Upon returning to Beijing, everyone had a good rest for one day. The next morning, Luo Zheng and Lan Xue went to a mall to buy so tea leaves and beauty products, then arrived at a high-end villa district.
The car stopped in front of a manor villa. Luo Zheng looked at the villa, which was three and a half stories tall and estimated to be about 500 square ters, complete with front and back gardens. Lan Xue stole a glance at Luo Zheng and, seeing that he was not feeling inferior but rely curious, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Let's go, they should all be waiting at ho," Lan Xue whispered.
Luo Zheng got out of the car, straightened his clothes, and holding the gifts, he glanced at Lan Xue. With a light laugh, she said, "Your clothes, hairstyle, complexion—everything's fine. Let's go."
They approached the door, and just then Lan Xing ca out to open it. Seeing Luo Zheng, Lan Xing squeezed her eyes, and Luo Zheng imdiately knew that this visit would probably not be simple, but he was ntally prepared to get lectured. He nodded and followed Lan Xue into the house where a middle-aged couple sat in the living room—the very parents of Lan Xue and her stepmother. They had t once before, so they were not strangers.
Lan Xue directly ignored her stepmother and, seeing her father with a stern face, her own expression darkened. She said, "Dad, I've brought him here to see you. How have you been? Here's the tea you like the most." As she spoke, Lan Xue handed the tea over. Seeing her father not taking it but instead glancing at her stepmother, Lan Xue set the tea aside and placed the beauty products next to the stepmother, saying indifferently, "This is for you."
"Oh, it's too much for ," the stepmother said sarcastically with a frown.
"Take it or leave it. As the younger generation, I've done my filial duty. As for the elder, do as you please," Lan Xue snapped back, anger rising. She pulled Luo Zheng to sit on a couch nearby, glanced at Lan Xing, then set her eyes on her father and cut to the chase, "Dad, I won't go into details about the circumstances. We're here today just to acknowledge the bond. If you're unhappy, we can leave right now."
"Do you really have to do this?" Lan Xue's father asked, his face darkening.
"What do you think?" Lan Xue retorted, "I inherited my stubbornness from you. You're stubborn, and so am I. I've made up my mind about this. If you regard as your daughter, bless and I'll be happy. But if you oppose, it's no use—you know my temperant."
"A poor soldier, what's so good about that?" mocked the stepmother with her strange intonation. "Tsk tsk, these gifts aren't cheap. Does a soldier really have that much money to buy these? It couldn't be that our Xue Er paid for them, could it? Haven't even officially co together and already starting to live off a woman? Are you even a man?" she said, looking toward Luo Zheng with disdain.
Luo Zheng was angered upon hearing this, but he rembered Lan Xue's words and pretended not to hear, maintaining a calm deanour with a faint smile on his face. Lan Xing saw this and couldn't help but thumbs up secretly. Lan Xue, seeing that Luo Zheng did not lash out, also relaxed. Her expression turned cold as she looked at her stepmother with eyes that were even chillier, but said nothing. Turning her head towards her father, she demanded, "What's your stance on this? Give an answer."
"My stance?" Lan Xue's father humd uncomfortably, which was interrupted by his wife.
"What's your stance? Is that any way to talk to your own father?" the stepmother reprimanded with a harsh tone.
"I only lost my mother, not my father. It's not your place to teach how to speak," snapped Lan Xue, her fury evident as she looked at her stepmother with an even icier gaze, countering, "Song Yang is dead, what more do you want?"
"There are plenty of good n in Beijing. I do this for your future and for the growth of this family. Do you think I want to interfere in your affairs?" the stepmother retorted angrily.
"Don't talk about considering what's best for , you just want to marry soone wealthy and powerful so that you can live in luxury and wealth, right? I can assure you, that's impossible. Even if I were to marry into a rich family, the first thing I would do is to use the husband's connections to shut down your company, making you bankrupt," Lan Xue said fiercely, her tone cold.
The stepmother hadn't expected Lan Xue to be so stubborn. She was like a different person compared to her usual silence and passive resistance, which took her aback. She glanced at Lan Xue, then at Lan Xue's father, and said irritably, "What do you think I'm after? Never mind, I'm done with the ss of your family. I'm going back to my parents' ho. Do whatever you please." With that, she stood up and hurried upstairs.
Once the stepmother had left, Lan Xue's father's expression softened, and a glint of affection flashed in his eyes. He spoke in a low voice, "Why must you do this?"
"Why must you?" Lan Xue asked in return, her tone much gentler.
Everyone was lost in their own thoughts, heads bowed in silence. Luo Zheng, witnessing this scene, stayed quiet as well. After a while, Lan Xue sincerely said, "Dad, I know you want to restore our family's glory, and I'm aware that you don't want to offend the stepmother because you hope for a further promotion. But have you considered, even if you do get promoted, what then? I played a part in Song Yang's matter and Song Yan's double ousting. Our tie with the Song family is a matter of life and death now. Do you think that by pleasing the stepmother, the Song family will lend you the necessary support? Are you really sure that the Song family won't take their anger out on you?"
"?" Lan Xue's father pondered.
Lan Xue didn't say anything more. She glanced at Lan Xing and gave her a aningful look. Lan Xing nodded in understanding. Lan Xue stood up, looked at Luo Zheng, and Luo Zheng got the hint and rose to his feet as well. The two walked outside together, knowing that so things were better left unsaid and so issues shouldn't be pressed too hard.
After leaving the villa, they got into the car. Luo Zheng signaled for Lan Xue to sit in the passenger seat to give directions, and he drove forward. Neither spoke for a long while. After passing so distance, Lan Xue pointed ahead and said, "There is a club over there. Let's go have a al."
"Sure," Luo Zheng readily agreed, full of gratitude for Lan Xue's firm stance back at the villa, which had deepened his love for her.
They parked the car and walked into the club, finding a secluded booth to sit down. They ordered a bottle of red wine and two beef steaks. After the waiter took the nu and left, Luo Zheng looked at Lan Xue and said solemnly, "Thank you. I swear, I will never let you down in this lifeti."
"Mmm, I hope you'll keep your word. I've completely taken a stand against my family. If you no longer want , I doubt I'll have the courage to go on living," Lan Xue said softly, her face filled with sorrow as if she was talking to herself, yet also reminding Luo Zheng.
"I swear on a soldier's honor," Luo Zheng said earnestly, his face stern.
The honor of a soldier was higher than life itself. Luo Zheng's oath was the ultimate promise. Lan Xue felt a sense of relief, and her mood improved slightly. She said, "Don't just make vows, back them up with actions."
"Right, when I return I will train fiercely to beco the Strongest Soldier King as soon as possible and bring you ho in glory. Your stepmother looks down on for being young and poor, but I assure you, I will never let you live a hard life with ," Luo Zheng declared, his expression incredibly serious.
User Comments
0 comments from readers