A Sudden Change of Tune

Fine, considering Lu Mingyu paid him quite a generous salary, he would endure it!

His hands eased up slightly.

Fortunately, Lu Mingyu did not pick any more faults.

As he massaged the man's temples, Song Shi'an found himself with nothing to do and began reviewing the story between the male and female leads in his mind.

According to the original timeline, the female lead should already be pregnant, yet she would remain by Lu Mingyu's side, hiding it and playing dumb. After enduring all sorts of hardships, just as the two were about to get together, they would run into another problem. After separating, the female lead would flee with the baby.

The domineering CEO would be devastated by this and attempt suicide several times.

But now, there wasn't even the slightest sign of anything happening between the male and female leads.

Listening to Song Shi'an's thoughts, Lu Mingyu could only feel that the version of himself in his words had something wrong with his brain.

He, Lu Mingyu, had money, influence, power, and looks. The women chasing after him could line up all the way to France. Why would he live or die over a woman?

Were the hundreds of billions in his accounts not appealing enough? Or were his sea cucumbers, abalones, and lobsters not delicious enough?

The more Song Shi'an thought about it, the more he felt that, at this rate, his promotion and fortune were getting further and further away.

He could not help asking, "President Lu, what do you think of Tang Ruan?"

Silence...

Quiet...

Just as Song Shi'an awkwardly prepared to find an excuse to change the subject, Lu Mingyu suddenly spoke.

"Not much."

Song Shi'an grew anxious. "Why? Miss Tang is beautiful, intelligent, and resilient..."

"You like Tang Ruan?" Lu Mingyu suddenly asked coldly.

"How could that be!" Song Shi'an hurriedly denied it. How could he possibly covet the female lead?

Lu Mingyu said, "Then why did you bring her up?"

Song Shi'an gave an awkward smile. "I just thought you might like her."

Lu Mingyu's tone instantly turned cold. "Do I look like I'm sick in the head?"

Yes.

That was what he thought, but his mouth was as sweet as honey. "What are you saying, President Lu? You're in excellent health."

Lu Mingyu said, "Then why would I like her?"

Song Shi'an racked his brains, trying to think of Tang Ruan's good points.

But his mind was completely blank.

Every time he encountered the female lead, she was either causing trouble or on her way to cause trouble. Whenever something happened, all she did was cry.

He could not see a single merit in her.

After all, this was a delicate-girl romance novel, not some powerful female-lead story.

Though later on, the female lead would return with children and take on the image of a cool, powerful heroine.

Song Shi'an hesitated for a while before suggesting, "How about you wait five years and see?"

Five years from now, Tang Ruan would return with three children, and all three kids would be geniuses!

Lu Mingyu's expression darkened slightly. "You mean I should stay single for another five years because of Tang Ruan? Are you crazy, or am I?"

"Cough, cough!"

That was indeed what he meant, but it sounded a little deranged when put that way.

"That's not what I meant," Song Shi'an said quietly.

Song Shi'an had irritated Lu Mingyu so much that even his headache seemed to have gone away.

He waved a hand. "Go back. I'm much better now."

Song Shi'an also felt that he had asked an idiotic question just then.

Now that he finally had a chance to escape, Song Shi'an left the villa without the slightest hesitation.

Only after stepping outside did he let out a breath of relief. Being an assistant these days was getting harder and harder!

He even had to worry about his CEO's lifelong happiness.

The next day.

Early that morning, Song Shi'an received a notice about a business trip.

That afternoon, he was to accompany Lu Mingyu to a tourist development zone in Fancheng.

Although the development between the male and female leads had gone somewhat off track, most of the plot was still unfolding according to his memories.

After packing his things, Song Shi'an headed straight to Lu Mingyu's home.

The moment he entered, he saw Tang Ruan there as well, with a suitcase beside her.

When she saw Song Shi'an, she immediately rose from the sofa. "Assistant Song."

Song Shi'an was a little surprised, but he still nodded and called out, "Miss Tang, why are you here?"

Tang Ruan smiled shyly, brushing the loose strands of hair by her ear with one hand. "Grandma Lu was worried about President Lu, so she asked me to accompany him on this business trip."

With Old Madam Lu stepping in, Lu Mingyu could not refuse.

No wonder.

As they spoke, Lu Mingyu came downstairs as well, his handsome face so gloomy it looked as though water might drip from it.

He clearly resisted Tang Ruan joining them, but since his grandmother had spoken, he could not refuse.

"President Lu." When Tang Ruan saw Lu Mingyu, her eyes brightened. She trotted over to him. "Do you need me to help pack your things?"

"No." Lu Mingyu refused and walked straight around Tang Ruan.

That afternoon, the three of them took a car to the airport. Song Shi'an carried their things and prepared to handle the check-in procedures.

Tang Ruan stepped forward first to help. "Assistant Song, let me do it. I booked all our tickets."

Hearing that, Song Shi'an felt a vague sense of unease.

Sure enough, after boarding the plane, Song Shi'an and Lu Mingyu sat in economy class, staring at each other.

Meanwhile, Tang Ruan was seated in the business-class cabin at the front.

Song Shi'an: "..."

Lu Mingyu: "..."

Before takeoff, Tang Ruan looked at her business-class seat, so anxious that tears nearly fell. "President... President Lu, I'm sorry. It was my first time booking plane tickets, so I didn't notice..."

What could Lu Mingyu say?

He could not exactly scold Tang Ruan in front of everyone on the plane.

That would damage his image as a domineering CEO.

"Leave this sort of thing to Assistant Song next time." After saying that, Lu Mingyu went to economy class.

After more than three hours of flying, the plane finally landed.

Song Shi'an barely dared to breathe beside him, afraid of provoking the ancestor next to him.

After all, someone like Lu Mingyu had been born with a golden spoon in his mouth. Whenever he traveled, he either took a private jet or flew business or first class.

When had he ever suffered the indignity of being crammed into economy class?

And beside Lu Mingyu's seat was a burly man who liked picking at his feet. Whenever he was bored, he would take off his shoes, scratch his feet, and sniff them.

If Lu Mingyu had not been so well-mannered, he would have exploded on the spot.

Fortunately, the person in charge here had arranged their accommodations, and nothing else went wrong.

Fancheng's tourist development zone was in a suburban area surrounded by mountains and water.

Lu Mingyu had personally come this time because a death had occurred during the previous demolition work in the suburbs.

The matter had caused too much of a stir and had reached headquarters, requiring Lu Mingyu to step in.

After traveling for an entire day, they returned directly to their rooms to rest and planned to visit the construction site the next day.

That night, Song Shi'an was lying in bed scrolling through his phone when he received a call from Old Madam Lu.

"Old Madam, what are your instructions?" Song Shi'an asked respectfully after answering.

At this hour, Old Madam Lu was calling him. He could guess with his toes that it had to be related to Tang Ruan.

"This time, Ruanruan went to Fancheng with Mingyu. That child Ruanruan is naturally kind-hearted and has an excellent temperament. She's very suitable for Mingyu," Old Madam Lu said.

Naturally, Song Shi'an could not defy Old Madam Lu. He responded, "You're right."

Old Madam Lu sighed and continued, "But Mingyu is just a block of wood who doesn't understand a thing. Assistant Song, I'll need your help with this."

She wanted him to get involved in this matter. Song Shi'an tactfully replied, "Old Madam, I am President Lu's assistant. In all matters, I must put President Lu first."

Old Madam Lu said, "What I'm asking of you is also for Mingyu's own good."

"Old Madam, I'm afraid this may not be appropriate..." Song Shi'an put on a troubled expression.

Old Madam Lu said, "You don't need to do much. Just give them a little push."

"Old Madam..." Song Shi'an still wanted to say something.

Old Madam Lu waved a hand decisively. "Assistant Song, I know you've been by Mingyu's side for many years and that your work is difficult. I've already asked the finance department to transfer you a bonus of two hundred thousand."

Song Shi'an paused, then immediately changed his tune. "Old Madam, you must be doing this for President Lu's sake. I cannot let down your kindness."

Faced with the second-richest woman in his life, Song Shi'an was exceedingly respectful.

Old Madam Lu said, "There will just be times when I need you to add fuel to the fire."

"Of course." Song Shi'an agreed at once.

Song Shi'an highly approved of the Lu family's traditional virtue of transferring money at the drop of a hat.