Chapter 45: The Eldest Sister of the Young Lords’ Alliance

Damn! Just now, in the excitement of hearing that a long-lost companion had been found, Lu Ye had completely forgotten to seal the cabin door…

"Old hag, how did you find this place?"

He was genuinely puzzled—this shouldn't have happened! He was, after all, the renowned War God of the Republic; how could a girl like her have trailed him all the way here without his noticing?

Su Qianqian snapped impatiently, "I was jolted all the way here, hiding in the trunk of your Passat!"

Lu Ye nodded in sudden realization. "Oh, I really hadn't thought of that. Impressive!"

"Stop trying to change the subject! I caught you red-handed—what do you have to say for yourself?"

Lu Ye rubbed his nose and said, "Why don't you take a look at this yacht first? Do you really know what kind of place this is?"

Su Qianqian was momentarily confused, then glanced around…

All around her were mysterious devices, and the shelves were lined with all sorts of strange equipment. It didn’t look like the kind of luxury yacht a tycoon would use for pleasure—it was more like a secret base.

She couldn't help but ask, "What exactly are you getting at?"

"Do you remember asking me once what I used to do?"

"That day, I told you the truth, but you thought I was just making things up."

As Lu Ye spoke, Su Qianqian suddenly remembered!

"So you really did retire from special forces in the Middle East? And you were awarded a Peace Medal or something?"

Lu Ye nodded. "Yes, I'm now the captain of the Apostles Task Force, responsible for carrying out all sorts of secret missions."

Su Qianqian pointed at Liu Yiyi. "And her? What exactly is your relationship?"

"Colleague."

"Ha! I literally saw you touching her thigh!"

"Her stocking was snagged. If you don't believe me, go see for yourself!"

Poor Liu Yiyi, mistaken for a seductress, stood frozen and dared not move an inch.

Su Qianqian, suspicious and guarded, walked over to check. Sure enough, the stocking was caught on the edge of the chair.

Lu Ye, somewhat annoyed, said, "Now do you see why I couldn't bring you here?"

Su Qianqian lifted her chin, feigning arrogance. "Fine, then I guess I wrongly accused you this time!"

Suddenly, Lu Ye snapped sternly, "Su Qianqian, watch your attitude!"

"You're trespassing in a restricted area. Do you think I'm joking with you?"

Su Qianqian had never seen Lu Ye so fierce before.

Her little scoundrel was usually like a devoted puppy, always coaxing and spoiling her. Even when he threw a sarcastic remark or two, it was half in jest, half to amuse her.

But this time, he seemed genuinely angry!

Breaking into a secret agent base had forced Lu Ye to reveal his true identity…

Su Qianqian had no idea what consequences awaited her, but even with only half a thought, she knew—this was absolutely a serious crime against national security!

She was doomed!

Would her little scoundrel send her to prison?

Or worse… would he, in the name of justice, silence her for good?

"Waaah, my little scoundrel, I know I was wrong!"

"Dad, Mom, your daughter has failed you! I won’t be able to care for you in your old age!"

As her thoughts spiraled, Su Qianqian wept like a heroine in a tragic opera, tears streaming down her face…

She squeezed her eyes shut in despair, as if at any moment, justice would deliver its bullet and execute this troublesome woman…

Liu Yiyi couldn't watch any longer. She pulled the sobbing Su Qianqian into her arms to comfort her and complained to Lu Ye, "Captain, that's enough! Look at how scared you've made Qianqian!"

Only then did Lu Ye burst out laughing. "Hahaha, old hag, have you learned your lesson?"

Su Qianqian blinked through her tears, confused. "Aren’t you going to shoot me?"

"Relax, Qianqian, it's not as serious as you think," Liu Yiyi said, barely holding back a smile. She herself had once been frightened by Lu Ye in just the same way.

A wild joy spread over Su Qianqian’s tear-stained face. "So I’m off the hook?"

Lu Ye said, "No, you’re spared the death penalty, but not the living punishment."

"What?"

"Write me a three-thousand-word reflection. I want to see it tomorrow."

"Alright…"

…

The next morning.

Lu Ye woke naturally and wondered why Su Qianqian hadn’t come to wake him as usual.

He went downstairs and found the old hag fast asleep at the dining table, her completed reflection placed beside her.

Lu Ye picked it up and read: "Shameless, shameless, shameless, shameless…"

Three thousand characters, not one more, not one less, all repeating the word "shameless."

Lu Ye couldn’t help but gently ruffle her long hair, then bent down and scooped her into his arms.

Though he was as gentle as possible, the old hag still opened her sleepy eyes. "Mmm, what time is it? I need to get to work!"

"Take the day off," Lu Ye said. "Go back to bed and get some rest."

So Su Qianqian closed her eyes again and murmured almost inaudibly, "I’m sorry."

Lu Ye smiled. "It’s alright. Just pretend nothing happened last night, alright?"

"Mm…"

Lu Ye knew she wasn’t the type to take advantage. Last night truly was an accident.

He blamed himself—he should have forewarned her. Any wife would get suspicious seeing her husband secretly meeting a strange girl late at night. He had underestimated his place in Su Qianqian’s heart.

For some reason, Su Qianqian slept more soundly than ever.

By the time she woke, it was already noon. Opening her eyes, she saw Lu Ye sitting at her bedside, scrolling aimlessly through Douyin. When he noticed her groggily emerging from the covers, he smiled. "Awake? Freshen up, let’s go out for lunch."

"Where are we going?"

"The Young Masters of the Huang and Sun families have set up a table to make peace. They want our forgiveness."

At the annual meeting, the Su Group had made such a display of power, it was like a nuclear test in the business world. Flashy, perhaps, and without much practical effect, but it was all about deterrence.

Did the Huang and Sun families really have what it took to play with the Su Group?

They’d better think carefully!

After returning home yesterday, Huang Shaojun and Sun Tongwei had both been scolded by their elders.

Reckless!

In just three short days, they’d cost their families hundreds of millions in losses!

As for seeking reconciliation, that was, of course, their elders’ idea.

If this price war continued, it would disrupt the entire market economy of Pearl City—a lose-lose for everyone.

So Huang Shaojun and Sun Tongwei hosted the meal, with Zhang Yunjie, Lin Bei, and Yang Tianyu joining as well. Freed from Xu Fugui’s orbit, this group suddenly seemed to have the makings of an alliance of young lords.

When Lu Ye and Su Qianqian arrived late, no one dared complain.

Who in Pearl City didn’t know that Lu Ye’s fists were the hardest? If you disagreed, you were welcome to try your luck.

Huang Shaojun and Sun Tongwei greeted them with eager smiles. "Brother Lu, Sister-in-law, we’re here to apologize. It was our own foolishness, letting Xu Fugui use us as his pawns."

Lu Ye offered the main seat to Su Qianqian and said with self-deprecating humor, "I’m only the Su family’s live-in son-in-law, unworthy of the title ‘Brother Lu.’ If you have something to say, say it to my wife."

He then poured Su Qianqian a cup of tea with exaggerated humility, and stepped behind her to knead her shoulders, making her look every bit the Empress Dowager, aloof and above all others…

Zhang Yunjie exchanged a knowing look with Lin Bei.

Look at Lu Ye’s attitude.

Nothing in the world is greater than one’s wife!

All us younger brothers should learn from him.

Huang Shaojun and Sun Tongwei were taken aback, but quickly forced a smile. "Then, we apologize to Miss Su!"

Watching the five young masters bow their heads before her, a small sense of vanity blossomed in Su Qianqian’s heart…

Yes, yes, yes—this is what I deserve!

Inside, she was jubilant, though her expression remained icy and distant.

In a cool voice, Su Qianqian said, "Since it’s all in the past, let’s not mention it again."

Huang Shaojun and Sun Tongwei asked anxiously, "And the price war?"

"It ends here."

"Miss Su, you are formidable!"

Of course, the losses already sustained couldn’t be undone, but at least things wouldn’t get worse.

Huang Shaojun and Sun Tongwei finally breathed a sigh of relief. Just now, they had learned from Zhang Yunjie that the Su Group and Yi Ren Group had made a fortune in the new development zone in Jiangbei.

The Su family now had the means to keep the price war going to the bitter end, but the Huang and Sun families would have been utterly defeated.

"Why don’t we keep our Young Lords’ Alliance going? This city will belong to us, after all. Better to join forces and prosper than to fight each other."

Zhang Yunjie’s suggestion was immediately met with approval from the other young heirs.

Lin Bei nodded. "Agreed. As long as we stick together, even if the Xu family in the capital comes looking for trouble, there’s no reason for us to fear them!"

Huang Shaojun added, "That makes sense, but who should be the leader of this alliance?"

Zhang Yunjie glanced at Su Qianqian in the main seat, with Lu Ye standing behind her, and grinned.

"The Boss Lady!"