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

Shen Jingshu quickly finished the last bite of her sandwich, checked the time, and felt it was a bit early, so she took out her phone and sent a message to Lu Jingxing, asking him when he would be leaving.

She replied almost instantly, Lu Jingxing informing her that he had already gotten up and was ready to leave at any time.

The two immediately agreed to meet outside the Li family villa in twenty minutes.

After breakfast, Shen Jingshu went out to keep her appointment.

She didn't use the family driver, only casually mentioning that "someone is coming to pick me up." The housekeeper glanced at a black luxury car already parked outside the gate and didn't think much of it.

As Shen Jingshu stepped out of the gate, she immediately spotted the man in the back seat of the car.

She quickly stepped forward, and the driver respectfully opened the other side of the car door for her.

"Good morning, President Li." Shen Jingshu sat down sideways, her tone light and cheerful.

"Good morning, Miss Shen." Lu Jingxing's gaze fell on her face, his eyes revealing a subtle warmth.

Where are we going?

"Go see the old man."

Shen Jingshu then faced another dilemma, "I can't go empty-handed, can I?"

"It's alright, the old man doesn't care about these formalities," Lu Jingxing replied calmly.

Are you sure?

Shen Jingshu raised an eyebrow and said seriously, "We've all agreed that this is just acting. But according to the rules, even when meeting elders, shouldn't you be the one preparing the gift?"

Looking at her serious expression, Lu Jingxing chuckled softly and reminded her with a hint of intimacy, "Miss Shen, isn't our current way of addressing each other a bit too formal?"

Shen Jingshu was slightly taken aback.

"Can I call you Jing Shu?" He paused, looked into her eyes, and said seriously, "You can call me Jing Xing or Brother Lu."

Shen Jingshu's cheeks flushed almost imperceptibly, and she replied softly, "Then... Brother Lu."

Shen Jingshu changed her address as instructed, but Lu Jingxing shook his head slightly, his tone gentle yet insistent: "I prefer you to call me Jingxing."

"This... isn't quite right." Shen Jingshu hesitated, after all, the two were only pretending to be a couple, and such a form of address was too intimate.

"There's nothing wrong with it. In front of outsiders, we are a couple, and calling each other more intimately will prevent it from being obvious."

Shen Jingshu thought it made sense, so she nodded gently: "Alright then, Jingxing."

Hearing her call his name from her own lips, Lu Jingxing unconsciously smiled faintly.

Shen Jingshu, remembering the gift, couldn't help but ask again, "Have you prepared a gift yet?"

She felt that it was extremely impolite to go to meet the elders of the other party empty-handed for the first time, but looking at Lu Jingxing's nonchalant appearance, she couldn't tell whether he was really unprepared or had other plans.

After a moment's thought, Shen Jingshu felt relieved. She still had several hand-drawn peace talismans in her spatial storage, all of them high-quality items brimming with spiritual energy, things that ordinary people couldn't even dream of obtaining.

If you really don't have any other gifts prepared, giving Grandpa Lu a talisman would be a good idea. It would not only protect him but also be a thoughtful and appropriate gift.

The car drove smoothly for more than an hour before entering another quiet, affluent neighborhood.

The residences here are not as luxurious and ostentatious as those in the bustling city; instead, they exude a sense of calm and solemnity. Most of the residents are retired meritorious figures, each with an extraordinary status.

The residence of the Lu family patriarch is located here.

The old man made many contributions to the country in his youth, and he was always accompanied by bodyguards. The country also specially provided him with a professional medical team and security personnel, which showed him great respect.

As soon as the car entered the area, it went through the first strict security check. After entering the inner perimeter, guards came forward to check the post.

Lu Jingxing slowly lowered the car window. The guards recognized the person inside the car, immediately saluted respectfully, and let him pass.

The car came to a smooth stop in front of the courtyard house, and Lu Jingxing was the first to open the car door and get out.

He intended to turn around and open the car door for Shen Jingshu, but saw that she had already opened the door herself and calmly stepped out.

With her feet on the ground, Shen Jingshu looked around.

With its blue bricks and gray tiles, well-organized courtyard, and excellent feng shui, this place is a haven for relaxation and rejuvenation. Surrounded by lush vegetation, it is tranquil and secluded, free from any noise.

At this point, the driver opened the trunk and took out several exquisitely packaged gift boxes.

Shen Jingshu glanced at him, secretly thinking to herself: This man was clearly prepared all along, and just now he said "the old man doesn't care about these formalities," he's just lying to a ghost.

The driver followed behind carrying the gifts. Lu Jingxing turned to look at the girl beside him, a gentle look in his eyes, and said softly, "I apologize for the intrusion."

Before he finished speaking, he reached out and gently took Shen Jingshu's hand.

Their fingertips touched, and Shen Jingshu was slightly taken aback, looking down at their clasped hands. Lu Jingxing's palm was warm and dry, his grip steady and firm.

"If you're going to put on an act, you have to go all the way, don't you, Jing Shu?" he reminded her softly, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

"Okay, fine."

Shen Jingshu quickly came to terms with it, and even felt that this might not be so bad.

Through this direct contact, she could feel more clearly and directly the rich purple energy flowing into her body from his body, and her cultivation seemed to be quietly increasing.

Seeing that she didn't resist at all, Lu Jingxing's smile deepened. He took her hand and walked towards the courtyard gate.

The driver behind him kept his eyes downcast, seemingly unfazed by the scene before him.

In his mind, ever since his boss met this Miss Shen, he has broken many "taboos" one after another, so it seems that it is no wonder that he does anything outrageous now.

Shen Jingshu's gaze remained subtly fixed on the two people's clasped hands.

She then noticed that the man's hands had distinct knuckles, long and slender fingers, and clean and beautiful skin. They were truly exquisite, and his hands alone were enough to be considered outstanding.

As her gaze drifted downwards, she suddenly noticed a string of Buddhist prayer beads hidden on his wrist—previously concealed by his sleeve, but now fully revealed when they touched hands.

Each of the prayer beads was round and full, with a smooth and lustrous texture. They had a soft sheen from years of handling and polishing, and were also faintly surrounded by a layer of Buddhist light. They were clearly treasures that had been consecrated and offered incense.

Shen Jingshu thought to herself, she hadn't expected that the aloof and cold Lu Jingxing would have such a wonderful thing with Buddhist spiritual energy hidden in him.

In this day and age, spiritual energy is scarce, so it is truly rare to find an object that still possesses its own Buddha-like aura.

She wasn't greedy; she was simply curious—although she also had many treasures hidden in her own space, most of them were not easy to reveal.

The two walked hand in hand through the quiet corridor and into the depths of the courtyard.

The driver simply placed the gifts neatly beside the main entrance, then bowed and returned to the car, leaving Lu Jingxing and Shen Jingshu alone as they walked hand in hand towards the backyard.

The backyard is elegantly landscaped, with rockeries reflecting in a clear pond, where several brightly colored koi swim leisurely, creating a tranquil and peaceful scene.