Billionaire’s Secret Heir

**East Lake.** Famous for its Baichuan Lake, this city is one of the top-tier metropolises in the northern region. Mid-June, under the blazing sun. After downing several beers at lunch, Haiming Lu lazily slumped onto his sofa in his rented apartment. He opened WeChat and quickly noticed a serious problem—Xuechen Ye had blocked him. They were once classmates in college, and although three years had passed since graduation, they had maintained a solid friendship—strictly platonic, no romance involved. "Three nights ago… well, we were drinking a lot, and I couldn’t hold back." With that thought, Haiming Lu felt a bit troubled. At the time, he had just quit his third job, and Xuechen Ye had taken him out for a lavish dinner to lift his spirits. But after a few too many drinks, he lost his composure and embraced Xuechen Ye… Her figure was stunning, and the sensation was unforgettable. ... Now, though, things had taken a serious turn. Being blocked on WeChat was a bad sign—it meant he might lose such a good friend as Xuechen Ye. Haiming Lu started contemplating whether he should call Xuechen and explain what had happened that night. Just then, his phone rang, and it was Xuechen Ye calling. "Xuechen, I was surprised to see your call—I thought my phone was malfunctioning. About that night, I—" "Don’t explain, it’s fine." Xuechen Ye was not only beautiful but also had a sweet, melodious voice, with a certain feminine allure. "Shaofeng Bai invited me to his birthday party tonight at Golden Oak KTV at 8 PM, and I want you to come with me." "I thought it was something important—so you just want me to be your shield, huh? How about this: you be my girlfriend, and I’ll go with you tonight to Golden Oak KTV." Haiming Lu felt a bit nervous. He had just been blocked on WeChat, and here he was, getting cocky again. He had confessed his feelings to Xuechen Ye twice before, and both times he had failed. Afterward, Xuechen had warned him that two failed confessions were enough, and if he dared to confess a third time, they couldn’t even be friends anymore. After a long silence, Xuechen Ye finally spoke. "Haiming Lu, are you serious? Fine, from today on, I’m your girlfriend." "Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on! You agreed too quickly—that’s scary! Alright then, I’ll go with you to Golden Oak KTV tonight." Haiming Lu seemed genuinely startled by Xuechen’s response and suddenly hung up the phone. At that moment… Xuechen Ye was in her father Qinghe Ye’s office at Tianliang Security Company. Her father was the owner of the company. Xuechen dialed a number. This call wasn’t to her parents but to someone very special. "Uncle Lu, I just called Haiming and invited him to Shaofeng’s birthday party tonight. He seemed to be in a good mood." "Xuechen, you did great. Uncle Lu owes you a big thank you. I sincerely hope Haiming will return to the Lu family soon. Only you can help him overcome his inner struggles. I also wish for nothing more than to have you as the future daughter-in-law of the Lu family!" This person was none other than Hongtu Lu, Haiming Lu’s biological father. The chairman of Donghu Lu’s Hongtu Group, the richest man in East Lake, with a net worth of 218 billion this year. But in Haiming Lu’s mind, he had always been the child of a single-parent household, raised solely by his mother, Liya Liu. He had been told that his father died of a heart attack before he was born. That’s what his mother had told him all these years. For years, someone had been secretly protecting Haiming Lu, and his every move was reported back to Hongtu Lu, even the tension between him and Xuechen Ye. As for the Lu and Ye families, their ties ran deep. Hongtu Lu had done the Ye family a great favor. More than a decade ago, in Bangkok’s Chinatown, if it hadn’t been for the intervention of Hongtu Lu’s top men, Qinghe Ye and his family, who were there on business, would have been wiped out by their enemies. When Hongtu Lu gave orders, the Ye family had no choice but to comply. --- **Evening.** A Cadillac SUV stopped outside the main gate of Baosheng Community. Just as Haiming Lu was about to get in, Xuechen Ye stepped out of the vehicle. With a classic oval face and a touch of modern elegance, her beauty was truly striking. Her delicate eyebrows framed lively almond-shaped eyes, and with just her face alone, she could easily be regarded as a peerless beauty. Standing at 175 cm tall, her curves were graceful, and her presence was captivating. "Quick, take me to your place—I need to use the bathroom." Xuechen Ye whispered softly, as if worried that passersby might overhear her. Haiming Lu led Xuechen to his apartment. Xuechen quickly stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. As she pulled up her pants, Xuechen realized a problem—this old apartment had thin walls, and Haiming Lu had probably heard everything. Awkward. After washing her hands, Xuechen came out and noticed Haiming Lu’s playful grin, which made her blush. "That was just the sound of me washing my hands." "Don’t explain—I know you just used the bathroom." "Are you asking for a beating?" Though Xuechen usually exuded a cold elegance, Haiming Lu’s teasing had her fuming. She raised her long leg and kicked at him. Haiming Lu dodged and smiled, "This is great!" Xuechen was clearly irritated. Feeling both a twinge of pain and a bit flustered by Haiming’s teasing, she chased him down and delivered a swift kick to his stomach. "You perv! Who said you could touch me?" Haiming Lu dodged again and sat on the sofa. Xuechen Ye glared at him for a few seconds, then calmly sat beside him. "Haiming, you’re really lucky." "Lucky? That’s the first time anyone’s ever said that. Xuechen, thanks for the compliment." Haiming Lu couldn’t help but chuckle. "Actually, maybe I am lucky. I grew up without a dad, but I had a great mom." His mother was kind. His mother loved him deeply. Every time he mentioned his mother, a warm light would shine in Haiming Lu’s eyes, but he had no memories of his father. The richest man in East Lake is your dad—how could you not be lucky? Even though you’re an illegitimate child, that 218 billion fortune is as real as it gets. Xuechen Ye had only learned this two days ago, but she couldn’t say anything to Haiming just yet. Haiming Lu might be broke, but he was talented and had a strong sense of pride. Among her male friends, Xuechen Ye knew Haiming Lu best. Her phone rang, and she glanced at the screen. The call was from Shaofeng Bai, who was hosting the birthday party that night. "Xuechen, let’s have dinner together as well. I want to take you out alone, and afterward, we’ll head straight to Golden Oak KTV at my place." "Sorry, Bai, but I’ve already made dinner plans with a friend who’ll be here soon. I’ll see you later at your party." "Alright, but you have to come. My birthday won’t be complete without you." Shaofeng Bai reluctantly hung up. Xuechen Ye, however, gave Haiming Lu a helpless look and winked. "When a girl is too pretty, it’s a headache with all the guys chasing after her. Come on, let’s go grab dinner at that nearby Sichuan restaurant." Haiming Lu stood up. His pants were a bit tight in an awkward way, all thanks to Xuechen’s teasing. As he stood there, face-to-face, Xuechen Ye couldn’t help but notice, even if she tried to look away. "Damn it!" Xuechen Ye cursed inwardly. This beauty rarely had such mischievous thoughts, but she suddenly felt like giving Haiming a good punch—enough to make him cry out in pain. Stay calm! I’m a lady!