Chapter 3: Getting Beaten

"Old Mr. Lu, I..."

"Lu and Qiao families have been partners for decades, surely you wouldn't want such a trivial matter to affect our relationship, right?"

In Old Mr. Lu's simple words, there was a thick hint of threat.

Indeed, nothing should disrupt the relationship between the Lu and Qiao families!

Qiao Benqing has always doted on Qiao Yi, letting her have her own way in everything, but today...

"Yiyi, no matter what, you must marry into the Lu Family, and we can talk about everything else later!" It was the first time he spoke to her in such a firm tone.

Qiao Yi knew that her father was angry.

At the same time, she was even more aware that her destiny was always to prioritize the interests of the family.

But...

Is it worth sacrificing your own life for the family?

At this moment, Qiao Yi suddenly fell silent.

Because of her silence, the vast banquet hall also suddenly fell into an eerie quietness.

Everyone anxiously awaited Qiao Yi's response, except for one person.

That was Lu Yanchuan.

He was the youngest son of Old Mr. Lu, and the younger uncle by relation to Lu Ming, currently sitting in the most cornered position in the room, His chiseled profile under the brilliant chandelier became even more distinct.

And those deep, narrow black eyes seemed captivating enough to bewitch one's soul.

From the beginning to the end, his gaze never shifted away from Qiao Yi.

Is it her?

That woman's slender waist last night, those eyes clear as spring water, and her moans sounding like copper bells still deeply etched in his heart.

Most unforgettable was the smear of bright red he saw on the sheets when he left this morning.

Unexpectedly, the woman with whom he had spent the whole night was going to be his nephew's fiancée?

Interesting.

Since the marriage between Lu and Qiao families was inevitable...

Lu Yanchuan slowly stood up, walking nonchalantly to the front and meaningfully asked Qiao Yi, "Since you must marry into the Lu family, why not consider marrying me?"

Qiao Yi knew him.

The eminent President of Lu Group, a man so wealthy and powerful in Capital City that he could overshadow others single-handedly, undoubtedly the favored son of heaven, and also the prince charming in the dreams of all high society ladies of Capital City.

He wants to marry her?

Intuition told her that things weren't so simple.

"Why?" Qiao Yi reflexively asked.

Hearing this, Lu Yanchuan just lightly chuckled, then leisurely replied, "Because I'm a responsible man."

Responsible?

Qiao Yi couldn't understand at all why, just because he was responsible, she would have to marry him?

What a joke!

There are plenty of responsible men in the world!

Without even thinking, Qiao Yi directly refused: "Mr. Lu should stop joking; if this gets out, people will laugh at you for stealing your nephew's fiancée."

"Why should you care about what others think?"

.4.

Upon hearing that Lu Yanchuan wanted to marry Qiao Yi, the wedding venue instantly erupted.

[Oh my god! What did I just hear!?]

[Mr. Lu has dominated the business world for over a decade and has never taken any woman seriously! And now he actually wants to marry Miss Qiao? It's the end for me! My love has ended before it even started!]

[Third Young Master Lu is way above Young Master Lu in every aspect! Miss Qiao, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, say yes quickly!]

[...]

The guests have begun to whisper and buzz impatiently.

Some felt joy, others sorrow.

Qiao Xin sat in the front row, her face pale and her eyes, shimmering with ripples, full of bitterness.

She had loved Lu Yanchuan for a full ten years!

From youthful naivety to now, she had never stopped imagining the day she would become Lu Yanchuan's wife.

For this, she endured in silence, striving hard, believing that if only she could remove Qiao Yi, all the glory would be hers alone, and then Lu Yanchuan would surely see her worth!

But...

Despite all her calculations and efforts, she ended up pushing Qiao Yi right into Lu Yanchuan's arms.

No! It can't be!

Forgetting where she was, Qiao Xin suddenly stood up and walked to the stage: "Sister, why hasn't your husband arrived yet? Is he delayed by something? You should call him."

As long as Qiao Yi kept being with Lu Ming, Lu Yanchuan would eventually be hers.

Hearing her, Qiao Yi frowned slightly without showing much reaction.

Qiao Xin?

She hadn't had the time to demand an explanation from her, and here she was, appearing on her own initiative.

Ha!

Qiao Yi sneered coldly and slapped Qiao Xin across the face without a word.

"Slap!"

Qiao Yi used all her strength in that slap.

Qiao Xin's originally fair and tender cheek visibly swelled up, and for a moment, she didn't react, staring at Qiao Yi in shock and anger: "You hit me?"

"I was only concerned about you, and you actually..."

"Slap!"

Not letting Qiao Xin finish her sentence, Qiao Yi raised her hand and fiercely slapped her again: "You know exactly why I hit you!"

"I..."

Qiao Xin was at a loss for words.

With relatives and friends around, she decided to play the victim, and large tears suddenly rolled down her cheeks: "Yiyi, I know you've never liked me, but it's too much to do this in front of so many people."

Qiao Benqing watched from the side.

Blood is thicker than water.

Although he favored Qiao Yi, he didn't want to leave an impression of partiality.

Stepping between the two sisters, he spoke earnestly: "Yes, Yiyi, Xin Xin is your elder sister, how could you treat her like this? Is there some misunderstanding?"

"There is no misunderstanding," Qiao Yi replied calmly.

She believed that if she made the cause public, her parents would undoubtedly take her side without hesitation.

But she couldn't!

She wasn't foolish enough to broadcast that she had a one-night stand with a stranger!

With a cold laugh, Qiao Yi continued solemnly: "I hit her because I felt like hitting her, and I will do so every time I see her, no special reason needed."

Since childhood, Qiao Yi excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and also learned jujutsu, Taekwondo, Tai Chi.

On the other hand, Qiao Xin.

Over the past decade, she had only indulged in the luxuries of the Qiao Family's wealthy lifestyle, with shopping as her biggest pastime; when it comes to fighting, ten of her couldn't match Qiao Yi.

Now...

If she got hit, then so be it, as long as Qiao Yi didn't marry Lu Yanchuan, she could handle anything!

The next second, Qiao Xin sniffled, and as if nothing had happened, forced a smile and said: "Today is a joyous day for my sister, let's not talk about this now, I'm fine."

"Mom, Dad, I suppose your son-in-law got held up by something on his way, I'll go make a call to him."