Chapter 58: The Exchange Conference
Lu Jingyao’s ears turned slightly red—he clearly liked the idea of “fate.”
However, Xu Youyou only felt troubled. Her mind was preoccupied with how to explain to an acquaintance why she was staying at a hotel despite having a place in Hucheng. Not to mention, they had just parted on bad terms the day before, and she had even accepted an insanely expensive piece of jewelry from him. The awkwardness made her want to curl her toes so hard they could dig out a three-bedroom apartment.
As the ever-capable assistant, Liu knew how to avoid embarrassing both his boss and Xu Youyou. He took the initiative and asked, “Miss Xu, are you also here for the International Semiconductor Exchange Conference?”
Xu Youyou immediately nodded.
But Lu Jingyao asked, “Where’s your conference pass?”
Only then did Xu Youyou notice the pass hanging around Liu’s neck. She didn’t have one at all. But not wanting to lose face, she glanced at Lu Jingyao’s empty neck and said, “You don’t have one either.”
“I use facial recognition,” Lu Jingyao replied.
Xu Youyou recalled that the Lu family was involved in the semiconductor industry and figured this conference was probably closely tied to them. She cursed in her mind—what a privilege.
Before she could say anything, Liu quickly suggested, “Miss Xu, it’s alright if you forgot your pass. You can enter with us. With Mr. Lu here, no one will check.”
Liu wasn’t worried about security—ensuring his boss had a smooth love life was far more valuable.
Xu Youyou looked at Lu Jingyao for confirmation.
Under Liu’s frantic eye signals—like a chicken about to have its throat slit—Lu Jingyao swallowed whatever he was originally going to say and instead said, “If you’d like, you can come in with me.”
Xu Youyou sighed in relief. “Then I’d really have to thank Mr. Lu.”
Liu took the opportunity to remind her, “Miss Xu, the conference is about to start. Shall we have the concierge take care of your luggage?”
Without even getting a glimpse of the presidential suite she had booked, Xu Youyou was hurriedly ushered into the elevator again.
Inside, the space suddenly felt cramped with Lu Jingyao’s five assistants and Xu Youyou’s four bodyguards.
No one else spoke.
Xu Youyou had no idea what to say to Lu Jingyao. After all, she couldn’t just ask, Do you still remember how I scolded you yesterday?
Lu Jingyao didn’t hold grudges. Instead, he was racking his brain for a conversation starter.
“You’re interested in semiconductors?” he finally asked.
Behind him, Liu raised his right hand and pressed it against his forehead in agony.
Xu Youyou turned her head. She felt like Lu Jingyao was being sarcastic. “Why wouldn’t I be interested? Just because I’m a woman?”
Hearing her aggressive response, Lu Jingyao quickly realized he might have misspoken. He hurriedly explained, “I just thought you were only interested in porcelain. I didn’t mean to comment on your gender.”
Seeing his sincerity, Xu Youyou relaxed a little and casually said, “It’s cutting-edge technology. I want to learn more about it.”
Lu Jingyao frowned slightly and said seriously, “Many people think semiconductors are one of the frontiers of technology, but I believe that’s not entirely accurate—”
“Ahem!”
Liu’s sudden cough cut off what was about to be a long-winded explanation.
Lu Jingyao’s gaze flickered, and he forcibly changed his wording. “Technically speaking, semiconductors can be considered cutting-edge technology.”
His assistants behind him were stunned. They subtly cast bewildered glances at their boss—was this really Lu Jingyao? Their CEO never changed his words for anyone. Was he actually… backing down?
The elevator arrived at the conference floor.
Lu Jingyao stepped aside slightly, motioning for Xu Youyou to go first.
At the entrance, Liu and the others entered with their passes. Meanwhile, Lu Jingyao casually strolled in with Xu Youyou—no one stopped them.
Even her four bodyguards were allowed through security with a mere glance from Lu Jingyao.
“Miss Xu, the Lu family is both a sponsor and co-organizer of this conference,” Liu quietly explained the source of Lu Jingyao’s privileges.
Xu Youyou glanced at the massive venue and the countless attendees. While it seemed unremarkable at first glance, accommodating so many people for an event like this must cost a fortune. She muttered under her breath, “The Lu family is really loaded.”
“Mr. Lu, you’re finally here!”
“Mr. Lu, do you remember me? Our company has worked with Lu Corporation before…”
The moment Lu Jingyao appeared, people swarmed around him.
Liu, ever the skilled assistant, smoothly blocked them. “Apologies, Mr. Lu will be available for discussions after the conference. He’s currently occupied.”
Lu Jingyao led Xu Youyou toward the front rows, but when he turned back, he saw that she hadn’t followed.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Now that she had successfully snuck in, Xu Youyou felt she didn’t need him anymore. “I’ll just find a random seat. You don’t have to worry about me.”
Lu Jingyao frowned slightly. “The front row offers a better view and makes it easier for you to network with industry experts. A National Academy of Engineering scholar is here—I can arrange for you to sit near him.”
Xu Youyou had no interest in networking—she was here to find a buyer for the data on the memory card.
“I’m just an amateur. I shouldn’t waste the expert’s time,” she declined.
Lu Jingyao, acting like it was for her own good, said, “It’s fine. Professor Chen is very approachable.”
Xu Youyou couldn’t think of a reason to refuse and was eventually led to a seat near the front.
“Mr. Lu!”
A heavily accented voice reached her ears.
Xu Youyou turned her head and saw two sharply dressed men standing up nearby to greet Lu Jingyao.
Lu Jingyao nodded at them in acknowledgment.
The older of the two seemed to have something to say but, after shooting a disappointed glance at the younger man behind him, ultimately chose to remain silent.
Lu Jingyao had a lot to handle—staff members were already calling for his attention.
Xu Youyou waved him off, allowing him to leave, then glanced around the venue. The conference had drawn a large international crowd—she spotted several attendees with clearly foreign features.
Suddenly, she heard rapid, urgent chatter in a foreign language.
Turning toward the source, she saw the older man who had greeted Lu Jingyao earlier speaking sternly to the younger man.
The young man, despite being dressed in a sleek suit, had an absurdly flashy tie. He was now bowing at a 90-degree angle, his face practically radiating apology.
Xu Youyou didn’t understand the language, but it sounded vaguely like Japanese.
As she watched, Yasuda Kagesa, thoroughly furious, scolded his grandson, Yasuda Jiro:
“How could you put something so important in a woman’s handbag? And you lost it? You should be ashamed—you should commit seppuku!”
