Substitute Girlfriend Contract (GL) - Chapter 9

People have two sides—sometimes even N sides. Tao Anyu Anyu had heard that before. But seeing someone embody that concept to the extreme… that was Lu Mengxiao.

When Tao Anyu first followed Lu Mengxiao to the D City, the branch of the Lu Corporation, she saw her in a sharp black-and-white business suit, short hair neat and stylish, flipping through documents and leading meetings with a cool, no-nonsense demeanor. Tao Anyu’s jaw nearly hit the floor.
Holy crap… is this even the same person?

That morning, the branch headquarters was holding a board meeting. Lu, a major shareholder from the group’s headquarters, had been invited to attend. Tao Anyu figured such an important meeting wouldn’t require her presence.

She was wrong.

Lu grabbed her by the collar and started dragging her toward the conference room.
“Follow me.”

Tao Anyu hunched her shoulders. “I want some juice. You go have your meeting, I’ll wait outside.”

“No.” Lu didn’t even slow down.

Tao Anyu sighed softly.

When the meeting began, every head in the room turned toward Tao Anyu, expressions ranging from puzzled to curious. A man with half-grey hair asked,
“President Lu, this is…?”

Scanning the room, Tao Anyu noticed no other shareholder had brought an assistant. She was the only one standing there like some oversized door guard.

“My secretary,” Lu said, jerking her chin toward Tao Anyu. Then smack—a stack of documents hit the table. “Let’s begin.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Several minor shareholders silently wiped sweat from their brows.

“Who’s in charge of the East District branch?” Lu flipped a page in the report.

“M-me…” A man in his thirties timidly raised a hand.

Without warning, Lu flicked a sheet of paper across the table—it landed right on his face.
“Check your cost-benefit numbers yourself. That division’s a starving dog—why haven’t you cut it off? One year’s bonus, gone. And you—” she tapped the table in front of an older man, “—keep an eye on him.”

Oof. Tao Anyu winced and covered her eyes at the man’s pained expression.

Lu kept flipping through the reports. More people kept mopping sweat from their foreheads.

“Who’s managing the West District?” she asked.

The room began to tremble.

“President Lu, that would be me…” The man by the window raised his hand without looking up.

Lu smiled, almost sweetly. “Your finance department seems a little… crowded, doesn’t it?”

The man’s lips twitched. “President Lu, our finance staff—”

Two more pages flew across the table, slapping against his face.
“When I visited yesterday, you had eighteen people in finance. One senior, one intermediate… and the rest were all junior-level. That kind of setup costs you six hundred thousand a month in salaries. You call that just a little padding? What are you running on—tonics for kidney deficiency?”

The man bowed slightly, clutching the pages. “I was wrong, President Lu. I’ll go back and review the accounts immediately. Six hundred thousand in one month—it must be a mistake in the books.”

Lu slammed the table. “You still a man? First thing you do is dump the blame on your subordinates?” She waved toward the door. “Straight ahead ten steps, left turn, down the stairs. Starting tomorrow, don’t bother coming back.”

“President Lu! Please, let me explain—”

Lu ignored him and pointed to a young man in the back. “You’re Zhao Kun, right?”

Zhao startled. “Yes, President Lu.”

“Pack your things. Tomorrow, you’ll report to the West District branch. General Manager’s office.”

Zhao’s eyes widened in surprise and delight. “Yes, yes, absolutely!”

Lu turned a few more pages, tapping her fingers on the table.
“South District…” Her gaze swept over a row of lowered heads, until it landed on a young woman who was practically shaking.

The girl slowly raised her hand. “P-President Lu… it’s… it’s me…”

Lu’s expression softened. “New here?”

“Yes. I was only promoted last year, haven’t been to the S City headquarters yet. This is my first time meeting you.”

“Oh~.” Lu nodded knowingly.

Everyone braced for another paper slap.

Instead, she smiled. “It’s fine. Newcomers make mistakes. First time doing something, it’s normal to get it wrong.”

The girl looked up, startled.

Lu leaned forward, raising an eyebrow. “But—if you don’t know something, you ask. Take my number. Whenever you’re stuck, call me. I’ll teach you personally.”

“Uh—uh—what?” The girl’s heart practically jumped into her throat.

“What, is there a problem?” Lu leaned back in her chair.

“N-no! I promise to learn from President Lu!”

Satisfied, Lu smacked the folder shut. “Meeting adjourned!”

The second the meeting ended, a swarm of people rushed forward.

“President Lu, I’ve booked a table at the Guanghua Hotel—shall we go now?”

“My friend just opened a private kitchen restaurant—amazing flavors—”

“I just got back from France last week. This Damascus essential oil is incredible—”

Lu halted, and her assistant, Tian Qiurou, stepped forward, blocking them. “Sorry, President Lu’s flying back to S City tomorrow morning. She appreciates everyone’s kindness, but please keep it for yourselves.”

Still, no one wanted to give up; after all, the major shareholder from headquarters was the chairman’s only daughter—who wouldn’t want to cozy up to her? They scrambled to grab their gifts and hurry after her.

Unfortunately, no matter how fast they ran, they couldn’t outrun a luxury car.

In the back seat, Tao Anyu looked out the rear window. Lu Mengxian turned her face back with a firm hand. “What the hell are you looking at?”

Tao Anyu grinned and pinched her thigh. “Not bad, Your Majesty. A whole meeting without swearing once. What happened to your ‘this emperor’ now? And your ‘my old man’?”

“My old man’s in America!” Lu tilted Tao Anyu’s chin toward her. “What, you want to meet your father-in-law? You’re just a stand-in. Forget it.”

Tao Anyu’s face darkened. “So what if I’m a stand-in? Don’t I have human rights? Finally get a chance to meet rich people, and I can’t even network?” she muttered.

“Look at you,” Lu tapped her forehead, “the only thing you’ve got going for you is your face.” Her eyes flicked downward. “Hmm. We’re going to Korea.”

“What?” Tao Anyu blinked. “I don’t use Korean products. I’m patriotic!” She thought Lu meant cosmetics.

“Tsk. Are you stupid, my dear concubine?” Lu eyed her.

“I’m not stupid. I’m a snake, not a pig,” Tao Anyu said lazily.

“That can’t be right. Snake spirits are all beautiful. At best, you’re a barrel spirit. Tell me, what did they use to store in you? How’s your waist this wide?” Lu patted her side. “Solid, though.”

“You—!” Tao Anyu swung at her, but Lu caught her wrist. “Save your energy for the bedroom, barrel-spirited concubine. I meant br3ast implants in Korea. I’ll find good-quality ones for you—otherwise it’s no fun for me either.”

“Lu Mengxiao, you’ve got sh*t for brains!” Tao Anyu kicked her hard.

Just then, Lu’s phone rang. Tao Anyu shot her a look and moved away.

“Hello?” Lu’s brows lifted at the voice on the other end.

“Don’t you give me that look!” Tao Anyu pointed at her.

Ignoring her, Lu said into the phone, “Oh, you’re the little cutie from the South District? Mm-hmm. My flight’s tomorrow morning… What, you don’t know project management? No problem. Come over tonight; I’ll teach you myself. Don’t be shy. You don’t need to bring anything—just yourself. Yes, yes. Bye, mwa-mwa.”

The fake kiss made Tao Anyu gag. She rolled down the window for air.

Lu clicked her tongue. “Don’t be jealous, my dear concubine. You’re my empress.”

Tao Anyu thought for a moment. “Then, to prove your love for me, shouldn’t Your Majesty pay me my monthly salary in advance?”