“Uh…”


  Meng Chao was stunned when he heard that. He could not help but say, “Isn’t it inappropriate to comment on your father like that? Uncle Lu praised you like a flower in front of me, saying that you’re his most beloved daughter!”


  “He’s also my most beloved father, but feelings are feelings, and transactions are transactions. I can’t let him sell me and give him the money!”


  Lu Siya leaned close to Meng Chao’s ear and explained the inside story to him. “You don’t know this, but ever since my grandfather returned to the Lus after he was seriously injured in the fierce battle with the monster mastermind, he has been cultivating in seclusion. His personal doctor and training assistant are also evasive. They won’t tell us how his injuries are and whether or not he can recover to his peak condition.

  “Right now, rumors are spreading all over the Lu family. Many people feel that the old man may not be able to make it. In fact, my grandfather has been fighting desperately for Dragon City for more than half a century and has reached the stage where he is old and weak. He should have considered the issue of the successor a long time ago. The decisive battle with the monster mastermind is just the last straw that breaks the camel’s back.

  “It’s not just my grandfather. Almost all the first-generation supreme experts of the nine great cultivation families are facing the problem of insufficient strength and power transfer.

  “As a result, the second-generation powerhouses like my father cannot help but be restless.

  “To take over the power of the cultivation families and mega corporations from the first-generation supreme experts, one must not only gain the approval of their parents, but also convince their peers and juniors. This requires strength and achievements.

  “The most important thing about the so-called strength part is, of course, one’s combat ability. However, it is not something that can be broken through at will, especially for my father. In the beginning, he walked the path of a crystal specialist and a mining engineer. Later, he transformed into a manager of a business and dealt with business affairs. How much time did he have to focus on his training when he was busy with all kinds of affairs?

  “Due to his worldly affairs, he was destined to not be a true expert even with the support of astronomical resources.

  “Therefore, many second-generation cultivators turned their attention to ‘external help.’


  “If my grandfather was seriously injured and decided to retire and hand over the family’s power, my father would indeed be the first successor. However, that doesn’t mean that there are no other challengers in the Lu family or that he’ll be able to deal with external competitors after he officially takes over the Lu family.

  “Therefore, in order to successfully ascend to the Lu family’s supreme throne, my father is now doing everything he can to find external help to expand his strength.

  “To achieve his goal, he wishes he could use all of my brothers and sisters for a business marriage. How could he let go of a rising supernova like you, Meng Chao?”


  “I see…”


  Meng Chao suddenly understood.

  No wonder Lu Fanghui was particularly friendly tonight. He had acted like a gold-medal salesman and had been really too active for someone in the position of a mega corporation CEO.

  “Also, once you are won over, it won’t be as simple as adding a strong and absolutely loyal foreign aid. This matter itself will be a great merit.”


  Lu Siya continued, “Many people in the circle know that the whole Dragon City has been in an uproar over the recent upgrade or repeal of the Land Enclosure Decree. and behind this temporary decree, there are two even more powerful forces that have repeatedly pulled and rubbed against each other for the future of Dragon City.

  “Meng Chao, your background, status, and attitude are obviously not very supportive of the continued implementation of the Land Enclosure Decree.

  “In a sense, you have even become a banner in the hearts of the humble majority. Your words and actions will affect the tens of millions of humble-class disciples in Dragon City, especially the choice of the best among them.

  “At this juncture, if my father can rope you in, it will be a bloodless solution to a big problem for the nine families. Even my grandfather will appreciate my father’s ability to do things.”


  “Sister Ya, I understand everything after your analysis.”


  Meng Chao said, “However, your analysis is too thorough. Don’t you think it’s a little…”


  ‘Helpful to outsiders?’


  “There’s nothing I can do. I don’t want to betray my father either, but this gray fox has really underestimated you.”


  Lu Siya spread out her hands and said rather helplessly, “Although you seem to be muddle-headed and indifferent about a lot of things, no one knows better than me that this is just your disguise. Or rather, this is something that you don’t think is worthy of being sought after by others. It’s ‘trivial’ like wealth. You just need to use your brain and think carefully.

  “Once you encounter something that you’re interested in or that you think is of paramount importance, your intuition and analytical ability will be even scarier than a ‘sensitive’ person like me.

  “Therefore, even if I don’t tell you the truth, you will figure out my father’s motives and plans before long.

  “If you figure out such things yourself, you will inevitably feel that you have been deceived and taken advantage of. You will resent my father and even me. We are a golden partnership. I don’t want to affect our friendship and business just because of such a small matter. Why didn’t you just tell me everything? Maybe you won’t be so angry because of me?”


  “I wasn’t angry in the first place.”


  Meng Chao thought for a moment and said, “Uncle Lu’s words were too sudden. I wasn’t mentally prepared, so I didn’t have the time to be angry.”


  “That’s good.”


  Lu Siya heaved a sigh of relief and continued, “My father was indeed too much in this matter. Our friendship is completely between the two of us. Even if we really want to use this friendship for the sake of greater benefits, the beneficiaries should be us. After I benefit, I’m willing to give a portion of the cake to my father. This is my filial piety, but if I don’t give it to him, he can’t cheat or snatch it from me. Tell me, isn’t that reasonable?”


  Meng Chao frowned slightly and said, “Although it sounds weird, it does make sense.”


  “So, you can rest assured. If you don’t want to do it, we’ll stop here.”


  Lu Siya said, “Tomorrow morning… No, I’ll go down the mountain later and find my father. I’ll make it clear to him that he won’t bother you anymore because he wants to ascend the supreme throne of the Lu family and Sky Pillar Corporation. Of course, that’s not a bad thing. We can also support him, but the bottom line is that it can’t affect our cooperation and relationship, right?”


  “Yes… Wait, that doesn’t seem right.”


  Meng Chao keenly grasped the hidden meaning behind Lu Siya’s words. He narrowed his eyes and stared at her. “Sister Ya, you said earlier, ‘If I’m not willing, we’ll stop here.’ But shouldn’t both parties be willing to push this matter forward? Don’t tell me that as long as I’m willing, I don’t have to consider your feelings?”


  “Me?”


  Lu Siya calmly said, “I’m fine with it!”


  “Eh?”


  Meng Chao was shocked. He subconsciously crossed his arms and stuttered, “S-Sister Ya, about that, although there are subtle differences in each other’s backgrounds, standpoints, and pursuits, I’ve always treated you as my best friend…”


  “Nonsense, of course we’re friends. What else could we be?”


  Lu Siya hooked her finger. “Come here and listen to my explanation. I won’t eat you.”


  Of course, Meng Chao did not go over.

  “Don’t tell me that you think that I’m a vulgar and stupid woman who gets emotional?”


  Lu Siya frowned and said, “If you really think that way, it’s the greatest insult to me.

  “Besides, the last time I got emotional, I was tricked into the depths of Raging Waves Mountain Range. I used my talent as a clairvoyant to find the Red Radiance Jade lode, which led me to fight against Universe Corporation’s prospecting team. In the end, I even conspired with a female monster to kill.

  “Do you think that after everything that I’ve experienced, it’s still possible for me to devote even the slightest bit of my feelings to anyone?”


  “It doesn’t look like I have either.”


  Meng Chao said, “Then why did you…”


  “Because although my father has his purpose, the deal itself is indeed not a big deal. On the contrary, it has a lot of benefits for you and me.”


  “In fact, I’ve been thinking about it carefully during this period of time,” said Lu Siya. “I’ve been weighing the pros and cons repeatedly, calculating the costs and benefits.

  “I thought that after the rainy season in the Hidden Mist Domain ended, our intensive training would come to an end. After we returned to Dragon City, I would treat you to two movies and a meal. I would tell you about it slowly once I was mentally prepared.

  “I didn’t expect my dad to be so impatient and want to lead this deal.

  “In that case, why don’t we just say it out loud? We’ll be on the same side, and then we’ll go bargain with my dad. That way, we can take the initiative.”


  “Wait, Sister Ya, I might have drunk too much Fiery Blood Dragon Scale wine. Why do I feel dizzy?”


  Meng Chao said, “Slow down. Let me take it in slowly.”


  “It’s actually very simple.”


  Lu Siya spoke as if nothing had happened, “A person like you, who started from nothing and made all decisions on your own, cannot understand the difficulties of being born in a noble family. You enjoy the cultivation resources and business opportunities provided by the family, but the price you have to pay is that you have to become the family’s chess piece and war chariot. Business marriages are all basic operations. Before I have the power to break with the Lu family, it’s impossible for me to live recklessly.

  “As long as I can bring sufficient returns, I don’t object to a family marriage.

  “The problem is that my situation is rather special.

  “I don’t know which b*stard first came up with the nickname, ‘Queen Bee.’ In short, I’m now known in the circle as a strong, overbearing, and ambitious person.

  “In the business world, that isn’t a bad thing.

  “However, the elites of the third generation of the nine great families, who are also strong, overbearing, and ambitious, are not willing to choose such a marriage partner.

  “Plus, those who can tolerate my style are a bunch of unambitious weaklings. It’s not that I don’t like them, but I can’t even be bothered to look at them.

  “Besides, if I choose to marry into the nine great families, it’s inevitable that I’ll become a buffer zone between our two great families. I’ll be involved in all kinds of conflicts and be bullied on both sides.

  “You know that I like to fight with people in the open and in the dark, but what I want is to fight stronger enemies on a broader stage, instead of wasting my talent and strength on trivial matters.

  “In a word, I, Lu Siya, hope that my life will be a grand competition drama. It doesn’t matter if I lose or win, but it shouldn’t be a boring court battle drama. Meng Chao, do you understand?”