Chapter 41: There is no greater sorrow than a dead heart

Leng Qingqiu had been drinking.

Her mood was rock bottom.

After years of relentless hard work, she had finally seen Qianfeng Group on the verge of getting back on track, but now, her own father was beginning to lavish favor on an outsider and intended to kick her out of the game.

Leng Qingqiu felt an icy, utter despair gripping her heart.

Between father and daughter, it was always about interests, never about familial affection.

Fueled by the alcohol, Leng Qingqiu made her way straight to Dasheng Group.

Her appearance at Dasheng Group was an absolute sight to behold.

No one dared to stop her; everyone knew she was the goddess of Lu Chengwen’s heart, his fiancée, and that they were scheduled to get engaged next month.

Therefore, as Leng Qingqiu walked through the building, she exuded immense authority, even more formidable than she did in her own company.

Charging all the way upstairs, Zhao Gang, who had received word well in advance, rushed out to block her path.

"President Leng, President Leng! President Lu is currently meeting with an important guest. Please go to the lounge and wait for a moment."

Emboldened by the alcohol, Leng Qingqiu snapped, "Nonsense! When has Leng Qingqiu ever had to wait to see Lu Chengwen? Step aside!"

Though she had been drinking, and it had made her bolder and more impulsive, her sharp wits were still intact.

One look at Zhao Gang’s expression told her that something fishy was going on.

After taking two steps, she suddenly turned back and glared at him, freezing Zhao Gang in his tracks.

"If you dare to tip him off, I will make sure you suffer a miserable end."

"Ah? I... I didn't..."

Leng Qingqiu stepped closer to Zhao Gang. "Let me tell you, I am the most important woman in Lu Chengwen’s heart. You know better than anyone how many schemes he used over the past three years just to marry me!"

"Yes..."

"Starting next month, I will be the young mistress of your Lu family. If you offend me, I’ll be whispering bad things into Lu Chengwen’s ear every single day on his pillow. Just wait and see if you survive!"

Zhao Gang was scared out of his wits.

No matter how good his relationship with Lu Chengwen was, he was still just a lackey.

If he truly offended Leng Qingqiu, he would definitely never have an easy day again.

Seeing Zhao Gang’s cowardly demeanor, Leng Qingqiu smiled. "Stay put over there."

With that, she pushed the door open and walked right in.

Entering the outer office area, she saw the secretary, Jiang Shihuan. Just as Jiang Shihuan was about to speak, Leng Qingqiu made a shushing gesture and warned her with a dark expression, "If you don't want to lose your job, keep your mouth shut!"

Jiang Shihuan was terrified by the threat, as losing her job was her worst nightmare.

Moreover, she knew better than anyone just how devoid of boundaries Lu Chengwen’s devotion to Leng Qingqiu truly was.

Leng Qingqiu felt a deep sense of smugness and a surge of exhilarating satisfaction.

Being the young mistress of the Lu family really felt quite wonderful!

She discovered that she actually rather enjoyed this status. Wielding supreme authority in Lu Chengwen’s enterprise gave her an immense sense of achievement and vastly satisfied her vanity.

Subconsciously, she thought: *Lu Chengwen is mine, so everything he owns is mine.*

*If they are afraid of Lu Chengwen, they have to be afraid of me, hehe. Who says I am the young mistress of the Lu family?*

Walking into the inner suite, she found it completely empty.

Where were the important guests?!

Hearing voices chatting from the inner room, Leng Qingqiu immediately grew alert.

Could it be... that he was harboring a mistress?!

Splendid! While pretending to pursue her openly, he was actually keeping a pretty woman hidden in his company!

Approaching the doorway of the lounge, she found the door unlatched, leaving a narrow crack. Peering through, Leng Qingqiu was shocked to see that it was none other than her own father, Leng Tianhao, talking with Lu Chengwen.

Leng Tianhao sat in the seat of honor, acting immensely arrogant. "Chengwen, my intelligence network has investigated thoroughly, and this shantytown project has zero potential for making any profit. What on earth are you thinking?"

Lu Chengwen burst out laughing. "Making a profit is secondary. Even if we lose money, we have to develop the East District. As entrepreneurs, we must have social responsibility."

"Hmph! You’ve made a completely wrong move in this big game. Let's speak plainly: if you want to marry our Qingqiu, according to our agreement, it starts at ten billion. That's what we agreed upon beforehand."

Outside the door, Leng Qingqiu felt her head spin and her legs turn to jelly. She almost collapsed to the floor right then and there.

What?!

The only reason her parents had agreed to the marriage alliance with the Lu family was because Lu Chengwen had offered a good price?

What was she? A commodity waiting to be sold to the highest bidder?

Tears welled up in Leng Qingqiu’s eyes.

*So I really am worth that much!*

Meanwhile, Lu Chengwen was scratching his head in exasperation. "I need to scrape together fifty billion in cash to pour into this project right now. I don't have any money left."

Leng Tianhao abruptly stood up. "If you don't have the money, don't even think about marrying my daughter! I announce that your engagement is canceled!"

Lu Chengwen burst into hearty laughter, stood up, and shook hands with Leng Tianhao. "Thank you, Uncle. Please do me the favor of telling Qingqiu; I won't show my face."

"You... didn't you always like Qingqiu?"

"She doesn't like me, and you all know that."

"As long as you obediently pay up, I'll still have her get engaged to you."

A few days ago, Lu Chengwen would have obediently paid up.

But the current Lu Chengwen wouldn't do it even if begged.

Lu Chengwen smiled and said, "There's no need. Qingqiu and I are not walking the same path. A forced melon is never sweet. Let's each go our separate ways and find peace."

Leng Qingqiu was in complete despair.

What about all those professions of fondness, admiration, vows that he would never marry anyone else, promises of seas drying up and rocks turning to dust...

Fake. It was all fake.

Business. It was all just business.

Was she worthless now?

Lu Chengwen, you pursued me for three years, exhausting every sweet word in the book, and now you can turn so ruthlessly cold.

Heh, was there anything more ridiculous than this? Was there anyone more pathetic than her?

Her father treated her like a commodity for sale, and the man who had fawned over her for three years had flipped his face without a shred of sentiment, casting her aside like a worn-out shoe...

In this world, was there anyone who actually cared about her? Was there anyone who treated her like a human being?

She, Leng Qingqiu, was nothing more than a clown.

Leng Tianhao was furious as well. "Lu Chengwen, don't get too full of yourself! Our Leng family won't just let you manipulate us as you please! Do you think you can control us just by tricking Qingqiu into investing in this lousy project? Keep dreaming! Next week, I will announce that Leng Qingqiu is being removed from her position. From then on, she will have nothing more to do with Qianfeng Group!"

Lu Chengwen was startled. "What did you say?"

"I am the chairman of Qianfeng Group! I have that authority!"

Lu Chengwen grew anxious. "Don't do that, hey! Revitalizing Qianfeng is Qingqiu's dream. You are her father; you can't just snatch away her dream like that."

"What the hell kind of dream? What I want is for Qianfeng Group to return to its peak! Whoever can help me achieve my ambition will be the president of Qianfeng Group!"

Lu Chengwen became agitated. "Aren't you essentially killing Leng Qingqiu by doing this? You clearly know how hard she has worked all these years, how desperately she wanted to prove herself to you. How is this any different from murdering her? You are her father! At a time like this, you should be the one supporting her the most!"

"Aren't you her fiancé? Didn't you just abandon her as well?"

"How the hell is that the same?" Lu Chengwen shouted. "I'm just an outsider! You know how much she looks down on me! Everyone in Snow City knows it! I can break up with her, and even if we got married, people still get divorced. But parents have no choice; they are meant to accompany you for life, to unconditionally support, protect, and cherish you, and to stand forever behind you as your backing! How on earth do you qualify to be a father?!"

"Oh? You're speaking with such high-sounding righteousness! Then why did you try to screw us over?"

"I didn't screw you over! I just... I never expected she would get involved. She misunderstood, thinking I could make a fortune, but I entered this deal fully prepared to lose money!"

"Spare me that act! I've seen right through you. You wanted to drag the three of our families down with you, make us all lose money, and then pick us off one by one, didn't you?"

Lu Chengwen paced frantically in circles. "How could I ever be that kind of person! Uncle Leng, you can't treat Qingqiu like this. All her external toughness is just an act; in reality, she is extremely fragile, and she desperately needs your love and support! My heart aches just watching her pretend to be tough day in and day out. You're her father, why don't you feel any of that?"

Outside the door, Leng Qingqiu's face was covered in tears.

Lu Chengwen's few words had pierced straight into her heart.

*Lu Chengwen, since you understand me so well, why didn't you say so sooner? Why did you insist on acting frivolous and annoying me?*

*Since your heart aches for me, why did you strike a deal with my father and treat me like a traded commodity?*

*Since you couldn't bear to hurt me, why did you suddenly refuse the engagement?*

*Why? What on earth do you want from me to let me go?*

*What kind of person are you anyway? What are you actually trying to do?!*

Leng Tianhao retorted, "Spare me your useless nonsense. We've both been around the block; when I was playing the game, you were still playing with mud!"

Lu Chengwen was furious enough to pop a blood vessel. "Is this because of the shantytown project? Fine! However much you invest, count it as mine! If it makes a profit, you take the gains; if it loses money, I'll bear the loss!"

"Oh?" Hearing the word money, Leng Tianhao grew smug. "Don't just make empty promises!"

"I, Lu Chengwen, am not the kind of man who talks big without backing it up!"

"I must remind you, though, this money is not the money to marry Qingqiu. Don't mix them together."

Lu Chengwen looked at Leng Tianhao in disbelief. "I'm telling you... is there anything besides money in your eyes? When you mentioned Qingqiu, why couldn't I feel any parental love and protection from you? Is your daughter a commodity? Spouting about money, money, money—don't you find yourself disgusting? You're her father! If Qingqiu heard you talk like this, how heartbroken would she be?"

"Cut the useless crap and just tell me: do you agree or not?"

"As long as you don't hurt Qingqiu, I agree!"

"Good, then wire the money over!"

Lu Chengwen gnashed his teeth. "Fine! I'll wire ten billion directly to you. The remaining 4.9 billion you guys can invest normally so we don't breach the government contract! As for the remaining 5.1 billion, buy land if you like, or do whatever you want with it. In short, you must not harm Leng Qingqiu!"

"Oh? Feeling generous, are we?"

"Nonsense!" Lu Chengwen said. "And from now on, our two families will walk our own separate paths. Let's not hold each other back anymore!"

"No problem, wire the money!"

Watching Lu Chengwen, Leng Qingqiu felt on the verge of a complete breakdown.

She didn't even know whether she should feel heartbroken or touched.

What on earth was this man thinking?

Didn't he like her? Since he was willing to cough up the money, all he had to do was use it to pressure her money-grubbing father, and he could have had her!

Why did he still insist on drawing a clear line between them?

What on earth did this man want from her?!

Lu Chengwen grabbed his phone. "Li Meiqin, immediately transfer ten billion to Qianfeng Group's account. I know damn well! Just transfer it when I tell you to; if the sky falls, I'll take the blame! What do you mean it needs paperwork? Use the express procedure, contact the bank directly, and make sure the transfer is completed within five minutes!"

Lu Chengwen hung up the phone. "Happy now? Satisfied?"

Leng Tianhao burst into loud laughter. "Young man, you're still too impulsive, too green."

"Uncle Leng, I'm begging you, please don't hurt Qingqiu."

"Why? Didn't you say you wanted to draw a clear line with our family? Why do you care so much about her?"

Lu Chengwen was so angry tears spilled from his eyes.

"Because I am a human being, a human with flesh and blood."

Leng Tianhao nodded. "However, my agreement with you remains valid. Wire another ten billion, and Qingqiu will undoubtedly be yours."

Gnasher bared, Lu Chengwen spat, "Don't bother seeing me out!"

Leng Tianhao laughed heartily as he pushed open the door and stepped out.