Lu Qianqian did not blush, and pinched Lin Mu’an on the hip. “I don’t need that!”


  “I guess you’ve regained your usual spunk.” Lin Mu’an moved aside and replied. “I know you. Your body is honest even if your mouth says otherwise!”


  “Bleh!”


  “Aren’t you the scandalous one last night, holding my hand and would not sleep otherwise?”


  Lu Qianqian did a double take before retorting, “I thought it was Dad. So you’re actually that old, Lin Mu’an.”


  “Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you. There’s still a bunch of people surrounding your mother.” Lin Mu’an quickly clapped her on the shoulder.

  Still, the truth was that it had not been easy to joke around with Lu Qianqian, and he was afraid she would remember her father again in the blink of an eye.

  Meanwhile, Lu Qianqian’s uncles were being relentless downstairs.

  “Eldest sister-in-law, we are all sad about Eldest Brother’s passing, just as worried about the future of your daughter and yourself. However, more and more important matters are piling in the company, and you have to make a swift decision.”


  “The deputy CEO is holding the fort at the company and there would not be problems for now. Qianqian will return to the company and take your eldest brother’s place when his funeral is over.” Mama Lu promptly answered the siblings. “I know you come with good intentions, but it’s not like the collapsing on my daughter and myself, nor should we depend on you for the rest of our lives.”


  The uncles were all shocked by Mama Lu’s reply. “Are you joking, eldest sis? Qianqian is just nineteen—how could she shoulder the major responsibility of a CEO? The board would not approve this?”


  “Then how old should she be, little brother?” Mama Lu answered the youngest uncle’s question with another of her own.

  “You are ruining Lu Holdings! Qianqian is just a child! She probably doesn’t even know what a fiscal report is!”


  “Whether you would support or protest it, Qianqian is the only heir of your eldest brother. Whether it’s now or in the future, the company would be passed on to her regardless—with that being the case, why not groom her earlier, and your eldest brother would be relieved with your assistance.”


  These brothers, assisting a little girl?

  Who would even be willing to do that?

  Nonetheless, Mama Lu held no hopes for this group anyway.

  She was just making an excuse to keep them in line for now.

  “Oh, after so many years, Lu Holdings is finally going to ruin in the hands of women……”


  Lu Qianqian finally could not hold back at those words, and went downstairs to stand by Mama Lu’s side. “My father isn’t even buried yet and the company is working normally. I wonder what all you uncles have in mind that you would talk shop when my mother and I are mourning?”


  “Just make it clear that you’re coercing us. Why talk as if you are being righteous?”


  “And here I wondered why I haven’t seen any of you on the day my father die, and why everyone is gathered here today. So you’re here to take control.”


  “If you’re that good, kill my mom and I too, or my father’s shares will never be passed on to you!”


  “Tactless!”


  Exposed, the uncles flushed crimson, and could only leave one word of scolding before storming away.

  In fact, Mama Lu had considered surrendering control, but decided not to after she saw how those uncles behaved.

  “They would come back, and try something so that you would give up on the post of chairman.”


  “Mommy, I know my duty ever since the affair with Duan Shao’an ended. That’s why you and I would protect Daddy’s work together. I fear nothing.”


  Pleased, Mama Lu reached out to touch Lu Qianqian’s cheeks and smiled. “My love isn’t wasted on you, dear. You’ve grown.”


  When Lin Mu’an reached the living room and found mother and daughter in an embrace, he said nothing because that was not needed right now.

  It was only at dinner that he told them, “Actually, madam, even though you are mourning now, there is one thing that must be done.”


  “Tell us.”


  “The strength of your faction is weak and would never hold up against those uncles, which is why I suggest that you find protection. There have to be people still loyal to your husband or board members who admire Qianqian, and you would have to hold on to that lifeline in order to provide Qianqian leverage to speak to the board.”


  “Don’t start planning only after the company is messed up. It would be too late then.”


  Mama Lu nodded at that. “You’re right. My husband had worked hard for the company for his whole life. I cannot lose his work even before he is buried.

  “By the way……” Lin Mu’an added, leaning on Lu Qianqian. “You could talk to the Crown Prince and ask if he has some solutions for you as the prospective leader of Lu Holdings. You should know that it is better him than your uncles even if your shares fall into his hands.”


  Lu Qianqian nodded. Lin Mu’an was speaking sense.

  “When my father’s funeral is over, I’ll go to Zhongteng for a visit.”


  Mama Lu watched Lin Mu’an and sincerely found him a good child, but became upset at the thought of how much disdain the Lin family had towards her Qianqian.

  It was a matter that concerned the young people—they should be allowed to develop freely.

  And even if they are best of friends now, who could expect what they would be in the future?

  “Won’t this affect your schooling?” Mama Lu asked about Lin Mu’an’s studies just then, since he only returned to the police academy after much difficulty, and he should not be reprimanded over such a matter.

  “It won’t. I’ll go back to the academy when…… things are settled here.”


  “Eat more.” Lu Qianqian could not help putting more dishes into Lin Mu’an’s bowl at that. “Guess I wasn’t feeding you for nothing—you’re reliable when it counts.”


  Nonetheless, how long would such simple bliss last?

  ***

  Everyone was aware that because Papa Lu had died to sudden, he did not even leave a word of will.

  That was precisely why Mama Lu was undoubtedly the first person to inherit everything he had, and the second was Lu Qianqian.

  The brothers of the Lu family suggested that mother and daughter enjoy life while they took control of Lu Holdings, but did not expect that mother and daughter would decline.

  Still, a nineteen-year-old doll call the shots for a conglomerate?

  What would the company itself and their partners think when word of that gets out?

  Therefore, the youngest uncle of the Lu family thought of an idea.

  Who claimed that Papa Lu did not prepare a ‘will’ anyway? He was only thinking for his niece—why involve a young girl in business?

  Of course, the Lin family had approached him, saying they were happy to help, although the condition for that is to have mother and daughter chased out of the country without hope of returning to Jianchuan. At first, the uncle did not agree to it, but now that he thought about it, overseas might be the best place for that mother and daughter……

  And now the first one he had to fix was Papa Lu’s lawyer.