Lu Qianqian's Choice

Time passed quickly, and it was already July.

Lu Qianqian, thanks to the Lu family's influence and a series of implicit advantages, received her admission letter from the School of Foreign Languages at Jingzhou University without any suspense.

In the past, this letter would have thrilled her for an entire month. But now, it lay quietly on the table, as if it were just an ordinary piece of paper.

The family dinner that evening was subdued.

Lou Mengling, her mother, was still away in Qingzhou, unwinding. The large dining table was occupied only by Lu Mingye, Lu Chenyuan, and Lu Qianqian.

Lu Mingye looked at his daughter’s gilded admission letter, his face showing rare satisfaction. Just as he was about to speak and outline her bright future, Lu Qianqian set down her chopsticks.

"Dad, Brother," she took a deep breath, her gaze clear and resolute. "I’ve made up my mind. I want to apply for a one-year leave of absence from school. I want to see what the world is really like."

Her month volunteering at the community canteen had planted a seed in her heart—and now, that seed seemed ready to sprout.

She wanted to see how many people in the world were struggling in poverty.

She wanted to see if she could do something more meaningful.

"Nonsense!" Lu Mingye’s smile froze instantly. His brows furrowed tightly, his voice filled with disbelief and reprimand. "Do you even realize what you’re saying? An admission letter from Jingzhou University is something countless people dream of, and you’re just going to take a leave of absence? What will people think of our family’s reputation if this gets out—"

Lu Mingye was about to continue when Lu Chenyuan spoke up.

"I support you."

Lu Mingye stared at Lu Chenyuan in disbelief, his mouth opening but no words coming out. A sense of humiliation quickly followed.

Looking at his increasingly assertive son—who had long slipped from his control—Lu Mingye could only let out a cold snort, swallowing all his dissatisfaction.

He knew all too well that in this household now, he had no power to oppose Lu Chenyuan’s decisions.

Ignoring his father’s departure in anger, Lu Chenyuan turned to Lu Qianqian and said calmly,

"Your idea is good. However, the places you’ll be visiting are harsh and underdeveloped. Safety is the top priority. You focus on preparing—I’ll handle the rest."

Lu Qianqian’s eyes instantly brightened. All her anxiety and nervousness vanished without a trace at her brother’s words, "I’ll handle it."

She nodded vigorously, her eyes slightly reddening. "Thank you, Brother!"

At that moment, she felt incredibly fortunate to have such an elder brother.

He was like an unshakable mountain—guiding her path while shielding her from storms.

...

After the dinner ended on an unpleasant note, Lu Chenyuan returned to his study and called his mother, Lou Mengling.

Her voice on the other end was as gentle as ever. "Chenyuan, it’s so late. Is something wrong?"

"Mom, there’s something I need to tell you," Lu Chenyuan said in a composed tone. "Qianqian has decided to take a one-year leave of absence to conduct social research in impoverished areas."

"A leave of absence?" Lou Mengling’s voice carried surprise, but what followed wasn’t opposition—only deep concern. "Where is she planning to go? Will she be safe? She’s been pampered all her life—can she endure such hardship?"

"Don’t worry. I’ll ensure her safety. She won’t face any danger," Lu Chenyuan reassured her. "This is a decision she made after careful consideration—it shows she’s growing up. We should be happy for her."

A brief silence followed on the other end before Lou Mengling let out a soft sigh, a mix of pride and heartache in her voice.

"You’re right… She really has grown up, forming her own ideas. Chenyuan, go ahead and make the arrangements. I trust you. I… I’ll return to Jingzhou tomorrow. I need to see her in person and help her pack."

"Alright, Mom. Travel safely."

Hanging up, Lu Chenyuan allowed a faint smile to cross his lips.

His mother’s reaction was exactly as he’d expected. A mother who truly loved her child would always prioritize respect and support over worry.

As for him, it was time to set in motion the real security measures for his sister’s "grand journey."

Lu Chenyuan’s efficiency was astonishing.

He knew very well that Lu Qianqian’s trip was no trivial matter.

Many of the places she intended to visit were remote, information-scarce, and fraught with complex environments. A single misstep could lead to danger.

Thus, security was the top priority.

Ordinary security firms didn’t even merit his consideration.

Three days later, through connections he’d cultivated over the years, he managed to reach a recently retired specialist.

At the Lu family estate in Xishan, Jingzhou, a low-profile black Hongqi sedan pulled in and stopped in front of the main residence.

The door opened, and a woman stepped out.

She appeared to be in her late twenties, dressed in simple black athletic wear. Her tall, well-proportioned frame exuded strength.

Her features were delicate, her skin a healthy wheat tone, and her short, neat hair added to her striking presence.

Even standing still, she radiated an aura of unapproachable authority.

Lu Chenyuan personally greeted her at the entrance.

"Ms. Ji, welcome." He extended his hand.

"Mr. Lu." Ji Wushuang shook his hand briefly, her grip firm. Her sharp eyes swept the surroundings with professional scrutiny.

"Please, come in." Lu Chenyuan led her into the living room.

Lu Qianqian sat nervously on the sofa.

When she saw Ji Wushuang, she froze for a moment.

The female bodyguard she’d imagined would either look like a muscular action-movie heroine or an icy, expressionless figure.

But Ji Wushuang was far more… normal than she’d expected. Even—dare she say—quite attractive.

Yet the innate air of competence and detachment about her made it clear she wasn’t someone to approach lightly.

"Qianqian, come here," Lu Chenyuan called.

Lu Qianqian stood and walked to her brother’s side.

"This is Ms. Ji Wushuang, your personal security consultant," Lu Chenyuan introduced. "For the next year, she will be solely responsible for your safety. On all matters concerning security, her word is absolute. You must obey her unconditionally—just as you would respect me."

His tone was grave.

He understood that someone like Ji Wushuang carried her own pride and principles. Only by giving her full respect and trust could she perform her duties without reservation.

"Ms. Ji, hello," Lu Qianqian greeted, somewhat awkwardly.

Ji Wushuang’s gaze settled on her, more assessing than polite. After a moment, she gave a slight nod. "Miss Lu."

The atmosphere grew tense.

Lu Qianqian glanced between the formidable "security consultant" and her stern-faced brother. The spoiled side of her, momentarily suppressed, began to resurface.

Leaning toward Lu Chenyuan, she whispered in a voice only he could hear,

"Big brother, I'm not a three-year-old anymore. Sending a 'nanny' to follow me around is just too much. I can take care of myself."

She thought she was speaking softly, but she didn’t notice the slight twitch in Ji Wushuang’s ear the moment she opened her mouth.

Lu Chenyuan’s expression hardened as he patted her head. "This isn’t up for discussion. When it comes to your safety, there’s no such thing as 'too much.' Either Ms. Ji accompanies you, or you don’t go anywhere—just honestly head back to school."

"I…" Lu Qianqian immediately fell silent, pouting in frustration.

Seeing his sister’s expression, Lu Chenyuan’s heart softened, and his tone gentled. "Once you truly understand how complicated the outside world can be, you’ll realize why I’m doing this."

Ji Wushuang observed everything without a flicker of emotion, though internally, she adjusted her assessment of the mission’s difficulty up a notch.

Protecting a target wasn’t just about handling external threats—it also meant managing the target’s own "unpredictability."

This young miss of the Lu family clearly wasn’t fully prepared yet.

The next two weeks became Lu Qianqian’s personal "boot camp."