Volume One, Chapter 11: He Comes and Goes as He Pleases

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Cong Wen emerged from inside and greeted them.
“Young master, young madam, you’re here? I need to step out for a bit.”
The form of address was quite flexible.
Lu Ye nodded. “Go ahead and take care of your business.”
Then he called after him again, “Is my uncle badly hurt? How’s his mood?”
Cong Wen’s expression didn’t change at all; he smiled appropriately. “His mood might not be great—after all, quite a lot of important matters were delayed.”
Hearing this, Lu Ye furrowed his brows and lowered his voice slightly. “How did he end up in a car accident out of nowhere? I heard there was a woman in the car at the time? Was she really an ex-girlfriend?”
Cong Wen smiled. “I don’t know about that. I wasn’t driving. If you want to know, you should ask Fourth Master.”
Lu Ye lifted his foot and gave Cong Wen a mock kick. “If I dared ask, would I still be wasting time here with you?”
Cong Wen smiled and nodded at Gu Yan before leaving.
A servant came out to guide them; otherwise, they might get lost.
Walking through the garden-style villa, Gu Yan felt truly inexperienced, as if she had stepped into the rear courtyard of an ancient imperial palace.
It was very quiet here, with only the occasional reminders from the servant guiding them.
“Watch your step at the entrance.”
The villa was actually very luxurious, unlike the rustic appearance at the garden gate. Gu Yan changed her shoes and followed them toward the living room, where she saw Lu Wentang on the balcony, watering flowers?
One hand was injured, and he held a spray bottle with the other, slightly bent over. Sunlight streamed through the window, outlining his striking profile.
He glanced back at them briefly, then set down the spray bottle.
“Uncle, I brought Gu Yan to see you. She made you some nourishing soup. I’m trying to be good to you, right?” Lu Ye shamelessly borrowed credit for himself.
Lu Wentang glanced indifferently at the thermos and tossed the wet wipes into the trash.
“Good? You’re not the one who’s good.”
Lu Ye didn’t mind at all. “Right, right, Gu Yan is better for you. She works under your supervision. She’s so good—don’t bully her!”
Lu Wentang looked over at Gu Yan but didn’t respond.
Lu Ye’s brow twitched.
What did that mean?
Had Gu Yan been performing poorly at work these past few days?
That wouldn’t do.
Lu Ye poured the soup from the thermos and offered it to Lu Wentang.
Lu Wentang sat on the sofa and said, “If you’ve got something to say, just say it.”
Lu Ye paused, then laughed. If Uncle spoke like that, it meant there was something to talk about.
“Uncle, I was thinking I could get a small position at headquarters and learn from you.”
Lu Wentang lifted the soup and slowly tasted it.

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He didn’t say whether it was good or not—he just took a sip after a while.
“If you don’t say anything, I’ll take that as consent,” Lu Ye concluded, only to receive a sharp glance from Lu Wentang.
Lu Ye was used to being shot down.
Then he looked at Gu Yan. “Why aren’t you saying anything? You’re usually so quick-witted with me but go soft when it comes to Uncle?”
Lu Ye assumed the role of family patriarch as he scolded her.
“Say something nice, show some concern and try to win him over. The things you can learn from him, you won’t find elsewhere.”
Gu Yan nodded obediently. “Got it.”
But she wasn’t really listening, her gaze fixed on the bougainvillea Lu Wentang had just watered—a flower she liked.
She hadn’t expected Lu Wentang to like flowers.
“Lu Feng isn’t right for you,” Lu Wentang said suddenly.
Gu Yan thought the remark was directed at her.
She was naturally competitive, and after working hard and diligently these past few days, without making mistakes, how could he come to such a conclusion?
“You haven’t even officially used him. How do you know I’m not good enough?” Gu Yan replied calmly and confidently.
She no longer felt the need to fear anyone in the Lu family. In fact, the old master and Lu Ye owed her favors.
Lu Wentang looked up at her.
The living room fell silent for a moment.
Lu Ye laughed out loud beside them. “See? My wife’s even speaking up for me.”
Gu Yan: !
He was talking about Lu Ye just now?
Her ears burned again as she tried to suppress her embarrassment and stood up.
“I’m going to the restroom.”
She took a few steps but, since it was her first time here, wasn’t sure which door was the restroom or which one was usable. Embarrassed, she turned back to look at Lu Wentang.
Lu Wentang, seemingly teasing her, met her gaze for two seconds with an expression that said he didn’t quite understand what she meant.
Gu Yan braved herself and asked, “Where’s the restroom?”
“I’ll take you,” said the servant, bringing over a fruit plate and waving at her.
Gu Yan entered the restroom and closed the door.
She planned to wait until Lu Ye called her before coming out.
She hadn’t brought her phone in.
However, there was an electronic screen on the wall next to the restroom, and it was connected to the internet.
This restroom must be about thirty square meters, fully equipped—it probably wasn’t for the servants. So Lu Wentang had installed something like a tablet in there.
Was he constipated?
Watching movies to pass the time?
Such an idea clashed with his noble demeanor, making Gu Yan laugh quietly to herself.
She explored inside for an unknown length of time, initially not touching anything, but eventually curiosity got the better of her. She wanted to find something to watch on the screen.
Lu Ye and Lu Wentang didn’t have much to talk about. Though Lu Ye seemed casual in his conversation with Lu Wentang, in reality, he dared not overstep even an inch on forbidden topics.
For example, who was the woman in the car yesterday?
So after chatting for a while, Lu Ye grew bored. “I’m going to explore the garden. Call me when lunch is ready.”
Lu Wentang slightly nodded.
The living room grew quiet again.
Lu Wentang glanced sideways at the restroom, which was as silent as a tomb.
“Knock knock.” Lu Wentang tapped twice.
“Wait a moment!” The voice inside was a bit excited, trying to suppress it but clearly failing.
Lu Wentang waited about three seconds and then opened the door.
Gu Yan suddenly saw him enter and their eyes met.
“You didn’t lock the door,” the man said in a calm tone.
But Gu Yan felt he sounded perfectly justified. “Just because it’s unlocked doesn’t mean you can come in! This is the restroom!”
Lu Wentang glanced behind her. “The entire villa belongs to me.”
Meaning he could enter whenever he pleased?
Gu Yan leaned against the wall, blocking the screen.
Then she pointed to the nearby sink. “Do your faucets require fingerprints? Why can’t I turn this on?”
There were many strange things in this world, but she’d never heard of a faucet that needed a fingerprint to operate.
Obviously, she was bluffing.
Lu Wentang didn’t move toward the sink but instead stepped toward her.
Gu Yan tensed. “What are you doing?”
Lu Wentang stopped only when he was almost pressing against her, his gaze lowered. “Did I bully you?”
Gu Yan recalled what Lu Ye had said—telling Lu Wentang not to bully her at the company.
“I haven’t told Lu Ye anything.”
Lu Wentang ignored her.
She could almost smell the faint fragrance on him, tried to control her breathing, wanted to leave, but his outstretched arm blocked her path.
The man’s sharp features drew close. Gu Yan forced herself to remain calm.
But she couldn’t. She bit her lip and turned her head slightly.
“Mr. Lu, even if you want to provoke your girlfriend, once should be enough. Are you being fair to her like this?”

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