LHKE Ch11

When Lu Changting arrived at “Gu Jiu,” he found Shen Li and Lu Changge playing a card game called “Draw the Turtle” at a booth. The loser had to let the winner draw on their face. It was unclear whether Shen Li was intentionally losing or if Lu Changge was just that lucky, but as Lu Changting approached, Lu Changge was happily drawing the final stroke on Shen Li’s forehead, creating a bold “king” character. 

To Lu Changting, it looked less like a fierce tiger and more like a big, spotted cat.

“Fooling around,” he lightly scolded Lu Changge, “You’re too old to be playing these games.”

Lu Changge stifled her laughter and pulled out a pack of wet wipes from her bag, handing them to Shen Li.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Shen Li bowed his head and clumsily wiped his forehead. “Just passing the time.”

Lu Changting thought he and Lu Changxu already spoiled their sister enough, but he hadn’t expected Shen Li to be so indulgent too… then he remembered that Shen Li was probably being so considerate because of Lu Changxu, and his mood darkened. “Have you had enough fun? If so, let’s go home.”

Lu Changge, sensing the seriousness in Lu Changting’s tone, obediently nodded, grabbed her bag and the two jars of honey grapefruit tea, and followed him out.

Shen Li trailed behind them. “I’ll see you off.”

Outside the bar, Lu Changge couldn’t help but laugh when she saw the small chalkboard sign by the entrance and the words written on it. “Brother Shen, are you really going to keep that sign up for three days?”

“Is that not enough?”

“It’s enough, it’s enough,” Lu Changge said. “Thank you, Brother Shen, for what you did today, and for the honey grapefruit tea.”

She raised her voice and added, “Next time, I’ll treat you to a meal at Wangjang Tower!”

It was good to teach Fan Jingsheng a lesson, but if the sign stayed up too long, he might retaliate. To prevent him from causing trouble for Shen Li, she decided to discuss the matter with her father and grandfather when she got home. Fan Jingsheng thought he could do whatever he wanted because of the Fan family’s backing, even targeting her—did he really think the Lu family was that powerless?

Lu Changting quietly stood by until they finished talking. After Lu Changge got into the car, he closed the door for her and then looked at Shen Li.

Shen Li lowered his eyes and said, “Drive… carefully.”

He wanted to ask Lu Changting to let him know when they got home safely, but he felt their relationship wasn’t close enough for such a request, so he awkwardly repeated, “Drive carefully.”

Lu Changting stared at him for a moment, then reached out and lightly tapped Shen Li’s forehead.

His long fingers gently traced the small smudge of ink still left on the young man’s forehead. “You missed a spot.”

“Hmm?”

The black Ferrari disappeared around the corner.

Shen Li snapped out of his daze, touched his forehead, and then let out a somewhat silly smile.

In the car, one hand on the steering wheel and the other casually unscrewing a bottle of water, Lu Changting glanced at the rearview mirror and saw Shen Li still standing there, looking a bit foolish. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Lu Changge, surprised, asked, “Brother Changting, what are you smiling about?”

“I’m not smiling.”

“You definitely were.”

“No, I wasn’t.” Lu Changting glanced at her, his eyes falling on the two jars of what looked like syrup on her lap. “What are you holding?”

“Honey grapefruit tea,” Lu Changge said, pulling open the paper bag to show him. “Brother Shen made it himself and gave me two jars.”

Honey grapefruit tea?

His fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel. “Is it good?”

“It’s delicious. It smells sweet and sour, and when you mix it with warm water and add a bit of extra sugar, it takes away all the sourness.”

Lu Changting’s tone was indifferent. “Can you finish two jars by yourself?”

“I’ll drink one jar myself and give the other to Changyin.” Lu Changge opened her WeChat to message Lu Changyin. “It’s good for moisturizing the lungs, reducing heat, detoxifying, and beautifying the skin. I’m sure Changyin will love it.”

Lu Changting glanced at the honey grapefruit tea she was holding and pressed his lips into a thin line.

He couldn’t bring himself to take something from his sister.

He thought for a moment and asked, “Do you have any chocolate?”

“Chocolate? No,” Lu Changge turned to look at him, “Is your low blood sugar acting up again? Are you feeling unwell? Pull over and rest for a bit.”

“I have some in my pocket. Can you get it for me?”

Lu Changge reached into his pocket and found a piece of chocolate wrapped in black paper. It was slightly softened from the warmth. She unwrapped it and brought it to his mouth.

The sweetness melted in his mouth, and Lu Changting pressed his lips together, forming a slight smile.

Honey grapefruit tea was nothing compared to chocolate—chocolate was the sweetest.

When Lu Changting got home, he walked into his room in slippers, casually opened the bedside table, and carefully wiped and flattened the candy wrapper from his pocket before placing it in the drawer.

Shen Li had given him a box of chocolates, coincidentally containing exactly twenty-seven pieces—matching his age. 

By today, he had already collected thirteen wrappers.

Among the pile of black candy wrappers was a note that Shen Li had left on the guest room door after spending the night. 

He picked up the note, glanced at it, then put it back. He then took out his phone, opened WeChat, and sent a message.

[L: I’m home.]

After sending the message, he casually put his phone down, grabbed a clean set of pajamas, and went to take a shower.

When he came out of the shower, he was only wearing loose pajama pants, his upper body bare, and his hair still dripping water. He wiped his hair with a towel and checked his phone.

Shen Li had replied with a single “Mm.”

Lu Changting stared at the screen for a long while. When the screen eventually dimmed, he frowned in dissatisfaction and tossed the phone aside.

…

Fan Jingsheng couldn’t stay quiet for even a day before he started plotting revenge and causing trouble for Shen Li.

He maliciously reported that “Gu Jiu” was involved in illegal gambling, prostitution, and drug use. Every day, a police team would conduct surprise inspections at “Gu Jiu,” disrupting business to the point that it couldn’t operate normally.

After two or three inspections with nothing found, the police suggested that Shen Li temporarily close down for half a month for rectification, promising that the issue would go away. 

But Shen Li was stubborn. He refused to yield, knowing that shutting down would only confirm the false accusations. He didn’t try to use connections to smooth things over, and instead allowed the police to continue their inspections.

His attitude was clear: if they wanted to play hardball, he’d play right back—no one would have it easy.

“Gu Jiu” was a high-end bar frequented by wealthy young people. Now, thanks to the disruptions, patrons were leaving disappointed and venting their frustrations on social media, cursing the baseless accusations.

Word of this eventually reached Lu Changting.

Coincidentally, that day, Lu Changxu had invited him to play basketball and casually mentioned the situation. Lu Changxu’s shots hit the hoop with more force than usual. “He’s stubborn. When the police first came to ‘Gu Jiu,’ he told us not to get involved.”

This situation could be resolved with just a word.

A word from the Lu family, or from Xiao Yao.

Fan Jingsheng had targeted Lu Changge, so the Lu family had every right to settle accounts with the Fan family. And since Xiao Yao was a close friend of Fan Jingling, who had few true friends, he would likely intervene if Xiao Yao just mentioned it. If that happened, Fan Jingsheng wouldn’t have much of a chance.

But Shen Li had asked them not to interfere.

“It’s not using power to oppress that’s frustrating; it’s when using power doesn’t even work,” Lu Changxu said as he made another basket. “Boss Shen is a principled man—he’s never been afraid of open challenges.”

“Does ‘Gu Jiu’ really stay out of that kind of business?”

“It does,” Lu Changxu ran to pick up the ball, dribbled twice, and casually passed it to him. “There’s really nothing to worry about. Even if there were, plenty of people would help him.”

With a bang, the ball hit the backboard and rolled into the hoop. Lu Changting wiped the sweat off his forehead with the hem of his shirt. “Fan Jingsheng is slapping the Lu family in the face. I can’t stand by while my sister gets bullied.”

Lu Changxu chuckled. “Really? I thought you couldn’t stand the thought of Boss Shen getting bullied.”

Lu Changting ignored him, walked to the edge of the court, bent down to pick up a bottle of water, and took a sip.

After a long while, he suddenly asked, “Does he always have a lot of people around him?”

Lu Changxu took a moment to realize he was asking about Shen Li.

“Why are you asking this all of a sudden?” He gave Lu Changting a strange look. “Not really. There are just a lot of people who like him, and then there are the usual social engagements and such.”

“That guy…” Lu Changxu hesitated, then shook his head as if it was hard to explain. He then asked, “I thought you weren’t interested in him. Why ask about this?”

He left Lu Changting hanging and then deliberately refused to elaborate, enjoying the sight of Lu Changting’s slightly furrowed brow.

Anyone who knew Shen Li well knew that he was no ordinary person—far from being some superficial charmer, he was actually the most straightforward and honorable one of all.

How many people could stay clear-headed and upright in a world of indulgence and decadence, never following the crowd, always maintaining their integrity?

Shen Li could.

Otherwise, he and Shen Li wouldn’t be such good friends.

“Come to think of it, we still haven’t properly thanked Boss Shen for his help this time.” Lu Changxu wiped the sweat off his chin with the back of his hand, smiling lazily. “Since you’re not interested, I’ll take care of it. I know him well, and I can check on the bar while I’m at it.”

Lu Changxu repeated, “You’re not interested,” and “I know him well,” both true statements, but somehow, they felt a bit irritating.

In a detached tone, Lu Changting tossed out, “Do what you want,” as he picked up his jacket and pulled out a cigarette.

He casually sat down at the edge of the court, shielded the wind with one hand, and lit the cigarette.

As he slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, he finally felt a bit more at ease.

It had been a while since he had played basketball so freely, sweating it out and then sitting by the court, relaxed and at ease. He wasn’t the suited-up CEO in the office but the carefree Lu Changting, free to do as he pleased.

Unfortunately, now he was the CEO of Lu Group every day, and only occasionally, he could be just Lu Changting.

“You know, do you know why I’ve been trying to set you up with Boss Shen?” Lu Changxu sat down beside him with the basketball in his arms and sighed. Maybe Lu Changting indeed had some feelings for Shen Li, but he hadn’t realized it himself, and in his eagerness to push things along, Lu Changxu might have messed things up.

The truth is, his eagerness was driven by the family’s growing concern about Lu Changting’s love life.

He was different from Lu Changting—he had a childhood sweetheart. They had been together since high school, their relationship was stable, and both families were aware of it. She was currently studying abroad, and before she left, they had agreed to get married when she returned, so the pressure of marriage or matchmaking didn’t apply to him.

Naturally, the Lu family’s current priority was Lu Changting’s relationship status.

“The family has started lining up potential marriage candidates for you,” Lu Changxu said. “You’ve been so busy taking over the company that you probably didn’t notice.”

“But this is inevitable. It won’t be long before they set up a meeting with someone.”

Lu Changting’s frown deepened, and his tone grew heavier. “I understand.”