Jiang Xiaohou knew Hua Xuening had said it without thinking and did not hold it against her.
She simply grew quieter.
Hua Xuening still did not understand. "Everyone is doing just fine, so why do we have to... scheme against each other? You suppress me, I replace him... I don't get it."
Lu Chengwen smiled.
"Take Zhao Gang, for example. He would never allow anyone else to get close to me and flatter me. If he found anyone I appreciated, he would definitely find a way to get rid of them."
"Huh!?" Hua Xuening was shocked. "Zhao Gang is that ruthless?"
"What did you think?"
Lu Chengwen smiled. "Did you really think he was just a brainless lapdog? He understands perfectly well. There can only be one person flattering me and serving as my number-one lackey."
Hua Xuening said, "But he's always so polite and attentive to us! He often buys me gifts and helps us with chores."
Lu Chengwen stroked Hua Xuening's head. "Because you're Xue Ning, whom I like very much. If he treats you well, you'll praise him in front of me, and I'll be pleased with him."
Hua Xuening felt her worldview shatter. "Then Zhao Gang... isn't he just a... dark-minded villain!?"
"Not exactly."
Lu Chengwen said, "That's just how the workplace works. Survival of the fittest. Everyone stands in a different position, so they think differently. If Zhao Gang lacked that sense of crisis and urgency... there are plenty of people who want to flatter me and win my favor. He might slowly disappear from our sight."
Hua Xuening thought for a long time, then waved her hand irritably. "Ah, forget it. I think Zhao Gang is decent enough, and his brain works well enough too. Let's not replace him. Let's keep him."
Lu Chengwen