The CEO’s Substitute Wife Is A Genius
Chapter 191: The Figure That Quietly Sneaked into the Room

Chapter 191: Chapter 191: The Figure That Quietly Sneaked into the Room

The birthday banquet lasted for three hours before it ended.

After the guests left, the Lu Family held a small meeting among themselves.

On the expensive genuine leather sofa, the elderly Madam Lu sat with great poise.

The relatives either sat or stood beside her.

They didn’t have much say in the matter, they were merely there as witnesses.

Madam Lu held absolute authority in the family, and her words were law.

"Manman, what do you think? You and Xingzhou are already married by law, only a grand wedding is missing now. Don’t worry, the Lu Family will certainly not treat you unfairly!"

Madam Lu paused for a moment, without thinking much, "Ten billion, Grandma promises you, the wedding will cost at least ten billion."

As soon as she spoke, the room fell silent.

A ten-billion wedding, even on a global scale, is one of the most extravagant.

Clearly, the elder lady showed great sincerity and importance towards Jiang Man after learning about the strength of her maternal family.

While everyone was stunned, they simultaneously turned their gaze towards Jiang Man.

Jiang Man kept a mint candy in her mouth, her face expressionless.

"Grandma, there’s no hurry for the wedding,"

she said calmly, with little fluctuation in her emotions.

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback.

A ten-billion wedding, such a huge temptation, and yet Jiang Man remained indifferent?

"Manman, are you upset with Xingzhou? It was his idea to keep the marriage a secret, wasn’t it?" Lu Xuemei grasped Jiang Man’s hand, fearing that this one-in-ten-thousand daughter-in-law would slip away.

"Grandma, Aunt, Manman and I have our own pace, you don’t need to worry," Lu Xingzhou hastily said, sitting next to Jiang Man and opening his palm.

Jiang Man glanced at it and couldn’t help but chuckle.

Lu Xingzhou had somehow found a straw and had crafted a plastic ring from it.

He motioned for Jiang Man to put it on.

Jiang Man thought he was childish, but still extended her right hand to him,

allowing him to slip the cheap plastic ring onto her ring finger.

Her lips curved upwards, and she took his hand, writing in his palm: Childish.

Lu Xingzhou raised his eyebrows, opened his mouth but made no sound: Only for you.

In the living room, everyone was very serious, but the young couple started playing around, completely ignoring the solemn atmosphere around them.

"Mom, Xingzhou and Manman have their plans, we should not interfere too much. Instead, let’s talk about Jingya and Zhendong..." Meng Lian saw an opportunity and hurriedly changed the subject.

Knowing that Jiang Man was the niece of the Hu family, they didn’t dare to point fingers at her anymore, so they echoed in agreement: "Zhendong is not young anymore, indeed, his marriage is the urgent matter."

"Hmm," Madam Lu nodded, "Zhendong, I treat you like my own grandson, I want nothing but the best for you, and if you’re not well, I would be too ashamed to meet your grandparents in the afterlife."

"You are exaggerating, Grandma, Zhendong has always appreciated your efforts," the usually silent Lu Zhendong spoke up, nodding respectfully.

Madam Lu felt comforted and then got straight to the point, "The child from the Ming family, Jingya, between the two of them, who do you see a potential development with?"

Hearing his grandmother mentioned his name, the previously glum Wen Jingya instantly perked up, his eyes filled with expectation.

Lu Zhendong was suddenly put on the spot, his face darkened instantly.

After a moment, he solemnly replied, "Grandma, it’s impossible between Ming Ran and me, she hurt me too deeply in the past, a good horse does not return to old pastures. As for Jingya, she’s about a decade younger than me. When I started middle school, the second aunt brought her into the family, and when I started university, she was just in her first year of elementary school. I have never had romantic feelings for her, I only see her as a sister."

"The Lu family has never had a daughter, actually adopting Jingya as a foster daughter rather than making her a child bride is more appropriate."

Everyone understood this reasoning, but hearing it from Lu Zhendong gave it a different flavor.

Wen Jingya was rejected repeatedly, and the excuses from both Lu Xingzhou and Lu Zhendong were the same: they had no romantic feelings for her, seeing her only as a sister.

This kind of talk could fool the elders, but for her, it was devastating.

"Since you have made your point so clear, let’s exclude Ming Ran and Jingya and continue with arranged meetings," the old lady took a pause before speaking.

Lu Zhendong nodded, accepting tacitly, and didn’t speak further.

The room fell silent, and it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop immediately.

"Zhan’er, what about you?"

The conversation shifted and someone turned their attention to Lu Zhan, who had been playing with his phone all along.

Lu Zhan suddenly looked up, half laughing, half crying, "I’m not in a rush until my third uncle marries."

"What are you talking about, you rascal? If your third uncle never marries, will you also remain single?" Lu Zhan’s mother exclaimed angrily.

After speaking, she realized she had misspoken and hurriedly waved her hand, "That’s not what I meant."

"Cousin, that’s not right, it’s not that Zhendong won’t marry; it’s because he was heartbroken before."

"Oh, I really didn’t mean any harm." Lu Zhan’s mother’s face turned green.

"Enough!" The old lady timely interrupted the argument, "Zhan’er, you and your third uncle go on a blind date together."

"What?" Lu Zhan was stunned.

It was supposed to be about pushing the third uncle to marry, so how did it end up falling on him?

"Thank you, Auntie!" Lu Zhan’s mother was overjoyed.

She had always wanted her son to find someone to marry and have children with — that would be perfect.

But in the past two years, she had talked herself dry, and her son still remained indifferent.

He even used the excuse of a contract signed with a talent agency that forbade him from dating to stall her.

Now, finally, the old lady had spoken, a decree personally issued. Let’s see if this young man still dares to disobey?

Lu Zhan, feeling aggrieved, cast a pleading look at Lu Xingzhou and Jiang Man.

But the couple had an understanding and both averted their eyes to one side.

"Manman, about meeting your uncles, arrange it again. Last time we failed to meet due to our insufficient hospitality. This time, let the Lu family arrange it," the old lady swiftly changed the topic.

Jiang Man raised her eyebrows, "Okay."

"Hmm," the old lady nodded, waved her hand, "I’m also tired after all this fuss."

Seeing this, the servants hurriedly stepped forward to help her.

"You young people go have fun. We bought quite a lot of fireworks; set them off tonight," the old lady said.

"All right," Lu Xingzhou responded, taking Jiang Man’s hand.

...

Night fell.

The Lu family’s fireworks display began promptly at seven in the evening.

Bang—

With a four-foot rocket shooting straight into the sky, it burst into a golden glow that enveloped the sky.

Like willowing golden branches, they cascaded down, resembling a giant floral umbrella.

Finally, they scattered like celestial flowers fluttering down.

At the peak of the cheering, a quick shadow slipped into the east courtyard’s chamber.

In the front yard, Lu Xingzhou and Jiang Man, holding hands watching the fireworks, indeed appeared enviable.

Lu Zhendong held a wine glass, drinking on his own.

One glass after another, numbing himself.

The image of Ming Ran bursting into his room during the day kept flashing in his mind.

He felt quite despicable, having not forgotten her after all these years.

Without love, where comes the hate?

The deeper the hate, the more painful the love had been.

"Third uncle, I toast to you," Lu Zhan, seeing him distressed, approached to keep him company.

Lu Zhendong smiled softly, clinked glasses lightly, and downed the drink in one gulp.

Already feeling tipsy, he curled up the corners of his mouth, "I’m getting old, can’t drink much anymore. I’m heading back to my room to rest."

"Eh? The fireworks aren’t over yet," Lu Zhan tried to hold him back.

But Lu Zhendong had no mood left: "No joy in union, none in parting, fireworks seem worthless. Fireworks not watched with one’s beloved lose all their meaning."

Having said this, he gave a wave of his hand and staggered away, "Better to sleep it off."

Lu Zhan watched his departing figure, lost in thought.

The third uncle was right, watching fireworks without the one you love is indeed no fun at all.

He immediately pulled out his phone and video-called Wen Rui.

On the other side, Lu Zhendong, full of drunkenness, staggered back to his room.

He didn’t turn on the light but headed straight for the bed, intending to fall onto it and sleep.

But as soon as he reached the edge of the bed, a soft body embraced him.

A body as sleek as a snake climbed up his, wrapped around his neck, and kissed him...