Chapter 76: Keeping Such a Person Close Brings Unease

The next day, Bai Lu rose early.

Her father was still indulging in sleep; he would never wake before the sun was high. Bai Lu even believed that her father's good skin—at forty-three, nearly wrinkle-free—was entirely thanks to his passion for sleep. He maintained himself solely by sleeping.

Yawning incessantly, Bai Lu tiptoed out of apartment 886, returned to 444, and used the landline to call Yu Fuqing.

She spoke only one sentence: “The matter of my debt to loan sharks is about to be exposed.”

While Yu Fuqing rushed over, Bai Lu, who never wore makeup except for work, deliberately sat before her vanity and carefully applied an exquisite look.

Barely five minutes after finishing, the doorbell rang.

Bai Lu drifted to the door like a wisp of soul and opened it.

The moment Yu Fuqing saw her, his heart ached and he reached out to embrace her.

Bai Lu pushed him away, expressionless. “Yu Fuqing, you’re hiding something from me.”

Her face was ghostly pale, dark shadows under her eyes, lips drained of color. There was no trace of Bai Xiaolu’s usual charm or sparkle—she looked like a soulless shell.

Yu Fuqing’s facial muscles trembled.

Lai Jian, ever composed, interjected, “President Yu, let’s talk inside.”

Seated on the sofa, Bai Lu spoke before Yu Fuqing could ask, “Yesterday, President Gao from Royal Eagle Entertainment came to see me. I thought he wanted to poach me, and indeed, he did. He also told me two things.”

Yu Fuqing was frantic. “Xiaolu, be clearer!”

She fixed her gaze on him, enunciating: “The first thing President Gao said was that my parents, in my name, borrowed money from loan sharks. He didn’t know the exact amount, but it certainly isn’t less than ten million. Yu Fuqing, did you know about this?”

“Yes,” Yu Fuqing replied, placing a manila folder on the coffee table. “This is what I’ve found so far. I kept it from you because, with Fuqing here, you need not worry about such trivial matters. Xiaolu, Fuqing will clear every obstacle for you.”

Bai Lu blinked softly and lowered her head. “Fuqing, with you here, I feel at ease. I don’t doubt you’ll do whatever it takes to help me. But can you really help?”

Yu Fuqing frowned. “Xiaolu, what do you mean?”

Lai Jian’s face was stern. “I suspect this pertains to the second thing President Gao told Xiaolu. Am I right?”

This Lai Jian—indeed, not simple.

Bai Lu murmured assent, then looked up, her eyes filled with guilt and apology. “Fuqing, President Gao said Yu Xing Entertainment has lost a lot of money, and now there’s almost no liquid funds left. Is it true?”

Yu Fuqing’s breath stopped.

How had Gao Fanqin found this out—

No, if it was Gao Fanqin, he would find a way.

Bai Lu’s complexion paled further. “Fuqing, your intentions are clear to me from this file. You’ve always taken my affairs to heart. You hid these things from me, hoping to resolve them while I remained unaware.”

She gently stroked the folder and shook her head. “But I can’t drag you down any longer. You still need to help me buy 888 at Lan One, don’t you?”

She forced a smile—a sweet, obedient smile, but with a heart-rending maturity.

Yu Fuqing broke down at once. “Bai Xiaolu, don’t say such things! You’re not a burden; you’re the one I want to cherish for a lifetime. Don’t be so formal with Fuqing, understand?”

Bai Lu smiled at him, but her smile quickly dissolved into tears. Her small mouth quivered, voice thick with sobs. “But Yu Xing Entertainment has lost so much money, and these debts are from loan sharks. With compounded interest, who knows how much is owed? How can you help me pay it back, Fuqing?”

Yu Fuqing took her hand. “Xiaolu, don’t panic. Listen to me: you didn’t borrow that money, and I’ve already sent people to gather evidence. We’ll prove it has nothing to do with you, alright? No matter how much is owed, you don’t have to pay, and neither do I. Whoever borrowed it will have to repay it.”

Bai Lu cried harder, fat tears falling rapidly. “That won’t work, Fuqing! President Gao said if I don’t terminate my contract with Yu Xing and sign with him, he’ll leak the story to the media! You don’t have time to slowly investigate and collect evidence!”

Yu Fuqing clenched his teeth. The mask of the gentle, refined heir was already shattered.

“Fuqing, don’t worry about me anymore!” Bai Lu suddenly pushed him away, took a deep breath. “I’ll find Emperor Lu! He said, no matter what trouble I’m in, I can always go to him—”

“Bai Lu! You dare?!”

The moment she mentioned Emperor Lu, Yu Fuqing exploded. The look in his eyes could have torn Bai Lu apart.

She was frightened by the rage and madness in his gaze.

She truly hadn’t expected that the blow from her father would affect Yu Fuqing so deeply.

“President Yu, calm down—you’re scaring Xiaolu.” Lai Jian shot him a look, and Yu Fuqing composed himself.

Lai Jian sat beside Bai Lu and pulled her into her embrace. “Don’t be afraid, Xiaolu. With President Yu here, you’ll be fine. Trust him—and trust Yu Xing Entertainment, alright? If Yu Xing signed you, it means they have the ability to protect you.”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a penetrating force that soothed the soul.

To have climbed so high at a young age, with the trust of both father and son of the Yu family—she was indeed remarkable.

Bai Lu lowered her eyelids, hiding the turmoil in her eyes. “Sister Jian, I’ll listen to you—and to Fuqing.”

Lai Jian patted her back. “You probably haven’t slept all night. Don’t worry, go wash your face and rest well in your room. I promise you, by the time you wake up, this matter will be resolved.”

Bai Lu looked at her in disbelief. “Sister Jian, really?”

Lai Jian smiled gently. “Xiaolu, you’re clever. You know that even a dying camel is bigger than a horse. Yu Xing lost some money, yes, but what business doesn’t? The Yu family is vast. A few tens of millions is nothing. It’s not worth fretting over such a small sum.”

A relieved smile spread across Bai Lu’s face, and the light returned to her eyes.

Lai Jian took a brand new phone from her bag. “Go sleep. If you can’t, listen to music or watch some videos—but no sleeping pills. When you wake up and are refreshed, we’ll discuss your new script.”

Lai Jian led her by the hand to her bedroom.

Bai Lu held the new phone, feeling a surge of gratitude.

Lai Jian was truly meticulous.

She hadn’t mentioned her phone being broken, yet Lai Jian had already bought her a new one—probably deduced it from Bai Lu using the landline at 444 to call Yu Fuqing.

Such attention to detail, such sharp observation—if only she could use it for herself…

No, better not.

Those who are too close to the Yu family are unsettling to keep nearby.