As Chen Jiaojiao had said, the next day Lu Mingzhe accompanied her to the City Construction Bureau.
Before they could even state who they were looking for, they were stopped.
“There’s a special conference happening in the city recently. All the leaders have gone to attend and won’t be back for the time being. No appointments are accepted.”
Lu Mingzhe checked and found that the conference indeed existed, but it only lasted for one day. Yesterday was the day it was held, so the leaders couldn’t possibly stay there for several days without returning. It was obvious they were deliberately avoiding the spotlight.
Never mind. No one would jeopardize their own future. They were not related by blood, and if others were unwilling to help, one couldn’t force them. It seemed this path was a dead end.
Chen Jiaojiao was extremely worried. Although she knew her father deserved his fate, he was her father after all. If he collapsed, the Chen family was destined to lose everything. Falling from heaven to hell, anyone would find it hard to bear emotionally.
Returning home dejectedly, Lu Mingzhe asked her to go in first and made a call standing by the door. It was to his father. He guessed his father had also heard about Chen Jiaojiao’s father’s situation, so Lu Mingzhe asked for his opinion.
“Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that? The situation is as it is. Empty words are useless now. Just tell me what you think.”
Lu Mingzhe certainly couldn’t say that his marriage to Chen Jiaojiao was a sham and that it didn’t matter whether he helped or not. “Since Jiaojiao has married into our family, she is one of us. Our families prosper or suffer together.”
“Dad, within your capacity, I think we should help if we can.”
“Your dad is about to retire. I’ve been upright for so many years, and at this critical juncture, countless eyes are watching. You want me to go against my principles?”
“I’m not asking you to go against your principles. I just don’t know what to do and hope you can guide me.”
Lu Mingzhe’s father had clearly already considered it. “Countless eyes are watching. In the heat of the moment, no matter how it’s handled, it won’t be good.”
“Tell Jiaojiao to stay calm and don’t panic. I’ll recommend a reliable lawyer for her shortly. Wait, after this period passes, we’ll try to get her out on bail.”
Lu Mingzhe went back and relayed the exact words to Chen Jiaojiao. Chen Jiaojiao expressed her understanding. “Your father is right. The more critical the moment, the more people will be watching. He can’t get involved in this matter.”
Lu Mingzhe gave her a phone number. “This is the lawyer my father recommended. Contact him and see.”
Chen Jiaojiao contacted the lawyer and handed over all subsequent matters to him, as she couldn’t help much further. Then, she returned to Nancheng with Lu Mingzhe.
With her father getting into trouble at such a critical time, and having just ordered beauty equipment, her half-renovated beauty salon now lacked funds for investment. Chen Jiaojiao was in low spirits throughout the journey. She had planned to stop Zhou Jinbei from working and involve her in starting a business together to get rich, but now…
Hearing she was back, Zhou Jinbei invited her to dinner that evening and also called Lu Mingzhe.
“Long time no see. You’re here too, let’s all sit together.”
Thinking Chen Jiaojiao hadn’t been in good spirits the past two days, Lu Mingzhe escorted her over. After the three of them met and exchanged basic pleasantries, Zhou Jinbei apologized to her.
“I’m so sorry. I can’t help you with this kind of trouble, but at least I can’t be a burden to you.”
“I borrowed 500,000 yuan from an old friend. Take it for the renovation. Maybe if you grit your teeth, you’ll get through this difficult time. We can’t give up so easily.”
“I’ve already invested so much money. I’m not willing to just throw it away like this.”
Chen Jiaojiao was very surprised. “You actually borrowed money from someone else to give to me? What do you take me for?”
“I take you as a friend. You helped me at a crucial time, and now that you’re in trouble, if I don’t do something, wouldn’t I feel ashamed?”
Chen Jiaojiao was about to get angry. “I can’t accept this money. Return it to wherever you borrowed it from!”
“The person I hate the most in my life is borrowing money from others, especially from people I’m not close to!”
“I can’t let you be in a position where people laugh at you. Zhou Jinbei, can’t you have some dignity?”
Zhou Jinbei was putting on a brave face. “Oh, it’s fine. I have plenty of friends. How do you know I’m not close to them?”
“I’ve lived with you for so long. Don’t you think I know who your true friends are? Enough nonsense. Take it back quickly.”
“Then what are your plans? Didn’t you say all your assets were frozen? What about our beauty salon?”
“Don’t worry, I won’t starve anytime soon. I still have many jewelry and bags. If worse comes to worst, I’ll sell them all.”
Seeing them talking back and forth, their sisterly bond so strong that they said all this, Lu Mingzhe felt it would be impolite not to do something. Without saying anything in front of Zhou Jinbei, on their way back, he handed Chen Jiaojiao a card.
“I’ve only earned this much from working for a few years. I’m not sure of the exact amount. Take it and use it.”
“Don’t let your father’s troubles ruin your career. Zhou Jinbei said something right: if you persevere, you’ll get through it. Everything is temporary.”
Chen Jiaojiao did not expect him to be so generous. He was actually handing over all his savings from the past few years to her. Although Lu Mingzhe’s behavior often displeased Chen Jiaojiao, she had a slight change of heart towards him in the past few days. At a critical moment, he was still protecting her. He went out of his way to help with her father’s affairs without any disdain, and even sought his own father’s help. Now, he was this generous.
Looking at him, and then thinking of Hu Jiasheng. Both men, one who constantly said he loved her, and the other who constantly said he hated her. Their actions were worlds apart. Compared to that, it was hard for her not to be moved.
“So generous? You don’t even know the specific amount inside. What if I spend it all and refuse to acknowledge it?”
“I have text alerts, so I wouldn’t be that foolish.”
It was unclear whether Lu Mingzhe was intentionally trying to provoke her or truly intended it, but he suddenly spoiled the mood again.
“Besides, Miss Chen, you’re not unfamiliar with money. You wouldn’t do something so cheap.”
“Heh, I thought you were giving me the money to spend as I please, with no expectation of return. So it’s a loan.”
“How could there be no expectation of return? My current house and car were bought by my parents. This is what I’m saving as my dowry.”
“If one day I want to marry someone they don’t approve of, I can use this money to start my own venture.”
“……”
If he had intended to anger Chen Jiaojiao, he had succeeded. After a few seconds of silence, Chen Jiaojiao, feeling a little awkward, asked him.
“Will you be staying at home later?”
“Why? Do you have something to tell me?”
Actually, it was nice to have someone around when one was unhappy. Thinking she would be alone again when she returned, Chen Jiaojiao felt a little disappointed. But her words were the opposite of her true feelings.
“No. It’s just that you’ve been out for two days and haven’t called anyone, nor has anyone called you. I suspect you have no one outside.”
This was true. After two days out, he and Xiang Wan hadn’t contacted each other at all. Xiang Wan, as a mature and steady elder sister, was psychologically strong and independent enough. She never idled or bored him with meaningless messages.