Leng Tianhao said, "You won this time, and you won decisively. I can see that in the future, not only the Leng family but also the Chen and Xu families will be meat in your mouth. Our Leng family is in a bad situation now, but we still have value. Help us once, and from now on, the Leng family will follow the Lu family's lead!"
Lu Chengwen felt overwhelmed: "Uncle Leng, what are you talking about? I don't understand."
Leng Tianhao replied, "Chengwen, we're both smart people. Between smart people, there's no need to speak in riddles. Besides, everyone in this room is on your side. I'm really begging you."
Lu Chengwen was so frustrated he almost laughed. He turned to Jiang Shihan and said, "The other two old guys came in and scolded me right away because they couldn't stand me. But this one? His attitude is so good it's creeping me out."
"Chengwen, I admit defeat. Do you want me to kneel? I can do it!"
Leng Tianhao started to kneel.
Lu Chengwen was shocked and quickly stopped him.
This wasn't surprising—many great figures rose to power by enduring humiliation, even crawling between someone's legs. For true leaders, they could swallow their pride.
Being a grandson in front of Lu Chengwen now meant being a grandfather in front of the world later—they were capable of such things.
Lu Chengwen couldn't stop him. Leng Tianhao was already on his knees, pleading desperately.
"Chengwen! Please spare the Leng family!"
Lu Chengwen had no choice but to kneel too, facing him: "Uncle Leng, please spare *me*!"
Leng Tianhao kowtowed. "I'm bowing to you!"
Lu Chengwen kowtowed back. "I'm returning it—don't try to scam me!"
Leng Tianhao kowtowed again. "You still won't let us go?"
Lu Chengwen kowtowed while pretending to cry. "Just kill me already!"
Leng Tianhao kowtowed once more. "Is there really no room for negotiation?"
Lu Chengwen roared, "Damn it, that's enough!"
"Good grief! The other two old bastards at least stuck to physical attacks, but you? You're hitting me with psychological warfare! What the hell is wrong with you?"
Leng Tianhao studied Lu Chengwen—he didn't seem to be faking it.
"Our Qianfeng Group… is finished."
"How is it finished?"
"Our last investment fund was poured into the slum redevelopment project by Qingqiu. Even though you've guaranteed the baseline, we won't see returns anytime soon. Qianfeng's cash flow has been broken for a long time. Right now, we can't even pay salaries within the company… If this goes on for a month, morale will collapse. In two months, top executives will start jumping ship. In less than three months, we'll be an empty shell. Just the compensation alone would bankrupt us even if we sold everything we own."
"It's that bad?" Lu Chengwen rubbed his chin. "I hadn't thought of that."
Jiang Shihan awkwardly interjected, "Um… would the two of you like to stand up and talk?"
Only then did Lu Chengwen realize they were both kneeling stiffly face-to-face, looking utterly ridiculous.
"Ah, right, let's stand and talk."
Seeing Lu Chengwen deep in thought, Leng Tianhao saw a glimmer of hope. "Chengwen, don't you like Qingqiu? This time, I won't stop you! If you don't trust me, you can take her home tonight. She can stay with you from now on. How about that? Once the rice is cooked, I can't take it back, right?"
Lu Chengwen stared at Leng Tianhao. "Are you even human?"
At that moment, Leng Qingqiu pushed the door open. From behind the screen, she overheard their conversation.
Lu Chengwen said angrily, "Don't try to trade your daughter for money whenever you're in trouble, then push her away when things are fine because you're afraid she'll take your fortune. Leng Qingqiu is a person—she's your daughter. Can't you treat her better? With a father like you, she's really drawn the short straw in life."
"Ah, she'd be better off with you! Really! You're young, capable, and brilliant. Your strategy this time was masterful. We all misjudged you before—even those two old guys will respect you once they figure it out! I'd feel at ease letting Qingqiu stay with you."
Lu Chengwen looked at him. "So Leng Qingqiu stays with me, then you push her out again to protect your fortune, letting Long Aotian manage Qianfeng for you. That way, your assets aren't taken by me, and you can use your daughter's relationship with me to get resources to save Qianfeng. Is that it?"
"Oh, come on, that's putting it too harshly! This is a win-win for both of us! How about this—I can give you some shares in Qianfeng. You'll get dividends every year…"
Lu Chengwen sighed. "Uncle Leng, times have changed."
"Oh?"
Lu Chengwen said, "If Xu Zhiyun or Chen Qingbin said this to me, I'd spit in their faces right now and curse them out."
"Then… you're not cursing me because we're close?"
"Because I'm tired."
Lu Chengwen continued, "I don't get it. Your daughter is incredibly talented—she could easily take Qianfeng to new heights. If not for her these past few years, Qianfeng would've collapsed long ago. Why do you trust outsiders over your own daughter?"
"She's sitting on ten billion in funds—that's enough to keep Qianfeng afloat. If you just confirm her leadership for the next few years, with her money and skills, no one could take Qianfeng down! Isn't that good?"
"Instead of relying on your god-tier daughter, you're begging an outsider like me! Old man, if I were ruthless, now would be the perfect time to swallow you whole, leaving nothing behind. I could even make your daughter give me massages every day at my house!"
"You can't take money to the grave. She's your only daughter. If you don't treat her well and keep guarding against her like a thief, what's the point?"
After Lu Chengwen's tirade, Leng Tianhao's face turned pale. He had no response.
Leng Qingqiu smiled faintly, touched.
Lu Chengwen hadn't said one thing outright—if he wanted to take advantage of Leng Tianhao's desperation, now was the perfect opportunity.
But he didn't.
Leng Qingqiu thought to herself: *He still likes me. He's speaking up for me.*
She had long given up hope on her father.
Now, she stepped forward calmly. "Don't worry about the funds. I know you borrowed two billion with high interest—I've repaid it for you. I've also transferred five billion from my personal account to Qianfeng's finances. That should be enough to keep things running. I've also sent people to collect outstanding payments. Qianfeng will be fine."
Leng Tianhao, who hadn't seen his daughter in days, stood up. "Really?"
Leng Qingqiu's heart was already cold toward her father.
His only concern was Qianfeng Group. He didn't even thank her or ask how she'd been these past few days.
Seeing Leng Qingqiu's expression, Lu Chengwen's heart ached.
*[The strongest warrior, yet she has no equipment, no support, no one to back her up. She has to take on the world alone.]*
*[She's lost weight. She must have been stressed lately. Sigh, even when busy, she should eat properly. It hurts to see her so thin.]*
Leng Qingqiu looked at Lu Chengwen, her eyes shimmering with gratitude, on the verge of tears.
Lu Chengwen might be the only person in the world who cared about her happiness rather than her wealth.
Lu Chengwen, unnerved by her gaze, stammered, "Uh, I didn't do much… Since none of you would sign the guarantee contract, I went to your grandfather. All three families have signed now. Don't worry, you won't lose money."
Leng Qingqiu nodded quietly. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Leng Qingqiu turned to Leng Tianhao. "Qianfeng's accounts now have five billion. I've repaid the two billion bank loan, and with the two billion you have on hand, you now have seven billion to work with. From now on, Qianfeng is yours. I resign."
Leng Tianhao was stunned. "You… what?"
"Isn't this what you wanted?" Leng Qingqiu smiled bitterly. "I don't want to fight anymore. If you're determined to replace the CEO, go ahead. I'm stepping down."
She turned to Lu Chengwen. "I'm in a bad mood. Can you walk with me?"
"Huh? Uh…" Lu Chengwen hesitated. "I've got stuff to do… I need to, uh…"
But seeing the sorrow in Leng Qingqiu's eyes, his heart twisted.
Her gaze was pure pleading.
The tougher a woman was, the more heartbreaking her vulnerability and despair became.
*[Damn it, I can't stand women looking at me like this!]*
*[Seeing her like this hurts so much. Leng Tianhao is a total idiot. If I had a daughter like her, I'd be laughing in my dreams. I'd give her anything, even my life!]*
Lu Chengwen nodded. "Let's take a walk."
---
They drove to a park.
Leng Qingqiu sat on a bench, breathing in the scent of grass and flowers, watching children play in the distance. Finally, a faint smile appeared on her face.
Jiang Shihan bought drinks for them and tactfully walked away to join Zhao Gang at a distance.
"Why do you always feel sorry for me? I've never treated you well."
Leng Qingqiu's question came out of nowhere.
"That's not true," Lu Chengwen said casually, brushing leaves off his pants. "I'm a heartless person. I'm good at scamming people, making money, picking up girls, gambling, clubbing, street racing… but I don't know how to care for others."
"Really?"
"Of course."
"Then why did you help me?"
"Heh, because I'm a horndog. I want to take advantage of you. Women are most vulnerable when they're helpless, sick, or heartbroken—easiest to swoop in."
"You're quite the expert."
"Piece of cake."
"Now that you've told me, aren't you afraid I'll get mad?"
"I'm not scared." Lu Chengwen said, "If you can give up on Qianfeng after working so hard for years, I can give up on you too."
Leng Qingqiu nodded. "How about hiring me? I'll work for Dasheng Group."
Lu Chengwen looked at her and laughed. "Cut the crap. With your funds, you could start your own business and build your own empire. Me? I can't afford you."
"I don't want money. I'll work for you."
"Huh? I already have a VP who's pretty capable…"
"I won't take her job. I'll be your secretary, your assistant—anything."
Lu Chengwen chuckled. "Yeah, right. Since when does the Monkey King hire Guanyin as his secretary?"
"Your secretary likes you."
"Which one? Shihan? Nah." Lu Chengwen waved it off. "Her mom's seriously ill and needs a lot of money, so she's stuck working for me. Honestly, she can't stand me."
Leng Qingqiu said, "You're smart on the surface but clueless underneath. She likes you—a lot. I can tell."
Lu Chengwen grinned.
*[Like I don't know whether she likes me? I know all your backgrounds.]*
"Fine! She likes me. Maybe I'll make a move on her someday. I *am* the billionaire CEO of a major corporation—who's gonna judge me for having fun with a sexy secretary?"
Leng Qingqiu said, "I'll be your secretary. Have fun with me."
Lu Chengwen was so startled he squeezed his drink, spraying it everywhere.
He sat up straight, staring at her. "Don't… don't joke like that. It's scary."
"If you had a daughter like me, would you treat me really well?"
"Definitely better than your dad." The words slipped out before he could stop himself. He quickly added, "Sorry, I was just talking nonsense."
Leng Qingqiu leaned closer, making Lu Chengwen's heart race.
"Wh-what?"
"Daddy."
Lu Chengwen's scalp tingled.