Flattery

Old Madam Lu walked up behind Tang Ruan and gently patted her back, comforting her. "It's all right. Grandma's here—no one will bully you. Tell Grandma, what happened?"

Tang Ruan sniffled. "This lady said I stole her bracelet, but I didn't..."

Old Madam Lu nodded, her sharp gaze falling on Shen Fu. "You said Ruanruan stole something."

The authority radiating from Old Madam Lu made Shen Fu shrink back involuntarily.

But she still gathered her courage and said, "Grandma Lu, the bracelet was found in Tang Ruan's bag."

"Perhaps someone planted it on her!" Old Madam Lu said, her piercing gaze seeming capable of seeing right through Shen Fu.

Shen Fu clenched her hands. "Grandma Lu, Tang Ruan is just a secretary's assistant. She's never seen such fine things before, so it's only natural that she might have been tempted for a moment."

She paused before continuing, "Since you know her, I won't pursue this matter."

Good grief, every word she said was slandering Tang Ruan!

Tang Ruan hurriedly shook her head. "I didn't!"

Naturally, Old Madam Lu believed Tang Ruan. "In that case, I'll have a professional team come over and investigate thoroughly to find out exactly what happened with this bracelet."

Shen Fu's face turned pale.

Lu Mingyu glanced at Shen Fu and said, "Grandma, perhaps this is a misunderstanding."

Old Madam Lu frowned, clearly displeased by Lu Mingyu taking Shen Fu's side. But in front of everyone, she still did not embarrass him.

"Let's talk upstairs," Old Madam Lu said, casting Shen Fu a glance.

Shen Fu looked terrible now. She had originally wanted to frame Tang Ruan, but she had not expected Old Madam Lu to stand up for her.

When they reached the Executive Office, Old Madam Lu looked at Lu Mingyu and asked, "Mingyu, what happened? If I hadn't been there today, Ruanruan would have been wronged!"

"Grandma, I was simply handling things according to the rules," Lu Mingyu explained.

Old Madam Lu sighed. "Some time ago, I suddenly fell ill while I was out. If Ruanruan hadn't taken me to the hospital, I would have died."

"That child is especially honest. I wanted to repay her, but she refused everything. Her family was struggling, so I thought I'd help her out and arranged for her to join Lu Group."

Sure enough, this was the standard trope in old-school CEO romances.

The world was so big, yet the heroine was bound to have saved all sorts of the hero's elders.

Thank goodness, thank goodness the heroine has some backing. Otherwise, if she really got fired, my dream of promotion and riches would be over!

Lu Mingyu had not expected there to be another layer to this. He frowned slightly.

"This definitely wasn't Ruanruan's doing," Old Madam Lu said.

Song Shi'an tactfully stepped forward and explained on Lu Mingyu's behalf, "Old Madam, the Shen family currently has business dealings with the Lu family. Some matters can't be investigated too thoroughly."

Old Madam Lu was somewhat angry. "We can't let Ruanruan suffer this grievance just because they have a business partnership!"

Song Shi'an said, "I'll go downstairs and explain it clearly. I'll say it was a misunderstanding. What do you think?"

Old Madam Lu was still somewhat dissatisfied. Looking at Lu Mingyu, she sighed. "I specifically arranged for Ruanruan to work by your side because I wanted you to experience her purity and kindness."

"Pure and kind."

When those four words came out, Song Shi'an clearly saw the corner of Lu Mingyu's mouth twitch.

After a pause, Lu Mingyu said as tactfully as possible, "Grandma, Tang Ruan is a bit bad luck for me."

Old Madam Lu looked utterly confused.

Song Shi'an kindly explained from the side, "On the first day Miss Tang and President Lu met, they ran into each other while walking."

Old Madam Lu remained unmoved. "That just means it was fate."

Song Shi'an said, "On the second day after they met, Miss Tang drove President Lu into the hospital."

Old Madam Lu coughed lightly. "Ruanruan had only just gotten her license. She may not have been very skilled yet."

Song Shi'an said, "Less than half a month after they met, President Lu was drugged and nearly had his virtue ruined."

Old Madam Lu said, "..."

Before Tang Ruan appeared, the tyrannical CEO's life had been fairly uneventful. It was mostly a routine between the company and home, with the occasional business trip, vacation, or social engagement. Everything had gone smoothly.

But ever since Tang Ruan appeared, every kind of accident had come for Lu Mingyu.

If he had not been so tough, this might already have been the seventh day after his death.

"Cough, cough!" Old Madam Lu coughed awkwardly, her voice inexplicably guilty. "Things will be fine once you spend more time together."

"Grandma, Lu Group has plenty of positions. If you want to repay Tang Ruan, you can arrange another job for her," Lu Mingyu said.

Old Madam Lu's tone softened considerably. "Something like this just happened. If Ruanruan were transferred to another position now, there would definitely be gossip. Let her stay here for the time being."

Since Old Madam Lu had spoken, Lu Mingyu could not refuse, so he nodded in agreement.

Only after they finished talking did Old Madam Lu leave the office.

Song Shi'an sighed inwardly. As expected of the male and female leads. No matter what happens, they have to stick together.

That evening, one of Lu Mingyu's friends called and asked him to go out for a gathering.

Song Shi'an happened to be in the office and heard the call.

He was beside himself with excitement. Today, the tyrannical CEO will go to a club with his friends and happen to see Tang Ruan, who's working part-time there as a server, being bullied. Then he'll save the damsel in distress! Afterward, he'll discover he's been drugged, and the heroine will end up saving him instead!

Lu Mingyu's hand holding the phone trembled.

His head was full of question marks.

Was he some kind of masochist?

Why did he have to get drugged everywhere he went?

When the person on the other end heard no response from Lu Mingyu, he asked in confusion, "Mingyu, what's wrong?"

Lu Mingyu recovered and replied in a low voice, "Nothing. I'll be there on time tonight."

With that, he hung up.

Song Shi'an glanced at the time, his heart leaping with joy. It's six o'clock—time to get off work!

Just as he was about to leave the office, Lu Mingyu called out to him.

"Assistant Song."

Song Shi'an paused, then turned back in confusion. "President Lu, is there anything else?"

Lu Mingyu raised his eyes. "There's a gathering tonight. Come with me."

Song Shi'an said, "?"

This idiot boss! Is he sick? Making me work overtime right at quitting time? You exploitative bastard! Aaargh! I don't want to work another day at this damned job! If I quit, I can't get N+1 compensation. Should I just go up there and slap him twice so the tyrannical CEO fires me?

No, Lu Group's legal department is too strong. What if they send me to jail? Maybe I should just pull down my pants and take a dump on his desk. Preferably with diarrhea.

Lu Mingyu said, "..."

He had not expected his assistant's mental state to be this bad. He coughed twice awkwardly.

"I've seen how hard Assistant Song has worked lately. I've already notified Finance to give you an additional one-hundred-thousand bonus next month."

Song Shi'an's lips instantly curled upward. Looking at Lu Mingyu now, he felt that Lu Mingyu's entire body radiated a holy glow.

He smiled and said, "It wasn't hard. It's what I should do."

Ah~ President Lu is so tall and mighty, handsome and dashing, charming and suave, beloved by all, brimming with talent and learning, elegant as jade, handsome and dashing, as beautiful as Pan An...