After replying Lu Jingzhi with those three words, Jiang Yuning turned around and saw Lu Jingzhi, who was standing on the balcony on the second floor.
Jiang Yuning smiled sweetly as she waved at him.
“Come back into the house as soon as you are done with the fireworks. Don’t you know that your body is already cold internally?”
“I got it,” Jiang Yuning quickly replied before hanging up the phone. After making sure that Lu Jingzhi had already stepped back inside the house, Jiang Yuning laughed as she looked at Chen Jingshu and said, “Sister Jingshu, could you please do me a favour? I need your help.”
“What are you planning to do?”
“Someone has to step up and do this eventually.” Jiang Yuning continued releasing all of the fireworks before she entered the living room with Chen Jingshu.
After a brief moment, Chen Jingshu whispered to Jiang Yuning, “Grandpa is still in his study and Second Brother is in Aunt’s bedroom on the second floor. Hurry up and do what you need to. I will stay here and keep watch for you.”
“Thank you.”
After that, Jiang Yuning knocked on Grandpa Lu’s study room door before she entered and said, “Grandpa Lu.”
At this time, Old Master Lu was sitting behind his desk and he was reading a book. He had his reading glasses on because his vision is no longer as good as it was before.
“Young girl, what secret do you want to share with me today?” Grandpa Lu asked as soon as he saw Jiang Yuning entering his study room. He could already anticipate that Jiang Yuning did not simply came into his study room just to say hello to him.
Jiang Yuning seized the opportunity to kneel down before old master Lu.
“Can you promise not to get angry…after I tell you?”
“Speak.” The old man put down the book that he had in his hand before he looked at Jiang Yuning.
“When you are looking for a girl to be Second Brother’s girlfriend, can you…consider me too?”
Old Master Lu was extremely shocked as soon as he heard Jiang Yuning’s sentence. “What are you talking about?”
“I asked if you can please consider me when you are looking for a girl to be Second Brother’s girlfriend.”
This time, Old Master Lu heard Jiang Yuning’s words loud and clear. “Young girl, what are you saying? Are you kidding me?”
“I am not kidding, Grandpa Lu. I really like Second Brother.”
“Shameless!” The old man yelled. “Don’t you know your own identity and status now? You used to be his brother’s fiancée. Now, you are telling me that you want to be Jingzhi’s girlfriend? Where is your dignity?”
“Grandpa Lu, I have never once told you that I liked Lu Zongye! Can I tell you a story?” Jiang Yuning said as she continued kneeling on the floor. She remained humble as she decided to tell Old Master Lu about all the grievances and humiliations that she had suffered over the years because of Lu Zongye. “I do not know the exact statistics but I can tell you for certain that Lu Zongye tried to destroy me and take my life for more than three times already.”
Old Master Lu did not know what to say after listening to Jiang Yuning’s story. He could not say that she had made it all up. After all, he was the one who had arranged for both of them to be engaged when they were young.
He had never thought that this young girl would suffer so much grievance and humiliation because of that beast. He did not know that she had almost lost her innocence and almost died a few times because of him.
“Even if it is all my fault for arranging your marriage with Lu Zongye, what does this has to do with Jingzhi?”
“All the grievances and humiliation that I suffered has nothing to do with him, but the fact that I like him has something to do with him,” Jiang Yuning replied the old man in a serious manner. “Grandpa Lu, even if you scold me or beat me to death today, I still have to put aside my pride to come forward and confess what I feel. I do not want to stand by idly and watch as you continue looking for a girlfriend for Second Brother.”
“Ridiculous! This is just too absurd!” Old Master Lu could not accept it at all.
“I am not asking you to agree to my request right now. I am only asking for you to give me a chance and to keep me in consideration. Second Brother does not know about this and I promise you that I will not say a word about this to him. I just hope that you will give me a chance. You know my personality and character very well because you have watched me grown up ever since I was a little girl. Since I have already decided to approach you and make this request today, I am already prepared to accept the fact that you are going to view me differently from now onwards.”
“Yuning, do you really understand what you are saying?” Old Master Lu did not dare raise his voice because he was afraid that he would alarm Lu Jingzhi. There was no other way for him to turn this matter around.
“Then, can you listen to another one of my stories?”
Old Master Lu sat down on his chair and the blue veins in his neck were obvious because he was trying so hard to relax and calm himself down.
After that, Jiang Yuning started telling Old Master Lu about her one-sided love story.
At this time, the old man was clearly unable to hear anything she was saying at all because he was in an extremely complicated mood.
He felt as though he had just listened to an absurd joke.
Moreover, his feelings for Jiang Yuning and the guilt that he felt for what he had put her through made him feel pity, guilt, and disappointment for that girl.
Finally, the old man could not stand listening to Jiang Yuning anymore. Therefore, he told her, “You can go out first. I need some time to calm myself down. Do not tell Jingzhi any of those absurd things that you have just told me.”
“Alright.” Jiang Yuning nodded her head.
“Young girl, I really do not know how to deal with you. I don’t love you, but I don’t hate you. I don’t feel pity for you, but I don’t feel like scolding you. You are giving me a headache!”
“Grandpa Lu, we can keep this a secret between the both of us,” Jiang Yuning suggested.
“Even if I agree to your request, how are you going to be a good match for Jingzhi with your involvement in the entertainment industry?” The old man tried to make things difficult for Jiang Yuning on purpose.
“I will do well and leave you speechless,” Jiang Yuning replied as she faced the old man. “I promise that I will not embarrass you.”
After she was done speaking, Jiang Yuning stood up and just as she was about to turn around and leave, Old Master Lu stopped her by saying, “Are you sure that you are willing to do anything for Jingzhi? What will you do if I asked you to quit the entertainment industry? What will you do if I ask you to give up all the shares and profits that you have from Xiya Hotel and Dongheng Enterprise?”
“I already know what it feels like to have nothing to begin with. However, I might need a little time to exit the entertainment industry. I can promise you that I will not take more than one year to do so,” Jiang Yuning replied in a serious manner as she turned around and faced Old Master Lu. “Grandpa Lu, you know very well that Second Brother achieved everything that he has today based on his own abilities. He did not need to make use of his status as a member of the Lu family at all.”
Jiang Yuning finally opened the study door after she was done speaking.
At this time, Chen Jingshu was still waiting at the bottom of the staircase. As soon as she saw Jiang Yuning coming out of the study, she asked her immediately, “Have you finished talking with Grandpa?”
“Yes. We even gossiped a little after that. Sister Jingshu, can you promise that you will not tell Second Brother about this?”
“Okay, I promise you.” Chen Jingshu agreed to keep the secret for Jiang Yuning even though she did not know what Jiang Yuning and her grandfather were discussing in the study room.
…
Old Master Lu could not keep his mind and emotions under control for a very long time after his conversation with Jiang Yuning.
That girl was really courageous. She dared to step up and approach him to tell him what she felt and she dared to speak without holding back at all.
This placed him in a very difficult position. Old Master Lu knew that he was at fault for arranging the marriage between Jiang Yuning and Lu Zongye in the past. That was the reason why Jiang Yuning was tortured and that was why she had suffered for so many years. He knew that he had a huge responsibility in that matter.
However, why should Jingzhi suffer because of this?
But the sentiment expressed by the young girl was so touching and it seemed as though she would be willing to do anything for Lu Jingzhi.
Hmm…
Uncomfortable. Complicated.
Perhaps he should just give that girl a chance and see how she could convince him in one year?
“Sigh. What were you thinking? This is an absolutely ridiculous idea.” The old man shut the idea out his mind as soon as he thought about it.
