Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Of course, my word alone wasn’t enough.

But his wasn’t either.

This was something that had to be negotiated.

Before meeting with Director Li, I had already taken Lu Cheng to see my grandfather.

We shared a meal and chatted about casual family matters.

Nothing explicit was said, but those in the know understood the implications.

That night, Grandfather finally relented.

“I’m old now; I can’t manage the affairs of you young people anymore. Do whatever you want to do.”

This time, I went straight to Director Li’s office.

After an hour inside, the engagement was dissolved. We agreed to announce the news of the cancellation on our respective official websites at eight o’clock tomorrow morning.

“So, what kind of benefits did you actually give the Li Family?”

At this moment, Lu Cheng had shed his elite persona from earlier in the day, exuding an air of pure laziness.

After leaving the Li Corporation, I had called Lu Cheng to ask him out for dinner.

Instead, he told me to just come to his place.

I had been a bit hesitant at first.

But then I thought, our relationship is about to change anyway, so why bother being coy?

As it turned out, I had overthought it. It was simply his day off, and he was too lazy to go out.

He didn’t have much in the way of hospitality either; he just seared two steaks and opened a bottle of wine.

Still, it was quite relaxing.

“You’re overthinking it. Do I look like the type of person to endure humiliation just to carry out a heavy responsibility?”

Lu Cheng arched an eyebrow, looking like he was all ears.

I explained, “Actually, there aren’t many things the Li Family can use against me. Over the last six years, nobody has been a fool; it’s just been a matter of win-win cooperation. There was only one exception: Qingshui Bay. The Li Family is the primary investor. If the engagement was broken, they would withdraw their capital.”

If they withdrew their funding, that plot of land would be stuck in my hands, and it would snap my capital chain.

That was why I urgently needed to find a deep-pocketed sucker… no, a wonderful person who had the funds, the strength, and the will.

Lu Cheng clicked his tongue.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

I was baffled.

He said disdainfully, “Looking at me like that makes me feel like a total sucker.”

My heart jolted. Could this man read minds?

“How could that be? You’re my savior!”

Lu Cheng let out a cold laugh.

I tried to flatter him. “Look, I’ve even offered myself to you in marriage to repay the favor!”

Lu Cheng leaned back languidly. “Accepted!”

My face flushed. “Don’t be a rogue.”

Seeing that it was already nine-thirty, Lu Cheng and I pulled out our phones at the same time.

“The news is going public tomorrow! Tell me, would it be a bit dishonest of me to short the Li Corporation while the US stock market is open?”

Lu Cheng gave a short laugh but ignored me.

I looked at him curiously. “What are you doing?”

When I saw the interface on his phone, I hissed.

“You’re being dishonest too?”

Lu Cheng looked up. “The feeling is mutual!”

…

I had a bad premonition. “Whose stocks did you buy?”

Lu Cheng replied, “The Li Family’s, of course… and the Song Family’s!”

I felt like I needed to pinch my pressure points to keep from fainting.

In the end, I could only weakly add, “Don’t buy too much. Don’t bankrupt my family.”