Chapter 11

After Shi Xuexian and her daughter were kicked out, the house finally became quiet.

Meng Zhining sat with Lu Yan on the sofa, fussing over her with tender care.

Lu Zhen stood beside the sofa, hesitating for a while, and several times wanted to interrupt, but was intimidated by Meng Zhining’s sharp glare.

Lu Yan knew that her hot-tempered dad, who wasn’t afraid of anything since childhood, was afraid of only Meng Zhining.

As for how Meng Zhining disciplined her son, it was truly full of creative methods, none of them the same.

So, Lu Zhen stood awkwardly on the side, too shy to speak up, and kept throwing glances at Lu Yan.

Lu Yan understood and tactfully explained the cause and effect of the fire to Meng Zhining.

However, she spoke skillfully, keeping some details brief and focusing on how Lu Zhen disregarded danger and heroically saved people, which earned Meng Zhining’s comment: “At least he still acts like a man.”

Lu Zhen let out a sigh of relief, sitting on the armrest of the sofa, feeling awkward. He clearly wanted to get closer to his mother but felt embarrassed.

After all, sons are different from daughters. Daughters can act coquettish and unreasonable, but sons can’t bring themselves to act that way.

Lu Yan saw through Lu Zhen’s thoughts, pulled him to sit next to Meng Zhining, and said, “Lu Zhen also misses you, Mom. You should come visit us more often.”

Meng Zhining sighed and patted Lu Zhen’s hand: “I want to come, but seeing that woman Shi makes me angry. Your dad is really vicious. That woman is clearly just after money, yet he’s so taken with her.”

Lu Zhen immediately shouted, “My dad is blind! My mom is so great, and he actually wants to divorce her!”

Meng Zhining slapped the back of Lu Zhen’s head: “Stop talking nonsense. I’m the one who divorced him, okay?”

Lu Zhen rubbed his head and smiled foolishly: “I mean, with my mom being so gentle, kind, generous, and noble, what man would want to divorce her?”

“Stop with the nonsense.”

Lu Yan had never seen her dad act so sweet and coquettish, even throwing a bit of a tantrum.

Sure enough, no matter how rebellious or defiant a man is, there’s always a tender side to him, and that side is only shown to the two most important women in his life: his mother and daughter.

Lu Zhen was completely obedient to his mother but had a deep resentment toward his father. With Shi Xuexian in the mix, the strained relationship wasn’t something that could be easily fixed.

Lu Yan suddenly wondered: if she could help reconcile Meng Zhining and Lu Jian and get them to remarry, would it change the course of everyone’s fate?

“Mom, do you have a boyfriend?” Lu Yan asked curiously.

Meng Zhining smirked arrogantly: “There are so many men chasing after your mom, they’re lined up from the company to our doorstep.”

“Then, does mom have someone she likes?”

Meng Zhining didn’t answer and instead scolded, “You, little girl, how can you have such unhealthy thoughts in your head at such a young age?”

“Heh.”

Lu Yan had heard from Lu Zhen that Meng Zhining and Lu Jian had been childhood sweethearts, from well-matched families, but they would argue every time they met, sometimes even getting into fights. They were a pair of happy enemies.

She could actually understand why, even after so many years of divorce, Meng Zhining remained single.

After all, men like Lu Jian, capable and skilled, are few and far between in this world. Meng Zhining had high standards and great ability, and after experiencing marriage with someone like Lu Jian, finding another man who was better than him would be extremely difficult.

However, their marriage also ended because of this. Despite Shi Xuexian’s many flaws, there was one thing she understood: how to act fragile and speak gently.

Lu Jian wasn’t blind to her little schemes, but he chose to turn a blind eye, as long as she didn’t go too far.

After all, every man needs someone who admires him, who looks up to him. Although… sometimes he really looked down on her, he still married her.

People are often like this, full of contradictions and never satisfied.

A few days later, after Lu Jian returned home from a business trip, Shi Xuexian finally moved back in and immediately started crying about her grievances in front of him.

Lu Jian didn’t say a word.

That person was Meng Zhining, his childhood friend, a fiery-tempered girl who wouldn’t hesitate to fight anyone, even him, when angry.

Lu Jian respected her deeply, and was also a little afraid of her.

Lu Zhen, guilty in his heart and fearing his father’s punishment, packed his things and moved into Meng Zhining’s house.

Although Lu Jian was furious about the fire at the nightclub, he didn’t have the courage to go to Meng Zhining’s house to demand answers. He could only wait until the next time he saw Lu Zhen to give him a good beating.

Lu Zhen had used up all his savings to pay the landlord, but still owed a considerable amount.

Although Meng Zhining had claimed she wouldn’t clean up his mess, as his mother, she was still family. After venting her anger, she ended up helping him cover the remaining compensation.

Lu Jian, on the other hand, stopped giving Lu Zhen his pocket money, and cut his living expenses to the bare minimum, just enough for survival, hoping to teach him a lesson.

Lu Zhen had no choice but to ask Meng Zhining for money. She told him, “Ask your dad, the law has assigned you to him, I won’t take care of you.”

Lu Zhen sulkily replied, “But my sister was assigned to Dad, and I clearly saw you giving her pocket money yesterday!”

Meng Zhining confidently responded, “You’re not the same as Yanyan. Yanyan is better behaved. I love giving her money. If you’re not happy about it, deal with it!”

Lu Zhen had no words, feeling as if he wasn’t her biological child.

During that time, Lu Zhen even had to rely on his daughter for food, his situation was pitiful.

When it rains, it pours. That afternoon, Lu Yan had just bought some chips and was coming out of the small convenience store when she saw Liang Ting and Qin Hao standing behind a tree in the small garden, peering around as if they were sneaking.

Liang Ting, Qin Hao, and Lu Zhen had been inseparable since school, forming a trio known as the “Three Musketeers,” their brotherly bond lasting for decades. They were all uncles that Lu Yan had often seen.

This time, however, neither of them had seen Lu Zhen.

Curious, Lu Yan walked over and tapped both of their shoulders. “Hey, what are you looking at?”

Liang Ting quickly pulled Lu Yan aside, covering her mouth with his hand, and whispered, “Shh, watch the show with your dad.”

Lu Yan lowered her voice. “What show?”

“Your dad’s girlfriend, Shu Mengfei, is here, talking to him.”

“His girlfriend’s here?”

Lu Yan’s curiosity was stronger than a cat’s, and she joined the two uncles in peeking through the leaves, looking into the small garden.

She saw Lu Zhen with his hands in his pockets, leaning against a moss-covered wall, looking extremely upset.

Next to him stood a girl with a ponytail, wearing a white long-sleeve shirt and a plaid skirt.

She had slender eyebrows, bright, dark eyes, and a neat fringe across her forehead.

Her pure, charming appearance was the type most straight men would find attractive.

The two of them were talking for a while when Lu Zhen reached out to grab her hand.

Shu Mengfei pulled her hand away with force, frowning as she said, “This is school, you’d better show some respect.”

Lu Zhen let go of her. “Show respect? Haven’t I been respectful enough? What do you want that I haven’t bought for you? Now you want to break up with me without any explanation—who’s being disrespectful?”

“Lu Zhen, do you think money can buy everything?”

Shu Mengfei gave him a disdainful look, her expression filled with contempt. “I feel like our values are completely incompatible. You’re so materialistic.”

Lu Zhen felt innocent. He cared for his girlfriend and bought her the things she liked. What was wrong with that?

“You think our values don’t match, but do they match with Shen Kuo?”

Suddenly being reminded of something sensitive, Shu Mengfei’s face turned bright red. “Why are you bringing up Shen Kuo when we’re talking about us?”

“Everyone in school is talking about how close you are to Shen Kuo.” Lu Zhen said bitterly, “We’ve been together for a year and a half. I’ve never yelled at you, I’ve bought you anything you wanted. I thought I’ve treated you well enough.”

Shu Mengfei remained silent, embarrassed.

“Shu Mengfei, ask yourself, are you breaking up with me because you have someone else in your heart?”

“So what?” She was finally pushed to the edge, saying without thinking, “Shen Kuo understands the hardships of life better than you! You’re just a rich second-generation playboy, a useless waste. You’re nothing compared to him!”

Lu Zhen staggered back a few steps, as if deeply hurt.

Sometimes words can hurt more than knives, especially when they come from someone you care about. It’s like a blade stabbing straight into your heart.

Lu Yan shook her head, inwardly cursing her dad for being so spineless, letting others trample on his dignity while still acting submissive.

The word “love” has always been his weakness. Lu Zhen was a man who valued relationships deeply and was loyal in love.

Liang Ting sighed softly and said, “Now she says their values don’t match, but doesn’t she remember that the clothes she’s wearing were brought back for her by Brother Lu from Hong Kong? Over the past year, how much has Brother Lu spent on her? How many things has he bought her? The number is beyond counting.”

“Really?” Lu Yan turned back in surprise. “She accepted all that?”

“Of course. A year ago, she was just a dull, unattractive girl, living with her ungrateful foster mother, dropping out of school and working to earn money. If it weren’t for Brother Lu helping her both openly and secretly, could she have gone to Beicheng No. 3 High School? Could she have learned singing and dancing and become the school belle of No. 3 High School?”

Lu Yan couldn’t help but smirk. She had thought these kinds of gossip and rumors were only prevalent in her time, but it seemed that even twenty years ago, such things were not uncommon.

“Now she acts so aloof, thinking Brother Lu is useless, thinking everyone else is better. Hmph.”

Liang Ting rarely commented on others, but it was clear that Shu Mengfei had truly angered him.

Lu Yan didn’t enjoy getting involved in others’ arguments, but she couldn’t stand how fake this girl was. Before Liang Ting could stop her, she walked straight toward Shu Mengfei and Lu Zhen.

“Dad, is this your girlfriend?”

As soon as Lu Zhen saw the look in his daughter’s eyes, he knew she was about to stir things up.

He awkwardly said, “This has nothing to do with you, go home.”

Lu Yan completely ignored him and, with a smile, turned to Shu Mengfei and praised, “Sister, you’re so pretty.”

Shu Mengfei’s face turned pale, and she questioned Lu Zhen, “Who is she?”

“My daughter… no, my sister,” Lu Zhen almost slipped up.

Shu Mengfei had already heard about Lu Zhen’s mentally challenged younger sister, and she now looked at Lu Yan with a hint of disdain. However, out of politeness, she extended her hand toward Lu Yan. “Hello, I’m Shu Mengfei.”

Lu Yan casually slapped Shu Mengfei’s hand away and smiled, “Sorry, I only shake hands with people I want to get to know.”

Seeing her unfriendly attitude, Shu Mengfei knew that Lu Yan was standing up for her brother. However, she didn’t want to make a scene and be the subject of gossip, so she decided to leave.

“If you’re going to break up, do it cleanly.” Lu Yan called out to Shu Mengfei. “Since you despise money so much, I’m sure you won’t be able to stand wearing this outfit bought with that ‘evil’ money. Go ahead and take it off before you leave.”

Shu Mengfei’s expression changed instantly. Her face flushed and then turned pale. She bit her trembling lip and said, “What did you say?”

“I said, sister, do you know how to write the words ‘^[1]“Wolf-hearted and dog-liver” (狼心狗肺) is a Chinese idiom used to describe someone who is heartless, ungrateful, or treacherous. It implies that the person has a cruel or unkind … Continue readingwolf-hearted and dog-liver’?”