Su Banxia was taken aback, looking at Shang Lu, who had suddenly appeared in the bedroom. When had he come back, and how long had he been listening?
The two of them stared at each other for a few seconds.
Su Banxia cleared her throat and couldn’t help but blush slightly. Her black eyelashes trembled slightly. “You’re back,” she said, raising her hand to adjust her towel.
As long as I don’t feel embarrassed, then it’s others who are embarrassed.
She felt fortunate that she had only been seen by Shang Lu, and if there were others present, it would have been a truly embarrassing situation.
“You’re back,” she repeated, trying to sound casual.
The girl, wrapped in a towel, revealed her round shoulders and fair legs, which looked particularly tempting.
Shang Lu’s hand, resting on the armrest, tightened as he averted his gaze. He calmly said, “Put on your clothes.”
Hearing his words, Su Banxia’s face turned even redder. His words could be interpreted ambiguously, as if she wasn’t wearing any clothes, making it seem like a seductive attempt to lure him, like a forest nymph.
She curled her toes on the soft carpet and quickly ran to the closet, opening the door and turning around, slamming it shut.
In the tastefully decorated walk-in closet filled with clothes of various colors, Su Banxia picked out a slightly more conservative set of pajamas and changed into it. She took a deep breath, opened the door, and returned to the bedroom.
Shang Lu was still in the bathroom. Su Banxia glanced at the sofa, rushed over, picked up the duvet, and hastily stuffed it back into the cabinet.
She had brought him lunch today, and he seemed to enjoy it. Tonight, she had a 90% chance of sleeping in the same bed as him, with the remaining 10% being non-negotiable.
Su Banxia lifted the duvet and jumped onto the bed, sliding under it.
Listening to the sound of water dripping from the bathroom, she inexplicably remembered how she had accidentally kissed his chest in the morning, and her face heated up.
Su Banxia kept her ears tuned to the bathroom’s movements. As she heard Shang Lu getting ready to come out, she quickly pretended to be engrossed in playing with her phone.
When Shang Lu emerged from the bathroom, he raised his gaze and looked toward the bed.
She had indeed lied back on the bed.
Shang Lu couldn’t help but think of the stray kittens on the roadside, how they couldn’t be driven away when they met someone they liked, always sticking close and being adorable.
The warm bedroom light cast a soft glow, making her skin even fairer. Her delicate and attractive profile became more prominent. It inexplicably made people feel comfortable.
She had a pair of cat-like pupils, beautiful like gemstones, with a captivating luster when she looked at someone. It carried a hint of seductive charm that was impossible to resist.
Shang Lu activated his wheelchair and moved toward the edge of the bed. With a clenched fist, he lifted the duvet and pushed himself onto the bed.
Su Banxia was aware of Shang Lu getting onto the bed. His limited mobility due to his leg disability required some effort. She refrained from looking at him, not wanting to trigger his feelings of inferiority or sensitivity.
The room was quiet, so quiet that it seemed like you could hear the sound of heartbeats.
When Shang Lu had arranged the duvet and picked up a financial magazine from the bedside table, she stole a glance at him using her peripheral vision.
Shang Lu’s gaze was deep, and he seemed to be engrossed in reading the magazine.
Su Banxia stole several glances at him in succession. She noticed that he was pursing his lips, his delicate profile looking cold and serious. He appeared genuinely focused on the magazine. Her hand slowly moved towards his arm along the edge of the duvet.
Seeing that he hadn’t noticed her, she took advantage of the situation and grabbed his hand, slowly shifting her body closer.
Shang Lu’s eyelashes trembled slightly, and he tightened the hand holding the magazine.
He didn’t stop the girl from approaching him further.
Su Banxia approached Shang Lu and gently rested her head on his shoulder, feeling a sense of satisfaction. The system was reporting that her luck value was skyrocketing by +1+1+1, and Shang Lu was her lucky charm.
In the room, there seemed to be a subtle atmosphere of ambiguity, unnoticed by anyone. Shang Lu’s earlobes had turned slightly red, and his throat tightened a little, but he restrained himself from reacting.
Tired from the day’s activities, Su Banxia snuggled closer and gradually closed her eyes. She felt the fatigue setting in.
Shang Lu had been pretending to read the financial magazine, but he hadn’t absorbed a word. He felt her head sinking onto his shoulder, and he tossed the magazine aside, supporting her gently.
When he turned to look, sure enough, she had fallen asleep without a care in the world.
Her tolerance and her closeness were the result of his patience and concession. In her presence, his coldness had no effect.
Shang Lu moved his stiff and sore shoulders and carefully tucked her into the blanket. He then covered her with the duvet and turned off the bedroom light.
As Shang Lu lay in bed with another person beside him, the spacious bed felt somewhat unfamiliar to him. After a while, he still couldn’t fall asleep. Suddenly, the girl sleeping beside him rolled over, wrapping her arms and legs around him.
Shang Lu furrowed his handsome brows and looked at the girl who had snuggled up to him while sleeping soundly. Her mouth was slightly open, breathing gently, completely unaware that she had turned him into a large-sized cuddle pillow, comfortably sandwiching him.
Shang Lu couldn’t move without waking her up, and he didn’t want to push her away. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to sleep.
The next day.
Sunlight streamed into the room through the narrow gap in the curtains. Su Banxia, who wasn’t used to bright light, opened her eyes and was suddenly met with a handsome face, which startled her.
It was too close.
Why was he so close?
Su Banxia realized that her hands and feet were resting on the man’s body, and she felt utterly bewildered. She carefully lifted her limbs and slowly moved away while the big guy was still asleep.
She didn’t relax until she was lying in a safe position. Luckily, Shang Lu hadn’t woken up yet. Otherwise, if he saw her not only sleeping in his bed but also daringly treating him like a human pillow, he would definitely throw her out.
She took out her phone to check the time and found that it was only 7 a.m. It was still early.
Out of habit, Su Banxia opened an app to check, and her eyes widened in amazement.
The first star was filled up!!!
OMG!
This was an unexpected and pleasant surprise!
There seemed to be some movement beside her. She quickly stuffed her phone under the pillow and pretended to be asleep.
Shang Lu got up, went to the bathroom to freshen up as usual, and then came out to change his clothes in the dressing room.
Su Banxia got up to wash and freshen up. When she came out, she ran into Shang Lu.
He was wearing a white shirt, with his black hair slightly covering his cold brows and eyes. His dark eyes had a faint and commanding aura, and he exuded the charm of an upper-class person. He also had the look of a handsome young man.
Su Banxia couldn’t help but sigh in her heart. He truly deserved the title of the most handsome bigshot, with a charming and charismatic presence.
“Are you going to work?” she asked.
Shang Lu nodded and started moving his wheelchair towards the door.
Su Banxia quickly blocked his way and stood with her hands on her hips, looking assertive. “Wait a minute, did you forget something?”
Shang Lu raised an eyebrow in confusion.
Su Banxia squatted down in front of him and smiled warmly as she pointed to her cheek. “Did you forget to kiss me?”
Shang Lu: “…”
Su Banxia moved a bit closer and said, “Hurry up.”
Shang Lu reached out with his well-defined fingers, pinched her chin, and gently kissed her on the cheek.
Su Banxia was somewhat dissatisfied. She felt like he was just going through the motions every time.
So, she half-knelt on the ground, grabbed his shirt’s collar, and kissed him directly on the lips. “This is how a kiss should be.”
Shang Lu was momentarily stunned. He felt the soft touch on his lips, the girl’s lips were like soft candy, and yet they also had the texture of tender jelly, with a unique sweetness.
After the kiss, Su Banxia straightened his tie for him and gently patted it. “Now, you can go.”
Shang Lu lowered his eyes slightly and left the bedroom without saying a word.
Xiang Lei picked up Shang Lu outside the villa, and when he saw a hint of a smile at the corner of Shang Lu’s lips, his pupils suddenly dilated.
Xiang Lei picked up Shang Lu outside the villa, and when he saw a hint of a smile at the corner of Shang Lu’s lips, his pupils suddenly dilated.
Did he see things wrong just now? Mr. Shang was actually smiling. What happened to put him in such a good mood?
It wasn’t just Xiang Lei who noticed something unusual about Shang Lu. Even the higher-ups in the company, who often referred to Shang Lu as the “devil,” found him unusually approachable today. The person in charge of reporting the project proposal stumbled and made a few mistakes due to nervousness, but Shang Lu didn’t even reprimand him.
After having breakfast downstairs, Su Banxia returned to her room and called out the system.
“Ao Bai, Ao Bai, come out quickly.”
Ao Bai: 【Master, how can I assist you?】
Su Banxia looked at the app on her phone and asked, “My luck value is increasing rapidly. Is it because I slept with Shang Lu last night?”
Ao Bai: 【Yes, Master.】
“I shook hands with him, and my luck value increased significantly. I kissed him, and my heartache disappeared. Last night, I just slept next to him, and my luck value increased by five percent.”
“So if I get to know him more intimately…” Su Banxia suddenly blushed and said, “I have a reasonable suspicion that you are an 18+ system.”
【…】
Ao Bai, using a sweet and childish voice, protested, “Please don’t tarnish the reputation of the system.”
Su Banxia chuckled. “Isn’t it true?”
Ao Bai huffed. 【No!】
Su Banxia stopped teasing it and asked, “So if I absorb luck from him like this, will it affect his luck?”
She hadn’t considered this question before. She realized that if she absorbed luck from Shang Lu, it might harm him, just like how Mu Ruxue had taken luck from her.
Ao Bai: 【No, Master. The more luck you reclaim, the more you’ll be able to help Shang Lü and bring him good fortune in the future.】
In the afternoon, she received a call from her best friend, Lin Qingya. “I’ve returned to the country. Do you have time to meet up?”
“Sure, where shall we meet?” Su Banxia asked.
Lin Qingya mentioned a location and hung up the phone.
Su Banxia quickly checked her phone for important clues. In most novels, the friends of the malicious female supporting characters were often just as malicious, or they were plastic sisters.
In the original book, Lin Qingya had the same character setting as her, both as malicious female supporting characters. She admired the male lead in the book, Shang Mingkai, only to be treated as a substitute by him for Mu Ruxue.
Upon learning that she was a substitute, Lin Qingya decisively broke up with him and harbored a deep hatred for Mu Ruxue. She often created conflicts with Mu Ruxue at school, and her ending was tragic.
Su Banxia wore a mask of pain. Was she destined to be a substitute again? Could she not get past this plot point?
Loving someone genuinely, how could they possibly look for a substitute? What was wrong with them?
Fortunately, Lin Qingya didn’t know Shang Mingkai yet, so there was still a chance to stop her from falling into this trap.
Su Banxia had the driver take her to the International Trade Center and found Lin Qingya in a corner of the coffee shop, walking briskly towards her.
Lin Qingya had a pure appearance, the type that looked like a first love in a romantic movie. Her fashion sense was sweet and spicy, and not just men, even girls would admire her style.
Lin Qingya was surprised. “You got a haircut? What happened to your hair?”
Su Banxia put her bag aside and said, “I didn’t like my previous hairstyle, and it damaged the quality of my hair. Cutting it short allows me to start fresh.”
Lin Qingya stirred her coffee and asked, “We haven’t seen each other in a month, and you’ve become much more attractive. What skincare products are you using?”
Su Banxia smiled and said, “Getting enough sleep and not staying up late is the key to good skin.”
She certainly couldn’t tell Lin Qingya that it was because she had regained her own luck that she was becoming more and more beautiful.
Lin Qingya gave her a skeptical look and asked, “I heard that you were brought back and forced to marry Shang Lu. Is that true?”
Su Banxia nodded slightly and said, “It’s not exactly forced.”
Lin Qingya exclaimed, “This doesn’t count as forced? Do you really like Shang Jingyao so much? If you can’t be his wife, are you settling for being his sister-in-law?”
“Shang Jingyao is in the past,” Su Banxia sipped her coffee and continued, “I married Shang Lu because I love him.”
Seeing Su Banxia’s serious expression, Lin Qingya frowned, “Are you serious? Shang Lu is a man with a disability in both legs. Are you marrying him to become a widow?”
Su Banxia thought for a moment and calmly replied, “Just because his legs can’t move doesn’t mean other parts can’t.”
Shang Lu was her husband now, and she felt it was necessary to protect his male dignity.
Lin Qingya was almost choked by her response. She teasingly raised an eyebrow and asked, “So, have you been intimate with him?”
Su Banxia suppressed her embarrassment and nodded calmly.
Curious, Lin Qingya asked, “How is his performance?”
Su Banxia had no idea about Shang Lu’s performance, so she made up, saying, “He’s very skilled.”
Lin Qingya was shocked. Even with weak legs, he was still so skilled. If his legs were to recover in the future, that would be incredible. For the sake of her best friend’s future happiness, she had to find out more.
“Xia Xia, are you sure his legs can be treated?”
Su Banxia’s expression darkened slightly as she replied, “Yes, they can. I’ve contacted his attending doctor. As long as Shang Lu cooperates with the treatment, undergoes proper rehabilitation after surgery, his legs can recover. It will just take some time.”
Lin Qingya couldn’t understand why Su Banxia’s feelings changed so quickly. She asked, “How did you end up falling for Shang Lu?”
Su Banxia answered seriously, “Because he’s handsome.”
Lin Qingya rolled her eyes and said, “Shallow.”
Shang Lu was indeed more handsome than Shang Jingyao, but that didn’t mean she should jump into a pit just because she saw gold inside without considering how to get out.
“He’s handsome, highly capable at work, and marrying him is a win for me,” Su Banxia reassured her. “I genuinely like him, and Shang Lu treats me very well.”
Lin Qingya still had her doubts. “I heard from others that Shang Lu is quite eccentric.”
Su Banxia looked serious and said, “People have many different opinions, and I don’t need to rely on others to understand what kind of person Shang Lu is.”
Lin Qingya finally believed her and said, “Alright, if you ever feel unhappy, just let me know.”
Su Banxia genuinely felt that if she had to choose one person to spend the rest of her life with, it would be Shang Lu. Regardless of how others saw him, she would use her own eyes and heart to judge what kind of person he was.
“Oh, by the way,” Lin Qingya reminded her, “Are you ready for this year’s Flower God Cup competition?”
Su Banxia and Lin Qingya were both students at A University of the Arts, and the university held a dance competition every year. The top performer would be chosen to play the leading female role in a designated stage play.
Su Banxia remembered the plot of the original book that the system had shown her.
Su Banxia reminisced about the original book’s plot. Mu Ruxue had become Su’s adopted sister in her first year of high school. Su’s father had encountered his first love, who was working as a cleaner at a high-end club, and learned that she was struggling financially and had a daughter the same age as Su Banxia.
Su’s self-confident father, through the vague words of Mu Ruxue’s mother, firmly believed that Mu Ruxue was his illegitimate daughter. His first love, Bai Yueguang, had given birth to a daughter for him, and this act deeply touched Su’s father. He didn’t even bother to do a DNA test and did everything in his power to make Mu Ruxue a part of the Su family.
In the original book, Mu Ruxue didn’t have a foundation in dance after her rebirth. She expressed her envy of Su Banxia’s dancing skills, so Su’s father arranged for her to learn dance alongside Su Banxia.
Although Mu Ruxue could strip others of their luck using the system and had become more physically attractive, she couldn’t match Su Banxia’s natural talent for dancing. This became a sore point for her.
If it weren’t for the fact that Su Banxia’s luck was inexplicably stripped, and she developed an irrational and intense admiration for Shang Jingyao, she wouldn’t have lost to Mu Ruxue.
In the original book, Mu Ruxue completely outperformed all the students in the Flower God Cup dance competition, and the video of her performance was widely shared online, creating a sensation through marketing. After winning the Flower God Cup, Mu Ruxue became the female lead in the stage play “Moon Goddess Gift” and gained the favor of many renowned international directors.
By playing the role of the Moon Goddess, she garnered national attention, received continuous praise, and became a shining star in the dance industry, as well as a national goddess.
With such achievements, even Lu Yurou changed her opinion of Mu Ruxue and agreed to her marrying Shang Jingyao.
The original protagonist lost to Mu Ruxue due to her weak physical condition and declining appearance, which greatly affected her dance skills. In the original world, Su Banxia was also an outstanding dancer, so she wouldn’t miss this opportunity.
Su Banxia chatted with Lin Qingya for a while and then returned home. The Shang family had a dedicated fitness room but no place for practicing dance. Su Banxia wanted to clear a room for renovating it into a dance practice room.
However, the maid insisted on seeking Lu Yurou’s approval, and Lu Yurou firmly disagreed, citing limited space in the house and not wanting any disruptions.
Su Banxia didn’t argue with her and decided to wait until Shang Lu returned home to discuss it later in the evening.
Su Banxia had requested the construction of a dance studio, and due to Shang Lu’s influence in the household, it was quickly set up by the renovation workers in just a few days.
Standing in the dance studio surrounded by mirrors, Su Banxia admired her reflection. Her tall and slender figure, weighing only ninety pounds, featured perfectly straight and attractive long legs, a sexy collarbone, and a one-shoulder neckline that looked great from any angle. It was perfect for camera shots.
Su Banxia lifted one leg and gracefully performed a split in the air, her hands clasping the elevated leg. After half a minute, she gently lowered her leg, stretched her muscles, and took a deep breath. The original host’s body hadn’t forgotten the art of dance, and neither had her memory.
As the music began, Su Banxia exhaled lightly, her toes touching the ground. With each graceful leap, her shoulders moved gracefully, her slender waist twisted, and her body danced to the rhythm of the music, her movements fluid and elegant.
Gradually, Su Banxia found herself immersed in the world of dance, and as she danced, a happy smile graced her lips. She lost track of time, and before she knew it, darkness had fallen outside.
Breathing heavily, Su Banxia realized that she had been enchanted by dance. She had danced for hours. She decided to finish with one last dance and then take a shower to rest.
She dimmed the lights in the dance studio, leaving only a soft spotlight in the center. Sitting on the floor like a bud waiting to bloom, she eagerly anticipated the start of the music for her final performance.
The dance studio was located on the second floor of the villa, while the bedrooms were on the third and fourth floors.
Shang Jingyao had returned home with Shang Lu, but instead of taking the elevator to their rooms, he chose to take the stairs. When he reached the second floor, he heard music playing.
Curious, he slowed his steps. They had recently renovated a room on the second floor for Su Banxia to use as her dance studio, and the music likely meant that she was practicing.
The dance studio was conveniently close to the staircase. Shang Jingyao found himself inexplicably drawn towards it. The door was open, and beautiful music flowed out, while the mirrors reflected a graceful figure.
Having seen Mu Rushue practice dance, Shang Jingyao was surprised to discover that Su Banxia was equally skilled.
While dancing, Su Banxia appeared quite different from her usual bright and lovely self. There was a hint of elegance and aloofness in her demeanor, akin to a proud black swan.
Shang Jingyao stood still, his gaze following her every move.
Suddenly, the elevator chimed, bringing Shang Lu out of it. Shang Jingyao was caught off guard when he met Shang Lu’s gaze. His heart raced inexplicably as he greeted, “Brother.”
Shang Lu, with his usual indifferent expression, acknowledged him.
Shang Jingyao quickly turned and headed for the stairs, almost as if he were escaping, and went back upstairs.
Inside the dance studio, Shang Lu entered and saw the graceful dancer. His eyes held a deep, swirling emotion.
Su Banxia, upon noticing Shang Lu’s arrival, stopped and turned towards him. She greeted, “You’re back.”
Shang Lu replied in a calm tone, “Let’s go downstairs for dinner.”
Su Banxia walked over, wiped the sweat from her brow with a towel, and took a sip of water before approaching Shang Lu. She asked, “How was my dancing?”
Shang Lu commented, “It was good.”
Su Banxia playfully displayed a disappointed expression and said, “Just ‘good’? That definitely means I didn’t do well.”
Shang Lu glanced at the rosy-cheeked girl and changed his choice of words, “It was great.”
Su Banxia lowered her head to look at him and complained, “Can’t you just say it was amazing no matter how I dance? Don’t you know that you should always praise regardless of the actual performance?”
Shang Lu pursed his lips but remained silent.
Su Banxia sighed in exasperation, “You’re really clueless when it comes to making girls happy. I’ll go upstairs to take a shower, and I’ll join you for dinner later.”
Surprisingly, Shang Lu didn’t leave but accompanied her back to their room.
His gaze lingered on her dance attire, emphasizing her figure and exposing some skin.
After Su Banxia emerged from the bathroom with a towel in hand, she saw his tensed expression and sensed that he was upset. Without hesitation, she plopped down on the carpet in front of him, resting her chin on his leg and handing him the towel, saying, “Help me dry my hair.”
Shang Lu had never dried someone’s hair before. He covered her head with the towel and, recalling his experience taking care of a cat long ago, began to rub her hair.
Su Banxia hurriedly grabbed his large hand and said, “Forget it, forget it. If you keep rubbing like that, you’ll make me go bald.”
Shang Lu looked down at the girl by his side, “From now on, practice dancing with the door closed.”
“Hmm?” Su Banxia was puzzled.
Shang Lu calmly stated, “There are many servants in the house.”
Su Banxia understood his implication; he didn’t want others to see her dancing. Was he feeling jealous?
“Got it,” she said with a playful smile.
For almost half a month, Su Banxia had been diligently practicing dance in preparation for the upcoming dance competition.
Little did she know that the academy hadn’t started yet when a major incident occurred at Shang Lu’s company. A crowd of media reporters and various individuals had gathered outside the Shang Corporation building, causing a commotion.
The security personnel were doing their best to prevent the crowd from entering. A man wearing a blue tank top, floral shorts, and flip-flops was leading a group of people holding banners and protesting.
The white banners were inscribed with blood-red letters demanding that Shang Lu pay his debts with blood. The man threatened that if Shang Lu didn’t show up, they would camp outside the company every day until he apologized and compensated them.
Reporters with cameras and microphones were conducting interviews.
Su Banxia entered the company building and overheard conversations.
“When are those people outside, along with the reporters, going to leave? They’re blocking our way to and from work, and it’s so annoying.”
“Shang Corporation’s boss is ruthless. Not only did he break the guy’s hand, but he also turned him into a vegetable.”
“Shang Corporation pays well, but Shang Lu is so scary. It sends shivers down my spine. If it weren’t for the high salaries here, I’d consider switching jobs.”
“I heard that people with disabilities are often perverts. Sigh, commoners have no say, even if they resort to media attention, it usually leads to nothing.”
Su Banxia felt angry after hearing these discussions but restrained herself from responding.
She initially thought it was a regular commotion, but the impact it was having on the company was substantial. Employees were starting to criticize their superiors, and if this situation wasn’t resolved quickly, it would be detrimental to both Shang Lu and the Shang Corporation.
Su Banxia had visited the company several times, and the receptionist’s demeanor changed instantly upon seeing her, greeting her with a smile and guiding her to the CEO’s elevator.
She smoothly reached the CEO’s floor and stepped out of the elevator. The receptionist at the CEO’s office welcomed her with a smile.
“Miss Su, you’re here.”
Su Banxia inquired, “Is Shang Lu in his office?”
“Miss Su, you may need to wait in the guest room for a while. The CEO and his special assistant are discussing work matters.”
“Alright.”
Su Banxia carried her belongings and went to the guest room to wait.
The waiting time was excruciating. After half an hour had passed, even the tea brought by the receptionist had turned cold.
She waited for a while longer and then went out to inquire, “How much longer will they be?”
“I’m sorry, Miss Su, I don’t know,” the receptionist expressed her apologies and picked up the phone. “Would you like me to call the internal line to check?”
Su Banxia shook her head. “No need. I can wait a bit longer.”
As she was about to return to the guest room to sit down, the door to the CEO’s office opened, and a woman dressed in a blue suit walked out. When she saw Su Banxia, a hint of coldness flashed in her eyes.
Lin Xuan approached. “Miss Su, the CEO is very busy today. If you have no urgent matters, please leave.”
Su Banxia had previously sensed that something was off with Shang Lu’s secretary, and now she keenly detected a sense of hostility.
The original plot didn’t delve much into Shang Lu’s relationships, and he was portrayed as a ruthless devil in the business world, feared by both men and women.
Therefore, she had subconsciously believed that there wouldn’t be any other rivals, but now she realized there was an enemy hiding nearby.
Did this woman, who knew she was married to Shang Lu, still want to vie for his attention?
Su Banxia smiled faintly. “I’ve come to bring him lunch.”
Lin Xuan said, “Let me take it in for you.”
Su Banxia didn’t agree. “No need, I’ll go myself.”
Lin Xuan stopped her with her hand and spoke sternly. “The company is facing a crisis, Miss Su. You don’t understand the seriousness of the situation. Please don’t be willful and cause trouble.”
The receptionist watched this scene tremblingly. Lin Xuan was the CEO’s secretary, while the other woman was the CEO’s wife, and they were now in a confrontational situation. She felt awkward and wished she could hide away.
Su Banxia narrowed her eyes slightly, a hint of shallow anger appearing in her pupils.
She didn’t want to make a scene. “Secretary Lin, I am Shang Lu’s wife. What right do you have to stop me from going in?”
Lin Xuan’s face turned ugly, and she sneered, “Since Miss Su wants to be willful, then go in. Don’t blame me for not warning you.”
She had just been kicked out of the CEO’s office by Shang Lu. The situation downstairs had not been resolved, Shang Industries’ stock had plummeted, and the company’s PR and management were all in trouble. If Su Banxia wanted to embarrass herself, she was more than willing to oblige.
Lin Xuan walked to the office door and raised her hand to knock. “CEO, Miss Su is here to bring you lunch.”
Su Banxia stood quietly, holding a thermos.
From inside the CEO’s office came the indifferent voice of a man. “Let her go back.”
Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her eyes, and looked at Su Banxia mockingly. “Miss Su, please leave.”
Lin Xuan raised her eyebrows, a hint of amusement in her eyes, and she looked at Su Banxia mockingly. “Miss Su, please leave.”
Su Banxia could hear the slight hoarseness in Shang Lu’s voice and the underlying anger. It seemed that he was genuinely not in a good mood right now.
Ignoring Lin Xuan’s petty attitude, Su Banxia lifted the thermos and returned to the guest room, intending to continue waiting.
Lin Xuan didn’t expect her to stay and her expression darkened instantly. She let out a cold snort and returned to her office.
Su Banxia walked up to the window of the guest room and looked down at the black dots below. The group causing trouble didn’t seem to tire, shouting under the scorching sun.
She found a chair and sat down, taking out her phone to check the news. She came across a video of a reporter’s interview.
# Shang Industries’ current CEO, Shang Lu, brutally abuses a nanny, unreasonably fires employees, and forces one to jump off a building, resulting in disability. #
The headline was shocking, and it stirred up a lot of anger among people.
In today’s society, which was quite restless, the media constantly fueled anxiety, leading to many people having a grudge against the wealthy. When an incident like this, where a rich person oppresses ordinary people, occurs, many people start to hurl insults without knowing the full story. They vent their anger without understanding the situation.
“Corrupt corporation! Shang Industries should go bankrupt!”
“Is there no justice left? Pay compensation and apologize! If that crippled guy doesn’t apologize, send him to jail!”
“It seems that people with physical disabilities are all perverts. The nanny is so pitiful.”
Su Banxia clenched her phone, unable to bear reading the abusive comments. It weighed heavily on her heart.
These people didn’t know the truth of the matter and were already hurling insults. They used verbal violence on social media platforms, which disgusted her.
She hoped Shang Lu wouldn’t see these comments. No matter how strong and resolute one’s heart was, repeated hurtful words could eventually penetrate it.
The door to the CEO’s office remained closed and didn’t open. The receptionist came by twice to offer water and suggested that she go rest.
Su Banxia shook her head, declining the offers. She wanted to wait until Shang Lu had some free time to meet with him.
She must have been asleep for a while when she found herself dozing off on the table.
The receptionist noticed her through the glass and, after some hesitation, decided to make a call. It took several attempts before someone on the other end picked up.
“Mr. Shang, Miss Su is asleep in the guest room,” the receptionist said, a bit nervously.
There was silence on the other end for a few seconds, then the call was abruptly hung up.
The receptionist let out a sigh of relief, wiped away some sweat, and wondered if she should bring her own small blanket over to cover Su Banxia. Just then, the door to the CEO’s office opened, and Shang Lu’s figure appeared. He was followed by his bodyguard, Xiang Lei.
They headed towards the guest room, and the receptionist discreetly observed. She saw Xiang Lei, under Mr. Shang’s command, carry Su Banxia into the CEO’s office.
Once inside, Xiang Lei placed Su Banxia on the bed and then left the room.
Shang Lu gazed at the girl lying on the bed. She was sleeping soundly and hadn’t noticed the change in location.
Just two hours ago, he had been busy with work and didn’t want her to wait around, so he had asked her to leave. But she was so stubborn and insisted on waiting in the guest room.
She was always like this, never following instructions.
He had told her to stay away from him, to be well-behaved, but she would always ignore his words and continue to get closer to him.
With the frequency of her actions, he sometimes found himself lost in her presence. Whenever he saw her, he felt an inexplicable sense of joy, even if they didn’t do or say anything.
The noise from the commotion outside couldn’t be driven away. The sounds recorded by loudspeakers were loud and incessant.
Shang Lu’s brows furrowed, his gaze fixed on the girl on the bed. He couldn’t help but wonder, everyone thought he was a perverted madman, and when she found out about that incident, would she also look at him with fear and avoidance, like everyone else?
If she did, he couldn’t pretend not to care.
As Shang Lu brooded in silence, he contemplated the possibility that she might become afraid and want to escape from him. For him, that might be a good thing.
For a man like him who lived in the darkness, there was no need for light.
Light could bring warmth, but it could also burn.
The evening sun painted orange streaks in the sky, gradually transitioning into deep blue-purple hues. As time passed, it transformed into inky darkness, punctuated by intermittent, flickering stars.
Su Banxia woke up in the darkness and realized she was lying in a bed. She felt disoriented for a moment but soon remembered falling asleep in the CEO’s office.
She reached out to turn on the light and recognized the surroundings as Shang Lu’s resting room. A warm feeling washed over her.
She got out of bed, put on her shoes, and walked out of the room. The CEO’s office was still dimly lit, with a faint glow coming from the window.
In the dimly lit room, she saw a figure by the floor-to-ceiling window. The man’s slender fingers held a cigarette, and his side profile seemed as impassive as a silent statue. He was looking down at the bustling city below.
Su Banxia walked slowly toward him.
At this hour, most of the employees had already left the company, leaving the outside world filled with the hustle and bustle of city life. It created a stark contrast with the quiet office.
As she approached him, Su Banxia deliberately made her footsteps heavier.
Hearing the footsteps, the man turned his face and raised his black eyes to look at her. In the darkness, his expression was indiscernible.
Su Banxia stood by his side and asked, “Why don’t you turn on the lights?”
Shang Lu remained silent.
Su Banxia moved behind him and embraced him from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder. She whispered in his ear, “You must have the same preference as me, enjoying looking at the night view with the lights off.”
The girl’s soft cheek pressed against his face as she spoke. Shang Lu tilted his head slightly and said in a low voice, “Stand properly.”
Su Banxia didn’t listen and nuzzled his cold face, saying, “Ah, I’m so tired, I don’t want to move.”
Shang Lu had no choice but to deal with her. His handsome face tensed slightly, and he ordered, “Let go.”
Su Banxia hmphed but obediently stood still.
At that moment, his phone rang, and Shang Lu answered it. On the other end, Shang’s father’s angry voice came through, “Where are you? Come home immediately!”
Before Shang Lu could respond, the call was abruptly terminated.
Su Banxia felt irritated by Shang’s father’s tone. He wasn’t even at retirement age yet, but since becoming a director, he hadn’t been involved in the company’s affairs. Whenever something went wrong, he would blame Shang Lu.
After ending the call, Shang Lu remained silent and led her back to the Shang family residence.
Su Banxia knew that he was feeling uncomfortable. Even though his father had been indifferent and even looked down on him, Shang Lu still respected his father.
In this world, there were many children who had been emotionally wounded in their relationships with their parents. The less love they received from their parents, the more they yearned for it.
Children who felt unloved, even though they pretended not to care during the day, would often question themselves repeatedly, especially at night, wondering why their parents didn’t love them.
Children who were deprived of love, from childhood to adulthood, often longed to be loved.
As long as parents offered a bit of warmth, children would willingly give everything for their parents, even if they knew it was only a hollow use.
The wounds children suffered stayed with them for a lifetime, unable to be healed.
The clarity of consciousness amidst such despair was a kind of sorrow.
Later on, if it weren’t for Shang’s father and stepmother going too far and taking the business empire he had worked so hard to build away from him, Shang Lu wouldn’t have been driven to such complete darkness.
Thinking about the future, Su Banxia’s heart ached, and her eyes welled up with a hint of bitterness.
Her Shang Lu.
If he could have had healthy legs, he would have been the most outstanding scion of this world, unmatched by anyone.
Returning to the Shang family villa, the atmosphere was heavy. Shang’s father, Lu Yurou, and Shang Jingyao were all sitting on the sofa, ready for a confrontation.
“Shang Lu, how do you plan to resolve the company’s issues?” Shang’s father started with questioning.
Lu Yurou added fuel to the fire from the side, “Xiaolu, Auntie advised you not to fire that maid back then, but you didn’t listen. I knew something like this would happen. Sigh, if it continues like this, what will happen to the company?”
Shang Lu suddenly raised his gaze, looking at her with icy eyes.
Lu Yurou was startled by his cold gaze and leaned into Shang’s father’s arms, saying, “Xiaolu, if you have something to say, just say it. Don’t use that kind of gaze to frighten people; it’s so scary.”
Shang’s father angrily said, “Your aunt misspoke. Troublemaker, you’re the only one in this family who doesn’t listen.”
“Those people causing trouble and refusing to leave are just after money. Tomorrow, go to the hospital and apologize, use money to silence them, and quickly resolve the matter,” Shang’s father commanded.
Shang Lu replied coldly, “Impossible.”
Shang’s father grabbed the ashtray on the table and hurled it towards Shang Lu. Su Banxia screamed in surprise and instinctively used her arm to block it. The heavy object made a loud sound as it struck, causing everyone’s hearts to race.
“Su Banxia!”
Two young male voices sounded simultaneously.
Su Banxia’s face turned pale, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. She looked pained.
Shang Lu’s face darkened instantly as he cast a fierce glare at his father. He wheeled his chair closer, gripping her hand tightly. “Are you alright?”
Su Banxia bit her lip and shook her head. “I’m fine.”
Shang Lu immediately dialed the family doctor’s number on his phone. “Hurry over!”
Shang’s father felt somewhat embarrassed. He had intended to strike Shang Lu, but he didn’t expect his daughter-in-law to block the blow. Since his daughter-in-law had not done anything wrong, it wouldn’t sound good if news got out that he had hit his daughter-in-law.
“Banxia, why did you use your arm to block that? You silly child,” Shang’s father complained. “Let the doctor examine you properly later.”
Lu Yurou, upon seeing Su Banxia getting hurt, felt a momentary satisfaction. She also heard the worried voice of Shang Jingyao and started to play her part.
She disregarded the intense conflict between Shang’s father and Shang Lu and turned to look at her son, her expression gradually becoming stern.
After Shang Jingyao shouted, he immediately realized he had lost his composure and resumed his passive stance, not allowing Lu Yurou to detect any flaws.
In his heart, he admonished himself that when he called out Su Banxia’s name upon seeing her get hit, it was merely out of concern for his sister-in-law. He had absolutely no ulterior motives.
The family doctor lived nearby and rushed over quickly. After examining Su Banxia’s hand, he said, “There’s nothing serious for now. I’ll prescribe some medication for you. If you still feel a lot of pain tomorrow, it’s best to go to the hospital for an X-ray.”
The atmosphere in the living room was tense, and everyone’s expressions were grim. After advising them on the necessary precautions, Dr. Song quickly left the villa.
Shang’s father couldn’t scold Shang Lu any further. Before going upstairs, he ordered, “Shang Lu, remember what I said tonight. The company can’t afford any delays.”
Shang Lu replied in a deep voice, “I didn’t send anyone to harm that maid.”
Shang’s father paused in his steps, clearly not believing him. He said, “That’s not important. Tomorrow, you will apologize. If the other party asks for no more than one million, you should settle it quickly.”
Su Banxia clearly saw disappointment in Shang Lu’s expression. In the lamplight, his face appeared pale and gloomy, carrying a silent sorrow.
Unable to bear it any longer, Su Banxia raised her voice and said, “Dad, Shang Lu is your son. Since he hasn’t done anything wrong, why should he apologize?”
Shang’s father, who was heading upstairs, stopped abruptly, and Lu Yurou and Shang Jingyao looked at her with surprise in their eyes.
Everyone knew that Shang Lu had a gloomy and reclusive personality, and his attitude towards others was hostile. Only he could commit acts of persecution like this.
Yet, she, she believed Shang Lu’s words.
Shang’s father’s expression was unpleasant as he looked at the girl clutching her injured arm.
Su Banxia took a few steps forward, her eyes blazing with anger, capable of scorching anyone. She said, “Shang Lu is your son. Do you prefer to believe outsiders over your own son? Have you ever thought about what’s best for Shang Lu? Aren’t you afraid that he’s being wrongly accused?”
“Before the matter is thoroughly investigated, on what grounds do you demand that he apologize?” Su Banxia practically gritted her teeth as she spoke. “On what grounds?”
As the elder, Shang’s father’s face darkened like water when questioned in this manner. He sternly said, “Su Banxia, watch your words!”
Su Banxia sneered, “It’s early in the morning, even if you’re the elder, you should still apologize if you make a mistake!”
Shang’s father was furious and pointed at her, saying, “How did the Su family raise someone like you? I’m going to call your father right now and ask how he raised his daughter!”
Su Banxia’s anger couldn’t be concealed in her tone as she replied, “Don’t change the subject. Shang Lu is not wrong, he won’t apologize, and you can’t force him…”
“Enough.” A cold voice came from beside her.
Her trembling hand was held by someone, and a large hand tightly grasped hers, as if giving her the courage to stand firm.
Shang Lu held her hand and said, “Let’s go back to our room.”
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