Chapter 7: Mr. Lu’s Family Background

“Mom, why does Dad take so long to come see us every time?” asked three-year-old Lu Cichuan, his face still a bit chubby from baby fat. “Yeah, why isn’t he back yet?” complained six-year-old Lu Sheng, pouting in frustration.

“Dad is busy with work, but he’ll be back soon!” Wen Ran smiled as she gently patted their heads.

But instead of their father, they met Lu Jun’s wife—Cheng Yanlin.

Wen Ran quickly pulled her two children behind her, looking frightened.

Cheng Yanlin stared viciously at the three of them, taking a look at their shabby yet clean little house. She sneered, “Hmph, that dog Lu Jun isn’t treating you guys very well either, living in this rundown place.”

“Who are you? What do you want?” Wen Ran tried hard to stay calm; she couldn’t let anything happen to her children.

“Me? I’m the eldest daughter of the Cheng family, owners of the biggest business empire in Huaian City.” Cheng Yanlin walked slowly in her high heels, her graceful figure approaching Wen Ran. She grabbed Wen Ran’s chin roughly, her soft voice delivering a devastating blow:

“I’m also Lu Jun’s legally wedded wife!”

With a forceful shove, Cheng Yanlin knocked Wen Ran to the ground. The two children rushed to their mother’s side. Lu Sheng, seeing the scene, immediately started crying.

But Lu Cichuan glared fiercely at Cheng Yanlin, who looked back at him with interest.

“This little wolf cub doesn’t act anything like that dog Lu Jun,” she remarked, glancing at the weakened Wen Ran on the floor. “Take these two children away.”

Wen Ran scrambled to her feet, clinging to her children desperately. “You can’t take my children!”

“This is not a place where you get to speak!” Cheng Yanlin’s voice was laced with anger. “Take them away!” With a wave of her hand, the tall, strong bodyguards easily pried the children from Wen Ran’s arms.

As they left, a sudden downpour started outside. Amidst the thunder and rain, only Wen Ran’s desperate cries remained.

After that, Lu Cichuan and Lu Sheng were taken to the Cheng family, where they were treated as servants. They lived in constant hunger and cold. Several times during the harsh winters, they were thrown out for minor mistakes, almost freezing or starving to death, only to be brought back by the Cheng family at the last moment.

Three months after they were taken, Wen Ran died of grief.

Cheng Yanlin and Lu Jun had a son named Cheng Yili, the sole heir to the Cheng family. Cheng Yili would often lead other rich kids to insult and beat Lu Cichuan. Every time, Lu Sheng always protect her brother, taking the brunt of the beatings herself.

When Lu Cichuan turned eighteen, the Cheng family faced a crisis. Cheng Yanlin didn’t want her son to lower himself to ask for money, so the task fell to Lu Cichuan.

Many people were reluctant to lend money to the Cheng family, as the Chengs had oppressed them in the past.

As a result, Lu Cichuan was beaten many times. The last family he approached was the Li family, who were vacationing at Erhai Lake. It was there that he, poor and downtrodden, met the beautiful and radiant Li Mo.

She didn’t look down on him and asked who he was and why he was so injured. He was stunned. His heart skipped a beat as he stammered a response. Li Mo, amused by his reaction, laughed, “Why are you so dazed? You’re so cute.”

Her smile warmed his heart, which had been numbed by the harsh life in the Cheng family. For once, he was glad it was him asking for money instead of Cheng Yili.

“How much do you need?”

“Fifty million…” he replied.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you to see my dad.” Li Mo grabbed Lu Cichuan’s hand, and her hand was soft, like cotton.

The Li family adored their daughter, but fifty million wasn’t a small amount.

“Dad, I have ten million in my account. Can you lend me the other forty million, please?” Li Mo pleaded with her father, her charm impossible to resist.

“Alright, alright. I’ll lend it. You go wait outside for a bit while I talk to him.”

“Okay!” Li Mo skipped out happily, whispering “Good luck!” to Lu Cichuan as she passed him.

Li Ye sat down and looked at Lu Cichuan. He knew about Lu Cichuan’s background and could see his ambitious nature. He simply said, “I hope you get what you wish for.”

When Lu Cichuan stepped outside, Li Mo was playfully sparring with her brother, Li Yan. Could he really get what he wanted? Could he truly achieve his desires?