Chen Sheng’s world collapsed. Liu Yu saw him with a shocked expression, witnessing the battered state inflicted upon him by Lu Chengxiao. Chen Sheng felt a sense of collapse within him. His steps faltered as he tried to explain. He moved a little towards Liu Yu, wanting to explain that it was a condition exchanged with his mother.
But now, he couldn’t articulate clearly. Lu Chengxiao continued to taunt him, hitting his face without restraint. Without even looking in a bronze mirror, Chen Sheng could imagine how his face had become so ugly that he couldn’t face anyone. His steps hesitated for a moment.
Lu Chengxiao didn’t care about Chen Sheng’s internal turmoil. As soon as he saw Liu Yu leave, he swiftly followed, ignoring Chen Sheng completely.
Babao and Liu Zhang, in a rare display of understanding, immediately followed suit when Lu Chengxiao left. They no longer obstructed Madam Chen and Chen Xiaomei. The mother and daughter were finally free to move, stumbling as they rushed toward Chen Sheng.
Madam. Chen grabbed her son, tears streaming down like they cost nothing. Gently cradling his face, she repeatedly said, “My Sheng’er,” and scolded through tears, “How did you end up like this? What did you do to provoke that boy from the Lu family? Why did he use such ruthless methods?”
A mother’s overflowing maternal love was like a tightly woven net, enveloping Chen Sheng. Even if Chen Sheng disregarded his pride and wanted to chase after Liu Yu now, it was impossible. He could only watch helplessly as Lu Chengxiao pursued her.
~
“Liu Yu.” Lu Chengxiao took a few quick steps, blocking Liu Yu’s path.
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Vlabyrp clnywpl vbkp rlapsd bye clld kd bkp vbswtbvp eyu yde dktbv, nyzzkdt vbl dyxl “Nkw Zw” yzxspv pzkrrle swv kdhszwdvyakzu. Gqvla nyzzkdt bla dyxl, bl alxlxclale Nkw Zw’p ralhkswp osaep, pyukdt vbyv bl pbswzed’v nyzz bla cu dyxl. Nw Ubldtmkys qlzv y ckv yojoyae yde nyzzle ytykd, “Ykpp Nkw.”
Nkw Zw’p ryvb oyp czsnjle cu bkx. Fbl pvsse pvkzz, zssjkdt yv Nw Ubldtmkys, yde vbl vos pkczkdtp1casvbla yde pkpvla Dkysuy sd vbl pkel pvyale yv Nw Ubldtmkys okvb nzlya yde nsdvaypvkdt lulp.
Wynkdt vbl tygl sq vbkp vaks, Nw Ubldtmkys qlzv psxlobyv wdlypu. Mblal olal xydu vbkdtp bl eked’v jdso bso vs lmralpp. Fllkdt vbyv Nkw Zw’p lmralppksd oypd’v tsse, bl vakle vs nsxqsav bla, pyukdt, “Psd’v cl pye. Ubld Fbldt kp dsv osavb ldvawpvkdt. Mbl Ubld qyxkzu kp dsv y tsse rzynl lkvbla. Rv’p y qsavwdyvl vbkdt vbyv kv eked’v osaj swv okvb bkx.”
Fyukdt vbkdtp vbyv fwetl svblap kp dsv vbl clbyhksa sq y tldvzlxyd, yde Nw Ubldtmkys qlzv psxlobyv wdnsxqsavyczl. Tsolhla, obld qynkdt Nkw Zw, vbl sdzu nsxqsavkdt osaep bl nswze nsxl wr okvb olal vblpl.
“Tl vawzu kpd’v osavb kv.”
Nkw Zw vwttle yv vbl nsadla sq bla zkrp, y qzllvkdt bkdv sq psaaso ryppkdt vbaswtb bla lulp. Gzz bla zsdt lqqsavp bye nsxl vs dsvbkdt, yde pbl eked’v jdso obyv vbl qwvwal blze. Fbl oyp sdzu osaakle qsa blaplzq.
Jwv vbkp oyp dsv psxlvbkdt vs cl prsjld yzswe vs swvpkelap.
Nw Ubldtmkys eked’v xkpp vbyv qykdv vaynl sq psaaso. Tkp blyav qlzv zkjl kv bye clld zktbvzu vokpvle, dsv hlau rykdqwz cwv ckvvla, qkzzle okvb rkvu.
Lu Chengxiao wasn’t foolish. From the conversation between Chen Sheng and Liu Yu on the day he proposed, and the cryptic words spoken by Mrs. Chen when she confronted Liu Yu yesterday, he could deduce that Liu Yu and Chen Sheng hadn’t known each other for a long time, perhaps even shorter than the time he had known her.
As for Chen Sheng, Lu Chengxiao never really regarded him with much importance. He didn’t believe that Liu Yu truly liked Chen Sheng to the extent that she couldn’t do without him. Instead, he preferred to believe that Liu Yu had merely lost control of the situation with him and had switched her focus to Chen Sheng.
She wanted to choose a good marriage, so she had put in some effort. Initially, it was him, and now it was Chen Sheng.
What was once a difficult-to-accept scheming and calculation just a short while ago had now transformed into genuine concern and pity as he watched her being humiliated by Mrs. Chen, observed Chen Sheng’s wavering loyalty, and saw Liu Yu turn away in disappointment.
He even felt that if Liu Yu wanted to marry into a better situation and be a bit more pragmatic, it was completely understandable.
Lu Chengxiao personally experienced how fickle human hearts could be, including his own.
He looked at Liu Yu, his throat moved slightly. He knew that these past few days were an excellent opportunity to say what he wanted to say and make the promises he wanted to give. However, as he looked at the two clear and innocent gazes beside Liu Yu, the words that were on the tip of his tongue couldn’t find their way out.
Liu Yu, currently burdened with thoughts, felt the need to sit down alone, reflect on the path ahead, and couldn’t spare the attention to continue dealing with Lu Chengxiao. Knowing that he meant well, she responded, “Thank you for your advice. Liu Yu has received your goodwill. I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”
As she was about to leave, Lu Chengxiao became anxious, “Liu Yu!”
Liu Yu turned her head to look at him.
Lu Chengxiao, seeing the siblings beside Liu Yu, genuinely felt urgency. In front of these two almost grown-up children, he couldn’t bring himself to utter confessions. Seeing Liu Yu looking at him, the words that were on the tip of his tongue turned into an apology, “About that day, I went a bit too far. I apologize. Please don’t take my words to heart, okay?”
Liu Yu lowered her gaze, thought for a moment, then looked up at Lu Chengxiao, asking, “Which day?”
Lu Chengxiao glanced somewhat awkwardly at the two children and said vaguely, “The day of the handkerchief.”
He was referring to the day she handed him the handkerchief. Liu Yu lifted the corner of her mouth and said, “It was my fault. If Young Master Lu doesn’t take it to heart, there’s no need for apologies.”
Lu Chengxiao saw her smile. Even though it was brief, he felt his heart skip a beat, with a sense of joy and elation. Hearing her say it was her fault, he shook his head in a hurry, “No, I was also in the wrong. I spoke too harshly that day. Please don’t let it bother you.”
Perhaps because the two children were present, Lu Chengxiao’s face felt unexpectedly warm.
Seeing him like this, Liu Yu tugged at the corner of her lips and replied, “Okay.”
She hurriedly walked away.
Lu Chengxiao’s heart, which had just floated among light clouds, suddenly fell, descending and sinking into a sense of disappointment.
It was because of Liu Yu’s forced smile and her heavy-hearted demeanor.
Lu Chengxiao thought that Liu Yu must be feeling upset. First, she encountered him, and then the Chen family. Hearts are not made of iron, and it’s difficult to avoid getting hurt when one doesn’t realize something isn’t worth it.
He repeatedly tapped his fingernails on the palm of his hand, feeling confused.
He also realized that Liu Yu’s hurried departure might not necessarily be due to a specific issue. She simply didn’t want to see him and Chen Sheng together.
Lu Chengxiao had regretted his actions a thousand and eight hundred times before, and now he felt even more anger towards Chen Sheng. What gave him the right to act like this, to trample on people’s feelings?
Grinding his back molars, he felt that he had been too lenient in the beating just now.
Babao, who was standing at a distance, was stunned. In the chaos just now, he didn’t follow Lu Chengxiao the entire way. He thought Lu Chengxiao had beaten Chen Sheng because of Lin Huaigeng’s cousin.
So, according to what his young master had just said, was there a connection between Chen Sheng and this Miss Liu???!!!
And as for Chen Sheng, seeing that Lu Chengxiao was also unable to get close to Liu Yu, he felt a bit more stable in his heart.
Although anxious that Liu Yu was angry with him, as long as Lu Chengxiao didn’t take advantage of the situation, he still had hope. He had already exchanged glances with Zhou Ruyi, and his mother had promised that if he didn’t like Zhou Ruyi after getting to know her, there was still hope.
We can head to the Liu family to propose marriage.
~
Liu Yu didn’t have anywhere specific to go. After wandering near the Li family’s residence and learning that Mr. Li hadn’t returned yet, she felt somewhat dejected.
The two younger siblings were unsure why she was inquiring about the Li family. Seeing her in a daze, the little girl tugged at Liu Yu’s clothes and asked, “Sister, what’s wrong? Are you unhappy?”
Liu Yu forced a smile and said, “It’s nothing. I haven’t thanked you both for today.”
She had initially thought of giving them some money for delivering the message. Considering she had nowhere else to go at the moment, she decided to ask, “Is there anything you’d like to eat? It’s my treat as a thank you for your help today.”
The boy instinctively touched his clothes and shook his head, “No need to thank us, and no need to give money.”
Liu Yu smiled and said, “Since I also have nowhere else to go, let me treat you to something to eat. It’s a good opportunity to find a place to sit down.”
Xiaoya’s eyes sparkled with hunger as she turned them around, asking, “Can Sister treat Xiaoya to a bowl of wonton soup?”
The straightforward boy felt a bit embarrassed and explained, “The chubby chef in the town’s eateries is a good person. Sometimes, when customers leave leftovers, he sets aside a portion for us. So, my sister and I have tried the leftovers from the eateries, but she’s been craving the wontons from the stand. I checked the price once; they’re eight wen per bowl, but I couldn’t bear to bring her there.”
Liu Yu smiled and said, “Then today, I’ll treat you both. Lead the way.”
Wontons in the Yuanzhou region are also known as “clear soup.”
The term “clear soup” doesn’t refer to a bowl of soup but is another name for wontons. Of course, there are variations. Compared to regular wontons, the meat filling in clear soup wontons is extremely small, and the skin is exceptionally thin. With just a dab of meat filling on the tip of the chopstick, a quick pinch of the skin, and before you know it, a dumpling is formed.
This freshly made clear soup is all about freshness. The prepared ingredients are placed at the bottom of the bowl, sprinkled with chopped green onions and a touch of fragrant oil. The small wontons, with their minimal filling, are boiled in hot water and then poured, along with the broth, into the bowl. Due to the light weight of the filling, the thin and translucent skin floats in the shallow reddish broth, creating delicate and transparent dumplings. Garnished with green onions, both white and green, it looks exceptionally appetizing.
The two children had been craving such a meal in a long time. As they watched the customers at the neighboring table eat, they couldn’t help but drool.
Liu Yu ordered two bowls, watching the two children eat while she sat aside lost in her thoughts.
The children cherished each mouthful, seemingly deliberately controlling their pace to savor the taste. When they finished, they lifted bowls larger than their heads and drank every drop of the soup, leaving nothing behind. Satisfied, they patted their bellies.
Liu Yu couldn’t help but feel a bit bitter as she considered that if she didn’t meet Mr. Li and had to resort to escape, her situation might not be any better than that of the siblings.
After paying for the wontons, as the small stall had only three tables, Liu Yu didn’t linger and left with the siblings. North of the town, along the embankment of the Yushui River, they found a place to sit down. She then inquired about the siblings’ background.
It was only at this point that Liu Yu learned the boy’s name, Ge An, nine years old. The little girl, his sister, was called Zhu Er.
Zhu Er was too young to remember much about herself, but Ge An remembered well. He said, “Originally, we were townspeople from a small town under the jurisdiction of Quanzhou Prefecture.”
Curious, Liu Yu asked, “Then how did you end up here?”
Ge An flared his nostrils several times, his eyes glistening with moisture. His eyelashes fluttered a few times, and after wiping away the dewy eyes, he said, “Father was a scholar. When I was six, he went to Beijing for the imperial examination and never came back. It’s been several years without any news. My mother became seriously ill, and she didn’t make it through last year…”
Liu Yu’s heart clenched, and she asked, “And then?”
In Ge An’s eyes, a hint of resentment appeared as he said, “After that, my uncle and aunt secretly tried to sell us siblings. I escaped with my sister overnight, afraid to return home. We begged along the way, walking and stopping, and after nearly a year, we arrived here. We were fortunate to encounter the master of the Niang Niang2Empress Temple, who kindly took us in, so we stayed.”
Liu Yu’s nose tingled with a sense of bitterness, and her eyes couldn’t hold back the reddening.
She couldn’t help but feel that the brother and sister had the same fate as her. Thinking about how the eight-year-old Ge An had the courage to escape with his five-year-old sister, she wondered why she couldn’t summon the courage to carve out a new life free from the muck of the Liu family’s quagmire. Why was she willing to endure the filth, display her charms, and trade the rest of her life for temporary peace?
Liu Yu knew that perhaps it was because she had fallen into the thirty-sixth level of hell that she struggled in the eighteenth level, desperately trying to sell herself to someone who could prevent her from plunging into the abyss. She even forcefully covered her heart and eyes, ignoring whether the person who could save her was in the mortal world or merely in the ninth level of hell.
Because she had already fallen into the abyss and knew what it was like, she felt that she had even less courage than the eight-year-old Ge An, who had the solitary bravery to risk it all.
Observing Liu Yu’s expression, Ge An hesitated before speaking, “Sister, are you facing some difficulties?”
Liu Yu patted his head and said, “I do have some troubles. I need to think carefully about the path ahead on my own. Take your sister back to the temple, protect yourselves, and take care of your sister.”
Ge An’s lips moved, and it seemed he understood that he was too young. If Liu Yu didn’t say more, it meant they couldn’t be of help. He looked at Liu Yu with some concern, nodded, and led his little sister away, taking three steps and turning around once before leaving.
It was nearly noon, but today Liu Yu had no intention of returning to the Liu family. Sitting by the riverbank, she hugged her knees and watched the tirelessly flowing river, contemplating her future path.
Did she really want to continue on the path of seeking marriage? Could she truly make it work?
It’s just like the Chen family – whether Chen Sheng can assert himself or not, judging from the methods of Madam Chen and the character of Chen Sheng, entering the Chen family is indeed like struggling out of the desperate swamp of the Liu family, only to throw herself into another muddy pit.
The man named Mr. Li might be the one who could truly assert himself. However, as he hadn’t returned yet, she didn’t know anything about his character.
With only eight days left, Liu Yu couldn’t see any clear path ahead.
Apart from marrying or escaping, she pondered if there was any other way to break free from this predicament.
Liu Yu was well aware that the root of all her problems lay in the greed of Liu Kangsheng, Liu Dalang, and Wu Shi. Seeking marriage was her way of dealing with Liu Kangsheng. Upon further thought, even if it didn’t work out immediately, as long as she could show Liu Kangsheng the hope of obtaining greater benefits before tearing off the mask, there might still be room for negotiation. The real trouble lay with Liu Dalang and Wu Shi, the married couple.
At this moment, Liu Yu suddenly remembered the words her mother, Wang Shi, had spoken to Wu Shi yesterday.
Wen Shi’s belly!
She stood up abruptly.
Sansukini: Sadly, aside from Liu Dalang’s and Wu Shi’s greed, she still hasn’t understand the real motive for Liu Kangsheng’s actions, so Wen Shi’s belly will not work even if it’s a son.
After Rebirth, I was Entangled by a Second Generation Rich Guy Again is ending soon. Please check it out. I also have other Completed novels for you to see while you wait for updates.
Hello, Mr. Zhou (aka: Love and Marriage Anecdotes)
Married to the Male Lead’s Hidden Rich Brother
And I have started an Interstellar Novel, Interstellar Dad
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I’m dying to know what her real identity is… and why her mother has been in hiding all these years
It’s really messed up because she can’t just run away. She’s too beautiful to be inconspicuous so unless she plans on self-immolating, she really has no choice but this. So it’s either she picks the man she ‘sells’ her beauty to or someone else does.
Thank you for this chapter!