Chapter Forty: Send Him Abroad, Never to Return

Hearing this, Shen Qingli nodded. The crucial point was that she owed the system sixty Face-Slapping Points! With Lu Ziyi and Shen Jingrong together, it was as if they were offering her points on a silver platter—how could she refuse?

Xie Jinchuan’s heart softened as he looked at her adorable little expression. He took her hand. “Let’s go!”

When the two arrived at Lu Ziyi’s office, the shareholders immediately seemed to find their backbone, crowding around and bombarding them with questions.

“President Xie, Lu Ziyi must be severely punished for this!”

“This is already attempted murder!”

“If you ask me, just call the police and have him arrested!”

Lu Ziyi trembled, terrified at the thought of being imprisoned. His body could not stop shaking.

Shen Qingli glanced at Lu Ziyi, curled up in his chair, and felt a secret thrill—he deserved it!

Just then, Old Master Lu arrived, the pitiable old man rushing in to clean up after his eldest grandson.

Xie Jinchuan led Shen Qingli to sit on the sofa to the side. With Old Master Lu here, negotiations would take some time.

The shareholders, seeing Old Master Lu arrive, restrained their anger and gave him due respect, and the room fell silent.

Lu Ziyi, seeing his grandfather, shook off his despondency, striding over to Old Master Lu and crying out anxiously, “Grandpa, it wasn’t me! It really wasn’t me!”

Old Master Lu looked at Lu Ziyi, torn between anger and pain. Regardless of innocence, there was no evidence to prove he hadn’t done it.

Xie Jinchuan watched the touching scene of grandfatherly affection and filial piety with cold eyes, growing impatient.

Old Master Lu, leaning on his cane, stood before Xie Jinchuan and lowered his posture. “Jinchuan, this must be a misunderstanding. Why don’t we let it go?”

Xie Jinchuan remained silent, but the shareholders wouldn’t have it.

“Let it go? That’s attempted murder! Even if no one died, it’s still a crime!”

“This isn’t the first time Lu Ziyi has caused trouble. Does being a Lu make him untouchable? Do you realize how much money was invested in this project? If someone died, how much would we lose?”

Xie Jinchuan’s gaze flickered, but he said nothing, quietly watching Old Master Lu.

Old Master Lu listened to the heated discussion and realized the matter could not be settled so easily. It seemed he would have to sacrifice the pawn to protect the king.

He gritted his teeth and pleaded, “Jinchuan, after all, we’re family. I’ll send Ziyi abroad and never let him return. Will that suffice?”

Lu Ziyi could not accept this, shouting, “I won’t go abroad! I didn’t do it! I won’t go, I won’t!”

Old Master Lu felt his pain but knew this was not the time for an outburst. He immediately kicked Lu Ziyi. “Shut up! Haven’t you embarrassed us enough? Do you want to go to prison?”

Lu Ziyi froze at the word “prison,” terrified. For a favored son of heaven, prison was unthinkable. Compared to that, going abroad was more bearable.

Xie Jinchuan was quite satisfied with this outcome. After all, he hadn’t committed the crime; as long as Lu Ziyi stayed out of his sight, it would suffice.

The shareholders whispered among themselves, “That’s too easy for him!”

Xie Jinchuan explained to the still disgruntled shareholders, “This is a scandal. If Lu Ziyi went to prison, Lu Group’s stock would plummet. Sending him abroad is enough to keep him from causing trouble.”

His deep, pleasant voice echoed in the office. The shareholders, persuaded by his reasoning, agreed and took their leave.

Shen Jingrong, observing Lu Ziyi’s defeated appearance, addressed Xie Jinchuan, “Uncle, Ziyi really didn’t…”

Her words were abruptly cut off by Xie Jinchuan’s piercing gaze—a look like a beast eyeing its prey. Shen Jingrong’s back broke out in cold sweat.

She understood: if she dared speak further, the Shen family would be dragged down as well. That gaze meant he intended to uproot them all.

Lu Ziyi, unable to accept his fate, continued to struggle weakly. “I won’t go, I won’t!”

Old Master Lu looked at him in disappointment and, not wanting him to further annoy Xie Jinchuan, waved to the bodyguards. “Hurry up and take the young master downstairs!”

But Lu Ziyi resisted so fiercely that persuasion was useless; force was necessary. In the end, he was dragged away.

Old Master Lu sighed as he looked at Xie Jinchuan. He had lost all dignity before this grandson and left as well.

Shen Jingrong naturally wouldn’t stay, and followed after Lu Ziyi.

Shen Qingli witnessed the entire farce, never getting a chance to speak and earn Face-Slapping Points. She felt like she’d eaten an enormous melon, leaving her uncomfortably stuffed!

Xie Jinchuan noticed Shen Qingli’s dazed expression and smiled. “What’s wrong?”

Shen Qingli shook her head, thinking of Lu Ziyi’s foolish nature. He was unlikely to behave even abroad. She asked, “Do you think he’ll cause trouble again?”

A coldness flickered in Xie Jinchuan’s eyes. “He won’t be able to stir up much anymore.”

Meanwhile, Lu Ziyi was escorted to the car by bodyguards. In his utter despair, he spotted Shen Jingrong.

Clinging to her like a drowning man to his last straw, he said, “Jingrong, I’m finished. I have nothing left!”

“If I go abroad, Lu Group becomes Xie Jinchuan’s alone. I can’t accept that!”

Though Shen Jingrong secretly scorned him, her expression betrayed nothing. She comforted him, “Ziyi, it’s all right. I’ll go with you. Let’s return to the old house to pack, and I’ll accompany you abroad. We’ll work hard together—one day, we’ll rise again!”

“As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood. Don’t be too sad. Things will get better!”

Lu Ziyi was deeply moved, feeling that Shen Jingrong was a good woman—easy to share wealth, hard to share hardship. To encounter such a woman was his great fortune.

“Jingrong, you’re wonderful. I’ll work hard and give you a good life!”

As Lu Ziyi was busy reassuring himself, he failed to notice the fleeting shadow in Shen Jingrong’s eyes.

Sitting beside him, her thoughts drifted—Lu Ziyi was finished, so she had to plan her next move.

This carefully chosen legitimate heir of the Lu family couldn’t even compare to an illegitimate child.

She needed to map out her next steps carefully.

After settling Lu Ziyi’s matter, Xie Jinchuan and Shen Qingli returned to the office.

Lu Group’s affairs were busy, and Xie Jinchuan was soon immersed in work, barely lifting his head.

Shen Qingli watched his serious profile and, for the first time, felt that there was nothing enviable about being a CEO—so busy, always dealing with endless troubles!