Chapter Thirty-Six: Small Tricks Are Not Worth Watching

But as the saying goes, speak of the devil and he appears; just as they finished speaking, the door to the meeting room was knocked. Secretary Zhao opened the door, and it was none other than Shen Jingrong, whom they had just mentioned.

Shen Jingrong seemed to be doing quite well these days, her whole demeanor more radiant, her clothes and accessories elevated to a new level.

“Oh, Uncle, Sister, you’re both here!” Shen Jingrong exclaimed as she entered the room.

Lu Ziyi, seeing Shen Jingrong, looked as if he had spotted his nemesis. He rushed forward, grabbing her and demanding, “You lied to me! You and your family are trying to set me up with this contract, aren’t you?”

“What lie? What are you talking about?” Shen Jingrong frowned, trying to push him away and looking genuinely flustered, as if she knew nothing.

“The cost of this land—if there’s any risk, I have to bear it alone. Is your Shen family colluding with other small companies to scam me?” Lu Ziyi glared at her, his face dark and brooding.

Even if Shen Jingrong pretended to stay calm, she couldn’t hide her panic, yet she continued her pitiful act, “What are you saying, Ziyi? How could you think I’d do that to you?”

“Aren’t I going to marry into the Lu family soon? I’m half a Lu already—what good would it do me to make you lose so much?” As she spoke, tears streamed down her face, looking heartbreakingly forlorn.

Lu Ziyi was fooled by her delicate act; if things were as she said, there was no reason for her to cause him loss and debt.

Shen Qingli's lips twitched.

Shen Jingrong and Lu Ziyi weren’t even engaged yet, but here they were putting on a show. If Shen Jingrong really got her hands on Lu Ziyi’s money, she’d probably disappear in a heartbeat.

Marry him? Who would want to marry a fool?

Shen Qingli rolled her eyes and glanced at Xie Jinchuan. Their gazes met, both equally speechless.

In the empty meeting room, Shen Jingrong’s sobs echoed strangely.

Lu Ziyi, still suspicious, stood where he was, watching her but not comforting her.

A few minutes later, Shen Jingrong’s phone rang.

She sniffled, took out her phone, and deliberately showed the screen to Lu Ziyi. “Ziyi, it’s my father. Does he know something’s wrong with the contract?”

This brought Lu Ziyi’s wandering mind back to reality; he needed to clarify the contract immediately.

Shen Jingrong made no attempt to hide, and pressed the speaker button.

“Rongrong, are you at the Lu company?” Shen’s father sounded anxious and hurried.

“Dad, I’m here! What’s going on with the contract you gave Ziyi? Why did he suddenly get so angry with me?” Shen Jingrong, still tearful, complained to her father.

Shen’s father, an old hand at deception, replied, “It’s my fault, my fault. Check if Ziyi has signed it, and destroy it quickly. My secretary was careless and sent the wrong contract!”

Shen Jingrong hung up, looking aggrieved, casting her pitiful gaze at Lu Ziyi once again. “Ziyi, you see now? It was all a misunderstanding!”

Lu Ziyi’s grim expression softened; now that he’d wronged Shen Jingrong, his face showed some embarrassment. He took her hand and comforted her gently, “I shouldn’t have blamed you, but your father was so careless! Contracts are no small matter.”

Shen Jingrong nodded meekly, resting her head on his shoulder, but a hint of disdain flashed in her tear-stained eyes.

She hadn’t expected him to catch on! But he was so easy to fool. Luckily, she had called her father ahead of time; otherwise, things might not have ended so easily.

Her gaze flickered to Xie Jinchuan and Shen Qingli, who sat nearby. She bit her lip in hatred—every time, that little brat ruined things; detestable!

Shen Qingli watched as Shen Jingrong and Lu Ziyi simply dismissed everything as a misunderstanding and felt utterly speechless. With Lu Ziyi’s pig-headedness, who else would be the perfect mark?

Shen Qingli raised her elegant brows and smirked, “This partnership—how could the contract be mixed up? I wonder if it’s a real mistake or intentional?”

Sure enough, Lu Ziyi paused in comforting Shen Jingrong, falling silent in thought.

Shen Jingrong seethed at Shen Qingli’s remark, but kept up her fragile facade, lifting her head from Lu Ziyi’s shoulder, two tears trembling on her lashes. “Sister, I know you look down on me, but we’re family. How could you think so badly of me? Ziyi and I will soon be family—why would I harm him?”

Lu Ziyi grew steadier at her words. If you marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog. Shen Jingrong would never harm him!

He patted her hand twice, signaling his trust.

The misunderstanding resolved, Lu Ziyi glanced at Xie Jinchuan and Shen Qingli sitting across from him, feeling increasingly irritated, and united with Shen Jingrong against them. “I choose to trust Jingrong. Uncle, you should go home and take care of your health! Enjoy life. Since you don’t object to me reclaiming my rights, why come to the company?”

Shen Qingli listened to Lu Ziyi’s sarcastic tone and looked at his foolish, pig-like face, utterly speechless.

The entire Lu Group had been saved from disaster by Xie Jinchuan’s efforts—how could Lu Ziyi have the nerve to question why he was at the company?

Xie Jinchuan wasn’t angry. He gently stroked Shen Qingli’s hand, as if soothing a small animal.

Shen Qingli’s anger melted away at once, and she squeezed his hand in reassurance.

Their hands entwined, Xie Jinchuan’s voice was calm, “I came back simply because I don’t want to see the company destroyed over such matters.”

After all, with someone like Lu Ziyi, he could crush him at any moment; these petty tricks were hardly worth noticing!

Lu Ziyi grew even angrier at Xie Jinchuan’s nonchalant demeanor. “What bankruptcy? The company is thriving under my management! Jingrong said the contract was a misunderstanding. As long as the project proceeds, profits will follow!”

He had already tasted the sweetness of power—how could he relinquish it so easily?

And since the contract was merely a misunderstanding, he was sure this project would let him rise above Xie Jinchuan, proving who was truly the most competent leader of Lu Group.

Xie Jinchuan smiled quietly—good advice never helps those determined to self-destruct. Seeing Lu Ziyi’s stubbornness, he no longer cared to involve himself in this mess, and stood up, pulling Shen Qingli with him.

Shen Qingli, exasperated by Lu Ziyi’s actions, made a face at him and Shen Jingrong before following Xie Jinchuan out.

Secretary Zhao, waiting nearby, grew anxious. If Mr. Xie left, the company would truly be doomed. He hurried forward to intervene.

Xie Jinchuan and Shen Qingli had barely taken two steps when a group of men surged down the corridor, most of them in suits with bulging bellies, a rather intimidating sight.

Shen Qingli noticed how Xie Jinchuan unobtrusively shielded her behind him, and couldn’t help but feel a warm surge in her heart. She gripped his hand tightly.