Chapter 21 – Uncle Forcefully Steals Love (4)

“Go to hell, who wants that mute country bumpkin to like me? Every time I catch her looking at me with those eyes, I get the creeps, it disgusts me.”

“With so many people in the Lu family, I don’t know what’s wrong with her brain, but she just had to pick me. Can’t she tell I hate her?”

“You’re Old Master Lu’s precious grandson. The inheritance of the entire Lu family will be in your hands one day. Who else would she pick if not you?”

“Marry you, and she’ll become Mrs. Lu, with a lifetime of wealth she’ll never finish spending. Who wouldn’t be tempted?”

“…”

The surrounding chorus of flattery made Lu Ziyao’s brows loosen, and he couldn’t help but feel smug as he naturally picked up their words.

“Exactly. At least she has an eye for quality in this. But so what? My money and myself aren’t hers. Even if she likes me, it’s useless.”

Lu Ziyao laughed with disdain and scorn, lifting his gaze to glance around as he commented casually, “She’s nothing more than a toad lusting after swan meat—a woman with absolutely no self-awareness.”

“Hahahahaha…”

“…”

Another round of harsh laughter rang out. At this very moment, Xin Ling, carrying her bag, casually pushed open the door to the private room and walked straight inside.

She stopped before the man, lifted her head, and looked at him with a gentle, calm face. “Ziyao, what did you call me here for?”

In an instant, it was as if someone had hit the pause button on the room. The rowdy noise ceased, leaving only the glaring lights and pulsing music.

Some were shocked, some doubtful, some speechless.

The girl was wearing a warm white turtleneck sweater and light blue jeans.

Her slender figure was wrapped in the long sleeves and pants, her waist soft and narrow, her dark hair glossy over her shoulders. Even standing still, she drew every eye.

Though conservative compared to the trendy, flashy crowd in the room, she looked stunning.

People couldn’t help but let their gazes linger on her.

One of Lu Ziyao’s childhood friends nudged his arm, whispering, “This is the ugly, tacky girl you were talking about…?”

The man’s expression clearly read ‘what’s wrong with your taste?’ which instantly angered Lu Ziyao.

“I never said she was ugly!”

He glared fiercely at him, grinding his teeth as he lowered his voice, “And what’s with your look—whose side are you on?”

So what if she wasn’t ugly? He didn’t like her anyway. He already had someone he liked.

Xin Ling had been standing ignored for quite some time before the male lead finally seemed to notice her. With a frown of displeasure, he opened his mouth,

“Didn’t I tell you to dress nicely when you came?”

“You show up dressed this tacky—people will think our Lu family mistreated you. Are you trying to embarrass me? Or embarrass the Lu family?”

The heavy accusation left Xin Ling dazed.

But she knew. Lu Ziyao was deliberately making things hard for her, so she’d retreat and take the initiative to ask Old Master Lu to switch her marriage partner.

“But you didn’t even say what you wanted me to come here for…” Xin Ling looked at him with puzzlement. “This is just everyday clothing. What’s wrong with wearing it?”

Her body was covered in a certain dog man’s bite marks. If she wore anything that exposed her arms, legs, or neck, it would definitely give her away.

“Look around—who else here is dressed like you?”

Lu Ziyao was clearly angry. His lackey, quick to read the mood, stood up, picked up a glass of alcohol from the table, and walked toward Xin Ling.

“Little sister, this is your fault. How can you upset Young Master Lu?”

“Here, take this glass and go toast Young Master Lu. Apologize properly.” A glass filled with alcohol was shoved into Xin Ling’s hand as the man pressed on her shoulder, forcing her forward.

The people around all stepped aside, clearing a space by Lu Ziyao’s side.

Lu Ziyao said nothing, only curled his lips in amusement as he watched.

He even waved over a hotly dressed girl, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her onto his lap.

Xin Ling walked over with the glass but stopped at the table, swapping the alcohol for a soft drink instead.

“Ziyao, you know Grandpa forbids me from drinking outside. If he finds out…” Xin Ling sat down beside him, her words trailing off meaningfully.

“Ziyao, can I use this drink instead of alcohol to apologize to you?”

Her timid gaze, in Lu Ziyao’s eyes, looked like a veiled threat saying, ‘You know what I mean.’

That only enraged him further. With a cold sneer, he spat, “Xin Ling, besides using Grandpa to pressure me, what else do you know how to do?”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

But yes, it was.

Using Grandpa to pressure him only proved she’d grown bolder!

The matter of apologizing with a drink fizzled out, and soon the room was filled again with noisy games.

Lu Ziyao carried on playing with his crowd, openly holding women in his arms and feeding them fruit and drinks, blatantly leaving Xin Ling to the side.

He was doing it on purpose, hoping she’d give up.

But Xin Ling enjoyed the peace. Since the mission hadn’t flagged complete and Lu Ziyao clearly wasn’t letting her leave just yet, she might as well eat something first.

Drinking too many sodas made her need the bathroom.

In the bright corridor, firm footsteps echoed steadily, growing closer, each strike on the quiet floor especially clear.

It was nine-thirty. The little wildcat hadn’t kept her word.

At nine-forty, Lu Jinzhi finally stepped out, planning to personally drag that disobedient little cat back.

“Fifth Master, it’s so late, and you’re heading out?” In the front hall, the butler politely inquired.

The driver was already waiting with the car at the villa entrance.

Lu Jinzhi glanced back, smiling faintly. “Yes. The cat I wanted to raise ran away. I’m going to catch her back.”

…Huh?

The car drove away from the estate until it vanished completely from sight, leaving the butler still standing there, full of question marks.

A cat? What cat?

Since when did Fifth Master keep a cat?

And who was this little cat, that could actually make their Fifth Master personally go fetch her back?

“I advise you not to waste too much effort on Young Master Lu.” Outside the restroom, Xin Ling had just come out when a woman at the sink addressed her.

The woman wore a red dress, her long wavy hair styled boldly, with a strikingly glamorous face as she reapplied lipstick.

A sultry beauty—and the very same woman Lu Ziyao had been flaunting earlier, holding her in his arms, feeding her fruit and drinks just to spite Xin Ling.

Xin Ling curved her lips indifferently and asked, “You like him too?”