Chapter 5: This Hidden Perk Is Truly Delightful

"Huh? Why did Qiao-jie leave? Is there some kind of emergency?" Lu Anyun asked, looking puzzled.

Lu Jingtian furrowed his brows, his expression equally perplexed. Was there something the Lu family had done to offend her, or perhaps a lack of proper hospitality?

Second Uncle Lu, however, seemed to have realized something. He shook his head, a wry smile of insight crossing his face. "To us, Miss Chu is an invaluable savior. But to a powerhouse like her, we are likely nothing more than inconsequential passersby. Now that she has finished saving Mother, she simply didn't want to waste any more time here, so she left early."

Having lived a long life and seen much, he had been lucky enough in his younger years to cross paths with a few true, peerless titans. Those people were just like Miss Chu—proud, distant, and unwilling to waste even a fraction of a second on people or things that didn't matter. Yet, their overwhelming strength left one with no room for resentment, only a profound sense of regret that one wasn't important enough to catch their eye.

While the Lu family was considered the pinnacle of existence in the eyes of ordinary people, in Miss Chu’s eyes, they were probably just ordinary people with nothing special about them.

After hearing his uncle’s words, Lu Anyun was filled with envy. She, too, wanted to become a powerhouse like Qiao-jie!

Lu Jingtian’s brow relaxed. Second Uncle Lu continued, "Still, even if Miss Chu chooses to ignore us, we must express our gratitude properly. The thanks we owe her cannot be skimped on. To avoid annoying her, let only one of us add her as a contact to express our appreciation."

Fortunately, when she had first arrived, he had asked for her contact information just to make conversation. There would be no need to waste time investigating now and risking further neglect of her.

Lu Anyun immediately raised her hand: "Me! Me! Me!" She wanted to start learning from Qiao-jie, beginning with her social media circle!

Lu Jingtian pressed down her raised hand and said calmly, "I’ll do it. Grandma has just shown signs of improvement, and her actual condition remains uncertain. If there are any unexpected complications in the future, we will need to be able to reach Miss Chu. Besides, I also need her help in investigating who poisoned Grandma."

His voice turned cold and sinister at the mention of the poison. Whoever had dared to poison his grandmother, he would not let them off!

Lu Anyun pouted in dissatisfaction, but since her brother’s reasoning was sound, she couldn't refute it. She decided that the next time she saw Qiao-jie, she would definitely add her as a friend in person!

***

In the taxi, Chu Qiao looked at the friend request Lu Jingtian had sent and felt her bleak life instantly regain its color. Destiny truly does not fail those who work hard to complete their tasks!

Chu Qiao accepted it immediately.

The next second, the long-awaited, heavenly sound of the system finally echoed in her ears:

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the novice task.]
[Reward: Ten mid-grade spirit stones, one beginner demonic cultivation skill.]
[Open the skill?]

Along with the system's voice, Chu Qiao saw ten brilliant, crystalline stones fall into the inventory in her mind. It was actually possible to complete tasks in this world! This was fantastic! She finally wouldn't have to die!

[Do not open the skill.]

Now was not the time to check the rewards. Chu Qiao was so excited she was about to send a greeting to Lu Jingtian, when he unexpectedly sent her a transfer of 10 million. With the status of the head of the Lu family, his bank accounts had no limits.

[I apologize, Miss Chu, for the poor hospitality.]
[This is a small token of apology. When you have time another day, I will visit personally to thank you properly.]

A tycoon like Lu Jingtian, who didn't care about money, was truly likable... Was this one of the hidden perks of pretending to be an expert?

Chu Qiao deleted the "Hello there!" sticker she had just found and replied with a high-class, detached:

[Mm.]

***

At the Lu residence, seeing that Chu Qiao had accepted his request and even replied, Lu Jingtian breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that worldly things like money truly didn't catch Miss Chu's eye, and she couldn't even be bothered to say more than a single word. Still, the fact that she was willing to reply to his message was enough to satisfy him. He had been worried that she wouldn't want any further interaction with him.

Second Uncle Lu and Lu Anyun also relaxed.

"Alright, we should go to the front hall to receive our guests," Second Uncle Lu said, checking his watch. "The banquet is about to begin."

Even though the problem had been solved, there was no reason to turn their guests away; they still had to host them properly. The three of them headed toward the front hall.

***

Fifteen minutes earlier.

As Chu Qiao walked out of the Lu family gates and stood on the roadside waiting for a taxi, Mother Chu, Liu Xinyao, Chu Han, and Chu Zhenting were just emerging from the parking lot, hurrying toward the banquet hall.

For this banquet, all three had brought out their finest attire and jewelry. As a once-prominent medical family that had long since fallen, Chu Zhenting was desperate to use this banquet to re-establish connections with the current medical elite.

He wasn't very worried, however. He had already gathered the facts: the illness of Mr. Lu’s grandmother was currently incurable and beyond anyone's reach. Since the divine doctor Lin would not come out of seclusion, Mr. Lu’s only hope was Academician Cai.

As the youngest graduate student to be admitted to Academician Cai’s team ahead of time, Chu Han would be the only woman to catch Mr. Lu’s attention while standing by the Academician’s side tonight. With such an outstanding daughter, he believed his family would be the center of attention all night.

Thinking of the tycoons he usually couldn't even dream of meeting who would now take the initiative to befriend him, Chu Zhenting’s heart bloomed with joy.

"Chu Qiao actually dared not to come!" Liu Xinyao complained with a frown. "She even said she wanted to leave our family! She doesn't realize that, given how she is, she wouldn't be able to live the good life she has now once she leaves us."

Chu Qiao’s grades were average, her personality was dull, and she barely knew how to speak up at home. Chu Zhenting didn't care much for this child who had so little presence. Compared to Chu Han, who could help him fulfill his dream of reviving the Chu family’s medical legacy, Chu Qiao was far inferior.

Chu Zhenting waved his hand dismissively. "Once Chu Qiao loses our protection and suffers enough out there, she will naturally come back and beg for forgiveness."

Not wanting to waste time discussing Chu Qiao, he turned his head and looked at Chu Han with affection. "Hanhan, once we get to the banquet, you will surely be the center of everyone's attention. Don't be nervous; just be as poised and graceful as always in front of Mr. Lu, do you understand?"

Chu Han nodded obediently. "I understand, Father."

She seemed to notice something and suddenly froze. "Doesn't that person waiting for a taxi outside the gate look a bit like Chu Qiao?"