Chapter 332 Fortunately, Shiyin is on my side, Long Aotian
Lu Chengwen was a bit frustrated. "Qingqiu, is it really necessary for us to go to the provincial capital? It's said that the five major families there have joined forces, and for so many years, no outsider has managed to squeeze in and take a share of the big pie. Why would I be able to do it...?"
"Because of your shantytown redevelopment project," Leng Qingqiu replied.
"No, it's not that—I just don't want to go!"
"Why not? The shantytown project is already on track, the amusement park project is in your hands, and the successors of the three major families in Snow City are all your wives. The situation here has completely stabilized. Your strength here is already enough for you to make a big move in the provincial capital."
"What if I say I don't want to go?"
"I don't understand. Why?"
Leng Qingqiu said, "If we enter the provincial capital, we'll become an internationally recognized major corporation."
Lu Chengwen shook his head. "I really don't have such big ambitions. If I can settle the shantytown project, then... I'll have no regrets in this life."
Seeing Leng Qingqiu's disappointed expression, Lu Chengwen smiled. "Are you disappointed in me?"
Leng Qingqiu shook her head. "You're afraid."
"Hmm?"
"What are you afraid of?"
Leng Qingqiu stared at Lu Chengwen, as if she could see straight into his heart, and analyzed:
"You're not afraid of losing, and you're not afraid of failure. You're afraid of something else…"
Lu Chengwen simply looked at Leng Qingqiu.
Suddenly, it dawned on her. "You're still afraid of Long Aotian?"
Lu Chengwen chuckled. "He's a child of heaven. My job is to survive to the end."
"He's lost to you at every step. Haven't you noticed?"
"But as long as he wins once, he can crush me like an ant! Do you think I can keep winning with just a little cleverness and some tricks?"
"Then keep winning! No matter how I look at it, I can't see how he's better than you!"
Lu Chengwen forced a bitter smile. "Only you think that way."
Leng Qingqiu shook her head. "Xu Xuejiao isn't stupid. She likes you, not Long Aotian. Chen Mengyun isn't stupid either. She still has feelings for you to this day, and there's a reason for that."
"And everyone around you has faith in you. Including me!"
Lu Chengwen sighed. "Let me think about it, okay?"
Lu Chengwen didn't share the same passion for business as Leng Qingqiu or Xu Xuejiao.
By now, Lu Chengwen was already among the wealthiest people in the world. Whether you had 100 billion or 1 trillion, it was essentially the same.
No matter how hard you tried, you couldn't spend it all. If you didn't pursue new projects, even trying to squander the billions you already had would be an impossible task.
In fact, the speed at which your money made more money could even surpass the speed at which you could spend it.
At this level, the only way to go bankrupt was to take on risky ventures.
But if you stopped pursuing ventures... the problems could become even more severe.
If you stopped, who would take over? Who could handle such a massive empire?
So many people would lose their jobs. The entire commercial structure of the city, or even the entire northern country, would collapse. Who would bear such responsibility?
But going to the provincial capital carried significant risks, with little personal gain.
Sigh.
Long Aotian was getting anxious.
Lu Chengwen was clearly making money!
He had to strike at the most critical moment and deliver the final blow!
The key figures here were Xu Xuejiao and the amusement park project.
As long as Xu Xuejiao could persuade Lu Chengwen to pour money into the amusement park project, and if he stirred up trouble in the shantytown project, Lu Chengwen would collapse immediately.
The entire Lu family would be unable to hold up.
In fact, even the other three major families would face utter disaster.
And at that time, who would save the world?
Me! Long Aotian!
Long Aotian raised his head and said loudly, "Meishao! Shiyin! Let's have a meeting!"
The three sat down together, and Long Aotian, full of ambition, said, "Lu Chengwen has taken the bait. I need someone to help push him further, to make sure he gets completely trapped in the amusement park project! Between you two, who's going?"
Luo Shiyin immediately raised her hand. "Me! Me! I'll go!"
Qi Meishao glared at her. "Young Master, it's better if I go."
Long Aotian thought for a moment. "Meishao, don't you hate Lu Chengwen? Besides, he's a lecherous guy and always bullies you. Even I can't stand it. So this time, let Shiyin go."
Qi Meishao was frantic: I hate Lu Chengwen, but Shiyin likes him!
"Shiyin absolutely cannot go!"
"Hm? Why not?"
Qi Meishao couldn't bring herself to say it out loud. She knew that if she did, Long Aotian's anger would be terrifying, and the consequences for Luo Shiyin could be severe.
Angry as she was, she still cared for her long-time sister.
Qi Meishao said, "I just... really want to go!"
Long Aotian narrowed his eyes. Could it be that you want to elope with Lu Chengwen?
"Meishao, don't tell me... you've fallen for Lu Chengwen, have you?"
Qi Meishao widened her eyes, thinking: What kind of brain do you have!?
Me? Like Lu Chengwen!? Me? Like Lu Chengwen!?
I... I... I wish I could kick him to death!
Qi Meishao said, "Young Master, are you doubting me?"
Long Aotian thought for a moment and then smiled. "Of course, I don't doubt you. But... how about this: I've noticed that Shiyin and Lu Chengwen have been getting along quite well lately, rather... harmoniously. Sometimes they even exchange glances."
"This project is critical. I need Lu Chengwen to cooperate with me, his senior brother, without any defenses. Even until the end, I don't want him to realize I've been pulling the strings behind the scenes."
"Moreover, Shiyin's Illusionary Flower Eyes will be needed later to make him obedient. Why not let Shiyin go this time?"
Luo Shiyin immediately poured tea for Long Aotian with a gentle demeanor. "Young Master, please judge wisely. Even though the recent overuse of the Illusionary Flower Eyes prevents me from using it again, I can still rely on other techniques. I've already managed to make Lu Chengwen somewhat distracted. This time, I am confident I can make his thoughts wander. When that happens, everything he does will be under our control."
"Good!" Long Aotian slapped his thigh. "Shiyin, it's fortunate we have you! Someone as capable as you—if you were on Lu Chengwen's side, hahaha, I'd be in real trouble!"
Qi Meishao interjected excitedly, "Sister Shiyin absolutely must not go again!"
Long Aotian looked at Qi Meishao in surprise. "Why? Why are you so agitated?"
Qi Meishao responded, "Even if we let Xiaohua go, Sister Shiyin cannot go!"
Long Aotian said, "Xiaohua is in seclusion; she's struggling to break through the Four Gates. But wait… why do you get so worked up whenever Lu Chengwen is mentioned? What exactly do you mean?"
"I just… I just dislike Lu Chengwen and want to personally send him on his way! Also, I work well with Xu Xuejiao. We have better coordination. Sister Shiyin, on the other hand, had some minor conflicts with Manager Xu before, so—"
"Ah, that's all in the past. They don't even think about it anymore. Now they're practically like sisters—"
"In any case, I insist on going this time!"
Long Aotian squinted his eyes.
What's with all this!?
Has this girl not noticed how agitated she becomes whenever Lu Chengwen is involved?
Could this be the result of their… shared bloodline?
Qi Meishao probably hasn't realized the gravity of the situation yet. If she finds out that Lu Chengwen nearly sacrificed his life to save her, wouldn't that flip everything upside down!?
Long Aotian was already angry.
"I've decided. From now on, you will stay away from Lu Chengwen and his projects. You're not to get involved."
Qi Meishao was shocked. "Young Master! Are you sidelining me!?"
Long Aotian turned his head away in anger, refusing to look at her.
Luo Shiyin quickly stepped forward to comfort her, holding Qi Meishao's hand. "Meishao, take a break for a while. Trust in the Young Master's abilities and my Illusionary Flower Eyes. Together, we'll definitely win in the end."
Qi Meishao shook off Luo Shiyin's hand. "Luo Shiyin!"
She immediately knelt on one knee. "Young Master! Meishao is loyal to you. Please, I must be sent to deal with Lu Chengwen this time!"
Long Aotian said, "I already said no! You—"
He almost blurted out the truth about her bloodline connection to Lu Chengwen.
"Your relationship with Lu Chengwen is far too tense! It's not appropriate!"
"Then… then can't I repair my relationship with him!?"
Long Aotian thought to himself, That's what I'm worried about!
He had sworn that if one of the three of them went to Lu Chengwen, he'd have to send all three.
This whole strategy was a mess!
He shouldn't have been so confident back then.
But who could've predicted that halfway through, a White Tooth and an Erlai would appear, Qi Meishao would get severely injured, and Lu Chengwen would just so happen to have some special Ancient Ape God physique!?
This back-and-forth is killing me!
If Qi Meishao falls into Lu Chengwen's hands, I'll really end up with no one on my side.
Repair your relationship with him? That's exactly what I'm afraid of!
Long Aotian waved his hand decisively. "No need! Just stay by my side. There's still plenty for you to do!"
Qi Meishao raised her hand and swore, "I, Qi Meishao, swear to repair my relationship with Lu Chengwen, and with him… In short, I'll try my best to get along with him—"
"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" Long Aotian was fuming. "Are you trying to kill me!?"
Luo Shiyin pitied Qi Meishao.
At this moment, she hated Lu Chengwen, resented herself, and wasn't trusted by the Young Master.
"Meishao, the Young Master is actually worried that your relationship with Lu Chengwen might become too close."
"Huh? But the Young Master just said—"
"There are some things you don't need to know. Just stay away from Lu Chengwen. Once we unify Snow City… his chapter will be closed."
These words greatly pleased Long Aotian.
"Now that's sensible talk!"
Qi Meishao sensed something was off.
"How could I possibly become close to Lu Chengwen? I hate him, despise him, and… I wish I could just kill him outright! Why don't I just go kill him now!?"
Long Aotian felt exasperated. "If he could be killed, don't you think I'd have done it already? Just stay by my side and follow orders. Understood?"
Qi Meishao gritted her teeth. "But Sister Shiyin must not go again!"
"Why not?"
Luo Shiyin panicked. Is Qi Meishao about to expose me!?
Qi Meishao glanced at Luo Shiyin, her eyes brimming with tears of anger.
But seeing Luo Shiyin's anxious expression, her heart softened.
Qi Meishao raised her hand. "I, Qi Meishao, swear to the heavens! I will neither worsen my relationship with Lu Chengwen nor develop feelings for him. If I do, I'll—"
"Stop talking!" Luo Shiyin snapped sharply. "You're forbidden from swearing on your life again in the future!"