Chapter 79: This Is a Good Excuse

Chapter 79: Chapter 79: This Is a Good Excuse

Nan Zhi and Nan Yi had no idea that shortly after they left home that morning, a grand drama had begun to unfold in their residential community—

Downstairs at Building 1, people were moving things in and out.

An old couple, dressed gaudily with harsh, cunning looks on their faces, stood with their arms crossed, staring in disgust at the items being moved out as if they were a pile of junk:

"What is all this junk! You’re actually taking this stuff home? How utterly shabby!"

Squatting by their legs was a slightly chubby little boy, staring blankly at the people coming and going.

He suddenly spotted his familiar, beloved toy car among the items and shot to his feet:

"That’s my stuff! Don’t touch it!"

The old couple said casually:

"Zhixing, you’re a big boy now. What’s the point of keeping a toy car? Your little cousin is young, so I say we just give it to him!"

The little boy, none other than the former neighborhood bully Wang Zhixing, heard this and immediately burst into a wail:

"It’s mine! Mine! I don’t want to give it to him!"

"Your parents are dirt poor now! Your grandma and I are already doing more than enough by taking you in! What’s the big deal about taking a few of your things? You ungrateful little beast, you have your father’s blood in your bones..."

The old couple began to curse loudly at Wang Zhixing.

Not one to be outdone, Wang Zhixing immediately began to shriek, wail, and throw a tantrum on the ground.

The scene grew exceptionally ugly.

A crowd of onlookers had gathered nearby and couldn’t help but start gossiping:

"Isn’t that Wang Zhixing? And who’s that old couple? What happened to his family?"

"Heavens, you don’t know yet? Wang Zhixing’s dad was reported for corruption and bribery and got arrested! The evidence is solid. Even Wang Zhixing’s mom was taken in for questioning and probably won’t be out for a while! This apartment is about to be seized, too! That old couple is Wang Zhixing’s maternal grandparents, here to pick him up!"

"Are those his *actual* grandparents?"

"Tsk, doesn’t it feel like karma? The Wang family treated him like a precious little prince every day, and now that his parents have gotten into trouble, he’s become a pitiful, unwanted child!"

"Serves him right! Last time he burned my daughter’s braids, I knew that kid was rotten to the core!"

"Didn’t he bully that Nan Yi kid before, only to get beaten up by him in the end?"

"Yeah, and everyone cheered for it!"

"It’s a real shame. Nan Yi and his mom should be here to see this."

"A real shame indeed..."

If Nan Zhi and Nan Yi saw the person they hated end up in such a state, they might get happy and share some more of those walnut cookies or spring rolls. Wouldn’t that be great!

They were still savoring the aftertaste of the few morsels they’d received a few days ago. They had been just too delicious...

The crowd got so lost in thought, reminiscing about that unforgettable delicacy from a few days ago, that they even forgot to watch the drama unfolding before them.

「Outside the community.」

A Bentley was parked on the side of the road.

Inside, behind the tinted windows, Lu Shixu was flipping through a paper file.

After a long moment, he "casually" asked:

"What’s the situation?"

But Tao An knew what Mr. Lu really wanted to ask was:

’Did Miss Nan see it?’

’See what?’

’The downfall of Wang Zhixing’s family—the ones who bullied Miss Nan—of course!’

’So this is what they call flying into a rage for the sake of a beautiful woman,’ Tao An thought. He’d finally witnessed it firsthand.

He’d always thought Mr. Lu would live his entire life rigidly and by the book, like a robot running on code—unemotional, with logic reigning supreme.

’But what happened in the end?’

’For that Miss Nan Zhi, he hesitated and wavered, again and again.’

’He even did things he would have never done before!’

’What an epic, moving love story!’

Of course, no matter how emotional Tao An felt inside, he wouldn’t dare let a sliver of it show on his face.

He adopted the professional and composed demeanor of an elite assistant and replied:

"I already have someone on it. There will be an update in three minutes."

In reality, it didn’t even take three minutes.

A minute later, Tao An’s phone began to vibrate wildly.

He merely glanced down at it, and beads of sweat the size of peas immediately broke out on his forehead.

In the chilling silence, Lu Shixu suddenly spoke:

"Is there a problem?"

Tao An hardly dared to breathe.

How was he supposed to explain the current situation—

A few days ago, after Nan Zhi and Nan Yi had a conflict with Wang Zhixing’s family in the community, Tao An had immediately reported it to Lu Shixu.

Lu Shixu appeared indifferent on the surface, but he had actually ordered an investigation into Wang Zhixing’s family.

The investigation uncovered problems in less than half a day.

The activities Wang Zhixing’s father thought he had concealed so well were as full of holes as a sieve under their scrutiny. Every probe hit its mark.

So, Lu Shixu instructed Tao An to pick an opportune moment to release their findings.

Tao An immediately understood the unspoken implication: the "opportune moment" was when Miss Nan Zhi would be able to see it.

He was full of confidence, thinking it was just a minor task.

...Who would have thought that the very next day, Miss Nan Zhi would take her son and fly to Province A!

By the time Miss Nan Zhi returned, five days had passed.

Of course, Tao An hadn’t been idle during those days. He filed the necessary reports and submitted the required materials.

He timed everything to coincide with the day of Miss Nan Zhi’s return, ensuring they would be there to personally receive this "grand gift."

But as it turned out, Miss Nan Zhi had taken her son to film a variety show!

And they had left first thing in the morning!

In the end, Tao An didn’t dare to hide the truth and cautiously explained the situation to Lu Shixu.

Unexpectedly, Lu Shixu showed no reaction.

He fingered the warm, smooth Sandalwood Beads on his wrist and said in a light voice:

"Where are they?"

Tao An gave him the address.

After speaking, he felt something wasn’t quite right.

’Mr. Lu didn’t seem angry at all, no matter how you looked at it.’

’Instead, there was a subtle hint of... happiness?’

’Wait a minute.’

’Could it be that Mr. Lu thinks this is a great excuse to go see Miss Nan Zhi?’

In that instant, Tao An felt like he understood. He understood everything!

He made a solemn suggestion:

"Sir, I feel a major event like this should be brought to Miss Nan’s attention. I hear her shoot today ends at 9 p.m."

"What time is the afternoon meeting?"

"At 4:00. It’s expected to end at 8:30, which would be perfect timing to head over."

’I was right!’ Tao An thought, feeling smug.

In his moment of triumph, he inadvertently glanced up and met Mr. Lu’s eyes in the rearview mirror.

HISS.

Tao An froze on the spot.

Lu Shixu: "Don’t get clever."

"U-Understood."

But a warning was just a warning.

When the meeting ended that evening, Lu Shixu still had Tao An drive to the street where Nan Zhi’s shop was located.

The streetlights were just beginning to glow.

From a distance, they could see the figures of the mother and son strolling leisurely down the yellow-lit street.

Their conversation drifted over from afar—

"Mama, can we open the shop tomorrow?"

"Mhm, the paperwork is all done, and the ingredients are mostly ready. Once Uncle Xie Yu brings over the cookware tomorrow, we can officially open for business!"

"What are we going to sell then? Still fried rice? I can keep being the cashier!"

"Alright, my little cashier. I’m entrusting this important task to you!"

"..."

The warm conversation, carried by the spring breeze, slipped through the crack in the car window and into Lu Shixu’s ears.

It stirred within him a hint of indescribable envy.