Chapter 71: Competing with the Wealthiest Man for Talent

“Dad, you can't.” Bai Lu shook her head. “The more things are like this, the more I need to help Ah Sui make his debut. Only then can he escape the hell of the Huo family. Isn't that right?”

Her father's brows arched—an omen he was about to get angry.

“Dad, listen to me!” Bai Lu hurried to speak before her father could scold her. “Ah Sui isn't happy staying by President Huo's side, otherwise he wouldn't have joined this variety show. Dad, didn't you distance yourself from the Lu family's business and enter the entertainment industry precisely because of this? Dad, can't we help Ah Sui?”

Lu Yiting fell silent for a moment before saying, “It's not the same. When I entered the entertainment industry, your grandfather still had four sons to choose from. Huo Yan Fang has no alternatives. He survived an explosion by sheer luck, and his life is sustained only by money. If Huo Yan Fang died tomorrow, I wouldn't be surprised. With that body, there’s no way he could produce an heir. Do you think he'd pass the Huo Corporation to a collateral branch?”

Bai Lu became quiet.

Lu Yiting continued, “If Huo Yan Fang had any choice but Huo Yan Sui, I'd feel sympathy and would help him, too—not just you. Lu Xiaolu, everyone has their fate. Huo Yan Fang has no choice, and Huo Yan Sui even less so.”

Bai Lu nodded obediently. “Dad, I understand.”

Lu Yiting patted her head. “Go back now.”

“Good night, Dad.”

“Good night.”

Bai Lu carried her wooden basin and trudged back.

Lin Ye and Di Jia'er were waiting for her at the door. “Lu, what took you so long? Xiao Qiao went to the women's bath to look for you, and you weren't there. En-ge and Sui-ge both went out to find you. Where did you go?”

Bai Lu replied, “I was talking with my dad.”

No one could have guessed her father was Film Emperor Lu; they all thought she was talking to Shen Yanghong.

Di Jia'er said, “Xiao Ye, go bring Sui-ge and the others back.” Then he turned to reprimand her, “Even if you were making a call, you should've told us. You were gone so long—do you know how worried everyone was?”

Bai Lu apologized meekly. “I'm sorry. I won't make everyone worry again.”

Di Jia'er shot her a glare.

As soon as Qiao Qianyi returned, she scolded Bai Lu fiercely. Bai Lu didn't argue back and listened quietly.

The fiercer the scolding, the more it showed their concern.

Bai Lu knelt on the tatami. “En-ge, Jia'er-ge, Xiao Ye, Xiao Qiao, Ah Sui, I'm sorry for making you worry. Next time, I'll let you know in advance, alright?”

Zu Xin'en said, “Your attitude is good, so we'll let it slide this time. Don't let it happen again!”

Bai Lu nodded obediently and glanced at Huo Yan Fang, who rose wordlessly and went back to his room.

“Sui-ge's expression changed just now,” Di Jia'er whispered to her. “I've never seen him so flustered. Lu, you really scared him.”

Zu Xin'en said, “Lu, you need to apologize to Sui-ge personally.”

Bai Lu nodded, knelt at the tatami door, and called softly, “Ah Sui, are you asleep?”

Huo Yan Fang answered calmly, “Yes.”

Bai Lu gritted her teeth, slid open his door, and entered on her knees.

Ah Sui hadn’t lied; he was already lying down. Hearing her, he turned to glance at her.

“I’m about to sleep.”

On the Japanese-style floor bedding, Huo Yan Fang lay down while Bai Lu knelt beside him.

She reached out and gently tugged his sleeve. “Ah Sui, I know what you're worried about. I'm sorry, you must have been really anxious. I know I was wrong. Please don't be angry, okay?”

Huo Yan Fang only responded with a faint sound from his nose.

Bai Lu hung her head. “Ah Sui, I'll protect myself. I promise I won’t give anyone the chance again, and what happened at the hotel will never happen again. Please don't be angry with me, alright?”

Huo Yan Fang sat up and looked at her expressionlessly. “How will you protect yourself? What guarantee can you give?”

That day in the hotel, if he hadn’t finished his work and called her, what would have happened? If it had been someone else, even if they rescued her, her reputation would have been ruined.

“I’ll strike first. Anyone who tries to hurt me, I’ll deal with them before they get the chance.” Bai Lu spoke each word with seriousness.

After a pause, she looked at him worriedly. “Ah Sui, do you think I’m... too ruthless, too cruel?”

Huo Yan Fang replied, “If you really can strike first, then I’ll truly be at ease.”

“I can!” Bai Lu patted her chest. “I’ve already set a trap for Wu Liping. She’ll fall in herself—I won’t even have to intervene. She’ll destroy herself. That’s called winning without a fight! Oh, I really am quite clever!”

Huo Yan Fang raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“That’s a business secret, so don’t ask too much.” Bai Lu pointed to her head. “I’m very smart, you know, because I’m my father’s daughter.”

Huo Yan Fang said, “Bai Lu, if you need help—”

“No need!” Bai Lu refused immediately. “Ah Sui, remember what I said the first time we met? I said, adults have to carry their own burdens. If you lack ability but still rush ahead, then you deserve to die and not drag others down. I educated President Huo so fiercely—I’ll definitely follow my own advice.”

Since the black rabbit said so, there could be no problem.

Huo Yan Fang didn’t ask further, only said, “I won’t be able to come for the next episode.”

Bai Lu relaxed slightly, still hesitating about how to broach the subject, but Ah Sui spoke first.

She nodded vigorously. “Mm, with your abilities, President Huo won’t want to let you go. Though serving by his side is like accompanying a tiger and isn’t easy, you’re amazing, Ah Sui—there won’t be any problem.”

Huo Yan Fang chuckled softly. “Giving up on helping me debut?”

Bai Lu stuck out her tongue, half-joking, half-serious. “Oh, I wouldn’t dare compete with the richest man for talent. Ah Sui, if you’re ever unhappy by President Huo’s side... come find me and hang out for a few days, treat it as a vacation. I think President Huo would agree too!”

Huo Yan Fang said, “Mm.”

If he found the time, he would join the show again to accompany her.

“Ah Sui, good night.”

“Mm, good night.”

The next day, everyone had lunch at the hot spring inn and set out for the airport to return home.

At Osaka airport, Tang Xing picked up Huo Yan Fang.

After saying their farewells, Xu Yi accompanied Huo Yan Fang into the VVIP lounge.

Tang Xing thanked her, “Miss Bai, thank you for looking after Young Master Ah Sui these days. President Huo has business, so I’m taking Young Master Ah Sui straight there.”

Bai Lu nodded. “Tang Xing, thank you on behalf of everyone.”

Tang Xing smiled, helping his boss’s cause. “I’m just following Young Master Ah Sui’s instructions. If you want to thank someone, thank him.”

“Then there’s no need to thank you.” Bai Lu grinned mischievously. “Ah Sui and I are good friends—friends don’t need to be so formal.”

Tang Xing: “…………”

At least, optimistically, they were friends now.

Better than being polite and half a stranger.

Still, it seemed that if Film Emperor Lu were out of the picture, President Huo’s chances would be much better.