A long-lost sense of relief appeared on Father Xu's face. "Yes," he said.
Seeing her parents, Xu Qingqing gently put down Xu An'an and stepped forward to hug Father Xu and Mother Xu respectively.
"You've both and elder brother have been so busy these days," Xu Qingqing said.
"What are you talking about, child? It's not hard at all," Mother Xu replied to her daughter. "That Lu Fenglin has also worked hard," she added.
Hearing the old lady's words, Lu Chuanbai, who was playing with Xu An'an and Xu Yiyi beside them, a strange look flashed in his eyes. He didn't expect that this guy would still try to ingratiate himself with the Xu family during the days when he was away.
But soon he regained his calm. When Father Xu and Mother Xu saw Lu Chuanbai there, they came over to greet him. "Chuanbai is here too. Stay for dinner tonight, then. Auntie will cook a table of delicious dishes," Mother Xu said. Afraid that Lu Chuanbai would be driven back by her daughter, she specifically told him, "Don't go back, no matter what." Then she walked towards the kitchen. Before leaving, she couldn't help but glance at Xu Qingqing.
Lu Chuanbai and Xu Qingqing looked at each other from a distance. He was a bit coquettish, with a look on his face that seemed to say, "Let's see if you still dare to drive me out."
Not long after, Xu Yan also came back.
Seeing his younger sister back, he wasn't overly surprised. After all, he had been in touch with her during these days and thus knew the day she would return.
...
Due to the recent negative reputation of the Gu family, Gu Anrou hadn't shown up for quite a while. She stayed by her parents' side and accompanied the Gu Corporation through the difficult times. Although she was not around Lu Chuanbai, she bombarded him with messages, but Lu Chuanbai didn't reply.
As Xu Qingqing had said, the Gu family had some foundation and the forces behind it should not be underestimated. Once the crisis passed, the Gu Corporation could stage a comeback. The stocks of the Gu Corporation also began to recover and would no longer keep plummeting, which managed to recover some of the losses.
On the other hand, after this period, Gu Anrou saw many people clearly. In the circle of socialites, people would only flatter the powerful and look down on the weak. Once something happened, they would disappear without a trace and would shirk any help. Even Song Yahan, who had received the most benefits from her, had vanished like a vapor. She had also been looked down upon by some of the noble ladies in the neighborhood.
She clenched her fists. One day, they would all pay the price for their words and deeds during this period!
Having not seen Lu Chuanbai for a few days, Gu Anrou missed him terribly. She then found out that he had actually followed Xu Qingqing to a remote place to restore cultural relics. She got jealous again, but now she didn't dare to act recklessly. With her parents' disapproval and Lu Chuanbai's ignoring, she felt a bit discouraged.
At this moment, the phone on the table suddenly rang, interrupting her train of thought. She was a bit disgruntled.
"Who is it!" she said impatiently.
The other person seemed to know her temper and didn't mind. He said slowly, "Ms. Gu, long time no see."
It was this mysterious man! Gu Anrou immediately realized.
"What do you want by calling me! Don't tell me there's another batch of goods for our Gu Corporation to handle!" she was so angry that she was just looking for someone to vent her anger on. She scolded the person on the other end of the phone.
Thinking of the last time when her father had even planned to use her marriage to overcome the crisis, she felt even more annoyed. She couldn't help but complain, "It's all your fault! If it weren't for you, how could our Gu Corporation have been in crisis! Now you still want me to help you handle a batch of goods. Do you think I'm stupid or something?"
The mysterious man on the other end was a bit annoyed by what she said, but he didn't show his emotions.
He twirled his pen slowly. Hearing no sound from this side of the receiver, Gu Anrou let out another roar.
"Hehe."
"Ms. Gu, we're all businessmen. Don't be so angry," the mysterious man said unhurriedly. "You have to handle this batch of goods. Otherwise, I'm not sure if I can cover up your messy business. I don't know when I might just let it slip..."
Gu Anrou was so angry that she threw the cup in front of her out. She stood up angrily.
Threat! Threat again!
She, the precious daughter of the Gu family, had never been threatened by someone whose identity she didn't even know!
After this period, she had learned her lesson and decided to take a step back. "Fine!"
Right after she agreed, she changed her tune. "But you have to promise that this is the last batch of goods," she continued muttering, "Who knows if there will be another crisis for the Gu Corporation next time..."
She thought the mysterious man would be very difficult to talk to, but unexpectedly, he also agreed. "Okay, it's settled. This is the last batch."
On the other side, at the Xu family, the food had just been served when an unexpected guest showed up.
It was Lu Fenglin!
As soon as Lu Chuanbai saw Lu Fenglin, he couldn't help but say coldly, "Why are you here again!"
Lu Fenglin wasn't angry. In front of everyone, he said cheekily, "I heard from Dad that you were coming back. I guessed right away that you were here. I missed you so much that I couldn't help but come and find you, big brother."
Lu Chuanbai couldn't help but roll his eyes. With so many people around, he couldn't say much, so he just gave Lu Fenglin a warning look with his eyes not to act recklessly.
When Xu Qingqing and Mother Xu were bringing up the last dish, Xu Qingqing saw Lu Fenglin and couldn't help but click her tongue. Why was it him again?
This guy was really a nuisance.
Compared with Xu Qingqing's silence, Mother Xu was as enthusiastic as ever. "It's Fenglin. Sit down and have dinner with us. I'll go get a pair of chopsticks and a bowl."
Hearing this, Lu Fenglin smiled and replied sweetly, "I knew Uncle and Aunt Xu were the best. Don't bother, Aunt Xu. I'll get them myself."
He pretended to stop Mother Xu and then went into the kitchen to get the chopsticks and bowl as if he were very familiar with the place.
Seeing Lu Fenglin's series of showy actions, Xu Yan couldn't help but add fuel to the fire between the two Lu brothers. "You two really treat this place as your own home."
The dinner passed in a harmonious atmosphere. Xu An'an and Xu Yiyi hadn't seen their mother and Lu Chuanbai for a long time, so they were very clingy to them. They even abandoned Uncle Lu Fenglin and Uncle Xu Yan, who they usually loved the most.
...
On the other side, in the dressing room, the little assistant gossiped to Song Yahan, "Sister Yahan, I heard from the news that the situation of the Gu family has suddenly taken a turn for the better."
What the little assistant meant by "taking a turn for the better" was the situation of the Gu Corporation.
Song Yahan raised her eyebrows when she heard this. The Gu Corporation had overcome the crisis? What was going on?
She had been too busy recently to pay much attention to the news. After that meeting, Gu Anrou had been unhappy, and they had lost touch.
Hearing the assistant's words, she had the idea of looking for Gu Anrou again. After all, who wouldn't like a rich and naive girl?
The little assistant's gossiping was one thing. She knew that her artist sister hadn't been in touch with Ms. Gu for a long time. Seeing the news, she wanted to find out about it. It seemed that Sister Yahan was unaware, so she guessed that the two of them might have had a falling-out. So she wisely shut up.