“Don’t worry, Grandpa Lu. They’re fine and healthy, although Xiulan still suffers from morning sickness. Also, there’s no need to remind me because I’ll always protect my wife and our family.” Jin Liwei was quick to reassure the old man, knowing how excited Grandpa Lu was for his great-grandbaby.
Grandpa Lu still didn’t know that Iris was carrying twins. The husband and wife planned to surprise him and the others after the twin babies were born. The old man’s reaction would surely be a sight to see.
“They better be healthy or this old man will educate you on how to better take care of your pregnant wife! Hmph! So? Why did you call your beloved grandpa during work hours? Is something the matter? I want to know!”
Jin Liwei told Grandpa Lu that he fired Rose Young and explained what drove him to make the decision, including their initial findings of the Young family’s ambition towards the Jin Corporation branch in Singapore and also the mysterious power backing the family.
“I could handle all of this but asking you to step in will save me a lot of time especially in dealing with the board of directors. Some of them will surely protest about my decision to fire Rose Young. They might drag the matter out of proportion and cause me precious time and energy that I would be better off spending with my pregnant wife.”
Grandpa Lu immediately turned serious. Even the tone of his voice was not so booming anymore. “Ever since I decided to enter an exciting retirement life, I’ve always had a hands-off approach and allowed you to run the company however you want. I told you that I’ll only ever step in and interfere in the running of Jin Corporation if you sincerely ask me. In all the years since you took charge of the company, you never once asked me to step in and did everything by yourself, working long hours to continue the legacy that I and your late grandfather started.
“It was only after you met Xiulan my girl and fell in love with her that you finally asked me to step in a few times. Now you’re a husband and father, you finally know the importance of prioritizing your time with family over work. Your beloved grandpa is so proud of you!”
The old man’s voice started booming once again. “Don’t worry, my boy! Leave the problem with the board of directors to this old man! Let’s see if they still dare to squeak any mumbo-jumbo protests about your decision in front of my 50% shares! Hah!”
Jin Liwei released a big sigh of relief. “Thank you, Grandpa Lu!”
“What about the issue with the Singapore branch? What’s your plan? Do you also need this old man’s help in dealing with those ingrates there? I want to know!”
“My wife and I already have our own plans to solve that problem.” Jin Liwei paused before adding, “I’ll let you know if we need your help.”
“Good! Although this old man is retired, I still have some weight in the business world.”
‘Not just some weight, but a LOT of weight,’ Jin Liwei thought with amusement.
Then Grandpa Lu started grumbling. “The greed and ambition of that Young family! They’re no longer satisfied with running the Singapore branch, so they now decided to aim in swallowing the entire company? Hah! Do they think that I, Lu Jianhong, am already dead that they can swoop in and steal all of the hard work that I, your grandfather, father, and you have all put into growing the company to what it is today? What kind of guts do they have? Tell me, I want to know!”
Jin Liwei’s expression turned grave. His thoughts mirrored the old man’s enraged words.
“Hmph! The audacity of that Young family! It seems that they even bought over some traitors from the Jin clan’s branch families! Ah, those vipers received so many benefits from your grandfather over the decades and yet this is how they repay my brother—to control you, his grandson, with some woman?! Is that Rose Young that they want to push on you better than your wife, Xiulan my girl?! I want to know!”
“Of course, my wife is leagues above that woman. Grandpa Lu, there’s no need to ask such a worthless question.”
“Bahahaha! You’re right! I asked a worthless question indeed. Xiulan my girl is the final student of I, Lu Jianhong, after all!”
“En.”
After Grandpa Lu finally stopped laughing, his booming voice became stern. “Since you say that you already have plans on how to deal with those snakes in the Singapore branch, I’ll leave it to you then. I know that you and Xiulan my girl are more than capable when you work together. But you better remember that your wife is still pregnant! Don’t you dare let her overwork, do you hear me?! If something bad happens to her and my great-grandbaby, this old man will really smack you until you’re black and blue! Hmph!”
“Don’t worry. I know.”
“Hah! You should!” Then out of nowhere Grandpa Lu said, “Let Haohao help you, too. That dunderhead will be able to do many things that you won’t be able to do because of the ethical restrictions that follow your position as the head of Jin Corporation.”
Jin Liwei was shocked. He wasn’t able to speak for a few moments. “W-what? Y-you know?”
Grandpa Lu snorted. “What do you take this old man for? A blind person? I raised your pinheaded fifth brother myself, so of course I know!”
Jin Liwei fell silent again before asking with great caution, “How much do you know? And do you…approve?”
“I know enough. And whether this old man approves or not, will that stinky boy even change his mind? I want to know!”
A complicated expression appeared on Jin Liwei’s face. He didn’t know what to say. His heart thudded in his chest at the old man’s sudden revelation. He wanted to ask more about the extent of Grandpa Lu’s knowledge about Lu Zihao but held himself back. This wasn’t the kind of conversation that he wanted to hold over the phone.
