Attention Sir, I Have Your Heart Handcuffed!-Chapter 433 - 310. Sorry, I Once Lied to You (2 Updates 1)
Xiang Yuan and Lu Zhao entered Xiang Yuan’s office one after the other, and Xiang Yuan locked the door. Turning around to stare at Lu Zhao, she asked, "Senior brother, what’s happening today? Senior brother has always stood by my side, no matter how my opinions differed with other partners, you always supported me."
"Besides, the firm’s financial situation has started to improve. Indeed, I admit that there was a period due to personal reasons, which affected the firm’s operations, causing major clients to leave. But now I am doing my best to improve, even taking on cases I didn’t want to, just to make money for the firm."
Compared to Xiang Yuan’s agitation, Lu Zhao remained calm, "You’re talking about the case you didn’t want to take, referring to George’s case, right?"
Xiang Yuan stared at him, not speaking.
Lu Zhao laughed, a bit mocking, "Is it because you don’t want to accept Fude Group’s offer because Shi Nian is now Mr. William Ford’s girlfriend? Or is it because you don’t want to be like your father, benefiting from Mr. Ford’s favor?"
"What are you talking about?" Xiang Yuan was taken aback, "My father received a favor from Huangfu Huazhang, how do you know that?"
This was a secret at the time, known only to the Xiang Family and those close to Huangfu Huazhang.
"Lu Zhao, are you perhaps one of Huangfu Huazhang’s people?"
Lu Zhao laughed, gazing at Xiang Yuan, "A Yuan, Mr. Ford has always appreciated you, believing you’re more worth nurturing than your father. Mr. Ford has a far-seeing perspective; when you were twelve, he already considered you a malleable talent, which is why he helped your father."
"What?!" Xiang Yuan shuddered.
"Have you forgotten that story?" Lu Zhao mocked, "Back then, Emperor Kangxi chose Yong Zheng as the successor because he saw that Yong Zheng had a good son like Hongli. Mr. Ford has a similar attitude towards you and your father."
Xiang Yuan took a deep breath, "Then what exactly does he want? Hasn’t he already publicly supported Tang Mingyi? Why does he want me to defend Little Wallace? Isn’t that contradictory?"
Lu Zhao pondered for a moment, "This is an investment, spreading the risk. Election campaigns are always a big gamble, with the highest win rate only being 50%. So, with Mr. Ford’s character, why would he make such a low-win-rate investment?"
Xiang Yuan understood, "So he openly supports Tang Mingyi but secretly sells favors to Wallace. This way, no matter who wins, he is the real winner!"
Lu Zhao laughed, "What does it matter who wins or loses? It’s just a reality show for ordinary people. Regardless of who wins, Mr. Ford will firmly sit behind the scenes. In short, those two standing on the stage are just two pieces in a game of chess."
"The same goes for you and me." At this point, Xiang Yuan instead calmed down, "Since he had his eyes on me more than a decade ago, that’s why when I met you in college, and we became close friends, and later we founded Huatai Hall together...it wasn’t by chance."
"Good that you understand." Lu Zhao nodded, "This is Mr. Ford’s cultivation of you, and I am destined to be your aide. In fact, both Mr. Ford and I want you to succeed."
Xiang Yuan closed her eyes, "What about Shi Nian?"
Lu Zhao thought for a moment, "That was a mistake. It was also your father’s fault."
Xiang Yuan was suddenly startled, "Now that Mr. Ford has revealed everything to me, is it because my father lost Mr. Ford’s trust due to Shi Nian? What does Mr. Ford plan to do with my father?"
Her father’s fault, Xiang Yuan knew, was probably because of Xu Xinzhen.
Lu Zhao tilted his head, "That depends on your performance. A Yuan, as long as you can fill your father’s vacancy, Mr. Ford won’t do anything."
Xiang Yuan took a deep breath, "I understand. Please convey to Mr. Ford that I will take Little Wallace’s case."
Lu Zhao raised an eyebrow, "No need to be so burdened. Even if you don’t take Little Wallace’s case, there’s still me. Mr. Ford’s meaning is, since you took it upon yourself to represent Qi Xiuqi, report every word and action of Qi Xiuqi to Mr. Ford immediately."
Xiang Yuan was stunned when she heard this, "Why is Mr. Ford so concerned about Qi Xiuqi?"
Lu Zhao thought for a moment, "Maybe it’s because of Shi Nian. Isn’t that right, A Yuan?"
.
Lu Zhao and Xiang Yuan walked back to the meeting room together, talking and laughing, draping arms over each other’s shoulders. The partners present were also relieved, thinking that these two close senior and junior brothers had resolved their misunderstanding. But Rosa couldn’t feel happy, instead, she felt her heart rise high.
The meeting result was that Huatai Hall would take Little Wallace’s case, with Xiang Yuan as the chairperson and Lu Zhao as the second-in-command.
The partners all said it had been a long time since these two senior and junior brothers teamed up, and they believed this time, by joining forces once again, they would surely win this extremely difficult case.
But Rosa only felt a stomachache, clutching her abdomen, she barely walked back to her office.
Looking around, hesitating repeatedly, she still dialed Shi Nian’s number.
Really couldn’t imagine, it turned out that in times of hesitation and helplessness, the only person she could reach out to was this former rival in love.
Across the time difference, it was midnight on Shi Nian’s side. Shi Nian was woken up but without hesitation, grabbed the phone first thing. Hearing Rosa’s voice, she couldn’t help but chide affectionately, "The old habit again? Playing scary phone calls with me at midnight?"
Shi Nian was referring to the time when Rosa frequently caused trouble in the middle of the night.
Rosa did not respond to that, seemingly asking herself, "Let me ask you, what do you think of Lu Zhao?"
Shi Nian paused, "What’s up with Lu Zhao?"
Rosa chuckled dryly, "Nothing much. Just answer. If you don’t, I will hang up."
Shi Nian’s heart skipped, "Do you want me to tell the truth? I noticed something was off with him the day you were discharged from the hospital. That day, A Yuan was carrying you out of the hospital room, and although Lu Zhao was busy running around, I saw a fleeting expression of [anger] on his face. Rosa, you understand, I’m talking about micro-expressions, not the kind of expressions anyone can easily see."
"You mean to say he hid it well." Rosa also understood.
"That’s right." Shi Nian took a deep breath, "I analyzed the source of his [anger]...I came to the conclusion that I’m worried he might have feelings for you."
"Feelings for me?" Rosa laughed. Lu Zhao had intentions towards her, but could that kind of behavior really be called "feelings"? 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
Shi Nian felt more uneasy, cautiously asking, "Tell me, what’s really going on? Your subconscious is reaching out for my help, but only when you tell me everything will I know how to help you."
Rosa laughed bleakly, "I slept with Lu Zhao. Shi Nian, I’m such a fool, I actually slept with Lu Zhao!"
Shi Nian’s mind buzzed, "Why?"
"Impulsively," Rosa clutched her hair, "I was angry with you, and also with A Yuan. Especially that night at the Tang Family’s big party, A Yuan forced me to attend with him, all for you, to let you be at ease. I felt I had to bow down and concede defeat before you...I lost my mind, and knowing Lu Zhao had some feelings for me, I went to find him in a fit of anger..."
"Rosa, what can I say to you!" Shi Nian’s drowsiness dissipated as she held her forehead, "You should break it off completely with Lu Zhao now, and have an honest and open conversation with A Yuan. Apologize if necessary and back down if necessary. You are both adults, and since neither of you is married, try everything to let A Yuan forgive you."
Rosa laughed bitterly, "Whether A Yuan can forgive me, I’m already afraid to even think; I can’t even leave Lu Zhao now..."
"Why?" Shi Nian narrowed her eyes, "Is he threatening you? Saying if you dare to leave him, he’ll tell A Yuan about your relationship?"
Rosa took a deep breath, "...Shi Nian, I’m sorry, I once deceived you."
Shi Nian’s mind raced, "What did you deceive me about? Let me think... Was it about the case from years ago, the year when the clown took you away?"
"Yes!" Rosa cried with tears, "I didn’t forget, I just pretended to forget, not letting anyone know. While I was taken by the clown, although I lived a seemingly peaceful and beautiful life, it was all just surface appearance... In truth, I was just like a caged bird, given by him as a pet to an old man!"
"I’ve told you, I spent my days painting, listening to music, reading, but that was just during the day; at night, when I was sound asleep, that old man would silently sneak into my room... I couldn’t wake up, but I could feel his hands, so old that the wrinkles hurt my skin... But maybe he was too old to do anything substantial, just — touching me."
Shi Nian’s heart swelled with enormous anger and disgust, "What kind of old man? Rosa, think about any features he has. We must catch this old pervert!"
Rosa lamented hopelessly, "I’ve told you, I couldn’t wake up..."
Just as she said this, the signal on Rosa’s side suddenly cut off.
Shi Nian was shocked, calling out, "Rosa? Rosa, what happened to you?"
But there was no response.
Shi Nian frantically called back, it went through, but no one answered.
Shi Nian hurriedly called Xiang Yuan’s number.
