Formally Leaving

The next morning, in Lu Chenyuan’s office.

Lu Mingshi’s mood was exhilarated, even tinged with a hint of barely concealed nervousness.

He had never dreamed in his wildest fantasies that the ultimate power over Lu Corporation—something he had coveted for so long—would be delivered to him in such a dramatic fashion.

"Chenyuan, are you really sure about this?" Lu Mingshi asked, feigning hesitation as he eyed the thick stack of equity transfer documents on the desk, though the greed in his eyes was impossible to hide.

"Uncle, I’ve already signed." Lu Chenyuan’s tone was indifferent as he slid a document across the table. "These are all the Lu Corporation shares I personally hold, at the price we agreed upon."

Then, Lou Mengling pushed her own set of documents forward, her voice icy and detached:

"These are my shares as well, all transferred to you. There’s only one condition—finalize the divorce proceedings as soon as possible. From now on, I owe Lu Mingye nothing."

Lu Mingshi’s heart pounded wildly!

Combined, Lu Chenyuan and Lou Mengling’s shares amounted to over 15% of the company’s total equity!

Once he absorbed these shares, he would instantly become Lu Corporation’s largest controlling shareholder!

Not even his elder brother Lu Mingye—let alone the family patriarch, Lu Chengsi—could challenge his position anymore.

"No problem! No problem at all!" Lu Mingshi practically snatched the documents, hastily scribbling his signature under the lawyer’s guidance.

The funds were transferred. The agreement took effect.

When everything was settled, Lu Mingshi stared at the confirmation message on his phone, his entire body light with euphoria.

He had won.

At last, he had defeated the elder brother who had overshadowed him and his siblings since childhood, and he had triumphed over the nephew whom the old man had pinned all his hopes on.

From this day forward, he, Lu Mingshi, was the true master of Lu Corporation!

He didn’t even bother to question why Lu Chenyuan and his mother had so decisively sold off their shares. He simply dismissed it as his nephew’s impulsive reaction to the family infighting.

With a saccharine smile, he looked at Lu Chenyuan and said,

"Chenyuan, don’t worry. Your uncle will take Lu Corporation to new heights!"

Lu Chenyuan ignored his hypocrisy. He merely stood and said calmly,

"I hope Uncle can hold onto that seat. Mom, let’s go."

Watching the mother and son leave, Lu Mingshi curled his lip in disdain.

Just a brat weighed down by women and family drama—nothing to fear.

Immediately, Lu Mingshi called his assistant, brimming with excitement.

"Notify all board members—an emergency meeting at 2 PM! I have major announcements to make!"

……

2 PM, Lu Corporation’s top-floor conference room.

The atmosphere was heavy and tense.

The Lu family’s uncles and the company’s directors had all caught wind of the news beforehand.

When Lu Mingshi strode in, beaming, and took the seat at the head of the table—the seat that had always belonged to Lu Chenyuan—everyone understood: the sky over Lu Corporation had truly changed.

Lu Mingye sat quietly in his usual spot, appearing unnervingly calm.

Since last night, he had tried reaching Lou Mengling, Lu Chenyuan, even begging the old patriarch, Lu Chengsi—but all he received were cold rejections.

So what if he had an affair?

So what if he had a mistress?

So what if he fathered a child out of wedlock?

Wasn’t that how things were done?

Why had it come to this?

Lu Mingye felt no remorse.

Only resentment toward Lou Mengling, his once-docile and obedient wife.

Only fury toward Lu Chenyuan, the son he had once been so proud of—until the boy’s growth began to threaten him.

That ungrateful wretch, Lu Mingye inwardly roared.

But after his futile rage, his face turned ashen, as if he had aged a decade in an instant.

"Everyone," Lu Mingshi cleared his throat, pausing deliberately as his gaze swept the room.

All eyes were on him.

Some uneasy, some ingratiating, some fawning, some deferential.

This was the taste of power!

It felt incredible.

This was what it meant to be the center of attention.

This was what it meant to hold life and death in his hands.

Only now did Lu Mingshi truly understand what it was like to be the head of the Lu family.

All his life, he had been overshadowed by his elder brother, Lu Mingye.

A complete waste of a man.

When their father, Lu Chengsi, had finally lost faith in Lu Mingye, Lu Mingshi thought his time had come—only for Lu Chenyuan to emerge.

Even as a teenager, Lu Chenyuan exuded the same intimidating presence as the old patriarch.

Lu Mingshi’s restless ambition had been stifled once again.

But today, no one could stand in his way anymore!

Lu Mingshi thought triumphantly.

He cleared his throat once more, ready to deliver his grand announcement—when the conference room doors swung open.

Lu Chenyuan walked in.

Lu Mingshi stiffened, baffled by his nephew’s sudden appearance.

Instinctively, his nerves tightened.

This nephew had left too deep a psychological scar.

Yet Lu Chenyuan remained as composed as ever, though today, he seemed to have shed some invisible burden, his demeanor sharper and more unshackled than before.

"Chenyuan?" Lu Mingshi forced a smile. "Perfect timing. We were just about to—"

"I’m not here for the meeting." Lu Chenyuan cut him off, striding to the table and coolly surveying the room.

With a wave of his hand, Zhang Qi stepped forward, retrieving a document from his briefcase and placing it on the table.

"I’ve come to formally submit my resignation to the board."

His voice was quiet, but it struck like thunder in everyone’s ears.

"Effective immediately, I am stepping down from all positions within Lu Corporation and its subsidiaries. As you all know, I have also divested all my personal shares. From this moment on, I have no further ties to Lu Corporation."

The room erupted in shock!

If the earlier equity transfer had merely signaled a shift in the Lu family’s internal power structure, Lu Chenyuan’s complete departure meant Lu Corporation was losing its very soul.

Lu Mingshi’s smile froze, replaced by stunned disbelief.

He had imagined countless scenarios—but never this. Lu Chenyuan wasn’t just stepping aside; he was severing all ties!

This wasn’t a power grab.

This was… abdication?

No—it was more like handing him a red-hot coal!

But the real storm was only beginning.

"If Chairman Lu has made his decision," a crisp, no-nonsense female voice spoke up—Ren Qian, the administrative director, stood and placed her own resignation letter on the table. "I, too, will resign as administrative director."

"Same here. Director of Technology, resigning."

"Operations Department…"