Leng Qingqiu stood with a casual air, smoothing her skirt before sitting nonchalantly in a nearby chair.
Jiang Shihan gave an apologetic look, and Lu Chengwen nodded for her to leave. She slipped out quietly.
Xu Xuejiao strode over, smirking. "Well, look at you, Lu Chengwen. Quite the hot commodity now, huh?"
Lu Chengwen frowned. "Barging into someone's office like that? You're a vice president at Houde Group now. Where's your manners?"
"Oh, you've got manners?" Xu Xuejiao shot a glance at Leng Qingqiu. "What's this? You two hooking up again?"
"Don't make it sound so crude," Lu Chengwen said quickly. "Hooking up? Come on!"
Leng Qingqiu smiled coolly. "I'm pursuing Chengwen-ge. Got a problem with that, President Xu?"
Xu Xuejiao laughed. "The whole of Xuecheng's elite knows the Leng family called off your engagement. Acting like this now? It's a bit… beneath you, isn't it?"
Leng Qingqiu's eyes glinted. "Beneath me? Chasing a man isn't shameful. Besides, do I, Leng Qingqiu, care what others think?"
Xu Xuejiao sidled up to Lu Chengwen, looping her arm through his. "I'm already his. He forced himself on me in the car—Uncle and Auntie Lu saw it all!"
Lu Chengwen's face turned green. "Forced? Saw what? I didn't do anything! I was just messing with you!"
Leng Qingqiu chuckled. "My man should be the one all the girls fight over. A little roadside snack now and then? No big deal. I'm his main course."
Xu Xuejiao's eyes flared. "A roadside snack? That's for someone whose company's about to go bankrupt. When you're running a pancake stall, Chengwen-ge and I will swing by to support you!"
Lu Chengwen stepped between them. "Stop! Enough!"
Xu Xuejiao huffed. "Lu Chengwen, I get why you saved her, but are you really so spineless that you're still chasing her?"
"I'm not—" Lu Chengwen started.
Leng Qingqiu cut in. "Chengwen-ge, you know how I feel. Have your fun outside, but don't let it get serious."
"I didn't—" he tried again.
Xu Xuejiao snapped, "Our parents approve of me! If you mess around, I'll show up at your house every day and raise hell!"
"Who's 'our' parents?" Lu Chengwen protested.
Leng Qingqiu leaned in. "Chengwen-ge, I'll move in tonight. Twins, or one boy, one girl?"
Lu Chengwen roared, "STOP!"
Inside, he screamed: [Is there anyone in this world more miserable than me? Anyone?! Who dares to be more pathetic than this?!]
The Branch Master sat imposingly on his throne, the dim light casting shadows. The Strategist appeared like a specter, bowing. "I pay respects to the Branch Master."
"Hm," the Branch Master grunted, his black iron mask glinting as his dark eyes flicked to the Strategist. "I've made further progress in my cultivation recently. You've worked hard managing the organization's affairs."
"Your vision and leadership guide us," the Strategist replied. "Under your central philosophy, our Xuecheng branch thrives and grows endlessly."
The Branch Master gave a dignified chuckle. "I'm close to breaking through to the Upper Four Gates, and your efforts have contributed to that."
"Thank you, Branch Master."
"How's the Young Master faring?"
"Not smoothly," the Strategist admitted.
"Hmph," the Branch Master sneered. "A young upstart with some frontier victories, puffed up by hype. He's still a greenhorn lacking experience."
"Indeed," the Strategist agreed. "Compared to your strategic brilliance, the Young Master is somewhat immature."
The Branch Master slammed the throne's armrest. "Because of his negligence, we've shelled out a hundred billion! The branch is out of cash, we can't even pay next month's wages, and we're drowning in debt. It's infuriating!"
The Strategist nodded. "The Young Master aims to unify Xuecheng's four great families, each with assets starting at hundreds of billions. Our initial hundred-billion investment is a significant favor. Long-term, it's not a loss."
"True," the Branch Master conceded. "But this kid's got some nerve, demanding fifty billion like it's pocket change."
"Headquarters ordered us to fully support the Young Master—manpower, money, everything. We're just following orders. I'm sure neither Headquarters nor the Young Master will shortchange you."
"I get it," the Branch Master said. "Fine, let it go. Has Tongtuo Wang arrived?"
"I was just about to report," the Strategist said.
"Go on."
"Tongtuo Wang has defected to Lu Chengwen."
"What?!" The Branch Master shot to his feet.
"It's bizarre," the Strategist said. "He joined Lu Chengwen immediately, no transition. He's cut all contact with us and is now plotting with Lu Chengwen."
The Branch Master suppressed his rage. "Fool! Thinks following a rich man means a cushy life? Doesn't he know our organization's rules?"
"There's worse news."
"What now?"
"You guessed it, Branch Master," the Strategist said. "Tongtuo Wang's fifty-billion transfer is complete. Forty-nine billion went to Lu Chengwen's personal Dasheng Group account, and the rest was split into three new private accounts—likely their own pockets."
"Argh!" The Branch Master's fury exploded, his palm shattering the throne's armrest. "I'll slaughter them! Those treacherous bastards!"
"Calm yourself, Branch Master," the Strategist said. "There's one more matter for you to decide."
"What else?!"
"The Young Master demands another fifty billion, urgently."
"Go to hell!" The Branch Master ripped off his mask, his face contorted with rage. "Is this a game? Treating me like an ATM? I could stomach one or two billion, but fifty billion after fifty billion? I'm not a 24/7 money printer to fund that spoiled brat!"
"Branch Master, please maintain your dignity!" the Strategist urged.
"Dignity be damned!" The Branch Master was nearly in tears. "I poured my life's savings into him, and he not only lost Tongtuo Wang but let fifty billion land in Lu Chengwen's pocket! I scraped together another fifty billion, practically pawning my underwear, and that went to Lu Chengwen too! Now he wants another fifty billion? I've got nothing left! Tell him to beg his high-and-mighty father for it!"
The Strategist tried to reason. "Branch Master, we've invested a hundred billion. If we fall out with the Young Master now, it's all gone."
"What choice do I have?" the Branch Master shouted, stomping. "I can't conjure fifty billion out of thin air! Should I sell my body?"
The Strategist stroked his chin. "It's an idea, but time's too tight…"
"Are you serious?" the Branch Master snapped.
"Calm down!" the Strategist said. "We demand the hundred billion back from Long Aotian."
"No way!" the Branch Master roared.
"Why not?"
"That hundred billion never reached him! Our own people gave it to Lu Chengwen, and Tongtuo Wang and Tietuo Wang both attacked the Young Master. If we make a fuss, we're screwed. Headquarters will blame us, and your position as Branch Master? Gone."
The Branch Master slumped onto his throne, pale and dazed. After a long silence, he looked up. "Do as you say. Lock down the news."
The door swung open, and a tall, handsome young man strode in with confidence. He knelt on one knee. "Yintuo Wang, reporting! The mission you and the Strategist assigned has been exceeded!"
The Branch Master leapt up, rushing to help him stand. "A-Yin, you're back!"
"Branch Master, your mask?"
"Forget the mask! Tongtuo Wang betrayed us and gave my fortune to someone else!"
Yintuo Wang's eyes blazed. "He's got some nerve!"
The Branch Master grabbed Yintuo Wang like a brother. "Your elder brother hasn't returned. This is on you now. I'll scrape together more money. Find the Young Master, and capture Tongtuo Wang and Tietuo Wang alive. Make them cough up my money!"
Yintuo Wang was livid. "Rest assured, Branch Master! I'll crush their bones and drain their blood to get your money back!"
"Good! You're the reliable one! Those two idiots have driven me to the edge!"
"Hahaha!" Yintuo Wang laughed boldly. "No worries, Branch Master. With me, Yintuo Wang, on the case, I'll turn the tables and settle this once and for all!"
"I'm counting on you, brother!"
"Branch Master!"
"Brother!"
"Branch Master!"
Lu Chengwen eyed Tongtuo Wang, Fatty, and Skinny. "Have fun last night?"
Tongtuo Wang grinned. "Too much fun! We got four girls, drank a dozen bottles of top-shelf liquor—spent over 200,000 in one night."
Lu Chengwen chuckled. "Good. Knowing how to spend money means you'll know how to make it."
"Yes, sir."
"From today, lie low. Anything you need, tell Jiang Shihan. Don't wander. I've got a big job coming up for you. Pull it off, and you'll be richly rewarded."
"Thank you for your trust, Young Master!"
"Remember, you're my men now. No contact with the branch. If I find out otherwise…"
"The branch is nothing!" Tongtuo Wang declared. "The Branch Master isn't fit to shine your shoes!"
Lu Chengwen nodded, satisfied. Stepping outside, he patted his chest, his heart heavy. [What do I do? When this blows up, I'm dead, aren't I?]
_
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