“Uncle, you’re being unreasonable!”
Hua Rui looked up at his face, her deer-like eyes brimming with watery coquettishness.
He was too tall—his towering, pine-like figure, standing at 190 centimeters, loomed like a mountain before the petite 166-centimeter princess.
A flicker of tenderness passed through the man’s hawk-like eyes. “Where am I being unreasonable?”
Hua Rui’s free hand gave him a gentle push. Blushing, she obediently stood by his side, letting him hold her hand.
Lu Jianshen leaned down, bringing his lips close to her ear:
“Princess Ruirui is very beautiful and very obedient! Uncle will reward you later!”
Stars seemed to sparkle in Hua Rui’s eyes, and even the peach blossom petal at the center of her forehead glowed beautifully:
“What kind of reward?”
Lu Jianshen affectionately patted her fluffy little head. She was still an innocent angel, her heart and eyes filled with joy at the mere mention of a reward.
“Come with me. First, let’s meet the head steward of Rose Manor, Mr. Steve. You can call him Grandpa!”
Hua Rui secretly stuck out her tongue. Grandpa?
Her own grandfather had passed away early, and she had never met him since birth.
Steve hurried over, bowing respectfully to the two of them. “Greetings, Mrs. Lu!”
Hua Rui felt a bit flustered and instinctively leaned closer to Lu Jianshen’s side.
The man naturally sensed this and tightened his grip on her hand in reassurance.
“Mrs. Lu is indeed correct, but it would be more fitting to call her Princess Ruirui!”
Afraid that his stern demeanor might frighten the young girl before him, Steve forced a gentle smile:
“Princess Ruirui! From now on, your orders will be Mr. Lu’s orders. I will spare no effort to fulfill them!”
Hua Rui smiled sweetly. “Grandpa Steve, thank you. I’ll be in your care!”
Grandpa? The smile Steve had forced onto his face stiffened slightly.
He was a lifelong bachelor, committed to staying single.
Suddenly, such a beautiful little angel was calling him Grandpa?
This… felt oddly sweet and thrilling, didn’t it?
The corners of Lu Jianshen’s lips curved imperceptibly as he calmly led Hua Rui outside, where the sunlight was dazzling!
…
In a top-tier club in Huaguo.
The sounds of clinking glasses, banter, and women’s coquettish laughter filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere!
A cool and handsome young man sat in a corner, silently drinking from his glass.
Hua Wuque pushed aside the flock of beauties surrounding him and walked over, a cigar dangling from his lips:
“I say, brother, we’re out to have fun. Why are you sitting here alone, drinking in silence?”
The man looked up, a faint smile flickering in his phoenix-like eyes. “The quality of these people is just too low!”
“Wow! Brother, every single one of them is a top-tier beauty in the entertainment industry!”
Hua Wuque snapped his fingers, and a pure, youthful woman approached, giggling as she refilled the man’s glass:
“Young Master Cheng, seeing you in person is truly better than hearing about you a hundred times! You really are a dragon among men. I’m Bai Yu, a rising star. Let me toast you, Young Master Cheng. I hope you’ll look out for me in the future!”
Bai Yu raised her glass, but the man across from her merely glanced at her indifferently, not moving a muscle:
“No need.”
Bai Yu’s face flushed with embarrassment.
Although she wasn’t as respected as veteran actresses in the entertainment industry, she was a rising film and television star, adored by fans wherever she went. She had never been treated with such cold indifference!
Suppressing her frustration, Bai Yu reminded herself that the man before her was a veritable gold mine.
A mere gesture from him could secure her the Golden Bear Award for Best Newcomer!
The woman cast a pleading glance at Hua Wuque. The man flashed a wicked smile as he leaned in close to Cheng Qian and whispered:
“Do me a favor, bro. I’m thinking of starting a film company and signing a few up-and-coming stars!”
Cheng Qian’s eyes flickered slightly. This unreliable guy!
He clearly had the thriving Huatian Group at home, yet instead of following the proper path, he insisted on going independent and starting some film company.
If Chairman Hua found out, he might just have a heart attack from anger!
Cheng Qian picked up his wine glass and raised his eyes. Bai Yu’s face immediately broke into a bright smile as she quickly clinked glasses with him, her voice sweet and coquettish:
“Young Master Cheng, bottoms up!”
The woman downed her wine in one go, while Cheng Qian only took a small sip, giving Hua Wuque just enough face.
He didn’t like such cunning women who thrived in these social scenes.
In his mind, that delicate little princess appeared, lifting her angry little face to say to him:
“What are you doing? You scared the cat with your driving!”
A faint smile touched the corner of Cheng Qian’s lips, which Hua Wuque happened to catch.
“Bro, daydreaming about love?”
Cheng Qian straightened his expression. “Is your little princess free?”
Hua Wuque narrowed his eyes. “What, you want to see my princess? No way, bro!”
“The little princess likes cats? I recently acquired a rare, purebred Snow Cat that actually suits her temperament quite well.” Cheng Qian’s tone was indifferent, revealing no emotion.
“You keep the cat for now. The little princess isn’t even in Huaguo!” Hua Wuque leisurely blew a smoke ring.
“Oh? I just saw her the day before yesterday.” Cheng Qian feigned nonchalance.
“She’s in Perfume Country, having a blast with the Lu tycoon! That brat, once she’s there, she forgets all about home—doesn’t even call…”
As Hua Wuque rambled on, he failed to notice the change in Cheng Qian’s expression.
The phone rang. Cheng Qian answered—it was his sister, Cheng Yun:
“Xiaolu is performing surgery tonight and will finish late. Mom wants you to pick her up!”
The man remained silent.
“Hey, you brat, are you even listening?” Cheng Yun’s voice rose several decibels.
After a long silence, just as Cheng Yun thought he had hung up, the man spoke: “Which hospital?”
Cheng Yun rolled her eyes. She had already told him at least three times—it seemed he hadn’t paid any attention at all.
“Jingzhou Hospital, the best hospital in Huaguo! I’ll send you the address and Xiaolu’s number. If you still don’t remember, I’ll tell Old Chairman Cheng!”
“Don’t use the old man to pressure me!” Cheng Qian hung up.
“Wuque, bring the wine. Let’s drink!”
“Damn? Did that phone call rattle you?” Hua Wuque grinned mischievously.
“We drink until we drop!”…
After finishing her surgery, Lu Xiaolu changed clothes and arrived at the designated car.
The caller had been the driver, who said: Young Master Cheng and Young Master Hua had sent him to pick her up.
The car was filled with the strong smell of alcohol.
Lu Xiaolu frowned as she saw the two men in the back seat, their eyes bleary with drunkenness. “Are you two alright?”
Cheng Qian didn’t speak, but Hua Wuque was still half-conscious. “We’re fine! We can still drink more!”
Lu Xiaolu said nothing.
It was no surprise that Hua Wuque had gotten this drunk.
But Cheng Qian had always presented himself as a refined, gentlemanly businessman—how could he have ended up in such a drunken state?
“Come with me to the Lu Residence. I’ll make you some sobering soup.”
Lu Xiaolu pinched her nose and sat in the passenger seat. “Please take us to the Lu Residence.”
“The Lu Residence, have Shen Shen come pick me up!” Hua Wuque joked half-heartedly.
Lu Xiaolu frowned: “Then you call him, I don’t dare to provoke Second Brother.”
True to his word, Hua Wuque took out his phone, found Lu Jianshen’s number, and dialed…