“Boss, thank you. I didn’t handle things well.”
After the commotion, the bar quickly returned to normal. Cheng Xiao, nervous and uneasy, stood before Sister Qian.
If it weren’t for her, the bar wouldn’t have gotten into such trouble.
“Oh? Then how should it have been handled?”
Sister Qian’s question completely stumped Cheng Xiao. That’s right—if she had to go through it again, what would she have done? Let herself be harassed?
“Fool. Fight back! I can’t stand men who use force. Don’t worry—if anything happens, I’ll take responsibility.”
What could she do? With a face that could ruin nations, Cheng Xiao was bound to attract attention—even Young Master Lu had jumped in to defend her.
That said, shouldn’t Cheng Xiao be thanking Lu Yiming instead?
If he hadn’t stepped in at the right moment, who knows what kind of loss she might’ve suffered.
“What’s wrong? Shouldn’t you properly thank your classmate?”
“Classmate?”
Cheng Xiao’s eyes showed confusion. Whose classmate?
It didn’t seem like she was faking.
“You don’t recognize him?”
Sister Qian pointed to Lu Yiming, looking shocked.
This was Young Master Lu—famous in Magic City’s rich kid circle. And you’re telling me his own classmate doesn’t recognize him?
So, all this time, she didn’t even know the identity of her savior?
Unbelievable.
Sister Qian’s eyes flicked between the two of them, clearly switching into gossip mode.
What was this?
A domineering CEO falling for a sweet innocent?
A spoiled rich boy and the campus belle’s untold love story?
She hadn’t expected her little brother to play the game this well.
“Boss, I…”
Cheng Xiao really didn’t know who Lu Yiming was.
Sure, his name was well-known across Magic City University. But Cheng Xiao was either working or rushing between jobs. Just keeping up with her studies was already impressive—she didn’t have the time or energy to care about popular students or campus belles.
“Ahem, nothing much. The King desires the goddess, but she’s indifferent. I get it.”
Lu Yiming: (ˉ▽ˉ;)… That explanation? Flawless.
“Don’t make things up. You’re going to scare her.”
“Aww, already protective, huh?”
Lu Yiming: Wait, weren’t you just trying to get me to marry into your family? Why do you suddenly sound like a matchmaker?
Sister Qian’s antics were beyond him.
And truthfully, he didn’t want to be involved with Cheng Xiao in this life.
That look of despair in her eyes from his past life—Lu Yiming never wanted to see it again.
“Alright, I was just curious. Cheng Xiao, why didn’t you tell me you’re a top student at Magic City University?”
A university student waiting tables in a bar—that was seriously overqualified.
“Boss, I didn’t mean to hide it. Please don’t worry, I can absolutely balance work and study. I won’t cause any trouble.”
Cheng Xiao was panicking. This job paid well, and it had taken a lot to get hired. She couldn’t lose it.
“I’m not firing you. Relax. So, what’s your major?”
“Business Administration.”
“Oh? You’ve got good taste.”
In this era, not many students chose Business Administration. It wasn’t as saturated as it would be in later years. Right now, the field trained rare managerial talent.
“Boss, I just…”
“Enough. We’ll change your position. As it happens, I need someone with management skills. You’ll take over managing the bar.”
“I can’t…”
Cheng Xiao was dumbfounded. How did she suddenly get promoted?
She had only learned textbook theory—never put anything into practice. She was afraid she’d screw it up.
“If I’m not worried, why are you?”
Sister Qian waved it off coolly. It’s just a bar—what’s the big deal?
She trusted Lu Yiming’s judgment.
If she lost money, she’d just make Lu Yiming pay for it.
Lu Yiming: (ˉ▽ˉ;)… What does this have to do with me?
Still, giving Cheng Xiao a managerial position would keep her safe. At least it’d make sleazy men think twice before trying anything.
Lu Yiming didn’t object.
“Settled then. You get the day off. Go home, get ready. Oh—and your salary goes from 1,200 to 2,000.”
A raise?
To Cheng Xiao, this was a huge help. After all, her family…
“So, what’s next? Stick around for another drink, or send your classmate back to school?”
“Boss, I… I can get back myself.”
Right now, Cheng Xiao looked like a startled bunny. Flustered, awkward—but especially adorable.
She didn’t even dare look at Lu Yiming.
That reaction…
“I’m not going.”
Lu Yiming immediately declined.
Why?
They weren’t even close.
Right—it was just because he saved her earlier. That had to be it.
Women were always trying to lie to themselves.
Once she left, Lu Yiming finished the rest of his cocktail in one gulp.
“She’s gone already?”
“Tried the drink, joined the drama—what else is there to do? Stay and drown your sorrows?”
“You’re not even going to give your sister a chance? I was hoping to ‘pick up the pieces’ tonight.”
Sister Qian teased half-jokingly, but the interest in her eyes was real.
“Let’s not. Things are good the way they are.”
“I’m not afraid—what are you scared of?”
“Afraid you’ll lose control. I’m a dangerously charming poison, you know.”
“Ugh, have some shame, will you?”
Sister Qian rolled her eyes. This brat—hadn’t seen him in a while, and his face was getting thicker by the day.
But honestly, she didn’t quite understand him anymore.
The national bond fallout was spreading.
For people in their circle, this wasn’t a secret.
Tracking it back to Lu Yiming wasn’t even hard.
But who would’ve guessed?
A guy carrying the reputation of a rich, spoiled brat had silently pulled off something so big.
How?
“Interesting. Stinky brat, you’re getting more and more intriguing.”
Watching Lu Yiming’s figure disappear into the night, Sister Qian couldn’t help but mutter to herself.
A golden scale is not something that stays trapped in a pond—it rises as a dragon when the storm arrives.
What other surprises would Lu Yiming bring?
She thought of her uncle’s words and felt stirred.
[That Lu kid is something else. I’ve seen many who can make money, but someone willing to stand up like that? That’s a first. Huaxia needs more businessmen with a conscience.]
Those were her uncle’s exact words.
Looking at things now, that brat really did have something special.
But in the corner of the bar, there was still a pair of eyes quietly watching Lu Yiming—eyes he hadn’t noticed at all.