Chapter 25: How Magnificent President Lu Is

Zhao Gang and Long Aotian looked at Lu Chengwen in unison.

Lu Chengwen rushed over, and upon seeing Long Aotian’s attire, he mentally gave him a thumbs-up and let out a sigh of admiration.

Professional! Truly, damn professional!

Look at him—wearing rags from a flea market, driving a broken tractor, with his toes sticking out of his shoes. This is the true state and aura of a great protagonist!

In the early stages, one must be like this—as inconspicuous as possible, making every snob and ordinary person in society wrinkle their noses at you and provoke you with all sorts of nasty remarks.

Then, at the most critical moment, you reveal your true skill, shock everyone, and leave behind a long-winded, rambling, impassioned, and tear-jerking lecture.

After that, the aristocratic families will look at you with newfound respect, and beautiful maidens will secretly pledge their hearts to you.

The world will slowly begin to revolve around you alone...

Sigh, I’m so envious.

It’s frustrating to compare oneself to others.

Then look at myself—it’s simply unbearable to watch.

Dressed in expensive suits tailored by professional designers; wearing handcrafted high-end leather shoes; sporting a collector’s edition watch worth over four million... sitting in a business car worth over two million like a peacock, accompanied by a loyal lackey and a sexy, provocative female secretary...

Compared to him, what am I?

Aside from all this!

What else do I have?!

What! Am! I! Even!

Zhao Gang said, "Don't worry, Boss Lu, I'll deal with him right now..."

"Get lost!"

Lu Chengwen glared at him. "Apologize to Brother Aotian!"

"Huh? Boss Lu, I... I have to apologize to this dog..."

"Shut up!"

Lu Chengwen kicked him in the backside and pulled at him. "Apologize!"

Zhao Gang felt incredibly aggrieved. "I'm sorry."

Lu Chengwen quickly forced a smile. "Brother Aotian, what a coincidence. It was our fault earlier. Please, after you, after you..."

As he spoke, Lu Chengwen felt something was wrong!

He sniffed the air and inhaled deeply into his brain... Whoa!

Lu Chengwen took too deep a breath and nearly choked.

A wave of dizziness hit him, and he clutched his forehead, stepping back. Zhao Gang quickly steadied him.

"Boss Lu, are you alright? I suspected this guy fell into a septic tank..."

"Get lost! That is... the smell of perfume."

"Huh? Is it... is it fragrant?"

Lu Chengwen regained some of his senses and looked at Long Aotian. "Brother Aotian, take a brother's advice—change your brand of perfume. This scent is way too intense."

Long Aotian pondered to himself: I’ve been washed by that heavy rain for so long, and it still smells? Could it be that I’ve grown accustomed to the scent and don’t notice it? No, I can’t face young ladies like this; I need to clean myself up.

It’s all that heavy rain’s fault for making me look so wretched!

By the way, why wasn’t there any rain in the city?

At that moment, Jiang Shihan in the car accidentally hit the multimedia button in the back, and the radio broadcasted:

"Today, a spectacle occurred in our city. While the entire city experienced clear skies, a single patch of dark clouds brought a torrential downpour. Interestingly, the path of these clouds moved from the suburbs along the highway until it dissipated in the city, moving at the speed of a tractor, and pausing briefly while passing over a certain septic tank... Many citizens have been taking photos and recording videos to document this wonder..."

Everyone looked at Long Aotian.

Long Aotian moved his lips: "How... interesting, haha. Such strange clouds, don't you think?"

Lu Chengwen saw that he was soaked through, but he dared not point it out. "Oh, strange indeed... you said it. How could such clouds exist? So bizarre."

Jiang Shihan turned off the radio and stepped out. Seeing Long Aotian, she was quite surprised. "Brother Aotian?"

"Shihan." Seeing Jiang Shihan, Long Aotian instantly wore a smile.

She looks so beautiful.

My sister Shihan is truly a rare beauty. Most importantly, her temperament is one in a million; just seeing her makes one want to... hehehe.

Long Aotian said, "Yesterday... or rather the day before, I went back to check some ancient texts, and I’ve gained some understanding of your mother’s illness. I came here today specifically to find you and treat her."

Jiang Shihan felt a warmth in her heart.

A few days ago, in a rush, she had squeezed onto the subway and encountered a pervert; luckily, he had stepped in to help.

He was the first man in the world willing to stand up for her.

Although he wasn't particularly handsome and dressed very plainly, what was she if not a small figure herself? Just a minor employee following Boss Lu, relying on risky maneuvers to earn a high salary to keep her mother alive.

Brother Aotian is brave, clever, wise, decisive, and skilled in martial arts.

Being able to be his good friend really made her feel a long-lost warmth—a sense of being cared for and protected, that feeling of happiness having a brother to lean on, which she had never experienced before.

Lu Chengwen watched.

[Great! This works! The plot is moving along just fine, no problems here!]

[Next, let this Long Aotian take Jiang Shihan away to treat her mother, and then Jiang Shihan can just follow him from now on. I can finally hand over the baton.]

[Phew! Three days in, and finally some progress. Don't rush, stay steady, control the rhythm. Make it logical and natural... for these two to become a couple.]

Jiang Shihan was stunned.

What is Boss Lu thinking?

Why does he always want Brother Aotian to treat my mother? How does he know Brother Aotian has medical skills?

Why does he know so many things—so many things that even I don't know?

Wait!

The real person who first started taking care of me, the first to protect me, the first to care about me, is actually my boss, Boss Lu!

He hired me even though I didn't have a good degree.

He claims he hired me because I’m pretty, sexy, and have long legs.

But thinking about it now, is he short of pretty, sexy girls with long legs around him? He was clearly giving me a chance on purpose, letting me earn a generous salary to support my mother!

He demands I wear stockings and short skirts every day, saying it's for his eyes.

Now that I think about it, he was actually encouraging me in secret! He knew I was insecure, so he wanted me to display my body and charm to the fullest—he wanted me to believe in myself, appreciate myself, and develop my natural advantages!

He says I have a slave-like nature, so he always bullies me.

Now that I think about it, he was clearly training me, forging my character to be resilient, strong, independent, and self-reliant! He wanted me to withstand workplace pressure and the boss's harassment, to live for myself and live life on my own terms!

He knew from the very beginning that I was enduring all this for my mother!

He didn't expose me; he didn't hand out charity from a position of superiority. Instead, he chose to bully and harass me, even pushing me to the brink of collapse.

He just wanted me to feel that everything I earned was through my own hard work, not his charity!

He just wanted me to think he was a bad person, so that one day, when I had other choices, I could leave him without any guilt and pursue my own future.

What a great character Boss Lu has!

What a noble soul Boss Lu has!

What a man worth admiring, my Boss Lu!

Lu Chengwen saw Jiang Shihan looking emotional and moved, with tears welling up in her eyes, and nodded with satisfaction.

Good, the timing is right.

Lu Chengwen said, "Since that's the case, Shihan, you should go with Brother Aotian. I wish your mother a speedy recovery. Oh, and I see that Brother Aotian is a rare talent; he will surely be a dragon among men in the future. You might as well just quit your job and follow him to roam the world. Since your mother's illness will be cured, your financial pressure won't be that great anymore. I'll have the finance department give you two years' salary—that should be enough for you."

Long Aotian scratched his head: Damn! This guy is so easy to talk to?

I... I was bracing myself to fight if he tried to make trouble, but this is just... too reasonable?

It’s completely different from the rumors!

Long Aotian smiled and said, "Young Master Lu is remarkably open-minded today."

"Of course, of course, I'm learning from Brother Long."

Long Aotian looked at Jiang Shihan. "Shihan, in that case, let's head back as soon as possible to treat your mother."

Jiang Shihan smiled slightly. "Brother Aotian, thank you for your kindness, I appreciate it. As for my mother's illness, Boss Xu has already agreed to treat her, and the surgery is next week. As for my job..."

Jiang Shihan looked at Lu Chengwen with gratitude. "I have received great kindness from Boss Lu and have nothing to repay him with. I will not leave Boss Lu, nor will I leave Dasheng Group. I will follow Boss Lu loyally, through thick and thin, and will never refuse!"

Lu Chengwen felt... did you people conspire to gang up on me?

Is there anything wrong with the way I pushed the plot? Is there a problem?

Just follow the script!

I’ve humbled myself, risking being slapped to death by him on a whim, just to clarify my position to the protagonist and pave the way for your future sweet life. Can't you just follow the path?

What "through thick and thin"? Are you trying to show off?

Long Aotian was clearly also shocked.

"Sister Shihan, do you not trust my medical skills? Forgive me for being blunt, but in the entire Snow Kingdom, no one except me can cure your mother's illness."

Jiang Shihan shook her head with a smile. "Boss Xu is a master of medicine, and her family has rich medical resources. She promised to perform the surgery on my mother, so it should be fine. Thank you for your concern, Brother Aotian."

Lu Chengwen rubbed his acupuncture points in agony and looked up. "How about this, just try it out. Go back with Brother Aotian first. If he can cure your mother's illness in a heartbeat, then there's no need for that girl Xu Xuejiao. How about that?"

"I'd rather wait until next week. I've already told my mother. If Boss Xu's plan doesn't work, then I'll trouble Brother Aotian."

Lu Chengwen was instantly enraged. "I told you to go, so go! Why are you being so long-winded? This is such a great opportunity! He's here, I’ve approved it, I’m giving you money, he can definitely cure your mother, and he’ll definitely treat you well in the future—your status in his harem won't be low, what else do you want?!"

"Ha... Harem?"

Lu Chengwen covered his mouth with his fist.

Got too excited.

Said something he shouldn't have.

Long Aotian said, "Young Master Lu, you can eat whatever you want, but don't talk whatever you want. Shihan and I are just friends; I only see her as my sister."

"I know, I know, I... I just got excited. I'm sorry."

Jiang Shihan is completely immovable!

Lu Chengwen gritted his teeth and steeled his heart.

"Jiang Shihan, you're fired."

Jiang Shihan didn't expect this.

"Why?"

Lu Chengwen smiled. "No reason. Go with Brother Aotian."

Jiang Shihan grabbed Lu Chengwen’s hand. "Boss Lu, please, don't fire me. My mother's surgery costs money, her medicine costs money, I can't be without a job..."

"I'll pay for your mother's surgery, and I'll pay for her medicine, as long as you resign."

At that moment, a voice rang out clearly: "She doesn't need to resign."

Lu Chengwen turned his head and barked angrily, "Who’s interjecting? Show yourself if you’ve got the guts!"

But upon seeing who it was, Lu Chengwen instantly withered.