Chapter 85: The Mission
Hearing this, Lu Jingyao couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. If Xu Youyou were really the kind of girl who relied on others to rescue her from trouble, his pursuit wouldn’t be so difficult.
After throwing the drink, Xu Youyou acted as if nothing had happened.
Despite the strange looks from the surrounding guests, she remained composed, sat back down, and casually picked up a piece of fruit, popping it into her mouth. It was as if everything that had just happened was merely an illusion.
Lu’s father admired her attitude. “She’s calm and collected—someone who can accomplish great things.”
Lu’s mother, on the other hand, completely changed her mind. “You go after her first. Once you’ve won her over, we’ll officially meet her and even help you set up a proposal scene!”
She was afraid that if she and her husband got too excited upon meeting Xu Youyou, they might ruin the first impression and mess up Lu Jingyao’s chances.
Hearing this, Lu Jingyao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Lu’s father then whispered, “Son, do you remember the martial arts master I hired for you when you were a child?”
Lu Jingyao nodded, though he wasn’t sure where this was going.
“Your master is still in top form—he even won a championship two years ago. If you want to continue your training, you should find him again. That way, when your wife hits you, at least you can block a few moves.”
Lu Jingyao: …
“Dad, can’t you have a little more faith in me?”
His father chuckled, “Pursuing a girl takes skill. You can’t hit her back, but running away would be too unmanly. Learning to block will save you from too much suffering.”
Lu Jingyao took a deep breath. “She’s not a violent person.”
His father reassured him, “It’s okay. Even if she is, that just means she’ll know how to cherish you.”
Lu Jingyao didn’t know where to start arguing. To escape further nonsense, he quickly made an excuse, “It looks like she needs help. I’ll go check on her.”
Lu’s parents immediately gave him doting smiles, as if they could already see their future grandchildren.
“Do you think our grandkids will inherit their good genes?” Lu’s mother asked in a hushed voice.
Lu’s father glanced at the striking pair and said confidently, “Of course. Their kids will definitely be both smart and beautiful.”
Meanwhile, Xu Youyou was casually eating fruit when she suddenly had a strange feeling. She turned her head abruptly, startling Lu’s parents, who quickly ducked away like guilty thieves caught stealing vegetables.
As Lu Jingyao approached, he asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Do you feel unwell?”
Xu Youyou shook her head. She was more troubled by the fact that Lu Jingyao had returned at such a critical moment.
Just moments ago, her system had assigned her a new treasure-hunting mission, and the target was inside Lu Shaoyan’s villa.
“You should go take care of your own business. Don’t worry about me,” she said, trying to find a way to shake him off.
But Lu Jingyao remained firm. “Your shoes aren’t suited for walking around. If you need anything, just tell me.”
He sat down beside her, making no move to leave. This made Xu Youyou even more anxious.
“I saw some little cakes…” she hinted.
Lu Jingyao immediately got up. “I’ll get them for you.”
Less than two minutes later, he returned with a plate stacked with an assortment of flavors. Xu Youyou glanced at the overfilled plate and inwardly cursed—good job, he brought every single kind, leaving her no excuse to refuse.
She had never realized Lu Jingyao had such a talent for being an assistant. No matter what she asked for—water, a towel—he completed each task efficiently. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t find an opening to slip away.
What was even more unsettling was that despite being bossed around, the usually proud young master didn’t show a hint of impatience or anger. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying it.
After hesitating for a while, Xu Youyou finally asked, “Am I causing you trouble?”
Lu Jingyao looked at her, puzzled. “Are you causing trouble?”
Their conversation didn’t seem to be on the same wavelength, but his response reassured her. At least he didn’t think she was bothering him.
She forced a smile. “This villa is beautifully decorated. It must have taken a lot of effort.”
She looked around, admiring the luxurious European-style banquet hall.
Lu Jingyao glanced at the extravagant decor and remarked, “I know this place well. I can give you a tour.”
Taking the chance, Xu Youyou asked, “With so many guests at the banquet, isn’t the owner worried that people might wander into restricted areas?”
Lu Jingyao explained, “If there are areas guests aren’t allowed to enter, they’ll be blocked off or locked. Anything truly valuable would be secured in a safe, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
Xu Youyou nodded thoughtfully. “Good to know. If I ever host a party at home, I’ll know what to do.”
Lu Jingyao casually replied, “If you ever host a party, I can lend you my family’s event team.”
Xu Youyou mentally cursed rich people—how extravagant to have a dedicated event team.
Just then, a commotion erupted at the entrance of the banquet hall.
Lu Zeyuan personally escorted a middle-aged man in a black Zhongshan suit into the hall. Xu Youyou glanced at him and found him somewhat familiar, but she couldn’t recall where she had seen him before.
She noticed Lu Jingyao also looking in that direction with a subtle shift in his expression. A thought struck her, and she asked, “Is that the important person you need to meet?”
Lu Jingyao nodded.
Xu Youyou immediately urged him, “Then you should go see him now. Business is important—you don’t need to worry about me.”
Yet, Lu Jingyao remained seated. “No rush. He’ll come to me.”
Sure enough, the man scanned the room and, upon spotting Lu Jingyao, nodded in acknowledgment.
Meanwhile, Xu Youyou’s system indicator was blinking persistently, making her anxious. “Business meetings aren’t about waiting for people to come to you. You need to leave a good impression on an important partner.”
Lu Jingyao gave her a curious look.
Xu Youyou felt guilty—had he seen through her?
But instead of questioning her, Lu Jingyao suddenly smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”
Xu Youyou sighed in relief. Watching him walk away, she immediately began sneaking through the villa, following the system’s directions.
Fortunately, the system didn’t lead her into restricted areas but stayed within the open sections.
Lu Family’s villa was massive, and she followed the system’s guidance toward the west wing, which was designed for leisure and entertainment.
Near a billiard table, a group of young men gathered, chatting and laughing. Xu Youyou’s striking beauty drew their attention.
One of them nudged Lu Shaoyan and exclaimed, “Shaoyan, who is she? She’s gorgeous—I want to chase her!”
