Chapter 013: The Crown Prince of Shenghe

Chapter 013: The Crown Prince of Shenghe

“So? Do I disappoint you now?” Chu Fei smiled.

“Of course not. I just can’t figure it out—how could someone as outstanding as you end up like this?” Ximen Lu made no attempt to hide her thoughts, her beautiful eyes fixed intently on Chu Fei’s, as if searching for his very soul. She truly found it hard to believe what she was seeing.

“What’s so hard to understand? Not everyone soars to the top without obstacles, as smoothly as you…” Chu Fei shook his head, a fleeting shadow of melancholy passing through his eyes.

“Chu Fei, I didn’t mean to look down on you.” Ximen Lu, realizing she might have hurt his pride, apologized at once.

“You don’t need to apologize. In fact, I feel pretty good now—life feels grounded.” Chu Fei laughed heartily.

Ximen Lu regarded him in silence for a moment, unwilling to let it go. “Have you never thought about rising above, making others look up to you again?”

“Of course I have. But I’m neither the son of a tycoon nor of an official. No resources, no capital—how exactly am I supposed to soar?” Chu Fei shrugged lazily.

“Hah—” Ximen Lu gave a bitter smile. Chu Fei’s words were so brutally realistic. Only those who had experienced life’s hardships could speak that way. What on earth had happened to him over these ten years? Her curiosity grew.

Yet she didn’t ask. The man before her felt simultaneously familiar and unfamiliar, almost unreal. Her years in the business world told her there was a shroud of mystery around Chu Fei, as if he was hiding something, but she couldn’t see through it no matter how she tried.

Was it just her own wishful thinking, her refusal to accept that Chu Fei had become an ordinary man?

Troubled, Ximen Lu shook her head.

“Is that all you called me in for? If there’s nothing else, I’ll get back to work.” Chu Fei stood up.

Ximen Lu snapped back to attention. “Of course not. I wanted to tell you—Xu Shiqi is coming back tomorrow. She said she’d like to treat you to a meal, and invited a few old classmates to welcome you.”

“A welcome for me?” Chu Fei was taken aback.

“Yes, that’s what she said. She’s on a business trip in the States, flying back tonight.” Afraid Chu Fei would refuse, Ximen Lu quickly added, “Aren’t you curious to see what she’s like now? She’s doing exceptionally well—she’s now Vice President of Dongyu Group and Executive President of their US branch. Compared to her, I’m just a little grasshopper barely clinging to life.”

“Really?” Chu Fei was stunned. He knew Dongyu Group—an absolute giant in the East China Sea region. That Xu Shiqi had climbed so high? And besides, refusing would seem too cold. He nodded. “Alright.”

“Good, I’ll call her in a bit.” Ximen Lu breathed a sigh of relief. Xu Shiqi had insisted she must convince Chu Fei. No one understood better than Ximen Lu what Chu Fei meant to Xu Shiqi. In truth, she almost regretted mentioning his situation, not for any other reason, but because describing Chu Fei’s current state as ‘fallen’ was no exaggeration. Would Xu Shiqi be disappointed when she saw him now?

“I’ll head out then.” Chu Fei stood again.

“Wait. Come with me to a meeting in a bit.” Ximen Lu stopped him once more.

“What meeting?” Chu Fei asked, puzzled.

“That troublesome young model again. I’ve arranged to meet her agency’s manager at ten.” Ximen Lu rubbed her elegant brow, clearly exasperated, and briefly explained the situation.

From Ximen Lu, Chu Fei finally understood the model incident. Feilu Media had contracted a hosiery endorsement, signed and sealed. But when shooting was about to begin, the young model suddenly tried to renegotiate, demanding a higher fee. The reason? She’d recently become an online sensation thanks to a leaked candid video, and her value had soared.

The client refused to budge, and things quickly reached an impasse.

Now, the matter remained unresolved. The model’s agency was taking a hard line: raise the price or terminate the contract. They were willing to pay double the penalty fee rather than proceed. But Feilu could not afford to breach the contract. If they did, they’d owe the client not double, but ten times the endorsement fee—a sum amounting to seven or eight million. Such an amount was no big deal for a conglomerate, but for Feilu, it was crippling—potentially fatal. That’s why Ximen Lu had returned, hoping to salvage something in this meeting.

“Artists these days are getting greedier and greedier—no conscience at all,” Ximen Lu huffed, visibly angry.

Chu Fei looked at her in surprise. The words rang familiar—Murong Wei had said something similar before. For Murong Wei, it was innocence; but coming from Ximen Lu, it sounded almost naïve.

“What? I can’t even complain when I’m upset?” Ximen Lu raised her brow, unfiltered in front of him.

“Of course you can.” Chu Fei gave a wry smile. He knew Ximen Lu was not like Murong Wei—Murong Wei got truly mad, but Ximen Lu was just venting. She was anything but simple; otherwise, she wouldn’t have built her company to this scale. He asked, “So what will you do?”

“What else? Talk first, see their attitude. If it doesn’t work, I’ll have to accept her demands,” Ximen Lu frowned, referring to the model.

Chu Fei nodded. It was the only solution for now. Compared to a tenfold penalty, the model’s increased fee was minor. “How much is she asking for?”

“Five times the original amount.” Ximen Lu gritted her teeth.

“What?” Chu Fei gave a helpless chuckle. The greed of the model and her agency genuinely astonished him.

At that moment, a voice sounded from the doorway.

“Ximen Lu, as long as you agree to be my girlfriend, all these problems disappear. I’ll handle it for you—let’s see who dares bully you.”

A tall, handsome young man strode in, followed by a middle-aged man—either a bodyguard or more likely, a steward.

Chu Fei and Ximen Lu turned together.

Ximen Lu’s expression changed immediately. She clearly knew the young man, and did not like him.

Chu Fei narrowed his eyes as well, instantly recognizing the newcomer—the man’s status was too prominent, too ostentatious to miss.

Liu Fengkai—the Crown Prince of Shenghe.

The entire Shenghe Commercial Plaza belonged to his father, Liu Ping, including the very building that housed Feilu Media. Liu Ping was one of Kun City’s true commercial overlords.

As Liu Ping’s only son, Liu Fengkai’s status was self-evident. People called him the Crown Prince of Shenghe.

In Kun City, he was among the most elite of young scions.

In Shenghe, he was the only crown prince—there was no second.

Liu Fengkai strode quickly into the office, stopping right before Ximen Lu. From start to finish, his gaze lingered only on her stunning face, eyes alight with a smile. As for Chu Fei, he didn’t spare him even a glance, as if he were invisible.

“Ximen Lu, you came back without even calling me—so I could welcome you home.” Liu Fengkai’s gaze was inexplicably gentle.

Ximen Lu was anything but gracious. She frowned slightly. “Do I need to report my whereabouts to you, Young Master Liu?” Her tone was cool.

“That’s not what I meant. I’d never restrict your freedom.” Liu Fengkai was unfazed, his smile even warmer. “I just missed you so much—I wanted to see you, even if only for a minute.”

Ximen Lu bit her lip, saying nothing.

Liu Fengkai went on, “I overheard you talking about that model’s issue. If you need help, just let me know.”

“No need. I can handle it myself.” Ximen Lu shook her head, fully aware his intentions were far from pure—especially after his opening line had exposed him completely.

Liu Fengkai frowned briefly, but his smile soon returned. “Ximen Lu, have you considered what I said last time?”

“I’m sorry, Young Master Liu, but your status is far too lofty for someone as ordinary as me. I simply can’t reach so high.” Ximen Lu’s face remained expressionless; she understood his intentions perfectly.

“Ximen Lu, my feelings for you are sincere. The first time I saw you, you captivated me. I—”

His confession was cut off coldly by Ximen Lu. “Young Master Liu, I already have a boyfriend.”

“Oh?” Liu Fengkai was momentarily startled, but he didn’t get angry—instead, he smiled even more tenderly at her. “I know you have some misunderstandings about me. You think I’m a playboy, and I admit I’ve dated other women before. But since meeting you, I’ve cut off all contact with them. I truly like you, and if only—”

“I really do have a boyfriend. In fact, here he is.” Ximen Lu interrupted him again, pointing directly at Chu Fei, who had been quietly trying to slip away…