Alone, You're Not Safe

Song Shi'an put on a standard smile. "All right, Miss Shen. I'll do my best."

Shen Fu smiled in satisfaction. "I like people who know what's good for them. Assistant Song, don't worry. Once I marry Mingyu, I'll definitely get you promoted and give you a raise."

Wow! What a huge, perfectly round pie in the sky!

But Song Shi'an still nodded obediently on the surface. "Thank you, Miss Shen."

Seeing that everything had been settled satisfactorily, Shen Fu lifted her proud chin and turned to return to the inner room.

Having received the money, Song Shi'an left the villa in quite a good mood.

The moment he stepped outside, he spotted a black Maybach parked at the entrance.

Song Shi'an's heart skipped a beat, and he was just about to pretend he had not seen it and walk past.

The Maybach's window slowly rolled down, revealing a handsome face with sharply defined features.

Song Shi'an turned back helplessly and approached with a smile. "President Lu, what a coincidence. Are you here to see Madam Lu too?"

Lu Mingyu's gaze was calm. "I'm here to pick you up. Get in."

Song Shi'an stiffened. "I drove here."

"Have the driver take it back later," Lu Mingyu said, leaving Song Shi'an no room to refuse.

Song Shi'an choked up. Left with no choice, he opened the car door and prepared to get in.

He tugged at the handle, but it did not open.

He pulled harder, but it still would not open.

You're telling me to get in, but the door won't open? What does that mean? Am I supposed to sit on the roof?!

Though he was complaining internally, he remained respectful on the surface and looked at Lu Mingyu. "President Lu, please unlock the door."

Sitting in the driver's seat, Lu Mingyu lightly tapped the steering wheel with his fingertip. "Do you take me for a driver?"

Song Shi'an said, "How would I dare?"

"Then why aren't you sitting in the front?" Lu Mingyu said.

Song Shi'an silently withdrew his hand and went around to the front seat.

Sure enough, you could never guess what a big boss was thinking.

Song Shi'an sat in the passenger seat, and Lu Mingyu started the car.

The ride was silent all the way.

Song Shi'an lowered his head, pretending to be a quail and not daring to make a sound.

But what was coming still came. Lu Mingyu asked, "What did my mother call you over for today?"

"Madam Lu asked about some of your recent schedule and living arrangements," Song Shi'an said.

He had taken the money, so he could not betray Mrs. Lu.

Did Lu Mingyu install surveillance on me? I had barely gone in before he showed up!

"Oh? And what did you say?" Lu Mingyu asked.

Song Shi'an said, "I picked out a few unimportant things and told her a little."

Like that mess involving Tang Ruan! Tang Ruan is a down-and-out, delicate little white-flower heroine. Of course your mother doesn't approve of her. She doesn't dare lecture you, so she came to lecture me instead!

But with how cautious your mother was in her wording, even if someone recorded it, they still wouldn't know she was the one behind it.

Lu Mingyu was not surprised. His mother paid particular attention to any woman who appeared around him.

"Did she make things difficult for you?" Lu Mingyu continued.

Song Shi'an smiled. "No. Madam Lu treats me very well."

He had taken two hundred thousand from her, so naturally he had to say something nice.

Lu Mingyu said, "If she calls for you again, you don't need to go. You're my assistant, not the Lu family's."

Over the years he had served as Lu Mingyu's assistant, Song Shi'an had grown accustomed to being ordered around by the Lu family elders.

Among the Lu family's younger generation, there were only Lu Mingyu and Tingting. Tingting had been studying abroad year-round.

The elders' overflowing familial affection could only be lavished on Lu Mingyu.

There were some things they could not directly ask Lu Mingyu, so they could only ask him, the assistant.

But the Lu family was wealthy and generous. Every time he went over, he came back loaded down with gifts.

Song Shi'an said, "It's fine. Madam Lu only calls me over after work, so it doesn't interfere with anything."

Big brother, don't cut off my source of income! Your mother only probes around about you. She isn't forcing me to do anything, and she's very generous too. Every time she calls me over, she gives me money!

Although she sometimes speaks with veiled barbs, my skin is thick! I don't care!

I really hope a few more women show up around you. If Madam Lu calls me over every few days, I might even pay off my mortgage within a year.

Lu Mingyu's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, and he laughed in exasperation.

He had received a call from someone at the villa saying his mother had summoned Song Shi'an over.

He had thought his mother was giving him a hard time, so he had specifically come to rescue him.

Who would have thought this little ingrate had already burrowed into a pile of money?

"Where do you live?" Lu Mingyu asked.

Usually, Song Shi'an was the one who drove him home. He had never been to Song Shi'an's residence.

Song Shi'an said, "President Lu, you can just let me off once we get downtown. I can take a taxi home."

"It's nighttime. It's not safe to be out alone," Lu Mingyu said.

Song Shi'an said, "?"

He was a grown man. What was unsafe about being outside?

"President Lu, downtown is busy. Nothing should happen," Song Shi'an said tactfully.

Lu Mingyu said nothing. He tapped the in-car screen a few times, and soon a broadcast began playing.

"Recently, a serious incident occurred in this city. A young man left a bar while drunk and was taken away by several men. An improper relationship occurred, and an accident took place during the process. He was hospitalized..."

Song Shi'an said, "..."

Was the world this crazy now? Even boys were not safe when they went out.

Lu Mingyu tapped the screen again and played the next news report.

"Yesterday, near Xingfang Residential Area on Nanhe Road, a strong man was harassed by several women..."

"Today, at..."

Before the news could finish, Song Shi'an reached over and stopped it.

"Then I'll have to trouble President Lu to take me home," Song Shi'an said, swallowing hard.

It really was not easy for Lu Mingyu to dig up news from some obscure corner like this.

Lu Mingyu curled his lips, asked for the address, and drove over.

When they arrived at the residential area entrance, Song Shi'an prepared to get out. "President Lu, outside vehicles aren't allowed into our residential area. You can stop here. I can walk in myself."

The moment he finished speaking, the barrier slowly lifted...

Lu Mingyu said, "It seems security in your residential area isn't all that strict."

As he spoke, he stepped on the gas and drove inside.

Song Shi'an said, "..."

That security guard really had eyes only for money.

Then again, no thief or robber would drive a Maybach in.

"Which building do you live in?" Lu Mingyu asked.

Song Shi'an had given up. "Building Three."

The car stopped in front of Building Three. This time, he could finally get out peacefully.

Just as he pulled open the door, Lu Mingyu spoke again. "Assistant Song, aren't you going to invite me upstairs for a cup of tea?"

Song Shi'an said, "My place is small. I'm afraid President Lu won't be used to it."

What does this living ancestor want now? Does he have some ulterior motive for coming to my home?

Lu Mingyu said, "I don't mind."

I mind!!!

Lu Mingyu parked the car and stepped out of the driver's seat.

Seeing Song Shi'an standing still, he raised a brow. "What? Assistant Song, do you mind?"

"No..." Song Shi'an forced a smile.

Internally, he was hammering away with fury, but in reality—especially when facing Lu Mingyu—he was nothing more than a soft, temperless bun.

"It's my honor to have President Lu visit!" Song Shi'an led Lu Mingyu to wait for the elevator nearby.

With a ding, the elevator doors opened, and two girls came out. Only after they had left did Song Shi'an enter the elevator with Lu Mingyu.

The elevator doors had barely closed when they heard the excited voices of the two girls.

"Did you see that pair just now? They were both so good-looking!!"

"Yeah! The cold, abstinent top versus the delicate, soft bottom. That younger top looked seriously fierce. His fitted clothes practically guaranteed he had a killer waist—standard novel material! The kind who starts with one night and keeps you from getting out of bed for three days!"