He paused for a moment, and seeing that Yan Heqing still didn't react, he continued, " Meng Yao... the first instance of that minor celebrity suing Cheng Jian is over. Cheng Jian was sentenced to 12 years. Now the Cheng Family is appealing, and they've granted Cheng Jian bail pending trial."
There was no news online yet, and Yan Heqing was unaware of the situation. Upon learning that Cheng Jian had been sentenced to 12 years, Yan Heqing turned around. In the living room, Lu Lin was still processing documents; only his sharply defined profile was visible. Through the receiver, Lu Muchi continued, "I thought it would only be a few years, but I didn't expect 12 years. My uncle's legal team is indeed quite capable..."
At that moment, Lu Lin suddenly turned to look at the terrace, and their eyes met through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Yan Heqing smiled and Lu Lin also said something with a smile, pointed in the direction of the kitchen, pulled out a chair and went to the kitchen.
"A few days ago—" Lu Muchi's breathing became heavy, "Did you see my grandfather?"
Yan Heqing sensed something was amiss; his eyes darted around. "You're asking which day?"
Lu Muchi immediately said, "He's been looking for you many times?" He sounded anxious. "Where are you now? At home or at school? I'll come over right away to explain."
Yan Heqing was almost certain that the reason Lu Lin was waiting for him in the family quarters that night after the experiment was not because of Lu Muchi, but because Lu Changcheng had come looking for him.
Lu Changcheng came to see him personally, it seems that Lu Muchi had revealed his identity.
Yan Heqing had already made his calculations, and he calmly said, "There's no need."
Lu Muchi froze. "What?"
"I've broken ties with Lin Fengzhi," Yan Heqing said indifferently. "If he goes to see you again, your grandfather won't make things difficult for me."
Lu Muchi was silent for a few seconds, then his voice deepened, "You still don't trust me?"
Yan Heqing retorted, "What can I trust about you? You asked me to be Lin Fengzhi's stand-in, that was just last year."
The words "stand-in" were now like a knife, precisely piercing Lu Muchi's suffocating feeling. He couldn't refute them. After a few seconds of heavy breathing, he softened his tone, "I won't see Lin Fengzhi, and you're overthinking it. Lin Fengzhi..." He sneered, still extremely displeased, "... he likes my uncle."
After realizing his words were ambiguous, he quickly explained, "Don't misunderstand, I gave up on him not because he didn't like me, but because—" I had already fallen for you.
Yan Heqing interrupted him, saying, "I'm hanging up."
Lu Muchi finally understood what it meant to have something to say but not be able to explain it. However, he vaguely sensed that Yan Heqing was in a bad mood today. He guessed that his grandfather had said something hurtful, and Lu Muchi felt even more sorry for him. He practically coaxed Yan Heqing, "I'll just say one last thing, don't forget the wine tasting on Saturday."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Muchi heard a busy signal.
His expression immediately darkened, and he ordered the driver, "Back to the old house immediately!"
Upon returning to the Lu Family's old residence, Lu Muchi went straight to find Lu Changcheng.
At this time of day, Lu Changcheng usually spends time playing with birds in the garden.
He asked in frustration, "Grandpa, what did you say to him?"
Lu Changcheng toyed with a gold-inlaid jade bird teaser, slowly nibbling at the bird. "Who is he?"
Lu Muchi forward and snatched the bird toy away. "You know!"
Lu Changcheng knew this, and he snorted coldly, "The first thing you said to me was about Yan Heqing."
"Grandpa," Lu Muchi immediately patted his shoulders, " Qingqing is different from others. I promise that after marrying him, I'll work hard and build a career even bigger than my uncle's!"
Lu Changcheng knew that Lu Muchi couldn't do it.
This project, guaranteed to earn billions, ultimately ended up in Lu Lin's hands. Lu Lin's skill and vision are something Lu Muchi will be unable to match for a long time, but Lu Changcheng still appreciates it. He enjoys Lu Muchi's massage, saying, "I'm satisfied as long as you have this determination."
Lu Muchi immediately said, "You agree?"
Lu Changcheng smiled but remained silent.
He certainly wouldn't agree.
Yan Heqing was an orphan with no family or lineage, and also a man who was unable to have children, so he could not bring any benefits or offspring to the Lu Family.
If Xu Qiaoyin hadn't gotten pregnant with Lu Muchi, he would never have agreed to let a country woman into the family.
Compared to Xu Qiaoyin, Yan Heqing is much easier to handle.
A top student from Beijing University wants to intern in a research team.
Each one of them was his Achilles' heel.
Lu Muchi is now stubborn and won't give up until he hits a brick wall, so he just goes along with them, since they can't have a child anyway.
Once he finds the right opportunity, he will eliminate Yan Heqing in one fell swoop.
only...
Lu Changcheng was somewhat puzzled. The people he sent to follow Yan Heqing reported every day that he was at the school. Did Yan Heqing live at the school? Lu Changcheng occasionally felt uneasy and anxious. He always felt that he had overlooked something.
Lu Muchi didn't believe that Lu Changcheng would agree so quickly, but his primary goal now was to bring Yan Heqing home as soon as possible. Anyway, once they got their marriage certificate, his grandfather would have no choice but to acknowledge it!
The two chatted for a while, each with their own thoughts, mainly about Cheng Jian's two lawsuits.
Lu Changcheng reminded Lu Muchi, "Bring more bodyguards when you travel. Even a rabbit will bite when cornered, and the Cheng Family is no exception."
Lu Muchi didn't take it to heart; he didn't care about Cheng Jian at all. He only cared about one thing right now.
Lu Muchi back to his room. There was a safe in the walk-in closet. He squatted down, entered the password, and opened it. Inside were several photos of Xu Qiaoyin, a small sweater that Xu Qiaoyin had knitted for him, and a wooden ring box.
Lu Muchi took out the ring box, opened the lid, and a platinum ring with two intersecting bands was still dazzling, with 13 diamonds set in one band and 14 diamonds set in the other.
It symbolizes a lifetime together.
This ring was a wedding ring that Lu Han gave to Xu Qiaoyin. After their divorce, Xu Qiaoyin left the ring behind, and Lu Han threw it into the trash can.
Lu Muchi secretly picked it up.
He lowered his head and kissed the ring, his heart pounding like a war drum.
After the wine tasting, he planned to take Yan Heqing to the mountaintop overlooking the entire city and propose with this ring.
Just imagining that scene made Lu Muchi smile, and he dialed his secretary's number.
"Contact the best event planning company. I want the most romantic mountaintop proposal on Saturday night."