25: Is this favoritism?

Eight fifty-five, Yuhua Manor.

A speeding taxi stopped steadily at the entrance of Yuhua Manor.

Chen Mengyao reluctantly took out 20 yuan and handed it to the taxi driver.

If she had enough time, she could have taken the bus, which would only cost two yuan.

But it was fine; spending 20 yuan wasn’t too much of a loss.

At least she arrived at Yuhua Manor before 9 o’clock, so she wouldn’t be late.

Chen Mengyao quickly pulled open the car door. She didn’t even have time to observe her surroundings; after getting out, she ran towards Yuhua Manor.

However,

As soon as she reached the manor entrance, several fully armed security guards stopped her.

“Excuse me, miss, unauthorized personnel are not allowed inside,” Security Captain Wang Qiang said with a stern face as he approached with a few security guards.

“Uh, I… I am…” Chen Mengyao’s face was flustered, and she was panting softly. After catching her breath, she continued, “Hello, I’m here to see CEO Lu.”

“Do you have an appointment?” Wang Qiang asked, still maintaining a stern expression.

“N-no.” Chen Mengyao was startled again and whispered, “He told me to come.”

“Oh?” Wang Qiang heard this and scrutinized Chen Mengyao up and down. He noticed she was dressed simply and cleanly, with delicate and lovely features, which did align with CEO Lu’s preference for innocent types.

Presumably, this was CEO Lu’s new maid?

Wang Qiang mused.

As a security guard, he often saw various women entering CEO Lu’s villa.

There were even some A-list celebrities, popular female singers, or models, so he was quite familiar with these types of people.

However, there were too many women trying to cling to power and wealth these days, so to avoid trouble, he still said, “Please wait a moment; I’ll inform him first.”

Chen Mengyao quickly expressed her gratitude: “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Please wait here for a moment,” Wang Qiang said politely.

Chen Mengyao stood obediently to the side, looking uneasy, her lips pressed tightly, and her head lowered.

She opened her phone and glanced at it.

Eight fifty-seven.

Only three minutes left… If she delayed any longer… she would really be late.

Chen Mengyao’s heart tightened even more.

Just as Chen Mengyao was praying, Wang Qiang came out of the security room.

She quickly looked up, her eyes sparkling with anticipation and hope, and anxiously asked, “How is it? Can I go in now?”

However, Wang Qiang shook his head: “Sorry, miss, I just called CEO Lu’s butler, and CEO Lu’s butler said CEO Lu is sleeping right now, and he doesn’t dare to disturb him.”

“This… what should I do…” Chen Mengyao froze, dumbfounded, at his words.

“Miss, CEO Lu has a bad temper when he wakes up. If someone disturbs his sleep, the consequences are very serious. Why don’t you come another day?” Wang Qiang kindly reminded her.

Chen Mengyao shook her head, her eyes red, so anxious she was almost crying: “No, I can’t. I’m here for housekeeping. CEO Lu told me to be at the villa before nine, I can’t be late…”

Wang Qiang checked the time.

Five fifty-eight.

“Uh…” He scratched his head, his expression odd: “Even if I let you in now, miss, you won’t make it. From here to CEO Lu’s villa, it takes at least ten minutes, even by car.”

Chen Mengyao: “…”

She finally understood that Lu Chen’s mention of fifteen minutes was clearly just to tease her.

It was impossible for her to get from Dihao Group to his villa in just fifteen minutes.

“Then what should I do…” Chen Mengyao looked helplessly at the majestic Yuhua Mountain before her, her legs trembling, almost collapsing.

Wang Qiang shook his head: “There’s nothing we can do, miss. CEO Lu’s temper when he wakes up is very severe. We can only wait.”

Hearing this, Chen Mengyao seemed to remember something. She took out her phone again, gritted her teeth, and redialed Lu Chen’s number.

“Beep—Beep—”

As Chen Mengyao waited anxiously, the call finally connected.

“Speak,” a lazy male voice sounded.

Chen Mengyao took a deep breath and, gathering her courage, said, “CEO Lu, I’ve already arrived at Yuhua Manor, but I can’t get in. Can you give me ten more minutes…”

She originally thought she would be scolded.

Unexpectedly, Lu Chen readily agreed.

“No problem. This young master is in a good mood today, so I’ll give you ten more minutes.”

Chen Mengyao was stunned, somewhat incredulously saying, “R-really?”

A faint voice came from the phone: “Eat well, don’t get a Divided Soul.”

“Ah?” Chen Mengyao blinked, a little bewildered: “Eat what?”

“I wasn’t talking to you.” Lu Chen sighed, saying lightly, “You now have nine minutes and fifty seconds left.”

Chen Mengyao’s beautiful eyes widened, and she quickly said:

“Wait, wait, can you please tell the gate guard again to let me in?”

Lu Chen chuckled, his tone indifferent, devoid of any emotion: “Beg me.”

Chen Mengyao: “…”

Chen Mengyao at this moment really wished she could throw her phone on the ground and stomp on it.

But she knew this was only something she could think about in her heart.

“Unwilling? If so, then you figure it out yourself. If you don’t arrive in ten minutes, then don’t blame me for deducting your salary this time.”

With that, Lu Chen directly hung up the phone.

“Hello! Hello!” Chen Mengyao called twice, then, hearing the busy tone from the other end of the phone, she was immediately dumbfounded.

She hadn’t expected Lu Chen to hang up so decisively, without even a shred of room for discussion.

Lu Chen was not only moody but also completely without Dao, he just loved to make things difficult for her!

Chen Mengyao angrily clenched her small fists and stomped her feet in a huff.

But no matter how angry she was, she still had to give in.

Finally,

Chen Mengyao could only resign herself, redialing the number, biting her lip and saying plaintively, “P-please…”

“Not sincere enough,” Lu Chen said lightly.

Chen Mengyao endured the humiliation and shame of being teased, and pleaded in a low voice: “CEO Lu, please.”

Lu Chen curled his lips in satisfaction: “Hmm, that attitude is more like it. Give your phone to Wang Qiang, I’ll have him send someone to bring you up.”

Chen Mengyao pouted her small mouth and handed the phone to Wang Qiang.

Wang Qiang looked at Chen Mengyao’s phone suspiciously, his face filled with surprise.

If he hadn’t misheard earlier, this girl was talking to CEO Lu on the phone?

And CEO Lu wasn’t even angry??

“Wang Qiang, send someone to bring her up.”

At this moment, Lu Chen’s voice came from the phone.

Wang Qiang jolted, immediately replying respectfully: “Yes, CEO Lu!”

Wang Qiang was very efficient. Upon receiving the order, he immediately personally drove Chen Mengyao to the villa halfway up the mountain.

When Chen Mengyao got out of the car, Wang Qiang opened the window and said meaningfully:

“Miss, CEO Lu is very fond of you. He didn’t even get angry with you when he woke up. You must seize this opportunity well.”

Chen Mengyao paused, frozen in place.

Was this… favoritism?

…