Chapter 033

Chapter 033

Zhang Baoyi's eyes were dull, and her body stiff. She no longer exuded the grace and poise of a well-bred young lady she had shown at Hong Kong University.

How embarrassing!

She had never been so humiliated before.

At this moment, she wasn't wearing the valuable Hetian jade jewelry that even Lu Mingzhu found expensive. Instead, she dressed very plainly, in a cheap cotton checkered qipao, looking like an ordinary member of the crowd.

In contrast, although Lu Mingzhu was only wearing a single jade ring, her clothes were magnificent, making her appear radiant and dazzling.

Seductively beautiful and strikingly elegant.

"Are you the new landlord?" Zhang Baoyi finally snapped out of her daze and exclaimed.

"Yes, after all, I come from an impoverished background, so I have to rely on collecting rent to make a living," Lu Mingzhu said with great interest, not holding back at all. "Who's in charge of your household? Please pay 200 dollars for rent and 10 dollars for utilities."

Mr. Li had told her that after some calculations, the monthly water and electricity bills didn't differ much. Each household upstairs paid an average of 10 dollars.

The businesses on the ground floor used more water and electricity, so their fees were higher. The pharmacy paid 20 dollars, and the restaurant paid 60 dollars, otherwise, the other tenants would feel unfair.

Water and electricity fees in Hong Kong were expensive, and no landlord could afford to provide them for free.

Mr. Li said many citizens' monthly salaries were only a few dozen dollars.

Zhang Baoyi couldn't believe what she was seeing and said so out loud.

Lu Mingzhu was well-prepared, after all, as the new landlord, she needed evidence to gain the trust of her tenants so they wouldn't pay their money to the wrong person.

"Here, the deeds, both have my name written on them!" Lu Mingzhu pulled out the deeds from her bag, showing them to Zhang Baoyi, but quickly withdrew them when Zhang reached to examine them closely. "Be careful with these; they're my livelihood. After all, I'm quite poor compared to Miss Zhang, who comes from a prestigious family and has always lived in luxury."

Detecting the sarcasm in Lu Mingzhu's words, Zhang Baoyi's face flushed red, losing all her composure and calm demeanor.

It was only when her mother came out of the room that the awkward situation was broken. She took a few discreet glances at Lu Mingzhu, her eyes flashing with surprise, then a hint of oddness, before handing over the 210 dollars. With grace and dignity, she said, "This is the rent and the utilities fees, please check."

Lu Mingzhu accepted it and wrote them a receipt, two copies, both requiring the signatures and fingerprints of the landlord and tenant.

Mr. Li didn't have such a habit, but she did.

Proof, after all.

Madam Zhang agreed to sign, and her handwriting was quite elegant.

She was a woman who looked very similar to Zhang Baoyi but was much older. Even in this modest setting, she retained the demeanor of a noble matriarch, turning to reprimand Zhang Baoyi for her earlier lapse, noting it was beneath her dignity.

"You are destined to marry into a wealthy family and become its matriarch. How could a little thing like this make you panic?" As Lu Mingzhu turned to collect rent from another tenant, she heard Madam Zhang say this with a still-proud tone. "Your aunt has said that Mrs. Xie particularly likes women who are gentle and dignified. You must strive to be that. Although the Xie family's ancestors were grooms and rose to prominence late, becoming a newly wealthy family, it's not easy for us to make a living in Hong Kong. For you and our family, Xie Junyao and the Xie family are your best choice."

Lu Mingzhu was dumbfounded.

That male guide, Zheng Shize, had really called it!

What gave them such confidence, living in a rented house in Hong Kong, while still looking down on the handsome and rising Xie Junyao and the thriving Xie family?

The Xie family, including Xie Junhao.

The old social hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants vanished long ago with the decline of feudal society!

And they still think of themselves as scholars!

Have they never heard the saying, "Heroes are judged by their actions, not their origins"?

The walls of the old Tang building were thin, and even with the door closed, Zhang Baoyi could still be heard apologizing to her mother, "I'm sorry, Mother. I lost my composure. I was just so shocked. The female landlord who just collected the rent is the woman I told you about, the one who appeared with Xie Junyao at school. I didn’t expect her to be our new landlord. Should we move out? Seeing her makes me feel uncomfortable."

What could be more embarrassing than this?

Nothing.

Zhang Baoyi simply didn’t have the composure of her mother.

"Do you really think moving is that simple? How naive!" said Mrs. Zhang displeasedly, "Even if you pay the same rent elsewhere, the environment might not be as good as here, especially since this is Hong Kong Island. Your uncle's family has your aunt managing things. They talk about support but don’t actually give anything. I saw through them long ago. Your father and your two older brothers work hard, yet nearly half of their monthly salaries go toward rent. You can't be willful. Once you marry Xie Junyao, everything will be better. His family runs a real estate company, investing millions in land purchases. They have plenty of houses. Even giving a building as a dowry wouldn’t be a problem. If we have a place of our own in Hong Kong, we’ll be set."

The family of five lived in a 500-square-foot apartment, and they had had enough.

Because the apartment was too small and the rent too expensive, the two sons couldn’t get married and start families. Moving out to live separately wasn’t realistic.

They were educated and worked as senior clerks after coming to Hong Kong, each earning 120 dollars a month.

Reminiscing about the past, Mrs. Zhang continued to lecture her daughter, "As the main wife, don’t concern yourself with those outside concubines. They use their beauty to seduce men, but it doesn’t last. Eventually, they’ll lose their charm and favor. Only the legitimate wife remains by the husband's side till the end. Look at Mrs. Xie. No matter how much the concubines try to make a fuss, as long as she’s given birth to two good sons, her position will never be threatened. She gets to dress in jewels and fine clothes every day. Your aunt said Mrs. Xie is very satisfied with you. Thanks to your father insisting on your education. I’ve prepared a soup to nourish your blood. Drink a bowl, and hopefully, you’ll conceive soon—a child every year, two within three years."

Lu Mingzhu wasn’t intentionally eavesdropping, but the conversation kept drifting her way.

She was truly impressed by the Zhang mother and daughter duo.

They were overly confident and delusional.

Another tenant, a middle-aged woman who paid her rent at the door, couldn’t help but whisper, "New landlord, quite an eye-opener, huh? Living in Hong Kong like us, yet they’re delusional enough to dream of marrying into the Xie family! The elder Mr. Xie from the Xie family is very shrewd and capable. My son works at Wing Fung Bank, and every time he comes home, he admires him greatly. My son said that once, a business partner tried to propose a match for Young Mr. Xie in front of the elder Mr. Xie, but the elder Mr. Xie directly said that his younger brother already has a girlfriend."

Lu Mingzhu was surprised again.

Hong Kong was indeed small.

And now, she had witnessed the gossipy nature of Hong Kong citizens.

The middle-aged woman, continuing her conversation, suddenly realized and looked Lu Mingzhu up and down curiously, "New landlord, listening to the tone of that mother and daughter, could you be Young Mr. Xie's girlfriend? Wow! You’re indeed beautiful! Young Mr. Xie is really lucky! And you own two buildings to collect rent. You must come from a well-to-do family."

Only a well-to-do family could nurture such an air of nobility.

Property prices in Hong Kong are sky-high; on today’s wages, an average person might never be able to afford a home in their lifetime.

Lu Mingzhu smiled and gave a thumbs-up. "You’ve got some keen eyes there."

The middle-aged woman was extremely pleased with herself, "I’m Mrs. Tang, and I came to Hong Kong with my son. Everyone calls me Sister Tang. I also know that the mother and daughter just said those things to make you back off."

"Is that so?" Lu Mingzhu hadn’t thought of that.

Sister Tang nodded earnestly, "Absolutely! Why else would they keep bringing up how much Mrs. Xie favors Zhang Baoyi?"

"Please carry on, Sister Tang. I need to get back to collecting rent upstairs."

Nothing new to hear—just the same old gossip on repeat.

Self-righteous.

Xie Junyao is really pitiful, stuck with such a terrible romantic situation.

Her slight sympathy for him didn’t stop Lu Mingzhu from efficiently collecting rent.

The tenants had good jobs and substantial salaries, so rent arrears were rare, making rent collection smooth.

These two buildings were truly a good purchase.

Lu Mingzhu thought about her two buildings in Happy Valley. She got into a car driven by her bodyguards and headed straight to the hotel to find her father, demanding an immediate transfer of ownership. She would only feel relieved once she had the deeds in hand, in case her old man changed his mind.

Father Lu was livid. "Your buildings are gone!"

She wasn’t even willing to give him a jadeite ring as a token of filial piety, but instead gave it to Xie Junyao.

Lu Mingzhu exclaimed in protest, holding onto her father's arm. "You must keep your word, Dad, my real father! A promise is a promise; you can't take back your words once they're out there. The assets you prepared for Pingan have already been transferred to him, you can't not give me mine."

Father Lu was stunned. "Did Pingan tell you?"

Upon closer inspection, it didn’t seem that way.

If she knew he had given Pingan a building in Happy Valley, two shops on Paterson Street, land worth 1.2 million under a foreign-owned company, plus eight buildings and a plot of land in Repulse Bay, would she still be this calm?

Not to mention the substantial amounts he had invested in acquiring shares of HSBC and a shipping company, also under Lu Pingan's name. Of course, he still managed everything.

Confused, Lu Mingzhu asked, "Isn’t it just a building in Happy Valley? Why wouldn’t he tell me?"

"Oh!" Father Lu immediately realized she had misunderstood.

"Pingan is the eldest son and grandson, the rightful heir. In the past, I was angry at your brother for being disobedient, squandering most of the family fortune, neglecting his parents and children. I was afraid that close associates would see through the relationship between Pingan and our family and guess that your brother wasn’t dead. So, I was cold to him. Now, giving him some things is to make up for past grievances, and you’re not allowed to be jealous." Father Lu said.

Lu Mingzhu said unhappily, "What do you think of me? I’m not so petty as to be jealous of him, a little child. The family assets are yours, and you get to decide how to divide them."

Father Lu thought, "That’s because you don’t know just how much I’ve given him."

After all, he still doted on his only legitimate daughter, especially since she had been close to him recently.

After a moment's consideration, he told her, "I intend to acquire shares in Wing Fung Bank, the one where Xiao Xie's brother works, and put them under your name as your dowry. For now, let’s handle the transfer procedures for the two buildings in Happy Valley."

Lu Mingzhu clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. "Dad, you’re being even more generous!"

A pleasant surprise.

She hadn’t even asked for it!

Lu Mingzhu, shareholder of a bank, sounded extremely pleasing.

Happily, she went with her father to handle the property transfer procedures, and her assets increased immediately.

Wow!

She was undoubtedly a real rich woman.

After getting in the car, Father Lu said, "Once we get the utilities installed and do some renovations, you can start renting out the new building. The rent for new buildings is slightly higher than the old ones, 500 dollars per month for 1000 square feet, 60,000 a year, enough for your spending money. When I’m truly busy, you might not be able to find me at the hotel."

"Not enough," Lu Mingzhu said, "Not enough to buy a large diamond."

Father Lu was almost at a loss for words, but fortunately, his reflexes were quick. He stretched out his hand and nudged her forehead with his thumb, giving it a push. "Enough already. Didn’t that diamond set I gave you a few days ago last you for years? If you find them not fresh enough, there's no need to spend your money buying diamonds from other stores. Whenever you want a diamond in the future, I'll get it for you."

"Wow! You really have that many diamonds?" Lu Mingzhu was awestruck by his extravagant gesture. She quickly asked, "How do you have so many diamonds to give me?"

Father Lu looked out the car window at the streaks of clouds in the blue sky, casually saying, "Probably because I bought two diamond companies in South Africa a few years back. They come with their own diamond processing plants."

Lu Mingzhu was stunned.

She stammered, "You’re kidding, right?"

This can’t be real, can it?

She’d always assumed their diamonds came from Jewish diamond dealers. Lu Pingan had said so. But now, her own father claimed they had diamond companies, and not just one, but two!

Just a few days ago, he had mentioned commissioning a Jewish diamond dealer to sell a batch of diamonds and requesting the merchant to help collect colored diamonds.

Lu Mingzhu couldn't help voicing her confusion.

Father Lu didn't mind. "Helping to sell diamonds and investing in the diamond business are two different things. There are a total of 500 diamond licenses globally, and I only have 13. Not much to brag about, really. It was years ago when I saw potential profits in the diamond business. Most importantly, there were no diamond licenses in the country, so I allocated some funds to go to South Africa to buy two bankrupt companies. I then acquired their diamond licenses, factories, workers, and machinery. After getting the companies on track, I came to Hong Kong."

However, he wasn't regretful. Without a market in the country, it was better to focus on foreign business, which had good prospects.

"I admire you too much!" Lu Mingzhu hugged his arm again.

Freedom from ever needing to buy diamonds again.

She never expected to achieve diamond freedom in her lifetime.

Lu Mingzhu was as giddy as a kid in a candy store, her eyes squinting and her mouth grinning. "Didn't you just take out a big loan by mortgaging something? If you buy a few more jadeite mines, you'll be even more amazing."

"You’re being greedy!" Father Lu didn't expect her to have such a big appetite.

Lu Mingzhu didn't admit to being greedy. She didn't like the sound of that label on herself, so she said, "It’s not greed. I’m thinking long-term. Jadeite is the king of all gems, with a unique allure. It’s bound to skyrocket in value!"

Among all jewels, jadeite had the highest appreciation potential!

In second place was ruby.

Myanmar ruby.

However, Father Lu shook his head. "Myanmar is quite chaotic, with various private armed forces emerging endlessly. I don't have any connections there, so it's not advisable to get involved. We don't need to meddle in every industry. We don't have the energy. For now, I only plan to focus on the shipping business, real estate, jewelry, and textile industries. I'll leave other opportunities for others to seize."

"You're going to open a textile factory too?" Lu Mingzhu noticed this point.

"I have to," Father Lu said.

Lu Mingzhu was puzzled, but Father Lu quickly explained, "I had previously ordered a batch of advanced textile machinery, originally planning to expand the textile factory in Shanghai. But since I'm now in Hong Kong, I had to contact the supplier and change the delivery location to Hong Kong, reopening the factory here. Fortunately, labor in Hong Kong is cheap, and imports and exports are convenient, offering substantial profit margins."

Lu Mingzhu suddenly understood. "So that’s how most of the machinery in Hong Kong got here?"

Father Lu nodded.

Lu Mingzhu slowly exhaled.

Yes, Hong Kong had developed into one of the Four Asian Tigers thanks to these big players, no longer the small fishing village it once was.

Every time she met Father Lu, he gave her a new surprise.

Today's surprise was the biggest.

It turns out that the Lu family possesses such substantial financial resources; no wonder Lu's father left without hesitation. Who wouldn't be reluctant to lose their assets?

Facing such wealth, it's only natural to fight over the inheritance.

Lu Mingzhu affectionately said, "Dad, is there anything you desire?"

Lu's father glanced at her sideways, "What? Trying to curry favor with me?"

"Yes!" Lu Mingzhu was not embarrassed at all, cupping her face with her hands, her eyes curved, extremely flattering, "You're my father, and I'm your daughter. Isn't it natural for me to try to please you?"

Everything is for money, for money.

Look towards money, look towards prosperity.

Lu's father sneered, "The only thing I lack is a jadeite ring once owned by the Qianlong Emperor."

In reality, it wasn't that he really needed it.

After managing the Lu family's affairs for decades and expanding their business, although his eldest son had squandered countless assets, the remaining property was still substantial. What kind of treasures had he not seen? Not owned?

Seriously speaking, even Empress Dowager Cixi might not have lived as comfortably as he did.

He enjoyed everything Empress Dowager Cixi did, plus things she never even knew existed.

This old man is really putting her in a difficult spot!

Lu Mingzhu never took back what she had given away. Especially since Xie Junyao, her dear boyfriend, had an impeccable character and appearance, going back on her word wouldn't help in cultivating their relationship.

She asked persistently, "Is there nothing else you desire?"

Lu's father shook his head, "No."

Lu Mingzhu fell into deep thought.

"Why does it have to be the jadeite ring from Qianlong?" she was puzzled, very puzzled.

"Qianlong had a prosperous and long life," Lu's father admired this emperor greatly. Even though Qianlong was fond of grand achievements, loved luxury, was extravagant, and his aesthetic was unusual, to say the least, his belongings were very auspicious.

His life was incredibly smooth sailing.

Who wouldn't want to have his kind of life?

Lu Mingzhu agreed, "Indeed, he had a good life. No one contested his throne, and he ascended the throne smoothly, sitting on the dragon chair for six decades."

Just a jadeite ring that belonged to Emperor Qianlong?

It shouldn't be difficult to obtain.

The day before classes started, she visited He Yun in the Peak District.

Last time, at Citibank, she helped him verify a collection of valuable antiques, which included a set of nine jadeite rings once owned by Qianlong!

Not one, not seven, but nine!

Nine is the ultimate number.

She remembered that there were two jadeite rings, two mutton fat jade rings, two green jade rings, one yellow jade ring, one amber ring, and one rhinoceros horn ring inlaid with gold and silver threads.

The two jadeite rings were a plain emerald one and one with gold inlaid with emerald.

The two mutton fat jade rings consist of one engraved with a poem on golden-spotted skin jade and one engraved with a poem on pure white jade.

The two green jade rings have one inlaid with gold, while the other has a plain surface engraved with a poem.

The nine thumb rings are all different and each has its own beauty.

Lu Mingzhu was willing to purchase them at a high price and directly told He Yun what she was seeking.

When she arrived, He Yun was watering flowers in the courtyard.

Perhaps because of the coolness at the mountaintop, he was dressed in a black shirt and matching black trousers, exuding an elegant demeanor.

After hearing Lu Mingzhu's request, He Yun readily agreed, "You can have them for free."

That box of thumb rings was quite insignificant among the pile of precious antiques; he had little use for them.

He Yun himself wasn't particularly fond of Emperor Qianlong and didn't place much importance on his imperial artifacts.

"That won't do," said Lu Mingzhu, who had an exceptionally thick skin in front of her father, as thick as a city wall, but not with others. She said with a smile, "I need to let my dad know how much money I spent, so he can truly appreciate my filial piety."

He Yun put down the watering pot, "Why the sudden interest in being filial to your father?"

The father-daughter interaction at the Ming family's dinner had been less than pleasant.

He had investigated and found that Lu Mingzhu had initially been left in Shanghai by her father. She had used Wang Xingcai's connections to bring her nephew to Hong Kong.

Lu Mingzhu replied without hesitation, "Of course, because my father is rich! I just found out he has a vast amount of wealth. I need to win his favor so he'll give me a larger share of the inheritance. That way, I won't have to work hard anymore, and I can live a life of leisure."

A life of effortless success was incredibly wonderful.

"Let bygones be bygones!" she said.

She was very pragmatic.

He Yun chuckled, "You are quite forgiving."

Lu Mingzhu corrected him, "I'm not forgiving. I just think it's unnecessary to dwell on the past. Besides, there's no deep conflict between my father and me. It's just that he thinks he can arrange my future for me, but I don't agree. Anyway, getting back to the main topic, would Mr. He be willing to sell them?"

He Yun didn't answer directly but said, "If you want to make money, I can teach you business. There's no need to win your father's favor."

Lu Mingzhu was taken aback for a moment, then shook her head vigorously, "I'm not good at doing business. It's too tiring, mentally and physically. Even if you make money, if you lose it, it's all for nothing. But with my father, just a little bit of talking gets me a large sum of money—it's practically a no-cost deal."

"Coming to me to buy these nine thumb rings from Qianlong isn't exactly a no-cost deal," said He Yun.

Lu Mingzhu grinned, "Compared to what I'll get from my father, the money for the rings is really insignificant. Mr. He, just give me a definite answer. I only have time today; I have to go to school tomorrow."

"School?" He Yun raised his eyebrows.

"The University of Hong Kong," she said proudly. It's the top university in Hong Kong.

He Yun smiled gently, "Congratulations."

After a moment of thought, he offered Lu Mingzhu a suggestion, "Give me 10,000 Hong Kong dollars, and I'll sell you the set of thumb rings. You can tell your father you spent 100,000, and see what he says."

"10,000 dollars? Isn't that a bit low?" Lu Mingzhu felt the price was slightly low because she could easily afford it.

She had enough money.

After Wang Bohui gave her $10,000 for tuition, she shared half of it with Lu Pingan, leaving her with $5,000. That amounted to less than 30,000 Hong Kong dollars, but she also had recently received rent and the appraisal fee from He Yun, and she hadn't spent much of it.

He Yun said, "It's not little. That entire pile of treasures and antiques is only worth 500,000 HKD."

Lu Mingzhu shook her head. "The bank's valuation is way under their true worth. If I had the money, they would've been snatched up already."

She could tell.

Those in this business often bought low and sold high.

He Yun wasn’t worried at all. "I don't need to make money from a set of thumb rings. Besides, your skill in appraising treasures and antiques is excellent. I'll need your help again in the future."

Lu Mingzhu accepted his kindness. "Mr. He, just let me know if you ever need anything. I'm at your service."

"That's right. You saved my life, so no need to be too polite between us." He Yun stood up. "I'll take you to the bank to get the thumb rings. I hope you get what you’re after."

"Thank you, Mr. He." Lu Mingzhu followed him.

He Yun quickly retrieved a red lacquer floral and bird patterned round box containing nine imperial thumb rings, opened it for Lu Mingzhu to inspect, and then handed it over.

Lu Mingzhu treasured it like gold.

Although it wasn’t something she particularly liked, the nine imperial thumb rings were exquisite, each one reaching a first-rate level. They were indeed rare treasures, and a set of nine increased their value exponentially. By the time she grew old, they would probably be worth 500 million HKD.

She doubted she'd live to see that day.

Sigh!

Lu Mingzhu put the box into her handbag and handed over 10,000 HKD.

On the way back, He Yun casually asked, "When do you plan to move to the Peak?"

"The previous owner, William, hasn't moved out yet!" Lu Mingzhu was in a hurry, but since hurrying wouldn't help, she might as well relax. "Once William moves out, the house needs a deep clean and some new furniture. Moving in? It'll take at least one or two months."

Calculating the costs, moving would take a lot of money, and she suddenly felt a bit tight on cash.

Clearly, her assets were substantial!

The root cause was that her dad was too cheap and wouldn’t give her any money.

Since that was the case, she would hold off on giving him the thumb rings.

After making her decision, Lu Mingzhu said with a smile, "Please ask the driver to turn around. I won’t go home just yet. I’ve taken up Mr. He's half day, so I’ll treat you to lunch. Do you like Fujian food?"

The last time he treated her, the signature dish was Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.

Exquisite.

He Yun chuckled. "Yes, I'm from Southern Fujian."

Lu Mingzhu invited him into a Fujian cuisine restaurant.

The restaurant was quite large, specializing in Southern Fujian dishes, a decent place for entertaining guests.

He Yun was truly a great conversationalist, knowledgeable, well-spoken, and always on point, making people feel comfortable. It was hard to believe he was piglet born.

Lu Mingzhu rested her chin on her hand and listened to him describe the scenery of Nanyang, feeling a deep yearning.

"If I get the chance, I'll travel to Nanyang." Its vast territory had many fun places.

He Yun smiled and said, "You're welcome to come to Nanyang. When that time comes, I'll do my best as a host."

"That will be a long time from now." Lu Mingzhu, who has to go to school tomorrow, sighed, "I think I can live well without going to school, but my family has different ideas."

He Yun didn't take her side this time, "Education is important."

Lu Mingzhu knew that, but she didn't want to walk the same path of university again, "Once I start school, I'll be busy. I don't know when we'll meet again. Today, I should enjoy this meal."

"The food tastes great, really authentic." He Yun commented on the meal.

There were many compatriots from Fujian living in Hong Kong, forming an association no smaller than the Shanghai compatriot association. Fujian restaurants can be found all over the streets and alleys.

Many restaurants in Hong Kong cater to the needs of the citizens, making the food scene more diverse.

Moreover, the ages of the waitstaff varied, and the waiter who served the last signature dish was surprisingly Sister Tang. When she saw Lu Mingzhu, she was clearly startled, "Ah, Landlady."

Lu Mingzhu smiled and responded, "Sister Tang, are you working here?"

Sister Tang nodded, glanced at He Yun, and then explained to Lu Mingzhu, "My son works very hard. He has to use half of his salary every month to pay the rent. I felt bad for him, so I got a job here. It includes meals but not accommodation. I earn 80 yuan a month, which is enough for our daily expenses."

Even so, Lu Mingzhu had no intention of reducing the rent, "Hard work will bring prosperity. Your days will definitely get better."

Sister Tang laughed heartily, "Coming out of the war, peace is what matters most."

After a few seconds of pause, she revealed some news to Lu Mingzhu, "It seems that Mr. Xie, the elder, is also having a meal here."

Lu Mingzhu was slightly startled, "Thanks for letting me know."

She had never met Xie Junhao and didn't know what he looked like. Meeting him might be awkward. It would be better to meet him when Xie Junyao introduced them. So, she didn't get up and only enthusiastically invited He Yun to continue eating.

After Sister Tang left the private room, He Yun subtly reminded, "The Xie family situation is pretty complex."

"I know, Junyao has told me." Lu Mingzhu was very satisfied with Xie Junyao's honesty and didn't care that he had a philandering father and a neurotic mother.

The flaws didn't overshadow the gem. Xie Junyao was the gem, and his parents were the flaws.

He Yun, being a smart man, understood Lu Mingzhu's attitude and said no more.

He poured Lu Mingzhu a glass of fruit wine and asked her, "Don't you like the jewelry I gave you? Other than that banquet at Ah Xuan's house, I haven't seen you wear them."

Lu Mingzhu naturally smiled, "I can't bear to wear them!"

Going out alone, she feared they might be snatched.

Even with company, she couldn't possibly pile all the jewelry on her body to show off. Otherwise, she would really become a newly rich in Zhang Baoyi's words.

He Yun, however, said, "Jewelry is meant to be worn, don't be afraid to wear it."

Lu Mingzhu nodded vigorously, "Yes! Yes!"

But her promise was just words. He Yun's jewelry was too luxurious for daily wear.

The next day at school, she only wore a watch.

Just a simple one, no diamonds.

Xie Junyao came to pick her up early in the morning and also thought she was dressed too plainly.

Pigtails, a blue shirt, and a black skirt.

Although she hadn't worn any ugly makeup, the thick bangs covering her forehead greatly diminished the impact of her stunning beauty.

"There's no need to be so careful," Xie Junyao said as he handed the flowers to Lu Mingzhu.

Lu Mingzhu, while handing the flowers to a maid to arrange in a vase and deliver to her bedroom, smiled and said, "I'm here to study, not to compete in beauty. That way, you can rest easier."

Xie Junyao chuckled, "I just feel sorry for you."

Lu Mingzhu raised an eyebrow, "If you feel sorry for me, then treat me to a big dinner tonight!"

Xie Junyao readily agreed.

Dates were his absolute favorite!

After dropping Lu Mingzhu off at school, Xie Junyao hurried off to work, eager to finish his tasks early so he could pick up his girlfriend.

Meanwhile, Lu Mingzhu smoothly entered the campus and her classroom.

Even with her bangs concealing her face, it couldn't hide the fact that she was a great beauty. As soon as she entered, she attracted countless gazes, and it was no surprise to see looks of astonishment on many of her classmates' faces.

Her vanity was greatly satisfied.

The student sitting next to her was also a pretty girl, who looked somewhat familiar.

She introduced herself enthusiastically, "Lu Mingzhu, my name is Ming Yue. You can call me Yueyue or Ming Yue. For the next three years, please be kind to me."

"And you are?" Lu Mingzhu truly didn't recognize her.

It seemed that she knew Lu Mingzhu.

Ming Yue smiled, "My mother is He Xuan, and my father is Ming Hui."

Lu Mingzhu was surprised, "No wonder you look familiar, it's because you resemble Mr. Ming. Wasn't she supposed to be studying in Britain?"

If she remembered correctly what Liao Wanru had said.

Ming Yue took her hand and said seriously, "I had a very terrifying dream. I dreamt that my grandfather choked to death, and my uncles and aunts, filled with deep resentment toward my mother, were busy dividing up the inheritance, causing a family rift. With no grandfather to keep him in check, my father bullied my mother, which led to her depression and eventual death. I woke up startled and immediately flew back to Hong Kong. When I found out what happened to Grandpa, I felt especially grateful to you. So, my grandfather suggested I stay in Hong Kong for school, and I agreed."

Sitting next to Lu Mingzhu was also arranged by her grandfather.

She didn't voice this part.

Lu Mingzhu blinked, "When I had dinner with Mr. He yesterday, he didn't mention that his granddaughter was in the same school as me."

He sure knows how to keep a secret.

Ming Yue smiled, "Maybe he wanted to give you a surprise."

A surprise?

It’s just surprising, not joyful, since Lu Mingzhu and Ming Yue had never met nor had any relationship. However, she felt that the name Ming Yue sounded very familiar, and she must have heard it from someone.

Who had she heard it from?

Or perhaps where had she seen it?

Since she couldn’t recall, Lu Mingzhu decided not to dwell on it.

With her experience studying in Britain, Ming Yue took the opportunity to share some details that neither Lu Mingzhu nor her previous self knew, like what to watch out for when starting college now.

Ming Yue, grateful to Lu Mingzhu, naturally told her everything without holding back.

Friendships can be established that quickly.

Go to the bathroom together, and come back besties.

At noon, in the cafeteria, a handsome, well-dressed young man came over to greet Ming Yue, all the while sneaking glances at Lu Mingzhu. "Ming Yue, aren't you going to introduce us?"

His eyes filled with admiration, not hiding his intent to pursue her.

Ming Yue replied indifferently, "There's no need."

"Why not? I’m your brother, you’re my sister. It’s only natural for me to inquire about someone new who's appeared by your side," the young man said, his eyes still fixed on Lu Mingzhu.

Lu Mingzhu shot him a fierce glare.

Since He Xuan had only one daughter, the person claiming to be Ming Yue's brother made his identity obvious.

The illegitimate son of Ming Hui.

No wonder he’s such a creep; totally disgusting.

Ming Yue looked up and coldly said, "Ming Heng, Grandfather once said that in our family, we only recognize siblings who share both the same father and mother. There are no siblings who share only one parent. And don’t think for a second that just because you’re a male, you’ll inherit the Ming family’s glorious shipping empire. Also, if you keep looking, I’ll gouge your eyes out!"

Boom!

It felt like Lu Mingzhu’s head was about to explode.

Glorious shipping!

Ming Heng!

Ming Hui!

She remembered who Ming Yue was.

Unable to pay attention to the confrontation between Ming Yue and Ming Heng, Lu Mingzhu began recalling a novel she had read.

Written by Grandma Zhang, it was a 1970s novel that wasn’t about time travel or reincarnation.

However, the protagonist wasn’t her, nor was it Ming Yue, but a girl named Lu Aiguo.

At the beginning of the novel, Lu Aiguo was admitted to the University of Hong Kong, and the story mainly followed her journey of building a successful business while studying at university, eventually becoming a powerful businesswoman.

Her family background was only revealed in flashbacks.

She had an older brother named Lu Shen, and an aunt named Lu Mingzhu. Her father was General Lu Zhuri, a founding member of the organization, and her mother was a martyr named Ye Ying.

Her life, which should have been smooth, became complicated because of her stepmother and half-brother.

Lu Aiguo lost her mother when she was only six months old, and her father, under the introduction of the organization, married a stepmother named Lin Xiaohong. At first, she seemed quite virtuous and took good care of her.

In the eyes of outsiders, this was true.

But in reality?

Lin Xiaohong was actively trying to conceive and, less than a year after marrying, gave birth to her own son, Lu Aidang.

As a stepmother, once she had her own son, she naturally wasn’t as good to her husband’s daughter from a previous marriage, especially since her previous kindness was just an act to marry a high-ranking general like Lu Zhuri.

Lu Aiguo had to take care of her brother from a very young age, doing laundry, cooking, and household chores all within the house, with no outsiders seeing.

Her father was away at war, and her stepmother ran the household.

Lu Aiguo endured many hardships until, at the age of five or six, her father suddenly brought home a young aunt named Lu Mingzhu and an older brother named Lu Shen.

The young aunt was Lu Mingzhu, and the older brother was Lu Shen.

Lu Mingzhu was extremely beautiful and attracted countless suitors as soon as she entered the compound.

But her temper was fiery.

Shortly after she arrived at the house, she discovered that Lin Xiaohong was abusing little Lu Aiguo. She immediately slapped Lin Xiaohong twice, nearly knocking out two of her front teeth, and scolded her brother Lu Zhuri fiercely, causing a scene that was known to everyone in the compound, without any fear of airing family dirty laundry.

Lu Aiguo was then taken under her care.

From then on, she lived a good life.

Lu Aiguo's grandfather was a prominent capitalist who had taken the family abroad, leaving behind Lu Mingzhu and Lu Shen, who were particularly wealthy. They provided Lu Aiguo with good food and clothes, dressing her beautifully.

Later, Lu Shen joined the military, and Lu Mingzhu got married.

She married Zhang Shuo, the son of Lu Zhuri's former commanding officer, and moved to work in Shanghai, making sure to bring Lu Aiguo along with her, living together in Lu Family Garden.

Just when Lu Aiguo thought her life would continue to be good, a storm suddenly arose. Because Grandpa Lu was a prominent capitalist and Lu Mingzhu lived in such wealth, it attracted envy. One day, countless soldiers and officers stormed into Lu Family Garden. Those accustomed to running roughshod over others outside didn’t expect to hit a brick wall here.

Lu Mingzhu held a Browning pistol, shooting anyone who came in, with deadly precision.

No one could have anticipated just how ruthless she was.

She took out several with a single shot each.

When surrounded, she had explosives strapped to her body, threw out a box of IOUs that scattered all over the sky, and cursed, “You lived off us—our food, drink, clothes, and everything else. The money that saved your lives came from us, not some underworld. Now you don’t need us anymore, is that it? Accuse us of being counter-revolutionaries, what do I am, a woman with a child? Who am I supposed to be against? How ungrateful and despicable! If you think our money is dirty, saying it was obtained by exploiting the working people, then have the guts to pay us back! Eat with the bowl in your hand but curse with your mouth free, and you still dare to show off in front of me!”

It caused a huge uproar, shaking all of Shanghai.

No one had ever resisted like Lu Mingzhu, resisting so fiercely and publicly.

It was embarrassing for everyone because the IOUs Lu Mingzhu presented were too numerous, filling an entire box. The smallest IOU was for 100 large gold bars, not to mention medicines, brass, grain, weapons, fabrics, and more. The Lu family had essentially bankrolled Lu Zhuri’s unit.

Of course, not the entire organization, just Lu Zhuri's unit.

The total value amounted to tens of millions in silver dollars—an unpayable debt.

The IOUs were written under the promise of not taking a single needle and thread from the masses, and it wasn’t just the Lu family who had them.

After the incident, Lu Mingzhu faced no repercussions and continued living safely in Lu Family Garden with Lu Aiguo. Their lives remained unchanged, though relatives and friends distanced themselves.

Zhang Shuo also divorced Lu Mingzhu.

Lu Mingzhu didn’t care at all. She and her niece continued to live lavishly, appearing carefree.

On the surface, it appeared that way, but in reality, Lu Mingzhu never relaxed. She even slept with a Browning by her pillow and had explosives buried in Lu Family Garden and her own bedroom, preparing to die together with anyone who came for them.

She told Lu Aiguo that if death was inevitable, they might as well die together rather than endure humiliation and torture.

The Lu family was extremely wealthy, and no one knew how many Brownings and explosives she had bought, nor how many trump cards she held. Everyone was wary of her, too afraid to provoke her.

Lu Mingzhu exhausted herself and only lived to the age of thirty-nine, not surviving to see the clouds clear and the moon shine.

However, before her death, she sent Lu Shen and Lu Aiguo away, to Hong Kong, starting the legendary life of the two siblings.

She was a supporting character in memories, a hero to Lu Aiguo.

Unique.