After successfully escorting his beloved younger sister to Modu University and entrusting her to the excellent senior student, Xia Qinghe, Lu Family Manor temporarily returned to its usual tranquility.
Lu Cheng held a freshly brewed Enlightenment Tea in his hand, a look of relief on his face.
He felt more exhausted these past few days than if he had faced ten Sons of Destiny simultaneously.
He slowly picked up his tablet and began to review the detailed report his subordinates had just sent him regarding Su Yang, the god of war live-in son-in-law, and Yun Xiyue's family.
The content of the report was simply a classic template for an urban god of war live-in son-in-law novel.
Su Yang's father-in-law, Yun Zhenxiong, ran a small to medium-sized traditional processing factory, which was on the verge of bankruptcy due to mismanagement, a lack of new orders, and a precarious capital chain.
His mother-in-law, Lin Meizhu, was a typical, sharp-tongued, snobbish woman, single-mindedly focused on climbing the social ladder by marrying her daughter into a wealthy family, hoping to elevate the entire Yun Family and turn them into phoenixes.
As for the female lead, Yun Xiyue, despite her efforts, she had only managed to secure a middle-management position in an internet company.
However, her limited income was merely a drop in the bucket for the family's increasingly severe financial crisis, completely ineffective.
The entire family was shrouded in anxiety.
Perfect.
Lu Cheng looked at the report with an amused smile.
What a perfect opening for a live-in son-in-law story!
A declining family, a vicious mother-in-law, a kind female lead, and a seemingly useless live-in son-in-law who was actually a hidden master enduring humiliation.
The elements were as complete as could be.
He just wondered how many surprises and Villain Points this god of war live-in son-in-law would bring him.
And with such a grand title like 'god of war', what was his true strength?
That could only be determined by meeting him in person and using the Qi Observation Technique.
When Lu Cheng turned to the appendix of the report, which contained information about Yun Xiyue's upcoming birthday banquet, his gaze casually swept over the guest invitation list.
Suddenly!
A familiar yet somewhat unexpected surname caught his attention.
Lu Minghui.
Lu Cheng's eyebrow subtly twitched.
He remembered this Lu Minghui.
He was a distant collateral relative of his Lu Family.
Although he also carried the Lu Family name, within the true family circles, or rather, in the entire upper-class society of Modu, he wasn't considered an important figure, at most a second or third-rate minor character.
However, even so, given the Yun Family's pitiful connections and precarious social standing, it was unlikely they could have contacted him, let alone invited him.
After all, even as a collateral relative, he represented the "Lu Family."
Those two words alone were enough to command respect in Modu.
There had to be something fishy going on.
Without hesitation, Lu Cheng picked up his phone from the desk, found Lu Minghui's number, and dialed it.
Lu Minghui, on the other end of the line, was utterly flattered and overwhelmed with excitement and fear when he saw the caller ID with that name!
He fumbled to press the answer button immediately!
His voice, trembling from excessive excitement and nervousness, was clearly audible.
"Hello? Is this Young Master Lu? Young Master, why would you call me personally? Please, just tell me what you need; I'll go through fire and water for you!"
Lu Cheng couldn't be bothered with his pleasantries.
He went straight to the point, asking about the Yun Family.
"Are you going to attend the Yun Family's birthday banquet in a few days?"
Lu Minghui on the other end was stunned for a moment, then, without daring to hide anything or hesitate, he quickly spilled the beans, explaining the whole story in detail.
It turned out that his agreement to attend the Yun Family's birthday banquet, which he considered beneath him, was not out of respect for the Yun Family's meager standing.
It was because... a good friend of his had approached him recently, earnestly begging for a favor.
Years ago, while his friend was doing foreign trade business at the border, he was once hijacked by armed militants. At the brink of death, he was saved by a soldier.
Not only was his life saved, but all his stolen goods were also recovered.
He had always remembered this life-saving kindness, considering the soldier his reborn parent.
And just recently, this life-saving benefactor actually contacted him!
He hoped his friend could help him use his connections in Modu to invite someone... well, someone of decent status and position, to attend his wife's birthday banquet.
To help him make a good impression and also see if he could find some connections and orders for his father-in-law's struggling small factory, which was on the verge of bankruptcy.
That life-saving benefactor was, of course, our retired god of war, Su Yang!
He originally didn't want to use these past favors, only wanting to live a quiet life as an ordinary person, silently protecting Yun Xiyue.
But recently, seeing Yun Xiyue growing increasingly haggard due to family matters, coupled with his mother-in-law's increasingly vicious harassment, he reluctantly contacted Lu Minghui's friend, using a favor he had once collected.
Eventually, through various connections, Lu Minghui, this influential "Lu Family member," was invited to attend...
After Lu Cheng heard Lu Minghui's explanation, he instantly understood.
The amused smile on his lips deepened.
It seemed the god of war live-in son-in-law could no longer hold back.
He was starting to reveal his connections and background, hoping to impress his in-laws?
This trope was as classic as it gets.
He gave a simple and blunt command to Lu Minghui, who was still nervously awaiting his instructions on the other end of the phone.
"Alright, I understand."
"You don't need to go to that Yun Family birthday banquet."
He paused, a more cruel curve forming on his lips.
"I will attend in your place."
How shrewd was Lu Minghui on the other end of the phone?
The Young Master Lu was actually going to condescend to attend such an insignificant Yun Family birthday banquet?
The significance and weight of this were far beyond what a mere collateral relative like him could compare to!
He immediately, like a pug, nodded and bowed on the phone, repeatedly agreeing, his voice filled with flattery:
"Yes! Young Master, you are absolutely right. For Young Master to personally represent our Lu Family! That's like green smoke rising from their Yun Family's ancestral grave, an immense blessing they couldn't earn in several lifetimes!"
"I'll inform my friend right away!"
Lu Cheng hung up the phone with satisfaction, casually tossing it onto the desk.
Su Yang, oh Su Yang... when you learn that your ridiculous connections actually managed to invite the Young Master of the Lu Family, you must be incredibly excited, right?
I just wonder... at that time, will the Yun Family believe that you were the one who invited me?