Chapter 41: Standing in the light, enemies hiding in shadows; Many days ahead
(Part 1)
Seeing that his beloved granddaughter had indeed returned unharmed, the perpetual frown on Lu Jianhao’s face slowly relaxed. “Anran, come here!”
“Orh.” Lu Anran replied and walked towards her grandfather, Lu Jianhao.
“Do you know who wants to kill you?” asked Lu Jianhao. “Why do they want to kill you?”
“Dad. Anran is only 15 years old! She’s too young to know anything!” Xu Lianxin beautiful willow eyebrows knitted tightly together. A 15 year old girl, who did she offend to the point that they want to get rid of her! Anran was so filial and sensible, how was it possible that bad people would bear grudges against her? These people were so ruthless! So much so that they cannot even let off a 15 year old girl? Other people also felt that it was useless for Lu Jianhao to ask this question. What could Anran know ah! She was only 15 years old.
“I know!” Lu Anran replied, much to the surprise of everyone. “I heard the killers said that our Lu Family has offended someone we shouldn’t have offended!” The moment Lu Anran said these words, the faces of everyone in the room blanched white in fear. Lu Anran had already anticipated that everyone would have this kind of reaction. These were the words that Chu Yao has said to Lu Anran before she died.
After much consideration, Lu Anran told everyone in the room this sentence word for word as she had heard before. She felt that it was better for the Lu Family to be more careful, and at least take precautions, so that the Lu Family would not have the same ending as in her previous lifetime, and get led around by the nose like a fool for their whole life; only getting to know the truth in the last moments before dying.
“Our Lu Family has been both careful and conscientious in this food and beverage industry, and has never offended anyone before, especially when doing business, we do our best to be respectful and courteous to the other party! Who in the world could be so merciless! Lu Junfeng was very shocked when he heard Lu Anran’s words. The reputation of Lu Corporation has always been very good and has never created any enemies! Not to say offending someone that should not be offended? How can that be possible?
“I agree! Even if the Lu Corporation has offended someone, they should target me and big brother! Anran is only a 15-year-old girl!” Lu Anming was very stunned, who in the world was it?
“What should we do ah!” Xu Lianxin looked very pale and swept Lu Anran into her arms. She really loved dearly and was fond of Lu Anran this niece, she does not have a daughter and has always treated Lu Anran as her daughter. When Anran was 3 years old, Lu Junhao disappeared without a single trace. She was already such a pitiful child, why were there still people who were out to kill her? How can these people be so ruthless? What kind of mistake did the Lu Corporation make, and offended such an important character that the other party cannot even spare this pitiful child? Xu Lianxin was both angry and anxious, “who on earth is it ah!”
Clearly feeling Xu Lianxin still shivering slightly even though she was hugging her, Lu Anran felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She, Lu Anran would forever remember the kindness Second Aunt and her whole family has shown towards her! Looking back, she glanced towards Ji Rou and Lu Jianhao and caught sight of them avoiding her eyes. Although, they also looked shocked, but the frightened expression on their faces was much more apparent.
Lu Anran who saw their expression understood instantly, Lu Jianhao and Ji Rou knew who had sent the killers! Also, she was sure that the identity of this manipulator must be very prominent and highly secretive, if not Lu Jianhao and Ji Rou definitely would not have this kind of expression now!
“What are we going to do in the future ah!” Lu Anming thought it was imperative to think up of countermeasures first.
“The other party’s target is me, and they have failed this time, so for a period of time they won’t send anyone else.” Lu Anran said in a definite tone. She put on a huge play in front of Chu Yao today. According to Chu Yao’s and Chu Wanhai’s personalities, they would not rashly attack before completely digging out and understanding the cards that Lu Corporation is holding.
“How can you so sure?” Lu Anshuo saw the unruffled expression on Lu Anran’s face and asked.
“The killers they dispatched this time were all gotten rid of, and will definitely misunderstand and assume that Lu Corporation still have a secret card, I estimate that they will wait and see for a while! Lu Anran replied.
“But that is only for a short period ah!” Xu Lianxin was afraid of what will happen after this period ends.
“A short period…is enough!” Lu Junfeng frowned and looked towards Lu Jianhao. “Dad, I’ll go and talk to Second Grandpa, he will definitely help us!” The Second Grandpa Lu Junfeng mentioned was Lu Jianhao’s blood related little brother, his name is Lu Jianfeng. That year Lu Jianhao inherited his father’s business and went into the food and beverage industry, and Lu Jianfeng chose to join the military. Currently, he is a well-respected individual at Z Country.
“I’ll go and talk to him personally!” Lu Jianhao had an imposing expression, and seemed to have something more to say, but he did not continue his words. Instead, he turned around and looked towards Xue Dingan who sent Lu Anran home. “Dingan, thank you very much for today.”
“Grandpa Lu, you’re embarrassing me. Anran is Anming’s little sister, so she is also my little sister.” What Xue Dingan said was indeed true. “This is what I should do.”
“Anran. You should go back to your room and rest!” Lu Jianhao stood up and said. “Xiao Rou, help me to the study upstairs!”
“Ok dad!” Ji Rou also had the same imposing expression and stepped up to help Lu Jianhao up to the study on the second floor. She cannot lose her only daughter!
On the first floor, everyone was sitting on pins and needles. This kind of ‘standing in the light with enemies hiding in the shadows’ status, was uncomfortable for everyone. Especially as this spearhead was aimed at Lu Anran who was the most well looked upon within Lu Family, this has really let everyone’s heart to feel very anxious, and now besides waiting there was nothing else they could do!
Chapter 41: Standing in the light, enemies hiding in shadows; Many days ahead
(Part 2)
“Dingan, thank you!” Lu Anming said as he smiled gratefully towards his best buddy.
Xue Dingan fist- bumped against Lu Anming’s shoulder lightly, “No need for thanks! Just treat me to drinks later!”
“En, of course!” Lu Junfeng also felt that it was necessary to thank Xue Dingan. “Anming, keep Dingan accompany today.”
“Got it dad!”Lu Anming nodded.
“Anshuo, let’s go back to the company first!” Lu Junfeng looked at his eldest son. They hastily came back when they received the phone call from Lu Anming, so there were still piles of work left undone at the company. “Lianxin, stay back to accompany Anran today.”
“En, be careful on your way hubby!” Her worries were shown apparent on her face when Xu Lianxin gazed at her husband.
“Don’t worry, I’ll look after Dad.” Lu Anshuo stood up and neaten his suit.
“You be careful too.” Xu Lianxin feels rather reassured when it comes to Lu Anshuo, but still could not help but to voice out a few words of concern. “Ok?”
“Don’t worry Mum!” Lu Anshuo nodded, something like this happening out of the blue, it is normal for Xu Lianxin to feel anxious.
“We are going off now.” Lu Junfeng stood up and patted Lu Anran’s shoulder. He wanted to say something, but did not know where to start from. As compared to them adults, Lu Anran was acting very calm.
“Bye bye~ Come home soon!” Lu Anran waved her hands and gazed after their receding figures.
“Anran, are you tired? Do you want to rest for a bit? Or eat anything?” Xu Lianxin placed her hands on Lu Anran’s shoulders, “if you are feeling scared or upset, don’t hesitate to tell Second Aunt! You don’t have to bear it all by yourself.” As Xu Lianxin continued to talk, the rims of her eyes turned red again. Her heart really ached for Lu Anran, who is still so young but have to experience all these!
“I’m fine!” Lu Anran patted Xu Lianxin’s hand that was on her shoulder. “Second Aunt, you don’t need to be so worried! Didn’t Grandpa already say he will find Second Grandfather? Everything will be fine when Second Grandfather send some people over in a few days time.”
“Ay….” Talking about this made Xu Lianxin sigh lightly. “It has already been 10 years since, who knows if they are willing to help out or not!”
Other than people within the Lu Family, outsiders do not know that Lu Jianhao has a little brother, showing how estranged the two brothers were from each other.
“….” Lu Anran was also unable to say for sure, but she knows that Second Grandfather and Grandpa’s relationship must be very very good. In her previous lifetime, she remembered meeting Second Grandfather Lu Jianfeng just once before, and it was at Lu Jianhao’s funeral. At that time, she was standing next to the bier1 and caught the sight of Second Grandfather kneeling in front of it. He did not say anything, and after kneeling down with a thump and kowtowed 3 times in succession, he silently gazed at Lu Jianhao’s deceased portrait and remained kneeling in that same position for 4 hours.
Lu Anran would never forget that scene. On the military uniform worn by Lu Jianfeng hung 100s of military medals. He had white hair and gazed forward with bleak eyes that were slightly wet…. the old man’s back was straight and stiff, and both of his hands were loose at the side of his body. Kneeling on the praying mat in front of the bier, he lifted his head with his chin tucked in tightly, as if there were thousands of words he wanted to tell Lu Jianhao, but was unable to say a single word. Even if he said, the person in the picture also cannot hear anything and cannot reply back…
“I really hope that they will give up here! Don’t do anything further to cause trouble for us!” Xu Lianxin hand patted Lu Anran’s head and felt more and more that this child was very pitiful.
Lu Anran laughed awkwardly. Give up? How is that possible? But for a period of time, Chu Yao would not make any movements.
Exactly as Lu Anran had said, Chu Yao was indeed bluffed by the play acted out by Lu Anran. She believed it wholehearted, and narrated it all to her father Chu Wanhai the moment she returned home.
Chu Wanhai also had an expression of shock when he heard about it. “What did you say? Lu Family has a secret force? And is linked with the military?”
“That’s right!” Chu Yao replied. “I didn’t believe it when Lu Anran told me, but later on I saw with my own eyes, people from the military taking away those killers!”
“You saw it personally?” Chu Wanhai frowned.
“Yes, I only saw a few shadows, and they looked rather tensed. From the looks of it, they didn’t want to be discovered by anyone, but there was a grove of white birch trees and I happened to see them when they cross it.” Chu Yao replied.
Chu Wanhai was a little doubtful, he has worked at Lu Corporation for almost 20 years, why has hr never heard of this? Pausing for a moment, Chu Wanhai let Chu Yao return to her room first and then used a spare phone to call the person in Kyoto. When the other person picked up, Chu Wanhai cut directly into the main question. ” The killers failed and was taken away by people from the military. Lu Corporation seems to have some kind of secret force.”
“Military…” The other person paused for a moment and coldly laughed. “Lu Jianhao must have asked his little brother for help!”
“Lu Jianhao has a little brother?” Chu Wanhai was very surprised, this was also something he did not know of.
“I will wire the money to you as agreed! For the moment, don’t send any killers over, tell the killer alliance that the money will be paid to them but the assignment is cancelled!” The other person said, “The plan will be officially executed on September 1st.”
“En…understood!” Chu Wanhai responded and hanged up the phone.
Chu Yao who was standing at the door and did not walk very far off, resentful clenched her fists and muttered, “Lu Anran, you were lucky this time! But there are still many days ahead, we’ll wait and see! Hmpf!
1 bier: a platform on which a coffin or a cinerary casket is placed.