Xu Xuejiao rummaged through her bag, pulled out her Bluetooth earbuds, and stuffed them into Lu Chengwen's ears. Raising an eyebrow, she commanded, "Do as I say."
Lu Chengwen nodded and walked out.
Xu Xuejiao's voice came through the earbuds: "Walk over there, act natural, and sit across from her."
Lu Chengwen obediently followed instructions, sitting down opposite Chen Mengyun.
"Now, take her hand and say something."
Lu Chengwen gently grasped Chen Mengyun's hand. She struggled briefly for show but soon let him hold it.
"Good, now that you're holding her hand, she's already flustered and overthinking. Say your lines! Make them emotional!"
Lu Chengwen looked at Chen Mengyun. Sure enough, while she pretended to glare out the window, her cheeks were faintly flushed.
"Mengyun, I…"
Lu Chengwen hesitated. Wasn't this just lying?
Chen Mengyun turned to him. "What's wrong? Why'd you stop?"
Lu Chengwen stammered, "I… I like you. I've always liked you. I only like you, like you the most, I…"
Chen Mengyun stared at him blankly. "You're not lying to me, are you?"
Xu Xuejiao immediately urged, "Quick, say no!"
Lu Chengwen blurted, "No."
"Ugh, you idiot! You can't just say 'no'! You have to improvise!"
Lu Chengwen felt guilty about lying, but between his own survival and deceiving a girl… maybe it was worth it?
"I… mean it. Today really wasn't what you thought. It's complicated, and Copper King is outside right now…"
Xu Xuejiao rolled her eyes. "Too much talking—just kiss her!"
"Huh?" Lu Chengwen blurted out in shock.
Chen Mengyun frowned. "What?"
Xu Xuejiao snapped, "Kiss her! Touch her! Short-circuit her brain! If all else fails, strip her! Come on, you're a man—you should know how this works! Hurry up, we don't have time!"
Chen Mengyun sensed something was off. "Chengwen, what are you—"
Lu Chengwen gritted his teeth. *Screw it, I'm dead anyway!*
He suddenly pinned Chen Mengyun against the window seat and kissed her.
Chen Mengyun's mind went blank.
*This guy… just went for it?*
*Hmph! At least when we were kids, he'd sweet-talk me first. Now he doesn't even bother with that—straight to force!*
*But… it feels so good…*
Lu Chengwen didn't hold back. Once he started, he went all in.
Not only was his mouth busy, but his hands were too.
Xu Xuejiao kept coaching him through the earbuds: "Yes, yes, focus on the key areas. Once a girl's turned on, her brain shuts off. Ugh, you're so clumsy—that's not how you undo that button… Hey! Hey hey hey! Lu Chengwen! That's enough! Stop, stop!"
When it looked like Lu Chengwen was about to take things too far, Xu Xuejiao suddenly objected.
After a long kiss, Lu Chengwen pulled back, staring at Chen Mengyun, unsure what to say.
Chen Mengyun, blushing, adjusted her clothes. "What's with that look? You just forced a kiss on me, and now you're acting like this?"
Lu Chengwen blurted, "Sorry."
Xu Xuejiao groaned in his ear. "Idiot! Why are you apologizing?!"
Chen Mengyun sighed. "Xu Xuejiao, come out. I can hear you feeding him lines through his earbuds."
Xu Xuejiao emerged from the other room, grinning sheepishly. "Hehe, oops. Was I too obvious?"
Lu Chengwen said, "Mengyun, we can talk about us later, but right now, lives are at stake. I need your help."
Chen Mengyun nodded, annoyed. "Must be serious if you're willing to go this far."
Lu Chengwen said, "Mengyun, go open the door. Remember—I'm Long Aotian."
"Mm."
As Chen Mengyun went to open the door, Xu Xuejiao plopped into Lu Chengwen's lap. "I told you to act, not go all the way!"
"I was following your instructions!"
"My instructions? Did I tell you to slip your hand under her skirt? If I hadn't been here, would you have gone all the way with her?"
"You're a girl—watch your language."
"I'm just talking. Unlike you, who *acts*."
Just then, the door opened, and three men walked in.
*Wow! The Young Master really knows how to live!*
The three immediately dropped to one knee. "We pay our respects to the Young Master!"
Lu Chengwen, lazily fondling the petite beauty in his lap, pinched Xu Xuejiao's chin as his hands roamed freely. Without even looking up, he drawled, "Who are you?"
"This subordinate is Copper King. These two are my brothers. We've come to deliver the second installment of funds and to cleanse our ranks by eliminating that traitor Iron King."
Lu Chengwen maintained the cold, aloof demeanor of a Young Master.
He glanced at them indifferently and said nothing.
Chen Mengyun sashayed over and sat on Lu Chengwen's other side. Now, with a beauty on each arm—both with stunning figures and legs that could make any man envious—Copper King stole a glance and felt his heart race.
*These two are absolute stunners!*
*Do girls like this even exist in the world?!*
*That little hottie's dress is already torn—they must've been going wild!*
*And that elegant one? She's practically born to please men—a top-tier seductress!*
Lu Chengwen's icy gaze swept over them, and the three immediately lowered their heads.
"Look carefully," Lu Chengwen said. "Don't come back later saying you got the wrong person. Maybe I'm not worthy of being your Young Master."
Copper King broke into a cold sweat. *He's still mad about Iron King's mistake!*
He hurriedly said, "The Young Master is peerless—dashing, romantic, noble, and extraordinary, the chosen one of destiny, a dragon among men! How could there possibly be a second man like you in this world? Only a fool like Iron King could make such a blunder. We brothers were sent by the Strategist to serve you. We beg the Young Master to be magnanimous and give us a chance to prove ourselves!"
Lu Chengwen slid a hand into Xu Xuejiao's clothes. Instead of resisting, she arched into his touch.
He glanced back, and Copper King immediately bowed his head again.
Lu Chengwen withdrew his hand and pinched Xu Xuejiao's chin. "Little girl, the Strategist sent three more men. What do you think—should we keep them?"
Xu Xuejiao glanced over. "This Copper King is quite the smooth talker. A silver tongue usually means talent. Young Master, why not keep them for now? With some training, they might become useful."
Copper King's heart leaped.
*It's working! The Young Master's woman is putting in a good word for us—that's 70-80% of the battle won!*
Lu Chengwen released the two beauties and strode over to the kneeling trio. He still hadn't let them rise.
Sweat dripped down their faces as they stared at his shoes.
Lu Chengwen said coldly, "Remember this: no matter what your Strategist and Hall Leader are like, I'm different. Under me, merit is rewarded, failure is punished. I care about results, not excuses. If you're as useless as that idiot Iron King…"
Copper King immediately vowed, "We brothers pledge our loyalty to the Young Master! From now on, we obey only you! Whatever you command, we'll carry out without question, dedicating our lives to repay your grace!"
Lu Chengwen smirked. "Little girl, you're right. He *is* sharp."
Chen Mengyun walked over and hugged Lu Chengwen from behind. "Young Master, I don't like them. Send them away. Let's continue—you promised to take me to new heights earlier!"
Lu Chengwen nodded. "Leave your contact info with her. Keep your phones on 24/7. Each of you, take 20 million from the funds for yourselves—consider it my welcome gift."
The three were stunned. The Young Master was *this* generous?!
In their organization, the higher-ups ate the meat, the middle ranks got the broth, and the grunts got nothing.
The organization was strict and brutal—once you were in, you were in for life.
Leaving meant death.
Rewards were entirely at the whims of superiors, who treated underlings like dirt.
Even the Four Kings only earned around 70,000 a month. The lower ranks? Many didn't even make 10,000.
And the Young Master just handed them *20 million each*?!
They kowtowed frantically. "Thank you, Young Master! Thank you for your generosity!"
Copper King raised his head, clasping his fists. "We've long heard of the Young Master's boundless generosity! To serve under you is the greatest honor—our ancestors' graves are smoking, our fathers' tombs exploding, our family tablets struck by lightning—"
Lu Chengwen waved impatiently. "Enough, enough. Save the flattery for later. Did I say you could stay permanently?"
Copper King grinned obsequiously. "Young Master, grant us time to prove ourselves. We'll serve you wholeheartedly, hoping only to remain by your side, even as lowly stable hands!"
Xu Xuejiao giggled. "Young Master, this Copper King really is quite the charmer."
Chen Mengyun pouted. "Young Master, this Copper King seems much more reliable than that Iron King. Hmph! That so-called Strategist is useless. Talents like these should've been sent sooner! Instead, we got that Iron King, wasting your time."
Copper King was ecstatic.
*Both of the Young Master's women are praising me! I'm in!*
He quickly added, "Thank you, fairies, for your kind words! Young Master, though I lack talent, to prove my loyalty, I'm willing to present a pledge! My brothers and I will capture Iron King and his men—kill the rest, bring him alive for your judgment!"
"Bullshit!" Lu Chengwen snapped. "Cleaning house is your damn job! Trying to use that to impress me? Are you brain-dead?!"
Copper King shuddered. *The Young Master's temper is fierce… but that's what makes him the Young Master!*
"This subordinate misspoke! Please calm your wrath! Your majestic presence fills me with awe. My eagerness to serve clouded my judgment. The Young Master's ambitions tower to the heavens—forgive this lowly one's foolishness! We await your orders!"
Xu Xuejiao burst into giggles. "Young Master, this guy's a walking idiom dictionary! Adorable!"
Copper King grinned. "The fairy is wise! I loved reading *Idiom Stories* as a kid."
Chen Mengyun cooed, "Young Master, don't be angry. You're mad at that idiot Strategist and Iron King, not them. You three—never mention that fool again in front of the Young Master!"
"Yes, yes, of course!"
Lu Chengwen scoffed. "The Snow City branch is a joke. Can't even dress properly. I don't care how you looked under the Hall Leader—working for me, Long Aotian, means looking the part. This shabby look is an embarrassment."
The three exchanged glances. *This isn't presentable? The Young Master's standards are sky-high!*
*Of course—the Young Master's seen far more than the Hall Leader ever has!*
"Understood! We'll change immediately."
Lu Chengwen said, "Forget Iron King for now. Priorities first. That loser isn't going anywhere."
"What are your orders, Young Master?"
"You—"
Just then, Lu Chengwen's phone rang.
"Stand. I need to take this."
He stepped away to answer, and his expression darkened.
Before Leng Qingqiu could formally resign, Leng Tianhao had already issued her dismissal, appointing Long Aotian as CEO of Qianfeng Group.
But the moment the announcement went live, disaster struck.
The Eastern Group from the south launched an aggressive campaign against Qianfeng, squeezing their operations and initiating a hostile takeover!
*Now I get it!*
Lu Chengwen hung up.
*The plan was always to take down the Leng family!*
*I spared them, but Huo Wendong must've teamed up with Long Aotian!*
*The Leng family is finished!*