Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Lu Ze had a dignified appearance, exuding an aura of authority. Lu Zhiyuan resembled his mother more in terms of looks. Lu Ze had a complex mix of love and hate for his only legitimate son. However, Lu Zhiyuan was becoming impatient. “What do you want?”
“Must I have a reason to come see you?”
“I’m busy and don’t want to entertain you!” Lu Zhiyuan glanced at him. “I’m not interested in playing along with your drama.”
“Zhiyuan, how about your father discussing a business deal with you today?”
“I’m not interested in the Lu Corporation!” Lu Zhiyuan lazily propped up his legs. Since childhood, he had a hundred and eight ways to provoke Lu Ze. “The empire you built, you can give it to whoever you want.”
Lu Ze felt both anger and amusement. He couldn’t help but say, “I’ve raised you for so many years, provided you with good food and drink. When you wanted to race, I gave you the best technical team to create the best racing team. When you wanted to start a business, I provided the money. I’ve done my duty as a father. Can’t you behave like a good son for even a single day?”
Lu Zhiyuan was getting a bit impatient, and Lu Ze shook his head. “I’m getting old, and Lu Corporation needs a successor. You don’t need to worry about Lu Shijie and Lu Shixiu. I will give them a few small companies that won’t interfere with your position in the company.”
“Dad, they have been serving you like slaves for so many years, yet they haven’t gained any benefits. It must be so heartbreaking for them,” Lu Zhiyuan mocked.
Lu Ze’s favoritism was clear as day. He said with dissatisfaction, “Who am I doing this for?”
“I never expected you to be such a sentimental person, caring about others as well. It’s really surprising,” Lu Zhiyuan said sarcastically. “You can talk all you want, but I’m not interested in Lu Corporation.”
“Fine, I’ll give it to your elder brother then. Don’t regret it,” Lu Ze took a sip of tea and said calmly, “Back then, there was an engagement between the Lu and Gu families. Your elder brother was determined to be tied to the Gu family. Gu Chuyun called off the engagement today, and Xu Tingting took your elder brother to negotiate with Lu Corporation. Gu Wenliang, who forgets about his daughter for personal gain, do you think Gu Ci will marry your elder brother? When you see her, remember to call her sister-in-law!”
“He’s courting death!” Lu Zhiyuan’s gaze darkened. “What do you mean?”
Lu Ze shrugged. “Zhiyuan, if he takes over Lu Corporation, he will have complete control. Can you stop him from getting Gu Ci? What you don’t want, many people dream of having.”
Lu Zhiyuan sneered. “If it weren’t for your indulgence, Lu Shijie wouldn’t be so unruly.”
“A tiger does not eat its own cubs. I’ve tolerated your rebelliousness,” Lu Ze shamelessly declared, engaging in a cycle of hurting each other with Lu Zhiyuan. “So, doesn’t Daddy love his good sons equally?”
Lu Zhiyuan took a deep breath. “You…”
Lu Ze was in a great mood. “I’ve said all I needed to. Think about it carefully.”
With a cheerful tune on his lips, Lu Ze walked away. Li Jiang respectfully bowed to him. Lu Ze was very pleased with Li Jiang’s work. “Carry on with your duties, I’ll take a stroll around.”
Li Jiang didn’t dare to stop him either. After taking a stroll, Lu Ze realized that he had underestimated Lu Zhiyuan’s businesses. Global Sports Center had a mature business model, and he had seen the profitability of the racing team. Unexpectedly, due to a wrong button press for the 77th floor, he encountered Gu Ziyu.
“Grandfather?” Gu Ziyu blurted out. How did he come down here?
“Little guy, who are you?” Lu Zhiyuan was Lu Ze’s late-born son. He had been against marriage for many years and didn’t marry until he was thirty-eight, which resulted in Lu Zhiyuan.
It was quite normal for a six-year-old child to call him grandfather.
Gu Ziyu politely stood up and greeted him. “Hello, Grandfather. My name is Gu Ziyu.”
He is your eldest grandson, after all.
Gu Ziyu had a relatively good impression of Lu Ze. In his previous life, Lu Ze had a stroke and became partially paralyzed due to being ousted by Lu Shijie. Lu Shijie was truly full of malice, using medication to control Lu Ze’s life. He had been lying in the hospital, half-paralyzed, witnessing the death of Lu Zhiyuan and the abuse suffered by Gu Ziyu, enduring great torment. Every week, Li Jiang would bring Gu Ziyu to visit Lu Ze. When Gu Ziyu turned five years old, Lu Ze passed away, transferring all his connections to Gu Ziyu. The grandfather and grandson formed a revolutionary friendship.
Lu Ze’s most beloved son was Lu Zhiyuan. If it weren’t for his will being known by Lu Shijie in the previous life, where he left all his shares to Lu Zhiyuan, Lu Shijie might not have dared to gamble everything for power.
“Why would Lu Zhiyuan let outsiders live here?” Lu Ze blurted out.
“I and my sister live here,” Gu Ziyu invited the person inside and poured a glass of warm water for Lu Ze. “My sister’s name is Gu Ci.”
Lu Ze’s face darkened. “Lu Zhiyuan truly has double standards!”
Lu Ze looked at the quiet and polite child in front of him. The more he looked, the more familiar and friendly the child seemed, which added to his confusion. “How old are you?”
“Six years old.”
“Lu Zhiyuan couldn’t have had a love child at the age of fourteen, right?” Lu Ze asked with a smirk, resembling a witch tempting a princess with a poisoned apple. “Would you mind doing a paternity test with me, baby?”
Gu Ziyu remained silent.
“Just kidding, just kidding…” Lu Ze had many doubts in his mind. This little kid resembled Lu Zhiyuan a lot, especially the aura… it was so reminiscent of the quiet and reserved Lu Zhiyuan.
Gu Ziyu didn’t intend to say much to Lu Ze because neither he nor Gu Ci could reveal too much about their past lives. Suddenly, his phone beeped twice. Gu Ziyu glanced at the phone, his expression turning serious. “Grandfather, excuse me.”
Gu Ziyu ran out like the wind and went upstairs to find Lu Zhiyuan, his demeanor calm. “Brother, something happened to sister.”
Gu Ci truly didn’t expect Lu Shijie to be so audacious, daring to bring her to the Nightshade Bar in broad daylight.
Lu Shijie lazily crossed his legs and slowly lit a cigar. He got straight to the point, “Gu Ci, your face, your body are your greatest assets. While I’m interested in you, you can still fetch a high price. Once this opportunity is gone, it’s gone. My patience is also limited.”
He didn’t hide his greed for Gu Ci. Gu Ci’s face was shrouded in shadow, her profile exquisitely beautiful, like a carved jade statue, enticing Lu Shijie.
Gu Ci said, “Lu Shijie, who wouldn’t want to be connected with the heir of a prestigious family in A City like the young master of Lu Corporation? But you, after searching around, could only find Gu Chuyun. Why? Because you are a scum.”
“Provoking me won’t benefit you!” Lu Shijie didn’t care about his reputation. No matter how much trouble he caused, Lu Ze could handle it. “As the second Miss of the Gu family, who isn’t loved by their father and mother, your position in the Gu family is also awkward. You are the biological daughter, yet Lu Man dotes more on Gu Chuyun. You hold resentment as well. Marry me, and you can free yourself from humiliation. However you want to retaliate against Gu Chuyun, you can do it!”
Gu Ci’s lips curled into a mocking smile as she looked at him. “Whatever you can think of, Gu Chuyun can think of it too. Lu Shijie, you are truly foolish and poisonous. If I hadn’t turned the tables and tricked you into a sham engagement at the engagement banquet, where both face and substance were lost, Gu Chuyun would have seized the opportunity to break the engagement. You would have lost both reputation and wealth. You don’t even have half of Gu Chuyun’s cunning. Your promises are worthless.”