There Is Still a Hidden Hand

The reason Lu Chenyuan dared to investigate his own father was because he knew very well that the true backbone of this family had never been his father, but rather the seemingly reclusive old master Lu Chengsi, who resided far away in the ancestral home.

And Lu Chenyuan himself was the heir personally chosen by Lu Chengsi.

As long as his actions ultimately served to protect the fundamental interests of the Lu family, even such "unfilial" behavior would only be tacitly permitted by the old master once he found out.

His goal was not to expose, but to control.

To grasp every weakness that could be exploited, and then, at the most opportune moment, dismantle these ticking time bombs in the safest way possible.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye amid his busy schedule.

Under Lou Mengling's mix of coaxing and coercion, Lu Qianqian was finally sent off in tears by the chauffeur to the Spring Breeze Community Canteen, embarking on her first-ever "labor reform" experience.

Meanwhile, Lu Chenjin seemed like a completely different person—rising before dawn every day for physical training and burying himself in the automotive engineering and aerodynamics materials Lu Chenyuan had prepared for him in the afternoons, displaying astonishing focus and learning ability.

On the evening of the third day, Lin Yuan knocked on the door of Lu Chenyuan's office and gently placed an encrypted USB drive on the desk.

"President Lu, the information you requested."

Lu Chenyuan nodded and gestured for him to sit.

Inserting the USB into his computer, he entered a long, complex password, and a meticulously organized financial analysis report appeared on the screen.

The report was extensive, detailing Lu Mingye's miscellaneous expenditures over the past eighteen years—investments, collections, social engagements—most of which aligned with his status as one of the powerful figures of a wealthy family.

Lu Chenyuan's eyes skimmed quickly through the report before landing directly on the final page: "Summary of Abnormal Fund Movements."

A line in bold black font instantly seized his attention.

"...A personal account under the name 'Liu Mei' has been discovered, receiving monthly transfers from an offshore account linked to Mr. Lu Mingye on the 15th of every month for the past eighteen years. The amount started at 50,000 yuan per month and gradually increased to the current 200,000 yuan per month, accumulating a staggering total of over 34 million yuan. These transfers have never been interrupted and follow an extremely regular pattern."

Liu Mei.

At the sight of this name, Lu Chenyuan's pupils constricted sharply.

It was her.

In the original storyline, she was the woman his father kept outside the family—the one who bore him an illegitimate child.

His fingers paused briefly over the mouse before he spoke in a low voice to Lin Yuan,

"I need everything about this Liu Mei—her background, education, social connections, past residences... anything and everything you can find. Now."

"It's already prepared." Lin Yuan, as if anticipating the request, retrieved a manila envelope from his briefcase and handed it over.

Lu Chenyuan took the envelope but didn't open it immediately. Instead, he studied Lin Yuan and asked, "Aren't you curious why I'm looking into this?"

Lin Yuan adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and replied calmly, "My job is to solve the problems you present, not to question them."

A faint smile of approval crossed Lu Chenyuan's face—this was exactly why he trusted Lin Yuan so deeply.

With a wave of his hand, he dismissed Lin Yuan.

Once the office door closed softly behind him, Lu Chenyuan was left alone.

Taking a deep breath, he unsealed the envelope and pulled out the documents inside.

Liu Mei's profile was thorough.

The woman in the photograph was nearing forty but had aged gracefully, exuding a charm that was both alluring and demure—the kind that easily stirred a man's protective instincts.

Her background was unremarkable: raised in an orphanage, graduated from vocational school, and worked as a clerk in several companies.

Until... Lu Chenyuan's gaze froze on one particular line.

"March 1998 – January 1999: Employed at Jingzhou First People's Hospital as an administrative clerk in the records department."

1998.

Jingzhou First People's Hospital.

These two details struck his memory like lightning, instantly illuminating a dark corner of his mind.

He remembered clearly—the original story mentioned that Lu Ruoxi and Lu Qianqian were born in the autumn of 1998 at Jingzhou First People's Hospital!

A woman who had been lurking around Lu Mingye for over a decade just happened to be working at the very hospital where the switched daughters were born.

This was no coincidence.

A horrifying suspicion took root in his mind.

The original story only mentioned the switched identities of the two girls but never explored who was behind it or how it was done.

Everyone assumed it was an accident—a tragic twist of fate.

But now, it was clear this was no accident. It was a meticulously calculated scheme!

And Liu Mei was the key player in this conspiracy.

His grip on the documents tightened, his knuckles whitening from the force.

Could Liu Mei be connected to the Li Family?

The possibility sent a bone-chilling dread creeping up Lu Chenyuan's spine.

He had always believed his greatest enemies were the inertia of fate, the eventual corruption of Lu Ruoxi, and the ruthless Li Jinchuan.

Now, it seemed his list of adversaries needed revising.

...

Meanwhile, in an exclusive, members-only private club in Jingzhou.

The tearoom was veiled in the delicate fragrance of tea leaves.

Liu Mei sat poised before the tea set, gracefully brewing a premium Da Hong Pao.

She poured the first infusion over the clay tea pet before offering the second brew respectfully to the man across from her.

"Sir, your tea." Her voice was soft, yet laced with an almost imperceptible tension.

The man seated opposite her appeared to be in his early fifties, with refined features and frameless glasses that lent him the air of a university professor.

He accepted the cup but did not drink, merely inhaling its aroma before remarking mildly, "Your mind is unsettled. The tea's essence is lost."

Liu Mei stiffened almost imperceptibly before forcing a bitter smile. "Forgive my clumsiness. Perhaps I've grown too accustomed to peace—my nerves aren't what they used to be."

"Oh?" The man's lips curled in amusement. "So, you're afraid now?"

"I..." She lowered her lashes, masking the turmoil in her eyes. "I merely thought... perhaps there's no need to—"

"No need?" He cut her off, his smile intact but his gaze turning glacial.

"Liu Mei, have you forgotten your place? The vow you once made to me?"

Her face drained of color, her body trembling uncontrollably.

"I... haven't forgotten..."

"Good." His voice was steel. "Then rid yourself of these pointless thoughts. The grand performance has only just begun."

Rising, he stepped beside her and patted her quivering shoulder, his tone shifting back to that counterfeit gentleness.

"Don't fear. Everything is proceeding as planned."