The assistant glanced sidelong at the glass door behind and shook his head with a smile. "General Manager Lu said it should be kept a secret. We'll know when the gift is presented tomorrow."
"If you can't tell us, why mention it at all!"
"Right. You made me get my hopes up for nothing."
The two female staff members sighed and left.
The assistant scanned the leather shoes peeking out from under the pleated window and left with a smile.
The news successfully reached Lu Fenglin's ears. Lu Fenglin, who had been standing behind the window, narrowed his eyes upon hearing it.
Lu Fenglin naturally understood Cui Mingliang's importance to the architectural design of the Lu Group.
Moreover, Cui Mingliang had a very odd temper. Even if everyone else disliked someone, as long as that person had one trait that attracted him, Cui Mingliang would like that person unwaveringly.
This person had to be won over!
Lu Fenglin stroked his chin and thought deeply. But the situation was so sudden that he couldn't get a birthday gift on short notice, so he came up with a dirty trick.
Lu Chuanbai, since you've plotted against me like this, don't blame me for striking back!
A cold smile spread across Lu Fenglin's face. Taking advantage of the empty corridor, he rushed into Lu Chuanbai's office and casually opened the treasure box on Lu Chuanbai's desk.
Inside was a vase with bright colors and a novel design.
Although Lu Fenglin didn't know how to appreciate vases, with Xu Qingqing by Lu Chuanbai's side, this vase couldn't be bad.
Lu Fenglin swaggered out of Lu Chuanbai's office with the gift box in his hands, justifying his actions in his mind.
This was what Lu Chuanbai owed him. Lu Chuanbai had made his mother still stay in the hospital.
He had also made Lu Fenglin spread a rumor of a relationship with a woman he disliked!
Taking just one gift from Lu Chuanbai was nothing!
Lu Chuanbai, who had been lying in wait in the backlit area outside the office, saw Lu Fenglin indeed take the gift he had prepared. He stepped out from his hiding place.
Lu Fenglin was really being so unceremonious.
If he hadn't taken precautions in advance, he might have been taken advantage of by Lu Fenglin again.
One who creates his own misfortune can't blame others.
The next day was Cui Mingliang's birthday banquet, which was held in an elegant and antique - style restaurant.
The golden ceiling and stone walls were painted with various bird patterns in ink paintings, elegant and sophisticated.
The carpet on the floor was imitating ancient celadon bricks and felt soft underfoot.
All the decorative flowers were lush orchids, making this birthday banquet seem free from vulgarity, really giving a feeling of literati enjoying tea together.
Lu Chuanbai, Xu Qingqing, and Lu Fenglin got out of their cars almost at the same time. Lu Fenglin proudly showed the treasure box he had stolen to the other two, held it in his arms, and rushed into the hotel.
"Lu Fenglin doesn't even understand etiquette and shame for the sake of power."
Looking at Lu Fenglin's back, Xu Qingqing even suspected if the current Lu Fenglin was the same person as the one who had faced danger with them last time.
Why could a person change so much?
Lu Chuanbai noticed the heart - broken look in Xu Qingqing's eyes. Jealously, he covered her eyes and took out another prepared gift from the car.
"He's always been like this. He's never changed."
The two entered the private room where Cui Mingliang was having his birthday. Unlike the birthday banquets of other celebrities, there were only four or five of Cui Mingliang's close friends in the private room.
Lu Fenglin proudly threw a defiant look at Lu Chuanbai who had followed and took the initiative to step forward to present the stolen gift to Cui Mingliang.
"Designer Cui, happy birthday. This is a gift I specially prepared for you."
Lu Fenglin deliberately emphasized the words "I specially". He opened the lid of the treasure box, revealing the vase that had been smashed into powder.
Cui Mingliang, who was greeting his friends, impatiently turned his head. His eyes fell on the fragments in the treasure box, and he glared at Lu Fenglin sideways.
"Second Young Master Lu, are you making fun of me!"
Seeing Cui Mingliang's ugly expression, Lu Fenglin's smile faded. He lowered his head to look at the vase in the box and was instantly stunned.
How could this be!
He had checked this morning and the vase was intact. But in such a short time, how could it have turned into fragments?
"It's impossible..." Lu Fenglin murmured to himself and subconsciously turned to look at Lu Chuanbai and Xu Qingqing who were walking over gracefully.
Cui Mingliang looked at Lu Fenglin impatiently. "Second Young Master Lu, what do you mean? Are you trying to imply that my future life will be like these broken vase fragments?"
"No!"
Lu Fenglin instinctively denied it and quickly came up with a remedial reason.
He casually picked up a fragment. "Although this vase is broken, its history is very long. Look at this beautiful color and this rare material..."
Cui Mingliang casually glanced at the fragment and looked at Lu Fenglin as if he were an idiot.
"Do you think it's fun to fool me? This material is clearly very ordinary, and the color is from modern times. It has no collection value at all!"
"No, it's a rare treasure..."
As he spoke, Lu Fenglin's voice became smaller and smaller. He didn't even believe his own words. Finally, he helplessly closed the lid.
Why did the vase break?
Wasn't it a rare treasure? And how could it be made of ordinary materials?
Cui Mingliang had no reason to lie to him, so the problem must lie with Lu Chuanbai.
"Excuse me."
Lu Chuanbai carried the wooden gift box and squeezed the stunned Lu Fenglin aside. He smiled and presented the gift.
"Teacher Cui, happy birthday."
Then Lu Chuanbai opened the wooden box in his hand, revealing a jade plaque as beautiful as an ink painting.
"I know you like jade plaques, so I just picked one at random. I hope Teacher Cui won't mind."
After saying that, Lu Chuanbai presented it.
Lu Fenglin instantly understood. If it weren't for Cui Mingliang being present, he would definitely have smashed the treasure box in his hand at Lu Chuanbai.
He had been tricked by Lu Chuanbai!
Cui Mingliang's expression softened a bit. He looked at the beautiful jade plaque with satisfaction.
"Thank you, General Manager Lu."
Then Cui Mingliang implied something to Lu Fenglin. "You should really learn how to pick gifts from your brother."
"Yes." Lu Fenglin replied with a gloomy face.
Seeing Lu Fenglin's angry but helpless look, the corners of Lu Chuanbai's lips couldn't help but curl up. He then introduced Xu Qingqing to Cui Mingliang.
"This is my wife."
Cui Mingliang carefully looked at Xu Qingqing's bright eyes, which were full of determination.
These eyes seemed familiar... Could it be...
Cui Mingliang asked hesitantly, "Hello. Are you Xu Qingqing, the one who gave a speech about the bird - headed sphinx in the live - broadcast some days ago?"
Xu Qingqing didn't expect Cui Mingliang to have watched her live - broadcast. She nodded with a smile. "Yes, it's me."
Hearing that Xu Qingqing was really the speaker, there was more appreciation and admiration in Cui Mingliang's eyes.
"Your speech was very good. I heard that your special action team has made some amazing discoveries in Dongchuan Province. Can you tell me about it?"