Gu Ming watched the young man's retreating figure, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. It had been a long time since he'd felt anything close to this sense of intrigue.
In his former life, before the accident, his days were filled with people who either flattered him out of fear or sought to benefit from his influence.
But after the incident, many of those "loyal" people had shown their true colours.
Some had openly distanced themselves, while others mocked him behind his back as if his physical limitations made him lesser in their eyes.
Now, as he observed this young man who had entered his world so unexpectedly, he noted something refreshing. The young man had never once looked at his legs with pity or disdain; he hadn't even seemed to notice them.
A thoughtful, almost inscrutable look filled Gu Ming's gaze as he turned his attention back to the files on the table.
A faint sense of excitement sparked within him like a dormant fire reignited
.
"Hong."
"Yes, sir!" Assistant Hong's voice cut through the silence, his expression still holding a mix of surprise and caution as he looked at Gu Ming, his thoughts racing.
"What do you think of him?" Gu Ming's question was simple, yet the weight behind it was clear.
Both he and Assistant Hong understood that no names were needed—the young man was already on both of their minds.
Hong took a moment, collecting his thoughts before answering honestly. "Extremely dangerous, and powerful. The Lu family has unwittingly invited a wolf into their home."
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully as if peeling back the layers of the young man's persona. "However, he's no brute. There's intelligence there, a strategic mind. And since we hold no grudge against him, befriending him could be an advantage. But he's certainly not someone we should trust without reserve. It would be wise to keep a measured distance."
Gu Ming nodded, satisfied. Over the years, Assistant Hong has proven his insight countless times. He had been by Gu Ming's side through turbulent waters and treacherous tides, and his judgments of people were rarely wrong.
With a quiet exhale, Gu Ming picked up the files, his mind drifting to the young man's pale blue eyes, a spark of mischief glinting in his own. "Since he seems so intent on giving his family some sweet time, perhaps we could lend a hand. I recall he has a half-brother who's something of a celebrity. Let's start with him."
Assistant Hong's face tightened, a complicated expression crossing his features. "Hmm…about that…"
Gu Ming raised an eyebrow. "Is there an issue?"
Hong hesitated, then handed his iPad to Gu Ming, revealing a trending social media post. "It seems we don't need to do anything at all. Someone has already begun."
Gu Ming took the iPad, scanning the screen as his lips twisted with a hint of amusement. A photograph of Lu Jing—pale, dishevelled, and visibly bruised—was circulating online, accompanied by an unexpected caption.
The post, supposedly written by Lu Jing himself, read:
"I got beaten by my half-brother who came back home after many years. Wish me good luck on my recovery."
Gu Ming couldn't suppress a smirk. The image and caption had ignited social media, capturing public fascination. With Lu Jing currently hospitalised and under the watchful eye of his father, the Lu family's patriarch had tried to keep the situation under wraps.
To avoid any blemishes on his son's rising career, he had gone so far as to station security around the hospital, ensuring no unwelcome outsiders could reach Lu Jing or his mother.
Because of that Lu Jing's agent or the company responsible for him could not reach him, not to mention the photo was posted under Lu Jing's web and with system 4858 work, the post couldn't be taken down no matter what others tried to do.
Not to mention to the public eyes, it was the first time a star took the initiative to expose their embarrassing site.
Lu Jing's true fans were shaken, and wondering what was wrong with their idol's head and Lu Jing's black fans were happy and started to make a mess.
So right now, the hot reaches are filled with Lu Jing web.
Lu Jing's die-hard fans were in an uproar, torn between disbelief and concern, questioning what could have caused their idol to act so recklessly.
Meanwhile, his black fans seized the opportunity, flooding social media with ridicule and mockery. Within hours, Lu Jing's name topped search results, with the scandal escalating beyond anyone's control.
"Interesting," Gu Ming murmured, a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes.
It was as if the young man had flipped a switch, sparking chaos with the simplest act.
[What the hell? I never thought I'd see such a thing,] one comment read, filled with shock and incredulity.
[Has Lu Jing lost his mind? Why would he post something this embarrassing on his Weibo?] someone else chimed in, as more onlookers flooded the page with similar reactions.
[The only thing he had going for him was his face, and now it looks worse than a ghost's. Tsk tsk.]
[I didn't know Lu Jing had a brother. I thought he only had a sister.]
[Oh, new fans wouldn't know, but Lu Jing isn't the legitimate son of the Lu family. He has a half-brother who left the country when he was young. I'd almost forgotten about him.]
People seemed shocked, appalled, even disgusted, as comments poured in, each one more biting than the last.
[Who in their right mind posts something like this? Was his account hacked?]
[Are you seriously that clueless? It was posted on Lu Jing's official Weibo. If it was hacked, his management would have stepped in by now. You've watched too many movies!] The certainty in this comment only fueled the intrigue and mocking.
[Wow! He got beat up so badly that his face is practically black and blue. As a Lu Jing black fan, I'm feeling pretty satisfied right now!]
[Me too! And I wonder if we'll get a chance to meet Lu Jing's mysterious brother.]
[Lu Jing always acts so high and mighty. I wonder what he's going to do now that his horrendous face is all over the internet. I doubt any director will want to hire him after this!]
The page was a battlefield of sarcasm and ridicule. True fans of Lu Jing, usually so vocal in his defence, stayed silent, unwilling to be dragged into the fray.
Many had been driven away by the overwhelming tide of negativity, and some had even become anti-fans themselves.
Despite the relentless efforts of Lu Jing's company to control the narrative and calm the situation, it was obvious someone was orchestrating the storm from behind the scenes, and all their attempts were proving fruitless.
Gu Ming closed his iPad, his expression impassive as he turned to give his orders. "We've received our payment, so it's only natural we deliver on our end. Let's add more fuel to the fire."
Assistant Hong nodded in understanding. "I'll take care of it."
With a simple nod, Gu Ming set everything into motion. The already turbulent stream of vitriol and speculation on Lu Jing's Weibo intensified as if someone had poured gasoline on smouldering embers.
Within hours, Lu Jing's name was at the centre of the latest viral scandal, and his future in the entertainment industry seemed on the verge of collapse.
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Lucifer sat behind the wheel of his sleek, luxurious car, watching the city lights blur past as he drove. His gaze was calm, detached, as he took in the view with a quiet satisfaction.
The calm hum of the engine blended into the ambience, and he allowed himself to sink into the peace of the moment, until—
Ring ring~~~
Lucifer glanced at the phone screen before answering with a lazy tone. As he lifted his hand from the steering wheel, the car's autonomous system seamlessly took over, guiding the vehicle as smoothly as a loyal servant.
"Hmm?" Lucifer's voice was languid, barely masking a hint of curiosity.
"Hello, hello!" came the voice of a woman on the other end, sounding slightly startled before she collected herself.
"Hello, Sir. I'm calling from Sky High Bank, where you've recently been recognized as a VIP customer. I reached out because our manager would like to speak with you regarding some very important matters. May I ask if you have a moment?"
"Hm…" Lucifer smirked, already aware of the nature of the call. He glanced briefly at the system's round tail and gently pocked it.
The system had, with its meticulous data-gathering methods, amassed a significant amount of wealth across various bank accounts—so much that banks had taken notice.
Lucifer sighed "Sure, Let's meet tomorrow at lunch at the Raven Hotel."
he then hung up the phone. "Hey"
"Yes, lord host" System responds instantly.
"Take care of it." Lucifer didn't need to say any further, the system understood what its tyrant host meant.
Lucifer doesn't want to draw much attention to himself so he wants the system to take care of the financial situation.