Boss Lu: A reborn life is destined to be without regrets!
Chapter 173 - 145. A little bit boy and the translucent girl

Chapter 173: 145. A little bit boy and the translucent girl

Dad?

This Lao Deng is your dad?

Mr. Lu was confused now.

Damn, no wonder the photo on the business card looked so familiar!

No wonder IDG Capital would take an interest in an unremarkable little coffee shop in Jiang City.

Thinking about it from another angle, Lu Jincheng realized there was indeed a reason.

Angel investments often seek familiar faces because, without detailed knowledge of the project, they can only invest in the person.

It’s like how second-generation rich kids choose girlfriends; they need to be attractive enough to fall for at first sight.

He walked back to the coffee shop alone, hands behind his back, fingers arched, knocking on the edge of the front desk.

"Did you finish talking?"

The barista Tian Yi was mixing a new blend and looked up with an inquiring gaze.

As a veteran at Golden Stone, she was well aware of Zhou Sinin’s recent busyness.

With the business raking in money, it was only natural for the shop to expand.

Seeing Zhou Yuanxin walk in and the seven-figure Lexus LM, Tian Yi couldn’t help but be curious about the outcome.

"Mhm, from now on, you’re going to have to shoulder more responsibilities."

Lu Jincheng nodded with a smile, extended his hand to the counter, and poured himself a drink with ice.

"I’m just one person, no matter how much more I do, there’s only so much I can handle."

Tian Yi squinted her eyes, continuing her work without pause.

The spirit of a wage earner in a worker’s soul; no matter how much money the bosses make, I’m just a little barista; my abilities are truly limited.

"Recruitment plans, production processes, production standards, all of these will have to be handed over to you," Lu Jincheng added.

"This... the business is so good that I might be a bit overwhelmed, you know."

What’s this, all of a sudden there’s so much extra work?

Tian Yi was reluctant, mumbling her response.

"Once we open branches, Zhou Sinin and I won’t be here often; you’ll be the manager of this shop."

"Ah?"

Tian Yi blinked in surprise and stood still, not expecting such a development.

"Besides what I just mentioned, you’ll also be responsible for all aspects of the coffee shop, including setting annual, quarterly, and monthly business plans, achieving various tasks and business targets, and personnel management."

"..."

The working girl, Tian Yi, was still thinking of an excuse to refuse, but was hit right in the bullseye by Mr. Lu’s next words.

"Your salary will increase by two thousand, and there’s a bonus for exceeding the plans."

"Okay, boss, no problem!"

...

On the other side, the daughter-spoiling Zhou Yuanxin racked his brains in the car, probing Zhou Sinin carefully.

"Nannan, dad thinks this young man, Lu Jincheng, is quite impressive!"

"Right? No wonder you’re such an amazing investor, Dad, you’re really good at reading people~"

Zhou Sinin nodded with a beaming smile, her complexion glowing in the warm light, as if pear blossoms were in bloom.

Easy bait can also catch a fish, huh.

Hearing this, Zhou Yuanxin’s heart sank.

"How did you meet him?"

"Through stock trading; Dad, let me tell you, you don’t really understand him; his judgment is super impressive..."

The business van moved slowly forward, Zhou Yuanxin just quietly listening to his daughter recount another man’s glorious achievements.

The more he listened, the more it seemed that this young man, who had made a fortune in the stock market, had come to partner with his daughter in opening a modest coffee shop near University City.

He had every reason to suspect the man’s intentions were not pure.

Damn, it all makes sense now.

This guy wasn’t just some grassroots entrepreneurial college student; his extensive knowledge was largely due to making money through the stock market.

He is a financial playboy!

After so many years in the financial and investment sectors, don’t I know it!

He definitely is up to no good!

"He must be quite popular with the ladies, given how outstanding he is, right?"

The shrewd investor continued to probe, still careful not to let his daughter notice, with a tinge of caution in his voice.

"Uh, maybe..."

Zhou Sinin pursed her lips, her eyes roving without giving a definitive answer.

Whether Lu Jincheng was popular with girls?

Of course, the answer was affirmative.

Just thinking about the gift she gave him, who knew how many girls had added accessories to his car!

It better not all be self-bought.

The astute Zhou Sinin would never ask such a naive question.

Because dogs wouldn’t believe it.

"Does he have a girlfriend?"

The man asked further.

"I don’t know."

"Dad knows a lot of outstanding young ladies, should I introduce one to him?"

Zhou Yuanxin laid the groundwork and, finally at a loss for words, broached the question he cared most about.

"Please, you are my dad! Not his!"

Zhou Sinin pouted, inexplicably feeling an irksome feeling rising from deep within. She gripped the strap of her bag on her chest and turned her head away, frustrated.

"What does it matter to you whether or not he dates someone!"

"Just kidding, look at you."

Approaching the end of October, with the air conditioning off in the business van, Zhou Yuanxin felt a chill spreading from his chest throughout his body, accompanied by an empty sensation.

After a long silence, Zhou Yuanxin mulled over their conversation.

He felt while there was a response, the probing wasn’t forceful enough.

Thus, he spoke up once more, breaking the silence in the car.

"Mian Mian, after chatting for most of the day, I’ve noticed that Lu Jincheng is quite upbeat.", He seems to complement Guan Guan really well, don’t you think?"

"Huh?"

Zhou Sinin couldn’t help but laugh silently.

Guan Yongyi and Lu Jincheng complement each other?

Whenever they meet, they start bickering—where’s the complement?

Not only did she not agree, but she had never even considered the possibility.

"Stop joking around, Guan Guan has no intention of dating," she said, having discussed this with her before, "Her thoughts are very clear."

"Oh, how so?"

Zhou Yuanxin stroked his chin, pressing for details.

"She thinks boys are superficial visual animals with no substance, not interesting at all."

"Do you think so too?"

"Not really, those law students always assume people are very..."

Zhou Sinin turned her head, looking out the car window.

"In short, there are boys with substance out there."

Under the setting sun, her misty eyes grew even brighter.

"Like Lu Jincheng?"

"Him... well, maybe a little bit."

...

"Something up?"

At the same time, a slightly substantive boy and a clear-headed girl met in a room of Jiangnan Garden.

After three rings of the doorbell, Guan Yongyi swiftly opened the door.

She knew the man had a cooperation talk in the afternoon, yet she maintained an ice-cold expression and asked,

"No, just missed Mian Mian."

"Come in."

Guan Yongyi gave him a glance and moved aside to let him pass.

This was Mr. Lu’s first unsolicited visit.

Of course, he had made sure Zhou Sinin would be busy with family from out of town and unlikely to make a surprise evening visit to her best friend’s.

With the right timing, the right place, all that was left was the right company.

Luckily, he had the perfect excuse, a birthday gift for the short-haired girl—Guan Mianmian.

Lu Jincheng uttered an "oh" as he brushed past her.

Guan Yongyi caught a whiff of his light laundry detergent and woody freshness, then watched him stride confidently into the room.

Once the door closed, the two stood facing each other in the living room, Lu Jincheng barefoot and Guan Yongyi in her pajamas.

Her hair was half-dry, loosely wrapped in a coat, with no windows open, the air filled with their scents.

An unannounced visit goes exactly like this, and the atmosphere inevitably turned flirtatious.

According to Mr. Lu’s past life rhythm, they should have been carried away by now, rushing off to bed together by the wee hours.

But clearly, he hadn’t done that today.

To get Guan Yongyi accustomed to his sudden visits, Lu Jincheng needed to bring her back to her comfort zone.

So, upon entering the room, he crouched near the mirror to beckon Mian Mian without looking at her.

The little ragdoll cat wobbled over, meowing nonstop next to his leg.

Guan Yongyi watched the silhouette holding the cat toy and couldn’t help smiling.

The kitten rolled happily, purring with delight.

Any reservation she had about his sudden visit dissipated with his patient gestures.

Happy Mian Mian made her happy too.

She slid off her flip-flops, tossing the coat on the sofa, revealing a honey-beige silk slip dress. Her luminous long legs reflected the lamp light from within the house.

Lu Jincheng, while feeding the cat, sneakily watched her through the mirror, finding her every move breathlessly beautiful.

The short-haired girl casually tousled her hair and flashed Lu Jincheng a smile, "Keep Mian Mian company for a bit, will you? I’ve got a mock trial for criminal law class tomorrow, need to check some materials."

"Sure."

Lu Jincheng strained to take his eyes off Guan Yongyi.

After feeding the cat treats, trimming nails, and playful wrestling with the long cat toy, he had exhausted much of Mian Mian’s energy; thus, ending his evening as the ideal cat dad.

He didn’t bother Guan Yongyi and took a can of craft beer from her fridge as if he owned the place, popped it open, and sat on the other side of the table.

"If you’re not busy, help me out."

Guan Yongyi looked up, her eyebrows faintly arching.

Five minutes later, the two sat opposite each other in silence.

Only the sounds of mouse clicks and keyboard taps filled the air.

Lu Jincheng cradled Guan Yongyi’s other tablet, painfully searching the case database. After meticulously reading a sea of content, he had to compile the issues she wanted into a spreadsheet.

Cheap labor, delivered to the doorstep.

Mr. Lu grumbled in his heart.

Then he glanced across at Guan Yongyi and realized.

The fact they could share such an atmosphere was a progression in itself.

The laptop screen illuminated her face, making her look as if she was straight out of a painting; her face mostly sharp angles, hiding an unspoken boldness.

Guan Guan’s hair had grown a bit, neatly tucked behind her ears. Unlike her usual polished look when going out, strands of hair fell at her eyebrows, her neck slender, her collarbones fair, and her curves evident beneath the slip dress.

Lu Jincheng’s throat bobbed and his mouth went dry involuntarily.

After Guan Yongyi hit the last key and saved her work, she looked up from the screen and gave him a warm smile.

Then she closed her laptop, folded her arms across her chest, and leaned forward on the table, gleaming at him.

"Is it boring?"

"Ah, there’s no helping it, we law students are just this boring."

"No, not at all."

Lu Jincheng gestured with his hand, gathering his thoughts while also locking the tablet’s screen.

"I think the law is quite interesting."

"Good thing you’re here, I won’t need to burn the midnight oil today. You’re super efficient."

Guan Yongyi got up, took a can of Lost Coast from the fridge, and popped the lid, glancing at the bottom of Lu Jincheng’s glass before grabbing another.

"Here, fancy a drink with me?"