Zhang Yong said, "Baby, why won't you forgive me?"
Lu Sangning glanced at Zhang Yong's handsome face.
His face was covered in dirt from the fight just now.
His white clothes were also covered in dust and footprints.
Lu Sangning suddenly felt furious, furious to the extreme.
Just how blind was I before? How could I have fallen for this scumbag, this spineless coward?
Without the halo of the Zhang Family's business, would I ever have taken a fancy to a sleazeball like him?
Pah, pah, pah!
"Why should I forgive you?"
"Because you betrayed our relationship and are utterly filthy? Or because you think you're handsome?"
"Or is it because... the Lu Family has cut off all cooperation with the Zhang Family, your family is about to go under, and you're scared? Is that it?"
With every sentence, Lu Sangning plunged another knife into Zhang Yong's heart.
Zhang Yong, whose true concerns she had exposed, said, "..."
But how could he admit at a time like this that he was afraid the Zhang Family would collapse without those business partnerships? He had to put on an act, at least!
"No! That's not it, Sangning! It's not because of anything else! It's because I truly love you. I don't want to lose you."
"Just thinking about losing you makes my heart hurt unbearably."
Zhang Yong squeezed his eyes shut several times, desperately trying to squeeze out a few tears.
"Oh, really?"
Lu Sangning looked at Zhang Yong with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, slowly sliding the tip of the shoe lifting his chin upward.
An ominous feeling suddenly rose in Zhang Yong's heart.
He wanted to resist.
But he couldn't.
He could only endure it in silence.
I'm playing the devoted lover right now.
What's a little suffering, as long as I can win Lu Sangning back?
Sure enough.
The next second, Lu Sangning suddenly raised her leg...
And planted her foot in Zhang Yong's face.
"Aah!"
The heel of Lu Sangning's shoe plunged into Zhang Yong's mouth in an instant.
Zhang Yong let out a sharp scream of pain.
Clutching his mouth, his body trembling, he couldn't say a word.
Blood streamed from his mouth like beads spilling from a snapped string.
Lu Chi watched from a distance, finding the sight of Lu Sangning beating Zhang Yong particularly thrilling.
Although he wasn't the original owner of this body, and the Lu Family's affairs technically had nothing to do with him.
He had, after all, transmigrated here and taken the original owner's place in the Lu Family.
For some reason, seeing the Lu Family strike back at a villain felt incredibly satisfying.
Zhang Yong's four employees wanted to come forward to help him.
They stepped forward, trembling, only for Lu Sangning's bodyguards to glare at the four of them.
The four immediately all but pissed and shit themselves in fright.
The property management staff who had come to drive Zhang Yong away began cursing as they threw his junk into the roadside trash cans.
Having enjoyed the show, Lu Chi prepared to head home.
Otherwise, if he got back late and his parents saw him, they would say he was too busy playing around.
He couldn't leave the Lu Family, either. If he left, the original owner's emotions would tug at him, and his heart would inexplicably ache terribly.
His wings weren't fully grown yet, and the villains were still jumping up and down, stirring up trouble. He would keep his head down for now and wait until after the college entrance exams.
Just as Lu Chi turned to head back, he saw Lu Jiyang jogging over from inside the residential complex.
Lu Jiyang ran all the way to the gate and spotted Lu Chi standing behind it.
He glared at Lu Chi irritably and snorted.
Then he picked up speed and ran toward the entrance.
Lu Chi wondered what this dumbass was here for.
He stopped once more instead of continuing home.
He watched Lu Jiyang run outside and rush over to Lu Sangning and Zhang Yong.
Before anyone was prepared, he delivered a forceful kick to Zhang Yong's back.
Too weak to hold himself up, Zhang Yong pitched forward heavily.
The two bodyguards had been holding Zhang Yong by the shoulders, and neither had expected Lu Jiyang to suddenly kick him.
Once they reacted, whether intentionally or not, both let go.
The next instant, Zhang Yong crashed forward, his forehead striking the ground in front of him.
A large, swollen, shiny lump immediately rose on it.
Zhang Yong said, "..." Who the fuck kicked me?
Lu Sangning said, "..."
Lu Chi said, "That dumbass Lu Jiyang came here deliberately to farm favorability with Lu Sangning."
After kicking Zhang Yong, Lu Jiyang planted both hands on his hips, looking righteously indignant and fiercely protective of his eldest sister.
He bent down and slapped Zhang Yong across the face as well.
Pointing at Zhang Yong's nose, he cursed, "I'm telling you, Zhang Yong, stop pestering my eldest sister! A cheating scumbag like you doesn't deserve her!"
"Stay away from my eldest sister from now on, or I'll beat you every time I see you!"
Lu Sangning stared at Lu Jiyang in shock. She hadn't expected someone who was usually so well-behaved to actually hit anyone.
Still, he had done it to defend her.
Lu Sangning was instantly deeply touched.
She said to Lu Jiyang, "Thank you, Jiyang!"
Lu Jiyang glanced toward where Lu Chi stood.
He felt immensely smug.
He thought, Lu Chi, you country bumpkin!
See? I helped Eldest Sister teach that scumbag a lesson, and she's so touched!
I'm the son of destiny. Anything I casually do can win the Lu Family's affection.
What about you?
You can't do anything. You're only fit to hide behind the gate and peek!
Lu Chi couldn't be bothered to keep looking at Lu Jiyang's smug face.
He turned and went home.
He had just reached the entrance to the first-floor living room when he heard Lu Yuanqing call him.
"Chi, Zhang Yong's been howling like a ghost outside the complex. Has your eldest sister dealt with him yet?"
Lu Chi nodded. "Yes, Dad. Eldest Sister is handling it."
Pan Feng beckoned him over. "Chi, come in and wash your hands. It's almost time to eat."
Lu Chi shook his head. "Dad, Mom, I already ate while I was out having fun. Go ahead and eat. I'm going upstairs to rest."
Lu Yuanqing said, "Silly boy, you ate outside? That's fine. Just have a little and sit down with the family for a chat."
Lu Yuanqing walked over to Pan Feng and said, "Honey, call Sangning and tell her to come home for dinner. If Zhang Yong keeps shouting outside, just break his legs."
Pan Feng shook her head. "Oh, what are you saying? Breaking his legs outright would be bad for our family's reputation."
Lu Yuanqing laid a hand on Pan Feng's shoulder and laughed. "Honey, what's there to worry about? If it trends, we'll just suppress it."
Pan Feng rolled her eyes at Lu Yuanqing, took out her phone, and called Lu Sangning.
The call connected.
Pan Feng said, "Sangning, teaching him a little lesson is enough. Hurry home for dinner. The food's getting cold."
On the other end, Lu Sangning answered, "Coming, Mom. I'm already at the door."
Lu Chi hadn't wanted to eat, but since Lu Yuanqing had suggested a family chat, he couldn't very well keep heading upstairs and could only sit in the dining room.
Once Lu Sangning and Lu Jiyang returned, the family began eating.
Lu Yuanqing, Pan Feng, the five sisters, and the fake young master.
Everyone was there, all together.
Partway through the meal, Lu Jiyang suddenly spoke. "Second Sister, you're going to Laos for a concert next month. How are the preparations coming along?"
His second sister, Lu Qingru, took one earbud out and smiled at Lu Jiyang. "There's still over a month to go. It's early yet. My assistant, Li Tian, will handle the preparations when the time comes."
"Oh, right," Lu Qingru continued, "there's a singing competition next week. Jiyang, haven't you always wanted to enter a competition like that? Would you like to give it a try?"
Lu Jiyang's eyes lit up at once.
My musical talent is every bit as good as Second Sister's.
If I weren't still in high school, with my parents refusing to let me debut, I'd probably already be a household-name singer.
"Yes, absolutely, Second Sister! Sign me up. I want to enter!"
Holding a small half-bowl of rice, Lu Chi wasn't hungry anyway, so he chewed slowly, trying to minimize his presence in front of the family.
But unexpectedly, Lu Jiyang suddenly spoke. "Brother Lu Chi, I hear you're very musically talented. Would you like to enter the competition too?"