Lu Yuanxing held Lin Zixiao and Lin Dundun’s hands and walked out of the office under the gazes of the two men.
Heh. Yesterday you ignored me; today I am beyond your reach!
Of course, that was only a joke. He knew that to the two of them, although the original owner was stupid, he was still their cash cow.
He could be a stepping stone for the little stars they wanted to support, bring his own resources into production teams so they could fleece him, and also use his versatile status as Lin Jingzhou’s wife to intimidate some investors.
They had taken advantage of the original owner’s desire to become famous, continuously giving him small sweet benefits, then squeezing him dry.
Look, this parenting variety show was one such sweet benefit.
Who knew that there was another pit hidden inside?
After going on the parenting variety show, the original owner was hated and mocked by the entire internet, lost all reputation, was divorced by Lin Jingzhou, and swept out of the house. Even the little child developed depression and was unable to walk out of the shadow of it all the way into adulthood.
Lu Yuanxing looked at little Dundun. He definitely could not let Lin Dundun suffer something like that!
Mm!
Lu Yuanxing cheered himself on. He absolutely had to work hard at giving up on the show! He had to be a salted fish!
After all, he was weak and sickly, right?
Lu Yuanxing had never felt as strongly as he did now that this weak-and-sickly character setting was so useful.
Or perhaps he could act like a huge diva, show off excessively, and maybe the director would think his brain was full of pits and let him leave early?
In short, the plot of the original novel could not happen!
Lu Yuanxing determined the “overall strategic policy” and was deeply excited by his own cleverness.
Give myself a like! Dog head.jpg
After an entire afternoon of “negotiation,” they left the negotiating table. It was now already six in the evening.
They walked out of the company entrance and discovered that the sky outside had already become a little dark and gloomy.
To reward himself for the success of the first step in his contract-termination strategy, Lu Yuanxing decided to pick a good place to eat.
He took out his phone, preparing to search for food on the map and look at reviews along the way. Unexpectedly, his phone happened to ring.
Lu Yuanxing glanced at it. It was Secretary Chen beside Lin Jingzhou.
“Hello, good day.” Lu Yuanxing answered the call.
Secretary Chen’s courteous and polite voice came from the other end. “Mr. Lu, good day.”
“Is something the matter?”
Secretary Chen said respectfully, “Mr. Lu, it is like this. The President has returned, and he happens to have time tonight…”
“Ah!” Lu Yuanxing said warmly. “Please give him my regards.”
Secretary Chen: ?
You two husbands are polite like you are not married.
Secretary Chen braced himself and said, “I heard that you came to the entertainment company today. Mr. Lin asked you to wait for him in the reception room at headquarters.”
Lu Yuanxing paused. Ah, was this already happening?? His first meeting with his wealthy husband?? But he had not yet prepared himself mentally!
Lu Yuanxing spent three seconds mentally preparing himself. He treated it somewhat seriously, but not much.
He said gently, “All right. I happen to be downstairs at the company now.”
“That’s perfect.” Secretary Chen breathed a sigh of relief.
Mission successfully completed!
Lu Yuanxing held the two little children’s hands and wandered along the street.
Lin Dundun said, “Big, Daddy, is coming?”
Lu Yuanxing said, “Yes, but it isn’t that he is coming. We are going over to find him.”
Lin Jingzhou was so busy, dealing with countless matters every day. This top-tier wealthy overbearing CEO was probably in some meeting right now.
Why had he called him over?
Because he was taking the little child to participate in the parenting variety show, was he worried? Did he want to meet and give him some advice?
Actually, Lin Jingzhou was really worrying too much. He wanted to withdraw from this hot potato more than anyone else. If possible, he only wanted to be as indifferent as a chrysanthemum.
Without… that kind of worldly desire.
Cat-men.
Hearing Lu Yuanxing say that Lin Jingzhou had returned and that they were going to see Lin Jingzhou, Lin Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up beside him, glowing with a different kind of brightness.
Lu Yuanxing had not forgotten his character setting of loving his husband. He asked Lin Dundun, “Shall we buy your dad something delicious?”
Lin Dundun nodded like a chick pecking rice. “Okay! Buy, food, for Big Daddy!”
Lin Zixiao, whose hand was being held by Lu Yuanxing, looked at him in surprise. Had bad stepdad really changed his nature?
Hmph. It must be one of his new tricks. He could not be bribed.
Bad stepdad only brought gifts to people when he needed something from them.
Lu Yuanxing conveniently bought a small cake for twelve yuan from the dessert shop nearby, then asked the store to wrap it in twenty-yuan wrapping paper, making it look quite presentable.
Spend the least money, put on the biggest show! Who could imagine that this little cake, which looked as though it cost several thousand yuan, actually contained food worth only twelve yuan…
In any case, his tycoon husband was not short of money. It was enough that the sentiment arrived.
This definitely was not perfunctory.
A cat head popped up in Lu Yuanxing’s heart.
A-actually, the little cake inside seemed quite sweet, and the flavor looked very good. He wanted to eat it too…
From the Lin Entertainment Company to the Lin headquarters, there was a long skybridge.
Lu Yuanxing calculated the distance. If there was a shortcut, he absolutely would not take the long way around.
So Lu Yuanxing returned to the entertainment company and went to the twelfth floor to take the skybridge.
It was Lin Dundun’s first time walking on a skybridge. Through the glass, he looked at the traffic flowing below and tightly hugged Lu Yuanxing’s leg. “Wow—”
“So, so high.” To a little child, even with glass separating them, this was already a great danger.
But Lin Dundun did not focus on his own fear. Instead, he held Lu Yuanxing’s hand and patted it very seriously. “Xingxing baby, don’t be afraid.”
He pressed tightly against Lu Yuanxing, as though the frightened one was not him, but his Xingxing baby.
Lu Yuanxing pulled the child closer. “It’s all right. This place is completely enclosed by glass. Besides, Daddy is here.”
Dundun gathered his courage and stubbornly expressed, “Dundun is not afraid.”
Lu Yuanxing smiled and could not bear to expose the little thoughts of this human child. Also, Dundun’s first reaction had been to protect him. He did not want to ruin Dundun’s intention.
So Lu Yuanxing said softly, “With Dundun protecting him, Daddy isn’t afraid either.”
“Hmph.” Lin Zixiao snorted coldly and watched this father and son coldly. Lin Dundun really was forgetting the pain once the wound healed.
Was this bad stepdad really worth protecting so much?
Thinking this, Lin Zixiao silently took a step to the side, assuming a posture that protected both of them.
Lu Yuanxing was on the phone with Secretary Chen. “I happen to be at Lin Entertainment. Yes, I’m coming over from the skybridge. Lin Dundun and Xiaoxiao are both here.”
Secretary Chen’s tone was enthusiastic. “Please wait there for a moment. I’ll come over right away.”
Lu Yuanxing said, “All right. Sorry to trouble you.”
Just then, a panicked figure walked over from the opposite side.
The sky was too dark, so Lu Yuanxing did not see clearly.
It seemed to be a young man.
The young man strangely stopped in front of Lu Yuanxing.
He said, “Yuanxing… it’s you.”
Lu Yuanxing’s eyes were filled with confusion. Following the principle of not exposing himself, he nodded. “It’s me.”
Lu Yuantang looked at Lu Yuanxing, who was dressed elegantly and had two children with him. Thinking about how Lin headquarters was the territory of Lu Yuanxing’s husband, while he himself still had to come here for a screen test, Lu Yuantang hated him so much he nearly bled.
Why? They had clearly been born in the same year, yet Lu Yuanxing had been born into the Lu family, living in luxury, while he had been outside like a rat crossing the street. After finally being recognized by the Lu family and holding his head high, Lu Yuanxing had married better than him.
His fiancé also had a child. Fortunately, he had heard that Lin Jingzhou did not treat Lu Yuanxing well, and the two children were not close to him either.
So Lu Yuantang squeezed out a smile. “Children are quite difficult to take care of, right? Yuanxing, I understand you. My family also has a child about this age. Sigh, how could Jingzhou let you bring two children out alone…”
Every word he said, openly and secretly, was meant to sow discord against Lu Yuanxing.
Lu Yuanxing listened in a daze. Lin Xiaoxiao spoke first. He lowered his head and looked at his younger brother. “Dundun is very easy to take care of.”
Then Lin Xiaoxiao raised a pair of sharp eyes. “And we have nannies.”
Lu Yuantang choked. He looked at Lin Xiaoxiao in surprise. Wasn’t it said that the eldest Lin child and Lu Yuanxing were the most at odds? Why was Lin Xiaoxiao actually speaking for Lu Yuanxing? How could this be?
Who in the wealthy circle did not know that Lin Xiaoxiao was extremely outstanding? Everyone praised Lin Jingzhou for raising a good heir, and many people were very envious.
Lu Yuantang was jealous. Lu Yuanxing had married so well, but he had always comforted himself that it did not matter. Lin Jingzhou and Lin Xiaoxiao were both ordinary toward Lu Yuanxing. Especially after Lin Xiaoxiao took power, Lu Yuanxing would have even less of a good ending. After all, the two of them had no blood relationship, no life-saving favor, and there was even less of any relationship involving using a favor to demand repayment.
He delusionally tried to regain some ground. “Yuanxing, do you know that you need an invitation to enter here?”
He was certain Lu Yuanxing rarely came here, and Lin Jingzhou did not allow him to come either. As a wealthy family’s young spouse, if he could not even enter the door of his own company, then Lu Yuanxing would become a joke!
“Uh.” Lu Yuanxing was somewhat confused. He really did not have one. Did entering his own company also require an invitation?
“Do you want to go in? Is there something urgent? I can help.” Lu Yuanxing said kindly.
Seeing the other person’s panicked expression, he probably wanted to enter but had no way in! No matter what, Lu Yuanxing was Lin Jingzhou’s wife in name. Bringing someone into his own company should not be difficult, right?
He could mention it to Secretary Chen in a moment.
“You must be joking…” Lu Yuantang froze. Why was Lu Yuanxing so composed?
Lu Yuanxing had to be pretending! Yes, it had to be!
At this moment, the door at the end of the corridor opened. It was Secretary Chen, who had come to receive Lu Yuanxing.
To be able to stand at Lin Jingzhou’s side, Secretary Chen was extremely perceptive. Looking at the situation before him, he understood what was going on at a glance. So Secretary Chen first bowed respectfully to Lu Yuanxing. “Mr. Lu, please come with me.”
Lu Yuanxing nodded and looked at Lu Yuantang. “He…”
Secretary Chen smiled. “Isn’t this Mr. Tang, who just failed the screen test? Please do not be discouraged. You performed very well, but you simply do not meet our company’s requirements.”
Secretary Chen’s output relied entirely on one mouth. “Although there was a difference between your performance and our requirements, I believe you will definitely find a suitable company.”
Lu Yuanxing: …It felt a little sarcastic.
He looked at Secretary Chen with worship. So this man was a grandmaster of sarcasm!
Lu Yuantang’s face flushed red, then turned pale.
Secretary Chen respectfully led Lu Yuanxing inside. “Mr. Lu, please come with me. This way.”
Besides, Mr. Lin and Mr. Lu were a perfect match in both wealth and looks. Since when was it the place of a fox like him to object?
Lu Yuanxing followed Secretary Chen inside and asked in confusion, “Mr… Tang?”
Why did that sound so familiar?
Secretary Chen nodded and looked at Lu Yuanxing in some surprise. “He is your younger half-brother from the same father, Lu Yuantang. Do you not remember?”
Lu Yuanxing: !
He thought back over everything that had just happened. So that meant he had offended the protagonist without even realizing it?
So the gears of fate were still turning endlessly, working hard to push the plot back toward the original story?
Help. Help.
He drew his sword and looked around, his heart full of confusion. Who would save this child?
Was there still time for him to transmigrate back now?
He was tired. Let it all be destroyed.
Looking at Secretary Chen’s three-hundred-and-sixty-degree spiral of confusion, Lu Yuanxing suddenly understood. He pointed at his head and said apologetically, “I hit my head. I’ve forgotten a lot of things.”
“So that is what happened.”
Secretary Chen revealed a regretful expression and showed understanding. Only, Mr. Lu must have hit his head quite badly! Even his expression had become so different.
Whether that was good or bad, he did not know…
In any case, this was not something an employee and subordinate like him could manage. Sigh, he had truly worried himself sick over his boss’s family affairs.
Secretary Chen very professionally brought Lu Yuanxing to a pantry on the same floor as Lin Jingzhou’s office.
This pantry was not large, but the environment was extremely beautiful. It had an entire floor-to-ceiling window, and from here, one could overlook the scenery of the whole of City A.
The room was very warm. It was early spring, and the nights outside were still a little cold. Lu Yuanxing excitedly rubbed his little hands together and brought the children inside.
Meow! Lu Yuanxing plopped down on a chair, took the blanket Secretary Chen brought over, curled himself up, and tried to roll himself into a round cat pancake.
Lin Xiaoxiao and Lin Dundun sat on either side of him around the transparent little round table.
Lin Dundun was young and not tall enough. Lin Xiaoxiao lowered his head, stretched out both hands, picked his younger brother up from the floor, and placed him on the chair.
Lin Dundun excitedly stretched. “Big Brother, high!”
Lin Xiaoxiao curved the corner of his lips.
What a harmonious picture of brotherly love and respect!
Lu Yuanxing felt that he was a little unnecessary.
Lin Xiaoxiao could completely act as the parent himself.
Was he the oversized naughty child?
Lu Yuanxing suddenly understood the way Lin Xiaoxiao sometimes looked at him.
“What would you like to drink?” Secretary Chen came over and asked.
“Hot coffee!” Lu Yuanxing said, placing the small cake in his arms on the table.
Secretary Chen asked, “Is this… for the President?”
Lu Yuanxing nodded very seriously, giving full play to his bootlicker nature… no, his character setting. He nodded a little shyly. “Yes… this is for Jingzhou. Jingzhou is so busy, he definitely hasn’t eaten yet, right? I brought this for him. I haven’t seen him in so long.”
He wore an expression of deep longing. Even the wandering son in a poem about a mother’s love did not look as sincere as him.
Hold steady. The deeply affectionate character setting could not collapse!
Seeing Secretary Chen’s shocked expression, Lu Yuanxing felt rather pleased with himself.
Actually… the original Mr. Lu was not like this… When facing the President, he was rather bossy, but deep down, he also wanted the other party to listen to him and wanted the President to come closer. It was a contradictory and willful feeling.
Had he damaged his brain and mutated?
But no matter what… this was a good thing!
Secretary Chen asked, “Which kind of hot coffee would you like?”
Lu Yuanxing completely relaxed. He narrowed his eyes and said without any guard, “The one Lin Jingzhou usually drinks.”
Speaking of which, why had Lin Jingzhou come back? And he even wanted to see him. This did not happen in the original novel!
Secretary Chen seemed to see Lu Yuanxing’s confusion. He sent someone to bring coffee and chatted with Lu Yuanxing for a bit. “The President came back in a hurry this time. He only has one night.”
Lu Yuanxing nodded. He understood. It was probably because Lin Jingzhou was worried about him taking the child onto the parenting variety show.
Mm. Lin Jingzhou really was a good father who took time out of his busy schedule to see his child.
Secretary Chen nodded and left. Lu Yuanxing held the hot coffee, tucked his hands in, and read a novel, only tapping once whenever he finished a page.
Mm, a little cold. Better shrink back in quickly.
The coffee was no longer that hot. Lu Yuanxing took a sip and almost spat it out. He puffed out his cheeks. “Cough… pfft, gurgle.”
What was this!
Why was it so bitter?
Was this really the coffee Lin Jingzhou drank?
Overachiever. Too competitive. Not only was he competitive himself, even his coffee was this competitive!
As that huge mouthful of coffee gradually went down, Lu Yuanxing’s eyes slowly lost their soul.
Author’s note:
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or watered me with nutrient solution between 2023-02-25 19:21:58 and 2023-03-03 09:29:56.
Thank you to the little angel who threw a landmine: Night Rain Listening to the Mist, 1.
Thank you to the little angel who watered me with nutrient solution: Hug the Little Children, 1 bottle.
Thank you all very much for your support. I will continue working hard!
