Stepdaughter of a wealthy family? The little darling of a Beijing tycoon

Shen Jingshu stopped hesitating, a decisive glint in her eyes. In any case, she could only profit from this deal; absorbing the purple energy was a tangible benefit, so why not?

Seeing this, Lu Jingxing's tone became more urgent, as if afraid she would change her mind: "Pretending to be my girlfriend will make things much easier for you in the future. If you have any requests, feel free to ask, and I will do my best to fulfill them."

This statement is a major taboo in negotiation—making promises first often puts you at a disadvantage.

But Lu Jingxing couldn't wait. He just wanted to hold this girl firmly in his grasp as soon as possible and didn't want to wait a moment longer.

Shen Jingshu pondered for a moment, then asked, "Okay. But what do I need to do?"

Lu Jingxing breathed a sigh of relief and slowed his speech. "Just cooperate with me when necessary, and accompany me home to see my father. You don't need to worry about anyone else. Conversely, if you need my cooperation in anything, I will do my best to help."

OK.

Shen Jingshu readily agreed. Rather than waiting for the Li family to use her for a marriage alliance later, it was better to strike first and find such a powerful backer. Lu Jingxing's conditions were indeed the best choice.

"Then it's settled."

"Okay." A hint of barely perceptible joy flashed in Lu Jingxing's eyes. He immediately set a time. "Miss Shen, I'll come to the Li family tomorrow to pick you up and take you to see the old man."

"So fast?" Shen Jingshu was slightly taken aback.

"Once the deal is done, it should be done as quickly as possible."

Lu Jingxing met her gaze, his tone serious yet tinged with urgency, "The old man is getting on in years and keeps asking about this every day. I want to put his mind at ease as soon as possible so he won't have to worry about this matter anymore."

Shen Jingshu hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Alright then, come pick me up from the Li family tomorrow morning."

She didn't want the Li family to know about her agreement with Lu Jingxing too soon, so she quickly added, "I want to keep our relationship a secret from the Li family for now, and tell them when the time is right. After all, we're just pretending to be a couple, and if it's exposed prematurely, it will inevitably cause unnecessary trouble."

Lu Jingxing had no objection whatsoever, his tone gentle and submissive: "Alright, I'll do whatever you say. As long as we can keep the old man on his side."

"Um."

After the two finalized all the details, Shen Jingshu turned around and went back to her room alone.

Lu Jingxing watched her departing figure until it disappeared around the corner of the stairs before turning his gaze away.

He had no intention of staying at the banquet, and now that his worries were over, he was even less willing to linger.

He didn't disturb anyone in the banquet hall, but quietly sent a message to Li Hanting to let him know, and then drove away from the Li family.

Throughout the entire banquet, apart from a few key members of the Li family, none of the other guests knew that the usually reclusive head of the Lu family had actually been present.

Throughout the banquet, Shen Xinyi stayed close to Lin Wanqing, using her status as the matriarch of the Li family to make acquaintances with many wealthy ladies and young ladies from prominent families.

Midway through, Madam Lu, from a branch of the Lu family, specially brought her daughter Lu Manman over to greet Lin Wanqing.

Upon hearing that the woman in front of her, Mrs. Lu, was the mother of Lu Ze, the target she had set her sights on, Shen Xinyi's eyes lit up instantly. She became exceptionally enthusiastic and attentive, her words filled with deliberate flattery.

But Madam Lu was used to seeing things and had a sharp eye; she didn't take a liking to Shen Xinyi at all.

In her opinion, this girl had not formally entered the Li family with Lin Wanqing, so her status was already awkward; moreover, her words and actions revealed a petty and opportunistic mentality, far inferior to Shen Jingshu.

When Shen Jingshu appeared just now, she was composed, dignified, and elegant, with a natural air of sophistication that truly reflected the demeanor of a lady from a distinguished family.

Shen Xinyi's clingy attitude is truly beneath her dignity.

However, out of consideration for Lin Wanqing and the Li family, Madam Lu did not show any disdain on her face. She simply exchanged a few polite words and then decided to let it go.

Unexpectedly, Lu Manman and Shen Xinyi hit it off.

The two were of similar age and had a lot to talk about, so they quickly became acquainted and exchanged contact information, affectionately calling each other sisters.

In truth, Madam Lu harbored her own scheme.

Her initiative to greet Lin Wanqing today was not merely a polite gesture.

She had been preoccupied with her son Lu Ze's marriage for some time, trying to find a suitable match from a family of similar standing that could help Lu Ze. She searched through Beijing's social circles but couldn't find a suitable candidate.

Just now, Shen Jingshu appeared with Li Wenqian, her calm and composed demeanor instantly catching Madam Lu's eye.

She immediately felt that this girl was the perfect match. The Li family originally had no daughters, so there was no way to arrange a marriage, but now Shen Jingshu was regarded as the apple of Li Wenqian's eye and was pampered, so her status was no longer the same as before.

If a marriage alliance could be formed with the Li family, the power and status of the Li family, coupled with the deep friendship between the two families in the past, would definitely provide the most crucial boost to his son Lu Ze's bid for the position of Lu family heir.

Having made up her mind, Madam Lu began to inquire about Shen Jingshu's situation from Lin Wanqing, intentionally or unintentionally.

Lin Wanqing was simple-minded and had never experienced such a social gathering in a wealthy family. She only felt that Madam Lu had a kind face and a friendly attitude, and was completely unaware of her thoughts. So she told her about Shen Jingshu's recent situation in detail.

When Madam Lu learned that Shen Jingshu was a student at Peking University, just like her son Lu Ze, she held her in even higher regard.

She had been secretly thinking that Shen Jingshu was beautiful, but had joined the Li family halfway through her life, so she was probably just pretty but with mediocre knowledge and abilities.

Unexpectedly, Shen Jingshu was able to get into Peking University based on her own abilities—it should be noted that Peking University is not an institution that can be easily entered by relying on family power; one must have real talent and learning.

Nowadays, most scions of prominent families have mediocre academic performance. They either drift through life or are sent abroad by their families to gain prestige. Being able to get into Peking University on their own merit is already extremely outstanding and a matter of pride for their families.

As a result, Shen Jingshu became an even more perfect daughter-in-law candidate in Madam Lu's heart.

As the banquet drew to a close, Madam Lu pulled Lin Wanqing aside to exchange contact information. Her tone was warm and sincere, and she said that the two hit it off and agreed to have tea and go shopping together sometime in the future. She also offered to introduce Lin Wanqing to other ladies and wives in Beijing's social circle.

Lin Wanqing was deeply moved. In her eyes, this Mrs. Lu was gentle and friendly, and she was especially close to her. She genuinely wanted to befriend her.

As night deepened, the boisterous banquet finally came to an end. Guests from various prominent families who had come to offer their congratulations rose to take their leave and departed the Li family villa one after another.