Chapter 24: I Wish to Break Off the Engagement (Part One)

Lu Ying looked at Uncle Wen and spoke softly, “Uncle, follow behind me. If anyone asks, I’ll say you’re my elder.”

Because Lu Ying and Ping Yin were cousins, Uncle Wen was naturally an elder to Lu Ying as well. Uncle Wen nodded in acknowledgment.

Having explained things to Uncle Wen, Lu Ying turned to Ping Yin. “A Yin, have you told Master Zeng about Uncle Wen?”

Ping Yin shook her head quickly. She would never be so foolish. No matter what Master Zeng felt for Lu Ying, as someone coming after, pressing too hard was never a good look.

“That’s fine. A Yun, let’s go.” Uncle Wen had always stayed deep within the Ping household and few knew him. Someone like Master Zeng, whose eyes were set high, would hardly notice such a servant.

The Zeng residence was located in the western district. After walking for nearly half an hour, they arrived. Staring at the tall house before her, now fortified with several new walls, Lu Ying felt a momentary daze.

For so many years, she had always thought that one day she would enter these doors and live here for the rest of her life.

Unfortunately, some things, some people, once seen clearly, are nothing more than that.

Drawing a deep breath, Lu Ying and Lu Yun hurried forward to the main gate of the Zeng residence.

The household had prospered; even the entrance was guarded. Seeing the middle-aged man who stepped out, Lu Ying spoke softly, “A Yun, Uncle Wen, I’ll request entry first.” With that, she stepped forward and called out crisply, “Please announce that the Lu siblings have come to visit.”

“Please wait a moment.”

The guard had just gone inside when a tall, handsome young man followed him out. It was none other than Master Zeng.

Master Zeng had been searching for Lu Ying for several days. Seeing her standing outside the gate, graceful and more beautiful than ever, his heart stirred, dissolving much of the pent-up frustration within him.

He stood silently for a moment, then took several quick steps toward Lu Ying, lowered his head to stare at her, then glanced at Lu Yun and Uncle Wen standing nearby. Retracting his gaze, he spoke coldly, “You actually know to come and apologize? Seems A Ying has finally matured.” Though his words were mocking, there was unmistakable joy in his tone.

Lu Ying looked up at Master Zeng, watching the man she once thought could be entrusted with her entire life. The corners of her lips curled in a faint smile. Then she asked, “I heard your father has returned?”

“He’s been back two days. You’re quite well-informed.” Lifting his chin, Master Zeng gave Lu Ying a proud, radiant smile. He thought, indeed, Lu Ying’s earlier unpleasantness was only because she suspected A Yin and acted stubbornly. Now that she understood, here she was, at his door.

All the better, he thought, his gaze lingering on Lu Ying’s increasingly full figure. He mused to himself: I should seize these few days to settle things with her, lest dreams drag on too long. At this thought, his heartbeat quickened, and the look he gave Lu Ying grew warmer and more passionate.

Lu Ying said, “Changzhi, I wish to pay my respects to Uncle and Aunt. Is that possible?”

Master Zeng replied gently, “My father is away on business.” Remembering his mother’s recent tirades and her dislike for Lu Ying, he quickly added, “My mother is not receiving guests. A Ying, you’d best go back.”

As he spoke, he reached out and gently touched Lu Ying’s forehead, murmuring, “Be good, go home first. I’ll handle anything that comes up.” Then, in a tender voice, he asked, “Where is your new home? I’ll come to find you tonight.” His tone was affectionate as water.

Uncle Wen, watching from behind, slowly furrowed his brow. If he remembered correctly, Miss Yin had said that Master Zeng’s affection was not for Lu Ying, but for her. Moreover, he and Miss Yin had already pledged themselves to each other, and had agreed that once Master Zeng’s father returned, he would come to propose. But from the looks of it, Master Zeng’s feelings for his fiancée Lu Ying seemed anything but shallow. Was there some error here?

Just as Master Zeng’s hand touched Lu Ying’s forehead, she brushed it away with a swift, decisive motion.

As if swatting aside a fly, Lu Ying ignored the darkening expression on Master Zeng’s face, turned, and beckoned Lu Yun and Uncle Wen forward. Once they joined her, she bowed to Master Zeng and spoke with careful formality, “Master Zeng may not know, but I have come today for an urgent matter. If Uncle is not home, I can wait.”

As Lu Ying’s words fell, Lu Yun stepped forward, glaring at Master Zeng and growling, “Zeng Changzhi, are you afraid to let us inside?”

Master Zeng’s face stiffened and he was about to rebuke them, when a maid ran over, calling loudly, “Young Master, Madam requests the guests.” As she spoke, her eyes remained fixed on Lu Ying, filled with undisguised contempt and smugness.

As a favored servant of the young master, she had noticed the arrival of the Lu siblings long ago. While Master Zeng was still entangled with Lu Ying, she had already reported their visit to Madam Zeng. Madam Zeng, stewing in anger, couldn’t wait, and immediately ordered Lu Ying into the house.

Hearing his mother’s summons, Master Zeng was caught off guard. He pressed his lips together, brows deeply furrowed, momentarily at a loss.

Meanwhile, Lu Ying, Lu Yun, and Uncle Wen followed the maid into the residence.

Soon, they reached the main hall, where Madam Zeng sat beneath a small flower garden, basking in the sun, dressed as a noble lady. Lu Ying stepped forward, bowed obediently, and called out clearly, “Lu Ying of the Lu family pays her respects to Aunt Zeng.” As her voice faded, Lu Yun also came forward to greet.

Madam Zeng didn’t bother to move. She raised her eyes and spoke sharply, “Ah Xing, bring me a stick. Honestly, I’ve lived so long yet have never seen such foolish, ignorant dogs. Don’t you know your place? It’s remarkable someone wants you at all, yet you dare put on airs? You caught two rats and didn’t even show them to the master, and then dared to exchange them for a house? A house, a house—why not just trade for a coffin?”

She neither responded nor offered them a seat. The anger that had accumulated in Madam Zeng’s chest for so long erupted as soon as she saw the Lu siblings, her words directed at the yellow-haired dog at her feet, but clearly meant for them.

Madam Zeng’s words were sharp as knives, but both Lu Yun and Uncle Wen understood her meaning. After all, Lu Ying’s feat—single-handedly unraveling a major case and saving over a dozen youths—had long spread.

Listening, Lu Yun’s handsome face flushed bright red, and he stepped forward ready to shout back.

Lu Ying reached out, pulling her brother back, then walked up to Madam Zeng. Watching her spit and curse, Lu Ying suddenly bent down to pick up a lump of mud from the ground. With a swift motion of her right arm, she swung and hurled it—“crack!”—the mud struck Madam Zeng’s mouth, bursting open right on her lips as she cursed. A portion of the black mud even splattered into her mouth.