Lu Zheng frowned slightly, his tone leaving no room for refusal. “Keep it. It’s a birthday present.”
He rarely showed his emotions openly.
Seeing the displeasure on his face, Su Tang did not dare refuse again. She put on a sweet smile and said, “Then, thank you, Brother Lu Zheng~”
Lu Zheng’s tone remained indifferent. “Mm. It’s getting late, so go to bed early.”
“Then I’ll go back to my room!”
With that, Su Tang turned around and ran toward her room.
Lu Zheng stood silently where he was, watching until she disappeared around the staircase. A moment later, he turned and strode away.
Back in her room, Su Tang clutched the expensive gift box in her hands, her fingertips trembling.
In her mind, the eldest brother of the Lu family had always been someone lofty, cold, and terrifying.
She had thought that, in his eyes, she was nothing more than an ordinary young woman who liked clinging to his younger brother and trying to attach herself to the Lu family, someone cheap and ridiculous.
She had even been feeling guilty and terrified just moments ago, afraid that he would see through her schemes and realize that she was trying to marry into a wealthy family.
She was afraid that, just like in her dream, he would despise her and get rid of her.
But she had never expected this.
He actually remembered her birthday.
He had even prepared such a beautiful watch for her in advance and given it to her.
In her dream, this man had been ruthless enough to get rid of her, yet in reality, he had silently given her such an expensive gift.
What exactly did he mean?
Did he hate her, or was he hiding some intention she could not understand?
At that moment, Su Tang’s understanding of him, which had remained unchanged for ten years, completely collapsed for the first time.
As she thought about it, she suddenly had a revelation.
It must be because she had not followed the plot of the novel and schemed against his younger brother.
So this watch was a reward from Lu Zheng for her?
The more Su Tang thought about it, the more convinced she became.
If that was the case, then things would be much easier.
Actually, after learning that Lu Zheng might eventually get rid of her, she had considered running away as soon as possible.
But she had no money!
Besides, what good would running away do for her now?
If she had been caught coming out of Lu Huai’s room and then immediately ran away, would that not prove that she had a guilty conscience?
Lu Zheng was meticulous and shrewd. Based on what she knew about him, he had probably already guessed that she was planning to scheme against his younger brother.
Otherwise, why would he have been waiting in the hallway just now?
If she ran away now, would that not confirm his suspicions?
From what she knew of him, if she dared admit that she had intended to scheme against Lu Huai, he certainly would not mind repeating what he had done to her in her dream.
At the thought of Lu Huai, Su Tang lowered her eyes in disappointment.
Regardless of whether Lu Zheng had noticed her scheme, she could no longer be with Lu Huai.
However, as she looked at the gift box in her hands, Su Tang’s eyes suddenly lit up.
Could it be that as long as she gave up scheming against Lu Huai and obediently acted sweet and well-behaved in front of Lu Zheng, she could win this powerful man over and receive even more gifts?
A gift this expensive could probably be exchanged for quite a bit of money at a secondhand luxury store, right?
In any case, her current situation was much better than what had happened in her dream.
Even if Lu Zheng noticed her little schemes, it did not matter. After all, the worst possible outcome was still being drowned at sea, just like in her dream.
But if he had not noticed…
The corners of Su Tang’s lips curled upward. That would be even better.
It meant that no one knew about her schemes, and no one would threaten her life because of them.
As for whether she would eventually be drowned at sea just as the plot dictated…
She would simply do everything she could and see what happened.
Once she had saved enough money, she could leave and go somewhere far away, staying away from the Lu family and the dangerous Lu Zheng. Would that not solve everything?
What long-term financial support, what stable future, she wanted none of it!
Staying alive was more important than anything!
Of course, money was important too!!
Her top priority now was to save money!!!
After taking a shower, Su Tang lay down on the bed and slowly drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, a servant called Su Tang downstairs for breakfast.
Before she even entered the dining room, she heard Grandma’s laughter.
The moment Grandma noticed her at the doorway, she immediately called out to her.
“Su Tang is here. Come, come sit beside Grandma.”
Only Grandma was smiling. Lu Zheng, seated on her right, was dressed in loose home clothes and was silently looking down at the screen of his phone.
Over the years, Lu Zheng’s reputation as a workaholic had become deeply ingrained in everyone’s minds.
Su Tang was already used to it.
She smiled and walked over to Grandma. “Grandma, Brother Lu Zheng, good morning.”
“Ah.”
Grandma beamed as she pulled Su Tang down to sit on her left. Then she frowned.
“Grandma was only away for a little while, so why do you look thinner? Did Lu Huai bully you while Grandma was gone?”
Su Tang lowered her eyes and shook her head.
“No, it’s just that I’ve been busy looking for a job lately. I’ve been sending out resumes everywhere.”
Lu Huai had been more than considerate toward her ever since they were children, so it was hardly appropriate to say that he had bullied her.
Grandma’s expression turned cold as she looked at Lu Zheng beside her, her tone carrying a hint of reproach.
“Ah Zheng, is the Lu Group about to go bankrupt? Didn’t I tell you to arrange a position for Su Tang after she graduated?”
Hearing this, Lu Zheng put down his phone and was about to speak.
Su Tang spoke before he could.
“No, Grandma, it’s because I didn’t tell Brother Lu Zheng. He…”
Only then did Grandma’s expression soften, and she interrupted her.
“Silly child, why didn’t you say anything about something like this? The Lu Group is such a huge company. Why would you need to run around outside looking for a job? It would be best for you to simply work at the family company.”
After saying that, she turned to look at Lu Zheng, who had remained silent the entire time.
“Ah Zheng, I’m leaving this matter to you. Help arrange a job for Su Tang and make sure she gets good benefits.”
Su Tang’s heart stirred.
The Lu Group was one of the top leading corporations in the capital, with salaries and benefits far exceeding those of small companies outside.
She was trying her best to save money right now, so this was practically a pillow delivered just when she was sleepy.
It was hard for her not to be tempted when she thought about the salary.
However, joining the Lu Group meant that she would have to deal with Lu Zheng every day.
Su Tang could not help frowning.
She lowered her eyes, afraid to respond too quickly.
Just then, a lazy set of footsteps came from outside the door.
Lu Huai walked in with a yawn, faint traces of drunkenness lingering beneath his eyes.
After entering, he first greeted Grandma and Lu Zheng.
When he saw Su Tang, he glanced at her before immediately looking away.
After hesitating for a moment, he still walked over and sat down beside Lu Zheng.
Seeing his reaction, Su Tang bit her lip and said nothing.
Lu Huai’s words from the previous night had already made everything crystal clear to her.
After years of companionship, he had always regarded her as a younger sister.
Combined with the precognitive dream she had the day before, that little lingering attachment of hers had long since been completely shattered.
Now that everyone had arrived, Grandma happily instructed the servants to bring out the meal.
Before long, an elegant and light breakfast was arranged across the long wooden table.
While they were eating, Grandma waved at Lu Zheng.
“Ah Zheng, switch seats with Su Tang and let Lu Huai sit next to her.”
Ever since Grandma had first met Su Tang ten years ago, she had taken an immediate liking to her.
Over the years, Grandma had always gone out of her way to bring Su Tang and Lu Huai together.
Yet no matter how much she tried, after all these years, Lu Huai and Su Tang had remained nothing more than siblings.
Although Lu Zheng had never liked being arranged around by Grandma, as long as it was not anything serious, he usually would not go against her wishes.
But this time, he remained seated in silence as if he had not heard her.
Su Tang did not feel happy about Grandma trying to bring her and Lu Huai together like she had before.
She pursed her lips and looked at Grandma with a well-behaved smile.
“It’s fine, Grandma. I think sitting like this is quite good too.”