Chapter 75: Smile (1)
"Congratulations, Chairman Lu." A man greeted Zhen Lu, the acting head of the Lu family and the uncle of Xia Lu from her mother's side.
Zhen Lu was the son of the previous family head of the Lu family but due to some of his wrongdoings, he was vanquished of his right to become the family head and instead, her younger sister, the only child left of the previous family head, became the head of the Lu and all the companies and businesses along with it.
But it wasn't the end for Zhen Lu as he was kept in the family even though he was practically banished. It was just that he couldn't become the head. As luck had it for him, his sister fell ill and fell into a coma. The doctors couldn't determine when she would wake up so the leadership of the family had to be decided.
At first, Zhen Lu didn't want to become the family head but temporarily took the seat because things were becoming grim for the family.
He had every intention of returning the seat to Xia Lu once she grew up or to his sister. However, something happened in his life that made him change his mind and think of the future. He became a father. As a vanquished member, he couldn't become the head and obviously, his children wouldn't receive anything as well. He couldn't have that so he decided to take some of it for himself.
However, once he got the power to take it, he couldn't just stop. Soon enough, he wanted everything. His niece was useless and he was sure she would just drown the companies.
He wasn't technically wrong because Xia Lu was incompetent in this aspect of life. She wasn't a leader and the entire family, even the elders who threw Zhen Lu out, had to admit that Xia Lu wouldn't be able to lead the family. So Zhen Lu decided to take matters into his own hands and for the sake of his children, he began to drive Xia Lu away.
At first, it was just her incompetence in the business world, but then he even began to portray her as useless in all other fields. Made various scandals about her, made various rumors, and almost plummeted her reputation until she had no choice but to leave.
When she left, everything was finally in his grasp. Well, almost everything because there were still a few stubborn elders who believed that Zhen Lu shouldn't be the family head and that although he should run the company, the leader and head in the name should be Xia Lu.
So, to deal with those stubborn geezers, Zhen Lu began to make some serious moves. He brought the ones he could to his side and those that he couldn't, he had to dispose of them and let someone else, who was in his favor, take their place.
And today, finally he had the support of all the elder positions. With the last person to sign the petition in his favor, he had now officially become the family head. He no longer needed anyone else. He no longer had to live with the fact that his reputation was temporary.
Now, he was the sole ruler of the Lu family. He smirked and replied, "It's all thanks to you Mister Zao."
"Haha." Zao laughed and said, "No need to thank me, Chairman Lu. You deserve this position." Zao replied before he slapped his forehead and said, "Oh! Silly me. Not the chairman but the head, family head Lu." His flattery was visible to anyone and Zen Lu wasn't oblivious of it. Still, he felt good for being called the family head of the Lu family.
"Haha. Thank you, thank you." Zhen Lu smiled and said. They talked for a few more minutes and then Zao left. As for Zhen Lu, the smile on his face disappeared as he called for his attendant.
"Yes, master?" The attendant said as he entered.
"Butler Dong, I think something terrible is about to happen to my niece. Make sure to watch it out." Zhen Lu replied, care flowing in his words. Butler Dong bowed and replied, "I will see to it myself, master."
Zhen Lu nodded and said, "Good. You may go now but send some celebrations in. It's a night to celebrate."
"As you wish, master." Butler Dong before he turned to leave but halted. He felt something move at the corner of his eye. When he turned his attention over there, he found nothing. There was nothing and his instincts were telling him that he was simply mistaken. He was the type to trust his instincts so he brushed it over.
"What is it?" Zhen Lu asked as Butler Dong had suddenly halted and was staring at a corner. "Nothing, master. Must have been my imagination."
"I see. Close the door on your way out then." Zhen Lu said. Butler Dong nodded and left with a reply, "I will see to it that your company is soon to arrive."
"Mhm." Zhen Lu simply replied with a hum and Butler Dong left. Once he was alone, he sighed as he looked out of the window, down on the night time of the Yuan Yin city. He scoffed and turned to make himself another drink. He drank it slowly and kept admiring the view that felt different now that he was an all-powerful man.
Suddenly, he began to feel heavy in the chest. He couldn't tell what it was but soon, it was like his whole body was heavy. He felt an ominous feeling wash over him and he tried to call for someone but his mouth felt heavy. His lips wouldn't open under that weight. And while he was feeling all of that, he heard steps close to him.
He thought it was someone to help but he couldn't raise his eyes because they felt heavy as well.
However, just as he thinking of how to give a signal, he was pulled up and came face to face with a black helmet. His eyes were still heavy so they couldn't go wide but fear struck him on the inside.
'NO! NOT NOW! NOT ON THIS DAY' He screamed internally but it was no use. His lips wouldn't just part. The man in the helmet gently placed him on the couch before he said, "I know how you're feeling right now. Just imagine what your sister would have felt when you poisoned her."
Zhen Lu's eyes once again went wide but only internally, outwardly, he couldn't widen his eyes nor close them. It was like they were stuck in a place, heavy to close and heavy to widen.
The helmet man began to take off the helmet and the face that was revealed underneath was someone Zhen Lu was very familiar with. It was the same boy he had seen at the Na family banquet.
"Hi." Wei Jun said with a smile before he added, "I don't usually smile like this. Mostly it's fake but for some reason, I can't stop smiling tonight even when I'm working." It was an entirely irrelevant topic but Wei Jun was dying to share it with someone. And who better than the man to whom he was about to do something?
"You know, that day when I figured out that Xia Lu's phone was tapped, I looked into you. Turned out, you had a dealing with a very famous doctor cultivator. Someone whose disciple you just met a few days ago. He gave you a special poison that you used on your sister.
There aren't any sales records of it so no evidence but flight records, footage, and receipt records were there so it wasn't hard to deduce." Wei Jun lied through the teeth. In reality, it was revealed in the second volume of the novel when Run Long would get acquainted with Zhen Lu.
Still, the lie was only a lie until it couldn't be proven otherwise. Although what he was saying was bullsh*t, as long it was logical bullsh*t, who cared if it was true or not?
"But you didn't expect her to be a cultivator, although a very minor. Something strange took place and instead of dying, she fell into a coma. And you," Wei Jun pointed at Zhen Lu and continued, "You came under the radar of the elders so you couldn't pull any more moves but when you were assured she wouldn't wake up even after two years, you stopped caring."
"Logical. I mean, why would you live under the looming threat of your sister waking up anytime when you can remove that threat but get rid of all the hindrances." Wei Jun said, referring to the elders who were suspicious about Zhen Lu's wrongdoings but now that there were none left and all were on his side, he could finally finish the job.
He was going to tomorrow, kill both mother and daughter at the same time while celebrating his becoming the head.
Wei Jun smiled again, "I don't know what's happening to me but for some reason, I just can't stop it. I can't stop smiling."