Extra Chapter - Tales of the Capital - A Different Version

On the way back to the Lu family mansion from the Western Hills, the atmosphere inside Lu Mingye's red Ferrari was cheerful.

His new female companion was chattering away.

From the latest fashion trends to gossip within their social circle.

Lu Mingye listened with a smile, interjecting a word or two now and then, which always elicited a string of laughter from the girl.

He was thoroughly enjoying this feeling.

The scent of perfume in the car and the girl's adoring gaze made him forget the displeasure from the racetrack.

Li Xiujian's arrogance.

Mo Zhenbang's aloofness.

And his father's icy stare from the balcony.

He had temporarily pushed them all to the back of his mind.

The car stopped in front of a luxury apartment building downtown.

"I'll walk you up first."

Lu Mingye unbuckled his seatbelt.

"No need, Brother Mingye."

The girl shook her head instead.

"My mom wants me home early."

She leaned over and planted a light kiss on Lu Mingye's cheek.

"Thank you for today. I'm so touched that you gave up the race to be with me."

With that, she pushed the car door open and, like a happy butterfly, fluttered into the apartment lobby.

Lu Mingye touched his cheek.

The smile on his face slowly faded.

Touched?

He just didn't want to be the awkward third place in the showdown between Li Xiujian and Mo Zhenbang.

He just needed a decent excuse to leave early.

He was weak, not actually stupid.

Lu Mingye started the car, the engine roaring.

He didn't go home.

He drove aimlessly along Jingzhou's Fourth Ring Road.

The night deepened.

In the end, Lu Mingye still drove the car back to the Lu family mansion.

After parking, he walked into the living room.

All the lights in the living room were on.

But it was empty.

Only a suffocating silence remained.

He knew his father was waiting for him.

Lu Mingye took a deep breath, trying to make his footsteps sound steady.

He walked up to the second floor.

The study door was slightly ajar.

A dim, yellowish light spilled from within.

He could smell the scent of a cigar.

His father's favorite Cuban cigar.

He knew that the angrier his father was, the calmer his demeanor became.

Lu Mingye stood outside the door for a long time.

He straightened his collar and pushed the door open.

"Dad."

Lu Chengsi sat behind a massive rosewood desk.

He didn't look at Lu Mingye, merely trimming a fresh cigar.

His movements were slow, full of ritual.

In the study, there was only the soft snip of the scissors.

Lu Mingye stood before the desk, head bowed.

He didn't dare sit down.

He felt his father's silence pressing down on his back like a mountain.

"You're back."

Finally, after a long while, Lu Chengsi spoke.

His voice was calm, betraying neither anger nor joy.

"Yes," Lu Mingye replied.

"Did you have fun?"

Lu Chengsi asked.

"...It was alright."

"For a woman, you gave up a competition."

Lu Chengsi looked up, his gaze settling on Lu Mingye's face.

"Do you think that's very gallant?"

Lu Mingye's heart sank like a stone.

"Dad, I..."

"Did I send you to the equestrian club so you could chase women?"

Lu Chengsi cut him off.

"All three families—the Lu, Mo, and Li families—have submitted proposals for that piece of land in the east of the city."

"Today's horse race was a pretense; the real purpose was to sound each other out."

"The Li family wants to dominate alone. The Mo family wants to sit back and reap the rewards."

"And you?"

"What did you see?"

Every word from Lu Chengsi felt like a heavy hammer striking Lu Mingye's heart.

"I... I saw that Li Xiujian was very arrogant. He wanted to secure that land with just one race."

Lu Mingye answered with difficulty.

"And then?"

"Then Mo Zhenbang didn't let him succeed. He didn't agree to the wager."

"So, you think today, Li Xiujian lost and Mo Zhenbang won?"

A trace of mockery touched the corner of Lu Chengsi's mouth.

"Isn't that the case?"

Lu Mingye retorted instinctively.

Lu Chengsi looked at his eldest son.

At his handsome yet shallow face.

At those eyes that only knew how to please women.

A wave of immense disappointment welled up in his heart.

He set the trimmed cigar aside.

He didn't even have the energy to get angry anymore.

"Get out."

Lu Chengsi waved his hand, his tone full of weariness.

"I'm tired."

Lu Mingye was stunned.

He had prepared countless explanations.

He had anticipated his father's furious wrath.

But he hadn't expected this.

This feeling of being utterly dismissed was worse than any scolding.

"Dad, I was wrong."

He was eager to prove himself.

"I shouldn't have done it for a woman... I just thought Li Xiujian was too overbearing, I didn't want to let him..."

"Out."

Lu Chengsi's tone hardened.

He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

Lu Mingye opened his mouth, but in the end, said nothing.

He bowed slightly and retreated from the study.

Then, gently, closed the door.

The moment the door shut, all the strength seemed to drain from his body.

He leaned against the wall, gasping for breath.

The study door was like an insurmountable barrier.

Shutting him out of his father's world.

In the shadows of the corridor, a door quietly opened a crack.

The Lu family's second son, Lu Mingshi, had been standing behind it.

He had heard the entire conversation.

Watching his elder brother's devastated appearance, he felt no sympathy, only satisfaction.

And a deeper resentment.

His elder brother was so useless.

Worthless in their father's eyes.

Yet he was still the Lu family's eldest son.

The rightful heir.

Father might be disappointed in him, might scold him, but he had never thought of giving up on him.

And what about himself?

No matter what he did, in their father's eyes, he was just "the second son."

Lu Mingshi clenched his fists.

Why?

His gaze turned sinister.

In stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere in the Lu residence, the Li family villa was brightly lit, filled with boisterous laughter.

The huge living room was packed with people.

All core members of the Li family and some business associates.

Meanwhile, in Li Hongji's study.

Li Hongji, flushed and beaming, raised his glass, laughing heartily.

"Hahaha! Good! Well done!"

Li Hongji slapped Li Xiujian on the shoulder with such force that the glasses on the table rattled.

"That's my son, Li Hongji!"

"The racetrack is a battlefield. Winning is everything!"

Li Xiujian raised his glass and drained it in one go.

His face still carried the excitement and fierceness from the racetrack.

But inwardly, he wasn't as pleased as he appeared.

"Dad, that Mo Zhenbang is such a pretentious act."

He said with a frown.

"He clearly lost, yet he acted like he didn't care at all. What did he mean by that phrase? 'Too childish'? He treats my victory as a child's game?"

"That's jealousy!"

Li Hongji sneered.

"Those so-called noble families, relying on their ancestors' prestige, are best at putting on airs of aloofness."

"They don't dare to bare their blades like we do."

"So, they can only play their empty games behind the scenes."

"Look at that Lu Chengsi, isn't he the same? He's raised his son into a complete waste."

"And that little secretary from the municipal government today, Secretary Qian."

Li Hongji picked up his glass, a flash of disdain in his eyes.

"He comes running to me, talking about proper procedures and clear funding. Who does he think he is? Daring to lecture me?"

"I think it's those old foxes, Lu Chengsi and Mo Jingsheng, pulling the strings behind the scenes."

"They're scared."

"They know they can't outplay us in the business arena. That's why they're trying to use higher authorities to pressure us."

Listening to his father, Li Xiujian felt the knot of frustration in his heart loosen somewhat.

"What about the land in the east of the city?"

"We seize it!"

Li Hongji thumped his glass down heavily on the table.

"Tomorrow, you take some men and go 'persuade' all those small companies to withdraw their bids."

"Let's see who dares to touch that land without our Li family's approval!"

"But, Dad, what if the higher-ups really start an investigation..." Li Xiujian still had some reservations.

"Investigation?"

Li Hongji acted as if he had heard the biggest joke.