Volume One, Chapter 18: Returning the Car

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Ye Zhaoying read through the articles, which laid out their arguments so clearly and logically that it was almost impossible to find any flaws. If she were an outsider, she might even be convinced! Yes, one was the biological daughter, and the other was the adopted daughter. Anyone would naturally assume that the biological daughter was the family's favorite. However, the reality was quite the opposite. At home, Ye Zhaoying was the outsider, while Ye Qianyao was showered with endless love and attention. During university, all of Ye Qianyao’s award-winning works had been stolen from Ye Zhaoying. At first, she pretended to be pitiful, but later became brazen and unapologetic. What was her backing? The entire family’s favoritism and an unprovable accusation from Ye Zhaoying!

Ye Zhaoying calmly scrolled down and saw a video clip taken from yesterday, where she responded to a journalist who accused her of plagiarism. The video alone had over a hundred thousand comments.
“Wow! First time seeing someone plagiarize and still act so superior!”
“Right? Look at her arrogance, as if she’s untouchable just because Qianyao has no proof.”
“This is outrageous! Ye Zhaoying is shameless...”

While reading, her colleagues from the studio sent her private messages, all offering comfort and worried she might feel hurt or overwhelmed by the online backlash. Ye Zhaoying smiled. She had endured countless hardships and grievances before; what was a little gossip to fear? Waving her hand, she messaged the entire studio group, tagging everyone: “Mission accomplished. Dinner and a movie tonight—my treat!” Everyone who received the notice was stunned at first, then ecstatic, replying in unison, “Boss, you’re so generous!” The project was secured; worrying about online rumors now was a waste of time.

After freshening up, Ye Zhaoying noticed a set of car keys on the table. Right, it was the key to Lu Jingchen’s Rolls-Royce. It had gotten too late last night, so after she drove it home, Assistant Qin said he would come pick it up today. Ye Zhaoying was about to head to the studio, so she called Qin Li, “Assistant Qin, Lu’s car keys are still with me. When will you come to pick them up?”

At that moment, Qin Li, standing beside Lu Jingchen, glanced at Ye Zhaoying, who gave him a subtle signal. Only then did Qin reply, “Ah, sorry, Miss Ye, I’m on a business trip today and won’t be in S City. Could you please deliver the car back to Lu’s residence? The same place as last night. Lu should still be home; you can hand it directly to him.”

Ye Zhaoying’s head ached at the mention of Lu Jingchen’s name, especially after everything that had happened last night when she dropped him off. Seeing her hesitation, Qin continued, “Miss Ye, if you don’t have time, then...”
“No need, I have time. I’ll go now.”

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After all, he was her investor; Ye Zhaoying couldn’t just shirk such a small responsibility. Hearing her agree, Qin Li’s first reaction was to glance at Lu Jingchen. His expression remained unchanged, but Qin could see a faint smile in his eyes. Relieved, Qin said, “Thank you, Miss Ye.”
“You’re welcome.”

After hanging up, Ye Zhaoying hastily ate a slice of bread and resigned herself to taking the keys to the Nanshan villa area. She thought to herself that she needed to buy a car soon; otherwise, it would be inconvenient for socializing and business trips. Previously, when she traveled far, Fu Mingchi would often pick her up and drop her off, which made others envious and herself feel fortunate. But she and Fu Mingchi had broken up, and there would be no one dedicated to escorting her anymore. She had to rely on herself and break free from her past dependence on Fu Mingchi’s kindness. No matter how difficult or painful, it was a necessary process.

The morning rush hour had passed, and the roads were clearer, so she quickly arrived at her destination. The dim lighting last night had prevented her from seeing clearly, but now, under bright daylight, the villa perched on the hillside came into full view. It was a three-story detached house, blending Eastern and Western architectural styles. Every material and carving spoke of nobility and luxury. Against the backdrop of verdant mountains and clear waters, it looked like a dream castle from a TV drama, inspiring longing. The villa covered over a thousand square meters, not counting the adjacent gardens, artificial lake, and swimming pool.

Having spent years in the city breathing in car exhaust, where the green belts barely mitigated pollution, Ye Zhaoying hadn’t breathed such fresh air in a long time. The surroundings were a continuous stretch of lush greenery, the sky bluer, and the tranquil lake shimmering under sunlight. Simply standing there, she felt an unprecedented calm and ease, her spirits lifted.

She approached the gate and rang the doorbell, but no one answered. After waiting a while and pressing it several more times, still no response. Feeling puzzled, she took out her phone, preparing to call. But when she reached the contacts page, she hesitated—should she call Assistant Qin or Lu Jingchen directly? Qin had said he was on a business trip and asked her to hand the keys directly to Lu Jingchen.

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Calling Qin would mean he’d have to relay the message to Lu, which seemed cumbersome. But since exchanging contacts, Ye Zhaoying had never called Lu Jingchen first. Well, no matter—she wouldn’t give herself the chance to regret it and quickly dialed Lu Jingchen’s number.

As the phone rang, looking at the large characters “Mr. Lu” on her screen, she suddenly felt a bit nervous. Fortunately, the call was answered quickly, and Lu’s deep voice came through.
“Ye Zhaoying.”

Still just three simple words. Ye Zhaoying paused briefly, then quickly explained, “Mr. Lu, are you home? Assistant Qin is on a business trip today and asked me to deliver the car to you. I’m already outside your house.”
“I’m not home right now. Wait a moment; I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay.”

She ended the conversation but didn’t dare hang up first, waiting for him to do so. When the line remained open, she grew anxious, staring at the screen. Lu Jingchen’s voice came again, “Anything else?”

She was startled, then realized he meant why she hadn’t hung up yet. Embarrassed, she said, “No, that’s all.” Then quickly ended the call.

After turning off her phone screen, Ye Zhaoying exhaled deeply. She had thought that by running her own studio and being her own boss, she wouldn’t have to answer to anyone. But unexpectedly, she still had to answer to the investor! This was maddening—a pitiful employee after all!