The next day.
Lu Chengwen wore a stylish trench coat and sunglasses, followed by a seductive female secretary with a curvaceous figure and black-framed glasses.
Lu Chengwen's suit pants were sharply creased, his leather shoes polished to a shine. Jiang Shihan, dressed in a form-fitting pencil skirt, black stockings, and high heels, exuded temptation.
The two descended the villa steps, where Copper King and Iron King stood on either side, with six burly men in black suits waiting near the cars.
Copper King and Iron King greeted in unison, "Good morning, President Lu."
Zhao Gang opened the car door. "President Lu, please."
Lu Chengwen smiled and got into the car. Jiang Shihan climbed in and immediately settled onto his lap. Lu Chengwen held the beauty, stroking her thigh, and said with effortless charm, "Zhao Gang."
"Yes, President Lu."
"Let's go."
---
Huo Wendong was dressed in high-end formal wear, his tailored wool suit fitting impeccably.
His expensive Italian leather shoes were spotless.
Holding Luo Shiyin, he said, "Beautiful, today I will conquer this city, and you…"
He tapped her nose playfully. "Will witness history with me."
Luo Shiyin smiled faintly. "President Huo, after today, don't forget about me, okay?"
"Hahaha!" Huo Wendong laughed heartily. "Let's go!"
Over a dozen bodyguards, secretaries, and assistants standing below responded in unison, "Yes, President Huo!"
---
Long Aotian was also dressed in a suit, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Hua Xuening supported him. "Young Master, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Long Aotian said through gritted teeth, his gaze fixed ahead.
"Don't push yourself. Right now, you look like you're about to collapse. Maybe we shouldn't go."
Long Aotian glanced at Hua Xuening. Though he knew her consciousness was sealed, leaving her unable to think flexibly, her blunt words still filled him with growing disgust.
"I won't die! Lu Chengwen and Huo Wendong both think they'll be the victors. Heh. As the true hunter, I'll let them revel in their joy, only to fall, fail, and be utterly crushed in the midst of it…"
Hua Xuening said, "Young Master, you were already crushed last night."
"I took the Bone Restoration Pill! I'm fine now!"
"But you know yourself—your bones have only just begun to heal. You absolutely must not exert yourself or use any martial arts. Otherwise… you'll be crushed again."
Long Aotian grabbed Hua Xuening by the throat. "Shut up! Idiot! Today is about business strategy. It's a battle of wits, not fists!"
"Understood, Young Master. Just don't strain yourself—your bones can't take it…"
---
Yuan Fang drove swiftly along the outer ring road.
Silver King, looking every bit the elite businessman, skimmed through a newspaper with a smile. "Yuan Fang, tomorrow this paper will feature a major headline: 'Dongfang Group Acquires Qianfeng, Huo Wendong Becomes Majority Shareholder.' But no one will know that Huo Wendong is just a puppet. Our Young Master is the true master pulling the strings behind the scenes."
"And what about us, Brother?"
"We are the strings." Silver King gazed at the scenery flashing by outside the window. "The most valuable, most hidden, and most effective strings in the world."
---
Lu Chengwen's car hadn't gone far when a fleet of vehicles waited ahead.
Zhao Gang recognized Xu Xuejiao's driver and quickly stopped, turning back to report, "President Lu, it's President Xu's convoy."
Lu Chengwen was busy enjoying Jiang Shihan's lipstick when he heard this. He hastily withdrew his hand from her clothes. "What does she want now?"
"Not sure."
Jiang Shihan hurriedly adjusted her bra and hair, quickly reapplying her makeup.
Xu Xuejiao was dressed in professional attire, looking like a completely different person.
Zhao Gang got out and opened the car door. "Good morning, President Xu."
"Mhm."
Xu Xuejiao climbed into the car and sat beside Lu Chengwen, smiling. "Do I look good?"
Lu Chengwen's inner thoughts raced:
*[You little vixen! You're the death of me! How does a loli suddenly look so damn sharp in professional attire?]*
*[If you were my girlfriend, I'd make you wear this outfit and go at it for three hundred rounds.]*
*[That petite figure actually has presence! The contrast is exhilarating!]*
Outwardly, he remained impassive. "Be careful not to burst out of that outfit. Zhao Gang, drive."
Xu Xuejiao smirked. "You devil! Still pretending to be proper!"
With that, she plopped onto Lu Chengwen's lap, wrapped her arms around him, and planted a kiss.
Lu Chengwen tensed. "Why are you sitting on me? Stop squirming! What are you rubbing against—ugh, get off!"
"No way! Oh? Are you reacting?"
"You're the vice president of Houde Group. Can't you act a little more composed?"
"Why bother? There's no one else here." Xu Xuejiao sat on Lu Chengwen's thighs. "Jiang Shihan, did you go to President Lu's place yesterday?"
"Huh?" Jiang Shihan blinked. "No."
"Really?"
"Really not. Oh, I did tidy up his room in the morning."
"I see. No wonder I caught your scent in his room."
"Yeah, I might've overdone the perfume yesterday…"
---
The car hadn't gone far when another fleet of vehicles appeared.
"What now?" Lu Chengwen asked.
"It's… President Leng's car."
Leng Qingqiu wore a deep-toned trench coat—an outfit chosen to amplify her presence and pressure during negotiations.
There was no denying it: when it came to aura, Leng Qingqiu outshone Xu Xuejiao, Chen Mengyun, and even Jiang Shihan.
She was the kind of woman whose grandeur made even the title of "empress" seem inadequate.
Zhao Gang wore a pained expression as he turned back to Lu Chengwen.
Lu Chengwen rubbed his chin, still pondering, when Leng Qingqiu tapped on the window.
Zhao Gang rolled it down awkwardly. "P-President Leng."
"What? Now that I've fallen from grace, you won't even open the door?"
"N-no, of course not. I'll open it right away."
Flustered, Zhao Gang got out and opened the door for her.
Leng Qingqiu peered inside and smirked. "No wonder Zhao Gang hesitated. President Lu has quite the lively scene here, with beauties left and right."
Lu Chengwen chuckled awkwardly. "President Xu asked for a ride. Get in."
The more women in the car, the more complicated things became.
Xu Xuejiao and Leng Qingqiu were at odds.
Xu Xuejiao said, "President Leng seems confident. I hear today's a big day for Qianfeng Group. Wishing you a triumphant victory."
"Thank you." Leng Qingqiu replied calmly. "With Brother Chengwen's support, I'm full of confidence. Even if I lose this round, it's no big deal. At worst, I'll settle into being the young madam of the Lu family. My personal worth exceeds the total assets of Qianfeng. Isn't that right, Brother Chengwen?"
Lu Chengwen forced a smile. "Y-yes, absolutely. Forget Qianfeng—even the combined assets of the four major families can't compare to your value, Qingqiu."
Xu Xuejiao puffed up in irritation but quickly smiled again. "Brother Chengwen, last night you kept tugging at the blankets in your sleep. I nearly froze to death."
Leng Qingqiu immediately shot Lu Chengwen a questioning look: *Is she telling the truth?*
"Ah, haha!" Lu Chengwen laughed dryly. "About last night… it's a long story. Anyway, President Xu was too scared to sleep alone, so I had to keep her company. Honestly, my legendary self-restraint should earn me some extra points, don't you think?"
Leng Qingqiu understood—Lu Chengwen was saving face for Xu Xuejiao while clarifying that nothing had happened between them.
Leng Qingqiu wasn't an ordinary woman. She wouldn't resort to hair-pulling or screaming matches.
She knew the art of subtle warfare.
Feigning surprise, she said, "Brother Chengwen, how rude of you. If a girl is already sharing your bed, and you don't make a move, what does that say? Is my little sister Xuejiao not alluring enough? Or are her legs not long enough? If word gets out that you were so indifferent, how will she face others?"
Xu Xuejiao was fuming.
She forced a smile. "It's no big deal. These things happen naturally! Brother Chengwen, you still have my panties, right? You were so rough last night! I don't care—you owe me a new pair!"
Lu Chengwen broke out in a cold sweat.
"Ah… haha, y-yes, well… at the time… *cough*… ahem… I'll make it up to you."
Xu Xuejiao shot Leng Qingqiu a triumphant look.
Leng Qingqiu's eyes turned frosty, clearly furious.
She grabbed Lu Chengwen's arm and draped it around herself, pressing against his chest. "Brother Chengwen, I'm not mad at you. But next time you sneak into the bathroom while I'm showering, at least make some noise! You scared me half to death!"
Xu Xuejiao also tugged at Lu Chengwen's arm. "Brother Chengwen, I'll be staying at your place again tonight. What outfit should I wear for you? Want me to model it?"
Leng Qingqiu said, "Brother Chengwen, I—"
"Stop! Stopstopstopstop! Pull over!"
Zhao Gang slammed the brakes.
Lu Chengwen shoved the two women aside. "I'm getting out! Damn it, I've had enough! Not once have I started trouble, yet I'm always the one suffering!"
Both girls clung to him, silently pleading.
Lu Chengwen glowered. "Everyone behaving now? One more word, and you're walking!"
Jiang Shihan silently applauded.
*Two heiresses of major conglomerates, cowed by President Lu's authority. So impressive!*
Lu Chengwen pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Move out."
He hung up.
The following cars immediately split off onto alternate routes.
---
Qianfeng Group, Boardroom.
Zhang Tuofeng, as chairman of the chamber of commerce, presided over the board meeting.
"Ladies and gentlemen, today's meeting is of utmost importance. The decisions made here will determine the future of Qianfeng Group, a pillar enterprise of our city, and profoundly impact the business landscape and economic development for years to come. I now ask all non-essential personnel to leave. Only Qianfeng Group shareholders, the president, and one designated professional advisor, along with chamber and notary staff, may remain."
Xu Xuejiao wasn't allowed to stay.
But she refused to leave, and no one could persuade her otherwise.
Zhang Tuofeng approached her. "President Xu, would you mind waiting in the lounge? We'll notify you as soon as we have results. This is Qianfeng Group's internal affair, involving confidential business interests, so…"
"Just one thing." Xu Xuejiao stood and addressed Leng Qingqiu. "Leng Qingqiu, before you make any decisions, let me give you a safety net."
Her secretary handed her a contract. Xu Xuejiao held it up. "I'm willing to acquire your 40% stake in Qianfeng Group. My offer will be nothing short of a dream."
Zhang Tuofeng forced a smile. "President Xu, please follow the usher."
Leng Qingqiu's expression darkened.
Huo Wendong's face grew even grimmer. His secretary leaned in. "President Huo."
Huo Wendong whispered, "Keep an eye on Xu Xuejiao."
"Understood."