Chapter 36: Steeling Her Heart, She Knocked on the Door to Claim Her Father…

The man in the suit reached out to help Bai Lu, but she struggled to her feet on her own, trembling as she extended a finger. “Are you... my stand-in?”

The man’s expression was helpless. “Sorry, I must have frightened you. Yiting isn’t usually like this. He’s in a bad mood today and had a bit to drink. Come, I’ll take you to 888.”

No sooner had he spoken than Lu Yiting returned, his face dark, pushing her suitcase. “Is this yours?”

Bai Lu timidly nodded. In the next instant, Lu Yiting kicked her suitcase hard. “Get out of here!”

Bai Lu looked at the man in the suit. “Drank too much?”

He coughed lightly and spoke gently. “Yiting hates actresses who try to take shortcuts. With people like that, he’s always ruthless.”

Bai Lu nodded emphatically. “Yes!”

He truly was her father!

Upright!

Impartial!

This was exactly how her father should treat actresses who threw themselves at him!

She felt he did nothing wrong!

The man in the suit smiled. “Yiting must have misunderstood you. Don’t worry, when we get back I’ll explain things to him. Come on, I’ll take you to 888.”

Only then did Bai Lu realize—the man in the suit was her father’s best friend since childhood, the CEO of Gu Group, Gu Pianran!

Bai Lu smiled sweetly, calling him warmly, “Thank you, Uncle Gu!”

Gu Pianran paused. Did he really seem that old?

Then again, he was forty-three, and Bai Lu had only just come of age. Calling him uncle wasn’t exactly wrong.

Once inside the apartment, Bai Lu gazed at the split-level duplex, forgetting all her resentment toward the wealthy—her mind was filled with thoughts of her father.

Should she steel herself and just knock on his door to claim him as her father?

If she had the paternity test report, he’d have no choice but to believe her.

Bai Lu shook her head fiercely.

No, no, if she rushed over now, he’d probably throw her out, thinking she was some scheming actress trying to climb the social ladder.

He wasn’t just a film emperor, but also the most likely successor to the Lu Group.

Judging by his attitude just now, she’d likely fail to win him over and instead be labeled as an ambitious opportunist, banned from the industry entirely. That would be a disaster.

She still couldn’t understand how her father, who had never been involved in any scandals, ended up with a daughter as grown as herself.

Who was her mother? In her previous life, Shen Xinluo became the Lu family’s heiress, but the identity of her mother remained a mystery.

How did Shen Xinluo even find out?

Lost in suspicion, her phone rang.

Yu Fuqing, that persistent nuisance, was calling again.

Bai Lu hung up and continued to ponder, cradling her cheeks. Could it be some sort of token?

That’s how it happened in “Princess Pearl.”

The emperor recognized the token, not his own daughter. And so, the Little Swallow carrying the token was made a princess.

Poor Ziwei waited and waited, only to find out that Little Swallow had taken her place, cried herself blind, and almost got beaten to death.

But the old lady at the orphanage had said she was left on the doorstep wearing only a white shirt with a deer embroidered on the chest. Nothing else.

That’s how she got her name.

The phone kept ringing. Bai Lu finally lost patience and answered, “Yu Fuqing, do you not understand plain language? I told you I don’t want to see you before signing the contract, and I don’t want to hear your voice! Can’t you just let me have some peace?”

Yu Fuqing said, “Xiao Lu, I’m worried about you. The media and fans have surrounded your house. You didn’t go home—where are you? A hotel? Hotels aren’t safe either, the paparazzi will soon find you.”

“I have somewhere to stay, perfectly safe. I don’t need you worrying for me. Stop calling me. If you keep pestering me, I won’t sign with Yu Xing Entertainment!”

She hung up after shouting.

Threatening him with her contract—Yu Fuqing wouldn’t dare bother her anymore. But he had plenty of tricks; he’d probably try to get information from Shen Yanghong.

Bai Lu sent Shen Yanghong a message before he could call, telling him she had a place to stay, it was safe, and the paparazzi wouldn’t find her. After that, she turned off her phone.

Shen Yanghong took a screenshot of Bai Lu’s message and informed Yu Fuqing that she had turned off her phone.

Yu Fuqing was nearly furious enough to faint. “How did Bai Lu evade the reporters and fans at the airport? She doesn’t have a penny to her name—how could she find a safe place?”

The secretary had already investigated. “Director Zhang said that the first-class passenger was Miss Bai’s fan. Miss Bai left through the VVIP channel. Most likely, her accommodation was arranged by her fan.”

Yu Fuqing’s gaze turned vicious. “Do I need to spell it out for you? Go investigate!”

“...” The secretary said, “I tried, but couldn’t get information on the first-class passenger.”

“Can’t get it?” Yu Fuqing immediately understood.

The passenger he couldn’t track must have a status above his own.

After thinking it over, there was only Ye Jingyan.

Ye Jingyan again!

He had created the opportunity, only for Ye Jingyan to benefit.

And Ye Jingyan was someone he couldn’t afford to offend in the slightest.

Seething with anger, Yu Fuqing called again and tore into Shen Yanghong, giving him a final ultimatum.

“I’m giving you three days. If you can’t find Bai Lu within three days, don’t expect me to help Shen Xinluo through this crisis!”

“You heard for yourself!” Shen Yanghong slammed the phone down. “I have no more options. It’s up to you now!”

He walked off.

Shen Xinluo bit her lip until it bled, then called Wu Liping.

After hearing her out, Wu Liping told her, “Don’t worry. You’re your father’s biological daughter—he won’t abandon you. As long as Young Master Yu is willing to protect you, you still have a chance. Don’t forget, everything was done by your mother. You knew nothing about it.”

Shen Xinluo’s lips were bleeding. “Mother, I’ve made you suffer.”

“As long as I can keep you safe, I’ll endure anything. Xinluo, you must find out where Bai Lu is. And remember, don’t anger Young Master Yu again. Whatever he asks, you must comply—even if he wants you to help him pursue Bai Lu!”

“I understand.” Finally, Shen Xinluo couldn’t hold back her tears any longer and burst into sobs.

Hearing her daughter’s anguished cries, Wu Liping’s heart ached. “Shen Xinluo, no more tears. All the grievances you suffer now will come back to Bai Lu, twice over. Don’t forget... Boss Hou! I already have a plan!”

Shen Xinluo urged, “Mother, tell me quickly!”

“It’s not your concern. You don’t need to know. For now, Shen Xinluo, you have only two tasks: listen obediently to your father and keep Young Master Yu happy. Leave the rest to me. Remember, you are different from Bai Lu—you have a mother.”

“Mother… Mother, I wish I could just hug you.”

“No crying! My daughter, Wu Liping’s daughter, is not so easily defeated. Don’t contact me for a while; it might upset your father. Bai Lu admitted in public that she slandered you, which means she still values your sisterhood. You must find a way to regain Bai Lu’s trust, do you understand?”

Wu Liping gave her daughter careful instructions before finally hanging up.