Xu Jiaojiao was aware that she was no match for someone like Lu Zhenghang. Even though Yan Beicheng thought of Lu Zhenghang as a stupid man, Yan Beicheng had the qualities to allow him to do so. However, she was a little shrimp compared to him and thus did not dare underestimate him.
Xu Jiaojiao gave it some thought and decided to be cautious. She would not go head-on with Lu Zhenghang nor take it upon herself to go on the offense.
Nevertheless, she wanted to hear what he had to say so that she could inform Lin Chu of their conversation and give her and Yan Beicheng an idea of what Lu Zhenghang was planning.
She nodded. "Okay, take a seat."
"Jiaojiao," Dai Huimin called out worriedly.
Xu Jiaojiao took a look at Lu Zhenghang and said quietly to Dai Huimin, "Mum, watch us from the entrance. This way, he won"t dare do anything to me."
Dai Huimin took a cautious look at Lu Zhenghang and pursed her lips. She nodded and dragged a chair to the entrance before sitting down there, as if afraid that Lu Zhenghang would drag Xu Jiaojiao out of the restaurant.
Dai Huimin was really scared after hearing about the things that Lu Zhenghang had done. It was better to act with caution.
Lu Zhenghang and Xu Jiaojiao sat opposite each other. Xu Jiaojiao did not want to waste too much time with him. She poured herself a gla.s.s of water without offering Lu Zhenghang anything. "Just say whatever you have to."
"I wasn"t aware that you were on such good terms with Lin Chu," Lu Zhenghang commented sarcastically.
"We don"t really know each other. Besides, what would you know? What else is there for you to say? Just get to the point and spit out what you want to say," Xu Jiaojiao pursed her lips impatiently as she said.
"Sure, then I"ll be direct. I have feelings for you and that"s the truth," Lu Zhenghang said as he stared straight at Xu Jiaojiao.
The expression on Lu Zhenghang"s face changed slightly as he saw the cynical look on Xu Jiaojiao"s face. "I know you don"t believe me, but if you are willing to be in a relations.h.i.+p with me, I will acknowledge our relations.h.i.+p publicly. I have had a few women before, I admit that, and I won"t pretend to be a pure, decent man. I admit that those women were my companions, but they were never my girlfriends. We simply accompanied each other and had a good time together. I brought them along with me to a few public events, but that was all. In any case, it"s easy to learn about them as all you need to do is to search online to get the information. Nevertheless, I have never acknowledged any of them as my girlfriends. I would at least need to make sure that my girlfriend comes from a decent family. Those few were immediately disqualified because of this factor, with it also being the main reason why I did not acknowledge the relations.h.i.+p. Don"t mistake me for being someone who sleeps around nor suspect me of being a playboy. I just did this to satisfy one of my humanistic needs; after all, that"s how a modern-day relations.h.i.+p works. It"s more decent than paying money to sleep with a p.r.o.s.t.i.t.u.t.e. What those women wanted is my money and I was willing to spend it on them, that was all it was."
"You will be different. I will acknowledge you as my girlfriend and treat you seriously in our relations.h.i.+p, with marriage on the cards since day one. I can"t guarantee you that we will get married, but I can guarantee that I will treat you seriously. I won"t cheat on you when we"re together and treat you wholeheartedly. If we really do become husband and wife, I will treat you well and love you and you alone," Lu Zhenghang said charmingly and with great eloquence.
Xu Jiaojiao sneered to herself. Lu Zhenghang knew how to give himself a way out by mentioning "if they became husband and wife".
Xu Jiaojiao suddenly burst out laughing. "Does that mean I should be grateful for the love you are showing me? I"m sorry, but I don"t think I"m worthy of it, and I also don"t need you to make sacrifices for this "love". Let"s be honest with each other, shall we? I know who I am. I don"t have the qualifications necessary for a man of your stature to waste your love on me. Keep your sweet words for another woman, you don"t need to waste your saliva on me."
"I"m being honest. I know you"re unhappy that I am cautious about our future, but even if it wasn"t me, you can"t guarantee that you"ll marry whoever you end up being in a relations.h.i.+p with next, even if he was a common man. I"m just being honest; I"m not spouting honey-coated words to trick you. You don"t need to waste away in this little restaurant if you are with me. I can help you expand the restaurant and can get you a great location regardless of where you want it or how big you want the restaurant to be. Your parents would not need to work so hard either. I"ll also get you a renowned chef and help you promote it. At the end of the day, all you"ll need to do is enjoy life at home," Lu Zhenghang"s heart sank as he watched Xu Jiaojiao drink her water nonchalantly, but his expression remained unchanged.
"Don"t you envy Lin Chu"s life right now? It"s all because she managed to get herself a rich man. She doesn"t need to worry about anything because of Yan Beicheng. Yan Beicheng does everything for her, so all she needs to do is be a rich man"s wife and enjoy life every day. She can have anything she wants and she will never need to worry about putting food on the table. Yan Beicheng knew that she loved the orphanage, so he donated a few million to them for her sake. Moreover, this was just his personal donation, it doesn"t even include the amount donated by the rest of the Yan family. Lin Chu is willing to take such good care of an orphanage that has no blood relations with her, yet ignore her biological mother and sister," Lu Zhenghang said slowly.
"She may have helped you get rid of Cheng Ziming, but as your sister, wasn"t that simply her responsibility? She never helped any of you with your daily lives. She knows that it"s hard work and laborious to manage a restaurant, yet she did nothing for you. I know you are planning to expand the restaurant and move your parents to a bigger house, but these are all easy things Lin Chu could help with. The money needed to achieve all these would be nothing to her. She could easily come up with the finances with the snap of her fingers. She helped the orphanage so much but did nothing for you and your family. Don"t you feel that it"s unfair? I"ll help you in areas where she won"t. She doesn"t feel sorry for you, but my heart aches when I see you suffer. Xu Jiaojiao, please give me this chance."
Xu Jiaojioa could not help laughing. She laughed for quite a while until she was nearly gasping for air. It took her some effort to stop and finally have another sip of water before saying, "So, you"ve prepared such a long speech, all to try to create a rift between me and Lin Chu. Why go through all that trouble when you could have just told me that directly? A big man like you sneaking around like this… Aren"t you embarra.s.sed? Besides, what"s an outsider like you doing interfering with our family business? What does an outsider like you know about how my sister treats our family? What would you know about what we"ve discussed? Yet, here you are giving us instructions and trying to break us apart. Just imagine, a big man like you playing petty games like this - it"s no wonder that you haven"t really accomplished much. I don"t see you producing any results in the Lu family at all. I would advise you to focus more on your career and stop trying to stir up trouble all over the place like some gossipy woman. You"re starting to look like a big joke."
Lu Zhenghang could no longer keep up his pretense whilst facing Xu Jiaojiao"s sarcasm. The look on his face changed until it became ugly as he stood up.
Xu Jiaojiao pursed her lips condescendingly. "I"ve only said a few words, but Mr. Lu is already unhappy? Where is the true love you promised me?"
Lu Zhenghang grunted in anger and left.
Xu Jiaojiao told Lin Chu about this in detail as she pouted. She got very annoyed with Lu Zhenghang. "I have no idea what he"s trying to achieve. Anyway, just be wary of him."
Lin Chu noted this as Xu Jiaojiao gave her a casual wave. "I feel better now that I"ve told you this. Let"s not talk about that b.a.s.t.a.r.d anymore, it"s not worth spoiling a good day over him."
Ever since Xu Jiaojiao had changed for the better, her brand-new att.i.tude was a great match with Xu Moyan and Zheng Yuntong"s personalities. The three of them had a great time chatting.
At that moment, Lu Zhenghang had arrived at Jiang Changdai"s house in B City. Jiang Changdai was staying with Yan Zhiqing, but since Yan Zhiqing had started university, she came rarely stayed home as the university and the old mansion were quite far apart.
Yan Zhiqing did not want to stay in the university"s hostel and asked Jiang Changdai for money to rent a house near the university. However, Jiang Changdai hands were tied financially because of Jiang Changzai. She did not even have money for herself, much less extra money for Yan Zhiqing.
Yan Zhiqing then went to Yan Beicheng for money but Yan Beicheng was worried about Yan Zhiqing causing trouble. She was someone who could not differentiate wrong from right. If she really did stay by herself, who knew what trouble she might potentially cause. Yan Beicheng hoped that she could be disciplined, so he did not give her the money and instead insisted that she live in the hostel.
Yan Zhiqing even tried her luck with the two elders, as well as Yan Huaian and Yu Zi. The two elders simply told her that they would respect Yan Beicheng"s decision while Yan Huaian and Yu Zi never had a good impression of her, so naturally, did not agree to it.
In the end, she was left with no choice but to approach Jiang Changzai. From Jiang Changzai"s perspective, Yan Zhiqing"s surname was Yan. Why was she coming to him for money when she could have approached the Yan family? He had been supporting both mother and daughter for so many years. Now that she was in B City and so close to the Yan family, there was really no need for her to come to him for money. So, Jiang Changzai rejected her without hesitation. Thus, Yan Zhiqing lost all financial support and was forced to stay in the university"s hostel unwillingly. However, she would still go home during the weekends to find temporary comfort.
It was Sat.u.r.day today, and there was supposed to be a play rehearsal in university. She had already informed Jiang Changdai that she was not coming home, but she did not expect the rehearsal to be canceled. Therefore, she decided to head home and try to wrangle some allowance out of Jiang Changdai. However, she neglected to inform Jiang Changdai that she was coming back.
When she got home, she unlocked the door to find that there was no one in the dining and living room. There were many shoes in the shoe cabinet at the door, alongside an additional pair of men"s leather shoes.
Yan Zhiqing glanced at the pair of leather shoes suspiciously. It was a modern design and looked like it belonged to someone young. She frowned and wondered if Yan Beicheng had come home.
She walked into the house and heard Jiang Changdai speaking in her bedroom.
"Zhenghang, are you sure this is what you want to do?" Yan Zhiqing heard Jiang Changdai ask
"I"ve made my decision. Besides, this will be beneficial for the Lu family," Yan Zhiqing was not close to Lu Zhenghang, but she could tell that it was his voice. Besides, she heard Jiang Changdai refer to him as "Zhenghang", so there was no uncertainty about the person"s ident.i.ty.
"You are obviously my and Lu Zhengting"s son. How are you going to become Yan Huaiyuan"s son too?" Jiang Changdai said with slight agitation. She said this with disgust, as if he was suggesting adopting a villain as his father.
Yan Zhiqing took a sharp breath and quickly covered her mouth. She stared in disbelief at the tightly shut bedroom door.
Jiang Changdai and Lu Zhenghang thought that there was no one home, so they did not bother to lower their voices. Yan Zhiqing could hear them clearly even though there was a door in between them.
Yan Zhiqing knew about Jiang Changdai and Lu Zhengting, but she had always thought that one had lost his wife, while the other had lost her husband, which was why they later developed feelings for each other. Yan Zhiqing had always thought of herself as an open-minded daughter. Since her father was no longer around and her mother was still young, there was no need for her mother to remain a widow all her life. She was more than welcome to continue searching for love.
She was supportive of her mother finding someone new to take care of her and love her. After all, Yan Zhiqing would one day get married herself, while her uncle, Jiang Changzai had his own family. Thus, she could not allow her mother to be left all alone, could she?
This was why she was happy and supportive of Jiang Changdai and Lu Zhengting"s relations.h.i.+p.
She had never expected that they had been together for so many years that Lu Zhenghang turned out to actually be the son of Jiang Changdai and Lu Zhenting!
Lu Zhenghang"s age suggested that Jiang Changdai had been in a relations.h.i.+p with Lu Zhenting well before her father died. Especially since Lu Zhenghang was much older than she was!
She dared not imagine how long the relations.h.i.+p between Jiang Changdai and Lu Zhenting had gone on behind her father"s back.
Yan Zhiqing might not remember Yan Huaiyuan at all, but every time she went home to the old mansion, the two elders would tell her many stories of her father out of fear that she would not have any attachment to him.
Even though she had never met him, one could not ignore the fact that they were of the same blood. Even though her feelings for him were not that strong, she still respected and missed him.
This was especially so when Yan Beicheng had secretly let her have a look at Yan Huaiyuan"s picture. He looked so much like Yan Beicheng. Even though she had her disagreements with Yan Beicheng, she knew that Yan Beicheng was a good man who deserved respect. He was a responsible man who treated her well.
She had argued with Yan Beicheng over Wei Zilin, but she never really hated him.
She knew that Yan Huaiyuan was a good man upon seeing his picture. If he was still alive, he would be a good father and a good husband.
However, Jiang Changdai never mentioned anything about Yan Huaiyuan to her. It was actually a good thing that Jiang Changdai had never said anything about him, as, by extension of this, it meant that she did not say anything against him. Thus, Yan Zhiqing had a good impression of her father, as well as a great admiration for him.
Now, she had found out that her mother had cheated on her father, even giving birth to a b.a.s.t.a.r.d son in the process.
It was no wonder… no wonder Jiang Changdai treated Lu Zhenghang so well. She even treated Lu Weining well because of her father and brother!
It was also no wonder that Yan Beicheng had always disregarded Jiang Changdai and treated her badly, even worse than how he would treat a stranger. There had always been hints of hatred in his voice when he spoke to Jiang Changdai.
Yan Zhiqing had always blamed Yan Beicheng for being unfilial, with this being the main reason why she had kept some distance from him. This was all because of the way he treated Jiang Changdai.
Now that she thought about it, Yan Beicheng might have long been aware of the relations.h.i.+p between Jiang Changdai and Lu Zhenting. Yan Beicheng had grown up by then and was already a mature teenager.
Yan Zhiqing covered her mouth. She felt her world come cras.h.i.+ng down around her. Everything around her seemed strange and unfamiliar as if she no longer recognized anything around her.
No wonder… No wonder Grandpa and Grandma hated Jiang Changdai.
Anyone would be enraged to find their son"s wife cheating, especially to the point of birthing a son with the other man!
Her mind went into a frenzy when she heard Lu Zhenting say, "I"ve discussed this with dad. We know someone working in the DNA lab and can forge a fake report. When I get into the Yan family, I"ll find a way to direct their money over to the Lu family. When the Lu family gets stronger, we can overthrow the Yan family."
Xu Jiaojiao had told him that he was useless and had never contributed to the Lu family all these years.
He was going to prove to everyone wrong. After all, not everybody has the power to destroy the Yan family! He would be the one to take them down from the inside!
Yan Zhiqing was stunned upon hearing this. She had no idea how to react.
She blinked twice. She felt that Lu Zhenghang was having a big, pointless dream. Was he being stupid? This plan may sound good, but did he really think that the Yan family would not know how to react to a forged DNA result? Did he really think that he can get in so easily? Fine, even if he did manage to get into the Yan family, would they really trust him enough to let him join Yan Hui and let him slowly drain the Yan family of their money?
Yan Beicheng and Yan Huaian were not stupid!
As Yan Zhiqing a.n.a.lyzed this condescendingly, she heard Lu Zhenghang say, "Yan Huaiyuan is dead. Those two old farts in the Yan family could never let that go. Even though they are not close to Yan Zhiqing because she grew up with you, they can still tolerate her stupidity."
Yan Zhiqing fumed upon hearing these words.
She tried to repress the anger as Lu Zhenghang continued, "If they found out I was Yan Huaiyuan"s long lost son, won"t they be overjoyed? Won"t I get anything I wanted? Old people are old people, they won"t be as sharp as they were when they were younger. They are p.r.o.ne to making stupid decisions. So what if Yan Beicheng and Yan Huaian are unwilling? They can"t disobey the two senile old things and make them suffer in their old age, can they? They don"t have many years left, so disobeying them would be unfilial."
Yan Zhiqing clenched her fist in anger. She had previously been angry at the two elder"s treatment of Jiang Changdai.
Now that she was hearing the dialogue between the two, she finally understood the reason why the two elders had always disregarded Jiang Changdai. She suddenly knew why the two elders would rather allow her to misunderstand them than let her know the truth. They did not want to destroy her relations.h.i.+p with her mother. No matter how much they hated Jiang Changdai, they had to care about her to a certain extent because of Yan Zhiqing. There was no one in the world kinder than them. How could Lu Zhenghang talk about them his way? It was unforgivable!
Yan Zhiqing suddenly had an idea. For once, she thought on her feet. She tried to ignore her anger as she took out her phone from the back of her jeans with trembling hands. Then, she turned on the recording function.
"You"ve already discussed it with Zhenting?" Jiang Changdai asked in surprise.
Lu Zhenghang nodded. "Dad has agreed, but we need you to help with something. I"m going to claim to be a member of the Yan family, which might require me to reveal your triangle relations.h.i.+p with Yan Huaiyuan and dad. After all, I need to make it realistic enough for people to investigate the story and believe me."
Jiang Changdai"s face changed. She looked unwilling and hesitant, as if considering how to reject the idea.
Lu Zhenghang did not give her the chance to say anything. He quickly continued, "What dad meant was that, if we succeed, he won"t have to worry anymore and can marry you with an open heart. He will leave the rest up to me and will simply concentrate on enjoying life. All these years of being with you but never being able to acknowledge you has made him sick with guilt. This was all because he could not let go of the Lu family and me, which was why he never stepped down from work to enjoy life with you. Once he can stop worrying about me and the family, he can live with you in peace."
Jiang Changdai hesitated at these words as she struggled with her thoughts. Should she sacrifice her reputation over true love?
The Yan family would not want to be embarra.s.sed, which was why they had always put a stop to any rumors that had begun surfacing. This was also the main reason why Jiang Changdai had still been able to socialize in the upper social circle.
"Mum," Lu Zhenghang called out.
Jiang Changdai stiffened as her eyes became red. She looked at Lu Zhenghang in disbelief.
This was the first time Lu Zhenghang had called her "mum".
Even though they were aware of their relations.h.i.+p to each other, Lu Zhenghang"s surname was still Lu. He was the first-born son of the Lu family and could not call her "mum" freely.
Lu Zhenting had instructed him never to call her "mum" in private either, in case he got used to it and accidentally let it out in public. If someone overheard it, it would be disastrous for Jiang Changdai and the Lu family.
Even if Jiang Changdai longed for it and wanted Lu Zhenghang to call her "mum", she had to let it go.
Now that Lu Zhenghang had called her "mum", she became so emotional that she could no longer say a word. Hot tears streamed from her eyes as she immediately felt that all those years of controlling herself was well worth it.
"You… You called me… You called me mum. You… Zhenghang, can you call me mum again?" Jiang Changdai was overwhelmed.
Yan Zhiqing could tell that Jiang Changdai was crying through the door by the tone of her voice.
"Mum. I"ve always wanted to call you that and let everyone know that you were my mum, and that my mom is not some dead woman. She was not related to me at all, but I had to pretend to be her and dad"s son. Mum, I really want you to be with dad, so our family can be reunited and I can behave like a good son openly."