YA Ch106: Balloon

Ming Yan used the workshop’s equipment and asked the master craftsmen to cut the gems. With nothing to do, Lu Yu wandered around.

Seeing the expensive materials in hand, a master craftsman asked, “Young Master, what are you making with these gems?”

Before Ming Yan could answer, Lu Yu proudly puffed out his chest and said, “It’s a gift for my engagement.”

Ming Yan’s hand shook, causing him to misdraw the cutting line. He stopped and glared at Lu Yu.

The loud voice was heard throughout the workshop. The busy craftsmen all put down their work and gathered around, chattering:

“Is Young Master preparing an engagement gift?”

“The future Young Mistress is coming!”

“When is the wedding banquet?”

“Do you need any pocket watches without jewels as party favors?”

Lu Yu grinned, listening to their congratulations. He took a photo of Ming Yan drawing lines on the gems and posted it on Bird Book.

[Lu Yu: The engagement gift from Young Master Ming.]

Two minutes after posting, Zheng Wuqiong’s call came through. Lu Yu’s smile faltered as he greeted Ming Yan quietly and stepped outside to answer the phone.

Lu Yu walked into the courtyard and answered the call.

Zheng Wuqiong started with a few pleasantries and then said, “I didn’t want to disturb you last night. I saw your new update just now and thought you might be up, so I called.”

Lu Yu replied, “Mr. Zheng, you’re too kind.”

Zheng Wuqiong laughed and couldn’t help but get to the point, asking cautiously, “How did your meeting with Professor Li go yesterday?”

Lu Yu sighed.

Mr. Zheng immediately became anxious and asked, “Was it unsuccessful?”

Lu Yu answered honestly, “Sorry, Mr. Zheng, I wasn’t able to be of much help.”

Zheng Wuqiong was silent for a moment before his tone became unpredictable: “Didn’t she only have dinner with you?” It was clear that the informant Mr. Zheng had paid off told him this information, and he had only left Lu Yu some leeway earlier. Hearing Lu Yu’s reply, he stopped pretending.

Lu Yu raised an eyebrow, recognizing that Mr. Zheng was suspicious that he might bypass AI Technology and negotiate privately with Li Moqiao. He chose not to elaborate, feigning ignorance, and simply admitted, “Yes, I can’t agree to what she proposed.”

Zheng Wuqiong gasped, “Is she trying to use hidden rules on you?”

Lu Yu was choked by his own saliva and replied, “Cough, not exactly.”

He didn’t mention his relationship with Li Moqiao, not wanting Zheng Wuqiong to use it or to interact further with his birth mother.

Mr. Zheng seemed absorbed in his own understanding of the situation, and his tone became much more sincere: “It’s okay, brother. This was an unexpected turn of events. I didn’t really expect it to succeed. Just take good care of yourself; we have a hard battle ahead on Monday.”

Lu Yu hung up the phone and sighed again, hoping his issue wouldn’t affect Mr. Zheng.

As long as Li Moqiao doesn’t interpret “Lu Yu doesn’t need her help” as “Lu Yu’s partner doesn’t need a permit,” it should be fine. Although she lacks human emotions, she’s intelligent and should understand the text.

Kicking a small stone underfoot, Lu Yu felt a sense of relief.

He had been bearing all the burdens on himself and was very confused. Working with Zheng Wuqiong always gave him a feeling of floating in the air. Now, his mind finally felt grounded. By abandoning unrealistic goals and focusing on his strengths, things suddenly became simpler.

Lu Yu took a deep breath, turned around, and saw Ming Yan walking out from the house.

Wearing a black cashmere coat, he outlined his elegant figure like a pine or bamboo. Standing quietly under the winter sun in the neatly trimmed Western-style garden, he looked like a prince from a fairytale.

Lu Yu didn’t approach, putting his hands in his pockets and reporting his work: “I finished the call and told Zheng Wuqiong we won’t pursue deep cooperation.”

Ming Yan didn’t speak but gently opened his arms.

Lu Yu happily rushed over and embraced Ming Yan.

The two of them had an unprecedentedly relaxing weekend, going out to eat delicious food, playing claw machines, watching variety shows and videos at home, and playing “Statue Game” with balloon characters…

By Monday, they went to work with high spirits.

Hong Wuyang saw Lu Yu and teased him with a grin: “I heard that someone from the Intelligence Alliance was trying to make an advance on you, but you firmly refused?”

Yang Chen was shocked: “At your age, there are still people making advances?”

“Get out of here, prepare your data,” Lu Yu kicked Lao Yang, sending him away, “I finally understand how rumors are created.”

The top investor was curious: “Isn’t it? You were frequently showing off your affection this weekend, isn’t that emphasizing that you are a gentleman with a family?”

Lu Yu rubbed his aching forehead and confided in the investor.

After listening, Second Young Master Hong, with tears in his eyes, patted Lu Yu’s shoulder: “I understand you. Our little sister was abandoned by her biological parents, thrown into the snow in the middle of winter. Later, when they found out she was adopted by our family, they came to claim her, which made my big brother so angry that he had the bodyguards drive them away.”

Although the situations were completely different, it was good that the investor understood. Lu Yu nodded and complimented, “Your little sister is really lucky to have met you.”

Hong Wuyang smiled and waved his hand: “If you don’t participate deeply, let my brother handle the manufacturing project, I’ll just invest in your company. I wasn’t interested in the AI Brain Manufacturing project originally; I only pushed myself to work on it for you.”

Lu Yu shivered with disgust and moved a bit further away: “Don’t be so cheesy.”

They were purely in a financial relationship!

Just then, Xiao Jiang walked in with a courier carrying a box, saying: “This courier contains something very valuable, it must be signed for in person by the AI Brain.”

Hong Wuyang leaned in to see: “What is this, so mysterious?” It was wrapped in layers, and it was an international courier.

Lu Yu scanned the Intelligent Brain to sign for it and took the large box: “I don’t know either, let’s open it and see.”

Since it was sent to the company, it should not be anything unsightly.

The two of them opened the courier in the meeting room. After removing the thick outer packaging, a delicate colorful box appeared, with flowery and colorful English writing — Flying Baby.

“Flying Baby, what anime is this from?” Hong Wuyang scratched his head.

Ming Yan, who heard about the international courier and was about to instruct to put the box in the office, just arrived at the lounge and saw Lu Yu opening the final layer of the box. He could only close the door casually, cutting off others’ view.

Inside the box, besides foam cushioning, was a transparent hexagonal box. Inside the box was a Q version of a little general dressed in red armor, with short chubby arms holding a delicate small bow.

Hua Wenyuan’s balloon figure!

Lu Yu was stunned.

The big brother exclaimed: “Hua Wenyuan? What is this?” It looked nothing like a figurine, chubby and bouncing, and was particularly cute.

Lu Yu exchanged glances with Ming Yan, cleared his throat, took the balloon figure out of the box, and pinched it, saying: “Balloon toy.”

As he spoke, he took off the watch face and inserted it into the round “heart shield” on Hua Wenyuan’s chest. The watch face quickly blended with the surrounding color, and the balloon character’s eyes suddenly lit up, becoming Lu Dongdong’s sideways smile.

“Hua Wenyuan” turned around in place and made Dongdong’s voice: “Father, why don’t I have a tail?”

Hong Wuyang’s eyes turned red, and he leaped from the sofa: “This is exactly what I want to invest in!”