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Yu Li, with a knowing smile in her eyes, winked at Lu Tian, and then Gu Yi stood up from the sofa behind her, greeting Lu Tian with a smile: “What a coincidence, Tiantian, what are you buying? Big brother will pay.”
Lu Tian felt no embarrassment at having her thoughts read, and asked suspiciously, “Big brother, really?”
Gu Yi nodded with a smile. After Old Master Gu’s birthday banquet, he had talked to them, instructing them to treat Lu Tian as their own sister and protect her. If Old Master Gu found out that Lu Tian had suffered any grievance, he would settle the score with the five brothers. Gu Yi didn’t mind; after all, the girl had grown up, and he would just give her gifts for holidays and birthdays. Of course, this was on the condition that Lu Tian didn’t cause trouble.
“Since big brother offered, I certainly won’t be shy.” Lu Tian didn’t hesitate at all, choosing two bags worth over 100,000 yuan each and letting Gu Yi pay.
Gu Yi paid without changing his expression, and asked, “Anything else you want to buy?”
“No, big brother, spend time with your girlfriend. I’ve already received a favor, how can I be a third wheel?”
“Okay, let big brother know if you want anything else in the future.”
Lu Tian happily walked away with her bags: “Okay, thank you, big brother.”
Her smile was sweet, but not at all fawning. Gu Yi was stunned, inexplicably feeling that she was… straightforward?
The four of them walked out of the luxury store. The other three didn’t dare to speak, and only started talking after they sat down to rest in a dessert shop on the second floor. Jiang Feifei’s words were slurred: “Lu… Lu Tian, is that your big brother? He’s so rich! He’s so good to you. I want a big brother like that too!”
“Girl, if you knew the truth, you might not want one!” Lu Tian said softly.
“Ah? Is he your cousin or something?” Helian Chen asked. They all knew that Lu Tian only had a younger brother at home. Combining this with her previous descriptions of her messy family background, it wasn’t difficult to guess.
Lu Tian nodded, not denying it.
The four of them casually ate some desserts, bought some things at a cosmetics counter, and went back to school. As soon as they stepped onto campus, Lu Tian received a call from Meng Jingdong. She lagged behind her roommates by five or six steps and opened her phone screen.
“Lu Tian, are you free to talk now?”
Meng Jingdong was always polite. In the original story, he was a cold and aloof big shot. Lu Tian guessed it was because of Lu Chengyang. She cleared her throat and said, “Yes, go ahead.”
“We’ve already made arrangements at the hospital. It just depends on when you’re free to come. If you have trouble taking time off, I can help you with a certificate, or I can talk to your supervisor.”
“Either way, let’s get it over with quickly. I don’t want to delay it and fail my end-of-term exams.”
Meng Jingdong understood: “Okay, I’ll take care of it in the next two days.”
Lu Tian hummed in response. A tall boy in sportswear passed by and whistled at her. She unceremoniously rolled her eyes, quickened her pace to catch up with the group, and Meng Jingdong hung up the phone without any hesitation, hearing that she was outside.
Three days later, Meng Jingdong sent his assistant, Song Ci, to pick up Lu Tian for a medical examination at the hospital. After a series of examinations, Song Ci, who had been running around with her, said that Lu Chengyang wanted to see her and asked if she was available.
Lu Tian thought for a moment and agreed. The two of them went to Lu Chengyang’s ward together.
Song Ci left tactfully, leaving Lu Tian and Lu Chengyang to talk. Lu Chengyang had a gentle smile, and there was some food on the table. She hadn’t eaten before the examination, so this must have been specially prepared. Lu Tian maintained a distant yet polite smile and took a couple of sips of yogurt.
“Thank you, Lu Tian. If it weren’t for you, I don’t know what the outcome would have been.”
“It’s nothing. It was just a small matter for me, and besides, Uncle is Jingdong’s relative, so it’s only natural.” Lu Tian said politely.
In the original story, the original protagonist didn’t know that Meng Jingdong was her biological father’s nephew. The bone marrow matching probably wasn’t done or wasn’t done in time. The reason for the deterioration of the relationship between the original protagonist and Meng Jingdong was glossed over. This was partly due to the original protagonist’s affair with Han Yifan, and there was definitely a conflict about Lu Tian and this matter. Meng Jingdong agreed to marry probably because of Lu Chengyang. After Lu Chengyang died, Meng Jingdong proposed a divorce from the original protagonist, giving her a generous alimony, and even took care of her after the divorce; he was truly conscientious.
Lu Chengyang’s death was sudden. Because he was worried about the original protagonist’s averse reaction, he didn’t have time to clarify her identity with the Lu family. The original story didn’t mention the inheritance after his death. Lu Tian didn’t make unnecessary guesses and treated Lu Chengyang as a stranger she had just met, polite but distant.
Lu Chengyang took out two documents, property transfer agreements. He hesitated and said, “Lu Tian, Uncle doesn’t mean anything else. This is a thank you for your help. These two houses are in good locations, good for living or appreciation. I really didn’t mean to just dismiss you with money…”
He tried his best to explain, becoming increasingly tongue-tied under Lu Tian’s straightforward gaze. This was probably one of the few embarrassing moments in his life.
Lu Tian shrugged, explaining somewhat awkwardly: “Uncle, this really was a small matter, just a little help. I’ve accepted your gifts, so what will Meng Jingdong think? Please take them back; they’re too valuable.”
To be honest, it really was a trivial matter. Lu Chengyang’s being alive was more beneficial to her, and Tian Jing didn’t have any resentment towards Lu Chengyang, so she wouldn’t do anything excessive.
“Jingdong won’t say anything. You deserve this. No matter what the outcome, you’ve helped Uncle so much. It’s only right that Uncle thanks you, and it’s not a bad thing for a girl to have more assets. Uncle really didn’t mean anything else.” From the moment he confirmed Lu Tian’s identity, Lu Chengyang had been paying attention to everything related to her. He wasn’t unaware of the Gu family’s affairs, but he didn’t dare to clarify it with Lu Tian, waiting for Tian Jing to tell him how to act, how to please his daughter. He was at a loss, not knowing what to do.
“But—” Lu Tian was also at a loss for words.
Just then, Meng Jingdong pushed open the door. After understanding the content of their conversation, he comforted her in a husband’s tone: “Lu Tian, it’s okay. Uncle just wants to thank you for helping him. Take it. It really doesn’t matter.”
Indeed, two properties worth over 100 million yuan really didn’t mean much to them.
Lu Tian no longer refused and nodded in agreement.
Lu Chengyang breathed a sigh of relief, a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead, and quickly wiped it off with a tissue while Lu Tian was bending over to sign.
Meng Jingdong saw this scene and unconsciously smiled. Lu Tian’s personality was unpredictable and difficult to handle. If she knew the truth of her background, who knew what kind of uproar she would cause.
After signing the transfer documents, Meng Jingdong took Lu Tian to eat near the hospital and sent her home. Lu Tian refused: “I’ve been smelling disinfectant, I really don’t have an appetite. Just send me home.”
Meng Jingdong hesitated: “There’s yogurt and fruit in the small refrigerator. If you want to eat, eat some first.”
Lu Tian hummed in response. The car fell silent for a while. Later, when she was drowsy with quietness, she suddenly asked, “Why haven’t I seen your uncle’s family at the hospital? It’s always just him alone in the ward.”
“Lu’s parents are living in a neighboring city for retirement, and other family members are all over the country and abroad. A few people came to see him a few days ago.”
Lu Tian nodded, not wanting to talk to Meng Jingdong anymore, leaning back and closing her eyes to rest. Lu Chengyang was so seriously ill; the Lu family wouldn’t not come. They just deliberately arranged it to miss her visit to the hospital, to avoid the Lu family from recognizing her too soon, which would trigger her resistance, or perhaps the Lu family had other hidden reasons.
The car arrived at the Zou family’s building. Meng Jingdong got out of the car to see her upstairs. Lu Tian had called beforehand; Tian Jing and Zou Rui were home, so she didn’t have to deal with Meng Jingdong’s polite inquiries, and therefore didn’t refuse.
Tian Jing opened the door, saw her pale face, and quickly touched her forehead: “Are you running a fever?”
“No, I just had blood drawn, and I want to sleep.” Lu Tian said weakly.
“Okay, okay, go upstairs and sleep.” Tian Jing then saw Meng Jingdong behind her and apologized, “Xiao Meng sent Lu Tian back? Please come in and have a seat.”
Meng Jingdong followed Lu Tian in, putting down the gifts in his hand: “Mom, this is the hairy crab my mother asked me to bring. Tiantian likes crabs, and she asked me to bring some for you too.”
“Oh, thank you. To tell the truth, our two families haven’t formally met yet. It’s so impolite of us.” Tian Jing said apologetically.
“It’s okay. My parents are constantly running projects domestically and internationally. They said they feel bad for not visiting yet.”
Lu Tian heard their conversation as she walked up the stairs, thinking that Meng’s mother was such a good person. She had just posted a picture of crab shells on her Moments, declaring herself a foodie, and she thoughtfully sent crabs.
Tian Jing turned around and found that Lu Tian had already disappeared, and scolded, “This child is so impolite…”
Meng Jingdong quickly explained: “She’s very tired from today’s medical examination and doesn’t want to eat out. Please let her eat something later.”
“Okay.” Tian Jing immediately understood what was going on. She asked her husband, Zou Rui, to make tea and invited Meng Jingdong to the study to talk.
After the door closed, Tian Jing pondered for a moment before asking, “Is it because of Lu Chengyang that you came to cooperate with us?”
“No, we’ve been cooperating for more than two years, but I only learned about Lu Tian’s identity in January of this year. Before that, I really didn’t know about your past with Mr. Lu.” Meng Jingdong said frankly.
“And one more thing, please forgive me. I helped confirm Lu Tian’s identity, and I also lied to Lu Tian, saying that Mr. Lu was just a family relative. I’m sorry.”
Tian Jing was stunned. Lu Chengyang said he was being petty by letting Lu Tian do the bone marrow matching, but Meng Jingdong also said it was him. One is a lie, and one is the truth, right? Lu Chengyang was afraid that she and Lu Tian would blame Meng Jingdong. What about Meng Jingdong?
“Then you and Lu Tian…” She really couldn’t bring herself to say it.
Meng Jingdong thought for a moment and explained his agreement with Lu Tian about this matter: “Rest assured, Lu Tian and I have resolved this peacefully. We will get along well in the future.”
Tian Jing breathed a sigh of relief. She had been cooperating with Meng Jingdong for so long that she knew his character. If he said he didn’t mind, he really wouldn’t mind.
“Good. If you have any conflicts, tell us immediately.”
“Okay, thank you.”
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