Chapter 32

Lu Manman knew that her grandfather would find fault with her whenever possible just so he could make things difficult for her family.

Lu Qinzheng was just upset at the fact that the Lu Firm had been passed on to her father back then while his status in the household lost its stronghold. This was unprecedented, which made him the laughingstock of that time. He probably wouldn't be getting over it in this lifetime.

"Grandpa, I'm not being greedy. Mo Yuanxiu was obviously targeting Wen Yun at the charity ball last night, and I just didn't want Wen Yun to be bullied by him. We, the Lu Family, are rational people. I wouldn't continue gnawing at the price, which is why I gave it up eventually. I was also very surprised that Mo Yuanxiu would hand it to me after getting it. Initially I was just like Grandpa, I rejected him. But eventually I accepted it," Lu Manman said with a sincere expression.

Then, she added, "Grandpa, I grew up hearing you talk about finance and business. Didn't you say that businesspeople should not reject value and interests in any form? That's why I accepted the art piece. I thought, if I rejected this, ordinary people might think that I have backbone, but the businessmen would think I'm a fool. What businessmen want isn't to be noble or on a moral high ground, because money in itself isn't always pure and clean. What businessmen want is, as Grandpa said, value and interests.

"And I know that Tao Kuanzhi's art piece is worth an extraordinary amount. If I could get it without even having to spend a cent, that is maximum utility." Lu Manman said it all so naturally and righteously that everyone had no words to counter her.

Lu Qinzheng eyed Lu Manman angrily.

She was using his words against him. This Lu Manman was getting more crafty.

But…

His eyes narrowed. He still had what it took against her!

He was just about to say something…

…when Lu Manman said, "Of course, that's just one of the reasons." Lu Manman then went on without giving anyone else a chance to speak. "The second reason is you yourself, Grandpa."

"Me?" Lu Qinzheng sneered sarcastically. "How filial of you!"

"I know that Grandpa has always liked collecting antiques and renowned artworks. Tao Kuanzhi's works are already out of the market, and this final piece by Tao Kuanzhi in his golden years is all the more valuable. That is why I was preparing to give it to Grandpa on your birthday. But since I'm here now, I should just hand it to you in advance."

With that, Lu Manman opened the poster tube in her hands, and unrolled the art piece in front of Lu Qinzheng.

Lu Xuanran hurriedly got up, and scoffed, "Cousin, how could Grandpa possibly want your art piece?! This art piece has embarrassed our Lu Family! You babbled so much about your values and principles, but do you think Grandpa would buy it and be as greedy as you?! You can't even tell the difference between good and bad!"

Lu Manman knew that Lu Xuanran wasn't strong enough to hold out.

Lu Qinzheng had pampered him too much, so much so that he did not even have to figure out what his Grandpa liked in order to curry favor with him! And now he wanted to sound like the smart one here?!

She sneered.

Lu Qinzheng was an art collector, the sort who would fall out with others, and do whatever it took to get the art pieces he wanted. With such an extraordinary piece before him now, he surely wouldn't be able to resist it.

But after hearing how Lu Xuanran spoke so self-righteously, Lu Qinzheng's expression changed.

He could have just played along with Lu Manman's reasoning, but someone came in to ruin the moment, and it happened to be his precious grandson of all people. He was suppressing his anger so hard his face was distorted.

Lu Manman smiled, and kindly said, "Xuanran, Grandpa is just trying to maximize his gains and profits as a businessman, it's nothing unusual, and definitely not being greedy. Even if you're still young and don't understand things yet, you should hear Grandpa out first, and see what he wants. Now that you've voiced your opinion first, you're already making a decision for Grandpa. Isn't this rude?!"

She'd taken so many turns with her words, but the point was to put Lu Xuanran down.

Lu Xuanran's face went red, and he immediately retorted, "Lu Manman, are you purposely finding trouble with me?! Do you really think I'll be afraid of you?! I don't even care who you are. Don't even think of coming between Grandpa and me!"

Lu Xuanran was so bad at managing his emotions and maintaining his rationality. Could Lu Qinzheng really tolerate this?!

She wouldn't believe it!

She would not believe that after all she had said and done, Lu Qinzheng still wouldn't be disappointed in Lu Xuanran!

Lu Manman smiled purely and innocently. "Xuanran, I know Grandpa is nice to you and both of you live together; how could I dare to come between the two of you? Moreover, if you are really so close, how could I come between you! You're being so agitated now, could that be because you aren't confident about your relationship with Grandpa…"

"Lu Manman, you…" Lu Xuanran was about to have fits.

"I don't know why my appearance makes all of you so angry. Second Uncle is angry, Xuanran as well, and I guess Grandpa is angry with me too." Lu Manman looked pitiful and aggrieved. Her voice was soft, but she did not give anyone else a chance to interrupt her. "I will leave then. Grandpa has always doted on Xuanran; since Xuanran despises Tao Kuanzhi's art piece in my hands, Grandpa surely wouldn't accept it. If I said anything more, Xuanran would say that I was deliberately coming between you. Mom, let's go home first. We can come back when Second Uncle and the rest have calmed down."

With that, she grabbed her stunned mother, and turned around to leave.

They left so calmly, leaving the family behind fuming mad.

They had wanted to lecture Lu Manman severely, and vent their anger on her. They could also take the opportunity to force her to get her father to bring Lu Xuanran into the company. Lu Manman had agreed to help them the last time, but had not actually done it after she'd promised them. They wanted to take this chance to take revenge on Lu Manman, but who would have expected things to turn out this way? Who would've guessed that Lu Manman's calm and composed demeanor would be so lethal?

Meanwhile, Lu Qinzheng was the angriest.

Not only did he not achieve his goal, he even had to watch the art piece he'd been eyeing slip away. And now, he could never have the face to ask Lu Manman for it.

He had so much rage inside him.

He turned to look at Lu Xuanran.

He looked at how Lu Xuanran was now still talking bad about Lu Manman with so much agitation he wasn't bothering to conceal. Disappointment flashed across Lu Qinzheng's eyes. There was no denying that the slipping away of that art piece was all Lu Xuanran's fault!