The company’s registered owner was the female lead, and the male lead had little direct contact with her.
But whether he’d been harassing her by phone—she really didn’t know.
“Artificial intelligence has huge development potential. The company planned this long ago, not just a whim. It has nothing to do with Ruanwen,” Lu Lin said coldly.
Lu Jin Nian frowned.
“Why isn’t anyone else doing AI? Are they all idiots? Do you know how much money and talent it takes?”
“Great-grandpa, opportunities are seized because others are afraid. That’s why we must take the lead. If others occupy the market first, it will be too late for us. Young people have to dare to think and act boldly. Losing just means starting over. That’s the pioneering spirit a company should have!”
Bai Xia looked at Lu Jin Nian seriously.
The elder suddenly stopped his curse and, seeing his great-granddaughter, became gentle again.
He didn’t expect her to say such things.
If his great-granddaughter wanted to do this when she grew up, he’d support her.
Young people needed to take risks.
But Lu Lin was different.
His real intention wasn’t the AI—it was Bai Ruanwen.
Now she was married, but he still clung to her.
What a mess.
“Xia Xia is right. You’re much more sensible than your dad. Unlike him, who always puts personality ahead of benefit, with no big-picture view.”
He glared at his grandson.
Only three people sat at the dining table.
Lu Shuo had just finished his homework and came downstairs.
He was a little afraid of Lu Lin and didn’t dare speak, quietly serving himself some rice in the kitchen.
“My mind isn’t muddled. This has nothing to do with Ruanwen, so don’t worry about it.”
Lu Lin drank some water and then went upstairs.
Lu Jin Nian’s frown deepened.
He figured he needed to talk with Bai Ruanwen.
He believed she loved her daughter; otherwise, she wouldn’t have raised Xia Xia to be so sensible.
But since she’d married Song Xun, he couldn’t let Lu Shuo keep muddling along.
“Great-grandpa, please eat. Don’t be angry. Dad must have his reasons,” Bai Xia said as she put some vegetables on his plate.
This matter was really the male lead’s fault.
Hearing his great-granddaughter’s clear voice, Lu Jin Nian’s mood brightened a bit.
“Alright, you eat too. Eat more so you can grow taller.”
“Eating doesn’t always make you taller. Maybe you’ll just get fatter,” Lu Shuo suddenly said.
Lu Jin Nian shot him a sideways glance.
“You know you’re fat? Then run every morning from now on!”
Lu Shuo immediately dropped his expression.
Why did he have to open his mouth?
The next day at school, he was the first to turn in his homework.
Facing the surprised looks, he raised his head slightly and then invited classmates to play basketball.
“Why have you suddenly fallen in love with studying? No way someone’s doing your homework, right? I heard your niece goes here too. You wouldn’t let her do your homework, would you?” a classmate casually asked.
“Nonsense!”
Lu Shuo glared fiercely.
“I wrote all that homework myself, every stroke. She’s just a bookworm. I don’t bother with her.”
“Then why did you queue up to get her food? Don’t you usually eat at the upstairs cafeteria?”
Several classmates looked puzzled.
Lu Shuo held his basketball and mumbled as he passed through the hallway, “I felt sorry for her since she’s little. Who says I’m not kind?”
“That’s not right. My cousin is also in your class. She says you’re Bai Xia’s servant, and she pays you wages,” another boy scratched his head.
Lu Shuo instantly broke out in a cold sweat and hurried ahead.
“You must have misheard. Who’s your cousin?”
The boy immediately replied, “He Yuehua. She was your niece’s classmate in kindergarten. She said you’re a servant hired by Bai Xia’s great-grandfather. Since when did you become a servant?”
Faced with curious stares, Lu Shuo took a deep breath and cleared his throat.
“Do you believe kids who don’t even know their multiplication tables? How could I be her servant? I could buy her out with my New Year’s money.”
Hearing that, others didn’t ask further. It was impossible for Lu Shuo to be a servant—he was the one who bought the most game consoles.
Bai Xia noticed the cafeteria on the first floor had been revamped, and the food was indeed quite good, earning wide praise.
So right after class at noon, she called Lu Shuo, telling him to hurry and queue for lunch.
He stammered over the phone, seeming reluctant.
“If you’re unhappy, you can come challenge me again,” she said calmly.
The person on the other end took a deep breath and obediently hung up to go get food.
Bai Xia wasn’t letting him run errands for free—she still transferred a thousand yuan as payment. Hard work deserves compensation.
Just as she sat down, she saw two figures lingering across from her like restless spirits.
“Those tables are dirty. I have OCD. You don’t mind, do you?”
Qi Mo smiled at the three of them.
Wang Yiyi shook her head.
“Of course not. The cafeteria belongs to everyone. Sit wherever you want.”
“You have OCD? There’s always the most trash around your desk,” Bai Xia sighed. “Can’t you hang a trash bag nearby? If the class fails to be named ‘Advanced Class’ this month, it’ll be your fault.”
Qi Mo was about to explain but ended up lowering his head and eating quietly.
“I’ll be more careful next time.”
Suddenly, he said, “Why does your little uncle get food for you? Aren’t you two supposed to be on bad terms? He’s from your step-grandmother’s side. Maybe he’s trying to snatch your family’s assets!”
His mom had gossiped like this last night.
Apparently, Bai Xia’s grandmother had died less than a year ago, and her grandfather remarried quickly—it was a mess.
Qi Mo was totally confused but didn’t expect that chubby guy really was Bai Xia’s uncle.
“Ahem.”
Lin Yan looked at him.
“You should eat.”
Bai Xia stared coldly at Qi Mo.
“It’s good to stay vigilant, but you shouldn’t treat everything and everyone with hostility. Enemies can become friends, and friends can become enemies. There’s no eternal relationship in this world.”
Qi Mo blinked in confusion.
Could enemies really become friends?
Feeling it was pointless explaining, Bai Xia let it drop.
He Yuehua beside her ate clumsily and said, “So he really is your little uncle? I wondered how he was working at such a young age. But he seems nice. Probably not a bad guy, right?”
“Mom says you can’t judge a person by appearances,” Wang Yiyi said seriously.
He Yuehua nodded earnestly.
“Right. From now on, we won’t eat the food he gets for us.”
“I can get your food!”
Qi Mo volunteered, eyes fixed on Bai Xia.
Bai Xia took a sip of water without looking up.
“No need. We have our own hands and feet. We don’t need classmates’ help.”
Qi Mo lowered his head in disappointment.
He didn’t understand why Bai Xia always rejected him.
Wasn’t he handsome enough?
His teeth had already grown in.
Bai Ruanwen didn’t remember how many times she’d been to the Lu family home.
The servants greeted her politely, much friendlier than before, though she didn’t know why.
She knew her daughter was still in school during the day, so she followed the housekeeper to the study on the second floor.
The housekeeper knocked, then opened the door after hearing voices inside.
The study smelled of tea.
The old man was sitting there listening to opera, rolling two walnuts in his hand.
Perhaps sensing a visitor, he looked up and said, “Sit down.”
The housekeeper left and closed the door behind her.
Bai Ruanwen knew Lu Jin Nian had asked for her, probably again about Xia Xia, so she sat down across from him.
“I won’t waste time. We all appreciate you raising Xia Xia to be so sensible. If you need anything, just say.”
Lu Jin Nian looked at the woman who unsettled his grandson’s mind with a somewhat inscrutable expression.
“But since you’re married to Song Xun, you have to watch your influence and keep your distance from Lu Lin. His mind isn’t clear. Don’t let him confuse you like he does.”
Hearing this, Bai Ruanwen seemed to understand and politely explained, “You misunderstood. Lu Lin and I have no contact. He called me before, but I didn’t answer. We won’t have any contact unless it’s absolutely necessary because of Xia Xia.”
“Then what about the company?”
Lu Jin Nian’s eyes were sharp.
“Isn’t the company registered under your name? Why is Lu Lin investing? Does Song Xun know?”
Bai Ruanwen was momentarily stunned, her eyes flickering.
“Song Xun knows. He and Lu Lin communicated behind the scenes. I’m just the registered owner. The company is mainly prepared for Xia Xia, including the bubble tea brand—that’s for Xia Xia too. If you don’t trust me, I can sign a power of attorney agreement. Once Xia Xia is an adult, everything will be handed over to her without reservation.”
The study fell silent.
Lu Jin Nian didn’t speak, quietly sipping his tea.
Song Xun also knew?
That probably meant there was no problem.
Maybe his grandson made peace with the Song family for his daughter’s sake.
That was a good thing—it was better than the two families being estranged forever.
“Since that’s the case, I trust you more than Lu Lin. You’re better at raising daughters. But Xia Xia isn’t Song family’s blood. No one can guarantee whether Song family will treat her as their own. I’m old and can’t gamble. Xia Xia staying with the Lu family at least won’t suffer.”
He sighed. “You and Song Xun will inevitably have your own children someday. Xia Xia will understand in time.”
Bai Ruanwen wanted to say something but didn’t.
Before marriage, she’d told Song Xun clearly that she wouldn’t have more children.
Xia Xia was her only daughter.
She worried it might be unfair to Song Xun, but he insisted Xia Xia was their child and that’s why he proposed.
If he wanted to adopt later, she wouldn’t oppose it.
“I know you treat Xia Xia well. Lu Lin may be stubborn, but I hope you keep an eye on him so he doesn’t pass on wrong ideas. She’s still young and easily influenced. What happened before is past. Lu Lin and I were immature and made mistakes. I have no other thoughts. I just hope Xia Xia grows up healthy.”
Her tone was sincere.
Bai Ruanwen seemed much steadier than before, and Lu Jin Nian nodded.
“It’s Lu Lin who wronged you. If you ever need help, just tell me. Your grandfather and I have been old friends, but unfortunately…”
Ruanwen smiled, took a sip of tea, and said she had other matters.
Lu Jin Nian didn’t stop her and soon had the housekeeper escort her out.
If the Bai family hadn’t gone bankrupt, he’d be happy to have such a granddaughter-in-law.
But with all that happened, the Lu family’s prospects weren’t good for marriage alliances.
Who knew what accidents would happen next?
He didn’t want to care anymore—let the two father and son be as they pleased, as long as whoever they found wasn’t too excessive.
Now he only wanted to cultivate his great-granddaughter well, so she wouldn’t end up like her dad—stubborn, opinionated, with no big-picture view or family responsibility.
After school, the teacher assigned homework.
Bai Xia obediently copied a few classical poems several times and solved some math problems before going to judo class with her coach.
The coach had signed her up for a city-level judo competition for under tens, just the right age group to test her skills.
Fighting outside was too violent, and competitions allowed her to fully demonstrate her ability.
Early the next morning, she changed, put on her sunhat and carried her water bottle. Just as she stepped out, she saw the male lead downstairs on the phone, his tone cold—still lecturing.
Old habits die hard.
She couldn’t let him come to the amusement park with her.
Otherwise, he might think the park was too crowded and clear out everyone.
Only the male lead would do something like that.
Lu Lin finished the call and saw his daughter, wearing a small hat and carrying a little backpack, being led by the housekeeper, ready to go out.
“Going to see your mom?” he suddenly asked.
Bai Xia blinked and glanced at the man on the sofa.
“Isn’t it okay? Do you want to come with me to Uncle Song’s house?”
The housekeeper said nothing.
The young lady was clearly going to the amusement park to meet Bai Ruanwen.
Lu Lin’s tone softened.
“I have to work. You go.”
Knowing he couldn’t hear the words ‘Song family’, Bai Xia seriously said, “You shouldn’t work all the time. When you have time, you can go fishing with great-grandpa. The teacher says filial piety is the greatest virtue. Great-grandpa needs company now. Fishing helps cultivate patience and relax the mind. That way, you won’t be scolding people all the time.”