Chapter 359: Extra Story (Part One)
Lu Jingyao had yet to find a suitable professional manager, so he had to alternate between busy and rest periods, making it impossible for him to be by Xu Youyou’s side at all times.
Of course, Xu Youyou never expected that from him. She carried too many secrets and had too many matters to handle on her own. In fact, acting alone often made things more convenient for her.
However, when one is in a foreign place, and their loved one rushes overnight to be by their side out of concern, it would move anyone’s heart.
“I’m fine. I’m just not used to friends leaving…” Xu Youyou said softly.
Lu Jingyao didn’t overthink it. He had heard Xu Youyou talk about Old Master Wu before. Even though their acquaintance was brief, their relationship was not shallow. He simply assumed she was grieving the old man’s passing.
Gently stroking her hair, he said, “We can visit him again in the future. If you’re still feeling down, we can stay here for a while longer.”
Xu Youyou shook her head. “Let’s go back. I miss home.”
Even Lu Jingyao’s presence didn’t change her mind. So, the group decided to drive back to Shanghai.
Xu Youyou didn’t explain why she insisted on traveling by car, nor did she try to hide her intentions. She didn’t even pretend to enjoy the scenery—she simply got in the car and slept every day.
After a long journey, they finally arrived in Shanghai. Xu Youyou immediately gave all her staff a break, including her two assistants and bodyguards.
Though her recent mission had been relatively easy, she felt utterly exhausted. For five consecutive days, she didn’t leave her residence in Shanghai.
Lu Jingyao, worried that she might become depressed from being cooped up for too long, didn’t try to force her outside. Instead, he arranged for luxury store staff to bring their products to her.
Xu Youyou understood his concern, so she forced herself to engage and picked out some items she liked.
By the sixth day, she seemed to have fully recovered from the fatigue of her travels. She made a phone call to the orphanage.
“Auntie, the kids are on summer break now. I’d like to invite them to Shanghai for a summer trip,” Xu Youyou said with a smile.
The orphanage director immediately replied, “Youyou, I know you mean well, but if the children experience the beauty and prosperity of the big city, I fear they might not want to come back. They may even struggle to accept the harsh conditions at home. These kids already start at a disadvantage. They need to learn frugality and self-discipline.”
Xu Youyou glanced at her bank account. Thanks to the system’s final reward—a couple of double-value cards—her wealth had skyrocketed. Excluding company valuations and other assets, her bank balance alone had reached a staggering 700 billion yuan.
With such an enormous fortune, she literally couldn’t spend money faster than it accumulated.
“Auntie, I don’t think frugality and the pursuit of a better life are contradictory. I don’t want the children to feel inferior because they grew up in an orphanage, nor do I want them to be afraid to chase their dreams. By witnessing the city’s prosperity firsthand, they might gain a clearer understanding of what they truly want in life. I hope they grow up with strong and healthy personalities.”
Her words swayed the orphanage director.
Xu Youyou still remembered her first time coming to Shanghai. It was for university. As an orphanage kid, her tuition was covered by the government, but her monthly living expenses were limited. She had to rely on part-time jobs to survive in the city, where the cost of living was astronomical.
After graduating, she could have returned home, but she chose to stay. Job opportunities in her hometown were scarce, and salaries were low. She understood better than anyone that while life in a big city was challenging, the opportunities were abundant.
She sometimes wondered: If she had never been taken in by the Gu family in her past life, she might have spent her days diligently working a 9-to-9 job. Perhaps she would never have been able to buy a home in Shanghai, but at least she wouldn’t have ended up buried in the snow, with no one to claim her body.
Excitedly, Xu Youyou pulled Liu Xiangyi along to plan the children’s trip to Shanghai. Lu Jingyao, noticing her rare enthusiasm, smiled and suggested, “Our company’s science museum collaborates with schools every year, welcoming students for visits. Maybe this trip could inspire a few future scientists.”
Xu Youyou had visited Lu Jingyao’s company’s science museum before. The blend of technology and modern life had left a deep impression on her. Without hesitation, she added the museum to the children’s itinerary.
Driven by a desire to give her childhood self what she had missed, she meticulously planned the summer study tour. The children loved the experience.
For five days in Shanghai, their schedule was packed. Every day, the kids were excited and engaged. When the trip ended and it was time to leave, nearly all of them were reluctant to go.
“I want to live in Disneyland forever!”
“I love the science museum! I want to work there when I grow up!”
“I love Shanghai! I want to stay here like Sister Youyou!”
Hearing their lively chatter, Xu Youyou couldn’t stop smiling.
She hadn’t expected that this trip—meant to compensate for her childhood regrets—would have such an amazing impact.
Just a few days after the children returned home, the orphanage director called her again.
“Youyou, I don’t know what kind of magic you have. The kids used to say they weren’t good at studying and that they’d just go to vocational school to learn a trade. But now, they’re all pushing themselves to study hard. They say they want to follow your example, get into top universities, and work at big companies.”
Xu Youyou knew this surge of motivation might not last forever.
But what if?
What if, out of hundreds of kids, just a few managed to keep going, kept striving for better, and continued to improve because of the positive reinforcement of academic success? Then all her efforts would have been worth it.
At first, Xu Youyou had been worried that the subordinates of the Red Dragon King would retaliate. But in the second month after she returned to Shanghai, Lu Jingyao brought her news.
“The Red Dragon King has been missing for a month. Since his business was shady, his men didn’t dare to report it to the police, and they couldn’t contact anyone who had gone with him. His right-hand man has also been arrested and sentenced to death. So, in the underworld, everyone assumes the Red Dragon King is finished.”
“These people only care about profit. The moment they saw an opportunity, they swallowed up all of the Red Dragon King’s business.”
Xu Youyou had known the Red Dragon King was dead, but she was still curious. “Aren’t his men seeking revenge?”
Lu Jingyao replied, “They were only loyal to him for personal gain. Now that he’s gone, they’re too busy looking out for themselves. They can’t even protect themselves, let alone avenge him.”
Hearing this, Xu Youyou finally felt relieved.
She thought everything was finally over—until Lu Jingyao added, “Gu Xueying wants to see you.”
