Leng Qingqiu's Outburst

Leng Qingqiu walked up to Lu Chengwen, looked him in the eyes, and said expressionlessly:

"Brother Chengwen, I think you make sense. I don't trust anyone else—I trust you. Tonight, I'll urgently convene a senior management meeting to finalize the specifics of investing in the Shantytown Renovation Project."

Lu Chengwen was no fool. Looking at Leng Qingqiu's expression and eyes, he knew she was deliberately opposing him.

Didn't you tell me to invest in the shantytown project? Fine, I'll invest in the shantytown project.

Are you really trying to screw me over, or are you going to change course and obediently back down? Pick one.

Leng Tianhao did not know what Leng Qingqiu was thinking. Standing behind them, his face had already darkened.

Long Aotian was dumbfounded too.

Shantytown renovation? Did ordinary people dare touch something like that?

Government officials had been lobbying everywhere, yet not one of Xue City's Four Great Families had agreed to it.

It took a long time, required enormous investment, involved too many interested parties, and came with extremely complicated circumstances. One careless move could cause serious trouble.

Any one of those factors alone was deadly. Any major corporation considering an investment like this had to weigh whether it had the capital and capability to swallow it.

The first person in charge of the project had been a southerner. Halfway through, he could not take it anymore and ran away.

Because of this project, three people had already jumped off buildings.

The Shantytown Renovation Project was no longer a hot potato. It was a red-hot branding iron—forget holding it in your hand, touching it would hurt like hell!

Long Aotian said, "Qingqiu, I advise you not to get involved in the Shantytown Renovation Project. Its circumstances are very complicated, and you don't know enough about the infrastructure industry..."

Leng Qingqiu looked at Long Aotian and said coldly, "Do I need to know that much? As long as Brother Chengwen supports me, that's enough. Right, Brother Chengwen?"

Lu Chengwen said, "Uh..."

Long Aotian said, "The Amusement Park Project has a short cycle, and its prospects are easy to assess. As long as we quickly secure that plot of land, we'll be invincible, with plenty of room to maneuver. The shantytown project is simply too uncertain, and it will be exhausting."

"Why should I be afraid? With Brother Chengwen supporting me, I don't care if it's hard or tiring. Right, Brother Chengwen?"

Lu Chengwen said, "Uh..."

Long Aotian grew anxious. "Qingqiu, why don't you understand yet? Everything I'm doing is for you. I don't want you to jump into a pit of fire. I don't want Qianfeng Group to collapse beyond recovery. I know revitalizing Qianfeng is your dream. I came here for your dream."

Leng Qingqiu said, "What revitalizing Qianfeng? I'm a woman. A woman's greatest dream is to marry into a good family. Brother Chengwen and I have already decided to get engaged next month, marry at the end of the year, and have a child next year... right, Brother Chengwen?"

Lu Chengwen said, "Uh... ah..."

What kind of person are you? Long Aotian thought.

You can't see such an obvious business opportunity? You want to go do some shantytown renovation project with Lu Chengwen?!

What is wrong with Leng Qingqiu? Did her brain suddenly shrink?!

Leng Qingqiu looked at Lu Chengwen, her gaze firm. "Brother Chengwen, I trust only you. Look at me and tell me yourself—which project do you want me to take?"

The way Leng Qingqiu looked at Lu Chengwen made him extremely uncomfortable.

For a moment, Lu Chengwen did not know how to answer her.

This silly girl isn't really trusting me and planning to take on the Shantytown Renovation Project, is she? Sister, you've clearly seen that I'm talking nonsense and are just fighting with me, right?

Damn it, I refuse to believe I can't handle a little girl like you!

"Oh, of course." Lu Chengwen made up his mind. "I do think highly of this project, but Qianfeng Group's decision-making power is in your hands. I'm merely offering a suggestion."

"Fine!" Leng Qingqiu answered decisively. "Since that's your suggestion, I'll listen to you."

Leng Tianhao could no longer sit still. "Qingqiu, don't rush. Let's discuss this first..."

"There's nothing to discuss." Leng Qingqiu was already furious. She pushed open the door and prepared to leave. "I'll gather the team immediately and hold an emergency meeting to discuss the investment and shareholding plan for the Shantytown Renovation Project. Tomorrow, I'll negotiate with the relevant people in charge."

"You're being ridiculous!" Leng Tianhao snapped angrily. "How can you be this impulsive over something so important? I'm the chairman of Qianfeng Group, and I don't approve of this!"

Leng Qingqiu turned to look at Leng Tianhao. "Father, you were the one who made me marry into the Lu Family. You were the one who gave me the authority and responsibility to fully manage Qianfeng Group. You were also the one who personally told me that my personal happiness, gains, and losses were unimportant, and that Qianfeng's long-term interests stood above personal happiness. A woman follows the man she marries, whether he's a chicken or a dog. Since I'm engaged to Brother Chengwen, he will be my husband in the future. My husband's words are heaven. My husband's words are an imperial decree. I will carry out my husband's orders unconditionally! Brother Chengwen told me to invest in the shantytown project, so I trust him."

Long Aotian hurriedly said, "Qingqiu, think carefully. Lu Chengwen isn't worth your trust."

Leng Qingqiu looked at Long Aotian. "Really? Then tell me, who should I trust?"

Leng Qingqiu's eyes were red, her eye sockets wet.

"In my entire life, I have never found a single person I could trust."

"When I was little, I saw my father as my idol and copied him in every way. I learned his thunderous methods, his domineering decisiveness, his ability to recognize talent, his calm wisdom... But I discovered that Father was powerful and cold to a degree beyond anything I had imagined."

"Whenever I encountered hardship or felt sad and miserable, he never hugged or comforted me like other fathers. He only scolded me, humiliated me, looked at me with that merciless gaze of disappointment, and told me I was useless!"

"After I grew up, for the sake of the group's interests, his own daughter had to enter a marriage alliance. In his eyes, Qianfeng was his child. I was just a useless daughter."

"My only friend was caught secretly drugging my drink. I cried and asked her why, and she told me she hated me. She hated that I was smarter than her, hated that I was born into a wealthy family, hated that I looked better than her, that I was slimmer than her, hated my inborn talent for studying! She resented me. She resented everything I had received since birth, things she could only dream of after striving her entire life. So she wanted to destroy me!"

"The only time I fell in love in college, I gave it everything! He was sunny, positive, and an athlete. He wasn't rich, but he was a ray of light shining into my life. I thought I had finally found someone I could trust!"

"But on my birthday, he installed three cameras in the hotel room we had booked."

Leng Qingqiu smiled. Tears covered her face, and her smile was incomparably desolate.

"Three cameras!"

Leng Qingqiu's voice trembled. "When I had made up my mind to give myself to him completely, all he wanted was to record everything from every angle, then control me and obtain the Leng Family's wealth."

Leng Qingqiu wiped away her tears. "Family, friends, lovers—they're all so cold. Tell me, who am I supposed to trust?"

Leng Qingqiu shouted furiously, "Say something! Who can I trust?! Is there really anyone in this world who would like me, cherish me, and protect me from the bottom of their heart, without looking at my appearance, my money, or my background? Is there? Am I destined to be alone for the rest of my life? Is this world itself truly so cold and heartless, that the trust I want has never existed at all!? Is that it?"

Lu Chengwen felt a pang of sorrow, and his heart filled with guilt.

I'm sorry. I had no idea you'd suffered so much.

...Looks like no matter how much money someone has, what people ultimately seek is happiness and fulfillment in their hearts. Even though many people might think that sounds like bullshit, money really isn't omnipotent.

Damn, what do I do? I feel bad for her! If I didn't have a mission to complete, I'd rush over and hold her right now.

No! I have to restrain myself. I can't let her know. Anyway, I'll treat her better from now on. Whether in business or in life, if she has any difficulties, I'll help her in secret. This girl has suffered too much. It's making me feel awful.

Leng Qingqiu suddenly turned through her blurred tears and fixed Lu Chengwen with a fierce stare.

Lu Chengwen guiltily lowered his head without saying a word.

Long Aotian felt that it was time for him to step forward.

"Qingqiu, I think I'm that person! That's right, I appeared here to like you, cherish you, accompany you, and protect you! From now on, you can trust me. You can trust me with anything. I'm willing to be that ray of light shining into your life! From now on, my light will shine for you alone."

Lu Chengwen mentally flung a pile of shit at him.

Pah! That's fucking disgusting! You really have no shame. Sweet talk just pours out of your mouth!

Are you doing this for Leng Qingqiu's happiness? You're clearly after the Leng Family's assets! Besides the Leng Family, there are the Xu Family and the Chen Family. And finally, there's our Lu Family.

...No choice. This is your destiny. Get together. Maybe, for Qingqiu, that would be the best outcome.

Leng Qingqiu glanced at Long Aotian. "I've already decided that I'll trust Brother Chengwen for the rest of my life. If he wants to cheat me, I'll let him. If he wants to hurt me, I'll let him. If he wants to sell me for money, I'll put a good price on myself! Tomorrow will be the day Qianfeng Group officially invests in the Shantytown Renovation Project. Just watch me!"

Lu Chengwen completely lost his mind.

Sis, what kind of temper is this!?

Don't you understand perfectly well? I... I got it wrong again!? I caused the opposite effect!?

Lu Chengwen did not know that Leng Qingqiu had completely figured out his trump card. He thought he had messed everything up.

What he thought was happening was this:

Long Aotian had offered Leng Qingqiu the correct path, while he had timely proposed an incorrect route.

Under normal circumstances, he and Long Aotian would form a sharp contrast. Leng Qingqiu would choose Long Aotian's correct investment path and feel grateful toward him, putting the plot back on track.

This Main Heroine would then begin advancing her two-person storyline with the Male Protagonist.

Meanwhile, he could naturally withdraw from this storyline and deal with the female leads in other storylines.

But now, out of nowhere, Leng Qingqiu's long-suppressed psychological issues had erupted!

Her rebellious streak had emerged!

Leng Qingqiu, who had always been calm, rational, and never made mistakes, was going to make one, she was going to make a huge one—a monstrous mistake!

She had actually decided to smash the pot and cling to his wrong investment route!

Leng Tianhao said furiously, "Leng Qingqiu! You are the executive president of Qianfeng Group! Calm down! Is this how I taught you to make judgments and decisions—based on your emotions?! I don't care how dissatisfied you are with me or how disappointed you are with this world. What I want is your ability, the ability to lead Qianfeng back to its peak! You are not allowed to touch the Shantytown Renovation Project! Go secure that plot of land tomorrow! If you can't handle this, there will be no place for you at Qianfeng Group!"

Leng Qingqiu turned around and looked coldly at her father.

She answered him with a mocking sneer.

"You gave me authority, so now you have to accept the result. If you want to revoke my executive and decision-making authority, you'll need to convene a shareholders' meeting and formally announce the order removing me. According to the rules, that meeting requires a week of preparation. I can finish what I want to do within a week."

"You..."

After saying that, Leng Qingqiu turned and walked out of the room without looking back.

Lu Chengwen was soaked through with sweat.

Fuck! This time, I really screwed everything up!

Lu Chengwen felt the world spinning around him.

Leng Qingqiu had defied him and resolutely walked down a dead end!

Because of his rotten idea, Leng Tianhao was now looking at him with uncontrollable fury!

Most importantly, Long Aotian's face had darkened to the extreme, as though he would explode the next second!

This is bad. I'm fucking dead!