Lu Aotian did not say a word about it. Not only was he capable of chopping tongues off, he had done it before.

He took Lu Meili's hand. "We are going home. I will not leave you here to strain your body for a movie. Don't you know that your health is more important? How old are you?"

Lu Meili looked happy although she was being scolded. "No matter how old I am, I'm still your little girl. So you have to take good care of me."

Lu Aotian had never been this happy.

The father and daughter duo left the filming location chatting cheerfully.

"Eer... you just gave us the shock of the century. How can you simply leave?" The screenwriter gawked at their backs.

"I think it makes sense. No wonder every time I saw Lu Meili, I would see designer Wan Jia through her." The director commented.

"I think so too. Besides, these youngsters will never know. But we who have seen the sun for much longer can tell; many years ago, there was news about Lu Aotian's daughter having leukemia. Now that I think about it, that daughter simply disappeared after some years. She must be Lu Meili." The investor who was about to earn a beating from Lu Aotian a while ago said.

"You're right. Also, that young woman from the Lu family has always been adressed as 'second miss'. It kept me wondering who she was second to. Haiz... luckily I have never made things difficult for Lu Meili."

"Do you hate your ears so much? I heard nothing. I don't know Lu Meili's identity."

"Neither do I."

...

Annie Lan clenched her fists. She was in another make up room all this while. No wonder she couldn't bring Lu Meili down no matter what.

Two weeks ago, she had even gone to the greatest lengths.

She had looked for Wan Jia and showed her a photo of Lu Meili, accusing the latter of using Wan Jia's image to make it in the entertainment industry.

However, Wan Jia had only said two words in response. "Great photo."

At the time, she only thought that noble women of Wan Jia's variety didn't have time to waste pursuing trivial matters.

But now that the truth was coincidentally this, wasn't she in great trouble? Wan Jia wouldn't have told on her, right?

___

Lu Meili didn't return to the filming location. After visiting small Xixi and spending some time with her, she went to Mu Zhichen's to play with the cats.

The next day, a new piece of news broke out.

Lu Enterprises had finally announced its next successor.

There was a broadcast of Lu Aotian online.

"I am pleased to hand over the family company to my eldest nephew, Lu Shihan. The next Vice CEO will be Lu Xian Yu."

This was shocking to everyone. The new CEO was not Lu Xian Li?

If that was not the case, then it should have been his own son, right? Why would he make his nephew the CEO and his own son the Vice CEO?

Lu Shaoting wasn't any less shocked than anyone else. That was why he went to his brother's as soon as he saw the broadcast. "Bro, why did you make this arrangement?"

Lu Aotian looked like a load had been taken off his shoulder. "We both know that you should have been the CEO of Lu Enterprises. After all you were eldest uncle's son. Our grandfather gave it to me only because I'm older. All this time, I knew that you wouldn't accept it if I gave it back to you. That's why I gave it to your son."

It had been so long that Lu Shaoting had forgotten about this. Lu Aotian had never treated him unfairly so it never mattered. "I understand your reason but Shihan is still too young. You can't simply make him the CEO."

"If I remember correctly, I was eighteen when I took over the company. Why can't he?

Besides, he's a genius. I've been discussing with him a lot and I know that he is great in handling business. He is much more capable than my Xian Yu."

"No wonder Shihan's been very busy lately. So it's because he was discussing with you. However, I don't think he is that impressive. He is better than Xian Yu only because Xian Yu is still a child. How can you compare a fourteen-year-old to someone who will be twenty in a few months?"

Lu Aotian laughed heartily. "You are doubting your son so much. Are you still his father?"

...

Lu Meili was overjoyed from this news too. This meant that she would no longer be forced to take over the company. She was relieved.

She quickly went to congratulate her cousin. "Congratulations CEO Lu. When are you reporting to work?"

Lu Shihan was still so young that many girls found him cute and adorable. He was probably the most adorable CEO in the history of Lu Enterprises. "Cousin, don't tease me. You should tease my younger brother instead. He is so happy that he must have grown a tiny pair of wings."

Lu Meili didn't understand. "Why would he be happy? He is not taking over the company..."

"My brother loves travelling. He was scared father would make him take over the company to pin him down."

Lu Meili chuckled. "You two are the cutest pair of twins I have ever seen. Your looks and character are identical. How is it that your interests are as different as East from West?"

___

However, not everyone was happy.

The same evening, Lu Shaoting dragged a suitcase in one hand and Lu Xian Li's arm in another as he entered Lu Aotian's villa. The girl looked extremely enraged.

Lu Meili was in the living room. She put her phone aside. "What's going on?"

"I just brought her back from the airport. She had booked a one way ticket to Country A and was about to board. I had to drag her all the way here."

"Xian Li?" Lu Meili didn't know what to say. She was trying to escape?

"I am an adult and I have the right to go anywehere I want. Why do you all keep restraining me?" Lu Xian Li glared right at her sister.

"I can't believe you're asking this. You know why daddy won't let you go. Your health is too weak and the doctors say you shouldn't be left on your own. Which part of this don't you understand?"

"Meili, you cannot scold her. It will only increase her desire to leave." Lu Shaoting said, still holding Lu Xian Li's hand.

"You're right. She will only think I hate her."

"Why is everyone so cheerful?" Lu Aotian descended the stairs.

"Daddy, Xian Li is trying to run away." Lu Meili reported desperately. She would rather have a sour relationship with her sister than let her endager her life.

Lu Aotian didn't look shocked. He leisurely walked to a sofa and sat on it. "Shaoting brought her back. You should have let her go."

"What?" Lu Meili and Lu Shaoting exclaimed in unison. Lu Xian Li remained silent but she was shocked.

Lu Aotian gazed at them calmly. "What? Doesn't she want to go so desperately? She should be allowed to leave. Isn't she an independent adult who knows what's best for herself? If anything happened to her, she would be able to protect herself. Why shouldn't she leave?"

They all detected the sarcasm in his words, but Lu Xian Li took it as her chance. She grabbed her suitcase and started dragging it out.

"Lu Xian Li, if you step out of that door, you will no longer be part of the Lu family."

"Dad!" Lu Meili couldn't remain silent anymore. "It's just leaving the country a little. How can you disown her because of this? Xian Li is still young."

"Do I have to fight with my children every time they want to make huge decisions on their own?"

Lu Meili felt guilty. She had been in such a situation before. However, hers was different. At least she was not doing anything that would keep her away from the family.

"I would have let her go, but my dear second daughter wants to change her nationality. Not only that, she has also signed medical documents agreeing to donate her kidney. Doesn't that mean she doesn't want to be part of the Lu family?"

Lu Meili looked at her sister in disbelief. So much had happened but she knew nothing about it? Wait, the main point here was, how could she be so silly? Donating an organ with a condition like hers, wasn't this equivalent to suicide?

Lu Aotian spoke again after a long spell of silence. "Go and punish yourself. You are grounded for three months. Either that, or set foot out of that door and never come back."

Lu Shaoting blocked her path when he saw her make for the door. "It's just being grounded. Xian Li, if you are being wronged or forced, you should tell us. Aren't we your family?"

Lu Xian Li was on the verge of tears. "Family? Since when was I ever needed here?"