Chapter 291: Do You Want to Become the New Chairman of the Xia Family?
Xia Jiajiao probably never expected that after going to such great lengths to hide her face, her cover would be blown in an instant.
But Yun Zijin only heard about it in passing from Qin Sitong and didn’t give it any more thought.
How Xia Jiajiao was doing had nothing to do with her at all.
After class, Yun Zijin returned from school to Villa No. 1 at Xingyu Mansion, where the family chef had already prepared lunch.
Wang Minli had already prepared the cleaned food containers and packed the dishes separately for Yun Zijin to take to Lu Yunque.
Arriving at the Lu Group building again, the receptionist called Mo Bin to report Yun Zijin’s arrival as usual, then went back to her work.
Knowing Yun Zijin was bringing him a special lunch today, Lu Yunque had timed it perfectly, finishing his work ten minutes early and waiting in his office.
As the clock ticked to noon and there was still no sign of Yun Zijin, Lu Yunque began to wonder if she had forgotten.
When he learned that Mo Bin had received a call from the first-floor reception confirming Yun Zijin had arrived at the company, Lu Yunque could finally relax.
Sure enough, Yun Zijin stepped out of the elevator not long after.
As Yun Zijin entered the office with the food containers, Lu Yunque quickly stood up and took them from her hands.
"These are so heavy. Why didn’t you call me?"
The moment he took the containers, he felt their weight and looked worriedly at Yun Zijin’s hands.
"I only carried them onto the elevator. The rest of the time, they were in the car, or Zero One and the others were holding them."
Yun Zijin wasn’t the type to inconvenience herself. ’It’s not like carrying it the whole way myself would make it seem more sincere.’
Lu Yunque carried the food containers to the table in his office and took out the dishes one by one.
He had to admit, the packaging was excellent; despite Yun Zijin carrying them all this way, not a single drop had spilled.
"You didn’t say what you wanted to eat, so I just had them prepare the dishes you seemed to eat more of when we’ve eaten together."
Of course, besides the main dishes, soup was also essential.
Having grown up in the south, Yun Zijin felt a meal wasn’t complete without a bowl of soup.
"These are all my favorites. You’re very observant."
Seeing the dishes taken from the containers, the curve of Lu Yunque’s lips grew wider. This was all evidence of how well Yun Zijin knew his preferences.
Hearing Lu Yunque say that, Yun Zijin finally felt relieved. ’I was afraid I might have picked the wrong dishes.’
It proved that she knew Lu Yunque very well after all.
"If you like them, eat up. Your stomach can’t take any more abuse."
"It’s a special lunch from you. Of course I’ll eat a lot."
Lu Yunque couldn’t suppress the smile on his face.
Yun Zijin had brought four dishes and a soup, and the two of them finished everything.
The two of them quickly rinsed their mouths in the lounge’s washroom.
After coming out of the washroom, Lu Yunque began to talk to Yun Zijin about the Xia family’s affairs.
"Xia Zhengguang contacted Mr. Shen again today, trying to get him to increase his investment."
Yun Zijin knew what Lu Yunque was implying without him having to spell it out.
’Xia Zhengguang wants a capital injection. He’s just trying to find someone to fill the deficit left by that South Suburb land deal. A newly invested shareholder wouldn’t have any established power within the Xia family, so in the end, he’d be the only one to benefit.’
"He can dream on. First, he needs to find someone who actually dares to invest in him."
Yun Zijin had no desire to take over the Xia family; she was only acquiring shares to get a better hold on that plot of land in the South Suburb.
If someone was willing to coordinate with her from the inside at this point, Yun Zijin wouldn’t mind letting that person take control of the Xia family.
Right now, she just didn’t want to see Xia Zhengguang having too easy of a time.
"What are you thinking?"
Lu Yunque knew Yun Zijin had no interest in managing a company. Even if she took control of the Xia family, she would probably just be a hands-off owner.
"Among the Xia family’s many minor shareholders, there’s bound to be one who doesn’t want to remain subordinate."
And her only demand would be that plot of land in the South Suburb.
Hearing Yun Zijin say this, Lu Yunque knew what she planned to do.
"Go for it. No matter what, I’ll be right here with you."
Yun Zijin looked at Lu Yunque, her smile radiant. ’It feels pretty great to have someone watching your back.’
Lu Yunque was dazzled by Yun Zijin’s smile. He couldn’t help but reach out, cup the face of the woman before him, and press a kiss to her crimson lips.
Yun Zijin closed her eyes, her fingers tightly gripping Lu Yunque’s shirt.
After a long moment, Lu Yunque pulled back. The shirt at his waist was a wrinkled mess from Yun Zijin’s grip.
Yun Zijin’s eyes were glistening, like those of a startled fawn.
Lu Yunque raised a hand and gently ruffled Yun Zijin’s hair. "You should take a nap. I’ll wake you when it’s time."
Yun Zijin had been coming to the Lu Group more often recently, so Lu Yunque had figured out her daily schedule.
Yun Zijin glared at Lu Yunque. ’This man is getting more and more out of hand.’
However, what Yun Zijin thought was a menacing glare looked to Lu Yunque like she was just being cute.
If not for the fact that this wasn’t the right place, Lu Yunque felt he might have already turned into a wolf.
"Don’t tempt me."
Lu Yunque reached out and covered Yun Zijin’s eyes, trying for ’out of sight, out of mind’.
Yun Zijin pulled Lu Yunque’s hand away from her eyes. "I’m going to sleep. You should get back to work."
With that, she quickly hurried past Lu Yunque and ran into the lounge.
＊
Meanwhile, in a discreet restaurant in Dijing, Mei Lin was having a face-to-face meal with a man who was about thirty years old.
"Who are you?"
Li Haichuan looked at the person across from him. ’Countless possibilities ran through his mind, but he dismissed them all.’
"You don’t need to know who I am. You only need to confirm whether or not you want to become the Xia family’s new chairman."
Hearing those five words, "the Xia family’s new chairman," Li Haichuan’s head snapped up, and he stared intently at Mei Lin. "What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. You just need to say whether you want it or not."
"Is this something I can achieve just by wanting it? You’re not just making empty promises, are you?"
The more Li Haichuan thought about it, the stranger it seemed. ’I’m starting to regret coming here today.’
"That’s right. As long as you want it."
Mei Lin still sounded like an emotionless chatbot.
"There’s no such thing as a free lunch. If you can make me the Xia family’s chairman, what do I have to give in return?"
Although deep down he was still skeptical, he figured he might as well ask since he was already here.
"The South Suburb."
Li Haichuan knew which plot of land she meant without Mei Lin having to elaborate.
If it weren’t for that South Suburb land, the Xia family wouldn’t be in its current state.
Before, wherever he went, people would flatter him the moment he mentioned he owned shares in the Xia family.
Not like now, where anyone who finds out he has shares in the Xia family just looks at him with pity.
Li Haichuan still hadn’t been able to come to terms with that stark contrast.
"That land in the South Suburb isn’t profitable. You’re not just using some kind of smokescreen to set a trap for me, are you?"