Leng Tianhao spoke earnestly, "This time, you've won, and you've won spectacularly. It's not just the Leng family—mark my words, the Chen and Xu families will soon be under your thumb as well. The Leng family is in dire straits, but we still have value. Help us just this once, and from now on, the Leng family will follow the Lu family's lead without question!"
Lu Chengwen's head was spinning. "Uncle Leng, what are you talking about? I'm completely lost."
Leng Tianhao pressed on, "Chengwen, we're both smart men. Let's not play games. This room is full of your people, and I'm genuinely begging you."
Lu Chengwen was so exasperated he almost laughed. He turned to Jiang Shihan, "Those other two old geezers couldn't stand the sight of me and lectured me the moment I walked in. This guy, though? His attitude's so good it's giving me the creeps!"
"Chengwen, I'm admitting defeat. Do you want me to kneel? I'll do it!"
Leng Tianhao started to kneel.
Lu Chengwen was stunned and rushed to stop him. It wasn't unheard of—plenty of big shots had started their rise by enduring humiliation or groveling. For the truly powerful, swallowing their pride was nothing if it meant ruling the world later.
But Lu Chengwen couldn't hold him back. Leng Tianhao was already on his knees, pleading desperately.
"Chengwen, please, give the Leng family a way out!"
Lu Chengwen, out of options, dropped to his knees too, facing him. "Uncle Leng, you give me a way out!"
Leng Tianhao kowtowed. "I'm begging you!"
Lu Chengwen kowtowed back. "I'm returning the gesture, no scams here!"
Leng Tianhao kowtowed again. "Won't you spare us?"
Lu Chengwen, tears streaming, kowtowed harder. "Just kill me already!"
Leng Tianhao kowtowed once more. "Is there no room for discussion?"
Lu Chengwen roared, "Enough already!"
"Those other two old fossils at least came at me with verbal jabs. You're hitting me with emotional warfare? What's wrong with you?"
Leng Tianhao looked at Lu Chengwen, who didn't seem to be faking his confusion.
"The Qianfeng Group… it's done for."
"How is it done for?"
"Our last investment fund was poured into the shantytown project by Qingqiu. Even with your guarantee, we won't see returns anytime soon. The Qianfeng Group's capital chain broke long ago. We can't even pay salaries anymore. In a month, morale will collapse, and people will start scheming. In two months, the top brass will jump ship. In three months, we'll be an empty shell. All operations will grind to a halt, and the penalties alone will bankrupt us completely."
"That bad?" Lu Chengwen rubbed his chin. "I hadn't thought of that."
Jiang Shihan, standing awkwardly to the side, ventured, "Um, maybe you two could… stand up to talk?"
Lu Chengwen realized how absurd they looked, kneeling face-to-face on the floor.
"Right, right, let's stand."
Seeing Lu Chengwen deep in thought, Leng Tianhao glimpsed hope. "Chengwen, don't you like Qingqiu? I won't stand in your way anymore! If you don't trust me, take her home tonight. Let her live with you. How's that? Once the deed's done, I can't back out, right?"
Lu Chengwen stared at him. "Are you even speaking human language?"
Behind a screen, Leng Qingqiu had overheard everything.
Lu Chengwen continued, exasperated, "Stop using your daughter as a bargaining chip when you're in trouble, only to push her away when things are fine, fearing she'll take your wealth. Leng Qingqiu is a person—your daughter. Can't you treat her better? With a father like you, she's really drawn the short straw."
"No, no, she'd be great with you! Truly! You're young, capable, and this move of yours was masterful. We all underestimated you. Even those other two old fools will come to admire you once they realize it. I'd feel at ease with Qingqiu by your side."
Lu Chengwen gave him a hard look. "So, Qingqiu stays with me, then you sideline her, play the puppet master, and let Long Aotian run Qianfeng. That way, you keep your wealth, use your daughter's connection to me to gain resources, and revive Qianfeng. That's your plan, right?"
"Hey, come on, that's a bit harsh! It's a win-win, isn't it? Look, I'll even give you some Qianfeng shares. You'll get dividends every year…"
Lu Chengwen sighed. "Uncle Leng, times have changed."
"Oh?"
"If Xu Zhiyun or Chen Qingbin said this to me, I'd spit in their faces and curse them to high heaven."
"And you're not cursing me because… we're close?"
"No, I'm just tired."
Lu Chengwen shook his head. "I don't get it. Your daughter's a genius. She could make Qianfeng bigger and stronger. Without her, Qianfeng would've collapsed years ago. Why do you trust an outsider over your own daughter?"
"She's got 10 billion in her hands—enough to keep Qianfeng afloat. If you secure her leadership for the next few years, with her money and talent, no one could swallow Qianfeng. Isn't that a good thing?"
"You've got a goddess-level daughter, and you're begging me, an outsider, instead? Uncle, if I were ruthless, I'd devour your family right now, not even leaving the bones. I could have your daughter serving me tea every day!"
"Money doesn't follow you to the grave. You've only got one daughter. Why don't you cherish her instead of treating her like a threat?"
Lu Chengwen's tirade left Leng Tianhao's face alternating between pale and flushed, speechless.
Leng Qingqiu, listening from behind the screen, smiled with quiet relief.
Lu Chengwen was right about one thing: Leng Tianhao had laid bare the family's dire situation. If Lu Chengwen wanted to strike, now was the perfect moment to exploit their weakness.
But he didn't.
In her heart, Leng Qingqiu thought, He still cares about me. He's standing up for me.
She had long given up on her father.
Stepping out, she said calmly, "No need to worry about the funds anymore. I know you took out a 2-billion loan with high interest—I've paid it off. I've also transferred 5 billion from my personal account to Qianfeng's finances. That should be enough to keep things running. I've sent people to collect outstanding payments too. Qianfeng's fine now."
Leng Tianhao, who hadn't seen his daughter in days, stood up. "Really?"
Leng Qingqiu's heart was cold toward her father. His first concern was Qianfeng, not a word of thanks or a question about where she'd been.
Lu Chengwen saw the expression on her face and felt a pang of sympathy.
[The fiercest warrior, but she's got no gear, no backup, no one to support her. She's fighting the whole world alone.]
[She's lost weight. She must've been so stressed these past few days. Even when you're busy, you've got to eat properly. She looks so heartbreakingly fragile.]
Leng Qingqiu caught Lu Chengwen's gaze, her eyes shimmering with gratitude and a hint of tears. He was probably the only person in the world who cared about her happiness, not her wealth.
Lu Chengwen squirmed under her stare. "Uh, I don't have much else to do here… The guarantee contract—if you guys won't sign, I'll get your grandfather to do it. All three families have signed, so don't worry, you won't lose money."
Leng Qingqiu nodded calmly. "Thank you."
"No problem."
Turning to Leng Tianhao, she said, "Qianfeng's accounts now have 5 billion. I've cleared the 2-billion bank loan, and with the 2 billion you have, you've got 7 billion to work with. From now on, Qianfeng is yours. I'm resigning."
Leng Tianhao was shocked. "What?"
"Isn't that what you wanted?" Leng Qingqiu gave a bitter smile. "I'm done fighting. If you want to replace the CEO, go ahead. I'm out."
She turned to Lu Chengwen. "I'm not in a good mood. Will you walk with me?"
"Uh… I've got stuff to do, you know…" But seeing the sorrow in her eyes, Lu Chengwen's heart ached.
Those eyes were pleading.
The stronger a woman is, the more her vulnerability, despair, and need for care tug at the heart.
[Damn it, I can't stand that look in her eyes!]
[Seeing her like this hurts so much. Leng Tianhao's a complete idiot. If I had a daughter this amazing, I'd wake up laughing from my dreams. I'd give her my life if she asked!]
Lu Chengwen nodded. "Let's take a walk."
The car pulled up to a park.
Leng Qingqiu sat on a bench, breathing in the scent of flowers and grass, watching children play in the distance. A faint smile finally graced her face.
Jiang Shihan brought drinks for them and then tactfully retreated to join Zhao Gang.
"Why do you always feel sorry for me?" Leng Qingqiu asked suddenly. "I haven't exactly been kind to you."
"No way," Lu Chengwen said, brushing a leaf off his pants casually. "I'm cold-hearted. I scam people, make money, chase women, gamble, party, race cars… Feeling sorry for someone? Not my thing."
"Really?"
"Obviously."
"Then why help me?"
"Heh, because I'm a lech. Trying to take advantage of you. Women are easiest to win over when they're vulnerable, sick, or heartbroken."
"You seem to know a lot."
"Child's play."
"And you're telling me this now? Not afraid I'll get mad?"
"Nah," Lu Chengwen said. "You've given up on Qianfeng after fighting so hard for it. I can give up on you too."
Leng Qingqiu nodded. "How about you hire me? I'll work for Dasheng Group."
Lu Chengwen glanced at her and laughed. "Give me a break. With your funds, you could start your own empire. Me? I can't afford you."
"I don't want money. I'll just work for you."
"What? I've already got a VP who's pretty capable…"
"I won't take her job. I'll be your secretary, your assistant, whatever."
Lu Chengwen chuckled. "Come on, I've never heard of the Monkey King hiring Guanyin as his secretary."
"Your secretary likes you."
"Who, Shihan? Nah. She's only with me because her mom's sick and needs expensive treatment. She secretly can't stand me."
Leng Qingqiu smiled. "You're smart on the surface, but you're clueless. She likes you—a lot. I can tell."
Lu Chengwen grinned.
[Whether she likes me or not, don't I know? I've got everyone's background checked.]
"Fine! If she likes me, I'll make a move on her someday. I'm the head of a billion-dollar group. No one's gonna bat an eye if I flirt with a sexy secretary."
Leng Qingqiu tilted her head. "Hire me as your secretary, and you can flirt with me instead."
Lu Chengwen squeezed his drink so hard it spurted out. He sat up straight, looking at her. "Don't… don't mess around like that. It's freaky."
"If you had a daughter like me, would you treat her well?"
"Way better than your dad," Lu Chengwen blurted, then winced. "Sorry, that was out of line."
Leng Qingqiu leaned closer, making Lu Chengwen's heart race nervously.
"What… what are you doing?"
"Daddy."
Lu Chengwen's scalp tingled with shock.
_
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