Volume 1 Chapter 17: Straightforward Talk

  Lu Yun's face turned pale, and before he could respond, Lu Yue on the side spoke coldly: "Did you come here for something, Zeng Lang? Let's talk about it directly in the room." After that, she lifted her foot and walked towards the room.

  Zeng Lang's face changed, he felt that Lu Yue's attitude towards him had really changed. When she looked at him, there was no longer any admiration or joy. Her tone when speaking to him was also cold and distant, making people feel uncomfortable.

  "Hold back the excitement," Zeng Lang said in a low voice, "It's fine here." He thought of his original purpose and forced out a smile, speaking slowly to Lu Yue in a gentle tone, "Ah Yue, you misunderstood Ah Yin that day. I really don't have anything with her."

  He paused for a moment, thinking of his own delaying tactics, and then softened his voice, saying gently: "I've always liked only you, and the one I want to marry is also only you, Ah Yue, how can you misunderstand me like this?"

  "Is that so?" Lu Xuan turned around, her black and white eyes gazing coldly at Zeng Lang. She stared at him for a while before sneering, "Zeng Lang must have said the same thing to Ai Yin too, right?"

  She, how did she know?

  Zeng Lang's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. Frowning and looking at Lu Yue with impatience, Zeng Lang said in a serious tone with a hint of warning, "A Yue, you don't believe me?"

  This tone, this expression, Lu Xuan was familiar with. In the past, whenever she did something that disobeyed him or said something he didn't like to hear, he would use this half-warning, half-disdainful tone to advise her, making her feel guilty and afraid. And every time in the past, she had retreated because she cared about him, because she didn't want to lose his support, because she was used to his overbearing nature and her own inferiority.

  But now, Lu Xuan was unmoved.

  Her heart clearly told her that this man was just pretending, everything was just because she had hit his sore spot!

  Closing her eyes again, Lu Xuan smiled once more and lifted her head to stare directly at Zeng Lang, smiling faintly as she said, "Yes, I don't believe you."

  He didn't expect her to answer like this, Zeng Lang was speechless.

  At this time, Luoyue suddenly said, "Ain has also arrived."

  What?

  Zeng Lang was startled and turned his head back. As he turned his head, he happened to meet the figure of someone who had hastily lowered the carriage curtain and hidden their face. That figure was indeed Ah Yin!

  That stupid woman, she had already made a promise to herself, how dare she still come to spy on me?

  Zeng Lang was somewhat annoyed that his plan was about to be ruined again.

  Just as he was turning red with rage, Lu Xuan's soft laughter came over, "Zeng Lang, it's rare that Ah Yin is also here. Why don't we call her over and you can tell her what you just told me?" She spoke gently, "As long as Zeng Lang says so, I'll apologize to Lang Jun."

  Ask him to tell Ain personally that he only likes Luoyue and has always planned to marry Luoyue as his wife? How is this possible?

  Zeng Lang stiffened and pursed his lips tightly shut.

  Seeing him like this, how could Lu Yue still not understand the truth? This man, in front of himself is one way, but behind his back, he's probably another story.

  Having said that, Lu Xuan had become impatient. She took light steps and walked straight to Zeng Lang's face, raised her head, stared at him straightly, slowly, word by word, saying: "Zeng Lang, a man should be brave enough to take responsibility for his actions. If you have taken a fancy to someone else, then don't come to disturb me again! As for the engagement, on the day Zeng Bo returns home, I and Ah Yan will go to your house to settle things."

  This was not what Zeng Lang wanted to hear, his face turned blue with rage as he said heavily: "Lu Yue, you've always been thinking wildly." As he spoke, his voice softened and he sighed lightly: "Lu Yue, don't make trouble for me, okay? Look, I even brought a whole car of gifts. Even considering that I came twice today, can't you just not make trouble for me?" The tone was one Lu Yue had never heard before, so gentle.

  Seeing him still not giving up, Lu Yu's eyebrows furrowed, she stared straight at Zeng Lang, her face cold and stern as she said: "Zeng Lang, didn't you understand what I just said? I've never had any conflicts with you, it's just that... I don't like you anymore, I loathe you, I've given up on you. Don't you get it?"

  When Lu Yuan said this, her voice was sharp and the words she used were not only vicious but also sarcastic!

  Zeng Lang had never been so humiliated before. Moreover, the one who made him feel this way was Lu Xuan's daughter, a woman he subconsciously looked down upon as a poor and humble person!

  Suddenly, a fierce anger flared up, and just as he was about to utter some harsh words, somehow the heavy words that had rushed to his throat were suddenly stuck there when they met Lu Yue's extremely elegant face.

  Just as the two of them were staring at each other in dismay, with a tense atmosphere, suddenly, a "creaking" sound of wheels came. It was an ox cart that appeared outside the house, and then, a middle-aged man wearing brocade clothes led a young boy down, from afar, his bright and smiling voice came over, "May I ask if Lu Shi Ayue is here?"

  Yang Shu and Zeng Lang, as well as Ah Yin from a distance, and the neighbors were all stunned. Lu Xuan was the first to react, she took a step forward and replied in a clear voice: "I am Lu Xuan, who might this gentleman be?"

  Almost as soon as her voice fell, the middle-aged man took a step forward, lowered his head and bowed solemnly to her.

  This man was dressed in brocade, with elegant manners. As a fellow resident of the city of Han Yang, everyone recognized him at a glance: he was Wang Da Shanren, a wealthy silk merchant from the east of the city. This Wang Da Shanren had built his business to an enormous scale, and in the eyes of people like Yang Shu, he was truly someone worth getting close to.

  He thus bowed deeply to Lu Xun, and suddenly everyone around was shocked.

  Just as Zeng Lang hastily turned his head and looked at Lu Yue with surprise, Wang Da said with a sigh: "My son is so stubborn, fortunately, Ah Yue lent a hand to help. I have no way to repay the kindness of saving my life, I have prepared some gifts, please accept them, little lady."

  Having said that, he waved his hand and four strong servants walked out. Those servants carried two wooden boxes and walked in with big strides.

  Seeing this scene, Zeng Lang's eyes sparkled. He remembered that his father had told him before he left to make friends with some of the rich merchants and officials in the city. Thinking of this, he turned to Lu Yue and asked excitedly: "Ah Yue, why did Wang Da thank you?" His eyes rolled around and he thought again: If it was really a life-saving favor, how could such a small gift be enough? Ah Yue is an ignorant woman, I'll have to take care of this myself.

  In his mind, as long as the operation was successful, this lifesaving favor would be enough to open a door of wealth and nobility for him at the Zeng Mansion, and it would also be easy for his mount to change from a donkey cart to an ox cart.

  The more he thought about it, the more excited Zeng Lang became, so he stared intently at Lu Yue, eagerly waiting for her response.