Chapter 9: Aunt Was Always Beautiful

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Aow! Mercy, Master Lin! I was wrong, Master Lin!”

The muffled thuds and miserable screams echoed without end.

Xu Sanlong, Roast Duck, and all their men had been dragged out into the corridor by Lin Zhongze’s subordinates for a thorough beating.

Witnessing this scene, Su Qianqian felt as if she were dreaming. Was it possible that Lu Ye could be so familiar with Lin Zhongze, addressing each other as brothers?

“You little minx, why didn’t you tell me earlier that you had President Lin backing you up? You had me worrying for nothing!”

Lu Ye spread his hands innocently. “Did you give me a chance to speak? You were too busy dramatizing; I didn’t even get a word in.”

After his men finished dealing with Xu Sanlong and the others outside, Lin Zhongze returned to the room, apologizing, “Brother Lu, I’m truly sorry you had to witness that.”

Lu Ye shook his head indifferently. “It’s nothing.”

“But this lingering poison in my body…” Lin Zhongze looked somewhat embarrassed. To be fair, Xu Sanlong was under his own command. Now he had to ask Lu Ye for help after his people wrecked Lu’s home? It was difficult to bring up.

Fortunately, Lu Ye didn’t hold a grudge. In a calm voice, he said, “The residual poison isn’t much of an issue. Though the supplementary herbs were destroyed, their ingredients are all common enough. I can make another batch in no time.”

“I’ll write you a prescription. Have someone collect the ingredients and come find me at Yi Ren Group tomorrow.”

With that, Lu Ye picked up pen and paper from the floor and wrote out a list of medicinal ingredients and their quantities, handing it to Lin Zhongze.

Lin Zhongze carefully tucked the prescription away. “Brother, let me scan your payment code—I’ll transfer your consultation fee.”

Lu Ye was momentarily taken aback, about to decline and say they could consider each other friends, but then he thought better of it. Even real brothers settle accounts clearly, and someone like Lin Zhongze would surely dislike owing favors.

So, he pulled out his phone and showed the QR code.

“Ding! Five million yuan has been credited to your Alipay!”

What the—! That was an outrageous consulting fee!

Especially since, for Lu Ye, this was a trivial matter.

He had just opened his mouth when Lin Zhongze immediately said, “Brother Lu, please don’t refuse. I sincerely want to befriend you.”

They were both straightforward people. Since Lin Zhongze had made his intentions clear, Lu Ye would look pretentious if he insisted on declining, so he nodded and replied, “Very well. If you ever run into trouble and need my help, just say the word.”

If anyone else had said such a dismissive-sounding thing to Lin Zhongze, it would have been a grave breach of respect. But Lin Zhongze felt Lu Ye was qualified to say it. This man was not as harmless as he looked; his skill in saving lives was worth befriending. Who knew if, one day, he’d again find himself in a life-or-death situation?

Lin Zhongze laughed. “Deal. From now on, your problems are my problems. We’re brothers—no need for courtesy. We’ll share good fortune and weather hardships together.”

Still needing to prepare the prescription, Lin Zhongze took his leave in haste.

Before he left, he threw a warning to Xu Sanlong and Roast Duck, who were still kneeling in repentance in the corridor: “You have three days to renovate my brother’s home. All damaged furniture must be replaced with the best and most expensive.”

Xu Sanlong and Roast Duck nodded frantically. “Yes, Master Lin! We’ll handle it!”

With the matter settled, Su Qianqian sent the Yi Ren Group security team back, promising each of them an extra thousand yuan bonus that month. The guards erupted in cheers: “Long live President Su!”

“President Su, don’t forget to call us next time there’s such a good job!”

“We may not have other talents, but when it comes to brawling, we’re second to none!”

Their monthly salary barely exceeded two or three thousand yuan, yet one group fight earned them a thousand in bonuses? They’d be happy if this happened every day—a year of this and they could save for a down payment on a house.

Su Qianqian smiled wryly. “Alright, Yi Ren Group is a legitimate enterprise. What sort of company goes around picking fights all day? Get back to work, and be careful on your way home!”

“Oh…”

Lu Ping shrunk his head, trying to slip away unnoticed with the other security guards.

Lu Ye curled his lips into a smile. “Lu Ping, didn’t you just pledge your loyalty to the right side?”

Lu Ping’s heart sank; he could have cried. Outside, Xu Sanlong and Roast Duck were still eyeing him like wolves. If he hadn’t rushed to tip off Master Lin, they might not have lost their chance to talk their way out of trouble!

Lu Ye pointed at him, laughing. “Xu Sanlong, Roast Duck, he’s all yours.”

“Got it, Master Lu!”

Xu Sanlong and Roast Duck signaled their henchmen, who dragged Lu Ping out. He was beaten from the third floor down to the first before being tossed into a trunk and hauled away. If he survived, he’d certainly be more careful in the future…

Inside, only Su Qianqian and Lu Ye remained, locked in an awkward stare.

“You—”

“Old woman, save your questions for when we get to your place.”

“Fine.”

Lu Ye gathered a few sets of clean clothes, hid the gold compass in his luggage, and drove Su Qianqian’s Panamera with her back to the Su family home.

On the way, Lu Ye called his father.

Lu Yuqing said he’d arranged to go motorcycle touring with a pretty widow from his riding group, heading to Tongshan to see the snow.

Tongshan was over a thousand kilometers from Mingzhu City; he wouldn’t be back for at least ten days or half a month.

Lu Ye didn’t want him to worry, so he didn’t mention the house being trashed, only saying he’d hired a crew to redecorate. Lu Yuqing didn’t think much of it; with his son now backed by a wealthy woman, money wasn’t an issue—what was a bit of renovation?

Knowing his father was safe, Lu Ye felt relieved. “Dad, the snow in Tongshan is beautiful. Stay a few more days—no rush to come back.”

From the other end came an impatient reply: “Are you done? You’re interrupting my date. Hanging up!”

Beeep. Beeep. Beeep.

“Damn!”

Back at the Su residence, Lu Ye found a Mercedes G-Class parked in the courtyard—the legendary Imperial Palace Edition, no less.

Su Qianqian shuddered, her voice trembling. “Why is my mother back?”

“What?”

Lu Ye was startled. He’d heard that Su Qianqian’s mother, Li Shuqin, had gone abroad for a trip and wasn’t due back for over a month. Why had she returned early?

Before they even entered, they could hear a heated argument inside…

“Su Shiming, are you out of your mind? How could you let your daughter marry a security guard?”

“Qianqian can marry whoever she wants—it’s her freedom. We have no right to interfere!”

“No! I won’t allow this marriage!”

Su Shiming knew full well his wife would never agree to this match. He thought he could get Su Qianqian and Lu Ye married while she was away, so that by the time she found out, it would be too late. Who could have guessed that Li Yingqi would get wind of it and fly back on the next international flight to raise hell?

Su Qianqian happened to walk in at that moment. The room fell silent, the atmosphere thick with awkwardness.

Lu Ye didn’t dare speak, standing obediently behind Su Qianqian.

“Mom, you’re back!”

Su Qianqian threw herself into Li Shuqin’s arms, acting like a teenager, hoping to get by with some spoiled affection.

But Li Shuqin sneered and pushed her away.

The cute act failed!

“Qianqian, you’ve got some nerve, hiding something as big as your marriage from your mother?”

“I’m not against you finding someone, but couldn’t you at least choose a young man who’s a good match for our family? What’s the point of marrying a security guard?”

Su Qianqian stuck out her tongue and shot Lu Ye a look that said, “Good luck, you’re on your own.”

Li Shuqin followed her gaze and glared fiercely at Lu Ye. “So you’re the security guard?”

Lu Ye narrowed his eyes and strode over to Li Shuqin.

“You—you—you! How dare you! What do you think you’re doing?”

Li Shuqin recoiled, trying to avoid Lu Ye’s face as he leaned closer.

Lu Ye frowned, murmuring, “Aunt Li, you get regular hyaluronic acid injections to keep your skin youthful, don’t you?”

Li Shuqin was momentarily confused, but nodded. “Yes, why?”

Lu Ye gently kneaded her cheeks, sighing in mock regret. “Alas, your skin was in great condition, but too much hyaluronic acid has made your face stiff.”

“I knew there was something wrong! My face has gotten stiffer and stiffer—so that’s why?” Li Shuqin was immediately drawn into the topic of beauty and skincare, forgetting all about the son-in-law she’d just rejected.

With a straight face, Lu Ye continued, “Exactly. Those common women’s beauty routines are all wrong for you. You’re already so beautiful!”

Li Shuqin blushed, bashful. “Oh, you flatterer! I’m already in my forties!”

Truthfully, Li Shuqin was quite attractive. In her youth, she must have been a stunning beauty; otherwise, with only Su Shiming’s genes, they could never have produced a daughter as lovely as Su Qianqian.

But time spares no one. Even Li Shuqin had to accept the toll of age. Fearful of fading beauty, she’d spared no expense trying every possible method to keep her skin firm and smooth, only to wind up with a stiff, unnatural expression.

Lu Ye shook his head, “Honestly, if Qianqian hadn’t called you ‘Mom’ just now, I’d have thought you were her sister!”

Mention of Su Qianqian brought Li Shuqin back to her senses; her expression changed instantly and she snapped, “Don’t try to sweet-talk me! I know you’re just using those lines to trick Qianqian. You can praise her a thousand times, and I’ll still never agree to this marriage. Give up!”

“I’m warning you—stay away from my daughter!”

Lu Ye remained unruffled. “Please, don’t get upset. I actually have a way to restore your skin’s natural state and make it even more radiant than an eighteen-year-old’s.”

“Really? Truly? Is that true?” At these words, Li Shuqin’s eyes lit up, and once again the topic of Su Qianqian’s marriage was forgotten.

Su Qianqian rolled her eyes helplessly and asked Su Shiming, “Dad, am I really her biological child?”