The door didn't budge.
Tan Meng pressed down hard again, but the door remained completely motionless.
What was going on?
Tan Meng turned on her phone's flashlight and shined it at the door, but found nothing unusual.
Little did she know that yesterday, Shu Qingqing had not only asked Nanny Li to install surveillance cameras but had also dug out the keys to all the rooms on the second floor.
Although Shu Qingqing couldn't be bothered to expend much energy on this right before the New Year, she wasn't foolish enough to let others wander freely into the second-floor rooms anymore—especially her and Lu Bochuan's bedroom, as well as the study.
Tan Meng tried pressing the door handle again, but it still wouldn't open.
It was then she realized that the study door had been locked.
Damn it!
Tan Meng furiously pounded on the door.
Bang! The sound was exceptionally loud in the dead of the silent night.
Panicking, Tan Meng didn't have time to vent her frustration and quickly ran downstairs.
Back in the guest room, she viciously punched her pillow a few times.
She had thought she would definitely get it done tonight; she never expected Shu Qingqing to actually lock the study door.
Argh, she was so mad she could die.
The five hundred thousand was practically in her hands!
After Tan Meng vented for a while, she received another message on her phone.
[That Person: Is it done?]
[Tan Meng: No, they locked the study door.]
[That Person: Useless. If you had acted earlier, we wouldn't be in this situation.]
[Tan Meng: Does it have to be in the study? Will somewhere else not work?]
[That Person: Other than the company and the study, do you think Lu Bochuan would discuss company secrets anywhere else?]
[That Person: Idiot.]
[That Person: You must plant the bug before the New Year, otherwise, just wait for your dad to get out.]
Looking at the string of messages, Tan Meng gnashed her teeth in anger but didn't dare to reply.
She lay in bed, tossing and turning as she thought, but couldn't come up with any good ideas. It wasn't until dawn was breaking that she finally fell into a groggy sleep.
When she opened her eyes again, it was already eleven in the morning.
Tan Meng got up in a panic. Walking out of her room, she saw Shu Qingqing's family of four all sitting in the living room.
Lu Yu was reading with Lu Xun, and Shu Qingqing was holding Lu Bochuan's hand, saying something unknown.
"Miss Tan." Shu Qingqing smiled when she saw her. "Freshen up, we'll be having lunch soon."
The snow outside the window was still heavy. The meteorological observatory had issued a blizzard warning. Today's high was only minus six degrees Celsius, and the low was minus thirteen. It was the coldest day in Beijing in recent years.
At the same time, the heavy snow outside continued to fall without stopping, accumulating to a height that almost surpassed the calves.
Tan Meng still couldn't leave.
After lunch, everyone returned to their respective rooms for a midday nap.
All employees of the Lu Group were working from home today, so he didn't have to go to the office either.
Tan Meng was just about to return to her room when she turned her head and saw Lu Bochuan heading up to the second floor and opening the study door.
An idea suddenly popped into her head.
What if she pretended to go to the study to discuss Lu Yu's academic progress with Lu Bochuan, and then took the opportunity to slip the bug into a corner? Wouldn't her mission be accomplished then?
The more she thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed.
Returning to the guest room, she pocketed the bug, gathered some of the test papers Lu Yu had previously completed, and took them up to the second floor.
Hearing the knock on the door, Lu Bochuan assumed it was Shu Qingqing and walked over to open it himself.
As he pulled the door open, the smile on his lips vanished instantly.
"Miss Tan?" Lu Bochuan frowned slightly. "Is there something you need?"
Tan Meng gave a gentle smile. "Hello, Mr. Lu. I was wondering if it's convenient for you. I'd like to chat with you about Lu Yu's recent academic progress."
Lu Bochuan glanced at the test papers in her hands.
Lu Yu's academic performance had always been excellent, and he had never had to worry about it.
He had been quite surprised the other day when Shu Qingqing told him that Lu Yu had hired a tutor because his grades were slipping.
After all, over the years, aside from extracurricular interest classes, Lu Yu had never needed tutoring for his academic subjects.
After hearing Shu Qingqing out, he realized that Lu Yu had always held himself to such high standards. Not only did he want to be first, but he also wanted to be first with exceptionally high scores.
Shu Qingqing had also told him that Lu Yu had always seen him as a role model.
He had gone to talk to Lu Yu for a long time that very night, wanting to tell him that he was already doing great and shouldn't put so much pressure on himself.
Although Lu Yu had listened, Lu Bochuan had checked on him several times after coming home late at night, only to find him still studying.
Since this Miss Tan was here, it would be good to get a better understanding of Lu Yu's situation from her.
After all, he knew that sometimes teachers understood children better than their own parents.
Lu Bochuan nodded. "Alright."
Thrilled, Tan Meng was about to follow Lu Bochuan into the study, only to see him casually pull the door shut behind him!
"Miss Tan, this way please." Lu Bochuan gestured and led the way to the second-floor living room.
So Lu Bochuan had no intention of letting her into the study at all?
Tan Meng watched helplessly as the study door closed right in front of her. In the end, she had no choice but to follow Lu Bochuan to the living room.
However, because her mind was preoccupied with the bug, she was rather distracted. Her words were all over the place, and her sentences lacked coherence.
Lu Bochuan quickly lost his patience.
"Miss Tan, I understand everything you've said. Thank you." Lu Bochuan stood up, ready to leave.
Tan Meng wanted to stop him, but a series of footsteps echoed from the hallway.
"Oh? Miss Tan, Lu Bochuan, what are you two doing here?" Shu Qingqing looked at them curiously.
"Miss Tan was telling me a bit about Lu Yu's situation." Lu Bochuan naturally took Shu Qingqing's hand and headed for the study.
Perhaps because he hadn't used enough force, the study door wasn't closed tightly, leaving a slight gap.
Tan Meng pursed her lips and quietly walked over.
Inside the study, Lu Bochuan was holding Shu Qingqing on his lap. "The old madam wants us to move back to the old family estate tomorrow. Is that okay?"
Shu Qingqing: "Sure."
Lu Bochuan: "If we go, we'll have to stay there until after the New Year. Let's pause Lu Yu's tutoring for now and just enjoy a good New Year. Although studying is important, we can't let him be under too much pressure."
Hearing this, Tan Meng's eyes widened instantly.
In that case, wouldn't she have even less of a chance to get into the study?
It was all that psycho Shu Qingqing's fault. Why the hell did she have to install cameras and locks for no reason?
Looking at Shu Qingqing through the crack in the door, Tan Meng's disgust deepened.
She was just about to listen to what else they had to say, but then she saw Lu Bochuan cup Shu Qingqing's face and lean in for a kiss.
Tan Meng stared blankly, forgetting to breathe for a moment.
When Lu Bochuan kissed, it was incredibly hot and sensual.
If only the person he was kissing was her...
Tan Meng was startled by her own thought.
She clutched her pounding heart, wanting to go back, but she couldn't tear her eyes away.
Inside the study, Shu Qingqing murmured something softly. Lu Bochuan affectionately pinched her cheek, adjusted his hold on her, and kissed her again.
Tan Meng clenched her fists tightly.
An old woman like Shu Qingqing, who had already given birth—even if her face and figure still looked decent, she was definitely worn out on the inside.
What right did she have to receive Lu Bochuan's affection?
Now that she had absolutely no chance to plant the bug in the study, she definitely wouldn't be able to get her hands on that five hundred thousand.
But, if she could hook up with Lu Bochuan...
Tan Meng looked down at her own chest.
She was young, beautiful, highly educated, and still a pure virgin.
Washed clean and presented right to Lu Bochuan, how could he possibly resist?
