Chapter 2: If the East Wind Does Not Favor the Young General

"You! You shameless scoundrel!" Su Qianqian’s cheeks flushed crimson.

"I’ve already told you, ours is nothing more than a fake marriage in name only. Don’t even think about laying a finger on me!"

Lu Ye innocently held out his phone, displaying an almanac, and explained, "What are you imagining? I just checked—the coming Sunday is an auspicious day for weddings and important events. You…you misunderstood me, didn’t you?"

"I—damn you and your ancestors!" Even Su Qianqian, raised with impeccable manners, couldn’t help but curse.

Su Shiming, embarrassed, gave a dry laugh. "Then let’s set the wedding for Sunday. That gives you four or five days to prepare. I’ll draft the guest list for the banquet."

With her father’s word, the marriage was set in stone.

Lu Ye felt a twinge of excitement. After years of waiting, his wealthy, fated bride had finally arrived!

He couldn’t help but grin foolishly to himself.

Su Qianqian, looking thoroughly disgusted, warned, "Don’t say I didn’t tell you—once this storm has passed, I’ll kick you to the curb without hesitation!"

"I’m not worried. We can talk about that later."

"You…to hell with you!" Su Qianqian was utterly flustered.

"Dad, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back to the office."

"Alright, take care on the road."

Lu Ye rose to leave with Su Qianqian, smiling as he said, "Father-in-law, we’ll be off."

Watching them go, Su Shiming shook his head, half amused, half exasperated. "You rascal!"

For saving my life once, I’ll let you have my daughter—lucky you!

…

After dropping Su Qianqian off at Yiren Group, Lu Ye still had the car. Glancing at the time, he saw it was still early, so he turned around and drove to the yacht marina on the city’s coast.

Parking his car, he boarded a yacht named "The Apostles’ Journey."

On deck, from within the cabin, came a clear, melodious female voice: "If the east wind does not favor Zhou Yu?"

Lu Ye smiled and replied, "Then say goodbye to your perky backside!"

A muffled laugh echoed out.

The hydraulic strut slowly swung the cabin door aside.

"Ha! You rascal!"

Inside, the yacht was decorated with opulent luxury. On the plush circular sofa sat a graceful woman, holding a glass of red wine in each hand. She offered one to Lu Ye.

She was the owner of "The Apostles’ Journey," her name was Chen Xi.

Lu Ye politely declined with a smile. "I’m driving today—no wine for me."

Chen Xi laughed as well. "Go on, drink—it’s just Red Bull."

Well, then!

Lu Ye downed the drink in one go. "Have you found out what’s going on with the Zhang family?"

Chen Xi handed him a file folder stuffed with documents. "Every detail is included."

Lu Ye leafed through the documents, nodding with satisfaction.

"Just as I suspected—the Zhangs have aligned themselves with the Hongying Society. Their proposal to marry into the Su family was no doubt pushed by the Society as well. Are they planning to turn both the Zhangs and the Sus into their moneymaking tools?"

"Tch, ambitious as ever—but they’re bound to trip over me."

Chen Xi asked, "Are you really going to be a live-in son-in-law for the Sus? If word gets out you’re living off a woman, it won’t do your reputation any favors."

Lu Ye pretended to bristle. "I’m living off a woman by my own skill—what’s so disgraceful about that?"

"Oh, quit the act." Chen Xi rolled her eyes in exasperation. "You’re using this marriage to stir up conflict between the Sus and the Zhangs, hoping to draw out the Hongying Society behind the scenes and take them down in one fell swoop, aren’t you?"

"That’s right." Lu Ye grinned. "Sister Chen Xi, you’re so clever, you’ll never find a husband. Don’t come clinging to me someday."

Chen Xi spat playfully at him, then grew serious. "I’ll keep someone watching the Zhangs. If there’s any news, I’ll inform you immediately."

"Thank you for your trouble."

Swirling her wine, Chen Xi said languidly, "If my godmother hadn’t taken me in, I wouldn’t be here today. Now that she’s gone, and you’re her only son, my loyalty to you is only right. Don’t waste your breath on formality."

Lu Ye smiled and, without another word, pulled his alluring god-sister into a warm embrace. Then he left the yacht.

He was about to become the Su family’s son-in-law. Lu Ye couldn’t help but feel a little emotional—who would have thought that the mission assigned to him by the organization would align so perfectly with his lofty dream of living off a rich woman?

He hadn’t lied to Su Qianqian—he was indeed a retired special forces operative, who had spent years on the front lines in the Middle East, living on a knife’s edge.

When his service ended, he was ordered home to co-lead this special operations team with his adopted sister, Chen Xi. Their first task: investigate a criminal group suspected of espionage.

The Hongying Society’s backers were elusive and widespread, with evidence of their activities in every major city and branches scattered across the country.

Lu Ye’s investigation first led him to the Society’s pawn, the Zhang family, and from there he discovered the planned marriage alliance with the Sus. That’s why he’d infiltrated Yiren Group ahead of time—to throw a wrench into their plans.

He hadn’t expected Su Qianqian to invite him to be her fake husband, saving him a lot of trouble.

But the Su family was complicated as well. Qianqian’s grandparents had built the family business side by side. Her grandfather, Su Shanglin, was still alive, though her grandmother had passed years before.

With Su Shanglin now elderly, the company should have passed to his son, Su Shiming. But the old man had taken a mistress and fathered an illegitimate child, about the same age as Su Qianqian.

Dotingly, Su Shanglin favored this son and intended to edge out Su Shiming’s branch, leaving his fortune to the boy. He was even willing to sacrifice his granddaughter’s happiness by binding her to the Zhang family, all to further the illegitimate son’s interests.

Lu Ye was certain Su Shanglin would do everything to stop him from marrying Qianqian, which would inevitably alert the Zhangs—and the Hongying Society would not sit idly by while a security guard ruined their plans.

As soon as the Society made a move, Lu Ye would be ready to pounce.

Not long after leaving the yacht, his father called.

"Little rascal, are you off work yet?"

"Not yet. Why?"

"Come home early. Your second uncle’s family is coming to dinner tonight."

"Alright."

After hanging up, Lu Ye called Su Qianqian.

"Wife, my family’s having a get-together tonight. Why don’t you come and meet my relatives?"

"Fine, but can you not call me your wife? It makes my skin crawl."

"Then I’ll call you Qianqian?"

"That’s even worse!"

Lu Ye’s face darkened. "Comrade Su Qianqian, should I pick you up from work or what?"

"No need, I still have clients to meet. Send me the address and I’ll take a taxi after work."

"Alright then!"

When Lu Ye arrived home, his second uncle’s family had already gathered, and his father, Lu Yuqing, had prepared a lavish spread—they’d already begun eating.

A young man in a suit and tie, looking every inch the rising star, was pouring wine for Lu Yuqing out of filial duty, but his manner showed little true respect. This was Lu Ye’s cousin, Lu Ping.

Lu Yuqing tossed a few peanuts into his mouth and smiled. "Lu Ping, I hear you’ve been promoted to deputy head of HR at Yiren Group? You’re still so young—your future’s bright!"

"Not at all, Uncle, you’re too generous." Lu Ping feigned modesty, but his smugness was unmistakable.

At that moment, Lu Ye walked in. His second uncle seized the opportunity to sneer, "I recall Lu Ye also works at Yiren Group as a security guard, doesn’t he? What’s your salary, then?"

Lu Ye smiled obligingly. "Eighteen hundred."

"Well, you’d better work hard. You both work at the same company, but your cousin earns ten times your salary!" The words sounded encouraging, but were plainly meant to belittle Lu Ye while boasting about his own son.

Lu Ye’s second aunt chimed in, "That’s not fair to say. Lu Ye just got out of the military and hasn’t had a chance to learn any other skills. You can't compare him to our Lu Ping."

"True enough. It’s not easy to find a job these days without something special to offer. For someone like Lu Ye, just back from the army, being a security guard isn’t bad—nice and easy, but don’t expect any real prospects."

Lu Ye grinned. "Didn’t Cousin just become deputy head of HR? Maybe he could look out for his little brother?"

Lu Yuqing took up the thread. "Exactly. You may not be real brothers, but you grew up together. Lu Ping, you should take care of this rascal for me."

Lu Ping replied loftily, "I’d be happy to help, but I have a boss above me. If he thinks I’m playing favorites, I’ll be in trouble. If you want me to help, you’ll need to prepare a nice gift for my boss—he’s fond of collecting oddities, just so you know."

Second uncle feigned sudden realization. "Brother, didn’t your wife leave you that golden compass? That’s a rare piece—I bet your boss would love it. Maybe he’d be so pleased, he’d make Lu Ye head of security!"

Lu Ye smirked inwardly. His second uncle’s family was notorious for their greed. They’d drifted away after making some money in small business. Clearly, tonight’s dinner was about more than showing off—they were after his mother’s keepsake.

"The golden compass is all Qimeng left behind. There’s no way I’d let you take it as a gift," Lu Yuqing replied, seeing right through his brother’s ploy.

Even if he did hand it over, judging by his second uncle’s character, they’d almost certainly sell it at the antique market instead of giving it away. The idea that it was for Lu Ye’s career was pure nonsense.

When they realized their ruse hadn’t worked, second uncle and aunt exchanged a glance, their faces darkening with anger. "Brother, think carefully. This is your only chance—who else but Lu Ping can help your son’s future?"

"Your son’s just a penniless soldier. He’ll be stuck as a dead-end security guard and probably never marry. Are you really willing to end your family line?"