Chapter 11 Face Blindness

Chapter 11: Face Blindness

A week into her new job, Lu Jingtang was about to step into the elevator, milk tea in hand, when she spotted a young man in a gray jacket and a buzz cut, seemingly around 6'1" tall, standing by the CEO's private elevator.

She kindly reminded him, "That's the CEO's private elevator. We're not allowed to use it."

The man turned, giving her an odd look. His features were sharp and resolute, with a hint of familiarity.

Lu Jingtang felt a prickle of unease under his gaze. As the elevator arrived, she moved to close the doors, but the man followed her inside.

She pressed the button for her floor. Noticing he hadn't moved, she asked, "Which floor are you going to?"

The young man looked puzzled. "You don't recognize me?"

"Oh no, who is this important person?" Lu Jingtang thought, her eyes darting nervously. "Haha, it's you! Long time no see."

The man placed his hands on his hips, clearly unconvinced, his eyes burning with irritation. "Oh? Then tell me who I am."

Lu Jingtang fell silent. The man was dressed so unassumingly—his jeans even had a hole patched with mismatched thread—that it was no wonder she hadn't recognized him as Fu Ting, the second son of the Fu family.

Lu Jingtang stammered, "You are...?"

Just then, the elevator reached her floor. Fu Ting gave her a knowing grin and said, "Actually, I'm just here to fix the air conditioner." He then pressed the button for the top floor.

Lu Jingtang wasn't naive enough to believe he was truly there for repairs. The moment Fu Ting's elevator ascended, she immediately took another one to the top floor.

The top floor housed only the CEO's office and the secretarial office.

Lu Jingtang asked Qin Xianzhao, "Secretary Qin, who's here to see my older brother?"

Qin Xianzhao replied, "The second young master is back."

Lu Jingtang felt a wave of dread. It would have been fine if it were anyone else, but failing to recognize a brother she had lived with for nearly twenty years after just one year apart was hard to explain.

She pulled out her phone, deciding to strike first before Fu Ting could tattle on her.

Lu Jingtang: "Big brother, second brother is back!"

Fu Nanyu: "Yeah, he's in my office."

Lu Jingtang: "Haha, I pretended not to recognize him earlier, and he actually bought it!"

Fu Nanyu: "Oh."

Sitting beside Fu Nanyu, Fu Ting glanced at his phone screen. After reading the messages, he fumed, "Big brother, don't believe her nonsense! She was totally faking it—she genuinely didn't recognize me. Look at this heartless girl."

Among the three brothers, Fu Ting was the one who disliked Lu Jingtang the most. In truth, when Lu Jingtang first arrived at the Fu household, he had genuinely adored having a little sister. With three rough-and-tumble boys in the family, who wouldn't love a soft, delicate sister?

His resentment began when Lu Jingtang was ten. Fu Ting had been playing with her in the garden—since they were within the estate, no servants were supervising. When Lu Jingtang nearly fell off a flowerbed stand, Fu Ting cushioned her fall, injuring his knees and palms until they bled. But young Lu Jingtang, perhaps afraid of being scolded by the elders, ran away and left the injured Fu Ting behind.

From that day on, his impression of her plummeted.

Fu Nanyu rubbed his temples. "People change."

Fu Ting's eyes widened, unable to believe Fu Nanyu was taking Lu Jingtang's side.

At noon, the two brothers planned to eat out. Just as they were heading to the elevator, they ran into Lu Jingtang and Lin Yixiao, who were on their way to the cafeteria.

Lu Jingtang rubbed her ear. "Big brother, second brother, are you going out?"

Fu Nanyu gave a faint "mhm" and, after a brief pause, added, "You come too."

Fu Ting couldn't believe his ears. He wanted to say the sight of her would ruin his appetite, but with outsiders present, he held his tongue.

When the three reached the underground garage, Fu Ting wanted to slam the car door shut to express his displeasure. But Fu Nanyu anticipated this and shot him a stern look.

Fu Ting swallowed hard and gently closed the door instead, then glared at Lu Jingtang in the back seat. She innocently touched the tip of her nose.

They had barbecue for lunch. Fu Nanyu watched with a complicated expression as the other two dug into the food enthusiastically, not putting down their chopsticks since they sat down.

Fu Ting had been undercover for a year, and life as an undercover agent was tough—his appetite was now enormous.

Both reached for the last piece of meat at the same time. Fu Ting refused to back down and glared angrily at Lu Jingtang.

Lu Jingtang naturally didn't fight him for it and withdrew her chopsticks. "Second brother, you have it."

Fu Ting snorted in satisfaction and ate the meat in one bite.

Fu Nanyu shot him a disapproving look for his lack of manners and said to the server, "Please bring another serving of meat."

"Make it two!" the other two chimed in immediately.

Fu Nanyu: "...Two servings, please."

Only then were Fu Ting and Lu Jingtang satisfied. Lu Jingtang held her teacup, waiting for the next round of barbecue to arrive.

Fu Nanyu asked, "Are you injured anywhere?"

Fu Ting paused. "No, I'm fine, bro."

Fu Nanyu clearly didn't believe him. "Stop by Hualin's place before going home. If you're hurt, get it treated. Don't make Mom worry."

Because of Fu Ting's profession, the Fu family had never revealed his appearance to the media. Many speculated that the second son was unfavored, that the three Fu brothers were fighting over inheritance, or even that Fu Ting had been sent to a mental hospital.

In reality, the three Fu brothers were extremely close. Fu Nanyu had practically raised his two younger brothers, and they respected him deeply.

Lu Jingtang truly couldn't understand those TV dramas about wealthy families fighting over assets. The one who "wins" works overtime until midnight every day and even has to make up holidays.

While the spoiled heirs are out enjoying themselves, he's working—in other words, he's working hard and earning money to support a bunch of good-for-nothings.