From Runaway Bride to Global Queen

Chapter 158: Chapter 158: Please Show Mercy

Lu Ming was unable to refute; the evidence Lu Yanchuan presented plainly exposed everything he had done. No matter how Lu Ming tried to argue, it could not outweigh the credibility of the clear, written proof.

“Grandfather, I…”

“I’m not aware of other matters, but a few days ago you came to me, claiming that there was a misunderstanding between Qiao Xin and Yiyi, and asked me to betray you to keep Qiao Xin in the Qiao Family’s project. I was willing to accommodate your request and agreed to retain Qiao Xin, and this is how you repay me!”

Of all the things Lu Ming had done, what angered Old Mr. Lu the most was this very matter.

The other things could be put down to Lu Ming being blinded by greed, a momentary lapse of reason.

But deceiving Old Mr. Lu had led him to a complete loss of faith in Lu Ming!

“From today on, you don’t have to go to the company anymore!”

With a single sentence, Old Mr. Lu shattered all of Lu Ming’s hopes. He flung the files and reports in Lu Ming’s face as Qiao Yi, supporting the furious Old Mr. Lu, went upstairs, turning her head to give Lu Yanchuan a look.

The old man had been deceived by his own grandson and was certainly in a bad mood. With Qiao Yi consoling him, perhaps his mood could be somewhat alleviated, but Qiao Yi wasn’t consoling Old Mr. Lu to plead for Lu Ming; she didn’t want Old Mr. Lu to become ill with anger over him!

“Yiyi, this time it was your father who failed to see people’s true colors, not knowing that those two had joined forces to target our own enterprise! Now that you’ve also joined the company, in the future, you and Yanchuan must support each other. I’m getting old, and the future of both families will depend on you!”

This incident seemed to age Old Mr. Lu by a dozen years; anyone deceived by their closest kin would find it hard to accept.

However, Old Mr. Lu was, after all, a person who once commanded great respect in Capital City. After a brief period of sorrow and heartache, he quickly regained his spirit.

“This matter with Lu Ming, tell Yanchuan to take full responsibility. As long as he doesn’t kill him, let Yanchuan teach him a proper lesson!”

After saying this, Old Mr. Lu waved his hand, signaling Qiao Yi to leave. Qiao Yi still wanted to say something, but seeing Old Mr. Lu had no desire to converse with her, she had no choice but to leave his room.

Qiao Yi relayed Old Mr. Lu’s message accurately to Lu Yanchuan. This time, Lu Ming had truly disappointed Old Mr. Lu; otherwise, Old Mr. Lu would not knowingly leave Lu Yanchuan to deal with him without interference.

Qiao Yi didn’t avoid Lu Ming when passing on the message, allowing him to hear it loud and clear.

His grandfather had given up on him! Left him to Lu Yanchuan to deal with. Instead of enduring torturous suffering worse than death, it would be better to kill him directly!

Lu Ming slumped despondently into a seat in the living room, while Lu Yanchuan, upon hearing Qiao Yi’s words, furrowed his brows.

“Lu Ming, within three days, reimburse the construction site for its materials at market price. I can buy back the Gong Family’s shares at market value. As for your other debts, you’re on your own.”

Qiao Yi was baffled upon hearing Lu Yanchuan’s words.

She had imagined countless scenarios but never expected Lu Yanchuan to let Lu Ming off so lightly!

Hadn’t Old Mr. Lu given him full authority to handle the matter? How come Lu Yanchuan was dealing with it in this way?

Qiao Yi and Lu Yanchuan left the Lu Mansion, and on the way back to the hospital, she couldn’t suppress her curiosity and asked.

“Although Dad said to leave it to me, he also said not to take his life, meaning his intention was for me to show some leniency.”

“But, the things Lu Ming did are clearly criminal. Even if we don’t take his life, he should serve a couple of years in prison!”

Qiao Yi truly couldn’t understand why Lu Yanchuan was so merciful this time, even describing it as giving a free pass.

Lu Yanchuan’s gaze circled Qiao Yi’s face with interest, seeing that she was indeed full of confusion, a slight curve emerged at the corner of his lips.

“Do you know what crime it is to be involved in the manufacturing and selling of illegal drugs, according to the law?”

Qiao Yi nodded and then shook her head; she knew it was a crime, but did not know how the law of the nation judged it.

“According to the law, the drugs that Lu Ming handled are enough to sentence him to death ten times over, although he is only an investor. But if legal procedures were followed, it could make him suffer greatly.”

“So the Old Mr. Lu instructed this way, is to prevent you from sending him to prison?”

After all, Lu Ming is still Old Mr. Lu’s grandson; even if he has made a grave mistake, Old Mr. Lu still can’t bear to see him walk the road to his death.

And Lu Yanchuan caught the unspoken message from Old Mr. Lu, which is why he was lenient with Lu Ming.

However, it appears that Lu Ming has escaped calamity this time, but is it really the case?

At least right now, Lu Ming doesn’t feel like Lu Yanchuan has given him a way out; on the contrary, he feels that Lu Yanchuan’s not sending him to prison is for making him suffer outside!

The Gong Family’s 10 percent stake was fully purchased by Lu Yanchuan at a market price of thirty per share, and the money obtained barely covered most of the deficit, with the remaining two hundred million in debt still stifling Lu Ming.

Although he still holds five percent of Lu Group shares, just selling one percent would be enough to pay off the debt, these shares are his last resort that he absolutely cannot touch unless there’s no other way!

Calls from the bank pressuring for payment kept coming over and over, and Lu Ming, unable to bear the frustration, finally made a move when the bank threatened to freeze all his accounts. Once again, he dialed Jenfors’s number.

This time Jenfors did not pretend to be dead but picked up Lu Ming’s call.

“Where have you been these past days! I’m about to be driven insane! If you don’t help me out now, I can’t guarantee that I’ll continue to cooperate with you!”

After the call connected, a huge weight lifted from Lu Ming’s heart.

Two hundred million was not a large sum for Jenfors, but clearly, he didn’t want to fork out the money for nothing.

“Lu, you should know that you have nothing now, and our cooperation has already become unnecessary. What you should be doing right now is begging me to help you pay your debts, not ordering me around in that tone!”

Jenfors spoke in a relaxed tone, and Lu Ming could even hear the sound of music from the other end of the phone.

Lu Ming was fuming with anger from these words; he’d been on edge for half a month, living in fear and unease, yet this bastard was enjoying life!

“If this is your attitude, then I don’t see a need for us to continue cooperating! Jin Si has long been interested in this drug formula, and I think he would be willing to pay a billion for it. Isn’t that right, Jenfors?”

The color drained from Jenfors’s face, no longer as relaxed as before.

“Lu, you should know that Jin Si is not a good partner.”

“I have no other choice, do I!”

Lu Ming was unyielding, with even a strong notion that if Jenfors didn’t retract his words, he would immediately hang up the phone.

After weighing the pros and cons, it was Jenfors who made concessions.

“Alright, alright! I will help you pay off your debts. However, Lu, I hope this is the last incident within the country, otherwise, even if you cooperate with Jin Si, I won’t lift a finger again!”