"The situation is being managed. The surrogate explanation is working. You don't have to be so angry."
"Managed?" Lu Cheng's laugh was harsh.
"The stock dropped thirty-four percent in one day. THIRTY-FOUR PERCENT. Do you understand what that means? That's billions of yuan in market value, gone. Because my son couldn't resist women."
He resumed pacing, his hands clasped behind his back in a gesture that would have looked composed if not for the white-knuckle grip.
"I always tell him, always, cover your tracks. Be discreet. If you're going to have affairs, make sure they can never be traced back to you. Make sure there are no photos, no videos, no evidence. But does he listen? No!"
Madam Lu set down her phone with a sigh.
"What's done is done. We can't change the past. We can only manage the present and protect the future."
"The future," Lu Cheng repeated bitterly.
He stopped in front of the window, staring out at the manicured gardens that surrounded the estate.
