Volume 1: Hanyang Chapter 2: Let's Call Off the Engagement

  Lu Yun saw her sister's footsteps light and her smile bright, although she couldn't figure out what the reason was, she finally put her mind at ease.

  Lu Yuanyuan walked around the courtyard for a while and then her headache recurred, so she went back to her room.

  She and her brother lived in this small wooden house, low and simple, with only two rooms, which was converted from a warehouse of her maternal grandparents' home. After her parents passed away, her brother had to go to school, and the family had been supported by Lu Xue's hard work all along. And she, a fifteen or sixteen year old girl, what way could she make money? She just embroidered two flowers, and relied on her beautiful handwriting to write a few letters for her neighbors.

  The income is meager, and the days of the two siblings are also very difficult.

  At this moment, Lu Xuan sat in the room, stroking the mended hemp quilt on the couch, furrowing her brow in thought.

  It wasn't long before Lu Yun's voice came from outside, "Sister, Zeng Lang has arrived."

  Zeng Lang has arrived?

  Lu Xuan hastily stood up, and a genuine smile appeared on her cold face. Since her parents' death, she and her younger brother had experienced the ups and downs of life together. For this man who would be her reliance for the rest of her life, she was sincerely eager to rely on him.

  Listening to the footsteps coming from outside, Lu Xuan hastily smoothed out her clothes and only when she reached up to touch her hair did she realize that her head was wrapped in several layers of cloth - what elegance could there be?

  At this time, Zeng Lang's slightly anxious voice came, "A Yun, A Xuan really woke up?"

  "My sister is awake."

  "That's good." As he spoke, a figure appeared at the low and small door, Zeng Lang's tall stature stepped forward, just as he raised his head to look at Lu Yue, Lu Yue clearly felt that his eyebrows habitually furrowed.

  I'm already awake, he should be happy, why is he frowning? Also, why would I say it's a habit of mine?

  Zhen Lang saw Lu Xuan standing by the bed, staring at himself with a fixed gaze. He couldn't help but smile and said worriedly: "Xuan'er woke up, that's good, I've been worried about you."

  What he said was true, Lu Xuan knew, but she didn't know why, she just stared at him firmly.

  She stared at him for a moment before lowering her head, and she curtsied slightly, saying softly: "Zeng Lang has arrived? I'm all better now." Speaking gently to this point, she slowly raised her head, asking quietly: "Zeng Lang, do you know how I fell? I just can't remember."

  Zeng Lang heard her say that she was fine, and let out a sigh of relief. Standing in this cramped room made him uncomfortable, so he furrowed his brow again. Finally, he replied in a gentle tone: "It's because there was moss on the stone steps, and Ain pushed you lightly, but you lost your balance and fell." After a pause, he excused Ain by saying: "She was just joking around when she pushed you, and didn't think you'd be so clumsy."

  She noticed that Zeng Lang's pupils dilated slightly when he mentioned Ah Yin, and his tone also added a hint of hidden gentleness. Lu Xuan couldn't help but narrow her eyes. After a while, she said "oh" and saw Zeng Lang standing at the door with his head down, looking quite awkward. Lu Xuan walked towards him and said gently: "Let's talk outside, Ah Lang."

  "Whatever."

  Two people walked out of the wooden house, one in front and one behind. After Lu Xuan stopped, she turned her head to see Zeng Lang frowning with annoyance at the water accumulating on one side of the eaves. For some reason, a kind of indescribable sourness and pain surged up into her heart.

  Disliking poverty and loving wealth is a common phenomenon in the world. He himself and everything around him are somewhat shabby, no wonder he often frowns. Ah Yin is also beautiful and charming, no wonder he mentions her with joy.

  No matter what, she doesn't like it!

  Zeng Lang glanced down and saw Lu Yue lowering her head in silence, her face pale, which matched her elegant appearance and was quite touching. Unconsciously, his heart softened, and a kind of fondness and satisfaction that he couldn't understand himself surged up. But when he caught sight of the only intact garment on her body, the linen robe she had not changed out of since they met, he inexplicably felt annoyed again.

  He pursed his lips, and Zeng Lang finally said in a low voice, "I just came to see you. Since you're much better now, take good care of your injury. Don't worry about the doctor's fee, I've already paid it."

  He turned around and left as soon as he said that.

  Watching Zeng Lang's back figure without hesitation, Lu Yue didn't turn her eyes away.

  Before long, Lu Yun's voice came from behind her, tauntingly saying, "Don't look anymore, other people's fathers are already generals. Even if you keep looking at him, he won't stay for a moment."

  Contrary to Lu Yun's expectations, Lu Xue, who had always been respectful and never allowed him to criticize freely, let out a soft sigh this time. In the lingering sigh, Lu Yun heard Lu Xue say in a low voice: "Yes."

  "What?"

  Lu Xuan still looked at Zeng Lang's figure sitting on the donkey cart, and said in a low voice: "You're right, he despises me..."

  Lu Xuan turned around, looking at his brother who was staring at him in shock. His eyes reddened, but his voice was exceptionally calm and cold. "He has an arrogant attitude towards me, with a hint of impatience. His mother doesn't like me either..." With a rough tone, he spoke word by word until here, then Lu Xuan pursed his lips. After a moment of silence, he suddenly said: "In a few days, Uncle Zeng will return home. A Yun, at that time, bring the marriage certificate to the Zeng family and request a divorce."

  "What?"

  Startled, Lu Yun widened his eyes. Although he had never liked Zeng Lang much, he also knew that a woman's marriage was a matter of her whole life, so how could his own sister make such a rash decision?

  Lu Yun was shocked, and Lu Xuan herself was also shocked. She stared blankly with her mouth agape, hardly daring to believe that such words had come out of her own mouth.

  The man she had always revered as her sky and relied on for the second half of her life, how could she so lightly deny him? Was it the unease that surged endlessly after seeing Zeng Lang earlier, or was it the warning voice that constantly reminded herself at this moment?

  Yes, if a woman marries a husband who is not satisfied with her and has a mother-in-law who always criticizes and never likes her, whether she will be happy for the rest of her life doesn't need to be guessed or imagined. Right? It's this warning that appears in her heart again and again, making her say those words.

  Lu Xuan let out a soft sigh and nodded towards Lu Yun, saying: "It's settled then. When Uncle Zeng returns, you'll go to their house to break off the engagement."

  "But sister!"

  "Ayun, do you remember what Father said? He said that although he is a sinner of the Lu family and will never have the face to return to the clan, but both you and I are descendants of the illustrious Lu family. No matter when, we cannot lower our heads, even if we meet with kings and nobles, we should still smile with dignity!"

  When Lu Xuan mentioned his late father, Lu Yun's eyes turned red and he gritted his teeth, saying: "Sister, I understand."

  "Ah," said Lu Xiang's voice softly, "my engagement to Zeng Lang was decided when our parents were still alive. As the saying goes, 'as long as people are there, their hearts are there', I think if Father were still alive, he wouldn't want his daughter to accept charity from others. Even if it's a charitable marriage."

  "Yes, sister."

  There is a saying that being too rigid makes one easy to break, and Lu Xing's father was indeed broken by his own rigidity. If she had thought about her father's teachings before getting hurt, she would have been skeptical. But now, she has naturally accepted her father's ideas. Perhaps it's because the green trees and red flowers swaying in the spring sunlight are so clear and bright, or perhaps it's because there is an inexplicable sense of ease and confidence that fills her entire heart.