Chapter

Lu Chengwen was desperate to make an exit. He hurriedly offered his farewells and fled the Chen family estate.

Walking along the path outside the manor, Lu Chengwen asked nervously, "What’s going on?"

Zhao Gang’s face was ashen. He looked around warily and said, "Get in the car, I’ll tell you there!"

Lu Chengwen realized that something serious had truly happened.

At that moment, Xu Xuejiao received the news as well. Furious, she chased after them and caught up to Lu Chengwen and Zhao Gang.

Zhao Gang immediately shut his mouth, looking at Xu Xuejiao with apprehension.

Lu Chengwen was still dazed, completely out of the loop. "Oh, little sister Xuejiao, what’s the rush? Is there something you need?"

Xu Xuejiao kept a straight face. Looking at Lu Chengwen’s expression, she thought to herself: *This guy is such a good actor! He embezzled the funds for the fine ingredients, causing the entire batch of medicinal materials to mismatch the ingredient list, and now he acts as if he knows nothing.*

Xu Xuejiao smiled, though her smile was as sharp as a concealed blade. "Brother Chengwen, there haven't been any major issues at the pharmaceutical factory lately, have there?"

"Uh..."

Seeing Zhao Gang frantically winking at him, Lu Chengwen quickly said, "Nothing major. Don't worry, I'll handle anything that comes up."

*[Why is this girl out here? Where is Long Aotian? Shouldn't they be out having tea and discussing medical techniques by now?]*

*[Why is the main heroine following me? Why does Long Aotian’s harem insist on clinging to me?]*

*[The factory issue must be critical! It has to be resolved!]*

Xu Xuejiao was stunned. Looking at him, it seemed this guy really didn't know the specifics of the situation at the factory. Could it be that he didn't embezzle the money?

She pondered for a moment and said with a smile, "Brother Chengwen, it’s been over a year since we last saw each other, right?"

"Huh? Has it? Haha, time flies like a shuttle. As the wheels of history roll over our departed youth..."

Xu Xuejiao felt like vomiting; this person was becoming more and more repulsive.

She forced a smile and opened her arms. "Hug!"

Lu Chengwen felt like his head was about to explode. He was covered in metaphorical lice and didn't know which one to scratch first.

He had ruined Long Aotian’s plans twice in one day; he was likely already on his blacklist. That stubborn girl Leng Qingqiu was inexplicably obsessed with getting engaged to him, and he had to resolve that mess quickly—he couldn't keep getting entangled with a beast like Long Aotian. Now, the main heroine, Xu Xuejiao, wasn't following the established plot either, acting bizarre and clingy.

But the most pressing issue was the pharmaceutical factory. That was medicine! If something went wrong there, it would be a catastrophe!

*And now this enchantress wants a hug!? What is this "hug" nonsense? What are you playing at?!*

Just then, Lu Chengwen saw Chen Mohuan and Long Aotian walking out. Long Aotian’s eyes instantly locked onto his.

Lu Chengwen’s lips twitched: *Great, we’re screwed again, aren't we?*

Long Aotian narrowed his eyes: *It’s this guy ruining my plans again!*

Lu Chengwen hurriedly feigned composure. "What’s with the hug?" He then shouted, "Oh, Brother Long! You’ve come just in time. You see, sister Xuejiao was just a bit temperamental, but she actually admires your medical skills. Why don't you two find a café and have a chat? Since you’re both masters obsessed with medicine, you must have plenty in common. I have things to attend to—goodbye!"

Lu Chengwen turned to bolt, thinking:

*[I can only help you two this much. I wish you a happy life together, just stop bothering me.]*

*[You two are a match made in heaven; I’m just a pile of dog dung, okay?]*

*[Must leave immediately, otherwise Long Aotian will pick a fight.]*

Xu Xuejiao glanced back at Long Aotian, snorted with disdain, and grabbed the hem of Lu Chengwen’s jacket. "Brother Lu, don't go! Ever since we were little, didn't we always hug whenever we parted?"

Lu Chengwen’s eyes widened as he stared at the little girl in shock.

***

Xu Xuejiao’s face was as beautiful as a fairy’s, her large eyes as bright and clear as black gems.

However, behind that beautiful face and clear gaze, Lu Chengwen saw a hint of triumph, craftiness, cruelty, and even a trace of evil.

*She did it on purpose!*

Xu Xuejiao was indeed doing it on purpose. Lu Chengwen had thoroughly annoyed her. She had heard enough of his inner thoughts to know he assumed she would inevitably throw herself at Long Aotian. *Why should I?*

Xu Xuejiao was getting fired up. *So, you’re afraid of Long Aotian? Hmph, whatever you fear, I will deliberately use to make your life miserable!*

Lu Chengwen’s eyes were filled with hostility and shock. He slowly pushed her hands away, thinking viciously:

*[This brat is trying to sabotage me!]*

*[She knows I’m terrified of Long Aotian, so she’s doing this on purpose! Absolutely on purpose!]*

Xu Xuejiao almost laughed out loud. She continued to act cute and pitiful, but her eyes seemed to say: *I am doing it on purpose. Who would have thought that you, Lu Chengwen, would have someone you’re afraid of? Interesting, very interesting. Today, I’m going to scare you to death! Oh? Are you sweating?*

Long Aotian and Chen Mohuan had reached them by now. Long Aotian curled his lips into a cold sneer. "Always hug when you part? Young Master Lu is quite the charmer!"

Lu Chengwen’s mouth twitched. Before he could explain, the hotheaded Zhao Gang stepped forward and shouted, "We hugged! So what? You, a mere..."

Lu Chengwen yanked Zhao Gang back, thinking: *Stop causing trouble for me! Even if we teamed up, we wouldn't be enough to handle him alone.*

Lu Chengwen said awkwardly, "Sister Xuejiao is just joking. There’s nothing like that!"

"What do you mean nothing? It started when I was eight! That family banquet, the first time you tricked me into a corner for a hug and a kiss. Did you forget? You even insisted I take off my clothes for a check-up, claiming you wanted to be a doctor... I was so worried that day, I almost believed you..."

Long Aotian’s fists tightened, his gaze on Lu Chengwen becoming increasingly sharp.

Lu Chengwen narrowed his eyes at this devil, Xu Xuejiao. He realized now that this brat knew his fatal weakness! The worst part was that she possessed an innocently beautiful face; no one would believe that this little girl had such a dark heart and such explosive acting skills.

*[I finally got a chance to defy destiny, am I going to fall at the hands of this little brat?]*

*[Are Long Aotian and his girlfriends an obstacle I can never overcome in this life?]*

Xu Xuejiao was calculating as well: *He seems to know Long Aotian very well, and they seem to have a grudge. Heh, good. Villains should destroy each other—neither of you is a good person. One bullies the weak and does evil, and the other attacked an old man in a hospital bed to stop me from saving him. Whoever kills whom, I’ll be happy. I love watching bad guys kill each other.*

Lu Chengwen wiped the sweat from his forehead and forced a smile. "I don't remember things from my childhood."

"Then we have to hug today, right?" Xu Xuejiao leaned close and whispered, "If you don't hug me, don't think about leaving."

Lu Chengwen narrowed his eyes, filled with deep-seated resentment, and whispered, "You’ve got guts."

He used all his strength to force out a hideous fake smile and gave her a light hug. But Xu Xuejiao suddenly wrapped her arms around him in a bear hug, shouting, "Oh, Brother Chengwen, you’re so annoying, taking advantage of me again!"

Lu Chengwen shoved her away, on the verge of fury.

Long Aotian caught the stumbling Xu Xuejiao and glared at Lu Chengwen. "Young Master Lu, what is the meaning of this?"

***

Lu Chengwen’s head buzzed. *[Damn it!]*

He quickly laughed. "Nothing! I just had a cramp. Anyway, you two chat. Something happened at my factory, I have to go deal with it..."

Lu Chengwen turned and practically ran. Zhao Gang stood stunned for two seconds before pointing at Long Aotian. "You just wait, you bastard!"

He then turned to chase after Lu Chengwen.

Long Aotian didn't pursue them; with a beauty by his side, he couldn't be bothered with Lu Chengwen.

"Xuejiao, are you okay? Are you hurt? Don't worry, I won't let Lu Chengwen get away with this."

"Oh? Is that so?" Xu Xuejiao’s face turned cold, and she stepped back from Long Aotian. "He is the Young Master of the Lu family in Xuecheng; most people can't afford to provoke him. Just you?"

Long Aotian laughed. "The Four Great Families? In my eyes, they are all just ants."

A cold glint flashed in Xu Xuejiao’s eyes. "All just ants?"

Realizing he had spoken too soon, Long Aotian tried to explain, "No, what I meant was..."

"Goodbye."

Xu Xuejiao strode to her car. As she reached it, she stripped off her uniform, and her assistant team swarmed her, draping a black trench coat over her shoulders.

In an instant, the innocent little girl transformed into a cold, proud queen—the spitting image of a younger Leng Qingqiu.

...

Once in the car, Lu Chengwen was still trembling, slamming his fists against the seat armrest in anger.

"Damn it, I almost died back there!"

Zhao Gang quickly raised the partition between the passenger cabin and the driver’s seat to isolate the driver. "Don't worry, Young Master Lu! I’ll find someone to take out Long Aotian and vent your frustration!"

"Shut the hell up!" Lu Chengwen gritted his teeth. "The problem is that brat Xu Xuejiao, that damn girl..."

Zhao Gang smiled. "Young Master Lu, it seems she’s really into you! She even threw herself at you! Don't worry, I’ll help you win over this genius little doctor from the Xu family, and then the Xu family’s resources will be ours..."

"Shut your mouth!" Lu Chengwen was reaching his breaking point. "Remember, don't provoke Long Aotian, and don't mess with Xu Xuejiao! That girl is clearly trying to play me to death!"

"Oh, isn't that just perfect?" Zhao Gang smirked. "You two are a couple, what's the difference between who plays whom?"

Lu Chengwen looked at him, ready to explode, but realized Zhao Gang was just used to being a lackey and didn't understand the gravity of the situation. Getting angry at him was like playing the lute to a cow.

He sighed. "What happened at the factory?"

What Lu Chengwen didn't know was that at this very moment, Xu Xuejiao was sitting in her own business car, wearing earphones and listening to their conversation.

That hug had been a move to secretly plant a bug.

Xu Xuejiao sat in the car, her face as cold as frost, her eyes sharp. Her secretarial team looked on nervously, not daring to make a sound.

Zhao Gang was saying, "Director Zhang from the Pharmaceutical Supervision Department is a real piece of work! To cut costs, the Young Master reduced some of the expensive fine ingredients in this batch. After all, it's just herbal medicine; it won't kill anyone."

"That damn Director Zhang actually wrote a resignation letter and is threatening to expose this. Don't you think that old geezer is looking for death?"

"Here’s what I think we should do! We just ship the medicine as labeled. It's herbal, it won't kill anyone. Isn't this Zhang guy just after money? Give him 10 or 20 million to shut him up. If he doesn't agree, we’ll just make him disappear. Once he’s gone, this whole thing will..."

"That’s enough. Shut up." Lu Chengwen lowered the partition and said to the driver, "Speed up. Go to the factory."

Xu Xuejiao removed her earphones, her gaze growing colder.

*Lu Chengwen, if you dare to do something so conscience-less, don't blame me for being ruthless!*

*Others might fear your Lu family, but I, Xu Xuejiao, do not!*

*Besides...*

A cunning smile appeared on the corner of Xu Xuejiao’s lips.