Chapter 313: What Exactly Do You Want
The woman wore a well-tailored white dress and a pristine pearl necklace around her neck.
Each pearl on the necklace was plump and round, clearly expensive at a glance.
This time, Xu Youyou finally had a chance to sit down face-to-face and talk with the woman, as she was enjoying her afternoon tea at this upscale restaurant.
“Miss, I don’t believe we have an appointment to meet here,” Kuromizu Yako said with a smile.
Xu Youyou couldn’t understand Japanese, but Lu Jingyao, who was fluent, quickly translated the woman’s words for her.
Kuromizu Yako slightly restrained her smile and asked in Mandarin, “Is this young lady also from Huaxia?”
Xu Youyou nodded. “Miss Kuromizu, you speak Chinese?”
Kuromizu Yako gave a light nod. “Just a little.”
Her gaze fell on Lu Jingyao. “Mr. Lu, you shouldn’t have acted so rashly. Meeting with you wasn’t part of my afternoon plans.”
Xu Youyou was a little surprised—she didn’t expect Kuromizu Yako to know Lu Jingyao.
Lu Jingyao spoke up as well, “Miss Kuromizu, I recall we’ve only met once. You have a very good memory.”
Kuromizu Yako said, “After my grandfather had a few dealings with Mr. Lu, he praised you repeatedly and even wanted to recruit you into the Kuromizu family as a son-in-law. If you weren’t a Huaxia national and already wealthy in your own right, perhaps we would already be married.”
Xu Youyou admired Kuromizu Yako a bit—it was the first time she had seen a woman make Lu Jingyao look slightly awkward.
“Apologies for our abruptness,” Lu Jingyao said.
Kuromizu Yako addressed the two of them, “I don’t know why you suddenly came to find me, but I truly dislike unexpected, unannounced meetings. It’s very rude.”
Although Lu Jingyao didn’t know exactly what Xu Youyou wanted to do, he stuck to his usual style: lay out a plan and move freely.
“Miss Kuromizu, we are here today because we believe you might need our help,” Lu Jingyao said.
Kuromizu Yako’s expression immediately turned guarded. “Mr. Lu, I don’t understand what you’re saying. You know I don’t involve myself in business matters. If it’s anything important, you should speak directly to my grandfather or my husband.”
But Lu Jingyao wasn’t intimidated and continued, “Miss Kuromizu, if you were really as mediocre as you appear, you wouldn’t be fluent in six languages, nor would you have insisted on studying business at a top overseas university. Wouldn’t attending a ladies’ college to become a good wife and mother have been enough?”
Kuromizu Yako was the Kuromizu family’s second granddaughter, who had married early, found a capable husband, and had two sons and a daughter. On the surface, she seemed like she had resigned herself to a quiet life.
Upon hearing Lu Jingyao’s words, her eyes suddenly sharpened. “Mr. Lu, there’s a saying in your country: ‘You can eat the wrong food, but you can’t say the wrong words.’ Be careful what you say—don’t make enemies carelessly.”
Lu Jingyao initially only had a fifty percent certainty, but after seeing her reaction, his confidence rose to eighty percent. “Miss Kuromizu, hiding your abilities isn’t a long-term solution. Sometimes you have to show your edge to increase your chances of success.”
“What exactly are you trying to say?” Kuromizu Yako demanded.
Lu Jingyao said, “There’s no need to be so hostile toward us. We’re here to help you.”
“I have no intention of inviting wolves into my house. You should look elsewhere,” she said, getting up to leave.
Lu Jingyao remained calm and called out, “Opportunities are for those who are prepared. If you’re not ready, Miss Kuromizu, we’ll simply find someone else.”
Kuromizu Yako stood still for five seconds, then sat back down as if nothing had happened. “Mr. Lu, you still haven’t introduced the lovely lady beside you.”
Xu Youyou was surprised by how quickly Kuromizu Yako changed her attitude. But recalling the unhidden ambition in her eyes just moments ago, she understood: at a critical juncture in the fight for inheritance, even if you know you’re dealing with a tiger, you have to hold your nose and endure it to prevent your siblings from gaining the upper hand.
After Lu Jingyao introduced Xu Youyou, Kuromizu Yako—whether truly unaware or just pretending—noted with exaggerated surprise, “Mr. Lu has always been distant from women. I thought you were destined to die alone. I didn’t expect you to be won over by such a young lady. She must have many exceptional qualities.”
Lu Jingyao wasn’t in a rush, casually chatting with her, while Xu Youyou occasionally added a few unrelated remarks.
They were no longer anxious, but Kuromizu Yako, after enduring a stomachful of meaningless small talk, grew impatient and finally said, “I’m willing to work with Mr. Lu and Miss Xu. But what exactly can you offer me?”
Xu Youyou glanced at Lu Jingyao, who squeezed her hand lightly under the table before saying to Kuromizu Yako, “When the time comes that you need help, you’ll know exactly how we can assist you.”
Kuromizu Yako cursed Lu Jingyao internally for being an old fox—after all that talking, he hadn’t said anything of substance.
“Mr. Lu, why keep going in circles? Let’s lay everything out clearly. What can you offer me, and what do you want in return?”
Lu Jingyao still wasn’t sure what Xu Youyou wanted, but after thinking for a moment, he said, “I will do everything I can to help you or your husband become the new head of the Kuromizu family. In return, you must promise me three things.”
Kuromizu Yako shook her head. “Three promises? That’s a bit excessive. What if you ask for the Kuromizu family itself? Should I just hand it over?”
Lu Jingyao said, “Of course not. I won’t make any demands you can’t afford.”
After asking for more details, Kuromizu Yako finally said, “Mr. Lu, I can’t promise you anything right now. I’ll give you an answer tomorrow.”
After she left, Xu Youyou couldn’t help asking, “What if she goes back on her word after becoming the head of the family? Can we really expect her to keep her promise?”
Lu Jingyao replied, “Of course not. That’s why we have to force her to keep it.”
Xu Youyou didn’t quite understand.
Then Lu Jingyao asked, “What do you want from the Kuromizu family?”
Seeing the sincerity on his face, Xu Youyou knew he would do his best to help her.
The problem was, she had no idea what the system actually wanted. After the system’s golden pointer directed her to Kuromizu Yako, it shattered.
Once Kuromizu Yako left, the system’s golden pointer reappeared.
This time, it pointed to a middle-aged man around forty years old—
The eldest grandson of the Kuromizu family!
