Chapter 26: The Witch Xu Xuejiao

The small group looked over as Xu Xuejiao approached.

Today, Xu Xuejiao was wearing long boots, a trench coat, and sunglasses. She had suddenly adopted a look of maturity and poise. Truth be told, despite her height of just over 1.6 meters, she had such well-proportioned features that she carried the outfit with the presence of someone 1.7 meters tall. Her makeup was also significantly more mature and composed as she walked up with a straight face.

Lu Chengwen looked at her and asked, "Why are you getting involved in this?"

"I'm just standing up for what's right."

Long Aotian looked at Xu Xuejiao, cupped his hands in a salute, and said, "Miss Xuejiao, long time no see."

Xu Xuejiao covered her nose and exclaimed, "Wow, what is that smell on you? Did you fall into a septic tank?"

Long Aotian thought to himself that he really needed to find a place to take a shower; this wouldn't do. Even if he dressed modestly, smelling like a pile of filth was far too degrading.

Jiang Shihan spoke up, "President Xu, President Lu is trying to fire me!"

"Don't worry, he wouldn't dare."

Lu Chengwen laughed. "What wouldn't I dare? I, Lu Chengwen, have always done as I pleased. I don't care what others think."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Lu Chengwen thought to himself: *Xu Xuejiao is a handful. I have to take it slow. Most importantly, Long Aotian is right here. I absolutely cannot offend him. Long Aotian has extraordinary martial arts skills and is just itching for a reason to crush me. I must not provoke this blockhead.*

Xu Xuejiao narrowed her eyes. *So that's how it is. This Long Aotian is actually a master, and he has a grudge against Lu Chengwen. I see, I understand now.*

Lu Chengwen saw that Xu Xuejiao didn't seem to have good intentions and thought: *What kind of look is that on this brat's face? Is she trying to toy with me? Little girl, you're still too green to play games with me!*

Xu Xuejiao smirked: *That’s right, Brother Chengwen. I’ve pretty much figured out all your trump cards. Controlling you doesn't seem that difficult after all. So you're afraid of this Long Aotian, huh? But I have to say, this guy has the temperament of someone who would charge headfirst into a massive catastrophe. If he really is a master, he might just be your destined nemesis.*

Seeing Xu Xuejiao’s smirk, Lu Chengwen felt a bit anxious. *Is this girl really that confident? What can she possibly do to me if I fire Jiang Shihan? Long Aotian is determined to have the beauties of the Leng, Xu, and Chen families. I absolutely cannot compete with him. Otherwise, I’ll end up without a place to be buried. Jiang Shihan is also one of his designated harem members. Even if she isn't a major heroine, as long as she's in his harem, I cannot touch her under any circumstances. Forget it, I’ll deal with Xu Xuejiao and the others later. Today, I just need to get rid of Jiang Shihan.*

Others couldn't tell, thinking Lu Chengwen and Xu Xuejiao were in a heated confrontation. In reality, both were preoccupied with their own thoughts, having already traded blows internally for several rounds.

Lu Chengwen said, "In any case, I will strictly follow the Labor Law and provide her with full severance and compensation—not a penny less. Heh, firing her is legal, reasonable, and fair. No one can do anything to me."

"Oh? Is that so?" Xu Xuejiao asked triumphantly.

"Isn't it?" Lu Chengwen replied confidently.

Xu Xuejiao smiled. "President Lu, let's step aside for a word."

Lu Chengwen pacified Long Aotian, "Brother Aotian, please wait a moment. I guarantee today that you will be able to take Jiang Shihan with you."

Long Aotian was dumbfounded. *What is this? I haven't even exerted my power, and you're already rolling over? Is my natural aura really that strong? I don't even need to fight the villain; just standing here smelling like filth is enough?*

Xu Xuejiao walked to the side. "You cannot fire Jiang Shihan."

"That is non-negotiable," Lu Chengwen said, nonchalantly straightening his clothes. "It's already decided."

"Oh, you can fire her if you really want to, Brother Chengwen. But then I'll have to tell Long Aotian what you did to me."

Lu Chengwen looked up. "What did I do to you?"

"That depends entirely on how I tell the story!"

Lu Chengwen felt a sense of dread. *How does she know my weakness is Long Aotian? Is this girl sent by the heavens to torture me?*

Xu Xuejiao continued, "I'll say you touched me, kissed me, molested me; I'll say you drugged me and took my virginity—oh, and took it several times! I'll also say you beat me, cursed me, and threatened me, making me wear silk stockings and dance on a pole for you! I'll also say you—"

"Alright, alright, stop it."

*Is it really necessary to say so much? Any one of these things would be a death sentence in Long Aotian’s eyes. The latter ones would basically have me ground into dust.*

But Lu Chengwen appeared indifferent on the surface. "Do you think he'll believe you?"

Xu Xuejiao pulled Lu Chengwen over with a grin. "Look at Long Aotian."

"Huh?"

"Does he look like a broad-minded person to you? Tell me... do you think he'll believe it or not?"

Lu Chengwen slowly turned his head, squinting his eyes, looking at Xu Xuejiao with hatred.

She was right. Of course she was. In web novels, has there ever been a male lead who was broad-minded? They are all petty villains who hold grudges! When they need to win people over, they pretend to be magnanimous, as if they could sail an aircraft carrier in their stomachs. But the moment their heroine is snatched away by a villain, their faces change instantly. Broad-minded? Forgiving? If I don't kill you, I'm your grandson! You touch a protagonist's woman, and you're dead.

Don't talk about whether he believes it or not. If you were the protagonist, would you believe the heroine or a villain? Besides, does he need to believe it? Does he? No! He needs a reason! A reason to crush me! I've been playing the part of a grandson in front of him precisely to deny him that reason, to keep him from striking. If Xu Xuejiao reports me now, all my efforts will have been in vain. Long Aotian wouldn't even need to think; he wouldn't need to ask if it were true. Crushing me would make him happy, and the plot would proceed...

Lu Chengwen laughed. "Uh... Sister Xuejiao, come, let's talk, let's talk."

Lu Chengwen decided to reason with her. "Look, they are a match made in heaven, a talented man and a beautiful woman. Don't you think? If we just help them a little, they can fly off together and create a beautiful story. Why wouldn't we want to do such a good deed?"

Xu Xuejiao looked at Lu Chengwen. "What kind of talent is Long Aotian? I think you're the talented one. Tell me, why are you always so afraid of him? Why don't you just fight him?"

"Oh, don't say that! Don't you dare say such things!" Lu Chengwen said. "Sister Xuejiao, just take pity on me. It’s not easy for me to survive to the third day. Just let him take Jiang Shihan. I'm not ignoring her situation; I'll continue to pay her salary every month until she dies. That should be enough, right?"

Xu Xuejiao pouted and shook her head. "No."

"That's not enough!? Why!?"

Lu Chengwen roared internally: *I don't understand!*

Xu Xuejiao chuckled. "I just think it's fun. I just don't want you to fire her. You, you must be full of bad intentions. Only when I know what you're really up to will I decide whether to let you fire Jiang Shihan."

Lu Chengwen was nearing a breakdown. "Big sister, you're going to get me killed! I really don't have any bad intentions!"

"So what if you get killed? The most important thing is that everyone is happy."

Lu Chengwen shouted angrily, "Xu Xuejiao! Don't push your luck!"

Xu Xuejiao paused, turned around, and began walking forward, pretending to be pathetic. Without a single tear, she cried quite convincingly. "Brother Aotian, do you know what President Lu did to me? Yesterday, he gave me a medicine... after I took it, I couldn't help but feel a feverish heat, and I wanted to take off my clothes. Then he took me to..."

Lu Chengwen rushed out to pull her back.

Long Aotian was furious. "Lu Chengwen, what did you do to Sister Xuejiao!? Ah! My Dominant Aura is about to lose control!"

Lu Chengwen was on the verge of collapse. He held onto Xu Xuejiao and tried to soothe Long Aotian. "Nothing! Nothing! Brother, your aura—no, your—you are a—ah, never mind. Just calm down, calm down."

"I gave her medicine... for diarrhea. She suddenly had an upset stomach yesterday, and that medicine makes you feel warm after you take it. I took her to... a small clinic, that clinic is really good at treating diarrhea..."

Long Aotian looked at Xu Xuejiao. Lu Chengwen looked at Xu Xuejiao with a look of pure supplication. *Big sister, this is no laughing matter! If you keep this up, I really will die here today!*

Xu Xuejiao saw Lu Chengwen's terrified expression and giggled.

"Then... what about Shihan..."

Lu Chengwen let out a depressed sigh. "I won't fire her. I'll never fire her. As long as you don't say otherwise, I won't fire her."

"And..."

"And?"

Lu Chengwen thought: *What else do you want?*

Xu Xuejiao said, "You can't force her to leave, and you can't marginalize her. You must keep her by your side as your personal secretary."

Lu Chengwen thought: *If you weren't a main heroine, I would have killed you in a heartbeat! You little brat! Does this have anything to do with you? Does it? Why do you care which sexy secretary I keep by my side? What do you gain from this?*

Xu Xuejiao held back a laugh. *Hee hee, this is so fun. A main heroine? It's quite interesting that he calls me that. Hmm, it really has nothing to do with me, but I just feel like you have so many little secrets. I just can't let your little schemes succeed. Am I smart or what?*

"Do you agree or not?" Xu Xuejiao asked triumphantly.

Lu Chengwen’s mouth moved for a long time. Xu Xuejiao was about to fake-cry again, turning to Long Aotian. "Brother Aotian, yesterday he also repeatedly..."

Lu Chengwen grabbed her back. He roared internally: *You win! You are my ancestor!*

Long Aotian shouted angrily, "What did you do to Sister Xuejiao's chest!? Speak!"

Lu Chengwen was at a loss for words. "I..."

Xu Xuejiao, behind him, pushed Long Aotian away. "Wow, you guy, hurry up and find a place to take a bath. You really look like you crawled out of a septic tank."

"Sister Xuejiao, I will take revenge for you for what this beast did to your chest!"

"Oh, what could he possibly do to my chest? And what does it have to do with you? Go away!"

"Sister Xuejiao, don't be afraid of him, I, Long Aotian, will protect you!"

"Can you just go take a bath first?"

"But..."

"But what? You smell disgusting. I was just joking around with Brother Chengwen. Go stay over there..."

Lu Chengwen felt like he was going to vomit blood. *Don't! Don't provoke him! The brains of male leads are all flawed. If you provoke him, he won't hate you—he'll only hate me!*

Sure enough, Long Aotian turned his head abruptly. His angry glare was enough to make Lu Chengwen’s legs go weak, nearly forcing him to his knees.