Pei Xiao parked the car at the Gilded Club. After getting out, Lu Yanshen led Pei Xiao to the largest private room on the top floor.
Pei Xiao kicked open the door of the private room and saw Xia Meng standing in her spot, surrounded by several lecherous-looking men who were urging her to drink.
Two of the bolder ones even had their hands resting improperly on Xia Meng’s waist.
Seeing this, Lu Yanshen’s slightly furrowed brows tightened abruptly.
It had nothing to do with Xia Meng herself; it was just that such vulgar and shameless behavior was displeasing.
“Yanshen, you… why are you here?” Xia Meng, seeing Lu Yanshen standing at the entrance of the private room, had traces of alcohol around her mouth from being forced to drink just moments ago.
“Young Master Lu.” Upon seeing Lu Yanshen, everyone stood up to greet him.
Lu Wentao was the chairman of the Lu Group, the elder Lu referred to Lu Yanze, and the younger Lu referred to Lu Yanshen.
A few years ago, after Young Master Lu was involved in a traffic accident, many people thought he would remain in that state for the rest of his life.
No one expected that Young Master Lu would miraculously stand up again and free himself from the wheelchair.
It had been less than two years since he rose from the wheelchair, yet he had been unstoppable in the business world, winning every battle. In a short time, he had firmly reestablished himself in his rightful position.
In the past, Young Master Lu had always been so carefree and frivolous. However, emotionally, he had been deeply devoted and loyal to Xia Meng. It was just that Xia Meng was too pragmatic.
As soon as Young Master Lu had his accident, this woman ran away.
Now, Young Master Lu had recovered—not only physically but also in his career—and this woman had returned from abroad.
At first, everyone thought Young Master Lu would no longer pay attention to a woman like Xia Meng. Unexpectedly, Young Master Lu had actually come for Xia Meng tonight.
The investors who had just laid hands on Xia Meng felt somewhat guilty. They stood in the corner, too embarrassed to face Lu Yanshen directly.
They lacked confidence.
“Hah, you gentlemen seem to be in high spirits today, inviting Xia Meng for drinks without calling me? Xia Meng has always been under my protection. Don’t you gentlemen know that?”
“Young Master Lu, we’re truly sorry. Just now, we…”
Everyone tried to explain, but before they could finish, Xia Meng spoke up on their behalf. “Yanshen, it’s not like that. They were invited by me, I…”
“Are you trying to tell me that you willingly and deliberately degraded yourself? That the hands of those three scoundrels on your waist were there with your permission?”
Before Xia Meng could finish defending these client bosses, Lu Yanshen retorted sharply, his expression filled with disappointment.
Scolded by Lu Yanshen, Xia Meng’s eyes reddened. Just as she was about to leave this awkward situation, her high heels were too tall, causing her to twist her ankle. The pain made her grimace.
Pei Xiao immediately moved closer to Lu Yanshen. The next moment, Lu Yanshen strode over and picked her up horizontally in front of everyone.
Xia Meng gasped in surprise, wrapping her arms around Lu Yanshen’s neck. Lu Yanshen softened his voice, trying his best to comfort her gently. “Didn’t we agree that you could tell me if you had any difficulties? That I could help you?”
“I…”
“Alright, don’t say anything more. Let’s go to the hospital.”
“Mhm.” Xia Meng nodded shyly.
Pei Xiao glanced at the bosses present. “Gentlemen, farewell.”
Pei Xiao smiled with a bewitching, captivating charm.
It left the bosses feeling uneasy and at a loss.
Leaving the Gilded Clubhouse, Lu Yanze had just finished entertaining clients and was seeing off a few senior executives when he turned around and saw Lu Yanshen carrying Xia Meng down the steps.
“Second Brother,” Lu Yanze hurried forward. “What happened to Xia Meng?”
“She twisted her ankle. I’m taking her to the hospital to get it checked,” Lu Yanshen replied. “Big Brother, were you entertaining clients here tonight?”
“Yes, a few senior executives who want to partner with us on the eco-project. I don’t know where they heard it, but they found out that you and your wife are getting divorced, that you won’t be supporting the Xie family anymore, and that the Xie family is out of the picture. They couldn’t wait to take their place.”
“Not many people knew about my marriage to Xie Wantang. How did they find out?” Lu Yanshen asked, puzzled.
“Grandma doesn’t want you and your wife to divorce. What do you think?” Lu Yanze countered.
Lu Yanshen understood. Lu Yanze meant that the fact he had a wife was leaked by Grandma.
As for who leaked the news about the divorce, there were too many possibilities.
The reasoning was quite plausible—shifting the blame for the leak to Grandma, who had the motive—made the whole situation seem perfectly logical, without a single flaw.
Xia Meng shifted restlessly in Lu Yanshen’s arms.
Lu Yanshen immediately responded, “I’ll take Mengmeng to the hospital first.”
“Let’s go together. I happen to be going to the hospital to see Rourou too,” Lu Yanze said, lowering his voice.
“Alright.”
Lu Yanshen didn’t object further.
Lu Yanze took his own car. From the moment Lu Yanshen carried Xia Meng out of the Gilded Clubhouse until they got into the car, camera shutters flashed from dark corners along the way.
Pei Xiao remained dutiful and focused, driving attentively.
Inside the car with the three of them, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
In the car behind, Lu Yanze narrowed his eyes, his gaze deep and penetrating as he stared at Lu Yanshen’s car ahead.
He toyed with the emerald thumb ring on his finger. The flickering streetlights outside the window cast shifting shadows into the car, making Lu Yanze’s eyes appear equally elusive and inscrutable.
Suddenly, the man in the passenger seat turned around and respectfully said to Lu Yanze, “Mr. Lu, the photos have been sent over.”
“Hmm, pick a few and send them to my infatuated sister-in-law,” Lu Yanze leaned back and closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
After sending the photos, the man turned around again. “Mr. Lu, the people following the Second Young Madam reported that tonight, the Second Young Master had dinner with the Second Young Madam at Yujing Zundie.”
“Oh?”
“Just the two of them?”
“No, Qin Muyang was there too.”
“Him?”
Lu Yanze reopened his eyes, his expression unreadable. He began twisting the emerald thumb ring on his left thumb again. After a long while, he asked, “Was it the Second Young Madam who invited him, or the Second Young Master?”
“The Second Young Madam spent two days in Haishi recently.”
“Hah, Qin Muyang is notoriously difficult to invite. Not even two days—even two months might not be enough to get him to come. Isn’t the Second Young Madam supposed to be from the countryside?”
That’s what the Xie family had said.
“Tell the butler to keep an eye on the Second Young Madam from now on.”
“Yes.”
Soon, they arrived at the exclusive private hospital.
As Lu Yanze got out of the car, he saw Lu Yanshen carrying Xia Meng and rushing into the hospital without a moment’s delay.
To care so much about Xia Meng… Could it really be that his foolish younger brother had returned through soul transference?
Lu Yanze entered the hospital and took the elevator up to Lu Rourou’s VIP ward. Sure enough, Lu Rourou was still awake.
If this were a public hospital, outsiders would definitely not be allowed to visit patients at this hour.
But this was the Lu family’s own hospital, and when the young master came to visit his sister, no one dared to stop him.
In the first-floor treatment room, Lu Yanshen personally oversaw the process. The doctor handling Xia Meng’s injuries was extremely gentle, careful not to cause her any pain.
…
At the same time, at the Lu residence.
As Xie Wantang was getting ready for bed, she noticed several photos had been sent to her phone via MMS, each one showing Lu Yanshen with Xia Meng.
Xie Wantang’s hands tightened slightly. After taking a moment to steady herself, she calmly forwarded all the photos to her older brother, Qin Muyang.
She also sent him a voice message: “Big brother, this is him—Lu Yanshen. There’s no mistake.”