Chapter 55: Recognizing One’s Heart
Assistant Liu stood to the side, feeling a headache coming on. He hurriedly explained, “Miss Xu, you’ve misunderstood our President Lu. He actually wanted to ask if you were facing any difficulties. If there’s anything he can help with, he will do his utmost.”
Xu Youyou let out a light snort and said, “No need to rush to explain for him—he has a mouth of his own.”
Assistant Liu shot his boss a helpless look.
Lu Jingyao pressed his lips into a thin line, a trace of uncertainty in his eyes. He had always been a formidable figure in the business world, yet he had no idea how to handle this situation.
In his view, Xu Youyou liked money and beautiful jewelry. So, wouldn’t gifting her expensive accessories be exactly what she wanted? Why was she still unhappy?
“Then what exactly do you want? Money? A house? A car? Just tell me directly,” Lu Jingyao said.
Assistant Liu couldn’t help but cover his forehead.
Xu Youyou felt offended and said coldly, “Mr. Lu, if you’re not here to sincerely express gratitude, then please leave.”
The two bodyguards standing nearby took a step forward.
Lu Jingyao’s handsome face was filled with confusion. “You saved my life. I want to thank you. What did I do wrong?”
Xu Youyou replied, “If you don’t understand how to respect others, then no matter how much money you offer, I won’t accept it.”
She picked up the gift box on the table to return it, but the moment she held it, she realized how heavy it was.
Lu Jingyao didn’t take it back and said, “Once I give something away, I won’t take it back.”
With that, he didn’t wait for the bodyguards to escort him out. Instead, he strode out of the Xu residence on his own.
On the elevator ride down, the confusion on Lu Jingyao’s face didn’t lessen one bit. He turned to Assistant Liu and asked, “Back in the U.S., when we asked her to pretend to be my girlfriend and gave her a set of jewelry, she was clearly very happy. Why is she so upset now? Does she have a bias against me?”
Assistant Liu: …
Feeling utterly helpless, Assistant Liu said, “President Lu, if you want to win over a woman, you need to lower your stance a little.”
Lu Jingyao immediately frowned and refuted, “Who wants to win her over? I just want to repay my life-saving debt.”
Assistant Liu glanced at his boss, whose ears were now visibly red. He understood everything but chose to play along, saying, “Yes, President Lu, you just want to maintain a good relationship with your savior and show your gratitude—not pursue a woman you admire.”
Lu Jingyao had originally planned to scold his assistant, but his heart skipped a beat.
He couldn’t help but recall that moment before the gala overseas, when he saw Xu Youyou descending the stairs in a burgundy evening gown—how stunning she had looked.
He also remembered the relief and joy he felt when he was saved after nearly being killed.
At that time, Xu Youyou had thought he was unconscious, but in reality, he had heard everything happening around him. He had even secretly opened his eyes and seen her porcelain-like face. But he had been in such a wretched state then that, like an ostrich, he chose to keep pretending to be unconscious.
Could all of this really mean that he liked Xu Youyou?
Lu Jingyao, like a woman who loves money and vanity?
He closed his eyes. He had always thought that at the right age, he would marry a suitable partner and have children.
His wife didn’t need to be stunningly beautiful, but she should be gentle, graceful, and elegant—just like his mother, quiet and refined, like a blooming magnolia tree.
But Xu Youyou was nothing like that. She was beautiful, full of life, and held grudges. She was like a little leopard ready to bite at any moment. He still remembered the mischievous look in her eyes when she schemed against Gu Fengchuan at the auction.
“President Lu, we’ve reached the ground floor.”
The elevator doors had opened, but Lu Jingyao remained standing still. Since the boss didn’t move, Assistant Liu naturally wouldn’t dare step out before him.
Watching the elevator doors open and close in front of him, Lu Jingyao seemed to make a firm decision. He took a step forward and then said, “Assistant Liu, if one wants to… no, if I want to properly repay my savior, how should I do it?”
Lu Jingyao had finally come to terms with it—regardless of Xu Youyou’s love for money, her shallow personality, or her orphanage background, he seemed to have fallen for her, completely and irreversibly.
Assistant Liu had been working for Lu Jingyao for three years, yet this was the first time he had seen his boss’s emotions so easily swayed by a woman. It was like discovering a huge secret.
“President Lu, pursuing—” Assistant Liu quickly corrected himself under Lu Jingyao’s piercing gaze, “Repaying a life-saving debt should be done in a gradual manner. Give something today, something else tomorrow. That way, there’s always an opportunity for interaction.”
Lu Jingyao pondered over this and said, “She just received 1.4 billion recently. I don’t even know what she lacks. She seems to love money, yet she didn’t even open today’s gift.”
Hearing the number 1.4 billion again, Assistant Liu felt like crying. What made it worse was realizing that Xu Youyou had just gained another massive asset, while Lu Jingyao’s gift was purchased at an outrageous ten-billion premium.
Assistant Liu had often lamented that there were so many people making fortunes in the world—why couldn’t he be one of them?
“President Lu, Miss Xu may love money, but you should also be mindful of how you talk to her,” Assistant Liu cautiously reminded.
Lu Jingyao furrowed his brows slightly and said confidently, “I didn’t say anything wrong today.”
Assistant Liu thought back to the absolute disaster that had unfolded earlier and felt another headache coming on. But as an assistant, the boss’s problems were his problems. He had to say what needed to be said.
“Boss, would you like it if someone told you, ‘Aren’t you just after money?’”
The moment he said this, Assistant Liu felt a chill down his spine, as if he had just provoked something terrifying.
Lu Jingyao narrowed his eyes at him and said, “Assistant Liu, watch your tone.”
Assistant Liu quickly explained, “President Lu, the way you spoke to Miss Xu just now made it sound like you were accusing her of only wanting your money.”
Lu Jingyao’s mind went blank for a moment before regret took over. “Did my words really make her think that?”
Assistant Liu nodded vigorously. “Women’s feelings aren’t something you ask about directly—you have to figure them out. Your intentions were good, but your tone was too forceful. That’s why she got upset.”
