Chapter 357: Really Just Friends?
Grandpa Sheng was cautious about the Xu family and their connections, which was why he had agreed to the wedding of Jing Yun and Sheng Minglan.
However, the fact that he didn’t bother Sheng Xiao or Mi Qiqi left Sheng Xiao puzzled.
With his usual temper, the first person he would have bothered after Sheng Minglan’s affair was settled would be his Qi’er. It was therefore a little too unusual when the old man didn’t do a thing at all.
Sheng Xiao therefore told Mama Sheng to keep a close eye on the old man’s movements. However, she reported that the old man wasn’t doing anything out of the ordinary aside from going out a few times without the rest of the family knowing.
And since his birthday was in March and soon, Sheng Xiao was absolutely prepared mentally.
Naturally, no one was aware that the great Crown Prince of Huang Yao was ready to divert his focus, intent on securing a huge business deal with his father-in-law.
He wouldn’t tell anyone about the matter as long as the old man didn’t try anything funny.
But if the old man really did make move on Mu Qiqi, there would be nothing holding him back.
***
Meanwhile, the Xu couple had let Xu Yihong arrange a suitable position for Jing Yun.
Xu Yihong himself agreed to it, allowing his younger brother to tag along so that Jing Yun could learn about the respective industries that Xu Holdings was involved in within the quickest time possible.
It was an opportunity Xu Yihong could use against Jing Yun after all.
“Since your identity is not made clear, I won’t put you in a position that’s too obvious. You would work with the lower echelons to get a general idea about Xu Holdings.”
“You’ve thought this through, Brother,” Jing Yun replied without letting anything one.
In truth, Xu Yihong was attempting to provoke Jing Yun with this move. A young master of the Xu family, working at a low-ranking position? It was an insult to anyone, and Xu Yihong would naturally rat Jing Yun out to the Xu couple if Jing Yun made a fuss.
That way, he could easily drive a wedge between Jing Yun and his parents.
However, he was wrong in his calculations.
For one, Jing Yun knew that Xu Yihong was the mastermind behind his abandonment, which was why Jing Yun could tell that this was a scheme against him.
Secondly, Jing Yun was never reckless. He himself knew that he should reach out to the bottom echelons of Xu Holdings since anything should be learned from grounds-up, which was why he did not find this a humiliation.
After all, everyone in Jianchuan acknowledged his competence, perfectly aware that he was not a good-for-nothing.
That was why Xu Yihong’s move was no different from picking up a boulder and dropping it on his own toes.
Even so, Jing Yun would have to hasten things, and uncover the connection between Xu Yihong and the eldest uncle of the Xu family.
***
Meanwhile, no sooner had Lin Mu’an returned to the academy that he was facing spring break. Even so, he was reluctant to return home.
That was when he phoned Lu Qianqian on the first night of his holiday. “I’m on a break now, little pepper. You have no sympathy at all, you know—leaving me out here to fend for myself when I’ve already left home.”
“Or what?” Lu Qianqian replied even as she started to dress up. “I would never believe that you have no place to go.”
“I have many friends, but they are all the fair-weather type. They probably won’t let me bunk with them now.” Lin Mu’an replied.
“Well, it’s your own fault for losing your standing.” Lu Qianqian retorted, wanting very much to bite him over the phone. “It’s a month’s break, but don’t you want to be home for the new year?”
“No way.” Lin Mu’an answered firmly. “If I go back, Grandfather would come with every last sort of trap and trickery to stop me from going back to the academy. I’m not risking it.”
“Well, in that case, this fair maiden shall have to take you in.” Lu Qianqian deliberately sighed. “Be my bodyguard for this month, since I don’t have a coach right now anyway and need a punching bag.”
“Where would I be staying? The fair maiden’s chambers?”
“The storeroom fits you. What do you think?”
Later, Lu Qianqian drove to the police academy to give Lin Mu’an a ride, and they left the gates together.
When Grandpa Lin watched as Lu Qianqian left, with his grandson, his hands could not stop shaking. “They are still in contact just as I’ve thought… I’ll grant the mongrel’s wish since he wants to suffer.”
Lin Mu’an seemed to feel a chill over his back right then, and wondered if he was paranoid.
“Really. I just need a simple place to live. Couldn’t ask for more if it’s no different from the bunks back at the academy.”
“Tsk, tsk. The great young master of the Lin family, snuggling up to a woman like me for lodgings.”
“Wasn’t I supposed to be your bodyguard?” Lin Mu’an asked—his training over recent days had been very effective. “You’ll be my hero when I graduate from the academy.”
Lu Qianqian aimed a mocking smile at him. “Well, you would have to compromise a little, Young Master Lin.”
In truth, Lu Qianqian had prepared a small but simple apartment for Lin Mu’an.
The two walked around the apartment for a bit and then had some drinks in the living room, like they did back in the hotel last time.
“You really are my best friend…”
Lu Qianqian studied Lin Mu’an then.
He has become rugged and gained a better figure, looking much masculine now.
“Well, how are you going to introduce me when you get a girlfriend in the future?” Lu Qianqian asked him, hugging a bottle of beer.
Lin Mu’an extended his hand and put it around her neck, exclaiming half-drunkenly, “I would break up with anyone who can’t accept you as my best friend!”
Lu Qianqian was stunned at that.
“Not many women would accept their boyfriend having a female best friend, you know.”
“So what? I prefer this!”
Lin Mu’an was actually very alcohol tolerant, but having trained herself, Lu Qianqian managed to give him a run for his money.
And that was why she was still very much lucid while Lin Mu’an had fallen to the floor, drunk.
Watching his sleeping face, Lu Qianqian leaned on the table and whispered to him, “Me too. I’ll send anyone packing if they have anything to say against you.”
With that, she pulled some blankets from the bed and covered him. “Goodnight, future police chief.”
“Little Pepper…” Lin Mu’an giggled in his sleep then. “I’ll protect you for life… protect my best friend.”
“Idiot.” Lu Qianqian scolded with a smile, and returned home in the middle of the night.
Because she didn’t want to get caught and be humiliated by Grandpa Lin again…
When she returned home, Mama Lu could smell the scent of alcohol on her and advised her, “Don’t self-destruct over the past, Qianqian.”
“What are you thinking, mother? I was just having a drink with Lin Mu’an.” Lu Qianqian quickly explain. “He already left the Lin family and don’t even have a place to live. I can’t do nothing as his friend, right? That’s why I took him in as a bodyguard.”
“Really just friends?” Mama Lu doubled-checked.
“Really.” Lu Qianqian nodded. “Friends… for life.”