Chapter 16: The Visit
The day finally arrived. After a peaceful and uneventful Saturday, Lu Li woke up early and headed to the market to buy some fruit. Even though he was visiting as a classmate, he couldn’t very well show up empty-handed.
Fruit was the perfect gift – not too expensive, not too cheap, a gesture of goodwill without being overly flattering. As Lu Li browsed the stalls, his phone rang. It was an unknown number.
“Hello, is this Mr. Lu Li?” Mr. Lu Li? No one in this life had ever addressed him so formally. He glanced at the number, confirming it wasn’t a telemarketer.
“Speaking.”
The person on the other end spoke to someone off the phone before another voice, Chu Jingyi’s, replaced them.
“Hello, Lu Li, are you there? What time are you coming today? I’ll have Uncle Long pick you up.” Today, Chu Jingyi’s tone was surprisingly elegant, her voice radiating a refined upbringing.
“So early?”
“It’s not early! It’s already 8 am. The sun’s already high in the sky. Anyway, hurry up.”
Why the rush? Didn’t she realize how easily her words could be misconstrued by a teenage boy? Lu Li shook his head. Silly Goose really needed to work on her sense of boundaries. She was either too cold or too enthusiastic. Thankfully, he had years of experience to rely on. Otherwise, he might actually believe she had feelings for him.
He gave her the address of the fruit market and soon spotted an inconspicuous car pulling up beside him. It wasn’t the same black car as last time. A tall, lean man with a neatly trimmed beard and sharp eyes emerged from the driver’s seat. He had the air of a capable and efficient individual.
“Mr. Lu Li, nice to meet you. Please get in.” This must be the “Uncle Long” from the phone call. Lu Li greeted him politely, to which the man smiled and said, “Just call me Uncle Long. And you even brought fruit? How thoughtful.”
Lu Li settled into the back seat, his mind preoccupied with other matters.
He wondered what awaited him at Chu Xiaodong’s house. Would he be summoned to the study and presented with a check?
Chu Xiaodong would probably steeple his fingers and say in a stern voice, “Here’s five million. Leave my daughter alone. You do understand the difference in our social standing, don’t you?”
Yes, that was the kind of cliché he expected. He decided that if it was only one million, he would refuse, declaring righteously, “Your daughter is not an object! You should give her the freedom to choose!” Chu Xiaodong would surely be moved by his integrity, kindness, and bravery, perhaps even grasping his hand and saying, “My apologies, young man. I misjudged you.”
Of course, if Chu Xiaodong offered him five million, he’d be forced to accept. It was simply too much money to refuse.
Uncle Long, unaware that Lu Li was busy directing a melodramatic soap opera in his head, drove on in silence. He observed Lu Li through the rearview mirror.
He seemed like a decent and well-mannered boy, his cheeks still carrying a hint of fuzz, reminding Uncle Long of his own younger days. Back then, he had tried to appear more mature by growing a beard. Now that he was older, he preferred to keep it clean-shaven.
He doesn’t seem nervous at all. He’s even smiling. Could it be that he’s unaware of the Chu family’s influence in Chuanhai? Little did Uncle Long know that Lu Li was smiling because his internal drama had reached the classic amnesia trope.
Not a bad kid, Uncle Long thought to himself, nodding in approval. Living alone without a guardian, balancing school and life – for a boy his age, he was doing remarkably well. He seemed to have a good head on his shoulders.
Sensing the awkward silence, Lu Li decided to break the ice. “You’re a very good driver, Uncle Long.” When in doubt, flattery was always a safe bet. Everyone enjoyed a little self-promotion, and most people were eager to talk about their strengths.
Uncle Long smiled faintly. “Well, I have been driving for over a decade. It’s how I put food on the table.”
“Driving? You don’t seem like a driver.”
“Oh? What do I seem like then?”
“A prosecutor. You have that aura about you.”
Uncle Long was taken aback. He had actually considered joining the prosecutor’s office after graduating. However, due to unforeseen circumstances and his family’s arrangements, he ended up as Chu Xiaodong’s secretary. And calling him a driver wasn’t entirely inaccurate. At Chu Xiaodong’s level, a secretary was practically family, handling both professional and personal matters.
“I’m just a driver. A prosecutor is way out of my league.” It was clear that Uncle Long was in a good mood. He was much more talkative now.
With the ice broken, the rest of the journey was pleasant. They chatted casually, Lu Li wisely avoiding any probing questions about Uncle Long’s work. Instead, he talked about himself. When he mentioned his guardian running off with his money, Uncle Long frowned.
“How could they! Have they no shame?”
“It’s alright. I got through the toughest part. Every day is better than the last. I’m content.”
Uncle Long nodded silently, his opinion of Lu Li rising even higher.
Soon, the car entered a gated community. It wasn’t particularly luxurious but rather a residential area specifically designated for government officials – at least officially. The Chu family lived here.
Lu Li noticed that the security guards patrolling the area had police badges on their uniforms. These weren’t regular security guards. No wonder Silly Goose insisted on sending someone to pick him up. If he had come alone, he probably wouldn’t even make it past the gate.
The more he learned about Chu Jingyi, the more her background intimidated him. Even in his past life, he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to interact with a politician of Chu Xiaodong’s stature. Yet, here he was, a month into his new life, paying a personal visit. He had Silly Goose to thank for this. No wonder so many people within the system sought out advantageous marriages.
For Lu Li, however, this only solidified his self-awareness: he and Chu Jingyi were from different worlds. Their lives shouldn’t intersect.
Had he made a mistake involving Chu Jingyi in his plans?
“The young miss is waiting for you.” Uncle Long chuckled as he spotted Chu Jingyi peering out the door, her impatience evident. “Go on then.”
Lu Li stepped out of the car and watched as Uncle Long drove away. It seemed that the man, clearly a figure of some importance, had been relegated to chauffeur duty. Chu Jingyi, you’re really not making this easy for me.
He suddenly felt self-conscious about the cheap plastic bag of fruit in his hand. A wave of insecurity washed over him, a feeling he hadn’t experienced in years. The nervousness, the unease, the uncertainty – perhaps this was what it meant to be young again.
In this unfamiliar world, the only source of comfort was the sight of Silly Goose running towards him. She had a bright smile on her face, her happiness genuine. She was dressed in casual clothes – a rare sight – a pale yellow sundress that accentuated her tall, slender frame. Her long, fair legs seemed to glow in the sunlight, and her bare arms added a touch of youthful charm.
Beautiful, graceful, radiant – she was the epitome of youthful beauty.
Chu Jingyi came to a stop in front of him, her eyes crinkling with mirth, just like her father’s. “You’re here! Come on in.” She instinctively reached for his hand but stopped midway, remembering An Baili’s words. She quickly hid her hand behind her back.
Lu Li was a pervert, and he was An Baili’s boyfriend. She had to keep her distance.
“I finished writing the music you asked for,” she blurted out, immediately regretting her words. She sounded like a child seeking approval from her parents. Lu Li wasn’t her parent… Why did she even care about his approval?
“That’s amazing.”
Hehe. Chu Jingyi beamed, her heart soaring.
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