Chapter 26.2

The moment these words came out, whispers immediately rose all around.

No one had expected Cheng Lingxue to actually already have an engagement!

This made the boys and girls who had originally wanted to take the chance to form a marriage alliance with the Xie family retreat. Entering the Xie family was wonderful, but reputation was also very important. Besides, although the Lu family could not compare to the Xie family or the former Cheng family, they were still a first-rate aristocratic family—one that most of them could not afford to provoke.

As for Cheng Lingxue, she was almost angered into laughter by this person’s shamelessness.

Back then, the Cheng family head had indeed wanted to find an engagement partner for her, but at that time, they had still been selecting candidates. The Lu family had come to recommend themselves. Back then, Cheng Lingxue’s parents had used the excuse of “observing first” and had not immediately agreed.

After all, the head of the Lu family was this kind of person. Unless the child he raised somehow mutated, they could only be birds of a feather. Seeing them today, that was indeed the case.

Unexpectedly, not long after this matter had been mentioned, her parents got into a car accident. The Lu family had immediately distanced themselves, and not only that, they had even stepped on the Cheng family while they were down.

Now, they actually had the nerve to come ​Read on BaiLianTales​back and bring up the past again. It was obvious they had taken a fancy to Cheng Lingxue’s current identity as an adopted daughter of the Xie family.

“Hello, Lingxue. I’m Jiahao. We met when we were little.”

The sturdy, slightly chubby young alpha smiled honestly at Cheng Lingxue. Unfortunately, those narrowed eyes carried the same little calculations as his father’s, as well as…

poorly concealed greed.

That sticky feeling only made goosebumps rise all over Cheng Lingxue.

“Head Lu, I remember that day, you were very clear when you said that the Lu family had nothing to do with the Cheng family.”

Cheng Lingxue smiled without any warmth.

“Aiya, you child. You must have been misled by someone else. No matter what, your parents and I were old friends for many years. I also watched you grow up. How could Uncle Lu possibly say something like that?”

The head of the Lu family helplessly shook his head, as bailiantales.com if Cheng Lingxue were the ignorant child. He tugged at Lu Jiahao’s arm beside him.

“Look at our Jiahao. For your sake, he still hasn’t dated anyone even now.”

Lu Jiahao kept nodding beside him, as if he had made some huge sacrifice for Cheng Lingxue. If Cheng Lingxue did not accept it, she would practically be inhuman.

“And ah, when your parents saw our Jiahao’s photo before, they praised him nonstop. They thought our Jiahao looked good, and that his whole appearance was full of fortune.”

The head of the Lu family was not afraid of slapping himself in the face. While lying with his eyes open, he also praised his own son without restraint, as if Lu Jiahao were heaven’s chosen son, loved by all people and flowers alike.

Cheng Lingxue was almost angered into laughing by this shameless father and son.

But she still clenched her fists, using the slight pain of her fingertips digging into her palms to warn herself not to be impulsive.

No matter how much goodwill someone had toward a person, if that person caused trouble again and again, that goodwill would also diminish and turn into annoyance.

She had not grown strong enough ​stolen content​yet. She still needed the Xie family’s protection, so she could not casually cause trouble.

But in the next second, a pair of warm hands held her slightly trembling fist.

As they gently caressed her with concern, Xie Shuyun’s familiar voice rang out.

“Isn’t this Uncle Lu? What’s the matter? If you have business with the Xie family, why not look for me or my father? Why come to Lingxue instead? Today, she’s the birthday girl. She doesn’t want to be stained with troublesome matters.”

The head of the Lu family’s expression stiffened.

Originally, he had planned to find Cheng Lingxue first, pressure her with his status, and think of a way to make her admit that this matter existed. Then he could use it to make a fuss.

Although the Xie family was holding a birthday banquet for Cheng Lingxue now, he felt that it was more or less because Cheng Lingxue had differentiated into an SS-rank omega.

After all, they had already neglected her for four years. How could they suddenly treat her well now?

Besides, her rank was right there.

An SS-rank omega had not appeared for decades. That was an existence even more valuable than an SS-rank alpha. The reason was naturally that omegas could bear children. The higher the rank, the higher the child’s rank would naturally be.

Could Cheng Lingxue give birth to another SS-rank child?

No one knew.

Cheng Lingxue’s identity as the Xie family’s adopted daughter gave her even more value. Just one person could be exchanged for who knew how many bargaining chips. The head of the Lu family did not even dare imagine it.

That was why this time, he had decided to take the risk. He had to seize Cheng Lingxue before any other family could speak up.

As for whether Xie Shuyun would take a liking to Cheng Lingxue?

The head of the Lu family did not think so.

The relationship between those two was terrible. Their interaction at the birthday banquet looked decent enough, but who knew if Xie Yun had specially instructed them to act that way?

However, Xie Yun was actually willing to restrain Xie Shuyun for Cheng Lingxue. It seemed Cheng Lingxue’s status in the Xie family was higher than he had imagined.

If his son married her, it would definitely be like adding wings to a tiger for the Lu family!

His calculations were clacking loudly, but he had not expected the Xie family’s daughter to interfere. And he could not offend her either. He could only force out a smile.

“Shuyun, Uncle Lu and Xiao Xue’s mother were family friends. Since she lost both parents, Uncle Lu has been very worried too. Seeing her here, I naturally hurried over to show some concern.”

A bright and polite smile hung on Xie Shuyun’s face, but cold light flickered in her eyes.

“Is that so? Then why have I never seen Head Lu visit our Xie family as a guest?”

“How could that be? Our family and the Xie family still have cooper—”

The head of the Lu family wiped the cold sweat seeping from his forehead.

He did not know if it was his imagination, but he saw Xie Yun’s shadow in Xie Shuyun’s expression. She clearly looked like she was smiling happily, but in reality, she was a smiling tiger.

“I know our two families have cooperation, but what does that have to do with what I’m talking about? It seems not once did you come for Lingxue’s sake.”

Xie Shuyun emphasized the final words heavily. Then, before the head of the Lu family could speak, she added another sentence.

“So this is what Uncle Lu calls a family-friend relationship. Shuyun has truly learned something today.”

“This… Shuyun, you’ve misunderstood… That was because Uncle Lu was busy with business. I have many companies to manage, and I often need to go on business trips and travel overseas. Also, some things happened at the company recently. Uncle Lu truly had no choice. Now I finally found a chance to come see Xiao Xue. Uncle Lu… Uncle Lu really…”

As if moved by himself, the head of the Lu family became more and more enthusiastic as he spoke. In the end, his eyes even reddened. He shook his head, his face showing worldly hardship.

But although he acted very well, Lu Jiahao beside him was not very cooperative.

The way Lu Jiahao looked at the head of the Lu family was [unauthorized copy]hesitant, as if he could not bear to expose his own father. It was beyond ridiculous.

Xie Shuyun turned her head and glanced at Cheng Lingxue. Seeing that the other girl had her head lowered and that she could not see her expression clearly, Xie Shuyun thought she had been upset by this.

The fire in her heart surged upward. The gaze she used to look at the head of the Lu family gradually changed from polite to impolite.

Clenching her fist, Xie Shuyun understood that when facing shameless people, if you did not make things clear, it would never end.

“But as far as I know, after something happened to the Cheng family, the Lu family seemed to have done quite a lot, didn’t it? You tasted quite a few benefits and used them to grow the family business. It has only been a mere four years. Have you already digested all those profits? Or did you feel that what you ate wasn’t enough, so now you plan to take in their daughter too?”

“…This…”

Three questions in a row smashed toward him, making the head of the Lu family’s face twitch.

Although this matter was not a secret in the industry, in business there were no eternal friends, only eternal interests.

He himself did not think there was anything improper about his actions. But being stripped of face ​Read on BaiLianTales​like this, especially under the scorching gazes around him, made him extremely uncomfortable.

However, the person before him was not someone he could casually offend.

He dared to use his status to pressure Cheng Lingxue, but he could not do that to Xie Shuyun.

“Ah, right. Our Xie family advocates free love. We don’t have rules about parents arranging marriages or matchmakers deciding things. Of course, screening is still necessary. As for whether your son is as outstanding as Head Lu says…”

As she spoke, Xie Shuyun’s gaze landed on Lu Jiahao. Her tone dragged out.

Shang Yan, who had come over to join in the fun, immediately stepped forward and gave a dry cough.

“How strange. Uncle Lu, you said Big Brother Lu doesn’t have a partner, but not long ago, I saw him going into a bar. Not only did he have people hanging off both arms, in the end, he even took someone to a hotel room.”

Touching her chin, a trace of disdain flashed through Shang Yan’s eyes as she looked at Lu Jiahao.

“And I’ve also heard that the Lu family’s young master has quite a few playmates. Could it be that I’ve misunderstood the words devoted and clean-living? As long as read the original at bailiantales.com there’s no official partner, anyone can gain such a good reputation?”

At this point, not only did the head of the Lu family’s face collapse, even Lu Jiahao’s face flushed red.

The father and son mumbled a few words and quickly excused themselves to leave.

Watching the two of them leave in defeat, Xie Shuyun immediately felt refreshed.

Suddenly, she felt something move in her palm. Turning her head, she saw Cheng Lingxue lowering her head slightly. Xie Shuyun could not see the emotions in her eyes clearly, but she could feel Cheng Lingxue’s gaze on her hand.

Xie Shuyun lowered her gaze and only then realized she was still holding Cheng Lingxue’s hand.

She hurriedly let go and apologized in a low voice.

“Sorry, sorry. I forgot.”

Back then, when she saw Cheng Lingxue trembling slightly, she had thought Cheng Lingxue was afraid and had planned to encourage her. But she had forgotten that Cheng Lingxue seemed not to like physical contact. She felt a little apologetic.

Still, Xie Shuyun did not forget to speak.

“Lingxue, let me tell you. When it comes to relationships, besides liking someone yourself, you also have to find someone suitable. If someone like that comes out and starts messing around again, you must tell me or Dad. Those people clearly never came to see you before, not even a simple visit. They have no sincerity at all. You mustn’t believe what those people say.”

At the same time, she muttered inwardly.

Having the female lead A is enough. Where did all these rotten peach blossoms come from? Do they really think I don’t exist?

“…Mm…”

Not knowing what the person beside her was thinking, Cheng Lingxue only nodded slightly.

But her attention was on the hand that had been held just now. In a daze, she lightly stroked the back of her own hand, her fingertips seeming to feel the lingering warmth left there.

A reluctance to part with that warmth actually rose in her heart…

It seemed the disturbance here had already spread.

Those “former friends of the Cheng family” who had originally wanted to do the same thing as the head of the Lu family and climb into a relationship with Cheng Lingxue began to grow restless. But after seeing the Lu family’s ending, they no longer dared act rashly.

So no more blind fools came over, allowing the three of them to gain a little peace.

“Lingxue, you haven’t eaten much today. Do you want some small cakes? There are also a lot of desserts. I’ll have someone bring them over, and you can choose for yourself?”

After bringing Cheng Lingxue to sit on the sofa, Xie Shuyun asked softly.

“…Alright…”

Seeing Cheng Lingxue nod slightly, Xie Shuyun immediately waved a server over to bring desserts.

Small cakes, macarons, cookies—there were all kinds of things. There stolen content was not much of each item, ensuring that Cheng Lingxue could taste a little of everything before considering which ones she liked.

“Your treatment is way too different.”

Shang Yan could not help clicking her tongue.

Although she had eaten quite a lot just now too, the level of refinement could not compare to Cheng Lingxue’s at all.

Her gaze wandered between Cheng Lingxue and Xie Shuyun.

These two really were true love!

“Didn’t you eat about the same just now?”

Xie Shuyun smiled helplessly, but only received one disdainful look from Shang Yan.

Unable to guess what Shang Yan was thinking, Xie Shuyun was a little worried about her.

“You stood up to speak for us just now. Will there be any problem?”

“What problem could there be? First of all, they’re in the wrong. Besides, among first-rate families, the Shang family is still a little stronger than them. They just like pulling little tricks, but that’s all. There’s nothing to fear.”

Shang Yan shrugged, clearly not taking the Lu father and son seriously.

“Is that so? If anything happens, tell me. I’ll talk to my mother about it.”

Shang Yan casually gestured that she understood.

Suddenly, she seemed to think of something. A playful smile flashed through her eyes. Her fingertip wandered between Cheng Lingxue and Xie Shuyun as she revealed a malicious smile.

“I remember your Xie family arranged a social dance, right? Since the school beauty is the birthday girl, there’s no reason for her not to dance. But who will she dance with…?”

Her deliberately drawn-out tone was full of hidden meaning.

But Shang Yan could not sense even the slightest change from Cheng Lingxue’s expression. The other girl was still unhurriedly tasting the dessert on her plate, extremely elegant.

So she turned her attention to Xie Shuyun instead.

Sure enough, she saw exactly what she wanted to see.

Xie Shuyun’s expression became somewhat conflicted, looking as if she wanted to speak but stopped herself. It made people want to ask what exactly she was thinking.

Then, under Shang Yan’s dumbfounded gaze, Xie Shuyun asked in a low voice,

“Lingxue, is there anyone you want to dance with? I can go talk to them for you.”

Her thinking was simple.

As the birthday girl, Cheng Lingxue should have her own thoughts. And Xie Shuyun could also observe Cheng Lingxue’s preferences from this.

It could be said to kill two birds with one stone.

Cheng Lingxue, who had originally been unmoved, visibly paused in her motion of tasting the dessert.

The young girl’s dark pupils slowly turned and landed on the person beside her. Inside them seemed to be disbelief, confusion, helplessness, but even more than that, complexity.

Her thin lips parted slightly.

“What do you think?”