Lu Chi: "..."
Fine. Since I'm not welcome, I'll just leave.
None of this family liked the original owner of his body.
Lu Chi turned to leave, but Lu Yuanqing caught his arm.
"Chi, don't be angry. Sit down first."
Somewhat angered by Lu Qingru's words, Lu Yuanqing told her, "Qingru, you haven't been home lately, so you don't know the situation. I don't blame you, but don't talk about your younger brother like that again.
Some things have indeed happened in this family lately, but they weren't because of Chi. They were because of certain other people!"
As Lu Yuanqing spoke, he looked up at Lu Jiyang sitting opposite him and shot him a vicious glare.
That dagger of a look swept over Lu Jiyang, frightening him so badly that his whole body jolted.
He hurriedly stood and stammered an apology. "Dad, I-I know I was wrong. I absolutely won't provoke Brother Lu Chi again."
Lu Yuanqing nodded. "All right, all right. Today's your second sister's welcome-home dinner. It's a happy occasion. Let's not mention those unpleasant things anymore. Everyone, eat! Eat!"
"Yes, all right. Let's eat!"
"Let's eat, let's eat!"
Everyone picked up their chopsticks. Though they said they would eat, seeing how timid Lu Jiyang had been just now, how terrified he had looked,
they all felt somewhat displeased.
Lu Chi really was a scheming bitch. He had captured their parents' love as soon as he came back, getting Lu Jiyang brutally beaten by their dad and even having all his allowance cut off.
The third sister, Lu Yanxin, whispered to the fourth sister, Lu Xiaoyue, "That country bumpkin Lu Chi is so annoying! Whenever we're not home, he makes trouble for Jiyang. He's disgusting!"
Lu Xiaoyue nodded. "Yes, absolutely disgusting! How did we end up with a biological brother like him?"
The fifth sister, Lu Yunke, leaned closer. "Third Sister, Fourth Sister, let me tell you, Jiyang has it so rough. He doesn't have a single cent. I felt sorry for him the other day and secretly gave him four hundred thousand. Don't tell Mom and Dad."
All three sisters sighed in secret.
They despised Lu Chi even more.
Although Jiyang had made trouble for him before, he shouldn't keep taking revenge.
As the older brother, he didn't even understand that he should give way to his younger brother.
They really had no idea how he had been educated. After so many years of schooling, he hadn't learned a single thing about how to behave.
Pah!
Lu Sangning, who sat beside the second sister, Lu Qingru, heard the three sisters whispering.
She gave Lu Chi, diagonally opposite her, a meaningful look without joining their discussion.
Although Lu Sangning didn't know Lu Chi well, after what had happened with Zhang Yong, she felt somewhat grateful to him.
After all, if she hadn't heard Lu Chi's thoughts, she would still be deceived by that scumbag Zhang Yong, with no chance of exposing his true colors.
Perhaps once they married, her fate really would be to be deceived by Zhang Yong and have her shares seized, while her whole family would also die at his hands.
In that sense, Lu Chi had saved her, and the Lu Family's future as well.
Pan Feng hadn't noticed her daughters' discussion. Holding her wineglass, she laughed and said,
"Children, let's raise our glasses to celebrate Qingru's successful concert in Ugly Country! Cheers! Cheers!"
"Yes, yes!" Lu Yuanqing raised his glass too. "Here's to our family's superstar becoming more and more successful! Cheers!"
Everyone present raised their glasses along with them.
Everyone offered flattering words, making Lu Qingru beam with delight.
Lu Jiyang was especially enthusiastic with his praise. "Second Sister, I've always admired you ever since I was little. When I grow up, I want to become a superstar who shines with boundless radiance, just like you.
You're beautiful and kind. As your younger brother, I'm proud of you! Knowing you were coming home today, I specially prepared a gift for you. I hope you'll like it!"
After delivering his flattery, Lu Jiyang took a watch from the bag on his seat and walked over to Lu Qingru.
"Second Sister, you're always so busy, flying everywhere for all kinds of performances. I'm very worried about your health, so I bought you a watch. It can monitor your heart rate,
and your blood pressure, and it can even track your sleep. I hope you'll pay attention to your health even while you're busy with work. After all, nothing matters more than your health."
As he spoke, Lu Jiyang pretended to cough a few times, glanced fearfully at Lu Chi, then quickly looked away.
He seemed somewhat helpless, yet also somewhat stubborn.
"Second Sister, I bought this watch for you back when I still had money. Luckily, I bought it ahead of time. If it were now, I wouldn't have the money, because... ah, it's all my fault!"
He gave the impression of wanting to speak, only to hold back.
So fragile, so pitiful, such a little white flower.
Lu Jiyang secretly admired his own acting.
Lu Chi, oh, Lu Chi. So what if you're the real young master?
I've returned through rebirth. I'm Heaven's favored child!
You want to compete with me for our relatives' love in the Lu Family, and for the Lu Family's wealth.
You think you can beat me?
Sure enough, Lu Qingru was moved to tears by Lu Jiyang's words.
Everyone else present was moved too.
Pan Feng glanced at Lu Yuanqing and said with gratification, "Honey, our Yang has grown up. He's become sensible."
Lu Yuanqing felt somewhat guilty too.
He had beaten Lu Jiyang so badly a few days ago, confiscated all his savings, and cut his allowance.
It seemed he truly knew he was wrong.
If he behaved well over the next few days, he would give the money back.
Lu Qingru reached out to accept the watch Lu Jiyang handed her, wiped away her tears, and said, deeply moved,
"Jiyang, you're so good to me. To have such a wonderful younger brother, I must have been blessed for three lifetimes."
Lu Qingru turned toward Lu Chi and rolled her eyes at him.
Leaning close to Lu Jiyang's ear, she whispered, "Don't worry, Jiyang. With your second sister here from now on, no one will dare bully you again."
The siblings' antics made Lu Chi laugh.
He rolled his eyes and continued eating.
Inside, he began snarking away.
Lu Chi: *[I'd thought my second sister, an international superstar, might be pretty smart. Ah, but she's just another idiot. That watch Lu Jiyang gave her
was bought on Pinduoduo for 9.9 yuan with free shipping. Forget monitoring her health, even its basic quality isn't up to standard. Yet she thinks it's some treasure. Tch, I'm dying of laughter!]*
Lu Qingru: "..." Who's talking?
Everyone present: "..." What? That watch was bought on Pinduoduo for 9.9 yuan with free shipping?
Lu Chi: [Stupid Lu Qingru, you never would've imagined it, huh? Lu Jiyang is the Lu Family's adopted son, after all, someone they treat like their own flesh and blood. Yet he's so stingy he couldn't bear to buy even a real watch, and had to go to Pinduoduo for a piece of junk.]
Guagua: [Hahaha, isn't that because his money was taken back? He spent the four hundred thousand he got from Fifth Sister Lu Yunke bribing the class beauty, Li Bingqing, to frame you. Now he's broke but still wants to curry favor with Lu Qingru, so he just bought some random fake to fool her.]
Lu Qingru: "..." I can hear Lu Chi's thoughts?
Everyone in the Lu Family: "..."
What? Lu Jiyang actually used the four hundred thousand Yunke gave him to bribe someone to frame Lu Chi?
Lu Yunke: "... Ah! Jiyang gave the money I gave him to someone else?"