin Jin¡¯s.


    Luo Ying swiped the room card and opened the door. She sensed Lin Jin¡¯s resentful gaze.


    She looked up at Lin Jin, who rolled her eyes at Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying sensed something amiss.


    This time, Lin Jin was definitely not just here for filming. She must be up to no good. Luo Ying had to keep her guard up at all times.


    Lu Zhao pulled his suitcase and walked into the room with Luo Ying.


    The production team had prepared a single room with only one bed.


    The room was unconventional, so to speak. It had been decorated with different motifs, and the theme of Luo Ying¡¯s room was that of a dream princess.


    The room was filled with pink decorations and all kinds of beaded curtains, like a princess¡¯ bedroom. The bathrobe was also made like a princess¡¯ dress, and there was a big teddy bear at the bedside.


    Luo Ying liked these little dolls. She rushed over and hugged the dolls.


    ¡°This is so comfortable to hold. I¡¯m going to hug the doll water to sleep tonight.¡± As she spoke, she looked at Lu Zhao.


    Lu Zhao knew that she was saying that on purpose, so he smiled. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be leaving now. I won¡¯t be accompanying you tonight.¡±


    Luo Ying closed her eyes and leaned against the teddy bear. She even stuffed her head into the teddy bear and shook it twice. ¡°Sure, sure. I¡¯ll sleep on the big bed alone. It¡¯s too comfortable.¡¯


    Lu Zhao didn¡¯t leave. He leaned over and hugged Luo Ying. He leaned in lightly and kissed Luo Ying¡¯s face.


    Suddenly, he stopped and looked at the doll¡¯s eyes.


    There was something flashing in the doll¡¯s eyes. If he was not mistaken, it was a camera..

 Chapter 193 - Chapter 193: Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell

    Chapter 193: Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Luo Ying.¡± Lu Zhao softly called out Luo Ying¡¯s name.


    The kiss she had expected did not fall. Luo Ying pouted and raised her head in dissatisfaction. She followed Lu Zhao¡¯s gaze and looked into the bear¡¯s eyes.


    She also the red light in the bear¡¯s eyes.


    Lu Zhao turned on his phone, connected to the wireless network, and checked the equipment in the room.


    Sure enough, he found a device called ¡°6-700¡± , which was usually the serial number of a surveillance camera.


    Luo Ying looked at the serial number displayed on Lu Zhao¡¯s phone, and her mouth fell open in surprise.


    If they hadn¡¯t discovered this camera, they would probably have given someone free pornography tonight.


    Luo Ying reacted. This should have been what Lin Jin had in mind.


    She had planned to indecent photos and private videos of her.


    Although she had done absolutely nothing wrong, according to the moral standards of the Internet, she would be ruthlessly attacked.


    Lin Jin was indeed ruthless. If an actress ever got struck by such a scandal, it would be devastating.


    Luo Ying reached out and was about to take the camera off the bear¡¯s face when Lu Zhao held her hand down, signaling her not to speak.


    Lu Zhao moved his eyes away from the bear and said loudly, ¡°Let¡¯s go grab a bite. I know a good western restaurant near the amusement park.¡±


    Luo Ying quickly caught on. She stood up from the bed, picked up her bag from the sofa, and followed Lu Zhao out.


    At the same time, in a room on the fifth floor of the hotel, Su Ran was sitting in front of the computer and staring at the screen.


    On the screen, Luo Ying got up from the bed and went out with Lu Zhao.


    Su Ran threw the mouse aside in frustration and looked at the empty room on the computer screen.


    Did Luo Ying find out that she had installed a camera? Su Ran was a little nervous. If this operation did not succeed, she might not have another chance.


    Her eyes were glued to the screen. She waited for Luo Ying to return to her room.


    Time ticked by on the screen, and Su Ran felt her heart jumping to her throat.


    She even put her hands together and began to pray.


    Suddenly, the screen went black, and a huge ghost face appeared on the screen.


    Su Ran was so frightened that she almost jumped up. All kinds of horror videos began to play on the screen. There were broken dolls, goat masks with empty eyes, distorted space, and all kinds of bleeding human organs.


    Su Ran screamed and threw the laptop on the bed.


    She had been discovered.


    Fear gripped her heart like a pair of big hands. She had never been so afraid before.


    Lu Zhao and Luo Ying were not people she could afford to offend now.


    If it wasn¡¯t for Lin Jin¡¯s coercion, she wouldn¡¯t have provoked these two people.


    She leaned against the wardrobe. Her legs went weak and she almost fell.


    No, it was not over yet.


    She dialed a number with trembling hands, and the call was quickly picked up.


    She tried to calm her voice.


    ¡°Baby, you promised me before that you would help me take revenge on Luo Ying. Do you remember it?¡± Su Ran said. She tried her best to make her voice sound like she was close to tears. ¡°I really can¡¯t take it anymore. I have nightmares every day¡­¡¯


    ¡°Alright, what do you need me to do?¡± The other party answered readily.


    Su Ran¡¯s face revealed an expression of triumph.


    She could always count on her fans for such matters.


    ¡°Can you come to the hotel near the amusement park now? Luo Ying is holding something very important to me. I need you to go to her room and take it out for me. Can you do that?¡± Su Ran asked.


    The person on the other end hesitated for a moment, but he quickly agreed. ¡°If I succeed this time, you can¡­¡±


    ¡°I will do anything.¡± Su Ran reached out to fiddle with her hair.


    No matter what, there would always be extreme fans who would go through fire and water for her. Of course, she would take all the help she could get at this time.


    ¡°You must be careful. You know how precious you are to me.¡± Su Ran lied to the other party without changing her expression. A determined smile had long hung on her face.


    She turned off her phone and stood by the window, looking coldly in the direction of the hotel entrance. Luo Ying was holding Lu Zhao¡¯s arm as they walked out of the hotel.


    ¡°Luo Ying, don¡¯t think you can catch me..¡±

 Chapter 194 - Chapter 194: Escape

    Chapter 194: Escape


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    At 10 p. m., the amusement park was still open. All the tourists gathered near the castle in the amusement park. There was a grand fireworks show at night, which was one of the characteristics of this amusement park. At that hour, not many people stayed in the amusement park¡¯s hotel.


    A figure snuck into suite 903.


    She was wearing a waiter¡¯s uniform and swiped the master key to open the door to the room.


    She did not plug in the power card to light up the room. Instead, she slowly walked to the bed and reached out to the teddy bear on the bed.


    In the darkness, the teddy bear¡¯s eyes seemed to be flickering with a red light. The woman¡¯s eyes paused for a moment, and a smug smile appeared on her face beneath the mask.


    Suddenly, the lights in the room were switched on.


    The teddy bear¡¯s eyes fell to the ground with a thud. The originally naive doll now looked sinister and terrifying.


    The person instinctively covered her eyes with her hands. As she ran out, two people grabbed her arms and pinned her down.


    She struggled with all her might, but the two people holding her were very strong. They had to be martial artists.


    ¡°Let me go, let me go!¡±


    ¡°Sure, after you answer a few questions. Stop shouting now,¡± Cheng Yang said coldly. He glanced at Xiao Ting, and the two of them nodded in tacit understanding. Then, they pulled the woman to the next room.


    ¡°Boss, this person wanted to enter your and Madam¡¯s room. I¡¯ve brought her here.¡± The two of them brought the woman to Lu Zhao.


    Luo Ying and Lu Zhao sat on the sofa and looked at the woman with disheveled hair.


    Luo Ying did not know this person.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    She raised her head. She looked ordinary, but her eyes were filled with anger and disgust.


    ¡°Luo Ying, if it weren¡¯t for you, Ran Ran wouldn¡¯t be in such a miserable state.¡± She looked at Luo Ying and shouted. Her saliva seemed to be about to splash into Luo Ying¡¯s eyes.


    Luo Ying wanted to take a closer look, but Lu Zhao reached out and stopped her.


    ¡°Luo Ying! You¡¯re a b*tch. You buy Ran Ran¡¯s black drafts every day and snatch resources from her. You¡¯re just lucky to sleep with a big shot like Lu Zhao. Scum like you should get out of the entertainment industry.¡± The woman was restrained by Cheng Yang and Xiao Ting, but she still raised her head and glared at Luo Ying angrily.


    ¡°A whore like you should be trampled on by tens of thousands of people in the entertainment industry!¡±


    Her words became more and more unpleasant, but Luo Ying did not think much of it.


    She had a decent amount of experience in this industry, so these curses were nothing.


    ¡°So, Su Ran asked you to do it?¡± Luo Ying asked calmly.


    This person addressed Su Ran as Ranran. This seemed to be a nickname given to Su Ran by her fans.


    ¡°Of course not. Our Ran Ran is so kind! How could she suggest such a thing? It was all my idea!¡± That person continued to shout, ¡°Luo Ying, you¡¯re shameless. I don¡¯t know how people like you survive in the entertainment industry.¡±


    ¡°You installed a camera in my room too?¡± Luo Ying stared into that person¡¯s eyes. ¡°You snuck into my room and installed a camera. Now, you want to remove the camera?¡±


    The person was stunned. She only knew that Su Ran had asked her to take the thing away, but she had never thought about what it was.


    Why would Su Ran install a camera in someone else¡¯s room?


    ¡°Boss, I found this in her bag.¡± Cheng Yang handed a notebook to Luo Ying.


    On the cover, there were four big words: ¡°My Love, Su Ran.¡± Below it, there was a line of small words: ¡°Zhou Wen [Love], Su Ran.¡± It was a crazy fan¡¯s diary.


    The edges of the book were slightly white, and it seemed to be well-worn.


    The person struggled crazily. ¡°What right do you have to touch my things? This is proof of my love for Ran Ran. She said that as long as I help her do what she wants, she will be with me¡­¡±


    She was a indeed crazy female fan.


    Luo Ying sighed. In her previous life, she had also seen such crazy fans.


    They infiltrated their idols¡¯ lives, fantasized about being with them, invested a lot of manpower and resources in their idols, and even stalked their idols¡¯ cars.


    Some idols would contact such fans and give them some benefits to drive them to do many things..

 Chapter 195 - Chapter 195: Luo Feng Appears

    Chapter 195: Luo Feng Appears


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying was a little saddened.


    Zhou Wen must have liked Su Ran a lot, but Su Ran had taken advantage of her feelings to get revenge on her.


    Luo Ying did not open the diary. She put it aside.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know that it¡¯s illegal to trespass into a hotel room?¡± Luo Ying looked at Zhou Wen. ¡°Are you sure you acted alone?¡±


    If Zhou Wen had done this voluntarily, then only she would be punished for this matter. However, depending on her words, Su Ran would also be investigated.


    Zhou Wen hesitated for a moment before realizing that something was wrong.


    ¡°No, it was all my idea. It has nothing to do with Su Ran.¡± She looked at Luo


    Ying and frowned. ¡°It¡¯s because I really hate you. I want to let everyone see you, a woman who has been defiled by thousands of people!¡±


    ¡°Slap!¡± Before Zhou Wen could finish speaking, a loud slap landed on her face.


    Lu Zhao retracted his hand and glanced at Zhou Wen. He said coldly to Cheng Yang, ¡°Take her away and send her to Neverland Island for Wen Yu¡¯s experiments.¡±


    Cheng Yang nodded and pulled Zhou Wen out.


    Before Zhou Wen was knocked unconscious by Cheng Yang, she was still cursing Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying sighed and reached out to grab the strap on her clothes.


    Zhou Wen looked sallow and skinny. The shoes on her feet and the brand of her bag were all of Su Ran¡¯s endorsements. It was obvious that she liked Su Ran a lot.


    Perhaps she had saved up money to buy many things that Su Ran endorsed.


    When she saw such fans, she felt her heart ache.


    Lu Zhao reached out to lift her downcast chin. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you scared?¡±


    Luo Ying shook her head. ¡°I just find it such a waste. Her life might have been ruined because of Su Ran.¡±


    Lu Zhao said coldly, ¡°It¡¯s just Neverland Island. I¡¯ll make sure everyone who treats you badly dies a horrible death.¡±


    Luo Ying hugged Lu Zhao.


    She didn¡¯t know why, but she always felt uneasy about something.


    Almost everything that had happened these past few days had been directed at her.


    It seemed that the original author of this novel was determined for her ruin. Therefore, no matter what she tried, someone would destroy her happiness and even cause some poor people to sacrifice themselves.


    She did not tell Lu Zhao what she was thinking now. She just buried her head in Lu Zhao¡¯s arms.


    She felt extremely safe in this man¡¯s arms.


    At that moment, Zhou Wen was dragged into the elevator by Cheng Yang and Xiao Ting.


    Su Ran was hiding in the corner. She looked at the two of them nervously.


    Su Ran clenched her fists tightly when she saw them dragging Zhou Wen out.


    Zhou Wen was really useless. She couldn¡¯t even handle such a small matter, yet she still became her fan.


    Su Ran clenched her teeth tightly. She did not allow herself to make a sound.


    Suddenly, someone grabbed her arm and pulled her into the fire escape. No one came in or out of the fire escape all year round. The dust was so thick that Su Ran choked and coughed violently.


    After her eyes got used to the darkness, Su Ran realized that the person holding her was Lin Ping.


    When she recalled how Lin Ping had been so attentive to Luo Ying, Su Ran snorted. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you accepted this show because of Luo Ying?¡±


    Lin Ping said nothing. He just stared at Su Ran coldly, which made Su Ran¡¯s hair stand on end.


    ¡°Luo Ying has really bewitched the two of you. The two of you are forgetting your friendship with me for a woman.¡± Su Ran struggled for a while and realized that Lin Ping was holding her tightly. She sneered.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t you learned your lesson from last time?¡± Lin Ping said coldly.


    Su Ran was stunned.


    After the last live broadcast, she had almost lost all her fans. Only a few perverted fanatics followed and supported her.


    Although the agency had not terminated her contract, she definitely had lost all chances of renewing it.


    Zhou Wen was one such fanatic who firmly believed in her innocence.


    Lin Ping looked at Su Ran and sneered. ¡°Su Ran, I¡¯m warning you right now. Don¡¯t hurt Luo Ying. Otherwise, I¡¯ll make you die a horrible death.¡±


    Su Ran looked up at Lin Ping.


    They had known each other for a long time, but she hadn¡¯t expected Lin Ping to say such things to her because of Luo Ying.


    She poked Lin Ping¡¯s chest and sneered, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you guys now? Are you all going to stand on Luo Ying¡¯s side?¡±

 Chapter 196 - Chapter 196: Discovered

    Chapter 196: Discovered


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°It¡¯s not about me taking Luo Ying¡¯s side. I¡¯m just starting to find all these pranks truly boring.¡± Lin Ping grabbed Su Ran¡¯s hand and shook her off.


    ¡°So what? Luo Ying only has eyes for Lu Zhao. Lin Ping, even if you kill me for Luo Ying, Luo Ying won¡¯t spare you another glance.¡± Su Ran sneered.


    Lin Ping looked at Su Ran coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t like Luo Ying. I just hope that you don¡¯t take things to the point of no return.¡±


    ¡°You should know who Luo Ying cares about the most, right? Then you¡¯d better remind her that I won¡¯t let any of her loved ones off.¡± Su Ran sneered.


    Lin Ping¡¯s words broke through the last trace of kindness in her. Since she was already in this state, she might as well do something to make things difficult for Luo Ying.


    She only wanted to drag Luo Ying down with her.


    ¡°You¡¯ve lost it.¡± Lin Ping let go of Su Ran, turned around, and walked out the door.


    The next morning, the filming officially began.


    Luo Ying, Lin Ping, and a few other guests had already arrived downstairs to gather for their makeup. After half an hour, Lin Jin finally arrived.


    Luo Ying had already finished her hair and makeup. She sat in front of the dressing table to make the final adjustments.


    Lin Jin chose the seat beside Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying turned and inadvertently glanced at Lin Jin. Lin Jin had two big dark circles under his eyes, and she looked very tired.


    When she looked at Luo Ying, her eyes were filled with fear.


    Luo Ying had a rough idea of things. Lin Jin should have been involved in the incident last night.


    When she noticed that Luo Ying was looking at her, Lin Jin sized her up.


    Luo Ying was dressed in simple casual clothes today. She was wearing pink sportswear and a black sports vest. Her hair had been tied into a high ponytail. She looked lively and vibrant.


    Lin Jin looked at himself in the mirror. The dark circles under her eyes were heavier than a panda¡¯s. The clothes she wore were casual and not as formal as Luo Ying¡¯s.


    Thinking of this, Lin Jin grabbed the makeup artist and pointed at Luo Ying. ¡°I want something similar to her makeup and hairstyle.¡±


    The makeup artist stiffly looked at Luo Ying.


    ¡°Miss Lin, according to the rules of the production team, every artiste¡¯s makeup and hair are decided according to the artiste¡¯s characteristics. I can¡¯t casually change your makeup and hairstyle.¡± The makeup artist tried to make her voice sound gentler.


    ¡°Besides, Ms. Luo¡¯s style may not suit you.¡±


    Lin Jin was already furious. When she heard the makeup artist¡¯s words, she grew even angrier. She threw the things in her hands on the table. ¡°I want the exact same one as Luo Ying.¡±


    ¡°This show is sponsored by my family. If you don¡¯t do it for me, I¡¯ll withdraw my investment,¡± Lin Jin said.


    The makeup artist froze.


    After all, the makeup artist was just an ordinary employee. If she offended the investor, she would lose her job.


    She looked at Luo Ying with some difficulty.


    Luo Ying shook her head at the makeup artist.


    Since the makeup artist was not helping her, Lin Jin stood up and splashed the glass of water at Luo Ying.


    In an instant, Luo Ying¡¯s clothes were drenched.


    The makeup artist was stunned.


    ¡°Luo Ying, I¡¯m going to use your style today,¡± Lin Jin said coldly. ¡°You like to take other people¡¯s things so much. You shouldn¡¯t mind if I use your things, right?¡±


    Luo Ying wanted to flare up, but it was almost time for filming. She didn¡¯t want to get entangled with Lin Jin at such a crucial point in time.


    She gestured for the makeup artist to continue working while she stood up and walked to the bathroom.


    Luo Ying let her hair down and casually tied it up with a shark clip.


    She looked at herself in the mirror.


    As she was going outdoors today, she had put on more energetic makeup. She used a makeup removal towel to remove some lipstick and glitter. She reapplied her foundation.


    Without those messy decorations, Luo Ying¡¯s face looked even more tender.


    She took out a bean-colored lipstick from her bag, applied a little smudge on her palm, and pressed it on her face.


    A faint pink blush and eyeshadow appeared on her face. She had thought of this method herself whenever she did not have time to put on makeup.


    At that moment, Luo Ying looked even more tender than before.


    Her coat was full of water stains. She took off her coat and walked out wearing only a sports vest and sweatpants.


    Lin Ping, who was originally sitting in the dressing room, was stunned when he saw Luo Ying..

 Chapter 197 - Chapter 197: Coincidence

    Chapter 197: Coincidence


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying was only wearing a sports tank top and pink jeans, revealing a large part of her white skin.


    Lin Ping¡¯s eyes widened.


    Luo Ying was not skinny. She was delicately muscled and looked very healthy.


    The shiny makeup on her face had faded, and now she looked natural and gentle. Lin Ping couldn¡¯t help but be stunned.


    Lin Jin, who was putting on makeup, noticed her brother¡¯s gaze and turned to look.


    Even though Luo Ying had light makeup on, wore the simplest clothes, and let her hair down, she still looked better than her.


    Several staff members stopped to look at Luo Ying in a daze.


    The makeup artist couldn¡¯t help but praise her. ¡°Her complexion and figure is just perfect. Even without makeup, she would still look good.¡±


    Lin Jin, who was already jealous, felt as if a knife had been stabbed into her heart. She said fiercely to the makeup artist, ¡°If you¡¯re going to do my makeup for me, then do it well. Otherwise, I¡¯ll ask the investors to withdraw their funds.¡±


    Lin Ping sneered when he heard Lin Jin¡¯s words.


    ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± Lin Jin frowned at her younger brother.


    ¡°I¡¯m laughing at your wishful thinking,¡± Lin Ping said lightly.


    Lin Ping rarely cared about family matters, nor did he interfere with Old Master Lu¡¯s plans. However, he had always found Lin Jin amusing.


    It was obvious that Lin Jin¡¯s qualities were far inferior to Luo Ying¡¯s in all aspects. He did not know who gave Lin Jin the confidence that Lu Zhao would definitely marry her.


    ¡°I¡¯ll definitely get them divorced. One of them is just a beautiful vase. What¡¯s the use?¡± Lin Jin said fiercely.


    Lin Ping ignored his second sister¡¯s nonsensical words and stood up to leave. Suddenly, Lin Jin grabbed Lin Ping¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Lin Ping, aren¡¯t you going to help


    Lin Ping frowned as he looked at Lin Jin. His second sister had truly lost her mind.


    The Lin Family did not invest in the show this time. The Lin Family had been mercilessly attacked by Lu Zhao as of late. It was very difficult for them to protect themselves. They did not have the money to invest at all.


    Old Master Lu was the one who invested in this show.


    Moreover, Old Master Lu had only invested in it after establishing a partnership with Lin Jin.


    Previously, Lu Wen had even signed an agreement with Lin Su.


    Lin Ping originally didn¡¯t care about business matters, but when he saw his brother and sister being so obsessed with Luo Ying and Lu Zhao, he found it all very saddening.


    ¡°What can I help you with? You can¡¯t force it when it comes to relationships,¡± Lin Ping said coldly.


    Lin Jin shook her head and said in a low voice, ¡°Have you forgotten what Big Sis did? As long as we drug her, you can¡­¡±


    Before Lin Jin could finish speaking, Lin Ping reached out and moved Lin Jin¡¯s hand away from his wrist. He looked at Lin Jin coldly. ¡°Second Sister, I don¡¯t like Luo Ying and I don¡¯t want to marry her. Don¡¯t even think about it.¡±


    Lin Ping turned around and left.


    Lin Jin sat on the makeup chair and clenched her fists.


    This younger brother of hers was being utterly disrespectful.


    Luo Ying was prepared to shoot.


    Luo Ying and Lin Ping were in the same group for today¡¯s shoot.


    In this episode, every guest would experience the life of a staff member in an amusement park.


    Lin Ping was responsible for ushering the way. She wore a big doll costume in the shape of a big rabbit.


    Luo Ying was a staff member who stood at the side and distributed balloons to the tourists.


    This job was relatively simple, and the two of them quickly got started.


    Lin Ping was holding a big bundle of balloons and acting like a big rabbit.


    Luo Ying took the balloon from her hand and gave it to the children who came to stamp it.


    Luo Ying was very popular. When people heard that she was coming, many fans had already flooded the place. They quickly ran out of balloons.


    It was very hot inside the costume, and Lin Ping could barely see out of it. He looked at Luo Ying through the big rabbit¡¯s eyes.


    Luo Ying greeted everyone who came to get balloons with a smile and spoke gently to the children.


    Lin Ping felt his heart quiver.


    From this angle, it was as if he was a peeping tom.


    He could openly stare at Luo Ying and listen to her voice.


    Lin Jin¡¯s suggestion just now appeared in his mind.


    Perhaps, drugging her and forcing her to be with him was fine.


    Back then, she had decisively abandoned Lin Su and fell in love with Lu Zhao. Perhaps she could also decisively abandon Lu Zhao and fall in love with him now?


    Lin Ping was shocked by his own thoughts..

 Chapter 198 - Chapter 198: Filming

    Chapter 198: Filming


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Although it was autumn, the amusement park was still a little warm.


    The two of them stood there for an hour. It was already noon. Luo Ying felt that her throat was dry, so she suggested to Lin Ping, ¡°Are you thirsty? Why don¡¯t you sit down and drink some water?¡±


    The person in the big rabbit costume seemed to be asleep and did not answer Luo Ying¡¯s question.


    Luo Ying reached out and nudged Lin Ping. Lin Ping was so shocked that he almost jumped out of his chair.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Luo Ying asked in confusion. Lin Ping jumped like a little mouse whose tail had been stepped on by a cat.


    ¡°Sure. Sure.¡± Lin Ping was so nervous that he stuttered.


    Luo Ying found it odd. Lin Ping was usually an unrestrained young master. Why was he so shy now?


    Luo Ying brought Lin Ping to the chair beside her and sat down. She helped him take off the hood of the doll costume and handed the water to Lin Ping.


    Lin Ping seemed to be in a daze. He could not take his eyes off her face.


    ¡°Lin Ping, are you alright?¡± Luo Ying asked. Why was Lin Ping so abnormal today?


    Lin Ping suddenly realized that he had been fantasizing about Luo Ying. He felt his face turn red.


    He shouldn¡¯t be like this. He didn¡¯t like Luo Ying. Why was he acting like this now?


    He avoided Luo Ying¡¯s concerned gaze and turned on his phone. He looked at the ID that had not been online for several months.


    This was the girl he used to like very much, but for some reason, she had said that she had a boyfriend, so she would not play games with him in the future.


    During this period of time, although he did not play games with his brothers in the group, he would go online from time to time to see if that girl ever came back online.


    However, ever since she rejected him, she had never gone online again.


    Her avatar was gray, and she had been offline for more than a hundred days.


    Lin Ping felt a dull ache in his heart.


    Luo Ying stood at the side and saw Lin Ping¡¯s actions just now. She had mixed feelings in her heart.


    Lin Ping seemed to really like her in the game. Even after all this time, Lin Ping still missed her.


    Why did it feel like she was a scumbag who had deceived an innocent young man?


    However, she probably wouldn¡¯t go online with this account in the future.


    Luo Ying moved her eyes away from the screen and looked at the people playing in the amusement park.


    There was a warm family of three and a couple holding hands and sharing the same ice cream¡­


    This was no different from the world she was in before. The feeling in this world was no different from the world she was in before.


    Sometimes, she felt that her previous life was just a dream, and this place was the real one.


    Her impression of her previous life gradually faded. At this moment, she only wanted to live well in this world.


    Luo Ying was lost in her thoughts. Lin Ping was also staring at her.


    The wind scattered Luo Ying¡¯s hair to both sides of her face, making her look especially innocent. Lin Ping felt as if his heart had been stabbed.


    Just as the two of them were deep in thought, a little girl rushed in front of them.


    ¡°Brother and Sister, I can¡¯t find my mother. Can you help me find my mother?¡± The little girl was wearing a white princess dress. There were two lines of tear streaks on her face, and she looked anxious.


    Luo Ying quickly stood up and grabbed the child¡¯s hand. ¡°Can you tell me your name? What¡¯s your mother¡¯s name?¡±


    It was common to get separated from children in amusement parks.


    The little girl sobbed as she looked at Luo Ying and said timidly, ¡°My name is Bai Luo, and my nickname is Luo Luo, but I forgot what my mother¡¯s name is¡­¡±


    The little girl burst into tears. ¡°Sister, can you help me find my mother? Does she not want me anymore?¡±


    Luo Ying stood up and prepared to bring the child to the management office.


    Lin Ping also stood up and prepared to go with her.


    The two of them walked towards the management office. After explaining the situation to the management office, the management office used the radio to call Luo Luo¡¯s mother a few times.


    Luoluo¡¯s eyes were red, and tears kept flowing out of them. ¡°Sister, Brother, does Mommy not want me anymore? Is it because I¡¯m not obedient, so she doesn¡¯t want me anymore?¡±


    Luo Luo¡¯s crving made Luo Ying¡¯s heart break. She squatted down and gentlv stroked Luo Luo¡¯s little head. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Luo Luo. I will definitely find your mother for you.¡±


    Luo Luo looked at Luo Ying, and the tears on her face could not stop flowing..

 Chapter 199 - Chapter 199: Discovered

    Chapter 199: Discovered


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lin Ping frowned and squatted down to look at the little girl.


    He usually hated children and didn¡¯t like to coax children. However, when he saw Luo Ying coaxing the child, he felt a little moved.


    For some reason, he had already outlined a picture in his mind. It was what he would look like after he and Luo Ying got married. Luo Ying would gently coax their child the same way.


    Lin Ping shook his head and chased the thought out of his mind.


    ¡°Luo Luo, let me play games with you, okay?¡± Lin Ping took out his phone. ¡°I¡¯m really good at playing games.¡±


    The little girl seemed to be a little curious. She stopped crying and asked softly, ¡°What game is it?¡±


    Since the little girl had been coaxed, Luo Ying also took out her phone and opened the game in front of Luo Luo. ¡°I¡¯ll play games with you too, okay?¡± Suddenly, Lin Ping¡¯s game interface rang with a special notification.


    Luo Ying froze on the spot.


    That notification was a notification to pay special attention to his favorited friends. The moment she went online, Lin Ping¡¯s phone rang with the same notification.


    Lin Ping was also stunned. He stiffly stuck his head out to look at Luo Ying¡¯s ID on the game interface on her phone.


    Luo Ying tried to hide her ID, but Lin Ping still saw it.


    In the blink of an eye, Lin Ping felt like he was struck by lightning.


    The online girl he liked was Luo Ying?


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t dare to look at Lin Ping. She simply opened the game and let Luo Luo play.


    Luo Luo¡¯s attention was distracted by the game, and she seemed to be in a better mood.


    Lin Ping, who was supposed to play games with Luo Luo, didn¡¯t know if he should go online now. He wasn¡¯t sure if Luo Ying had realized that he was the person in the game.


    However, he really wanted to see Luo Ying¡¯s expression when she realized that the person was him.


    Would she fall for him just because he was the one?


    When this thought appeared in his mind, Lin Ping was also shocked by himself. Did he actually have feelings for Luo Ying?


    Lin Ping stiffly turned off his phone and smiled at Luo Luo. ¡°Luo Luo, I¡¯ll go buy you ice cream.¡±


    Luoluo was a child. Of course, she liked things like ice cream.


    He walked out of the management office and into the ice cream shop.


    The air-conditioning in the ice cream shop cleared his mind a little.


    Many past details resurfaced in his mind. Previously, when Luo Ying appeared on the show with him, did she switch accounts because she saw his ID?


    At the thought of this, Lin Ping scratched his head in frustration. He never thought that the girl he had fallen in love with in the game would be Luo Ying.


    The voices were so similar, she should have been able to recognize them.


    All the inexplicable thoughts that had been suppressed before suddenly surged up again.


    In the game, Luo Ying would act coquettishly with her teammates and talk to him very gently. Did that mean that Luo Ying liked him a little?


    This thought made Lin Ping feel terrified.


    ¡°Lin Ping, why are you here?¡± Lin Jin¡¯s voice sounded from behind him.


    Lin Ping was too frustrated to pay attention to his noisy second sister.


    Lin Jin had worn her hair in a high ponytail, and her face was covered with sparkling eye and lip makeup. Such an odd style seemed out of place on Lin Jin¡¯s face.


    Lin Ping sneered. ¡°Do you think Lu Zhao will like you just because you copied Luo Ying?¡±


    Lin Jin rolled her eyes at her younger brother. ¡°Why are you always speaking up for her and not helping me? Aren¡¯t you going to consider what I just said?¡±


    Lin Ping frowned. ¡°It¡¯s not my style to take advantage of others when they¡¯re in trouble. You should find someone else.


    Lin Ping lowered his head and scooped up the ice cream in his cup with a spoon. The originally sweet ice cream now tasted a little bitter in his mouth.


    ¡°I might as well tell you that I have already contacted Su Ran. We can¡¯t do anything to Luo Ying now, but I will start with the people around her and slowly make her yield.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Lin Ping widened his eyes and looked at Lin Jin.


    ¡°She has a few very good friends. One of them is Lu Zhao¡¯s friend¡¯s old lover. As long as I use these friends to threaten Luo Ying, she will probably be at my mercy very soon. ¡±


    Lin Jin looked at her bright red nails and sneered.


    ¡°Are you talking about Su Su?¡± Lin Ping frowned at Lin Jin..

 Chapter 200 - Chapter 200: Cruise Invitation

    Chapter 200: Cruise Invitation


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    A few days of filming passed quickly. Luo Ying was ready to set off for Prague again.


    Before boarding the plane, she called Su Su many times, but none of her calls got through. The people who had arranged a job and accommodation for Su Su said that she had not returned recently.


    Luo Ying was very worried and had already asked Jin Shi to look for her.


    She reluctantly boarded the plane.


    Lin Ping was also on the same flight, so their seats were very close to each other.


    After what happened at the amusement park, Lin Ping had grown more awkward around Luo Ying.


    He knew for certain that he liked Luo Ying, but Luo Ying probably only had Lu Zhao in her heart now. It was impossible for her to be with him.


    This realization made Lin Ping¡¯s heart ache. He put on his headphones and turned his face to the other side, forcing himself not to think about Luo Ying.


    The conditions that Lin Jin had offered him that day had moved his heart.


    As long as he was willing to cooperate with Lin Jin, he would be able to get Luo Ying in the end.


    He was terrified of himself and Lin Jin¡¯s thoughts.


    Lin Jin treated Luo Ying as an object that she planned to manipulate at will.


    ¡°Recently, the people from Neverland Island have developed a new poison. As long as you poison her with the first part of the formula and keep the other half in your hands, you can hold her hostage.¡±


    Lin Jin¡¯s words lingered in his mind.


    This drug was a hallucinogen.


    There were two types of drugs. One would settle down in the human body without causing any harm. The person would not display any symptoms.


    When the second poison was inserted, the two poisons would act up at the same time. The poisoned person would become a slave.


    ¡°You can threaten her, or you can just poison her.¡± When Lin Jin said this, her eyes had flashed with excitement, as if she was spinning a few poisoned daggers.


    Lin Jin placed two bottles of white powder in front of Lin Ping. ¡°Moreover, there is no cure for this poison. The moment Luo Ying comes into contact with the first part, she will be powerless.¡±


    Lin Ping¡¯s hand caressed the small bottle in his pocket. He looked at Luo Ying from the corner of his eye.


    Luo Ying had been very tired from the two days of filming. She was resting against the porthole with her eyes closed.


    She was very beautiful. He drew the lines of her side profile in his hand, but his heart was in extreme pain.


    ¡°Lu Zhao has already been hit by the first half. I¡¯ll think of a way to lure him to the cruise next month. There, I¡¯ll set the terms.¡± Lin Jin¡¯s words lingered in his mind again.


    He recalled the day at the ice cream shop.


    Lin Jin stroked the bottle of poison like a drug addict.


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible for a person like Lu Zhao to give up on his career. If I poison him, he would resist to the end. But if I just keep the second dose at hand, he will have to listen to me.¡±


    Lin Ping looked at Lin Jin and asked coldly, ¡°You plan to ransom Lu Zhao¡¯s heart. Is that the kind of love you want?¡±


    Lin Jin¡¯s eyes flashed with greed. ¡°As long as you seduce a man a little, he will naturally fall into your hands. Moreover, as long as Luo Ying is eliminated, I will have no competitors.¡±


    Lin Ping shook his head. ¡°What if Lu Zhao is willing to die for her?¡±


    Lin Jin¡¯s expression froze and she sneered.


    They had never considered this possibility. Perhaps Luo Ying and Lu Zhao were already in love with each other to the point where they could not part with each other. Lu Zhao might just readily lay down his life for her.


    Lin Jin said fiercely, ¡°Impossible. Lu Zhao has so many things. How could he give up his career for a woman? Besides, he hasn¡¯t seen his mentally ill mother yet.¡±


    Lin Ping broke free from his reverie. The plane had already flown steadily into the stratosphere.


    He looked at Luo Ying beside him. His fingers gently caressed the bottle in his pocket.


    Was this poison that powerful?


    Lin Ping shook his head and chased this thought out of his mind.


    He couldn¡¯t do that. What he wanted wasn¡¯t a soulless Luo Ying. He wasn¡¯t like Lin Jin. He wanted an equal to stand beside him..

 Chapter 201 - Chapter 201: Danger Descends

    Chapter 201: Danger Descends


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The flight took place during the dark in Prague.


    A partially undressed girl was hurriedly rushing along an alley.


    She had no idea how she was once again in trouble.


    To the end of the alley, Su Su sprinted. She drew in several deep breaths when she realized her pursuer was not going to catch up.


    Luo Ying had secured a job and an apartment for her. Her debt-collector adversaries had not come looking for her in a very long time.


    However, they found her residence and even damaged her work. There was nothing else she could do except flee for her life.


    Sighing, Su Su briefly looked at the text Luo Ying had given her.


    Luo Ying was really concerned about her well-being, but she could not communicate with her at the moment.


    There were too many snakes among her relatives for any quick solution to be possible.


    Su Su cocked her head to the side and scanned the area. She seemed to finally be alone. She let out a heavy sigh. Her existence was akin to trash decomposing in the sewers; it gave her no room to move or grow.


    ¡°I think she¡¯s in this room!


    ¡°We must not let this opportunity slip. Let us get her in our hands and put her up for sale right now.


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t we have some fun together as brothers?¡±


    The voice of the big guy came through the walls.


    Su Su felt goosebumps spread all throughout her body. Her tired legs hurt from her recent run. She no longer had the strength to continue running.


    With tears in her eyes, she turned to face the big guys. She reached down and picked up a brick lying nearby. She could not stop thinking about Sirius.


    Would anyone grieve for her if she died here today?


    There most likely wasn¡¯t. After her cruel deception, Sirius would not even bat an eyelid. If anything, he and his buddies would commemorate her demise with a bottle of champagne.


    Her eyes welled up with fresh tears at the realization of this.


    ¡°Little girl, why are you crying? Think of how well we take care of you. When we come across other girls, we would simply harvest their vital organs for profit. You are unique. If you were to be sold to a brothel, I have no doubt that you would be quite popular there.


    The big guy in front had seen Su Su coming a mile away. Under the dim illumination of the streetlights, his yellow teeth seemed even more repulsive when he smiled.


    When Su Su was greeted by this sight, she felt a wave of revulsion wash over her. ¡°Please, just leave me alone. My parents¡¯ debt is none of my concern¡­¡±


    ¡°What gives? Are you not aware of the phrase, ¡®sins of a father!?¡± The big guy let out a hearty chuckle. ¡°Your parents could submit themselves to us entirely and yet not be able to repay our boss¡¯s money. Even if they attempt to sell you to us, that won¡¯t nearly be enough. Where does that leave us?¡±


    The big men in the room laughed heartily.


    Su Su felt immense terror seize her heart. She peered carefully at the individuals in front of her as she clutched the brick in her palm. ¡°If you touch me, my friends will come after you.¡±


    ¡°Do you even know anyone here?¡± The large guy in front moved forward confidently. he reached out to yank the brick out of Su Su¡¯s grasp.


    Su Su¡¯s fingernails were about to shatter from gripping the brick so firmly. She put up her hand, trying to buy more time.


    ¡°Girl, just give up. Your parents may be considering selling you to settle their financial obligations. You are still in your prime. If you let some of those old men have their way with you, you may even walk out of it as a wealthy lady.¡±


    The men let out a fresh wave of laughter.


    Cold perspiration was trickling down Su Su¡¯s back. She would not consent to having her body sold to that establishment, even after death. ¡°You lot, how much does she owe you?¡±


    From behind the large guy, a clear voice suddenly rang out.


    Beneath the lamppost, a young guy dressed in all black stood.


    He didn¡¯t seem to be very old, but he had a menacing expression in his eyes. ¡°I can assist in repaying her loan.¡±


    ¡°A young guy like you can¡¯t possibly have¡­¡± The large guy laughed at first, but then stopped when he saw the watch on the man¡¯s wrist.


    The man¡¯s watch stood out from the crowd. It was a luxury timepiece from a well-known brand from throughout the world.


    The big guy had never worn a luxury watch before, but he had seen them in action while assisting his employer with several projects.


    This timepiece could easily pay off Su Su¡¯s obligations 10 times over.


    The large man¡¯s face lit up with happiness. ¡°5-5 million is the magic number. But we¡¯ll make do with five million dollars..

 Chapter 202 - Chapter 202: Saved

    Chapter 202: Saved


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The massive guy cast an eye over Su Su, who was shaking with fright, and his lips curved into a wretched grin.


    The sight of his yellow teeth was revolting.


    ¡°Not a dime less than six million. I give you till Friday to get your boss out of Prague.¡±


    Although Lu Wen¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t very loud, it must have sounded like a death warrant to the muscular guy.


    The group they belonged to was well-known in the area as well. Not even six million would get them to change their minds.


    The big guy cast a glance of mild scorn at Lu Wen. ¡°What Chinese family do you come from, kid? Wow, you really have it made. Are you trying to buy this woman?¡±


    The other hefty guys around them shared in the mirth when they heard this.


    They have seen way too many fools trying to play the hero. Lu Wen was much too weak to have a chance against them.


    As the hefty guy in front cast an eye across at Lu Wen, he warned him, ¡°Don¡¯t be too arrogant. We don¡¯t like trouble, but we also despise it when you righteous little shits meddle in our affairs.¡±


    He grinned evilly as he scooped Su Su up and studied her face.


    Su Su tried to hide by closing her eyes. The big guy¡¯s crammed his face up to hers. The large man¡¯s spittle on her face nearly made her sick to her stomach.


    ¡°Don¡¯t believe that because your wealth gives you the right to offend me, pretty boy. Do not think you can deceive me.¡± The big guy laughed and groped for Su Su¡¯s garments.


    Su Su nearly gave up the fight and, in a moment of despair, closed her eyes.


    Bang! The large guy dropped to his knees with a groan, clutching his face.


    Something had struck his eyes and blood was trickling out from between his fingers.


    ¡°You little shit, you actually dare to hurt our boss?¡± A second large guy glared at Lu Wen. He sprinted up to him.


    ¡°Bang! Bang!¡±


    Two gunshots rang out along the alleyway.


    Empty black bullet casings hit the floor. Two steaming holes appeared on the asphalt roadway.


    The large man stopped dead in his tracks. ¡°Gun!¡±


    Lu Wen withdrew the revolver from his pocket cautiously. His demeanor remained unchanged. It was as if he were just munching on a snack.


    His countenance was regal, but his white eyes regarded the handful of hefty guys with the disdain of a garbage collector.


    The few men shook uncontrollably.


    Lu Wen approached Su Su and gave her a handkerchief.


    Su Su¡¯s legs were already so weak that they refused to respond to her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at Lu Wen.


    Lu Wen reached out to wipe Su Su¡¯s face dry and then turned to face the men.


    After carelessly tossing a cheque in their direction, he princess-carried Su Su and walked away.


    The large men glanced about at one another and then looked to their wounded leader. ¡°Sir, what now? He dared to hurt your eyes. We have to show him who¡¯s boss.¡±


    ¡°No. Leave him!¡± Their leader slowly got to his feet and glanced in the direction Lu Wen had vanished.


    He had never seen somebody with such cold-blooded decisiveness before, and this guy certainly wasn¡¯t elderly. In addition, it was illegal to carry a firearm on this street. ¡°If he dares to open fire in public, he¡¯s got some major backing. ¡°Look into his background before we start a war.¡±


    Su Su had been running for many kilometers and was now feeling completely spent. It didn¡¯t take long for her to nod off in the automobile.


    She awoke to find herself dressed and resting on a plush bed.


    If her memory served her, this was the same hotel where Luo Ying had been before. It was immaculately furnished. The room had the same luxurious scent as the expensive perfumes on wealthy women.


    Who rescued her, if anybody, and why?


    Her eyes flared with mistrust for a split second. Why did this random individual come to her rescue?


    Su Su got up slowly and checked herself. Nothing about her body was out of the ordinary. No further injuries or scars were seen except from the ones already present.


    Six million was not an insignificant sum. There was no such thing as free lunches. She had to figure out what the catch is.


    With this in mind, Su Su decided get out of there immediately.


    She could have just been introduced to a new hell. Who could say for sure whether the person who came to her rescue was human or not?


    She got to her feet and was ready to push the door wide when someone pushed it open for her. Outside, a cheerful man held a tray while grinning..

 Chapter 203 - Chapter 203: Adventure

    Chapter 203: Adventure


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Su Su took a while to respond after recognizing who it was.


    The one who arrived was none other than her savior himself, Lu Wen. Her gaze wavered, and her hand on the doorknob betrayed her thoughts.


    After a while, Su Su removed her hand and studied the man.


    Lu Wen¡¯s gaze, tinged with a grin, made her feel uneasy.


    Su Su said, ¡°Thank you for saving me,¡± very slowly. ¡°However, I have to get going. Please let me leave¡­¡±


    Lu Wen remained silent throughout. He just stopped short of letting Su Su pass through the door.


    Su Su¡¯s blood ran cold.


    She had heard that some elites had unusual pastimes. To gratify their sick fantasies, they sought out young girls and locked them up in their homes.


    The guy in front of her may be such a person, she thought.


    Su Su couldn¡¯t stop herself from shuddering.


    ¡°What gives? Are you afraid? Isn¡¯t six million enough for you to settle down?¡± Lu Wen asked.


    Lu Wen approached Su Su and gently pushed her to the bed.


    Su Su stumbled and fell on the bed. She frantically took in the man¡¯s face. ¡°I am not that type of woman, and I am aware that you rescued me. But I¡¯m not doing something like this, there¡¯s just no way.¡±


    When Lu Wen heard what Su Su said, he burst out laughing.


    Indeed, Su Su was a naive and gullible young lady.


    He could easily use her against Luo Ying.


    Lu Wen got to his feet and spun Su Su around so that could straighten her garments in a gentlemanly manner.


    He set down the dish he was holding and gave Su Su a glance. ¡°I just got some snacks. It¡¯s still too early for lunch. You obviously went without food for quite some time. Fill your tummy with something.¡±


    Su Su regarded Lu Wen with suspicion.


    The tray¡¯s assortment of pastries was impressive. They came from a famous bakery around here.


    Su Su was a regular back in the day, before the debt collectors came for her.


    For many days, she had gone without food. She fought back her drool at the sight of the sugary treats.


    ¡°Eat, or not. Doesn¡¯t matter to me.¡± Lu Wen pushed the plate to Su Su.¡± Su Su gave Lu Wen a wary glance.


    With a grumble, Lu Wen popped the treat into his lips. ¡°I spent six million dollars on you. I don¡¯t intend for you to go hungry or get sick and die.¡±


    The dam in Su Su broke. She crammed all the food into her mouth. She ate a few pieces to calm her stomach.


    She cocked her head to the side to study Lu Wen. ¡°My family is long finished.


    Why would you help me?¡±


    Lu Wen leaned down close to her ear and murmured something.


    With a scowl and a look of astonishment in her eyes, Su Su gazed up at Lu Wen.


    ¡°Your family¡¯s plight is of little consequence to me. You shouldn¡¯t underestimate the Lu Family¡¯s influence. Naturally, I will have a plan to restore the Su Family when the time comes.¡±


    The guy stared down at Su Su for a moment. His eyes were darting about like a snake about to strike.


    Su Su was unable to meet his eyes. She turned away.


    ¡°Give it some serious thought.¡± Lu Wen got to his feet and went out, leaving her alone in silence.


    In the room, the white curtains flapped softly as the wind moved them.


    White clouds blanketed the sky.


    Cheng Yang literally dragged Luo Ying to the hotel once she arrived at the set.


    Cheng Yang said that she was planning a ceremony to officially welcome Luo Ying.


    The incident involving Su Su had been on Luo Ying¡¯s mind. She was about to turn her down, but Jin Shi remarked that at the moment, they had no leads on where to go for information regarding Su Su. She would be more productive if she went about her other businesses.


    Luo Ying decided play along.


    She followed Director Cheng Yang into the crew¡¯s private quarters.


    No one stood up to leave their seats.


    Lin Ping had also been invited, but he looked far from happy. He would glance away from Luo Ying whenever possible.


    At first, Luo Ying didn¡¯t quite understand it. This change in Lin Ping¡¯s behavior toward her occurred after her first stage performance with Su Ran. He kept a respectable distance, but he had been quietly watching her. She felt like he was conflicted between approaching her and respecting her personal space.


    It truly baffled Luo Ying.


    She took her seat and asked, ¡°Director Cheng, what are we doing today?¡±

 Chapter 204 - Chapter 204: Fun And Games

    Chapter 204: Fun And Games


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Since most of the participants were drinking-age singles, they decided to play Truth or Dare.


    The nature of Luo Ying¡¯s relationships was well-known. Her tolerance to alcohol was also not an issue. Luo Ying concluded that, even if she did play, she would be fine.


    Everyone was on board with this game.


    This was a spin-the-bottle kind of game. The rotating participant had to provide an honest response or comply with the question-setter¡¯s instructions. If they could not do it, they would have to down a glass of wine.


    A girl who had a supporting part in the drama was the first to spin the bottle.


    Her name was Xiao Ye.


    Xiao Ye was fond of Jin Shi. She purposefully tried to spin the bottle to Jin Shi.


    Instead, Luo Ying, who was right beside to Jin Shi, received it.


    Xiao Ye was a little disappointed. Lin Ping was right beside her. She prodded him with her elbow. ¡°Lin Ping, throw her a question. Everyone knows about Luo Ying¡¯s romantic relationships. I don¡¯t have any questions.¡±


    Lin Ping¡¯s eyes lit up with expressions Luo Ying could not read as he looked at her.


    The air froze. Everyone sensed something was off.


    Jin Shi¡¯s eyes wandered back and forth between Luo Ying and Lin Ping. He could tell that things could get ugly.


    ¡°If Lin Ping has no questions, I¡¯ll ask.¡± Jin Shi attempted to get this moving, but Lin Ping set down his glass and looked at Luo Ying.


    ¡°I do have a question.¡±


    Everyone sensed the awkwardness and watched silently. They waited expectantly for Lin Ping to make a statement.


    ¡°Have you ever played games with someone before?¡± Lin Ping stared at Luo Ying intently.


    Luo Ying silently stared at Lin Ping. She did not like where this line of questioning was headed.


    She understood exactly what Lin Ping meant. He wanted to verify whether the player who had been in touch with him in-game was, in fact, her.


    Luo Ying chuckled. ¡°What kind of question is that? Of course, everyone games a little. For all you know, I may be playing games with you right now.¡±


    For a brief second, everyone else was stuck trying to figure the actual truth behind her multi-layered response.


    Jin Shi was the first to react with a chuckle. ¡°Luo Ying, do you plan to give everyone a hangover this soon?¡±


    Everyone quickly reacted and laughed along with him. ¡°Lin Ping, that¡¯s such a


    boring question.¡±


    A sigh of relief escaped Luo Ying¡¯s lips. She lifted her glass to her lips and drank from it. She felt Lin Ping¡¯s gaze on her and suppressed the urge to meet his eyes.


    She hoped Lin Ping would simply move on.


    They quickly finished the first cycle of drinks. The bottle now faced Lin Ping.


    He set down his glass and spread his palms to the group. ¡°Ask away.¡±


    When it became clear that no one had any questions, Xiao Ye said, ¡°Lin Ping, is the person you like currently among us?¡±


    In a game of Truth or Dare, this was a perfectly acceptable question for Xiao Ye to pose.


    Jin Shi scowled. Years of being an overprotective brother led him to conclude that Lin Ping definitely had some feelings for Luo Ying.


    What transpired between Lin Ping and Luo Ying, which he was unaware of, could not have been good.


    He prepared to intervene, but Lin Ping picked up the glass off the table and chugged it all at once.


    ¡°No comment.¡±


    There was still a lot of booze in the glass. Lin Ping¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly when he was finished.


    Xiao Ye was nervous. She stared at Lin Ping uncertainly.


    Luo Ying caught Lin Ping¡¯s attention.


    Luo Ying was using her fork to stab a piece of fruit before she popped it into her mouth. The carelessness of her actions suggested that she had not seen Lin Ping.


    The game proceeded.


    When the bottle reached Luo Ying, everyone paused.


    Luo Ying stared at them with an inviting smile.


    Cheng Yang was giddy with joy. ¡°Why don¡¯t you contact Lu Zhao right now and have him foot the bill?¡±


    Luo Ying was startled. Lu Zhao usually disapproved of her drinking. If he learned that she had actually participated in a drinking game, she was not going to hear the end of it..

 Chapter 205 - Chapter 205: Miss Him Dearly

    Chapter 205: Miss Him Dearly


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Everyone chanted, ¡°Luo Ying, just call President Lu.¡±


    The jeers from the audience caused Luo Ying¡¯S cheeks to flush.


    Lin Ping saw Luo Ying¡¯S face flush. His heart sank all the more. Luo Ying had to really love Lu Zhao. The pure joy on her face spoke the truth.


    Lin Ping refrained from joining in. He chose to keep his head down and drink.


    Jin Shi studied Lin Ping darkly. Lin Ping had a crush on his sister, didn¡¯t he?


    There was no way this was going to succeed.


    Probably unbeknownst to Lin Ping, Luo Ying is no longer the obnoxious, naive lady who constantly bugged Lin Su.


    Luo Ying fumbled for her phone and dialed Lu Zhao¡¯s number.


    Lu Zhao picked up almost immediately. For some reason, Luo Ying was a little sheepish. After all, many people were watching.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, what are you doing right now?¡±


    Everyone turned their attention to Luo Ying as she spoke on the phone, waiting to hear his response.


    ¡°I¡¯ve just come out of a meeting. What¡¯s up? Did you miss me?


    Everyone in the room squealed after hearing that.


    Lu Zhao could hear their cries of joy. ¡°Are you outside now?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I actually have something to tell you.¡±


    Lu Zhao probably adjusted his grip on the phone. ¡°What is it?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Right now I¡¯m having a few drinks with Cheng Yang and the others. Could you please pay for it?¡±


    She felt a twinge of anxiety. Lu Zhao was usually quite level-headed. She was unsure if she was about to get a scolding from him.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s leniency surprised her. ¡°Sure,¡± he said. ¡°Are you on speaker?¡±


    Luo Ying hummed quietly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll foot the bill on this one. I need to speak with you for a bit. Get off speaker.¡±


    He knew Luo Ying wasn¡¯t being serious since she was clearly playing a game with them.


    Luo Ying lowered the handset to her ear.


    Her ear was filled with the man¡¯s low whisper. ¡°I miss you so much.¡± He spoke softly, as if he were struggling through something. ¡°But there¡¯s a problem at the company.¡±


    Frowning, Luo Ying looked about. Was it possible that Lu Wen had begun communicating with Lu Zhao?


    ¡°Is is Lu Wen?¡± Luo Ying recalled that Lu Wen and Lin Su often got along well in the original novel. The moment Lu Zhao shifted his attention to his profession, Lu Wen and Lin Su nearly succeeded in swallowing the company whole.


    Still, they ultimately failed to prevail against Lu Zhao.


    But it was well off in the distant future. 1¨C1ad she advanced the plot progression again?


    ¡°Just keep Jin Shi close by. That jerk, Lu Wen has already touched down in Prague.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯S eyes widened. She instantly made the connection. ¡°When did Lu Wen arrive?¡±


    ¡°Two days ago.¡±


    Luo Ying had been troubled by Su Su¡¯S lack of response two days ago.


    A horrible prospect entered her mind abruptly. Maybe Lu Wen had something to do with Su Su¡¯S disappearance.


    Since Lu Zhao was struggling with work, she had no intention of troubling him. 1¨C1e would drop everything and fly here.


    She hoped Lu Zhao would be able to handle things on his end.


    Luo Ying shifted gears and began chatting with Lu Zhao about her work.


    Lin Ping was looking intently at Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying was beaming as she held her phone and spoke happily into it. Her face was slightly red, as if she was slightly embarrassed. 1¨C1er tears of joy were on the verge of overflowing.


    He found the scene agonizing to watch. Only Lu Zhao could ever make her smile like that.


    He had never felt so defeated in his life. How his feelings for Luo Ying had changed so suddenly was a mystery to him.


    Whether it was because of the eSports tournament they both participated in or just because they were both players, Luo Ying never left his side.


    Why would Luo Ying dislike him? Lin Ping chugged down a gulp of the sour liquor.


    He felt like a fool.


    Right then, Jin Shi reached around and grasped his shoulder. ¡°How about we go for a walk?¡±


    They climbed up to the roof together. Lin Ping was only half awake when the wind from the rooftop ruffled his hair.


    His breath smelled of booze, and his chest was heavy.


    Jin Shi was sorry when he saw Lin Ping¡¯S sorrowful expression. Luo Ying was his sister, while Lin Ping was a dear friend..

 Chapter 206 - Chapter 206: Lin Ping’s Collapse

    Chapter 206: Lin Ping¡¯s Collapse


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°You like Luo Ying, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Lin Ping became quiet after meeting his friend¡¯s questioning gaze. He did not want to lie to Jin Shi.


    He¡¯d become rather fond of Luo Ying.


    These were certainly peculiar ideas to have. Luo Ying was a married woman and she had once pursued Lin Su with an almost maniacal fervor.


    After ignoring Luo Ying for a while, Lin Ping unexpectedly developed feelings for her. It would seem odd to everyone who saw it.


    Jin Shi¡¯s eyes pierced into Lin Ping like a knife.


    ¡°Lu Wen bought out the Lin Family because of Lu Zhao, right?¡± With an icy smirk, Jin Shi set down his glass on the table. ¡°With all of this happening, you developed feelings for Luo Ying?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Lin Ping didn¡¯t try to dispute it and instead gave a noncommittal response.


    There was a trace of melancholy in his eyes as he surveyed the starless sky.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t understand you now.¡± Jin Shi sounded distant. ¡°Do you plan to go to war with Lu Zhao over Luo Ying? ¡® Lin Ping¡¯s gaze became gloomy.


    Jin Shi could not be any more accurate.


    But that realization only made him more uneasy.


    Although Lin Ping was only a friend he met after coming to this world, like Lu Zhao, Lin Ping was just a fictional character created by a string of soulless words.


    However, Jin Shi felt a twinge of sadness at seeing Lin Ping¡¯s suffering.


    They were formerly close pals. In the past, Jin Shi would have done everything to help Lin Ping win Luo Ying¡¯s heart.


    But now he didn¡¯t want his sister involved in such a mess.


    ¡°Let it go, Lin Ping. You know that Luo Ying hates you.¡± Jin Shi spoke slowly. He reached into his coat and gave Lin Ping a cigarette.


    Lin Ping¡¯s eyes glinted, and a cruel grin formed on his face.


    ¡°I never dared to admit this, but she¡¯s such a capable woman. I enjoy being around her.¡±


    He had been in love with Luo Ying ever since he watched her compete.


    It was true that he had formerly held Luo Ying in low regard. It was obvious that he found Luo Ying to be nothing more than a distraction.


    But now, he would do anythingto be with Luo Ying.


    Jin Shi couldn¡¯t stand looking at Lin Ping¡¯s conflicted face any longer. He understood how it felt to not be able to obtain the person he loved.


    ¡°For everyone¡¯s sakes, you should really let go. You know that you have to.¡± After lighting the end of the cigarette, he passed it to Lin Ping. Lin Ping let out a long sigh. ¡°I need some time alone. There¡¯s a lot on my mind.¡±


    Jin Shi gave him a brief nod and returned to his quarters.


    When Luo Ying saw Jin Shi return alone, she had a good idea of what had transpired.


    She was nervous about approaching Lin Ping, but she knew she needed to do something.


    Lin Ping stood atop the building for a long time. Finally, he extinguished the cigarette and sighed.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± From out of nowhere, a woman¡¯s voice spoke out.


    Lin Ping jumped as though he had been jolted by electricity. He spun around to face Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying had two glasses in her hands as she stood at the rooftop¡¯s entrance.


    ¡°Why are you drinking by yourself?¡±


    ¡®You know why.¡¯ A fishbone seemed to be lodged in Lin Ping¡¯s throat. He tried to speak the words, but they just wouldn¡¯t come out.


    Luo Ying turned to face Lin Ping. She looked sad.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Lin Ping let out a quiet sigh and turned away from her. ¡°I apologize, but I lied to you. We did game together.¡±


    Lin Ping felt some relief after hearing Luo Ying¡¯s confession.


    ¡°I know, but you left me alone in the game, so that¡¯s that.¡± His eyes were closed. The nightsky hid the muddled look on his face. He was silent and despondent.


    He had dropped hints to Luo Ying in the game about couple¡¯s watches and other accessories. He¡¯d gone as far as to ask other gamers in the guild to help him plot out a confession to Luo Ying.


    A sigh of relief escaped Luo Ying¡¯s lips. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for lying to you. I learned my lesson the hard way. I¡¯m married, so our relationship probably won¡¯t go anywhere.¡±


    Lin Ping lowered his gaze mournfully.


    ¡°Before she loved Lu Zhao, she hounded Lin Su. What are the odds of her switching targets to you now?¡±


    Lin Jin had previously made fun of Luo Ying¡¯s vacillating loyalties.


    Lin Ping, however, fervently wished that Luo Ying would live up to those words for once..

 Chapter 207 - Chapter 207: Cruise Invitation

    Chapter 207: Cruise Invitation


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Lin Ping, what do you even see in me?¡± Ling Ying raised an eyebrow at Lin Ping.


    Luo Ying had suspicions from the start.


    She had already learned from Lin Lu about the unique ingredient in her blood when the Lin Family drugged her.


    The Lin Family had designs on her blood. It was perfectly reasonable for her to believe Lin Ping was one of them.


    Lin Ping scowled as he met Luo Ying¡¯s suspicious gaze. ¡°I just like you. Must I explain further?¡±


    ¡°You know I can¡¯t trust the Lin Family,¡± Luo Ying said. ¡°Your sister had me drugged. Your brother tried to, well, you know what comes after the drugging. More than once, I¡¯ve been attacked. Physically, verbally, over the internet.¡±


    Lin Ping frowned. He looked genuinely confused.


    ¡°It¡¯s my blood,¡± Luo Ying said. ¡°My mom has pumped me full of her experimental drugs. It has changed my biological makeup. Your sibling couldn¡¯t care less about my consent. She just wants my blood so that she can experiment on me.¡±


    Lin Ping¡¯s jaw dropped, and he stared at Luo Ying in shock.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not forget what D¡¯Corporeal is doing overseas.¡±


    Lin Ping stared up at the sky. Lin Su¡¯s operations were mostly shady, and as a result, he had angered and harmed many individuals over the years.


    If Luo Ying¡¯s blood worked miracles, his sister would surely turn her into a living blood bag, no matter how twisted it sounded.


    Lin Ping¡¯s grinned in self-mockery. He hadn¡¯t anticipated his family to be so reprehensible.


    ¡°I see.¡± Lin Ping dipped his chin in shame. There was grief in his eyes, but he kept it out of Luo Ying¡¯s sight.


    ¡°I love Lu Zhao. Nothing is going to change that.¡± Those words were as good as a death sentence to Lin Ping.


    Lin Ping did not respond.


    ¡°Stop holding your breath for me.¡± Luo Ying walked out of the room after turning around.


    Lin Ping watched her as she walked out of sight.


    Production soon resumed as usual.


    Luo Ying¡¯s variety program throughout the nation went off without a hitch as well. Recently, Luo Ying¡¯s schedule had been full.


    They continued searching for Su Su, but they never made any progress.


    She made a special trip to Su Su¡¯s house, only to find it deserted. Even her pursuers seemed to have vanished.


    Luo Ying was perplexed.


    The criminals that went after Su Su were local celebrities. Why would they suddenly vanish as well?


    Luo Ying¡¯s questions were soon answered


    Jin Shi found the thugs. Zhou Yuan was the man who had led the latest pursuit.


    Zhou Yuan was blind in one eye and covered with wounds.


    Jin Shi surprised Luo Ying by bringing him to her.


    Luo Ying had met him in the past.


    Although not much time had passed, he already resembled a sack of bones due to his severe weight loss.


    ¡°What happened to you?¡±


    Zhou Yuan let out a defeated sigh. ¡°That Lu Family¡¯s youngster hit us hard. Some of us managed to escape. I was caught and tortured. I¡¯ve just only recently escaped. I heard Jin Shi was looking for answers, so I made contact.¡±


    A Lu Family younger? It could not possibly be Lu Zhao, who was not even aware of Su Su¡¯s existence, thus it had to be Lu Wen. Why would Lu Wen make such a move?


    Luo Ying stared at Zhou Yuan in thought.


    She sensed that Lu Wen was up to something.


    ¡°This is getting too dangerous. You shouldn¡¯t get involved any further,¡± Jin Shi said.


    Lu Wen, if he was accurate in his assumption, should have held Su Su as a prisoner.


    He could amass leverage over Luo Ying and Sirius.


    Jin Shi could not see what else he wanted to accomplish.


    Zhou Yuan met Luo Ying¡¯s gaze. ¡± Did Lu Wen do anything else? Do you know him or have you spoken to him?


    ¡°He¡¯s such a conceited youngster. He threw six million to buy us out of Prague and also paid off Su Su¡¯s debts. Damn kid even had a gun.¡± Zhou Yuan clenched his jaw tightly..

 Chapter 208 - Chapter 208: Meeting

    Chapter 208: Meeting


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    A gun? Luo Ying frowned.


    It was almost impossible to get your hands on a gun here. Lu Wen could not be underestimated. He had to have a very powerful backing.


    It¡¯s likely that Old Master Lu was not working alone.


    ¡°You must be Luo Ying. I lied. I never managed to escape him. If anything, he sent me a message to deliver to you.¡±


    Luo Ying looked about suspiciously.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Lu Wen said he wants to meet you very much.¡± A gunshot rang out shortly after Zhou Yuan made this statement.


    Jin Shi sprang to his feet and shoved Luo Ying to the floor. Three gunshots entered through the glass simultaneously.


    The glass struck the ground in a spiderweb of shards.


    Zhou Yuan took a bullet in his arm. Oddly, he did not seem to notice it. Instead, he was clutching his throat in anguish.


    Jin Shi glanced at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were bloodshot. His face was pale. He slammed his head violently against the wall before falling unconscious.


    Both Luo Ying and Jin Shi exchanged glances.


    The bullet wound should not have caused such a reaction. Instead, his appearance was consistent with poisoning.


    Jin Shi got in touch with a physician and had Zhou Yuan admitted.


    As Jin Shi left the hospital, Luo Ying watched from outside. She extended a hand and Jin Shi received the coffee.


    There was a waft of coffee in the air.


    ¡°This poison is supposedly a combination of two different kinds of poison. Alone, they are harmless. But together¡­¡± Just as Jin Shi opened his lips to speak, Luo Ying immediately grasped the meaning of his words.


    ¡°I know.¡± Luo Ying looked down.


    ¡°Lu Wen, that pampered little shit¡­¡± Jin Shi looked grim.


    ¡°Lu Zhao has already been injected with the first part of this poison,¡± Luo Ying said.


    ¡°What?¡± Jin Shi almost sprang to his feet in alarm.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here, Luo Ying,¡± Jin Shi growled.


    Luo Ying chuckled. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Have you figured out how to go back to our home?¡±


    Jin Shi shook his head firmly. ¡°Now that Lu Wen is also involved in this chaotic battle, it¡¯s going to be difficult for us to stay out of it.¡±


    It was obvious that Old Master Lu was going for Lu Zhao, so he had to have approved Lu Wen¡¯s actions.


    It was a fight to the death within the family. Having Luo Ying used as a weapon in their conflict was the last thing Jin Shi wanted.


    ¡°There are many similarities between this planet and the one we came from.


    Let¡¯s go away from everyone else and start over. Stay away from them; they¡¯re trouble.¡±


    If Lu Wen ever got a single drop of this poison into Luo Ying, it would be the end.


    Jin Shi stopped speaking. He seemed to realize something. When it came to Lu Zhao, Luo Ying would never give up.


    Luo Ying shook her head and grinned at Lu Zhao. ¡°Of course we should get out of this mess, but I will never leave Lu Zhao.¡¯


    Luo Ying was well aware of the situation, yet she still found it impossible to separate herself from Lu Zhao.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you this, Luo Ying. Would you consider returning if the opportunity arose?¡± Jin Shi looked directly into Luo Ying¡¯s eyes, searching for an answer.


    ¡°Third Brother.¡± Luo Ying remained undecided.


    Since Jin Shi¡¯s arrival in this world, he has avoided developing deep relationships with its inhabitants.


    Even if the world he had lived in was an illusion and this one was the true one, all of his memories proved otherwise.


    When he met Luo Ying, he redoubled his efforts in getting them out of here as soon as possible.


    ¡°Luo Ying, Lu Wen is out to get you.¡± Jin Shi sighed.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware of it. But I won¡¯t make it easy for him,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Jin Shi stared directly into Luo Ying¡¯s eyes. She was not going to back down. His sister had always acted this way. When she put her mind to anything, nothing would change her mind.


    Jin Shi sighed deeply. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s do this.¡±


    Luo Ying turned to her brother, her expression brimming with appreciation.


    ¡°I appreciate it, Third Brother.¡±


    In the midst of their conversation, her phone rang. Luo Ying¡¯s eyes widened at the name on the screen.


    It was the number she had provided for Su Su..

 Chapter 209 - Chapter 209: Cruise Travel

    Chapter 209: Cruise Travel


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    In Lan City, the night was still young. Sirius was sitting in his lofty, third-floor Luya Group office.


    He seemed really worn out, as if he had suddenly aged a good many years. His eyes were vacant as he repeatedly switched on and off his phone.


    The phone displayed a message from Su Su.


    [Lu Wen has taken me captive on the Bluebell Cruise. Can you come and save me?]


    Even Lu Zhao, who was seated off to the side, looked grave.


    Wen Du assessed them from where he stood by the door.


    ¡°I must go this time. No matter what you say, I must go,¡± Sirius stated.


    Lu Zhao groaned heavily as he studied Sirius. ¡°I am to blame for this. I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    Wen Du frowned to himself. ¡°Young Master Lu, you mustn¡¯t. Do I need to remind you that your body is full of the poison? Lu Wen must have set up this trap. You can¡¯t hand yourself over to him on a platter.¡±


    Sirius was reminded of the fact. He turned to Lu Zhao and said, ¡°Su Su is my girl. I have no choice but to do this on my own. We can¡¯t afford to have you caught up in this.¡±


    The line ¡°Su Su is my girl¡± brought a sense of relief to Lu Zhao.


    Sirius had previously avoided talking about Su Su, but after hearing Luo Ying out, he realized that he still cared deeply for his former girlfriend.


    ¡°I¡¯d rather go with you. I can¡¯t let you do this on your own,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    ¡°You practically have a time bomb in your body,¡± Wen Du cut him off. ¡°That¡¯s out of the question!¡±


    Wen Du was right. It was too big a risk.


    They were bound to lose everything if Lu Zhao got struck by the second half of the poison.


    ¡°I will be careful. If you don¡¯t let me go, who among you will be next in line for him to work his magic?


    Wen Du fell silent. Lu Zhao¡¯s words made sense. ¡°Lu Wen is not going to stop until he has his hands on Lu Zhao. This has to end now.¡±


    Sirius did not like this, but he could not see any other way either.


    ¡°I can¡¯t stop you, but you have to bring in the cavalry from Neverland Island this time,¡± Sirius said darkly.


    Not so long ago, they had picked out a team of Neverland Island¡¯s finest and were ready to start training them to be their future guardians. ¡°Send some to Prague. Keep them by Luo Ying¡¯s side,¡± said Lu Zhao


    Sirius was speechless for a moment.


    Sirius was certain that Luo Ying was already aware of the situation. In addition, she must have started making her own move.


    Sirius thought about explaining it to Lu Zhao. In the end, he gave up and sighed.


    Three days later, the three of them were ready to rescue Su Su.


    Luo Ying got a call from Lu Zhao.


    Luo Ying answered the phone right away.


    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s the matter? Did you miss me?¡± Luo Ying sounded calm and collected. She did not seem to be aware of Su Su¡¯s situation.


    The relief was palpable on Lu Zhao¡¯s face. ¡°I long for you.¡±


    Luo Ying grinned smugly. ¡°I guess I haven¡¯t lost touch of my charm. It¡¯s only been a few days, and you¡¯re already missing me so much. Have you resolved your problems?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s done, but I have to depart on a business trip in two days,¡± Lu Zhao answered lovingly as he fidgeted with the pen in his palm. ¡°I may be unable to reach you at that time. If you need anything, go to Xiao Ting.¡±


    Lu Zhao wanted to reassure Luo Ying that he had made arrangements for her safety, but he worried that doing so might raise suspicions, so instead he told her, ¡°Take care of yourself. I¡¯m worried about what Lu Wen may do to you.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± she said. The sound of Luo Ying¡¯s voice was like a warm, comforting hug.


    All he wanted to do was reach over and cuddle her.


    ¡°I¡¯m about to have a good time in front of the cameras. Don¡¯t forget about me!¡± Luo Ying said, beaming.


    He could hear the commotion at her side.


    ¡°Are you filming tonight?¡± asked Lu Zhao.


    Something about the situation was filling him with dread..

 Chapter 210 - Chapter 210: Undercurrent

    Chapter 210: Undercurrent


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s tone was calm and collected.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s heart skipped another beat when a ship¡¯s horn rang out from her end.


    ¡°Are you on a ship?¡± asked Lu Zhao.


    Luo Ying chuckled. ¡°What ship? The production crew is testing out their sound system. I¡¯ll have them play it again.¡±


    The horn rang out again. Lu Zhao could practically taste the sea breeze.


    Now certain that Luo Ying had not boarded the ship, Lu Zhao let out a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Do look out for yourself, okay?¡± Lu Zhao issued a tense order.


    ¡°Yes,¡± said Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying glanced at Jin Shi when she finished her call. ¡°Thank you, Third Brother.¡±


    Jin Shi lowered the phone he was holding. He had been playing the horn¡¯s sound effect on it.


    It was obvious that they had a tacit understanding of each other. Together, they had tricked their older brother in the past, and now they had tricked Lu Zhao.


    Jin Shi had once snuck Luo Ying out of the house for a game of catch. When their brother called to check on her, Jin Shi had deceived him by playing some TV noises and kitchen noises on his phone.


    ¡°How do you think Big Brother would handle the situation at hand if he were here?¡±


    Long ago, Luo Ying¡¯s older brother began working at the family company. He had a lot of potential and ingenuity. He was strict on them.


    Luo Ying could not recall an instance where he ever showed signs of panic. His confidence and stoicism were constant traits of his personality.


    ¡°Big Brother would have devised a plan to rescue us if he knew we were here.¡± With a hint of melancholy, Jin Shi surveyed the cruising vessel out in the distance.


    He also longed for the company of their other siblings.


    Far off the distance, a cruise ship was anchored to port. Tourists carrying expensive baggage and outfits filed into brilliantly illuminated decks, one by one. They plunged forward into the glowing neon.


    The Campanula was the name of this luxury liner.


    This was a renowned, multi-deck luxury cruise liner. It had been fitted a dance hall, pool, and casino. It was undoubtedly one of the world¡¯s most well-known cruise liners.


    To get an invitation, one had to be among the top 1% of earners worldwide.


    ¡°Lu Wen is quite impressive. Securing us two invitations is no small feat.¡± On board the ship, Jin Shi introduced Luo Ying to everyone.


    To others, it was a floating paradise where they can relax and have fun. To Jin Shi and Luo Ying, it was more like a purgatory set up for testing purposes.


    ¡°At least Lu Wen asked for a one-on-one meeting with me. He never asked for Lu Zhao. I¡¯d take that.¡± Jin Shi and Luo Ying walked together.


    A few days earlier, Luo Ying had received an invitation letter through text message from Lu Wen.


    He hoped to strike a deal with Luo Ying, so he had invited them on board this cruise ship. He also claimed to know where Su Su was.


    Lu Wen probably had Su Su in his possession. She had to do this for Su Su, therefore Luo Ying had no choice but to go.


    They took a step out onto the deck together. The cruise ship crew was there to greet them as soon as they boarded.


    A lady in front of Luo Ying smiled as she passed. Her uniform was adorned with magnificent gold inlay. She accepted Luo Ying¡¯s invitation letter.


    ¡°You two are Mr. Lu¡¯s most important guests. I¡¯ll show you to the room Mr. Lu has set aside for you on the penthouse level.¡±


    Luo Ying evaluated the lady¡¯s worth. She wasn¡¯t wearing any ordinary clothing. ¡®l¡¯ne quality or tne rat)rmc or tnese garments was noticeamy mgner tnan tnat or similar options. She had black fabric with gold threads embroidered with dragon and tiger motifs. It was opulent, to say the least.


    She also had a pricey gold watch on her wrist. She wasn¡¯t your typical waiter or waitress.


    ¡°You¡¯re not the cruise ship¡¯s attendant, are you?¡± Luo Ying inquired hesitantly.


    ¡°You¡¯re not even the main person in charge, are you?¡±


    The lady laughed. ¡°You¡¯re really perceptive, Ms. Luo. I work as an assistant to Mr. Lu. I¡¯m Nancy, if you¡¯re curious.


    ¡°Because Mr. Lu specifically purchased this route, I can also claim ownership of it.¡± The sea wind carried the woman¡¯s comments.


    They had arrived at the top level and were standing in a prearranged room. The room had a view of the unending ocean and had windows on three sides. It was luxurious.


    Nancy appeared to be pleased with herself. ¡°The Campanula was about to retire from service until Lu Wen purchased it. So yes, you could say that I¡¯m its attendant..¡±

 Chapter 211 - Chapter 211: Preparations

    Chapter 211: Preparations


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying and Jin Shi exchanged glances.


    This latest operation by Lu Wen should have been well-thought-out and well-planned.


    Luo Ying was confused. A legitimate economic conflict would have allowed for more civilized tactics. For what reason was it necessary to do this?


    He even planned to include bystanders.


    Nancy seemed to read the suspicion in Luo Ying¡¯s eyes. With a wide smile, she reassured them. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We simply wished to extend an invitation to have fun with you guys. Mr. Lu is a great business partner.¡±


    Nancy¡¯s grin was demure and professional, but it was frightening all the same.


    ¡°So, if we don¡¯t cooperate, we won¡¯t really have fun?¡± Jin Shi asked coldly. There was nothing inherently dangerous about what he said, yet the threat he conveyed ran deep.


    The cruise ship was about to sail out into the vast ocean. They would have nowhere else to go. If Lu Wen wanted to torment them, he could employ whatever manner he liked without worrying about repercussions.


    ¡°There is no doubt in Mister Lu Wen¡¯s mind that you will accept his terms.¡± Nancy grinned. ¡°I promise that you won¡¯t have to come back here again. You and your companion have two rooms reserved here. I pray that you two have a wonderful time on the ship.¡±


    Each of them also received a black card from Nancy. They had access to the entirety of the ship with this black card.


    Luo Ying started assessing the place after Nancy departed.


    They had been provided with the two most expensive suites on the penthouse level. Three sides of the rooms had a clear view of the sea, and they had access to modern conveniences.


    The size of their accommodation rivaled that of a hotel¡¯s presidential suite.


    ¡°Lu Wen is quite intriguing. I thought he was going to discuss something with me today,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Jin Shi sat off to the side and looked at the cruise itinerary booklet to see what new attractions the ship offered.


    ¡°He won¡¯t approach you so soon, but that could change.¡± Jin Shi indicated the red-circled date on the sheet.


    Luo Ying read it. The cruise ship had just arrived at Lan City¡¯s harbor.


    Luo Ying stared fearfully at Jin Shi, her eyes narrowed. ¡°That¡¯s not gonna happen. Lu Wen assured me that he would not involve Lu Zhao. And I¡¯ve made this point previously. If he includes Lu Zhao, I¡¯m not going to¡­¡±


    ¡°He will not include Lu Zhao. He will only let Lu Zhao fall into this trap by himself.¡± Jin Shi raised his head.


    It dawned upon Luo Ying. How could Lu Wen waste such an opportunity? He would not use Su Su to trap Luo Ying alone, would he?


    Sirius would be caught up in it as well.


    And how could Lu Zhao allow his brother to dive into the danger on his own?


    A shiver ran up and down Luo Ying¡¯s spine. She had never imagined such a cruel tactic.


    ¡°He¡¯s young, but he¡¯s as dangerous as the old man.¡± Jin Shi sighed. ¡°We have to take this opportunity to socialize. Let¡¯s lighten up for a change.¡±


    The tone of Jin Shi¡¯s voice mellowed somewhat.


    He did not like the look of things. Lu Wen was not likely to threaten Lu Zhao or force Lu Zhao to hand up the company.


    He suspected that Lu Wen would not settle for such low ambitions. He was likely out to take Lu Zhao¡¯s life.


    Luo Ying met Jin Shi¡¯s serious gaze and nodded. ¡°Yes. We must make what we can of this situation.


    They returned to their cabins to change into their cruise-standard garb and don face masks.


    The majority of the passengers on the cruise ship were wealthy or aristocratic individuals who had little interest in famous people. But to avoid any trouble, the two of them agreed to hide their identities by donning masks.


    They started their evening in the basement casino.


    In another room on the third level, a certain screen was flashing. Lu Wen sat on a chair in front of the screen and observed what was going on.


    Someone pushed open the door. A lady in a black, gold-trimmed suit with well-set hair stood at the entrance. Lu Wen beckoned her to come in.


    Nancy stepped in.


    When Lu Wen stroked Nancy¡¯s leg, she promptly sat on his lap. She reached out and slung her arm over the guy¡¯s neck.


    ¡°How did it go? What did you think?¡± Lu Wen questioned.


    ¡°He did not recognize me. I don¡¯t know why.¡± Nancy¡¯s sounded a little saddened.


    ¡°What a heartless man.¡± Lu Wen chuckled. ¡°Just stay by my side, and all will be well..¡±

 Chapter 212 - Chapter 212: Old Enemies

    Chapter 212: Old Enemies


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Nancy nodded and stared at the screen, where she could see Jin Shi¡¯s face.


    Jin Shi and Luo Ying had put on masks and were on their way to the casino.


    ¡°What¡¯s so good about this man? He¡¯s nothing more than Luo Ying¡¯s poodle.¡± Lu Wen¡¯s tone was rather condescending.


    When Nancy stopped looking at the screen, she cocked her head to the side.


    She ignored Lu Wen¡¯s gloomy expression.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Let¡¯s have their old enemies wear them down first.¡± Lu Wen stared icily at the screen.


    His eyes glinted with malice as he wrapped his hands around Nancy¡¯s waist.


    The onboard casino was located on the first floor. It was late, a time when most gamblers were out and about in the casino.


    The bunny girl in the seductive black silk gown made her way through the crowd and gave them a sweet grin. A soft air of debauchery pervaded the room, accompanied by the aroma of various wines and perfumes.


    Luo Ying felt a nudge behind her and turned around quickly.


    Before she could utilize her full might, Jin Shi caught her hand and pushed her to the opposite side.


    Luo Ying could feel it. When she turned around, she recognized a familiar face.


    ¡°Lin Lu, why are you here?¡±


    Why was Lin Ping¡¯s sibling here?


    Luo Ying caught Lin Lu¡¯s eye. She may have been hiding her face, but her eyes betrayed her murderous intent.


    ¡°You actually showed up.¡± Lin Lu scoffed. ¡°I was surprised to hear that you¡¯re seeing Jin Shi at this time. I can¡¯t believe how brazen you are.¡±


    Inwardly, Luo Ying sneered. Lin Lu was spot-on with her categorization.


    How could she have taken the medicine without Lin Lu¡¯s influence?


    ¡°In the past, you had Lu Zhao. Out with the old, in comes Jin Shi. How could the Lin Family have fallen so far as to be bought over by the Lu family if not for you, you little b*tch?¡± Lin Lu spat venomous words at her.


    Luo Ying studied Lin Lu¡¯s appearance.


    She appeared out of place on this luxurious cruise liner in her extremely ordinary attire. Where did she go wrong?


    ¡°The Lin Family would not be in such disarray if it weren¡¯t for your evil acts. Are you actually blaming it on me?¡± Luo Ying icily spoke.


    Lin Lu did not seem to hear her. Instead, she gave Luo Ying a sneer and shoved a stack of chips at her. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, why don¡¯t you play with me?¡± ¡°Play what?¡± Luo Ying looked around the casino.


    She was comfortable here. She was well-versed in all sorts of games because she had grown up playing alongside Jin Shi and the rest of the gang. ¡°How about we play dice?¡± Lin Lu scoffed. ¡°You up for a bet?¡±


    ¡°What are the stakes?¡± asked Luo Ying.


    ¡°Throw yourself overboard if you lose. If I lose, I¡¯ll jump. Isn¡¯t that fun?¡±


    Luo Ying stared at her.


    Lin Lu was dressed in a short-sleeved blouse that had clearly seen better days. There were stains all over it. She had a variety of chips in an old bag that she was carrying.


    She seemed to have waited around here for days.


    ¡°When did the Lins start getting so financially strapped? Ms. Lin, you should have come better prepared,¡± Jin Shi said.


    Lin Lu sent a resentful glance in Luo Ying¡¯s direction.


    Luo Ying paid her no mind as he slackly nodded and motioned for the waiter to bring up the dice.


    The bunny girl worked on the dice. The light in Lin Lu¡¯s eyes glowed with anticipation.


    It was time for her to have her revenge. She felt she had waited too long for Luo Ying to arrive.


    ¡°I can save the Lu family if I beat you and take your chips, hehe.¡± Lin Lu¡¯s gaze was rife with avarice.


    Lin Lu¡¯s position in the company was immediately crushed after Lu Zhao and the others began negotiating with the Lin Family.


    Despite the fact that Lin Su was now in charge of it, Lin Su nevertheless forbade Lin Lu from having any involvement. In other words, Lin Lu had accepted Lu Wen¡¯s terms. Lu Wen promised Lin Lu the acquisition money if she could just beat Luo Ying.


    The dice game¡¯s rules were straightforward. It was the standard procedure for wagering on odds.


    Already, Lin Lu was working in concert with the rabbit women. The dice would be manipulated in secret so that Lin Lu¡¯s desired roll would prevail. The girl with the rabbit ears winked at Lin Lu and started rattling her cup..

 Chapter 213 - Chapter 213: Still Falling Short

    Chapter 213: Still Falling Short


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The dice made a sharp impact against the inside of the cup.


    Lin Lu¡¯s eyes betrayed her excitement at the sound. The entire Lin Family could be reclaimed in under ten minutes.


    Luo Ying ignored Lin Lu. As she leaned back, all she did was fiddle with the pendant in her hand. Jin Shi was taken aback by her cool composure. He knew his sister was good at these games, but Lin Lu must have rigged it.


    What gave Luo Ying such confidence?


    Lin Lu pushed her stack of chips as soon as the cup was set down. ¡°Big.¡± The little bunny girl gave her a knowing look and nodded. She turned her attention to Luo Ying.


    ¡°Small,¡± said Luo Ying. She clasped the key ring in her hand and released it gently. She appeared unconcerned, as though the wager was irrelevant to her.


    Lin Lu seemed a little flustered.


    Was Luo Ying not taking this deal seriously? She would have to jump overboard!


    Everyone looked at the dice as the cup was raised. It was a 6. Lin Lu let out a sigh of relief, and her smug grin returned to her face.


    ¡°Luo Ying, are you seriously going to plunge into the ocean? Hahahaha.¡±


    Lin Lu¡¯s humor was terrifying in its hollowness. Luo Ying raised her eyes up to stare at Lin Lu.


    ¡°Do I finally have your undivided attention now? You do plan to take a dip in the river, don¡¯t you?¡± Lin Lu smiled and covered her mouth as she laughed.


    Sighing, Luo Ying motioned for the bunny girl to keep shaking the dice.


    The bunny girl kept shaking the dice as she held out her hand. The clear sound carried all the way through the building.


    Everyone was intrigued when they heard that jumping into the water had been offered up as a wager. They approached the pair and watched with keen interest.


    After the second throw of the dice, betting could begin.


    A hurried ¡°small,¡± from Lin Lu.


    Luo Ying ignored Lin Lu. She merely whispered, ¡°Big.¡±


    A group of people gathered around Luo Ying and Lin Lu and immediately started talking animatedly.


    ¡°This time around, it¡¯s a major event. That lady was spot-on. The odds of winning big this time are low, statistics say.¡±


    ¡°How did she manage to board the ship, anywvay? How did she manage to walk around in those tattered clothes of hers?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you heard correctly. The loser is going to jump into the water. Wow, that¡¯s hilarious. They should have stopped this kid¡¯s game long ago.¡±


    Lin Lu heard the mockery.


    However, nothing else mattered to her. She cocked her head to one side and rested her elbows on the table as she studied the dice. There was a glimmer of anticipation in her eyes. Her wish to reunite with the Lins was about to come true.


    The cup was just raised, and three fives suddenly appeared on the desk.


    The rabbit girl couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. She swiveled around to face Lin Lu.


    Lin Lu gnashed her teeth and stared at the bunny girl with venomous eyes.


    The young bunny looked away.


    As if these people did not matter to her, Luo Ying preoccupied herself solely with the pendant in her hand. Lin Lu¡¯s eyes hurt from being treated so flippantly.


    What was up with this woman and her tricks? She had obviously talked to Lu Wen about this. Could this lady have affected his decision?


    The bell rang for the final round. The dice¡¯s sharp noise was like the clash of two swords.


    This sound was extremely piercing to Lin Lu¡¯s ears. How likely was it that she¡¯d end up losing to Luo Ying?


    The players put down their dice, and silence descended. Luo Ying yawned and studied her drink in the cup. She opened her mouth awkwardly and uttered,


    ¡°Big. ¡±


    Lin Lu finally lost her composure.


    ¡°Big. ¡±


    Sighs were heard from the audience. It looked like the game would have to go on.


    When the cup was broken open, three ones suddenly appeared.


    Luo Ying gave a small yawn.


    ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day here. Let¡¯s just agree to a tie.¡±


    Lin Lu looked down at her chips as Luo Ying stood up, but what she said next gave her the willies.


    ¡°Why do you have to resort to such measures in the casino, Lin Lu?¡±


    She reached around the rabbit girl¡¯s back and retrieved a magnet from the bundle of fur.


    ¡°Does the casino here possess such appalling standards?¡± Luo Ying sneered at her.


    The bunny girl lowered her head. ¡°Lin Lu was the only reason I gave in¡­¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s interest in listening had waned. She retreated from the casino.


    She had never been interested in such tactics.


    Lin Lu was never her rival..

 Chapter 214 - Chapter 214: Ball

    Chapter 214: Ball


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lin Lu was taken upstairs to Lu Wen¡¯s room.


    The hood had been removed from her head and she was staring ferociously at Lu Wen.


    Lu Wen was smoking a cigar and sipping wine. The wine cooler released a subtle aroma that was unmistakable.


    Lin Lu was terrified of Lu Wen and dared not meet his gaze.


    Lu Wen set down the wine glass in his hand and said coldly, ¡°Is it done?¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t¡­Sorry to break it to you, but Luo Ying is just too incredible. She was able to recognize my ruses for what they were. How could she see right through such a delicate mechanism?¡±


    ¡°We have to get rid of her!¡± Lin Lu stomped her feet and pounded her chest as she proclaimed.


    The back of her hand was suddenly stomped on.


    Startled, Lin Lu raised her eyes to Lu Wen. Asking, ¡°Lu Wen, why did you¡­¡±


    ¡°I have zero empathy for scum in this city. Make your choice.¡± Lin Lu tossed a dagger to Lu Wen. ¡°Take this tomorrow, and use it to kill Lu Zhao.¡±


    Lin Lu¡¯s expression changed as if she had just heard the unthinkable.


    This whole assassination of Lu Zhao thing was as good as a fantasy.


    Martial arts were not foreign to Lu Zhao, and neither were the privileged company he kept. I don¡¯t see how she could approach Lu Zhao.


    ¡°There will be a lot of people the day after tomorrow. It might be very chaotic at the scene. Isn¡¯t that an opportunity?¡± Lu Wen cast a wan smile in Lin Lu¡¯s direction.


    Lin Lu failed to suppress a shudder.


    ¡°What are you waiting for? Why don¡¯t you just go jump in the ocean already? I don¡¯t keep useless deadweights by my side.¡± Lu Wen leaned back in his chair after he finished talking and looked at Lin Lu calmly, with a hint of mockery in his eyes.


    His stare made Lin Lu extremely uneasy. ¡°Alright, but after this is over, you promised me the Lin Group shares.¡±


    ¡°No sweat.¡± The empty wine glass was set down.


    ¡°Deal.¡± Lin Lu studied the dagger intently and cackled savagely.


    Luo Ying and Jin Shi spent the next few days on the cruise ship experiencing everything as if they were merely onlookers.


    Luo Ying received an unexpected dinner invitation from Lu Wen the day before the cruise ship docked in the city.


    Luo Ying did not say no.


    Atop the floating hotel, they enjoyed a fine dining experience.


    Lu Wen wore a black top under a blue denim shirt. He appeared to be a typical college freshman. Luo Ying might have mistaken him for a little white flower if not for the sneaky light in his eyes.


    ¡°Why are you looking for me?¡± Luo Ying went straight to the point.


    ¡°I went out of my way to track down an expert in local cuisine. The Lu Family¡¯s executive chef said you seemed to like the meals. Want to give them a shot?¡±


    Lu Wen flashed a charming grin, but behind those snake-like eyes was venom as sharp as a dagger.


    ¡°The Lu Family¡¯s cooking is far superior to anything here. They were all frozen. The food on a cruise ship can¡¯t possibly be fresh, right?¡± Luo Ying played with the food on her plate while asking, ¡°Tell me, what is it?¡±


    ¡°I guess I can¡¯t fool my sister-in-law after all.¡± Smiling, Lu Wen shrugged. ¡°Or should I say, ex-sister-in-law?¡±


    ¡°What does it have to do with you whether Lu Zhao and I get a divorce or not? I¡¯m leaving if there¡¯s nothing else,¡± Luo Ying said. ¡°I still need to make another trip. ¡±


    Luo Ying got to her feet and prepared to leave. She had never met anyone so devoid of morals.


    ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal, shall we? If you marry me, I¡¯ll be happy to assist you in keeping Lu Zhao safe.¡±


    Luo Ying sneered. She turned her head and held on to the back of the chair. Word for word, she exclaimed, ¡°Lu Wen, are you crazy?¡±


    ¡°Lu Zhao is fine now. Does he need any protection?¡±


    After hearing this, Lu Wen couldn¡¯t help but let out a hearty chuckle.


    ¡°It¡¯s still not clear to you, Luo Ying, is it? He has already been poisoned. There is now a ticking poison bomb inside of him. If I give him another dose of this poison, he¡¯ll die quickly.¡±


    As a means of self-soothing, Luo Ying clenched her fists. ¡°Do I have to take your word for everything? Perhaps a remedy exists for this poison.¡± Luo Ying may have thrown those words out, but she still felt some unease.


    What should she do if Lu Zhao has been poisoned?

 Chapter 215 - Chapter 215: Talk It Out

    Chapter 215: Talk It Out


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Impossible.¡± Lu Wen grinned. ¡°There is no antidote for this poison on this earth.¡±


    Luo Ying stared at Lu Wen.


    Luo Ying had a nonchalant look on her face when she first entered, but she now appeared to be ready to attack at any moment.


    ¡°This poison was developed by a very powerful poison master on Neverland. This poison has been divided into two parts,¡± Lu Wen joked. ¡°It will only work when the two parts are combined.¡±


    ¡°There is no poison in this world without an antidote,¡± said Luo Ying.


    ¡°Of course, if that master returns from the grave, she might just make it.¡± Lu Wen smirked. ¡°But that woman was a moron. She had so much potential, but she never used it to advance her career. Instead, she married a powerless wimp. Apparently, she perfected her daughter through a cocktail of poison. Even for me, that¡¯s sick.


    ¡°Her daughter may have an antidote,¡± sneered Lu Wen. ¡°But it¡¯s probably her very blood.¡±


    Luo Ying smirked.


    What made this scene sound so familiar to her?


    Luo Ying was deep in thought. She didn¡¯t even notice Lu Wen¡¯s hand waving in front of her.


    ¡°Why are you dreaming? You can¡¯t actualyl be thinking of tracking her down.¡± Lu Wen shook his head and sighed. ¡°That child¡¯s whereabouts have long been unknown.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s smile faded.


    If the secret of her blood was revealed, she would undoubtedly face a fierce battle.


    She didn¡¯t want to be drawn into the conflict, but her blood could save Lu Zhao¡¯s life.


    ¡°Go ahead and try.¡± Luo Ying slowly straightened up. ¡°Lu Wen, this is most definitely going to backfire on you. You should watch out.¡±


    Luo Ying walked out of the dining room without looking back.


    Lu Wen held the cutlery and gently cut the food on the plate while looking at Luo Ying¡¯s back. He had a bloodthirsty grin on the corner of his mouth.


    Luo Ying was far too green to stand against him.


    He had been through a long period ot conflict with the Lu Family¡¯s descendants. At the time, there were dozens of heirs who had been sent abroad, and he stood out among them.


    He still had a good chance of winning against the romantics of this city.


    Luo Ying tossed and turned in her bed.


    The sky had turned a pale white.


    Luo Ying stretched out in the dim light and examined the blood vessels on her wrist.


    Her body was currently circulating the life-saving poison. She could barely believe it.


    She was willing to use her own blood to save Lu Zhao if he was truly poisoned, but how much blood would it require?


    Would they have to exchange blood, or would they have to drain all of her blood?


    Luo Ying sighed softly and rose from her bed.


    She despised the novel¡¯s author. The original Luo Ying had died too soon in the plot. She had remained unaware, clueless and dim of every other setting. She had no idea if she was the poison master¡¯s daughter. The ship had already docked, and the ball was about to start.


    It was going to be another bloody battlefield.


    The sky remained dark.


    Su Su stood in front of the mirror on the top floor, staring at the pink gown she was wearing.


    Her waist was outlined by muslin fabric, and her chest was tightly wrapped in pink satin. Her figure was excellent, and many men would swoon over it.


    However, Lu Wen, who was standing behind her, had a cold stare. Even if Su Su stripped naked and stood in front of him, she would not ignite even a single spark in him.


    ¡°Today is the big day. It is up to you whether you can repay me for saving your life.¡± Lu Wen stated matter-of-factly. Su Su nodded and lowered her head.


    The day had finally come.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? If you¡¯re having cold feet, it¡¯s not too late to back out.¡± Lu Wen stated.


    Su Su glowered at Lu Wen.


    Lu Wen approached Su Su¡¯s side and fiercely gripped her slender waist.


    ¡°You don¡¯t believe me, do you?¡± Lu Wen¡¯s breath seeped into her ears.


    Su Su trembled.


    She looked at Lu Wen, stunned. ¡°Do you mean¡­¡±


    ¡°How can the people I work with get away before the battle? Disobedient children should be thrown into the sea to feed the fish..

 Chapter 216 - Chapter 216: The Ball Begins

    Chapter 216: The Ball Begins


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    As the sun set, the once-blue sea turned black as far as the eye could see. The cruise ship floating on the sea appeared like a haven from the end of the world, containing mankind¡¯s last joy and desire.


    The room was heated, and celebrities in various evening gowns gathered in groups of twos and threes with wine glasses.


    The violin and piano played together, and some people embraced and flirtatiously danced on the dance floor.


    Luo Ying moved through the crowd while wearing a mask.


    She was dressed simply in a black dress with the simplest of cuts and no other accessories. Her hair hung loosely on her shoulders, but it couldn¡¯t hide her stunning aura.


    People kept approaching her and inviting her to dance.


    Luo Ying declined.


    Her gaze was drawn to the man sitting in the corner.


    The man was dressed in a suit with a gold-rimmed mask. His sleeves were casually rolled up to his wrists, and he appeared out of place in this setting.


    This feeling, however, only added to his mystery. Many socialites approached him, hoping to catch his attention.


    His gaze was fixed on Luo Ying.


    Even if she covered half of her face, Lu Zhao would be able to recognize Luo Ying.


    He had heard the sea breeze and the horn. She had boarded the ship as expected.


    Luo Ying turned around and prepared to leave when she noticed Lu Zhao¡¯s gaze.


    She had only taken two steps when Lu Zhao came from the other side and stood in front of her.


    ¡°Beautiful lady, may I have a dance with you?¡± Lu Zhao spoke suavely.


    Luo Ying raised his head and met Lu Zhao¡¯s smiling gaze.


    At a time like this, this man could still smile.


    Her lips were pursed. ¡°I¡¯m not going to dance. I¡¯ve got more important things to do.¡±


    Lu Zhao did not give her the opportunity to respond. He extended his arm and wrapped it around her waist. He grabbed her hand and dragged her onto the dance floor at the same time.


    Luo Ying lacked Lu Zhao¡¯s strength. She was led in circles around the dance floor.


    Luo Ying was filled with a sense of security despite the fact that she knew that both of them were now in Lu Wen¡¯s trap.


    Perhaps it was because Lu Zhao was nearby.


    Luo Ying was taken aback when she realized Lu Zhao could provide her with such a deep conviction of security.


    Lu Zhao reached out and pinched the soft flesh on her waist just as she was lost in thought.


    ¡°Why are you dreaming? What¡¯s on your mind? Do you have any thoughts about your husband?¡± Lu Zhao inquired solemnly.


    Luo Ying almost burst out laughing. What kind of game was this?


    She coughed and pretended to be serious. ¡± My husband forbids me from playing outside. I slipped out to have some fun. Why don¡¯t you play with me today?¡±


    She rubbed Lu Zhao¡¯s palm with her fingers as she spoke.


    Lu Zhao noticed the woman¡¯s little movements and curled his lips into a faint smile.


    He hadn¡¯t expected this little girl to be so engrossed in her role.


    ¡°Sure thing, Madam. However, you must decide on the superior man, me or your husband.¡± Lu Zhao whispered something into Luo Ying¡¯s ear.


    Luo Ying¡¯s face flushed. She remained silent for some time and said nothing.


    Lu Zhao felt Luo Ying¡¯s rebuke and reached out to squeeze her even more tightly. ¡°Get off at the next stop. It¡¯s going to get dangerous. I will deal with it.¡±


    ¡°I really don¡¯t want to.¡± Luo Ying straight up dismissed him.


    ¡°Listen to me, please,¡± Lu Zhao begged her.


    ¡°Lu Wen is never going to let us off the hook. He deliberately set up this trap for you,¡± Luo Ying explained. ¡°I¡¯m stuck in this as much as you.¡±


    Luo Yin was not about to abandon Su Su..


    Su Su would not have been hunted down and met Lu Wen if she had found more people to keep an eye on her at the time.


    During this time, Lu Wen must have tortured Su Su severely. She felt bad for Su su.


    ¡°Listen to me. Get away from here, as far as you can. I¡¯ll have Xiao Ting protect you,¡± said Lu Zhao.


    Luo Ying was about to respond when a loud thud rang out from the hall.


    Luo Ying turned to face the voice and saw a girl in a pink dress lying on the ground.


    Su Su¡¯s face was revealed when the loose mask fell.


    ¡°Su Su!¡± Sirius was already there. He cradled the girl in his arms and shook her violently. ¡± Su Su, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Su Su must have collapsed unexpectedly. The guests in the vicinity were nprnlpxpd


    Sirius picked Su Su up and rushed out before anyone could react..

 Chapter 217 - Chapter 217: Poisoned

    Chapter 217: Poisoned


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Sirius princess-carried Su Su and went around the crowd. He headed out of the room.


    Nancy stood in his path. ¡°Mr. Sirius, where are you taking Su Su?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not well. I¡¯m going to get her help.¡± Sirius¡¯ voice was cold and unwavering.


    ¡°She belongs to Mr. Lu Wen. You should give Su Su to me. This is not appropriate for you to do.¡± Nancy obstructed Sirius path once more.


    Chi Yu¡¯s expression turned cold.


    When did she agree to such an arrangement?


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to stop me.¡± He kicked Nancy away after she finished speaking. Nancy collapsed to the ground in agony, covering her abdomen with her hand.


    Nancy felt a sharp pain in her ribs.


    She pushed the remote control in her hand, ignoring the pain.


    Everyone began to panic as the doors slowly closed. Was she attempting to trap everyone here?


    ¡°What are you doing, Nancy?¡±


    ¡°Ms. Nancy, is Lu Wen going to imprison all of us here?¡±


    Nancy stood up slowly, holding the remote control tightly in her hand, but she never straightened up.


    ¡°There¡¯s a ticking time bomb here. Everyone, get down if you don¡¯t want to be blown up into fish feed!¡± Nancy said with clenched teeth. She was carrying out Lu Wen¡¯s instructions.


    She replied softly into the earpiece, but all she heard was the sound of the empty sea. Lu Wen gave her no further instructions.


    Lu Zhao and Luo Ying were looking at Nancy from across the room.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s hand encircled Luo Ying¡¯s slim waist. He didn¡¯t say anything.


    Luo Ying felt Lu Zhao¡¯s hand tighten around her waist.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if anything bad happens, I¡¯ll protect myself,¡± said Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying turned to face the door. Sirius had dashed out with Su Su in his arms, just as the door closed. He should be able to make a successful escape.


    ¡°Lu Wen is not attempting to trap us. He just wants to find Sirius by himself,¡± Lu Zhao stated quietly.


    Luo Ying agreed with a nod.


    There were many guests here, as well as many celebrities.


    Lu Wen still needed to conduct business in the city in the future, so he couldn¡¯t offend all these people.


    He wouldn¡¯t have made a move here unless he was looking for Sirius.


    Perhaps he wanted something from Lu Zhao, but Sirius would never betray Lu Zhao.


    Everyone in the ballroom fell silent.


    Because almost everyone was in the ballroom, the cabin was deserted. Sirius dashed down the empty corridor to the infirmary.


    ¡°It¡¯s useless.¡± A gentle male voice called out from behind him. ¡°Sirius, are vou expecting the ship doctor to treat Su Su?¡±


    Sirius came to a complete halt. This was the voice of Lu Wen. He recognized it. He slowly turned around and looked at Lu Wen, his eyes filled with murderous intent.


    ¡°Do you think I will believe you?¡± Sirius stated icily.


    Su Su lay in his arms. She was as light as a piece of paper.


    ¡°I poisoned Su Su so she would remain by my side for a long time. This is not the type of poison that you believe can be cured. Why don¡¯t you give it a try?¡± Lu Wen said calmly, crossing his arms.


    ¡°Su Su would never stay with an evil man like you¡­¡± Sirius cursed with a frosty expression.


    ¡°I understand if you don¡¯t believe me. Look behind Su Su¡¯s right ear,¡± Lu Wen stated flatly.


    Sirius took a deep breath and gently lifted Su Su¡¯s long hair.


    Su Su¡¯s right ear had a small word tattooed behind it.


    Sirius felt his mind blowing up.


    Is it possible that Luo Ying had lied to him? In Prague, didn¡¯t she tell her how much she missed him? Why did she become Lu Wen¡¯s mistress all of a sudden?


    ¡°You forced her into this.¡± Sirius¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot.


    Lu Wen was a monster.


    ¡°Of course I have to use the rod when the carrot fails. I have a way to make them obedient, just like I have a way to make some disobedient people. So, you¡¯d better be sensible,¡± Lu Wen said calmly, crossing his arms. ¡°I know you love Su Su.¡±


    Sirius¡¯s eyes became darker. ¡± What exactly do you want me to do?¡±


    Lu Wen pulled two small bottles from his pocket and set them in front of Sirius.. ¡°Would you like to take them, or do you want me to throw Su Su into the sea?¡±

 Chapter 218 - Chapter 218: Discord

    Chapter 218: Discord


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    A bottle contained a colorless liquid and what appeared to be medicinal herb fragments.


    There were two small doses of antidotes in the other bottle.


    ¡°This is the antidote for Su Su, but it is only half of it. You have the option of giving her the antidote right now. However, even if she wakes up, her memories will fail her and she will go insane in the future unless¡­¡± Lu Wen stated.


    Lu Wen shook the bottle in his other hand. The poison in the bottle emitted an alluring light.


    ¡°Put this thing from Neverland Island into Lu Zhao¡¯s food.¡±


    Lu Wen¡¯s eyes were like poisoned daggers, flashing with a dangerous light.


    ¡°You should know what this is.¡±


    Neverland Island had no owner, and he had only been there once or twice.


    This poison should act as a catalyst for the poison in Lu Zhao¡¯s body.


    If Lu Zhao was given this catalyst, he could go insane and turn into a monster that relied on blood and poison to survive.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Lu Zhao just a friend of yours? Friends are always replaceable. You can become my friend if you kill Lu Zhao.¡± Lu Wen placed a hand on Sirius¡¯ shoulder. ¡°You can look for me if you want to rely on the Lu family¡¯s connections. You lose nothing.¡±


    Lu Wen then turned to face Su Su, who was resting in Sirius¡¯ arms.


    Su Su¡¯s eyes were tightly closed. Her lips and face were pale, and her hands hang limply as if she was about to pass out.


    Sirius inhaled deeply. ¡°This poison will not get you what you want.¡¯


    Lu Wen was not sure what Sirius meant. He frowned and turned to face Sirius.


    ¡°The poison that you previously planted in Lu Zhao¡¯s body has already been cured.¡± Sirius inhaled deeply and looked at Lu Wen.


    Lu Wen showed no signs of panic. He slid the bottle into Sirius¡¯ grip.


    ¡°That changes nothing. The other half of this poison may not drive Lu Zhao insane, but he¡¯ll be haunted by hallucinations every day. I¡¯ll accept a mentally crippled Lu Zhao as a win, all the same.¡±


    Sirius shot a cold glare at Lu Wen and said, ¡°Crazy.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I am crazy.¡± Lu Wen yawned and approached Chi Yu. ¡°You love Su Su. If you lose her, would you ever meet another Su Su?¡±


    Lu Wen¡¯s smile was flawless, but the words he spoke sent shivers down one¡¯s spine.


    ¡°I know you can¡¯t bear the thought of losing her. You can always surround yourself with numerous friends. But is it possible to fall in love with a second Su Su in this lifetime?¡±


    These words seemed absurd at first, but his heart still skipped a beat.


    Yes, he had waited for Su Su for so long because no one could ever fill this woman¡¯s place in his heart.


    Lu Zhao was a friend. Sirius tried to gather his thoughts, but nothing came except for a chill running down his spine.


    Lu Wen was an expert manipulator.


    In his panic, he had long fallen under his influence.


    ¡°I have a moral compass. Furthermore, Lu Zhao is an amazing man. He would see this coming,¡± Sirius said.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure he would. If that fails, you could always look for Luo Ying¡­¡±


    Lu Wen lowered his voice and approached Sirius. ¡°Stop blinding yourself. You know that Luo Ying dislikes Lu Zhao. She has already stated that she will betray Lu Zhao. Lin Su has been a long-time favorite of hers. All she has to do is pretend to like Lu Zhao a little.¡±


    The spark finally set off a fire in Sirius¡¯ heart. Luo Ying was exactly what he had imagined.


    There had to be a reason why Luo Ying had so easily reconciled with Lu Zhao.


    Luo Ying was the one who told him about Su Su¡¯s whereabouts, and she also brought up the past.


    It would not be difficult to explain what happened before if Luo Ying and Lu Wen were in cahoots.


    ¡°That woman¡­¡± Sirius said with clenched teeth.


    Lu Wen turned to leave, ignoring Sirius.


    Sirius returned Su Su to his room and gave her two pills.


    Su Su blinked open her eyes. Her tears fell like broken beads when she saw Sirius.


    Sirius always fell apart whenever he saw Su Su. He reached for a tissue to wipe the tears away from Su Su¡¯s face.


    ¡°It has been difficult for you. I will definitely find a way to get you the antidote.¡±


    Su Su rose to her feet and hugged Sirius..

 Chapter 219 - Chapter 219: Interrogation

    Chapter 219: Interrogation


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The woman¡¯s body gave off a faint, familiar scent of jasmine.


    Sirius felt something tugging away at his heartstrings. From the bottom of his heart came a bitterness that was impossible to describe, and his heart ached.


    ¡°I miss you so much.¡± Su Su reached out and put her arms around Sirius¡¯ neck. Tears were already flooding her eyes.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you leave me.¡± Sirius hugged Su Su.


    For a moment, he felt completely powerless.


    Su Su had lost a lot of weight from when he last saw her. Her cheeks were hollow, and he almost felt as if he was holding a sack of bones.


    Su Su seemed to have been through a lot over the years.


    ¡°I¡¯m to blame for this. I let my arrogance get the better of me. I shouldn¡¯t have abandoned you. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Sirius lowered his head.


    The past had always been a chasm between them that they couldn¡¯t cross.


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have lied to you back then, but I really didn¡¯t like that man. You are the one I¡¯ve always liked.¡± Su Su¡¯s eyes were moist, and she sounded close t o tears.


    ¡°I know. Don¡¯t blame yourself. In fact, you¡¯re the only person I¡¯ve ever liked.¡± Sirius reached out and wiped away Su Su¡¯s tears.


    All of the misunderstandings that had been going on for so many years had ended at that moment. Also gone was the knot in his heart.


    ¡°Lu Wen made me do it. Lu Wen saved me when people were after me. After he found out we were together, he made me¡­¡± Su Su said.¡±


    Su Su choked on her tears and couldn¡¯t talk about her ordeal.


    Sirius clenched his fists as he looked at the woman in his arms. She looked like she was in pain. ¡°Have you ever met Luo Ying? Luo Ying told me that she has been helping you.


    Su Su lowered her head, as if she was avoiding the question.


    Sirius snorted. ¡°Luo Ying is a liar for sure. She lied to me and said that she had seen you in Beirut and saved you.¡±


    Since Luo Ying lied about this, it meant she and Lu Wen were already working together.


    Su Su said, ¡°Miss Luo might have her hands tied. Don¡¯t make things hard for her, Sirius. Maybe it¡¯s because¡­¡±


    Chi Yu was so happy to see Su Su again that he didn¡¯t notice Su Su¡¯s discomfort.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯ll find a way to solve it, whether it¡¯s your problem or Lu Zhao¡¯s.¡± Sirius stood up and held on to the bottle. He wanted to see if Luo Ying was really that great.


    The door to the ballroom was already open. Sirius walked toward the room where Luo Ying was.


    Luo Ying¡¯s heart skipped a beat when she saw Sirius.


    They had already come to an understanding, but right now, it seemed like she was looking at an old enemy.


    Sirius walked up to them.


    Sirius laughed when he saw how tightly they were holding hands. ¡°It must have been hard for even you to put up an act for so long.¡± Lu Zhao frowned. ¡°What do you mean by that nonsense? Where¡¯s Su Su?¡±


    ¡°How is Su Su? Is she alright?¡± Luo Ying asked anxiously.


    Chi Yu gave a snort. ¡°You still have the gall to ask me about Su Su?


    His eyes were full of ridicule. He had never seen such a shameless woman. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have known that you had fooled me if it weren¡¯t for Su Su. Ms. Luo, you are a true viper.¡±


    Sirius¡¯ gaze bore straight into Luo Ying. ¡°You want to get close to Lu Zhao for a reason, right? This time, it was your idea to bring Su Su on the cruise ship, right?¡±


    At this point, he wanted to rip Luo Ying in half.


    ¡°What do you mean by that nonsense?¡± Lu Zhao gave Sirius a cold glare. What did Lu Wen say to you? ¡® Luo Ying¡¯s heart sank.


    Was Su Su betraying her?


    She had saved Su Su and gave her security. How did it turn into a trap that she and Lu Wen set up together?


    ¡°I looked into it. When you jumped off the building, Lu Wen started making plans to go back to his country. From then on, you two had already begun working together, right?¡± Sirius looked directly at Luo Ying.


    However, Luo Ying¡¯s eyes were clear and there was no trace of panic.


    ¡°Have you lost your mind?¡± Lu Zhao shielded Luo Ying behind him. ¡± What did Lu Wen say to you?¡±


    ¡°Lu Zhao, the woman you¡¯re protecting right now is working with your brother.. Stop deluding yourself, alright? How could someone who hates you so much that she threatened to get a divorce from you by jumping off a building love you?¡±

 Chapter 220 - Chapter 220: Choose One

    Chapter 220: Choose One


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Gave you lost it?¡± Lu Zhao stared at Sirius.


    Their relationship had just only taken a turn for the better. What changed him so quickly?


    ¡°I¡¯m not crazy, of course! Su Su stated that Luo Ying did not save her. She was the one who handed Su Su over to Lu Wen.


    Luo Ying froze on the spot. She was unable to believe her ears.


    ¡°You have completely lost it.¡± Disbelief flashed across Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes. When was the last time you saw that woman? Are you going to take her words at face value? Have you forgotten how she lied to you before?¡±


    Lu Zhao could not forget how cruelly Su Su had lied to Sirius.


    Sirius had succumbed to alcohol every single day. He would fall asleep with Su Su¡¯s name on his lips every single night.


    What about Su Su? She had taken the easy route and absconded with some rich young men.


    ¡°Her family is peniless. Does she have the time to think of love? No, she just wants to make it through the day. If Lu Wen bribed her into this, wouldn¡¯t she take it?¡±


    Sirius tried to argue, but realized that he had no words.


    Both of them would protect the woman they liked.


    He had been ruthlessly deceived at that time. He couldn¡¯t fathom what Su Su had gone through during this time, but common sense suggested that Su Su might have accepted a bribe from Lu Wen to clear her family¡¯s debt.


    ¡°Forget it. I need to have a word with Su Su.¡± Luo Ying stood between the two men and pushed them apart.


    The best solution now was to meet Su Su. This would give Luo Ying an idea of what was happening.


    Sirius sneered. ¡°This is more like you, Luo Ying. How did you coerce Su Ran, exactly? To top it all off, you threatened to divorce Lu Zhao by jumping off a building.¡±


    Luo Ying was starting to get annoyed.


    ¡°Fine. I¡¯m done putting up with your attitude. I love Lu Zhao. I can¡¯t imagine ever being apart from him. If your idiocy continues to threaten my happiness, I might just kill you.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s voice had fallen into a menacing whisper. Her gaze was absolutely murderous. Sirius felt a chill run down his back.


    This was not the Luo Ying of the past.


    The current luo Ying did not seem like the type who would associate with Lu Wen.


    After a moment, Sirius said, ¡°You can¡¯t see Su Su now.¡¯


    ¡°Why?¡± asked Luo Ying.


    She was getting increasingly annoyed at him.


    ¡°Su Su has been poisoned. It¡¯s a hallucination-inducing poison. She is currently under medical control, but¡­¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes turned cold as he looked at his longtime friend, but he avoided his gaze.


    Sirius¡¯ hesitance was palpable to Luo Ying as well.


    ¡°Lu Wen threatened you with the antidote and made you poison Lu Zhao, right?¡±


    Sirius¡¯ ears rang from the sound of Luo Ying¡¯s voice. Sirius lowered his eyes.


    On one side was his friend, and on the other side was his lover. He was at a loss.


    ¡°That poison causes hallucinations, mania, and possibly even Renfield¡¯s Syndrome¡ªthe compulsion to drink blood. There is no cure. The legendary poison master¡¯s daughter¡¯s blood is the only thing that can cure it.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s heart missed a beat. Once again, it was related to her blood.


    When Su Su wakes up, please let me see her. We¡¯ll figure out how to neutralize the poison,¡± Luo Ying said to Chi Yu.


    Sirius sneered. ¡°What can you even do? Isn¡¯t it best for me to just give up right now?¡±


    He smiled desolately as he raised his head to look at Lu Zhao and Luo Ying.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s gaze was cold. ¡°If Su Su is truly worth it, I¡¯ll figure something out. I am the one Lu Wen is eager to meet, and I am also the one he prefers to deal with. I don¡¯t need your help to get through this.¡±


    Lu Wen intended to poison him and drive him insane. He was curious to see what other tricks that man was up to.


    ¡°You can¡¯t see Lu Wen. Currently, he is¡­¡± Sirius stopped Lu Zhao.


    Lu Zhao interrupted him. ¡°Lu Wen just tried to tear us apart. If I let you give up Su Su, you will never forgive me, no matter what you think now. I¡¯m seeing him now. I have many questions.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going with you!¡± Luo Ying said..

 Chapter 221 - Chapter 221: Believe Her

    Chapter 221: Believe Her


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°But first, I must see Su Su,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Su Su should have been with Lu Wen for the last few days. Su Su may have betrayed her, but she may still have some useful information.


    Lu Zhao nodded.


    All three of them entered Su Su¡¯s bedroom.


    Su Su was sitting on the bed. Upon seeing Luo Ying enter, Su Su¡¯s expression turned cold. She drew back in fear and ducked behind Sirius.


    She reached out and gently grabbed Sirius¡¯ shirt sleeve. ¡°I¡¯m scared. Tell Luo Ying to leave.¡±


    Sirius hesitated for a moment and looked at Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying looked at Su Su intently. Su Su actively continued to evade her gaze.


    ¡°Su Su, you mentioned that Lu Wen and I are working together.¡±When did I say anything to Lu Wen that led you to believe we were working together?¡± Luo Ying asked slowly.


    Su Su¡¯s body trembled as she hid her head behind Sirius¡¯ back.


    Sirius felt as if his heart had been stabbed.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I don¡¯t remember. I was poisoned at the time. Now, I ¡­¡±


    ¡°Su Su, I didn¡¯t help you find a job and a place to stay so you and Lu Wen could conspire against me.¡± Luo Ying did not pay any attention to Sirius. She walked around Sirius and pulled Su Su out from behind him.


    Luo Ying had been extremely quick. Su Su did not even have time to react. ¡°Look me in the eye and tell me if I truly collaborated with Lu Wen.¡±


    Su Su gulped and looked away. In hushed tones, she said, ¡°Of course¡­¡±


    Sirius peered at Su Su. He knew her well enough to tell when she was lying.


    His heart sank. Su Su was lying.


    Su Su glanced at Sirius subconsciously. Sirius¡¯s eyes were filled with disappointment.


    She knew that Sirius would have noticed.


    Su Su lowered her head and reached out to grab Sirius¡¯s hand, but Sirius avoided her.


    Sirius used to believe that he was the only one in Su Su¡¯s heart, but it now appeared that Su Su did not care about him all that much. He laughed mockingly at himself. ¡± Su Su, I¡¯ve always liked you. I didn¡¯t expect you to let me down so badly.¡±


    Su Su trembled violently when she heard this.


    Her face turned cold.


    ¡°I have no choice.¡± She smiled bitterly. Everyone in front of her was astute. How could they not see through her lies?


    Lu Zhao spoke up at this moment. ¡± Lu Wen must have given you quite a lot of benefits, right? I remember seeing a sum of six million on Lu Wen¡¯s monthly bill. That was you, right?¡±


    Su Su¡¯s body trembled violently.


    ¡°No, this six million is just to get me from one cage to another.¡± Lu Wen had also poisoned her.


    That poison was no ordinary poison. It was a slow-acting poison. If she did not drink the antidote in time or take the suppressive medicine on schedule, she would lose her mind.


    ¡°My family members are scattered all across the country. I can¡¯t get them caught up in this. I want to live. Lu Wen told me that only he has the antidote for this medicine.¡± Su Su¡¯s words made Luo Ying frown.


    Based on the novel, such a poison would have only come from Neverland Island. How could only Lu Wen get his hands on it?


    ¡°Why would that poison master give Lu Wen this medicine?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    Su Su shook her head. ¡°I heard from him and Nancy that the master is still alive and in hiding. They are also looking for the master¡¯s daughter. Her blood is the antidote.¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyebrows twitched when she heard that.


    How did this novel character end up leaving her daughter with the Luo Family?


    ¡°Why are they looking for the daughter of the poison master?¡± Luo Ying asked coldly.


    ¡°It¡¯s Nancy. They have always been childhood sweethearts, but for some reason, Nancy has been poisoned. It¡¯s said that she won¡¯t live past the age of


    25¡­¡± Su Su said in a trembling voice..

 Chapter 222 - Chapter 222: Ambush

    Chapter 222: Ambush


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    25 years old.


    Nancy appeared to be in her early twenties. The time was running out for Lu Wen if he wanted to save Nancy.


    As a result, Lu Wen unexpectedly returned to the Lu family and sought to reclaim the family property. It was most likely to find a cure for Nancy.


    Luo Ying felt a pang of sadness.


    In the original novel, it was very likely that Nancy was long dead.


    ¡°What a smitten individual.¡± Luo Ying sighed.


    Lu Zhao glanced at Luo Ying, a trace of melancholy in his eyes.


    ¡°This is all I know¡­¡± Su Su wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. ¡± It¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t find the antidote. I don¡¯t want you to be in a difficult position.


    Su Su took Sirius¡¯ hand in hers.


    Sirius did not shake his hand loose, but he also did not look at Su Su.


    Would she have intended to keep lying if Luo Ying hadn¡¯t caught on just now?


    Sirius¡¯ heart ached just thinking about it.


    She did not expect that after so many years of their relationship, they would only end up with betrayal and helpless compromise.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mind you deceiving me before.¡± Chi Yu said, ¡°I¡¯ve always liked yo. ¡°Even though I knew you were using me as a stand-in for someone else, I never considered giving up on you. But now you¡¯re the one who left me.¡±


    When Su Su and Sirius were together, Sirius and Lu Zhao were sworn brothers.


    Su Su was well aware of how important Lu Zhao was to Sirius. She chose this nonetheless, despite everything.


    Sirius felt like a fool being manipulated by Su Su¡¯s palm.


    ¡°If Luo Ying had not made her stand against me, we would be in shambles by now.¡± Sirius looked at Su Su with a bitter smile. ¡°No matter how this ends, the two of us can¡¯t be together anymore. ¡®


    Sirius took Su Su¡¯s hand off. His eyes turned cold.


    Su Su looked at her empty palm and felt a sharp pain in her heart.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    At this time, all apologies appeared very feeble.


    He turned around and left the room, unwilling to hear Su Su¡¯s apology.


    Lu Zhao said to Luo Ying, ¡°You go out first. I have something to discuss with Su Su privately.¡±


    Although Luo Ying found it odd, she still nodded. She turned around and walked out of the room, closing the door.


    ¡°I¡¯ll find a way for you to get your medicine. I¡¯ll send you to Neverland once this matter is resolved.¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s words sounded like a death sentence in Su Su¡¯s ears.


    ¡°Neverland Island. Won¡¯t I be as good as dead?¡± Su Su smiled bitterly. ¡°If you can protect my family, I¡¯d have no qualms going there.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t pull the pity act on me. I¡¯m not Luo Ying, nor am I Sirius. I won¡¯t fall for your tricks.¡± Lu Zhao coldly emphasized this sentence.


    She was only coming clean because she had run out of all options. Why was she acting like the victim?


    ¡°Whether you plan to betray us in the future or not, I can¡¯t keep someone like you around. I¡¯ll protect your family, but you¡¯re on your own,¡± said Lu Zhao.


    Lu Zhao was about to leave the room when he suddenly seemed to have thought of something. He turned around and glanced at Su Su. ¡°Su Su, do you actually believe Lu Wen¡¯s promise to aid your family?¡± Su Su widened his eyes and looked at Lu Zhao in disbelief.


    Lu Zhao threw the photo in front of Su Su.


    It was Su Su¡¯s family. It depicted shots of them working in terrible conditions.


    Su Su¡¯s hands trembled.


    Her parents were no longer young. How could they be put through such an


    01 ucan


    ¡°This is a casino called Paradise Lost. Your parents are here as special workers, completing some tasks given by customers. You should know what they are.¡±


    Paradise Lost was a place filled with rich people. Their hobbies were all very bizarre. Some liked to torture and rape older people.


    ¡°Lu Wen owns this place.¡±


    The photo in Su Su¡¯s hand fell to the ground. She laughed at herself.


    It turned out that the person she trusted so much had lied to her so ruthlessly.


    ¡°I see. I was a fool.¡± Su Su slowly picked up the photo and tore it into pieces. ¡°If you can save my parents from that place, I¡¯m willing to go to Neverland Island..¡±

 Chapter 223 - Chapter 223: Invitation

    Chapter 223: Invitation


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Alright.¡± Lu Zhao nodded in agreement.


    Su Su¡¯s eyes glistened with tears.


    Luo Ying and Sirius may have been easily moved by her plight, but Lu Zhao was different. He only found her crying mildly annoying.


    Lu Wen had been very cunning. His plans did not end simply as Lu Zhao losing his mind.


    Lu Zhao now had the resources of the company, so he would definitely use these resources to find the daughter of the legendary drugmaker.


    Lu Zhao turned around and left the room. A fierce and bloody war within the family seemed inevitable.


    Lu Zhao returned to his room. Luo Ying was sitting on the bed, swinging her fair legs.


    Although she was dressed simply today, her beautiful long legs were exposed.


    Lu Zhao took off his coat and draped it over Luo Ying¡¯s legs.


    ¡°What did you say to Su Su?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes darkened.


    Luo Ying knew that Lu Zhao had probably dealt with Su Su in his own way.


    ¡°Su Su has been through a lot,¡± Luo Ying said.


    ¡°No matter what, she shouldn¡¯t have betrayed us, nor should she have colluded with Lu Wen,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    Luo Ying sighed. ¡°When are we going to see Lu Wen?¡±


    ¡°You should go ashore and return to home tomorrow.¡± This matter started because of him and Lu Wen. He didn¡¯t want Luo Ying to be involved.


    ¡°I want to face Lu Wen with you.¡± Luo Ying reached out and grabbed his hand.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s better for me to stay. Besides, Jin Shi is here. He can help us.¡±


    his body.


    He did not know how it would happen. If it was the same as last time, Luo Ying would probably take the blow for him.


    He didn¡¯t want Luo Ying to be hurt.


    ¡°No, I want to be with you.¡± Luo Ying held his hand tightly, and the faint warmth from her fingertips sent a wave of warmth through his heart.


    He sighed and reached out to hold Luo Ying.


    ¡°I will have Xiao Ting follow you. But I¡¯ll go see Lu Wen myself,¡± said Lu Zhao.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Luo Ying conceded. It was fine as long as she could stay on the ship for now.


    ¡°Knock, knock.¡±


    Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.


    Luo Ying went to open the door. Nancy was standing outside.


    Nancy had a polite smile on her face. ¡°Mr. Lu Wen has invited Mr. Lu Zhao to dinner tonight.¡±


    Nancy placed the invitation letter on the table and looked at Luo Ying. ¡°Mr. Lu Wen hopes that this will be a private meeting between him and Mr. Lu Zhao.¡± Luo Ying nodded.


    Lu Zhao patted Luo Ying¡¯s shoulder and picked up the invitation letter on the table to take a glance at it.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go over now.¡± Lu Zhao turned around and left.


    Luo Ying was a little nervous. For some reason, an ominous feeling spread in her heart.


    Lu Zhao followed Nancy to the restaurant on the top floor.


    This place was usually full, and one had to book days in advance. However, for the sake of Lu Zhao and Lu Wen¡¯s meeting, it was now vacant.


    Lu Wen was sitting in the center of the room, facing the door. It looked like a throne.


    From this position, he could see most of the room, and it felt like he was looking down on everyone. It looked like the position of the owner of this room.


    Lu Wen was wearing a simple black suit with rolled-up sleeves.


    ¡°Brother, you¡¯re here.¡± Lu Wen smiled. One would have thought that long-lost brothers were reuniting.


    ¡°Cut the crap. Why am I here?¡± Lu Zhao sat down and said coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any need for us to reminisce about our brotherhood.¡±


    ¡°Why not? At that time, I was also nurtured by the Lu Family for a period of time. I won¡¯t forget the help you gave me back then.¡± Lu Wen smiled lightly and casually poked the food on his plate with his fork.


    Lu Zhao had just been brought to the Lu Family from his mother¡¯s side. He still did not know anything, and the first person he met was Lu Wen.


    Back then, Lu Wen had also returned from abroad alone.


    ¡°So, you return my kindness with poison?¡±

 Chapter 224 - Chapter 224: Past

    Chapter 224: Past


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Dear brother, how could you possibly surpass what grandfather can give me?¡± Lu Wen smiled lightly.


    Although Old Master Lu had stepped down officially, he still controlled a lot of the Lu Family¡¯s resources.


    If Lu Wen wanted to obtain these resources, he would have to cooperate with the old man.


    ¡°You want to be one man¡¯s puppet, but not me,¡± Lu Zhao said coldly.


    Lu Wen had been very cunning since childhood. Lu Zhao had his guard on high alert.


    ¡°Brother, you wound me.¡± Lu Wen smiled gently. ¡°You know how Grandpa works.¡±


    Old Master Lu enjoyed the power of holding leverage over others to coerce them.


    In Lu Zhao¡¯s case, it was his mother. What would Lu Wen¡¯s case be?


    ¡°So, the old man poisoned Nancy,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    ¡°Su Su is such a fickle woman. Did she actually tell you everything?¡± Lu Wen smiled. ¡°That¡¯s right. I remember telling her about Nancy.¡±


    Lu Wen had lived abroad since he was young. His mother was a sex worker. Lu Wen¡¯s birth had been an accident.


    The Lu Family refused to associate themselves with Lu Wen. Instead, they let Lu Wen grow up in a place where he lived in debauchery.


    Nancy was his childhood friend.


    Lu Zhao still remembered him and Lu Wen staying in the same room at the Lu Family¡¯s house.


    Sometimes, when he couldn¡¯t sleep at night, Lu Wen would tell Lu Zhao the story of him and Nancy.


    ¡°Nancy¡¯s safety is all that matters to me.¡± Lu Wen¡¯s originally flawless mask momentarily slipped.


    He sighed softly. ¡°Brother, you should understand how difficult it is for me.¡±


    For men like them who were raised as wolves in a city of men, they would always struggle to protect their loved ones.


    ¡°I know you think the same about Luo Ying.¡± Lu Wen sighed. ¡°That¡¯s why I hope we can work together.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Lu Zhao stared at Lu Wen. ¡°I¡¯ll find my mother myself and protect Luo Ying myself. But if you come near any of us with that poison again, I¡¯ll never let you off.¡¯


    Lu Zhao placed the bottle in his hand on the table. There was a faint look of mockery in his eyes. ¡°You can have this back.¡±


    It was the poison bottle that Lu Wen had given Sirius.


    ¡°I know your mother¡¯s whereabouts.¡± Lu Wen seemed a little flustered.


    ¡°Brother, why don¡¯t you just give up the company for her?¡±


    Lu Zhao looked at Lu Wen with disappointment in his eyes.


    ¡°You should know that I won¡¯t give up on my career. Moreover, if I start handing over the company to you, you¡¯ll let that get over your head. How am I going to walk away alive?¡± Lu Zhao sneered.


    Lu Wen had learned a lot from the old man.


    ¡°You want me to give up the company. Then, you¡¯ll use my mother¡¯s whereabouts to get me to work for you. Do you think I¡¯ll fall for that?


    ¡°Give it up,¡± Lu Zhao said coldly. ¡°I can think of a way to work with you to find that poison master¡¯s daughter on account that the two of us used to be brothers.¡±


    Lu Zhao knew that the old man had placed the two of them at odds. No matter what, it was impossible for them to reconcile.


    Lu Wen ignored Lu Zhao and stared at the food on the table. He smiled and said, ¡°How can we work together again? Brother, do you think the old man will let the two of us work together?¡±


    Lu Zhao stood up and prepared to leave.


    How could someone who had walked out of the Lu Family¡¯s hell remain completely sane?


    ¡°Brother, you seem to have forgotten one thing. Your weakness now is not just your mother.¡± Lu Wen suddenly laughed. ¡°Since you¡¯re not willing to help me, I¡¯ll let you experience the pain I¡¯m experiencing now.¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s heart suddenly skipped a beat.


    The same situation?

 Chapter 225 - Chapter 225: Poisoned

    Chapter 225: Poisoned


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lin Lu was holding Luo Ying down. The blade of a dagger was less than five centimeters from her face.


    ¡°Today, you die.¡± Lin Lu had a terrible grin on her face as she slowly played with the dagger.


    There was a clear liquid on the dagger. Luo Ying guessed that it was poison.


    ¡°Lin Lu, there¡¯s no way out for you. Even if you kill me, where does that take you? Lu Wen is now in charge of the Lin Family. It doesn¡¯t matter how many people you kill for him, he¡¯s not going to hand the family back to you,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Luo Ying knew some martial arts, but her hands and feet didn¡¯t seem to be responding to her. Even if she mustered all her strength, she could only move Lin Lu a few centimeters away from her.


    ¡°Just quit struggling.¡± Lin Lu¡¯s face was twisted, and a strange smile was showing at the corner of her mouth.


    ¡°I¡¯m the one who drugged you. You won¡¯t be able to move, so you can only watch as this dagger slides into your body.¡±


    Luo Ying ignored her and continued struggling.


    Lin Lu continued to threaten her with the dagger, but something seemed to be stopping her from actually hurting her.


    Luo Ying caught the sight of a vase next to her. She might be able to use it as a weapon.


    But it was a one-shot deal.


    She looked at Lin Lu and tried to think of something to say. ¡°Lin Lu, your younger brother is the one who sold the Lin Group to Lu Wen. You should be pointing that poison at him.¡±


    ¡°Cut the nonsense. If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t be here.¡± Lin Lu was determined. She raised the dagger and prepared to bring it down.


    Luo Ying saw an opening right away and reached for the vase on the bedside table.


    She grabbed the vase quickly and threw it at Lin Lu¡¯s head.


    Lin Lu was quick to react. She tilted her head to avoid the brunt of the impact, but the vase still fell and hit her back.


    The vase shattered into pieces, which showered all over Lin Lu¡¯s body. Some of the small pieces cut her up. Her old T-shirt became drenched in blood. Red lines that looked like red spider lilies traced down her body. It was a terrible sight.


    ¡°Luo Ying, you!¡± Lin Lu yelled and ran over to Luo Ying. She thrust the dagger at her.


    Luo Ying desperately raised her hands up to defend herself. Suddenly, someone kicked Lin Lu to the ground.


    Luo Ying was shocked. When she looked up, she saw Lu Zhao.


    Lin Lu fell to the ground heavily. She held her chest and panted, but she still had the dagger in her hand.


    ¡°Lin Lu, put that down if you don¡¯t want things to get worse. I¡¯ll let you return to the city alive,¡± Lu Zhao said coldly.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯d believe that?¡± Lin Lu laughed manically. ¡°You have no reason to let me go.¡±


    Luo Ying felt Lu Zhao¡¯s embrace tighten. She moved into Lu Zhao¡¯s arms and gave him a hug. ¡°Just leave her. She¡¯s not worth it. The knife is poisoned. We need to leave right away.¡±


    Lu Zhao gave Luo Ying a pat on the head. ¡°Be good. I¡¯ll catch up soon.¡±


    Luo Ying turned away.


    At that moment, Lin Lu saw an opportunity. She got to her feet and rushed over with the dagger.


    Lu Zhao stood in front of Luo Ying to shield her and tried to push Lin Lu away.


    At that moment, there was the sound of bullets slicing through the air. The window broke with a loud crash and the pieces fell all over the ground.


    Lu Zhao could not react in the time and got hit in the shoulder.


    The blood sent Luo Ying back to the past in the sanatorium. She fought back the bile in her stomach when she saw the bright red.


    She only remembered tightening her grip on Lu Zhao¡¯s clothes because she wanted to see his wound and help him stop bleeding.


    She passed out in the next second.


    When Luo Ying woke up, she was in the hospital.


    Jin Shi sat beside the bed. He bolted to his feet to call the doctor.


    Luo Ying grabbed Jin Shi¡¯s arm and stopped him. ¡°Lu Zhao, how is Lu Zhao? Is he hurt?¡±


    Jin Shi sighed deeply. ¡°Why are you still thinking about that cold-hearted man?¡±


    Luo Ying was surprised.. Cold-hearted man?

 Chapter 226 - Chapter 226: Cold-Hearted Man

    Chapter 226: Cold-Hearted Man


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°What do you mean, brother?¡± Luo Ying was stunned. Jin Shi¡¯s words had shocked her deeply.


    ¡°You were out of commission for a week. I just saw the news. The Luya Group has announced that Lu Zhao is divorcing you and is marrying Lin Jin,¡± Jin Shi explained.


    For a brief moment, Luo Ying believed that she had misheard it. The piercing sound of strings rang in her ears. Luo Ying looked at Jin Shi, stunned.


    ¡°Am I still dreaming?¡± Luo Ying asked him.


    ¡°Dream? Take a look at the news. Look at the person you¡¯ve given your all to. Who exactly is he?¡± Jin Shi handed over the phone to Luo Ying.


    On the phone, there was an announcement. ¡°The Lu Family and the Lin Family are about to tie the knot.¡± The attached photo showed Lin Jin and Lu Zhao attending a meeting together.


    As she gripped her head and fell onto the bed, Luo Ying felt the world spin around her.


    Jin Shi jumped to Luo Ying¡¯s aid.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the place I¡¯ve talked about. We¡¯ll live in seclusion there. You will never see Lu Zhao again. We need to figure out how to get out of here. This damned novel has made it clear that you and Lu Zhao will undoubtedly divorce, so fighting against it will only hurt more.¡±


    ¡°How could that be?¡± Luo Ying¡¯s tears fell from the corners of her eyes as she heard Jin Shi¡¯s words.


    ¡°Listen to me. Don¡¯t get involved with the inhabitants of this place. Let us live out of their way, out of their sight.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already bought a house overseas,¡± Jin Shi explained. ¡°Let¡¯s leave this place.¡±


    Luo Ying stared blankly at the wall in front of her. She did not seem to be listening to him.


    ¡°I recently learned that Second Brother may also exist in this world. Let¡¯s recuperate overseas. We¡¯ll meet with Second Brother and figure out how to get back to the real world.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you fond of small villas with courtyards? I¡¯ve seen quite a few. When you¡¯ve recovered completely, we can go and see the houses. What do you think?¡±


    Jin Shi handed Luo Ying a brochure.


    He had chosen the houses above with care. They were all Luo Ying¡¯s favorites, regardless of location or appearance.


    Luo Ying shut her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see this, Third Brother.¡±


    Jin Shi nodded quickly. ¡°What exactly do you want to see? I¡¯ll get it for you. Where would you like to go? What would you like to eat? I¡¯ll get it for you.¡±


    Jin Shi received a forced smile from Luo Ying.


    She only wanted to know why Lu Zhao had abandoned her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get angry,¡± Luo Ying said cautiously.


    Jin Shi sighed softly as his eyes flickered. ¡°I understand what you want to do, but you¡¯ve never been the type of person who chases after others. Furthermore, you know who Lu Zhao is. He will not change his mind once he has made a decision. ¡±


    ¡°You got it wrong, Third Brother.¡± Luo Ying cut Jin Shi off and reached out to grab the corner of Jin Shi¡¯s clothes, just like when they were kids.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t officially divorced yet. I have to sign the divorce papers myself,¡± said Luo Ying.


    Jin Shi sighed and nodded, relieved.


    Fortunately, Luo Ying had not reached the point of no return.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. You don¡¯t have to personally sign it. Lu Zhao came over earlier and said he didn¡¯t need you to be there. He¡¯ll take care of everything.¡±


    Lu Zhao visited her?


    He didn¡¯t even wait for her to awaken. He just walked away after giving her a cold glance?


    When did her Lu Zhao become so distant from her?


    Luo Ying chuckled in self-mockery.


    ¡°When it comes to divorce, we still need to see it to the end. I still have some words for Lu Zhao. Help me prepare.¡± Luo Ying sat down slowly after she finished speaking.


    Jin Shi looked at her frail appearance and was unsure of what to say.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be concerned. I¡¯ve already made up my mind. I just have a few questions.¡±


    Jin Shi gave a nod. ¡°First, get some sleep. I¡¯ll assist you in contacting him.¡±


    Jin Shi wanted to rush to Lu Zhao¡¯s house and beat him up after seeing Luo Ying lying on the bed with her eyes closed in pain.


    But when he remembered Lu Zhao¡¯s words, he came to a halt.


    Lu Zhao still loved Luo Ying, but they had been left with no choice.


    Staying with her was hurting her. It may be a better option to live apart.

 Chapter 227 - Chapter 227: Illusion

    Chapter 227: Illusion


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Sirius and Wen Yu emerged from the attic room in Lu Zhao¡¯s villa.


    Wen Yu looked at Sirius and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid there isn¡¯t any other option.¡±


    Sirius snatched his hair. The veins on his hands were popping out.


    ¡°I¡¯m completely to blame for this. I should not have let everyone aboard that ship for that sake of that woman. Lu Zhao would not have been poisoned if it hadn¡¯t been for me,¡± Sirius hissed in frustration.


    Wen Yu reached out to take Sirius¡¯ hands off his head.


    Her expression was solemn. ¡°None of that matters now. Have you gone looking for her?¡±


    Sirius shook his head. ¡°Her trail went cold. The poison master¡¯s daughter has not been found for a long time. Xiao Ting has been spending his entire time searching for her.¡±


    They did not even know if the poison master was alive.


    These dangerous, powerful individuals had their means. How could they be located so easily?


    Furthermore, the blood in her daughter¡¯s body may have miraculous properties. If people discovered her true identity, she could be kidnapped and sold as a human blood bag.


    ¡°I¡¯ll figure something out. See if you can do something about the pain.¡±


    Wen Yu bowed. ¡°I looked into the medicine that Lu Wen previously gave you. It¡¯s the same one Su Su was being controlled with. That medicine can temporarily relieve the symptoms, but if we don¡¯t detoxify it in time, it¡¯s going to worsen with time.¡±


    When the poison kicked in, people would experience hallucinations at first, then go insane. In the end, one¡¯s mind would become distorted in its entirety, making normal speech and actions impossible.


    In more severe cases, they would transform into blood-drinking monsters. They would go insane and die if they did not get their fill of blood.


    ¡°How long is temporary, exactly?¡± Sirius inquired.


    ¡°I have a rough estimation of two-months, but¡­¡± Wen Yu stated flatly.


    ¡°Two months is sufficient. I¡¯ll wrap it all up.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s voice came from behind them at this point.


    Lu Zhao wore a simple sweater and jeans. There were no signs of poisoning other than his pale face.


    His wrist, however, which was hidden beneath his sweater, had already turned purple.


    ¡°You should go to bed now¡­¡±


    Lu Zhao reached the two of them before Wen Yu could finish her sentence. He swallowed the medicine in Wen Yu¡¯s palm. ¡°Two months, correct? That¡¯s plenty.¡±


    Wen Yu¡¯s eyes were filled with concern as she looked at Lu Zhao. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely come up with an antidote in two months.¡±


    Lu Zhao shook his head and passed the document to Wen Yu.


    Sirius almost screamed as he looked over.


    ¡°Why did you write a will, Lu Zhao? We¡¯ll figure out a way to keep you alive. Don¡¯t give up so soon!¡± Sirius reached out to grab the will and prepare to rip it apart.


    Wen Yu looked at Sirius and shook her head. ¡°Calm down.¡±


    ¡°If I start going insane, just let me die and pretend I was in a car accident.¡± Lu Zhao spoke indifferently. It was as if he were an elderly man dying of cancer and planning his affairs.


    Sirius looked at his friend with a frown.


    ¡°I¡¯ll also give Luo Ying all of my assets, but you must tell her that this will was made before the divorce, not after.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes glowed with tenderness when he mentioned Luo Ying.


    He was staring down the end of his days, and he was downright terrified.


    He had lived a life of hell on earth. For a time, he did not care if he lived or died. However, after meeting Luo Ying, he realized that staying in this world might not be so bad, after all.


    ¡°After my divorce, I¡¯ll give Luo Ying the entire Lancheng Gardens villa. I¡¯ll give her half my stocks,¡± Lu Zhao stated flatly.


    He had left everything to Luo Ying in his will. Some of them would be handed over to the Golden Affairs Bureau¡¯s management.


    He had already discussed it with Jin Shi at the hospital. He believed their story. They were siblings who had come from another world.


    He could leave Luo Ying in Jin Shi¡¯s hands.


    He had sat beside Luo Ying and watched her for a long time before leaving the hospital.


    If Luo Ying truly came from another world, he hoped she could return to her nome world. pernaps ne snould nave Deen less 0Dsessec1 witn ner.


    The sound of a combination lock rang out at the door at this point, and the door was opened..

 Chapter 228 - Chapter 228: Conversation

    Chapter 228: Conversation


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying stood at the front door.


    She appeared severely haggard after a few days in the hospital. Her lips and face were pale.


    Lu Zhao went downstairs and noticed Luo Ying standing next to Jin Shi.


    She wore a white sweater and wide-leg pants. She looked so frail that her entire body appeared to float. It was as if she¡¯d be blown away in an instant.


    Lu Zhao clenched his fists, resisting the urge to walk over to Luo Ying¡¯s side and embrace her.


    ¡°What brings you here?¡± Lu Zhao inquired coldly.


    ¡°I should be the one to asking. Why, even though you¡¯re getting a divorce, is your house password still your ex-wife¡¯s birthday?¡± Luo Ying smiled sardonically.


    Lu Zhao peered at her closely. Her eyes were brimming with tears, but she was putting on a strong front and fighting hard not to blink.


    Lu Zhao felt a sharp pain in his chest. ¡°That¡¯s about to change. I¡¯m about to marry Lin Jin, so I have better things to care about. However, Ms. Luo, you should not barge into other people¡¯s homes.¡±


    What an distant title.


    Luo Ying looked at Lu Zhao, wanting to ask him why.


    But she fought back those words. She simply pulled a document from her bag and tossed it in front of Lu Zhao. ¡°Divorce settlement. I want nothing. Just end it.¡±


    Lu Zhao took the document. Luo Ying wanted absolutely nothing.


    ¡°I want nothing from you. I¡¯ll have my brother arrange for someone to remove everything today,¡± said Luo Ying.


    ¡°No need for that. I¡¯ve already arranged for someone to clean up Lancheng Garden. Feel free to stay there. I¡¯ve also requested for Zhang to send your belongings over,¡± said Lu Zhao. He reached out and ripped the agreement in his hand apart.


    When Luo Ying looked at Lu Zhao, a glimmer of hope ignited in her heart. However, it was quickly snuffed out the next second.


    ¡°I¡¯ve created a new document just for you. Go ahead and sign it.¡± Lu Zhao took the document from the coffee table and placed it in front of Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying opened the document and read through it.


    It included automobiles, houses, antiques, and 5% of the Luya Group¡¯s stock.


    If Luo Ying recalled correctly, Lu Zhao only owned 5% of the company.


    ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± Luo Ying looked at the agreement, puzzled. ¡°Do you even think the Lu Family would allow me to have anything?¡±


    Lu Zhao snorted coldly. ¡°Our Lu family does not lack for money. I¡¯ll give you everything. I still have so much to give my newlywed wife.¡±


    The phrase ¡°newlywed wife¡± pierced Luo Ying¡¯s heart.


    ¡°We haven¡¯t divorced yet, and you¡¯ve already told the media that you¡¯re divorcing and marrying Lin Jin. You¡¯re quite decisive,¡± with a bitter smile, Luo Ying said.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Lu Zhao inhaled deeply and tried to sound more natural.


    ¡°I¡¯m sick of you already. Don¡¯t you realize I¡¯ve had enough? Accidents happen all the time when I¡¯m with you. You could be a jinx, as Grandpa described you. I just want to get rid of you now.


    ¡°I can still find my mother as long as I listen to Grandpa. I don¡¯t have to be worried every day. Isn¡¯t that wonderful?¡±


    Yes, he could get everything he desired if he married Lin Jin.


    The Lu Family¡¯s holdings, Lin Jin, and the whereabouts of his mother.


    When she witnessed the joy on Lu Zhao¡¯s face, Luo Ying realized that this man had made up his mind to break up with her.


    Luo Ying closed her eyes and exhaled deeply. The image of them interacting with one another lingered in her mind. Her feet gave way and she nearly collapsed.


    Jin Shi stood behind Luo Ying, frowning and shaking his head at Lu Zhao. Although Lu Zhao was only putting on an act, it would be bad if he did not ease up.


    ¡°Just sign it.¡± Lu Zhao shoved the agreement in front of Luo Ying.


    His hands trembled slightly, but Luo Ying didn¡¯t notice it.


    She was still clinging onto hope, but Lu Zhao had said such hurtful words. She was beginning to suspect that Lu Zhao disliked her.


    Perhaps this was fate. Perhaps she was meant to leave him and start over.


    ¡°Fine.¡± Luo Ying nodded and signed the paper with her name. She turned to face Lu Zhao. ¡°I hope you get everything you want after you divorce me.¡± Someone knocked on the door at that moment.


    Lin Jin¡¯s sweet voice came from outside. ¡°Lu Zhao, it¡¯s me, sweetie. I¡¯ve already started packing.. Can I move in tomorrow?¡±

 Chapter 229 - Chapter 229: Confrontation

    Chapter 229: Confrontation


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Yings pupils shrank, and she laughed once more.


    ¡°So¡­¡± She reached out and took the portion of the agreement that was hers.


    ¡°Tonight is your wedding night. I apologize for bothering you.¡±


    Luo Ying got to her feet and prepared to leave. Lin Jin had already passed through the door at this point.


    Lin Jin screamed the moment she saw Luo Ying.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Lin Jin¡¯s face was twisted. Her meticulously crafted red nails pierced Luo Yings cheek.


    ¡°I¡¯ve come to ditch a heartless dog. What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Lu Zhao laughed at himself as his eyes flickered. Wasn¡¯t that what he¡¯d said about her before?


    ¡°Lu Zhao, she¡¯s insulting you. How could you let her stay in our house?¡± Lin Jin explained.


    ¡®Our house?¡¯ Luo Ying was stunned.


    Yes, Lin Jin was the true mistress of this house as of today.


    She meant nothing.


    Luo Ying scowled. ¡°Then I wish you two a happy marriage for the next century.¡±


    Lu Zhao tried hard to remain calm.


    Luo Ying turned around to face Lu Zhao. ¡°When did you decide to marry Lin


    ¡°Ah?¡± Lu Zhao was clearly stunned. He had never liked Lin Jin, and he had never considered this question.


    He was surprised when Luo Ying asked him this question.


    ¡°It was when I returned from the cruise,¡± said Lu Zhao.


    His flustered expression, however, had already betrayed him.


    Luo Ying scowled. ¡°You sure have a quick change of heart.¡±


    Lin Jin had no idea what they were talking about, but she was annoyed to see Luo Ying there.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, get her out of here. This is our home.¡± Lin Jin dashed to Lu Zhao¡¯s side and reached out to grab his hand.


    Lu Zhao had reflexively tried to shake her hand off, but he fought his instincts and grabbed her hand.


    Lin Jin raised her head proudly and looked at Luo Ying. Her eyes were full of provocation.


    ¡°People change, Luo Ying. How could he like a woman like you?¡±


    Luo Ying continued to stare at Lu Zhao instead of Lin Jin.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes flickered. It was as if he was trying to avoid her gaze. His grip on Lin Jin was stiffening up as well.


    ¡°l see. Let¡¯s go, Brother,¡± Luo Ying said to Jin Shi with a nod. She picked up the agreement and bag.


    Jin Shi gave a nod. He gave Lu Zhao a look before leaving.


    The door shut.


    Almost simultaneously, he yanked his hand away from Lin Jin¡¯s and looked at


    Lin Jin with disgust. ¡°Who told you to come now?¡±


    ¡°l was thinking that we might marry in the future. First and foremost, I wanted to accompany you. Are you sick?¡± Lin Jin looked at him innocently. She blinked her large eyes.


    This was a golden opportunity. She had arrived early to assist Luo Ying with some housework.


    ¡°Sirius and the doctor are enough. Who even told you to come here on your own accord?¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s tone was stern, and he lacked the tenderness that he once showed her.


    ¡°Have you forgotten what your mission is?¡± Lin Jin bit her lower lip firmly.


    ¡°l advise you not to have unrealistic expectations of me,¡± said Lu Zhao.


    Lin Jin¡¯s face blanched instantly. She still desired to pursue a relationship with Lu Zhao.


    Lu Zhao had asked for her hand in marriage, but it was all a ruse to deceive Luo Ying.


    The condition was that Lu Zhao purchase the Lin Group and hand it over to Lin Jin.


    ¡°There¡¯s is a room on the third floor. This is my guest room. Feel free. That room has all of the necessary amenities. Don¡¯t come out if there¡¯s nothing else.¡± Lu Zhao turned around and walked upstairs after he finished speaking.


    He took his time walking. Pain spread throughout his body. His body and his heart were both in pain.


    He had just spoken harshly to Luo Ying. Sirius was waiting for him upstairs.


    Sirius reached out to assist Lu Zhao, but Lu Zhao waved his hand away.


    Sirius let out a sigh. ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself.¡±


    Lu Zhao fell to his knees, clutching his heart. He had never been in this much pain in his life.


    He had to stop himself from approaching Luo Ying and hugging her.


    He was already missing Luo Ying terribly.


    ¡°Go buy Luo Yings favorites and put them in the villa,¡± Lu Zhao told Sirius. ¡°No, I have to stay here and look after you. You¡¯re extremely weak right now,¡± Sirius insisted..

 Chapter 230 - Chapter 230: Exposed

    Chapter 230: Exposed


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Go and help me take care of Luo Ying now. Seeing her happy is enough for me.¡± Lu Zhao stretched out and grabbed the wrist of his other hand tightly.


    Pain spread throughout his body. The poison had invaded his body.


    He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his arms that were covered in bruises.


    Sirius almost cried out in shock. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that the medicine could help? What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Wen Yu walked out of the room. ¡°This poison could take effect at any time, even with the medicine. You must control your emotions.¡±


    ¡°l see.¡± Lu Zhao slowly straightened his body. This medicine would also cause unbearable pain. It was as if hundreds of needles were piercing his body.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go now.¡± Sirius could not bear to see his friend in pain.


    When he went downstairs, Lin Jin had just moved her luggage up to the third floor.


    Lu Zhao had given her a massive suite. It had a kitchen, bathroom, living room, and bedroom.


    Two people guarded the door. This did not look like a marriage, but more like imprisonment.


    Lin Jin sneered. ¡°What are you looking at? I¡¯m the mistress of the Lu Residence now.¡±


    They did not get along well.


    Sirius looked at Lin Jin coldly. For some reason, he was beginning to miss Luo


    Ying.


    Lin Jin looked like a triumphant villainess. He did not like her one bit.


    ¡°What difference does that make to me?¡± Sirius said coldly.


    Lin Jin shut her mouth.


    They arrived at a dessert shop that Luo Ying frequented and decided to help Lu Zhao buy some desserts for Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying usually liked to eat very sweet candy and cakes. Her taste was like that of a child¡¯s. He chose a few cakes that looked good and walked out of the shop with them. He didn¡¯t realize that someone was stalking him.


    He went to the villa, not expecting to see Luo Ying there.


    He walked to the doorstep and set the bag down.


    Just as he was about to turn around, he suddenly felt someone behind him pressing something that felt like a gun against the back of his head.


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    The other party¡¯s gun was slightly raised. It was the behavior of someone who didn¡¯t know how to hold a gun. He was also shorter than him. He started calculating his chances of winning.


    But the next second, a woman¡¯s cold voice interrupted his thoughts.


    ¡°You¡¯re sneaking around my house with snacks. I wonder if you¡¯re trying to break into my house or pursue me?¡± Luo Yings voice was lazy. She was a completely different person from the weak Luo Ying in the room just now.


    Sirius looked at Luo Ying in surprise. ¡°What are you babbling about? Why would I pursue you?¡±


    ¡°No, you won¡¯t.¡± Luo Ying put down her gun. ¡°I¡¯m faster than 1 look. You¡¯d better not think about escaping.¡±


    Sirius sighed. ¡°What do you want to know?¡±


    ¡°Do you even need to ask? All I want to know is if Lu Zhao hiding something from me. You were the one who told me about Lu Zhao¡¯s mother last time. Just spill the beans already,¡± said Luo Ying.


    Sirius frowned. ¡°Even if I tell you, it won¡¯t solve the problem.¡±


    Luo Yings heart skipped a beat. She had guessed right. ¡°He was poisoned, right? It¡¯s a two-part concoction.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Sirius nodded with difficulty.


    He did not plan to hide it from Luo Ying. He actually did not understand why Lu Zhao was hiding it from her.


    Luo Ying had been devastated by his rejection.


    After these few incidents, he knew that Luo Ying truly loved Lu Zhao.


    The last thing he should do was to break her heart.


    ¡°l hope you won¡¯t let Lu Zhao worry by returning.¡± Sirius sighed. ¡°He doesn¡¯t want you to be sad. After all, there¡¯s no way to get rid of this poison.¡±


    ¡°What will happen if the poison acts up?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    When the poison took effect, it would induce hallucinations, madness, and finally turn them into a distorted caricature of what they once were.


    Sirius shook his head. He didn¡¯t want Luo Ying to hear this.


    ¡°Do you not know, or are you keeping it from me?¡± Luo Ying was a little surprised.. ¡°Didn¡¯t Wen Yu tell you?¡±

 Chapter 231 - Chapter 231: Disappointment

    Chapter 231: Disappointment


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Sirius shook his head.


    He didn¡¯t want to put any ugly images in Luo Yings mind.


    Everyone wanted to look perfect and beautiful in front of their loved ones.


    If Luo Ying learned about this, wouldn¡¯t it ruin Lu Zhao¡¯s image in Luo Yings heart? Sirius shook his head firmly.


    Luo Ying sighed. ¡°It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t want to tell me, but I have a way to treat Lu Zhao.¡¯


    Sirius was so shocked that his jaw almost dropped to the ground.


    ¡°What did you say? You have the antidote of this poison?¡± Sirius frowned and asked.


    ¡°l do.¡± Luo Ying was now certain that she was the daughter of the legendary poison master.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll bring her to see Lu Zhao now.¡± Sirius was very excited. He grabbed Luo Yings hand and wanted her to bring him to see the daughter of the legendary poison master.


    ¡°No, no. Not so fast,¡± Luo Ying looked at Sirius and said.


    ¡°Is this the time to delay it¡­¡± Sirius was a little anxious.


    ¡°The daughter of the poison master is a friend of mine. I can get blood from her, but we¡¯re only giving you a small dose every week. You can ask Wen Yu about the dosage and frequency needed for his treatment.¡±


    Sirius frowned. ¡°Once a week?¡±


    ¡°Of course, once a week. We¡¯ll be drawing her blood every day. Do you think that girl is a blood bag?¡± Luo Ying frowned as she looked at Sirius.


    Only then did it dawn upon Sirius.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was just thinking of saving Lu Zhao¡­ we can make arrangements,¡± Sirius said.


    Luo Ying yawned lazily. ¡°Let¡¯s go with one million per vial. How about it?¡±


    Forget a million, even ten million was not a problem for Sirius.


    ¡°Okay, 1 agree. But when can I get the first dose?¡± Sirius asked.


    ¡°How about tomorrow? I¡¯ll put the blood in a delivery cabinet near the Lu Family¡¯s villa,¡± Luo Ying asked.


    Sirius nodded.


    At that moment, in the Lu Family¡¯s villa, Lu Zhao lay in his room.


    The pain came like a tide, hitting his body in waves. He could barely remain conscious.


    He chased everyone out and remained in the room alone. He did not want others to see him in such a sorry state.


    Luo Yings face appeared in front of him. He really wanted to hug Luo Ying.


    The illusion began to slowly creep into his mind, as if Luo Ying was right in front of him.


    The fragrance on Luo Yings body washed over him in waves. It was the faint fragrance of tropical plants. This smell embraced Lu Zhao and chased the pain away.


    Lu Zhao opened his eyes with difficulty. Someone grabbed his hand.


    He muttered her name softly. Lu Zhao felt her face pressing against his hand, and warmth spread from his fingertips to his heart.


    He had not felt this safe for many years.


    ¡°Luo Ying.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Luo Ying replied in his dream.


    ¡°l really love you,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Lu Zhao reached out and pulled her into his arms, just like what he always did.


    A faint fragrance spread in the air.


    In so much pain, he was still dreaming of Luo Ying. It was the best outcome he could have thought of.


    In this dream, he could be with Luo Ying forever.


    ¡°Don¡¯t leave me, Luo Ying,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    The person in his arms nodded shyly. ¡°l won¡¯t leave you. Don¡¯t worry, I love you so much.¡±


    It had been a long time since Lu Zhao had heard Luo Ying say such words.


    He held her tightly in his arms.


    In the dream, Luo Ying seemed to be exceptionally proactive. She leaned into his arms, reached out to touch his cheek, and gently kissed his lips.


    It would be great if he could never wake up from such a dream.


    The next day, in a research institute, Wen Yu was nervously looking at the


    cells in the petri dish.


    The poison spread among the cells, and the fragile microorganisms seemed to fall apart upon first contact.


    Wen Yu aimed the needle at the petri dish.


    The cell in the petri dish seemed to come alive the moment they came into contact with the blood.


    Wen Yu looked at the bacteria on it in surprise.


    ¡°Where did you get this? With this, we might be able to save Lu Zhao..¡±

 Chapter 232 - Chapter 232: Poisoned

    Chapter 232: Poisoned


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation       Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Sirius hesitated for a moment and ultimately decided to hide it from


    Wen Yu. The fewer people in the loop, the better.


    ¡°A friend of mine got it. Because of some coincidence, he met the daughter of the poison master,¡± Sirius said.


    Wen Yu¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Is the poison master still alive? I actually want to take her as my master.¡±


    Sirius shook his head. ¡°No, the poison master has passed away.¡±


    Wen Yu sighed.


    Only a genius of the century could have produced such potent drugs and turn her own daughter into a walking ambrosia. Wen Yu had always wanted to improve her craft.


    ¡°My friend wants an estimate of how much blood is needed to remove all the toxins in Lu Zhao¡¯s body,¡± Sirius inquired.


    Wen Yu frowned and looked at the petri dish.


    ¡°About ten months. If she provides her blood twice a month, it should be suffice,¡± said Wen Yu.


    Humans were not supposed to have their blood drawn any more frequently than that. Although saving Lu Zhao was very important, they could not let this poison master¡¯s daughter lose her life.


    Sirius nodded, but his expression was very solemn.


    Wen Yu noticed his awkwardness and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did something happen?


    Sirius shook his head.


    He could not understand why Luo Ying did not just confess her identity to Lu Zhao and save him. Instead, she went around in such a big circle about the matter.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. It won¡¯t be easy to contact her. We¡¯d better nurse Lu Zhao back to health as soon as possible and continue with the next step,¡± Sirius said.


    Wen Yu nodded and the two of them started to get busy in the laboratory.


    After synthesizing the first dose, Wen Yu arrived at the Lu Familys villa.


    The Lu Familys villa seemed just slightly less dreary than before.


    The two of them entered the villa and went to the attic.


    Wen Yu knocked on the door first. After confirming that Lu Zhao was calm, she pushed the door open and entered.


    In the next second, Wen Yu let out a hysterical scream.


    Sirius, who was right behind Wen Yu, also covered his mouth in surprise.


    The flustered woman put on her clothes and looked at the two of them angrily. ¡°Why are the two of you here?¡± li lt¡¯s time for his medicine.¡± Wen Yu looked at the woman coldly.


    Lin Lu hurriedly tidied her clothes. ¡°What are you two doing here? Don¡¯t you know that l i m the mistress of this place?


    ¡°The two of us have always worked closely with the Lu Family. This is not your place to question. I know why you¡¯re here, so you¡¯d better behave yourself,¡± Sirius said coldly.


    At that moment, Lu Zhao, who was lying on the hospital bed, suddenly woke up. His eyes were vacant as he stared at the three people in front of him. Suddenly, he stood up and stumbled towards the three of them.


    His eyes turned blood-red, and the blue veins on his wrist protruded.


    ¡°Not good, Lu Zhao has gone crazy!¡± Lin Lu looked at Lu Zhao with a terrified expression. She turned around and was about to run out, but Sirius grabbed her hand.


    Lu Zhao was already dashing over.


    Wen Yu ducked under Lu Zhao¡¯s wild swing and stabbed the needle into his body. Lu Zhao fell to the ground weakly.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Lin Lu suddenly let out an ear-piercing scream. ¡°Is this why I¡¯m here?


    Did he become such a monster? Will he suddenly go crazy?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Sirius said. He looked at Lin Lu coldly. ¡°But this particular outburst was ahead of schedule. What did you do to him?¡±


    Lin Lu shook her head frantically. As she looked at Sirius, tears flowed down from the corners of her eyes.


    ¡°You drugged him, didn¡¯t you?¡± Wen Yu asked.


    She helped Lu Zhao onto the bed and turned to stared at Lin Lu. ¡°I¡¯ve come into contact with the hallucinogen produced by your Lin Family¡¯s pharmaceutical company. Some of the ingredients in this hallucinogen can accelerate the effects of the poison.¡±


    She was furious. Lin Lu was unhinged. How could she do such a thing to an ill


    ¡°No, I was just¡­¡± Lin Lu almost knelt on the ground and begged for mercy.


    ¡°Get out of here,¡± Sirius said to Lin Lu.


    These people from the Lin Family thought about drugging others every day to get them. Such people opening a pharmaceutical factory was simply an insult to the pharmaceutical industry.


    ¡°Go to your room. Without Wen Yu and my orders, you are not allowed to take a single step out of that room..¡±

 Chapter 233 - Chapter 233: A Storm in Public Discussion

    Chapter 233: A Storm in Public Discussion


    Translator: EndLessFantasy Translation      Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    After dealing with Lin Lu, Sirius quickly carried Lu Zhao back to his bed.


    Wen Yu used the medical equipment in the room to check on Lu Zhao¡¯s physical condition. Fortunately, there was nothing unusual.


    Wen Yu held the test results and said, ¡°Fortunately, whatever she used isn¡¯t addictive. It can be completely digested by the human body in 24 hours. There won¡¯t be any permanent damage.¡±


    Sirius heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank goodness.¡±


    He looked at the sleeping Lu Zhao with a complicated gaze. Lu Zhao was his brother. This was the first time he had seen Lu Zhao in such a sorry state, and he regretted it very much.


    He was wrong. He should not have dragged Lu Zhao into this. He should not have misunderstood Luo Ying. She was different from Su Su.


    If he were Lu Zhao, he would definitely want to leave the best for Luo Ying. However, now that they had been forcefully separated, what could all the fortunes in the world do?


    Sirius thought of this and decided to give Luo Ying a call. He instructed Wen Yu, ¡°I¡¯m going out to make a call. Call me when Lu Zhao wakes up.¡±


    Wen Yu nodded. ¡°Alright.¡±


    Sirius walked to the other side of the villa and called Luo Ying.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Luo Ying quickly picked up the call. She was sitting on the swing in the small garden and playing with her phone. When she saw the call, she subconsciously stopped swinging.


    Sirius said decisively, ¡°The blood helped. Lu Zhao¡¯s symptoms were alleviated. Wen Yu said that as long as he gets blood twice a month, he will recover in ten months.¡±


    Luo Yings brows relaxed, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curled up. ¡°That¡¯s great!¡±


    However, her tone changed again. ¡°Remember not to tell Lu Zhao that the blood is related to mea¡±


    Sirius agreed helplessly. ¡°Alright.¡±


    They were clearly so in love, but now they were both helping each other out in such a roundabout manner.


    ¡°That¡¯s all for now. The blood will be sent to the express delivery station regularly.¡± Before he could react, Luo Ying hung up the phone.


    ¡°What express delivery station? Who called?¡± Jin Shi looked at Luo Ying suspiciously.


    He had just pushed open the back door and was walking towards the small garden when he happened to hear the end of the call.


    ¡°That was Min Yu.¡± Luo Ying took down her phone and answered guiltily, ¡°I recommended a drama to her and asked her manager to send her the script.¡±


    Luo Ying hid this information from Jin Shi because she knew he would never approve of her risking physical harm to save Lu Zhao.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re overseas, you should relax first.¡± Jin Shi did not grow suspicious. He simply walked to Luo Yings side and rubbed the top of her head comfortingly.


    After signing the papers at Lu Zhao¡¯s house, Luo Ying had been very depressed. Jin Shi¡¯s heart ached when he saw this. He had quickly booked a plane ticket overseas and brought Luo Ying here to relax.


    Luo Ying shook her head and forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine. You know that I won¡¯t chase after someone who doesnt love me. Once the divorce agreement is signed, Lu Zhao and I are done. I still have work to do.¡±


    Jin Shi thought about it. She should be trying to distract herself withher work.


    Perhaps this was for the better. ¡°That would work.¡±


    ¡°Oh right, Third Brother, what did your friend say?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    The announcement that Lu Zhao would marry Lin Lu had long sparked public outrage in the country. Fans and bystanders flooded Luo Yings social media accounts with comments and private messages. There were several related trending searches as well.


    Jin Shi contacted a friend in the news industry and decided to start by suppressing public opinion.


    Luo Ying was playing with her phone. She was looking at the discussions on social media platforms.


    Her previous performances had assisted her in regaining a lot of reputation and even gaining some fans. As a result, the comments were significantly better than when Luo Ying first arrived. Many fans were attempting to show their support for her.


    However, the fans were unable to stop other malicious fans and bystanders from mocking them.


    [Don¡¯t be sad, Sister. You can always find another man!]


    [It has finally arrived. I knew she¡¯d be abandoned sooner or later, hahahaha.


    She is completely unworthy of Lu Zhao.]


    [Luo Ying asked for this!]


    [Why dont you just say Sister Ying deserted Lu Zhao?]


    [Wait for a response from Sister Ying.]


    ¡°My friend is suppressing public opinion, but the public opinion is raging, and the post is still trending.¡± Jin Shi informed Luo Ying of the situation.


    He, too, frowned. ¡°Other forces appear to be stirring up the water. Many marketing accounts are spreading negative information about you.¡±


    lt¡¯s not that bad,¡± Luo Ying reassured him. However, dealing with it coldly was not the best approach, especially when it came to such bad news. She couldnt let rumors spread. ¡°Let me think of how I can respond positively.¡±


    Before Luo Ying could decide, Chi Tong sent her a message: ¡°Boss, Lu Zhao has responded!¡±

 Chapter 234 - Chapter 234: Waking Up

    Chapter 234: Waking Up


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation       Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Luo Ying¡­¡± The man on the bed restlessly moved about with his eyes closed and his brow furrowed. He appeared to be having a nightmare and was clearly struggling.


    Wen Yu hurriedly summoned Sirius.


    ¡°Lu Zhao? Lu Zhao, Lu Zhao!¡± Sirius dashed to the bedside and shook Lu Zhao by the shoulder.


    The man suddenly straightened up and opened his eyes.


    Lu Zhao struggled out of the nightmare and had to take deep breaths.


    Sirius was taken aback. ¡°You¡¯ve finally woken up!¡±


    ¡°What¡­what happened just now?¡± Lu Zhao rubbed his aching brow and calmed his breathing.


    The last thing he knew, he was losing his mind.


    ¡°Lin Lu was here. She drugged you and set off your poison.¡± Sirius¡¯ lips were pursed in disgust. He truly detested the Lin Family. ¡°I¡¯ve already had someone lock her up in the west room.¡±


    Lu Zhao was disgusted. He would not have let Lin Lu get any closer to him if it weren¡¯t for the current situation.


    ¡°President Lu, we¡¯ve found a way to detoxify the poison,¡± Wen Yu, who was guarding the room, added.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Sirius agreed. ¡°Through my intelligence channels, I tracked down the poison master¡¯s daughter. She is willing to donate blood if I keep her identity secret. The poison will be detoxified in ten months If we synthesize a it twice a For a brief moment, Lu Zhao was stunned. He didn¡¯t expect things to improve.


    Sirius patted his brother on the shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s true. I have no idea who she is, but she promised to supply you with blood at a regular rate of 1 million per tube. Wen Yu suppressed your insanity with the blood delivered today.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Wen Yu added. ¡°Don¡¯t be concerned about Lin Lu i s drug. It will no longer bother you in two days.¡±


    Lu Zhao nodded. His expression was complicated. ¡°Please thank the poison master¡¯s daughter for me.¡±


    He didn¡¯t think he¡¯d be able to find the person later on. He had been ready to die.


    ¡°Where did Luo Ying go? Is she okay?¡± Lu Zhao asked about the love of his life.


    Sirius paused for a moment before opening her mouth. ¡°I did as you told me. She did not look well. Jin Shi should have brought her overseas by now.¡± Sirius was overcome with guilt as he said this. Luo Ying


    ¡°I see.¡± Lu Zhao lowered his eyes wearily. His guilty and complicated expression was gone.


    He yearned for Luo Ying. He had just watched Luo Ying leave him in his dream. His heart seemed to be clenched tightly at the time. When he awoke, all he wanted to do was see Luo Ying and hold her in his arms to ensure she didn¡¯t leave him.


    However, in reality, he had to physically push Luo Ying away.


    Lu Zhao lifted the blanket and climbed out of bed after processing his emotions. ¡°Inform the group¡¯s shareholders that a meeting will be held tomorrow.¡±


    Sirius froze in shock. ¡°Is it really that urgent? Aren¡¯t you going to take a break?¡±


    Lu Zhao shook his head. ¡°There isn¡¯t time.¡±


    Lu Wen and Old Master Lu would not let him catch his breath. He needed to do this now. There was hope. The poison could be cured. He could only find the woman he loved if he got rid of them.


    Lu Zhao silently repeated Luo Yings name in his heart, struggling to keep his longing at bay.


    He picked up the phone on the bedside table and was about to call his secretary, when flashing news alerts appeared on the screen.


    [Shocking! The marriage of the Lu and Lin Families is about to take place.


    Actress Luo Ying is being abandoned!]


    [She has failed miserably! The backgrounds of Luo Ying and Lin Lu are vastly different!]


    [Was Luo Yings marriage crisis a foreshadowing? Take a look at this image!]


    Lu Zhao frowned. The company had issued a very neutral statement. This kind of public opinion directed at Luo Ying was undoubtedly influenced by someone. It was either Lu Wen or the Lin Group.


    If they were allowed to manipulate public opinion, the damage to Luo Ying¡¯s public image would be irreversible.


    Lu Zhao clutched his phone tightly and dialed the number for the head of the company¡¯s public relations department.


    ¡°Issue another statement emphasizing the peaceful nature of the breakup.


    Sway public opinion in favor of Luo Ying.¡±


    The director of public relations gave him his affirmation. His previous job was writing public relations drafts!


    He quickly drafted a heartfelt announcement. According to the article, the two of them had a deep relationship and were naturally in love. It also stated that they ended their relationship peacefully and had not been influenced by any outsiders. Finally, it included his best wishes for Luo Ying.


    The crisis public relations program was activated immediately. They immediately posted all kinds of marketing content that spread rumors about Luo Ying.


    On the other hand, Luo Ying returned to the study room and began a video call with Chi Tong.


    Chi Tong was astounded as he scrolled through the new Weibo posts.. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Boss?¡±

 Chapter 235 - Chapter 235: Reversal of Public Remarks

    Chapter 235: Reversal of Public Remarks


    Translator: EndLessFantasy Translation    Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Chi Tong was in the dark about Luo Yings breakup. He was nervous to know that Lu Zhao had released a public statement.


    After all, their studio was no match for the might of the Luya Group. Luo Ying would be easily silenced if the Luya Group deliberately manipulated public opinion.


    Not expecting a formal tone from the Luya Group, he was surprised to read what seemed to be ¡°Our CEO doesn¡¯t want a divorce!¡± between the lines. It was a subtle hint.


    The director of public relations was particularly pleased with this piece because it was written in his preferred style.


    After that, the Luya Group¡¯s legal department¡¯s account posted three lawyer letters in a row, threatening legal action against any and all marketing accounts that contributed to spreading false information about Luo Ying.


    After reading the Luya Group¡¯s declaration, Luo Ying, too, cracked a grin. ¡°Lu Zhao wants to imply that I was the one who initiated the divorce. This will put an end to the talk that I¡¯m not good enough for him and that he¡¯s abandoned me.¡±


    She went back to the office and settled back into her favorite chair.


    Since Lu Zhao¡¯s poison was curable, he had no interest in being ruled over by anyone else. While he might be unable to handle the marriage alliance right now, he had no trouble controlling public opinion.


    That was the man that Luo Ying had taken a fancy to. How could she not be able to protect her lover?


    ¡°Boss, you are¡­ Chi Tong hesitated for a moment. He didn¡¯t want to pry into Luo Yings feelings, but since things had reached this level of publicity, he had to see to it.


    ¡°Divorced.¡± Luo Ying made a dismissive gesture. ¡°It had been finalized. Just play along. The Luya Group has superior public relations. It¡¯s silly not to put them to good use.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Chi Tong agreed. ¡°So, we should take a less active stance, perhaps by simply reposting their announcement?


    Luo Ying nodded. ¡°Allow the message to spread on its own and then quickly quash its popularity.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± After agreeing, Chi Tongbrought up another issue. ¡°I got a response from the streamer you asked me to tip last time, Boss.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± It was Second Brother, Luo Ying recalled. ¡°Seek out his whereabouts and make an appointment to meet with him.¡±


    Luo Ying, after some consideration, said, ¡°Right, use our studio¡¯s computer to reply to him.¡±


    Chi Tong was taken aback. It made no difference which device he used.


    Chi Tong didn¡¯t understand what was going on, but he trusted that Luo Ying had good reasons.


    Luo Ying, on the other hand, was confident in the meticulous nature of her second brother. He wouldn¡¯t meet a fan who had only tipped him over the internet. He might not believe Chi Tong if he said she was the one who initiated the meeting.


    Even so, hackers were accustomed to looking at IP addresses. Things might change if he verified that the IP address he was communicating with was actually from Luo Yings studio.


    Chi Tongs call was cut short as Luo Ying hung up to discuss the matter with her third brother.


    Third Brother had previously told her he had news of Second Brother, but she had been too hearbroken to listen.


    On the home front, Luo Yings studio Weibo capitalized on the announcement made by Luya Group before the netizens could even process the information.


    And in stark contrast to the Luya Group¡¯s long speech of a few hundred words, Luo Yings studio only had the words ¡®I Repost Weibo hanging coldly.


    The general public caught on quickly to this radical change in perspective. [I¡¯m dying of laughter. The words of the Luya Group are so meek.]


    [What¡¯s the big deal? Sister Ying left Lu Zhao behind. It¡¯s likely too late for Lu


    Zhao to save the day.]


    [No one can say for sure if Lu Zhao disappointed Sister Ying to the point where they split up or not. So what if it¡¯s too late to feel regret?] [Three times he tried to contact his ex-wife to dispel the rumors.]


    [She¡¯s so cool! She even humbled someone like Lu Zhao.]


    [Why not? Her fans love her. She is now completely independent of Lu Zhao, and she has just opened her own studio. She¡¯s such a capable woman!]


    Chi Tongs backstage operations quickly caught up, concealing the negative comments and highlighting the fans who defended Luo Yings statements.


    Luya Group and Chi Tong worked together to quickly reverse the direction of users¡¯ search queries.


    In the next few days, other trending matters had taken over the algorithm. The news of Luo Yings divorce gradually faded from the headlines.


    Even though the divorce farce was over, Luo Ying remained restless. After all, another thing that bothered her had been added to the schedule.


    ¡°3 p. m. , City F¡¯s X Street Cafe.¡±


    This was the latest transmission from Chi Tong.


    Street X was right in the city center. Could it be that Second Brother was also overseas? Luo Ying fumbled with her phone as she flipped through its screen..

 Chapter 236 - Chapter 236: Pick Up

    Chapter 236: Pick Up


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Of course, K was not overseas.


    He had been maintaining his image as a frivolous influencer and secretly investigating research related to the parallel world before Luo Ying contacted him via the tip.


    K, on the other hand, could not sit still when he discovered that his younger sister and possibly even his third brother had arrived in this world.


    K attempted to contact Jin Shi via some secret channels at first, but the unusually high tips in the live broadcast room quickly drew his attention. When he contacted the tipper, he discovered that Luo Ying was on the lookout for him.


    There was no need to pay attention to a small streamer like him given Luo


    Yings status. Furthermore, he had discovered the stark contrast between Luo Ying pre-suicide attempt and post-suicide attempt. It had to be his sister. K reached a decision in his heart.


    He had also witnessed the recent storm of public opinion. He had scheduled the meeting abroad in order to take care of Luo Ying.


    However, it appeared that even the heavens were assisting them in reuniting.


    Country Ps airport, 10 a.m.


    ¡°Chi Tong, come on over here.¡± Luo Ying noticed Chi Tong and waved. Chi Tong approached her quickly.


    Luo Yings gaze, however, quickly shifted from Chi Tong to a man behind him. His figure appeared to be unusually familiar¡­ Was it possible?


    ¡°Yingying?¡± the man inquired tentatively.


    ¡°Second Brother!¡± Luo Ying was greatly surprised. She bolted in the direction of the man.


    Chi Tong saw Luo Ying flash past him like a whirlwind before he could reach her. When he turned around, he saw Luo Ying already throwing herself into the arms of a stranger.


    Chi Tong felt like passing out! Who was he?


    The case of Luo Ying and Lu Zhao had just been settled quietly. What caused the appearance of this new man?


    Despite the fact that they were overseas, they couldn¡¯t rule out the possibility of being photographed! Chi Tong became nervous and looked around to see if anyone else was scared.


    There were too many hugs like this in the airport, where they were used to seeing people separate and reunite. The pedestrians were unconcerned about Luo Ying and the others.


    ¡°I finally see you, Yingying.¡± Luo Ying was easily caught by the baby-faced man, who rubbed her hair with a smile.


    K, Luo Yings second brother, was the man. In this world, he was known as Yuan Ke.


    He arrived in Country F as planned. He saw Luo Ying waiting for him as soon as he stepped off the plane and out of the passageway.


    Yuan Ke would not mistake her for his sister, even if she was wearing sunglasses.


    ¡°It¡¯s really you, Second Brother!¡± Luo Ying coquettishly buried her face in Yuan Ke l s body. She had not made a mistake. It was, in fact, Second Brother. She really missed her family. ¡°I missed you so much.¡±


    Yuan Ke hugged Luo Ying helplessly. ¡®Okay, alright, I¡¯m here. You¡¯re not going to introduce him?¡±


    Luo Ying then realized she was supposed to pick up Chi Tong from the airport. She quickly released her second brother and tidied her hair.


    Luo Ying was slightly embarrassed. She was too used to acting cute with her second brother at home to notice the occasion. Allow me to introduce you. Chi Tong, this is my manager. This is my brother.¡±


    Chi Tong and Yuan Ke exchanged glances, surprised to learn that he was the young hunk Luo Ying wanted to contact. The man always angled the camera down to himself, but he was more than 1.8 meters tall. Chi Tong could only look up to face the man at this point, so he didn¡¯t recognize him.


    No wonder Luo Ying had asked him to tip her no matter what. It was her brother.


    But why did she have to do it in such a roundabout manner? Luo Ying and K didn¡¯t appear to be on bad terms. Chi Tong was confused.


    ¡°Hello,¡± Yuan Ke said simply.


    Chi Tong quickly nodded. He ignored his previous reservations and urged Luo Ying to leave. ¡°Talking at the airport is inconvenient. We should move.¡±


    The group went back to the small villa where Luo Ying was staying.


    When Jin Shi saw Yuan Ke take out a disinfectant wipe to wipe his hands after entering the door, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Even if the world changed, Second Brother¡¯s mysophobia could not be changed.


    He smiled as he walked forwvard, lightly bumping Yuan Ke l s shoulder with his fist. ¡°Second Brother, long time no see!¡±


    Luo Ying also smiled cheerfully. Being surrounded by her family felt good.


    Only Chi Tong was perplexed. Why did they address each other as brothers despite the fact that they were not blood relatives? Was Jin Shi the illegitimate son of the Luo family, from whom he had been estranged for many years?


    This couldn¡¯t be right, could it? Or was Second Brother merely a moniker?

 Chapter 237 - Chapter 237: Confrontation

    Chapter 237: Confrontation


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    One of Chi Tongs greatest strengths was his ability to act first and ask questions later. He had silently waited for Luo Ying to be free before talking about his purpose for meeting Luo Ying during her vacation.


    Luo Ying quickly devised plans for the upcoming few months with Chi Tongs assistance. She made sure she got the exposure she needed and gave herself plenty of time for a vacation.


    The three siblings set off on a world tour in the ensuing six months.


    They went skiing in a forest of pine trees and diving in the tropical ocean. Luo Ying appeared to be stepping out of the shadow of divorce with the help of her brothers.


    It was just that she would experience a few days of decline once a month. Luo Ying always explained to her brother that it was natural for girls to endure this pain each month.


    Additionally, Jin Shi and Yuan Ke were constantly looking into ways to get back to their own real world and gradually learned a few rules.


    Happiness, though, was never lasting. A half-year went by very quickly. Finally, the vacation was coming to an end. Luo Ying had only produced one luxury product advertisement in the previous six months. She would be unable to maintain her popularity if she did not come back to work in her homeland.


    Even though traveling was a lot of fun, it was also crucial to launch a business!


    ¡°All right, my flight is calling. Third Brother, bye,¡± In the departures hall of the airport, Luo Ying bid Jin Shi farewell on the final day of the vacation.


    A new film by Jin Shi was scheduled to be shot abroad. Yuan Ke was working to find a way for them to return to the real world using the resources of a foreign research facility, so he was unable to travel with Luo Ying.


    Jin Shi laughed when Luo Ying made a silly face. She waved her hand and grinned before turning around and heading for the boarding gate.


    The nation¡¯s quadrennial government election had just concluded at the same time. There were new politicians in charge, and some were resigning.


    [Li Shan, a former mayor of Lan City who embezzled 300 million, received a fixed-term prison sentence¡­]


    Old Master Lu watched the election results on television in the old home of the Lu Family. He ruthlessly threw the teacup he was holding on the ground.


    ¡°Lu Zhao! Where has Lu Zhao gone? Call him back to the old mansion! ¡°.


    The old mansion¡¯s servants were so terrified that they dared not speak. Only a silent call to Lu Zhao was possible.


    Lu Zhao did not make things difficult for them and readily agreed to return to the old residence at night.


    ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m back.¡± At precisely six o¡¯clock, Lu Zhao entered the old residence of the Lu Family. Like every filial junior, he prepared a ¡°big gift¡± for the elderly man.


    In the large living room, Old Master Lu and Lu Wen were sitting at the main seat. The Lu family¡¯s second son, Lu He, as well as a few other significant figures from the side branches, had also arrived.


    Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to Lu Zhao when he entered. Although everyone had different expressions, they were far colder than usual.


    Instead of being silent in such a tense setting, Lu Zhao laughed aloud. ¡°Why does everyone look like theyre attending a funeral? It¡¯s not auspicious in front of Grandpa.¡±


    ¡°Lu Zhao! Old Master Lu swung his cane angrily and struck the ground. No one dared to curse him to death in front of him!


    Lu Wen had a dark face as well. ¡°Brother, you must be really proud of yourself. I didn¡¯t expect you to drag Li Shan down with you.¡±


    In Lan City, the Lu Family was a presence that covered the sky with just one hand. Naturally, the political world had to be involved in the group¡¯s development. Li Shan was at first the mayor of Lan City, but he later advanced all the way. He provided the Lu Family with many resources during his term in office, and the Lu Family also put in a lot of effort to help Li Shan advance in the political sphere.


    But this time, Li Shan was not only found guilty of corruption and bribery and given a swift prison sentence, as opposed to his continued rise as the Lu Family had hoped.


    Lu Zhao appeared genuinely shocked. ¡°What are you talking about, Lu Wen? Why would you relate a typical change of hands in the government to me? I have always followed the law.¡±


    Old Master Lu had attempted to intimidate him by using the company, but he had made a serious error in judgment!


    Every time the balance of political power shifted, there would be a reorganization. Lu Zhao had also long planned to take advantage of this chance. As long as he could bring Li Shan to the ground, Old Master Lu¡¯s strength would take a severe hit.


    Powerful men always detested being in threatened, and Old Nlaster Lu was no exception.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, you may have dealt us a serious blow, but at what cost? You barely came out limping from it! Do you really believe that doing this will make life simple for your Luya Group? Lu He said irately.


    Investigation into Li Shan¡¯s corruption by the inspector had nearly damned them all. The past few days had been an exhausting war of damage control.


    ¡°You need not be concerned about that.¡± Lu Zhao threw the ¡°gift¡± in his hand onto the coffee table with an icy grin on his lips. ¡°You¡¯re already deeply in debt. You should worry about yourself first!


    ¡°What is this?¡± The small group was alarmed and shocked..

 Chapter 238 - Chapter 238: Seizing Power

    Chapter 238: Seizing Power


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    It turned out to be the audit report of the city¡¯s largest accounting firm.


    Among them, it said by name that Lu Wen Management and Lu He¡¯s companies had major financial debt risks!


    Once this report was made public, their company¡¯s stock price would undoubtedly plummet, and the Lu Family¡¯s other enterprises would be implicated as well.


    An uproar had broken out among the family¡¯s branch. The Lu family¡¯s big tree had provided them with shelter and nourishment, but now Lu Zhao was standing there with an axe in his hand, ready to chop it down.


    ¡°How could this be?¡± Lu He was so shocked that he couldn¡¯t speak.


    ¡°You actually¡­You deliberately abandoned those initiatives!¡± Lu Wen clenched the paper tightly.


    He immediately recalled the few large projects he had recently taken over from


    Lu Zhao. He thought he had won, but when he really thought about it, he realized that these projects had tied up his capital chain. Returning them in the short term would be difficult. If something went wrong, his capital chain would snap!


    He only received a thoughtful look from Lu Zhao.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, you ¡­¡± The Lu familys second son was equally astounded. He was about to say something, but Hu Jing grabbed his hand and stopped him.


    Hu Jing was well aware of Lu Zhao¡¯s ruthlessness. The second son of the Lu family worked for the Luya Group, and they were on Lu Zhao¡¯s boat. At this point in time, there was nothing that they could possibly say.


    ¡°Are you trying to destroy the entire Lu family?!¡± Old Master Lu had fought hundreds of battles and immediately recognized that Lu Zhao was attempting to pull the rug out from under him.


    He wanted Lu Zhao and Lu Wen to fight for the right to inherit so that he could pick the one he liked best. But he had not anticipated Lu Zhao to be so ruthless as to obliterate the entire Lu family.


    While pointing at Lu Zhao¡¯s nose, Old Master Lu slammed his cane down angrily and scolded, ¡°You damn brat! Have you thought this through? The Lu Family has fallen. Have you given up on being the CEO? Is your mom aware of how much of a troublemaker you can be?¡±


    Lu Zhao sneered. Old Master Lu had abandoned all pretense of cordiality and was openly threatening him with his mother. ¡°Grandfather, don¡¯t worry. For this reason alone, I made the trip back.¡±


    He leaned forward, pressing one hand on the paper, while his dark eyes fixed on Old Master Lu. ¡°Many more Li Shans will be needed to pay off the debt and make amends. Is this really a challenge for the Lus?¡±


    The entire hall fell silent when Lu Zhao said this.


    ¡°What are you getting at?¡± In hushed tones, Old Master Lu inquired.


    ¡°I want to take over the Lu Family.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s cold gaze fell on Old Master Lu.


    ¡°This includes the shares.¡±


    ¡°Excellent! Excellent!¡± Old Master Lu was so enraged that he laughed and remarked sarcastically, ¡°The Lu family has always been ruled by the capable. Lu Zhao, in my opinion, is a capable youngster!


    Lu Wen abruptly turned to look at Old Master Lu. What did he mean by that? Was Old Master Lu prepared to negotiate with Lu Zhao?


    The rest of the Lu Family exchanged glances. They were aware, to a certain extent, that Old Master Lu i s supposed ¡°delegation¡± over the previous few years was a ruse.


    He would delegate control of the Lu Familyi s affairs to Lu Zhao, Lu Wen, and others, but the majority of the shares would remain in his own hands.


    This was how Old Master Lu was able to manipulate the Lu family as he pleased. However, Lu Zhao had come to claim this share.


    ¡°Thank you for your compliment. The shareholders¡¯ meeting is about to get started. Please make your decision as soon as possible, Grandfather.¡± Lu Zhao replied coldly. His threatening gaze swept across the Lu Family members.


    He only provided Old Master Lu with two options. He could either relinquish power or watch the Lu Familys business suffer.


    Everyone could see that the Lu Familys battle had reached a boiling point. This shareholders¡¯ meeting was undoubtedly a battleground. They had to prepare to take sides.


    Old Master Lu, on the other hand, had no time to care what the others thought. The struggle for the heir between Lu Zhao and Lu Wen had finally reached him.


    Old Master Lu calmed down and said with a dark face, ¡°Don¡¯t be too arrogant.


    I¡¯m still waiting for the day you inherit the Lu family!


    ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t disappoint Grandfather,¡± Lu Zhao declared confidently.


    After Lu Zhao finished speaking, he turned around and left the old residence. He would not abandon the Luya Group, but he would never be forced to marry into the Lin Family, as Old Master Lu desired.


    He would never go into battle unprepared. He had recently obtained crucial clues and no longer needed to rely on the information held by Old Master Lu.


    That was why he faced Old Master Lu squarely.


    It was already dark when Lu Zhao returned home.


    He sat down on the couch in the living room, exhausted, and turned on the TV to drown out the silence of the villa.


    At times like this, he especially missed the little woman who would hug him and act coquettishly.


    ¡°Luo Ying..When can I see you again?¡± Lu Zhao took out his phone and began scrolling through their chat history..

 Chapter 239 - Chapter 239: Annual Meeting

    Chapter 239: Annual Meeting


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    As the endless nights wore on, Lu Zhao¡¯s heart filled with longing for his lost love, torn away by coercion. What he didn¡¯t know was that destiny had planned a touching reunion for them.


    The plane carrying Luo Ying landed in Lan City on the first of this month, amidst the city¡¯s fiery red morning glow.


    Fearing that Luo Yings fans would cause a traffic jam, Chi Tong personally drove a nanny van to the airport to pick her up.


    On the other hand, Luo Ying was a seasoned traveler. She nearly forgot her mask and sunglasses.


    Fortunately, Chi Tongs fears were unfounded. Chi Tong breathed a sigh of relief after smoothly exiting the airport highway.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to be concerned.¡± Luo Ying found it amusing. ¡°I¡¯ve been gone for six months. Perhaps I¡¯m no longer relevant in the entertainment industry.¡±


    ¡°No way.¡± Chi Tong retorted, ¡°A lot of fans are waiting for you to come back. Besides, Dancing Shoes and Summer is about to be released. It¡¯ll definitely be a big deal.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Luo Ying nodded. She still had faith in the quality of Dancing Shoes and Summer. ¡°However, the release date of the film is subject to a great deal of uncertainty. Before it¡¯s released, please get me more assignments. I need to stav in the algorithm.¡±


    ¡°No problem. During the half-year you were away, I got my hands on a lot of invitations and scripts.¡± Chi Tong agreed.


    ¡°Speaking of which,¡± he paused, ¡°I recently received an invitation to an annual party.¡±


    ¡°Hmm? Which company¡¯s annual meeting?¡± Luo Ying raised her brows. The last time she attended a company¡¯s annual meeting, it was Lin Su e s. It had not been a pleasant experience.


    ¡°It¡¯s from the Luya Group.¡± Chi Tong quickly finished his sentence and nervously observed Luo Yings expression through the rearview mirror.


    When the invitation was sent to the studio, Chi Tong had been taken aback. Their studio did have Lu Zhao¡¯s investment, but it was insignificant in the grand scale of things. Logically speaking, they had no right to attend the Luya headquarters¡¯ annual meeting. At most, they may receive a live feed through the internet.


    However, Luo Ying and Lu Zhao had such a special relationship¡­ Chi Tong knew that something was up.


    ¡°It¡¯s the Luya Group ¡­¡± There was a moment of shock and disbelief on Luo


    Yings face.


    She had not expected it to be the Luya Group¡¯s annual meeting.


    Will Lu Zhao also take part? This was the first thing that came to Luo Yings mind.


    She had imagined all sorts of scenarios for meeting Lu Zhao after returning to the country, but she had not expected the opportunity to meet him to come so quickly and unexpectedly.


    ¡°Do we take this, Boss?¡± Chi Tong probed.


    In fact, he had made numerous plans in the previous two days. If Luo Ying did not want to go, he was confident that it would not change anything.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Luo Ying said warmly, ¡°after all, it¡¯s the headquarters¡¯ annual meeting. The Luya Group and Lin Su¡¯s company work very differently. We¡¯re going to prepare a low-key makeup.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Chi Tong replied, ¡°A few independent design brands have contacted us, such as¡­


    Chi Tong breezed through the other matters and quickly listed out a few plans for Luo Ying. Luo Ying chose a few and planned to look at the clothes in two days before deciding.


    The annual party was quickly approaching. Chi Tong arrived in the afternoon with a selection of dresses for Luo Ying to try on. She eventually settled on a simple red gown with a high slit.


    The golden flower leaves added a touch of sophistication and sexiness to Luo Yings figure.


    Other matters came up after the clothes were ordered. Chi Tong hurriedly prepared Luo Ying for the annual party.


    However, in addition to Luo Ying, Chi Tong had invited a new artist to represent the studio.


    The annual meeting will be held at the Luya Group¡¯s headquarters on the 6th.


    It was an annual meeting. The format varied, but the goal was always to let the employees enjoy the end of the year.


    The Luya Group was no different. Even though their annual meeting was not broadcast live like those of the entertainment industry, the mood was just as upbeat. Star performances, exotic catwalks, various interaction programs, and even the performance of the executives of the subsidiary companies were all included. No one was left out.


    Lu Zhao understood that he and the other top executives from headquarters had to be there because of their leadership roles in the company, but that their presence posed a significant barrier to the employees¡¯ freedom. So, whenever they went in, they tried to blend in with the crowd.


    Their VIP seats were also placed in a separate corner to give the impression that no leaders were present at the annual meeting.


    Therefore, it was the same this year. Lu Zhao ushered a group of high-ranking executives in through a back entrance just as the annual meeting was about to begin.


    But even before he arrived at the VIP seats at the annual meeting this year, Lu Zhao could sense the unusual attention. Employees near the VIP seats appeared to be casting sidelong glances at Lu Zhao at the same time. ¡°What happened?¡± Lu Zhao asked the secretary beside him in hushed tones after settling into the main seat..

 Chapter 240 - Chapter 240: Drunken

    Chapter 240: Drunken


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The secretary would be responsible for a wide variety of menial tasks, including compiling the annual meeting attendance list. Naturally, he would have a strong understanding of the situation.


    ¡°President Lu,¡± he had no choice but to bite the bullet and respond, ¡°Ms, Luo Ying was also invited to the annual meeting. They perhaps they¡¯re just curious.¡±


    For lack of a better word, this was the only way he could have put his words. This group of people were courting death to gawk so openly.


    Luo Ying! She was here?


    Lu Zhao couldnt be bothered with anything else. He wanted to bolt up and swivel around to look for Luo Ying almost immediately, but his remaining sense of reason held him back.


    ¡°I see.¡± Lu Zhao spoke with restraint.


    Luo Ying? When did she return to the country? Why would she come here? Lu Zhao¡¯s fingers quickly tapped on the table. He always did this when he felt anxious.


    The days leading up to the annual party were already extremely hectic. Coupled with the fact that he was dealing with the Lu family¡¯s issues, he couldn¡¯t focus his attention on the annual party, so he didnt put much effort into it. He didnt invite anyone specifically, nor did he pay close attention to who was invited.


    He had no idea that the woman he had been thinking about all day and night might be in one of the many seats behind him.


    Yes, he had a stake in Luo Ying¡¯s studio as well. Perhaps his subordinate had invited Luo Ying for this reason.


    Even after realizing this, Lu Zhao¡¯s anxiety levels remained high.


    He wanted to see Luo Ying and ask her how she was doing recently. He wanted to tell her that he had been forced into the divorce. He wanted to tell her that he had always loved her and wanted to hold her soft waist. However¡­


    ¡°President Lu! A toast to you!¡± Lu Zhao came back to his senses. The annual meeting had already begun. The host was on stage livening up the atmosphere. He had no idea what they were talking about, but a familiar executive was picking up a glass of wine to toast him.


    ¡°Manager Wang, you did a great job during the last quarter¡­¡± Lu Zhao calmly raised his wine glass and entertained the man.


    After the first person spoke up, an endless stream of executives came to toast Lu


    Zhao.


    Perhaps it was because he had something on his mind, but Lu Zhao did not reject anyone. He drank glass after glass without hesitation. He didnt even give his secretary time to block the wine for him.


    Even with a high tolerance for alcohol, Lu Zhao could not remain upright after three rounds of drinking on an empty stomach. The edges of his awareness started to blur as well.


    When his vision cleared, he appeared to see the secretary and public relations director¡¯s worried expressions.


    ¡°What should we do, Old Wu?¡± The secretary looked at the director helplessly.


    All of these trusted assistants had been personally promoted by Lu Zhao. Realizing that Lu Zhao¡¯s intoxication posed a threat to everyone, they scrambled to come up with an excuse for him to leave.


    Thankfully, after so many years in power, Lu Zhao had honed his abilities to the point where nobody could tell if he was sober or drunk. He did not show any weaknesses. He was almost in perfect stride as his secretary accompanied him to the lounge.


    Even now, when he was drunk and lying on the chair, he appeared to be napping.


    But the secretary was at a loss for what to do next when President Lu sat down and refused to get up. He kept mentioning Luo Ying!


    ¡°Let Ms. Luo Ying come and see President Lu. If she comes, he might be willing to move. Regardless, she has already received an invitation. What harm is there in them meeting?¡± The public relations director boldly suggested.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got a fantastic knack for creativity, I must say.¡± The secretary rolled his eyes. ¡°When he wakes up, we¡¯d all be jobless. We dont even know if he wants to see her.¡±


    ¡°Luo Ying?¡± Lu Zhao muttered again after hearing their conversation.


    ¡°Look at him. If he¡¯s calling for her nonstop, we¡¯ll just do as he says. He can¡¯t fire us for that. He might even give us bonuses.¡± The public relations director smiled and rubbed his clean-shaven scalp. He had been by Lu Zhao¡¯s side for so many years. When had he ever misstepped? ¡°You were there when he asked me to write the divorce announcement. Dont you remember?¡±


    The secretary, of course, remembered. He remembered not only this, but also that Lu Zhao had been injecting resources into Luo Ying¡¯s studio for the past few years. He also recalled that Lu Zhao had been keeping tabs on Luo Ying¡¯s movements. In a nutshell, he was madly in love with her.


    ¡°Tsk.¡± The secretary frowned and thought for a moment. President Lu¡¯s drunken state was a massive issue. Would he even be able to walk?


    There were far too many people in the company during the annual meeting. They couldnt carry Lu Zhao out like they did ordinary drunks. It would seriously harm the company¡¯s image.


    More importantly, the secretary wished to leave the annual meeting early. He couldnt possibly stay by Lu Zhao¡¯s side all night, could he? Nevertheless, making decisions for the leader or without authorization was a major taboo in the workplace!


    The secretary sighed after a brief moment of hesitation. ¡°Find Ms. Luo Ying and ask her to talk some sense into President Lu.¡±


    ¡°Ms. Luo Ying is already on her way.¡± The director smiled and waved his phone.


    ¡°Seriously? When did you call?¡± The secretary frowned again..

 Chapter 241 - Chapter 241: Looking For Someone

    Chapter 241: Looking For Someone


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Fifteen minutes ago.


    ¡°In what world do you think a divorced couple would remain friends?¡± Luo Ying heard a woman¡¯s voice, and she was clearly trying to speak more quietly than she actually was.


    Luo Ying¡¯s brows twitched when she heard this.


    She had expected people to make fun of her at Lu Zhao¡¯s annual party.


    The organize from the Luya Group had arranged for all the guests in the entertainment industry to be seated together. Not only were celebrities asked to perform, but also artists in which the Luya Group had invested. Among them were Luo Ying and Zhou Cheng, the studio¡¯s new artists.


    When she took a seat, she spotted Lu Zhao among the crowd. Even his back was attractive.


    Even after half a year, Lu Zhao still made her heart race.


    Actually, Luo Ying¡¯s table was quite good. She had a good view of the main stage and the noise level was manageable.


    However, there were those at the same table who actively sought to infuriate Luo Ying.


    ¡°If they parted ways amicably, it might work,¡± a small timer answered, failing to manage her volume.


    ¡°What if it isn¡¯t amicable?¡± The woman next to her continued to ask, ¡°We know how that went. The other party already has a new lover.¡±


    ¡°Well, a friendship wont happen. Theyll have to stay as far away as possible,¡± the small timer said flippantly.


    ¡°Yeah, what if they don¡¯t want to stay far away?¡± the woman continued to ask.


    ¡°What? I mea_n, the other party has new attachments¡­¡± The small timer was puzzled.


    ¡°Sigh, you¡¯re right. It¡¯ll be difficult to get close.¡± The woman interrupted her.


    ¡°What are you getting at?¡­¡± The small timer seemed to notice something amiss, but she was interrupted again.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m wrong, I¡¯m wrong. It¡¯s pretty dysfunctional, isn¡¯t it? That Before the woman could finish, it was her turn to be interrupted.


    ¡® l don¡¯t think I want to know what you¡¯re getting at, but I¡¯m not liking it.¡± Zhou Cheng, the fresh recruit from Luo Yings studio, glared at them fiercely.


    Luo Ying smiled calmly and comforted her junior. ¡°Little Zhou Cheng, keep your voice down. This is the Luya Group¡¯s annual meeting. If you misspeak, you¡¯ll be blacklisted.¡±


    Who among the Luya Group¡¯s annual meeting attendees would have the audacity to bring up her and Lu Zhao? Did she assume she¡¯d be a pushover simply because she hadn¡¯t been back in the country for six months?


    ¡°Okay, Sister Ying.¡± The blood rushed to Zhou Chengs ears. He may have acted on impulse just now, but he did not feel any remorse about it.


    Heavens! This was Luo Ying! Just what moronic things did I utter? Only then did the small timer realize that she had been duped into gossiping about her. It concerned Lu Zhao, the president of the Luya Group!


    The small timer broke out in a cold sweat and was close to tears. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sister Ying. ¡® I


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Luo Ying feigned ignorance. ¡°I was talking to my junior. Did you call


    ¡°No, no, just now¡­¡± The small timer was at a loss for words.


    The lady at her side appeared unruffled. She even sized Luo Ying up. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re Luo Ying?¡±


    Luo Ying was not to be outdone. She also assessed her from head to toe and then smiled provocatively. ¡°There seemed to be mosquitoes buzzing just now. Little Zhou Cheng, did you hear them?¡±


    Zhou Cheng cooperated. ¡°I heard it. This is the nature of mosquitoes. They are mindless animals, after all.¡±


    Luo Ying could not contain her laughter.


    Initia_lly, a_ll she wanted to do was expose Chi Tongs new artiste to new experiences and new people. She had no idea this kid would be so fascinating. He not only had the guts to defend her, but he was also skilled at scolding others without coming right out and telling them off.


    Luo Yings laughter warped the woman¡¯s features. She glared at Zhou Cheng. ¡°Just who do you think you are?¡± Unfortunately, she was interrupted once more before she could finish scolding. Perhaps this was retribution.


    ¡°Ms. Luo Ying.¡± A tall woman in uniform with a work badge on her chest ca_me to Luo Yings side. ¡°Please come with me.¡±


    This time, every person at the table turned their heads.


    Luo Ying raised her brows. Was this a staff member?


    Who was looking for her? It was a shame. She was just about to destroy that foolish woman.


    She patted Zhou Chengs shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m leaving for a bit. Eat your fill. Don¡¯t worry about anything else. Call Chi Tong if you need anything.¡±


    As she moved, Zhou Cheng took in the faint fragrance of flowers and fruits on


    Luo Yings body. His ears turned red again. ¡®Okay, Sister Ying.¡±


    Luo Ying did not notice Zhou Chengs unease. She followed the staff member..

 Chapter 242 - Chapter 242: I’m Taking You Home

    Chapter 242: I¡¯m Taking You Home


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lu Zhao lay on the sofa in the lounge, his forehead raised in a daze. His mind was jumbled with memories of Luo Ying and him getting along, and chaotic fragments flashed past one after the other.


    Luo Ying? What happened to Luo Ying? She had returned home.


    Whose home? His? Hers?


    Lu Zhao endured the dull throb in his head and tried to pull himself out of this chaos. However, the heavy drinking clouded his judgment.


    Someone appeared to be conversing with him. Everything was just so loud. Who was it?


    ¡°Lu Zhao?¡± Lu Zhao was startled to hear a familiar female voice. Luo Ying?


    When Luo Ying heard the news, she thought about it for a while before deciding to come. She was concerned that the poison in Lu Zhao¡¯s body would be affected by the wine and cause an unusual situation. Still, her blood may come in useful.


    When she entered the lounge, she was surprised to see Lu Zhao sitting on the sofa, dazed, like a statue of David the Thinker.


    Lu Zhao raised his head as soon as he heard her voice. Luo Ying met his misty gaze. Both amused and helpless, she sighed. She had never before witnessed Lu Zhao in such an inebriated state.


    She reached out and, unable to resist, pinched the bridge of Lu Zhao¡¯s nose. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡±


    Lu Zhao subconsciously grabbed Luo Yings wrist as she was about to drop her hand.


    ¡°Lu Zhao?¡± Luo Ying looked at him, puzzled, but Lu Zhao appeared to react only subconsciously. His eyes were still blurry and disoriented.


    When the secretary saw this, he went forward to assist Lu Zhao. ¡°President Lu, Ms. Luo Ying is here to pick you up!¡¯


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Lu Zhao muttered.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s Ms. Luo Ying. She¡¯s here,¡± the secretary firmly said.


    Just like that, Lu Zhao, who had refused to move just now, suddenly took the secretarys hand and stood up.


    Luo Ying glanced at the secretary. She was only confirming that he was fine, but she did not say that she would send Lu Zhao home.


    Hmph, who was it that pushed Lu Zhao to pursue a divorce at the time?


    Luo Ying tried to pull her hand free. She did not expect Lu Zhao to clench it even tighter.


    The public relations director quickly spoke up. ¡°Ms. Luo Ying, the Luya Group¡¯s shares have been changing drastically. President Lu is at the center of the storm. He had to answer to many, many toasts. It couldn¡¯t be helped. He¡¯s as drunk as a log. Could we trouble you with sending him off?¡±


    The director of public relations had acting chops on par with those of any professional actor. As a subordinate, his anxiety and heartache were vividly expressed. A moment ago, he had been proudly waving his phone around, but now he seemed like a completely different person.


    Luo Ying saw right through his pitiful attempt and wanted to say no, but she looked at Lu Zhao¡¯s familiar yet strange appearance. He was acting like a stray puppy who had finally found his longlost owner.


    She sighed, and her heart softened.


    Luo Ying took Lu Zhao¡¯s hand in hers and led him out the door. ¡°Lu Zhao? Let¡¯s Lu Zhao was extremely submissive. He lowered his gaze and trailed Luo Ying closely.


    In case Lu Zhao fell, the secretary quickly followed. He did not expect Lu Zhao to walk steadily.


    The group walked toward the underground parking lot.


    They bumped into an employee in the elevator. The employee greeted Lu Zhao, and Lu Zhao even nodded curtly.


    Other than holding Luo Yings wrist tightly, it was impossible to tell that he was very drunk.


    Luo Ying regarded Lu Zhao with suspicion. Was this an instinctive reaction learned through socialization?


    Lu Zhao couldn¡¯t possibly be pretending to be drunk, could he?


    The secretary took careful note of the employee¡¯s appearance and planned to speak with him later. It would be disastrous if rumors spread within the company.


    However, nothing else happened after that. They were able to get into the car and drive back to Lu Zhao¡¯s villa.


    ¡°Luo Ying?¡± Lu Zhao asked every once in a while.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here.¡± Luo Ying answered helplessly every time


    The private car sped by in the dark night. The neon lights outside the window occasionally reflected Lu Zhao¡¯s figure in Luo Yings eyes. Luo Yings emotions were erratic as well.


    ¡°I¡¯m already tired of you.¡±


    ¡°How would anyone fancy a woman like you?


    Luo Ying still remembered what Lu Zhao had said back then. Every word had pierced into her heart like a knife.


    Even if she later guessed that Lu Zhao had deliberately hidden the poison from her and that the divorce was to keep her away from the Lu Familys dispute, she could not easily forgive such harm.


    However, drunk men wore their hearts on their sleeves. Lu Zhao clearly never stopped thinking about her.. How could Luo Ying let go of him so easily?

 Chapter 243 - Chapter 243: Take Care of Him

    Chapter 243: Take Care of Him


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation       Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying turned away and looked out of the window. Her emotions were in a jumble.


    The driver gently pulled up at the entrance of the villa.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going in. It¡¯ll be a problem if I run into Lin Lu,¡± Luo Ying said while staring out the window, ignoring Lu Zhao.


    ¡°No, President Lu has always lived by himself.¡± The secretary explained quickly.


    Lu Zhao had always forbade Lin Lu from coming here. His secretary even handled the majority of the company meetings.


    Lu Zhao had been tightly gripping Luo Yings hand. She wanted to leave but could not, so she could only follow him out of the car.


    The secretary escorted Lu Zhao into the living room, where they both sat. He turned around to look for the chef to cook some hangover soup.


    Luo Ying tried to pull her hand free again. She frowned. ¡°Lu Zhao, you¡¯re hurting me. Let go first.¡±


    Lu Zhao loosened his grip. As expected, red lines had formed around Luo Yings wrist, but he still refused to let go.


    ¡°Will you leave if I let go?¡± The inebriated Lu Zhao, apparently unable to keep up his usual facade, asked helplessly.


    Luo Ying desperately attempted to pry Lu Zhao¡¯s fingers free with both her left and right hands, but she was unable to do so. She was afraid of dislocating her right hand if she used more force.


    Luo Ying sighed. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere. I swear I¡¯m not going anywhere. Can you please let go first?¡±


    The cook had just finished the hangover soup and brought it out.


    Luo Ying noticed this and quickly coaxed Lu Zhao. ¡°I¡¯ll feed you some hangover soup, okay? Let go first, or I wont be able to hold the bowl.¡±


    Lu Zhao nodded obediently and let go of her hand, but his fingers did not forget to rub the red marks on Luo Yings hand.


    From the red mark, an electric current rushed through Luo Yings entire body. Luo Ying glared at Lu Zhao. Is he still flirting with her? Was he acting drunk?


    After finally regaining her freedom, Luo Ying shook the circulation back into her wrist. Lu Zhao had almost strangled her wrist.


    The chef gingerly set the bowl of hangover soup on the coffee table and looked at the secretary. ¡°Secretary Li, I usually clock out at eight.¡±


    It was already ten in the evening. The secretary had called her in advance, so she had stayed until now.


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t make things difficult for her. ¡°Please go ahead. It¡¯s been hard on you. I¡¯ll take care of him.¡±


    She had already promised Lu Zhao that she would not leave, so she would not go back on her word.


    The chef was new and did not know Luo Ying. She turned to look at the secretary.


    The secretary readily nodded. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Luo Ying. We¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± Luo Ying was unlikely to harm Lu Zhao, especially since the villa was guarded bv bodvguards.


    The living room fell silent after the secretary and the chef left.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, open your mouth.¡± Luo Ying took a spoonful of the hangover soup and blew on it.


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Like a good little kindergartener, Lu Zhao complied by opening his mouth and even uttered an ¡°ah¡±.


    Luo Ying could not resist laughing aloud. Who would have guessed that President Lu, normally so icy and heartless, would resemble a child after a few drinks? The deep tone of Lu Zhao¡¯s voice was really too out of character with his innocent appearance!


    ¡°Ah?¡± Lu Zhao opened his mouth, but before Luo Ying could feed him anything, he uttered again in a daze.


    Oh my god. Now, Luo Ying was convinced that Lu Zhao was truly drunk. She fought back her laughter and fed Lu Zhao a spoonful of hangover soup.


    Lu Zhao ate his bowl of hangover soup in one sitting and resumed his David Thinker persona.


    He sat with his elbows on his knees and his head on his palm, as if he couldn¡¯t remember who was there.


    He looked at Luo Ying. ¡°Luo Ying?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here.¡± Luo Ying was already used to this exchange. She set down the bowl and waved her hand in front of Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes. ¡°Are you feeling nauseous? Do you need to lie down?


    Lu Zhao shook his head.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go to the bedroom. Can you try to go to sleep?¡± Luo Ying held Lu Zhao¡¯s elbow and helped him up.


    Lu Zhao turned into a handsome and exquisite Ken doll, allowing her to fiddle with him.


    Luo Ying guided Lu Zhao upstairs skillfully and found the master bedroom.


    Ever since she transmigrated to this world, Luo Ying had lived here with Lu Zhao most of the time. This used to be her home, but now everything in this villa was both familiar and unfamiliar in equal parts.


    Luo Ying suppressed her emotions and brought Lu Zhao to the bed.


    Lu Zhao had almost drowned himself in alcohol. When Luo Ying got close, the stench almost made her sneeze.


    She frowned and hesitated for a moment. It was going to be a little difficult for Lu Zhao to take a shower. It would not be good for a drunk person to drown in the bathroom alone. So she walked to the cloakroom and prepared to find a few clothes for Lu Zhao to change into.


    Unexpectedly, Lu Zhao¡¯s cloakroom exceeded Luo Yings imagination..

 Chapter 244 - Chapter 244: Coaxed to Sleep

    Chapter 244: Coaxed to Sleep


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation       Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The 30-square-meter space was divided into two sections. One side was devoted to Lu Zhao¡¯s various suits and watches, while the other was devoted to various dresses and jewelry.


    Luo Ying would never mistake her belongings. Everything from her past appeared to have been sealed away in this cloakroom. All of her worn clothes, including pajamas, jackets, skirts, and jewelry, were neatly arranged here. They had obviously been well-cared for.


    No, it was not just sealed.


    Luo Ying even spotted a familiar dress. It was the high-end gown that the client had provided for her while she was filming a luxury commercial. Lu Zhao had actually purchased it after the shoot.


    There was also a fall season jacket. It was probably the one she wore when she met her fans overseas for a photo.


    He was¡­


    Luo Yings complicated gaze swept across the clothes.


    She turned around and stopped looking to the right. She returned to the bed after selecting a set of pajamas from Lu Zhao¡¯s closet. Without blushing or flinching, she unbuttoned Lu Zhao¡¯s shirt.


    No distractions, no distractions, no distractions¡­ Luo Ying kept chanting in her heart and reached for her inner peace.


    ¡°Hands up.¡± ¡°Put it down.¡±


    ¡°Lift your legs.¡±


    Lu Zhao obeyed Luo Yings orders, but his gaze was drawn to Luo Yings movements. It was as if he could carve Luo Yings appearance into his heart if he stared at her long enough.


    Luo Ying buttoned Lu Zhao¡¯s pajamas, but her fingertips lingered on Lu Zhao¡¯s soft chest muscles involuntarily.


    Luo Ying realized while making her bed that Lu Zhao had clearly maintained his exercise routine over the past six months. He seemed to have even put on some muscle.


    Damn it, she couldn¡¯t allow herself to be seduced by beauty!


    Luo Ying bit her lip and simply stuck her entire hand on it, pushing it hard.


    She gently nudged him, and he fell onto the bed with a confused gaze.


    Luo Ying pulled the blanket tightly around Lu Zhao and rolled him up. Out of sight, out of mind. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower. Please go to sleep.¡± Lu Zhao nodded.


    Luo Ying confirmed worriedly, ¡°Repeat it to me, what did I just say?


    ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep. You take a shower,¡± the top student, Lu Zhao, replied.


    Luo Ying walked to the bathroom, finally relieved.


    She was already stained with the odor of various foods and perfumes in the venue. The alcohol smell from Lu Zhao only left her uncomfortable. If she did not take a shower now, she would really stink!


    Fortunately, Lu Zhao had collected so many of her clothes in the cloakroom, so she did not have to worry about a new change of clothes. She picked a set of clothes and went to wash up.


    The warm water washed over Luo Yings body in small streams. She sank into the bath, her cheeks flushed from the heat.


    Luo Ying suddenly remembered that she had left Zhou Cheng at the annual party. She wiped her hands on the towel and reached for her phone. She asked Chi Tong about the others.


    ¡°I¡¯ve successfully returned to the dormitory,¡± Chi Tong replied quickly.


    Luo Ying was relieved. She had a good impression of Zhou Cheng.


    The kid was not half-bad looking. He was different from Lu Zhao¡¯s deep and sharp face. Zhou Cheng had a gentle and likable natural puppy appearance, but his personality was unexpectedly straightforward.


    This was the first time she had met someone in this world who stood up for her so directly, other than her brother and Lu Zhao.


    Chi Tong had mentioned that Zhou Cheng had once participated in a talent show. His singing and dancing abilities were adequate, but he was still a novice. He lacked popularity, did not have a company to promote him, and lacked financial backing. Thus, he did not manage to get a debut spot.


    Luo Ying quietly nodded. It was the beginning of her boy band plan.


    Zhou Cheng could be nurtured into a dancer or a singer. When she found a few more newcomers, she could form them into a group of four or five and have them debut.


    If anyone on her team didn¡¯t know how to sing or dance, they could learn. If they weren¡¯t particularly attractive, they could get by on their packaging alone so long as their personality was solid. She was not going to allow anyone to come into her studio and ruin the atmosphere of the company. She would not tolerate any schemes.


    Luo Ying was thinking about her boy band plans when she heard a loud noise coming from outside the door, as if something had been broken.


    ¡°Lu Zhao?¡± Luo Ying shouted towards the door.


    She frowned. Why did it sound like it was coming from downstairs? Lu Zhao did not sleep in his bedroom and instead went downstairs? Or did someone enter?


    However, there was no response from outside the door. Perhaps she was too far away to be heard by Lu Zhao.


    ¡°Lu Zhao! Are you alright?¡± She jumped to her feet and yelled even louder, but there was still no response.


    Luo Ying rushed under the shower and washed the bubbles from her body. She wrapped her hair with a towel, put on her clothes, and jogged out of the bathroom..


    9

 Chapter 245 - Chapter 245: Night Talk

    Chapter 245: Night Talk


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation       Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying went into the master bedroom to investigate. The bed was empty. There was no sign of Lu Zhao.


    She hurriedly walked downstairs again. Halfway down the stairs, she noticed Lu Zhao bending down in the kitchen to pick up something. It appeared to be a shard of glass.


    ¡°Don¡¯t pick it up!¡± Luo Ying exclaimed as she walked.


    When Lu Zhao heard the voice, he raised his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for disturbing you. I was just trying to drink some water when I dropped my cup.¡±


    ¡°Are you sober?¡± Luo Ying walked to the kitchen and asked.


    Even though his head still hurt and he was dizzy, Lu Zhao replied, ¡°Yes, I am.


    You¡¯re awake.¡±


    He was not the type to forget what he had just done after a few drinks. Everything that had just occurred was still fresh in his mind.


    It was incredibly stupid, but Luo Ying actually returned.


    Lu Zhao was at a loss as to how to assess his two subordinates and himself.


    However, Luo Ying was still convinced that he was half-awake. Would a sober man attempt to pick up broken glass with his bare hands?


    Lu Zhao appeared to have realized that picking them up here was a little ridiculous. He pursed his lips. ¡°I¡¯ll have the crew sweep them tomorrow.¡± He went to the sink and washed the glass shards from his hands.


    Luo Ying took a quick look at his hand. She was relieved because it did not appear to be cut.


    Late at night, a man and a woman, a divorced couple, stood across the kitchen counter facing each other.


    An ambiguous and awkward silence fell between them.


    Although Luo Ying had no trouble dealing with a tipsy Lu Zhao, she was still unsure of how to approach him sober.


    She felt even more embarrassed thinking about how she had taken advantage of Lu Zhao just now. His beauty was dangerous!


    ¡°Since you¡¯re awake, I¡¯ll¡­¡± Luo Ying broke the silence.


    ¡°It¡¯s too late today. You should¡ªI ¡® She did not expect Lu Zhao to speak at the same time.


    They both came to a halt at the same time. Lu Zhao realized right away that


    Luo Ying intended to leave. Even the clothes she was wearing were sportswear that she could wear out.


    ¡°Stay,¡± he hurriedly said, ¡°it¡¯s too late.¡± He looked at the wall clock in the living room. ¡°It¡¯s already twelve o¡¯clock.¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s deep eyes bored into Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying hesitated and then turned away from him, avoiding eye contact.


    Lu Zhao added, ¡°All guest rooms have been sanitized.¡±


    He thought to himself. ¡°Ha, this scene is so familiar!¡±


    He had tried to persuade Luo Ying to stay back then, out of a husband¡¯s responsibility to his wife.


    This time it was because of his feelings of love and longing for Luo Ying, but was he able to keep her? He had obviously shoved her away with his own hands.


    What good would it do if she stayed a little longer? Lu Zhao¡¯s cold hands clenched into fists.


    ¡°Got it,¡± Luo Ying said as she lowered her eyes.


    To Lu Zhao, the few seconds of silence seemed to last tens of millions of years, but in the end, he waited for a different outcome.


    Lu Zhao heaved a sigh of relief.


    He glanced at Luo Yings lips and took a new cup. ¡°Would you like a glass of water?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Luo Ying pursed her dry lips. She was indeed a little thirsty, probably because she was dehydrated from the bath just now.


    Their gazes were drawn to the water dispenser, which was diligently boiling hot water.


    ¡°What do you want to eat for breakfast tomorrow? I¡¯ll have the chef prepare it.¡± Lu Zhao inquired abruptly.


    ¡°No, I have to leave early in the morning.¡± Luo Ying refused. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t be talking so much.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Lu Zhao shifted his gaze to Luo Ying.


    ¡°You have a fianc¨¦e.¡± Luo Yings eyes remained fixed as she smiled sarcastically. ¡°President Lu.¡±


    Lu Zhao fell silent once more. The words of Luo Ying cut him deeply.


    The sound of boiling water became increasingly louder, as if it was about to boil.


    ¡°I recently obtained a portion of the shares from Old Master Lu.¡± In a deep voice, Lu Zhao stated, ¡°At the next shareholders¡¯ meeting, the Lu Family will be reshuffled internally, and the Lin-Lu marriage will be canceled.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Luo Yings voice was quiet. But something about it still shook her heart a little. Although she was aware that Lu Zhao would eventually rule over the entire Lu Family, she did not anticipate it to happen so quickly. It appeared to have happened earlier than in did in the novel.


    When Lu Zhao heard this, he thought that Luo Ying did not care. His voice was low and husky, and his heart was aching. ¡®Yes. Back then¡­ There were just too many things going on, and I had to¡­¡¯


    He wanted to tell Luo Ying a lot, but he didn¡¯t know how to begin. He was so sure of his impending death that he decided to end his marriage. This allowed Luo Ying to stay out of the feuds that were brewing within the Lu family.


    He had been treated for the poison, but it was still present in his system.


    Would bringing that up make Luo Ying anxious? He still needed to talk to the Lus and figure out what to do. Now that Luo Ying was close to him, she was at risk of being targeted by Lu Wen.


    But did he really intend to let go that easily?


    The sound of the water dispenser reached its maximum volume, and the water reached the boiling point. Their sparsely worded conversation was coming to an end.


    ¡®Can you wait for me?¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s heart was in turmoil as he impulsively asked the question..

 Chapter 247 - Chapter 247: Low Blood Sugar

    Chapter 247: Low Blood Sugar


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Luo Ying!¡± Lu Zhao climbed the stairs and reached out to catch Luo Ying, who was on the verge of collapsing.


    He could not care less about the water on the ground. He knelt on the ground, hugging her with one hand while dialing Wen Yu¡¯s number with the other.


    ¡°I¡­¡± The blackness engulfed Luo Ying¡¯s mind, and she was rendered speechless.


    An hour later.


    ¡°Anemia?!¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s expression darkened dramatically as he heard Wen Yu¡¯s prognosis from the hallway.


    ¡°Yes, she probably didn¡¯t eat much at the annual party tonight, so she fainted from low blood sugar. I have already started her on a glucose drip and injected her with a heart stimulant. When she wakes up, her blood sugar will be back to normal, and she¡¯ll be fine.¡± Wen Yu hesitated for a second. ¡°More seriously concerning, however, is the fact that the recent examination revealed that she shows mild signs of anemia. It is peculiar, because she usually pays attention to her diet and takes iron supplements.¡±


    Wen Yu was holding the report. The numbers on it were very detailed, but she had some doubts in her heart that she couldn¡¯t shake.


    She was very clear about Luo Yings physical condition. She had no underlying diseases that would cause her to be anemic, nor did she have any dietary issues that would cause her to be anemic. How could she be anemic after not seeing her for six months?


    Wen Yu suddenly remembered the blood of the poison master¡¯s daughter that she had obtained unexpectedly back then, and a faint suspicion surfaced in her heart. It was a bold assumption, though. Without any supporting evidence, she was afraid to say it. To confirm it, she had to return to the lab.


    ¡°I understand.¡± Lu Zhao nodded and stepped aside to let Wen Yu go first.


    He rubbed his aching hangover forehead and became suspicious.


    Luo Ying, in his opinion, had never been sick. There was nothing out of the ordinary about Luo Yings overseas schedule, according to the reports from his subordinates. How did she suddenly develop a mild form of anemia?


    Lu Zhao planned to find some time to talk to Jin Shi.


    This issue of anemia was not a simple one. He wanted to know what had happened to Luo Ying.


    The faint vibration of her phone jolted Luo Ying awake.


    The room was completely dark at this point. The bedside lamp cast a faint yellow glow, and the gaps between the thick curtains shone dimly.


    She struggled to open her eyes in the darkness and saw the room¡¯s familiar furnishings. It was Lu Zhao¡¯s room. Did she pass out because of low blood sugar?


    Luo Ying sighed as she looked down at the IV drip on the back of her hand.


    Luo Ying had noticed a decline in her physical condition over the previous six months. She was more prone to illness and could not handle strenuous exercise.


    These were all caused by the monthly blood draw. After all, the human body would need time to recover from a sudden blood loss. Even blood donation required a year¡¯s wait. The monthly blood draw would undoubtedly have an impact on the human body.


    Luo Ying was well aware of this. She had, however, always kept it well hidden. She paid close attention to her diet and nutrition in order to avoid flaws in front of her brothers.


    The thing is, she skipped lunch yesterday and didn¡¯t eat much at the annual party last night. She stayed up late and became irritated with Lu Zhao. She most likely fainted due to low blood sugar.


    Luo Ying had figured it out before she passed out.


    Lu Zhao would undoubtedly summon Wen Yu to investigate the low blood sugar, but low blood sugar was a common occurrence. He probably wouldn¡¯t look any further, right?


    Luo Ying hoped for a chance.


    ¡°Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!¡±


    The phone at the bedside vibrated once more. A new call came in.


    Luo Ying picked up her phone. It was a call from Chi Tong.


    ¡°Hello? Chi Tong?¡±


    It was already the morning of the next day. Chi Min, who had no idea what had happened the day before, was hard at work. He called Luo Ying to discuss his schedule..


    ¡°I¡¯ve gone through them. There are a few more suitable resources in my hands.


    The first one is . . . ¡± On the other end of the phone, Chi Tong flipped through the information and spoke at length.


    Luo Ying lowered her head, listening intently. The door was suddenly pushed open.


    Lu Zhao had prepared breakfast and had come over with a tray by chance.


    Luo Ying was already awake and talking on the phone, so he kept his mouth shut. He simply placed the plate on the table and set the small table for Luo Ying.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pass on sports variety shows for now. I¡¯ll set up the stage once the new year arrives. Yes, sure. Send me the script first¡­¡± Luo Ying was discussing with Chi Tong.


    Lu Zhao heard Luo Yings words and immediately made the connection, though he couldn¡¯t be sure if his suspicion was due to his recent discovery of her anemia.


    Luo Ying used to love performing on stage. Why was she holding back?


    She was avoiding heavy physical activity.. Was it a coincidence? Was she actually aware of her physical condition?

 Chapter 248 - Chapter 248: Tracking

    Chapter 248: Tracking


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lu Zhao kept his thoughts to himself and silently placed the plate on the small table.


    Luo Ying had no idea Lu Zhao would be so astute. She made a decision about which activities she would attend and hung up the phone.


    ¡°Wen Yu said you had low blood sugar last night.¡± Lu Zhao sat by the bed. He had been too drunk to notice last night. Luo Ying¡¯s lips did seem pale today. ¡°I hadn¡¯t noticed. It¡¯s all my fault.¡±


    Luo Ying shook her head. ¡°How could that be? I was just careless.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve asked the kitchen to make some light porridge. Have some first.¡± Lu Zhao paused. ¡°Your hand is weak. Would you permit me to help you?¡±


    Two devils propped up in Luo Ying¡¯s heart.


    One devil reminded her that they had just argued yesterday, and now she was considering allowing Lu Zhao to feed her porridge. This hardly seemed dignified!


    The other devil argued that a sick person deserved some special treatment, and a bit of intimacy while eating porridge didn¡¯t mean they were getting back together.


    After a moment of hesitation, she finally nodded her agreement.


    Apart from his mother, all of Lu Zhao¡¯s gentleness was most likely directed at Luo Ying. Who would have guessed that the CEO of Luya Corporation would take a day off on Monday to feed his ex-wife porridge?


    However, Lu Zhao was all too happy to do it.


    After eating half a bowl of porridge, Luo Ying touched her stomach discreetly under the blanket, revealing a contented expression. Lu Zhao¡¯s new chef was far too talented. Even the breakfast porridge was tasty.


    Lu Zhao smiled at her as he looked at her. The friendly vibe of the room made it hard to recall that they had been at odds the night before.


    ¡°Eat some more. Wen Yu gave you a glucose injection, but it¡¯s been a while. Have you ever experienced low blood sugar?¡± Lu Zhao made a nonchalant inquiry.


    Luo Ying swallowed a mouthful of porridge. ¡°It¡¯s inevitable that you¡¯ll run into it at some point when the dancing gets too intense.¡±


    Luo Ying thought back to when she had first arrived in this world. When her original body¡¯s blood sugar dropped dangerously low, she ate candy to keep going.


    The original version of her body wasn¡¯t exactly robust. She had gotten good training after arriving here. Now, she was about to start over.


    ¡°Do you want Wen Yu to come for a physical examination?¡± Lu Zhao tentatively suggested.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need. It¡¯s just low blood sugar.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s breath caught in her throat and she abruptly declined.


    Would Wen Yu not learn about the blood draw if she came?


    ¡°Alright.¡± Lu Zhao didn¡¯t press the issue any further.


    His gaze, however, was drawn to Luo Ying¡¯s face. His gut told him Luo Ying was aware of her physical condition. She was hiding something from him.


    While thinking, Lu Zhao expertly scooped up another serving of porridge. Luo Ying probably wanted to keep this a secret.


    Jin Shi was probably as clueless as he was. He could only resort to other means.


    After a light breakfast, Lu Zhao suggested that Luo Ying take it easy for a while, but Luo Ying still had an ad shoot scheduled for the afternoon. Therefore, she needed to make a trip back to the studio.


    So, Lu Zhao helped her pack and drove her there.


    Lu Zhao wished he could soak up every possible second with Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying felt herself beginning to nod off en route. Lu Zhao drove steadily, so she dozed off against the window frame of the passenger seat.


    As a result, she was oblivious to the abrupt turn in the otherwise uneventful journey.


    After leaving the city¡¯s main highway, Lu Zhao began making sporadic lane changes at high speeds while scanning his rearview mirror.


    They were driving normally, or so Luo Ying thought, until they stopped at a light.


    ¡°Turn right at the traffic light ahead.¡± The car¡¯s GPS system relayed the route taken in accordance with the predetermined course. The studio was relatively close to the intersection.


    3,2,1¡­ The countdown to the green light was about to end, but Lu Zhao seized the last moment and shot right into another road.


    ¡°You have deviated. Please remain in the front¡­¡± The navigation system in the car immediately detected the change and announced it calmly.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s expression became solemn as he reached out to turn off the car¡¯s navigation system.


    ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Luo Ying had noticed Lu Zhao¡¯s unusual behavior as well.


    ¡°A silver car is following us. It has followed us since the Ring Road,¡± Lu Zhao said quietly.


    He couldn¡¯t tell if it was just a coincidence. Even after he squeaked through the red light with mere seconds to spare and turned, the silver car continued to tail him.


    Where did they come from? Lu Wen? Old Master Lu? Or a business competitor?


    Lu Zhao glanced at the rearview mirror and frowned..

 Chapter 249 - Chapter 249: Meeting

    Chapter 249: Meeting


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying¡¯s face became tense as well. What was going on?


    She checked her rearview mirror and spotted the car. However, there was a layer of dark tint, so she could not see the driver.


    ¡°Let¡¯s take a detour. I¡¯ll shake them off at the next intersection,¡± Lu Zhao said in a deep voice.


    They were already in the heart of the city. The lane was becoming congested, and it was difficult to get rid of a car that was following them.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Luo Ying agreed. She tried her hardest to remember the original plot, but she had no recollection of Lu Zhao being followed by a car or even being involved in a car accident during this time.


    However, Luo Ying could only breathe deeply as she got ready for a fight or flight situation. She had completely changed the original plot. She was not sure what was going to happen.


    To their surprise, the other party turned into a right-turn lane and quickly left Lu Zhao¡¯s route, before Lu Zhao could think of a way to shake off the car.


    ¡°Gone?¡± As she watched the car get further and further away, Luo Ying exclaimed in surprise.


    It¡¯s probably just a coincidence that we¡¯re headed in the same direction,¡± said


    Lu Zhao casually. ¡°I was too paranoid.¡¯


    His eyes showed no sign of relief, though. He didn¡¯t believe it was a coincidence. It was more likely that the other party realized he had been exposed and stopped following him. However, he comforted Luo Ying because he didn¡¯t want her to worry.


    Luo Ying was skeptical. ¡°Really? That¡¯s quite a stretch to be a coincidence.¡±


    She didn¡¯t know much about the person who was following her, but she knew


    Lu Zhao well enough. Lu Zhao would never go through such a case of mistaken Luo Ying was unable to say anything further for the time being, as the other party had taken the initiative to leave and Lu Zhao had stated that it was a mere coincidence. For the time being, she could only put it aside.


    After a brief lapse in conversation, Lu Zhao steered the car back onto the correct route and raced back to Luo Ying¡¯s studio.


    Lu Zhao parked the car in the underground parking lot.


    The moment Luo Ying pushed open the door of the passenger seat, he spoke.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get too caught up in your work. Take good care of yourself.¡± Lu Zhao gently tilted his head and looked at Luo Ying. ¡°If you need anything, you can find me.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s tone softened. ¡°You, too, the poison in your body¡­ Listen to


    Wen Yu and be nice to her.¡±


    Lu Zhao nodded. After watching Luo Ying turn around and enter the elevator, he made a call.


    ¡°Figure out a way to check the security cameras on Chaoyang Road between 9:10 and 9:20 this morning. Look for a silver-white BMW with the license plate


    3754.¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s gentle expression vanished, and he reverted to the ruthless decisiveness he displayed while at work.


    ¡°Also, dispatch two more men to accompany Luo Ying and guard her.¡± For the time being, he couldn¡¯t tell who the other party was after, so Lu Zhao was concerned.


    Chi Tong was already in the studio, waiting for Luo Ying.


    ¡°Boss!¡± Chi Tong welcomed Luo Ying with a smile.


    Luo Ying removed her hat and sunglasses as she walked. ¡°Good morning, Chi Tong.¡±


    ¡°Morning, Boss. The team is in the meeting room.¡± Chi Tong answered as he led Luo Ying to the office.


    Luo Ying nodded in satisfaction. Chi Tong was becoming increasingly skilled and efficient. Already, she saw glimmers of the seasoned manager from the source material..


    While she was away for six months, Chi Tong managed the studio efficiently and even added new cast members. Now that Luo Ying was back in the country, she intended to take charge of the studio. That was the reason for the meeting this morning..


    The meeting space in Luo Ying¡¯s studio was designed in an open floor plan. The group sat in a loose circle.


    ¡°This is the makeup artist, Zhang Yue.¡± Chi Tong formally introduced the ponytailed girl to Luo Ying..


    ¡°Hello, Sister Luo Ying. Just call me Yueyue.¡± The young woman flashed a wary smile. She had been poached by Chi Tong from an unknown film crew. She initially dismissed the offer as a hoax after receiving it. Even though she was a complete unknown, Luo Ying¡¯s studio had extended an invitation to her. ¡°Hello, just call me Sister Ying. Relax, we¡¯ll be working together on the shoot this afternoon.¡± Luo Ying replied with a bright smile.


    She was familiar with Zhang Yue¡¯s data. Her makeup skills were top-notch, despite the fact that she looked like a young woman who had recently graduated and been working in a small production team. She did the hair and makeup for a number of well-known actresses.


    Chi Tong took note of her, and Luo Ying recalled that she won an award for Best Makeup and Styling Design for her work on one of Su Qi¡¯s films.


    ¡°Cameraman Li Jiu and post-production Chen Yun, assistant Shen Xing, and¡­¡± Chi Tong continued to introduce the others to Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying also greeted them individually.


    This was Luo Ying¡¯s first encounter with the other people. Although they were not in the original novel, Luo Ying had faith in Chi Tong¡¯s abilities. Those who were chosen for the studio would undoubtedly meet their requirements. ¡°Is Zhou Cheng not here today?¡± Luo Ying looked around but saw no one..

 Chapter 250 - Chapter 250: Script

    Chapter 250: Script


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Zhou Cheng¡­¡± Chi Tong sounded helpless. ¡°He discovered a talented lead singer in an underground band. He¡¯s so amazing that he insisted on poaching him for his debut. He¡¯s recently been spending his days squatting on the ground. Zhou Cheng has been even more anxious about his answer than his own manager.¡±


    When Chi Tong said this, everyone in the meeting room burst out laughing. True to form, Zhou Cheng was a kooky character who spoke his mind and took risks.


    Luo Ying laughed out loud as well.


    She hadn¡¯t expected Zhou Cheng to be so assertive not only in defending his boss, but also in seeking teammates. She found it amusing, but it wasn¡¯t a bad thing. If the lead singer was really good, her boy band plan would advance even further.


    After getting to know each other, Luo Ying discussed the studio¡¯s future plans. She would form a boy band and gradually introduce other artists in addition to herself.


    The brief meeting came to an end quickly, and everyone began preparing for the afternoon shoot.


    Luo Ying returned to her office, and Chi Tong began discussing the few artistes he had recently observed, as well as the three scripts he had prepared.


    ¡°These few look very good. We¡¯ll sign these two for Zhou Cheng¡¯s boy band.¡± Luo Ying felt that Chi Tong had made good choices. She wanted to sign them all, but the studio¡¯s resources were limited, so she could only choose a few ¡°We do have room for one more actor.¡±


    Luo Ying agreed to the contract without hesitation, but she paused when Chi Tong handed over the three scripts.


    ¡°Modern Times is an adaptation of a novel. We¡¯ll be riding on the popularity of the original, and the production team is mature. However, there have been some disputes about the script on the Internet recently. Some authors claim that the original work was plagiarized and are preparing to sue.¡± Luo Ying flipped through the first script while Chi Tong brought her up to speed.


    ¡°There is a risk.¡± Luo Ying shook her head. Furthermore, this production team was well-known for creating buzz. She had no idea whether the Internet storm was real or not. She didn¡¯t want to get involved in a storm like this.


    She flipped open the second script.


    ¡°Director Xu gave me this book. Director Xu has been leading his crew for many years, so they respect and trust him. He did, however, learn that Su Ran was also in touch with this script.¡± Chi Tong had not forgotten about their disagreement.


    Su Ran? Luo Ying raised her eyebrows. She also had her eyes on this script?


    Luo Ying recalled that there was indeed such a TV series in the original novel. However, Su Ran was already well-known at the time. The popularity of this TV series was expected, but it was not surprising.


    ¡°What about the last one?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    She was unconcerned about competing with Su Ran. She was able to win the role last time, so she could do so again. But before making a decision, she wanted to know everything.


    Although Su Ran was the female lead in the original novel, she wasn¡¯t always given the best scripts. The novel¡¯s plot aside, the world continued to function normally.


    ¡°This is a small production. The director is a student, and the screenwriter is still in school; the film previously won an award for best foreign short.¡± When it came to this script, Chi Tong had the most doubts. The production staff was too unfamiliar to be trusted, but this also had its benefits. ¡°It¡¯s a young crew, but the script is excellent.¡±


    Luo Ying looked at the name of the script. She did not recognize it.


    However, the script was the thickest of the three. To demonstrate their sincerity, they had sent nearly half of the script over.


    Luo Ying couldn¡¯t possibly finish it in a single sitting, but she was completely captivated by the script and story. It was a fantastic political thriller.


    ¡°Wait, both of them intend to broadcast during the summer break next year?¡± Luo Ying examined the filming plans written in the two documents and realized immediately that something was wrong.


    ¡°Yes, both of them are period dramas. They will almost certainly compete in terms of schedules.¡± Chi Tong said sharply. He¡¯d also heard that the two production teams had a long history of feuding. From casting to broadcast, they were at odds.


    Luo Ying¡¯s slender fingers tapped on the third script.


    Things were starting to get interesting. Chi Tong stated that these two dramas would compete for the same time slot. However, in Luo Ying¡¯s memory, Su Ran¡¯s drama was a huge success. The third drama was most likely a flop. Not only would it have lost, but it was also very likely that the drama was never completed.


    Then, in a plot that took place beyond the original novel, how did Su Ran win the arena this time?


    ¡°It appears that I won¡¯t be able to avoid Su Ran this time.¡± Luo Ying muttered softly, but her eyes sparkled with delight.t.


    Choosing the former meant competing in casting with Su Ran. Choosing the latter was to compete against her production.


    Was this the power of the plot? She was destined to be Su Ran¡¯s villainess!

 Chapter 251 - Chapter 251: Filming

    Chapter 251: Filming


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying paused for a moment before saying, ¡°I¡¯ll think about the last two.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t afraid of competing for roles with Su Ran, nor was she afraid of competing for time slots and viewership ratings with her.


    Of course, she preferred to take her on in the final stages of production. It was how proper actresses did battle..


    She had to figure out how this plot didn¡¯t even get a chance to be screened.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Chi Tong agreed.


    The morning flew by in such a straightforward and hectic manner.


    Luo Ying had not planned to eat lunch in order to prepare for the afternoon shoot. However, she had just fainted due to low blood sugar the night before. Luo Ying ate some salad after remembering Lu Zhao¡¯s advice before leaving.


    Luo Ying led her team to the commercial shoot location shortly after 12 p.m.


    and began the complicated makeup.


    Zhang Yue and the advertising company¡¯s makeup artist had long debated and agreed on the makeup. It was in line with the advertising party¡¯s concept requirements, and Zhang Yue had specially designed the parts based on Luo Ying¡¯s characteristics.


    Luo Ying finished her hair and makeup and exited the dressing room. She was met with gasps.


    ¡°Walk over here and give me the look you gave me just now. Good, very good! That¡¯s it!¡± The cameraman on the set smiled as he looked at the camera. He had shot many ads with A-list celebrities before, and Luo Ying was still a caliber above most.


    Luo Ying¡¯s grasp of advertising concepts surprised him. Her camera language was also excellent. She could give him the reaction he desired without any prompting.


    What photographer wouldn¡¯t want such a seamless collaboration? The filming went smoothly, which meant it was quick and produced good results. Everyone on the set was happy to see it.


    The filming ended after a series of photographs were taken. Luo Ying walked out of the studio. Zhang Yue grabbed the tools and went straight to work on her makeup.


    ¡°Sister Ying, you¡¯re doing great today.¡± Wang Yu handed her some water.


    ¡°It feels great.¡± Luo Ying smiled proudly.


    Being able to quickly get into the mood and accurately understand the photographer¡¯s intentions was a professional skill she had honed through extensive shooting experience and in-depth training. Her efforts were not in vain.


    Luo Ying¡¯s gaze drifted off into the distance. Suddenly, a tall female celebrity with a large entourage passed by.


    ¡°Who is that?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    She had taken one look at her and was completely taken aback by her beauty. She was a timeless beauty. She looked like she had just walked out of an ancient painting.


    ¡°That should be Cheng Zhen, the youngest daughter of the Cheng family. A few years ago, she won the Best Female Lead award overseas,¡± Wang Yu said in a low voice.¡± Her family has a military background, so it¡¯s a luxury for her to live such a carefree life in the entertainment industry. She only takes on the scripts she likes and only goes on the programs she likes. Previously, a man wanted to stir up a scandal with her, those rumors were stamped out in the blink of an eye.¡±


    Chi Tong had recognized Wang Yu¡¯s aptitude for information gathering and consequently hired her as Luo Ying¡¯s assistant. However, her words were almost lost in the din of the crowd.


    Luo Ying nodded. This was yet another subplot that was glossed over in the book. She would like to know more about this woman.


    Who could say no to getting to know such a stunning person? A flutter of excitement was going through Luo Ying¡¯s veins.


    Why did the attractive woman appear to be approaching her? Rather, was she actually running over?


    Luo Ying suddenly paused. It was obvious that Cheng Zhen had passed their set, but she abruptly turned around and returned.


    But there was nobody following her this time. She was accompanied only by her personal assistant and bodyguard. But even from a distance, her steps sounded hasty.


    ¡°Hmm? Is she coming to look for me?¡± It baffled Luo Ying. Did they know each other?


    However, It 100Kea like cneng znen?s patn was leacnng directly toward ner! Even though Cheng Zhen was shielding her eyes with sunglasses, Luo Ying could still feel her intense gaze.


    ¡°That seems to be the case.¡± Zhang Yue finally put down her makeup brush. She glanced back. Luo Ying¡¯s back was to the set. Only the photographers and crew members who were in the midst of setting up a new scene were present.


    Whoa, a confluence of two young women! Had she come here looking for a fight?


    The woman¡¯s hasty pace gave the impression that she was in a hurry. Wang Yu¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but her inner curiosity was about to surface.


    The devoted assistant didn¡¯t forget to move to shield herself from any slaps, splashes of water, or curses aimed at Luo Ying..

 Chapter 252 - Chapter 252: Acquaintance

    Chapter 252: Acquaintance


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Tragically, Wang Yu¡¯s wildest fantasies were never realized.


    Instead, Cheng Zhen came quickly and affectionately grasped Luo Ying¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Yingying! I finally get to see you.¡¯


    Wang Yu was relieved. It appeared that the two women were acquainted.


    But Luo Ying¡¯s eyebrows shot up. She had no recollection of ever having met Cheng Zhen and it didn¡¯t appear that her past self had either.


    What did she want?


    Cheng Zhen was aware of Luo Ying¡¯s uncertainty. As she held her hand and walked to the corner, she raised her index finger. ¡°I know you¡¯re confused, but hear me out first.


    Luo Ying was not bothered by Cheng Zhen¡¯s approach. After all, she could let such a good-looking person get away with the occasional slight. Furthermore, she had the impression that she had no malicious intent.


    Hence, she allowed Cheng Zhen to lead her to the corner, where they stood far away from the others.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t know who I am. Have you seen Prime Minister?¡± Cheng Zhen kept her voice down, but her tone betrayed her excitement.


    Her eyes twinkled as she looked at Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying realized what was going on. Wasn¡¯t this the small production script she¡¯d just read in the morning?


    ¡°Yes, why?¡± Luo Ying looked at Cheng Zhen with a smile.


    She had just finished reading the script in the morning and hadn¡¯t decided which one to accept. Was she already being sought out in the afternoon? What a strange coincidence!


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t believe in predestined coincidences. Too many coincidences could only mean that someone was trying to push it behind the scenes.


    ¡°What do you think? Have you considered it? Are you going to take it?¡± Cheng Zhen seemed to grow even more excited and quickly asked, ¡°Yingying, you¡¯re my favorite female artiste! I¡¯ll be your partner in this project!¡±


    Cheng Zhen had said this all in earnest. The director was her good friend, so she had seen the script a long time ago and liked the villain role very much.


    When they began casting additional actors, her mind went straight to Luo Ying.


    The initial image of Luo Ying was almost perfect for the female lead¡¯s setting. Luo Ying, on the other hand, insisted on wearing a pure and innocent style that did not suit her. Cheng Zhen frowned and hesitated, concerned about her acting abilities.


    Fortunately, Luo Ying had returned to her original style. Her performance in ¡°Dancing Shoes and Summer¡± was also memorable. Cheng Zhen had urged her friend to edit the script and send it to Luo Ying as soon as possible.


    Luo Ying nearly burst out laughing. Everyone in the entertainment industry was only interested in the main character. Cheng Zhen¡¯s enthusiasm for playing a supporting role was unusual.


    However, she made it clear that a true actor didn¡¯t care whether they played the lead or a supporting role. They were more concerned with playing a challenging role that they enjoyed.


    As a result, she fully understood Cheng Zhen¡¯s decision and even admired it. She could tell Cheng Zhen had no malice and was telling the truth.


    ¡°I like the script as well, but what I¡¯m looking at is the production team¡¯s caliber.¡± Luo Ying also responded candidly.


    The female protagonist was written to be dazzling and beautiful. As a result, from the time she was admitted as the top scholar to the time she was appointed by the emperor, the court was rife with controversy due to her appearance. There were always those who claimed that she was favored by the Emperor because she served him with her beauty.


    At first glance, Luo Ying was also drawn to the female lead role. It was the ideal fit for her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± Luo Ying¡¯s honesty made Cheng Zhen like her more. ¡°My friend invested in it,¡± she explained quietly. ¡°Trust me, we won¡¯t be short on funds, and our team won¡¯t be lacking in quality. Our family¡­¡±


    ¡°Shh!¡± Luo Ying quickly stopped her. There were too many people on set, so it was best not to delve too deeply into the subject. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll get back to you after I¡¯ve given it some thought, okay?¡±


    ¡°Good! Then I¡¯ll wait for you!¡± Cheng Zhen nodded.


    The two of them then laughed together. Luo Ying¡¯s words were basically an affirmation. They just needed to discuss the details of the contract with the team.


    ¡°Sister Ying, we¡¯re ready!¡± The advertising director shouted and interrupted their conversation.


    ¡°Add my assistant on WeChat. I have to continue filming the advertisement.¡± Luo Ying drew back and motioned Cheng Zhen to look for Wang Yu.


    Cheng Zhen made an ¡°ok¡± gesture and happily walked towards Wang Yu.


    Luo Ying quickly returned to the set to resume filming.


    Luo Ying was happy despite the abruptness of her introduction to Cheng Zhen. Simply put, Cheng Zhen lived up to her name. She was a genuine and honest human being. With such a person, communication and friendship were effortless.


    Consequently, the subsequent shots of Luo Ying showed an even marked improvement in her form.


    Everyone was in a hurry to wrap up filming before the sun set.


    Zhang Yue, as filming neared its conclusion, appeared out of nowhere with a dessert cart, handing out treats and beverages to the crew. ¡°Xiao Yu?¡± Luo Ying frowned and called Wang Yu over.


    She had not planned for this today.


    ¡°Sister Ying.¡± Wang Yu was also holding a separate lunch box in her hand. ¡°It¡¯s from President Lu. He told me to make sure that you eat some..¡±

 Chapter 253 - Chapter 253: Joining the Group

    Chapter 253: Joining the Group


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    For a brief moment, Luo Ying was stunned. She had not expected Lu Zhao to take the matter of her low blood sugar to heart. Her heart was filled with a surge of warmth.


    Although Lu Zhao appeared cold, he was a very meticulous man, especially when it came to the people he cared about.


    Not only that, but Lu Zhao did not forget to inquire about Luo Ying¡¯s physical condition over the next few days. He had even asked Wen Yu to check on her again and again.


    [Are you joining the crew today?]


    Luo Ying received another message from Lu Zhao early in the morning.


    [Yes, the script-reading session is today. Filming officially starts next week.] She lifted her sweaty hair to air her nape.


    She¡¯d just finished her morning workout and was about to wash up before heading to the set.


    [Lunch will be delivered by the restaurant.] Lu Zhao responded quickly.


    Luo Ying was feeling a little helpless. She couldn¡¯t figure out why Lu Zhao was so worried about one incident of low blood sugar level. He seemed to believe that she was starving herself every single day.


    Lu Zhao had even planned on having Chi Yu or his secretary bring her food every day, but she had been eating well. That one time had been an accident!


    Luo Ying found this ffar too dramatic.


    Lu Zhao, on the other hand, did it out of concern, so Luo Ying would not reject him directly.


    She had agreed to Lu Zhao¡¯s delivery, but she also requested that he change the location to a restaurant. There was no need to make such a big deal about it.


    [OK.] she replied helplessly. She went to familiarize herself with the script after washing up.


    Today, Luo Ying was scheduled to join the ¡®Prime Minister¡¯ production team.


    Luo Ying responded to Cheng Zhen¡¯s message on the second day after filming the previous commercial and decided to audition.


    Cheng Zhen, on the other hand, informed her that there was no need for an audition.


    ¡°Everything is ready, except for the female lead!¡± Cheng Zhen stated this with confidence.


    Chi Tong contacted the director, who revealed that he had the same thoughts. Except for the female lead, the other main roles on the production team had already been decided.


    This time, Luo Ying had grown extremely suspicious. She had an accomplished list of works and was well-known in her previous world. It was normal for her to be cast without having to audition. But, in this world, Luo Ying does not appear to have attained that level yet, right?


    Was it worth the entire production team¡¯s time to wait for her?


    Nonetheless, Luo Ying decided to join the crew.


    After all, the script was adequate and she enjoyed it. She was confident that even if the entire production team was unreliable and had to be replaced, she could still shoot this drama.


    ¡°Sister Ying, we can go now!¡± When she heard Wang Yu knocking on the door, Luo Ying took the script and began writing some notes.


    ¡°She¡¯s finally here!¡± Luo Ying pulled her hair into a simple ponytail, grabbed the marked script, and left.


    In the production team¡¯s temporary meeting room.


    ¡°Yingying¡± Cheng Zhen had arrived early at the meeting room. When she saw Luo Ying enter, she smiled and greeted her.


    ¡°Hello.¡± Luo Ying greeted everyone in the conference room with a smile.


    ¡°Hello!¡± The man at the table¡¯s head stood up and extended his hand to Luo Ying.¡±My name is Su Li, and I¡¯m the director.¡±


    Su Li appeared to be in his thirties, but he kept himself in shape. His black-rimmed glasses gave him a younger appearance.


    He had put on his glasses to get a better look. He smiled at Luo Ying with satisfaction.


    That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right. She perfectly mirrored his vision of the female lead.


    Luo Ying shook his hand politely and got to know the others.


    The conference room was relatively empty. Chen Yue, the screenwriter, was sitting to Su Li¡¯s left. She was dressed very simply and appeared more like a high school student preparing for the college entrance examination rather than a college student. Her mature script stood in stark contrast to her youth.


    Cheng Zhen took the seat to Su Li¡¯s right, which was empty. She drew Luo Ying over to the empty seat.


    Opposite Luo Ying was Xie Yun. This drama¡¯s male lead was a new generation actor, but he was nervous when he saw Luo Ying.


    Other performers began to arrive in quick succession later on. Luo Ying finally realized why the entire production team was waiting for her.


    This group was made up of either younger actors with some acting experience or older actors who had been silent for many years. On the one hand, everyone¡¯s acting abilities were half-decent, and the young actors could act well even without training. On the other hand, the people chosen were very cheap, making them ideal for the needs of a small production team. In this group, Luo Ying held the highest position. It¡¯s no surprise she was waiting for her.


    However, everyone¡¯s reaction to this issue was unique.


    Some people were unconcerned, such as Cheng Zhen, while others, such as Xie Yun, were cautious. Of course, there were those who disliked Luo Ying. The well-dressed woman sitting diagonally opposite Luo Ying, for example, was a familiar stranger..

 Chapter 254 - Chapter 254: Zheng Ying

    Chapter 254: Zheng Ying


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°I don¡¯t think the main character¡¯s girlfriend will freak out too much if she¡¯s kidnapped now that she knows what¡¯s coming.¡± The sound of papers being flipped rose and fell in the meeting room. Luo Ying was talking about a scene that involved conflict and suspense.


    A middle-aged woman cut her off before she could finish, saying, ¡°How can she not be afraid? She¡¯s only seventeen. Any young girl would be understandably terrified upon encountering robbers.¡±


    Su Li had introduced her before. Her name was Zheng Ying. She made her debut at a young age and won an award for best supporting actress once, but in the past five years, she had not appeared in any noteworthy projects.


    When Luo Ying saw her, she couldn¡¯t decide whether the world was indeed small or that enemies were bound to collide on a narrow road. Wasn¡¯t this the woman who had almost picked a fight with Zhou Cheng at the annual party?


    ¡°Rather than fear, she¡¯s just able to take action under pressure. Fear, anxiety, and confidence are intertwined, and it¡¯s the job of professional actors to convey such complicated emotions.¡± Zheng Ying seemed to be earnestly analyzing the script with a frown on her face. She looked at Luo Ying as if she was an elder condemning an insensible junior.


    Luo Ying gave her a faint smile, but she knew Zheng Ying wasn¡¯t taking the script seriously. Instead, she was seizing every opportunity to silence her.


    When she said ¡°freak out too much¡± just now, she clearly did not say that the character would not freak out at all. However, Zheng Ying made it sound like the character had absolutely no fear and then stood up to criticize it, showing that she had a better understanding of the script. This was Zheng Ying¡¯s third interruption.


    During the script interpretation, everyone voiced their opinions peacefully.Zheng Ying was pointedly firing shots at her.


    No one would believe that it was unintentional.


    Su Li kept stomping on Cheng Zhen¡¯s feet under the table. Cheng Zhen could only helplessly give Luo Ying a look.


    Luo Ying wasn¡¯t angry. She found it hilarious that Zheng Ying was so determined to assert her leadership over the production team.


    ¡°Yes, Sister Zheng is correct, but we can first hear Yingying¡¯s perspective.¡± Su Li, sensing the tension, emerged hastily to diffuse the situation. ¡°It¡¯s about interpreting the script. There¡¯s no one right answer, but we can talk about it!¡±


    Zheng Ying¡¯s opposition to Luo Ying baffled Cheng Zhen. She pursed her lips and slid the phone over to Luo Ying. On the screen, there was a line of text: [Middle-aged woman who enjoys preaching (squints)]


    Luo Ying briefly laughed at Cheng Zhen¡¯s emoji, but she quickly covered her face.


    However, Zheng Ying appeared to have noticed Luo Ying¡¯s grin and reacted angrily out of embarrassment. ¡°Director Su, I know that different interpretations of a script are common, but isn¡¯t a good attitude one of the most fundamental qualities of a good actor? Someone who didn¡¯t even respect the script was not worthy of being the female lead!¡±


    Zheng Ying threw the script down after making that statement and got up to leave.


    When she left, a few of the actors looked at each other in confusion for a second before getting to their feet and leaving.


    The situation became even more awkward. None of the other actors wanted anything to do with the argument, so they left after making up an excuse to get a drink of water.


    Luo Ying laughed off her anger. Why was she still forming cliques and isolating others when she was an adult?


    All but Luo Ying and a few others had left the meeting room.


    Su Li rubbed his irritated brow. He was just a small-time director. He only wanted to make a simple drama! Why was this so difficult?


    Cheng Zhen looked left and right. She was also in a difficult position. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Yingying. I didn¡¯t expect Zheng Ying to be so¡­¡±


    She had no better words to describe it. However, she had personally pulled Luo Ying over. Even so, she had given her such a troublesome production team. Cheng Zhen was a little guilty.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s not your fault.¡± Luo Ying waved her hand. She knew that this was a conflict between her and Zheng Ying.


    ¡°Sister Ying, did you know Sister Zheng Ying before?¡± Su Li asked carefully.


    ¡°I swear, I really don¡¯t know her at all.¡± Luo Ying met Su Li¡¯s eyes and held her gaze. ¡°The first time I met her was at the Luya Group¡¯s annual meeting. She was already hovering over me like a vulture.¡±


    Wang Yu, who had been sitting silently behind Luo Ying, also added, ¡°It¡¯s true. We¡¯ve never met Sister Zheng Ying before.¡±


    Luo Ying had debuted with a lot of fanfare. She walked a completely separate path from a veteran actress like Zheng Ying. If not for this drama, they wouldn¡¯t have met at all.


    ¡°I understand, Sister Ying.¡± Su Li nodded helplessly. As Zhenzhen¡¯s friend, I believe in Zhenzhen¡¯s judgment and trust you guys. However, the show must go on. I¡¯ll look for Zheng Ying to persuade her.¡±


    He sighed and went out to look for Zheng Ying..

 Chapter 255 - Chapter 255: Fear of Heights

    Chapter 255: Fear of Heights


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation    Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Cheng Zhen helplessly watched her friend¡¯s retreating back. ¡°He¡¯s the biggest investor on the production team, but he realizes he¡¯s a small fish in a big pond.


    A significant portion of the production budget came from the Golden Willow Capital that backs Zheng Ying. Su Li must make every effort to keep Zheng Ying on board.


    ¡°If only we were rich enough! We could find whoever we want, fund whatever we want! Fire whoever we want!¡± Cheng Zhen said jokingly.


    Her family had some power, but they did not support her involvement in the entertainment industry. They would only give her basic protection, nothing more.


    ¡°I wonder.¡± Luo Ying flashed an enigmatic grin.


    If Su Li could not solve Zheng Ying¡¯s problem, she did not mind taking over the investment of the production team.


    Scenes shot by the crew were not done so in accordance with the story. Su Li planned to shoot the wirework first. Because it was hard to find a venue for a wire, they would have to wait for the next few days.


    Therefore, Luo Ying and the others had started to familiarize themselves with the equipment that afternoon.


    It was not the first time Luo Ying had worked with wires. In her previous world, she had shot countless fighting scenes without any problems. She had even produced many iconic action scenes.


    However, something felt wrong this time. She skillfully put on the wire equipment and rose into the air. Her heart could not help but race.


    What was going on? Luo Ying was a little puzzled.


    Her mind was clearly at ease. She felt nothing as she stared at the ground, but her body was shaking with anxiety.


    ¡°Yingying, can you do it?¡± Cheng Zhen was a little worried as she watched from below. Why was Luo Ying¡¯s hand shaking?


    As the wire rose higher and higher, Luo Ying¡¯s hands and legs could not help but tremble slightly. She tried to control her trembling, but when she exerted force, it became even more serious.


    Luo Ying had no choice but to ask to be put down.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Your hands are so cold.¡± Cheng Zhen walked to Luo Ying¡¯s side and held her hand worriedly. ¡°Are you afraid of heights?¡±


    ¡°I think so.¡± Luo Ying opened her mouth to speak and realized that even her voice was trembling. This was the natural reaction of her body to fear.


    However, she was very sure that she was not afraid of heights. It may be an Instinctive reaction or rms Doay.


    Back then, when the original Luo Ying jumped off the roof, it did not seem to be a big deal, but this body was most probably traumatized.


    Luo Ying was at a loss for words. This was going to be a little troublesome. Many scenes in this drama required wire hanging, but she wouldn¡¯t be able to shoot them.


    She gave it a few more goes, but each time she got a little farther up, her body began to tremble.


    ¡°Sister Ying, take a rest first.¡± Wang Yu persuaded her.


    Luo Ying nodded, took the water from Wang Yu, and walked to the lounge.


    However, just as she approached the lounge, she heard a fierce argument coming from inside.


    ¡°Director Su, what is the meaning of this? Back then, you said that the female lead had to be carefully selected, and in the end, you chose such a person?¡± The first thing she heard was Zheng Ying¡¯s sharp voice.


    ¡°Heh, calling her a vase is already flattering her. What has she been acting for? Not only was it a waste of resources, but it was also ruining the audience¡¯s eyes. Is Luo Ying even worthy of having Sister Zheng Ying act with her?¡± It seemed that some other male actors were trying to cater to her.


    Su Li tried his best to explain. ¡°The female lead role is a perfect fit for her.


    Besides, Luo Ying¡¯s acting in Dancing Shoes and Summer speaks for itself.¡±


    ¡°You call that an improvement? Even a pig would be able to act better than her!¡± Zheng Ying said disdainfully.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. She can¡¯t even do basic wire-work. Is she here to waste our time?¡± Another female voice sounded.


    ¡°Director Su, I¡¯ll say this right now. You can have me, or you can have her. If you¡¯re keeping her, I¡¯m out!¡± Zheng Ying said firmly, ¡°Of course, you should also know that if I leave, Golden Willow Capital¡¯s investment will naturally be withdrawn. Whether or not your drama can continue to be filmed depends on your choice.¡±


    ¡°Bam! ¡± Luo Ying pushed open the lounge door.


    She smiled and asked, ¡°Everyone is talking about me. Why didn¡¯t you call me?¡¯¡±¡®


    Everyone in the room was shocked by her sudden opening of the door and instantly fell silent.


    ¡°Director Su, it¡¯s your call.¡± Zheng Ying was the first to react. She smiled coldly.


    ¡°This¡­¡± Su Li was stunned. What was he going to say?


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll say it on behalf of Director Su.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s smile did not change..


    ¡°A bunch of old wash-outs picking on a director who is new to the scene?¡±

 Chapter 256 - Chapter 256: Quarrel

    Chapter 256: Quarrel


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation    Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Who are you calling a washout?! ¡± The girl who had sided with Zheng Ying exploded with anger.


    ¡°What do you mean by that? When our Sister Zheng Ying won the award, you were still nowhere to be seen! ¡± Zheng Ying¡¯s assistant was also outraged.


    ¡°Ah, of course, you would know that. It¡¯s been so many years since then? Why don¡¯t you tell me about your recent works?¡± Luo Ying ignored the others and looked at Zheng Ying mockingly.


    She wasn¡¯t about to let anyone walk over her. If someone wanted to pick a fight, she would give them one.


    Zheng Ying was on the verge of exploding with rage, but she was at a loss for words. It was true. She hadn¡¯t produced any noteworthy works in years.


    ¡°Alright, alright! That¡¯s enough!¡± Su Li rubbed his temples, feeling a headache fast approaching. ¡°Everyone, stop arguing.¡±


    ¡°Director Su, make a decision now,¡± Zheng Ying said coldly.


    ¡°Director Su, I really like the script, so I don¡¯t want to give up this role. I can guarantee you that if no one else is investing, I¡¯ll invest. Even if all the investors withdraw their investments, you don¡¯t have to be afraid.¡± Luo Ying stood her ground.


    ¡°Stop bragging. Do you know how much investment a production needs? Do you think you¡¯re still the Madam of the Lu family?¡± Zheng Ying sneered.


    She hated Luo Ying with all of her heart. Luo Ying had to leave. This was not just a matter of a character, but also something more important to her.


    ¡°In any case, it¡¯s more than enough to fill the gap in Golden Willow Capital.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s eyes were firm.


    ¡°Let me think, let me think, okay? Let me think about it for two days.¡± Su Li couldn¡¯t deal with these two, so he could only buy some time.


    The reading session ended on a sour note, and the stage was left empty.


    On the way home, Luo Ying sent Chi Tong a message, asking him to investigate Zheng Ying.


    Zheng Ying¡¯s targeting had always struck her as very unexpected. Zheng Ying was never a part of the story, even though the original Luo Ying had angered a lot of people.


    After sending the message, Luo Ying switched back to the screen and suddenly saw the date.


    Luo Ying was stunned. Number 18? Then the day after tomorrow¡­


    [Shall we have dinner together the day after tomorrow?]


    Luo Ying hesitated for a moment before finally sending a message to Lu Zhao.


    According to the plot, this was the day Lu Zhao¡¯s mother left him. Every year, Lu Zhao would be in a bad mood on this day.


    She thought that it would be better if someone could accompany him.


    Luo Ying made a reservation at a famous revolving restaurant in the city. That night, Lu Zhao personally came to fetch Luo Ying.


    ¡°Why the sudden invitation?¡± While waiting for the red light, Lu Zhao tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and asked lightly.


    I wanted to try out this new restaurant¡¯s dish, but there was nobody available to go with me. Luo Ying did not state the reason directly. She pretended she didn¡¯t notice or care and made up an excuse on the spot.


    After all, she had no intentions of probing Lu Zhao with questions about the painful topics he preferred to avoid.


    Unfortunately, Lu Zhao¡¯s mind was not tuned into the same frequency as Luo


    Ying¡¯s.


    Everyone else was busy, and he was the only one left to ask. Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes were a little dim.


    In the dining room, however, he still took great care to ensure that Luo Ying had everything she needed.


    Lu Zhao looked out the window at the cityscape while he swirled his wine glass. His eyes betrayed a hint of melancholy. ¡°Actually, today is the day my mother left me. Thank you for accompanying me today, Luo Ying.¡±


    Luo Ying comforted him. ¡°If you want, you can tell me. You might feel much better if you tell me.¡±


    ¡°My mother left after sending me back to the Lu Family. Old Master Lu never allowed her to see me. In the beginning, she was still living in Lan City. At that time, I naively thought that as long as I could shake off the Lu Family¡¯s surveillance, I would be able to see my mother. I simply made plans on how to escape every day, but I never thought about the consequences if I was discovered. ¡±


    ¡°And then? You¡­ Were you discovered?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°Yes, how meticulous can a child¡¯s plan be?¡± Lu Zhao smiled bitterly. ¡°Old Master Lu was at the height of his power at that time. He could almost know where I was with just a flick of his finger. After he found out that I had secretly gone to look for my mother, he did not punish me at all. At first, I thought he had acquiesced, but now that I think about it, it¡¯s really funny.¡±


    Luo Ying gently held Lu Zhao¡¯s hand on the table, hoping to give him some strength.


    ¡°He never punished me, but he would punish my mother. From that day on, no matter how hard I tried to find her, I could never contact her again. I¡¯m the one who did this.¡± Lu Zhao silently took a sip of wine.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, it¡¯s not your fault. Don¡¯t punish yourself, okay? Have you found any new clues in the past few years?¡±Luo Ying comforted him..

 Chapter 257 - Chapter 257: Clues

    Chapter 257: Clues


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation    Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Yes, I discovered that after my mother left Lan City, she returned to her hometown. She later returned to Lan City for a short time before moving to South City three years ago.¡± Lu Zhao appeared to be overjoyed as he recounted his tale.


    ¡°How is she doing now?¡± Luo Ying asked hopefully.


    Lu Zhao shook his head. ¡°She left half a year ago. I only learned this recently. I was a step behind, yet again.¡±


    There is always a way. You are getting closer and closer to her.¡± Luo Ying encouraged him.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. It will get better.¡± Lu Zhao nodded and held Luo Ying¡¯s small hand. ¡°Actually, I want you to know why I haven¡¯t dealt with Lin Jin yet. Old Master Lu¡¯s still has updated information of her actions as of the past half-year. I¡¯m using her to keep the old man at bay. As soon as I learn something more concrete, I promise that I will immediately cut off all contact with her.¡±


    ¡°I understand your struggles.¡± Luo Ying shook her head. ¡°But I hope that you keep me in the loop next time, alright? Do you really think I¡¯d stop you from making use for Lin Jin for the sake of your mother? Do you think I¡¯m that short-sigthed?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°No!¡± Lu Zhao denied anxiously. ¡°Next time, you¡¯ll be the first to know.¡±


    Lu Zhao solemnly made a vow.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Luo Ying believed him.


    She considered this night a victory. She had helped Lu Zhao loosen some of the knots in his heart. The next step was to be by his side as he fought on. Luo Ying was in no hurry. She only wanted Lu Zhao to ease up.


    The dishes were excellent. Luo Ying ate more than usual.


    After dinner, she planned to put on some lipstick. ¡°I¡¯m going to the bathroom¡±


    As soon as Luo Ying left the private room, she unexpectedly ran into someone she didn¡¯t want to see. Zheng Ying.


    Zheng Ying, however, was not as haughty as she once was. When Luo Ying saw Zheng Ying approaching, she frowned.


    Why did she seem so confused?


    She was even more startled by Zheng Ying¡¯s subsequent behavior.


    Even though Zheng Ying was coming right at Luo Ying, she seemed oblivious to her presence. She brushed past Luo Ying with her eyes gazing off into the distance.


    Luo Ying turned around and glanced behind in confusion. Wasn¡¯t Zheng Ying going to pick a fight?


    What was going on? Moreover, Zheng Ying smelled strange when she passed by. Was it a new perfume?


    Luo Ying wrinkled her nose and waved her hand at the surrounding air. Zheng Ying ignored her. She didn¡¯t want to cause any trouble, so she decided to continue walking toward the bathroom.


    However, after walking a short distance, she noticed something shiny on the floor.


    Was this dropped by Zheng Ying? Luo Ying¡¯s eyes grew wide as she realized what it was.


    She hastily pulled out her phone and snapped a picture.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, do you know what has an unpleasant and sweet odor?¡± Luo Ying returned to the private room and showed Lu Zhao the earlier photo.


    ¡°A needle? Where did this come from? What did you smell?¡± Lu Zhao frowned darkly.


    ¡°On my way to the bathroom just now, I bumped into a female celebrity who had a conflict with me on set.¡± Luo Ying briefly told him about their shared history. ¡°I smelled it when I passed by her. I found it in the corridor after she left.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s drugs.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s expression turned solemn as he asked her nervously, ¡°Did you get stabbed? Did you touch the syringe?¡±


    ¡°No, no, don¡¯t worry. I did not approach it.¡± Luo Ying shook her head. ¡°She also seemed drugged.¡±


    Luo Ying frowned. ¡°We can¡¯t have such a needle Iving in the corridor. Is there any way to deal with it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll contact their management,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    ¡°Is there a way for us to runt tests on it?¡± Luo Ying stared at her phone, seemingly lost in thought. She was already beginning to guess why Su Li¡¯s drama was not screened back then.


    If it weren¡¯t for the butterfly effect of her joining the cast, Zheng Ying would have had her say on set. However, Zheng Ying¡¯s involvement in drugs was eventually exposed, affecting the filming.


    ¡°You can hand it over to my people for testing,¡± Lu Zhao replied.


    He had recently found out that Lu Wen was colluding with a foreign power, and the other party was a drug lord from another country. Could it be a coincidence?


    He should investigate. He would not allow such a dangerous person to get close to Luo Ying..

 Chapter 258 - Chapter 258: Termination of Contract

    Chapter 258: Termination of Contract


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation    Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying made up her mind the next day to inform Su Li and Cheng Zhen about Zheng Ying. It would be ideal if they could get this sorted out before production began so that losses would be kept to a minimum.


    ¡°What did you say? Drugs?¡± Su Li was so shocked that he almost dropped the cup in his hand. ¡°Marijuana?¡±


    ¡°No. Heroin.¡± Luo Ying had already received the results.


    ¡°Director Su, I¡¯m not making this up.¡± Luo Ying raised a hand to the sky and looked at Su Li with sincere eyes. ¡°I¡¯m telling you this because I¡¯m serious about filming this movie. I hope you can cut ties with Zheng Ying as soon as possible. Once her drug scandal gets exposed, we all know how much damage that would cause.¡±


    ¡°My god.¡± Cheng Zhen almost jumped in realization. ¡°She¡¯s still featured on our official social media accounts. If this matter is exposed, we won¡¯t even survive the initial reviews!¡±


    ¡°The other investors will definitely withdraw their investments. We can¡¯t let that happen!¡± Su Li almost pulled out his hair.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I came to warn you. It¡¯s not too late, ¡± Luo Ying said.


    ¡°But without her, we still lose our major investor. How do we make up for the funding gap?¡± Su Li thought aloud in frustration.


    ¡°I told you, I¡¯m here to invest.¡± Luo Ying smiled confidently.


    Su Li shook his head with a bitter smile. ¡°Thank you, Luo Ying, but a production of any scale, even a small one like mine, is not a small number. It¡¯s definitely not something that one person can¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just me, it¡¯s Luo Ying Studio,¡± Luo Ying said with certainty, ¡°My studio is introducing all kinds of high-quality projects. Director Su, you can trust me.¡±


    ¡°Besides, even if you don¡¯t trust me at all, my studio still has the Luya Group behind it.¡± Luo Ying smiled. ¡°Luya Group is also the largest shareholder of Luo Ying Studio. We won¡¯t lack money. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°I believe you, Yingying.¡± Cheng Zhen hesitated for a while and quickly joined in. ¡°Su Li, Yingying is right. Zheng Ying is a ticking time bomb. We can¡¯t bet on it not exploding.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± Su Li sighed.


    At Zheng Ying¡¯s house, a scream echoed through the walls.


    ¡°What?! Termination of contract?¡± Zheng Ying gripped the paper tightly.


    ¡°Yes, Director Su has already come over to inform us that they will pay the penalty for breaching the contract.¡± Zheng Ying¡¯s manager shook her head, feeling a headache setting in.


    Zheng Ying had always been a difficult artiste to manage. A few years ago, she was young and impetuous. She had just won the Best Supporting Actress award, but before she could even stand firm, she had offended someone and ruined her career. She had been relatively quiet for a while, but after finding a sugar daddy, her arrogance quickly returned.


    ¡°Get them to withdraw their investment!¡± Zheng Ying shoved the paper into the trash can.


    ¡°Wake up.¡± The manager tried to persuade her helplessly. ¡°So what if they do? Su Li could just find another investor. Golden Willow Capital had just entered the country and doesn¡¯t have that much sway.¡±


    Unexpectedly, Zheng Ying became even angrier. ¡°Useless! Useless! Who did this? Luo Ying? She dares to fight me?¡± She screamed, her eyes turning bloodshot.


    The manager frowned. Why did she sense that Zheng Ying was growing increasingly unhinged?


    However, Zheng Ying didn¡¯t give her manager any time to react. She immediately made several phone calls.


    [Explode! The new generation of starlets, Luo Ying, was throwing her weight in a production?]


    [Luo Ying the Bully]


    Early in the morning on a weekday, a new entry appeared on the trending searches.


    ¡°Why is it about Luo Ying again?¡±


    ¡°Luo Ying has such a mean face. I¡¯m not surprised that she¡¯ll be such a bully.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so ridiculous! Do you realize how superficial you sound? Why don¡¯t you look in the mirror and see how mean you are?!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just wait for her side of the story.¡±


    ¡°Are you for real? The last time, President Lu suppressed public opinion for her. Now that she¡¯s divorced, she¡¯s all on her own.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the end for her. I can¡¯t wait to see how low she¡¯ll fall.¡±


    ¡°My heart aches for Sister Zheng Ying. She¡¯s such a passionate actress, but that flower vase is having her way with her!¡±


    ¡°I was bullied when I was in school. My heart aches for her. Bullies must die!¡± ¡°My heart aches for Zheng Ying. I used to love her movies.¡±


    ¡°Zheng Ying has a track record and acting chops, but what does Luo Ying have?


    A rich ex-husband? What right do you have to bully others?!¡±


    ¡°Look at the recording carefully. It¡¯s obviously edited.¡±


    Public opinion was setting in abnormally fast. It was obvious that someone was behind the scenes..

 Chapter 259 - Chapter 259: Bullying

    Chapter 259: Bullying


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation    Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Has Zheng Ying lost it?¡± When Cheng Zhen heard the news, she turned to Luo Ying right away.


    Luo Ying raised her eyebrows. ¡°Bullying?¡±


    Zheng Ying had obviously taken the initiative in isolating others, so how could anyone accuse her of being a bully?


    The ¡°evidence¡± in the trending searches was examined thoroughly by Luo Ying. It turned out to be a recording of the fight that occurred that day among the production staff. Zheng Ying had spliced and edited it to make it seem like Luo Ying had used money to get rid of her and replace her with Su Li.


    ¡°Put out the fire, have the production crew explain, and provide the police with some leads on where to look for Zheng Ying.¡± Lu Zhao calmly gave his secretary instructions.


    She had the nerve to set up Luo Ying. She had no concept of death at all.


    [I¡¯ll handle it. I have already contacted authorities about Zheng Ying.] Lu Zhao sent a message to Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying quickly caught on. [I¡¯ll go along with the crowd.]


    She looked at the conflicting trending searches and smiled contemptuously. She simply forwarded the hottest news on the trending searches with the caption: The recording was edited, so anyone could tell. As for why you terminated the contract, why don¡¯t you think about it again? @ Actor Zheng Ying @ Lan City Public Security


    ¡°What is this about? Is there an inside story?!¡±


    ¡°Wow, you had the guts to call the cops. There appears to be a turnabout!¡± ¡°The recording is fake. Can Zheng Ying do something more advanced?¡±


    ¡°Good! Fight, fight!¡±


    ¡°Sister Ying is so cool!¡±


    ¡°The recording has been edited! Sister Ying would never do something like that! ¡±


    Almost immediately after that, Su Li also made a post on Weibo using the production team¡¯s official account, saying: ¡°After discussing it with the production team, the production team of Prime Minister has decided to terminate all cooperative relations with Ms. Zheng Ying in accordance with the relevant legal procedures. It¡¯s time to start casting for those empty roles again.


    We appreciate your time and enthusiasm.¡±


    Additionally, Cheng Zhen shared the post and gave it her full endorsement.


    The public¡¯s enthusiasm level skyrocketed. In light of the problematic bullying recording, they questioned what Zheng Ying had done to warrant the termination of her contract and the involvement of law enforcement.


    How could this be? How did she know? Zheng Ying was completely aware of her actions that led to the police being called.


    It was that night! Zheng Ying suddenly recalled running into Luo Ying at the eatery.


    She had just finished smoking and was not paying attention to her surroundings. Was it possible that Luo Ying found it at that time?


    How was this possible? Zheng Ying bit her fingertip nervously. Luo Ying had no evidence! Luo Ying had no evidence!


    ¡°What happened? What about the trending searches?¡± As Zheng Ying¡¯s sense of guilt increased, so did her hostility. ¡°Do something about it!¡±


    She almost screamed at her manager.


    The manager gave her a disinterested glance, clearly deciding to stop helping.


    ¡°Mr. Wu, you have to help me. Don¡¯t you see what¡¯s happening? The troublemaker here is Luo Ying. Wouldn¡¯t you guys even support your own spokesperson?¡± Zheng Ying immediately contacted the brand that she was endorsing. She had leverage over them.


    Director Wu was extremely annoyed with Zheng Ying, but Zheng Ying had evidence of his infidelity.


    Director Wu had put in a lot of time and effort into his relationship with his wife. Director Wu would not be in his seat today if it weren¡¯t for her. He could not afford to get a divorce.


    ¡°Little Li! Where is he? Go support Zheng Ying¡¯s with your official account!¡± Director Wu shouted.


    ¡°Director Wu, Luo Ying has already attacked us. We¡¯re still working on damage control.¡± The employees were speechless. How could their boss be this stupid?


    ¡°What if they reposted it? What good would that do? Can they not buy our products? The internet forgets easily! If I tell you to support her, go support her!¡± Director Wu said impatiently.


    Soon, a few companies that Zheng Ying had endorsed started their own campaigns.


    ¡°What makes Zheng Ying so formidable? Wow, so many corporations are on her side.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all good for publicity, after all. Those corporations have some serious brains.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit over the top? Is the termination of a contract really worth making such a big deal about?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just the termination of the contract. You¡¯ll see! ¡±


    The netizens argued for a long time. The final result arrived during the afternoon rush hour at five o¡¯clock..

 Chapter 260 - Chapter 260: The Truth

    Chapter 260: The Truth


    Translator: EndLessFantasy Translation    Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Police in Lan City: [We got a tip that a 32-year-old woman named Zheng was doing drugs like heroin in her apartment, and we went to check it out. We are now obligated to take action.]


    The news was also promptly relayed to the Film and Television Administration by the drug taskforce. The Film and Television Administration had a firm stance against artists involved in drugs and quickly took action.


    Public opinion reached a boiling point.


    ¡°No way! Zheng Ying was a victim this morning, but by afternoon she has been taken to the police station.¡±


    ¡°Drug-related?¡±


    ¡°Sister Ying exceeded our expectations.¡±


    ¡°So the production crew found out ahead of time and ended the contract!¡±


    ¡°And what about the companies that stood by Zheng Ying first thing in the morning? I¡¯ll blacklist them one by one!¡±


    ¡°The company is erasing their posts at an alarming rate, hahaha.¡±


    ¡°Forget about Zheng Ying, I think Luo Ying is really amazing.¡±


    Even after hearing the news, Su Li i s fears remained unabated. He avoided a disaster because Luo Ying warned him in time. If Zheng Ying¡¯s drug use was to become public knowledge, then his drama would be immediately boycotted.


    Director Wu l s underlings submitted the video footage as soon as possible after the incident. They refused to share Director Wu e s pain. Soon, the head office¡¯s person-in-charge went to Director Wu.


    ¡°Who gave you the authority to participate in public opinion? Can you estimate the financial damage this has done to the business?¡± A roar greeted Director Wu as he picked up the phone.


    ¡°Do not speak to me again! You¡¯re out!¡± The call was abruptly cut off.


    When Director Wu called back, he had been blocked.


    ¡°This woman! She was going to die!¡± Director Wu angrily smashed the glass in the office.


    Zheng Ying, however, was too busy to worry about them. In the silence of the dark room, she was breathing heavily.


    The police arrived at her house and took her away, but they blindfolded her and took her somewhere else.


    Who was it? Who could kidnap someone from the law enforcement? Who did she offend?


    ¡°Lu Zhao?¡± Zheng Ying squealed in surprise as she saw the man emerge from the shadows.


    How could it be him? Didn¡¯t Lu Zhao and Luo Ying break up? How could this be? Someone had tricked her!


    Lu Zhao brushed aside her concerns and aimed the gun at Zheng Yings temple. ¡°Who gave you the poison? Speak.¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡± Zheng Ying became lightheaded from fear. She struggled, but she was bound to the chair and could not get up.


    ¡°Don¡¯t kill me! I¡¯ll tell you! I¡¯ll tell you!¡± she screamed.


    ¡°Last year, I met a man at a casino overseas who introduced me to him. He said his name was Kevin, and I just took the goods from him! Even I have no clue who he is! I don¡¯t know!¡± At full volume, Zheng Ying yelled. She merely resembled any other naive drug user.


    However, Lu Zhao had long investigated the relationship behind her. Certainly, she was aware of more than just that.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s gaze was unruffled. He drew the chamber back. ¡°Do you believe that I won¡¯t shoot?¡±


    The gun chamber clicking sounded like a final countdown to death to Zheng Ying.


    ¡°Golden Willow!¡± Zheng Ying screamed, ¡®Golden Willow Capital! Kevin from Golden Willow Capital. They knew Lu Wen!


    ¡°Continue.¡± In the end, Lu Zhao got the response he was looking for.


    ¡°Golden Willow Capital owned the casino. I met Kevin at the casino and spent some time with him. He sent me the drugs. They had plans to enter the domestic market and promised to support me! He lied to me! They found Lu


    Wen. I met him at a cocktail party once! Lu Wen wanted me to target Luo Ying!


    He said that if I could suppress Luo Ying, he would support me.¡±


    Zheng Ying trembled as she spoke, ¡°I only know that theyre into pharmaceuticals. I really don¡¯t know anything else! Kevin wouldn¡¯t have any reason to tell me anything else!¡±


    ¡°Send her to Neverland Island.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s turned around and drawled. ¡°No! I told you everything! Let me go! Lu Zhao! President Lul l ¡®


    ¡°Please!¡± Zheng Ying screamed. She would rather go to jail than Neverland!


    However, Lu Zhao strode away without a single pause..

 Chapter 261 - Chapter 261: Boy Group

    Chapter 261: Boy Group


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°When you helped Luo Ying get rid of a minor celebrity, I didn¡¯t think we¡¯d trail it all the way back to


    Lu Wen.¡± Sirius waited for Lu Zhao outside the interrogation room, leaning against the wall.


    He had personally investigated on Zheng Ying. He had not expected it to be related to Lu Wen.


    ¡°Do you believe this to be a mere coincidence?¡± Lu Zhao walked out quickly, his face solemn. ¡°Scour.


    Look into everyone around Luo Ying.¡±


    It came as a surprise to him that he had overlooked such a potentially harmful element in Luo Yings environment.


    ¡°All right, I¡¯ll look into it thoroughly.¡± Luo Ying had long been the focus of Lu Zhao¡¯s attention.


    In this case, Lu Wen had reached out to Luo Ying, so Lu Zhao would not let him off so easily.


    ¡°Tomorrow, urge the Ministry of Commerce to launch an anti-dumping investigation,¡± Lu Zhao said decisively.


    ¡°You¡¯re finally going to close the net on Lu Wen¡¯s side.¡± Sirius¡¯ eyebrows shot up in surprise.


    Lu Wen¡¯s enterprise was the focus of their efforts for the previous six months. The previous trap they had laid out was only the beginning.


    Lu Wen¡¯s firm was snared in a project trap and needed to make up for lost revenue quickly. Any action of consequence would trigger an anti-dumping probe by the Ministry of Commerce. Lu Wen¡¯s international market would take a major hit once anti-dumping measures were put into effect.


    ¡°Should we look into what he and Jin Liu are up to in the biological research field?¡± Sirius asked.


    All of them had a pretty good idea of what motivated Lu Wen to put money into this venture. It was to find the antidote for Nancy.


    ¡°Investigate. Turn over the drug leads to the authorities and connect them to the biological research.¡±


    Lu Zhao instructed as he walked out. Lu Wen¡¯s hardships were of no concern to him.


    Sirius shrugged. He did not feel any pity for Lu Wen.


    It was difficult for them to uncover drug-related leads, but the authorities would see through any smoke and mirrors. Lu Wen¡¯s project would be doomed if drugs were involved.


    They got back to the car quickly and started slowly pulling away into the night. Zheng Ying¡¯s situation was still ongoing the following day. The public was outraged by Zheng Yings framing of Luo Ying and discussing the news of her drug use. More and more experts came forward to confirm that Zheng Yings recording was phony.


    [How did Zheng Ying turn out this way?]


    [Where have all of Zheng Yings ecstatic supporters disappeared to? Come out and apologize.]


    [Sister Ying is so miserable. Zheng Ying nearly set her up, and her drama was in jeopardy of being linked to the scandal, so much so that it was nearly pulled from the air.


    [Thank you, Sister Ying! Thank you to the production team! She almost got caught up in the scandal of a druggie]


    ¡°Public opinion is turning to our side.¡± That afternoon, Chi Tong was in Luo Yings office, reporting to Luo Ying.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave it all to you. I¡¯m relieved.¡± Luo Ying smiled. Chi Tong had proven himself time and again. She had her full trust in him.


    She had skipped today¡¯s studio session, but it was not because of Zheng Ying. It was her boy band! It was finally ready!


    ¡°Knock, knock.¡± Someone knocked on the glass door of the office.


    Zhou Cheng pushed open the door and stuck his head in. ¡°Sister Ying, Brother Chi, we¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Come in quickly.¡± Luo Ying was the first to wave her hand. She couldn¡¯t wait to see the four people that Chi Tong had chosen.


    The three boys followed Zhou Cheng into the office.


    ¡°Lead vocalist, Jin Yu, right here.¡± Chi Tong swiveled around and introduced each person individually.


    ¡°Rappers, Li Jie and Wu Ling.¡±


    Jin Yu nodded. When he rejected Zhou Cheng six times, he was just as distant and uncaring as he was now. He left a favorable impression on Luo Ying. He was the former lead singer of an underground band before he was ¡°poached¡± by Zhou Cheng.


    ¡°Sister Ying.¡± An anxious Li Jie smiled and said hello. He appeared to be a model student at a prestigious music academy. It was impossible to tell that he had incredible explosive power on stage.


    ¡°Hello.¡± Wu Ling also greeted her warmly.


    Though the youngest of the four, Wu Lings dance posture stood out to Luo Ying immediately. He was not afraid to perform in front of an audience. He was a seasoned performer who had danced regularly throughout the year. Since Zhou Cheng and Luo Ying already knew each other, Chi Tong did not introduce them to each other.


    ¡°Hello.¡± Luo Ying welcomed them into her studio.


    They were four different kinds of handsome boys, but she liked them all. Having a beauty feast to look forward to first thing in the morning helped lift Luo Yings spirits.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve all heard Chi Tong go over the team¡¯s strategy for your debut.¡±


    Luo Ying smiled and raised a finger. ¡°The first order of business is to record our first album.¡±


    She quickly turned around. ¡°Now, I¡¯d like to introduce you to the person who is going to make your first album a reality..¡±

 Chapter 262 - Chapter 262: Album

    Chapter 262: Album


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Min Yu.¡± Luo Ying turned her body slightly and made a welcoming gesture. They all turned to look where she was pointing. A lean figure rose from behind the desk.


    The mysterious observer was revealed to be Min Yu. She smiled and said,


    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Min Yu.¡±


    Min Yu had been specially invited by Luo Ying.


    When Min Yu first heard the news, she was taken aback.


    Her career as a music producer had just begun. Despite her success with each individual song, this was her first time handling the critically important task of album production.


    This represented Luo Yings complete faith in her. There was no way she could let her down. With appreciation, Min Yu made up her mind.


    Min Yu had done a lot of planning before coming to meet the boy band members today. She got to work right away and presented the album¡¯s concept and production goals with poise and competence.


    Luo Ying was ecstatic to see Min Yu as well. It appeared that she had already emerged from the gloom of her past.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard your song before, and it¡¯s great!¡± Zhou Cheng said in surprise.


    When musicians met, it was possible that sparks flew easily. In a short while, the few people who were still reserved earlier started discussing enthusiastically with Min Yu. Min Yu caught their infectious energy and started talking more as well.


    Luo Ying merely observed, every once in a while offering market feedback based on her background in album release.


    They talked until the sun went down.


    Zhou Cheng and the others¡¯ enthusiasm was finally put to rest by Chi Tongs low voice.


    ¡°They are too excited.¡± Luo Ying smiled helplessly. In the end, Min Yu could barely get a word in.


    ¡°No, no.¡± Min Yu shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m very happy. I really enjoyed meeting them.¡±


    She treasured every fan who found solace in her songs.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost dark. Let me send you back.¡± Luo Ying had a flashback to this afternoon, when she had seen Min Yu, and realized that an off-road vehicle had brought her here. ¡°Are you still living by yourself?¡± she inquired.


    Sweetly and timidly, Min Yu shook her head. ¡°My boyfriend is back. We i re staying together. I ¡®


    Luo Yings eyebrows jumped. Did Luo Feng really return?


    ¡°Then he¡¯s here to pick you up, right?¡±


    Min Yu nodded. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll just wait for him. Please, don¡¯t trouble yourself.¡±


    ¡°Okay, be careful on the road.¡± Luo Ying cracked a grin and stopped asking questions.


    She did want to see her brother, but things between them were very complicated. It would be hard to explain things if they met right now. Besides, Min Yu did not know about their relationship as siblings. It was better for Min Yu to hear it from Luo Feng.


    Now that Luo Feng was back, Luo Ying wanted to have a private meeting with him.


    Min Yu bade farewell to Luo Ying and quickly went downstairs.


    From the office¡¯s window, Luo Ying once again spotted the SUV below. Half the driver¡¯s face was obscured, but Luo Ying was still able to confirm that he looked 70% like the photo the original Luo Ying had.


    It was indeed him! Luo Ying pondered the best way to approach Luo Feng.


    For the next few days, Min Yu still came to Luo Yings studio every day to compose her debut song with the members of the boy band. However, Luo Feng didn¡¯t come to send her off.


    Thus far, Luo Ying had not discovered an alternative method of reaching him. However, Min Yu said that Luo Feng would be staying for a long time, so Luo Ying was relieved.


    For the past few days, Luo Ying had been hard at work getting ready for the debut of the boy group. She set aside a section of the dance studio for them to use as a rehearsal space. In addition, she intended to bring in a team of professional musicians, as well as handle the event¡¯s marketing and promotion.


    Work consumed Luo Ying until the weekend, when she could finally unwind.


    At the same time, she became acutely aware of the fact that Lu Zhao had been chatting less frequently with her recently. No other topics were discussed besides whether or not she had eaten well.


    Was Lu Zhao preoccupied with something recently? Luo Ying experienced some uneasiness. Several possibilities crossed her mind at once.


    ¡°Have you been busy recently?¡± she asked.


    ¡°We¡¯re closing the net on Lu Wen. His company is about to go bankrupt,¡± Lu Zhao quickly replied.


    That was quick! Luo Ying was shocked. The end of Lu Wen¡¯s company was near?


    ¡°How about we get together for dinner tonight?¡± Lu Zhao invited her.  Sure,¡± said Luo Ying..

 Chapter 263 - Chapter 263: Investigation

    Chapter 263: Investigation


    Translator: EndLessFantasy Translation      Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lu Zhao had been very productive over the past few days, carrying out his strategy. Just a few days ago, Lu Wen¡¯s company received a massive bomb.


    ¡°Anti-dumping? How is that possible?¡± Lu Wen was taken aback when he heard the news from his subordinates. This was his company¡¯s largest export country. His already shaky cash flow would be further paralyzed once the government initiated an anti-dumping investigation.


    ¡°It¡¯s true. The Ministry of Commerce has already sent a notice.¡± Lu Wen¡¯s subordinate was so nervous that his forehead was covered in sweat. Lu Wen¡¯s foundation here had been rock-solid. This had been completely unexpected.


    ¡°Inform the legal department of the lawsuit immediately, and get ready to respond. Also, with the Ministry of Commerce¡­ Lu Wen collected himself and gave directions.


    ¡°President, we¡¯ve already sent it over for review to the legal team. The Commerce Ministry¡¯s potential point of contact has suddenly gone silent on us.¡± Lu Wen¡¯s subordinate frowned. ¡°This anti-dumping probe has also gotten off to an unusually fast start.¡±


    Lu Wen clenched the report in his hand tightly. ¡°Lu Zhao!¡±


    The anti-dumping measure was unprecedented. Old Master Lu would never cut off his own business. The only person he could think of who had the ability to push for such an investigation was Lu Zhao!


    This, however, was not the worst of the news.


    In the afternoon, Lu Wen¡¯s secretary reported another matter that made him even more terrified than the investigation.


    ¡°Golden Willow Capital has been investigated by the police for drug involvement, including the project you invested in.¡± Lu Wen¡¯s subordinate hurriedly interrupted the meeting and whispered to Lu Wen.


    ¡°What?¡± Lu Wen didn¡¯t have time to be shocked.


    He had determined that this was the most promising avenue for finding a treatment for Nancy. He could not allow Lu Zhao to ruin it all. He absolutely could not!


    Despite Lu Wen¡¯s best efforts, he was unable to get in touch with Lu Zhao. Lu Wen stormed into the Luya Group¡¯s headquarters that afternoon.


    ¡°Mr. Lu Wen! This is the office area. Please do not enter without an invitation! Mr. Lu Wen!¡± Outside the president¡¯s office of the Luya Group, Secretary Li and the security guards caused a commotion.


    Lu Wen eventually forced open Lu Zhao¡¯s office door, though.


    After all, they were all Lu kin by blood. Secretary Li was unsure of his superiors motivations and thus could not intervene forcefully.


    ¡°Lu Zhao!¡± An enraged Lu Wen stormed over to his desk.


    ¡°Anyone not directly involved, please leave.¡± Not even looking up from the paper he was reading, Lu Zhao paid no attention to Lu Wen.


    ¡°Yes.¡± After hearing Lu Zhao¡¯s instructions, Secretary Li hurried to remove Lu Wen.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, let¡¯s talk!¡± Lu Wen made a concerted effort to settle his nerves. He pushed Secretary Li away and stared straight at Lu Zhao.


    ¡°What is it that needs to be discussed?¡± Lu Zhao finally raised his eyes and asked coldly.


    ¡°I can give you everything you want.¡± Lu Wen inhaled deeply. The mornings assessment was out. It was difficult to bridge the gap in the capital chain because of anti-dumping pressure on the stock market. It was already exceedingly challenging for him to single-handedly save the company.


    Old Master Lu was the only person he could turn to for guidance if he was determined to fight it out. But Old Master Lu would only help the company and not his research.


    Even then, Lu Zhao would wipe out his last hope.


    ¡°The shares, the company, you name it. I only have one request.¡± As he stared at Lu Zhao, Lu Wen propped his hands on the table. ¡°Let Golden Willow go.]¡¯


    Lu Wen clenched his jaw tightly. His concessions were always made with Nancy in mind.


    ¡°Heh.¡± Lu Zhao sneered. ¡°You started moving toward people I care about. Are you seriously asking me to back off now?


    Lu Wen clenched his fists tightly. ¡°It had nothing to do with me!¡±


    There was no change in Lu Zhao¡¯s expression. He did not intend to clarify who was the mastermind between Lu Wen and Golden Willow Capital. He was only aware that they had delivered potentially lethal drugs to Luo Yings side. He planned to wipe them out completely.


    Lu Wen¡¯s agitation level skyrocketed when he saw that Lu Zhao was unmoved. ¡°You know how much pain Nancy is in! You¡¯ve experienced every single flare-up yourself! Nancy is innocent. You¡­¡±


    In an instant, Lu Wen realized that Lu Zhao, who was standing before him in perfect health, surely knew the value of the antidote. Why would he, if he were poisoned, sabotage the entire biological experiment? How could he not have the project in his hands?!


    Maybe he already had a more effective antidote and didn¡¯t need to rely on fictitious biological studies after all?!


    ¡°Are you alright? How can you be fine? Why are you fine?!¡± Lu Wen lost control and tried to grab hold of Lu Zhao..

 Chapter 264 - Chapter 264: Clue

    Chapter 264: Clue


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation       Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lu Wen was impeded by Secretary Li¡¯.s presence. ¡°Please take caution, Mr. Lu Wen.¡±


    The position of secretary to Lu Zhao required more than just solid organizational skills.


    Still very agitated, Lu Wen made frantic efforts to advance. ¡°Why do you have your wits about you?! Lu Zhao, answer me! You found her, didn¡¯t you? You found the daughter of the poison master, didn¡¯t you? Save Nancy, save her, I can give you anything!


    I can give up my inheritance!¡±


    He definitely had it! Lu Wen was almost certain in his heart that Lu Zhao¡¯s confidence came from the fact that he had found the antidote.


    Coldly, as if he didn¡¯t recognize him, Lu Zhao stared at Lu Wen.


    He had no doubt that Old Master Lu had been the one to make them take opposing positions. At one point, Lu Zhao recalled his past with Lu Wen and desired to work with him to locate the cure. But Lu Wen had turned him down. He had decided to take the road less traveled and end things.


    Since his younger brother, with whom they had shared their worries in the same room, had vanished, he could not be held responsible for his ruthlessness. A peace had settled over Lu Zhao.


    ¡°Lu Zhao! Brother, save Nancy! I can give you anything!¡± Lu Wen shouted.


    ¡°Back then, I gave you a chance.¡± Lu Zhao demanded icily, ¡°What else can you give me? I already have everything.¡±


    Lu Wen¡¯s body stiffened, and he instantly fell silent. Yes, he had completely lost.


    Due to a severed capital chain, bankruptcy was imminent. Because Golden Willow Capital was the subject of a probe, they could not assist him. Soon after that would come the anti-dumping probe.


    As long as Lu Zhao had his heart set on it, the Lu family business would be his. He had lost all leverage in negotiations with Lu Zhao.


    Lu Zhao stood up and said,¡± Send the guest out.¡±


    When Secretary Li heard this, he immediately called the security guards to help Lu Wen up.


    ¡°There¡¯s more. There¡¯s one more thing,¡± Lu Wen suddenly muttered.


    Lu Zhao stopped looking at him altogether and simply waved his hand in response.


    ¡°There¡¯s one more thing! ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know where your mother is, Lu Zhao?¡± Lu Wen¡¯s eyes shone with hope once more.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who refused to trade with me.¡± Lu Zhao frowned reflexively,


    but he quickly waved him off.


    Still, Lu Wen picked up on the subtle shift in Lu Zhao¡¯s demeanor. He took another step forward, and this time Secretary Li didn¡¯t intervene.


    ¡°This time it¡¯s different.¡± Lu Wen approached Lu Zhao with and met his gaze as he said in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯m the one begging you. She¡¯s in Southern City, and I have photos.¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s heart started pounding wildly.


    According to the clues he got, that was indeed where his mother was last seen, but her trail ran cold half a year ago.


    ¡°If you tell me how you obtained the antidote, I¡¯ll give you the photo.¡± Lu Wen regained his viper-like gaze.


    Lu Zhao did not give him a chance. His expression remained unchanged.


    ¡°That¡¯s no good. I know just as much.¡±


    Lu Wen¡¯s heart ran cold, and he was a little bewildered.


    Lu Zhao seemed completely unconcerned. Was it possible that he already located her?


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not right.¡± Lu Wen saw through Lu Zhao¡¯s poker face. He quickly thought it through. ¡°You managed to triangulate your mother¡¯s location, but you don¡¯t know where she is exactly! Otherwise, you would have already gone for Old Master Lu, not me!¡±


    ¡°You got that right.¡± Lu Zhao forced a cold smile. ¡°But do you think I wont find her? 1 1 m getting there. It¡¯s just a matter of time.¡±


    Lu Wen gritted his teeth and thought about it for a while. Lu Zhao was right.


    ¡°They could easily move her. I¡¯ll give you the photo. It shows the location clearly. You¡¯ll be one day closer to meeting her, right? Big Brother.¡± Lu Wen clenched his fists and insisted on negotiating. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to give me the antidote directly. I just want you to let go of the project. How about that?¡±


    The biological research project funded by Golden Willow Capital was revolutionary. Already, it represented his best chance at success. He had to seize it.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes had a slight sallowness to them. He had to admit that he and Lu Wen were masters at exposing each other¡¯s vulnerabilities.


    He would benefit greatly from a photograph that Lu Wen could provide.


    ¡°Fine.¡± Lu Zhao agreed..

 Chapter 265 - Chapter 265: In The Thick Of Things

    Chapter 265: In The Thick Of Things


    Translator: EndLessFantasy Translation      Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lu Wen remained anxious. It wasn¡¯t until he saw the police pull out of the biological project base that he fulfilled his promise to send the photo to Lu Zhao.


    ¡°President Lu.¡± Lu Zhao and Luo Ying were enjoying a meal in the dining room when the secretary hurried over with an envelope. Lu Zhao gave Luo Ying a brief summary of recent events.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Luo Ying looked at the envelope curiously.


    ¡°Lu Wen promised to send the photos over.¡± Lu Zhao felt conflicted as he examined the envelope in his hand. Too many times over the years, he had felt this glimmer of hope, only to be dashed.


    It was a very ordinary envelope. The only thing inside was a plain Polaroid picture.


    A flower shop by the seaside could be seen in the background. A woman in a flower shop uniform was walking out with a large bouquet of untrimmed flowers.


    Although the lady seemed to be getting on in years, her youthful beauty shone through in her eyes. The softness in her expression complemented the flower shop¡¯s vivacious and harmonious ambiance.


    It appeared to be a snapshot of a tourist. Someone had even taken the time to write the date and the words ¡°Encounter with a beautiful shop owner¡± in


    marker on the back.


    Lu Zhao clutched the photo even more tightly at that moment. Even though it had been years since he had last seen his mother, the deep connection


    between mother and son allowed him to recognize her instantly.


    It was really her!


    Luo Ying, noticing this, stood up and took a seat next to Lu Zhao. In a soothing gesture, she held his hand. ¡°Is that her?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Lu Zhao appeared to have finally regained control of his emotions. ¡°It¡¯s


    her.¡±


    Luo Ying let out a sigh of relief and cracked a broad grin. ¡°That¡¯s fantastic!¡±


    Lu Zhao carefully set the photo down and held hands with Luo Ying. ¡°I finally


    found her.¡±


    For a long time, he had had people scour various cities for any sign of his mother. At long last, he got to see his mother as she appeared now.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s get moving and find her,¡± Luo Ying suggested. ¡°Now?¡± Lu Zhao seemed apprehensive. He had never asked his mother if she


    wanted to see him, so the search had always been one-sided. Now that all the pieces were in place, Lu Zhao was having trouble letting it sink in.


    ¡°Yes, now is the time. You gain nothing by pushing forward unnecessary complications!¡± Luo Ying said affirmatively. She knew the plot of the original novel. All villains were bound to experience a rocky road. The smoother the road was for the protagonist, the rockier it was for the villains.


    This time, Lu Zhao had a foothold that fell outside Old Master Lu¡¯s plan. If he did not hurry, he might get caught up by the plot again.


    ¡°All right, we¡¯ll book the plane tickets right away.¡± Lu Zhao trusted Luo Ying. They touched down the next day.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, don¡¯t be nervous. I¡¯ll be by your side. No matter the outcome, I¡¯ll be by your side.¡± In the car, from the airport to the flower shop in the photo, Luo Ying snuggled up to Lu Zhao and gave him warmth.


    ¡°Yes.¡± The scene changed to one on a strange city street. Lu Zhao looked out the window and pondered. Did his mom live here?


    Slowly but surely, the car made its way to the scene of the photo. The photo¡¯s streets, intersections, and stores were all suddenly visible to them. Luo Ying, however, caught a glimpse of something unsettling out the car window.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s once-anticipatory expression vanished as well. It was the middle of the day, but the flower shop was locked up tight.


    ¡°Temporarily Closed.¡± Lu Zhao noticed the black and white words affixed to the flower shop¡¯s shutter door as soon as they stepped out of the car.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s heart sank.


    Luo Ying¡¯s heart ached when she saw this. She reached out and shook Lu Zhao¡¯s arm to reassure him. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Maybe she¡¯s just out for lunch. Let¡¯s just hang out for a couple of days. Maybe¡­¡±


    ¡°No, Old Master Lu¡¯s fingerprints are all over this place.¡± Lu Zhao rubbed the bridge of his nose wearily. ¡°It¡¯s been like this for so many years. I thought it would be different this time.¡±


    In her mind, Luo Ying hurled a curse at Old Master Lu. How vile. ¡°Why don¡¯t we ask the surrounding merchants?¡± But Luo Ying was not about to give up. ¡°We should try every avenue. They may know something.¡± Lu Zhao agreed. He could not wallow in despair now that things had reached this point.


    ¡°Hello, I was wondering if you knew what happened to the proprietor of the shop next door?¡± Luo Ying took the lead and walked to the shop next to the flower shop..

 Chapter 266 - Chapter 266: Bian Su

    Chapter 266: Bian Su


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    There was a decent-sized supermarket right beside the florist. A heavyset middle-aged auntie ran the place.


    She became on edge upon spotting Luo Ying in her expensive threads and Lu Zhao in his suit. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°We¡­¡± Luo Ying cautiously turned to Lu Zhao.


    ¡°She¡¯s my family,¡± Lu Zhao said in response. ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other for many years. We made a special trip out here to see her this time. Do you know where she went?¡±


    The auntie took a good look at Lu Zhao after hearing this.


    ¡°Are you really her family?¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes, in particular, reminded the auntie of her neighbor Bian Su. However, she was extremely wary. ¡°How can you prove it?¡±


    The auntie¡¯s question struck Luo Ying as odd. Could you expect the average person to be so watchful and wary?


    Her eyes swept the area thoroughly. It was obvious that this grocery store had been open for a long time, and the customers who came and went were very familiar with the auntie.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s mother had not been here for long. Even if Old Master Lu had planted someone to monitor her, it would not be a local like this auntie.


    Both she and Lu Zhao exchanged glances. This is something that Lu Zhao also should have considered.


    After a brief pause, Lu Zhao pulled a picture out of his wallet and looked at it.


    ¡°She¡¯s my mother. This is a photo of me and my mother when I was young.¡±


    Even Luo Ying had never seen this photo before. At that time, Lu Zhao was still a child. He should have lived an ordinary life with his mother. He wore very simple clothes. The mother and son held hands and happily made V signs to the camera.


    Putting her glasses higher, the aunt got to her feet to examine the snapshot.


    She took her time comparing the photo to Lu Zhao to make sure it really was of Bian Su¡¯s child.


    She seemed to finally lower her guard. ¡°She¡¯s no longer here,¡± the auntie muttered.


    ¡°What?¡± Lu Zhao frowned.¡±What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Did she leave anything?¡± Luo Ying reacted quickly.


    The auntie ignored Lu Zhao and Luo Ying¡¯s questions. She just opened the iron lock of the cashier drawer and took out a small box from the depths. She opened the small box and took out a folded note from the scattered items.


    After such a lengthy process, the aunt handed Lu Zhao the note and said softly, ¡°We¡¯re quite familiar with each other. A few days ago, she suddenly said that she wanted to leave. When I asked her where she was going, she would not tell me anything. She just told me that if a man in his twenties who looked like her came looking for her, I should give this to him.¡±


    The note was neatly folded into a square shape that was immediately recognizable to Lu Zhao. When he was a kid, his mother always did this whenever she left a note for him.


    ¡°Thank you, thank you.¡± Lu Zhao took the note and immediately asked, ¡°Did she say anything else?¡±


    There was some worry in Lu Zhao¡¯s voice. The combination of his intimidating presence and powerful aura made the auntie uncomfortable.


    The air seemed to freeze around Luo Ying. She removed her goggles and mask and flashed the auntie a friendly grin. ¡°You don¡¯t know this, but Lu Zhao was forced to be separated from his mother. He has searched for many, many years and went to many, many cities before finally finding this place. Please understand that it was a painful separation. I hope you can tell us more about her life here.¡±


    ¡°Was it that tragic?¡± The auntie was taken aback.


    ¡°Yes, it was!¡± Luo Ying used her excellent acting skills to describe how Lu Zhao had lived alone most of his life. She also made a dramatic story of Lu Zhao looking for his mother, as if he had gone through hell and back.


    The auntie had a son of her own. She almost burst into tears.


    ¡°Dear me, how could anyone be put through this!¡± The auntie¡¯s heart ached when she heard that.


    She led the pair into a room behind the counter. There was a set of bamboo tables and chairs in the inner room of the grocery store. They were short and small, and Lu Zhao could not even stretch his legs when he sat down. However, none of it mattered more than his mother now.


    ¡°Bian Su, that girl,¡± the auntie said as she poured them two glasses of water.


    ¡°She came to our place half a year ago.¡±


    ¡°Her flower shop is well-decorated, and she¡¯s a nice person. But she was just starting out, so there weren¡¯t a lot of people. Sometimes, when she was having trouble selling flowers, she would offer me some. I took them, of course!


    Which woman would turn down flowers? I always put them on the counter. They were so beautiful!¡±


    The auntie thought of Bian Su and smiled. ¡°She¡¯s just so demure! If someone bullied her, she wouldn¡¯t scold them!¡±


    ¡°Bully her?¡± Lu Zhao became nervous..

 Chapter 267 - Chapter 267: A Storm Approaches

    Chapter 267: A Storm Approaches


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°I just bought a small bouquet of flowers and asked her to give me a baby¡¯s breath with a lily. How could she survive in this business?¡± The auntie waved her hand. ¡°I would speak up for her if I couldn¡¯t stand it, watching it and we eventually got to know each other.¡±


    Lu Zhao heaved a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Our days are pretty peaceful. Occasionally, a difficult customer turns up, but usually end up turning them away. There¡¯s nothing particularly exciting about our daily going-ons. She doesn¡¯t like to talk about herself. I didn¡¯t know she had such an experience.¡± The auntie told him about her and Bian Su¡¯s past. They were all ordinary trifles.


    ¡°Then do you recall the time when she was making plans to leave here?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°The day before yesterday, the day before yesterday.¡± The auntie replied, ¡°She left in a hurry the day before yesterday and stuffed this into my hands. She told me to take good care of it. I made sure to keep it safe!¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s heart clenched up. ¡°Did she leave with anyone?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± the auntie said with a strange expression. ¡°She left on her own. I even drove her to the high-speed rail station.¡±


    Lu Zhao probed for more information, but the auntie offered nothing out of the ordinary in response. Lu Zhao¡¯s mother did not appear to be under particularly close watch.


    ¡°Thank you, I truly appreciate it.¡± Lu Zhao nodded, and he finally eased up.


    Before Luo Ying left, she was about to buy some things from the auntie, but she was quickly waved off. ¡°You obviously won¡¯t make use of them. It¡¯ll be a waste! There¡¯s no need to buy them. The flowers that Bian Su gave me are already enough!¡±


    As a last resort, Lu Zhao had to ask his secretary to discreetly deliver a gift card to the aunt.


    ¡°I wish you a prosperous business!¡± Luo Ying waved at the auntie.


    Luo Ying and Lu Zhao walked down the road toward the coastline after leaving the supermarket.


    ¡°She managed to make a life for herself here..¡± Luo Ying hugged Lu Zhao¡¯s waist and comforted him. ¡°She also left on her own. You can rest easy.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s much better than I imagined.¡± Lu Zhao heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°It looks like she wasn¡¯t monitored or coerced to this location. Perhaps I angered Old Master Lu some time ago, so he sent someone to look for my mother¡­ That was why she was forced to leave. I was impulsive.¡±


    They strolled down to the sandy beach. As dusk settled in, there were fewer people to be found on the beach.


    Luo Ying sat down and took off her high heels, letting the waves wash over her feet.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, no one will blame you.¡± Luo Ying comforted him. Lu Zhao had already done enough.


    ¡°Tell me.¡± As she gazed out at the vast ocean, a question popped into her head. ¡°If she left on her own, does that mean that Old Master Lu still doesn¡¯t know that she left? Perhaps his spies won¡¯t be able to locate her so quickly?¡±


    It was a long way from home. Not even Old Master Lu could get his influence to this area very quickly.


    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes darkened.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s persistent interference within the Lu family was making Old Master Lu uneasy. With an obedient heir in place, Old Master Lu hoped to live out his golden years in comfort.


    However, Lu Zhao was destined to dominate the entire Lu family. He would not allow Old Master Lu to manipulate him.


    ¡°Now is the time for me to truly fight him.¡± Lu Zhao, too, cast his gaze out to sea. The night sky seemed to loom over the ocean, adding an eerie quality to the scene.


    A storm was coming. Luo Ying knew what Lu Zhao planned to do, and she was going to stand by Lu Zhao¡¯s side.


    At night, they took the last flight back home.


    After such a long trip, Luo Ying¡¯s body was numbed with exhaustion. She fell asleep leaning against the car window even before they left the airport.


    Lu Zhao shifted so she could lean against him more easily. He was too young at the time to be a reliable protector for his mother. Today, though, he would track down his mom and defend the woman he cared about.


    As Lu Zhao stared up at the stars, his mind raced with ideas.


    Luo Ying had to walk the red carpet at a film festival the following day, so she got up early to get ready.


    ¡°I¡¯ll send you there.¡± Lu Zhao had prepared a simple breakfast. He could never forget what happened the last time around with the anemia. He had to give Luo Ying a proper breakfast no matter how early it was.


    ¡°No need. I¡¯m walking the red carpet with my brother today,¡± Luo Ying said as she cut the egg.


    ¡°Jin Shi?¡± Lu Zhao thought for a moment and said.


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Luo Ying nodded. Suddenly, she remembered that there was something that she had not told Lu Zhao clearly.. ¡°By the way, when you initiated that divorce back then, were you and Brother in on it together to deceive me?¡±

 Chapter 268 - Chapter 268: Red Carpet

    Chapter 268: Red Carpet


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    A dangerous gleam glinted in Luo Ying¡¯s eyes. When Jin Shi first decided to travel abroad, the process was swift and easy. She reflected and concluded that in this world, Jin Shi should not have been able to arrange it so smoothly.


    ¡°This¡­¡± Lu Zhao averted his gaze.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie!¡± Luo Ying stared at Lu Zhao.


    ¡°No, but I asked him to take good care of you,¡± Lu Zhao stammered.


    ¡°Humph!¡± Luo Ying did not look surprised.


    It was at this very spot that Lu Zhao recalled the argument having broken out. For fear of reliving it, he fed Luo Ying a second helping. ¡°I promise there won¡¯t be a next time.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± Luo Ying gave in and accepted his words begrudgingly.


    Wang Yu and Chi Tong picked up Luo Ying promptly at nine in the morning.


    ¡°Does Sister Ying live in such a luxurious place?¡± Wang Yu appeared to have gained a new appreciation for her superior.


    ¡°Keep your thoughts to yourself later.¡± Chi Tong was used to it.


    They soon found themselves standing in front of Lu Zhao¡¯s mansion. When they saw Lu Zhao personally send Luo Ying out, Wang Yu quickly pulled a taut expression and did not say a word.


    President Lu really loved Sister Ying. He even opened the car door himself. Wang Yu only sighed silently in her heart.


    ¡°Sister Ying.¡± Wang Yu heaved a sigh of relief when the car started moving. ¡°Today is the East Coast Film Festival. Our ¡®Dancing Shoes and Summer¡¯ has been nominated for the Best Actress, Best Soundtrack, and Best Director awards. Currently, we stand a better chance at the Best Soundtrack and Best Director awards.¡±


    Wang Yu then studied Luo Ying¡¯s face after she said that.


    But Luo Ying was cool as a cucumber. She was well aware of the original Luo


    Ying¡¯s extensive history of performing in subpar films. Her damaged reputation could not be repaired overnight. The other films in this festival were also of exceptionally high quality. Her lack of award success was entirely expected.


    Furthermore, the East Coast Film Festival award was not a particularly prestigious one. She had complete faith in her acting abilities. If ¡°Prime Minister¡± came out when it was supposed to, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about the second half of the year¡¯s television drama awards.


    Next year would also see a rise in the number and prestige of film industry awards.


    Wang Yu was relieved to see Luo Ying so composed. She was most concerned about certain celebrities due to their lofty ideals and lack of practical skill. Once they realized they were out of the running, they made a big scene at the venue and caused a lot of trouble.


    On the other hand, Sister Ying was taking it like a champ!


    ¡°Today, I¡¯m using the new spring collection from K. The makeup was decided by Yueyue¡­¡± Wang Yu continued to scroll on the tablet and introduced today¡¯s schedule to Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying was satisfied with what she saw. Building her own team had undoubtedly simplified things for her.


    She would not have to deal with the difficulties that the previous Luo Ying had, such as the manager making things difficult and the sloppy cosmetics. The red carpet was held at night. There was a pleasant breeze and sunny skies today.


    The film festival¡¯s main entrance was flanked by a row of mysterious trees. Budding flowers could be seen all along the branches. Flowers would fall like rain if there was a breeze. It was extremely romantic.


    ¡°Big brother!¡± Luo Ying met up with Jin Shi outside the venue. She greeted Jin Shi with a broad grin the moment she entered the vehicle.


    ¡°Yingying, you look great today.¡± Jin Shi gave her a once over. It was as if they were back in their own world. His sister was a style icon back there, and she was well on her way to being one here.


    Because his manager was in the front row, Jin Shi could only talk to Luo Ying about his time spent abroad. The main concern was finding a way home to their original world.


    ¡°Any progress?¡± Luo Ying asked quietly.


    Jin Shi shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s one for the opposite direction.¡±


    Luo Ying frowned. The opposite direction? Did that mean that they couldn¡¯t go back, but more from their world could come over?


    However, Jin Shi also mentioned that they were unclear about the process and that he needed more time.


    Their rendezvous point was close to the location of the festival. Luo Ying could only get in a few more words before she had to run to the red carpet.


    ¡°Jin Shi! Luo Ying and the others are here!¡± As Jin Shi got out of the car, there was a commotion on the red carpet.


    ¡°Kacha kacha!¡± The cameras started flashing and making shutter noises the second Jin Shi opened the car door for Luo Ying.


    ¡°Look here!¡± Some of the media tried their best to shout.


    ¡°Luo Ying! Sister Ying is so beautiful today!¡± There was a lot of excited yelling from the waiting fans as well.


    As she walked the red carpet, Luo Ying smiled with poise and confidence.


    A long red dress embroidered with golden flowers outlined her alluring curves. She wore her hair in a simple style that showed off her beautiful neck and shoulders and stunned everyone on the red carpet..

 Chapter 269 - Chapter 269: Questions

    Chapter 269: Questions


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Many viewers of the live red carpet broadcast expressed shock via bullet points.


    [Sister Ying! She¡¯s so beautiful!]


    [Holy crap, this is the standard of the red carpet!]


    [Announcement: That dress is a brand-new springtime design, and her accessories are official merchandise.]


    [Man, how did you find that out so soon?!]


    [Borrowing the HPL Haute Couture is a Herculean task. Luo Ying is today¡¯s undisputed red carpet winner.]


    [Luo Ying has such good taste! The female celebrities before her were also dressed in haute couture, but the look was inappropriate for the occasion. The models wore their pieces better.]


    [Correction: Sister Ying¡¯s Haute Couture is not borrowed. She bought it herself.]


    [Are you kidding me? She bought them?]


    [Have you guys forgotten? Sister Ying¡¯s family is quite rich. She would not have too much trouble purchasing them.]


    [Oh, the world of the rich!]


    [Yingying! Mine!]


    Luo Ying had no idea that her red carpet walk had already been clipped and was going viral. She continued walking.


    Since her odds of winning were low, she tried to blend into the background. After all, the press enjoyed taking pictures of actors who were left off the list and spreading rumors about them in an effort to create drama.


    Despite her efforts to avoid attention, she was unable to prevent troublemakers from seeking it out.


    ¡°Sister Ying, are you up for a vlog?¡± An unknown young actor came up and asked her.


    Luo Ying was not in the mood. ¡°Are you authorized to film on the carpet?¡± She smiled politely, but her guard was up.


    People like that were always eager to drop by, camera in hand. As long as they got a bad reaction shot, there would be another scandal.


    ¡°Sister Ying, you have a good chance of winning today. Who do you feel most indebted to for ¡°Dancing Shoes and Summer¡¯s¡± success? It appeared that the other party had not heard Luo Ying, as he persisted in his inquiry. The red dot on the camera showed that he was recording.


    Luo Ying was at a loss for words. Did this person mistake her for someone who had just entered the field?


    Such a leading question was already playing to the narrative that Dancing Shoes and Summer would win, but the award had not been announced yet. The moment she played along, she would be maliciously interpreted later.


    The cast of ¡°Dancing Shoes and Summer¡± would be ridiculed if they gave an acceptance speech before winning an award. If she were to win, her words could be interpreted as an acceptance speech delivered early. The winner was probably chosen long ago.


    Even when she first started out, she wouldn¡¯t have fallen for such a blatant


    trap. It was too stupid


    Luo Ying was filled with contempt, but she didn¡¯t let it show on her face. Suddenly, she turned her head as if she had heard her name being called. She waved her hand and said casually, ¡°Excuse me.¡± Without a backward glance, she got to her feet and walked over.


    ¡°Hey, Sister Ying!¡± That person wanted to chase after Luo Ying, but the venue was crowded, so Luo Ying shook him off easily.


    As Luo Ying walked, she wanted to find an acquaintance to cover her, but someone suddenly grabbed her wrist.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Jin Shi asked curiously. In the time it took him to get two glasses of champagne, Luo Ying had already gotten up and left.


    Luo Ying heaved a sigh of relief when she saw Jin Shi. She took the glass of champagne from his hand. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Someone was pestering me to do some vlog. I just found an excuse to run away.¡±


    Jin Shi frowned and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to find the organizer.¡±


    The organizers checked and found out that the person was from a media studio in the industry. They were notorious for intentionally filming scenes meant to skew viewer perceptions of the actors and reveal their ¡°true¡± selves. They had no idea how this person had gained entry to today¡¯s event.


    However, even though Luo Ying had tried her best to avoid slipping up in the video, the person still quickly edited a few seconds of the video and uploaded it to social media sites, causing a lot of discussion.


    [Luo Ying avoided giving a direct response. Maybe she didn¡¯t think she¡¯d win, or maybe she was just unhappy with the crew.] He had deliberately cut out Luo Ying¡¯s rejection.


    In the comments, many people were misled.


    [The relationship between Jin Shi and Luo Ying is strained, right? Even saying


    ¡°thank you¡± seems forced.]


    [Considering Luo Ying¡¯s poor acting ability, how arduous do you think it was for the director of ¡°Dancing Shoes and Summer¡± to bring out the best in the cast and actress? Why isn¡¯t Luo Ying thanking him?]


    [I literally have no words. Don¡¯t you even have the basic courtesy to answer a question?]


    [Luo Ying is not expecting much. This year, ¡°Rising Sun¡± is among the nominees. That¡¯s the clear frontrunner for the prize.]


    [Don¡¯t say anymore. Rising Sun has single-handedly crushed Dancing Shoes and Summer!]


    [There is no hope for Dancing Shoes and Summer.]


    [Oh, it¡¯s Luo Ying. That¡¯s normal..]

 Chapter 270 - Chapter 270: Awards

    Chapter 270: Awards


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    There were, of course, some sane supporters.


    [Please, for the love of God, tune in to the live broadcast! Luo Ying was searching for Jin Shi. As far as I can tell, they have a great relationship. The infield was off-limits to private recordings, so she wasn¡¯t entertaining him.]


    [I say, why don¡¯t you guys find some common sense before spreading rumors? How long has it been since the audition clip for ¡®Dancing Shoes and Summer¡¯ was posted? Is there still anyone out there who thinks Sister Ying is a bad actress?


    [The infield is off-limits to video cameras. That guy was banned from the event, and he has been fuming about it. He saw an opportunity to do damage and pounced on it. Don¡¯t believe it.]


    [The award hasn¡¯t even been announced yet. What¡¯s with the talk about who won and who lost?]


    Halfway through the award ceremony, Luo Ying received Chi Tong¡¯s update.


    Luo Ying had given the debate a cursory glance before dismissing it.


    The entertainment industry loved to sensationalize downfalls. If she did not win the award today, she would naturally be ridiculed. However, she had already won all kinds of film and television awards in the other world, so it did not matter to her.


    She was confident in her ability to act. She just needed a chance.


    The nominated films were screened before the winners were announced.


    Because she already had full expectations that she would not win the award, and everyone else was paying attention to the award, Luo Ying began to think about poaching people.


    ¡°I find this style to be quite intriguing. Who was the fashion designer? Wow, the editing in this specialized film is superb. Can our boy band¡¯s MV work with him?¡±


    ¡® Best Female Leeaaaaad-¡± The host dragged out his voice to create suspense.


    ¡°Luo Ying! Let us congratulate Miss Luo Ying!¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± Luo Ying was so blindsided that she could only utter dumbly.


    ¡°Congratulations!¡± Jin Shi, on the other hand, smiled and hugged Luo Ying. He had long seen that his sister¡¯s mind was not on the award.


    Maybe the weight of the original Luo Ying¡¯s tragic past weighed her down and made her doubt herself. Even so, a win, in his opinion, should have been within his sister¡¯s reach, given her talent.


    ¡°Congratulations, Sister Ying!¡± By the time Luo Ying reacted, the surrounding congratulatory voices had drowned her.


    She shook hands and thanked them one by one. She turned around, gathered herself, and resumed her flawless demeanor as she approached the stage.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe I won this prize. I¡¯d like to say¡­¡± In reality, Luo Ying had no idea what she was doing as she held the heavy trophy and gave off a seemingly rehearsed thanksgiving speech.


    In the live broadcast room, everyone was laughing.


    [Luo Ying¡¯s expression of surprise is the most genuine I¡¯ve ever seen; haha.]


    [I can tell that Luo Ying totally did not see that coming. She wasn¡¯t paying attention when she won.]


    [Dancing Shoes and Summer deserves it!!! Whoever doubted her just now, please come out (if you can)!!! ]


    [The nominated film, ¡°Dancing Shoes and Summer,¡± has been praised by those who have seen it. It¡¯s incredible in every way, from the idea to the cinematic language used. Luo Ying¡¯s acting has also come a long way. It is no surprise to see her win the award.]


    [Where are the naysayers now?]


    [¡®Rising Sun¡¯ has won so many awards, so it¡¯s normal for the best female lead to be given to other movies. We can¡¯t let it win all of them, right?] [Is it so difficult to admit that Luo Ying acted well this time?]


    [Luo Ying has changed so much! She has really become a superstar!]


    ¡°I really didn¡¯t see that one coming.¡± Luo Ying took the trophy and returned to her seat. When she sat down, she talked to Jin Shi in a low voice.


    ¡°This award belongs to you. You deserve it,¡± Jin Shi said with conviction. His emphasis was on ¡°you¡±.


    Luo Ying understood and smiled comfortably.


    That¡¯s right. Her arrival in this world had not only changed the course of the plot, but the original Luo Ying¡¯s life had also been completely rewritten. Now, it was her life.


    Their interaction was caught on camera.


    [Can anyone here decipher lip-reading? What did they say?]


    [Luo Ying seemed to be at a loss for words. I think she¡¯s saying that you were worth it. I can¡¯t read anything else. They should be talking about the award!]


    [Doesn¡¯t anyone think they¡¯re very sweet?!! Jin Shi was the first to congratulate Luo Ying for winning the award. Luo Ying was the first to talk to Jin Shi when she returned! Why would anyone say that their relationship wasn¡¯t good!]


    [I think so too! They were so sweet. Romance movies would never hold a candle to that!]


    [Finally, someone spotted this ship! Let me add, when Luo Ying was overseas, Jin Shi was also overseas. Luo Ying just came back not long ago, and Jin Shi also came back! I don¡¯t believe it if you say they¡¯re not together!]


    Netizens did not know the true relationship between Luo Ying and Jin Shi. Instead, they thought that the two of them were very suitable to be a couple. Luo Ying found out about it from Chi Tong and almost laughed out loud..

 Chapter 271 - Chapter 271: Lu Family’s Banquet

    Chapter 271: Lu Family¡¯s Banquet


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Yet, while some rejoiced, others were in mourning. Luo Ying happily received the award, while Lin Jin gripped the knife and fork in her hand tightly.


    The Lu family also had a banquet that night, but they held it in the old residence. The entire family showed up, and Lu Zhao¡¯s ¡°fianc¨¦e,¡± Lin Jin, was also invited.


    It was her assumption that Old Master Lu had pushed her toward a marriage to Lu Zhao.


    Lin Jin knew she had no choice but to postpone the wedding due to Lu Zhao¡¯s pressure, but she secretly wished Old Master Lu would exert even more pressure. Everything would shift once they tied the knot.


    However, before they entered the old residence, Lu Zhao poured a basin of ice water on Lin Jin.


    ¡°Delay the marriage for another two months,¡± Lu Zhao ordered Lin Jin coldly.


    Almost a meter separated Lin Jin and Lu Zhao. Since finding the cure, Lu Zhao has never again been out of control. On the other hand, she was also isolated far away. She wasn¡¯t allowed to set foot in his office building.


    Lin Jin was afraid that Lu Zhao would lose patience and turn on the Lin Group, so she had been very careful during this period of time.


    ¡°Alright¡­ Do you need a little longer?¡± Lin Jin could only probe him with caution.


    Lu Zhao glanced at her. ¡°Two months is enough.¡±


    Lin Jin¡¯s heart sank. Two months was enough.


    This meant that Lu Zhao only needed her to be his fianc¨¦e in name for two more months. He was already fully confident that he could control the entire Lu Family in two months and oust Old Master Lu from power.


    This was a good thing for Lin Jin. Lu Zhao promised to return Lin Group to her after the matter was settled. However, that was also the worst part. She only had two months to win Lu Zhao over.


    After Lu Zhao assumed full control, she would be forcibly banished. Lin Jin anxiously chewed the tip of her finger. She needed to figure out a strategy.


    Lu Zhao and Lin Jin walked into the hall. Everyone could see something was off between them, but no one spoke up. The Lu Zhao of today was no longer the Lu Zhao of the past. In the Lu household, he carried even more weight than ever.


    When Old Master Lu clinked his glass, the Lu family feast had officially begun. The younger generation and extended family members did their best to liven up the dinner table, but the few people seated at the head of the table remained silent, as if they were waiting for something.


    Lin Jin had no idea what was wrong, but she felt uneasy.


    Although Old Master Lu was unaware of the nature of the deal struck between Lu Wen and Lu Zhao, he did know that Lu Wen¡¯s company had been defeated and that Lu Zhao was on the verge of claiming the throne.


    ¡°Grandpa.¡± Lu Wen spoke. Even though his voice was not particularly loud, everyone at the table became eerily silent.


    ¡°You had previously mentioned picking an heir from among Lu Zhao and me.¡± Lu Wen¡¯s tone was flat as he said calmly, ¡°After this period of tempering, I don¡¯t think I¡¯m up to this role.¡±


    Lu Zhao ignored everyone around him as he cut the steak. He could care less about the opinions of others. They had no other option but to accept it.


    The only thing that piqued his interest was the phone in his pocket.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± The venerable voice of Old Master Lu resounded, and he exuded evident joy as he said, ¡°It appears that Lu Zhao will be able to become the leader of our Lu Family¡¯s next generation.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all up to you, Grandpa,¡± Lu Zhao said with equal composure.


    His attention was diverted toward his phone. He opened the screen and saw the message. His assigned underling was in touch with him to update him on Luo Ying¡¯s predicament at the film festival.


    Even though Lu Zhao¡¯s phone was protected by an anti-peep film, Lin Jin was able to see the screen from where she was sitting next to him. Even during this tense moment at the family banquet, Lu Zhao was studying a photo of Luo Ying on the red carpet.


    Lin Jin gripped the knife and fork in her hand tightly. ¡°Could it be that he valued Luo Ying more than the Lu throne?¡±


    Lin Jin¡¯s envy and animosity were on the verge of bursting through. Why? Why couldn¡¯t she be the person Lu Zhao loved so much?


    Old Master Lu glanced at Lin Jin and continued, ¡°I¡¯m already old. I think it¡¯s time to hand the Lu family over to the next generation.¡±


    ¡® However,¡± Old Master Lu changed his tone and added, ¡°A man has to start a family first before he can start a career. You do realize that you and Miss Lin should get married quickly, right?¡±


    Lu Zhao remained silent.


    ¡°Of course! The sooner, the better! Only I am worthy of Lu Zhao!¡± Lin Jin shouted in her heart.


    However, she could not say her true thoughts. The Lin Group was still in Lu


    Zhao¡¯s hands. The sober Lu Zhao was not someone she could afford to provoke. The torture of the past six months had made Lin Jin remember this lesson deeply..

 Chapter 272 - Chapter 272: Picking Someone Up

    Chapter 272: Picking Someone Up


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Grandpa Lu.¡± Lin Jin tried her best to force a smile. ¡°Our family is not in a state to arrange a marriage at the moment. Please give us two months.¡±


    ¡°Two months? That¡¯s no good.¡± Old Master Lu said firmly, ¡°Get it over with already.¡±


    Old Master Lu¡¯s retort caused the atmosphere at the table to freeze.


    After Lu Wen finished his part, he ate dinner as if it had nothing to do with him. To him, it was irrelevant how Lu Zhao responded. His primary concern was keeping Nancy safe.


    Lin Jin gave Lu Zhao a tense glance. She wished Old Master Lu¡¯s pressure would break Lu Zhao.


    The bystanders relaxed as they watched, sure that this arranged marriage had nothing to do with them.


    ¡°Grandfather, we¡¯ve been extremely busy as of late. Numerous weak spots exist in the supply chain, both in terms of capital and finished goods,¡± Lu Zhao said indifferently, but his gaze swept across many other people in the Lu Family.


    Those who met Lu Zhao¡¯s gaze felt a chill run through their bodies. Wasn¡¯t it obvious that Lu Zhao was trying to intimidate them into supporting him? It was their very own company that was experiencing difficulties. The Luya Group could go bankrupt if Lu Zhao predicted that it could not be saved.


    The previously quiet branch families all chimed in this time.


    ¡°Aiya, Old Master, let the young people decide!¡± Someone spoke boldly because he was older.


    ¡°My classmate chose a bad day to get married.¡± The younger ones also found excuses to agree.


    ¡°Yes, how can we decide on marriage alone? We have to respect Miss Lin¡¯s wishes!¡± People were afraid to offend Old Master Lu or Lu Zhao, so they put Lin Jin in the middle.


    ¡°Ha, other than making things difficult for Luo Ying, it was rare to see them so united.¡± Lu Zhao thought sarcastically in his heart.


    When Old Master Lu realized that Lu Zhao had control over nearly half of the family, the corners of his mouth tightened.


    ¡°Good, good, very good!¡± Old Master Lu was so enraged that he laughed. He kept up his pleasant demeanor. ¡°Then I¡¯ll listen to you.¡±


    It was useless! It was useless! All of them were completely useless! Worry and rage flooded Old Master Lu¡¯s veins.


    After ruling the Lu family for so long, he was well-versed in the methods of a coup d¡¯¨¦tat. At first, he believed he could keep Lu Zhao under control, but he soon realized that events were spiraling out of his hands.


    What he really wanted was a compliant heir rather than a brilliant one.


    He¡¯d rather kill them with his bare hands if they won¡¯t obey.


    Old Master Lu avoided talking about Lu Zhao for the rest of the banquet, but his mind was making plans.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s long-standing animosity toward the Lu family, combined with the mental and physical toll of the banquet, had worn him down.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Lin Jin opened her mouth to ask if she could take Lu Zhao¡¯s car, but he slammed the door and drove off before she could finish.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Lin Jin let out a suppressed cry. Luo Ying, Luo Ying, Luo Ying!!! If it weren¡¯t for this woman, Lu Zhao wouldn¡¯t have treated her like this!!


    The fact that they got a divorce was simply not enough. Lin Jin was determined to get rid of Luo Ying!


    While driving, Lu Zhao completely ignored Lin Jin. He was in a hurry to leave because he wanted to pick up Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying should have been wrapping up the film festival¡¯s awards ceremony at this point. Lu Zhao dialed Luo Ying¡¯s number.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Luo Ying picked up, but there was a very noisy background sound. ¡°Luo Ying, are you done? I¡¯ll go pick you up. Where are you?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    ¡°Yes¡­¡± Luo Ying made a comment, but it was lost in the din.


    ¡°What?¡± Lu Zhao frowned. Why was is so noisy at her end? Was there a problem?


    . Lu¡­ A bar!¡± Luo Ying shouted with all her might.


    ¡°I can¡¯t hear you.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s voice sank. It was tar too noisy.


    Suddenly, the sound in the car went silent. Luo Ying¡¯s phone seemed to have been taken to another quiet place.


    ¡°Lu Zhao?¡± The voice of Jin Shi came from the other end of the phone.


    ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± When Lu Zhao heard that Jin Shi was also by Luo Ying¡¯s side, he finally felt a little relieved.


    ¡°Xinglin Road Bar. It¡¯s a gathering for the crew. Come and pick her up. I have to leave soon.¡± Jin Shi was reluctant to say this, but he had to leave because of an emergency.


    In this world, the only person he could entrust his sister to was Lu Zhao.


    ¡°I get it. Ten minutes.¡± Lu Zhao agreed..

 Chapter 273 - Chapter 273: Picking Her Up

    Chapter 273: Picking Her Up


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    In the bar¡¯s private room.


    The cast and crew of the production were finishing up their dinner party. Just about everyone had some alcohol in their system. Jin Shi was accompanying


    Luo Ying out. They happened to run into Lu Zhao, who was here to pick her up.


    When the production crew saw this, they all held a collective breath.


    ¡°Eh? Why are you here?¡± Luo Ying had a straight face. She did not look the least bit drunk. However, her footsteps were lopsided. She tried to take a few steps but almost tripped.


    ¡°I¡¯m here to pick you up.¡± Lu Zhao hurriedly took a few steps forward to catch her.


    Jin Shi extended a hand to help as well. He subconsciously brought his sister to his side, not wanting her to lean on Lu Zhao.


    At the same moment, both of them turned their heads to face each other. There was a brief moment of open hostility.


    To the crew, this looked like the beginning of war. It was about to turn into a murder scene!


    ¡°Who is that?¡± Some of them couldn¡¯t see their faces clearly. ¡°That¡¯s Lu Zhao, you dolt. Stop talking.¡±


    ¡°Are we about to witness a scandal?¡± The busybody teased.


    ¡°Something doesn¡¯t feel right. How come Jin Shi¡¯s eyes resemble the one catching a couple in the act rather than President Lu¡¯s?¡± Someone with sharp eyes pondered.


    ¡°Just shut up! Do you want them to hear you? If they find your dead body in the bushes tomorrow, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you!¡± Someone waved them off.


    For a moment, Jin Shi and Lu Zhao were locked in a perplexing stare-down, but eventually, Jin Shi released his hand.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to trouble you to take care of Luo Ying.¡± Anxiety could be seen in Jin Shi¡¯s eyes. ¡°There¡¯s still work for me to do. I have to go first. When she wakes up, I¡¯ll give her a call.¡±


    He was distraught over the prospect of his sister leaving with Lu Zhao, but he couldn¡¯t stop them.


    ¡°Yes.¡± There were no further inquiries from Lu Zhao. He simply walked the now-rambling Luo Ying to his vehicle.


    Luo Ying stumbled into the car and leaned back against the back of the seat, muttering softly.


    She didn¡¯t ask, ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± until Lu Zhao was almost back at the house.


    ¡°Home.¡± Lu Zhao comforted her.


    ¡°Home? But my house isn¡¯t here.¡± Luo Ying looked at the scenery outside the window in confusion.


    A knot formed in Lu Zhao¡¯s stomach. With some effort, he finally said, ¡°It¡¯s here.¡±


    Lu Zhao still considered this house theirs, even though they were divorced. He was trying to keep it safe for himself and Luo Ying.


    ¡°Home is where the heart is, and this is it. I can¡¯t go back to my home anymore,¡± Luo Ying muttered, as if she had just had an epiphany.


    ¡® For a second, Lu Zhao appeared relieved, but then a flood of complicated thoughts engulfed him.


    Luo Ying still felt a connection to their house, even though she was living in the wrong world. When was the last time he saw Luo Ying drunk? She had mumbled incoherently that she longed for her loved ones from the other side.


    Luo Ying¡­ She probably wanted to go back to that world. She had appeared out of nowhere. Would she disappear just as abruptly one day?


    A feeling of unease flooded Lu Zhao¡¯s heart.


    Luo Ying¡¯s sudden retch interrupted Lu Zhao¡¯s train of thought. He quickly helped Luo Ying into the house and busied himself with making honey water.


    Just now, Lu Zhao felt a brief pang of unease, but he forced that feeling deep down inside himself.


    The next morning, Luo Ying was roused from sleep by her phone¡¯s incessant ringing and vibrating.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Luo Ying rubbed her sore temples and blinked groggily.


    The curtains were drawn so that she wouldn¡¯t be disturbed by the light of day. When Luo Ying looked at her phone, she saw that it was almost 11 a.m.


    Some of the unread messages on her phone were from Lu Zhao and had been coming in rapidly all morning.


    [I¡¯m going to work. There¡¯s breakfast in the kitchen. If you don¡¯t like it, just ask the cook.]


    [Are you awake?]


    [I helped you apply for leave from the production team.]


    [Send me a message when you wake up.]


    It appears that Lu Zhao drove her home last night.


    Luo Ying shook her head. Her temples were constantly throbbing with pain. She acted recklessly last night. That cocktail tasted like fruit juice. She had not expected it to be such a hard hitter.


    She replied to Lu Zhao¡¯s message and looked at the phone call just now. It was Chi Tong.


    Since he was having trouble getting through, he had left her a few messages.


    It was the subsequent schedules. A live broadcast event for a major brand was coming up, and Luo Ying had been invited to take part.


    ¡°No problem. Send me the script.¡± Luo Ying got out of bed and into a fresh set of clothes after she finished replying to all her messages.


    ¡°Miss Luo, you¡¯re awake. Do you want to eat something? Breakfast is still warm, but lunch would have to wait.¡± The cook noticed Luo Ying coming down and politely inquired..

 Chapter 274 - Chapter 274: Meal Delivery

    Chapter 274: Meal Delivery


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying nodded. She was famished. ¡°Do you happen to have any porridge lying about?¡±


    The cook confirmed, ¡°Yes, Mr. Lu instructed me to prepare some millet porridge.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll have one. There¡¯s no need for lunch.¡± Luo Ying wanted to eat something light.


    The cook agreed immediately and quickly set the late breakfast on the table.


    Luo Ying sat at the table and began slowly eating her porridge.


    She was looking into the kitchen, where the cook was apparently hard at work.


    ¡°Are you still preparing lunch?¡± Luo Ying asked curiously.


    ¡°Yes, I have to bring Mr. Lu lunch at noon.¡± The cook rapidly chopped at some vegetables. ¡°Mr. Lu¡¯s digestion has been under the weather as of late, so he requires a strict diet.¡±


    The cook had been in the business for quite some time and had worked for several affluent households. Generally, such information was private and confidential.


    However, Miss Luo was clearly very important to this man.


    ¡°Digestive struggles¡­¡± Luo Ying frowned. Lu Zhao never seemed to have such issues. Had he been staying up late?


    Her mind wandered to Lu Zhao¡¯s rise to power within the Lu family. He was progressing much faster than it was in the original novel.


    The source material never went into such details. Lu Zhao¡¯s power struggle was only briefly mentioned, but she was now in a real world. If Lu Zhao was making such leeway, it would most definitely take a toll on his body.


    ¡°I¡¯ll send it over at noon.¡± Luo Ying said to the cook.


    She recalled her conversation with Lu Zhao last night. Her answer seemed to have hurt Lu Zhao. She wasn¡¯t sure if Lu Zhao had listened to her entire explanation, but she knew she needed to find a good time to repeat it. She did not want to have any more misunderstandings with Lu Zhao.


    ¡°Ah?¡± The cook was taken aback, but nodded hesitantly. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll let Secretary Li know later.¡±


    The cook was almost finished when Luo Ying finally finished her porridge.


    A four-story food box was presented to Luo Ying. All three dishes and the soup were beautifully arranged, and the box was perfectly insulated.


    At the office, the company had already entered its lunch break. The employees went to the cafeteria, one after another. The lobby on the first floor was particularly deserted.


    The only front desk employee was a young girl who was too sleepy to keep her eyes open due to hunger.


    She was dozing off when a captivating woman¡¯s voice roused her.


    ¡°Hello, what floor does the president work on?¡± Luo Ying, hidden behind a pair of shades and a mask, posed the question.


    Upon stepping out of the vehicle, she realized for the first time that she was no longer an anonymous tourist in a foreign country.


    She had been careless. Luo Ying resisted the urge to smack herself on the forehead. The hangover must have affected her judgment.


    Since she was already there, Luo Ying had no choice but to push on. Thankfully, nobody was in the area at the moment, so it¡¯s unlikely that anyone would recognize her.


    Still, Luo Ying failed to recognize her own star power.


    As soon as the receptionist raised her head, a silent scream erupted inside her. ¡°Luo Ying!¡±


    Her professionalism, however, kept her cool and collected. ¡°Welcome, that would be the 68th floor. Take the third elevator on the right, and you¡¯ll be there in no time.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded and made her way silently toward the elevator, convinced that she was maintaining a low profile.


    As soon as she turned around, the young woman working the front desk pulled out her phone and typed a message into a private group chat:


    [Luo Ying brought today¡¯s lunch to President Lu!!!]


    [She¡¯s so beautiful! She had an amazing body, and she was even more stunning in person.]


    In the wake of her two messages, the Group chats that had been dormant since the lunch break sprang back to life.


    [What?! Why is Luo Ying here?]


    [See? I told you! They definitely didn¡¯t! That divorce was just a cover! The marriage was arranged. This is a story of true love!]


    [You let her in? Does CEO Lu know that if he doesn¡¯t agree, we¡¯ll be in trouble!]


    The young lady at the front desk rolled her eyes silently. How would she be so careless? [The cook called me just now and told me that food is on the way. How else could she have gotten her hands on it?]


    [Luo Ying came to deliver food. Does that mean that she was originally staying at President Lu¡¯s house?]


    [That makes sense!]


    [So they will get back together? No, I was looking forward to Jin Shi and Luo Ying being together.]


    [How exciting! But President Lu is still in a meeting. Luo Ying wouldn¡¯t be able to see him if she went up.]


    [He¡¯s still in a meeting? It¡¯s already been three hours.]


    [Breaking news: Still in a meeting. Moreover, the reporter of the subsidiary company¡¯s business department made a fool of himself, and President Lu lost his temper. It was super scary!]


    [I was scared to death in the meeting room! Is Luo Ying here? She¡¯s coming to take us away, please save us [crying]]


    [She¡¯s coming! She¡¯s here!]

 Chapter 275 - Chapter 275: Investigation

    Chapter 275: Investigation


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation    Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    One by one, messages started pouring into the group. Somewhere, a quiet hand reached for the screenshot button.


    As was discussed in the Group chats, Lu Zhao was currently listening to the quarterly report from the subsidiary company. However, some of the subsidiary companies¡¯ reports were a hot mess, and Lu Zhao became frustrated.


    ¡°If this is the kind of report I¡¯m getting, I don¡¯t think you belong here.¡± The conference room was dead silent. The icy tone of Lu Zhao¡¯s speech chilled the blood of many of his listeners.


    ¡°Next.¡± Lu Zhao coldly pushed the meeting forward.


    He casually put down the offending document, and the sound of the paper rustling made the next reporter¡¯s heart tremble.


    The conference room door swung open unexpectedly. Fast as lightning, Secretary Li entered and leaned over to whisper in Lu Zhao¡¯s ear.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s expression changed. When he finally did speak again, his tone was much more soothing. ¡°Let¡¯s break for lunch. Everyone should rest first. We¡¯ll pick up where we left off in the afternoon.¡±


    Lu Zhao got up and led the way out once he had finished talking.


    Everyone was taken aback, and then a collective sigh of relief could be heard.


    The conference room slowly cleared out as everyone left one by one. Someone announced the good news to the group with a jubilant, [It¡¯s really over¡­ It is now official: I am a Luo Ying fan!]


    [Ditto. I hope Luo Ying comes to the company every day¡­ Just now, it was as if President Lu¡¯s personality changed in the blink of an eye. I didn¡¯t know he could sound so human!]


    In the office, Lu Zhao was currently having lunch with Luo Ying. Luo Ying didnt have much of an appetite, so she simply sat with him.


    Suddenly, a phone rang.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She saw Lu Zhao frown and asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s about work. It¡¯s okay.¡± Quickly, Lu Zhao stifled his feelings. ¡°Aren¡¯t you planning on eating more?


    Luo Ying shook her head. ¡°I had porridge before I came.¡±


    She remembered the purpose of her visit and tried to speak, but she didnt know where to begin.


    Her hangover seemed to have made her particularly rash today.


    Even if she wanted to explain, she couldn¡¯t promise anything to Lu Zhao.


    There hadn¡¯t been much progress on Jin Shi¡¯s end, but if she could go return to her world, what would she do?


    Luo Ying subconsciously wanted to avoid answering this question.


    However, Lu Zhao appeared to have seen through Luo Ying¡¯s intentions. The emotions in his deep eyes were complicated and difficult to distinguish. He naturally changed the topic. ¡°Do you still have plans for the afternoon? ¡°No more.¡± Luo Ying shook her head and took Lu Zhao¡¯s lead to swallow the thoughts that were about to reach her mouth.


    ¡°Can you rest with me for a while?¡± Lu Zhao packed the lunchbox and escorted Luo Ying to the office¡¯s lounge.


    In the afternoon, everyone in the company saw Lu Zhao in a new light. It was as if his anger had been extinguished after a lunch break His words no longer stung, and his expression no longer turned them into ice sculptures. He did not even scold anyone when someone messed up a key proposal!


    Was an afternoon nap really that powerful? Everyone felt a shiver run down their spine.


    Secretary Li, on the other hand, did not take a break during lunch.


    The screenshot from the employee group chat had been leaked.


    Someone posted about Luo Ying¡¯s visit to the company today, which caused quite a stir in Luo Ying¡¯s fan circle. Thankfully, it was discovered in time. During the lunch break, Secretary Li was busy arranging for someone to delete the relevant discussions.


    They also traced the IP back to the source of the information. It was a computer in this building.


    Secretary Li raised his eyebrows at the floor where the IP was located.


    This Group chat was initially created in private by a few employees, but more and more people joined later. It drew people from various departments of the company and almost became the group¡¯s intelligence station.


    How could such chatter be allowed within the walls of the company? Secretary Li quietly took over after learning of its existence. However, he didn¡¯t dismiss the entire Group chat immediately. He simply kept an eye on it.


    This time, he made an unexpected discovery. The poster was just one of the group¡¯s inconspicuous employees. The post was also an ordinary post, but his post could stir up such a commotion in a short period of time.


    If Secretary Li hadn¡¯t deleted the post quickly, the issue could have become a hot topic in the afternoon.


    Something was not right. Secretary Li was very puzzled. The Internet was so complicated. How could such a mundane post elicit such intense debate?


    ¡°Check these comments.¡± He quickly skimmed the post and drew up a list of key targets to send to his subordinates..

 Chapter 276 - Chapter 276: Livestream

    Chapter 276: Livestream


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation    Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lu Zhao intended to send Luo Ying to the set after lunch, but Luo Ying refused. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a meeting?¡± Luo Ying bent down and kissed Lu Zhao on the cheek. ¡°It¡¯s the same even if the chauffeur takes me there. There¡¯s no need to set aside your schedule.¡±


    Lu Zhao agreed after recalling the mornings unfinished meeting.


    Luo Ying quickly rushed to the set. This afternoon was to be a live broadcast of ¡°The Prime Minister¡±¡®s promotional event.


    Wang Yu and Zhang Yue were already waiting at the set. As soon as Luo Ying arrived, she began applying her cosmetics.


    Since Su Li had intended to have the Prime Minister crew film during the live broadcast, he had started the live broadcast at the last minute.


    ¡°Why not take advantage of the controversy Zheng Ying has dragged our production team into?¡± Su Li had explained a few days ago. ¡°Bad publicity is still publicity! With Zheng Ying¡¯s cock-up, we won¡¯t be able to catch up with the original release date if we don¡¯t adjust our schedule. If we shoot and broadcast at the same time, we can make something out of it.¡±


    ¡°What Director Su said makes sense.¡± This piqued Luo Ying¡¯s curiosity, and she cocked an eyebrow. ¡°But are there issues with the TV station?


    ¡°It¡¯s all taken care of, so relax.¡± Cheng Zhen had worked very hard behind the scenes.


    Filming and airing simultaneously could generate more buzz, but it would put Chen Yue¡¯s adaptation skills to the test. She was confident, though.


    Since Luo Ying had complete faith in them, she decided to adopt this strategy.


    Su Li moved very quickly. Luo Ying rearranged the filming schedule to allow for today¡¯s live broadcast during her brief period of rest.


    At four in the afternoon, the broadcast went live. Zhang Yue had not yet finished applying Luo Ying¡¯s makeup. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door of the dressing room.


    ¡°Hello!¡± The speaker was a stunning woman.


    Luo Ying turned in the direction of the voice to find her leaning slightly against the door frame with Cheng Zhen¡¯s head poking out from her side.


    ¡°Yingying-¡± Cheng Zhen had already put on her makeup and waved happily at


    Luo Ying. ¡°She¡¯s here to take over Zheng Ying¡¯s role.¡±


    ¡°Du Tian.¡± The woman answered tacitly,¡± Nice to meet you.¡±


    Luo Ying smiled politely. ¡°1 1 m Luo Ying. Welcome to our production team.¡±


    Luo Ying could tell that Tian was not young anymore. There were slight wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, but her temperament did not diminish her beauty. Luo Ying had a good impression of her. Zheng Ying, in contrast, even had a malicious glint in her eyes, but this woman gave off the impression that she was very calm and collected.


    As an intermediary, Cheng Zhen pushed Du Tian and Luo Ying to talk to each other and bring themselves closer together. They waited for Luo Ying to finish getting ready, and then headed to the studio.


    ¡°Hello, everyone. Hello and thank you for tuning in to today¡¯s live broadcast from our ¡®Prime Minister¡¯ crew!¡± Cheng Zhen was the primary host for today¡¯s live show.


    After yesterday¡¯s release of the live broadcast trailer, many viewers and fans were already present in the live broadcast room hours before the broadcast was scheduled to begin. Just as Cheng Zhen was beginning to greet them, a deluge of bullet comments poured in.


    ¡°Yes, we¡¯re about to begin production on ¡®Prime Minister. The fact that we will be filming and airing simultaneously is also something that everyone should be aware of. I hope everyone will support us!¡± As Cheng Zhen looked at the bullet screen, she beamed.


    ¡°Let our main creative team introduce themselves first!¡± Cheng Zhen stepped away from the camera.


    Luo Ying and Xie Yun were the first to enter the live broadcast room. This was to be expected, given their status as the film¡¯s male and female protagonists.


    They gave a quick rundown of who they were and who was playing who in the drama.


    [Sister Ying is so beautiful today.]


    [Wow, they really have some hot people on board!]


    [I want to know who Zheng Ying¡¯s role has been changed to? From what we saw in the teaser, this seems like a very demanding role.]


    [Fan report from Xie Yung Our small production team has been through a lot, so we need your help more than ever.]


    ¡°Of course I understand what you¡¯re trying to ask. Hey, everyone, meet Du Tian, our newest team member!¡± After the male and female leads were presented, Luo Ying shifted the focus of the camera to the supporting cast.


    ¡°Hello everyone, I¡¯m Du Tian. I just joined the crew today¡­¡± The camera panned around to the opposite side.


    Meanwhile, outside the frame of the camera, Su Li showed Luo Ying and Xie Yun the contents of his phone screen. There was a note saying that the production crew next door had also begun streaming live.


    The crew next door was none other than their direct competitors. Su Ran¡¯s crew was also broadcasting? Luo Ying frowned.


    Was it a coincidence? It didn¡¯t seem like it. Su Ran¡¯s crew, as far as she could tell, was already well into the middle of shooting. There was no reason for her to air a live broadcast right now. Furthermore, there were numerous opportunities for a live broadcast, and it just had to happen now. It¡¯s too much of a coincidence for anyone to accept.


    Xie Yun was also a little surprised. He had also heard rumors that the two production teams had been at loggerheads, but he did not expect them to intervene to this extent.


    The netizens ¡®attention was limited. If two simultaneous broadcasts happened to overlap, viewers would be distracted..

 Chapter 277 - Chapter 277: Not Fighting

    Chapter 277: Not Fighting


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Everything about this live broadcast, from the casting to the shooting by the two production teams, would be blown out of proportion.


    Initially, they were just doing some standard live broadcast publicity, but with Su Li¡¯s grudge against the crew next door, it was likely that they would end up in a popularity contest.


    Cheng Zhen and Du Tian were quickly done with their introductory remarks. Luo Ying¡¯s train of thought was broken up by the camera panning back to include everyone in the frame.


    On the other side, Su Ran received the same news.


    ¡°She¡¯s also streaming?¡± Su Ran avoided the camera and asked the crew.


    The crew nodded.


    Su Ran¡¯s scowl deepened. Why? Why was Luo Ying so vengeful?


    She was almost ruined at the variety show. They were not even working in the same production team, yet she was still being targeted.


    Su Ran was unwilling. She opened her phone to view Luo Ying¡¯s live stream and surveyed the battlefield.


    ¡°Find someone to increase the popularity of the live broadcast room and suppress them.¡± Su Ran sent a message to her manager. ¡°Prepare to release a statistics report after the live broadcast to compare the popularity and the atmosphere of the production team.¡±


    Did Luo Ying have to step on her everywhere? She was too conceited.


    The live broadcast, however, came at an extremely unanticipated time. Su Ran and the others had long planned for this, but they had been late in announcing it. Its release coincided with the time Luo Ying and the others had their epiphany.


    However, neither of the production teams had intended to surprise the other with it.


    Su Li¡¯s thoughts were similar. They¡¯d been at odds with the film crew next door for a while. Both the plot and the expected release date were heading in the same direction. There was some tension between him and the neighboring director.


    Zheng Ying¡¯s matter had affected him, so he would not be doing a live broadcast this time! Su Li waved his hand behind the camera and sent the live broadcast room to the live broadcast platform¡¯s leaderboard.


    The viewers caught on quickly that something was off with the two broadcast rooms.


    [Wait, why is the production team next door broadcasting at the same time?] [Don¡¯t waste your energy with them. We have our tasks to stay focused on.] [What in the world? They¡¯re openly attacking Zheng Ying!]


    Su Li clicked into the live broadcast room next door and saw that they were indeed talking about actors.


    ¡°Small film crews often run into issues like these because they lack the resources to hire professional actors and the expertise to cast them effectively,¡± an actor remarked.


    ¡°Naturally, we¡¯ve done a great job of vetting the actors. Don¡¯t worry, everyone.¡±


    Su Ran added sweetly.


    Following that, Su Ran and the others began a lucky draw in their live streaming room, which attracted a sizable audience. There was a discernible drop in viewers for Luo Ying¡¯s broadcast. Su Li frowned.


    Now, Xie Yun was the subject of Cheng Zhen¡¯s discussion. Using the camera¡¯s blind spot, Su Li whispered to Luo Ying, ¡°They¡¯re doing a lucky draw and it¡¯s affecting our live broadcast. Should we get started too?¡±


    Su Li pondered this conundrum as he realized they didn¡¯t have as much money as the production team next door.


    Luo Ying smiled and shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t let them get to you, Director Su. Do you think this live show is crucial?¡±


    Su Li was a little confused. ¡°I would guess so?¡±


    Zheng Ying had done considerable damage to their standing. This live broadcast presented a golden chance. Shouldn¡¯t they cherish it and try their best to promote the production team?


    ¡°It¡¯s significant, but not absolutely crucial.¡± Luo Ying said seriously, ¡°They¡¯re a big production with ample funds. We¡¯re a small production team. Whether it¡¯s this live broadcast or any of their other promotional segments, we¡¯re doomed to fall behind them.¡±


    Su Li also understood this to be the truth. His gaze seemed to dim a little.


    While Luo Ying spoke softly so as not to disrupt the live broadcast, her tone was unyielding. ¡°Even so, is promotion the most important aspect? The audience have eyes. Quality of production, not advertising, ultimately determines which TV series becomes a hit.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why, Director Su, we are going to blow them away with sheer quality. Just get some decent promotion out there within our means,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Su Li suddenly came to a realization and nodded in agreement.


    Yes, all he wanted to do was do a good job of filming his own drama. He had almost been sucked in by the intense tension between the two production teams.


    The series¡¯ final ratings couldn¡¯t be predicted by how well the live broadcast did.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. In addition, the mechanism of filming and broadcasting will allow the plot to become stuck at the cliffhangers, leaving the fate of the characters up to the viewing public.¡± Xie Yun had shown up at some point as well, presumably to try and win over Su Li.


    Su Li nodded in agreement. He had faith in Chen Yue¡¯s screenplay..

 Chapter 278 - Chapter 278: Reward

    Chapter 278: Reward


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying and Xie Yun exchanged knowing glances and warm grins. Assured that Su Li was back on track, they returned to the live broadcast.


    Not many people visited the live broadcast room, but the hosts made an effort to engage with viewers. Cheng Zhen did a great job as host, keeping the show feeling like a live broadcast the whole time.


    They tried to avoid being caught on film, but their efforts were futile.


    [What are Sister Ying and Xie Yun whispering about?!]


    [That¡¯s such a great shot.]


    [There¡¯s a lot of chemistry between Xie Yun and Sister Ying, too. They really look like siblings.]


    [What did he say? I want to hear it too, I want to hear it too!]


    [They¡¯ve won me over. I hope the drama captures this chemistry!]


    [What is a ship?] In the meeting room, Secretary Li, who was sitting beside him, suddenly received a message from President Lu. He thought it was something important and was speechless when he opened it.


    Secretary Li¡¯s gaze quietly drifted to his boss¡¯s computer screen. Sure enough, there was a small window in the lower-left corner.


    While the head of the subsidiary company nervously reported from the stage, Secretary Li patiently explained the internet lingo to his superior.


    [If two people have a particularly warm and friendly rapport, like you and Miss Luo Ying do, then it¡¯s safe to assume that they¡¯re romantically involved, thus a ship.] Secretary Li replied. Perhaps someone in the live broadcast room had mentioned it.


    Suddenly, Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes became menacing. The head of the subsidiary company shuddered when he was lasered by his gaze.


    Even Secretary Li sensed that something was off. Someone had started a ship concerning Miss Luo Ying!


    He made an attempt to shift the conversation. [I just noticed that both Miss Luo Ying and Miss Su Ran¡¯s production teams began their live streams simultaneously. The two live streaming rooms drew a lot of comparisons from viewers. Do you want to control and delete the posts?]


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes were dark as he typed something on his laptop. He did not reply to him immediately.


    [Yes.] After a while, Lu Zhao replied.


    Cheng Zhen, who had been hosting for nearly an hour, asked for water, and the others eagerly took over.


    ¡°There are so many action scenes. On our first day alone¡­¡± Xie Yun was sharing his experiences.


    Suddenly, a huge special effect of a gift floated across the live broadcast room.


    ¡°Thank you, user 36748¡­ Eh?¡± Xie Yun was just about to thank the audience for the gift when took a closer look at the amount.


    ¡°Wow, this¡­¡± Even the veteran Du Tian was taken aback by this. Several five-figure gifts had been sent in a row. The special effects almost flooded the live broadcast room.


    In addition, the livestream platform would announce the massive gift to the entire platform, and the livestream room¡¯s audience would be automatically entered to win a portion of the gift. Therefore, in the brief time that the screen was flooded, the livestream room¡¯s viewership skyrocketed!


    ¡°Thank you, user 36748, for your support.¡± Luo Ying beamed and gave him a heartfelt thank you.


    But a flicker of suspicion crossed her eyes as she viewed the user profile picture.


    It appears that this user had just only signed up. He had not even changed his username and had carelessly tossed a profile picture in to complete the registration. Although Luo Ying did not recognize the person in the profile picture, the lobby of the Luya Group, which she had just visited that day, appeared in the background.


    No way! This took Luo Ying by surprise. Could it be¡­


    ¡°What?¡± On the other side, Su Ran was so taken aback by Luo Ying¡¯s live stream that she almost lost her composure and yelled.


    Why? After starting at the bottom of the popularity rankings, Luo Ying¡¯s live broadcast room quickly rose to the top five. It was still rising. While biting her lower lip, Su Ran reached for the staff and pushed. ¡°Our lucky draw¡­¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve already drawn all the money,¡± the staff member said awkwardly. ¡°The budget for the live broadcast is limited. If we draw more, we¡¯ll overspend.¡±


    The production team had plenty of money, but they couldn¡¯t afford to waste it like this. A lot of work remained after principal photography wrapped.


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll also give tips to buy popularity from the platform,¡± Su Ran snapped angrily.


    However, her manager glanced at her. ¡°Su Ran, calm down. It was just a live broadcast. It¡¯s not that important.¡±


    The manager could see clearly that such a generous reward must have been backed by a very rich backer. Su Ran was just an ordinary actress. How could she compete with others in terms of financial resources?


    Yes, it was just a live broadcast.


    Even so, she was unwilling to accept it. Why was it Luo Ying again? The role, variety show, and lover, why did Luo Ying always win? Her carefully crafted drafts were all for naught..

 Chapter 279 - Chapter 279: Yan Xin

    Chapter 279: Yan Xin


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Su Ran assumed that the two livestreams would differ because of the magnitude of interest in the lottery draw, but she failed to account for the different vibes emanating from each production crew.


    ¡°Guys, why is there such a big difference in the atmosphere of the live broadcast?!¡± The favorable public opinion that Su Ran had orchestrated for herself was discarded. Some media instead made a spur-of-the-moment comparison between the two live broadcasts and sharply mocked them on camera.


    The netizens in the comments section were even more blunt.


    [I¡¯m dying of laughter. That, or the second embarrassment of watching Su Ran fumbling with the entire audience alone.]


    [Why does she look like she¡¯s in an interview? She is interrogating everyone in the room. It¡¯s so strange.]


    [Interview is not the word I¡¯d use. She¡¯s floundering about like a schoolkid in class. The kind where she doesn¡¯t even have the answers prepared.]


    [I don¡¯t even know who else is in Su Ran¡¯s production team. I¡¯m only watching this for the lottery.]


    [Isn¡¯t it the same for Luo Ying¡¯s? Her broadcast only picked up when some tycoon threw his back account into the mix.]


    [But Director Su is being so open about the filming process. Everyone is very active. You can tell that they¡¯re putting their heart into it.]


    [Cheng Zhen has such a vibe that Su Ran almost looks pedestrian.]


    [The chemistry between Luo Ying and Xie Yun is so good! Yan Xin and Su Ran seem so distant. I don¡¯t even see them attempting to have small talk¡­]


    There was a lot of discussion on the Internet. As she watched, Su Ran felt a pit in her stomach. The original plan was scrapped, and she even asked the group to tone things down.


    Yan Xin, as the male lead in Su Ran¡¯s drama, heaved a sigh of relief. He was familiar with Su Ran¡¯s notoriety. First, she was the boss of his entertainment company, and then she was a director. There were always many rumors about her, both true and false.


    He had no interest in deciding whether or not they were true, but he was certain that he did not wish to become embroiled in the debates surrounding them.


    The only reason he agreed to direct this show was because he owed the director a favor.


    Yan Xin was relieved to see that nobody was spreading untrue rumors about him and Su Ran.


    ¡°Xin, why are you so tense?¡± Yan Xin¡¯s manager could feel his unease.


    ¡°Fei Zi, you don¡¯t understand. This isn¡¯t like home. Here, fans can get absolutely zealous.¡± Yan Xin shook his head firmly. ¡°So, before I get my goddess, I can¡¯t have a relationship with other women. Otherwise, my goddess will definitely not accept me!¡±


    Fei Zi was speechless. ¡°Even if Su Ran decides to stir up a scandal with you, she¡¯s not going to drag you into her bed. How would that affect your life?


    Where did you hear all this?¡±


    Yan Xin was a local, but he grew up abroad, so he spoke with an accent.


    On the other hand, Fei Zi was the complete opposite. He was a foreigner, but he had worked here for many years. Perhaps he was even more of a local than a local.


    However, Yan Xin had a unique understanding the culture and was very confident.


    ¡°My grandmother! She told me herself. She can¡¯t be wrong.¡± No matter how Fei Zi refuted, Yan Xin was very certain.


    Fei Zi was helpless. He was also aware of how Yan Xin¡¯s grandmother had raised him to view the world through rose-colored glasses.


    ¡°You don¡¯t even know who your goddess is. Is there any use in keeping yourself as pure as jade?¡± Fei Zi had to avoid fighting him and instead talk about something else.


    Yan Xin had been doing well at the film academy abroad. He had just acted in a movie that won a small award and had a bright future ahead of him. Yet, he suddenly came back home to act, all the while insisting on finding a goddess.


    ¡°How could I not know?¡± Yan Xin threw a smug look. ¡°I¡¯ve already found out that her name is Cheng Zhen. They said that you can call her Zhenzhen.¡±


    After saying that, Yan Xin became nervous again. ¡°But we haven¡¯t met yet. I should call her Madam Cheng. No, Miss Cheng. Well, when we get to know each other, I¡¯ll ask her if I can call her Zhenzhen. Her name is really nice. If I¡­¡±


    If Fei Zi was not paying attention, Yan Xin would have already moved on to dreamy tales of his marriage to her.


    ¡°Cheng Zhen? Are you sure?¡± If it were any other time, Fei Zi would have let him ramble on, but when the name ¡°Cheng Zhen¡± was mentioned, Fei Zi froze in shock.


    ¡°What? I¡¯m sure. Why?¡± Yan Xin was a little puzzled.


    ¡°You were in the middle of the d*mn broadcast just now and didn¡¯t notice?¡± Fei Zi looked at Yan Xin as if he was looking at a fool. ¡°One of the actresses in the competing production team is Cheng Zhen.¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± Yan Xin was stunned.


    Fei Zi helplessly tapped on his phone and threw it in front of Yan Xin.. ¡°Isn¡¯t the one in the middle your goddess?¡±

 Chapter 280 - Chapter 280: Love Letter

    Chapter 280: Love Letter


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The news completely floored Yan Xin!


    Excitement radiated off of Yan Xin.


    ¡°I want to be in the same production team as her! It¡¯s fine if I don¡¯t return this favor!¡± Yan Xin jumped out of his chair immediately. Even Fei Zi felt threatened by his towering stature.


    Fei Zi, however, took out the existing contract and read it calmly: ¡°Penalty for breach of contract, $1, $10, $100,000, $1,000,000¡­¡±


    Yan Xin was prevented from job-hopping by the contract¡¯s severe penalties for breaking it.


    But Fei Zi wasn¡¯t an unreasonable person, either. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about leaving before this movie is finished. However, I have previously met one of their producers. I can help you ask around.¡±


    Yan Xin graciously agreed, of course.


    The crew of ¡°Prime Minister¡± picked back up where they left off a few days after the live broadcast wrapped. Luo Ying flew with the production team to a city in the west to film.


    She drove her crew of assistants to the hotel chosen for them by the production staff. Cheng Zhen, who had arrived the day before, paid a visit not long after.


    ¡°Yingying, you¡¯re here!¡± Cheng Zhen showed no signs of slowing down.


    ¡°You got here so early, huh?¡± Luo Ying was stowing her belongings.


    ¡°Hmm? Oh, yeah, Su Li wanted to scope out the area in advance and also look for extras here, so I tagged along with him.¡± Cheng Zhen had, in fact, invested a great deal in this drama; however, she said as much in a casual tone, and for a moment she seemed distracted.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You seem troubled,¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°Well, the thing is, I just got a love letter and I don¡¯t quite know what to make of it,¡± Cheng Zhen said hesitantly.


    As an actress, many of Cheng Zhen¡¯s fans also liked to communicate by writing letters. Cheng Zhen was always able to deftly respond to their comments on her new role or their expressions of love and support.


    This time, however, Cheng Zhen received a love letter from a fellow star. It came as quite a shock.


    ¡°A love letter?¡± Luo Ying was equally perplexed. The entertainment business had always been full of reckless egotists. Around here, being on and off meant something between a personal relationship and a marketing ploy.


    Someone actually admitted using such a creative and straightforward method of confession?


    ¡°What¡¯s even more mortifying is that this comes from the male lead of the production team next door.¡± Cheng Zhen nervously twisted her hair.


    ¡°Oh, that would be Yan Xin. I seem to have some impression of him. So you two know each other?¡± A few days ago, Luo Ying recalled, he, too, had participated in the live broadcast.


    ¡°I don¡¯t even know the man. My manager knows his manager, so he sent this letter.¡± Cheng Zhen took out the envelope from her bag. ¡°He said that he fell in love at first sight while watching my movies abroad, so he came all the way here to see me.¡±


    Luo Ying looked at the envelope. It was exquisitely made. It was obvious that the other party had put in a lot of effort. She could tell that the other party was very sincere.


    This was also why Cheng Zhen was conflicted. If it had been a simple confession, she would have rejected it directly. However, the other party had flown from abroad just to see her. It seemed too heartless.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to reject it directly.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s eyes fell on the letter, and there was a hint of slyness in her eyes. ¡°Su Li still has a few undecided supporting roles, right? We might as well let him make a cameo.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, what you said makes sense!¡± Cheng Zhen¡¯s eyes lit up as well. ¡°I heard that he won an award overseas. He has to be good. It¡¯s just right for him to make a cameo!¡±


    Luo Ying was a little amused. The cameo was her obvious way of suggesting that they meet and get to know one another. They could keep shooting if they were satisfied. Otherwise, his cameo would remain a cameo. At the end of the day, all that mattered to Cheng Zhen was casting the show.


    But it didn¡¯t matter. After all, in the end, it was the same for everyone. Without further comment, Luo Ying shook her head.


    The filming schedule was jam-packed to allow for more post-production work. Soon after Luo Ying¡¯s arrival, filming began.


    Coincidentally, Lu Zhao started to work on a new project, so the two of them only had time to video call three days later.


    ¡°Do you want to change rooms?¡± On the other side of the video, Lu Zhao¡¯s background showed that he was in the study. He listened to Luo Ying as she gushed about the exciting developments on the production team. Suddenly, he found himself staring into Luo Ying¡¯s bedroom.


    After all, it was just a little city wedged between towering peaks. Neither the hotel¡¯s facilities nor Luo Ying¡¯s room were as spacious as those back home.


    ¡°This is already the nicest room in the hotel.¡± Luo Ying smiled. She knew that Lu Zhao only wanted the best for her.


    ¡°Alright then.¡± Lu Zhao decided it was time to increase the scope of his hotel business.


    ¡°What have you been busy with recently?¡± Luo Ying asked. It was unusual for both she and Lu Zhao to have commitments at the same time..

 Chapter 281 - Chapter 281: Project

    Chapter 281: Project


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    These past few days, they both seemed to be operating in different time zones. Typically, Luo Ying would greet Lu Zhao in the morning, but Lu Zhao would be too preoccupied with work to respond until lunchtime.


    Oftentimes, Lu Zhao would be in meetings until midnight, long after Luo Ying had finished filming for the day and sent her evening greetings.


    ¡°Sea City is embarking on a brand-new municipal construction endeavor.¡± Lu Zhao rubbed his forehead. It was obvious that his recent hectic schedule had worn him out. The skin under his eyes was a pale shade of bluish-black.


    It was a major real estate development for the Luya Group this year, and a massive investment in the city.


    The Luya Group wasn¡¯t the only company interested in the site, though. All of the hopeful bidders were similarly sized international corporations to the Luya Group. As a result, Lu Zhao faced considerable competition.


    Simultaneously, the bidding window was extremely small. He and his crew had to seize the opportunity to submit multiple bids for the project in the hopes of landing it.


    ¡°Sea City?¡± The name seemed familiar to Luo Ying. She was shocked. Could it be related to the story once more?


    She now had a general understanding of the rules of this world. Though the plot could shift, certain events were guaranteed to occur no matter what. They could be halted temporarily, but they would resume in some other form.


    She carefully recalled Sea City¡­Real estate¡­


    ¡°Yes, I am. Sea City has a stunning beach. Let¡¯s go together after your movie is over.¡± Lu Zhao saw nothing out of the ordinary and kept right on talking.


    ¡°No!¡± Luo Ying suddenly became excited. She recalled it!


    Lu Zhao paused. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to go?¡± Did she not want to go to Sea City, or did she not want to go with him?


    ¡°No, I¡¯m saying that you can¡¯t invest in this project!¡± In a rush, Luo Ying elaborated. . She remembered that this project was a trap designed for Lu Zhao in the plot.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lu Zhao frowned. He didn¡¯t expect Luo Ying to pay attention to the project.


    The government had funded this massive real estate project, making it the year¡¯s centerpiece. The Luya Group had put in a lot of work. Why didn¡¯t Luo Ying want to invest?


    ¡°Does the plan for Sea City involve constructing a new subway and commercial district in its downtown area?¡± Luo Ying asked tentatively. She had to make sure that everything first lined up.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s demeanor changed dramatically. This was classified project information. How did Luo Ying know about it?


    ¡°There are geological risks in that area!¡± Luo Ying recalled the information in the plot and said firmly, ¡°Two years ago, a geological agency assessed that it was not suitable for deep development.¡±


    If the Luya Group were to win the project but be unable to see it through to completion, the money would be lost. In the story, Lu Zhao had stumbled into this trap, and Lin Su and Lu Zhao had used this situation as leverage to strike a deal.


    While Lu Zhao kept his usual cool exterior, he was actually in a state of shock.


    There was a major taboo against discussing geological dangers in construction plans. However, all aspects of the project would be evaluated by experts before bids were even submitted. Such a major problem should not have occurred.


    ¡°It¡¯s true. You can have a third-party organization verify my claims if you don¡¯t trust me. You just can¡¯t put money into this venture.¡± Luo Ying became concerned when Lu Zhao remained silent.


    The original work hinted that this project itself was deliberately designed by humans. Not only were there geological problems, but there were also more traps waiting for Lu Zhao to step into.


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t know who was harming Lu Zhao, but she was well aware that the project couldn¡¯t be funded.


    ¡°I-I-But this project is very important, and I need some time to deal with it.¡±


    Lu Zhao had faith in Luo Ying. The words of Luo Ying were enough to make him abandon the entire project, no matter how ridiculous or unreasonable they may be. But neither the development plan nor the geological report were available to Luo Ying. How did she figure that out?


    Was it because of the ¡®other world¡¯?


    Lu Zhao¡¯s gaze dipped slightly. What was that world like, and what kind of existence were they to that world?


    Lu Zhao quickly changed the subject to bury these thoughts deep within himself.


    Luo attempted to lighten the mood by relating an interesting story about Yan


    Xin.


    ¡°Has he joined the team?¡± Lu Zhao went with the flow and asked.


    ¡°He just got here today, and he specifically asked around if any extras had ever interacted with the female lead,¡± laughing, Luo Ying said.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes were also glinting with a smile. He liked to listen to Luo Ying share these trivial matters of life.


    But just two days later, Yan Xin was on Lu Zhao¡¯s no-contact list..

 Chapter 282 - Chapter 282: Jealous

    Chapter 282: Jealous


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    One fine day, Yan Xin simply wanted to surprise Cheng Zhen with a bouquet of flowers.


    The crew lived in fairly basic quarters. Luo Ying, Cheng Zhen, and Du Tian all shared a dressing room. Luo Ying opened the door for Yan Xin while Cheng Zhen was busy doing her hair and makeup.


    It was supposed to be a simple matter. Unexpectedly, the fans outside snapped photos of Luo Ying as she opened the door.


    It was the luckiest of coincidences that the photo¡¯s composition gave the impression that Yan Xin had sent flowers to Luo Ying. Therefore, the photo¡¯s subsequent upload that evening sparked a lively debate among followers.


    [The male and female leads of the competing cast are getting married behind closed doors?]


    This new trend was immediately included in that evening¡¯s most popular search queries.


    [I mean, even novels wouldn¡¯t dream of writing like this, right?]


    [I¡¯m dying of laughter. The fans of both camps are at each other throats, but in the end, their favorite artists are getting together.]


    [Ah? We were on the verge of an open war between these two production teams, and now you¡¯re telling me that Yan Xin is after Luo Ying?


    [Su Ran: The male lead on our team is romantically involved with the female lead on the opposing team. What should we do?!]


    [I¡¯m speechless. Can¡¯t humans just show love for one another? Su Ran is just trying to do something for her production. Why is she suddenly at the sharp end of another joke?]


    [That¡¯s hilarious. Weren¡¯t you still hard-shipping Su Ran and Yan Xin just a few days ago?]


    [Ah? Anyone who saw the live broadcast would understand. Yan Xin was avoiding Su Ran like the plague. You could see it in his body language. If he could be 800 meters away from her, he would do it.]


    [Yan Xin, don¡¯t be such a hypocrite? If you don¡¯t want to talk to the female lead, why even take part in this production? What¡¯s the point of such hypocrisy? If you want to go after Luo Ying, just go and stop being a bother, would you?]


    [Sister Ying hasn¡¯t said that they¡¯re together yet, right? Why are you all so sure?]


    [They¡¯re so compatible. Yan Xin is so tall! They would look great together.] [To be honest, Yan Xin¡¯s taste is terrible.]


    [This is so exciting! I really want to see an interview of Su Ran and Xie Yun about their thoughts.]


    The filming schedule for the day remained packed. After it ended, everyone went to bed early, the gradually outrageous public opinion being one of the last things on their minds.


    The next day, Luo Ying was astounded to find her social media account flooded with personal messages.


    ¡°My carelessness caused this. I¡¯m very sorry.¡± Su Li lowered his head guiltily.


    The production staff should have been able to keep the situation under control. Such ¡°visits¡± should not have been allowed to take place. Someone should have long chased the fans away.


    However, Su Li had been careless, which was why these fans managed to sneak such snapshots in.


    Luo Ying waved dismissively. There was not much point in seeking faults now. They had to quickly clarify and resolve this rumor.


    Thus, Luo Ying and Su Li¡¯s eyes turned to the real protagonists of the incident, Cheng Zhen and Yan Xin.


    In another city, in the office on the top floor of the Luya Group, Lu Zhao also saw the news.


    Oh, the nerve! Lu Zhao¡¯s scowl deepened. Wasn¡¯t this person chasing someone else? What gall he had to give Luo Ying the flowers!


    Moreover, did Luo Ying accept it? Lu Zhao straightened up in his chair and stared at his phone. Uncomfortably, he zoomed in and out of the picture with his fingers. The photo was taken at an awkwvard angle, so he couldn¡¯t tell if Luo Ying had actually taken Yan Xin¡¯s flowers.


    ¡°Get me the earliest flight, ¡± Lu Zhao ordered coldly.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Secretary Li pushed up his glasses. ¡°Sir, what about the project?¡±


    Secretary Li looked calm on the surface, but he was practically screaming in his heart. ¡°Boss, are you just going to chase after your wife like this?! What about our work? Am I going to work overtime again?¡±


    After giving him a quick glance, Lu Zhao took a paper out of the drawer. ¡°Forget about it. We¡¯re pulling out.¡±


    Secretary Li took the document. It was a geological assessment. The final verdict was unambiguous: given the unique geological conditions of the area, underground construction was not feasible.


    Something had gone terribly wrong with the project. Secretary Li inwardly gasped.


    ¡°Such crucial public data was not factored into the project¡¯s preliminary assessment?¡± Like a knife to the heart, Lu Zhao¡¯s rhetorical question cut deep. ¡°We¡¯re stopping this. Find out who tried to bury such issues and pushed forward this project.¡±


    ¡°Yes, President Lu.¡± Secretary Li agreed.


    This was going to be lively. He pushed up his glasses. It was obvious that this issue would spark a new round of bloodshed among the group..

 Chapter 283 - Chapter 283: Guesses

    Chapter 283: Guesses


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Ding dong! Ding! Ding dong!¡±


    Bright and early, the doorbell rang through the mountain villa neighborhood.


    ¡°What in the world is going on so early in the morning?¡± Sirius yawned and walked to the front door in his slippers.


    A disheveled Wen Yu was standing there when he opened the door. Her hair was covered in sweat, and she was breathing hard.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you give me any bullshit.¡± Wen Yu stood at the door of Sirius¡¯s house with a particularly severe expression. ¡°Who is the daughter of the poison master?¡±


    Sirius was taken aback. He took a closer look at Wen Yu.


    He had recently been occupied with assisting Lu Zhao in overseas matters. He assumed Lu Zhao was proceeding as planned, so he paid little attention to it. What prompted Wen Yu to bring it up today? Did something happen?


    He had not forgotten Luo Ying¡¯s warning, so he asked, ¡°Why are you asking this?¡± with caution.


    Wen Yu took a deep breath as she met Sirius¡¯s suspicious gaze. ¡°Let¡¯s talk inside.¡± This was obviously a very serious matter, so she refrained from making any hasty decisions.


    Sirius had no choice but to let her into the study. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the blood? Or did something happen to Luo Ying?¡±


    ¡°Luo Ying experienced hypoglycemia a few weeks ago. Lu Zhao had me meet with her and conduct some preliminary evaluations.¡± Wen Yu kept her eyes fixed on his face. Intent on not missing a single nuance of his expression, she whispered, ¡°Luo Ying is displaying slight anemia-like symptoms, unlike any other I¡¯ve seen.¡±


    ¡°Anemia?¡± His heart missed a beat. What did she mean by ¡®anemia¡¯?


    Luo Ying had previously claimed to have access to the blood because she was acquainted with the poison master¡¯s daughter.


    How come, though, did she end up with anemia?


    ¡°I have Luo Ying¡¯s past health records. A year and a half ago, she did not have it,¡± Wen Yu added solemnly.


    He connected the dots almost immediately.


    He had thought it was odd at the time. After many years of searching, they still had not located the poison master¡¯s missing daughter. When Luo Ying found out that Lu Zhao had been poisoned, she made the shocking claim that she knew the daughter of the poison master and could get blood for him. This was too much of a coincidence.


    Not only that, but the poison master¡¯s daughter was extremely reticent to show her face. She relied on Luo Ying as her sole point of contact.


    Sirius felt his heart racing with anxiety. Could this ¡°daughter of the poison master¡± be        herself?


    Sirius could not believe it himself. He had long been convinced that Luo Ying truly loved Lu Zhao, but he had failed to grasp the depths of her love.


    To take it so far that she would drain her own blood, it went beyond the love he knew.


    Do you think she is getting enough sleep? She has to watch her weight as an actress. It must have affected her body.¡± But despite what his intuition told her, Sirius kept a cool exterior. He cracked a grin and nudged the conversation toward the safe assumption.


    ¡°Just tell me the truth. I have Luo Ying¡¯s medical records, and I have been receiving vials of this so-called ¡°poison master¡¯s daughter¡¯s¡± blood. Even a monkey can put two-and-two. Are you trying to play dumb?¡±. Wen Yu became anxious. Having anemia was not a joke.


    If they were the same person, she should stop killing herself this way!


    ¡°What of it? Wen Yu, I¡¯m not telling you a single thing.¡± Sirius¡¯s eyes narrowed. He said bluntly, ¡°Let me just say this. It¡¯s an unspoken secret that we¡¯re well aware of at this point. She¡¯s a big girl. If she wants to keep this up, we¡¯ll have to keep our mouths shut. Do you understand?¡±


    Wen Yu¡¯s jaw went slack as she stared dumbly at him.


    ¡°We are already eight months in. In just two months, it¡¯ll all be over. It will not be long until dawn finally arrives. No one is willing to back down right now, not even the daughter of the poison master, Lu Zhao, and not me.¡± Sirius¡¯s demeanor reverted to his typical laid-back, upbeat self. He cracked a wry grin and said, ¡°I know it¡¯s killing you to do this, but you have to respect the choice of an adult, do not you? She can decide for herself. We¡¯re just puppets being pulled along by her gig.¡±


    ¡°Besides, after Lu Zhao is cured, maybe the daughter of the poison master will finally reveal herself.¡± Sirius was not one to get in the way of such a loving act. It was not his place to interfere.


    Wen Yu was not convinced in the slightest. She was not even sure if the donor could last another two months.


    Other than the harm to her body, Wen Yu was anxious about something else..

 Chapter 284 - Chapter 284: Trap

    Chapter 284: Trap


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation       Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Lu Wen is running wild searching for a specific individual. He seems certain that we know where the poison master¡¯s daughter is. She is in deep danger,¡± Wen Yu scowled and said in an ominous tone.


    ¡°Lu Wen?¡± When Sirius heard the name of the lunatic, he was no longer smiling.


    ¡°He¡¯s unhinged. You don¡¯t have to tell me anything, but you should probably let Lu Zhao know.¡± Wen Yu had her own intelligence network, so she was aware of Lu Wen¡¯s movements. ¡°I¡¯m serious. Only Lu Zhao can keep her safe.¡±


    ¡°I know. I¡¯ll think about it.¡± He did not respond to her right away.


    After hesitating for a while, Sirius decided to go to Luo Ying.


    After all, Luo Ying never even revealed herself to them. It already provided a layer of security.


    His message to her was simple. [Lu Wen has been looking for the daughter of the poison master.]


    That afternoon, Lu Zhao¡¯s plane touched down. He had just left the airport when he suddenly received a call from Sirius.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, Lu Wen has been going on a rampage. He knows that we¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Lu Zhao replied in a calm voice.


    ¡°He seems to have a clue about the daughter of the poison master. Should we do something?¡± Sirius continued to ask.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, let him check.¡± Back then, when Lu Wen discovered that he had been cured, Lu Zhao had already expected this day to come.


    He reduced the pressure off Lu Wen¡¯s projects so that he could remain occupied with his matters. He was not as confident in holding back a man who had nothing else to lose.


    Sirius finally heaved a sigh of relief. Their long history together as friends made him realize that Lu Zhao had undoubtedly set a trap for Lu Wen to fall into. Maybe he had intentionally let the hints slip.


    After the call ended, however, his anxiety remained unabated. After some thought, he made a few more calls.


    However, he did not expect Lu Zhao to catch wind of his movements. Sirius had sent people to protect Luo Ying.


    After all their past experiences, Lu Zhao had increased the number of people around Luo Ying, so he was naturally alerted about this.


    Lu Zhao was puzzled. Why did Sirius suddenly send people to protect Luo Ying?


    Lu Zhao thought back about the call.


    At the same time, on the set, there was a flurry of actions.


    ¡°Someone is coming!¡± Luo Ying hissed urgently.


    ¡°Let¡¯s move!¡± Xie Yun pulled her up with one hand and grabbed her luggage with the other. The two of them immediately ran.


    ¡°Be careful!¡± Luo Ying rapidly made a turn and grabbed a nearby tree.


    ¡°Alright, cut!¡± Su Li looked into the camera. ¡°Looks good. Let¡¯s take a break first.


    There was a dramatic chase here. The protagonist couple started out investigating corruption signs covertly. They were on the run after being discovered by accident by corrupt officials who had sent assassins to kill them.


    The day-long shoot for this escape sequence included numerous action setpieces. The crew¡¯s overall fatigue was palpable.


    ¡°Sister Ying, are you alright?¡± When the director yelled ¡°cut,¡± Xie Yun walked over to examine Luo Ying¡¯s hand.


    They were both running through the thick forest during the chase scene. In one scene, Luo Ying clung to a tree trunk and slid down to avoid an arrow.


    He had noticed that the tree had not been treated by the props team. Luo Ying¡¯s palm might get scratched on the various barbs and rough patterns on it, and he was concerned about that.


    Luo Ying was prepared for this. Her palm had hurt a little when she held the tree¡¯s trunk. However, her expression and movements had to be spot-on for the entire scene to be captured in a single take.


    When she looked down at her palm, she saw that it was indeed covered in a mash of red marks and dirt.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s just a small scratch.¡± Luo Ying cracked a wide grin. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine in two days.¡±


    ¡°Oh dear!¡± Wang Yu frowned. ¡°Let¡¯s rinse it down first. The first aid kit is at the hotel. I¡¯ll get Zhang Yue to fetch it.¡±


    ¡°I brought medicine. Use mine.¡± Xie Yun jogged over to the set.


    Her palm stung a little. It was nothing new to Luo Ying. She had taken her share of falls in her long and illustrious career.


    Wang Yu quickly retrieved some clean water and flushed the wound on Luo Ying. Xie Yun also returned.


    ¡°Thank you so much.¡± Luo Ying looked at Xie Yun, who was applying iodine onto her wound. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so gentle. I¡¯m not made of glass.¡±


    Xie Yun was a little sheepish. ¡°You don¡¯t have to force yourself, Sister Ying.¡± His actions still remained very gentle. It was small but deceptively deep, like a paper cut. He knew that Luo Ying was probably comforting him by saying that it did not hurt.


    Luo Ying shook her head helplessly..

 Chapter 285 - Chapter 285: Bandage

    Chapter 285: Bandage


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    After working with Luo Ying for a few days, Xie Yun¡¯s initial impression of her had shifted significantly.


    He was a no-name actor with little to no experience. He detested working with actors who had history. They had a penchant for self-importance and enjoyed swaying public opinion. Every careless action can be magnified and misconstrued by them when posted online.


    At first, he thought of Luo Ying as one of these people. Therefore, he took great care to steer clear of arguments during the first script reading session.


    Yet, by the time they began shooting, Luo Ying had already shattered his perceptions to pieces.


    She did an excellent job acting. The majority of the scenes were filmed in a single take. Xie Yun thought she was on par with any Hollywood heavy hitter.


    She did not use her skills to excuse herself from the hard work, either. She had a slight fear of heights when hanging wires, which Xie Yun could see, but she was able to complete all sorts of shots by using her dexterous control. Luo Ying would not have told him about these cuts and bruises if he had not asked.


    Xie Yun cleaned the wound, medicated it, and bandaged it with a piece of gauze.


    ¡°Please do not bandage it, it is fine. We still have scenes to shoot.¡± Luo Ying retracted her hand. ¡°It might affect the filming.¡±


    ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Su Li walked over and asked.


    ¡°Director, can we avoid any closeup hand shots for the next scene?¡± Xie Yun asked.


    ¡°Give me a second.¡± Su Li rapped on the rolled up script in his hand. The next scene involved the male and female lead shaking off their pursuers and catching their breaths. ¡°No can do. We need those shots. We could find a stunt double for her hand, but we might as well shoot a bandaging scene. It¡¯s normal to get injured while fleeing!¡¯


    ¡°You really make the best use of everything!¡± Luo Ying teased him.


    ¡°That works too.¡± Xie Yun agreed. This was just right.


    The subsequent filming was unaffected by the injury. The days final scene wrapped up just before sundown.


    ¡°Pack up! We¡¯re done!¡± Su Li let go of the script and smiled.


    When Luo Ying finally reached the hotel, she sighed with relief and dragged her weary body inside. Later that night, Cheng Zhen hosted a barbeque for a group of well-known actors. She planned to freshen up with a shower before making the trip.


    ¡°Beep beep!¡± She inserted her card, and the door opened.


    At that moment, a pair of hands reached out from behind Luo Ying and grabbed her arm. Suddenly, she felt herself being swept up into an embrace.


    ¡°Who is it?¡± A knot formed in Luo Ying¡¯s stomach. Many possible kidnapping scenarios flashed through her mind in a split second.


    But then the scent of sandalwood wafted up from behind her, and her tone changed to one of surprise. ¡°Lu Zhao?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± When the room¡¯s lights finally came on after some blind groping for the switches, Luo Ying could see the person behind her clearly. It was indeed


    Lu Zhao


    Luo Ying finally relaxed. The tension in her back melted away, and she relaxed into Lu Zhao¡¯s embrace. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s embrace was reliable and warm, relieving Luo Ying¡¯s fatigue.


    Lu Zhao kissed her hair lightly and said in a muffled voice, ¡°I¡¯m here to watch the inter cast love affair.¡±


    This was just a clickbait headline put together by dishonest websites in an attempt to attract more readers. However, when it came from Lu Zhao, who had always been so solemn, it was odd.


    Luo Ying burst out laughing. ¡°Why do you waste your time on such nonsense?


    Without saying a word, Lu Zhao tightened his hold on Luo Ying¡¯s waist.


    ¡°Alright, alright. Didn¡¯t Yan Xin already release a statement to clear things up? He was chasing after Zhenzhen. I was just a witness of the whole act.¡± Luo Ying smiled and patted his arm. Lu Zhao couldn¡¯t have come all the way here because he was jealous, right?


    Lu Zhao was about to speak, but he caught sight of Luo Ying¡¯s hand. His tone shifted abruptly. ¡°What happened? Are you injured?¡±


    He lifted Luo Ying¡¯s palm and examined it carefully. There was no blood seeping from the gauze, so he could not tell.


    ¡°Yes, I accidentally scratched myself. The bleeding has already stopped. It¡¯s not serious.¡± Luo Ying waved him off.


    ¡°Has the doctor taken a look at it?¡± Lu Zhao frowned.


    ¡°Uh,¡± Luo Ying suddenly hesitated and lowered her voice. ¡°Xie Yun helped me apply medicine. There¡¯s no need to go so far.¡±


    ¡°Who is Xie Yun?¡± Lu Zhao didn¡¯t really care about the actors other than Luo Ying.


    ¡°It¡¯s the male lead. It just so happens that Xiao Yu didn¡¯t bring her first aid kit. He happened to have his nearby, so he helped me out.¡± Luo Ying explained in a low voice, but the more she explained, the more she felt that something was wrong.


    ¡°The male lead.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s tone became dangerous.


    He supported Luo Ying¡¯s career, but the idea of another man applying medicine on her made him very unhappy.


    Suddenly, Luo Ying turned around and stood on her tiptoes to kiss Lu Zhao¡¯s lips. She looked at him with eyes as coy as a deer¡¯s. ¡°It¡¯s really just bandaging.. Don¡¯t get jealous, okay?¡±

 Chapter 286 - Chapter 286: Assistant

    Chapter 286: Assistant


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lu Zhao paused. Since Luo Ying was behaving like a spoiled brat, he was unable to probe the situation any further. ¡°I know.¡±


    Even with foundation, Luo Ying¡¯s dark circles were not hidden from Lu Zhao¡¯s view. A few days ago, Luo Ying mentioned how exhausted she was from filming so many scenes recently. Lu Zhao finally gave up and stopped bothering her.


    Luo Ying clasped his hand with delight. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go take a shower first. Zhenzhen is throwing a party tonight with a barbecue. Do you want to go with me?¡± She worried that Lu Zhao would not be able to appreciate a ¡°pedestrian¡± roadside stall like this one.


    ¡°Obviously, as your new assistant, I will follow you around,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    ¡°Assistant?!¡± Luo Ying¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    Lu Zhao smiled. ¡°Yes, the new Assistant Lu.¡±


    The timing could not be any better. On the one hand, he had set up a trap and needed an opportunity to ¡°leave¡±. Before he could begin his investigation of the real estate project, he had to wait for the mole in the group to reveal himself.


    On the other hand, he had been longing to see Luo Ying and used the scandal as an excuse to pay her a visit.


    Lu Zhao decided that it was not the right time for him and Luo Ying to make their reconciliation public, so he had to makedo pretending to be Luo Ying¡¯s assistant for a while.


    Luo Ying and her extraordinary-tempered ¡°new bodyguard cum assistant¡± were invited to the barbecue dinner.


    Zhang Yue quietly accompanied them and cast a sympathetic glance Wang Yu¡¯s way.


    Wang Yu¡¯s expression was a mix of sighing and happiness. She sighed because her assistant role had been taken away by the company¡¯s top executive, but her job was no less taxing.


    But before Lu Zhao even arrived, he had already set up a private kitchen to upgrade the quality of the meals. The private kitchen was a significant improvement over the set¡¯s lunch boxes.


    The crew took three or four of the restaurant¡¯s small tables up. Since this was not a formal event, people were just standing around chatting with one another.


    Lu Zhao stood up and went to get some food for Luo Ying. Even among the other actors and celebrities, his stature stood out.


    ¡°Yingying, look at your assistant¡­ Did he have to go to a top business school to get an NBA?¡± Cheng Zhen sat beside Luo Ying, holding a skewer of beef. She unscrupulously leaned close to Luo Ying¡¯s ear and teased her.


    Despite the fact that Cheng Zhen¡¯s family was not involved in commerce, she was still a member of high society and had encountered Lu Zhao at a social event. Wouldn¡¯t she recognize him?


    Luo Ying had introduced him as her bodyguard and assistant. She could fool Su Li and the others, but she could not fool her.


    ¡°What do you mean NBA? Which business school gets you into basketball?


    Yeah, you have to study for an NBA. You have to be tall, good-looking, and have the surname Lu.¡±Luo Ying glanced at her helplessly and smiled as she imitated


    Cheng Zhen¡¯s tone. ¡°Zhenzhen, if you like the food, just shut up and eat!¡± The two of them burst into hacking fits of laughter.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Yan Xin had not heard their conversation. He worriedly passed a glass of water. ¡°Drink some water.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, thank you. I¡¯m fine.¡± Cheng Zhen waved her hand and took the water.


    Luo Ying took her turn to tease Cheng Zhen. ¡°Forget about me. You¡¯ve got bigger problems than me, don¡¯t you?


    Her eyes darted to the neighboring table. Yan Xin was chatting with Su Li and


    Chen Yue, but his eyes never quite left Cheng Zhen. He had even noticed Cheng Zhen¡¯s laughing fit.


    But what really threw Luo Ying off was that Cheng Zhen actually accepted Yan Xin¡¯s flowers. But when Luo Ying questioned Yan Xin about it later, he denied that they were dating.


    ¡°Oh.¡± Cheng Zhen raised her eyebrows. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do either.¡±


    Cheng Zhen had the appearance and temperament of a classic gentle beauty, but she was feisty at heart.


    She had anticipated that Yan Xin, who had fallen in love with her at first sight, would back away once he realized how different she actually was.


    To Cheng Zhen¡¯s surprise, although Yan Xin could write such a genteel love letter, he was actually a very interesting person. Yan Xin was not only able to get along with her, but he also liked her personality.


    Already, in just a few days on set, she and Yan Xin had discovered that they shared a passion for many of the same authors, films, and games.


    Cheng Zhen had intended to handle the situation coldly, but instead spent the next day chatting happily with Yan Xin until late in the evening.


    It was like an arrow of idealism from Cupid had struck them both.


    Never in Cheng Zhen¡¯s wildest dreams did she think she would meet someone like this. She found that they shared many interests and had similar personalities. Furthermore, the other individual was still openly and enthusiastically in love with her.


    If Cheng Zhen said she did not think highly of Yan Xin, she would be fibbing.


    Lu Zhao returned with a heaping plate of grilled meat. He sat himself down in front of Luo Ying on the table. Since Luo Ying hurt her hand, Lu Zhao took care of peeling the meat off the skewers.


    ¡°But our families will never agree to this.¡± Cheng Zhen looked at the two of them enviously..

 Chapter 287 - Chapter 287: Quarrel

    Chapter 287: Quarrel


    Translator: EndlessFantasv Translation       Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°My wings are clipped, unlike you guys. If I want to act in the shows I enjoy, I will have to enter a marriage alliance as per my family¡¯s choosing.¡± Cheng Zhen sighed.


    Luo Ying had seen the interactions between Cheng Zhen and Yan Xin over the past few days. She had thought that they would already be kicking things off, but she did not expect such an obstacle.


    ¡°Then¡­ Is there no chance at all?¡± Luo Ying felt sorry for them.


    ¡°Guess so.¡± Cheng Zhen turned her head and pretended to talk to Luo Ying seriously. She avoided Yan Xin¡¯s gaze and pretended to be relaxed as she said, ¡°My family has already arranged for me to wed a very powerful officer. I can¡¯t afford to cross him.¡±


    Cheng Zhen did not even seem to convince herself.


    Luo Ying was about to say something, but a loud noise suddenly came from beside her.


    ¡°Did I pay for your education so that you could fool around with men in the middle of the night?!¡± An unfamiliar middle-aged man roared, attracting everyone¡¯s attention.


    Shockingly, he grabbed Chen Yue by the hair and nearly lifted her off the ground. With his other hand, he flipped the entire table.


    ¡°Ah!¡± As her hair was yanked, Chen Yue screamed in agony.


    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± The table was flipped over, sending plates and glasses flying. Both Su Li and Yan Xinj who happened to be at the same table, jumped to their feet in an instant to get away from it.


    The crew was taken aback by the unexpected turn of events, and they scrambled to avoid the flying debris and shattered plates.


    Lu Zhao subconsciously protected Luo Ying.


    Even after the commotion of breaking glass, screams, and shouts, the man continued to roar and grab at Chen Yue, trying to yank her away.


    Luo Ying, who was close to him, reacted immediately. She quickly stood up and stopped him. ¡°What are you doing?! Let go, you¡¯re hurting her!¡±


    Chen Yue¡¯s hair was being pulled, so she held it, hoping to relieve some of the pressure. She made an effort to remove the man¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Who are you? I am trying to set an example for my daughter; what does that have to do with you?¡± The middle-aged man reeked of alcohol. He kept cursing. He made a motion as if he were about to slap Luo Ying.


    However, a strong force prevented his hand from touching down.


    ¡°You dare?¡± Lu Zhao used his strength to restrain the man¡¯s right wrist and press it behind the man¡¯s back before the man could react. The iciness of his tone was unmatched.


    He squeezed his wrist even harder, and the man cried out in agony, ¡°Ah!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care who you area Just talk it out and let it go, people!¡± Su Li reacted as well. He hopped over the cluttered floor and grabbed the older man from the other side.


    The man, however, clung to Chen Yue¡¯s hair and would not let go. On the contrary, he yanked her downwards even more forcefully. ¡°I¡¯m her father! How dare you kidnap and sell underage children?!¡±


    ¡°Ah! You¡¯re not my dad! No! I¡¯m an adult! You can¡¯t control me!¡±


    Chen Yue yelled out in agony, tears streaming down her face.


    Nothing else mattered to Luo Ying. Her first priority was keeping Chen Yue safe from the shards of porcelain that littered the floor.


    ¡°Let go of her!¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, stealing minors? What kind of nonsense are you spouting?


    ¡°Even if you¡¯re her father, you can¡¯t hit her! ¡°I¡¯m calling the police. Let go of Chen Yue!¡±


    ¡°Are you insane?


    It was a chaotic scene. Finally, the rest of the crew caught on to what was happening and moved in to try to stop them.


    But the man¡¯s grip on Chen Yue¡¯s hair was too tight. If they pushed the man, Chen Yue would be in pain. For a moment, no one could touch him.


    As she struggled, Luo Ying caught sight of the nearby tables and yelled,


    ¡°Zhenzhen! Douse him with that kettle!¡±


    Cheng Zhen reached across the room for the kettle sitting on the table. She held the kettle over the man¡¯s arm. ¡°Let go!¡±


    ¡°Let your mom¡­ Ah!¡± The man was about to swear when hot water was poured on his arm. He reflexively let go.


    Luo Ying seized the moment to untangle Chen Yue¡¯s hair. Without turning around, she yelled, ¡°Hold him down!¡±


    Lu Zhao sidestepped the man, lifted his knee, and slammed it down hard into the man¡¯s stomach. He pressed down on the man¡¯s neck with one hand and his wrist with the other, pinning him to the floor.


    Su Li and the others also rushed forward to hold the man.


    ¡°Watch out for the shards!¡± Yan Xin reached out and pulled Chen Yue to her feet, then dragged her away from the mayhem.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± He cast a tense glance at Luo Ying and Chen Yue. There were far too many shards of porcelain lying around..

 Chapter 288 - Chapter 288: Settled (1)

    Chapter 288: Settled (1)


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation       Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Chen Yue shook her head and sobbed. Luo Ying waved her hand to show that she was fine as well.


    The man on the other side, who was being held down by the crowd, continued to struggle frantically. The man yelled, ¡°Let me go! I¡¯m teaching my daughter a lesson. What business do you have¡­¡±


    With the others holding the man down, Lu Zhao stood up to look at Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying also happened to look at him. Each person looked at the other to ensure that the other was doing fine.


    Lu Zhao took out his phone and typed out a quick message. He walked over and gave Luo Ying a questioning look.


    Luo Ying looked at Chen Yue and asked gently, ¡°Is he your father? Can you tell us what happened?¡±


    Cheng Zhen quickly set down the kettle and leaned over to Chen Yue, offering her a handkerchief in silence.


    ¡°We¡¯ve cut all ties!¡± Chen Yue couldn¡¯t help but cry. ¡°They adopted me. When my mom died, he stopped caring about me. When I became an adult, I severed all ties with him!¡±


    ¡°Without my say, you have no right to cut ties! Do you hear me?¡± The middle-aged man had never stopped struggling and kicking. When he heard Chen Yue¡¯s words, he roared into the air.


    Chen Yue was unable to hold back her tears. Why did she have to be connected to someone like that?!


    While remaining calm, Chen Yue continued, ¡°¡±What he said is all lies. I¡¯m already an adult, and he¡¯s never paid for my education. I paid for college out of my own pocket. I legally broke off relations. He¡¯s no longer my father!


    Chen Yue wailed, ¡°He is here for money. He is in deep with his gambling debts.¡±


    Everybody felt an even greater urge to kick the middle-aged man after hearing this. Should he even be considered human?


    It was clear that Chen Yue had a lot of skill when it came to writing scripts. When she came to town to film with the crew, she kept a low profile and worked hard. Everyone had a high opinion of her because it was unusual for someone under the age of 20 to be able to do this.


    She appeared to be very young, so no one suspected that she had been through so much.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have troubled everyone.¡± Chen Yue fought back tears and whispered an apology.


    Chen Yue had decided long before she graduated high school that she would never speak to or see him again. She had everything settled in advance of her college entrance exam because she had collected enough evidence.


    Eventually, Chen Yue decided to leave home and attend college. Not even her family in her hometown knew which college she was attending.


    Therefore, the man never looked for Chen Yue again.


    She was sure she had left the past behind forever. Surprisingly, not only did he track her down, but he followed her all the way to a western city. He even suddenly rushed out when everyone was having a happy meal.


    Cheng Zhen¡¯s arms went around her, and her heart ached. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay. He can¡¯t hurt you. The police will be here soon.¡±


    Luo Ying consoled her as well. ¡°Yes, when the police come, they will arrest him.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡± Yan Xin quickly comforted her. ¡°That person is to blame.


    You don¡¯t have to apologize for him.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, you¡¯ve already done your best.¡± Luo Ying examined her scalp. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t see any serious wounds.


    Even though they were trying to make Chen Yue feel better, nobody seemed at ease.


    Everyone involved understood that the situation could not be fixed so simply.


    The police probably would not hold this man for more than a few days. But since he was able to follow her to a western small city today, he would undoubtedly be able to keep stalking and harassing Chen Yue in the future.


    Luo Ying swiveled around to face Lu Zhao. For her, nothing short of a complete resolution would do. She could not stand by and allow Chen Yue¡¯s gambling ex-adoptive father to continue harassing her.


    Lu Zhao reached out and clasped Luo Ying¡¯s wrist, saying softly, ¡°Do not worry, I will handle it.¡±


    This was Luo Ying¡¯s production team. He was going to do everything in his power to protect her interests.


    Shortly thereafter, with sirens blaring, the man was placed in handcuffs, his incessant swearing doing nothing to help his case. The officers removed him from the mayhem in the store.


    This uproar put an end to the barbecue.


    Chen Yue needed to get checked out, so Cheng Zhen and Yan Xin got ready to go with her to the hospital. Since Su Li had to go to the station to make a statement, everyone else dispersed.


    Luo Ying had barely finished her first bite when this happened. M/hen Lu Zhao realized this, he had the personal chef start making dinner again.


    ¡°Is your hand okay?¡± Lu Zhao held Luo Ying¡¯s wrist and examined it carefully.


    Because Luo Ying exerted so much strength when she caught Chen Yue earlier, the wound had reopened. Blood could be faintly seen through the gauze..

 Chapter 289 - Chapter 289: Medicine

    Chapter 289: Medicine


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°It hurts a little.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s lips scrunched up in a hurt expression.


    Lu Zhao quickly untied the bandage and got ready to re-bandage her. His actions were delicate, as if he was handling a delicate object.


    When the bloody bandage was removed, it was as if someone had a vice grip on Lu Zhao¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Hiss¡­¡± When the cotton bud dipped in alcohol touched the fresh cut, Luo Ying frowned.


    ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Lu Zhao nervously stopped.


    Luo Ying nodded.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s touch became even lighter. ¡°I¡¯ll be gentler.¡± He gently dabbed the medicine onto Luo Ying with the cotton swab.


    Luo Ying bent her chin and studied Lu Zhao¡¯s intent face. When she remembered the afternoon, she realized that she had subconsciously put on a brave face while being administered medicine on set.


    Inside, Luo Ying smiled a warm, happy smile. It was not that she did not feel pain; she just did not want to display it. She had not even realized it at the time, but Lu Zhao had become the one person with whom she felt completely safe opening up emotionally.


    Luo Ying¡¯s hand wound had gotten worse, but she still was not going to postpone tomorrow¡¯s scenes.


    Lu Zhao tried to get her to take it easy, but she pulled him into her arms and said coyly, ¡°We can¡¯t delay the outdoor shoot. The weather might not stay ideal for long.¡±


    So, Lu Zhao had no choice but to get up with her at dawn and show up at the studio.


    Lu Zhao wore a black surgical mask and hat and paired it with a casual sweater and trousers. When he carried Luo Ying¡¯s bag and poured her tea, he truly looked like an assistant.


    But even so, his towering stature made quite an impression. Employees occasionally engaged in hushed conversations.


    ¡°He is really tall and in good shape.¡±


    ¡°Sister Ying¡¯s assistant is said to be a part-time bodyguard. It¡¯s no surprise for him to have a good figure.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure he is an assistant? There is so much love in his eyes when he looks at Sister Ying.¡±


    ¡°Maybe¡­ Maybe¡­ Yes.¡±


    ¡°Are you still able to study his eyes from that great a distance? Don¡¯t you have work to do?¡± Their conversation was cut short by Wang Yu, the real assistant. The small group did not have the courage to continue talking, so they quickly left.


    Wang Yu let out a long sigh. These folks were totally fearless. Just seeing them gave her the creeps.


    Lu Zhao came here to be her assistant despite being a president. She knew better than to make him do the work of an assistant, but she also could not keep him looking idle. Also, she had to keep President Lu from overhearing the rumors. There is no way she could risk everyone their jobs with a single sentence.


    Fortunately, not long after, Su Li had business with them, so they went to an even more remote area.


    Wang Yu heaved a sigh of relief.


    After an exhausting day of filming action scenes yesterday, the production team decided to keep today¡¯s filming simple. The assistant director could easily monitor the Drogress.


    Because of this, Su Li was able to go in search of Lu Zhao. It was all related to yesterday¡¯s incident involving Chen Yue.


    When Su Li and the others met Chen Yue¡¯s sc*mbag father in the police station¡¯s mediation room the night before, they were expecting to be harassed, but they were taken aback by the man¡¯s utter lack of decency.


    The cuffed man showed no remorse and kept smirking and pointing his finger at them. ¡°What did I do? I gave her hair a yank. Can you tell me what I did wrong, officer?¡±


    This man had probably been to the police station numerous times and was probably familiar with the fundamentals of the law.


    He assaulted Chen Yue, but Chen Yue¡¯s injuries were not enough to qualify as an actual attack. His detention would typically last no longer than five days. He could continue to harass Chen Yue after the detention.


    ¡°Why are you being so smug?!¡± In a fit of rage, Cheng Zhen slammed the table.


    Chen Yue closed her eyes in despair.


    Su Li was so enraged that he almost stood up and tried to fight, but Yan Xin restrained him. ¡°Don¡¯t be rash!¡±


    ¡°For aggravated assault, you will receive a three- to five-day sentence of administrative detention under the law of public security.¡± The officer¡¯s tone was steady and icy. Despite the man¡¯s obvious provocation, he showed no signs of anger. After he finished speaking calmly, his coworkers handed him updated information from outside the door.


    The man, assuming the police were helpless against him, smiled smugly. ¡°Well, it is not like I have never been detained before!¡±


    He gave Chen Yue an intense look. ¡°I¡¯m warning, I¡¯ll find you next time. Don¡¯t even think about running away! When I am old, you are responsible for my care. This is a threat!¡±


    The policeman cut him off by saying, ¡°Do not worry. There may or may not be a next time.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± The policeman¡¯s words cut off the man¡¯s laughter. A fierce expression froze on his face.. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

 Chapter 290 - Chapter 290: Convicted

    Chapter 290: Convicted


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Su Li and the others were just as taken aback. What exactly did this man do?


    Something clicked in Chen Yue¡¯s mind. her eyes popped open, and she looked up hopefully at the officers.


    Before the man¡¯s very eyes, the police officer flipped through the papers in his hand and produced a wanted poster. ¡°Theft of public funds, illegal gambling, and kidnapping of women and children. Rarely does a wanted man like yourself show up so cockily at the police station, Mr. Chen.¡±


    Just a second ago, Chen Ping had been opposed to the detention, but now he stared wide-eyed at the arrest warrant in front of him. The absurdity of the situation hit him hard. ¡°Me? A fugitive? What are you talking about?¡±


    His picture from eight years ago, when he was getting his ID card, was used in the wanted poster. Chen Ping surveyed the strange yet familiar reflection. Although he was a hooligan and often engaged in illegal gambling, he only used his own money or the money he had managed to beg from Chen Yue. How could he have possibly embezzled public funds when he had not worked in over two years?


    Moreover, in what sort of fantastical world would he kidnap women and children?


    ¡°What is this?¡± Chen Ping said in disbelief, ¡°Why don¡¯t I know anything about embezzling public funds? I don¡¯t even have a job, so what funds do I have access to?¡±


    Obviously, he tried to hide the fact that he had been gambling.


    Su Li¡¯s eyes also widened. How could this person have committed so many wrongdoings?!


    Cheng Zhen also looked at him in shock, then asked Chen Yue in a low voice,


    ¡°Did this even happen?¡±


    Chen Yue shook her head in confusion. She had no idea this person was still on the run despite having so many cases on him. She would have put him in jail a long time ago if she had known.


    Only Yan Xin smiled, understanding, and anticipating what would happen next.


    In a whirlwind, the police ran down all the pertinent details and possible explanations. Five years ago, public funds were stolen, gambling had been going on for a while, and the kidnapped woman was Chen Yue¡¯s stepmother, a poor woman who was ten years younger than the man.


    ¡°That¡¯s not true! That woman came to me on her own!¡± The man roared and struggled, but the handcuffs had already secured him tightly to the seat. ¡°I was married to her. What kidnapping are you talking about? You didn¡¯t investigate the embezzling of public funds five years ago, and now you¡¯re investigating it? I¡¯m being framed!¡±


    The policeman ignored him and looked at Chen Yue instead. Continuing in his unusually lengthy monologue, he said, ¡°I suggest that you agree to mediation for this assault because the criminal investigation team is already waiting to transfer him to a higher level for trial. Detaining him for a few more days is necessary if you intend to file suit against him for his injuries. But if you are willing to mediate, you can skip right to his other crimes being tried in court.¡±


    ¡°You did it on purpose. You framed me!¡± Chen Ping appeared to understand that he had been charged with several crimes and was about to go to prison. He struggled desperately.


    However, the handcuffs in the police station were no stranger to human flesh and blood, and he was no exception.


    Despite their initial shock, Chen Yue, Su Li, and the others deliberated for some time and ultimately decided to follow the police¡¯s advice.


    Therefore, the police expedited the mediation process. Upon leaving the mediation room, Su Li and the others were met by a large number of police officers dressed in a variety of uniforms. As they waited outside the mediation room, all of them wore expressions of serious intent.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on¡­? Is he in big trouble because he has done so many bad things?¡± When Su Li finally came to, he saw Chen Ping being taken away in an elite police vehicle.


    ¡°M-m-my-¡± Chen Yue was also in disbelief. At a young age, she formed the impression that her adoptive mother had been through hell and back because of Chen Ping.


    She had a hard time accepting that Chen Ping had abducted her adoptive mother. After all, Chen Ping did not imprison her. There were always options for her adoptive mother to escape after she was kidnapped, but she never did.


    ¡°It is clear that somebody used their influence to our benefit.¡± Yan Xin smiled knowingly.


    He had no idea who was aiding him behind the scenes, but this strategy was standard operating procedure among the elite.


    They could use a formal chain of crimes to exert power over someone. The defendant would have to serve a lengthy prison term regardless of the outcome of the trial and court proceedings.


    Although ineffective against those who are well-connected and powerful, this strategy was ideal for thugs like Chen Ping.


    ¡°I did not think I would see this in real life¡­¡± Su Li was shocked.


    ¡°Is it over?¡± Cheng Zhen had already surmised the identity of their powerful backer..

 Chapter 291 - Chapter 291: Du Tian

    Chapter 291: Du Tian


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Lu Zhao? Is it true that he is aware of our movements?¡± Su Li seemed a little teary-eyed. President Lu truly cared for Luo Ying. ¡°How did he find out so soon? Is he always keeping an eye on Sister Ying?¡±


    Cheng Zhen smiled helplessly. ¡°Su Li¡­ haven¡¯t you noticed?¡±


    ¡°Ah! Is it that guy?¡± Yan Xin grasped it before anyone else. He had always been cautious, and he was paying special attention to Cheng Zhen right now. Naturally, he took note of the man sitting nearby.


    ¡°What¡­? Who?¡± Su Li was still confused.


    ¡°The ¡®assistant cum bodyguard¡¯ who came with Yingying today is Lu Zhao himself!¡± Cheng Zhen patted Su Li¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Ah?¡± Su Li¡¯s mouth hung open in disbelief.


    Even as he was taken aback, he quickly realized that Lu Zhao was probably the only person who had the power to truly assist them in solving this problem.


    He made a mental note to thank Lu Zhao for everything he had done and work to strike a new deal.


    Delaying a scumbag like Chen Ping for two or three years was not good enough.


    For the rest of his life, it would be ideal if he could avoid contact with Chen Yue.


    Chen Yue did have some leverage. While sorting through her mother¡¯s things, she stumbled upon evidence that young Chen Ping had engaged in online sexual activity with minors. The chat logs from that year were still stored in the laptop.


    This was sufficient to increase Chen Ping¡¯s sentence by a few years.


    ¡°In exchange, I can, uh¡­¡± Su Li and Lu Zhao were chatting in a silent corner. When he was done speaking, he nervously scratched his head.


    He did not have much to offer to Lu Zhao, so he was a little hesitant.


    ¡°In return, introduce that person to me.¡± Lu Zhao was unconcerned. In every situation, he took measures to ensure that nothing bad would happen later on. He would tidy up regardless of what Su Li said.


    However, Su Li¡¯s offer for a trade made everything work out perfectly.


    ¡°Ah?¡± Su Li was surprised by Lu Zhao¡¯s quick assent. The person Lu Zhao was pointing at turned out to be Du Tian, who was in the middle of filming a scene with Luo Ying, as he followed Lu Zhao¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go ahead and ask Du Tian. Wait¡­¡± Incredulous, Su Li observed the situation.


    Didn¡¯t Lu Zhao come to the production team for Luo Ying? He even discarded his CEO robes to be a tea-serving assistant. They appeared to be getting along well. What was the point, though, of him meeting Du Tian now?


    A recommendation? How is he going to introduce them? He was not the type of director to hand an actress a room card and tell them to show up at nine o¡¯clock! He was a decent person!


    After a quick glance at Su Li, Lu Zhao realized he had misunderstood and was at a loss for words. ¡°The Du family of Liu City is a major player in international freight forwarding.¡±


    ¡°Oh, oh!¡± In an instant, Su Li grasped it. He was unfamiliar with the Du family of Liu City but had some familiarity with international trade. Lu Zhao was hoping to talk business with Du Tian. It was not what he had feared. That was no problem.


    Su Li agreed. Immediately sensing the awkwvardness of the situation, he found an excuse to return to the set.


    While he ran, he could not help but think that his production team was full of sly foxes and sneaky cats.


    Most people would be shocked to learn about Cheng Zhen¡¯s family history. Luo Ying appeared to be from a wealthy background. Even the head of the Luva Group had come here as a small assistant. Out of the blue, Du Tian showed up. He had mistook her for a random actor, but she was actually a member of the Du family in Liu City. She had to be someone powerful.


    In the midst of his reflection, Su Li wanted to reach out and grab Cheng Zhen, asking, ¡°How could a small-budget production team like me gather all these big shots?!¡±


    Su Li may have had these thoughts, but that did not stop him from relentlessly directing the scene between Luo Ying and Du Tian. ¡°That position is off. Let¡¯s do it again!¡±


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t have many scenes today. Despite some snags, she was getting close to finishing up.


    Lu Zhao brought up Du Tian¡¯s issue again when she left the set.


    ¡°Why now?¡± Luo Ying was lounging in the dressing room. Lu Zhao was undoing her hairpin. ¡°Why are you interested in the Du family all of a sudden?¡±


    The Du Family never even showed up here in the original plot.


    The thought crossed Luo Ying¡¯s mind. It appeared that the story was drifting further and further from its intended path.


    ¡°Do you still remember the real estate project from last time?¡± Lu Zhao thought about it and started from the beginning.


    ¡°Of course I remember. What did you learn?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°What you said is correct. It did have some geological flaws. It would have been the grave where my company gets buried had I proceeded.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s voice darkened when he mentioned this. ¡°But besides that, I discovered something else, too..¡±

 Chapter 292 - Chapter 292: Plan

    Chapter 292: Plan


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    From the inception of the project to the preparation of the bid, Lu Zhao gave Luo Ying a brief overview.


    The Luya Group¡¯s review process was very rigorous. There would be multiple rounds of review for such a crucial project. It was not just the frontline workers who had to deal with the fallout of such a serious and simple error.


    ¡°Are you saying that there is a mole?¡± Although her knowledge of business management was limited, Luo Ying was able to absorb the essentials.


    ¡°Yes.¡± A sneer formed on Lu Zhao¡¯s face. ¡°I have got someone looking into it right now. The report¡¯s findings ultimately pointed to an error committed by one part of the project team. This may have originated with an early oversight on the part of a new hire. Their team leader had also just recently been transferred, so he had missed it.


    ¡°The evidence supports a reasonable conclusion. There were a few hiccups with the new hire and the new team leader.¡± After Luo Ying took out the last of the hairpins, she sat back and contemplated. She understood Lu Zhao¡¯s line of reasoning in no time.


    ¡°But for such an important project, it¡¯s too much of a coincidence to have fresh replacements at such crucial steps. More importantly, how could such a vast and experienced team make a mistake in gathering such basic information? How could the other competitor companies not take notice?¡±


    ¡°You are absolutely right. There are just too many coincidences to dismiss this as mere chance.¡± Lu Zhao reached for the nearby comb and ran it through Luo Ying¡¯s hair. His eyes sparkled with awe and appreciation. ¡°The newcomers are part of their smokescreen. They¡¯ll have their scapegoats ready.¡±


    ¡°Them?¡± Luo Ying asked hesitantly. Had Lu Zhao identified the spies already?


    ¡°It is just a hunch on my part. I dread knowing how deep the roots of this conspiracy truly go,¡± Lu Zhao said darkly.


    The last line resonated deeply within Luo Ying¡¯s heart. She creased her brow slightly as she thought back on the original book¡¯s plot. Did she ever get to the part where the culprit was revealed?


    Lu Zhao¡¯s dry, warm hands massaged Luo Ying¡¯s forehead. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have already requested an investigation by the risk management team.¡±


    ¡°Can they be trusted?¡± Luo Ying was concerned that the mole might be lurking elsewhere in the organization.


    Lu Zhao assured her, ¡°The internal control department is full of people who were personally promoted by me. The tender meeting is scheduled for the following day. Soon, it will all make sense.¡±


    ¡°The day after tomorrow¡­¡± Luo Ying suddenly remembered that it was already the middle of the month. In a few days, it would be time to take blood from her.


    Each blood draw would leave her feeling weak for a few days. There was no way she could let Lu Zhao know.


    She could almost imagine Lu Zhao¡¯s heartache after learning the truth. He would rather refuse any further treatment.


    With despair, Luo Ying counted off the remaining two months. She decided to hold off for a while longer. She would be able to tell Lu Zhao the truth once the poison in his body had been completely removed.


    Simultaneously, in a city a couple hundred kilometers away, somebody was getting antsy.


    ¡°What do you mean? Why is Secretary Li here?¡± At the hotel where the project team was staying, an anxious man on the other end of the line was asking frantic questions.


    He was a key player in the management of this property development.


    Originally, he was the one slated to lead the team in the bidding meeting. Secretary Li had zero involvement in this whatsoever. He had just learned, however, that Secretary Li was going to be present.


    ¡°I¡¯m just as blindsided as you are.¡± A somber tone could be heard through the phone. ¡°Lu Zhao¡¯s lackeys are here. Did you expose yourself?¡±


    ¡°Impossible!¡± The urgency in his voice grew. ¡°I¡¯ve taken all possible precautions.¡±


    He took great care to leave no traces, whether it was internal proof or outside connections. Even if Lu Zhao went looking, all he would find are the ¡°clues¡± he set up in advance.


    ¡°Well, I hope that is the case.¡± The person on the other end of the phone was skeptical, but he did not seem overly flustered by the situation. ¡°It is too late now, even if they do find something.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± he muttered.


    The government treated the tender¡¯s contents as highly confidential once it was submitted. It did not matter if Lu Zhao showed up today in person; it was too late.


    If Lu Zhao resorted to drastic measures to deal with the government, it would cause too much noise. His enemies, both in the open and from the shadows, would catch wind of it and cause severe damage to the company.


    As he considered this, he felt his emotions begin to level out.


    To him, his job would be finished if the Luya Group was awarded the contract.


    Lu Zhao, meanwhile, would have to answer for the whole mess at some point. After hanging up, Manager Zhang thought callously that he did not give a damn if Lu Zhao wanted him dead.


    ¡°Mr. Lu, you are a good boss, but for Xiao Yi¡¯s sake, I must do this.¡± He sat on the hotel room sofa, gripping his phone tightly. His tone mellowed, but a steely resolve glowed in his eyes.


    He had gone too far to go back now..

 Chapter 293 - Chapter 293: Auction

    Chapter 293: Auction


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The real estate project bidding conference took place the following day.


    All the appointed corporate representatives showed up early to the event.


    ¡°Do you know if President Lu has any news for us, Secretary Li?¡± The Luya Group¡¯s project team consisted of fresh-faced young professionals. So, even though Secretary Li¡¯s position was much higher than theirs, bold and active members would still come over to ask questions.


    ¡°President Lu is very interested in this endeavor and is rooting for us to win the contract.¡± Secretary Li smiled in a soothing manner. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I believe in your abilities.¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± The young people looked somber in their suits for the formal event, but their voices were full of life.


    Someone murmured, ¡°I can¡¯t be too sure, but I think I am 80% confident!¡± He tried to contain his enthusiasm, but it was clear.


    ¡°Okay, enough of the jokes. Quick, get that paper signed,¡± Manager Zhang urged them helplessly.


    Everyone on the team had worked very hard on this project and wanted to see their efforts rewarded. Secretary Li¡¯s expression soured at the thought.


    The mole did not just try to wreck the Luya Group¡¯s funding pipeline. Nearly 100 people who worked on the project for two months would be devastated to know that their efforts had all been for naught. It meant that ordinary employees who worked hard would not only be denied their expected results and rewards, but they might also face a harsh internal review. In addition to bringing heavy doubt from shareholders and the outside world, poor decision making would also bring the group into disrepute.


    It risked bringing ruin to their finances, reputation, and confidence. It was a ruthless approach. Secretary Li seemed to be signing the registration calmly, but in fact, he had already thought of ten versions of how to deal with the mole.


    The attendees made their way to their assigned seats and took their places. Secretary Li and Manager Zhang chatted inanely while waiting for the meeting to begin. Their words betrayed their anticipation of success in the bid.


    Manager Zhang took a look at the situation but found no issues. As the highest-ranking person in the room, Secretary Li chose to sit at the very back of the room, which seemed odd. He claimed that he was merely an observer and has no significant role in the production. His goal was simply to remain unnoticed, so he sat in the very last row.


    Manager Zhang could not poke at holes in that reasoning, so he instead focused on waiting for the meeting to begin.


    Opening ceremonies typically consist of a lengthy speech introducing the purpose of the meeting and a notary session. It took nearly an hour, but the reading of the tender was finally upon everyone.


    ¡°Thirdly, we have Changsheng Company. The offer price is $300,000,000¡­¡± The staff on stage read each sealed bid individually.


    ¡°Luya Group, our number four pick, has submitted a bid of $770 million¡­¡± Manager Zhang¡¯s ears pricked up, but the employee¡¯s voice remained steady.


    What? How did the price of the bid get so high?


    Manager Zhang was so surprised that he almost got out of his chair. This was not the price they had set back then! With a bid that high, there was a good chance that it would go over the budget of the first party, which would make the bid fail.


    The place was quiet for a moment, and then there was a buzz of conversation. The project team from the Luya Group turned to each other in a panic. What went wrong?! How could this be?


    A subordinate peppered Manager Zhang with panicked questions, but Zhang had no time to worry about him. He looked anxiously to the right, subconsciously wanting to ask for someone¡¯s help.


    However, before the person he was staring at could react, Manager Zhang¡¯s body froze.


    From the corner of his eye, he could see that someone else was also watching him.


    His eyes were unusually calm, as if this sudden accident had not bothered him at all.


    It was Secretary Li.


    The venue¡¯s air conditioning was set to a comfortable level, but Manager Zhang was sweating so much that the back of his shirt was soaked. So that was how it was, so that was how it was! So it is not surprising that Secretary Li showed up in person today.


    Lu Zhao had already sent someone to alter the original tender, so this one was completely different. There was an issue with the project, and he knew it. Those flawless strategies did not deceive Lu Zhao in the least. He simply acted as if he were unaware. Lu Zhao had quietly asked Secretary Li to come to the scene just to watch him reveal his hand!


    On stage, staff members continued to read aloud into his ears. Manager Zhang was surrounded by subordinates, all of whom were asking questions that he could not hear.


    All he knew was that it was over.


    Manager Zhang¡¯s earlier target was also clenching his teeth and muttering an expletive to himself. Manager Zhang had better keep quiet and not tell on him. He dreaded having to deal with Lu Zhao¡¯s interpersonal techniques.


    Anxiously, he reached for his phone and fired off several messages in quick succession, but they all seemed to disappear into thin air..

 Chapter 294 - Chapter 294: Finishing Up

    Chapter 294: Finishing Up


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°What just happened?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s over. It¡¯s all gone. President Lu did this.¡±


    ¡°What? What happened?¡±


    ¡°We just got fresh information saying that it was a geological risk. We all missed it in the early stages. I think President Lu just saved our *sses¡­¡± ¡°I see where you are coming from, but now my bonus is gone too! Bwah!¡±


    ¡°Oh my god¡­ President Lu had spent many nights up late, too. Did he give up too? Is there absolutely no way out?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re asking the wrong questions. Forget about the bonus. It is highly probable that we will all be hearing from HR soon.¡± ¡°No way! Is it too late for me to resign now?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to answer to this.¡±


    ¡°Do not overthink things. We have not received any directives to hold anyone accountable. The boss is on vacation today. Stop freaking out!¡±


    ¡°Sister Ying is here at the firm, too! He can¡¯t get too angry.¡±


    ¡°Li Mi said that there would be afternoon tea. It should be Sister Ying¡¯s treat. It might not be so bad!¡±


    ¡°What if the afternoon tea before overtime is the calm before the storm?¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡±


    It had been two days since the auction.


    Last night, word from the project team about the upcoming Luya Group real estate venture began to spread throughout the company. Since this morning, the topic had been the subject of numerous discussions. People who normally kept to themselves would break their silence and offer their thoughts. Secretary Li, who was the subject of widespread scrutiny, was one of the few people whose accounts remained silent.


    ¡°President Lu, it¡¯s Lin Gu from Changsheng Company.¡± Secretary Li entered the office and gave the papers to Lu Zhao.


    The risk control division was able to quickly identify the conspirators after receiving precise information about the target at the tender meeting.


    ¡°Changsheng Company?¡± Luo Ying¡¯s eyebrows went up as she asked, ¡°This is a small company, right? Why are they being so brazen?¡± She understood that this was not merely an individual or small group¡¯s arrangement.


    ¡°Lin Gu belongs to the side branch of the Lin family. After finishing college, he interned at the company run by the Lin family.¡± Secretary Li provided an impartial response.


    ¡°When did the Lin family gain the means and connections to pull off such a stunt?¡± Sirius found it unbelievable for them to gain leverage of any sort over a mid-level Luya Manager.


    Lu Zhao quickly scanned the entire paper. It detailed how Manager Zhang facilitated the new hire¡¯s entry into the organization, the specific channels through which the hire reaped benefits, and the nature of the ties that bound Manager Zhang¡¯s interests to those of Lin Gu and others.


    However, this report did not reveal the key information.


    Lu Zhao put down the documents and said coldly, ¡°Lin Gu is just a cover. The whole thing was arranged by Old Master Lu.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Sirius frowned.


    ¡°This time I learned about the geological issue by accident, but even if I hadn¡¯t, I am sure someone would approach me about a deal on their own.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s tone was very calm. ¡°This has Old Master Lu¡¯s style all over it. I will be in a position of passivity regardless of the outcome.¡±


    It was not surprising that the risk management division could not track down any clues about Old Master Lu. But Lu Zhao¡¯s instincts told him that only Old Master Lu was capable of doing such a thing with ease.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t he go torment Lu Wen instead of you?¡± Since returning to the country, Lu Wen had been frittering away the money and possessions Old Master Lu gave him.


    Lu Zhao sneered. Nobody knew Old Master Lu¡¯s mind like he did. ¡°If he cared so much about Lu Wen, he would not have shipped him off to a foreign country for so long, and he certainly would not have given me the Luya Corporation in lieu of Lu Wen. He used Lu Wen as a means to control me.¡¯


    Luo Ying felt a slight pang in her chest. It is likely that Lu Zhao¡¯s early life was filled with disappointments that wore away at his hopes for a close family bond.


    ¡°Boss, Manager Zhang wants to see you.¡± Secretary Li received a new message. ¡°Keep him hanging. We¡¯ll talk in two days.¡± Lu Zhao knew that Manager Zhang wanted to make a deal.


    Lu Zhao believed that a deal of this nature was possible, but that there was no need to rush things along. After a few more days, he might be able to negotiate a better price.


    ¡°Also, please appease the other members of the original project team. The leave and bonuses will be distributed as originally planned. Keep this incident under wraps to the best of your ability,¡± Lu Zhao gave out some instructions in rapid succession.


    Naturally, Old Master Lu hoped to see Lu Zhao become suspicious of and angry with his staff. Once mutual distrust and suspicion set in, trust between the two parties would erode over time.


    However, thanks to Luo Ying¡¯s hint, Lu Zhao was able to discreetly investigate the mole in advance, giving him ample time to sort out the situation. Even though Old Master Lu was hoping the group would freak out over Lu Zhao, he had to calm their nerves.


    ¡°Join me later.¡± Lu Zhao looked at Sirius.


    ¡°What? Where are we going?¡± For a brief second, Sirius was taken aback. He was unaware of any set plan.


    ¡°We¡¯re meeting the Du family,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    As promised, Su Li brought Lu Zhao to meet Du Tian. Du Tian, however, claimed that conditions on set were less than ideal. They were returning home in a few days to record a variety show. Because of this, they decided to get together this afternoon.


    Since Old Master Lu had already made a move, Lu Zhao had no reason to hold back..

 Chapter 295 - Chapter 295: Shen Lan

    Chapter 295: Shen Lan


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°What are you doing here, Lin Jin?¡± Shen Lan had planned today¡¯s play date with Liu Sheng, a close friend. As she entered the high fashion boutique she frequented, she was startled to see a familiar face.


    ¡°Hello, Miss Shen.¡± Lin Jin smiled carefully. Given the size of the Shen family, she rarely ran into Shen Lan.


    As she regarded Lin Jin, Shen Lan frowned.


    She had only met Lin Jin a handful of times prior to this, at family banquets, and she had never formed a strong opinion of her. Later on, she noticed Lu Zhao¡¯s fiancee because her friend Liu Sheng was a fan of Lu Zhao.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t Lu Zhao have a fiancee already?¡± Shen Lan gave this piece of advice to her friend Liu Sheng a while ago after overhearing Liu Sheng gush about how much she liked Lu Zhao.


    After all, Shen Lan¡¯s greatest pet peeve was being the cause of emotional distress for someone else.


    But Liu Sheng was incredibly persistent. ¡°There is an engagement, but they are not yet married. Lu Zhao is still single. That Luo Ying doesn¡¯t deserve him at all. I have been waiting for him to file for divorce for a while now. I am not willing to give up.¡±


    ¡°Shen Lan, my feelings for Lu Zhou are similar to yours for Zhou Li.¡± Shen Lan was moved by the tenderness she saw in Liu Sheng¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Alright then¡­ What you said has some merit.¡± Shen Lan reluctantly accepted


    this explanation because she had once heard her father say that Lin Jin was engaged by Old Master Lu, and that Lu Zhao himself did not like it. She had never even seen him and Lin Jin attend any public events together.


    ¡°Shen Lan, you know that I¡¯m not good at anything other than work. You have to help me.¡± Liu Sheng grabbed Shen Lan by the arm and pouted.


    Shen Lan nodded. She considered Liu Sheng her best friend because she had once saved her life. If it did not conflict with her beliefs, she would help her out.


    Even though her friend¡¯s family was not particularly well-off, Shen Lan still thought her as a very capable person. She outshone Lin Jin in every way by rising quickly through the ranks to become vice president of a company. Lu Zhao would definitely give her a positive reaction.


    Consequently, Shen Lan would use this time to plan how best to introduce her close friend to Lu Zhao. On the other hand, Lin Jin was an enemy that they kept an eye on.


    And yet, today, Lin Jin was seen in the company of Liu Sheng. Why? This perplexed Shen Lan. Shouldn¡¯t Liu Sheng hate Lin Jin?


    ¡°Shen Lan, come with me!¡± Quickly pulling Shen Lan to one side, Liu Sheng said in a hushed voice, ¡°I did not want to meet Lin Jin either, but she said she has news about Zhou Li.¡±


    Shen Lan¡¯s only and first true love was Zhou Li. Last month, however, they had an unexpected argument. Zhou Li ended things on the spur of the moment, and Shen Lan never heard from him again.


    ¡°Really?¡± Shock swept over Shen Lan.


    ¡°Of course it¡¯s true! I am sure you know how much I hate Lin Jin,¡± Liu Sheng said earnestly. ¡°I would not have agreed to meet her if not for Zhou Li.¡±


    ¡® Lin Jin knows where Zhou Li is, but¡­¡± The worry in Liu Sheng¡¯s eyes was palpable. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to take it¡­¡±


    Shen Lan¡¯s chest thumped rapidly. She felt uneasy all of a sudden.


    ¡°I want to know,¡± Shen Lan said firmly.


    With a nod, Liu Sheng returned her to Lin Jin. ¡°Lin Jin, take out the photo.¡±


    Lin Jin obediently took out the photo. The background looked like a cafe. A tall, attractive man was seen hugging a stranger and lighting her cigarette with care.


    ¡°This is Du Tian, a C-list actress. She¡¯s been in the same crew as Luo Ying recently¡­¡± Lin Jin explained carefully.


    ¡°Where did you take it?!¡± Shen Lan¡¯s slender fingers gripped the photo tightly, and her body began to tremble.


    ¡°It¡¯s a restaurant to the west. Apparently, Du Tian owns the place. They frequent there. Moreover¡­¡± Lin Jin slowly added, ¡°They seem to have reserved a seat over there this afternoon.


    Shen Lan grabbed the photo and turned to leave.


    ¡°Shen Lan? Where are you going? Shen Lan!¡± Liu Sheng shouted anxiously and worriedly, but Shen Lan did not seem to hear her. She continued taking massive strides.


    But if she turned around, she would have seen that although Liu Sheng appeared to be shouting anxiously, she was actually standing perfectly still.


    Lin Jin was relieved to see Shen Lan leave the store. ¡°Are you sure this will work?¡± She was worried about Shen Lan¡¯s wrath upon finding out the truth..

 Chapter 296 - Chapter 296: Liu Sheng

    Chapter 296: Liu Sheng


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Why are you so worried? Aren¡¯t you telling the truth? As long as it all adds up, it will definitely work.¡± Liu Sheng chuckled. The gentle smile she showed Shen Lan suddenly seemed eerie.


    ¡°Zhou Li is Shen Lan¡¯s entire world. Shen Lan is going to lose her mind if he dates Du Tian. Shen Lan¡¯s father truly dotes on her. The moment Shen Lan makes a scene, Du Tian¡¯s entire production team would be finished. If you want to deal with Luo Ying, you just have to add fuel to the fire. You only have to sit back and watch.¡±


    Liu Sheng glanced at Lin Jin. Sure enough, she caught sight of a comfortable and relaxed smile.


    Thank you, Sister Liu Sheng, for helping me!¡± Lin Jin said gratefully.


    She could have met countless individuals, but she was limited in many ways by Lu Zhao. The only person she could reach was Liu Sheng.


    ¡°How stupid. Lin Jin and Shen Lan were equally dimwitted.¡± Liu Sheng thought.


    Shen Lan was blind. She acted like Zhou Li was her true love while he was just trying to advance his social standing. He was only after her because of the


    Shens. Shen Lan¡¯s dad had finally managed to drive Zhou Li away a while ago. Even so, Shen Lan had never once forgotten about him.


    Lin Jin¡¯s level of stupidity exceeded that of even Shen Lan. The two first saw each other at a party. Lin Jin wanted to get rid of Luo Ying badly, but she mistook Lu Zhao for a safe lifeline because she did not know that Liu Sheng liked him. It was hysterical!


    Liu Sheng had simply lied to her, saying that she hated Shen Lan who clung to others every day. The two of them found mutual ground, so it was a good idea to make Shen Lan and Luo Ying enemies and fight among themselves. She took those words at face value.


    ¡°I have no idea how things work in the real world. If they are so stupid, why do they have all the money? She may have become the company¡¯s fastest vice president, but that was beside the point.¡±


    Today¡¯s Haute Couture was no exception. Liu Sheng had only become their patron because of Shen Lan¡¯s recommendation.


    uuulllcu LU uuC LU uvvll DLUPIUILY, amu hastened the process. Inside, Liu Sheng sneered.


    Liu Sheng only had feelings for Lu Zhao. Once she overcame these challenges, he would be hers as well.


    Sunlight streamed into the restaurant from the west side of the city in the afternoon.


    ¡°Miss Du.¡± The group led by Lu Zhao entered the dining room.


    ¡°Hi, this is Zhou Li, my boyfriend.¡± With a cigarette in her hand, Du Tian made a nonchalant gesture.


    ¡°Hello.¡± Zhou Li was very meticulous for someone of his apparent young age. He offered to fold Du Tian¡¯s napkin.


    When Lu Zhao saw how well they were getting along, he raised an eyebrow. They did not look like your typical couple. If anything, they looked like something else¡­


    This was as far as Lu Zhao¡¯s mind went. The personal life of Du Tian had no bearing on their working relationship.


    Sirius was oblivious to the fact that anything was amiss. After a brief introduction, he realized it was probably for the best that Luo Ying was not there. Otherwise, he would be stuck between two couples. Being single made him feel a little miserable.


    ¡°What happened to Luo Ying?¡± Du Tian noticed that Luo Ying was missing.


    ¡°She¡¯s coming. She just received a call just now, so she might be a little late,¡± Lu Zhao explained.


    The restaurant had been decorated elegantly. Another table of girls sat in a far corner. It seemed like a gathering of friends. Occasionally, a light tinkle of their chatter would reach them, but it was otherwise silent.


    However, such a semi-open area did not seem formal enough.


    Lu Zhao had wanted to discuss some formal cooperation with Du Tian, but Du Tian chose such a relaxed and casual location. Lu Zhao had a feeling that Du Tian was not serious about this.


    Sure enough, after a brief exchange, Du Tian leaned against the glass window and chuckled. ¡°Hmm, I see.¡±


    Compared to just a few days ago on set, she had a completely different vibe. She appeared indifferent behaved in a way that was befitting of a member of the Du family.


    The Luya Group had proposed numerous lenient terms, including price reductions. The Du family benefited from this partnership in every possible way.


    Du Tian¡¯s words, however, indicated her intent to decline. She did not even bother to inquire about the specifics of the joint venture.


    There would not be much to show for today¡¯s meeting. Sirius sighed to himself..

 Chapter 297 - Chapter 297: Cooperation

    Chapter 297: Cooperation


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The garden dining room was bathed in bright afternoon sunlight, giving the garden a fresh and lively appearance.


    Despite the pleasant ambiance, nobody at the table seemed particularly cheerful.


    ¡°What is it that you are unhappy about, Miss Du?¡± It was a question Sirius had to ask.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ I am most open to negotiations. For me, the bigger question is this.¡± Du Tian took out a new lady¡¯s cigarette, and her boyfriend sensibly lit it up. ¡°Why look for me, President Lu? I¡¯m just an ordinary actress. How would I know about my family¡¯s business? Du Yi is the true heir. I¡¯m just a little girl without a voice among those monsters.¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyebrows twitched. The ties that connected Du Tian to the powerful logistics family had been carefully concealed. He had put in a lot of effort looking into it.


    The Du family consisted of three siblings. This elder sister was a true artist and had no business interest in taking over the family company. The outside world had always considered Du Yi to be the most popular heir due to the common belief that families typically selected males.


    Lu Zhao, however, was aware that the head of the Du family had traditionally been a woman. He did not know why Du Tian had chosen to remain in the shadows, but there was ample evidence to suggest that she was the favored heir of the Du family.


    Lu Zhao was accustomed to learning everything about anyone, friend or foe. It was the same this time.


    It appears, however, that Lu Zhao¡¯s investigation had already made Du Tian wary. It was Old Master Lu¡¯s specialty to make traps look like deliciously attractive presents. The old man may have already reached her.


    Lu Zhao was silent for a moment.


    ¡°Forgive me for my rudeness, but my intentions are sincere.¡± Lu Zhao gestured for Sirius to hand over a sealed document.


    Du Tian nodded and smiled as she lightly tapped her fingers on the papers on the table. ¡°It¡¯s a collaboration. Of course, there¡¯s no problem. But I still have a question. Why the keen interested in a foreign investor? As far as I am aware, your excellent tactics have already done significant damage to Golden Willow Capital¡¯s operations. The danger should have passed, right?¡±


    Sadly, that was not the case. What possible motivation could Lu Wen have had for teaming up with Golden Willow Capital?


    After Lu Zhao resolved the issue with Zheng Ying, he did not kick back and relax. Instead, he ordered Sirius to keep an eye on Golden Willow Capital.


    The outcomes confirmed Lu Zhao¡¯s judgment.


    The investigation conducted upon Golden Willow Capital shed light on a number of previously unclear occurrences. They had also instigated the car chase upon Luo Ying.


    If they were serious about confronting Lu Zhao, though, they would have chosen a more sophisticated strategy than pursuing them by car. There was no reason to provoke Lu Zhao if they were not interested in becoming enemies with him.


    To Lu Zhao, it seemed more like a probe.


    ¡°But why would they want to dip their toe in the water? We don¡¯t have any dealings with their businesses. They do not have to be your enemies if they want to enter this market, right?¡± Sirius was perplexed.


    ¡°Have you found any paw prints from Old Master Lu?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    ¡°No, Old Master Lu did not run into anyone from Golden Willow Capital during his travels. He also avoided all professional contacts,¡± Sirius said with certainty.


    ¡°Heh.¡± A sinister grin formed on Lu Zhao¡¯s lips. ¡°Is not the most abnormal thing to find that there is nothing out of the ordinary happening?¡±


    Sirius was so taken aback that he almost ran a red light. ¡°What do you mean? Do they know each other?¡±


    ¡°It is not just casual acquaintanceship, I am afraid.¡± A level-headed Lu Zhao summed up, ¡°Golden Willow Capital may be associated with Old Master Lu¡¯s international enterprise. A control freak like Old Master Lu would never let Lu Wen work with another group without his knowledge.


    ¡°In any case, Old Master Lu no longer has any ties to Golden Willow Capital. I do not see the point in trying to hide the connection if that is the case.¡± It was so spotless that not even Lu Zhao could find any traces.


    Lu Zhao knew all of this, but he could not share these details with Du Tian.


    ¡°While I am unable to go into detail, I can assure you that our terms will not disappoint.¡± Lu Zhao flipped the file to a certain page. There was a section of highlighted text..

 Chapter 298 - Chapter 298: Change

    Chapter 298: Change


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation       Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Du Tian¡¯s hand, which was holding the cigarette, hesitated for a second when she read that paragraph. Lu Zhao lived up to the rumors, as she had expected. He was always one to go to extremes.


    If he really wanted to work with you, he would undoubtedly propose terms that one would not be able to refuse.


    They were not done talking when the wind chimes rang at a jarring pitch. Someone had pushed the door open in the store with surprising force. The person¡¯s excessive force caused the wind chimes to be thrown against the wall.


    ¡°Zhou Li!¡± As soon as she walked through the door, the girl who entered made a beeline for them.


    ¡°Shen Lan? Why are you here?¡± Zhou Li jumped to his feet in alarm. His pleasant facade crumbled under the strain.


    Sirius turned to look at them with a curious expression on his face.


    Du Tian scowled. She was not picky about the type of lover she had. As long as she was attractive and thoughtful, that was fine. But she hated clingy exes the most.


    ¡°Are you being serious? Are you asking me why I¡¯m here? Who is this woman?¡± The enraged Shen Lan pointed at Du Tian.


    Lu Zhao had no desire to get caught up in private squabbles. He stood up and prepared to leave.


    Du Tian extinguished her cigarette in cold exasperation. ¡®¡±¡®Zhou Li, clean up your mess.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Zhou Li apologized immediately after Du Tian¡¯s words and stopped Shen Lan. ¡°Calm down, let¡¯s go out and talk.¡±


    ¡°I am not going anywhere!¡± Shen Lan shook off his hand agitatedly. ¡°Why are you apologizing to her? Are you for real? Shouldn¡¯t you be apologizing to me? You¡¯re breaking up with me because of a woman like this?


    She¡¯s ugly and old. How is she better than me?¡±


    Du Tian was so enraged that she burst out laughing. She immediately rang the service bell and summoned an employee.


    ¡°Stop it, Shen Lan. We have already broken up!¡± Zhou Li quickly interrupted her. ¡°Haven¡¯t I told you already?!¡±


    This sentence, however, infuriated Shen Lan to no end. ¡°I¡¯m not breaking up! We are not breaking up, so why are you defending her? Is she that good in bed?¡±


    Before she finished speaking, Shen Lan produced a bottle of liquid from somewhere and flung it at Du Tian.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Du Tian was shocked and instinctively threw herself back while


    squeezing her eyes shut. However, the back of the chair kept her pinned in place.


    ¡°Be careful!¡± A sharp-eyed and deft individual pulled out the menu from the table and held it in front of Du Tian. Fortunately, the large menu shielded them from the bulk of the liquid.


    Luo Ying had turned up in the nick of time, having just ended a phone call.


    ¡°Quickly, get it off!¡± Lu Zhao anxiously reached for a tissue to clean Luo Ying¡¯s face. He could not tell what the liquid was, and it brought out his greatest fears.


    Du Tian opened her eyes and realized that someone had saved her. She heaved a sigh of relief and gave Luo Ying a nervous look.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay. It¡¯s water!¡± Luo Ying hurriedly consoled her as she set the menu down.


    Lu Zhao drew her aside and apprehensively wiped the liquid off of her.


    Sirius stood up and pinned Shen Lan to the ground. He looked down to confirm that the object in her hand was a glass of water from the neighboring table. Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.


    ¡°Let me go! You have no business touching me! Zhou Li! Say something!¡± Shen Lan screeched. However, with Zhou Li and Sirius holding her down, she could no longer move.


    ¡°Sirius! Get rid of her.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s expression darkened.


    Sirius silently dragged Shen Lan out. Lu Zhao¡¯s bodyguards rushed over to help.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± As Luo Ying continued patting herself down with a tissue, Du Tian turned to her with a concerned look.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. You did not cause this.¡± Luo Ying waved her hand nonchalantly. Du Tian was also a victim. Nobody could have seen such a lunatic coming.


    ¡°I¡¯ll deal with it, I¡¯ll deal with it.¡± Du Tian nervously grabbed her coat and stood up. She was about to follow them out to take a look when she paused guiltily.


    ¡°When we meet again, let us do it in my office.¡±


    Du Tian hurried off before Luo Ying could respond. Luo Ying had not expected to give their talks a new opportunity after shielding her from a single glass of water.


    ¡°I just saved the damsel in distress! I earned her favor!¡± After Du Tian left, Luo Ying whispered excitedly to Lu Zhao.


    ¡°How could you be so reckless?!¡± Lu Zhao only tightened his embrace around her. He could not care less about the cooperation. He hissed into her ear. ¡°This time, it¡¯s just water. What if it¡¯s sulfuric acid next time?! You threw yourself into it without thinking!¡± He anxiously gave her another once-over.


    ¡°I was simply reacting¡­¡± Luo Ying looked mildly aggrieved..

 Chapter 299 - Chapter 299: Sweet Nothings

    Chapter 299: Sweet Nothings


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Sorry¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to shout. I was just worried for you.¡± When he looked into her eyes, Lu Zhao¡¯s hardened heart quickly melted. He looked inward with shame. ¡°But the next time you save someone, could you please look out for yourself? You pulled the same stunt at the barbeque shop. It always worries me to no end. What would have happened if I wasn¡¯t by your side?¡±


    Lu Zhao had always been anxious with paranoia whenever Luo Ying was involved.


    ¡°Oh, I see. That explains why you were so fierce.¡± Luo Ying pouted and turned away with a huff.


    Lu Zhao was at a loss for a moment. He finally said gently, ,¡±I wasn¡¯t being fierce. I was just worried.¡±


    ¡°But you still sounded fierce!¡± Luo Ying struggled to get out of Lu Zhao¡¯s arms.


    ¡°I was wrong.¡± Lu Zhao tightened his grip, worried that she would struggle and hit the corner of the table. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Don¡¯t be angry, okay?¡± He gently kissed Luo Ying¡¯s cheek to comfort her.


    ¡°Hmph!¡± Luo Ying still did not turn around.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be mad. The strawberry tart and chocolate brownie in this shop are as authentic as they can get.¡± Lu Zhao gently whispered.


    ¡°Really?¡± Luo Ying was a little suspicious. Lu Zhao could not possibly have made it up, could he? But the allure of desserts was incredible!


    ¡°Of course it¡¯s true.¡± Lu Zhao smiled as he let go. Since Luo Ying enjoyed sweets, he did not reveal to her that he had spent a great deal of time researching their many varieties. He would never forget Luo Ying¡¯s narrowed eyes and happy grin whenever she dug into something tasty.


    ¡°Alright then!¡± Luo Ying gave her reluctant approval, but a grin appeared on her face. The allure of sugary treats was too much for her to ignore.


    Lu Zhao also breathed a sigh of relief. He picked up the menu and deftly placed a few orders.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Actually, I was here just in time to see her reaching for something from the table. I did not know what it was, but this is a restaurant, so there couldn¡¯t be any chemical weapons, so I went ahead and faced it.¡± While waiting for dessert to be brought out, Luo Ying spoke up. ¡°Of course I know what I¡¯m doing.¡±


    Lu Zhao smiled as he looked at her proud expression. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll buy that.¡± The restaurant¡¯s desserts came out shortly after. They lived up to Lu Zhao¡¯s confidence in them.


    When Luo Ying first bit into the chocolate brownie, she found that the exterior was crisp while the interior was chewy. The chocolate¡¯s decadent taste put an instant smile on her face.


    ¡°Try it?¡± Luo Ying scooped up a piece and brought it to Lu Zhao¡¯s lips.


    Lu Zhao took a small bite. As a matter of fact, he was not particularly fond of sweets.


    ¡°Is it really delicious?¡± Luo Ying asked cheerily. Lu Zhao probably was not used to eating such sweets because he typically ate a healthy diet.


    ¡°It is perfect,¡± said Lu Zhao with a chuckle.


    It could have been the company he was with, rather than the dessert itself, that made the experience so enjoyable.


    ¡°Who called you, by the way?¡± As Luo Zhao watched Luo Ying enjoy a variety of sweets, he suddenly recalled that Luo Ying had not joined them earlier.


    ¡°It¡¯s my brother.¡± Luo Ying swallowed a mouthful of cake before continuing.


    ¡°Well, this body¡¯s brother.¡±


    ¡°Luo Feng?¡± Lu Zhao surmised.


    Luo Ying nodded. ¡°He must have returned from his mission, so he called to check in.¡±


    In fact, Luo Ying had been quite nervous when she answered the call. She was worried that Luo Feng would instantly call her out as an imposter.


    However, Luo Feng did not seem to sense anything amiss. It was probably because he had not seen his sister for quite some time.


    ¡°He did not have much to say over the phone. In two days, he will be back at home, and I am sure we will have a long conversation when that happens,¡± Luo Ying reasoned. Indeed, she had a great deal to share with Luo Feng.


    ¡°Ah! Right, I still have to go to the hospital.¡± Luo Ying suddenly thought of her other brother, Jin Shi.


    Because of an unexpected emergency, Jin Shi had to leave the bar early that day. Since then, both their schedules had been quite packed. They had not communicated with each other beyond confirming their safety. Now that she was back home, she could finally see Third Brother.


    ¡°Hospital? Are you feeling unwell?¡± Lu Zhao frowned.


    ¡°It¡¯s not me.¡± Luo Ying waved her hand. ¡°It¡¯s Jin Shi¡¯s sister. It¡¯s his body¡¯s sister.


    Do you remember that day at the bar? He received an emergency call and left early. ¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Of course Lu Zhao remembered. If Jin Shi had not left, he would not have been able to pick up Luo Ying.


    ¡°Actually, on that day¡­ hi-Jin Shi¡¯s sister was sick.¡± Luo Ying had a hard time explaining these relationships, but she knew that Lu Zhao could follow. ¡°It seemed to be very serious. She¡¯s been in the ICU for the past few days. Jin Shi is with her right now..¡±

 Chapter 300 - Chapter 300: Jin Shi

    Chapter 300: Jin Shi


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation       Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°How is she doing now?¡± Luo Ying quietly walked into Jin Ning¡¯s ward.


    Although Lu Zhao drove Luo Ying to the hospital, he waited for her in the parking lot rather than going upstairs with her because Jin Ning was only permitted two visitors.


    ¡°Now that the situation has stabilized, the doctor said that there¡¯s no need for surgery. ¡°Jin Shi tapped his nose bridge in exhaustion. The Jin family¡¯s elderly parents were of little use. Over the past few days, he had been Jin Ning¡¯s primary caregiver.


    Luo Ying was saddened to see Jin Ning, who had once been so vivacious and full of life, now lying quietly in a hospital bed. Jin Ning was a bubbly and adorable little girl, despite the fact that she was constantly babbling due to her attention disorder.


    ¡°She began packing and left the house early that morning to play with her pals. She skipped both her morning and midday meals. She stuffed herself at the amusement park late at night because she was very hungry. The overeating led to acute cholecystectomy.¡± Jin Shi sighed.


    That night, he received a call from the hospital saying that Jin Ning had been admitted to the ICU. Understandably, it came as a major shock.


    ¡°Brother¡­¡± The voices must have startled Jin Ning, because she opened her eyes blankly.


    ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± Both Jin Shi and Luo Ying walked over to her hospital bed.


    ¡°Sister Luo Ying?¡± Jin Ning noticed the presence of the other person.


    ¡°Yes, I heard you were sick, so I came to see you.¡± Luo Ying chuckled and took Jin Ning¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Thank you for coming to see me. You¡­ I¡­¡± Jin Ning was not fully awake yet, and she still looked sleepy. Her eyes were about to close, and she was about to fall asleep. However, something seemed to jolt her awake.


    ¡°Good, good, good,¡± Luo Ying did not want her to force herself. She reached out to cover her eyes. ¡°Rest for a while more. Your brother and I are here. We¡¯ll talk to you when you¡¯re better, okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Jin Ning managed a mumble and she was soon fast asleep.


    Luo Ying and Jin Shi quietly left the ward.


    Down the hall, Jin Shi leaned against a window, tapping his fingers silently on the sill.


    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± It was a habit from their old lives whenever Third Brother was worried. Luo Ying recognized it at a glance.


    ¡°If an opportunity came when you could leave, would you take it?¡± Jin Shi asked vaguely.


    In fact, he was not just asking Luo Ying this question; he was also asking himself.


    This world was so terrifyingly real. Luo Ying had grown attached to the people here. Jin Shi was facing the same struggles.


    The more Jin Shi interacted with the Jin family while Jin Ning was sick, the more he thought about this question.


    Luo Ying cast a complicated look at Jin Shi. ¡°I can¡¯t answer that.¡±


    What would she do if she had the ability to return to her original world one day? Luo Ying really did not know.


    Jin Shi lowered his eyes. He silently stared at the moving lights on the street.


    He had once been adamant that this was all a fiction book. No matter what, he had to return.


    But as his ties to this world grew stronger and he developed more personal relationships with its inhabitants, he began to worry that his resolve would eventually weaken.


    ¡°Let the forces of nature take their course, Third Brother. In any case, now is not the time to decide. We do not even know if we would ever be allowed to make such a choice. Overthinking would only ruin your nights.¡± Luo Ying patted his shoulder.


    ¡°Let the forces of nature take their course¡­¡± Jin Shi chewed on these words carefully and nodded.


    Luo Ying left Jin Shi after visiting Jin Ning.


    Despite what she told Jin Shi, she did not immediately head home after getting on the elevator. Instead, she pressed the button for the second floor.


    Luo Ying stepped off the elevator on the hospital¡¯s second floor. She rounded the corner and arrived at an office¡¯s entrance.


    Knock, knock. Luo Ying knocked on the office door.


    ¡°Please come in.¡± A cold voice came from the door.


    ¡°Good afternoon, Dr. Jiang.¡± Luo Ying entered the room, greeting the man at the desk with a pleasant expression..

 Chapter 301 - Chapter 301: Inspection

    Chapter 301: Inspection


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation           Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Hello, it is been a while.¡± The tone of Jiang Ming¡¯s voice matched the iciness of his demeanor. Despite his off-putting exterior, he was actually a very upbeat person.


    This was a doctor that Luo Ying had contacted in private. He would see him on a regular basis for checkups.


    She knew better than anyone that drawing blood would be harmful to her body, so she had been tracking her health data. She needed an examination strategy that would protect her privacy.


    It was not that she did not trust those close to Lu Zhao. Rather, working so closely with Lu Zhao made it likely for him to pick up on something unusual.


    A separate party would have been the most ideal for her situation.


    That was why she finally reached Jiang Ming after going through many channels.


    ¡°The checkup form is ready. It¡¯s still on the fifth floor.¡± Jiang Ming folded the inspection paperwork meticulously before handing it to Luo Ying.


    His patient Luo Ying was an enigma in many ways. Perhaps it was misleading to refer to her as a patient. After all, each visit was solely for the purpose of a physical examination, not consultation with a physician.


    According to the results, Luo Ying¡¯s physical condition was excellent, and she did not suffer from any illnesses. There were, however, occasional outliers, indicators that either skyrocketed or crashed.


    Jiang Ming gave her a curious look, but he did not press further.


    As a doctor, it was his professional obligation to maintain confidentiality and suppress his natural curiosity. As a result, he only ever gave a comprehensive breakdown of wrhat each indicator represented. Never once did he inquire about Luo Ying¡¯s activities.


    ¡°Will there be anyone else on the fifth floor for a checkup?¡± Luo Ying asked cautiously.


    She had not expected Jin Ning to be in the same hospital. If she bumped into Jin Shi or someone else, she would be in trouble.


    If Jin Shi found out that she had been putting herself through this, he would be livid.


    ¡°There won¡¯t be anyone else. The entire floor is yours.¡± Jiang Ming shook his head. ¡°The elevator at the far end of the hall is an isolated unit. You dont have to worry about running into others.¡±


    He not only worked there as a physician, but he also owned the majority stake in the hospital. Since Luo Ying had specifically requested secrecy, he would ensure it was maintained at all costs.


    ¡°Thank you, Doctor.¡± A sigh of relief escaped Luo Ying¡¯s lips.


    The staff members who would be performing the examinations had already arrived and were waiting. As soon as Luo Ying showed up, they got right to work on the battery of tests.


    Therefore, it did not take long for her tests. She was done within half an hour.


    Lu Zhao, who had been waiting in the parking lot, did not notice anything out of the ordinary when she emerged from the hospital.


    ¡®Jin Ning is doing well. She is expected to be released from the hospital soon.¡± Luo Ying got in the passenger seat with a grin on her face.


    ¡°All right, what do you have in mind for dinner?¡± Lu Zhao turned the ignition key.


    ¡°Let me think¡­¡± Luo Ying placed her hand on the car window as she pondered.


    The two people in the car peacefully basked in their happy little world. Shen Lan, on the other hand, was unable to eat a single thing.


    ¡°Why are you doing this to me? Weren¡¯t we doing well before? I¡¯ll give you whatever you want. Let¡¯s not break up, okay?¡± She clung to Zhou Lai¡¯s arm and pleaded pitifully with him.


    Zhou Li pulled her into a private room in a new restaurant. The soundproofing was excellent, and he no longer had to worry about this young lady causing trouble in public.


    Even so, Zhou Li let out a long sigh.


    ¡°Are you putting up an act, or do you really have no clue?¡± Zhou Li asked her in desperation.


    ¡°What?¡± Shen Lan looked confused She really did not know why Zhou Li had broken up with her.


    ¡°It was all just a game, dont you understand? I was just trying to get into your wallet. Do you get what I am trying to say?¡± Zhou Li had not wanted to spell it out so clearly. He had done this for a long time, and he did not like to face the reality of his actions.


    However, he finally gave in after being badgered by Shen Lan.


    If he liked a girl, he would make every effort to impress her. This was all there was to even the ideal boyfriend.


    Zhou Li had always considered it a fair transaction for the girls to pay him in exchange for such services.


    When his initial favorable impression of her wore off and he no longer found her attractive, he would move on to the next one.


    Zhou Li had dated three or four girls, all of whom were in committed relationships.


    The women he dated were not naive. They were able to see through his facade after dating for a while. Some of them played into the fantasy and did not mind paying a subscription fee to keep things rolling. The others simply broke up.


    Zhou Li¡¯s strategies were spot-on, and the breakups with his exes had been amicable.


    Only Shen Lan had been genuinely sucked in by it..

 Chapter 302 - Chapter 302: Shen Lan

    Chapter 302: Shen Lan


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation           Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Yes, but I can afford it. If you need money, I have lots of it. Don¡¯t leave me, okay?¡± Shen Lan said stubbornly.


    Zhou Li had said the same thing when they broke up before. But she could not figure out why Zhou Li did not want her cash when she had it.


    Zhou Li felt a headache setting in. He only wanted to be a love con artist, not a scumbag.


    Shen Lan had long been sheltered by the elders of her family and was very naive. Zhou Li had taken a liking to her naive side at the beginning. They were the easiest type to fool. As long as he whispered sweet nothings into their ears, the cash would come flowing in


    When Shen Lan began to develop feelings for him and eventually expressed a desire to marry him, Zhou Li became suspicious. The naivete of Shen Lan had grown to be the most challenging factor.


    He did not want to be tied down to one person for the rest of his life.


    Zhou Li was aware of how much he preferred novelty to familiarity. Meeting new people made him feel warm and fuzzy inside. His marriage to Shen Lan would inevitably lead to an extramarital affair. He was financially pressed, but not so much that he would ruin their lives.


    It was also not a good idea to cross the elders of Shen Lan¡¯s family. He was well aware that if he took the plunge and married Shen Lan, he would be trapped in the mold of a model husband for the rest of his life.


    Zhou Li had to make a choice between repressing his natural tendencies and inheriting the Shen family¡¯s wealth. He could always find new streams of income, but he could not doom himself to eternal servitude.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need a hell of my own right now. I¡¯ve fallen in love with someone else. I don¡¯t like you anymore.¡± Zhou Li said ruthlessly, ¡®Can you let me go? Let¡¯s part on good terms.¡±


    Why?¡± Shen Lan cried almost instantly.


    Could someone truly not love simply because they said so?


    A month ago, they were still as close and sweet as ever. How could Zhou Li change overnight?


    Zhou Li quickly handed her a handkerchief. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Just treat me as a scumbag. You don¡¯t need scumbags in your life.¡±


    He had always been kind to the women he liked, and it broke his heart to see Shen Lan in such distress.


    Shen Lan shook her head violently while clutching the handkerchief. ¡°I don¡¯t want this to end. You lied to me. I want this lie to continue!¡± She cried and threw herself into Zhou Li¡¯s arms.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Zhou Li felt powerless. He could only give her a hug and dry her tears with his handkerchief. ¡°I am just a random person who walked into your life. I am just a money-grubbing liar. What good am I? You will eventually meet someone better and learn to move on. I no longer love you, and I do not love your money.¡±


    Shen Lan¡¯s life had been relatively easy. She always had her wishes fulfilled. He was the first person Shen Lan could not get, which might explain the current situation. Zhou Li calmly surveyed the situation. Shen Lan could not possibly love him that much.


    Everyone viewed their first love in a manner unlike any other. Shen Lan was only going through a certain phase.


    Zhou Li gave up trying to convince her.


    Zhou Li ruthlessly pushed her away. ¡°It¡¯s over between us. Take care.¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡± Shen Lan was caught by surprise and fell onto the sofa. She collided with the wall by accident.


    Zhou Li was stunned for a moment. He had not used much force. ¡°Are you all right?¡¯


    He wanted to approach her, but stopped himself. The walls of the private room were covered with soft, tufted cushions, so he could not have possibly injured her.


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving. ¡°Please stop bothering me.¡± Zhou Li¡¯s voice tightened as he spoke coldly.


    As soon as he finished speaking, he pushed open the door and strode out.


    Zhou Li hurried away. He did not want Shen Lan to develop any illusions of nostalgia over his retreating back, so he did not see Shen Lan clutching her head in agony.


    The pain came from the depths of her temple, not the back of her head.


    Where was she? Why did her head hurt so much?


    Was that Zhou Li? Why was Zhou Li here? Didn¡¯t he already¡­ How was he still alive?


    Shen Lan tried to ease the pain by taking deep breaths, but it had no effect. She passed out from the agony.


    An hour quickly passed.


    Only one of the two visitors who entered the private room left.


    No one had been in the private room for some time, and the waiter sensed trouble and opened the door.


    ¡°Ah! Are you alright?¡¯


    The waiter was taken aback when he saw Shen Lan passed out on the couch. His hand trembled as he turned on the walkie-talkie.. ¡°Manager! Manager! There is a guest in the room! What? Is she breathing? I-I¡¯ll take a look!¡¯

 Chapter 303 - Chapter 303: Uncle

    Chapter 303: Uncle


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation           Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    When Shen Lan regained consciousness, she found herself in a hospital.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± Shen Xiu had spent the whole afternoon at her bedside.


    Shen Xiu had rushed over when he heard the news. The medical professional had performed a thorough examination of Shen Lan¡¯s body. She was physically fine, but unconscious nonetheless.


    The medical professional reasoned that excessive stress was to blame.


    When Shen Xiu recalled that Shen Lan had met with a man named Zhou Li earlier in the day, he grasped the situation.


    ¡°Uncle¡­ Is that really you? How are you still here?¡± Shen Lan felt a lump in her throat as she opened her watery eyes and saw the man standing next to her.


    ¡°What are you talking about? Why would I not be here when you¡¯re sick?¡± While Shen Xiu¡¯s expression was cold and severe, his tone was surprisingly gentle.


    He took a few tissues from the side and gently dabbed Shen Lan¡¯s eyes to wipe away her tears.


    Although Shen Lan remained silent, her response could be felt deep within. In her previous life¡­ In her previous life, he was not around.


    When Shen Lan awoke and saw Shen Xiu, she knew for certain that she had traveled through time. It had not been her imagination; she actually did see Zhou Li. A fresh start had presented itself to her.


    ¡°Uncle, which year is it now?¡± Shen Lan made a silly inquiry.


    ¡°Goodness. What¡¯s gotten into you? You just celebrated your 20th birthday. What year do you think it is?¡± Shen Xiu answered her helplessly.


    ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good.¡± More tears swelled in Shen Lan¡¯s eyes as she said this.


    She was 20 years old. She was actually 20 years old! There was nothing she could not yet fix. This was a good time to start!


    Shen Lan¡¯s infatuation with Zhou Li caused her to make decisions over the next few years that she would come to deeply regret. She put her trust in the villain, cut herself off from her loved ones, caused harm to her uncle, and ultimately brought down her father¡¯s business.


    Her family was practically wiped out!


    Even though 26 -year-old Shen Lan did not know for sure, she suspected that her ¡°best friend¡± Liu Sheng was to blame.


    ¡°Liu Sheng and the others have come to see you. Should I call them in?¡± When Shen Xiu saw how upset Shen Lan was, he decided that a friend, rather than an elder, would be the best choice to accompany her.


    ¡°No!¡± Shen Lan grabbed Shen Xiu¡¯s hand as he was finishing his sentence.


    ¡°Uncle, I don¡¯t want to see them!¡±


    The girl¡¯s gentle touch on his arm felt warm and comforting. For a split second, Shen Xiu¡¯s body tensed up. ¡°Okay, you don¡¯t have to see them if you don¡¯t want to.¡±


    ¡°Do you still feel uncomfortable anywhere?¡± Shen Xiu pulled his hand away.


    ¡°Would you like to stay in bed for a while longer?¡¯


    ¡°I¡¯m not uncomfortable¡­ I¡¯m just a little confused¡­¡± In an effort to alleviate her headache, Shen Lan massaged her temples. Her mind was a jumble of current events and memories from the past.


    The things she remembered from this life were vastly different from what she had experienced before.


    Lu Zhao¡­ This name made quite an impression on her. According to her memories, Lu Zhao was Liu Sheng¡¯s accomplice in her past life. In a short amount of time, his hard-hitting methods had eaten away at the Shen family¡¯s wealth.


    But in this life, Liu Sheng had somehow admitted to liking Lu Zhao. Just what had happened?


    Barely able to believe herself, Shen Lan recalled her prior investigations upon Lu Zhao due to Liu Sheng¡¯s claim of liking him. The ignorant were truly fearless.


    She finally remembered that the man sitting at the dessert shop during the day was Lu Zhao!


    Zhou Li had abandoned her in her previous life as well. Every single one of Zhou Li¡¯s new girlfriends was eventually forced to break up. She even went after his new girlfriends¡¯ friends and family. But she had no recollection of Zhou Li knowing Lu Zhao!


    Shen Lan gritted her teeth in confusion. What was going on? What was she going to do?


    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Shen Xiu noticed her expression darkening and remembered what the doctor had said. He interrupted Shen Lan¡¯s thoughts.


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know either.¡± Shen Lan looked up, perplexed. In fact, she was at a loss for what to do. One thing was certain. She had to change. She could no longer be so crazy over Zhou Li, and she could not trust any villains. She had to save her family.


    However, she had no idea where to begin.


    Shen Xiu noticed her anxiety and decided now was not the time to talk to her.


    He sighed. ¡°Forget about it all for the time being. Just close your eyes and rest.¡±


    Shen Lan obediently closed his eyes.


    Shen Xiu patiently waited. When he was certain she had fallen asleep again, he left the ward.


    ¡°How is it? Is she¡­¡± Shen Ping had been waiting outside the ward. He approached Shen Xiu anxiously as soon as he saw him..

 Chapter 304 - Chapter 304: Fate

    Chapter 304: Fate


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Shen Ping had rushed over the moment Shen Lan was admitted to the hospital. But in his younger years, he had not been a good father. He was petrified that his daughter would be angry with him if she found out that he had secretly pushed Zhou Li away. He could only beckon Shen Xiu over.


    Although Shen Xiu was Shen Ping¡¯s younger brother, the age gap between the two brothers was even wider than that between Shen Ping and Shen Lan. As a result, Shen Lan was more comfortable around Shen Xiu.


    ¡°She just only went back to sleep. She¡¯s disoriented, so she may babble some nonsense,¡± Shen Xiu said lightly.


    A sigh of relief escaped Shen Ping¡¯s lips, and the lines on his face softened slightly. ¡°Good¡­ I just hope she can give it some serious consideration.¡±


    Despite his willingness to indulge his feisty daughter, Shen Ping could not stand the thought of her ruining her own life.


    At a glance, a discerning person could tell what was going on with a man like Zhou Li. As long as they were just messing around, everything would have been fine. Shen Lan had fallen head over heels for the man. That just would not do.


    ¡°Who did she splash this afternoon? I¡¯ll find a chance to apologize.¡± Shen Ping


    inquired.


    ¡°It¡¯s an actress, Lu Zhao¡¯s¡­Ex-wife.¡± Shen Xiu¡¯s tone was subtle.


    ¡°Luo Ying?¡± Shen Ping also had a strange expression.


    Lu Zhao also got a report at the same time. It was the details of the afternoon farce that he had ordered Secretary Li to find out.


    ¡°Hmm? Why are you still looking into this?¡± They had just finished dinner. Luo Ying opened the email for Lu Zhao while he was peeling grapes. She read the names. ¡°Shen Lan and Zhou Li¡­¡± Wasn¡¯t Zhou Li a scumbag? He cheated on the poor girl and coldly dumped her.


    The information provided by Secretary Li was comprehensive. The more Luo Ying read, the more interested she became in the subject.


    ¡°Why would Shen Lan hang out with someone like that? Her family background is clearly¡­Oh!¡± A pleasant taste flooded Luo Ying¡¯s mouth as she spoke. Lu Zhao had stuffed a grape into her mouth.


    Having eaten, Luo Ying looked at him as though it were nothing out of the ordinary. ¡°Hmm? Secretary Li is simply incredible. He even looked into the Shens. Oh!¡± Lu Zhao interrupted her with another grape.


    Luo Ying viciously bit Lu Zhao¡¯s fingertip before he could pull back his hand. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let me finish?!¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes narrowed as he felt the dampness on his fingers. His fingers probed deeper.


    ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to praise other men,¡± Lu Zhao said with a solemn expression.


    Luo Ying was speechless and amused at the same time. ¡°That¡¯s just your secretary!¡±


    She threw herself into the disgruntled man¡¯s arms and kissed him.


    The grapes¡¯ sweetness radiated from Luo Ying¡¯s tongue tip. Lu Zhao could not help but deepen the kiss.


    More passionate kissing ensued as time went on. Luo Ying, sensing that something was about to happen, pushed him away hastily while gasping for air. ¡°I want more grapes.¡±


    She had not even reached the end of the email yet!


    ¡°Alright.¡± Lu Zhao was helpless. He worked hard to keep his breathing under control while peeling the grape skin for her.


    ¡°Why did you look into the Shens, exactly?¡± Luo Ying kept browsing the messages and noticed that many of them were updates on the Shen family.


    Lu Zhao hesitated briefly when this was brought up. ¡°Old Master Lu has excommunicated a family member from the Lu household. The Shen family eventually took them in as one of their own. Coincidentally, Shen Lan is a member of the Shen family, so I had her looked into as well.¡±


    The enemies ot his enemy were his triends. It he could put them to use, he would have yet another weapon at his disposal.


    ¡°Eh? Have you met them before?¡± This was the first time Luo Ying had heard of it. However, she knew for a fact that anyone who could capture Lu Zhao¡¯s attention would be anything but simple.


    ¡°I met him once when I first came to the Lu family.¡± It was the first time Lu Zhao mentioned the Lu family, with a subtle touch of tenderness. ¡°He¡¯s a wild one. I was on the way to yet another of the Lu family¡¯s cumbersome education for their heirs when he chased the cat in through the window and destroyed the entire room.¡±


    It was the first time Lu Zhao had ever seen anyone so animated in the Lu home. He did not belong in the dark, solemn mansion of the Lu family.


    Unbelievable as it may seem, Old Master Lu¡¯s rage that day only resulted in a relatively mild punishment of being grounded.


    Despite Old Master Lu¡¯s wrath, the person continued to play with the cat indifferently, imitating the cat¡¯s meowing.


    From his hiding place in a corner, little Lu Zhao had watched with interest.


    The unfortunate individual was banished from the Lu family by Old Master Lu within a matter of days and was never seen or heard from again.


    Luo Ying found this individual fascinating as well. It enraged Old Master Lu to the point of stomping his feet. How gratifying it sounded!


    ¡°Why couldn¡¯t Old Master Lu do anything to him?¡± Luo Ying had a lot of questions. It was most odd..

 Chapter 305 - Chapter 305: Mending Bridges

    Chapter 305: Mending Bridges


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    After wiping his hands with a damp towel, Lu Zhao embraced Luo Ying.


    After that, he gave the tablet she was holding a backward swipe. ¡°He is only ten years older than me, but in reality, he is Old Master Lu¡¯s younger brother. He¡¯s the illegitimate son of the previous generation¡¯s Lu family head. But he had better luck than most. His mother was indebted to the Shen family, and the Shen family had always protected him. Once Old Master Lu had his name removed from the tree, the Shens took him in.


    Luo Ying lowered her head to take a look. Sure enough, the information clearly stated: Shen Xiu¡¯s original name was Lu Xiu.


    ¡°What a small world!¡± Luo Ying exclaimed.


    After this revelation, two days later, Chi Tong sent a message saying that Shen Lan wanted to visit. Luo Ying only hesitated for a moment and agreed.


    After learning the truth, she had gained a good opinion of Shen Xiu, who could make Old Master Lu so angry. She also gained some respect for the Shen family, who had the courage to take Shen Xiu in despite Old Master Lu¡¯s threat. As a result, she decided to give Shen Lan a second chance.


    Luo Ying and Du Tian were participating in a TV variety show to promote a new drama. The two of them shared a dressing room. Du Tian¡¯s makeup was done. Luo Ying was still acting as Zhang Yue¡¯s living canvas.


    There were already a lot of people in the dressing room, so Luo Ying did not feel awkward telling her that Shen Lan had arrived.


    It caused a frown to form on Du Tian¡¯s face. ¡°Is she coming over to visit us? Aren¡¯t you afraid that she¡¯s up to something?¡±


    She was just having a little fun with a boy toy. She had been most unhappy with the baggage that this latest toy brought. She had immediately burned bridges with Zhou Li after the scene. Why was Shen Lan still approaching them?


    ¡°From what Chi Tong has said, she seems to be quite sincere. Maybe she is here to say sorry.¡± Luo Ying was not concerned. ¡°After all, if she wants to start a fight, she does not need to seek my consent. So I figured, why don¡¯t we just get it all out into the open?¡±


    If Shen Lan was truly up to no good, she would personally handle her.


    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Du Tian agreed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you got caught up in it.¡±


    ¡°Sister Du Tian, if you feel bad about it, please treat me to afternoon tea today!¡± With a grin on her face, Luo Ying offered Du Tian an exit.


    In her opinion, Du Tian had not done any wrong. It was simply an unpleasant gathering with an unfortunate encounter.


    ¡°No problem!¡± Du Tian agreed readily.


    However, Wang Yu quietly passed over a phone not long after Luo Ying finished speaking. It featured news about the entertainment industry.


    [There is more exciting news from Luo Ying¡¯s production crew. Du Tian got involved with a second-generation heir!!! How interesting! ]


    [Why is it the same production crew again? This is really getting stale for me. Why do other production companies boast about the script and performances, while this weird bunch only has such bizarre events to show for themselves?]


    [Why is it Luo Ying again? Do they have nothing better to report? What are they filming, a movie or a reality show?]


    [Last time, it wasn¡¯t about feelings. Last time, it was about the legal system, haha.]


    [What is a Du Tian?]


    [Why are actresses always getting tangled up with the elite? Aren¡¯t they afraid of being burned?]


    [Why are you bringing Luo Ying up? What does Du Tian have to do with Luo Ying?]


    [Wait a minute. Everyone knows that Luo Ying is still in a relationship with a certain CEO after the divorce, right?]


    [Luo Ying is friends with Du Tian. Doesn¡¯t that explain everything?]


    [Are you sure they¡¯re friends? This matter has nothing to do with Luo Ying. You guys are really working hard to rope Luo Ying into this. Otherwise, the news is not going to gain any traction, right?]


    This announcement came from a prominent account in the entertainment business and had already made its way to a limited region.


    The attached photos were nothing more than photos of Shen Lan and Zhou Li on a date, as well as photos of Du Tian walking.


    In a mix of half-truths and twisted lies, a narrative had been constructed.


    Allegedly, Du Tian and Zhou Li were together during the time that Shen Lan and Zhou Li were dating.


    Even Du Tian¡¯s assistant had to come in and deliver the same news. Du Tian¡¯s expression turned dark upon reading the heading. ¡°That Shen Lan! I knew she was up to no good!¡±


    Luo Ying immediately called Chi Tong. ¡°Chi Tong, take down the news as soon as possible and check the source.¡±


    Chi Tong immediately took action.


    Luo Ying was deep in thought after hanging up. On one hand, Shen Lan contacted her to say that she wanted to visit her at work, and on the other hand, she had posted a press release that slandered Du Tian. Wasn¡¯t this contradictory?


    Someone had clearly manipulated the earlier comments. Why was every arrow being pointed at her?


    Would this be Shen Lan¡¯s doing?


    ¡°Knock, knock!¡± Suddenly, someone knocked on the door of the dressing room.


    Everyone was startled.


    The door was pushed open. Shen Lan held a big bouquet of flowers and stuck her head in with a smile.. ¡°Good afternoon, everyone!¡±

 Chapter 306 - Chapter 306: Sincerity

    Chapter 306: Sincerity


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Both Luo Ying and Du Tian¡¯s expressions became unusually nuanced for a brief second.


    Why was Shen Lan here? Was she here to start a war?


    However, Shen Lan did something unexpected in the next second.


    She walked into the dressing room and stuffed the flowers into the trash can. She reached in, pulled out an item, and used it to secure the lid of the trash can with a knot.


    The effects of this shock were universal.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Her actions were incomprehensible to Luo Ying.


    ¡°I need some time to talk to you privately.¡± Shen Lan raised her left hand. A tiny instrument was dangling from it. ¡°I just plucked it from the flower,¡± she said.


    As a matter of fact, Liu Sheng and Lin Jin were the ones who suggested she check out the studio.


    She may have been able to avoid meeting them in her ward, but she could not hide from their messages.


    Lin Jin had informed her that Du Tian would be appearing on a talk show today. It is possible Zhou Li would show up, too. As long as Lin Jin randomly arranged for a host or guest to visit, they would be granted access to the studio.


    Shen Lan was curious about their plans, so she agreed.


    But her actions were very different from the ¡°plan¡± she told Liu Sheng about.


    Shen Lan had discovered the foreign object in the flower on the way here. Upon entering the restroom, she immediately sought it out and squished it.


    A simple glance told Luo Ying that this was a listening device. It resembled the one she had discovered in Lu Zhao¡¯s home previously. She motioned for Wang Yu to bring out the other helpers first. The topic Shen Lan wanted to broach was likely not easy to explain.


    ¡°What are you up to?!¡± Du Tian also recognized the device. Her expression shifted and she jumped to her feet.


    Once everyone had left, Shen Lan said, ¡°Do not be nervous. I am not here to make trouble this time. I¡¯m here to apologize.¡±


    Shen Lan gave Du Tian a serious look. ¡°The last time, I did not understand the situation and misunderstood you. I made a huge racket and splashed water at you. I¡¯m really sorry.¡±


    She had actually thought of many ways to ask for forgiveness behind closed doors. However, her entire upbringing was always idyllic and simple. She did not cultivate much of a scheming nature, even after tragedy struck her family and threw her out to the streets.


    Any scheme she devised to win forgiveness was doomed to fail. She had not lost her self-awareness altogether.


    Thus, Shen Lan ultimately chose to be forthright and offer genuine regret for any wrongdoing. From what she knew, Du Tian might be more open to sincere people.


    ¡°Apologize? An exceptional apology, indeed.¡± The tone in which Du Tian spoke was unsettling. She found Shen Lan¡¯s about-face hard to believe.


    Shen Lan cracked a grin. She was not surprised by Du Tian¡¯s rejection.


    After all, she often questioned her 20-year-old self¡¯s idiocy.


    ¡°I understand how difficult it is to forgive someone who has wronged you,¡± Shen Lan said with a serious expression. That is why I came bearing more than just apologies. All of you should have been aware of the situation thanks to the internet. You¡¯ve seen the rumors surrounding Miss Du. To be honest, I did not have anyone publish it for me.¡±


    Shen Lan¡¯s gaze was fixed on Luo Ying. ¡°That would be Lin Jin and Liu Sheng. In the future, I can tell you more about who Liu Sheng is. However, you may find Lin Jin familiar.¡±


    ¡°Just call me Luo Ying. What makes you think it is actually them?¡± Her words piqued Luo Ying¡¯s curiosity. Where did Lin Jin pick up such a convoluted strategy?


    ¡°She was the one who told me about Miss Du and Zhou Li. She chose such a time to tell me because she wanted to use my feelings for Zhou Li to make me despise Miss Du and sabotage your gathering. She also intended to target your production team with the Shen family¡¯s influence so that you could not continue filming.¡± Shen Lan laughed self-deprecatingly. ¡°If I was as blind as I was, I might have just done that.¡±


    It was a spectacular move to murder someone using a knife that was not your own.


    ¡°Heh.¡± A sneer formed on Du Tian¡¯s face. ¡°Do we really look like such easy pickings? I know we¡¯re not exactly the biggest production team in town.¡±


    The Du family did not have an heiress so weak that a single boy-toy could ruin her.


    When Luo Ying met Shen Lan¡¯s gaze, she saw a great deal of honesty.


    Shen Lan was probably telling the truth. Lin Jin¡¯s involvement would explain Shen Lan¡¯s contradictory behavior of slandering her while contacting her to apologize.


    But Luo Ying was curious, so she acted very wary.. ¡°What you said makes a lot of sense, but how do I know you did not come up with the story because you heard about the history Lin Jin and I share? How do I know you¡¯re not taking sides? Don¡¯t you think it seems awfully convenient for you to wash your hands off the matter and put all the blame on Lin Jin?¡±

 Chapter 307 - Chapter 307: Beat Them At Their Game

    Chapter 307: Beat Them At Their Game


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Shen Lan gave a sigh. ¡°You are right, and that is why I am being as honest as I can.¡±


    Shen Lan threw the broken listening device on the table and pointed to the tightly tied trash bag on the side. ¡°The bouquet of flowers I brought had brownie tulips in it. Tulip pollen should make Miss Du sick, right?¡±


    The color left Du Tian¡¯s face. Tulip pollen was, indeed, an allergen for her. In extreme situations, she would have trouble breathing.


    ¡°I learned this from Lin Jin. Do not worry, I have already tied the trash bag shut. It will not spread in the air.¡± Then, Shen Lan added, ¡°Also, do not take part in today¡¯s variety show. They¡¯re up to something.¡±


    She reached into her purse and produced a paper, which she then gave to Luo Ying. It captured the segment-by-segment breakdown of the variety show. Shen Lan had meticulously highlighted the problematic areas.


    Liu Sheng and Lin Jin wanted Shen Lan to bring tulips to the production team and incapacitate Du Tian so she could not make it for the recording. They did this so that Luo Ying would be framed in the variety show segment.


    Shen Lan was being so honest because she had grown to respect Luo Ying and Lu Zhao, who backed her up. She wanted to win her trust as soon as possible.


    Back then, Liu Sheng was able to take over the business of the Shen family in large part because of a deal struck with Lu Zhao. However, Shen Lan had just experienced a rebirth. She had the advantage of foresight.


    Shen Lan¡¯s best chance at success at the moment was with Luo Ying, as Liu Sheng should not have been able to enlist Lu Zhao¡¯s help. She could do it without Lu Zhao¡¯s assistance. All she needed was for Lu Zhao to refuse to help Liu Sheng.


    ¡°What is going on?¡± In the list, Luo Ying noticed a name that caught her attention.


    It was Lin Mu. He was at the helm of the production team as a top executive.


    Lin Jin was allegedly one of the conspirators, according to Shen Lan. In this programming department, Lin Mu served as a director.


    They both shared the same surname. Was that really a coincidence?


    ¡°What do you think, Sister Du Tian?¡± Luo Ying cocked her head and inquired.


    She had no idea what had caused Shen Lan¡¯s sudden change of heart, but the details seemed solid enough.


    Du Tian finished going over the paperwork and gave Shen Lan a good look. ¡°What brought you here to help us out of the blue?¡±


    Shen Lan smiled, but her grin stopped short of her eyes. ¡°I used to consider Liu Sheng a close friend. But now I know that she and the others made fun of me, lied to me, used me, set me up, and planned to take over the business my family owned. I have more reason to despise her than Zhou Li.¡±


    She had been too naive in her previous incarnation. Because of her fixation on a deceitful romance, she failed to recognize the largest problem in her midst.


    Du Tian looked at Luo Ying with raised eyebrows. ¡°I will take your word for it this time.¡±


    After giving it some thought, Luo Ying decided to play along.


    She sent Lu Zhao a few messages.


    [There might be news of my accident later. I am in no danger at all, so please do not worry about me.]


    [But you have to make it look like you are very worried! They¡¯re up to something.]


    [There could be a twist.]


    She sent a message with an attached photo at the end.


    At the same time, Lin Jin was keeping a close eye on events at the recording location for the variety show.


    ¡°Has Shen Lan shown up?¡± Lin Jin asked a passing staff member.


    ¡°Yes, her driver has already sent her there. She should have seen Du Tian and Luo Ying, but¡­¡± The young lady hesitated. Shen Lan had looked so happy. Was she really here to cause trouble?


    ¡°But what? Don¡¯t stammer when you speak,¡± Lin Jin said impatiently.


    ¡°But she was carrying a bouquet of flowers,¡± she replied.


    ¡°Flowers?¡± Lin Jin scowled. She had a hunch that things were not going as planned.


    Shouldn¡¯t Shen Lan be here to start a fight with Du Tian? So why did she bring flowers?


    Could she have planned on using the flowers to throw off the other party before getting into trouble?


    ¡°Du Tian has a severe allergy to flora.¡± Liu Sheng¡¯s relaxed drawl could be heard through the phone.


    ¡°Du Tian would break out in hives if she so much as touched it. If the dose was particularly high, she would have to be taken to the hospital. In any case, Du Tian would not be able to show up. This way, only Luo Ying would be on stage as a guest.¡±


    Liu Sheng naturally mentioned Lin Jin when she told Shen Lan this.


    She would remove all traces of her presence. Even if Lin Jin were to be exposed, the evidence would not point in her direction. Lin Jin was going to be the scapegoat.


    Lin Jin, still bewildered, felt a little more at ease, but her anxiety persisted. Liu Sheng was a very cruel person. An allergic reaction could be fatal if she was not careful.


    ¡°Then we¡­ Ah!¡± Lin Jin was taken aback by the abrupt sound coming from the earpiece.. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Have they discovered the problem?¡±

 Chapter 308 - Chapter 308: Ruined Plans

    Chapter 308: Ruined Plans


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The bouquet was probably discarded or destroyed. Du Tian is not a fool to just leave something that could kill her lying around.¡± Liu Sheng¡¯s voice remained unruffled. ¡°Proceed to the next stage.¡±


    Lin Jin could only do what she was told and contact the person she had planted on the production team.


    Soon, a member of the staff hurriedly went to an individual in the midst of the chaotic set.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t you postpone the show? What gives?¡± The manager was already sweating profusely. ¡°The guest is having a severe allergic reaction. We need to rush her to the hospital! Do you even expect us to get this show on the road? We haven¡¯t even started filming. If nobody is going to take responsibility for this, I¡¯ll do it! Do you still have time to worry about the variety show? If something happens to the guest, I¡¯ll go testify myself!¡±


    ¡°Sir, we really can¡¯t postpone this. Director Lin has already asked around, and all of the other guests for the next few episodes are busy. Since the previous two episodes we recorded have not been greenlit, we are in serious trouble if we do not get this one in the can right away.¡± The staff member was also a portrait of anxiety. He pretended to consider the situation before offering a solution. ¡°We have two stars. One of them won¡¯t be able to make it, but we can salvage the situation with the other. Why don¡¯t we have a guest stand in?¡±


    It would not do the guest any harm to gain some exposure in another series, regardless of its future reception. They had very little reason to decline.


    It came as a surprise when the manager rolled his eyes. ¡°This is a special feature of the production. Why would they film a feature-length presentation with only one female supporting cast member? You should get in touch with the show¡¯s producers again and see if any of the major players can hurry over. I don¡¯t care if the director himself has to act in a few scenes!¡±


    ¡°What? A supporting cast member? Isn¡¯t Du Tian the allergic one?¡± A moment of shock passed before the employee asked hastily.


    ¡°Who told you that Du Tian has an allergy? It¡¯s Luo Ying!¡± the manager snapped at him wearily.


    What was going on? Something had gone wrong. Didn¡¯t the plan involve knocking Du Tian out of the running with flowers? How did Luo Ying get caught up?


    The staff could not care less what the manager was saying and quickly called the person on the phone.


    However, Director Lin, who had been in contact with him just a moment ago, suddenly stopped responding. It was as if he had disappeared from the face of the earth in an instant.


    In a certain high-level office of the television station, another tense situation was taking place.


    Lin Mu was sitting in his ottice chair with a dark expression and staring at the people who had suddenly walked in. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡±


    The leader of the group carried himself with an amicable demeanor, but the bodyguards flanking him added a twist to that image. Lin Mu could not determine what they had done, but none of his telecommunication devices were functioning.


    ¡°Have no fear, Director Lin. I just want to help you catch up with an old friend.¡± Secretary Li smiled as he approached. He pointed the camera of his phone at Lin Mu. A video call was already taking place.


    On the other side of the video was a familiar face, Zhang.


    ¡°Zhang, is that him?¡± Secretary Li asked faintly.


    Lin Mu¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    ¡°Yes, that would be him. He said that the branch of the Lin family had moved away from the Lin family in the early years, but Lin Gu and he were actually biological brothers. He was the one who publicized the construction site to the press. He inflated the value of the real estate project in the media and got Lu Zhao focused on it.¡± Zhang sat in a sealed room with a haggard expression. He resignedly poured out the information in a monotone.


    He had waited for what seemed like forever inside the room.


    It had been so long that he was worried the data in his possession would be useless to Lu Zhao at this point. He was on the verge of despair. Secretary Li contacted him today and offered to negotiate.


    Zhang broke like a ruptured water spout.


    After being locked up for so many days, he was no longer able to distinguish which information mattered. He wanted nothing more than to spill everything he knew to Lu Zhao for a semblance of mercy.


    ¡°What old friend are you talking about? I¡¯ve never seen that man in my life! What bullshit are you spouting?!¡± Lin Mu¡¯s expression had turned ugly. The air conditioner did nothing to help the cold sweat that gradually seeped out of his back.


    Who was this person? How did he know about him and Lin Gu?


    ¡°Well, he certainly seems to know you well enough.¡± Secretary Li hung up the video call and slowly put away his phone.


    ¡°Well then, Director Lin. I think you can be of use to us. Let¡¯s talk.¡± Secretary Li handed over his business card like he did every time he held a business meeting. It was like a ritual.


    ¡°Luya Group¡­¡± Lin Mu¡¯s hand took the business card and trembled involuntarily. The thin piece of paper seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.


    Fear rose in Lin Mu¡¯s heart.. Lu Zhao had caught on! He was in trouble!

 Chapter 309 - Chapter 309: Lin Jin

    Chapter 309: Lin Jin


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°The Lins have truly sunk their tendrils into every crevice they could find.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s gaze was icy as he regarded the woman before him. ¡°I warned you, didn¡¯t I? If you behaved, I would have considered returning the Lin family¡¯s assets to you. Nonetheless, you continually attempt to meddle.¡±


    Lin Jin trembled. She seemed to have lost the use of her voice. She shook her head frantically.


    Before Lu Zhao arrived, she still had not heard anything from her cronies. How did he find out? Was he already aware of her schemes?


    ¡°The marriage pact¡¯s dissolution will be officially announced today.¡± Lu Zhao sneered. ¡°Join your pawns and brothers on Neverland Island.¡±


    ¡°No, no!¡± Lin Jin reached for Lu Zhao¡¯s sleeve in a panic and was subsequently thrown to the floor. Her tears came streaming out of her eyes. ¡°Do you plan on going to war with Old Master Lu? I can behave! I will be obedient this time! I won¡¯t go after Luo Ying again! I beg you, please do not cancel it!¡±


    Why? What went wrong? Lin Jin did not even have time to examine what had gone wrong.


    ¡°I have nothing to fear from that old man, and I most certainly don¡¯t need you.¡± Lu Zhao ignored her cries and turned to leave the room.


    ¡°Stop! Lu Zhao, please wait!¡± Sirius stood in her way. She stared at the man in front of her. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, don¡¯t touch me! Old Master Lu has designated me as his-¡±


    ¡°Old Master Lu?¡± Sirius cut her off with a mocking snort. ¡°I guess we¡¯re indebted to you for that. Because of your flawed plan, we were able to learn about Lin Mu. He¡¯s more sensible than you and immeasurably more valuable. He¡¯s never stopped squawking ever since. As for the old man? He is too busy dealing with the investigation of tax evasion. He has no control over the stock transfer, let alone the wedding.¡±


    ¡°What? Old Master Lu¡­¡± Lin Jin shook her head in utter disbelief. The influence of Old Master Lu was monumental. It was impossible! How could Lu Zhao possibly beat him, much less in a single day?!


    Sirius did not have time to explain, so he had his men drag her away.


    His subordinates swarmed over and methodically combed through the data Lin Jin left behind.


    Having finished his business with Lin Jin, he hurriedly descended the stairs. He still needed to fetch Lu Zhao to the hospital to see Luo Ying. That man was still very anxious despite knowing that Luo Ying was putting on an act.


    He now realized how deeply personal Lu Zhao¡¯s concern for Luo Ying ran.


    Multiple pieces of news simultaneously went viral on the web. [The former chairman of the Luya Group is under scrutiny.]


    [The nuptials between Lu and Lin have been called off.]


    [That crew never sleeps! Luo Ying has been taken to the hospital due to an allergic reaction!]


    People on the internet were surprised to see several trending searches appear all at once.


    [Why do these seemingly unrelated search terms feel so ominous when they show up together?]


    [As soon as Luo Ying was admitted to the hospital, Lu Zhao made the decision to call off the wedding.]


    [It is a big deal, so the marriage official has been trying very hard to keep the news quiet. That woman is bad news for you, Mr. Lu!]


    [Who remembers hearing about Du Tian conniving with some wealthy heir of the second or third generation? Just a second ago, she dragged Luo Ying out to create drama, suggesting that the relationship between Luo Ying and Lu Zhao was still ambiguous despite their engagement. The very next second, Lu Zhao called off the wedding. Typical of your Sister Ying, I suppose.]


    [Do not try to fool me, Luo Ying fans. The only possible motivation for this union is financial. Lu Zhao¡¯s decision to call off the wedding likely played a role in the investigation into the old man. It is just too far-fetched to think it has anything to do with Luo Ying!]


    [Those of you who support Luo Ying, aren¡¯t you the ones who clumsily linked two unrelated events? Didn¡¯t Lu Zhao say he and Luo Ying were no longer engaged? He did not even bother to see Luo Ying in the hospital. What kind of love is this?]


    [Forget about the marriage. I just want to know what became of the former chairman.]


    [If I am not mistaken, he happens to be Lu Zhao¡¯s grandfather. It¡¯s a power struggle within the family.]


    Before the internet trolls could finish their argument, a news organization hastily uploaded yet another image.


    A fresh conversation starter was developing: [Lu Zhao Visits Luo Ying.] A photograph showed Lu Zhao checking into a hospital.


    Luo Ying¡¯s fans immediately stood at attention and raised their heads high..

 Chapter 310 - Chapter 310: Visit

    Chapter 310: Visit


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    [What were you guys just saying? Why would President Lu be in such a rush to go see someone who is perfectly healthy?]


    [I know what they¡¯ll say next! They would definitely say that Luo Ying¡¯s fans are just twisting facts at this point! President Lu just happened to be in the same hospital for a physical examination at the same time!]


    [Some people have a hard time accepting the fact that Luo Ying and Lu Zhao get along well.]


    [Luo Ying¡¯s allergic reaction has to be severe if she needed to be rushed to the hospital. Can you people have some decorum?]


    [How serious could it be? Is Luo Ying made of glass? How could a human be so fragile?]


    [Did you even finish elementary? If the allergy was severe, it would cause breathing difficulties or even suffocation. If Luo Ying had to be rushed to the hospital, she could very well be fighting for her life right now.]


    [Insider information! Luo Ying¡¯s hospitalization prompted Lu Zhao to conduct a full sweep of the production staff. I will be bold and propose a conspiracy theory. Lin Jin was somehow behind this, so Lu Zhao went crazy and canceled the marriage!]


    [Does this mean that she also inspired the tax evasion scandal?]


    [That would be too much of a stretch¡­l¡¯m a fan of Luo Ying, but she couldn¡¯t have possibly brought that on¡­]


    In fact, Luo Ying, who was in the ward reading the news, did not know if this was about her or not.


    She just thought that if Lin Jin was going to move on the production team, she would need help from someone on the inside.


    She had only intended to outwit her and give Lu Zhao the opportunity to look into the matter. Maybe he would be able to dig up some answers.


    However, she had been a step behind. Why did Lu Zhao press the attack and go all the way for the old man¡¯s throat?


    ¡°What exactly happened?¡± When Lu Zhao walked into the ward, Luo Ying immediately embraced him. ¡°Why are you calling off the marriage?¡±


    She looked at Lu Zhao curiously.


    However, Lu Zhao did not immediately answer. Instead, he held Luo Ying in his arms and turned her around to get a careful look at her.


    Luo Ying may have said that she was fine, but his heart had still clenched up when he saw the fake news circulating on the Internet. They had described Luo Ying¡¯s allergy in great detail.


    ¡°I¡¯m really fine! It¡¯s all an act!¡± Luo Ying whirled around incoherently. She quickly stopped Lu Zhao and patted his arm. ¡°Hurry up and say it! Hurry up and say it! Did you find anything? Why did you rush ahead like a bull?¡±


    Lu Zhao let out a long sigh. He gave in to the allure of Luo Ying¡¯s beautiful eyes.


    ¡°You were right to have me look into that person. Coincidentally, Lin Gu had a younger sibling named Lin Mu. He would be the mole in your production team, as well as my real estate project.¡±


    ¡°I have spent a lot of time looking into this. The details of Lin Mu¡¯s confession today are the final link in the chain of evidence. It is a perfect chance for me to cause Old Master Lu some trouble by exposing all of them at once. There is no way he can get to me this time.¡± Lu Zhao ruffled Luo Ying¡¯s hair. In every tense situation, she always came through for him. She was really his little lucky star.


    ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Luo Ying was happy for Lu Zhao. ¡°Is Old Master Lu really¡­?¡±


    ¡°No, we are not there yet. The most I have done is prick his side and cause him some discomfort.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes were dark. ¡°But he will have to pay for his actions soon.¡±


    ¡°I believe you,¡± Luo Ying said firmly. ¡°You will definitely achieve all your goals.¡±


    That was how it went in the original novel, anyway. However, Lu Zhao, had a much more difficult journey filled with many unpleasant experiences. Ideally, she would be able to make Lu Zhao¡¯s life easier in the source novel. ¡°Yes, I will. Lin Jin did not manage to hurt you, did she?¡± Lu Zhao asked worriedly.


    ¡°She really didn¡¯t!¡± Luo Ying replied helplessly, ¡°Shen Lan stuffed the flowers into the trash can as soon as she entered the room. Not a single bit of pollen dispersed. Du Tian is absolutely fine, much less me. The show has not even begun taping yet. Her plans did absolutely nothing!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Lu Zhao tightened his grip on Luo Ying¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the rest. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Luo Ying opened her mouth to speak, then quickly closed it as she remembered Lu Zhao¡¯s ruthless tactics.


    Everything Lu Zhao did was over the top. There was only so much that could be done to eradicate the weeds and roots. If he kept this up, Luo Ying worried that something would go wrong..

 Chapter 311 - Chapter 311: Lu Wen

    Chapter 311: Lu Wen


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lu Zhao did not have to wait long in the hospital before a call came from the Lu family.


    Lu Zhao had called off the engagement and accused Old Master Lu of tax evasion. The commotion was so significant that the Lu family was in complete disarray. They were desperate for him to return and handle the situation.


    ¡°Will you be okay on your own?¡± Luo Ying was concerned.


    Luo Ying had initially planned to accompany Lu Zhao to the Lu family¡¯s old residence, but he had refused.


    Lu Zhao had already anticipated such chaos. There was no need for Luo Ying to endure that with him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Lu Zhao reassured her and kissed her forehead affectionately.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, just wait for me to come home.¡±


    Worry clouded Luo Ying¡¯s face as she nodded. Lu Zhao¡¯s power struggle within the Lu family was progressing much faster than in the original novel. She couldn¡¯t predict what would happen, but she chose to trust him.


    Not long after, Lu Zhao arrived at the Lu family¡¯s old residence with Sirius.


    ¡°Sirius, have some people seal off the surrounding area,¡± Lu Zhao instructed before getting out of the car.


    He had dealt a significant blow to the Lu family this time. They may just resort to desperate measures when pushed into a corner.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everything has been arranged,¡± Sirius confidently smiled. At such a critical moment, he wouldn¡¯t give the Lu family any chance to play dirty tricks.


    However, when Lu Zhao entered the Lu family¡¯s old residence, he didn¡¯t see Old Master Lu. Instead, he was stopped by Lu Wen.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Old Master Lu?¡± Lu Zhao asked casually, seeming unfazed by being stopped.


    ¡°Him? He returned not long ago. He wanted me to ask you to come back so he could teach you a lesson, but he was taken away by investigators!¡± Lu Wen looked at Lu Zhao with mixed emotions. He had never expected Lu Zhao to implicate Old Master Lu as well. ¡°The charges you brought against him are quite serious.¡±


    ¡°An eye for an eye,¡± Lu Zhao smirked. Since the old man had deceived him with real estate projects, he was returning the favor with a similarly sweet trap.


    However, it seemed he wouldn¡¯t have the pleasure of witnessing Old Master Lu¡¯s furious and frustrated expression today. He might as well turn around and head home. Luo Ying was still waiting for him.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, I underestimated you. You may have played me, but I definitely didn¡¯t think you would have the balls to turn on Old Master Lu,¡± Lu Wen¡¯s tone turned dark. He no longer displayed the arrogance he once had, and the fatigue on his face was unmistakeable.


    The last time he learned that Lu Zhao had the antidote, it was the closest Lu Wen had come to hope.


    He had spent a considerable amount of time and effort investigating the daughter of the poison master. However, every time he thought he was making progress, the leads would disappear.


    Just when he was about to give up, new information would suddenly emerge.


    As the investigation progressed, Lu Wen¡¯s emotions fluctuated. After several instances, he finally realized something was amiss.


    Upon further investigation, he discovered that all the leads and intelligence he


    had received were orchestrated by Lu Zhao and deliberately ted to him.


    It had all been a ruse!


    The moment he realized this, Lu Wen felt an intense desire to confront Lu Zhao and fight him to the death.


    Lu Zhao sneered impatiently. ¡°Fooled you? Isn¡¯t your side project going well? As for other matters, I never made any promises.¡±


    However, progress on the project was extremely limited. He was completely trapped in a hopeless waiting game! Lu Zhao had an antidote readily available, but he couldn¡¯t obtain it!


    Lu Wen¡¯s face twisted as he clenched his fists tightly.


    ¡°You!¡± He punched the pillar beside him. ¡°Do you think you¡¯ll be cured just because you found the daughter of the poison master? Haven¡¯t you realized it?


    She¡¯s on the verge of death!¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s expression changed. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You may have led me on a wild goose chase, it doesn¡¯t mean I haven¡¯t gained anything,¡± Lu Wen glared at Lu Zhao with hatred. ¡°Do you really think a single woman can keep donating so much blood without any consequences? No human can withstand the repeated bloodletting. This isn¡¯t an antidote; she¡¯s trading her life for you! It will take at least a year to cure the poison in your body. By the time you¡¯re cured, she¡¯ll be dead!


    ¡°I wonder which is going to hold out. The poison in your blood, or her!¡± Lu Wen said coldly before turning and walking away.


    This was Lu Wen¡¯s provocation tactic, and Lu Zhao was fully aware of it.


    However, a sense of unease slowly spread through his heart. Could what Lu Wen said be true?


    ¡°Sirius, who is the daughter of the poison master?¡± Lu Zhao met Sirius after Lu Wen left and asked with utmost seriousness..

 Chapter 312 - Chapter 312: Premonition

    Chapter 312: Premonition


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°What? I don¡¯t know myself. She has been contacting me via a proxy. I¡¯ve never met her in person.¡± Sirius was taken aback. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°You truly do not know?¡± Lu Zhao furrowed his brow.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t. Are you doubting me?¡± Sirius raised an eyebrow. He appeared confident. His heart quivered, betraying his fear.


    Lu Zhao did not press for more information.


    If Sirius was going to remain tight-lipped, there was no point pressing him.


    However, a gut feeling within Lu Zhao¡¯s heart kept gnawing at him.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s heart raced at the thought of someone bleeding themselves out for his sake. The image of Luo Ying collapsing flashed through his mind.


    That was a little too far-fetched! Lu Zhao thought to himself that Lu Wen was just pulling at straws. He was hoping that Lu Zhao would inadvertently join him in his hunt.


    He was not going to fall for it. Even so, he had to uncover the truth.


    The next day, Lu Zhao started digging into the matter.


    ¡°The daughter of the poison master? I don¡¯t know either.¡± Luo Ying shook her head and looked genuinely confused. Even so, her brow twitched slightly. She had a bad feeling. Why was Lu Zhao suddenly asking about this?


    ¡°I had Wen Yu look into the matter,¡± Lu Zhao replied mysteriously. ¡°She should be able to compare the blood sample she has with her existing database.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great, but why the sudden interest in finding her?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    She wasn¡¯t worried about Wen Yu. She was confident she could intercept her research.


    ¡°Lu Wen is also on the prowl. If we can find her before he does, we can protect her.¡± Lu Zhao spoke truthfully.


    ¡°I see.¡± Luo Ying nodded. It made perfect sense.


    However, their thoughts were soon interrupted by another piece of news. Lin Jin had gone missing.


    ¡°Yesterday, the car she was being escorted in got into an accident. She was taken during the chaos,¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s expression turned grim. ¡°I smell Old Master Lu¡¯s paws behind this. I never realized how valuable Lin Jin is until now.¡± ¡°Old Master Lu?¡± Luo Ying was greatly surprised.


    ¡°Yes, it seems Lin Jin might have some dirt on Old Master Lu,¡± Lu Zhao said indifferently. ¡°After all, she was chosen by Old Master Lu for a marriage alliance. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if she had some insider knowledge.


    Orchestrating a car accident on a busy street to pick her up is such a bold plan.


    Only that old man could pull it off.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Luo Ying rested her chin on her hand. She was deep in thought. She couldn¡¯t help but think about the name Shen Lan had mentioned before: Liu Sheng.


    She decided to meet Shen Lan once again.


    In the afternoon, at a restaurant in the western part of the city¡­


    ¡°Missing?¡± Du Tian was stunned upon hearing the news. She accidentally dropped two extra sugar cubes into her coffee.


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Luo Ying nodded. ¡°That¡¯s also why I invited you here today.¡± The three of them had joined forces to stage the allergic reaction act and outsmart the mastermind. They had bonded over the incident.


    Since Shen Lan had chosen to be honest and Lu Zhao¡¯s subsequent investigation aligned with Shen Lan¡¯s account, Luo Ying and Du Tian decided to let bygones be bygones and accept Shen Lan¡¯s surrender.


    Today, they could finally enjoy a peaceful afternoon tea.


    Unfortunately, the news shared by Luo Ying had disrupted the pleasant atmosphere.


    Shen Lan had been focused on savoring desserts. She paused upon hearing Luo Ying¡¯s news. ¡°How is that possible? Wasn¡¯t Lin Jin already under Lu Zhao¡¯s control? Who could snatch her away from him?¡±


    ¡°I heard from Lu Zhao that Sirius had organized Lin Jin¡¯s transfer that day. He had not personally escorted her. The car she was in collided with a truck on the road. The people in the car were incapacitated. Someone took advantage of the chaos to abduct Lin Jin,¡± Luo Ying briefly explained what Lu Zhao had told her.


    Lu Zhao had only recently learned of this news. He believed it had been orchestrated by Old Master Lu.


    After all, the truck had precisely targeted the car Lin Jin was in. The driver had immediately fled the scene without a trace. It was clearly premediated.


    Orchestrating a car accident on a busy street to kidnap someone was such audacious and meticulous method. No ordinary fool would attempt such an act. Even so, Luo Ying couldn¡¯t help but keep thinking about Liu Sheng. It was the name Shen Lan had once mentioned..

 Chapter 313 - Chapter 313: Investigating Liu Sheng

    Chapter 313: Investigating Liu Sheng


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Shen Lan was suspicious that Liu Sheng and Lin Jin were working together. However, she currently had no evidence. With Lin Jin now missing, there was even less evidence pointing toward Liu Sheng.


    Liu Sheng stood to gain the most from Lin Jin¡¯s disappearance.


    ¡°Liu Sheng¡­¡± Shen Lan spoke haltingly. ¡°She is not that heartless, is she? Could she be? I¡¯m not entirely sure. I only know that she had been pretending to be my good friend while secretly infiltrating and embezzling my family¡¯s business. Orchestrating a car accident and kidnapping seems a little too extreme for her tastes, but I can¡¯t be certain.


    ¡°Liu Sheng recently became the vice president of your family¡¯s company, didn¡¯t he? That complicates matters,¡± Du Tian said. She had been conducting thorough behind-the-scenes investigations since the variety show ended. After all, people had dared to plot against her. They seemed to think she was an easy target.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Lan nodded. The memory clearly pained her. She added with a tinge of self-derision, ¡°It¡¯s my fault for misjudging people.¡±


    Luo Ying held her forehead. She was lost in thought. Even Lu Zhao was having trouble locating Lin Jin. Based on Shen Lan¡¯s description, Liu Sheng shouldn¡¯t wield that much influence. Was it possible that she had a powerful backer? Luo Ying cautiously probed, ¡°Does your family also trust her?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Shen Lan said bitterly. ¡°I brought her into my circle a long time ago. She¡¯s skilled in management. Everyone trusts her, including my father. She almost perfectly fits my father¡¯s requirements. If I wasn¡¯t his biological daughter, he would have taken her as his daughter without a moment¡¯s hesitation.¡±


    Luo Ying looked at Shen Lan¡¯s distressed expression and suddenly recalled the information she had come across earlier.


    Shen Lan¡¯s uncle was related to Lu Zhao through blood. He had managed to survive Old Master Lu¡¯s schemes. He wasn¡¯t a simple man and might have the power to aid Shen Lan.


    However, Luo Ying kept this to herself. Instead, she tactfully asked, ¡°Apart from your dad. who else in your family would stand by your side?¡±


    ¡°My uncle,¡± Shen Lan replied without hesitation.


    ¡°Do you mean Shen Xiu?¡± Du Tian recalled. ¡°We¡¯ve worked together before.¡±


    ¡°Did my uncle invest in some movie?¡± Shen Lan tilted her head in astonishment. Her uncle didn¡¯t seem like someone who would involve himself in the entertainment industry.


    Unbeknownst to Shen Lan, Du Tian was actually referring to the business cooperation between the Du family and Shen Xiu.


    Du Tian found it difficult to evaluate Shen Xiu. She could only vaguely say, ¡°He has a unique way of doing things. If he trusts you, investigating and dealing with Liu Sheng shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡±


    Luo Ying remembered Shen Xiu¡¯s actions in front of Old Master Lu. Du Tian¡¯s mention of Shen Xiu¡¯s unique style likely meant that he operated differently.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll ask my uncle for help in investigating Liu Sheng. I¡¯ll let you know if I find any evidence,¡± Shen Lan promised them.


    ¡°We¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± Since they wouldn¡¯t get answers anytime soon, Luo Ying changed the topic with a smile. She mischievously grinned at Du Tian. ¡°I¡¯ll take a photo and post it online to let my fans know I¡¯m safe.¡±


    Soon, Luo Ying¡¯s homepage updated with a new message: [The allergic reaction has subsided. Everything is fine- I¡¯m just having some afternoon tea with friends.]


    The post included pictures of desserts and a group photo. Luo Ying¡¯s fans immediately received the notification.


    [I¡¯m glad you¡¯re feeling better! My heart aches for you!]


    [She got discharged after just one day? Was it all an act?]


    [Are you crazy? So many people witnessed her being stretchered in. How could she be faking it? Allergies do come and go quickly.]


    [Did anyone notice the girl on the right? Who is she? I haven¡¯t seen her before.]


    [Her two friends are the real highlight! Isn¡¯t that Du Tian and Shen Lan? Aren¡¯t they love rivals? Why are they having afternoon tea together? Has the world gone mad?]


    [I already said it¡¯s just a marketing stunt. In fact, Shen Lan visited the production team yesterday. It¡¯s obvious they know each other.] [What about the photos they posted?]


    [They¡¯re probably just made-up stories based on the pictures.]


    [In the photo, Du Tian and Zhou Li were simply walking together. They didn¡¯t even hold hands. Since they know each other, it¡¯s likely they coincidentally left in the same direction.]


    [Hahaha, every time they try to smear Sister Ying, there¡¯s always a turnaround.]


    Du Tian also saw Luo Ying¡¯s new post and smiled warmly. She appreciated Luo Ying efforts to help clarify things..

 Chapter 314 - Chapter 314: Seeking Help

    Chapter 314: Seeking Help


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The next day, Shen Lan decided to look for Shen Xiu.


    ¡°Hmm? What brings you here?¡± Shen Xiu was surprised to see Shen Lan in the waiting room.


    Shen Lan was languishing on a sofa. She hesitated before asking, ¡°Uncle, what do you think of Liu Sheng?¡±


    Shen Xiu was confused. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Shen Lan rarely approached him so seriously. Something significant must have happened between her and Liu Sheng.


    When he recalled Shen Lan¡¯s refusal of Liu Sheng¡¯s visit a few days ago, Shen Xiu spoke up. ¡°I only know her as your friend. How I treat her depends on what you think of her.¡±


    Shen Lan¡¯s heart instantly warmed up. Her dearest uncle was indeed unconditionally on her side.


    ¡°If I suddenly find her unlikable, would you call me a disloyal friend, Uncle?¡± Shen Lan asked. She was already aware of the answer. Shen Xiu smiled. ¡°You can¡¯t just suddenly find someone unlikable.¡±


    He walked over and sat next to Shen Lan. ¡°What happened?¡±


    Shen Lan remained silent. She was unsure of how to explain herself.


    Currently, there was no concrete evidence pointing to Liu Sheng. The events she knew from her previous life would only occur in the future.


    Moreover, there were significant differences between this life and the previous one. It was difficult for her to explain herself based on future predictions.


    Shen Xiu reassured her, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to tell me the reason, I won¡¯t ask. But you can always trust me. Is there anything I can help you with?¡±


    Shen Lan let out a sigh. She found it challenging to admit that her best friend had betrayed her.


    She had once believed that Liu Sheng was the bestest friend that the world could possibly give her. She was capable; she had a good character and personality. However, the lessons from her previous life had completely shattered her perception. It turned out that Liu Sheng was filled with ambition, calculations, and schemes. She did not have the slightest bit of genuine sincerity for their friendship.


    ¡°I may not be able to tell you the reason now, but I want to look into Liu Sheng¡¯s activities. Uncle, can you help me?¡± Shen Lan raised her head and asked earnestly.


    Shen Xiu nodded. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll help you with whatever you want.¡±


    Although he deigned not to probe Shen Lan further, he already had his own thoughts.


    Liu Sheng must have done something to deeply disappoint Shen Lan. It was the only plausible reason for her sudden change in attitude.


    Moreover, this was not a simple quarrel; it must have crossed Shen Lan¡¯s boundaries.


    In fact, Shen Xiu never once a favorable impression of Liu Sheng.


    When Shen Lan first introduced Liu Sheng to him, Shen Xiu could already sense her manipulative side.


    However, it didn¡¯t matter. Shen Lan had been pampered to the point of being unruly. It did not bother him to see her having such a superficial friend. After all, a facade would reveal itself with time to come.


    As long as she treated Shen Lan well on the surface, Shen Xiu could live with it. He did not mind it even if she wanted to use Shen Lan¡¯s connections to broaden her horizons and expand her network.


    He simply considered it payment for her friendship with Shen Lan.


    But now, it seemed that Liu Sheng meant more than that. She must have crossed Shen Lan¡¯s boundaries.


    Shen Xiu adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and inquired cautiously, ¡°What do you want to investigate?¡±


    Shen Lan recounted the incident with the bouquet of flowers from the production team, but concealed the fact that Luo Ying and the team were in on it as well.


    ¡°Lin Jin gave this bouquet to me. Liu Sheng got to know Lin Jin because of me. But something tells me that Liu Sheng was behind all of this.¡±


    Shen Lan was feeling nervous. This was the first time she had ever lied to Shen Xiu. She couldn¡¯t help but lean against Shen Xiu¡¯s arm and act like a pampered little girl as she always had. ¡°I know these suspicions may not have a basis, but Uncle, I just know it!¡±


    Shen Xiu was baffled by Shen Lan¡¯s actions. Didn¡¯t she realize how much she had grown? They were no longer just an uncle and his little niece; they were now a man and a woman.


    Shen Lan grabbed him even tighter. He could even feel the softness against his arm.


    D*mn it, who taught her to wear a V-neck dress?!


    Shen Xiu froze up. He sighed to himself and calmly moved away.


    ¡°Uncle, do you believe me? Now that Lin Jin is missing, Liu Sheng is even more suspicious!¡± Shen Lan remained oblivious and even moved closer.


    Veins started bulging on Shen Xiu¡¯s forehead. He replied, ¡°I understand. I will investigate..¡±

 Chapter 315 - Chapter 315: Investigation

    Chapter 315: Investigation


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation               Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Thank you, Uncle!¡± Shen Lan leaned over excitedly.


    Shen Xiu couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He stood up abruptly and took a deep breath to calm himself down. Somehow, he managed to continue speaking without changing his expression. ¡°However, it seems that all the leads regarding Liu Sheng¡¯s matter have been cut off. Trying to pick up such a cold trail may prove challenging. The act of robbing someone during a car accident in the downtown area is not a small matter. The truck driver must have been determined to die. Finding him will not be easy.¡±


    ¡°Do you have any other leads we can follow?¡± Shen Xiu asked.


    Shen Lan looked at Shen Xiu¡¯s back in confusion. She did not understand why he suddenly stood up and started speaking with his back turned.


    However, she was quickly distracted by Shen Xiu¡¯s words. Upon careful


    consideration, Liu Sheng hadn¡¯t revealed her true nature yet and was still treating her well. What could she possibly bring up¡­?


    ¡°The company. Liu Sheng must have done something to the company,¡± Shen


    Lan stated with certainty.


    Shen Xiu nodded with understanding.


    So, what did Liu Sheng do to the Shen family¡¯s business that made Shen Lan so nervous? On the surface, there was nothing wrong with the company. Even if Liu Sheng has already made a move, it must have been subtle. It wouldn¡¯t be discovered without a thorough internal investigation.


    Shen Lan knew nothing about business, so how could she have known?


    Shen Xiu pretended to hesitate and said, ¡°However, as the vice president, Liu Sheng has her own ambitions in the workplace. It¡¯s hard to tell if she¡¯s simply striving for career advancement or plotting against the Shen family¡¯s business. It¡¯s normal for employees to harbor some drive. Shen Lan, do you really think she¡¯s doing anything more?


    Shen Lan was taken aback for a moment. She had thought her uncle would investigate Liu Sheng with ease. Why did he sound like he was having difficulties?


    Shen Lan didn¡¯t realize that Shen Xiu was skillfully trying to extract information from her.


    After careful consideration, she realized that Liu Sheng was still covering her tracks with airtight precision. Shen Lan had no clue what she was doing behind the scenes.


    ¡°I think she fancies Lu Zhao?¡± Shen Lan hesitantly asked, ¡°Would that count?¡±


    In her previous life, Liu Sheng had never mentioned this matter. Would it be considered strange?


    ¡°She likes Lu Zhao?¡± Shen Xiu turned around and asked. ¡°The flower delivery stunt could have killed three birds with one stone for Liu Sheng.¡±


    Shen Lan was momentarily stunned before finally catching on. Whether the flower delivery succeeded or not did not matter. As long as she completely trusted Liu Sheng, it was already a small victory!


    If her plan to deliver the flowers succeeded, it would create a conflict between her and Luo Ying, making it easy for Liu Sheng to collaborate with Lu Zhao and plot against the Shen family. If her plan failed, Lu Zhao would naturally take care of Miss Lin and eliminate a love rival for Liu Sheng.


    Shen Xiu¡¯s understanding went even further than Shen Lan¡¯s. This flower delivery likely had multiple motives for Liu Sheng.


    It seemed that investigating Liu Sheng was indeed necessary.


    Since he was going to investigate, Shen Xiu would do it thoroughly as per his usual style.


    Shen Xiu patted Shen Lan¡¯s shoulder reassuringly. ¡°I understand. You don¡¯t have to worry about this. Leave it to me. Do you want to tell your father about


    Shen Lan didn¡¯t have a good relationship with her father. It had been difficult for Shen Xiu to reconcile.


    Before Shen Xiu could retract his hand, Shen Lan held onto it. Her fingertips brushed against his palm, causing him to tremble.


    Shen Lan nodded vigorously while remaining as clueless as ever. ¡°My dad trusts Liu Sheng a lot. Sometimes I even feel that Liu Sheng is more of a daughter to him than I am. If I tell him, he might even alert her about it.


    Uncle, please don¡¯t tell him.¡±


    Shen Xiu slowly pulled his hand free while feeling a little suffocated.


    Who taught Shen Lan to be so open and affectionate? How could she easily engage in so many intimate actions with a man, even if it was him? It infuriated him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my lips are sealed. I¡¯ll be quiet about this,¡± Shen Xiu assured her. His eyes narrowed dangerously and he changed the topic. ¡°Shen Lan, although I support your freedom to pursue love, I¡¯m afraid that being too persistent might harm you. You¡­¡±


    ¡°Uncle, l¡¯ve already broken up with Zhou Li,¡± Shen Lan interjected while twirling her hair awkwardly. She recalled everything she had done for Zhou Li when she was twenty years old¡ªit was so embarrassing.


    ¡°You broke up?¡± Shen Xiu didn¡¯t quite believe her. ¡°Then why did he come to see you this morning?


    Of course, Zhou Li hadn¡¯t come to see Shen Lan. This was just a lie Shen Xiu had made up to test her..

 Chapter 316 - Chapter 316: Fiancée

    Chapter 316: Fianc¨¦e


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation               Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Shen Xiu was surprised when Shen Lan furrowed her brow. ¡°Why would he come looking for me? Doesn¡¯t he already have a new girlfriend? That doesn¡¯t make sense. If anything, he¡¯s already burned through another girl right after me. I¡¯m already an ex-ex-ex. Uncle, chase him away for me!¡±


    Shen Lan pursed her lips. She didn¡¯t expect Zhou Li to backtrack in this life. In her previous life, he had been very decisive.


    When Shen Lan¡¯s reaction didn¡¯t seem fake, Shen Xiu felt relieved. She seemed to have truly gotten over him. He was about to say something when the office door was suddenly pushed open.


    A tall beauty with curly hair strutted in with a pout on her face. ¡°Shen Xiu, why didn¡¯t you tell me that you were back home?


    She pretended to be angry and playfully hit Shen Xiu¡¯s shoulder.


    Shen Xiu helplessly held her back. ¡°1 came back to handle some matters. Why are you here?¡±


    Shen Lan looked on in surprise and asked, ¡°Uncle, who is this?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m his fianc¨¦e, just call me Xia Na,¡± Xia Na smiled brightly. ¡°You must be Shen Lan. I heard him talk so much about his cute niece.¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± Shen Lan felt a little awkward for some reason and nodded. ¡°Wait¡­ Fianc¨¦e.


    Uncle Shen Xiu got himself a girlfriend and is getting married? Shen Lan was shocked. She had no idea this was going on.


    She carefully recalled that Shen Xiu spent most of his time overseas and only occasionally returned to the country to handle some matters. In her previous life, he came back much later.


    However, in her previous life, Shen Lan was still immersed in the hearbreak of Zhou Li¡¯s split and rarely spoke with her uncle.


    This time, Shen Xiu probably stayed longer because she was hospitalized.


    ¡°No,¡± Shen Xiu lightly retorted. ¡°Xia Na, don¡¯t scare her. She¡¯s just a lawyer I worked with.¡±


    Xia Na pouted. ¡°Fine! Can I not aspire to be your fianc¨¦e? You¡¯re a workaholic. Do you even have any other female friends around you? Am I not the most suitable marriage partner for you?¡± She was very confident in herself.


    Shen Xiu sighed. ¡°That¡¯s not it. I¡¯m not thinking about that now. Xia Na was just rambling. That¡¯s how she is. Don¡¯t take her seriously. We¡¯re just close colleagues.¡±


    Shen Lan nodded absent-mindedly, but something told her that the beautiful lawyer wasn¡¯t joking.


    ¡°Should I send you home directly?¡± When the elevator stopped, Shen Xiu walked out and headed for the parking lot.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not going home. Take me to the television station. Luo Ying and the others are reshooting a variety show today,¡± Shen Lan said while feeling a little confused.


    Shen Xiu was surprised. ¡°Are you close to them?¡±


    Shen Lan nodded and said, ¡°Yes, they believed my explanation and let bygones be bygones. That¡¯s why I¡¯m with them now. Perhaps we can even be considered friends.¡±


    Shen Xiu smiled. ¡°Then they are very gracious.¡±


    Luo Ying was someone that Lu Zhao had taken a liking to, wasn¡¯t she? This was interesting..

 Chapter 317 - Chapter 317: Quarrel

    Chapter 317: Quarrel


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation               Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Such grace seemed to differ greatly from the rumors. Shen Xiu suddenly became curious.


    However, he didn¡¯t have time to meet the legendary Luo Ying today.


    Xia Na was still waiting for him at the company. He had no other choice but to drop off Shen Lan at the TV station and return to the company to handle business.


    Shen Lan had contacted Luo Ying in advance. Luo Ying had even sent a staff member to pick her up at the entrance.


    Shen Lan entered the TV station building without any incident. However, when she reached the filming studio, she didn¡¯t find anyone waiting for her.


    She believed she might have taken the wrong way and looked around again. She happened to pass by a small pantry and suddenly saw two staff members chatting with their backs facing her.


    One of their shirts had a sign that read ¡°Luo Ying¡¯s Crew.¡±


    Shen Lan was about to approach and ask them for direction when she overheard that person say, ¡°Luo Ying? What good is she? Isn¡¯t she just relying on hype? Look at the recent news about her. What are they talking about? Where did she go to? What allergy does she have? There¡¯s no news about the show itself. It¡¯s because she lacks talent and can only rely on hype to make herself relevant.¡±


    Another staff member teased her. ¡°Li Si, you¡¯re with her team today. How could you have the gall to say that?¡±


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I dare to say it? Everyone already knows about this,¡± Li Si disdainfully replied. ¡°Even after her divorce, she didn¡¯t forget to use her ex-husband to generate publicity. I wonder what that poor man is thinking.¡±


    ¡°President Lu clearly loves someone else very much!¡±


    Shen Ran was furious. She took two steps forward and asked loudly, ¡°Everyone knows? Why didn¡¯t I know a single thing about what you said?¡±


    The two people spun around. ¡°Who are you? How dare you eavesdrop on us!¡±


    Shen Lan was wearing sunglasses that day. She rarely appeared on camera, so they didn¡¯t recognize her.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t eavesdropping. I was just standing here and listening openly! But you, on the other hand, are talking behind someone¡¯s back. Regardless of what Luo Ying did, it¡¯s not up to you to judge her,¡± Shen Lan exclaimed angrily.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t I comment? Are you her fan?¡± Li Si frowned. Who let her fans in?


    ¡°She only became famous because of her husband. She hasn¡¯t had any recent projects. She relies on riding the waves of random news,¡± the other staff member retorted. Her name tags said, ¡°Wang Miao.¡±


    Shen Lan noticed the crew of a certain actress on Wang Miao¡¯s name tag and immediately understood what was going on. She sneered and said, ¡°Yes, even Luo Ying¡¯s allergies easily go viral. That¡¯s more than I can say for your boss. She has acted in so many films, but none of them made any impact!¡¯


    ¡°What are you saying? Sister Song is a talented actress. She has won many awards. Luo Ying can¡¯t even compare to her!¡± the other party exploded at the slightest provocation.


    ¡°She won the Best Actress award not long ago. Have you lost your memory, or are you blind? Your boss won an award five years ago, right? She hasn¡¯t had any projects in these years. Has she run out of steam?¡± Shen Lan raised her eyebrows, full of provocation.


    ¡°You!¡±


    Just as Wang Miao was about to snap back at her, Shen Lan interjected. ¡°I don¡¯t know how good her acting skills are, but I am certain she doesn¡¯t know anything about management. You don¡¯t seem to have been trained well!¡±


    Suddenly, a clear female voice interrupted their conversation. ¡°I was wondering why you hadn¡¯t come in. It turns out that you¡¯re making friends


    ¡°Yingying! i ¡® Shen Lan turned around in surprise and saw Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying placed her hand on Shen Lan¡¯s shoulder and glanced coldly at the two people in the pantry.


    They turned pale.


    Was this the person Luo Ying had wanted them to receive?


    ¡°Sister Ying, we didn¡¯t¡­¡± The two of them tried to explain themselves with pale faces.


    Luo Ying casually waved them off. ¡°You two can leave. I can¡¯t have such unprofessional assistants around.¡±


    She held Shen Lan¡¯s hand and walked into the lounge.


    ¡°Yingying, were they staff members from your studio? They were bad-mouthing you just now!¡± Shen Lan frowned and complained to her.


    ¡°No, one was temporarily assigned by the production team, and the other is an assistant to another actress,¡± Luo Ying explained.


    Shen Lan looked displeased. ¡°Their TV station even had to work on damage control to restore their reputation. I didn¡¯t expect them to assign such people as your assistant.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll have a talk with their management.¡± Luo Ying smiled gently. ¡°Let¡¯s go.


    Don¡¯t worry about those two. Let¡¯s go to my lounge..¡±

 Chapter 318 - Chapter 318: Give It A Try

    Chapter 318: Give It A Try


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying walked away while holding Shen Lan¡¯s arm.


    The two remaining individuals were terrified. They exchanged a glance. Li Si asked anxiously, ¡°What should we do? I didn¡¯t even know she was Shen Lan! If I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have said anything!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just get out of here. What else can we do?¡± Wang Miao glared hatefully in the direction they had left.


    Li Si realized she had messed up. Wang Miao belonged to Ji Song¡¯s studio, and Ji Song was shooting in another studio. When Ji Song heard about the incident, she remained silent.


    Even so, Li Si was in trouble.


    As soon as she returned to the set, she was immediately bombarded. ¡°Why can¡¯t you do anything right? I told you to serve tea and pour water. I repeatedly emphasized that you must make Luo Ying happy. Instead, you caused trouble for me! Don¡¯t bother coming in tomorrow!¡±


    They had just offended Luo Ying. The higher-ups had just been reprimanded by Lu Zhao. How could this stupid girl stir up trouble again? The manager was so angry that he pulled out a few strands of hair.


    Li Si stammered and tried her best to make excuses.


    The manager was not having any of it. ¡°Just leave. I really have no words for you! Remember the confidentiality agreement you signed. Don¡¯t go around blabbing about what happened on set. You may lose your job today, but you¡¯ll be bankrupt tomorrow if you don¡¯t watch that tongue of yours!¡±


    The manager then personally went to the lounge to apologize to Luo Ying.


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry! We selected our people poorly. Shall I get you another assistant?¡± The manager asked anxiously and humbly.


    They had only finished shooting half of the show. He was afraid that Luo Ying would refuse to continue in the second half.


    Luo Ying replied calmly, ¡°As long as it¡¯s resolved, it¡¯s fine. If there¡¯s nothing else, please don¡¯t disturb me.¡±


    The manager breathed a long sigh of relief.


    Du Tian was also in the lounge. When she heard about what had happened, she couldn¡¯t help but feel speechless. ¡°They really don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for them. Their management is a mess. Next time, we should think twice about working with them.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded in agreement.


    As she turned around, she noticed Shen Lan staring into space. She appeared to be lost in thought.


    Luo Ying waved her hand in front of Shen Lan with any amused smile. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Something on your mind?¡±


    Shen Lan hesitated before speaking. ¡°I met my uncle today and told him about Liu Sheng. He said he¡¯ll investigate.¡±


    Liu Sheng. He said he¡¯ll investigate.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s good. Did something bad happen to you?¡± Luo Ying asked with concern.


    Shen Lan shook her head. ¡°Not really. I met my uncle¡¯s fianc¨¦e. At least that¡¯s what she claims to be, but my uncle didn¡¯t seem too upset. They seem to have a good relationship. They might actually get married.¡±


    A smile formed on Shen Lan¡¯s lips, but it didn¡¯t reach her eyes.


    Du Tian wasn¡¯t aware of the Lu and Du families¡¯ situation, so she asked, ¡°How old is your uncle? It doesn¡¯t sound unusual for him to get married.¡±


    Du Tian remembered that when the Du family collaborated with Shen Xiu, Shen Xiu was already a mature and capable man.


    Shen Lan looked shocked.


    After contemplating for a moment, Shen Lan replied, ¡°He¡¯s about 30 years old, I think? He was actually adopted by my grandfather, so there¡¯s a significant age gap between him and my father. He¡¯s more like an older brother than an uncle.


    He¡¯s been overseas all this time.¡±


    Shen Xiu was about to get married. Shen Lan felt conflicted.


    Luo Ying looked on and felt that something was amiss.


    Suddenly, she had a bold idea and tactfully asked, ¡°Shen Lan, are you unhappy about Shen Xiu getting married?¡±


    Shen Lan was taken aback. ¡°A little? I feel like I should give him my blessings, but deep down, I¡¯m not that magnanimous.¡±


    Du Tian made an exaggerated expression. ¡°Shen Lan, do you have other feelings for your uncle?¡±


    Shen Lan was shocked. ¡°No! How could that be? Absolutely not.¡±


    Luo Ying and Du Tian burst into laughter.


    Luo Ying smiled, ¡°You don¡¯t sound so sure.¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯s my uncle!¡± Shen Lan shook her head repeatedly.


    ¡°But you¡¯re not blood-related,¡± Du Tian shrugged indifferently. She had always been open-minded about relationships, so she encouraged her. ¡°Your uncle is much more reliable than Zhou Li. Sometimes, fortune favors the bold.. Why not give it a try?¡±

 Chapter 319 - Chapter 319: Concealment

    Chapter 319: Concealment


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Shen Lan¡¯s face reddened upon hearing that. While Shen Xiu was her uncle, there was no denying that he surpassed Zhou Li by a mile in terms of looks and character.


    However, she could only discuss this idea with her friends. If it reached her uncle¡¯s ears, who knew what would happen?


    When she saw Shen Lan blush, Luo Ying chuckled and teased her. ¡°Why are you blushing? It seems Du Tian hit the nail on the head.¡±


    ¡°Oh my!¡± Shen Lan¡¯s face turned crimson. ¡°Don¡¯t make fun of me! Let¡¯s talk about Luo Ying. Are you planning to remarry Lu Zhao?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Luo Ying blushed. She and Lu Zhao had been together for quite some time since they made up. It was time to discuss the idea of remarriage.


    However, Lu Zhao¡¯s current situation did not make it convenient. If she broached the subject, he would temporarily put it on hold for her safety.


    Furthermore, Lu Zhao¡¯s illness hadn¡¯t been completely cured. Luo Ying wanted to delay it a bit longer.


    She smiled and replied, ¡°Well, I¡­¡±


    Before Luo Ying could finish her sentence, she felt lightheaded and dizzy. Her vision went black as she fainted.


    Shen Lan and Du Tian were startled when they saw Luo Ying faint. ¡°Luo Ying! Are you okay? Luo Ying?¡±


    When Luo Ying regained consciousness, she was greeted by the pungent smell of disinfectant. She opened her eyes and realized she was lying in a hospital bed.


    Outside the ward, the doctor held a clipboard and spoke to Lu Zhao. ¡°It¡¯s just low blood sugar. She¡¯ll be fine with some rest.¡±


    Again? The last time Luo Ying blacked out, it was due to low blood sugar!


    Lu Zhao¡¯s expression grew even darker. He recalled his suspicions from a few days ago. The daughter of the poison master might be Luo Ying!


    He requested, ¡°Can you help me determine Luo Ying¡¯s blood type?¡±


    The doctor looked troubled. ¡°Mr. Lu, Miss Luo has a very rare blood type.


    Moreover, she has been suffering from severe anemia for the past six months. If she wants to recover, she must take good care of her body. Also¡­¡±


    ¡°What else?¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s tone became urgent. Was the daughter of the poison master who had been giving him blood transfusions for the past six months truly Luo Ying?!


    The doctor was taken aback by Lu Zhao¡¯s reaction and cautiously continued,


    ¡°Also, I¡¯m afraid Miss Luo¡¯s body won¡¯t be able to hold on much longer.¡±


    Those words struck Lu Zhao like a lightning bolt. If something truly happened to Luo Ying, what would be the purpose of his existence?


    ¡°Administer the best treatment immediately! Regardless of anything, I want Luo Ying to stand before me healthy and well!¡±


    Shen Lan and Du Tian were also deeply worried about Luo Ying¡¯s health. They anxiously waited outside the ward while rubbing their hands together. When


    Lu Zhao emerged, the two girls approached him and inquired, ¡°How did it go?¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s face darkened. ¡°It¡¯s just a case of low blood sugar. Nothing serious.¡±


    Only then did Du Tian breathe a sigh of relief. However, as soon as she turned around, she spotted a disheveled man with silver hair and big eyes. He was dressed in an ancient costume. Wasn¡¯t this the famous star, Jin Shi?


    She had heard of Jin Shi¡¯s close relationship with Luo Ying. Had Jin Shi specifically come to visit her?


    Jin Shi furrowed his brows. ¡°I heard from Wang Yu that Luo Ying was admitted to the hospital! What happened to her?¡±


    Lu Zhao stood there with a somber expression, unsure of how to explain it to Jin Shi.


    Shen Lan spoke up. ¡°She¡¯s fine. It¡¯s just a case of low blood sugar. She¡¯ll be fine after resting for a while.¡±


    ¡°Which ward is Luo Ying in?¡± Jin Shi asked urgently. His sister had always been in good health. He had never witnessed her being hospitalized due to low blood sugar.


    Du Tian pointed in the direction of Luo Ying¡¯s ward, and Jin Shi immediately rushed in.


    Luo Ying had already regained consciousness. When she saw Jin Shi¡¯s arrival, she couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous. If her third brother found out that she had low blood sugar because she had been donating blood well beyond her limits, he would be devastated.


    Jin Shi furrowed his brows and approached Luo Ying. ¡°Why did you faint? Was filming too exhausting? Here¡¯s what you¡¯ll do. Go to the production team and request a few days off. Rest well and let your body recover before resuming filming.¡±


    However, Luo Ying shook her head. If she followed Jin Shi¡¯s advice and took a break, the rest of the crew would accuse her of being a diva.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright. Didn¡¯t the doctor say it¡¯s just low blood sugar?¡±


    ¡°When have you ever had low blood sugar? Besides, low blood sugar can be dangerous if you don¡¯t take it easy on your body!¡± Jin Shi furrowed his brows..

 Chapter 320 - Chapter 320: Suspicion

    Chapter 320: Suspicion


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation      Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying was Jin Shi¡¯s only sister. In this parallel universe, if anything happened to Luo Ying, how would he explain it to their second brother?


    But Luo Ying insisted that she was fine. ¡°I already told you, I¡¯m fine. I don¡¯t even know what got over me.¡± She playfully stuck her tongue out at Jin Shi. ¡°If you have the time to rush here, you should take care of Jin Ning instead. She needs you more than I do.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Jin Shi frowned.


    Luo Ying was his true sister.


    For some reason, Jin Shi¡¯s eyelids had been twitching badly these past few days. Was Luo Ying possibly hiding something from him?


    ¡°You don¡¯t look well.¡± Jin Shi stared at Luo Ying. ¡°What are you keeping from


    Luo Ying¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°I¡­ I already said I¡¯m fine, Third Brother. Don¡¯t worry too much. I¡¯m really fine. If something happens, I¡¯ll definitely let you know.


    Besides, Lu Zhao is still taking care of me.¡±


    When Lu Zhao was mentioned, Luo Ying became even more worried.


    There was a possibility that Lu Zhao was already aware that she was the daughter of the poison master.


    No! She had to think of a way to dispel Lu Zhao¡¯s suspicions.


    As for Third Brother¡­


    While Jin Shi was still frowning worriedly, Luo Ying held Jin Shi¡¯s hand like when they were younger. ¡°Third Brother, I¡¯m really fine! Maybe I¡¯ll be discharged after this thing they¡¯ve put me on drip! Second Brother has a lot on his plate. Can you help me keep it from him for a while?¡± Jin Shi assessed Luo Ying. ¡°Are you truly alright?¡±


    Luo Ying nodded.


    Jin Shi finally sighed in relief. ¡°Alright, so be it! But you have to promise me one thing. Take good care of yourself! We¡¯re going back to our original world together, do you get it?¡±


    Luo Ying bit her lip and grinned. ¡°I got it! Don¡¯t worry, Third Brother!¡±


    Jin Shi finally relaxed a little. ¡°Get some rest. When you¡¯re discharged, both Second Brother and I will come to visit you!¡±


    Jin Shi patted Luo Ying¡¯s head and left the ward.


    When he saw Lu Zhao standing outside the ward with a worried expression, Jin Shi exclaimed angrily, ¡°Take good care of Luo Ying. Otherwise, I won¡¯t take it easy on you!¡±


    With that, he turned around and left.


    Lu Zhao frowned as he entered Luo Ying¡¯s ward.


    When she saw Lu Zhao enter, Luo Ying grinned. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be on a business trip? How did you find the time to come and see me?¡±


    Lu Zhao glanced at Luo Ying¡¯s pale face and clenched his fists.


    He approached her and hugged her shoulders. ¡°What¡¯s more important than you? How did you become anemic again?¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± Luo Ying grinned. ¡°Because of filming. I haven¡¯t rested in a long time¡­¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense! Why would the doctor say you¡¯ve lost too much blood?¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s expression turned grim. He carefully studied Luo Ying¡¯s expression. It was as if he was trying tor read her like a book.


    Luo Ying remained remarkably calm. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m anemic because of the intense workload from filming. You know this. I¡¯ve been practicing dancing overseas for half a year. My body is weak, and with the demands of filming and dancing, it¡¯s normal for me to become anemic due to the pressure.¡±


    After saying this, Luo Ying leaned into Lu Zhao¡¯s arms and continued, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m really fine. It¡¯s just low blood sugar. I¡¯ll be fine after resting for a few days.¡± Lu Zhao frowned. He didn¡¯t completely believe Luo Ying¡¯s words.


    When he thought about how hard Luo Ying had worked for over half a year, he couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to work like this anymore! Even if you¡¯re filming, you have to give yourself some time to recover. Otherwise, what¡¯s the point of having a career?¡±


    He held Luo Ying even tighter. ¡°Don¡¯t forget what you promised me.¡±


    Luo Ying immediately repeated the words, ¡°I¡¯ll never leave you!¡±


    Lu Zhao chuckled. ¡°Then you must take good care of your body! I¡¯ll request a leave from the production team on your behalf. Have a good rest for a few days.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded and agreed. ¡°Alright!¡±


    After Lu Zhao left the ward, he dialed Wen Yu¡¯s number.


    ¡°How did you manage to contact the daughter of the poison master?¡±

 Chapter 321 - Chapter 321: I Have My Ways

    Chapter 321: I Have My Ways


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Wen Yu paused. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is there something wrong with your health?¡±


    Lu Zhao rubbed his forehead. ¡°I¡¯m perfectly fine. I¡¯m just curious to know if there are any leads on the daughter of the poison master.¡±


    Wen Yu was taken aback.


    ¡°Why would Lu Zhao suddenly suspect the daughter of the poison master?¡± she thought.


    When she recalled Sirius¡¯s words, Wen Yu decided to be as cryptic as possible.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know who the daughter of the poison master is. All I know is that lunatic Lu Wen has been raising hell in search for her. If you try to look her up now, wouldn¡¯t you be putting the poor girl at risk? Besides, you¡¯ll fully recover in two more months. You¡¯ll have all the time in the world to track her down by then. What if something happens to her during this time?¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s expression grew even grimmer upon hearing that. ¡°I know Lu Wen has been searching for her. I¡¯ll be blunt. Is she Luo Ying?¡±


    Wen Yu paused again. ¡°Mr. Lu, don¡¯t overthink it. You only need two more transfusions to fully recover. There¡¯s no rush to investigate the true identity of the poison master¡¯s daughter.¡±


    ¡°I just want to know if she is Luo Ying!¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s voice was firm.


    If Luo Ying had indeed risked her life to save him, he would never use her blood again!


    He ended the call with Wen Yu and dialed another number. ¡°Help me look into the blood type of the poison master¡¯s daughter. It doesn¡¯t need to be very detailed. I just want to know who she is.¡±


    Sirius furrowed his brows upon hearing this. ¡°Has Lu Zhao discovered something?¡± he wondered.


    He wanted to persuade Lu Zhao over the phone, but Lu Zhao spoke again, ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. I just want to know how the daughter of the poison master is doing. After all, Lu Wen has been looking for her, and I¡¯m concerned that she might be in danger.¡±


    Sirius still had some doubts, but he nodded and agreed, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll find the daughter of the poison master in advance and ensure her safety!¡±


    In the afternoon, Luo Ying lay on the hospital bed, scrolling through her phone when she received a WeChat message from Su Li.


    [I heard your blood sugar level is very low. Mr. Lu has already arranged for your leave. Rest well in the hospital and come back to film when you¡¯ve recovered.]


    Luo Ying furrowed her brows. ¡°If I had known earlier, I wouldn¡¯t have agreed to Lu Zhao¡¯s request so quickly. If I take a leave of absence, what will happen to the production team¡¯s losses?¡± she wondered.


    After contemplating for a while, Luo Ying simply replied, [Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll cover all the production team¡¯s losses.]


    Su Li quickly responded, [Mr. Lu has already taken care of it. We¡¯re all family, so there¡¯s no need to be so formal.]


    After that, he even sent a snickering emoji!


    She had not expected Lu Zhao to be so considerate. ¡°He even thought about the production team¡¯s losses,¡± she thought with a smile. She was about to call Lu Zhao when she saw a message from Wen Yu.


    [Daughter of the poison master, Lu Zhao is beginning to suspect your identity. I suggest you find a place to hide and stay out of Lu Zhao¡¯s prying eyes for the time being.]


    Luo Ying was shocked. ¡°How did Wen Yu know that I am the daughter of the poison master?¡± she wondered.


    [What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand at all!] she replied.


    Wen Yu responded instantly, [Just drop the act. Why else would you suddenly develop a severe case of anemia?]


    Wen Yu sent another message, [And I¡¯m not telling you this with any ulterior motives. I just want to say that Lu Zhao and Lu Wen are looking for you now, and Lu Zhao is nearing his recovery. It wouldn¡¯t do any party any good if your identity came to light now.]


    It seemed that Lu Zhao still didn¡¯t know about this. Luo Ying breathed a sigh of relief.


    [As long as you don¡¯t say anything, I believe Lu Zhao won¡¯t find out.]


    Wen Yu replied, [That¡¯s not necessarily true. Sirius just called me. Lu Zhao wants him to secretly investigate the daughter of the poison master and insists on meeting her in person. Just be careful.]


    Lu Zhao intended to meet her! Luo Ying was in a difficult situation. She had to come up with a plan to deceive him.


    After thinking for a while, Luo Ying finally came up with an idea. [Deceiving Lu Zhao won¡¯t be difficult. Don¡¯t worry.. In three days, I¡¯ll completely dispel his suspicions!]

 Chapter 322 - Chapter 322: Lie

    Chapter 322: Lie


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying grabbed her phone from the bedside and dialed Jiang Ming¡¯s number.


    Jiang Ming was on duty. He saw the incoming call and furrowed his brow. He had a bad feeling about it.


    He entered Luo Ying¡¯s ward and pushed the door open, only to be startled by the scene before him.


    Luo Ying leaned against the headboard. Her face was deathly pale. In such a short period of time, she had become so worn-out.


    ¡°Dr. Jiang, I need your help,¡± Luo Ying managed to force a smile.


    Jiang Ming looked at her with concern. Ever since Luo Ying started donating blood to Lu Zhao, he knew this day would come.


    The blood volume in Luo Ying¡¯s body had significantly dropped below that of an average adult. Because of her unique blood type, blood transfusion was not an option for replenishment.


    Her body had reached its limit. Her physical strength would plummet like a cliff, putting her life in imminent danger.


    He gazed at the woman in front of him with aching heart.


    Since the first time he laid eyes on Luo Ying, he had been captivated by her.


    She was radiant, charming, and poised.


    He knew that she and Lu Zhao were inseparable. Luo Ying was even willing to sacrifice her health and even her life to save Lu Zhao. He didn¡¯t want to be a homewrecker, so he dared not have any other thoughts.


    When he saw her in such a haggard state, he couldn¡¯t help but feel heartache.


    He furrowed his brow. ¡°Your physical condition no longer allows you to donate blood. You must stop immediately.¡±


    Luo Ying smiled bitterly. ¡°No, there are only two months left. I can¡¯t let all my efforts go to waste.¡±


    ¡°Lu Zhao¡¯s life is important, but isn¡¯t your life important too? You feel sorry for Lu Zhao, but don¡¯t you think I feel sorry for you?¡± Jiang Ming suddenly raised his voice.


    His sudden outburst startled both of them. Luo Ying clearly didn¡¯t expect him to say that.


    Jiang Ming realized he had lost his composure. He ran his fingers through his hair and took a seat on a chair before apologizing.


    Given the urgency of the situation, Luo Ying wasn¡¯t in the mood to delve into what he had just said. The most important thing for her now was to dispel Lu Zhao¡¯s doubts.


    ¡°Is there any medication that can quickly restore my physical strength in the short term and make me appear like a normal person? As long as it can sustain me for two months,¡± Luo Ying asked, seeking Jiang Ming¡¯s guidance. She knew he would surely have a solution.


    Jiang Ming sighed helplessly. ¡°Your blood type is highly unique, so blood transfusion is out of the question. If you want to present the illusion that you¡¯re in picture-perfect health, we can only inject a high concentration of human serum albumin and a certain dose of stimulants. This will give you a temporarily refreshed appearance.¡±


    ¡°Great! That¡¯s it!¡± Luo Ying exclaimed excitedly upon hearing that there was a solution.


    ¡°But¡­¡± Jiang Ming slowly raised his head. ¡°The damage to your body will be evident, and it may even lead to acute cardiac failure.¡±


    The light in Luo Ying¡¯s eyes slowly dimmed. Since the moment she decided to save Lu Zhao, she knew this day would come. But she couldn¡¯t bear to let that man die from the poison.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough for now. Let¡¯s deal with these two months first. We can address the rest later.¡±


    Jiang Ming nodded jerkily.


    Outside the hospital, Shen Lan hurriedly walked with a pastry in hand. She wanted to deliver it to Luo Ying as the doctor had mentioned her low blood sugar and the need for a sugar boost in her diet.


    However, a figure blocked her path.


    The woman in front of her wore sunglasses and a high-slit dress. She exuded an assertive aura.


    Shen Lan had no intention of lingering and tried to continue walking, but the woman stopped her.


    ¡°Stop right there,¡± the woman commanded.


    Shen Lan took a closer look and finally recognized her as Xia Na, the woman who claimed to be Shen Xiu¡¯s fianc¨¦e.


    She had to admit that Xia Na was quickwitted. After just one encounter, she could sense that Shen Xiu treated Shen Lan differently. They were definitely not just uncle and niece.


    ¡°Miss Xia, what can I do for you?¡± Shen Lan asked. She failed to keep the


    annoyance from her tone because she was in a rush to get to the hospital.


    Xia Na took off her sunglasses and stared directly at Shen Lan.


    ¡°As far as I know, you and Shen Xiu are not blood-related, right? Shen Xiu was adopted by your grandfather.¡±


    It was only Xia Na¡¯s second day here, yet she managed to uncover such a hidden secret. Shen Lan couldn¡¯t help but gasp. Xia Na¡¯s connections ran deep.


    However, she maintained a calm expression on the surface.


    ¡°Miss Xia, do you have a penchant for prying into other people¡¯s privacy? Uncle hates it when people do such things in secret.¡±


    Panic filled Xia Na¡¯s eyes. Indeed, she was the one who conducted the investigation behind Shen Xiu¡¯s back. She didn¡¯t know if it would upset him.


    ¡°Regardless, I am his fianc¨¦e. I have the right¡­¡±


    Before Xia Na could finish her sentence, a familiar voice sounded from behind her.


    ¡°You seem quite confident, don¡¯t you?¡±

 Chapter 323 - Chapter 323: Ambiguity

    Chapter 323: Ambiguity


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation         Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The two of them glanced over simultaneously and saw Shen Xiu¡¯s frosty expression.


    This morning, he received news from his secretary that Xia Na was secretly investigating his background, and the person she had contacted was Liu Sheng ¡ªthe very person who betrayed Shen Lan.


    Shen Xiu had intended to come and inform Shen Lan about this news, but he didn¡¯t expect Xia Na to cause trouble for Shen Lan here.


    Xia Na looked at the unexpected guest in front of her in shock. She didn¡¯t know how much Shen Xiu had heard them.


    Shen Xiu furrowed his brow. ¡°Let me reiterate. We¡¯re just ordinary friends. If you dare to spread false rumors again, don¡¯t expect me to play nice.¡±


    Shen Xiu¡¯s tone was filled with impatience. Xia Na was frightened into silence.


    Shen Xiu stepped forward and grabbed Shen Lan¡¯s arm. They got into the car and swiftly left while leaving Xia Na stomping her feet in anger behind them.


    She had thought that Shen Xiu was already within her grasp, but she had not expected Shen Lan to suddenly appear.


    It seemed that this matter wouldn¡¯t be as easy to accomplish as she had thought.


    After driving for a while, Shen Xiu released his grip on Shen Lan¡¯s hand.


    The warm touch ignited the same fire as before. A faint blush appeared on his face. He tried his best to suppress his physical reaction with his mind.


    Shen Lan also felt a bit uncomfortable because her true feelings had been exposed by Luo Ying and the others at the theater. Her cheeks were burning.


    The two of them remained silent in the backseat for quite some time before Shen Lan spoke up.


    ¡°Uncle, why did you come looking for me?¡±


    Shen Xiu finally remembered why he had come to find Shen Lan. He looked into Shen Lan¡¯s large, blinking eyes and said, ¡°When you asked me to investigate Liu Sheng, I made some progress and rushed over to tell you.¡±


    ¡°Oh? What is it?¡± Shen Lan asked anxiously.


    Shen Xiu composed himself and said, ¡°Liu Sheng is your half-sister. Back then, your father went abroad to earn money while Liu Sheng¡¯s mother was still studying overseas. Liu Sheng was an accident of their youthful exploits.


    However, your father was already married to your mother at that time. The Liu Corporation was still in its early stages, and the majority shareholder was your mother¡¯s family, so your father didn¡¯t dare to hastily divorce your mother.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Shen Lan furrowed her brow. It seemed that she had guessed right. Everything from the past indicated her father¡¯s unusual concern for Liu Sheng.


    Shen Xiu continued, ¡°Liu Sheng was raised overseas and was only brought back here when she turned fifteen. Your father arranged for the two of you to become best friends so that he could take care of her. Moreover, Liu Sheng¡¯s mother seems to be quite an impressive woman. Otherwise, your father wouldn¡¯t have been under her control for so many years. He raised Liu Sheng as his own and even allowed her to become the vice president of the company at such a young age.¡±


    Shen Lan nodded while feeling a mix of emotions welling up inside her.


    ¡°There¡¯s one more thing you need to take note of. I noticed that Xia Na and Liu Sheng have been in contact. They are up to something,¡± Shen Xiu said.


    Xia Na¡­ Shen Lan had an epiphany. It was no wonder she had been able to dig up Shen Xiu¡¯s background.


    Shen Xiu felt relieved after sharing this information. He had to inform Shen


    Lan about these matters as soon as possible to prevent her from getting hurt.


    He didn¡¯t know why, but the little girl in front of him was becoming increasingly important to him.


    Shen Lan pursed her lips and said, ¡°I understand, Uncle.¡±


    It seemed that her enemies did not simply end with Liu Sheng.


    At night, Lu Zhao carried an exquisite lunch box and quietly entered Luo Ying¡¯s ward.


    Luo Ying had appeared weak and pale in the morning. She was now engrossed in playing games on her phone. Her face was even rosier than it had been during the day.


    Lu Zhao felt a sense of relief.


    When Luo Ying saw Lu Zhao enter, she immediately tossed her phone aside and stretched her arms out welcomingly. ¡°Hubby, what took you so long? I missed you so much.¡±


    Lu Zhao stepped forward and lovingly stroked her hair. He teased, ¡°We were only apart for half a day. Why would you miss me so soon?¡±


    Luo Ying pretended to be angry. ¡°Fine, since you don¡¯t care, then I won¡¯t miss you anymore. Take your lousy lunch box and leave.¡±


    Lu Zhao held Luo Ying tightly. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywvhere. What can you do to


    His hand brushed against the softness of her chest. Electricity jolted through his entire body.


    He realized that it had been a long time since he and Luo Ying had last done it¡­


    They had been too busy lately..

 Chapter 324 - Chapter 324: Warmth

    Chapter 324: Warmth


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    An impure thought crept into his mind.


    ¡°No, no.¡± He quickly dismissed that thought. Luo Ying was currently weak, and he couldn¡¯t risk aggravating her health.


    However, a certain restless part of his body couldn¡¯t help but stir.


    Luo Ying keenly felt the changes in his body temperature and breathing. She wrapped her arms around his neck. Her lips brushed against his chest. ¡°Honey, take me home. This hospital smells like disinfectant. I don¡¯t want to stay here anymore.¡±


    Which man could resist? Lu Zhao was burning with desire, but he managed to maintain his last bit of clarity.


    He held back his urges.


    ¡°No, you must recover before going home,¡± Lu Zhao stated firmly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.


    Luo Ying pouted unhappily. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to. Look at me, I¡¯m perfectly fine. Why do I need to stay in the hospital? I¡¯ll only have problems if I¡¯m confined here.¡±


    Lu Zhao carefully examined Luo Ying¡¯s face. Indeed, her complexion was much rosier than earlier. She appeared energetic and didn¡¯t look weak at all.


    Had he been overthinking things? Was Luo Ying not the poison master¡¯s daughter? Was someone else supplying him with blood?


    While he was deep in thought, Lu Zhao was interrupted by Luo Ying once again.


    ¡°Honey, hurry and take me home. I can¡¯t hold it in any longer,¡± Luo Ying pleaded when she noticed Lu Zhao¡¯s hesitation. She hardened her heart and whispered into his ear, ¡°Honey, it¡¯s been a while. I want it.¡±


    Those words shattered the last defenses in Lu Zhao¡¯s heart. He immediately lifted Luo Ying by the waist and walked out of the ward.


    The on-duty nurse widened her eyes in surprise. A dashing company CEO was princess-carrying a female celebrity out of the hospital. Such a scene was usually only seen in dramas.


    She seized the opportunity to capture a few photos and sent them to her group chat.


    In the photos, Lu Zhao stood tall and strong as he embraced the petite Luo Ying protectively. Half of her face was buried in his arms, and Luo Ying looked bashful.


    The photos quickly sparked a widespread discussion.


    ¡°Is this a real-life portrayal of a romance novel? Emergency room red alert!¡±


    ¡°This is too sweet! The CEO embracing his wife in a hospital gown late at night. What kind of plot is this?¡±


    ¡°Where can I find a husband like this? I want to kowtow in that direction!¡±


    However, there were also skeptical voices.


    ¡°It¡¯s Luo Ying again. She never stops.¡±


    ¡°She keeps going in and out of the hospital while treating it like her own home.


    Is this some new way to generate publicity?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m amazed by this woman. Didn¡¯t she divorce Lu Zhao? How is she using his popularity every day?¡±


    The photos continued to circulate until they eventually appeared on Liu Sheng¡¯s phone.


    She furrowed her brows and stared at the photos with fury burning in her heart.


    Luo Ying, well done.


    A wicked smile played on Liu Sheng¡¯s lips.


    As they drove home, Lu Zhao couldn¡¯t hold himself back any longer. He gently laid Luo Ying on the bed and quickly undressed himself.


    God knew how much he longed for this woman.


    Luo Ying cooperated fully and planted kisses along Lu Zhao¡¯s neck.


    Her smile hid her extreme pain. Her body was drenched in cold sweat as she fought against the spasms in her heart.


    Earlier that day, despite Jiang Ming¡¯s objections, she had insisted on injecting an excessive dose of stimulants.


    Now, her heart was overworked.


    But this was the only way she could make Lu Zhao completely believe that she wasn¡¯t the poison master¡¯s daughter and continue accepting the treatment without worry.


    She had to do everything in her power to protect Lu Zhao!


    The next day, Luo Ying arrived on set.


    Chi Tong looked at her with concern. ¡°Sister Ying, why don¡¯t you take some time to recover first?¡±


    Luo Ying patted his shoulder. ¡°Look at me, I¡¯m perfectly fine. Why do I need to rest? Watch this!¡± She even spun around in place.


    Because he was worried, Lu Zhao had insisted on coming to the set that day. He wanted to make sure that Luo Ying was truly okay before returning to the company.


    Even though he wore sunglasses, his remarkably handsome face still caught the attention of the crew.


    Among the admiring gazes, there was one extra with an unfriendly look hidden amongst them.


    The woman glared at Lu Zhao, then turned her fierce gaze towards Luo Ying. She gripped something in her hand.


    The scenes to be filmed that day were relatively simple. They involved indoor conversations, flirtatious moments between the lead characters, and outdoor scenes of walking on the street.


    Su Li knew that Luo Ying had just been discharged from the hospital. He had deliberately arranged less demanding scenes for the day.


    As Luo Ying and Xie Yun exchanged glances, Lu Zhao stood beside them with an unhappy expression on his face..

 Chapter 325 - Chapter 325: Crisis

    Chapter 325: Crisis


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Su Li was concerned about the impact on Xie Yun¡¯s performance. He quickly found an excuse to send Lu Zhao away.


    Luo Ying glanced at Lu Zhao¡¯s resentful gaze and couldn¡¯t help but inwardly laugh. This man was always adorable when he got jealous.


    The crew ensured that the shooting went on as smoothly as possible. They did not want to trouble Luo Ying. They proceeded with the scenes in an orderly manner. By three in the afternoon, only a single final outdoor scene remained.


    While dressed in ancient costumes, Luo Ying and Xie Yun walked along the street. Extras moved about them.


    Suddenly, a woman took out a bottle from her basket and threw its contents at Luo Ying¡¯s face. Xie Yun acted swiftly and shielded Luo Ying in his arms.


    Liu Sheng was shocked. The sulfuric acid in her hand failed to reach its target. Some of it landed on Xie Yun¡¯s back, and the rest splattered onto the ground.


    The people around them didn¡¯t react immediately. They had thought it was part of the script.


    When they saw the sulfuric acid emitting thick smoke on the ground and witnessed Xie Yun kneeling in pain, they realized something had gone wrong.


    Everyone rushed forward to check the situation. Luo Ying quickly sprang into action. Xie Yun¡¯s skin was already starting to sizzle.


    ¡°Water! Bring water!¡± Luo Ying shouted.


    The people nearby quickly brought several buckets of water. Removing layer after layer of Xie Yun¡¯s complex ancient costume was a slow process.


    Xie Yun¡¯s face was contorted in pain, and sweat streamed down his forehead.


    Lu Zhao had been led to the tea room by Su Li. He heard the commotion outside and quickly ran out.


    As soon as he saw the scene, he knew what had happened. He hurried to Xie Yun¡¯s side and tore open his shirt to wash away the acid with water. Xie Yun¡¯s skin had already been burned. His face paled as he endured the pain.


    Lu Zhao furrowed his brow but remained composed when he spoke. ¡°Where are the on-set doctors?¡± he asked someone nearby.


    ¡°Director Su has gone to fetch them,¡± a crew member replied.


    Not far away, Su Li rushed over with two people wearing white lab coats.


    The doctors began to treat Xie Yun¡¯s wounds. Lu Zhao looked at Luo Ying with concern and asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Luo Ying furrowed her brow and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. That person was aiming at me. Xie Yun saved me. ¡±


    Lu Zhao looked at Xie Yun, who was convulsing in pain, and guilt welled up in his heart. He turned to Su Li and instructed him, ¡°After providing initial treatment, take Xie Yun to the best hospital and ask for the best treatment. I¡¯ll cover all the medical expenses.¡±


    Su Li nodded solemnly in response.


    At that moment, his mind was in chaos. Since the beginning of filming, the production team had encountered various incidents. Now, someone had openly attacked a key member of the crew. As the director, he had to take responsibility for this.


    Lu Zhao called the driver and asked him to escort them to the hospital.


    ¡°Where is the culprit? Did you catch them?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    Only then did everyone realize what they had missed. They had been busy attending to Xie Yun¡¯s injuries, and it allowed the person who had thrown the sulfuric acid to escape in the chaos.


    Lu Zhao held Luo Ying¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°Check all the surveillance cameras. We must find them,¡± he urged them.


    After saying that, he looked at Luo Ying with concern. Luo Ying smiled faintly and patted the back of his hand in her attempt to reassure him.


    Liu Sheng had swiftly left the scene and had hailed a taxi.


    To avoid being traced, she had disguised herself as a beggar. Her face was covered in black ash and she blended in with the extras. She even held a broken basket.


    The surprised taxi driver thought she was a young man engaging in some new cosplay.


    Liu Sheng tightly gripped the basket. Her face was filled with hatred.


    Damn it, why did someone intervene and protect Luo Ying at such a critical moment?


    If all had gone to plan, Luo Ying would have been disfigured. Liu Sheng didn¡¯t believe that Lu Zhao would still love an ugly, disfigured woman. Once Luo Ying was disfigured, the position of Mrs. Lu would be within her grasp.


    But her plan had failed. She had to quickly escape the scene and ensure that the crew wouldn¡¯t discover her involvement.


    Buzz! Buzz!


    Her phone rang.


    It was Shen Lan.


    She frowned in disgust. She hated Shen Lan. Why should Shen Lan have all the privileges? They were both her father¡¯s daughters. Shen Lan was the cherished daughter of the Shen family, but she couldn¡¯t have that status.


    She knew her mother had blackmailed her father to treat her well, or else the Shen family¡¯s business would be at risk.


    Over the years, her father had treated her well and even allowed her to rise to the position of vice president.


    But that was far from enough!


    She wanted to replace Shen Lan and become the shining pearl of the Shen family.


    Buzz! Buzz!


    Her phone continued to ring. She reluctantly answered the call, but her voice quickly perked up.


    ¡°Hello dear, what¡¯s wrong?¡± The intimate tone in her voice made it seem like they were still the best friends they used to be.


    But now, when Shen Lan heard those words, she couldn¡¯t help but feel disgusted..

 Chapter 326 - 326 The Truth

    326 The Truth


    She already knew about Lin Sheng¡¯s background, but she had to get close to her to truly understand her motives. So, she couldn¡¯t confront Lin Sheng just yet.


    ¡°Lin Sheng, I bought some of your favorite small cakes. Can I come and give them to you now?¡± Shen Lan asked.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Lin Sheng hesitated and looked down at her outfit.


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll come over. See you later, Shengsheng,¡± Shen Lan quickly hung up the phone without giving Lin Sheng a chance to respond. She knew that catching her off guard would give her a better chance to find out something.


    Lin Sheng rushed home disgruntledly to tidy up and make sure Shen Lan wouldn¡¯t find out anything.


    The moment she changed clothes and removed her makeup, the doorbell rang.


    ¡°Lin Sheng, I missed you so much. It¡¯s been days since I saw you,¡± Shen Lan exclaimed as she hugged Lin Sheng tightly and immediately scanned the entire room with her eyes.


    The room seemed normal, but there was something unusual ¡ª a bamboo basket placed in the corner.


    The basket seemed out of place in the room. Lin Sheng quickly took it out of sight.


    Shen Lan noticed the oddity of the basket and couldn¡¯t help but grow suspicious.


    Meanwhile, the staff reviewing the surveillance footage faced a dilemma.


    The venue had clear surveillance footage of a woman dressed as a beggar splashing sulfuric acid at Luo Ying when she wasn¡¯t paying attention. However, the woman¡¯s face was covered in black dust, making it impossible to identify her.


    Lu Zhao furrowed his brow. Su Li was sweating nervously. They acknowledged that the screening process for extras had not been the most airtight. It was a low-budget shoot, and they had gathered extras as best they could.


    They never expected it to turn into a disaster.


    After stealing a glance at Lu Zhao¡¯s worried expression, Su Li felt that his career as a director was over.


    Lu Zhao patted Su Li¡¯s shoulder reassuringly. ¡°Someone is trying to hurt Luo Ying, and the production team has been compromised. Moreover, Xie Yun is injured now. Let¡¯s suspend the shoot for now. You and the other crew members should prioritize your safety. I¡¯ll keep paying your salaries. I¡¯ll cover the expenses.¡±


    Su Li let out a sigh of relief and looked gratefully at Lu Zhao.


    Lu Zhao contacted the Luya Group¡¯s Public Relations Department and asked them to make the incident known online. He knew that if the culprit failed once, they might make another attempt. Making it public would help keep Luo Ying and the production team safe and possibly provide valuable clues.


    In the evening, a post quickly topped the hot search:


    ¡°Su Li¡¯s crew faces another crisis. Male lead splashed with sulfuric acid.¡±


    Xie Yun¡¯s fans were outraged and worried, but some attentive fans noticed something unusual in the video.


    ¡°[Pay attention to the video. The woman seemed to have wanted to splash Luo Ying in the beginning.]¡±


    ¡°[Yeah, she aimed for Luo Ying, but Xie Yun protected her.]¡±


    ¡°[How many enemies does Sister Ying have? Why does she always seem to be targeted by someone?]¡±


    ¡°[Xie Yun is such a dashing knight.]¡±


    ¡°[Could this be Luo Ying¡¯s new way of creating hype? This woman is capable of anything.]¡±


    Luo Ying ignored the miscellaneous comments online. She had been visiting the hospital to check on Xie Yun¡¯s condition for the past two days. After all, Xie Yun was injured because of her.


    One day, while at the hospital, she received an urgent call from Shen Lan.


    ¡°Yingying, I think I know who threw the sulfuric acid at you that day.¡±


    Luo Ying trembled, ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s probably Lin Sheng,¡± Shen Lan replied anxiously.


    Luo Ying furrowed her brow.


    She had heard Shen Lan mention Lin Sheng before, but they had never met. Why would Lin Sheng come after her?


    Feeling overwhelmed, Luo Ying asked Shen Lan to meet in person to explain everything in detail. Shen Lan showed Luo Ying Lin Sheng¡¯s photo, and upon closer inspection, she did resemble the woman from the surveillance camera.


    Luo Ying immediately called Lu Zhao to inform him about this development. However, before she could explain, another urgent matter arose: Xie Yun¡¯s condition had worsened.

 Chapter 327 - 327 Framed

    327 Framed


    Luo Ying furrowed her brow as she read the message from the doctor.


    ¡°Xie Yun seemed to be recovering well when I visited him this morning. How did his condition suddenly worsen?¡± she wondered.


    A suspicion began to grow in her mind that this matter might not be as simple as it seemed.


    When she arrived at the hospital, Xie Yun had already been rushed to the emergency room.


    The doctor in charge came out with a troubled expression and said, ¡°The patient has a severe fever due to a wound infection.¡±


    ¡°An infection?¡± Luo Ying looked incredulous. ¡°He¡¯s been taking antibiotics and getting his dressing changed every day. How could he get infected?¡±


    The doctor also appeared worried. It was as if he was blaming himself for not taking better care of the patient.


    At that moment, a figure caught Luo Ying¡¯s attention.


    A woman in a nurse¡¯s uniform glanced guiltily at them and hurriedly left.


    ¡°Is she a nurse from the hospital?¡± Luo Ying asked the doctor.


    ¡°The hospital doesn¡¯t have contracted nurses. Usually, patients¡¯ families personally hire them,¡± the doctor replied.


    Luo Ying nodded and quietly followed the nurse to a staircase.


    As the nurse took off her mask and made a call, Luo Ying was shocked by her face.


    It was her!


    ¡°Miss Su, I¡¯ve done as you asked. Transfer the money to me.


    ¡°What now? Do you want me to get rid of Luo Ying? Of course, I hate her. She¡¯s the reason my daughter got imprisoned. But with Lu Zhao protecting her now, it¡¯s hard for me to get to her.


    ¡°That was not the deal! We agreed you¡¯d give me 500,000 dollars in exchange for Xie Yun¡¯s sabotage. Now you want me to get rid of Luo Ying?¡±


    Luo Ying¡¯s heart sank. She had to be talking to Su Ran.


    Both production teams had been competing from the start. If Xie Yun was incapacitated in any way, they wouldn¡¯t be able to continue filming. Su Ran¡¯s drama would then take the spotlight.


    When did human lives carry such little meaning? Luo Ying couldn¡¯t help but feel bitter.


    She approached the woman as she spoke on the phone. When the woman saw Luo Ying, she was stunned and dropped her phone on the ground.


    ¡°Hello? Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± Su Ran¡¯s voice still came from the phone.


    ¡°Auntie, long time no see,¡± Luo Ying said to the woman in front of her.


    The woman panicked, but her eyes quickly narrowed in fury.


    She was Tian Tian¡¯s mother, Chen Jing.


    ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re the one who harmed my daughter,¡± Chen Jing¡¯s face twisted with anger.


    Luo Ying sighed, ¡°Tian Tian brought that upon herself. Is hurting more innocent people your way of seeking revenge on me? Xie Yun has nothing to do with you. Why did you hurt him?¡±


    When she heard Xie Yun¡¯s name, Chen Jing¡¯s eyes evaded her gaze.


    ¡°Did Su Ran send you?¡± Luo Ying asked calmly.


    ¡°How did you know?¡± Chen Jing looked at Luo Ying in disbelief.


    ¡°What you¡¯re doing now is a criminal offense. If I call the police, you¡¯ll end up like your daughter and get thrown behind bars,¡± Luo Ying said while observing Chen Jing¡¯s reaction.


    Chen Jing¡¯s legs went weak. Su Ran hadn¡¯t mentioned this when she had recruited her. Su Ran had only asked her to carry out certain tasks and promised to take care of everything else.


    Luo Ying looked at the weary Chen Jing and felt a pang of sympathy.


    This world didn¡¯t belong to her; it was a fictional dimension. But the people living here were fighting very real battles. Was it worth it?


    Luo Ying looked down to dial the police number. She didn¡¯t notice that Chen Jing had slipped her hand into her bag to produce a pair of scissors. She was now aiming it at Luo Ying¡¯s heart¡­


    Blood stained the white floor tiles of the hospital.


    Luo Ying felt a blinding white light and heard a cacophony of voices.


    ¡°Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!¡±


    ¡°Yingying, what are you waiting for? Blow out the candles.¡±


    After struggling to open her eyes, Luo Ying saw familiar faces in front of her.


    Her father, mother, and brothers were all sitting around a table. A feast of delicious food and a big cake adorned the table.


    ¡°Happy birthday, deartest Yingying,¡± her third brother said affectionately.


    Had she returned?


    Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar scene, Luo Ying couldn¡¯t help but burst into tears.


    Her family was puzzled; they didn¡¯t know what was wrong with her.


    ¡°Yingying, are you feeling unwell?¡± Her mother asked with concern as she gently patted Luo Ying¡¯s back.


    Luo Ying turned and hugged her mother tightly. ¡°Mom, I missed you all so much. Thank goodness you¡¯re all here.¡±

 Chapter 328 - Chapter 328: Illusion

    Chapter 328: Illusion


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Silly girl, it¡¯s your birthday today. Of course, we¡¯re all here.


    ¡°We even ordered your favorite pizza. It should be arriving soon,¡± Second Brother chimed in.


    The doorbell rang, and a woman holding a box entered the room.


    As the box opened, she revealed a pair of sharp scissors.


    The food delivery woman had now transformed into Chen Jing.


    Chen Jing grinned maliciously as she raised the scissors and lunged toward Luo Ying¡¯s chest.


    Luo Ying¡¯s eyes widened in fear. ¡°Dad, Mom, Brother, save me!¡±


    But they seemed frozen in place and were unable to assist her, in spite of their wide-open eyes.


    She felt as though she had been swallowed by an endless darkness.


    ¡°Dad, Mom, save me!


    ¡°Brother, save me!¡±


    In the emergency room, Luo Ying¡¯s face turned pale. Sshe was covered in cold sweat. She kept repeating these pleas.


    Lu Zhao stood beside her, his entire being consumed with sorrow and rage.


    ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve caught the woman who stabbed Madam. How do we deal with her?¡± Xiao Ting called to ask.


    ¡°Throw her on Neverland Island,¡± Lu Zhao replied before hanging up.


    He wished he could tear that person into pieces, but for now, he had to stay with Luo Ying.


    Lu Zhao was filled with remorse. He had been preoccupied with the Lu Family¡¯s power struggle and neglected Luo Ying¡¯s safety. She had faced danger again and again, and he couldn¡¯t forgive himself for not protecting her.


    He looked at her pale face. His eyes were red with guilt.


    No matter what, he had to save her.


    But as Luo Ying rambled and called out for her dad, mom, and brother¡­ She didn¡¯t mention him.


    Did she still long for the world she originally belonged to? Was she destined to leave him?


    The thought tormented him and caused spasms of pain.


    He couldn¡¯t accept it. He couldn¡¯t imagine how he would survive without Luo Ying.


    While caught in the power struggle for the Lu Family, he had been pushing himself every day to protect the Luya Group and resorted to any means necessary.


    If Luo Ying were to leave him one day, he didn¡¯t know if anything he did would matter anymore.


    Creak¡ªthe door was gently pushed open.


    It was Wen Yu.


    ¡°President Lu, you should receive treatment. The poison master¡¯s daughter has sent the blood for you.¡±


    Lu Zhao looked at Luo Ying lying on the hospital bed.


    From the looks of it, Luo Ying was truly not the poison master¡¯s daughter, which brought some relief.


    ¡°Give her ten times the amount of money agreed upon,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    ¡°Yes, President Lu,¡± Wen Yu agreed.


    Even Wen Yu was surprised. Her instincts had told her that Luo Ying was the poison master¡¯s daughter. But despite lying in the ICU all day, Luo Ying still received the blood on time.


    Could it be¡­ Wen Yu didn¡¯t dare to consider it. If Luo Ying really resorted to that method, the damage to her body would be fatal.


    Outside the door, Jiang Ming observed everything coldly.


    Half a month ago, Luo Ying had told him her plan.


    She had been worried that she might not survive to complete Lu Zhao¡¯s treatment, so she had taken out her blood in advance and stored it.


    She had also asked Jiang Ming to surreptitiously deliver the blood to Wen Yu.


    When he saw Luo Ying lying on the hospital bed looking so frail, Jiang Ming¡¯s heart ached. How extraordinary was this man to be worth her life?


    After receiving treatment, Lu Zhao rushed back to the hospital.


    A red Maserati was parked in front of his car, and a woman with striking makeup stepped out.


    Lu Zhao rubbed his temples and asked Xiao Ting to look into it.


    But before Xiao Ting could answer, the woman approached the car.


    She bent down and revealed a teasing hint of cleavage.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Lu Zhao asked impatiently.


    Countless women came after him, so these situations were not uncommon.


    ¡°President Lu, I want to introduce someone to you. She can cure Luo Ying,¡± the woman said confidently.


    When he heard Luo Ying¡¯s name, Lu Zhao¡¯s heart trembled.


    Luo Ying¡¯s stabbing had been near-fatal. Despite the best efforts of Lan City¡¯s doctors, they could only buy her more time.


    Her body was extremely weak, and her heart wasn¡¯t getting enough blood supply. Even with the doctor¡¯s assurances, they could only guarantee keeping her alive in a comatose state for a year. The rest would be up to fate.


    If this woman really had a way to cure Luo Ying, Lu Zhao was willing to give it a try.


    ¡°Where is she? I¡¯ll go meet her,¡± Lu Zhao told the woman.


    The woman smiled and brushed her hair behind her ear.


    ¡°President Lu, get in my car. I¡¯ll take you there..¡±

 Chapter 329 - Chapter 329: Poison Master

    Chapter 329: Poison Master


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Xiao Ting looked at Lu Zhao with a worried expression, as if he was afraid that he was walking right into a trap.


    Lu Zhao hesitated for a moment before stepping out of the car.


    No matter what, he was willing to try anything that could help Luo Ying.


    Liu Sheng¡¯s anxious heart calmed down when Lu Zhao agreed to come with her. Her plan had gone off to a good start.


    While she sat in the backseat, she gazed at the handsome, aloof man in front of her, and her heart skipped a beat.


    She loved him deeply, but he was completely devoted to Luo Ying.


    Once Luo Ying was out of the picture, there would be no obstacles between them.


    With her looks and abilities, she believed she could win his heart.


    Lu Zhao felt uneasy under Liu Sheng¡¯s intense gaze. He just wanted to tigure out a way to save Luo Ying and didn¡¯t want to waste time with a stranger. ¡°Who are you taking me to see? Let¡¯s get going,¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s voice was devoid of any emotion.


    Liu Sheng regained her focus and shifted her gaze away from Lu Zhao.


    ¡°Drive,¡± she instructed the chauffeur.


    After a while, the car slowly stopped in front of a villa.


    Lu Zhao hurried inside. He hadn¡¯t been away from Luo Ying for hours, and he was deeply worried.


    Liu Sheng led Lu Zhao into the living room, where a middle-aged woman was seated on the sofa.


    The woman exuded an elegant aura and remained unfazed as Lu Zhao and Liu Sheng entered.


    ¡°Master, this is President Lu of the Luya Group. His wife is in critical condition now. I hope you can help her.¡±


    Master! Lu Zhao was shocked. Could this woman be the poison master? The woman raised her eyes slowly and looked at Lu Zhao. ¡°Your marriage is destined to be a doomed one. In the end, you won¡¯t be able to stay together.


    Why are you so obstinate, Mr. Lu?¡±


    Lu Zhao felt as though a knife had stabbed his heart.


    Yes, he and Luo Ying came from different worlds.


    Perhaps in the end, she would still leave him.


    But regardless, he had to save her now.


    ¡°If you can truly save her, I¡¯m willing to pay any price,¡± Lu Zhao said calmly.


    ¡°Forgive me for asking, but are you the poison master?¡±


    The woman carefully examined Lu Zhao and then nodded.


    Lu Zhao had doubts, but he clung to a glimmer of hope. The whereabouts of the poison master had always been a mystery.


    ¡°I will come to the hospital at eight o¡¯clock tomorrow morning. I will bring her back to life within three days,¡± the woman said calmly.


    Lu Zhao breathed a sigh of relief.


    The woman sounded dead certain of herself. Perhaps she really had a way to save Luo Ying.


    Lu Zhao thanked the woman and walked out.


    A complicated expression crossed Liu Sheng¡¯s face.


    ¡°Mr. Lu, there are many guest rooms here. It¡¯s already late. Why don¡¯t you stay here¡­¡±


    Before Liu Sheng could finish, Lu Zhao interrupted her. ¡°No need. I must go back to the hospital to see my wife.¡±


    Liu Sheng watched angrily as Lu Zhao left resolutely. Winning his heart seemed like a daunting task. What did Luo Ying have that made him so


    infatuated with her?


    Liu Sheng entered her room and faced her mother¡¯s reproachful gaze.


    ¡°I told you not to rush things. Rushing like this will only make him suspicious,¡± her mother scolded Liu Sheng.


    ¡°Mom, I know. You have to help me.¡±


    This woman was Liu Sheng¡¯s biological mother, Liu Yi.


    She had been a doctor abroad for many years and had excellent medical skills.


    ¡°You are my daughter¡¯s competitor. If I don¡¯t help you, who will? Moreover, that woman¡¯s child must die! The grudge of two generations will finally be fulfilled,¡± Liu Yi clenched her fists while looking murderous.


    The next morning, Liu Yi arrived at the hospital on time.


    Lu Zhao had been at Luo Ying¡¯s bedside all night, and dark circles had formed under his eyes.


    Liu Yi walked straight to the bedside and felt Luo Ying¡¯s pulse.


    ¡°Her pulse is very weak, and the veins are frail. The wound is inflamed,¡± Liu Yi concluded after a brief examination.


    Lu Zhao was taken aback. In just a few seconds, Liu Yi had made a preliminary diagnosis. Perhaps this woman was truly the poison master.


    Liu Yi took out a bag of silver needles and inserted them into two acupuncture points on Luo Ying¡¯s head. Then, she took out a bag of powder.


    ¡°Feed this to her with water. She¡¯ll wake up within half a day,¡± Liu Yi said as she put away the needles and left the ward.


    While following Liu Yi¡¯s instructions, Lu Zhao dissolved the powder in water and fed it to Luo Ying.


    Overcome by exhaustion, Lu Zhao succumbed to sleep on the bed.


    The afternoon sun beamed onto the bed, and Luo Ying squinted from the brightness.


    Where was she? Her whole body ached. She opened her eyes slightly and slowly focused her gaze. There he was.


    It was Lu Zhao..

 Chapter 330 - Chapter 330: Waking Up

    Chapter 330: Waking Up


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lu Zhao lay exhaustedly on the hospital bed, his handsome face looking a bit dull from staying up late and excessive worry.


    ¡°Lu Zhao,¡± Luo Ying called out wearily, ¡°Lu Zhao.¡±


    Lu Zhao was in a light sleep. He jolted up at the sound of her voice. When he saw that Luo Ying was awake, he excitedly grabbed her hand.


    ¡°Baby, you¡¯re finally awake,¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s forehead pressed against the back of Luo Ying¡¯s hand, and a tear slid down her cold skin.


    He was crying.


    One can only imagine the fear he had experienced while she was unconscious. Luo Ying tried to sit up, but the pain from her wound made her flinch, and her facial features scrunched together in agony.


    Lu Zhao quickly held her, ¡°Your body is still weak; don¡¯t move for now. You haven¡¯t eaten anything after being unconscious for so long. Let me feed you some first.


    He opened the insulated lunch box on the bedside table, and the aroma of chicken soup filled the air.


    Luo Ying pretended to look disdainful. ¡°I don¡¯t want to drink clear and tasteless chicken soup. I want some hotpot.¡±


    Lu Zhao lovingly rubbed her nose, ¡°Get well soon, and I¡¯ll take you out for hotpot when we leave the hospital.¡±


    While blowing on the chicken soup, Lu Zhao fed Luo Ying bit by bit.


    ¡°It seems the poison master is indeed as famous as they say. Her medicine took effect immediately after you took it,¡± Lu Zhao said as he fed her.


    Luo Ying nearly spat out the chicken soup she had just drunk.


    Did he just mention the poison master, as in the biological mother of this body?


    Her whereabouts had been unknown for so long. Why did she suddenly appear and treat her?


    Luo Ying felt something was amiss.


    ¡°Where did you meet this poison master?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°A woman recommended her,¡± Lu Zhao said while frowning. At that time, he was entirely focused on Luo Ying and hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the appearance of the woman.


    He called Xiao Ting and asked him to retrieve the surveillance footage from the car¡¯s recorder.


    When Luo Ying saw the woman¡¯s face, she exclaimed, ¡°Liu Sheng! It¡¯s her.¡±


    Lu Zhao was also inwardly surprised.


    ¡°What? Do you know her?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    ¡°She¡¯s the woman who splashed sulfuric acid at me that day,¡± Luo Ying said.


    ¡°What?¡± Lu Zhao couldn¡¯t believe his ears.


    ¡°That time, Shen Lan called me over and provided me with clues. Before I could tell you anything, I received news that Xie Yun¡¯s condition had worsened. I rushed to the hospital in a hurry, but in the end, I was attacked,¡± Luo Ying recounted the situation.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s mind was in turmoil. If this woman had tried to harm Luo Ying in the past, she could not possibly mean her any well.


    Even so, Luo Ying was awake. Why?


    Luo Ying looked at Lu Zhao while lost in thought.


    She knew Lu Zhao well enough to know that he would not be so gullible.


    Why did that woman¡¯s simple words make him believe her?


    Something was amiss. Someone in Lu Zhao¡¯s circle must have clouded his mind and judgment.


    ¡°Call Jiang Ming to check my body. I suspect this poison master was a fraud. I don¡¯t know what kind of medicine she gave me. Also, have your men secretly monitor Liu Sheng and this impostor. If anything happens to me, move in on them. I fear that we¡¯re in a very dangerous situation now.¡± Luo Ying organized her thoughts methodically.


    Lu Zhao nodded solemnly.


    He had been feeling powerless. He was often encountering obstacles when trying to solve other problems. Luo Ying¡¯s sudden assassination attempt and hospitalization had dealt him a significant blow. He was becoming fragile and vulnerable.


    The thought frightened him.


    It was true; that was indeed the case. He had never been easily affected by things in the past, nor would he easily trust the words of strangers.


    But now¡­


    He could not afford the brainpower to think any further and simply followed Luo Ying¡¯s instructions.


    Jiang Ming examined Luo Ying¡¯s body with a serious expression.


    ¡°Based on appearances, you seem to be recovering rapidly, and you seem to be in high spirits. However, there¡¯s a very serious problem¡ªyour heartbeat is too


    fast.¡¯


    Luo Ying also felt her heart seemingly racing out of control, even though she wasn¡¯t agitated in the slightest.


    ¡°I need to draw some blood for further testing.¡±


    Jiang Ming took a small vial of blood and left the ward. Before leaving, he gave the couple a meaningful glance..

 Chapter 331 - Chapter 331: Danger

    Chapter 331: Danger


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    In the dimly lit meeting room, Lu Wen stood facing the window. His feet were surrounded by cigarette butts scattered across the floor. He looked haggard and sported an unkempt beard. His sunken eyes were filled with rage.


    He had just finished dealing with Nancy¡¯s funeral.


    In the end, he failed to save his beloved.


    He forcefully extinguished a cigarette butt and ground it against the windowsill with such force as if it were Lu Zhao.


    The door creaked open, and a tall woman walked in.


    ¡°Mr. Lu, I¡¯ve taken care of everything as you instructed,¡± Wen Yu said.


    ¡°Oh? How is Lu Zhao doing now?¡± Lu Wen didn¡¯t turn around. His voice was hoarse from smoking too much.


    ¡°Lu Zhao¡­ is falling apart. His cognitive abilities have noticeably fallen. In a month at most, he¡¯ll be a complete simpleton,¡± Wen Yu said through gritted teeth.


    ¡°Hahahahaha.¡± Lu Wen suddenly burst into laughter.


    He swiftly moved in front of Wen Yu.


    ¡°You¡¯re not lying to me, are you?¡± He held Wen Yu¡¯s chin with one hand, his expression deranged and arrogant.


    ¡°Lu¡­ Mr. Lu, I wouldn¡¯t dare lie to you. My brother is still in your hands, I¡­¡± Wen Yu¡¯s eyes were filled with tears.


    Lu Wen pushed Wen Yu away and took out a tablet. He placed it in front of her.


    The surveillance footage on the tablet was so gruesome that it was unbearable to watch.


    Wen Du had been tied naked to a wooden bed. His body was covered in blood. His left kidney had been removed, and it was a bloody mess.


    Wen Yu felt suffocated by pain, but she didn¡¯t dare cry out.


    Lu Wen lit another cigarette.


    ¡°Last time you didn¡¯t listen, so I had someone dig out one of his kidneys. Now, you should know better,¡± he said. The cigarette glowed and dimmed, creating a sizzling sound as he pressed the burning end against Wen Yu¡¯s fair palm.


    Wen Yu let out a miserable cry and almost fainted.


    The man in front of her had long lost his mind.


    ¡°Go on, next time you come to me, bring news of Lu Zhao¡¯s death,¡± Lu Wen said expressionlessly.


    ¡°Yes¡­ Mr. Lu.¡± Wen Yu left the meeting room with trembling hands.


    As she walked out, her tears flowed uncontrollably.


    A week ago, Lu Wen had kidnapped Wen Du to threaten Wen Yu into drugging Lu Zhao.


    Wen Yu loved her brother, but she didn¡¯t want to harm Lu Zhao. After all, he had helped them.


    She pretended to deceive Lu Wen and claim that she had successfully drugged Lu Zhao.


    However, Lu Wen still discovered the truth. He had ruthlessly had her brother¡¯s kidney removed. She could only accede to his demands.


    She knew she had let Lu Zhao down, but her brother was the only family she had left. She couldn¡¯t bear to see him suffer so much.


    Every time she treated Lu Zhao, she added some psychiatric drugs.


    There seemed to be no obvious symptoms, but it impaired deep thinking and judgment.


    Over time, it would lead to a state of mental retardation.


    Lu Wen was a monster.


    He didn¡¯t choose to kill Lu Zhao directly; he wanted to torment him slowly.


    Wen Yu endured the pain in her palm and drove back to the Lu residence.


    On the other side, Luo Ying¡¯s blood test results were out.


    Jiang Ming frowned deeply.


    ¡°How are the test results?¡± Lu Zhao and Luo Ying asked anxiously.


    ¡°Luo Ying¡¯s blood contains a very peculiar chemical substance. This substance can temporarily maintain a person¡¯s heart function, but after a certain time limit, you will drop dead,¡± Jiang Ming said.


    Lu Zhao and Luo Ying broke out in a cold sweat.


    ¡°This substance is rare locally. It¡¯s part of a research project from a foreign university. I¡¯ve read their thesis before, so I know a little about it. It seems someone intentionally drugged Luo Ying, and this person has foreign backers.¡±


    Lu Zhao remained silent for a long time.


    He took out his phone and sent a message to Xiao Ting.


    ¡°Take those two in.¡±


    But not long after, Xiao Ting called anxiously.


    ¡°Mr. Lu, it¡¯s bad. The master has disappeared. We only caught Liu Sheng..¡±

 Chapter 332 - Chapter 332: Denying It

    Chapter 332: Denying It


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°They were right under your noses! How could you let her escape?!¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s frustration was evident.


    ¡°Boss, our men were indeed keeping a close eye on them, but when we moved in, we only found Liu Sheng in the villa, ¡± Xiao Ting said nervously.


    ¡°Just bring her here first,¡± Lu Zhao commanded.


    After hanging up the phone, he looked apologetically at Luo Ying.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sweetheart. It was my oversight that caused this,¡± Lu Zhao said while pursing his lips.


    Luo Ying gently stroked his hair.


    ¡°I suspect that someone has set you up as well. With your level of meticulousness, you wouldn¡¯t make such a rash decision.¡±


    Lu Zhao furrowed his brows and said, ¡°I also feel like I haven¡¯t been as mentally sharp as I should be lately. Wen Yu has always been responsible for my treatment. Is it possible¡­¡±


    The two of them exchanged glances as they came to a silent agreement.


    ¡°Have Jiang Ming give you a check-up to see what¡¯s going on with your body,¡± Luo Ying suggested.


    As he looked at Luo Ying¡¯s pale and gaunt face, a wave of grief filled Lu Zhao¡¯s heart. He tightly held Luo Ying¡¯s hand. ¡°So many things have happened recently. Once we get through this, I¡¯ll take you on a trip.¡±


    Luo Ying smiled softly.


    Xiao Ting shoved Liu Sheng into the ward.


    Liu Sheng¡¯s hands were tied behind her back. Her lipstick was smudged, and her hair was a disheveled mess.


    When she saw Lu Zhao, her body trembled uncontrollably.


    Lu Zhao coldly stared at the woman in front of him.


    ¡°Why did you do this? Who is that woman?¡± Lu Zhao questioned.


    Liu Sheng shook her head repeatedly. ¡°Lu Zhao, I really didn¡¯t intend to harm


    Luo Ying. I was also deceived by that woman.¡±


    Luo Ying lay on the hospital bed and smirked contemptuously. ¡°Are you kidding me? You were the one who threw sulfuric acid at me during the filming, right?¡±


    Fear filled Liu Sheng¡¯s eyes. She hadn¡¯t expected them to discover this. She believed she had executed it flawlessly.


    Liu Sheng had no choice but to admit it. She glared at him and said, ¡°What¡¯s so special about Luo Ying that you treat her so wholeheartedly? Why won¡¯t you even look at me? I love you just as much as she does!¡±


    Lu Zhao coldly surveyed the woman who was shouting herself hoarse.


    ¡°Regardless of what happens to Luo Ying, I still love her. A woman with a venomous heart like you doesn¡¯t deserve anyone¡¯s love,¡± Lu Zhao said firmly and gestured to Xiao Ting.


    Xiao Ting nodded and dragged Liu Sheng away.


    ¡°It seems that we won¡¯t get any information about that woman from her. We¡¯ll have to investigate this matter thoroughly,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    Suddenly, a person flashed in Luo Ying¡¯s mind: Shen Lan.


    She used to be on good terms with Liu Sheng, so perhaps she might know something.


    However, it was already late, and Luo Ying planned to contact Shen Lan the next day.


    Lu Zhao nodded. ¡°Then I¡¯ll stay with you tonight.¡±


    Luo Ying lovingly stroked the hair on Lu Zhao¡¯s forehead.


    A hint of desire flashed in Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes. He gently grasped Luo Ying¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Once you recover, you¡¯ll have to bear the consequences.¡± A wicked smile appeared on his face.


    Luo Ying understood what he meant and blushed.


    Jiang Ming knocked on the door and walked in. When he saw the scene in front of him, he felt uneasy.


    He wished he could be the one chatting and laughing with Luo Ying like this, but it seemed that he would never have that chance.


    The two of them looked at Jiang Ming, who had just entered. They blushed slightly.


    ¡°Dr. Jiang, is there something you need?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    Jiang Ming waved the folder in his hand. ¡°Mr. Lu¡¯s blood test results are out.¡±


    Luo Ying lightly bit her lip. ¡°How is it?¡±


    Jiang Ming looked at Luo Ying¡¯s worried face and felt a sinking feeling in his heart.


    ¡°Mr. Lu¡¯s blood contains a neurotoxin. The dosage was very light, but it subtly affects your judgment and thinking ability. If this continues for another two months, your brain would be permanently damaged and you would exhibit signs of dementia.¡±


    Jiang Ming¡¯s words left Lu Zhao and Luo Ying in a state of panic.


    Who else could be plotting against him?


    ¡°If I stop taking it now, how long would it take for me to return to normal?¡± Lu Zhao asked.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have much of it in your system right now. If you stop taking it, your system will work it out in two days,¡± Jiang Ming explained.


    ¡°Got it. Thank you, Dr. Jiang. You can go and rest now,¡± Lu Zhao nodded.


    After Jiang Ming left, the two of them fell into a short silence. The consecutive incidents proved that their situation was perilous.


    ¡°Whatever the case is, Wen Yu has been treating you, so it¡¯s best to start investigating her first,¡± Luo Ying suggested.

 Chapter 333 - Chapter 333: Shen Xiu

    Chapter 333: Shen Xiu


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    In the spacious office, Shen Xiu gazed out the window while lost in thought. Lately, whenever his mind was empty, a certain little woman¡¯s image would pop into his mind and he couldn¡¯t shake her off. It was the first time in so many years that a woman had such a firm hold on his heart.


    Knock, knock, knock¡ªa knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Could it be her? Shen Xiu felt a surge of joy and perked up slightly as he called out, ¡°Come in!¡±


    A woman walked in, but it wasn¡¯t Shen Lan; it was Xia Na.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Shen Xiu asked impatiently.


    ¡°I brought you some food since you¡¯ve been so busy with work. It¡¯s good to nourish your body,¡± Xia Na replied coquettishly. She was dressed in a one-shoulder dress that accentuated her alluring curves.


    ¡°Put them down and leave,¡± Shen Xiu snapped.


    ¡°But I¡­¡± Xia Na began.


    ¡°Uncle, are you busy?¡± Before Xia Na could finish her sentence, Shen Lan pushed the door open and entered.


    Xia Na was furious. She put her arm around Shen Xiu¡¯s shoulder and leaned into him.


    ¡°Your uncle is busy now. Why don¡¯t you wait a bit?¡± Xia Na said provocatively. Shen Lan looked at the scene in front of her and suddenly panicked. She closed the door and hurriedly left.


    Shen Xiu pushed Xia Na away in disgust and ran out of the office without looking back. He chased after Shen Lan. Xia Na was so angry that she clenched her teeth.


    Why? In her eyes, Shen Lan was just a young, inexperienced girl. How did she get Shen Xiu so infatuated with her?


    Shen Xiu finally caught up with Shen Lan when she was already in her car. She had started moving.


    He quickly got into his car and chased after her.


    Finally, on a quiet road, Shen Lan stopped her car.


    There were faint traces of tears at the corners of her eyes.


    She was just as confused as anyone. He was her uncle. Even though they weren¡¯t related by blood, it wasn¡¯t her place to be concerned about whether he had a girlfriend or not.


    But for some reason, she felt uneasy whenever she saw him interact with other women.


    Shen Xiu parked behind her.


    He walked up to Shen Lan¡¯s car window and wanted to say something, but the words got stuck in his throat.


    His actions earlier had already exposed his thoughts, hadn¡¯t they?


    He liked her. Even the thought surprised himself.


    Just a few years ago, Shen Lan was still a little girl in his eyes, but suddenly¡­


    He couldn¡¯t bear to see her sad.


    The car window slowly rolled down, and Shen Lan¡¯s beautiful face came into view.


    Her appearance wasn¡¯t dazzling, but her delicate features were harmonious, and her slightly drooped eyes gave her an innocent charm that brought out protective urges in others.


    Shen Xiu looked at the traces of tears at the corners of Shen Lan¡¯s eyes and felt a pang of sadness.


    Shen Lan forced a smile, ¡°Uncle, if you have something to do, go ahead. It¡¯s okay.¡±


    Shen Xiu¡¯s intense gaze fell on Shen Lan, making her feel a bit overwhelmed.


    She had already sensed that Shen Xiu was looking at her differently.


    Was in possibly interested in her, too?


    This thought made Shen Lan¡¯s ears turn slightly red.


    When he saw Shen Lan blush, Shen Xiu couldn¡¯t hold back anymore.


    At that moment, he was certain that Shen Lan had feelings for him.


    He opened the car door and looked at Shen Lan¡¯s surprised expression. Without hesitation, he picked her up around her waist and placed her in the back seat of his car.


    Shen Lan blushed even more. She had imagined such a scenario before, but she hadn¡¯t expected it to happen so quickly.


    Shen Xiu then got into the car and closed the door.


    The two of them looked at each other in silence, and an ambiguous atmosphere filled the air.


    While he looked at the petite girl in front of him, Shen Xiu felt an overwhelming desire to embrace her, but he didn¡¯t want to scare her by being too impulsive. Instead, he gently brushed the strands of hair by Shen Lan¡¯s ear with his slender hand.


    ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand, Xia Na is just imagining things. I have nothing to do with her,¡± Shen Xiu explained.


    ¡°Of course, your girlfriend has nothing to do with me,¡± Shen Lan pretended to be magnanimous, but inside, she was fuming.


    Shen Xiu observed the angry little woman in front of him. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of fondness for her..

 Chapter 334 - Chapter 334: Realization

    Chapter 334: Realization


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Why, are you getting jealous?¡± Shen Xiu asked, testing the waters.


    Shen Lan stared straight into Shen Xiu¡¯s eyes. ¡°And if I say I am?¡±


    Shen Xiu could no longer hold himself back and pinned Shen Lan under him.


    A fire of desire burned within him, and Shen Lan¡¯s soft gasps only fueled his passion.


    Shen Lan¡¯s forehead glistened with sweat.


    Shen Xiu had truly pushed her to her limits.


    Now, she was clinging tightly against his bare chest.


    She suddenly remembered her original purpose for seeking Shen Xiu today.


    ¡°Do you know what? Liu Sheng tried to frame Luo Ying but got caught by Lu Zhao¡¯s men,¡± Shen Lan lazily spoke to Shen Xiu.


    He lowered his gaze and looked at her petite figure in his arms. He let out a gentle smile. ¡°Do we really have to talk about such serious matters right now?¡± Shen Lan blushed. ¡°I actually wanted to discuss this with you today, but then¡­¡± When he saw Shen Lan¡¯s adorable pout, Shen Xiu couldn¡¯t help but feel tender affection for her.


    What a wonderful girl. He really wanted to protect her in his arms for the rest of his life.


    ¡°I heard about that incident too. It¡¯s said that Luo Ying almost lost her life. It¡¯s no wonder Lu Zhao took action against her,¡± Shen Xiu said.


    Shen Lan nodded. ¡°My father has been trying to mobilize various resources to find Liu Sheng, but in this city, no one dares to oppose Lu Zhao, so his efforts are in vain.¡±


    ¡°Liu Sheng¡¯s methods are inhumane. If I were in Lu Zhao¡¯s shoes, I would have dealt with it the same way,¡± Shen Xiu said as his slender fingers caressed Shen Lan¡¯s smooth face.


    Suddenly, her phone rang. It was Luo Ying calling.


    On the other end of the call, Luo Ying sounded urgent. She asked if Shen Lan could come over. She needed her help with something.


    Shen Lan agreed.


    Shen Xiu gently stroked Shen Lan¡¯s hair and whispered in her ear, ¡°You go ahead. I¡¯ll come find you tonight.¡±


    Shen Lan blushed upon hearing this. Why didn¡¯t she realize sooner that this man was so good at flirting?


    Shen Lan drove to the hospital.


    Upon entering the ward, she saw that Luo Ying¡¯s condition had improved. Lu Zhao was there too.


    The typically cold-faced president of Luya Group was obediently peeling an apple for his wife.


    It was a scene from a fairy tale book.


    Shen Lan sat beside her. Luo Ying handed her a tablet with surveillance footage.


    In the video, the woman Liu Sheng had introduced walked into Luo Ying¡¯s ward.


    When the surveillance camera captured her face, Luo Ying paused and looked at Shen Lan. ¡°Do you know this woman? Liu Sheng recommended her to Lu Zhao.¡±


    Shen Lan carefully observed the person in the footage. The face seemed familiar, but she couldn¡¯t recall where she had seen it before.


    Suddenly, she seemed to remember seeing a photo of this woman in her father¡¯s room. She had once asked her father who she was, and he said she was his classmate from studying abroad.


    This woman was most likely Liu Sheng¡¯s mother!


    Shen Lan shared her guess, and Lu Zhao nodded.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a particularly close relationship, so it¡¯s not worth taking this risk for her,¡± Lu Zhao said. ¡°Even so, why would Liu Sheng target Luo Ying?¡±


    Shen Lan helplessly looked at Lu Zhao. ¡°Because she likes you. She probably thinks that by getting rid of Luo Ying, she can become Mrs. Lu.¡±


    Lu Zhao looked apologetically at Luo Ying. She had been hurt many times, and it always had something to do with him.


    §²§Ñ¨C


    The ward¡¯s door was suddenly kicked open, and Jin Shi stormed in. His eyes were bloodshot.


    The three people in the ward were startled.


    ¡°Brother!¡± Luo Ying¡¯s voice trembled as she called out.


    Jin Shi¡¯s gaze was fierce. He glanced at Luo Ying on the hospital bed, grabbed Lu Zhao¡¯s collar without another word, and threw a hard punch at Lu Zhao¡¯s face.


    Shen Lan was startled by this sudden situation. She tried to intervene, but was stopped by Jin Shi¡¯s glare.


    ¡°You have nothing to do here. Leave now before you get yourself hurt, ¡± Jin Shi said coldly.


    Luo Ying¡¯s mind was reeling. As she watched her brother¡¯s demeanor, she knew this situation would not be so easily solved. She quickly gave Shen Lan a look, signaling her to leave first.


    Jin Shi¡¯s punch was powerful, and blood flowed from the corner of Lu Zhao¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Brother, stop hitting him!¡± Luo Ying¡¯s voice almost broke.


    ¡°You¡¯re still thinking about him at a time like this!¡± Jin Shi roared. ¡°Look at what he¡¯s done to you. Lu, let me warn you. I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re a heartthrob in this world, but your mess nearly cost Yingying her life! I wish I could tear you apart right now..¡±

 Chapter 335 - Chapter 335: Taking Luo Ying Away

    Chapter 335: Taking Luo Ying Away


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lu Zhao didn¡¯t resist from the beginning to the end. He knew that Luo Ying¡¯s serious injury was closely related to him, and he had no reason to absolve himself.


    Jin Shi let go of Lu Zhao and glared at him fiercely. ¡°You¡¯re doing great now, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯re looking so rosy. Do you know that Yingying has been giving you her blood?¡±


    As soon as he said that, both Lu Zhao and Luo Ying were shocked.


    Luo Ying¡¯s mind was in chaos. How did her third brother know that she had been using her blood to treat Lu Zhao? She had been so cautious and didn¡¯t want her third brother to find out. She never expected that he would discover the truth.


    Lu Zhao was also in disbelief. According to his earlier deduction, Luo Ying shouldn¡¯t be the poison master¡¯s daughter. So why did Jin Shi claim that Luo Ying had been using her blood to treat him?


    When he noticed Lu Zhao¡¯s confused and helpless gaze, Jin Shi let out a cold


    laugh.


    ¡°Heh, Young Master Lu, wake up. Do you really think a stranger would willingly be your blood bank? The only person who would save you at all costs is my silly sister. But by your side, she will only suffer endless harm.¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes turned red as he turned to Luo Ying. ¡°Is what he said true? Have you been using your blood to treat me?¡±


    Since the truth could no longer be hidden, Luo Ying could only remain silent.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s heart ached.


    At that moment, he felt that Jin Shi¡¯s punch was nothing compared to the pain he felt within. He cursed himself for being a heartless bastard. He had once vowed to protect her no matter what, but now he realized that she had almost sacrificed her life to save him.


    Luo Ying was the daughter of the poison master.


    Jin Shi couldn¡¯t suppress the anger in his heart and wanted to rush forward to hit Lu Zhao again, but he was stopped by Luo Ying. ¡°Third Brother! Lu Zhao really didn¡¯t know about this. I kept it from him.¡±


    Jin Shi¡¯s eyes were filled with heartache. How could he not feel sad seeing his sister, who used to be so vibrant on stage, hospitalized repeatedly and suffering such serious injuries?


    He placed a coat on Luo Ying and said, ¡°I¡¯ve found a way to return to the real world. Come with me now.¡±


    This statement shocked both Lu Zhao and Luo Ying again.


    Returning to the real world meant that Luo Ying was about to leave this world.


    Lu Zhao felt an immense sense of suffocation pressing down on his heart. He almost couldn¡¯t control himself as he pleaded, ¡°Third Brother, I¡¯ve made mistakes these few times. I didn¡¯t protect Yingying well, but can you please give me some time to investigate these matters? I promise to make those people pay the price.¡±


    Luo Ying looked at Lu Zhao with a pained expression. The once proud and self-disciplined man was now lowering his head to her third brother and speaking in a pleading tone.


    However, Jin Shi did not seem moved in the slightest.


    Luo Ying couldn¡¯t help but speak again, ¡°Brother, I was indeed framed by someone. It wasn¡¯t Lu Zhao¡­


    Before she could finish her sentence, Jin Shi interrupted her. He looked at Luo Ying and said, ¡°You used to be such a proud and disciplined girl. You worked tirelessly to pursue your dreams, treating the stage as your life. But look at you now! All your thoughts are on this man. You¡¯ve exhausted yourself to save him and suffered such serious injuries.¡±


    Jin Shi paused. ¡°Regardless, this time, you must come with me. You can¡¯t stay in this world any longer.¡±


    He helped Luo Ying put on warm clothes and a mask before carrying her out of the ward.


    Outside the hospital, Xiao Ting, who was sitting in the car, had seen Jin Shi storm into the inpatient department angrily. He knew something was wrong


    Sure enough, Jin Shi came out carrying Luo Ying in his arms after a while.


    ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over. Boss must have lost his mind now.¡± Xiao Ting thought to himself.


    He saw Jin Shi put Luo Ying in the car and drive away from the hospital. Then, he saw Lu Zhao hastily walking out with a dark expression.


    Having followed Lu Zhao for many years, Xiao Ting knew that while Lu Zhao had lost his temper before, it was the first time he saw him with such an ugly expression. Moreover, there was blood at the corner of Lu Zhao¡¯s mouth. Xiao Ting quickly sat up straight. He felt that he might be killed if he took another breath.


    Lu Zhao opened the car door and sat in the back seat..

 Chapter 336 - Chapter 336: Revenge

    Chapter 336: Revenge


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation            Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Boss, your face¡­¡± Xiao Ting trembled, trying to point out the blood on Lu Zhao¡¯s face.


    Lu Zhao used his well-defined fingers to wipe away the blood from the corner of his mouth.


    ¡°Now, listen carefully to everything I¡¯m about to say,¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s commanding voice sent shivers down Xiao Tings spine, and he nodded hastily.


    ¡°Arrange two people to secretly protect Luo Ying and Third Brother. Ensure their safety at all costs, and if anything goes wrong, bring me the culprits,¡± Lu Zhao ordered.


    ¡°Yes, yes, Boss,¡± Xiao Ting said, feeling a cold sweat breaking out.


    ¡°In the coming days, I need to deal with a few individuals. Be sharp and act according to my signals,¡± Lu Zhao continued.


    ¡°No problem, Boss.¡± Xiao Tings mind raced, trying to figure out who might have offended Lu Zhao this time.


    ¡°Where is Wen Yu?¡± Lu Zhao suddenly asked.


    ¡°She¡¯s at the Lu residence. Apart from treating your injuries, she¡¯s conducting some medical experiments,¡± Xiao Ting explained, unsure why Lu Zhao brought up Wen Yu.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go find her first. Today is the day of her treatment,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    Suddenly, he seemed to recall something. It had been a while since he saw Wen Du.


    ¡°Have your trusted men investigate what Wen Du has been up to lately,¡± Lu Zhao instructed.


    ¡°Yes, Boss,¡± Xiao Ting replied as he started the car. Based on his understanding of Lu Zhao, this was going to be a significant undertaking. Lu Zhao interlocked his fingers and pressed them against his forehead. He wouldn¡¯t spare anyone who had harmed Luo Ying.


    At the Lu residence, Wen Yu anxiously waited.


    Today was the day of Lu Zhao¡¯s blood transfusion, and it was also the day she planned to administer the drug.


    For some reason, she felt particularly nervous today.


    On one hand, she wanted to save her brother, but every time she saw Lu Zhao, she felt an overwhelming sense of guilt.


    Today marked the final treatment session, and Lu Wen promised her that if she administered the drug again, he would release Wen Du.


    However, the condition was that today¡¯s dosage had to be tripled.


    The goal was to catch Lu Zhao off-guard when he was completely relaxed and deal a fatal blow.


    Her heart raced as she anxiously looked out the window.


    A Ferrari slowly stopped at the villa¡¯s entrance, and her wildly beating heart gradually calmed down; Lu Zhao had arrived.


    She composed herself, took the first aid kit, and waited in the living room.


    Lu Zhao walked in. His expression was dark.


    ¡°President Lu, you¡¯re back. I¡¯ll start preparing to treat you now,¡± Wen Yu forced herself to sound calm as she opened the first aid kit. ¡°No rush,¡± Lu Zhao waved his hand. ¡°l have something to ask you.¡±


    Wen Yu¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Did Lu Zhao suspect something?


    ¡°President Lu, please speak,¡± Wen Yu tried to hide her panic. She couldn¡¯t bear to imagine the consequences if Lu Zhao found out. She had witnessed his ruthless methods before.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m that easy to deceive?¡± Lu Zhao leaned back on the sofa, his voice cold yet mesmerizing.


    ¡°President Lu, I don¡¯t understand what you mean,¡± Wen Yu gritted her teeth, hoping to make a final desperate struggle.


    Lu Zhao smiled slightly and shook his head. ¡°It seems I¡¯ve been too lenient, allowing all of you to think that I¡¯m easy to fool.¡±


    Tears welled up in Wen Yu¡¯s eyes, but she couldn¡¯t find the words to respond.


    ¡°Do you really believe that if you kill me, Lu Wen will release Wen Du?¡± Lu Zhao went straight to the point when Wen Yu remained silent.


    Wen Yu looked at Lu Zhao in surprise.


    While ignoring her reaction, Lu Zhao continued, ¡°Lu Wen has lost his mind long ago. Even if you follow his orders and get rid of me, you and Wen Du won¡¯t be any better off, would you? Besides, didn¡¯t Wen Du already lose a kidney?¡±


    Wen Yu was unable to hold back her tears any longer, and they fell freely.


    Ever since she entered the Lu Family, she and Wen Du had lost control of their lives. They were forever manipulated as mere pawns in someone else¡¯s game.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you come to me when Wen Du got caught?¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s tone softened slightly.


    ¡°Lu Wen threatened me. He said that if I told you, he would immediately kill my brother,¡± Wen Yu replied tearfully.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s expression softened further.


    Everyone had their weaknesses. Just as his weakness was Luo Ying, Wen Yu¡¯s weakness was Wen Du.


    ¡°No matter how much Lu Wen struggles now, he¡¯s just a dead man walking. You don¡¯t have to worry too much. I¡¯ve already sent people to rescue him. As for you, yes, you made a mistake. You¡¯ll be confined to the Lu residence for now.¡±


    Wen Yu bit her lip and said, ¡°Thank you, President Lu.¡±


    This outcome was beyond her expectations; she had thought Lu Zhao would obliterate both of them..

 Chapter 337 - Chapter 337: Space-Time Chaos

    Chapter 337: Space-Time Chaos


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation            Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Jin Shi parked his car in front of their residence, and he carefully carried Luo Ying to her room.


    Luo Yings wound throbbed faintly, and she couldn¡¯t help but miss Lu Zhao. However, when she saw Jin Shi¡¯s gloomy expression, she refrained from saying anything.


    A figure in a white lab coat walked in. Upon closer inspection, Luo Ying recognized Jiang Ming.


    She instantly understood that Jiang Ming was the one who told Jin Shi about the blood supply.


    Thinking of this, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit resentful towards Jiang Ming. ¡°You sure have a fast tongue,¡± Luo Ying muttered softly.


    Jin Shi caught the sarcasm in her words and glanced at her reproachfully, saying, ¡°If Jiang Ming hadn¡¯t told me all this, I wouldn¡¯t have known what you¡¯ve been through these past few days. If I hadn¡¯t come to pick you up, were you planning to be Lu Zhao¡¯s blood bank?¡±


    Luo Ying playfully stuck out her tongue. She knew her third brother cared deeply for her and didn¡¯t want her to be hurt.


    Thankfully, Lu Zhao¡¯s treatment was already finished, so she didn¡¯t have to worry about his health anymore.


    ¡°During this period, Jiang Ming will be in charge of your treatment. Make sure to eat well every day and recover quickly,¡± Jin Shi told her as he tucked her in.


    In a daze, Luo Ying felt like she had returned to her life before transmigrating


    into the book. Back then, she was the apple of her brothers¡¯ eyes, and they took meticulous care of her.


    Though Jiang Ming wore a mask, he couldn¡¯t hide his joy. He could finally treat Luo Ying properly and witness her gradual recovery.


    After examining Luo Yings condition and administering an IV drip, Jiang Ming seemed reluctant to leave.


    Only when Luo Ying said she needed to rest did Jiang Ming reluctantly step out of the room, glancing back three times with each step.


    As soon as he left, Luo Ying asked Jin Shi the question that had been on her mind all day, ¡°Brother, you said you found a way to return to your original world. What is it?¡±


    Jin Shi was slightly taken aback, but he continued peeling prawns for Luo Ying.


    ¡°Strictly speaking, I haven¡¯t found it yet, but the elements between the two timelines are increasingly overlapping,¡± Jin Shi explained.


    Luo Ying furrowed her eyebrows, ¡°More overlapping elements? What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°l encountered someone familiar in this world again,¡± Jin Shi said, sounding a bit dazed.


    ¡°What? Whom did you meet?¡± Luo Ying asked, surprised.


    ¡°Your good friend, Zhang Ruo,¡± Jin Shi replied.


    ¡°Zhang Ruo! She¡¯s here too!¡± Luo Ying exclaimed with excitement, but her movement caused her wound to throb painfully.


    ¡°Can you act more like your age? Your health is more important,¡± Jin Shi scolded gently, feeding her prawns from the bowl.


    Luo Ying chuckled while eating. In her previous world, Zhang Ruo was her best friend. They were university classmates and roommates. They always had endless things to talk about.


    ¡°Brother, where is Zhang Ruo now? I want to see her,¡± Luo Ying couldn¡¯t contain her excitement.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already told her, and she¡¯ll come to see you tomorrow,¡± Jin Shi replied.


    When he saw his sister¡¯s radiant smile, he felt relieved. The next day, Zhang Ruo knocked on Jin Shi¡¯s door.


    ¡°Yingying!


    ¡°Ruo Ruo!¡±


    The two girls screamed in joy, then hugged each other and cried.


    Jin Shi was worried about Luo Yings wound, but when he saw the girls being so emotional, he didn¡¯t say anything.


    After crying for a while, Zhang Ruo finally released Luo Yings hand and held


    her face with both hands to examine her carefully.


    Luo Yings face appeared thinner than before, and she looked a bit exhausted, making Zhang Ruffs heart ache.


    Luo Ying also observed Zhang Ruo attentively. She remained gentle and pleasant, but her every move exuded a more mature aura.


    ¡°As expected of our Ruoruo. You¡¯re always so beautiful, no matter which world you¡¯re in,¡± Luo Ying teased.


    Zhang Ruo affectionately tapped the tip of Luo Yings nose.


    ¡°Oh, by the way, I have a boyfriend. I brought him here today to introduce him to you and Third Brother,¡± Zhang Ruo said, turning around.


    Luo Ying finally noticed a man standing there, but when she saw his face, she was so shocked that she couldn¡¯t speak.


    It was Lin Ping!


    At that moment, Lin Ping felt conflicted. When he entered the door, he saw Luo Ying¡ªthe friend Zhang Ruo mentioned, whom he had struggled so hard to pursue.


    The woman he had failed to win over.


    For a moment, he wanted to escape, but what was the point now? He could only force himself to stand his ground.


    Luo Yings mind was also racing at this moment..

 Chapter 338 - Chapter 338: Awkward

    Chapter 338: Awkward


    Translator: Endless?antasy Translation            Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    When did Zhang Ruo come to this world? How did she know Lin Ping?


    Zhang Ruo had no idea about their shared history. She cheerfully called out to Lin Ping, ¡°Honey, come over and say hi to Yingying and Third Brother.¡±


    Luo Yings mind buzzed. Honey? Could they be married?


    ¡°You guys¡­ Married?¡± Luo Ying asked hesitantly.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s just a term of endearment,¡± Zhang Ruo explained with a sweet smile. It was clear that she was satisfied with this relationship and very invested in it.


    Lin Ping awkwardly walked to the bedside and forced a stiff smile. ¡°Hello, Luo


    Ying. Hello, Third Brother,¡± he greeted, but his heart sank when he said LuoYings name.


    In the past, not being able to have Luo Ying had left him heartbroken for a long time. By chance, he met Zhang Ruo, who he thought shared some inexplicable similarities with Luo Ying. She had touched his heartstrings inadvertently. He had tried to get close to Zhang Ruo but had not expected her to fall in love with him at first sight. Somehow, they ended up together.


    Zhang Ruo was beautiful, and because of her similar personality to Luo Ying, Lin Ping grew fond of her.


    He had thought that he had completely let go of his feelings for Luo Ying, but the moment he saw her today, his heart was still filled with deep emotions. Scenes of their past together surfaced before his eyes: her dazzling performances on stage, their playful gaming sessions¡­


    He still loved her so much that he couldn¡¯t free himself from it.


    He looked at Luo Ying with passionate eyes, but she instinctively avoided his gaze.


    ¡°Yingying, Lin Ping is quite accomplished. He runs a massive company overseas called D¡¯Corporeal,¡± Zhang Ruo proudly introduced to Luo Ying.


    D¡¯Corporeal. It was a familiar name. Luo Ying suddenly remembered¡ªwasn¡¯t that the Lin family¡¯s illegal business overseas back then?


    After Lu Zhao dealt with the Lin family, DCorporeal lost its funding source and went bankrupt. How could Lin Ping be operating it now?


    What kind of projects was DCorporeal working on now? If it was still involved in underground activities as before, wouldn¡¯t it be dangerous for Zhang Ruo and Lin Ping to be together?


    Luo Ying looked at Lin Ping, who seemed guilty and was avoiding her gaze.


    ¡°Ruoruo, you should catch up with your friend. I have something to attend to, so I¡¯ll be leaving first,¡± Lin Ping said.


    Zhang Ruo pouted unhappily, ¡°l was planning to have lunch together. I bought a lot of groceries.¡±


    Lin Ping affectionately stroked her hair and said, ¡°Be good, I¡¯ll leave first.¡± Lin Ping left the room after greeting them.


    Zhang Ruo turned back to Luo Ying and pinched her cheeks gently. ¡°I¡¯ll prepare a table full of delicious food for lunch today to nourish you. Look at how skinny you are.¡±


    Luo Ying nodded happily. Zhang Ruo was an excellent cook. In the past, she often went to Zhang Ruffs house to enjoy her meals.


    Zhang Ruo got up and went to the kitchen with the groceries.


    While looking at Zhang Ruo¡¯s back, Luo Ying felt a sense of familiarity. It was as if her previous life in that world had returned.


    She turned on her phone and saw a trending news article that had gone viral: ¡°The Luya Group Suppressed the Future Entertainment Industry: President Lu Pursues Love and Seeks Revenge.¡±


    Wasn¡¯t that the major shareholder of Su Ran¡¯s company?


    Lu Zhao had taken decisive actions again, which perfectly matched his character.


    The comments section below the article also had various opinions, but most of them were still convinced by Lu Zhao¡¯s actions.


    ¡°Where can I find a lover like President Lu? There¡¯s a new case of jealousy in


    Lan City.¡± ¡°Above, two cases.¡¯ ¡°Three cases.¡¯


    ¡°13,285 cases.¡±


    Luo Ying couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the comments.


    However, there were also voices of doubt.


    ¡°Everyone says that Su Ran is framing Luo Ying, but no one can produce any evidence.¡¯


    ¡°Why do we need evidence for something like this? Su Ran has been resentful of Luo Ying for a long time.¡±


    ¡°What kind of charm does Luo Ying have to make President Lu fall head over heels for her?¡±


    ¡°Su Ran offended Luo Ying, so messing with Su Ran is understandable, but why involve her company? The others are innocent.¡±


    ¡°Can you guys wake up? Luo Ying almost lost her life. Why are you acting like internet saints?¡±


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t comment on these discussions, but in truth, she did have evidence. That day, when she overheard Chen Jing calling Su Ran in the stairwell, she had secretly recorded it.


    However, Third Brother had forbidden her from contacting Lu Zhao at the moment, so she could only delay this matter for a couple of days.


    ¡°Dang dang dang, the last dish is sweet and sour pork ribs,¡± Zhang Ruo announced as she carried a plate of steaming ribs and placed it on the table..

 Chapter 339 - Chapter 339: Bless Us

    Chapter 339: Bless Us


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation   Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    After a while, the entire room was filled with a delightful fragrance. Zhang Ruo and Jin Shi helped Luo Ying down from the bed, and the three of them sat around the table.


    Zhang Ruo quickly filled Luo Yings bowl with food. He piled it up like a small mountain. Luo Ying smiled and said, ¡°How could I eat so much? You¡¯re going to feed me like a little pig.¡±


    Zhang Ruffs chopsticks didn¡¯t stop. ¡°That¡¯s precisely what I¡¯m doing. Hurry up and get healthy. Sing, dance, be merry, and never suffer like this again.¡±


    She chuckled while glancing at the table. ¡°But there are indeed a lot of dishes today. I thought Lin Ping would be eating here too, so I bought enough for four people.¡±


    Luo Yings movements paused slightly. She didn¡¯t want her friend to get hurt.


    ¡°How did you and Lin Ping meet?¡± Luo Ying asked as she ate.


    Zhang Ruo blushed slightly. ¡°We met at the cafe. I had just arrived here and wasn¡¯t familiar with this world. He was very warm and took good care of me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good. As long as you¡¯re happy,¡± Luo Ying smiled and nodded. She hoped she was overthinking things. As long as DCorporeal wasn¡¯t involved in any underground business, and Zhang Ruo would be happy with Lin Ping.


    In the bar, the lights flickered. Lin Pings face alternated between brightness and darkness. His mind was filled with thoughts of Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying, oh Luo Ying, why can¡¯t I let you go?


    He picked up a bottle of strong wine and drank it in one gulp.


    Chen Chen walked over and bumped into Lin Ping¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Young Master Lin, still thinking about that girl?¡± Chen Chen teased.


    ¡°Get lost,¡± Lin Ping replied without looking up.


    Chen Chen felt a little deflated but continued, ¡°If you ask me, this isn¡¯t that difficult.¡¯


    ¡°What, do you have any ideas?¡± Lin Ping raised his head and asked Chen Chen.


    Chen Chen saw that he was interested and leaned closer. She spoke enthusiastically, ¡°You just want to break up with Zhang Ruo and get together with Luo Ying, right? But Zhang Ruo and Luo Ying are good friends. So why don¡¯t you use a little deception? Make them fall out first. Let Zhang Ruo take the initiative to break up with you, and then you¡¯ll have a chance with Luo


    Ying.¡±


    Lin Ping frowned. ¡°What kind of stupid idea is this? If I ruin their relationship, how am 1 going to pursue Luo Ying?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s still better than you breaking up with Zhang Ruo directly. At least in Luo Ying¡¯s eyes, you won¡¯t be the guy who hurt her best friend,¡± Chen Chen added.


    Lin Ping fell into deep thought.


    If he wanted to pursue Luo Ying, he indeed had to break up with Zhang Ruo first.


    However, if he took the initiative to mention it to Zhang Ruo, Luo Ying would never let him off. He knew Luo Yings temper. She hated just as deeply as she loved.


    Chen Chen¡¯s idea might be worth considering.


    ¡°Let¡¯s drink to our hearts¡¯ content tonight. It¡¯s on me,¡± Lin Ping patted Chen Chen¡¯s shoulder and turned to leave.


    Chen Chen chuckled inside. When Lin Ping and Zhang Ruo broke up, he would have a chance.


    Zhang Ruo had been staying with Luo Ying. She took meticulous care of her daily life. Luo Ying¡¯s health had improved significantly and was able to move around normally.


    It was time for Zhang Ruo to return to work. She needed to go back to the company.


    Luo Ying looked at her with reluctance, saying, ¡°You must come and visit me this weekend.¡¯


    Zhang Ruo adjusted her clothes and replied, ¡°l said I¡¯ll come, so I¡¯ll definitely come. Why are you acting like a child?¡±


    After saying that, she brought out a large suitcase.


    Women were indeed like that; they always seemed to carry a lot of things wherever they went.


    As Zhang Ruo struggled to carry the big suitcase, Luo Ying couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Isn¡¯t Lin Ping coming to pick you up?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s busy at the company today and can¡¯t come. I¡¯ll just take a taxi,¡± Zhang Ruo replied while panting slightly.


    Luo Ying nodded, then called her third brother and asked him to drive Zhang Ruo to her destination.


    At first, Zhang Ruo was reluctant, feeling that she had already caused enough trouble for Jin Shi by staying here for so long.


    But Luo Ying insisted on her third brother driving Zhang Ruo. She couldn¡¯t bear to see her friend carrying such a heavy load.


    However, just as Zhang Ruo and Jin Shi left, Lin Ping arrived.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you busy today and unable to come?¡± Luo Ying looked at him in surprise. ¡°I¡¯ve already asked my brother to send her off.¡±


    Lin Pings eyes were slightly red as he stared at Luo Ying.


    This was the first time he had been alone with Luo Ying in a confined space. His adrenaline was surging wildly, and an evil desire was growing in his heart..

 Chapter 340 - Chapter 340: Betrayal

    Chapter 340: Betrayal


    Translator: Endless?antasy Translation   Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Luo Ying asked when he didn¡¯t answer.


    ¡°l came to find you,¡± Lin Ping said. His expression did not change.


    His words hung in the air, creating an awkward atmosphere in the room.


    Luo Ying wasn¡¯t naive. In her previous world, countless people had pursued her, and she could read people¡¯s thoughts through their eyes.


    Lin Ping still had lingering feelings for her.


    The more evident this became, the more distance she felt she needed to keep from him. She couldn¡¯t let Zhang Ruo suffer.


    But then again, if Lin Ping didn¡¯t seem that fond of Zhang Ruo and was still with her, wasn¡¯t he just deceiving her emotions?


    Luo Ying was furious.


    ¡°You¡¯re Zhang Ruffs boyfriend now, so why are you looking for me?¡± she said with annoyance.


    ¡°Zhang Ruo and I are just pretending to be a couple. The person I truly love is you,¡± Lin Ping shamelessly declared.


    A loud slap landed on Lin Pings face.


    ¡°Lin Ping, I¡¯m warning you. If you¡¯re with Zhang Ruo, treat her well. If you continue fooling around, I won¡¯t play nice,¡± Luo Ying said angrily. Lin Ping held the red half of his face and continued to stare at Luo Ying.


    He liked her straightforward and forthright manner.


    ¡°Why did you stop playing? 1 haven¡¯t seen you log into that account.


    ¡°l told you I like you.¡±


    He had lost all reason. She pushed him out of the door and locked it while ignoring his attempts to knock and open it.


    She sat down on the bed. She was exhausted, and her mind in a haze.


    She truly didn¡¯t want Zhang Ruo to get hurt, but Lin Pings behavior was exasperating.


    It was truly exhausting.


    That night, when Zhang Ruo finished work, Lin Ping came to pick her up.


    ¡°Baby, you¡¯ve had a hard day at work,¡± Lin Pings words were affectionate, but his heart was void of emotions.


    Ever since he met Luo Ying, his remaining feelings for Zhang Ruo disappeared.


    But he was an excellent actor; anyone would think he was a man deeply in love.


    Zhang Ruo proudly wrapped her arms around his neck and said, ¡°With you picking me up, how could I be tired?¡±


    The two got into the car. Lin Ping turned to look at Zhang Ruo and suddenly said, ¡°Baby, Luo Ying sought me out today.¡±


    ¡°Hmm? Why did Yingying look for you?¡± Zhang Ruo asked.


    ¡°She¡­ She said she likes me,¡± Lin Ping said, his face poker-faced.


    ¡°No way!¡± Zhang Ruo laughed. ¡°Yingying wouldn¡¯t say something like that.


    You must have misunderstood.¡¯


    ¡°Well, I hope I¡¯m wrong. But she even kissed me. Baby, you won¡¯t mind, right?¡± Lin Ping continued.


    Zhang Ruo frowned.


    Based on her understanding of Luo Ying, she wouldn¡¯t do such a thing.


    But Lin Ping¡­ She decided not to think about it and went home first.


    However, what happened next only deepened her misunderstanding of Luo Ying.


    That day, Luo Ying asked Zhang Ruo out for coffee, but instead, Lin Ping arrived.


    ¡°Why is it you again? Where¡¯s Zhang Ruo?¡± Luo Ying asked impatiently.


    Lin Ping didn¡¯t reply; he simply sat directly across from Luo Ying.


    Luo Yings body was recovering well, and her gentle temperament was gradually returning.


    Today, she wore a beige cotton dress, her hair was loosely tied up, and she had light makeup on. Her fair skin and lively eyes made her appear gentle and lovely.


    Luo Ying grabbed her bag and was about to leave when Lin Ping pulled her back.


    ¡°What are you doing? Don¡¯t touch me,¡± Luo Ying struggled, but he was far too strong. Any sudden movements would trigger pain in her old injuries.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go, let me hold you,¡± Lin Ping pulled Luo Ying into his arms.


    Luo Ying struggled frantically, but Lin Ping clung to her tightly.


    At that moment, Lin Ping noticed Zhang Ruffs figure at the door. He smiled inwardly. His opportunity had come.


    He suddenly held Luo Yings face with one hand and kissed her deeply on the lips.


    Zhang Ruo couldn¡¯t believe her eyes.


    She stumbled out of the coffee shop and into the street, feeling dazed. She accidentally bumped into someone.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Zhang Ruo apologized repeatedly, trying her best not to


    cry..

 Chapter 341 - Chapter 341: Don’t Be Afraid, I’m Here

    Chapter 341: Don¡¯t Be Afraid, I¡¯m Here


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation   Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Why, oh why did it have to be Luo Ying?


    If it were anyone else, she wouldn¡¯t feel so miserable,


    The person who got bumped was looking at her with interest. ¡°You¡¯re quite careless. What¡¯s on your mind?¡±


    Zhang Ruo looked up with tears in her eyes and realized that the person in front of her was Chen Chen.


    Chen Chen looked at Zhang Ruo and gave her an almost imperceptible smile. Today¡¯s events were planned by him and Lin Ping. It was all to serve their purposes.


    ¡°l gotta say, that guy Lin Ping is just like that. Besides, he¡¯s got someone he likes. How about you come with me? I promise I won¡¯t let you suffer,¡± Chen Chen said playfully.


    Zhang Ruo looked at him with disgust. ¡°Could you please step aside? Thanks.¡±


    Chen Chen blocked her path again. A smirk formed on his face as his hands roamed around her body.


    ¡°Chen Chen, what are you doing? If you keep this up, I¡¯m calling the police,¡± Zhang Ruo said nervously.


    ¡°Sure, go ahead and call the police,¡± Chen Chen replied as he picked up Zhang


    Ruo and put her in his car. He then got into the driver¡¯s seat.


    ¡°Chen Chen, you jerk!¡± Zhang Ruo yelled at the top of her lungs, but the more she cursed, the faster Chen Chen drove.


    The car was getting further and further away from the city.


    Meanwhile, Luo Ying was so furious that her face turned pale.


    She pushed Lin Ping away fiercely and punched and kicked him.


    However, Lin Ping just wore a smirk and made no effort to dodge or resist.


    He was even excited; he had actually kissed Luo Ying.


    A strong sense of humiliation and guilt spread through Luo Yings heart. She hit him until she was exhausted. She grabbed her bag and stumbled out of the caf¨¦.


    She called Zhang Ruo several times, but her phone was turned off.


    Luo Ying went to Zhang Ruffs place, but no one answered the door.


    She was extremely worried. She knew that Zhang Ruo must have seen that scene, which was why she didn¡¯t contact her.


    Even though it wasn¡¯t intentional, it still caused real harm to Zhang Ruo.


    Luo Ying returned home, feeling tired and drained. She slowly sat down on the floor beside the bed. The events of the day had left her physically and mentally exhausted, and she closed her eyes sleepily.


    Then, there was another knock on the door. There was a nauseating voice.


    Lin Ping was here again.


    ¡°Luo Ying, I¡¯m right outside the door. Open up,¡± Lin Ping shouted from outside.


    Since that Luo Ying was unmoved, he used his trump card again.


    ¡°l know where Zhang Ruo is.¡±


    As soon as the door opened, Lin Ping met Luo Yings red eyes.


    At that moment, he suddenly felt that he had done something wrong.


    He looked at the woman who regarded him as an enemy, as if he was pushing her further and further away.


    ¡°Where did you hide Zhang Ruo?¡± Luo Ying asked angrily.


    Lin Ping gulped. He felt like he had messed up big time.


    He took out his phone. ¡°Zhang Ruo is with my friend Chen Chen. As long as you¡¯re willing to be with me, I¡¯ll ask Chen Chen to let her go.¡±


    In the photo, Zhang Ruo had been tied up and barely conscious.


    Luo Ying felt her heart tearing apart. She raised her hand to hit Lin Ping, but he stopped her in the air.


    ¡°As long as you become my woman, your friend will be safe and sound. Don¡¯t you want that?¡± Lin Ping asked her.


    A familiar voice sounded from behind.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite full of yourself. Why do you think my wife could be your woman?¡±


    Luo Yings entire body felt electrified. After so many days, she had been yearning for this voice.


    She looked up and saw a familiar face.


    Lu Zhao was wearing a coffee-colored windbreaker, and his sunglasses hung on his chest. He had lost some weight, but his aura was still as commanding as ever.


    Luo Ying couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. She ran over and threw herself into his arms. Her hands pounded on his chest.


    ¡°You jerk, why did you take so long to come? I hate you.¡± Her tears soaked Lu Zhao¡¯s clothes.


    Lu Zhao held her tightly in his arms, gently stroking her hair. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.


    I¡¯m here. No one will bully you anymore.¡±


    After Luo Ying left, he couldn¡¯t sleep all night.


    It was as if Luo Ying had taken away his soul.


    This time, no matter what, he had to protect her and prevent anyone from hurting her.


    Lin Ping was stunned by what he saw. He never expected Lu Zhao to appear at this moment.


    ¡°Mr. Lu,¡± Lin Pings voice trembled.


    Lu Zhao looked at Lin Ping with a deadly glare.


    ¡°Looks like it was my mistake not to completely wipe out the Lin family back then. I left you around to harm the world,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    ¡°Mr. Lu, l¡­¡± Lin Ping still wanted to defend himself.


    Lu Zhao gave Xiao Ting a look. Xiao Ting understood and immediately took


    Lin Ping away..

 Chapter 342 - Chapter 342: Heartache

    Chapter 342: Heartache


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation   Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lu Zhao gazed at the petite woman in his arms as her tears glistened like pearls. His heart ached for her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, baby. I got here late and gave you a hard time,¡± Lu Zhao consoled her with heartfelt apologies.


    Xiao Ting had a wide grin on his face. Since Luo Ying left, Lu Zhao had kept him on edge every day.


    ¡°How did you manage to find this place?¡± Amid her sobs, Luo Ying arched an eyebrow. Her voice quivered as she directed the question at Lu Zhao.


    ¡°The boss had folks secretly looking after you all. Didn¡¯t reckon we¡¯d still be a little late,¡± Xiao Ting chimed in from the side.


    A glare from Lu Zhao silenced Xiao Ting immediately.


    ¡°l just wanted to settle things with those who bullied you, and then bring you back,¡± Lu Zhao pressed a gentle kiss to Luo Yings forehead.


    She wiped away her tears. Her eyes were misty as she looked at him with a mix of sadness and grievance. ¡°My good friend, Zhang Ruo, has been taken.


    She¡¯s in danger, and we have to rescue her.¡±


    Lu Zhao nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve gathered some info. That pal of Lin Ping is a real no-good playboy. He¡¯s the one who took Zhang Ruo. I¡¯ve already set things up to rescue her.¡¯


    She hadn¡¯t expected Lu Zhao to be privately working so diligently on resolving these matters. It brought a warm feeling to Luo Ying, prompting her to bury her head deeper.


    ¡°Well, I want to go too. I need to get Zhang Ruo out of there,¡± Luo Ying said. This whole affair had a certain measure of her responsibility in it. She should have seen through Lin Pings schemes sooner.


    At this point, her main concern was ensuring Zhang Ruffs safety.


    ¡°Your body¡¯s just started recovering. Don¡¯t wear yourself out. The crew that Xiao Ting has put together is quite efficient,¡± Lu Zhao looked at Luo Ying with concern.


    ¡°No, if it were anyone else, I might reconsider, but for Zhang Ruo¡ªshe¡¯s my best friend. I have to personally go and rescue her,¡± Luo Ying declared with determination.


    Seeing he couldn¡¯t persuade her, Lu Zhao sighed and turned to Xiao Ting to arrange for a comfortable business car to take him and Luo Ying over.


    With a proud smile, Luo Ying nestled her head against Lu Zhao¡¯s chest. ¡°My husband is still the best.¡¯


    Xiao Ting squinted his eyes. He sensed he might be in the way here.


    The car pulled over at a secluded spot.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you keep driving?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°Sun Hao has already picked up Zhang Ruo. He¡¯ll be here soon, so we¡¯re waiting here,¡± Lu Zhao explained.


    Sun Hao was Xiao Tings capable right-hand man. He was often assigned to the riskier missions.


    Luo Ying nodded. Her mind was heavy with worry. Had that guy Chen Chen harmed Zhang Ruo? Was she hurt?


    Luo Yings gaze fell upon an elegant box nearby. It was filled with Zhang Ruffs favorite snacks that she had specially prepared.


    As she fretted within herself, a black Lincoln SUV parked across from their car.


    Luo Yings heart leaped into her throat, and she quickly got out of the car.


    Zhang Ruo emerged from the SUV.


    In just two days, she seemed like a completely different person.


    Her face was drawn. Her eyes were dim, and her clothes covered in dirt. Her gaunt face bore no expression.


    ¡°Ruo Ruo!¡± With a sob, Luo Ying called out to her.


    Seeing Zhang Ruo in this state was heart-wrenching. She rushed forward to embrace her, only to be coldly pushed away.


    Luo Ying stared in disbelief. She couldn¡¯t fathom that this icy person before her was actually her best friend.


    She attempted once more to approach Zhang Ruo.


    ¡°Ruo Ruo, what happened?¡± Luo Ying reached out to hold Zhang Ruffs hand, only for it to be brushed off again.


    The sun¡¯s glare made Zhang Ruo squint slightly.


    ¡°Luo Ying, it¡¯s been nine years,¡± Zhang Ruo said coolly.


    ¡°What?¡± Luo Ying was puzzled by the sudden statement. She didn¡¯t understand its significance.


    ¡°We¡¯ve known each other for nine years. Throughout that time, I¡¯ve always been the backdrop to your spotlight. In college, I liked a guy who pursued you but was turned down. You¡¯ve always been the one who shines, the standout, while I¡¯ve just walked beside you as a companion,¡± Zhang Ruo enunciated each word deliberately.


    ¡°Ruo Ruo¡­¡± Luo Ying looked at her with sorrow.


    Zhang Ruo cast a scornful gaze at Luo Ying and continued, ¡°I¡¯ve never envied you. I¡¯ve genuinely celebrated your achievements. But, Luo Ying, you can¡¯t exploit my good nature to feel superior to me whenever you want. You can¡¯t degrade and trample on me just because I¡¯m easygoing..¡±

 Chapter 343 - Chapter 343: Break Up

    Chapter 343: Break Up


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation   Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Ruo Ruo, it¡¯s not what you¡¯re imagining. Lin Ping¡­¡± Luo Ying had no idea about the emotions buried deep within Zhang Ruo. She wanted to clarify the events that had taken place before.


    ¡°Does it matter now to discuss these things?¡± Zhang Ruo interrupted Luo Ying. ¡°After you recovered, you became the enviable Mrs. Lu¡ªwith good looks, a great figure, resources, connections, and a CEO husband who could rock the city with just a word. And me? My boyfriend cheated on me, and I was insulted¡­


    Tears welled in Zhang Ruffs eyes. The experiences of the past two days had cast an enduring shadow.


    Beside her, Sun Hao clenched his fists. He had already given Chen Chen a beating when he rescued Zhang Ruo, but it didn¡¯t feel like enough to vent his anger.


    Seeing Zhang Ruffs agitation and pale lips, Luo Ying retrieved a box from the car and cautiously offered it to her. ¡°Ruo Ruo, these are all your favorite treats.


    Before she could finish, Zhang Ruo knocked the box out of her hand. The round pastries rolled onto the road and eventually landed in a foul-smelling drain.


    ¡°Luo Ying, spare me your hypocrisy. You¡¯ve gained so much, yet you still want to display your saintly side,¡± Zhang Ruffs tone was devoid of emotion.


    Luo Ying felt her heart being torn apart. She never expected to reach such a point with Zhang Ruo.


    Was this world even real? Why was the pain so genuine?


    From where he sat in the car, Lu Zhao furrowed his brows as he observed the unfolding scene.


    He had foreseen that Zhang Ruo might become emotional, but witnessing Luo Ying being treated like this still made him uncomfortable. He wanted to step out of the car and help Luo Ying, but Xiao Ting held him back.


    ¡°Boss, pardon my directness, but it might be best if you don¡¯t get involved in this matter. Women have dynamics we men can¡¯t fully grasp,¡± Xiao Ting said earnestly.


    Lu Zhao found Xiao Tings words reasonable. If he stepped out now, Zhang Ruo might become even more agitated.


    ¡°Ruo Ruo, what are your plans now?¡± Luo Ying perceived Zhang Ruffs determination. As Zhang Ruo appeared unwilling to hear her out at the moment, Luo Ying decided to go along with it.


    After all, Luo Ying couldn¡¯t fathom what Zhang Ruo had endured during her captivity by Chen Chen.


    ¡°l want to leave this city and go somewhere without you. I no longer want to be under your influence,¡± Zhang Ruo glanced at the sky.


    Luo Ying nodded heavily. A tear dropped onto the road and evaporated instantly.


    It felt as if their friendship had come to an end.


    Under Luo Yings persistent pleas, Zhang Ruo finally begrudgingly agreed to let Sun Hao take her back to her residence.


    During the journey back, Luo Ying remained silent.


    Lu Zhao watched her despondent gaze and gently placed a hand on her lap.


    ¡°I¡¯ll arrange private protection for Zhang Ruo. You can rest assured.¡± Luo Ying nodded, leaning lightly against Lu Zhao¡¯s shoulder.


    Only now did she feel the extent of her exhaustion.


    The events of the past period had drained her entirely. She urgently needed a good rest so she could recover and reinvigorate herself to take on her career.


    Could a woman truly not have a career?


    After sleeping for a day and a night at the Lu residence¡¯s villa, Luo Ying finally felt her energy returning.


    She stretched lazily and descended the stairs in her nightgown.


    Auntie Zhang greeted her with a warm smile. ¡°Madam, you¡¯re finally awake.


    I¡¯ll go prepare some food.¡±


    Luo Ying returned the smile. ¡°Thank you, Auntie Zhang. Where¡¯s Lu Zhao?¡±


    ¡°Sir went to the company early in the morning and asked me to have you rest at home for now. Don¡¯t rush into work,¡± Auntie Zhang said as she handed Luo Ying a glass of hot milk before disappearing into the kitchen.


    Seated on the sofa, Luo Ying sipped her milk. She picked up her phone and texted Chi Tong.


    In under twenty minutes, Chi Tong rushed over.


    The moment he saw Luo Ying, he almost burst into tears. ¡°Sister Ying, you¡¯re finally back. I thought I¡¯d lose my job.¡±


    Observing the forlorn Chi Tong before her, Luo Ying couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m not dead yet, so why the tears?¡±


    Chi Tong wiped his eyes. ¡°We all missed you and were so worried. But your husband is really something. Even when you were absent, he still paid the studio¡¯s bills.¡±


    Luo Ying offered a soft smile. Lu Zhao always took care of everything, big and small, whether she was present or not..

 Chapter 344 - Chapter 344: A New Crisis

    Chapter 344: A New Crisis


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation            Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Since I¡¯m back now, you all can¡¯t just sit around,¡± Luo Ying playfully warned him.


    ¡°Hehe, as long as you¡¯re back, we¡¯ll be happy even if we¡¯re driven like slaves. Recently, while you were away, other companies took the chance to promote new talents aggressively. A few of them nearly stole the spotlight from you,¡± Chi Tong said.


    Luo Ying nodded in agreement and remarked, ¡°That¡¯s to be expected. After all, I¡¯m not quite a full-fledged powerhouse yet. I still have some influence in terms of popularity. If I don¡¯t keep up the momentum, it¡¯s natural to be overlooked for a short period.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing, Sister Ying. Most of the other artists are fine, except for one named Li Yan who doesn¡¯t seem to like you that much,¡± Chi Tong added. Li Yan¡­ it was such a familiar name. Luo Ying ransacked her memory. Wasn¡¯t she the one who managed to climb up from behind, relentlessly taunted the original Luo Ying on the show, and had questionable intentions toward Lu Zhao?


    ¡°In what way is she being unfriendly?¡± Luo Ying gulped down her milk and turned to Chi Tong.


    ¡°On your debut night, she directly compared herself to you, explicitly and subtly mentioned your plastic surgery, and claimed you were only making it by relying on your husband¡¯s resources. She even said¡­¡± Chi Tong hesitated, looking at Luo Ying tentatively. The rest of the sentence was too unpleasant, and he wasn¡¯t sure if Luo Ying truly wanted to hear it.


    ¡°Go ahead, there¡¯s nothing to be afraid of. I¡¯ve heard these words countless times,¡± Luo Ying said. Her expression was relaxed.


    Chi Tong swallowed and continued, ¡°She also commented that female celebrities should embody courtesy, integrity, restraint, and not be entangled with one man after another.¡¯


    Luo Ying smirked dismissively, ¡°Well, she¡¯s the one who seems keen on entangling herself. ¡±


    ¡°So, Sister Ying, we need to start taking action. Three people together create a formidable presence. Even though it¡¯s just gossip, if it keeps getting magnified by her, it won¡¯t bode well for you or the studio,¡± Chi Tong suggested, genuinely considering the studio¡¯s well-being.


    ¡°Yes, I get it. Focus on forming the boy band. Don¡¯t let their singing, dancing, or lyric practices lag. Releasing an album in the short term might be challenging, but we should at least have a really catchy single. The makeup and image should also be tailored thoughtfully to their individual traits¡ª nothing too generic, but also not overly eccentric,¡± Luo Ying instructed him.


    ¡°Absolutely, Sister Ying. I¡¯ll get that going today,¡± Chi Tong affirmed.


    ¡°Perfect. Concentrate on that for now. I have some other matters to attend to. Once I¡¯m done, I¡¯ll swing by the studio to check on things,¡± Luo Ying said, giving Chi Tong an encouraging gaze.


    Chi Tong understood and left.


    After her meal, Luo Ying freshened up and applied some light makeup. She put on a ruffled dress in Diana rose pink, matched it with lipstick in a corresponding shade, slipped on high heels, and left looking beautifully put together.


    Having been ill for so long, she was thrilled to finally have the chance to properly groom herself.


    Today marked Xie Yun¡¯s release from the hospital. She also wanted to visit and have a chat with Su Li about the drama.


    Despite the turbulent times, the drama had been in the making for so long. She couldn¡¯t let all the prior efforts go to waste.


    When they arrived at the hospital, Xie Yun¡¯s assistant was already packing up his belongings.


    Xie Yun had changed out of his hospital attire and into a light blue sweater paired with white shorts, giving off a youthful and sunny vibe.


    Upon seeing Luo Yings graceful presence, his Adam¡¯s apple subtly moved.


    He missed her dearly. Even though he¡¯d endured physical pain after shielding her from the sulfuric acid, he never once regretted his choice.


    ¡°You¡¯re here,¡± Xie Yun¡¯s voice quivered slightly.


    Luo Ying smiled and nodded, settling herself by his bedside. ¡°How¡¯s your recovery going? You were unconscious when that happened, so I didn¡¯t get a chance to thank you. If it weren¡¯t for you, I might have been the one lying in the hospital.¡±


    Her gratitude towards Xie Yun was heartfelt. If that bottle of sulfuric acid had indeed splashed on her face, her career might have been irreparably ruined.


    ¡°I¡¯ll cover all your hospital expenses. And oh, you don¡¯t need to apply medicine anymore. Don¡¯t wear stiff fabrics for now¡ªgo for cotton materials instead. Also, be sure to keep things sanitary,¡± Luo Ying advised, reaching out to touch the polyester fabric of Xie Yun¡¯s sweater.


    In her heart, Xie Yun had always felt like a younger brother to her.


    Her touch caused Xie Yun to blush. He hadn¡¯t anticipated Luo Ying caring for him this deeply.


    They exited the hospital together and made their way to the theater.


    To their surprise, Su Li had prepared a modest meal for them.


    As their car pulled up at the theater entrance, a string of firecrackers burst into celebratory noise.


    An unknowing observer might have thought there was a wedding happening.


    Following that, a man in a black suit and glasses stepped forward to open the car door.


    ¡°Greetings, esteemed Ms. Luo and Mr. Xie. Welcome. Please watch your heads as you exit,¡± the black-suited man said solemnly. Luo Ying couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the formality..

 Chapter 345 - Chapter 345: The Moment of Social Death

    Chapter 345: The Moment of Social Death


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation            Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°What¡¯s Su Li up to? It¡¯s like a mob gathering.¡±


    As soon as she stepped out of the car, two rows of people suddenly lined up on both sides.


    Then, one after another, fireworks burst into the air. Accompanied by the intermittent popping sounds, little colorful sparks rained down on Luo Yings head and body, which accentuated her beauty.


    The hired photographer captured numerous stunning shots that would last a lifetime.


    ¡°Sister Ying, welcome to my humble abode. You¡¯re a mighty woman who can do whatever you want, and you have the world in your hands!¡±


    The overwhelmingly loud chant made Luo Ying wish she could just disappear.


    She managed an awkward smile while internally chastising Su Li.


    If she¡¯s guilty, let the law deal with her, not subject her to this spectacle in broad daylight.


    Su Li strolled through the crowd. ¡°Welcome, leads, to the theater.¡±


    In the span of this day, Luo Ying felt like she had lost all dignity. She strongly suspected that Su Li had gone bonkers due to some shock.


    Amidst the commotion, the two of them finally managed to enter the meeting room.


    ¡°First and foremost, it warms my heart that both of you could return. I truly


    thought my directorial dreams would end here.¡± Su Li¡¯s eyes glistened with the hint of tears.


    For his first time directing, so many accidents had already occurred in this drama. One could only imagine how much pressure he¡¯d been under during this period. Upon closer inspection, Luo Ying noticed he had gained quite a few white hairs.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been refining the script these past two days. In fact, we¡¯ve already finished shooting nearly two-thirds of the scenes. Luckily, some of the more challenging action scenes have been captured, and the focus moving forward will be on some romantic scenes. You won¡¯t have to perform overly complicated actions, which is beneficial for your recovery,¡± Su Li explained. Both Luo Ying and Xie Yun nodded in agreement.


    Xie Yun¡¯s heart brimmed with delight. Romantic scenes¡­ He quite liked the idea, hehe.


    In the afternoon, the production team officially restarted filming.


    Luo Yings recent illness had caused her to lose a bit of weight, which caused her original costume to hang a bit loosely. Yet, on camera, she looked even more resplendent and captivating. She was like a fragile willow braving the wind.


    Meanwhile, Lu Zhao flipped open his phone and saw the official promotional image sent by the ¡°Prime Minister¡± production team.


    In the photo, Luo Ying wore a light pink dress that was adorned with a cascade of vibrant fireworks. Her smile was sweet and adorable, and the viewers were unable to look away.


    Lu Zhao frowned.


    As expected, this woman was immensely ambitious. Why would she listen to him?


    But she truly was beautiful to the point where he couldn¡¯t divert his gaze.


    After a whole day of acting, Luo Yings waist and back were sore. Her body hadn¡¯t fully recovered from her injury, and even a short sprint left her breathless.


    Nevertheless, she did her best not to hinder the theater¡¯s progress. She didn¡¯t want to delay the entire production team due to her own situation. Finally, when they returned home and switched on the lights, Lu Zhao¡¯s intensely imposing face greeted them.


    Luo Ying was startled.


    ¡°Why¡­ Why did you come back so early today?¡± she inquired. Her guilt was evident.


    ¡°If I hadn¡¯t come back soon, you would¡¯ve gone up the mountain to chop firewood,¡± Lu Zhao quipped while approaching her.


    In the dim light, she could almost hear the man¡¯s heartbeat. Her ears slightly flushed.


    ¡°What were you up to?¡± Lu Zhao asked. His gaze was penetrating.


    Luo Yings eyes darted away. ¡°Oh, I was just going to have some afternoon tea with Shen Lan. Hehe.¡¯


    Luo Ying blinked and attempted to play it cool.


    ¡°Oh? And who¡¯s this?¡± Lu Zhao pulled out his phone. A captivating image of Luo Ying at the theater¡¯s entrance met his gaze.


    Damn it. Why did Su Li use her photo for an official poster?


    Luo Ying looked at Lu Zhao with a touch of innocence. ¡°Oh, honey, I¡¯m sorry. I just went to take a quick look.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want you to work, but your body needs rest¡­¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s sentence was abruptly cut off as Luo Ying gently kissed his lips.


    ¡°Forget words. Just kiss me,¡± Luo Yings voice lingered in the night and added an intoxicating allure. Lu Zhao¡¯s desire ignited, and he kissed Luo Ying with fervor. Their heated exchange eventually led them to the bed. They were both breathless and eager.


    ¡°You can pursue your career, but you shouldn¡¯t exhaust yourself. And I¡¯ll be over after work to keep you company. I don¡¯t want to be your assistant; I just want them to know I¡¯m your husband.¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s voice was seductive yet earnest as he outlined his terms..

 Chapter 346 - Chapter 346: The Night

    Chapter 346: The Night


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation            Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll agree to whatever you say and do,¡± Luo Ying said while gently caressing his face.


    ¡°Will you go along with whatever I do?¡± A mischievous smile tugged at the corners of Lu Zhao¡¯s lips.


    Luo Ying realized her slip of the tongue and shyly turned her face away.


    ¡°You¡¯re such a fox. You¡¯re so sly,¡± Luo Ying scolded him playfully.


    ¡°What do you mean by that? As your husband, it¡¯s my rightful privilege, and¡­¡± Lu Zhao leaned closer. His breath brushed against her ear. ¡°What¡¯s ffffong with enjoying the advantages of being with you?¡± With those words, his hand slid to Luo Yings waist and traced her alluring curves.


    ¡°Hmm..¡± Luo Ying let out a long, delicate sigh as she was unable to restrain herself any longer.


    Lu Zhao was utterly entranced.


    Filming had officially commenced. By day, Luo Ying would be at the theater. By night, she¡¯d be in the studio. The schedule was non-stop. Lu Zhao made sure to accompany her whenever he had a moment. It sparked envy in others.


    On the day of wrapping up the shooting, Lu Zhao made a special visit to the theater.


    With a graceful sweep of his long fingers, everyone at the theater was treated to a lavish summer meal.


    The fangirls on the sidelines were beside themselves with excitement. If not for Luo Yings presence, they might have lunged forward.


    On that day, Luo Ying was in high spirits. The consecutive workdays hadn¡¯t left her weary; on the contrary, they had invigorated her. From his place not too far away, Lu Zhao watched her prance about with vigor. His heart fluttered.


    This woman was exceptionally beautiful when fully engrossed in her career.


    While donned in an intricate and resplendent ancient costume, Luo Ying posed for photos with Xie Yun. The nearby photographer cheered enthusiastically.


    ¡°This photo doesn¡¯t even need editing.¡±


    ¡°Prime Minister¡± was officially launched.


    Due to the preceding successful publicity and the script¡¯s resilience, the new drama garnered a string of positive reviews right after its release.


    [Oh my goodness, Luo Ying and Xie Yun are such a perfect match.]


    [Is this still the same clueless Luo Ying? How can her acting be this impressive?]


    [This role fits her incredibly well. The costumes and makeup are also very well done. They truly highlight Luo Yings strengths.]


    [l heard the scriptwriter for this drama is a young lady. She has such talent at such a young age.]


    [Luo Ying is so breathtakingly beautiful. I can¡¯t take my eyes off her when she¡¯s in period clothing.]


    [Xie Yun¡¯s sweetheart is quite handsome too. His gaze at Luo Ying is utterly mesmerizing.]


    Luo Ying looked contentedly at these positive reviews. All their hard work hadn¡¯t gone to waste,


    However, a glaring comment caught her eye.


    [Ha, of course Luo Ying has the ability. She can climb into the bed of a sugar daddy. With a sugar daddy supporting her, even a pig can become famous.] The responses below were mostly condemning the comment. Various opinions were expressed.


    [Who are you to criticize her?]


    [What significant work have you done? You¡¯re just jealous over someone else¡¯s success.]


    [Who wouldn¡¯t love a handsome and wealthy man like Lu Zhao? You¡¯re just complaining about sour grapes.]


    [Let¡¯s be fair. Without Lu Zhao¡¯s resources, Luo Ying might not have achieved this level of success.]


    Luo Ying asked Chi Tong to investigate the account that posted the comment. She soon learned that it was Li Yan¡¯s alternate account.


    How foolish. She actually used her own account to target her peers.


    Luo Ying smiled and shook her head.


    ¡°Miss Ying, there¡¯s a variety show next week. The organizers want to invite you to participate. I¡¯ve discussed it with Director Sue We think it¡¯s a great chance to increase your exposure. The show has just started airing. But¡­¡± Chi Tong hesitated.


    ¡°What¡¯s the catch? Why are you so jitterish?¡± Luo Ying inquired curiously.


    ¡°Li Yan will also be participating. She was hostile toward you before. I don¡¯t know if she might pull something this time. If you get hurt again, Mr. Lu will be furious,¡± Chi Tong said with a pout.


    ¡°So what if she¡¯s there? She can¡¯t harm me.¡± Luo Ying smiled.


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll take on this gig. However, you need to be careful when the time comes. If needed¡­ The organizers usually provide performers with audience tickets. We could arrange for Mr. Lu to sit among the audience. That way, no one would dare to act recklessly,¡± Chi Tong suggested earnestly. He really didn¡¯t want anything to happen to Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying considered the idea and found it practical.


    If Lu Zhao were to attend as well, the safety factor would undoubtedly increase significantly.


    She didn¡¯t want to get hurt again. After finally recovering, she aimed to make the most of her career opportunity..

 Chapter 347 - Chapter 347: Li Yan

    Chapter 347: Li Yan


    It was the eve of the variety show. Chi Tong burst in while brimming with excitement. He waved the entry ticket in his hand. ¡°Miss Ying, I got Mr. Lu¡¯s ticket.¡¯


    Luo Ying took the ticket and nodded with a smile.


    It could have been much simpler. With Lu Zhao¡¯s influence, all he needed to do was give the production team a heads-up. He could simply waltz in without the ticket.


    But Luo Ying wasn¡¯t aiming for extravagance. She wanted to keep a low profile. She wanted Lu Zhao to watch her quietly from the audience.


    This time, the program coordinators wanted the female celebrities to do a runway show before the main game segment. They were to bring their own gowns for the show.


    There was no mystery behind this decision. This was yet another fashion showdown. It was likely that the celebrity guests were going to invest all their efforts into their gowns.


    Luo Yings gown had been designed by David¡¯s team a week ago. They¡¯d sent it over to be worn by a model earlier on that day.


    It was a wine-red fishtail one- shoulder dress that highlighted her hourglass figure and flattered her fair skin.


    Luo Ying rarely donned such vibrant ensembles. In light of recent events, she was keen on breaking free from any lingering negativity. Furthermore, the premiere of her new drama was bound to make waves. A dazzling gown would undoubtedly spark conversations and contribute to the promotional efforts.


    On the official day of shooting, Annie and her team were at the production team¡¯s makeup room bright and early.


    Over the past few years, Luya Group had been indirectly supporting David¡¯s team with substantial resources. David had stressed the importance of giving Luo Ying their utmost attention.


    Luo Ying entered the room with a bounce in her step. She¡¯d enjoyed a restful beauty sleep last night. Today, her complexion was radiant. Even without makeup, her skin was porcelain-like and flawless.


    Upon seeing her, Annie approached and embraced her warmly.


    ¡°Hey there, little darling. Each time we meet, you seem to be more beautiful than ever! Let me give you a smooch.¡± Annie affectionately ruffled Luo Ying¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Feel free to praise me, but smooching is off-limits. My husband might get jealous,¡± Luo Ying playfully teased her.


    Annie rolled her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s so great about men? You¡¯d be better off with me,¡± she quipped.


    They exchanged a few light-hearted jests before Annie began applying makeup on Luo Ying.


    On that day, Annie had chosen a slightly retro and dramatic makeup look. It complemented the wine-red gown.


    After extensive training, Annie was well-versed in runway makeup. Moreover, her prior collaborations with Luo Ying meant she understood Luo Yings facial features thoroughly.


    After finishing the makeup, even Annie herself was taken aback.


    She could hardly believe that this gorgeously dolled-up woman was the same person she¡¯d been working on.


    Luo Yings eyes were remarkably large. Annie worked on the corners of her eyes. The deep red matte eyeshadow carried an air of sophistication. There was a hint of iridescent pearl in the center.


    Luo Yings lashes were impressively long. After a few strokes of the lash brush, she no longer needed to wear falsies. If she closed her eyes, she resembled a weeping underwater princess.


    ¡°You¡¯re stunning, my goddess,¡± Annie praised her repeatedly.


    Luo Ying was equally pleased with the makeup. In a way, it marked her first appearance on a variety show since her recovery. It had far exceeded her expectations.


    While dressed in her gown, Luo Ying readied herself to enter the venue and wait.


    As she stepped out, a buzz of excitement filled the air outside.


    ¡°Oh my goodness, look at her!¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s incredible. How does she do it?¡±


    ¡°Her aura is almost on par with an international superstar.¡±


    ¡°How are the other celebrities supposed to measure up?¡±


    Amidst the compliments, Luo Ying walked toward the waiting area. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a tad smug. (toward is the US spelling)


    It was indeed a transformation. Before, she often radiated youthful energy. She gave off the impression of a vivacious young girl with a whole life ahead of her.


    However, recent experiences had tempered her significantly. Now, she exuded a unique charm that was both mature and gracefully youthful.


    Suddenly, she stumbled and almost fell.


    She turned around to see a woman stepping on her gown.


    Li Yan wore an air of arrogance. ¡°l apologize. I was not looking.¡±


    Though her words conveyed an apology, Li Yan¡¯s tone was laced with provocation.


    Luo Ying calmly adjusted her hair and replied, ¡°That¡¯s all right. With eyes as tiny as yours, it¡¯s understandable that you couldn¡¯t see well..¡¯!

 Chapter 348 - Chapter 348: Cloak And Dagger

    Chapter 348: Cloak And Dagger


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation            Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    This statement struck a sore spot. She had the advantage of good skin and a petite, elegant figure. However, her eyes were very small. She¡¯d gained recognition in the industry by playing the role of the sweet, naive girl in an idol drama.


    However, her choice of outfit for today¡¯s occasion was a complete mismatch for her temperament. It was a strapless dress adorned with fringes and a long train which clung to her hips. The ensemble simply did not complement her stature. She had to wear towering waterproof heels for a semblance of stability.


    The only standout was the diamond necklace gracing her chest.


    The necklace held some weight. A large diamond encircled by a ring of smaller ones. It was all set in platinum and cast a dazzling radiance.


    As Li Yan noticed Luo Yings gaze on the necklace, she proudly straightened her posture.


    ¡°You¡¯ve never seen it before, right? M/ell, today is your chance. This is the work of the American jewelry master, Horace. There¡¯s only one of these globally. This one was specially sponsored by President Wang of Earl Jewelry. Take a look at yourself. Do you have anything as valuable?¡± Li Yan¡¯s expression was haughty.


    Luo Ying stifled a smile. Only those hounded by insecurities would boast. Li Yan¡¯s eagerness to flaunt probably indicated a weak backing.


    ¡°The necklace is exquisite, but it¡¯s wated on you,¡± Luo Ying teased her.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Li Yan was not particularly well-read. In her desperation, she didn¡¯t know how to retort to Luo Ying. She resorted to wanting to physically lash out.


    ¡°You wretched woman, I¡¯m going to end you,¡± Li Yan clenched her teeth.


    ¡°Whom are you planning to end?¡± A magnetic voice chimed in from behind.


    Lu Zhao glanced at Luo Ying with affection before turning his gaze coldly towards Li Yan.


    Li Yan covered her mouth in surprise. ¡°You, you¡¯re Lu Zhao?¡±


    Lu Zhao had taken Luo Yings advice today. To avoid drawing excessive attention, he wore a clean white t-shirt and a pair of gray linen cotton sweatpants and as a result, he emanated youthful vigor.


    Li Yan¡¯s excitement was evident; the memory of their heated exchange just moments ago caused her cheeks to turn red.


    She approached Lu Zhao with a coquettish smile and asked shyly, ¡°Brother Lu Zhao, why did you come today? Are you here to watch my performance?¡± ¡°Brother Lu Zhao.¡± Luo Ying almost wanted to retch.


    Lu Zhao frowned and wondered why this woman exuded such misplaced confidence. He was here to support his wife, not deal with this.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s gaze wandered to the necklace hanging around Li Yan¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Brother Lu Zhao, do you also like this necklace?¡± Li Yan raised her head.


    ¡°This seems to be sponsored by Earl Jewelry,¡± Lu Zhao responded with an unwavering tone,


    Though he might not know much about women¡¯s fashion, his time with Luo Ying had taught him that the dress meant nothing without this necklace.


    Li Yan appeared taken aback. ¡°Yes, exactly. It¡¯s sponsored by Earl Jewelry.


    Brother Lu Zhao, you¡¯re quite well-informed.¡±


    Lu Zhao made a quick call and ended it in less than a minute.


    ¡°Make sure to take a good look, my wife is right here,¡± Lu Zhao declared as he walked toward Luo Ying. She held onto his hand while brimming with happiness and headed towards the waiting area.


    Li Yan stomped her feet. Just then, her manager rushed over while looking frantic.


    ¡°Somethings gone wrong, Sister Yan.¡±


    Li Yan rolled her eyes at him. Her voice was tinged with exasperation. ¡°Why are you so flustered?¡±


    ¡°Just now, the sponsor from Earl Jewelry called. They won¡¯t allow you to wear their necklace anymore; they want it returned immediately,¡± the manager said breathlessly.


    ¡°What?¡± Li Yan was shocked. ¡°How¡¯s that possible? The sponsorship was already settled, and we¡¯ve even paid up.¡±


    ¡°It seems like President Lu of Luya Group did something¡­¡± the manager whispered.


    Only then did Li Yan realize that Lu Zhao¡¯s recent call had been to Earl Jewelry.


    ¡°What should we do? Without the necklace, this dress can¡¯t hold the stage at all,¡± Li Yan fretted as her anxiety sent her to the brink of tears.


    At that moment, the host¡¯s voice came from the front.


    ¡°It¡¯s too late, Sister Yan. Hand over the necklace and get ready to go on stage,¡±the manager instructed.


    Li Yan resignedly removed her necklace and entered the waiting room. Her expression was a picture of discontent.


    The first to step onto the stage was Luo Ying.


    As the curtains parted, a wave of excitement surged through the audience.


    ¡°Oh my, did a goddess just walk up the stage?¡±


    ¡°Luo Ying has undergone such a transformation. Her aura is absolutely captivating.¡±


    ¡°Her presence is overpowering.¡±


    Lu Zhao sat up straight among the audience. Pride filled him as he listened to the compliments showered upon Luo Ying.


    Luo Yings show began and prompted another wave of exclamations from the crowd.


    She exuded confidence on stage. Along with her striking makeup today, she looked like she had walked right out of a painting..

 Chapter 349 - Chapter 349: An Accident Happened

    Chapter 349: An Accident Happened


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation            Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Li Yan witnessed this scene backstage. Her thoughts spiraled into confusion. Without the necklace, the dress lacked any distinctiveness. Considering Luo Yings favorable reception, that would only mean one thing for her.


    Amidst her internal turmoil, the host called out her name.


    ¡°Next up, Li Yan.¡±


    Li Yan was caught off-guard. She stood up shakily. Her face was pallid, and her gaze was unfocused.


    ¡°What¡¯s up with her? She doesn¡¯t seem to be paying attention.¡± ¡°That dress simply does not fit her face and figure.¡±


    ¡°What on earth is she wearing? She must still be half-asleep.¡±


    As she heard the chorus of criticism from the audience, Li Yan felt even more unsettled.


    After two steps, she stumbled and fell.


    The audience first went silent, then burst into hearty laughter.


    The emcee¡¯s face alternated between red and white. Even with his vast experience, he didn¡¯t know how to salvage the situation.


    Li Yan hurried off the stage in embarrassment.


    After the catwalk segment came the interview and chat phase.


    Luo Ying was genuinely looking forward to this. It was an opportunity to discuss the new drama¡¯s content and boost her popularity.


    While the crowd enthusiastically cheered to her catwalk, the host threw a question at her.


    ¡°How did it feel working alongside Xie Yun in this production?¡± the host inquired.


    ¡°Xie Yun is highly gifted and resilient. He tackles many challenging scenes himself without using any stuntmen,¡± Luo Ying replied, clearly lauding Xie Yun¡¯s qualities.


    ¡°With so many kissing scenes with Xie Yun in the show, wouldn¡¯t your husband be jealous?¡± Li Yan suddenly threw a cunning question.


    ¡°This is my profession. Naturally, my husband supports me,¡± Luo Ying smiled as she cursed Li Yan a thousand times in her mind.


    Li Yan¡¯s smile turned disdainful as she quipped, ¡°Indeed, your husband is remarkably magnanimous. He¡¯s fine with you kissing other men on- screen and tolerates your flirtations off- screen with one man after another. I recall you even resorting to jumping off a building to pressure Mr. Lu into divorce. I won¡¯t go on; there¡¯s too much to recount, hahaha.¡±


    The room was filled with stunned silence. No one had anticipated Li Yan¡¯s retaliatory strike.


    Lu Zhao suddenly stood up and stated, ¡°My wife¡¯s matters doesn¡¯t concern you.¡±


    All eyes were drawn to him.


    A high-pitched scream came from the crowd, ¡°Lu Zhao? Is that really Lu Zhao?¡±


    The atmosphere reignited.


    ¡°Oh my goodness, I¡¯m actually seeing Lu Zhao in the flesh!¡±


    ¡°Our ancestors must be turning in their graves. I¡¯m sitting with a CEO!¡±


    ¡°What kind of fairy tale romance is this?¡±


    The emcee was nearly tempted to scream in excitement, but due to her position, she maintained a composed facade and steered the atmosphere back to calm.


    Lu Zhao continued, ¡°Over all this time, there have been countless hurtful comments directed at Luo Ying and countless doubts about our relationship.¡± Lu Zhao paused momentarily, then continued, ¡°I¡¯m here now to clarify. I love Luo Ying, no matter who she is or what she faces. She¡¯s my lawful wife, and I¡¯ll exert all my efforts to love and protect her. If I hear any more malicious rumors or slander in the future, don¡¯t expect me to hold back.¡±


    Onstage, Luo Yings eyes glistened with tears.


    No matter the circumstance, this man would stand by her and protect her unconditionally.


    Once the show aired, Luo Ying and Lu Zhao dominated online trends for three days.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s powerful declaration of his devotion to his wife, accompanied by a variety of background music, spread across various video platforms.


    Everyone now knew that Luo Ying had a husband who cherished her deeply. Additionally, due to Lu Zhao¡¯s warning, the comments section became notably more respectful.


    After all, those who provoked the Luya Group usually didn¡¯t fare well.


    Thanks to this incredibly effective publicity, ¡°Prime Minister¡± went viral online.


    Views and ratings soared, which positioned it as the top show of the season.


    Su Li¡¯s face was almost split from grinning.


    He had risen from an unknown director to helming a hit drama. For Luo Ying and Xie Yun, better opportunities lay ahead..

 Chapter 350 - Chapter 350: Debut

    Chapter 350: Debut


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation            Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    The studio¡¯s rehearsals continued without incident.


    Chi Tong provided Luo Ying daily updates.


    Today marked the first full rehearsal of the song. Luo Ying had to be present personally.


    The members of the boy band were all in high spirits. Thanks to Luo Yings prior instructions, Chi Tong had kept a sharp eye on their fitness, routines, and diet. As a result, each member appeared in excellent shape. A subtle touch of makeup enhanced their masculine allure.


    As the band struck the opening notes, Luo Ying sensed its success right away. She couldn¡¯t help but marvel at Min Yu¡¯s skill in both songwriting and composing.


    After the opening concluded, the song moved into its lyrical section. The four young men showcased remarkably solid singing and dancing. Min Yu¡¯s dedicated training was speaking for itself.


    As the performance concluded, Luo Ying enthusiastically clapped and cheered.


    This had far exceeded her expectations. Her keen intuition indicated that this song would undoubtedly become a hit.


    Next, she plunged into a demanding endeavor¡ªthe debut performance of the boy band.


    Every aspect of this project carried immense importance. If done right, it would be a spectacular success; if done poorly, it could crumble the band before they even soared and ruin all their hard work.


    Luo Ying and Chi Tong found themselves at the venue daily. They constantly engaged in promotional activities that kept them extraordinarily busy.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s heart ached as he watched Luo Ying toil. ¡°You¡¯ve been spending more time with your manager than with me.¡±


    Luo Ying couldn¡¯t help but find his little tantrums of jealous to be as adorable as a golden retriever.


    ¡°Once we wrap up the debut, I¡¯ll spend quality time with you, alright?¡± Luo Ying consoled him in the manner one would comfort a child.


    Finally, the day of the performance arrived. On this day, Luo Ying felt more nervous than anyone.


    In order to kick- start the atmosphere, Luo Ying opened the show with her own singing and dancing. She chose a song she excelled at.


    She had a few notes to discuss with Min Yu. However, Min Yu was nowhere to be found.


    Luo Ying anxiously called Min Yu¡¯s number over a dozen times, but received no response.


    When the performance time was drawing near, Luo Ying couldn¡¯t put things on hold any further and had to step onto the stage.


    She was still as brilliant a performer as ever. She sang and danced with unbridled energy, which earned her endless applause from the audience.


    As the atmosphere heated up, Luo Ying began to settle into her zone and calm down.


    Once offstage, she barely had time to change costumes. Instead, she swiftly picked up her phone and dialed Min Yu¡¯s number.


    There was still no answer.


    With mounting anxiety, Luo Yings heart raced. On one hand, she had poured so much effort into the boy group that was about to perform. On the other hand, their lyricist had suddenly vanished.


    She patted Chi Tong¡¯s shoulder with gritted teeth and instructed him, ¡°Keep an eye on things here. I have to find Min Yu.¡±


    Though Chi Tong was equally anxious, he hesitated. ¡°Sister Ying, you¡¯ve put so much effort into today¡¯s performance. Are you really not going to watch it live?¡±


    Luo Ying nodded. Regardless, Min Yu¡¯s safety took precedence.


    She drove directly to Min Yu¡¯s residence and urgently knocked on the door but received no response.


    Luo Ying called numerous times. There was still no answer.


    Just as hope seemed to fade and she considered moving elsewhere, the door creaked open.


    Min Yu¡¯s hair was disheveled. Her eyes were bloodshot. Clutched in her hand was a half-empty beer bottle that emitted a strong odor of alcohol.


    Luo Ying could hardly believe her eyes.


    Just two days ago, Min Yu¡¯s eyes had been radiant as they discussed lyrical matters. How had things deteriorated so quickly?


    As Luo Ying approached and held Min Yu¡¯s shoulder, the latter burst into tears.


    Luo Ying guided her to her room and was met with even greater chaos. Empty bottles littered the floor. The room was imbued with the heavy scent of smoke.


    What was happening? Min Yu had never smoked or consumed alcohol in the past. Why had she changed so drastically?


    Luo Ying took the bottle from Min Yu t s hand and gently wiped her tears away.


    ¡°Tell me everything. What happened?¡±


    Min Yu gazed at Luo Ying. Her parched lips trembled slightly.


    ¡°Yingying, Luo Feng¡­¡±


    ¡°My brother¡­ What happened to him?¡± Luo Ying¡¯s voice trembled with urgency.


    ¡°Luo Feng is dead.¡± Min Yu sobbed once more.


    Luo Feng was gone? How?


    Through teary eyes, Min Yu recounted the tragic events.


    Two nights earlier, she had received an unexpected text message from an unfamiliar number claiming to be Lu Wen. The message contained a photo of Luo Fengs lifeless body.


    Luo Feng had been covered in blood while riddled with several bullet wounds.


    Lu Wen had threatened Min Yu by instructing her to inform Lu Zhao to meet him at the pier in three days. Failure to comply would result in another person¡¯s death..

 Chapter 351 - Chapter 351: Fight to the Death

    Chapter 351: Fight to the Death


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation   Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Niin Yu was devastated. She had been torn between divulging this matter to


    Luo Ying and Lu Zhao or not.


    She had heard whispers of the power struggle within the Lu family.


    It seemed like Lu Wen was gearing up for a final showdown with Lu Zhao.


    Even so, Luo Ying had extended her kindness to her. Min Yu genuinely dreaded the idea of Lu Zhao putting his life on the line.


    But what if she kept it to herself? Lu Wen had already warned that if Lu Zhao did not show up, someone else would die.


    Immersed in the sorrow of Luo Fengs death and the painful quandary she faced, Min Yu was at a loss for what to do.


    After hearing Min Yu¡¯s narrative, a deep frown marred Luo Yings brow.


    She couldn¡¯t afford to indulge in her grief over Luo Fengs passing. The most pressing matter was thwarting the recurrence of tragedy.


    Luo Ying helped Min Yu pack her belongings and escorted her back to the Lu residence.


    Min Yu¡¯s emotional state concerned her greatly; she dared not leave her alone. Who knew what might unfold if left to her own devices?


    Luo Ying made a call to Lu Zhao from the car and urged him to come home promptly. She had crucial matters to discuss.


    By the time Luo Ying and Min Yu arrived, Lu Zhao was already present.


    When he saw the expression on Luo Yings face, a sense of foreboding gripped him.


    As anticipated, Luo Yings ensuing words caused his brow to furrow even deeper.


    Previously, Lu Wen had coerced Wen Yu into framing Lu Zhao. Though Lu Zhao had managed to save Wen Du, he had failed to capture Lu Wen. Lu Wen had escaped before his subordinates could reach him.


    ¡°The deadline is tomorrow,¡± Luo Ying said with evident worry.


    On one hand, she felt this matter needed swift resolution to avoid implicating more innocent individuals.


    On the other hand, it put Lu Zhao in grave danger. She gazed at him with a heart full of anguish.


    ¡°l must go,¡± Lu Zhao declared. His gaze remained unwaveringly fixed on Luo Ying. ¡°1 won¡¯t be the cause of another murder.¡±


    Luo Yings eyes darkened.


    Lu Zhao knew she was engulfed in worry. He put on a facade of ease and lightly patted her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my dear. Your husband is quite the extraordinary fellow, isn¡¯t he?¡± He concluded his words with a gentle kiss on Luo Yings forehead.


    He understood better than anyone that he might not return from this encounter.


    Lu Wen had become a fugitive. He had been driven to madness. Such individuals were capable of anything.


    Lu Zhao looked at Luo Ying tenderly as if he couldn¡¯t get enough of her presence.


    That night, Lu Zhao was exceedingly gentle.


    Their chests rose and fell in tandem. While affection and sweetness shone in their eyes, bitterness filled their hearts.


    Late at night, Chi Min sent a message. The debut of the boy group had been an astounding success.


    This provided a measure of solace to Luo Ying.


    The following day, Lu Zhao instructed Xiao Ting to gather a few capable individuals and lightweight weaponry.


    Each team member arrived in bulletproof vests.


    Luo Ying wished to accompany them, yet Lu Zhao insisted she stay home.


    ¡°l promised to keep you safe,¡± Lu Zhao declared earnestly. His gaze was unwavering as it met Luo Yings.


    ¡°Just be safe!¡± Luo Ying replied earnestly.


    She contemplated sneaking out after them.


    Just as she approached the doorstep, her bodyguards blocked her path.


    ¡°Madam, Sir has instructed that you remain indoors today. Please rest at home.¡¯


    Luo Ying pouted in frustration. Lu Zhao truly understood her all too well. He had even assigned someone to watch over her.


    The pier¡¯s breeze sent a shiver down her spine.


    Lu Wen was dressed in a black windbreaker with a white flower pinned to his chest. In his arms was Nancy¡¯s urn.


    It was time to settle the score,


    He wanted Lu Zhao to join Nancy in eternal rest.


    Such thoughts brought a perverse smile to his face.


    Wen Du, Luo Feng¡ªthey were insignificant.


    His ultimate goal was to end Lu Zhao¡¯s life.


    He reached into his pocket. His fingers brushed against the hard surface of the gun. He knew Lu Zhao well enough to be certain that he would honor their meeting today.


    A black luxury car pulled up not far away. Several individuals got down.


    At their forefront stood Lu Zhao.


    Lu Wen regarded the group warily. He addressed Lu Zhao with caution. ¡°Lu


    Zhao, I just wanted to talk. Ask them to step back.¡±


    Xiao Tings face was etched with worry. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s dangerous for you to go alone.¡¯


    Lu Zhao waved him off dismissively. ¡°Stay here. Lu Wen is already to die fighting. If you all follow, everyone will be at risk.¡±


    He strode resolutely toward Lu Wen..

 Chapter 352 - Chapter 352: The Final Duel

    Chapter 352: The Final Duel


    Translator: Endless?antasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    When Lu Zhao walked over alone, Lu Wen¡¯s face twisted into a sinister grin.


    He clutched the urn tightly in his arms.


    Lu Zhao approached Lu Wen. He cast him a casual glance as he spoke. ¡°You could¡¯ve directly confronted me. There was no need to hurt so many innocent people. ¡±


    A flicker of disdain crossed Lu Wen¡¯s expression.


    ¡°Innocent people?¡± Lu Wen scoffed. ¡°Do you know what disgusts me the most, brother? Your hypocritical compassion for those innocent people. You act like you¡¯re some benevolent savior. Did Nancy deserve to die?¡±


    Lu Zhao¡¯s brow furrowed as he responded. ¡°I¡¯ve never wanted harm to befall Nancy. Your project was already a catastrophic failure. If I let you continue, more innocent lives would have been lost.¡¯


    ¡°And what about you?¡± Lu Wen¡¯s eyes reddened. He rushed to Lu Zhao¡¯s side and gripped his collar. ¡°How did your illness miraculously get cured? Do you know where the poison master¡¯s daughter is? Why didn¡¯t you save Nancy?¡±


    A dull ache resonated in Lu Zhao¡¯s heart. It was Luo Ying. It was his beloved Luo Ying. She had been discreetly treating him all along. Each time this realization hit him, Lu Zhao felt like a wretch.


    ¡°What do you want now, when Nancy is already dead?¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s voice remained unwavering.


    Lu Wen suddenly broke into a deranged laughter. ¡°Lu Zhao, you¡¯re smart, and so am l. That old man wanted us to compete openly, but he never truly believed in my strength. He merely wanted me to weaken you.¡±


    His gaze dimmed, and he added self-deprecatingly, ¡°From the beginning to the end, I was just a pawn.¡±


    Lu Zhao shook his head. There was a touch of helplessness in his expression. ¡°The injustices you¡¯ve suffered shouldn¡¯t serve as an excuse for your violent deeds. Besides, you¡¯re the legitimate son of the Lu family. You¡¯ve always been far more privileged than an outsider like me.¡±


    Lu Wen¡¯s eyes turned vicious. ¡°You have no right to say that. You let Nancy die.


    You ruined me. Today, I¡¯ll ensure you accompany Nancy in death!¡±


    With those words, he drew his pistol and fired a shot straight at Lu Zhao¡¯s chest.


    The bulletproof vest absorbed the impact. Lu Zhao stumbled. Xiao Ting swiftly drew his own pistol and fired at Lu Wen.


    The bullet struck Lu Wen¡¯s left shoulder. His face contorted in pain. He summoned his last reserves of strength and raised his pistol to fire another shot at Lu Zhao.


    This shot struck Lu Zhao¡¯s shoulder. A pool of blood quickly stained his white shirt crimson.


    Lu Zhao endured the pain and drew his pistol. He aimed for Lu Wen¡¯s heart.


    Bang!


    After the gunshot echoed, Lu Wen collapsed into a pool of blood. He twitched and lay still. Nancy¡¯s urn remained tightly in his arms.


    Xiao Ting and the others rushed forward.


    ¡°Boss, you¡¯re hurt,¡± Xiao Ting worriedly remarked while looking at Lu Zhao¡¯s bleeding shoulder.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Focus on handling Lu Wen¡¯s body,¡± Lu Zhao instructed him while wincing.


    ¡°Just toss him into the sea,¡± Xiao Ting suggested angrily.


    Lu Wen had been a thorn in Lu Zhao¡¯s side from the very beginning. Xiao Ting had long harbored resentment.


    ¡°No. Pick a burial site and lay him to rest with Nancy¡¯s ashes,¡± Lu Zhao ordered as he turned and walked away.


    Xiao Ting and the others exchanged baffled looks. How could they bestow such a dignified burial upon someone they despised so vehemently?


    Luo Ying was consumed by restlessness at home.


    She was clueless about Lu Zhao¡¯s condition. She did not know if he was injured. She paced back and forth within the house.


    The door swung open.


    Lu Zhao stumbled in.


    The sight before her startled Luo Ying. Lu Zhao¡¯s shoulder was a gruesome mess. Crimson drops stained the floor.


    ¡°Lu Zhao!¡± Luo Ying dashed towards him in alarm.


    Lu Zhao observed Luo Yings anxious expression and mustered a weak smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s just a flesh wound. I won¡¯t die.¡±


    He leaned onto Luo Yings shoulder.


    Luo Ying aided Lu Zhao to the sofa and promptly called for Wen Yu.


    As Wen Yu hurried into the living room, she too was taken aback by the scene.


    However, as a doctor, she retained the composure ingrained by her profession.


    The two women helped Lu Zhao onto the bed. After removing Lu Zhao¡¯s shirt, she extracted the bullet, sterilized the wound, applied medication, and dressed it.


    Once done, sweat dotted her forehead. Fatigue washed over her. She gazed at Luo Yings concerned eyes and asked, ¡°How did Mr.. Lu end up like this?¡±

 Chapter 353 - Chapter 353: The Lu Family’s Storm

    Chapter 353: The Lu Family¡¯s Storm


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation   Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying furrowed her brow and said, ¡°It¡¯s Lu Wen. He lured Lu Zhao to the pier and then shot him.¡±


    Wen Yu gasped and asked, ¡°What about Lu Wen? How is he?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s probably dead,¡± Luo Yings gaze remained fixed on Lu Zhao¡¯s wound as she stated firmly.


    She understood the gravity of the situation today ¨C only one of them, Lu Wen or Lu Zhao, could survive.


    Wen Yu exhaled a relieved breath as tears trickled down her cheeks.


    With Lu Wen¡¯s demise, her vendetta could finally find closure.


    When Wen Du was saved by Lu Zhao, he was already on the brink of death.


    Having had one of his kidneys removed without proper hemostasis, Wen Du had lost too much blood and succumbed shortly thereafter.


    Wen Yu¡¯s hatred was boundless. She had always yearned to avenge Wen Du. However, Lu Wen¡¯s whereabouts had remained elusive even to Lu Zhao, let alone herself.


    Now that Lu Wen was finally gone, Wen Du¡¯s spirit could rest in peace.


    Luo Ying observed Wen Yu¡¯s teary eyes as her own heart ached in sympathy.


    She patted Wen Yu¡¯s shoulder reassuringly and said, ¡°Don¡¯t cry. This might just be the first step. With Lu Wen¡¯s death, the Lu Family won¡¯t let this matter rest. We need to recoup and face the challenges ahead. When it¡¯s most crucial, you could be of immense help to us.¡±


    Wen Yu nodded in agreement. Her admiration for Luo Ying grew stronger. Regardless of the circumstances, Luo Ying always displayed remarkable clarity of thought.


    Lu Wen was Old Master Lu¡¯s biological grandson, which made him even more precious to Old Master Lu than Lu Zhao.


    As evening descended, Lu Zhao awakened.


    He struggled to open his eyes and found Luo Ying at his bedside.


    Luo Ying snapped awake at his movements.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake. Does it still hurt?¡± she asked as tears welled in her eyes. No one was more concerned about Lu Zhao¡¯s well-being than she was.


    Lu Zhao lovingly stroked her hair and teased her. ¡°Silly girl, it¡¯s just a scratch. Do you have to cry me a river?¡±


    ¡°A scratch? It took a chunk off your shoulder!¡± Luo Ying lamented as her heart ached.


    ¡°What can I say? It¡¯s quite severe. Maybe a kiss from my wife will heal me,¡± Lu Zhao playfully suggested. It was a stark contrast to his usual serious demeanor.


    Luo Ying couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at his antics. Whil playfully poking his chest with a finger, she said, ¡°Even at a time like this, you¡¯re still in the mood for jokes. Lu Wen¡­ is he really dead?¡±


    Upon mentioning Lu Wen¡¯s name, Lu Zhao¡¯s gaze grew somber.


    They were once bitter adversaries. However, seeing Lu Wen sprawled lifeless in a pool of blood had unexpectedly stirred a pang of melancholy within him.


    ¡°He¡­ he died a tragic death,¡± Lu Zhao sighed.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Luo Ying found it perplexing. Lu Zhao rarely sighed like this.


    ¡°He deserved to die. He pushed me to the brink countless times, and his actions cost numerous lives. But¡­ even as he died, he clung to Nancy¡¯s ashes,¡± Lu Zhao revealed.


    Luo Yings sigh of empathy resonated. Many of Lu Wen¡¯s atrocious actions had been committed in the name of Nancy.


    ¡°Darling, why is it that people can¡¯t coexist peacefully? Why resort to deception, conflict, and fighting to the death? Is it truly necessary?¡± Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes reflected momentary bewilderment.


    For years, he had exerted himself tirelessly to secure his position in the city and stabilize Luya Group.


    Even so, the circumstances and his own ambitions continually forced him into predicaments he wished to avoid, often at the expense of innocent lives.


    ¡°Wen Du is gone, Luo Feng is gone, and now Lu Wen is gone. You nearly sacrificed your own life to save me. Darling, for so long, I¡¯ve only known how to move forward, but suddenly, I feel so weary,¡± Lu Zhao mused as he rested his head on Luo Yings lap.


    Luo Ying tenderly caressed his cheek and consoled him, ¡°Humans are born free, yet everywhere they are in chains. Everyone desires a simple life, but circumstances often dictate otherwise. Your determination to endure has never been misguided.¡±


    A tear escaped from Lu Zhao¡¯s eye and landed on Luo Yings leg. In that fleeting moment, she felt a surge of warmth.


    After years of relentless competition, this man was finally fatigued. At this moment, he yearned to rest his head on his lover¡¯s lap and drift into slumber.


    Yet before sleep could fully claim him, the door was forcefully breached.


    Old Master Lu¡¯s butler entered. He was accompanied by a group of individuals whose aggression flooded the room. They converged upon Lu Zhao¡¯s bed..

 Chapter 354 - Chapter 354: Uninvited

    Chapter 354: Uninvited


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation   Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lu Zhao sat up in bed while instinctively wrapping his arms around Luo Ying to shield her. He spoke angrily, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why the dramatic entrance?


    Has my home turned into a free-for-all for uninvited guests?¡±


    ¡°Young Master Lu, I apologize for the intrusion. We¡¯re acting upon Old Master¡¯s wishes,¡± the butler said in a slick tone.


    ¡°What does the old man want from me?¡± Lu Zhao snapped.


    Though he knew that killing Lu Wen would inevitably lead to this, the forceful invasion still left him deeply angered.


    ¡°Old Master wants you and Miss Luo to visit the ancestral residence. He wishes to discuss matters with both of you,¡± the butler stated as his eyes leered at Luo Ying.


    Lu Zhao gently pushed Luo Ying behind him and stated firmly, ¡°l can go, but


    Luo Ying stays.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Lu, please spare us the complications. He wants all of you to come over. If you refuse, I might have to resort to harsh methods,¡± the butler threatened as his tone turned menacing. His underlings understood his intentions and menacingly approached Luo Ying with sinister grins.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see who dares!¡± Lu Zhao jumped off the bed and shielded Luo Ying securely.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to abduct me. 1 1 m coming,¡± Luo Ying calmly responded from behind.


    Lu Zhao turned to look at Luo Ying. He was taken aback by her unwavering determination.


    ¡°Well, Madam Lu here is the voice of reason. Please, both of you,¡± the butler grinned and revealed his discolored teeth.


    ¡°This journey is risky. You shouldn¡¯t accompany me into danger,¡± Lu Zhao worriedly told Luo Ying.


    While gently resting her hand on his shoulder, Luo Ying affirmed him, ¡°l can¡¯t let you face danger alone again. This time, I must stand by your side no matter what.¡¯


    With that, she held Lu Zhao¡¯s hand and led the way out.


    At the Lu family ancestral residence, nearly everyone had gathered for a heated discussion about Lu Wen¡¯s murder.


    ¡°Lu Zhao has truly crossed the line. How dare he harm his own brother,¡± Lu He¡¯s voice was shrill and resembled that of a monkey.


    ¡°Absolutely, Grandfather has been too soft on him. In hindsight, this outsider wolf cub is simply immature,¡± Hu Jing sneered.


    ¡°In my opinion, this whole affair was probably manipulated by that vixen, Luo Ying. Look at her. She¡¯s been involved with numerous men and shamelessly seducing them. Now she¡¯s inciting Lu Zhao to kill his own flesh and blood,¡± Lu He shook his head. His words were filled with disdain.


    ¡°Indeed, when they arrive, we must interrogate them thoroughly. Why don¡¯t they take Grandfather seriously? Killing members of the Lu Family so openly is a direct affront to his dignity,¡± Hu Jing echoed.


    ¡°Enough! Silence!¡± Old Master Lu angrily struck his cane on the ground. It was quickly followed by a fit of violent coughing. Lu He and Hu Jing exchanged glances and fell quiet.


    The butler hurriedly entered and bowed with a smile. ¡°Master, Lu Zhao and


    Luo Ying have arrived.¡±


    Old Master Lu let out a cold snort and directed, ¡°Let these two in. I have much to ask them.¡±


    Lu Zhao and Luo Ying entered the hall. Lu Zhao¡¯s face still bore the slight pallor of pain. However, in the presence of the Lu family, he straightened his posture and lifted his head to project confidence. He knew tonight would be a battle.


    ¡°You shameless wretch, kneel!¡± Old Master Lu¡¯s voice was raspy with anger.


    Lu Zhao cast a disdainful glance and replied, ¡°You¡¯re still alive, so there¡¯s no need for me to kneel. I¡¯ll consider kneeling and offering paper once you¡¯re dead.¡¯


    Old Master Lu¡¯s fury was evident in the trembling of his beard. He commanded the butler, ¡°Deal with this ungrateful troublemaker.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Niaster,¡± the butler flexed his fists. When they forcefully entered the house, he had noticed Lu Zhao¡¯s injured shoulder. He assumed that subduing an injured person would be a simple task.


    Yet, he had vastly underestimated Lu Zhao¡¯s combat skills.


    As he reached out, Lu Zhao tightly grabbed his arm with his uninjured one and expertly twisted it.


    ¡°Ah!¡± The butler let out a pained cry. His arm fell limp..

 Chapter 355 - Chapter 355: Strategy

    Chapter 355: Strategy


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation   Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Lu Zhao shattered that arm.


    Lu He and the others were so terrified that their faces turned pale. They hadn¡¯t anticipated Lu Zhao¡¯s prowess in combat.


    Lu Zhao calmly straightened his clothes and removed the wrinkles. Without raising his head, he said, ¡°Grandpa, you mentioned discussing matters with


    Luo Ying and me, but you never mentioned resorting to violence.¡±


    Old Master Lu was so infuriated that he trembled and suffered another violent bout of coughing.


    Even Lu Zhao was taken aback. It had only been half a year since their last meeting, yet the old master¡¯s health had deteriorated to such an extent.


    ¡°You rascal! Answer me this, why did you kill Lu Wen?¡± Old Master Lu questioned him.


    ¡°Grandpa, there seems to be a misunderstanding. I didn¡¯t intend to kill Lu Wen; he wanted to kill me. I accidentally injured him in self-defense. See, my arm is injured as well,¡± Lu Zhao pointed to his wounded shoulder. Old Master Lu snorted. This man was still relatively young, but he was proving increasingly challenging to manage.


    He couldn¡¯t afford to be overly forceful. After all, his primary goal today was to leverage Lu Wen¡¯s death to threaten Lu Zhao and compel him to relinquish the group¡¯s shares.


    ¡°You¡¯ve taken a life from the Lu family. The Lu family won¡¯t let that slide. However, considering our long years of history, the Lu family has decided to provide you with an option. You can use the shares of the group to compensate for Lu Wen¡¯s life,¡± Old Master Lu explained systematically.


    Lu Zhao and Luo Ying exchanged knowing glances.


    This had been their true objective all along.


    Within this family, human lives held no significance in comparison to personal gain.


    ¡°Grandpa, what makes you so confident that Lu Wen¡¯s life is worth trading for with my shares?¡± Lu Zhao questioned.


    Lu He, who was seated nearby, couldn¡¯t remain silent any longer. She stood up and exclaimed in a sharp voice, ¡°Lu Zhao, don¡¯t be ridiculous. Old Master Lu has already extended considerable courtesy. You should have paid for the murder of Lu Wen with your and Luo Yings lives. The old man merely requested for some financial compensation, yet you still refused.¡±


    Luo Ying couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    ¡°Why are you laughing?¡± Lu He snapped.


    ¡°I find it amusing, Aunt. Your scheme is quite intricate. The medication you¡¯ve been administering to the old man over the years has accumulated, and its effects should manifest soon. He doesn¡¯t have much time left. Now you¡¯re capitalizing on his vulnerability to demand the shares. When he passes away soon, you can simply reap the rewards of your plan, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Luo Ying said nonchalantly.


    Luo Yings words left everyone present in shock. Lu He was particularly flustered. Her face alternated between red and white, yet she didn¡¯t forget to offer a feeble defense.


    ¡°You impudent girl, what nonsense are you spouting? What¡­ What medication? I¡¯ve demonstrated my filial devotion to Old Master over these many years.¡±


    Old Master Lu¡¯s mind was in turmoil. He regarded Lu He skeptically.


    Indeed, over the past six months, he had noticed his health deteriorating.


    Lu He had always been responsible for his daily care and meals. Was it possible?


    Lu Zhao couldn¡¯t believe his ears. How had Luo Ying detected an issue he hadn¡¯t even noticed? Considering Lu He¡¯s reaction and the old man¡¯s health, Luo Yings claim seemed valid.


    As expected, Old Master Lu began to interrogate Lu He. ¡°You¡¯ve always been responsible for my daily needs. Could you have tampered with something?¡±


    Lu He turned pale with fear. She hastened to defend herself. ¡°Old Master, you mustn¡¯t believe this deceitful girl¡¯s words. She¡¯s only trying to confuse and incite us with her baseless lies. My devotion to you is clear for all to see.¡±


    Luo Ying sneered, ¡°Aunt, are you not concerned that such words might draw divine retribution? If your claims are true and you¡¯re truly devoted, why did you replace Old Masters personal physician half a year ago? From what I¡¯ve heard, that supposed ¡®doctor¡¯ is actually an unscrupulous relative of yours.¡±


    Lu He was utterly shaken.


    Old Master Lu¡¯s eyes brimmed with anger as he glared at Lu He.


    Indeed, half a year ago, Lu He had replaced Old Master Lu¡¯s personal doctor under the pretense of safeguarding his health. She had even claimed this new doctor was an overseas-trained medical professional..

 Chapter 356 - Chapter 356: Scheming

    Chapter 356: Scheming


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation   Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Old Master Lu slammed his cane onto the ground with force and demanded in a loud voice, ¡°Lu He, what¡¯s the meaning of all this?¡±


    Lu He wanted to continue defending herself, but Luo Ying interrupted her and said to Old Master Lu, ¡°Grandpa, if you want to prove all of this, why don¡¯t you just call that private doctor over?¡±


    Old Master Lu nodded.


    Sun Han was brought into the main hall. When he saw Lu He kneeling on the ground, he exclaimed with fear, ¡°Auntie, have our deeds been discovered? Will the Lu family get rid of us? Auntie, I¡¯m so scared.¡±


    Luo Ying chuckled inwardly. Indeed, that naive fool had confessed without any prompting.


    Lu He pushed Sun Han away like a madwoman. ¡°Get away from me. Who do you think you¡¯re calling ¡®auntie?¡±


    She crawled to Old Master Lu¡¯s feet and pleaded, ¡°Old Master, after serving you for all these years, could you spare me a chance at life? Give me some money, send me abroad. I promise I won¡¯t come back to disturb you.¡±


    Old Master Lu was beyond reproach. He kicked Lu He and remarked, ¡°You shameless woman! You¡¯re actually trying to negotiate with me at a time like this. Guards, take her away and lock her in the warehouse. I¡¯ll deal with her once I¡¯m done here.¡¯


    Two men approached and dragged Lu He away. She screamed like a pig being slaughtered, ¡°Luo Ying, I won¡¯t let you go! Luo Ying, I want you dead!¡±


    ¡°If you want me dead, you need to be capable of doing so.¡± Luo Ying retorted angrily in her thoughts.


    Lu Zhao looked at Luo Ying with gratitude. He understood that Luo Yings ability to catch Lu He at such a crucial moment meant she had done her homework and gathered information.


    She knew well that walking this path would eventually lead to a confrontation with the Lu family.


    With Lu He out of the picture, Old Master Lu wasn¡¯t planning to quit.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, you¡¯re not ignorant of my methods. I suggest you hand over your shares now, or you¡¯ll regret it,¡± Old Master Lu said maliciously.


    ¡°Oh? We¡¯ll see if you have the capability,¡± Lu Zhao retorted while casting a sideways glance.


    Old Master Lu suddenly burst into an eerie laugh. He suffered another round of violent coughing. After wiping his mouth, he said, ¡°Lu Zhao, you¡¯re still young. Do you know what people fear most in this world?¡±


    Lu Zhao looked at him in confusion. He did not know what the old man was getting at.


    When Lu Zhao remained silent, Old Master Lu continued, ¡°The greatest fear is having a vulnerability because your enemies can easily exploit it.¡±


    After saying that, he clapped his hands. Two burly men walked out with a woman.


    As Lu Zhao caught sight of the woman¡¯s face, his mind went blank.


    It was his mother, Bian Su, whom he had sought for years without success.


    Upon seeing her son, tears streamed down Bian Su l s face.


    However, her mouth had been taped shut. She could not utter Lu Zhao¡¯s name.


    Bian Su l s clothes were ragged. Her frame was emaciated. The once lustrous black hair that Lu Zhao remembered now clung to her head like withered grass. Her eyes carried exhaustion and sorrow.


    A surge of anger ignited within Lu Zhao. He glared fiercely at Old Master Lu. ¡°What have you done to my mother?¡±


    Old Master Lu burst into hearty laughter and coughed. He wiped his mouth and said, ¡°The reason I¡¯ve spared your mother¡¯s life all these years was so that she could be useful one day. So, Lu Zhao, make your choice: surrender the shares or see your mother die.¡±


    He paused and added, ¡°By the way, let me remind you that I¡¯ve poisoned your mother¡¯s body. I¡¯m the only one with the antidote. If you don¡¯t hand it over, she won¡¯t live past midnight.¡±


    A sinister and smug smile played across Old Master Lu¡¯s lips.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s fists clenched tighter and tighter. He was about to charge at Old Master Lu when Luo Ying held him and exchanged a glance with him.


    Lu Zhao understood the message in her eyes. ¡°Trust me; I¡¯ll handle this.¡±


    Luo Ying declared loudly, ¡°Lu Zhao, you have the ability. Even without your company, you can start anew, right? Just go along with the old man.¡±


    After saying that, Luo Ying walked over to Bian Su l s side and commented, ¡°Even though Auntie is getting older, she still looks good.¡± As she spoke, she gently held Bian Su e s hand and exchanged a glance with her. Bian Su caught on.


    Suddenly, Luo Ying pulled something out of her pocket and tossed it on the ground.


    Soon, the entire room was engulfed in smoke.


    ¡°Run!¡± Luo Ying shouted..

 Chapter 357 - Chapter 357: Danger

    Chapter 357: Danger


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation   Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying clenched Bian Su l s hand and pulled Lu Zhao alongside. The three of them dashed towards the door.


    Xiao Tings car was already waiting outside. Upon seeing them emerge, he promptly opened the car door.


    The car sped towards the Lu estate.


    Lu Zhao gazed at the worn-out Bian Su. A pang of bitterness welled within him.


    He incessantly rubbed her calloused hands and murmured, ¡°Mom, you¡¯ve suffered so much in these past few years.¡±


    Bian Su gently shook her head and looked at Luo Ying. ¡°Miss, you must be my son¡¯s wife.¡¯


    Luo Ying hadn¡¯t quite gotten used to being called his ¡°wife¡±. She smiled and nodded.


    Lu Zhao¡¯s mother truly emanated gentleness and elegance. Even in ragged clothing, her noble demeanor remained undiminished.


    Bian Su nodded gratefully and said, ¡°Though I haven¡¯t been by Lu Zhao¡¯s side all these years, I believe he must have been very happy with you.¡±


    Luo Ying shyly nodded in agreement.


    In such a life-and-death situation, she hadn¡¯t anticipated her first meeting with her in-law to be like this.


    Lu Zhao gently looked at Luo Ying. He turned to Bian Su and said, ¡°Niom, Luo Ying truly is an exceptionally outstanding young lady.¡±


    Bian Su concurred. ¡°Of course, that¡¯s quite apparent.¡±


    As she finished speaking, Bian Su l s stomach suddenly cramped.


    She coughed up a mouthful of blood.


    Luo Ying and Lu Zhao were both stunned. It was then that they recalled Old Niaster Lu¡¯s mention of poisoning Bian Su l s body. Only he possessed the antidote.


    When he saw Bian Su l s frail and weakened state, Lu Zhao couldn¡¯t help but clench his fists once again.


    Once Bian Su l s health was restored, he would surely go and dismantle the entire family.


    Suddenly, Luo Ying thought of someone¡ªWen Yu.


    ¡°Let¡¯s head back home first and have Wen Yu assess your condition. She might have a solution,¡± Luo Ying proposed.


    Lu Zhao nodded; at this point, it seemed the only course of action.


    In the laboratory within the mansion, Wen Yu was urgently conducting an experiment.


    The poison in Bian Su l s body was a type she had never encountered before. It was highly potent and acted swiftly.


    She had to create the antidote before the poison¡¯s full effects took hold.


    Luo Ying and Lu Zhao waited anxiously.


    Suddenly, Luo Yings phone rang. It was a call from Jin Shi.


    A sense of foreboding welled within Luo Ying.


    She answered the call nervously and heard Jin Shi¡¯s urgent voice on the other end.


    ¡°Yingying, this is bad. Your second brother has gone missing.¡±


    Luo Yings body trembled. Second Brother had disappeared. What did that imply?


    ¡°You know where I am. Get a flight ticket. Your second brother vanished here. We need to find him together,¡± Jin Shi urged hurriedly.


    After ending the call, a headache started throbbing in Luo Yings temples.


    One crisis hadn¡¯t even subsided before another had emerged. Such seemed to be the way of things.


    Jin Shi regarded her with sympathy and said, ¡°Go check on him first. I¡¯ll come to you after I¡¯ve finished here.¡±


    Luo Ying lifted her gaze to meet his eyes. The recent chain of events had taken a toll on this man. He seemed to have grown thinner. She nodded resolutely and secured the earliest flight.


    Before departing, Lu Zhao clasped her hand.


    She noticed his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing nervously.


    He lowered his voice and asked, ¡°Luo Ying, you¡¯ll never leave me, right?¡± An unexpected pang of pain surged within Luo Yings heart.


    Lu Zhao had expressed this sentiment many times, yet never before had it made her feel so uncomfortable.


    While gently caressing Lu Zhao¡¯s hand, she nodded firmly.


    As soon as she landed, she headed straight to Jin Shi¡¯s location.


    Upon opening the door, she found both her second and third brothers seated there.


    What was going on? Weren¡¯t they claiming Second Brother had disappeared?


    When they saw Luo Yings incredulous expression, Jin Shi pulled her closer with a smile. ¡°If we hadn¡¯t made up such a reason, why would you have been willing to come?¡±


    She saw Second Brother¡¯s smiling face and realized they had deceived her.


    She shook off Third Brother¡¯s sleeve and exclaimed, ¡°Why did you lie to me? Don¡¯t you realize Lu Zhao¡¯s situation is extremely urgent? He needs me.¡±


    Upon hearing Lu Zhao¡¯s name, Jin Shi¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Lu Zhao, Lu


    Zhao, you¡¯re fixated on him every day. He¡¯s just a character in a book. Wake up, my foolish sister.¡±


    That sentence left Luo Ying frozen in place.


    Indeed, Lu Zhao was merely a character from a book.


    The author could mold him however they pleased.


    Yet, there were those tender moments, the intimacy, and the struggles they¡¯d overcome together.


    Were they truly all illusions?

 Chapter 358 - Chapter 358: Unexpected Disaster

    Chapter 358: Unexpected Disaster


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation   Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Luo Ying looked crestfallen. Jin Shi realized he had been a bit too harsh with his words. After all, he had never been so stern with Luo Ying before.


    He gently patted her shoulder and said, ¡°Alright, don¡¯t be upset with me. Your Second Brother and I have something important to tell you.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Luo Ying asked while raising her head.


    Second Brother stood up and walked over. ¡°l found a copy of this book that details the plot after we were transported into it. There has been no deviation. Moreover, the book also mentions that in three days, those of us who were brought from the original world can return.¡±


    Luo Yings eyes widened. Was she really going back to her original world?


    ¡°Why? What are you standing there for? Aren¡¯t you happy about reuniting with Mom and Dad?¡± Third Brother grinned.


    Of course she was happy. She had dreamed of seeing her parents.


    But if she left, what would happen to Lu Zhao?


    She only had another three days here.


    Suddenly, she felt as if someone seized her throat. At this moment, she was consumed by an intense desire to see Lu Zhao.


    She had to see him, no matter what.


    She couldn¡¯t just go back to her original world without addressing her feelings.


    ¡°Jin Shi, I want to step out for some fresh air,¡± Luo Ying said.


    Jin Shi began to feel remorse when he saw her troubled expression. Had they revealed this news too suddenly?


    ¡°Go ahead. Be sure to stay safe,¡± Jin Shi advised.


    Luo Ying nodded and walked out of the room.


    As soon as she left, she booked a flight back. She was determined to see Lu Zhao as soon as possible.


    There was still over an hour before her flight¡¯s departure.


    While waiting at the airport, a familiar figure passed through the crowd.


    Luo Yings mouth hung open in shock. She wanted to shout, but no sound came out.


    Zhang Ruo!


    She was sure of it.


    ¡°Zhang Ruo!¡± she called out.


    This time, the woman turned. Their eyes met.


    Zhang Ruffs expression was complex as she regarded Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying excitedly ran over and grabbed Zhang Ruffs hand; her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts with no clear starting point.


    ¡°l work here. Would you like to come to my place?¡± Zhang Ruo asked.


    Luo Ying realized there was still over an hour before her flight. She eagerly nodded.


    Since Zhang Ruo left, she had been feeling guilty and missed her.


    Guiding Luo Ying, Zhang Ruo led her to increasingly remote surroundings.


    Luo Ying felt a touch of hesitation. Why was Zhang Ruo bringing her to such an isolated place?


    Suddenly, the back of her head was struck hard.


    Luo Yings vision darkened, and she lost consciousness.


    In a dim basement, Lin Ping squinted as he sized up the woman before him.


    The woman was unconscious. Her face was pale, and her hair was slightly disheveled.


    Yet even in this state, her beauty remained undeniable.


    Lin Ping pursed his lips.


    Luo Ying, Luo Ying, no matter the situation, you always manage to make my heart flutter.


    Zhang Ruo walked over. She noticed how Lin Ping looked at Luo Ying. She felt a hint of displeasure.


    She knew Lin Ping had always liked Luo Ying.


    But at least for the past six months, he had made Zhang Ruo his wife.


    When she saw Luo Ying bound to the chair and looking disheveled, Zhang


    Ruffs heart ached.


    They used to be the best of friends.


    ¡°Are you getting cold feet?¡± Lin Ping noticed the shift in Zhang Ruffs demeanor and asked.


    Zhang Ruo snapped out of her thoughts and responded, ¡°No, it¡¯s just that you want to use Luo Ying to threaten Lu Zhao into investing in DCorporeal. Do you really think Lu Zhao will agree?¡±


    Lin Ping suddenly felt a surge of anger when he heard that name.


    Last time, he was caught by Lu Zhao¡¯s men and beaten half to death.


    If it weren¡¯t for the timely intervention of DCorporeal¡¯s people, he might have died at Lu Zhao¡¯s hands.


    Lin Ping frowned and said, ¡°l do intend to use Luo Ying to coerce Lu Zhao, but I don¡¯t want him to invest in D¡¯Corporeal.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your plan then?¡± Zhang Ruo asked, puzzled.


    ¡°l want Lu Zhao dead!¡± Lin Pings eyes gleamed with ruthlessness.


    Zhang Ruo gasped.


    Though this man usually treated her tenderly, she had witnessed his cruelty and unscrupulous methods firsthand.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted Lu Zhao to invest in DCorporeal?¡± Zhang Ruo swallowed hard.


    DCorporeal was now facing a severe economic crisis due to internal and external pressure.


    Lin Ping lowered his head and smiled. ¡°My dear wife, if 1 kill Lu Zhao, won¡¯t Luya Group be mine?¡±


    When she saw the intense glint in Lin Pings eyes, Zhang Ruo suddenly felt regret..

 Chapter 359 - Chapter 359: Successful Rescue

    Chapter 359: Successful Rescue


    Translator: Endless?antasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    If she had known Lin Ping had such a treacherous nature, she would have never agreed to his request.


    She clenched her teeth. She felt some guilt for letting down Luo Ying.


    Lu Zhao flew in, bringing a hurricane in his wake.


    He had received a threatening text from Lin Ping: Luo Ying had been abducted.


    Fury blazed in Lu Zhao¡¯s eyes as he utilized nearly all of Luya Group¡¯s resources.


    This time, he wasn¡¯t just aiming to rescue Luo Ying. He was going to dismantle every underground operation of the Lin family.


    He stood at the entrance and advanced towards Lin Ping.


    Lin Ping casually swirled the coffee in his hand and said, ¡°Mr. Lu, your sincerity is rather lacking. Where¡¯s the money I asked for?¡±


    Lu Zhao signaled to Xiao Ting. Xiao Ting raised a briefcase.


    At that moment, Lu Zhao noticed Zhang Ruo standing beside Lin Ping. Suddenly everything became clear.


    This woman had most definitely used Luo Yings affection to deceive her into coming here.


    Zhang Ruo cowered fearfully behind Lin Ping.


    Lin Ping narrowed his eyes at the box in Xiao Tings hand. He stood up and dusted himself. ¡°Let¡¯s open the box and inspect the goods.¡±


    Xiao Ting cast a quick glance at Lin Ping. Last time he had let Lin Ping escape. It would not happen again.


    The box opened slowly and revealed a gleaming pistol that caught everyone¡¯s attention.


    Before Lin Ping could react, Xiao Ting drew his pistol swiftly and fired a shot directly at Lin Pings head.


    A dark red stream of blood emerged from the black muzzle as disbelief filled Lin Pings eyes; his body slumped to the ground.


    Zhang Ruo was left dumbfounded. She had never imagined the situation would turn out this way.


    Lu Zhao hurried over and embraced Luo Ying. His heart ached as he looked at her weak and pallid face.


    He reproached himself for failing to protect her adequately.


    ¡°Bury DCorporeal. By any means necessary,¡± Lu Zhao commanded sternly.


    ¡°Understood, boss,¡± Xiao Ting replied. He turned to look at Zhang Ruo, who was trembling beside him.


    ¡°Boss, what should we do with this woman?¡± Xiao Ting inquired.


    Only then did Lu Zhao realize that Zhang Ruo was still standing there.


    ¡°Lock her up for now. We¡¯ll decide once Luo Ying wakes up,¡± Lu Zhao stated as he shot a fierce glare at Zhang Ruo.


    In a luxurious hotel room, Luo Ying lay on a pristine white bed.


    She slowly opened her eyes, her head throbbing.


    ¡°Lu Zhao!¡± Luo Ying cried out in surprise.


    Lu Zhao gazed at the awakening Luo Ying with delight. ¡°You¡¯re awake, darling.¡±


    Both of them shed tears, albeit for different reasons.


    Lu Zhao blamed himself for failing to adequately protect Luo Ying, while Luo Ying¡­ She had only one day left in this world.


    She clung tightly to Lu Zhao¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Why did you come? I thought I¡¯d never see you again,¡± Luo Ying sobbed.


    ¡°Of course I had to come.¡± Lu Zhao comforted her. He continued to rub her back as his heart filled with a mix of bitterness and sorrow.


    ¡°Oh, has your mother¡¯s condition improved?¡± Luo Ying asked.


    ¡°Even in your condition, you¡¯re still concerned about others,¡± Lu Zhao chided gently. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s been cured. Wen Yu developed an antidote.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief,¡± Luo Ying expressed her gratitude.


    Her departure was imminent. If Bian Su left him as well, it would be devastating.


    ¡°Speaking of which, I want you to meet someone,¡± Lu Zhao said.


    Xiao Ting ushered Zhang Ruo into the room.


    She appeared fatigued and avoided eye contact with Luo Ying.


    Luo Ying gave Zhang Ruo a cold appraisal.


    ¡°Six months ago, she went abroad. Lin Ping found her, and they got married. She manipulated you into coming here to let Lin Ping threaten me,¡± Lu Zhao revealed, his eyes filled with uncontainable anger.


    Luo Ying listened in disbelief.


    She looked at Zhang Ruo in disappointment while saying, ¡°I never did anything to let you down. Why would you do this to me?¡±


    Zhang Ruo lowered her head and remained silent for a prolonged moment.


    She wasn¡¯t sure why her feelings toward Luo Ying were a mix of love and resentment.


    Regardless, Lin Pings intentions were indeed malicious. She hadn¡¯t anticipated that Luo Yings life would be at stake.


    ¡°I can¡¯t really defend what I¡¯ve done,¡± Zhang Ruo finally admitted as she turned her head away.


    Luo Ying regarded her with a mixture of sadness and disappointment. Memories of their close bond felt like a distant dream.


    ¡°I¡¯ll support your decision,¡± Lu Zhao told Luo Ying.


    ¡°Keep an eye on her; don¡¯t let her harm anyone else. My relationship with her ends here,¡± Luo Ying said coldly..

 Chapter 360 - Chapter 360: Finale

    Chapter 360: Finale


    Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation   Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation


    Zhang Ruo was led away by Xiao Ting. Luo Yings expression turned sour.


    Lu Zhao assumed her displeasure was due to Zhang Ruffs matter, but what truly concerned Luo Ying was something else.


    ¡°Take me to the beach,¡± Luo Ying suddenly looked up while sporting a radiant smile.


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± Lu Zhao responded tenderly.


    They had talked many times about strolling along the beach, but the two of them were always consumed by endless tasks.


    Now that they were parting ways, this was Luo Yings final wish.


    The seaside breeze was pleasantly cold. Lu Zhao draped his coat over Luo Yings shoulders.


    With her hair freely swaying in the wind, Luo Ying exuded an indescribable aura of intellectual beauty.


    Lu Zhao gazed gently at her and handed her a dainty pink seashell.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, have our days together brought you happiness?¡± Luo Ying suddenly asked.


    Lu Zhao nodded. He was slightly puzzled. Luo Ying had never posed such an


    emotionally charged question before.


    He caressed Luo Yings soft hair and said, ¡°There¡¯s a wedding sanctuary in Florida. Our initial ceremony was rushed. Many details were overlooked. I wish to take you there for a proper celebration.


    ¡°Did you know that Xiao Ting has a girlfriend behind mv back? They even talk about having two kids in the future.


    ¡°Truth be told, I¡¯m quite fond of children as well, but you, my dear wife are a superstar. You belong to the stage. I don¡¯t want the prospect of motherhood to undermine your self-assurance. Pursue what brings you joy.


    ¡°I truly loved the little snack you prepared for me long ago. Regrettably, you never made it again. Could you make it once more when we return to China?


    ¡°The sunsets here are truly magnificent¡­¡±


    Luo Ying leaned against Lu Zhao¡¯s shoulder. She took in his words.


    Gradually, she drifted into slumber.


    Farewell, Lu Zhao. Farewell, this world. Farewell, the many places of wonder and horror in this world.


    When Luo Ying opened her eyes again, she was already in her home bed.


    Her brothers and parents encircled her. Their excitement was clear in their cheers as she regained consciousness.


    Her mother was teary-eyed and grasped her hand, but words eluded her.


    Luo Ying drew her mother close; it had been a long time since they last met, and her mother had aged significantly.


    ¡°Terrific news! With Yingying back, our family is complete again,¡± Jin Shi exclaimed with joy.


    Luo Ying managed a faint smile.


    This was a scene she had envisioned countless times in that other world¡ªto return to her world and live once more with her family.


    However, with this reality now in place, her heart felt curiously hollow.


    Her mother presented her with a bowl of porridge in an attempt to feed her.


    Luo Ying shook her head. ¡°Mom, I can¡¯t take a single bite right now.¡±


    Jin Shi understood his sister¡¯s discontent. He addressed the family, ¡°Yingying is a bit tired at the moment. Let¡¯s not disturb her.¡±


    With concern etched on their faces, the family exited the room and left Luo Ying in solitude.


    The room grew quiet. Lu Zhao¡¯s presence loomed large in her thoughts.


    What was he doing? Could he come to terms with her sudden disappearance?


    The more she pondered, the more flustered she became.


    Abruptly, she felt something in her hand.


    When she unfolded her palm. There it was¡ªa dainty pink seashell.


    The very one Lu Zhao had picked up on the beach!


    If items from that other world could be brought here, was it possible for people from that world could also pass through?


    The notion quickened Luo Ying¡¯s heartbeat. She swiftly dressed and dashed out of the room.


    Her mother emerged from the kitchen with a plate of food in hand. When she saw Luo Ying hastily change her shoes, she asked, ¡°Yingying, dinner is nearly ready. Why the sudden rush?¡±


    Luo Ying didn¡¯t reply; her focus was firmly on something else.


    Out on the street, she meticulously scanned each face.


    Yet none resembled Lu Zhao.


    She searched almost every conceivable spot, but Lu Zhao¡¯s presence remained elusive.


    With a dejected sigh, she conceded.


    It appeared her thoughts had run away with her.


    She shuffled her feet wearily and prepared to head home.


    A familiar voice resonated from behind.


    ¡°Luo Ying.¡±


    Startled, Luo Ying turned around. Her gaze locked onto an exceedingly familiar visage.


    ¡°Lu Zhao, it¡¯s you¡­ It really is you, isn¡¯t it?¡±