Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Xia Jiajiao Pestering Lu Yunque

"Mr. Lu, what a coincidence."

Only after speaking did Yun Zijin remember. ’This is a mall under the Lu Group, isn’t it? It’s not that strange for Lu Yunque to be here.’

"It is quite a coincidence. Is Miss Yun buying clothes for her boyfriend?"

As he asked this, Lu Yunque didn’t even notice that the hand hanging by his side had curled into a fist.

"No, they’re for them."

Yun Zijin pointed to the seven bodyguards behind her.

"They are..."

"My bodyguards."

Lu Yunque nodded in understanding. He didn’t know when, but his clenched hand had relaxed.

"Well, I won’t disturb you any longer, Miss Yun. Happy shopping. If you run into any trouble here, feel free to call me anytime."

Lu Yunque’s words caused Yun Zijin’s status in the eyes of the sales associates at Jinsheng Mall to rise another notch.

"Alright. Take care, Mr. Lu."

As soon as Yun Zijin finished speaking, Lu Yunque prepared to leave with his men, but a figure in white suddenly appeared and blocked his path.

"Brother Yun Que! It really is you!"

Who else could it be but Xia Jiajiao, with that sickeningly sweet voice that could give anyone goosebumps?

Standing in the store, Yun Zijin couldn’t help but shiver a few times upon hearing that voice. She couldn’t imagine how uncomfortable Lu Yunque, who was bearing the brunt of it, must feel.

But then Yun Zijin had another thought. ’Maybe Lu Yunque is into this type?’

’Don’t a lot of guys nowadays like these cutesy girls who can bring out their protective instincts?’

However, contrary to Yun Zijin’s speculation, just as Xia Jiajiao was about to throw herself at Lu Yunque, he moved back with lightning speed, and the bodyguards behind him promptly intercepted the lunging Xia Jiajiao.

"Throw her out!"

Lu Yunque was rarely so discomposed. Clearly, this Xia Jiajiao had successfully stepped on his last nerve.

"Yes, Mr. Lu!"

"Brother Yun Que! Let me go!"

"Wait! Let go of my daughter! What did she do for you to treat her like this? Trying to drag her away in broad daylight! Is there no law anymore?"

The two bodyguards were holding Xia Jiajiao by the arms, about to carry her to the mall entrance, when Zhang Yiqin suddenly ran over and blocked their way.

Zhang Yiqin was an older woman, so the bodyguards were hesitant to use force, which actually allowed Xia Jiajiao to break free from their grasp.

The moment she was free, Xia Jiajiao didn’t even spare a glance for Zhang Yiqin and stubbornly ran toward Lu Yunque again.

But a quick-eyed, fast-moving bodyguard stopped her three meters away from Lu Yunque.

Xia Jiajiao knew she couldn’t break through this wall of bodyguards, but she didn’t want to give up this rare opportunity.

From three meters away, she put on her cloying voice and began to introduce herself.

"Brother Yun Que, it’s me, Jiao Jiao! We met at Old Master Li’s birthday banquet! Don’t you remember me?"

"I don’t care what your name is. If you dare block my way again, I’ll show you how the Xia Group can go bankrupt overnight!"

Having secured the position of President of the Lu Group at the young age of 25, Lu Yunque was never some good-for-nothing glutton who would be bewitched by a woman’s charms.

Not to mention, he had always been completely uninterested in women.

"Pfft!"

Watching the show from the men’s clothing store, Yun Zijin couldn’t hold back a laugh when she heard how Lu Yunque ultimately dealt with Xia Jiajiao.

Lu Yunque turned his head toward Yun Zijin, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. Anyone not looking closely wouldn’t have noticed the difference.

"Enjoying the show, Miss Yun?"

Lu Yunque turned to look at Yun Zijin, his tone tinged with a hint of teasing.

"Mhm! Very satisfying."

Yun Zijin even gave a solemn nod.

"Yun Zijin! How dare you stand there laughing! Didn’t you see how badly Jiao Jiao is being bullied?"

Only then did Zhang Yiqin realize Yun Zijin was also there. And instead of helping her own family member who was being bullied, she was kicking her while she was down and laughing out loud.

"Ms. Zhang, are you so nosy that you even have to control when I laugh?

Besides, it was clearly your daughter who was desperately trying to throw herself at Mr. Lu. He was already being very magnanimous by just having his bodyguards stop her instead of reporting her for harassment.

If you ask me, Mr. Lu, you’re being too generous. If I were harassed like that, I would have called the police long ago."

"Sister..."

Hearing Xia Jiajiao call Yun Zijin "sister," Lu Yunque raised an eyebrow slightly. ’Looks like there’s some history between these people,’ he thought.

However, since they were in a public place, Lu Yunque didn’t ask.

"Miss Xia, this habit of yours of randomly claiming people as your brothers and sisters is quite a serious illness."

Lu Yunque nodded along. ’It certainly is a serious illness.’

"Yun Zijin, Jiao Jiao just got out of the hospital, can’t you go easy on her? Since you know Mr. Lu, why don’t you tell him that Jiao Jiao didn’t do it on purpose? She just likes him so much that she lost her composure for a moment.

I’m sure a man as magnanimous as Mr. Lu won’t hold it against Jiao Jiao, right?"

"No, I’m actually quite petty.

I’ll have to trouble you, Ms. Zhang, to keep this Miss Xia under control. Don’t ever let her appear in front of me again. Otherwise... if I’m in a bad mood, I might just feel like acquiring a company or two to relax."

"Understood, understood! I’ll lecture her sternly when we get back. I will absolutely make sure she never appears before Mr. Lu again!"

Before, her panic was fueled by concern, which was why Zhang Yiqin had lost control of her attitude. Now that she had calmed down, all she could think about was getting Lu Yunque to let them off the hook.

After all, the Xia Family had absolutely no chance of winning against the Lu Family.

If Xia Zhengguang found out that the Xia Group was being suppressed by the Lu Group because of her and Xia Jiajiao, it wouldn’t be long before they were kicked out of the house.

Having been married for over twenty years, Zhang Yiqin had some understanding of Xia Zhengguang’s true nature.

"Mom..."

How could Xia Jiajiao possibly agree to this when she heard Lu Yunque say he never wanted to see her again? She was still dreaming of showing off her talent and beauty to him, and one day marrying into the Lu Family to become the young madam.

She had always liked Lu Yunque, and it’s not like her mother didn’t know it!

Besides, now that she knew she wasn’t the Xia Family’s biological daughter, she had to plan for her own future, and Lu Yunque was the best future she could imagine.

Telling her to never appear before Lu Yunque again—how could that possibly be okay!

"Jiao Jiao, Mr. Lu is angry right now. Let’s go home first!"

Zhang Yiqin shot Xia Jiajiao a meaningful look. Of course she knew about her daughter’s feelings for Lu Yunque—she was also very satisfied with the prospect of him as a son-in-law—but now was not the time to talk about it.

Xia Jiajiao understood Zhang Yiqin’s signal, and although reluctant, she finally gave in.

After the mother and daughter left, Lu Yunque turned back to Yun Zijin. "I forgot to mention it earlier. Regarding the matter of the West Suburb Land, I was wondering when Miss Yun might be free to sit down and discuss the details."

The land Yun Zijin had won at auction was certainly not something to be given up, but the terms of cooperation were still up for negotiation.

"Of course. I’m not working at the moment, so Mr. Lu can contact me whenever you’re free."

Yun Zijin was more than willing to cooperate with the Lu Group on the development of the West Suburb Land.

"Then let’s say 10 a.m. tomorrow. Miss Yun, please come find me at the Lu Group. The project proposal I showed you before was a simplified version. The detailed one is for internal circulation only and cannot be taken out of Lu Mansion, so I’ll have to trouble you to make a trip over."

"No problem. I’ll be there on time tomorrow."