The CEO’s Substitute Wife Is A Genius
Chapter 231 She’s Making a Scene, He’s Laughing, The President Pampers Her Like a Treasure

Chapter 231: Chapter 231 She’s Making a Scene, He’s Laughing, The President Pampers Her Like a Treasure

Wu Yingfan dropped Jiang Man off at Rong Mansion and, after freeloaded dinner at villa number eight, finally went home.

Back in her room, Jiang Man began to pack her luggage, grabbed a backpack, and picked out two pairs of shorts, two polo shirts, a pair of slippers, and a pair of sandals.

Then she quickly gathered her toiletries.

Lastly, after stuffing a tablet computer into her backpack, her packing was considered complete.

She had intended to leave it at that, but then she thought, since she was going all the way to Thailand, it would be perfect to stop by Harbor City on her way back to visit her grandfather and her four uncles.

Originally, she had planned to stay with them for a month during the winter vacation, but now she figured that an earlier visit wouldn’t hurt either.

So she strode over to the storage cabinet and took out a black cloth bag.

She couldn’t carry all these needles with her; they wouldn’t pass the airport security check.

Therefore, she decided to have a household servant help with the shipping procedures the next morning.

After everything was taken care of, Lu Xingzhou finished his work and arrived late.

"You seem pretty busy lately?"

Jiang Man leaned on the sofa reading a novel, a series by Higashino Keigo, preferring the printed version of this kind of fiction.

"Yeah, a bit," Lu Xingzhou said, his face unable to hide his fatigue as he tugged at the tie around his neck.

The next second, he sat down beside Jiang Man, glanced at the book she was reading, and seemed immediately revitalized, "Esports is really hot right now, and the Lu Corporation has never made much headway in this field. The board of directors plans to increase investment in this area this year, and today there was a long dispute over whether to create an original team or invest in an existing one."

"So, what’s the outcome? Did they reach any conclusion?" Jiang Man responded languidly, planning to finish the page before telling him about her upcoming participation in a variety show.

"Are you familiar with the Rong Mansion team? What do you think of it?" Lu Xingzhou turned his head, looking intently and earnestly at the girl’s profile.

Jiang Man’s hand flipping through the book suddenly froze.

"I’m thinking of bringing Nan Mu back into the fold. Our country’s first esports gold medal was his. If he can lead Rong Mansion to victory again after seven years, it would be legendary!"

Jiang Man’s paused fingers twitched.

She quickly pretended as if nothing happened and continued flipping pages, "Nan Mu has been retired for years without proper continuous training; his form is no longer what it was."

"Is that what you think too?" Lu Xingzhou’s eyes flickered with transient dimness, "He was the leading figure in our country’s esports scene, and his retirement was so quiet. After he left, Rong Mansion, once at the pinnacle, went into decline, now so easily targeted—it’s a pity."

"There’s nothing to pity. New talents are emerging all the time. There are many strong teams in the country now. Have you considered ZSG? They’re a favorite to win the championship this year."

"Hmm," Lu Xingzhou nodded, not continuing on that topic.

At that moment, Jiang Man closed her novel and tucked it into her backpack.

Only then did Lu Xingzhou notice the travel backpack on the sofa.

He frowned.

"Isn’t JOJO pregnant? Her agent got her a variety show gig, but she can’t make it and asked me to go in her place. I agreed."

"?" Lu Xingzhou was surprised.

"Mostly, I want a free trip," Jiang Man quirked her lips.

"What kind of variety show is it?" Lu Xingzhou didn’t immediately react.

He respected all of Jiang Man’s decisions. Whatever she wanted to do, he would cheer her on if he could help, and if he couldn’t, he would quietly pay attention, providing her with emotional support.

Jiang Man turned to face him, and immediately saw the man with furrowed brows, looking as solemn as a stern father.

For some reason, a playful impulse arose, and she felt an inexplicable urge to tease him.

"A romance-themed show," she raised her eyebrows.

Hearing about the romance show, Lu Xingzhou’s expression changed drastically, cycling through colors like a palette, now turning green, now pale.

"Is this show a must? Can’t you just decline it?"

"That won’t do, the penalty fee is 600 million." Jiang Man responded nonchalantly, shrugging her shoulders.

Unlike her relaxed demeanor, Lu Xingzhou appeared helpless, "I’ll cover that. A show that demands such an exorbitant penalty fee deserves to be penalized itself."

His eyes instantly turned cold, as if he was ready to use his iron fist to shut down the program the next second.

"Pff," Jiang Man couldn’t help but chuckle, "Such shows do need to be punished. Maybe after I return from Thailand, you can make your move, President Lu?"

"You’re actually going on a trip to Thailand? Variety shows these days sure do play big, is it a honeymoon trip?" The jealousy in Lu Xingzhou surged even greater.

The thought that he and Jiang Man had been married for so long and still hadn’t been on a honeymoon gnawed at him.

"It’s not a dating show, it’s just a backpacker travel variety show." Jiang Man hurriedly explained, fearing that if she didn’t clarify soon, Lu Xingzhou would really storm the production team and cause an uproar.

"After coming back from Thailand, I want to go to Harbor City."

"I’ll accompany you when the time comes." Lu Xingzhou’s face instantly brightened.

Accompanying someone is the most enduring confession of love.

He believed that in the future, there would be a honeymoon, and they would grow old together.

What he had to do was not to prove himself over and over but to give bit by bit in everyday life.

The two of them would support each other, quietly waiting for the flowers to bloom.

...

The next day, Jiang Man was woken up by a sparse noise.

She opened her eyes to find it was just past seven in the morning.

She rolled over and caught a glimpse of a man’s silhouette on the balcony outside the floor-to-ceiling window.

On closer inspection, the balcony had somehow gained an array of empty flower pots.

Originally, the balcony had an aquarium, plants and flowers, and of course, a clothesline.

Now, the section for plants and flowers had been replaced with empty pots.

"Lu Xingzhou, what are you doing?"

She called out languidly, wanting to linger in bed a little while longer.

Lu Xingzhou came in from the balcony, cleaning his hands with a sanitized handkerchief.

"Did I wake you up? What time are you leaving? Do you need me to drop you off?"

"No need, the crew has arranged transportation as a group, and the flight is in the afternoon. I plan to go after breakfast."

"Okay, I’ve gotten leave arranged for you at school. Grandma has asked both of us to come back to the old house for a meal this weekend. I’ll tell the family then."

"Mm." Jiang Man was very satisfied with his meticulous arrangements.

Even she hadn’t realized that the her who had always handled everything personally was now enjoying others arranging everything for her.

"You still haven’t answered me. What are you meddling with on the balcony?"

"Quietly waiting for the flowers to bloom."

"Huh?" Jiang Man frowned, looking puzzled.

"What flowers do you like? I can get someone to buy the seeds, plant them now, and maybe we’ll see them bloom next spring."

Jiang Man didn’t pay much attention to his leisure pursuits, given that the balcony had already been full of various plants and flowers before.

She thought he was tired of the old plants and wanted to change varieties.

"Mandrake, but this flower is poisonous, even its fragrance is toxic. However, it is also a very good traditional medicinal herb."

"You like that one?" Lu Xingzhou was surprised.

"It’s in my name, and its character is quite like mine, so I like it," Jiang Man said indifferently.

Lu Xingzhou paused, not saying anything, but he made a mental note of her words.

"We can’t grow it at home, how about something else?"

"Then let’s go with little sunflowers. They thrive towards the light, pretty good."

"Mhmm, then sunflowers it is."

"Get up." Jiang Man was completely awake, flipping out of bed, slipping on her sandals, and heading to the bathroom.

Lu Xingzhou watched her disappearing back, then took out his phone to call Zhao Huai.

"Look into where in the country is suitable for growing mandrakes, hmm, I want an entire mountain. Also, rearrange my schedule, I need to go to Thailand next week on a business trip. I’ll personally handle the negotiations for the tin mine."

"Yes," came Zhao Huai’s baffled response over the phone.

The tin mining business was only a medium-sized operation for the company, and it was usually enough for a business manager to handle the negotiations.

Why the big fuss, getting the BOSS to go in person, Zhao Huai wondered?