Everyone turned to see Xu Xuejiao approaching.
Today, Xu Xuejiao was dressed in long boots, a trench coat, and sunglasses, exuding a sudden air of maturity and poise. Despite her petite frame—barely over 1.6 meters—she carried herself with such perfect proportions that she looked closer to 1.7 meters. Her makeup, too, lent her a more sophisticated, steady demeanor as she strode forward with a serious expression.
Lu Chengwen eyed her. "What are you butting in for?"
"Justice calls," she replied.
Long Aotian, catching sight of Xu Xuejiao, clasped his fists in a respectful salute. "Miss Xuejiao, it's been a while."
Xu Xuejiao pinched her nose. "Wow, what's that smell? Did you fall into a manure pit or something?"
Long Aotian thought to himself: I really need to find a place to shower. This is unacceptable.
Keeping it humble is one thing, but reeking like this is just too degrading.
Jiang Shihan spoke up, "President Xu, Mr. Lu is trying to fire me!"
"Don't worry, he wouldn't dare."
Lu Chengwen smirked. "Wouldn't dare? I, Lu Chengwen, do what I want, when I want, without caring what anyone thinks."
"Oh, really?" Xu Xuejiao raised an eyebrow.
In his mind, Lu Chengwen strategized: [Xu Xuejiao's tricky to deal with. I need to tread carefully, especially with Long Aotian right here. I can't afford to offend him. His martial arts skills are unmatched, and he's itching to crush me. I absolutely cannot provoke this hothead.]
Xu Xuejiao narrowed her eyes, picking up on his thoughts: So that's it. Long Aotian's some kind of master, and he's got a grudge against Lu Chengwen. Got it.
Lu Chengwen noticed the scheming glint in Xu Xuejiao's eyes and thought: [What's with that look? Is she trying to get one over on me? Little girl, you're too green to outsmart your big brother!]
Xu Xuejiao flashed a cold smile: That's right, Chengwen-ge, I've pretty much figured out your weaknesses. Outsmarting you doesn't seem that hard.
So you're scared of this Long Aotian, huh? But honestly, he does have this reckless, dare-to-face-any-calamity vibe. If he's really a master, he might just be your destined nemesis.
Lu Chengwen's heart sank as he saw her smug grin. [Why's this girl so confident? What's she going to do if I fire Jiang Shihan? Long Aotian's got his sights set on Leng, Xu, and Chen's women—I can't compete with him. That's a one-way ticket to a grave.]
[Jiang Shihan's one of his chosen harem members. She's not a major heroine, but she's still on his list. I can't touch anyone he's claimed, not even a little.]
[Forget it. I'll deal with Xu Xuejiao and the others later. Today, I'm settling Jiang Shihan's matter.]
To outsiders, it looked like Lu Chengwen and Xu Xuejiao were locked in a heated standoff. In reality, their minds were sparring, trading blows in a silent battle of wits.
Lu Chengwen declared, "Anyway, I'll follow the Labor Law to the letter. She'll get her severance, compensation, everything—more than enough. Heh, firing her is legal, reasonable, and justified. No one can touch me."
"Oh, is that so?" Xu Xuejiao asked, brimming with confidence.
"Isn't it?" Lu Chengwen shot back, equally smug.
Xu Xuejiao smiled. "Mr. Lu, a word in private."
Lu Chengwen turned to Long Aotian, placating him. "Brother Aotian, hang on a sec. I'll make sure you leave with Jiang Shihan today."
Long Aotian was dumbfounded.
What's this?
I haven't even made my move, and you're already surrendering?
Is my aura that overpowering? Just standing here, reeking, and the villain's already caving?
Xu Xuejiao pulled Lu Chengwen aside. "You can't fire Jiang Shihan."
"No room for discussion," Lu Chengwen said, casually adjusting his clothes. "It's decided."
"Oh, you can fire her if you insist, Chengwen-ge. But then I'll have to tell Long Aotian what you did to me."
Lu Chengwen looked up. "What did I do to you?"
"That depends on what I say, doesn't it?"
Lu Chengwen felt a chill. [How does she know Long Aotian's my weak spot?!]
[This girl was sent by the heavens to torment me, wasn't she?]
Xu Xuejiao continued, "I'll say you groped me, kissed me, harassed me. I'll say you drugged me, took my virtue—multiple times. I'll say you hit me, insulted me, threatened me, made me wear stockings and dance for you. I'll say you…"
"Alright, alright, stop!"
[Does she need to list all that? Any one of those accusations would be a death sentence with Long Aotian.]
[The rest would have me ground to dust.]
But on the surface, Lu Chengwen played it cool. "You think he'll believe you?"
Xu Xuejiao grinned and tugged him closer. "Take a look at Long Aotian."
"Huh?"
"Does he strike you as the forgiving type? Do you think… he'd believe me or not?"
Lu Chengwen slowly turned, squinting at Xu Xuejiao with barely concealed resentment.
She's right.
In web novels, which male lead is ever broad-minded?
They're all petty, vengeful types!
When it's time to win people over, they act magnanimous, like their hearts are big enough to hold an aircraft carrier. But when their heroine gets tangled with a villain, they flip in an instant.
Broad-minded? Forgive and forget?
If I don't beat you to death, I'm your grandson! Touch the protagonist's woman, and you're done for.
Forget believing or not believing. If you're the protagonist, whose word do you take—the heroine's or the villain's?
Does he even need to believe? Does he?
No!
All he needs is an excuse! An excuse to crush me!
Lu Chengwen had been groveling before Long Aotian to avoid giving him that excuse, to keep him from having a reason to act.
But if Xu Xuejiao snitched, all his efforts would be for nothing.
Long Aotian wouldn't think twice, wouldn't care about the truth. He'd crush Lu Chengwen for the satisfaction and to keep the plot on track.
Lu Chengwen forced a smile. "Uh… Xuejiao, my dear sister, let's talk this over, alright?"
He tried reasoning. "Look, those two are a match made in heaven, a perfect pair, a talented guy and a beautiful girl, right? If we just give them a little push, they'll be together, a beautiful love story. Why wouldn't we want that?"
Xu Xuejiao looked at him. "Long Aotian, a talent? I think you're the talent. Why are you so scared of him? Why don't you just take him on?"
"No, no, don't say that!" Lu Chengwen waved his hands. "Xuejiao, my dear sister, have pity on me. Surviving three days hasn't been easy. Just let him take Jiang Shihan. Firing her doesn't mean abandoning her—I'll pay her salary every month until she dies. That's fair, right?"
Xu Xuejiao pouted and shook her head. "Nope."
"That's not enough?! Why not?!"
In his mind, Lu Chengwen roared: [I don't get it!]
Xu Xuejiao giggled. "It's just fun. I don't want you to fire her. You've got some sneaky plan, I can tell. I'll only decide whether she stays or goes once I figure out what you're up to."
Lu Chengwen was losing it. "Big sister, you're going to get me killed! I swear I don't have any sneaky plans!"
"If I get you killed, so be it. The important thing is we all have fun."
Lu Chengwen snapped, "Xu Xuejiao! Don't push me too far!"
Xu Xuejiao froze, then turned and walked toward Long Aotian, putting on a pitiful act, fake-crying without a single tear. "Brother Aotian, you don't know what Mr. Lu did to me. Yesterday, he gave me some drug… after I took it, I couldn't help myself, I felt so hot, I wanted to rip my clothes off. Then he took me to…"
Lu Chengwen lunged forward and pulled her back.
Long Aotian's face darkened with fury. "Lu Chengwen, what did you do to Xuejiao? My kingly aura is about to burst out of control!"
Lu Chengwen was on the verge of collapse.
He dragged Xu Xuejiao back, trying to calm Long Aotian. "No, no! Brother, your… turtle aura—no, your kingly aura, I mean… you're not a turtle, I'm the turtle, I made myself the turtle… I mean, hold it in, hold it in!"
"I gave her… medicine for diarrhea. She had a stomach issue yesterday, and that medicine makes you feel hot."
"I took her to… a small clinic. They're great at treating stomach problems…"
Long Aotian looked at Xu Xuejiao.
Lu Chengwen practically begged her with his eyes. [Big sister, this isn't a game! If you keep this up, I'm really going to die here today!]
Xu Xuejiao saw his panicked expression and giggled. "So… about Shihan…"
Lu Chengwen let out a defeated sigh. "Not firing her. Never firing her. As long as you don't say anything, I won't fire her."
"And?"
"And?" [What more do you want?!]
Xu Xuejiao continued, "You can't force her out or sideline her. Keep her by your side as your personal secretary."
In his mind, Lu Chengwen raged: [If you weren't a main heroine, I'd crush you right now! You little brat!]
[What does this have to do with you? At all?!]
[Who I keep as my sexy secretary is none of your business! What are you even after?!]
Xu Xuejiao stifled a laugh.
Heh, this is so fun.
Main heroine? That's a cute way to put it.
Sure, it's got nothing to do with me, but I just know you're hiding a ton of secrets.
I can't let your little schemes succeed.
Pretty clever, right?
"Deal or no deal?" Xu Xuejiao asked smugly.
Lu Chengwen's mouth twitched for a long moment. As Xu Xuejiao started to fake-cry again, turning to Long Aotian, "Brother Aotian, yesterday he kept going on and on about my chest…"
Lu Chengwen yanked her back.
In his mind, he screamed: [You win!]
[You're my ancestor!]
Long Aotian roared, "What did you do to Xuejiao's chest?!"
Lu Chengwen held up a finger. "Brother, hold off on that turtle—kingly aura, just wait a sec."
To Jiang Shihan, he said, "Shihan, I'm officially retracting your dismissal. Keep up the good work. I believe in you."
"Thank you, Mr. Lu! Thank you!"
Lu Chengwen looked at Xu Xuejiao. "Happy now?"
Xu Xuejiao beamed, victorious and delighted.
Long Aotian stepped forward, pulling Xu Xuejiao behind him and facing Lu Chengwen with a grim expression. "What did you do to Xuejiao's chest? Speak!"
Lu Chengwen was at a loss for words. "I…"
Xu Xuejiao pushed Long Aotian aside. "Ugh, you, go take a shower already! You really do smell like you crawled out of a manure pit."
"Xuejiao, don't be afraid of this beast. I'll avenge you!"
"Oh, come on, what could he do to my chest? And what's it to you? Get lost!"
"Xuejiao, don't fear him. I, Long Aotian, will protect you!"
"Go shower first, okay?"
"But…"
"But what? You reek! I'm just messing with Chengwen-ge. Stay out of it…"
Lu Chengwen felt like he might cough up blood.
[No! Don't provoke him!]
[The male lead's brain is wired differently. If you piss him off, he won't blame you—he'll come for me!]
Sure enough, Long Aotian spun around, his furious glare so intense that Lu Chengwen's legs buckled, nearly dropping him to his knees.
_
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