How could problems arise at this critical juncture?
The secretary let out a bitter laugh, his voice tinged with helplessness.
“Well… it seems a certain prominent family from the capital has suddenly intervened. They’re taking a hardline stance and have already sent people to negotiate with several of our former partners. Not only are they offering more favorable terms, but they’re also applying covert pressure to force the other parties to choose sides…”
A prominent family from the capital?
Lou Tingwen stared coldly at Lou Qiyun.
“Was it that man’s doing?”
“Without the Lou Family, what do you think you are?He spoke word by word, his tone so gloomy it could drip water.
“If you get played to death one day and get thrown into the ocean, who would ever know?”
The corners of Lou Qiyun’s lips curved upward, forming a gentle smile.
She set down her chopsticks, pulled out a tissue, and lightly dabbed the corners of her mouth.
“I told you I want you dead.”
“So before I close my eyes forever, I must send you on your way first.”
Lou Tingwen’s chest heaved violently with rage.
Lou Qiyun leisurely finished her bowl of warm congee.
She gently placed the spoon beside the bowl, producing a faint clinking sound, then rose unhurriedly from the dining table.
She tilted her head slightly, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders.
“He said he wanted to stand up for me, and I’ve always remembered what Dad taught me—of course I wouldn’t refuse.”
Remember to win men over.
This was the philosophy of life Lou Tingwen had personally taught her.
A woman who wants to establish herself in the business world must know how to leverage strength.
Ideally, she should make men willingly run errands and fight battles for her.
She had originally used this very tactic to pave the way for the Lou Family step by step, attempting to secure greater benefits for the family in the ever-changing capital landscape.
But who could have predicted the situation would take such a sharp turn, causing the chessboard to collapse?
She now found herself forced to stand at the forefront, opposing her own father.
Those she had once viewed as pawns had now become her only reliance.
Hearing her words, Lou Tingwen felt weakness spreading through his entire body.
Lou Qiyun let out two light laughs, the sound crisp yet completely devoid of mirth.
Without another glance at her father, she turned and headed upstairs.
The moment she left, the dining room fell into immediate silence.
Cheng Yunying and her daughter Lou Tinglan didn’t even dare to breathe heavily.
They huddled in the corner, fingers tightly intertwined, eyes cast downward.
Lou Tingwen merely swept a cold, stern glance at the secretary.
“How are things with Wu Haifeng?”
In the current situation, the Lou Family already stood like a crumbling building.
If they could join forces with the Wu Family to stabilize stock prices and quell public opinion, they might still hold on for a while longer, avoiding immediate collapse.
The secretary lowered his head, pausing briefly before speaking with a hint of hesitation.
“The engagement banquet incident has implicated the Wu Family—their stock prices have already shown volatility. The capital market is reacting very sensitively, the media has begun digging deeper, and some are even following Young Master Wu’s clues to investigate his private life…”
Private life…
Lou Tingwen massaged his temples in frustration.
He knew that if Wu Haifeng’s shady affairs came to light, it would be enough to destroy the Wu Family’s reputation entirely.
Seeing his prolonged silence, the secretary tentatively asked,
“Mr. Lou, should I contact Young Master Wu? See if he can make a clarification or help suppress the rumors?”
Lou Tingwen waved his hand dismissively, the gesture decisive.
“If he can’t even handle this minor issue, then he’s not even worth that man of unknown origins.”
If he can’t even suppress this little storm, what qualifications does Wu Haifeng have to become the Lou Family’s son-in-law?
If that were truly the case, there would be no need to hesitate about the originally favored marriage candidate—they could simply replace them early.
But…
Lou Tingwen remained silent, his thoughts churning.
With Wu Haifeng unreliable, what could the Lou Family rely on to turn things around?
The wolves of the capital market had long caught the scent of blood and were closing in, watching intently.
Without a powerful ally, the Lou Family would inevitably be torn to shreds.
He pondered silently, his gaze slowly sweeping across the dining room.
Finally, it settled slowly on Lou Tinglan.
Lou Tinglan abruptly lowered her head, her face turning deathly pale, her fingertips trembling uncontrollably.
She instinctively shrank back.
Could it be…
Had Lou Qiyun’s venomous words actually come true?
Was Father really considering having her replace her sister and walk a path she had never imagined?
Cheng Yunying’s heart tightened, her nails digging fiercely into the wooden edge of the table.
Her chest heaved violently, and she nearly stood up to stop his terrifying thought.
But in the end, she didn’t dare move, only biting her lip hard.
Yet Lou Tingwen had already averted his gaze, his face showing not a trace of hesitation as he spoke decisively, “It’s time to roll out Lou Yixu’s proposal.”
That name hadn’t been mentioned in a very, very long time.
Cheng Yunying’s heart jolted violently, and her once hollow, lifeless eyes suddenly flickered with a faint glimmer of light.
Yixu…
The plan he left behind had once pulled the Lou Family back from the brink of bankruptcy, reversing the entire family’s fate.
Shouldn’t the world finally know just how remarkable he was?
It wasn’t just a simple proposal—it was a strategy powerful enough to alter destiny.
Lou Tingwen let out two cold laughs, a mocking curve lifting the corner of his mouth.
“She cares about her brother the most, doesn’t she? Since she’s the one who caused the trouble, let her brother bear the consequences.”
“Let her taste for herself what price must be paid after causing such a mess.”
The secretary immediately went to make arrangements, hurrying out of the room without daring to ask another question.
Cheng Yunying’s eyes widened, her pupils trembling slightly.
It was Lou Qiyun again!
All because of Lou Qiyun!
And so, the Lou Family swiftly sprang into action.
Every department operated like perfectly meshed gears, with astonishing efficiency.
The internet was instantly flooded with news of the “Lou Family secretly establishing a charity fund to aid women.”
The top spots on the trending charts were all occupied by related topics.
“Focusing on helping impoverished girls from remote mountain areas and abused young girls—the Lou Family has truly done something major this time!” netizens excitedly commented, with shares skyrocketing at an incredible rate.
“Finally, we don’t have to worry about donations being intercepted by men! At last, there’s an organization willing to use charitable funds where they’re truly needed—for women!”
“How could a family that quietly does good deeds possibly sell their daughters for profit? The earlier rumors must have been blind!”
The previous criticisms about the engagement banquet and rumors of selling daughters were instantly buried under an overwhelming wave of praise.
Public opinion had completely shifted.
Even the plummeting stock prices began to recover.
In the financial markets, investor confidence noticeably rebounded.
Just as Lou Qiyun had resolved the trouble, her inspiration for composing suddenly surged.
She spent the entire morning hunched over her desk, writing and sketching.
Her pen darted back and forth across the staff paper as melodies gradually took shape in her mind.
It wasn’t until her stomach growled, reminding her that she had missed lunch, that she casually grabbed her phone to check the time.
As the screen lit up, the harsh glare reflected on her face.
Four or five notifications about the Lou Family’s charity fund popped up all at once.
Red dots densely clustered over the app icons.
Her good mood instantly chilled.
That was her brother’s project!
The charitable initiative he had written in his notebook, repeatedly revised!
Lou Qiyun abruptly stood up, her chair sliding backward several inches.
Her usually radiant face was now flushed crimson.