Global Film Emperor

Chapter 433 Between Brothers and Sisters
She didn't run towards Lu Ze like she did when she was a child, hug his neck, cling to him, and talk about how much she missed him during this time.

Now she simply walked over slowly, sat on the dark green armchair next to Lu Ze, her hand supporting her oval face, her head tilted, and a smile in her eyes.

"elder brother."

"Hmm, is there any work? If there is, go do it. Don't worry about me. If it's inconvenient for me to be here, I can find a place downstairs to wait for you."

Lu Ze didn't immediately turn his gaze to her. The lounge area next to the front desk offered magazines to pass the time. Lu Ze had only been flipping through them for a short while when he closed the magazine, put it back on the bookshelf, leaned back in his chair, took a sip of lemon tea, and still had that sour face towards Lu Nan, which hadn't changed since they were children.

"Pfft, that's it. Just this one customer this afternoon. The rest of the time... I can just slack off and wait until I'm off work."

Seeing Lu Ze speaking so seriously, she couldn't help but laugh out loud. Since it wasn't appropriate to directly say that she was slacking off at the company, she covered her mouth with her hand to avoid being heard by the receptionist, and lowered her voice as she said it.

Slacking off is usually a joke. After seeing off the client, she should have used the afternoon to organize the materials, but Lu Ze suddenly appeared and interrupted her plans. Now, she couldn't concentrate on her work. The moment she saw Lu Ze, she knew she would have to stay up all night and make the most of her daytime to spend with him.

"Wait a moment, come to my office in a bit."

She got up and went to the front desk, took the form from the receptionist, started marking something on it with a pen, and kept explaining it to the receptionist until the receptionist nodded to indicate that she understood.

To be honest, this was the first time Lu Ze had seen Lu Nan at work. Her serious demeanor made him somewhat uncomfortable. The crazy girl had finally calmed down, and as her older brother, he felt quite complicated.

The ideal psychological state for a person is to be mature but not worldly, but maturity comes at the cost of time and happiness.

After adjusting the appointment schedule with the front desk, she picked up Lu Ze's luggage and carried it on her back, just like when Lu Ze returned home before the end of the year. Even though the front desk staff thought the way the brother and sister interacted was a bit strange, it was just a habit they had developed over the years.

Walking down the corridor, it wasn't noisy at all. Everyone was quietly doing their work. Occasionally, when colleagues bumped into each other, they would just nod to each other. There was no need for her to introduce Lu Ze to her colleagues. Only the brother and sister kept chatting.

"Brother, you've gotten quite tanned."

"Yeah, we filmed beach scenes for a long time, and we still have to cover up our white spots during this period."

"The beach is great! I haven't been to the beach in years. I have some whitening cream at home, I'll put some on you tonight. How about my office?"

She pushed open the office door. It was a single room, not large, but sufficient. The walls were snow-white, and there wasn't much office furniture. Besides the essential desk and chair, there were only two huge bookshelves behind the desk, one for books and the other for documents. The books weren't all law books; there were also some classics. The documents were clearly labeled and neatly arranged.

There were still some unorganized written materials from the previous client on the desk. Lu Ze didn't look at them, nor did she mention the plump woman from earlier. She still had that much self-discipline. As she tidied the desk, Lu Ze shifted his attention to the other decorations.

There are two windows in the room. Next to the window near the desk is a potted snake plant, which is growing well and is about a meter tall. The soil in the pot is still moist, which shows that Lu Nan takes good care of it. Otherwise, although snake plants are not easy to kill, the tips of the leaves would turn slightly yellow if they are not taken care of.

Two oil paintings hung on the wall: one was Monet's "Woman with an Umbrella in a Seaside Park," and the other was Chardin's "Boy Blowing Soap Bubbles." Lu Ze was very satisfied with her aesthetic direction.

Hmm... as long as it's not like Mickey's, it's fine with works by Edvard Munch. Every time Lu Ze saw that painting "The Scream" hanging on the dark red wall of Mickey's house, he felt a little disgusted.

"Or... should I ask for a day off?"

"why?"

"Anyway, it's not long before I get off work, and I've basically finished my work. I'll leave early and take you for a walk... Please come in."

The two had just started chatting when there was a knock on the office door. After receiving Lu Nan's permission, the door was opened, and a middle-aged man in a suit walked in, nodding to Lu Nan with a warm smile.

"Mr. Chen."

Hearing Lu Nan address him that way, Lu Ze understood. He stood up and extended his hand first, which was grasped by President Chen. President Chen shook him vigorously, his face beaming with undisguised excitement.

He was short and a bit chubby, with a short neck—a typical "gas cylinder" physique. When he got excited, his face would turn red, and then he would start sweating. When the sun shone on his face, the sweat mixed with the oil secreted daily, making it look like it had been polished, a large, shiny patch. For some reason, Lu Ze could always associate this big head with a purple clay teapot; it was so eye-catching that it was almost painful to look at.

“Mr. Lu, I’m so sorry to bother you, but it would be impolite of me not to come and greet you. Please forgive me.”

I don’t know if he has some special ability that makes people feel his sincerity easily. Especially his red head, which always makes people feel good about him. Lu Ze is no exception. Even though his face is blushing a bit abnormally, it’s not unusual for him to get this excited when he sees a celebrity.

"Mr. Chen, you're too kind. In fact, I should thank you. Lu Nan often mentions you to me, saying that you've given her a lot of help at work. On the contrary, I've been busy abroad all this time and haven't been able to thank you in person. If anyone has been impolite, it's me. Lu Nan, could you please get a Hermes box out of my bag for me?"

"Mr. Lu, you're too kind."

"It's nothing. I just got back and didn't know what to buy, so I can only give you some everyday items. It's not much, just a small token of my appreciation."

The box contained a belt, which was originally bought for Lu Weiguo. However, things had gotten out of hand, and now that we were here, it would be a bit much not to give something else as a gift. Lu Ze wasn't so arrogant as to think his reputation was worth a fortune.

This wasn't the first time Lu Ze had given a gift to President Chen. Previously, Lu Ze would send Lu Nan some things so she could give them to President Chen as a favor. At first, he refused, but gradually, he started accepting them. After all, it wasn't a state-owned enterprise, and he was the boss, so there weren't many formalities. This time was no exception.

Of course, he didn't come here specifically to ask for gifts; he's not short of money. More than anything, he hoped to get to know Lu Ze so that if he ever needed anything in the future, having connections here would make things easier.

"Mr. Lu, this is my business card. Um... Lu Nan, please leave work early today so as not to keep you waiting. Then I won't bother you any longer. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival. Please give my regards to your father and mother."

Without lingering, he left decisively after exchanging business cards. He had already achieved his goal and there was no need to continue lingering on Lu Ze like a pile of dog shit.

Neither of them commented much on President Chen. Lu Ze had seen many people like him, and Lu Nan knew that Lu Ze had seen many people like him as well. However, Lu Nan readily accepted President Chen's suggestion, packed her belongings, clocked out early, and left the company with Lu Ze.

……

"Should I take a taxi?"

"Brother... I bought a car."

She took the keys out of her bag and waved them in front of Lu Ze. He couldn't make out the brand, but it startled him. He suddenly realized he'd been so busy with work that he'd missed out on so much. She'd never mentioned buying a car to him before, and had even refused his suggestion multiple times, claiming she was afraid to drive one. "Why are you suddenly thinking about buying one again?"

"I was really busy with cases lately, working overtime until very late every day. I was a little scared to take a taxi alone, so I gritted my teeth and bought a ticket. Don't laugh at me, it's only been three months and I've already been in three accidents..."

She was a little embarrassed and struggled to tell her embarrassing story. She still vividly remembered the first time she drove on the road, when no one was there to practice with her. She was so nervous and her legs cramped up.

In addition, recalling the first time she caused an accident, she felt helpless and could only keep apologizing to the other driver. Thinking back on that time, she still felt her face burning.

"How's it going now?"

"It's still not working quite right."

"I'll practice with you. Let's go, let's see what kind of car you bought."

Since Lu Nan started working, she has never asked Lu Ze for money again. Her mother said that she would send some money home to help with household expenses, even though she knew that her family didn't need her money at all.

Initially, she received between 500 and 1,000 yuan per month, which gradually increased. Now she sends about 4,000 yuan per month. Of course, her income is not low. The guaranteed salary of 3,000 yuan is just a small part. The main source of income is the commission after accepting cases. Her boss also takes good care of her, and she takes on more cases. Although it is tiring, she still earns 20,000 yuan per month.

Considering food, clothing, housing, and subsidies for the family, girls tend to have higher expenses. How much budget could they possibly have for a car? Lu Ze was pondering this when Lu Nan revealed the answer: a red 1.5L Mazda3. This didn't surprise Lu Ze; it was basically within that price range.

She was very satisfied with the car. After all, it met the aesthetic standards of most people, and the price was acceptable to her. The car was very clean, and it was clear that she took good care of it. Perhaps, for her, this car was not just a means of transportation, but also proof that she was completely independent.

How much is your car loan payment?

"One thousand eight hundred a month."

"Three more years?"

"Hmm, bro, why don't you drive?"

She hesitated, as if she had developed a psychological shadow after causing several accidents. Perhaps it was out of helplessness that she forced herself to drive to work every day. It was only when Lu Ze was in the car that she remembered to be afraid, and it was still not afraid that something would happen to her.

The car key slid across the roof and was caught in Lu Ze's hand. He held the key and tapped it lightly on the roof. He was conflicted, but not about whether he should drive or not. In the end, he still wanted to ask Lu Nan for her opinion.

"The new Continental looks great, how about we get one?"

"No, this car is fine. It's just for commuting. It's easy to drive, fuel-efficient, and cheap to maintain. If you buy it for me, I won't be able to afford the insurance, let alone drive it."

“That’s not a problem. Consider it as me saving up for your dowry. After you get married, I’ll prepare a house for you.”

"I don't have a boyfriend yet..."

“You can’t stay single forever, so let’s keep this in mind. I’ll buy you something better after you get married.”

"elder brother……"

"Ok?"

I'm twenty-eight this year.

Sometimes, people are afraid of receiving too much care and favoritism, and it is extremely difficult for them to accept it. This may also be a kind of rebellion, stemming from their self-awareness and bottom line. They realize that excessive demands will only lead to an abyss and becoming a parasite, which is not what they want. Ideals are born among these people, and Lu Nan is one of them.

But for Lu Ze, it was as if a piece of his soul had suddenly been missing, as if a load-bearing wall had been destroyed, and his desires had lost a piece of their territory.

When her parents went out to work, Lu Nan was only three years old. She was raised by Lu Ze from a young age. Over the years, Lu Ze has poured so much blood and sweat into Lu Nan that even he himself can't count it. His love for this younger sister has become a habit, a subconscious desire. He wants to give Lu Nan a better living environment and a freer life so that she can make choices in life and not be like him, who had no choice in many things for the first thirty years of his life.

But he also understood that the more he gave, the more guilty Lu Nan would feel. Now she didn't want to accept Lu Ze's care for her, and Lu Ze understood her reasons. He should have been pleased, but now he found it hard to be happy.

The two looked at each other, separated by a red car. Her ponytail was already undone, and her long hair was draped over her shoulders. A gentle breeze blew, covering half of her delicate face. As the village elders said, she had an ethereal quality that hadn't faded even at twenty-eight. Lightly brushing a strand of hair behind her head, she was several times more beautiful than any contrived slow-motion shot in a TV drama, yet her eyes held a resolute determination.

It wasn't just for her own decision, but also for her brother. Ever since he became a left-behind child at the age of nine, he has been busy for the family every day. Now, at the age of thirty-four, Lu Ze has brought glory to the family. With their wealth alone, his parents could live such a life that they could never spend it all in ten lifetimes, but he still works hard for the family.

It's fine to keep busy; one has to be busy to live. But Lu Nan hopes that Lu Ze, at thirty-four, is busy for his own sake, at least before starting a family. If he has an unfilial son like Fu Gui who gambles until he can't even afford pants, then it's not too late for him to work for his family.

"Xiao Nan".

"Ok?"

"It's okay, you can drive."

The car key slid across the roof and returned to Lu Nan's hand. This time she didn't refuse. After Lu Ze got into the car, she slowly started the car and drove towards her home.

Five minutes later, Lu Ze rubbed his temples, sighed, and asked softly.

"Lu Nan."

"what happened?"

"Don't you ever release the handbrake while driving?"

"..."

(End of this chapter)