Huayu: Live a carefree life

"Hmm? Okay, Brother Jie." Liu Haocun wiped the water stains off and obediently replied.

She sat down across from Lu Jie and took over the tea-making task. "Let me do it~ What would you like to talk about, brother?"

Lu Jie smiled and nodded, turning the tea tray in front of her for easier handling. "I've already rinsed the tea, so you can just brew it directly."

Although Liu Haocun was not very skilled, she was very serious, and most importantly, she was beautiful. When she calmed down and brewed tea, the lively young woman showed a unique gentleness.

"Brother, please~"

Lu Jie took the teacup she offered with both hands, smelled the aroma, and then sipped it. He nodded in satisfaction and praised, "Hmm, Xiao Cun has quite a talent for the art of tea."

"Hehe~" Liu Haocun happily accepted the compliment and picked up a glass to taste.

Lu Jie put down his teacup and organized his thoughts. "Xiao Cun, was there an accident at your parents' dance training center?"

Liu Haocun paused, her smiling expression turning into one of apprehension. She quickly regained her composure, put down the teacup, and frowned as she looked at Lu Jie, asking, "Jie, you investigated me?"

"Yes, you probably know a little about the necessary procedures for background checks when we're together. I personally hold a lot of shares in listed companies," Lu Jie explained in a gentle voice. Before she could add, he continued, "Don't overthink it. I also did background checks on Hu Lianxin."

Although he was very unhappy, Liu Haocun felt a little better when he heard that Hu Lianxin had also gone through a background check.

"Hmm, in ancient times, nobles and royalty would investigate three generations of their family history before choosing a concubine, let alone my brother A-Jie~" However, the girl from Northeast China still spoke with a hint of sarcasm, "Yeah, so what are you trying to say? That my family has a tainted past, so I'm not worthy..."

Lu Jie tapped the table lightly to interrupt her potentially reckless rambling, "Hey, can't you let me finish before you start babbling on?"

The knocking on the table was urgent and loud, and the tone of voice was rather cold, which made Liu Haocun dare not be presumptuous anymore.

"Xiao Cun, I like you and want to be with you forever." Lu Jie said in a gentle tone, "I think the mistakes your parents made have nothing to do with you. You were just a 12-year-old kid back then, and even now you're just an ignorant 18-year-old girl."

"But now that you've entered the entertainment industry, you're a public figure. Any stain on your record is a weapon your competitors can use to stab you in the back, understand?"

Liu Haocun sensed the concern in Lu Jie's words, and his mood improved again. He nodded sincerely and said, "I understand, Jie."

"Well, are you aware that your mother has been delaying the payment of compensation?" Lu Jie asked, staring intently at Liu Haocun.

Liu Haocun looked up at Lu Jie with a blank expression. "Huh? They sued my parents a long time ago. Didn't the court rule on it when I was still at the Affiliated High School of Beijing Dance Academy?"

"Yes, the verdict was handed down a long time ago, but your mother has been dragging her feet on paying it." Lu Jie was certain that Liu Haocun's expression just now was genuine, and he immediately felt much more relaxed.

"How could she do this?" Liu Haocun's eyes widened in disbelief, then he hurriedly began to explain, "Brother, believe me, I'm a dancer myself, so I really sympathize with that girl who had the accident. I remember I even went to visit her, but when I got home, Mom scolded me for meddling and gave me a beating. After that, every time I asked her about it, she always said it was an adult matter, and that I should just focus on my dance practice, it had nothing to do with me. I...I..."

Lu Jie was now completely convinced that Liu Haocun's behavior was genuine. He went to her side and gently comforted her, looking into her eyes and saying softly, "Yes, Xiaocun, don't be nervous, I believe in you."

Hearing the person he cares about most say that he believes in him, Liu Haocun's tense body instantly softened due to emotional excitement.

Lu Jie held her slightly cold hand. "The problem now is that the other party has applied for court enforcement because they haven't received compensation. Xiao Cun, you need to understand that although both are 'stains,' voluntarily accepting punishment and making compensation is a completely different concept from being forced to pay compensation by the court."

Although Liu Haocun had little formal education, he still possessed the ability to distinguish right from wrong. While he no longer possessed the lively spirit of his past, his intelligence remained. "Jie, you must have a solution, right?"

Lu Jie affectionately ruffled her hair. "Well, the court's enforcement order hasn't been issued yet, so there's still room for improvement."

Then he reached out and covered Liu Haocun's lips, preventing her from saying what she needed to ask for help. "It's still early. Call your mother or put her on speakerphone. I'll talk to her."

Liu Haocun obediently did as he was told, answering the phone after only three rings. "Mom, are you home? Is it a convenient time to talk?"

Perhaps due to preconceived negative biases, Lu Jie heard a somewhat harsh middle-aged woman's voice: "It's quite rare that you took the initiative to call back. You're at home, watching TV with your dad. Just tell me what's up."

"Mom, why did you and Dad...?"

Just as Liu Haocun was about to question him, Lu Jie interrupted her, "Hello Ms. Lü, my name is Lu Jie, and I am Liu Haocun's boyfriend. What I'm going to talk to you about is the accident that happened a few years ago."

The person on the other end of the phone immediately yelled, "Who are you? Boyfriend? Ha, Liu Haocun! Who gave you permission to date! Do you even have...?"

Seeing Liu Haocun tremble involuntarily, Lu Jie immediately interrupted him loudly and without any politeness, "Ms. Lü Shujuan! Please calm down. I had Xiaocun call to solve a problem, not to argue with you! As for who I am, you can find the answer by searching on Baidu right now."

After learning about Liu Haocun's parents' actions, he was reluctant to have anything to do with them, but out of respect for Liu Haocun, he did it all for their sake. "You dare yell at my woman after doing something wrong? So what if you're her mother?"

But to save Liu Haocun's face, Lu Jie still looked at her gently and said, "Xiao Cun, go to the study and play some games first. I'll talk to your parents alone for a bit."

Liu Haocun sniffed and nodded slightly, then whispered into the phone, "Mom, don't get excited, listen carefully to what Lu Jie has to say."

There was silence on the other end of the phone, "..."

She tugged at Lu Jie's sleeve and pleaded softly, "Jie, she's still my mother, please... don't speak so harshly, okay?"

"Okay, little Cun, come inside." Lu Jie smiled and nodded at her. After she entered the study and closed the door, he spoke again in a cold tone, "How's the investigation going, Ms. Lü? You've figured out who I am, right?"

There was still silence on the other end of the phone.

Lu Jie confirmed the call was still ongoing and, without giving in to the other person, asked again in his usual lecturing tone, "Lü Shujuan, are you still there?"

"Ahem~ Hello, Mr. Lu, I am Liu Haocun's father. You and Xiaocun..." Lu Jie's impoliteness forced Liu Haocun's father to take over the conversation.

Lu Jie knew she was just too proud to admit it, and he didn't care.

Lu Jie, Liu Haocun's father, didn't have much ill will towards him because he had already found out that his family was a "matriarchal society".

"Uncle, we can talk about Xiaocun and me another time." Lu Jie was willing to call him uncle, but his words were still blunt. "Uncle, could you please ask Ms. Lü for me what she thinks about the compensation for Zhang Mouting? Is money more important, or is her daughter's future more important? Now that the parents are applying for court enforcement, is Ms. Lü planning to ruin her daughter's future for money?"

"this……"

"From what I understand, your family isn't short of a million or so to make a living, so why do you insist on letting things escalate to an irreversible point?" Lu Jie's attitude softened slightly. "Don't harbor any illusions that this matter has nothing to do with Xiao Cun. I can tell you with certainty that in the entertainment industry, any stain on a celebrity's record will be magnified infinitely by those with ulterior motives, ultimately becoming a stumbling block on their path to advancement."

"President Lu..."

Lu Jie gently interrupted Liu's father, "Uncle, I'm Liu Haocun's boyfriend. You can just call me Xiao Lu."

"Okay, Xiao Lu, I hadn't thought about these things before, but now that you've said it, I think it makes a lot of sense. You are indeed thinking about Xiao Cun." Mr. Liu's tone was very sincere.

"I'm glad Uncle is listening. I'll go call Xiao Cunchu now, and the three of you can talk as a family. I won't listen in."

"Okay, thank you for your help, Xiao Lu."

"Uncle, you're too kind. Please wait a moment." Lu Jie got up, knocked on the door, and entered the study. Liu Haocun was sitting on the small sofa with his legs drawn up, lost in thought.

He walked over, gently stroked her head, and called softly, "Xiao Cun, Uncle wants to talk to you, so I won't go out."

Liu Haocun looked up at him and smiled, "Okay, I'll go out first and come back to you after I finish the call."