After I Submitted the Leave Request, My Fiancee Was Expelled - Chapter 1

At the class reunion, seeing me staring at that watch, my fiancée’s first love, Lin Jiayi, immediately took off his watch and tossed it in front of me. He said flippantly, “You like it? If you like it, then it’s yours. Anyway, Lu Xue has given me… plenty of gifts.” As soon as he said this, a group of classmates started to egg him on, praising Lin Jiayi, “You’re too generous, giving away a watch worth millions just like that.” They all looked at me mockingly. I turned a deaf ear. Lin Jiayi wasn’t too pleased with my reaction. He raised his wine glass, turned to my fiancée Lu Xue, and said, “A watch this expensive, renting it for a day isn’t cheap either.” “Your man doesn’t understand, does he? I’ve given him something so valuable, yet he doesn’t even say thank you.”
All eyes converged on Lu Xue again. Her hand clutching the wine glass tightened. She glanced at me, “Chen Ping, can’t you even say thank you?”

Looking at the shame and anger in Lu Xue’s eyes, I could only shake my head and remain silent. Lu Xue had become a young miss, yet she was still so childish. She was still trying to elevate herself by suppressing and belittling me, fulfilling her pathetic self-esteem. I had played along with her too many times, but this time, I didn’t have the patience to continue playing her princess and knight games.

I waved my hand, refusing, “No thanks, I don’t care for used things.”

I was only talking about the watch, but Lu Xue linked it to something more, and her face immediately flushed with anger.

Lin Jiayi waved his hand, putting on a magnanimous air, “Fine, for Xiao Xue’s sake, I won’t make things difficult for you.” “Just drink a glass on the spot, and consider it a thank you.” With that, he poured me a large glass of pure grain liquor.

I pushed away the glass he put in my hand. “I’m allergic to alcohol, I can’t drink it.”

Lin Jiayi shook his head, bored, then turned playfully to Lu Xue, “Lu Xue, you can’t control him, can you? After all these years, you’re still Chen Ping’s little follower.”

Lu Xue, feeling I had embarrassed her, looked at me coldly, “Do you have to be such a wet blanket? Isn’t it just an allergy? Haven’t you just not drunk much? Drink a little more and you’ll get used to it.” Her aggressive demeanor felt very unfamiliar to me. I still remembered how she used to desperately shield me from drinks at banquets. It hadn’t been that long, yet she had completely changed.

Ignoring her anger, I quietly picked up a tablet and ordered a glass of milk.

The awkward atmosphere lingered for a while. Lu Xue’s face sank, and she sullenly drank a large glass of wine. The others also changed the subject: “Lin Jiayi and Lu Xue, handsome man and beautiful woman, simply a perfect match.” “Chen Ping must have accumulated so much good karma in his previous life to be able to marry Lu Xue. It’s like a toad eating swan meat.” Their eyes were filled with jealousy.

But they forgot that Lu Xue wasn’t always a young miss. When she was down and out, she couldn’t even afford tuition fees. Lin Jiayi abandoned her, and everyone mocked her as a wild phoenix from a garbage dump. Only I stayed by her side, even dropping out of school to work and support her studies, just to give her a chance to turn her life around.

However, the year we were preparing to get married, she was found by the Lu family and instantly became a rich young lady. Everything changed drastically. When this was brought up again, no one mentioned my selfless devotion; they all said I had plotted it long ago, being deeply cunning. “It’s a pity. If Chen Ping hadn’t played his tricks, how could he have gotten you?” “The more I think about it, the more I feel it’s a shame. You and Lin Jiayi are truly a perfect match.”

Lu Xue heard this and didn’t refute it. She just smiled more deeply, gripping my hand, her face full of affection, “I was just testing him back then, deliberately pretending to be poor.” “The only person I love is Chen Ping. Lin Jiayi and I are just ordinary friends. Everyone, please don’t spread rumors.” But no one present was a fool. They just didn’t want to embarrass Lu Xue, so they laughed self-deprecatingly, “It seems we commoners missed the young miss’s test. Chen Ping truly has good fortune.” They spoke, then drank to themselves.

At this moment, the waiter came in with hot milk. Lin Jiayi, who had been smiling, suddenly frowned. Lu Xue, without warning, slapped the waiter’s face. The milk spilled a little, and she angrily said, “Don’t you know Jiayi is severely lactose intolerant and will vomit even from the smell? Who ordered the milk!”

Everyone looked at each other. I calmly raised my hand. Lu Xue suddenly glared at me, “Chen Ping, I told you to drink, and you deliberately made Lin Jiayi uncomfortable too. Why are you so petty?” She meticulously gave Lin Jiayi water and patted his back, glaring at me from time to time, treating me completely as a villain.

Lin Jiayi laughed and shook his head, “Your current boyfriend is no good. He’s too petty.” Lu Xue bit her lip, saying nothing, looking as if I had utterly disgraced her. Other classmates chuckled and said, “Not many people know about Lin Jiayi’s allergy. Only you, his girlfriend, remember it most clearly.” “I think Chen Ping didn’t do it on purpose. Calm down.”

Lu Xue’s expression softened a bit, and she corrected, “Lin Jiayi and I broke up a long time ago. Don’t talk nonsense.” They had broken up, yet she still instinctively favored Lin Jiayi. It didn’t matter if I was allergic to alcohol, but for Lin Jiayi, who was only lactose intolerant, she was extremely anxious. It was clear who she longed for.

After Lu Xue calmed down, she lost interest. She picked up her bag and dragged me out of the private room, “Alright, a good meal ruined by you. Let’s go home.”

The Lu family’s luxury car was waiting. After getting in, I tossed her the fake watch I had already taken off. Lu Xue was a little displeased, “Alright, I just took the wrong watch. Can you stop being jealous about trivial things all day long?” “I give gifts to Lin Jiayi because I hope one day he can help me.” “Do I still need to teach you the道理 that more friends mean more opportunities?” As she spoke, she proudly lifted her head and took out a diamond ring, casually tossing it to me, “This is the wedding ring, to be used at next month’s wedding. Don’t lose it, it’s very expensive.” I sneered but remained silent. If the female lead hadn’t been down and out, with Lin Jiayi’s family background, he wouldn’t have met her in eight lifetimes, let alone talk about help with me. I didn’t take it. She thought I was angry and directly shoved it into my jacket pocket. But she didn’t know that I no longer wanted to marry her.

The next morning, I had almost finished eating when Lu Xue finally arrived at the dining table. She took a sip of ginseng soup and immediately spit it out, complaining to me, “Are you still half asleep? Why is this so disgusting?”
Lu Xue used to suffer from headaches due to malnutrition, and I was so heartbroken that I sought out remedies everywhere. When I brewed medicine, she would complain about the bitterness and refuse to drink it. To coax her into drinking it, I spent a lot of effort, getting sick countless times until I finally managed to make this ginseng soup that tasted good and was potent. Every day, I would wake up three hours early to prepare it for her. But now, I was too lazy to cook and too lazy to reply.

The maid rushed over when she heard her, her face stern, angrily complaining, “Miss, I cooked this ginseng soup. Chen Ping only woke up at eight o’clock.” “I was afraid that Miss wouldn’t have it when she woke up, so I cooked it. Even breakfast today was prepared by me.” More than that, the maid had been frantically knocking on my door, yelling at me when she saw I wasn’t up yet. She warned me that if the ginseng soup was missed and Lu Xue blamed her, she wouldn’t cover for me. Now, she was still glaring at me indignantly. As if she had suffered a great injustice. But she had forgotten that cooking was originally part of her job. I took over before because I was worried about upsetting Lu Xue’s taste. Unexpectedly, it had now become my responsibility. Lu Xue only frowned, and casually said, “Got it, you can go back to your work.”

Watching the maid triumphantly twist her body and leave, I suddenly realized. No wonder the Lu family’s maids had always been harsh and disrespectful towards me. Now I understood, it was all due to the mistress’s tacit approval. She was about to lecture me a few words when the maid came in with several gift boxes, smiling, “Their news is really well-informed. They knew today was the day the old master announced you as the heir, and they specially sent gifts.”

Lu Xue remembered something. The scolding words caught in her throat. She asked me in a rare gentle tone, “Are you going to the company today? Come with me in my car.” I was indeed going to the company, but it was to discuss breaking off the engagement with her grandfather. After finishing breakfast, I got up and left, “No need. Aren’t I unworthy of riding in your Maserati?” Lu Xue stared at me, dumbfounded, while I had already left.

In the hardest times, I rode an electric bike through wind and rain, picking her up from school and taking her home from work. In winter, it was so cold that even with gloves, my hands would get frostbite. She would tenderly hold my hands and say she would work hard to earn money and buy a luxury car for me to drive later. But on the day she was recognized by her family, she drove back in a sports car, and the person in the passenger seat was Lin Jiayi. I curiously said I wanted to try the feel of a luxury car. Her eyes were full of disdain, “Your hands are too rough, don’t scratch my steering wheel.” After saying that, she also felt it was excessive, and then cuddled into my arms, saying, “I just cherish you, but I don’t express it well.” “I got you an annual pass to the beauty salon. Go take care of your hands.” I really thought so at the time, and my heart leaped with joy that she cared for me so much. But later, she always refused to let me get in the car for various reasons. Once, during a heavy rain, I couldn’t find a taxi on the side of the road. She clearly saw me, but she still stepped on the gas, splashing me with dirty water. Lu Xue stopped the car and looked at me, “I’m sorry, I accidentally pressed the gas instead of the brake.” “You’re all muddy now. If you get the car dirty, washing it will cost a lot of money.” “Be good, take a taxi back yourself, I’ll reimburse the fare.” After she said that, without waiting for my reply, she sped off, not even bothering to throw me an umbrella. Later, I found out she was in a hurry to pick up Lin Jiayi, who was heading in the opposite direction from me. That day, I saw Lin Jiayi’s post on WeChat moments. In the video, Lu Xue and he deliberately drove into the mud, just to relive the fun of their childhood. The caption: “A bright red Maserati should grow in the mud.”

When I asked about this, Lu Xue responded indifferently and casually explained, “Lin Jiayi is my business partner. Even if I don’t want to, I have to accommodate him.” “You don’t understand, this is a social obligation that we rich kids can’t refuse.” But I clearly saw that in the video, she was smiling very happily, a hundred times happier than when she was with me. There weren’t so many excuses; she just didn’t love me anymore.

I got out of the car. As I stepped into the company building, I noticed countless pairs of eyes staring at me. When they saw me, they stopped talking. But some bold ones directly spoke up, “What’s so unspeakable? Chen Ping may look impressive, but in reality, he’s just a live-in son-in-law without any status.” “It’s his good fortune that the CEO, who has so much money, would marry him.” “Isn’t it just playing around outside? Which male CEO doesn’t have a stable family life at home and affairs outside?” “What, when it comes to us women, it’s not allowed!” Some agreed, some snickered, some disdained. I quietly took out my phone, and a news alert popped up. The content was a photo of Lu Xue and Lin Jiayi arm in arm entering a hotel, and they didn’t leave until dawn.

Before I could react, Lu Xue, dressed in a sharp suit, rushed over, her expression cold and severe, “Is everyone idle? Gossiping here!” After scolding them, she sweetly hooked her arm through mine, “Yesterday, we agreed to play ‘Truth or Dare’ at the hotel, and my husband was there too.” “What the media photographed was just a punishment for losing a game.” “Right, husband!” I ignored her, pulled my hand free, and walked directly into the VIP elevator. Lu Xue stood frozen in place.

The employees secretly snickered. Lu Xue swept her gaze over them with icy eyes. “If you dare to talk nonsense again, I’ll cut out your tongues!” Lu Xue warned her employees and then trotted after me. She wore a forced smile as she looked at me, but I didn’t respond. We had come back together after the class reunion yesterday. Her being photographed with Lin Jiayi later clearly meant they had arranged another get-together. She was secretly meeting another man and wanted to use me as a shield. How ridiculous.
She kept trying to talk to me, but I completely ignored her. The reason she was trying to curry favor with me was simply because today was the day Grandpa was announcing her as his successor, becoming CEO, and she wanted me to cooperate with her so she wouldn’t lose face.

But Grandpa hadn’t arrived yet, and she, for once, pulled me to her office. That place had always been my forbidden zone. Once, she was so busy that she had a stomachache. I cooked porridge for two hours, and to deliver it to her, I stepped onto the 18th floor. She then publicly scolded me for a full half-hour in front of all the employees, as if I had committed a grave offense. Before, I thought she was just in a bad mood and taking it out on me. But it wasn’t until her office door opened and I saw Lin Jiayi sitting on her workstation with his legs crossed, playing games on her work computer, that I finally understood… She was just afraid I would discover her secret.

Lu Xue froze, clearly not expecting Lin Jiayi to be there either. I, a nominal fiancé and also a company employee, couldn’t freely enter the 18th floor. But Lin Jiayi, an outsider, not only had free access to the company but also knew Lu Xue’s private computer password. He truly was the young miss’s unique favorite.

Lu Xue tugged at me, explaining, “Lin Jiayi is just here for work.” “Oh, right, explain yesterday’s matter to Chen Ping. We were just gathered together drinking and playing games. Nothing happened.”

Lin Jiayi raised an eyebrow and retorted unhappily, “You’re already the heir, why do you have to report every little thing to a live-in son-in-law like him?” “A young miss acting like you is really boring.” Lu Xue’s face looked bad, but she didn’t refute him. That’s because she wasn’t a true young miss. She was just Old Master Lu’s illegitimate granddaughter from outside. She was only recognized by the family because I was the descendant of her grandfather’s benefactor.

Years ago, Old Master Lu almost starved to death on the street. It was my great-grandfather who gave him food, money, and helped him start his business. Later, my family fell into decline, and he searched for me for a long time. Old Master Lu was very superstitious about karma, and after many years, his company was already going downhill, and his descendants had achieved nothing. He hoped that I would choose the future heir to bring new life to the company. Lu Xue’s three older brothers changed their expressions upon hearing this and offered me exorbitant sums to win me over. I rejected them all and pointed to Lu Xue instead. Even I hadn’t expected that Grandpa would actually train her as an heir for three years. His only condition for her succession was to marry me. Lu Xue had been pampered like this for three years, almost forgetting that without me, she wouldn’t be where she was today.

Facing Lin Jiayi’s questions, Lu Xue remained silent. Lin Jiayi, thinking Lu Xue implicitly approved of his humiliation of me, became even more smug and provocatively approached me, “Chen Ping, you just got lucky and married her, that’s all.” “But she only cares about me in her heart. We’ve already agreed to keep playing together after the wedding.” “Right, Lu Xue.” Lin Jiayi thought Lu Xue would side with him again, just like before. But this time, Lu Xue’s face turned cold, and she angrily said, “Shut up! We’re just friends. My only love will be Chen Ping.” “Don’t let me see you bullying him again, or you and your company will both get lost.”

This was the first time Lu Xue had spoken so harshly to Lin Jiayi. He was very angry, his face sullen, and he ran off. Although Lu Xue didn’t make a move to follow him, her gaze drifted far away with Lin Jiayi. However, even her most beloved first love had been rebuffed, and I couldn’t help but sigh, the magic of money is truly powerful. After all, Lu Xue loved no one; only money and power could fill her empty and insecure heart. And I had already planned to break up with her, so there wouldn’t be a next time.
After a long while, she finally motioned for me to sit down. I sat on the sofa and found something gaudy in the crack. I pulled it out, and it turned out to be a pair of men’s underwear. Lu Xue frantically snatched it away and shoved it haphazardly into a drawer. For once, she didn’t lecture me, but rather explained weakly, “Sometimes Lin Jiayi drank too much and didn’t want to go home, so I let him stay in the office for a bit.” I didn’t say anything, just glanced around the office. I immediately noticed a couple’s handprint painting on the table, with her and Lin Jiayi’s initials written underneath.

I couldn’t help but recall one day when I romantically took her to paint, just wanting to create some beautiful memories. Lu Xue immediately frowned when she saw she had to cover her hands with paint, “People like us, who have done farm work since childhood, hate getting our hands sticky.” At the time, I only thought I had offended Lu Xue and apologized to her for a long time. But I never imagined that after Lu Xue sent me away, she would bring Lin Jiayi there. Lu Xue followed my gaze, seemed to realize, and immediately flipped the painting face down. She explained again, “These are all for business, you don’t know how annoying they are.” These lies were only for her to deceive herself. If she truly found them annoying, would they have been placed in the most conspicuous spot for two and a half years?

I was too lazy to question her. She thought that after explaining, the matter was over, and she didn’t want to be alone with me, so she used the excuse of making a phone call and pushed the door open to leave. I strolled over to the computer desk and found that her screensaver was actually a photo of her and Lin Jiayi. At this moment, a chat window popped up. I saw that she had saved my full name, but for Lin Jiayi, she had saved him as “Sweet Little Cutie.” Although I was already numb, this sight still felt very stinging.

I was about to go out for some fresh air when I heard Lu Xue talking on the phone in the stairwell, gently comforting Lin Jiayi, “Alright, he’s my grandpa’s approved husband after all, I have to give him some face.” “I’ll hand the company over to you to manage later…” I was a little surprised, because in my memory, she had never been so gentle. As for the company, she was even afraid that I would get involved in the slightest. I didn’t continue listening and went straight back to the office.

Looking at the proposal on the desk, which I had worked on tirelessly for three days and nights to help her complete, I couldn’t help but smile self-deprecatingly. Once upon a time, when she first became the heir, she was very afraid of not managing the company well and disappointing Grandpa. I helped her with proposals, and if I made even one punctuation error due to blurry vision, she would cry and hit me for half an hour, and even now, she still complains that I hold her back. But now, just to coax Lin Jiayi, she would give him a high-profit project slot. She had truly become someone I didn’t recognize. There was no need for a reply, I threw the proposal into the trash can.

Just then, Lu Xue walked in as if nothing had happened. She was surprised to see my actions. She was about to say something when Grandpa, accompanied by her three brothers, arrived surrounded by a crowd, “We heard you two lovebirds were on the 18th floor, so we came straight here.” Lu Xue chuckled softly, “Yes, Chen Ping has something important to do today.” With that, she extended her hand towards me. Seeing my delayed reaction, she paused and reminded me, “Hubby, don’t be shy. I know you specially ordered a diamond ring and want to put it on me yourself.” I looked coldly at her self-directed drama, took out the ring Lu Xue had shoved into my pocket, and tossed it on the spot. The black velvet ring box rolled under the sofa.

The whole room was in an uproar, and everyone looked at Lu Xue and me. Lu Xue was a little embarrassed. She forced a smile, secretly pinched me, and explained, “Chen Ping, you were so anxious you dropped the ring. Go pick it up quickly.” “Weren’t you planning to propose on the spot today?” I sneered and shook off her hand, “There’s only one thing I want to do now…” “Break off the engagement.”

The atmosphere in the office immediately froze. Lu Xue’s smile completely stiffened, and she stared with wide eyes, incredulously calling out, “Chen Ping, what did you say?” Her three lifeless brothers suddenly brightened their eyes. The others all lowered their heads and pricked up their ears, watching the show while trying to reduce their presence.
I repeated myself. Lu Xue suddenly grabbed my hand, blinking repeatedly to give me hints, “Chen Ping, don’t act impulsively. Is there anything we can’t talk about properly?” Her third brother suddenly appeared and handed me a photo, “Originally, we didn’t want to interfere in your affairs, but little sister, you’ve gone too far. Which man can accept his fiancée going wild outside?”

I took the photo and saw it was a picture of Lu Xue and Lin Jiayi kissing. Even though I already knew that things couldn’t be as Lu Xue said, that nothing happened, when I actually saw this scene, my heart felt cold. Lu Xue hated kissing me. Every time, it was just a quick peck. But in the photo, she and Lin Jiayi were exchanging saliva, and even her earlobes were red. This was clearly love to the bone.

Lu Xue saw these photos and snatched them away, “Good job, Third Brother! You actually doctored photos to frame me. I suppose the photos from yesterday were also taken by someone you hired, and then uploaded to the media.” “Do you know that what you’re doing will cause the company’s stock price to fall?” Third Brother didn’t refuse, laughing, “Little sister, if you didn’t do it, I wouldn’t have had this opportunity.” “The one who harmed the company’s reputation is clearly you.”

Lu Xue’s eyes were red with anger, “I already explained yesterday’s matter to Chen Ping. We were just friends gathering, and he knew about it.” “Right, hubby!” She called out in a high-pitched voice. Every time she did this, I knew she wanted something from me. But I stood coldly, not responding. In the past, I protected her because of love, but now, with my heart broken by her, I didn’t want to meddle. But I knew that Lu Xue’s position as heir was gone. As for whether she could still get a share of the family property, that depended on her ability.

In the struggle for family property, her two brothers were also unwilling to be outdone. The three of them united for the first time, showing a posture of not giving up until Lu Xue was completely crushed. The second brother took out a stack of documents and respectfully handed them to the old man, “Over the past three years, my little sister has repeatedly transferred company projects to Lin Jiayi, that gigolo.” “If his family’s company had strength, I wouldn’t say much, but their prices are high, and the quality is the worst. Many customers have already complained.” “If this continues, the company will be ruined by her.” The eldest brother didn’t make any moves, only sighed, “Grandpa, little sister’s power is too great, and there’s too much disparity in status between her and her fiancé. He’ll suffer grievances sooner or later.” “Originally, this is their private matter, and as an older brother, I shouldn’t say much.” “But after all, the Chen family is our great benefactor. Such ingratitude, wronging him, I’m afraid it will affect the Lu family’s fortune.” “Since Chen Ping has also expressed dissatisfaction today, why don’t we let them separate first, and both calm down before discussing it further.”

Lu Xue’s face turned completely pale. She stood in front of me, “You guys are talking nonsense. I love Chen Ping so much, how could I bear to let him suffer?” People sometimes laugh when they are speechless. I smiled and pulled her away, “Alright, after breaking off the engagement today, you can finally be openly with Lin Jiayi.” “No need to painstakingly make excuses and bother explaining to me anymore.” Lu Xue’s eyes widened, “Chen Ping, I didn’t, I swear to God, Lin Jiayi and I are just friends.”

Grandpa raised his hand to interrupt the farce. He didn’t even look at Lu Xue, but instead seriously asked me, “Have you really thought this through?” I nodded, “I’ve thought it through very clearly.” Grandpa then sighed, “Since you’re so determined, then let’s cancel the engagement.” “It’s just a pity. I thought you two were fated to be family.” “But don’t worry, even if you don’t marry Lu Xue, I’ll always be your grandpa.” I smiled and thanked him. The eldest brother smiled and suggested, “Grandpa, although Chen Ping can’t be your grandson-in-law, you can recognize him as your adopted grandson.” “We’ll still be family.” The other two brothers echoed him.

They all clearly understood that while Old Master Lu was superstitious and wanted to repay kindness, he wouldn’t go so far as to hand over his family business to me, an outsider. At most, he would give me some shares or benefits to allow me to live comfortably until old age. Lu Xue was originally an illegitimate granddaughter who had been raised outside and was not well-liked. In this way, Lu Xue’s possibility of becoming the heir was completely cut off. Lu Xue was the first to jump out and object, “No, Grandpa, if you recognize him as your grandson, then I truly won’t be able to marry Chen Ping.”

But no one paid attention to her. Grandpa smiled brightly, clearly pleased, “That’s a good idea, Chen Ping, what do you think?” As if afraid I would refuse, he added, “I’m just recognizing you as a person, you don’t have to change your surname.” The other three brothers also enthusiastically echoed him, already calling me “Fourth Brother.” In this way, I had no reason to refuse. In any case, Old Master Lu was determined to repay kindness, so I might as well fulfill his wishes.
Lu Xue’s face was extremely grim. If not for her heavy makeup, her face would have been completely bloodless. In contrast to her despair, I was surrounded by the three brothers, a scene of bustling excitement. Just then, the secretary pushed open the door, “Chairman, the press conference is about to start, and the reporters are all here.” The second brother, seeing me dressed too plainly, suggested taking me to change into new clothes. The third brother said he would personally do my hair. The eldest brother gave me a black card, saying that if I didn’t spend it, I would be looking down on him. I was pushed away, and even Grandpa left, leaving only Lu Xue in the vast office. She slumped on the sofa, very flustered.

At the press conference. Lu Xue had retouched her makeup. She received everyone’s blessings with a beaming smile. As for me, although I had changed into a tailored suit, I was still left forgotten in a corner. “This must be Lu Xue’s live-in husband, he’s not even handsome, and he doesn’t seem to have any abilities. How could a beauty like Lu Xue fall for such a useless person?” “Say less. Maybe that’s just his type.” Everyone’s voices weren’t soft, and Lu Xue, as usual, ignored everyone’s mockery of me.

Actually, I still remember that at first, everyone was quite restrained, after all, they had to give face to the Lu family. However, after someone accidentally said the wrong thing, Lu Xue didn’t say a single warning, and everyone became arrogant. But in the end, it got out of hand when she took the lead in mocking me, causing me to lose all face. Everyone knew that I was Lu Xue’s most useless dog.

Just then, Lin Jiayi, in a white suit, entered with a bouquet of flowers. He offered his blessings and hugged Lu Xue. The necklace he deliberately revealed glittered under the lights. Many reporters surrounded him, taking pictures. After all, everyone knew that Lu Xue had grandly spent 90 million at an auction to buy a diamond necklace. Everyone thought it was for me, but unexpectedly, it was worn by Lin Jiayi. For a moment, they were interviewed like celebrities, the two of them standing together like a perfect painting. A reporter asked if they were a couple. Lin Jiayi opened his mouth to say something, but Lu Xue answered first, “We are friends, and also old classmates. Please don’t speculate.” In the past, when she and Lin Jiayi were praised together, she would be very happy. But this time, she looked at me, and I hadn’t spoken for a long time. Finally, she deliberately kept a certain distance from Lin Jiayi. Lin Jiayi’s face changed, and he was about to get angry.

Just then, Old Master Lu arrived late with his three brothers. Lu Xue pulled me along to greet them. After a brief exchange in front of the cameras, Old Master Lu walked onto the stage. Lu Xue gave a signal, and a reporter quickly went up to ask, “Mr. Lu, as expected of a successful person, you truly have advanced ideas. You won’t deprive Miss Lu Xue of her inheritance rights just because she’s a girl.” Old Master Lu naturally understood Lu Xue’s intention, knowing she wanted to use public opinion to force him to change his mind. But if Old Master Lu was that simple, he wouldn’t have managed the Lu family to its current extent.

Old Master Lu, although very displeased, still smiled brightly, “The Lu family has always valued strength, not gender.” “Today, we are holding this press conference to announce some good news.” Everyone looked up at Lu Xue. Lin Jiayi even triumphantly glared at me, leaning down to mock me, “You’re simply not worthy of someone as excellent as her. I advise you to be sensible and leave on your own.” “I can give you a hundred thousand. This huge sum is enough for you to spend.” “Don’t be ungrateful and cling on, otherwise you won’t even know how you died.” I smiled, “Don’t worry, my marriage with Lu Xue has been dissolved. I’ve completely broken up with her.” Lin Jiayi’s eyes flashed with a momentary surprise, but he still looked at me with disbelief, “Lu Xue is so rich now, are you willing to leave her?” I stood with my arms crossed, saying nothing. Lu Xue, under everyone’s gaze, was beaming with joy, preparing to go on stage. Just then, Grandpa smiled and pointed at me, “Today, I’m going to adopt a grandson. From now on, he will be a part of the Lu family.” “Chen Ping, come up on stage and show your face.”

The press conference immediately became a sensation. Those who had mocked me widened their eyes, their gazes lingering between me and Lu Xue. “Isn’t Chen Ping Lu Xue’s fiancé?” “Grandson-in-law becoming grandson? Then are they still getting married?”
Lu Xue’s steps froze, and her eyes instantly reddened. She bit her lip, listening to the rumors without a word. Today, after Old Master Lu’s announcement, she and I would have no more chances to be together. Lin Jiayi, hearing this news, first gaped, incredulous. But when reporters started discussing, he suddenly reacted, a smile spreading across his lips. Without me, his opponent, he could now win over this young lady, Lu Xue. Moreover, Lu Xue was the heir of the Lu family. With the Lu family as his backing, it would be difficult for the Lin family to not have money in the future. He happily leaned close to Lu Xue, whispering, “It’s okay, if he doesn’t want you, I do.”

Lu Xue bit her lip until it bled, yet she said nothing, not daring to cause a scene at the press conference. Reporters, with their keen senses, asked, “Isn’t Chen Ping your grandson-in-law?” Old Master Lu replied seriously, “Previously, I was indeed trying to bring them together, but facts have proven they are not suitable.” “Chen Ping is the descendant of my benefactor. His family is gone, and I see that many people always bully him.” “In the future, whoever dares to bully him will be disrespecting me, this old man.” Those who had spoken ill of Chen Ping shivered. Only Lin Jiayi remained dismissive, “This kid is showing off now, but it’s okay. Today is your day to become the heir, baby. Then the whole company will be yours to command. What’s a small Chen Ping to you?”

Lu Xue shook her head. She also wasn’t sure who held a more important position in Grandpa’s heart between her and me. But Lu Xue still held onto a glimmer of hope. After all, she was blood-related to Grandpa. He must have thought highly of her to choose her as the heir. It couldn’t just be because of a benefactor’s words. She clenched her fist and once again signaled to the reporters.

The reporter who had been bribed by Lu Xue continued to smile and ask, “Then congratulations, Old Master, double happiness is knocking at your door. Today is also the day you announce the heir. Should you invite Miss Lu Xue to the stage together?” In Lu Xue’s hopeful gaze, Old Master Lu only smiled, “The matter of the heir will be discussed later. I’m not going to die so soon.” He joked about himself. Reporters then pursued questions related to Lu Xue. The three brothers interrupted the reporters’ conversation and pulled me onto the stage, enthusiastically assigning me company branches and giving me shares. The perceptive reporters already knew how to write their reports. Lu Xue was ignored throughout. Lin Jiayi widened his eyes, wanting to ask, but Lu Xue was unwilling to say anything.

Along the way, the brothers were still warmly entertaining. I responded with a smile. Don’t let their usual benevolent smiles deceive you; once their interests are touched, they’re all like wolves and tigers. If Lu Xue hadn’t had Grandpa’s protection before, they would have devoured her until not even bones were left.

As soon as we returned to the old house, Lu Xue’s long-suppressed grievances burst forth, “Grandpa, we agreed you’d announce me as the heir, why did you suddenly change your mind?” For the past three years, Grandpa had been exceptionally doting on her, fulfilling her every wish. She truly believed Grandpa genuinely loved her. Lu Xue didn’t notice that even her three brothers were standing with their heads down, not daring to speak. Grandpa ignored her and pulled me closer, saying, “Chen Ping, you’ve been wronged.” Lu Xue frowned, wanting to speak but holding back. Finally, Grandpa had time for her, but he directly threw a stack of documents in her face, “Chen Ping loved you so much, and this is how you repay him?” The documents scattered on the floor were all the results of the investigation Grandpa had ordered, the most recent being the fake watch incident at the class reunion yesterday.

Lu Xue looked up guiltily, stubbornly explaining, “The salesperson made a mistake, I’ll go settle the score with her.” She said she was leaving, but no one stopped her. She awkwardly halted and stood in place. Grandpa leaned on his cane, looking at her coldly, “Don’t try to be clever with me, you’re not good enough.” With that, Grandpa signaled with a look. The secretary handed her a phone to see. The video of her giving Lin Jiayi a watch had been recorded. It was a high-definition close-up.
In the video, Lin Jiayi handed her a fake watch, disdainfully saying, “Give this to him, he’s so poor he won’t know the difference between real and fake, and you’ll save a lot of money.” Lu Xue laughed and agreed, “To be honest, with his cheap clothes, even if he wore a real one, it would be mistaken for a fake. I’ll take this watch.” Others present chuckled and said, “That’s so boring. Lu Xue, aren’t you attending a class reunion next week?” “Let him wear it, so we can all have a good laugh.” Lu Xue patted her chest and agreed.

Seeing this video, my heart grew even colder. I had thought it was an accident, but I never imagined that it was a conspiracy between Lu Xue and Lin Jiayi. The purpose was to play me for a fool, like a dog. I had sacrificed so much for her, given up so much. I didn’t expect her to repay me, but I never thought that my sincerity would be met with such a outcome. I, the party involved, said nothing, but Lu Xue’s face was extremely pale. She glared resentfully at her third brother, “You collected all of this, didn’t you?” Third brother was indifferent. Lu Xue had many friends from various walks of life, so it was easy for him to infiltrate with an undercover agent.

Grandpa looked at her hysterically, “Get out, I don’t have such a disgusting granddaughter.” Everyone looked at her coldly. Lu Xue was incredulous, “Grandpa! Even if I did something wrong, I’m still your granddaughter.” “You’ve already stripped me of my inheritance rights, and now, for an outsider, you want to kick me out?” Saying that, Lu Xue pointed at me and roared loudly, “Chen Ping, what kind of spell did you cast on my grandpa? For you, he doesn’t even want me, his own kin!” Grandpa was so angry by her words that he laughed, “You still have the nerve to mention family!” “I was an only child. Your mother seduced him away from his family, and then dragged him into a suicide pact.” “If it weren’t for your mother’s blood in you, I would have dealt with you long ago.” “Back then, if you weren’t with Chen Ping, do you think you would have been able to enter this door and become a young miss of a wealthy family?” Old Master Lu was incomparably authoritative, “Someone, kick her out!”

The three brothers remained silent, clearly already knowing the truth of the matter. And Lu Xue finally knew fear. Her bloodline was no longer a bargaining chip. She knelt on the ground, begging for mercy, but Old Master Lu completely ignored her. She then grabbed my pant leg, crying, “Chen Ping, please plead with Grandpa for me, don’t let him kick me out.” “I know I did some things to offend you before, but I’ve always loved you.”

I shook off her hand. “Excuse me, Miss Lu, but I wouldn’t dare.” Now she knows to beg me? What was she doing earlier? Wasn’t she very happy when she was belittling me at the class reunion? Lu Xue looked up at her three brothers, only to see intense hatred in their eyes. The maid dragged her out, her suit wrinkled and messy. No matter how much she cried, no one paid her any attention. I watched this scene without saying a word. All this so-called affection was an illusion, but Lu Xue couldn’t see through it, thinking it was the Lu family’s compensation for her being abandoned outside.
As Lu Xue was about to be dragged out, she still yelled, “Let go of me! At least let me pack my things before I leave.” She had figured it out: if nothing else, she could at least take some jewelry, sell it, and live a decent life. But the maid didn’t give her that chance. “The Old Master said all your things were bought by the Lu family, and you’re not worthy of taking them with you.” “They won’t pursue the clothes you’re wearing, please leave.”

Old Master Lu took me to his study alone and asked me about the inheritance again. I smiled, “I apologize for my presumption earlier. This is the Lu family’s private matter, and I have no right to interfere.” Grandpa raised an eyebrow, “You’re already part of the Lu family now, so what you say counts.” I thought for a moment before speaking, “The three brothers have all been taught very well by Grandpa. I believe that if the company is handed over to any one of them, they can make it bigger and stronger.” Grandpa smiled and called me a cunning fox. I just smiled in response and didn’t say anything. Her three brothers seemed easy to talk to, but none of them were pushovers. Taking sides casually wouldn’t be good.

Old Master Lu didn’t force the issue. Instead, he called his three grandsons in, “Chen Ping is now your biological younger brother. He is also the Lu family’s benefactor. In the future, no matter who runs the household, you must take good care of him.” The three brothers smiled and agreed, showing me benevolent smiles. But when I saw the ruthlessness in their eyes, at that moment, I knew Lu Xue and Lin Jiayi were in for a terrible time. To win me over, they would take action without me even needing to ask. But what did that have to do with me?

The next morning, the third brother took me to the villa I used to live in, “This villa will be in your name from now on. I also bought you a sea-view apartment. If you don’t get used to it, you can choose another one.”

He led me inside, dismissed all the existing maids, and arranged for new staff, instructing them to obey me. Meanwhile, the once glamorous Lu Xue, now disheveled, was stopped outside the gate, looking at me longingly. I paid no attention.
Before the redecoration was even arranged, the second brother saw that I was dressed too shabbily and took me to choose clothes. Unexpectedly, we ran into Lu Xue and Lin Jiayi at the mall again. Lu Xue had changed her clothes, but her aura was completely different from before. The Lu family’s affairs hadn’t been reported yet, and Lin Jiayi didn’t know that Lu Xue had not only been stripped of her inheritance but also kicked out of the Lu family. He was still arrogantly pulling Lu Xue along, showing off in front of me, “No way, since when can poor people come shopping here?” “Even if you like something, can you afford it?” He scoffed for a while.

I didn’t respond, but the second brother smiled and stood up, “Young Master Lin, right? You look down on people so much. It’s okay, I’ll make you a poor person too.” With that, he made a call and said a few words. Lin Jiayi immediately felt something was wrong. Lu Xue was scared and pulled him away.

Back at the office, the eldest brother immediately arranged an important position for me, personally taking me to important events to show his support. The employees who had spoken ill of me kept their heads down, terrified. Just then, Lin Jiayi’s father, holding Lin Jiayi by the ear, knelt at the entrance to apologize, attracting many people to take photos. The eldest brother merely raised an eyebrow, not even bothering to meet them, and motioned to the security guards, “Drag them out. Don’t dirty my company’s ground.” There were loud shouts outside, but they quickly faded. However, inside the company, there was a sudden series of exclamations. It turned out that the scandal of Lu Xue and Lin Jiayi’s secret meetings, and her expulsion from the family, had been exposed. I suppose these were all the Lu family’s doing.

Even worse than being expelled, Lu Xue’s cards were frozen, leaving her with no money. She was also blacklisted by major companies, unable to find even a low-level clerical job. After all, no one would dare offend the Lu Corporation for her sake. When I saw her again, she had lost a lot of weight. She didn’t dare to suggest getting back together, but only asked me to help her find a job. For this, she repeatedly brought up old memories, trying to soften my heart. But she didn’t know that this would only have the opposite effect. I refused her request.

Lu Xue eventually returned to that family that disliked her, resuming her original life trajectory. After that, there was no more news of her, and I didn’t deliberately inquire. I obediently served as the Lu Corporation’s mascot, neither fighting nor snatching, just living each day.

[End of Book]