Chapter 49

With Wang Shining's father thrown into prison in chains, Wang Shining, the illegitimate son who had only been able to remain in the Wang family because of his father, was naturally driven out of the Wang family by Wang Chen and his mother.

Wang Chen directly gave Wang Shining a sum of money, completely buying out any future ties between him and the Wang family.

The moment Xia Yue sensed that things were going wrong, she had her father visit the Wang family to dissolve the engagement. At the time, the Wang family was overwhelmed with trouble. They had no mind to waste on such a lousy marriage arrangement and naturally agreed without hesitation.

Wang Shining truly had deep feelings for Xia Yue. After being driven out of the Wang family, he still thought Xia Yue had likely broken off the engagement because she had been forced by his father. Unable to contact Xia Yue, he could only endure the shame and the strange looks of others as he waited outside the school gates, all for the chance to see her once.

But how could Xia Yue spare him even a glance? The reason she had gotten together with Wang Shining and gone to such lengths to become engaged to him was because her family had needed the Wang family's financial support back then. Xia Yue's comfortable life now depended on her father's company. The Wang family's money had already been secured, and Wang Shining was no longer of any use to her. Naturally, she would not even grant him a look.

Watching Xia Yue leave without concealing her disgust in the slightest, Wang Shining walked away from the school gates in a daze.

Everyone now knew that Wang Shining was an illegitimate child, and with the Wang family suffering such a major disaster, it was understandable that Xia Yue had chosen to divorce Wang Shining.

Yet they could not help feeling that Xia Yue was far too cold and selfish. After all, the two of them had once been a famously loving couple at school. Every day, people saw them showing off their affection in all sorts of ways.

Now that something had happened to the Wang family and Wang Shining, Xia Yue had hurried to cast them aside immediately. It truly left people feeling chilled.

After all, no one could guarantee that their life would always go smoothly. Thinking that Xia Yue might treat them the same way if something happened to their own families in the future, many people who had once been on good terms with Xia Yue quietly began distancing themselves from her.

The Wang family's affairs were gradually forgotten as time passed. The topic most discussed among Sea City's upper-class circles was Grandpa Jiang's seventieth birthday.

It happened to be Jiang Bai's grandfather's seventieth birthday that year, and Jiang Bai's parents wanted to make the celebration grand.

Naturally, the Lu family was also on the guest list.

Thinking of the clues he had recently uncovered, Father Lu had originally planned not to bring Lu Yao to the banquet. But considering how close Jiang Bai was to Lu Yao, and that Grandpa Jiang was also quite friendly with Ms. Li, he thought it over and ultimately brought both Lu Yao and Lu Qi.

Soon, the day of Grandpa Jiang's birthday banquet arrived.

The Jiang Family had booked an entire famous luxury hotel in Sea City specifically for Grandpa Jiang's banquet.

An endless stream of luxury cars pulled up outside the hotel. After receiving the keys, the hotel valets carefully parked the vehicles in the hotel parking lot.

For various reasons, Ms. Li and Father Lu had never publicly announced Lu Yao's return to the Lu family. However, anyone in Sea City with even a little social standing knew that the Lu family's child, who had been missing for more than a decade, had been found.

The moment the four members of the Lu family entered the banquet hall, many guests secretly turned their attention toward them.

This was Lu Yao's first formal public appearance in their circle. Although many people had heard about some of his affairs at Huiying High School through their own children, they had never seen him in person.

When they noticed Lu Yao walking beside Father Lu in a sharply tailored suit, quite a few people were slightly stunned. The son the Lu family had found was indeed remarkably handsome. He had inherited the best features of both his parents.

Ms. Li had specially commissioned a designer to tailor Lu Yao's suit long ago. Once he put it on, it further accentuated his well-proportioned, outstanding physique.

He strode into the banquet hall on his long legs. The dazzling lights of the hall fell across his cool, striking face, while his eyes were as deep and dark as black gemstones, captivating the soul.

The banquet had not officially begun yet. The guests were scattered around the hall in small groups, either chatting casually or discussing business.

After Father Lu and Ms. Li led Lu Yao and Lu Qi to greet several close friends, they had Lu Qi take Lu Yao over to join the younger crowd.

Lu Qi had only taken Lu Yao a few steps away when girls began approaching them to strike up conversations.

Once someone took the lead, the other girls waiting nearby eagerly naturally refused to be outdone and crowded around them as well.

When Jiang Bai arrived at the banquet hall and saw Lu Yao surrounded by a group of girls, his eyes darkened slightly as he walked over.

Before Jiang Bai even reached Lu Yao, Lu Yao had already noticed him. That disloyal fellow Lu Qi had vanished the moment he saw the girls approaching. Jiang Bai's appearance at that moment was like a savior descending from heaven for Lu Yao.

Facing the several girls whose enthusiasm was impossible to hide, he declined in a cool voice, "Sorry, Jiang Bai and I have something to do. We can talk another time if there's a chance."

Before the girls could react, he hurried toward Jiang Bai. He directly grabbed Jiang Bai's hand and vanished from the girls' sight as quickly as if he were escaping.

The two of them reached the hotel garden and found a quiet spot before finally sitting down to rest.

Thinking of the rare urgency and panic Lu Yao had shown earlier, Jiang Bai teasingly probed, "Isn't it a good thing to be popular with girls? Out of all those girls just now, wasn't there even one you found easy to talk to?"

Lu Yao shot him a sidelong glance. "Talking to them isn't as enjoyable as talking to you."

Hearing Lu Yao say something so intimate for once, Jiang Bai froze for a moment. The coldness in his eyes completely faded, his gaze softened, and a rich smile appeared in his eyes instead.

After Jiang Bai and Lu Yao chatted idly for a while, a banquet staff member called Jiang Bai back to the hall to continue receiving guests.

A gentle breeze drifted through the garden as Lu Yao sat alone on a wooden bench.

He tilted his head back and watched the stars glittering in the night sky when the noisy voice of a young girl suddenly shattered the garden's peace.

"No! I want to go back and eat ice cream! If you want to find that country bumpkin, go find him yourselves. I don't want some country bumpkin to be my brother!"

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Seeing her daughter throwing a tantrum, Chen Rong looked quite troubled. She tried to soothe her, saying, "Rou Rou, be good. Listen to Mommy, okay? Mommy will take you to the amusement park tomorrow."

The moment Chen Rong spoke, Lu Yao remembered that she was the woman Li Guigu had brought over before, claiming she was his eldest aunt before rambling on about a bunch of nonsense.

Lu Yao was just about to get up and avoid them when he heard the voice of another elderly woman.

The old madam of the Li family ordered Chen Rong in a forceful voice, "When you see Lu Yao later, remember to watch Rou Rou's mouth. Don't let her say such improper things again."

Chen Rong obediently nodded. "Mom, I understand."

The old madam of the Li family continued scolding Chen Rong, "Stop saying those things in front of the child in the future, or Lu Yao will hear them and develop a bad impression of our family." If Chen Rong had not said such things in front of the child, how would Rou Rou have come to see Lu Yao as a country bumpkin?

Li Guigu's elder brother also spoke impatiently. "All you do all day is gossip at home. We told you to win over Lu Yao, but the Lu family's attitude toward us hasn't changed at all lately."

Even now, Chen Rong was still hiding the fact that she had fallen out with Lu Yao and that Lu Qi had overheard what she said from the old madam of the Li family and her husband.

Thinking about how his company had recently been plagued by setbacks, Li Guigu's elder brother looked at the old madam of the Li family and said, "Mom, this time, we absolutely have to improve our relationship with that ungrateful sister of mine. If our company can lean on a powerful backer like the Lu family, and if my sister gives us more financial support, then our family will finally see our fortunes turn around."

The old madam of the Li family said, "Enough, I know. Now that her son has been found, no matter how angry she was, it's time for it to fade. The most urgent matter now is to draw Lu Yao to our side. As long as Lu Yao is willing to stand with us, your sister will naturally be willing to help us for his sake."

Thinking of how Ms. Li had cut off contact with her for so many years because the Li family had come to her after Lu Yao went missing and proposed adopting Li Guigu, the old madam of the Li family could not help gritting her teeth in anger.

That daughter of hers had been an ungrateful wretch since childhood and did not understand gratitude in the slightest. Did she not realize that without the Li family raising her all those years, she would not have the good life she had now?

The old madam of the Li family said, "Look carefully again and find out where Lu Yao is. Once the banquet begins, it will be difficult to find a chance to speak with him alone."

Lu Yao had originally intended to take a detour and leave. But when he heard the old madam say that, he became curious about what they wanted to say to him and instead sat back down on the bench.

Chen Rong led the child and walked in front. The moment she rounded the corner and saw Lu Yao sitting not far away, she jumped in fright.

The old madam of the Li family frowned. "What are you making such a fuss about?"

Chen Rong leaned close to the old madam of the Li family and whispered, "Mom, the one sitting on the bench ahead with his eyes closed is Lu Yao."

The old madam of the Li family's heart trembled as well. He had been sitting there the whole time—could he have heard what they said?

The old madam of the Li family gave Chen Rong a push. "Go test him."

Chen Rong walked up to Lu Yao. Seeing that his eyes were closed, she softly called, "Lu Yao."

When Lu Yao did not open his eyes, she cleared her throat and raised her voice. "Lu Yao, Lu Yao, what are you doing here?"

Lu Yao slightly opened his eyes. "Who are you?"

Hearing the haziness in Lu Yao's voice, as though he had just woken up, Chen Rong looked relieved.

"I'm your eldest aunt. Haven't we met before? What, did you forget?"

Lu Yao seemed to have fully regained his awareness, and his voice was cold. "I didn't forget."

Chen Rong then introduced the old madam of the Li family and Li Guigu's elder brother to Lu Yao.

The old madam of the Li family wore a kind expression as she smiled and said, "Lu Yao, Rou Rou has been spoiled by her mother. Don't take what she said just now to heart."

Lu Yao's expression remained calm as he answered without hesitation, "What did she say?"

Seeing that Lu Yao did not ask whether he should forgive Rou Rou but instead asked what Rou Rou had said, the old madam of the Li family finally relaxed. She believed that Lu Yao had probably fallen asleep earlier and had not heard their conversation.

The old madam of the Li family said, "She didn't say much. Children are ignorant. When she heard her mother say that she had another brother, she worried that Grandma would only dote on her brother in the future and stop liking her."

Hearing her grandmother say this, the little girl, who had been quietly held by Chen Rong, angrily tried to argue. But Chen Rong hurriedly covered her mouth. "Children can't interrupt when Brother and Grandma are talking. Be good. When we go back, Mommy will buy you the Barbie doll you like."

Only after hearing there would be a reward did the little girl reluctantly settle down again.

Noticing that Lu Yao had not greeted him once from beginning to end, Li Guigu's elder brother said with displeasure, "Lu Yao, we're your elders no matter what. Why haven't you even called us that?"

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Lu Yao's eyes were full of indifference. Being old did not automatically make someone an elder. If they wanted respect, they should first see whether their conduct deserved it.

Seeing that Lu Yao remained unmoved, the old madam of the Li family lightly patted Li Guigu's elder brother's arm. "If you want to scold someone, do it at home! My dear grandson is not someone you get to scold."

Chen Rong gave Lu Yao a fake smile. "See? Your grandmother loves you so much that she won't even let your eldest uncle say a single bad word about you."

The old madam of the Li family said, "He's my biological grandson. If I don't dote on him, who will?"

Lu Yao looked calmly and leisurely at the people before him, all of them harboring ulterior motives.

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