"I've seen so many gold diggers, but this one is the best actress."
Lu Jingxi sneered while eating, "She puts on this squeaky, innocent campus belle act in public, but in private she's smoking, drinking, and cursing at her assistant. Just this morning, we were filming beach volleyball, and just because her outfit didn't look good on camera, she insisted on making everyone reshoot! Beach volleyball! We played for two hours, how do you even reshoot that?!"
Second Miss Lu was so angry she nearly slammed the table. "I couldn't stand it and called her out, and only then did she finally quiet down."
Butler Zhang hurriedly advised her, "You're just too straightforward. It's better to avoid direct confrontations with people like that in the future, so you don't get taken advantage of by petty individuals."
"I just can't stand it. Dozens of people in the crew had to waste their time because of her. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have caught a cold either."
Lu Jingxi was still fuming.
Butler Zhang could only comfort her for now. "Now that you're back, get some proper rest. Go to bed early after you finish eating."
Lu Jingxi hummed in agreement. After finishing the last sip of soup in her bowl, she went upstairs.
The living room fell quiet. The two cleaning ladies had already clocked off, so Xu Yanxia took the initiative to clear the table and went to the kitchen. Her gaze inadvertently shifted, and she noticed Lu Jingming had followed her in.
She quickly asked, "Would you like something to eat?"
"No."
Lu Jingming simply said, "Just came to see if you needed any help."
"No need,"
Xu Yanxia smiled, "It's just a few bowls, I'll be done in no time."
As she spoke, she had already placed the bowls into the dishwasher.
Lu Jingming added, "No need to get up so early tomorrow. Mom and Dad aren't home, and they usually sleep until noon."
"Alright,"
Xu Yanxia nodded, "If there's nothing else, I'll head back to the staff quarters now."
"Mhm."
Lu Jingming watched her leave, then also returned to his room on the third floor.
Little did he know, his ever-persistent younger brother had followed him in again.
"Bro, we haven't finished our conversation from earlier."
Third Brother Lu said with a pained and earnest expression, "Even though I got beaten up by you a lot growing up, I deeply respect you in my heart. Mom and Dad, Grandpa, uncles, aunts, our cousin, and the entire group... everyone holds you in high regard. How can you lack such basic principles? How can you knowingly be the other man?"
That was a bit too harsh.
Lu Jingming couldn't help but frown.
Lu Jingyao continued, "I urge you to stop before it's too late. Otherwise, once..."
"Otherwise, once I succeed?"
Lu Jingming cut him off, "Have you ever thought about how great that would be?"
"How great?"
Third Brother Lu paused.
—His mind had been solely focused on telling his brother that once the behavior of being a male homewrecker is exposed, he would lose his good reputation, face scorn from family and society, and it could very well damage the company's image.
But if his brother succeeded...
Lu Jingyao began to frown and ponder. Wouldn't that mean he could become Sister Xiaoxia's official boyfriend, even husband?
Then he would have a sister-in-law who understands fine food, knows medicine, is beautiful, brave, intelligent, and incredibly emotionally stable...?
Hey.
Lu Jingyao's eyes lit up. Just thinking about it was wonderful!!!
...
Lu Jingyao looked at his domineering CEO older brother and asked, "Are you serious?"
Lu Jingming just smiled, "When have I not been serious about anything I do?"
Lu Jingyao, "What I mean is, are you sure you can pursue Sister Xiaoxia and marry her?"
His brother raised an eyebrow, "Where there's a will, there's a way. Anything is possible. Besides, I genuinely like her, and I will respect her."
Lu Jingyao took a deep breath, "Alright, seeing as you're my own brother, I can support your dream a little. But don't say I didn't warn you, my Sister Xia is very independent. That forceful 'take by storm' approach doesn't suit her. You have to win her over with virtue."
Lu Jingming chuckled, "You know her quite well?"
Third Brother Lu lifted his head proudly, "Of course. I've had more conversations with Sister Xia than you. I even have her brother's WeChat, which you don't, right?"
Huh?
Lu Jingming frowned, "Why do you have her brother's WeChat?"
"Never you mind,"
Third Brother Lu just continued being proud, "I know where Sister Xia's hometown is, the name of her family's restaurant, and even her grandparents' current address..."
"Bro,"
A shrewd smile suddenly appeared on Third Brother Lu's face, "How about we make a deal?"
...
No one knew how long the Lu brothers conspired together that night.
Early the next morning, when Lu Jingming got up for his run, Xu Yanxia was already in the kitchen making breakfast.
"Why are you up so early?" he asked as he entered.
"Good morning, President Lu."
Xu Yanxia greeted him, "Couldn't sleep, so I got up early to stew some pear soup for Miss Jingxi. Are you going to work overtime?"
Lu Jingming said no, "I'm going for a run."
"Oh."
Xu Yanxia nodded, her eyes filled with surprise.
She had been at the Lu household for several days now, but this was the first time she'd seen this President Lu have the free time to go for a run.
Though to maintain such a good figure, he must exercise regularly.
"Then, is there anything you'd like for breakfast?" she asked again.
"Anything is fine, don't go to too much trouble."
President Lu said amiably and then went out.
By the time he returned, breakfast was ready.
An array of breakfast dishes covered the table, surprising him. "Why so many?"
Xu Yanxia introduced them to him, "The steamed egg with shrimp, snow pear and white fungus porridge, and assorted vegetable balls are for Miss Jingxi. Third Young Master said yesterday he wanted beef buns and savory tofu pudding this morning, so I made those. I also made preserved vegetable pancakes and soy milk, as Auntie Zhang said you like them."
"Actually, there's no need for so much trouble,"
Lu Jingming said, "I'm fine with anything. Since the food is ready, I'll go wake them up."
Xu Yanxia, "..."
She wanted to say there was more warming in the kitchen, so the other two could sleep a little longer, but President Lu had already gone upstairs.
Soon, he came back down, having showered and changed, leading a disheveled Lu Jingyao behind him.
"Bro, so what if the food gets cold? Let me sleep a little more."
The just-forcibly-awakened Third Young Master Lu looked unwilling. "It's finally a day off today. I didn't sleep until past two last night."
"What time you sleep is your own business,"
His CEO older brother walking ahead issued a serious instruction, "But since you specifically ordered breakfast last night, and Xiaoxia specially made it for you, you have to get up and eat it."
"But when I ordered yesterday, I didn't know you were... you know,"
Nearly slipping up, Lu Jingyao glanced at Xu Yanxia beside him and hurriedly apologized, "Sorry, Sister Xiaoxia, I won't order specific dishes anymore. Just make whatever you want, don't mind me."
Xu Yanxia, "..."
Why did something feel off?
She was a paid cook. Wasn't it natural for the Lu family to tell her what they wanted to eat? Why was he apologizing?
But before she could speak, another burst of laughter came from upstairs, "Ahahahaha..."
Immediately, the Lu family's second daughter, Lu Jingxi, rushed downstairs in high spirits and threw her arms around her excitedly, exclaiming, "Xia, you're a miracle worker!!! I ate so much yesterday, but I actually lost weight when I stepped on the scale just now!!!"
Before Xu Yanxia could even react, Lu Jingming, standing nearby, darkened his expression.
"Let go. You have a cold; be careful not to pass it to her."
