Chapter 293 Everything is Business

Chen Mama was overjoyed and eagerly invited Lu Chengwen to eat.

Lu Chengwen awkwardly sat down.

Chen Mama then asked Chen Mengyun to eat as well, but Chen Mengyun looked a bit embarrassed. "I'll brush my teeth first."

…

After the lively scene, Chen Qingbin, Chen Mengyun, and Lu Chengwen were sitting together in the study.

Chen Qingbin took a deep breath. "I know, daughters are bound to leave their families one day. And I also know that our Chen family owes you a huge favor for helping with Moqun's situation. But Lu Chengwen, haven't we already invested 40 billion into the housing reconstruction project with you? Doesn't that mean we've repaid our debt?"

Lu Chengwen smiled. "Of course, of course. Thank you, Uncle Chen."

Chen Qingbin continued, "So you still remember I'm your uncle? Then, from now on, stay away from my daughter. Is that clear?"

"Dad!" Chen Mengyun protested.

"Quiet!"

Chen Qingbin turned to Lu Chengwen. "I will never approve of you two being together! I only have one precious daughter, and I won't let her follow you! Mengyun is a simple, innocent girl—she's only been deceived by you. Don't think I don't know what you're plotting, Lu Chengwen! Don't imagine for a second that the Chen family fortune will fall into your hands!"

Before Chen Qingbin could continue, Lu Chengwen's phone rang.

"Hello? Uncle Leng?"

Leng Tianhao's cheerful voice came through. "Hahaha! Chengwen, you brat, you're finally back? Why didn't you give me a heads-up? Kid, you've taken too many risks this time. Let me tell you, you really don't take care of yourself! I have to punish you!"

"Haha, how are you going to punish me?"

"I'm punishing you by making you come to my house for dinner!"

"But I'm very busy right now."

"Hey, no matter how busy you are, you have to eat! Look, I've already prepared everything. Just do me this favor, won't you?"

"Oh no, I wouldn't dare refuse, Uncle. I'll come, as long as you don't mind me being a bother."

"Good lad! That's settled then!" Leng Tianhao laughed heartily. "Kid, I know you're weighing your options right now, but let me tell you, I'll guarantee this: when it comes to finding a wife, my Qingqiu is the best choice! Maybe not in the whole world, but at least in the entire Northern Kingdom, she's the most capable! And I even consulted a fortune teller—she'll definitely bear children! When the time comes, the Lu family's lineage will depend on our Qingqiu…"

Lu Chengwen hurriedly covered the phone. "Uncle Leng, I—I understand…"

"Great! You better show up tonight. Let's drink and talk like real men, hahaha!"

"Okay, okay, I'll be there for sure."

Lu Chengwen hung up the phone.

Chen Qingbin sneered. "So, you're set on marrying into the Leng family, aren't you?"

Lu Chengwen looked at Chen Qingbin. "Uncle Chen, I don't care what you think about this. Your family loves to talk about nobility, democracy, freedom, human rights, blah blah blah… To me, it's all nonsense."

"You—you dare say that!?"

Lu Chengwen replied, "The righteous path of the world—there's black within the white, and white within the black. There's no such thing as perfection in people or in life. Who I like is my freedom, who Mengyun likes is her freedom, and who Fatty Chen likes is his freedom. Why are you always interfering?"

Chen Qingbin snapped, "How dare you talk to me like that!"

"What else can I say?" Lu Chengwen shot back. "Fine, Mengyun and I will break up. Happy now?"

Chen Mengyun panicked and grabbed his sleeve. "What are you talking about!?"

Lu Chengwen whispered, "Wait for me at home. I'll 'steal' you later—it's more thrilling that way."

Chen Mengyun was startled, her face flushing. "Promise me. You have to come steal me."

Chen Qingbin was utterly furious. "I'm still alive, you know! Lu Chengwen, are you trying to destroy the Chen family? Just take Chen Moqun, for instance. That girlfriend of his—didn't you introduce her to him? If it weren't for you, he wouldn't have ended up in such a dangerous situation! Letting him mix with those filthy, lower-class people—is that your idea of friendship?"

Lu Chengwen replied, "This has nothing to do with Sanli or Erlong!"

"Of course it does! They set him up! Lower-class people will always be lower-class people. For a bit of money, they'll do anything!"

Lu Chengwen sighed and pulled an envelope out of his pocket. "Take a look at this. I found it at the temple in Southern Burma."

"What is it?"

Lu Chengwen's eyes narrowed. "The person who harmed Chen Moqun was his own brother—Chen Mohuan! This whole thing was orchestrated by his brother, who was jealous and wanted to climb to the top! If Chen Moqun had died, Mohuan would've gained the majority of the shares. His next step would've been to seize the power in his sister's hands!"

Chen Qingbin's hands trembled as he grabbed the envelope and tore it open. Inside, there was only a USB drive.

Lu Chengwen continued, "This has nothing to do with Erlong or Sanli! Chen Mohuan is the real mastermind colluding with those people. And let me tell you this—if that illegitimate son of your mistress dares to lay a hand on Mengyun, I'll make sure he disappears!"

Chen Mengyun was utterly shocked. "How is that possible? It's… Mohuan?!"

Lu Chengwen said, "This is your family's issue. I won't interfere. Goodbye."

Lu Chengwen stormed out, leaving Chen Mengyun to chase after him. "Chengwen, is what you said true?"

Lu Chengwen nodded. "I hesitated for a long time about whether to tell you. Once I did, it would shake your family to its core. But your brother is too dangerous. You all need to be on guard."

Chen Mengyun lowered her head. "I never imagined that even my family would fight over power, leading to such betrayal among siblings."

Lu Chengwen walked up to her, pulling her into his arms. "It hasn't come to that yet, so don't feel too sad. Talk to your father about it. Push Chen Mohuan out of any positions of power and keep him in check. He's probably scared stiff right now. Your family's power dynamics need a reorganization. You take charge of the overall situation, and let Moqun assist you. He has no ulterior motives toward you."

Chen Mengyun raised her head and said, "You remember to come and steal me!"

Lu Chengwen thought to himself:

[At a time like this, that's what you're thinking about!?]

"I know, I know."

"When will you come?"

"Very soon."

"From now on, you have to back me up!"

"Of course."

"Or... should we go back to the car... and continue?"

"Go check on your dad's heart first."

"Mm."

Leng Tianhao was feeling uneasy.

Lu Chengwen was becoming more and more outstanding—so outstanding that even he, someone seasoned in the business world, found himself surprised!

It was family dinner time once again.

Leng Qingqiu sat quietly at the dining table, eating her food with little to say.

This family had always been like this: well-mannered, observing all the rules of etiquette during meals, often only communicating about work-related matters.

The atmosphere was a little heavy.

After eating for a while, Leng Tianhao spoke up: "I've arranged to have dinner with Lu Chengwen tonight."

Leng Qingqiu looked up, surprised. "He agreed?"

"Yes." Leng Tianhao said, "But his team told me that he's been running around all day and prefers to dine at his villa tonight."

Madam Leng tensed up. In the past, whenever the two men were in the same room, it wouldn't take long for a heated argument to erupt. Every family dinner with them felt like walking on eggshells.

Now that the old man was retired, things hadn't gotten much better.

When someone who once held significant power retires, they're often left feeling empty, lonely, and abandoned by the world. This inevitably leads to shorter tempers.

And Leng Tianhao was no exception.

The more powerful a person had been, the more severe the aftereffects of retirement would be.

On the other hand, Leng Qingqiu had now grown wings of her own. She ruled over Qianfeng Group entirely, and her temper had grown sharper as well.

The thought of the two of them clashing again sent a chill down Madam Leng's spine.

Leng Tianhao declared, "You're coming with me tonight."

Leng Qingqiu frowned. "Wasn't this supposed to be a private conversation between the two of you?"

Leng Tianhao retorted, "Even if it's just the two of us talking, the topic is still going to be you!"

Leng Qingqiu responded with composure, "He likes me very much."

Leng Tianhao stared at her. "People change! That toy he loved so much when he was nine years old? By high school, he didn't even know where it was! The clothes he thought were his favorite in high school? They've long been shredded in some landfill somewhere!"

"'Like'? Do you think 'like' is reliable? What we need is a contract!"

Leng Qingqiu calmly replied, "I handle my affairs with care. Please don't worry so much."

"How could I not worry?" Leng Tianhao exclaimed. "You're a genius, but you're still young. There are things you just can't understand at your age."

"And marriage? If it doesn't work out, people can always divorce!"

"Are you deliberately trying to make me angry?" Leng Tianhao retorted. "Do you have any idea how costly a divorce would be for people like you? Lu Chengwen knows it all too well! If he marries you, you won't be able to divorce him!"

"And when I say 'contract,' I'm not just talking about a marriage certificate. If you two have a child, the entire Lu family would be tied to you! You could hold half—no, more than half—of the power in the Lu family!"

"That's impossible—"

"That old farmer Lu Guanghong, the head of the Lu family, would jump for joy if you gave him a big grandchild! He'd be over the moon! At that point, you could walk sideways in the Lu family, and no one would dare say a word against you! The entire Lu family would fall into line, and no one would dare raise their voice at you!"

Leng Qingqiu blushed and laughed. "Dad, what you're saying… is way too far-fetched."

"It's not far-fetched! It's all part of my plan!"

"Huh?!"

Madam Leng was also stunned. "Old man, what nonsense are you spouting now?"

"Prepare yourself. Tonight, you'll win over Lu Chengwen!"

"How… how am I supposed to do that?"

"I'll help you."

"Dad, this is something we should handle ourselves!"

"You only know how to bury yourself in work all day long! Meanwhile, Xu Xuejiao spends her days lounging around in Lu Chengwen's villa, and Chen Mengyun has been busy pampering his parents like royalty. You're too far removed from the core of power!"

"But this is the key moment for Qianfeng Group, I must—"

"Nothing is more critical than Lu Chengwen!"

Leng Tianhao declared, "He is the top priority!"

Leng Qingqiu hesitated, her face red. "I've already been very proactive with him, but he's not the kind of person who loses control just because of a woman. He's very restrained."

"That's why! You need to break through his restraint! Make it impossible for him to hold back! This is our chance! As long as you can bear his child—ha!—everything will fall into place!"

Madam Leng chimed in, "Oh, let young people handle their own relationships! Why do you keep meddling, old man?"

"You don't understand," Leng Tianhao said with a smirk. "This isn't just about romance. It's business!"

Leng Qingqiu lowered her head, her face flushed.

She didn't refuse.

"But… how should I do it? Do you mean I should… take the initiative? I don't know how."

Leng Tianhao grinned mischievously and pulled out a small pill, placing it on the table.

"What's… that?"

Staring intently at his daughter, Leng Tianhao said, "A 'Passion Pill'!"

In a villa on the outskirts of the city, Luo Shiyin looked out the window, suddenly sneezing.

Clutching her chest, she muttered, "Why do I feel so uneasy? It's like something's about to happen… Sigh!"