Chapter 39

Translator: Abo Dammen

Three days later, Chen Lu finally received an invitation, relayed via the old butler, from Madame Feng. The gist of it was that she had found a lovely coffee shop and wanted to know when Chen Lu was free, so she could invite him to try it out with her. 

Probably because Fang Qizhi complained to her before, and she knows causing trouble for me at the Qin residence won’t end well for her, so she’s just finding some random excuse to get me outside, Chen Lu thought.

After hearing the butler’s message, Chen Lu felt a faint sense of unease.

Mainly, this invitation seemed a bit too… polite.

Weren’t summons from villainous characters in novels usually along the lines of ‘Right now, immediately, get out here!’? This kind of invitation, politely negotiating a time, was really quite strange. 

Could something be about to go wrong again? Many thoughts flashed through Chen Lu’s mind. Without a moment’s delay, he had the old butler convey that he was free right now.

He could set off immediately, right away!

It was best to strike while the iron was hot. If this Madame Feng changed her mind and rescinded the invitation later, that would be the real problem.

Madame Feng, who was getting a spa treatment at a beauty salon, looked at the butler’s reply: “???” There was really no need for such haste. 

“What’s wrong?” a friend beside her, noticing her odd expression, asked.

“That sly little vixen is desperately eager to meet me,” Madame Feng said with a cold sneer. “He probably thinks something good is coming his way.”

“Little vixen? Who?” Her friend’s eyes filled with confusion. “Isn’t your husband… deceased?”

Madame Feng shot her friend a sidelong glance. “The one who was clinging to Qin Guchuan at the banquet the other day, the one who looked so sweet. He actually dared to steal Xiao Song’s fiance!” 

“Xiao Song has a fiance? Who?” her friend asked, shocked, the face mask on her skin nearly slipping off.

“Qin Guchuan, of course!” Madame Feng said, as if it were obvious.

Her friend was even more stunned. “Since when? How did I not know?”

Madame Feng faltered for a moment, but quickly regained her righteous indignation. “It’s what I’ve decided! Anyway, that little vixen must be made to scram!” 

Hearing this, her friend was taken aback. She looked at Madame Feng with disbelief, hesitated for a long moment, and finally asked cautiously, “Tiantian, are you… planning to do something bad to that person?”

Madame Feng continued her cold sneer and answered decisively, “Yes.”

Her friend stared at her, eyes full of shock and incomprehension. Finally, in a very small voice, she asked, “What are you going to do?”

A flicker of confusion passed through Madame Feng’s eyes at the question, but she quickly recovered and sneered once more. “Give him five million!” 

Her friend: “…”

Her friend: “……..?”

“Well then… Tiantian, as long as it makes you happy,” her friend said, her tone incredibly complex, unsure if she should feel relieved. She watched as Madame Feng strode out of the beauty salon, radiating a combative aura.

Chen Lu tidied himself up a little and, without a moment’s delay, had the old butler arrange for a driver to take him to the appointed coffee shop. 

He waited at the location for a long time without seeing any sign of Madame Feng. He was almost afraid the plot was going awry again. Fortunately, just as an hour was nearly up, he finally saw the lady, who looked well-maintained, still young and beautiful.

This Madame Feng held her chin slightly raised, cast an extremely arrogant glance at Chen Lu, and let out a contemptuous, cold laugh.

Chen Lu understood instantly.

Got it. Making me wait all this time was a power move! 

Such a standard villainous supporting character move!!! Completely different from that flashy, cheap (X) Fang Qizhi! How touching!!!

Looking at Madame Feng, who perfectly embodied the classic early-2000s novel villainess archetype, Chen Lu felt excited.

Could it be? Am I finally going to be spared from having to salvage the plot?!

Madame Feng had already seen Chen Lu from outside the coffee shop looking bored and even a little anxious. Instantly, the irritation from being stuck in traffic vanished. A young, handsome guy was just so pleasing to the eye. 

Pushing open the coffee shop door, Madame Feng looked over at Chen Lu with her haughtiest demeanor, only to meet his eyes, which suddenly exploded with delight, as if her mere presence made his world light up.

She almost failed to maintain her arrogant expression, barely managing to suppress the urge to go over and ruffle him. She forced out a cold hum.

She! Was here! To cause trouble!!!

Sure enough, after her hum, Chen Lu immediately reined in his expression. That pretty, adorable look instantly turned pitiful and heart-wrenching, making him look exceptionally easy to bully. 

He also looked very… rufflable… Ah, no!

It was… She knew it! This person was a sly little vixen, putting on an act for her with that instant expression change! No wonder he had Qin Guchuan so bewitched. But such petty tricks couldn’t possibly fool an experienced elder like her!!！

Madame Feng walked over with her haughty steps and slowly sat down opposite Chen Lu. She didn’t even bother with introductions, not giving this little vixen any chance to speak and weaken her resolve.

Taking a cheque for five million from her purse, Madame Feng slapped it down forcefully in front of Chen Lu and immediately spoke with disdain, “I don’t know how you managed to sneak into the Qin family, but you are not welcome here. Qin Guchuan already has a fiancée, someone from his own social circle. The Qin family is a branch too high for you to climb. Take this money and get lost.” 

Chen Lu looked down at the five million cheque. Having developed some immunity by now, he could even spare a bit of focus to listen carefully to Madame Feng’s words.

Chen Lu compared her words, one by one, with the plot in his mind. His eyes slowly grew moist and red.

Not one word!

Not a single word was wrong! 

A perfect performance, following the plot exactly!!!

How long has it been? Did she have any idea what kind of life he had been living all this time? Look at that Zhu Yi! And look at that Fang Qizhi!!!

Someone who could follow the plot so completely—what a celestial, god-sent plot character! Chen Lu looked at the beautiful Madame Feng opposite him and even felt her arrogant demeanor was imbued with a divine light.

This world simply could not function without beautiful women!!! 

Chen Lu felt healed, body and soul. At this moment, the glow of the five million cheque in front of him couldn’t compare to the radiance Madame Feng embodied for him right now.

“I have no intention of climbing the Qin family’s social ladder,” Chen Lu delivered his next line with abundant emotion. “As long as Mr. Qin agrees, I don’t need your money. I will leave immediately.”

Looking at Chen Lu, who seemed on the verge of tears from her words, Madame Feng fell silent for a few seconds. She almost blurted out something like, ‘Actually, if you insist on staying, it’s not completely impossible…’

But thinking of Chen Lu’s instant expression change earlier helped her barely hold on. 

This sly little vixen’s skills are indeed profound. Even I almost succumbed. This person is far too troublesome! I can’t let him stay by Qin Guchuan’s side any longer!

The rational part of Madame Feng’s mind was screaming, stubbornly helping her keep her mouth under control. She stiffly continued her cold sneer. “What? Are you implying that Qin Guchuan won’t let you leave? That’s ridiculous. Could Qin Guchuan possibly lack for people around him? Who wouldn’t see through it? It’s just you, using schemes and tricks to stay by his side. You shameless creature.”

“No, that’s not true, I didn’t,” Chen Lu looked at Madame Feng with tear-filled eyes. He hadn’t forgotten to check the plot, but…

Still, not a single word was different. 

Not one word different!!!!

Even her expressions and actions were on point!!!

“I won’t listen to your useless denials,” Madame Feng said coldly and stiffly, refusing to look into Chen Lu’s tear-dampened eyes, forcing herself to continue harshly. “I’ve heard the gambling debts in your family haven’t been cleared yet. Think carefully. If you agree now, you get this five million, allowing your family to start over with a clean slate, free from all those messy troubles.

“If you refuse, I have plenty of other ways to make you leave. It’s just a bit more troublesome, that’s all. By then, you won’t get a single cent, and who knows, you might even end up with a lot more debt.” 

Chen Lu, choking up, picked up the five million cheque in front of him. As described in the plot, he seemed to think about many things. After a long while, he finally spoke with difficulty, “Alright. I’ll do it.”

Madame Feng glanced at Chen Lu, who seemed to be sobbing heartbrokenly. Having obtained his agreement, she said nothing more. Picking up her handbag, she didn’t linger for a moment. She stood up and strode out of the coffee shop with her head held high.

She walked and walked, covering a long distance, before she finally calmed down enough. Her hands trembling, she took out her phone and dialed her best friend’s number.

“Darling, I am just the worst, the absolute worst, huhuhuhuhu!!!”