Chapter 92: Encircling the City from the Countryside

"Hua Tianyu, Lin Lin said you're pretty good at cooking?" Shu Yue asked.

A few days ago, while helping Lin Lin with her classes, Shu Yue had heard her mention it by chance. Shu Yue had been particularly curious, and after eating the breakfast Hua Tianyu bought today, she remembered the conversation.

Wei Xueying was taken aback by Shu Yue's question. Hua Tianyu could cook?

And it tasted good?

"You know how to cook?" Wei Xueying questioned, "What exactly did you do before you retired?"

"I already told you last time, I was responsible for being 'handsome.' Facing the enemy, I was so handsome that their men felt inferior and surrendered. So handsome that their women threw themselves at me, and world peace was achieved."

Shu Yue watched Hua Tianyu with a smile, listening to his nonsense. Wei Xueying pressed her hand to her forehead. "What does being handsome have to do with cooking?"

Hua Tianyu replied with a straight face, "Because I was too handsome, there were too many surrendered prisoners, and the kitchen staff couldn't keep up. So I joined the kitchen crew and ended up learning how to cook."

"So you see, that's the trouble with being too handsome!" Hua Tianyu said with a sigh.

Wei Xueying: "..."

She was speechless; she'd never met anyone so self-obsessed!

Shu Yue burst out laughing. "Hua Tianyu, then I'll go to your place for dinner tonight! I want to taste the skills of the great kitchen crew!"

Hua Tianyu smiled, "You're welcome, you're welcome. Xueying, would you like to join us?"

"No!" Wei Xueying refused firmly. Just on the way here, Hua Tianyu had annoyed her no end, and now, with his invitation, there's no way she'd accept.

"Then I'm relieved!" Hua Tianyu said cheerfully.

Wei Xueying, just opening the car door to get out, nearly stumbled. She glared fiercely at the driver's seat but didn't dare ask Hua Tianyu why he was "relieved."

She really feared that, in front of Shu Yue, Hua Tianyu would pull some stunt again.

Shu Yue giggled. "Hua Tianyu, it's settled then. I'll head straight to your place for dinner!"

With that, she ignored Hua Tianyu's reaction and walked into Swan International Tower with Wei Xueying.

Hua Tianyu watched the backs of the two beauties until they disappeared from view, then parked the Jaguar in the garage. After going upstairs, he first made a round of the security department, where he ran into Cui Quan, who had just arrived for work.

He asked Cui Quan about Cheng Feng's recent situation—any suspicious behavior?

Cui Quan told him that Cheng Feng had been very quiet these days, not trying anything. Because his trusted men had been fired, he couldn't stir up trouble even if he wanted to.

Hua Tianyu nodded and told Cui Quan to keep monitoring Cheng Feng's movements. Then he headed to the human resources department, and under Liang Hui's gaze, went off to discuss life and ideals with Wang Hong.

...

Lu Group.

President’s Office.

Lu Siyuan sat across from his father, Lu Changyun, looking thoroughly dejected.

Lu Changyun slowly picked up the purple clay teapot and poured red tea into the cup before him, then poured another for Lu Siyuan.

“Dad, I don’t want it! I can’t get used to this stuff!” Lu Siyuan waved his hand.

“You, always drinking those foreign things like coffee, never giving traditional things a try—how will you ever improve?” Lu Changyun said calmly.

“Dad, what I’m trying to tell you is that I failed to reach an agreement with Swan Group, and you’re offering me tea—what’s the point?” Lu Siyuan shook his head in frustration.

“Do you know the purpose of drinking tea?” Seeing his son so restless, Lu Changyun asked.

“What purpose?” Lu Siyuan replied absentmindedly.

“A gentle breeze, the bright moon in the sky, a cup of tea to cultivate oneself,” Lu Changyun recited the sixteen words slowly.

“Dad, aren’t you bored? Will drinking this tea help me sign the contract?” Lu Siyuan scoffed, unimpressed by his father’s philosophy.

“Will signing the contract help you win Wei Xueying?” Lu Changyun tapped his finger lightly on the desk, looking meaningfully at his son.

“I’m talking about signing a contract—who said I want to pursue Wei Xueying?” Lu Siyuan retorted, stiff-necked.

“You need 999 roses for a contract? You need 388 blue enchantress roses for a contract? You need to book the entire Taige Villa restaurant for a contract?” Lu Changyun fired off a series of questions, eyes locked on his son.

Lu Siyuan avoided his father's gaze, coughing twice.

“That has nothing to do with tea!”

“I want you to drink tea so you can quiet your mind and think,” Lu Changyun replied.

“Think about what?” Lu Siyuan asked.

“Think about what role we should play in this negotiation. Before you went, I already told you—Swan Group is in a tough spot, reportedly burdened with a huge debt,” Lu Changyun answered.

"Exactly, that's why I sent those roses, hoping to move her—what's wrong with that?"

Lu Changyun: "..."

His son was usually quite clever, but when it came to Wei Xueying, his mind seemed to fog up. Clearly, they should have the upper hand, but instead, he let the other side take control.

A winning hand played to ruin!

How was he supposed to teach this son?

Lu Changyun cradled his balding head, looking utterly distressed...

"Dad, I want to advance some salary and bonus." Seeing his father silent, Lu Siyuan began making demands.

"Lu Group doesn't have an advance salary policy." Lu Changyun glanced at his son and waved off the request.

He knew perfectly well why his son wanted money. It wasn't that he objected to his son pursuing Wei Xueying, but he just didn't approve of the way he was doing it.

Money wasted, not even a splash to show for it—and Lu Group’s reputation tarnished by his foolish son!

"Find a way to secure the contract from Swan Group, with terms more favorable to us—then you can take your commission from that deal!"

But, after all, he was his son, so Lu Changyun didn't cut off all options. He still hoped his son could achieve something.

Lu Changyun actually valued the cooperation with Swan Group—Swan had obvious advantages in biotechnology, precisely what Lu Group lacked.

He hoped that through this partnership, Swan Group's strengths could make up for their deficiencies in high-end bio-industries.

Originally, he had planned to negotiate with Wei Jiacheng himself, but now that Wei Jiacheng was still hospitalized, he had handed over all business to his daughter.

As an elder, it would be inappropriate for Lu Changyun to negotiate directly with Wei Xueying, so he sent his son.

But this son was so dazzled by Wei Xueying that he lost all sense, and Lu Changyun had to keep reminding him—the main task was to negotiate, and chasing girls came second!

He hadn't expected his advice to have no effect; instead, Lu Siyuan seemed irritated.

"If you won't help, I'll ask Mom!"

He stood up from his seat across the president's desk, turned around, slammed the door, leaving only a parting remark and his retreating figure.