Chapter 6 Clarify

Qiao Xin sat on the sofa in pain and despair.

She had always known her parents were partial, but she never thought they would be so blatantly biased!

Just now, Qiao Benqing and Zhang Wenjing had come to tell her that her wedding with Lu Ming was set for three days later.

Their tone was firm, with no intention of discussing it with her at all!

Wasn't she Qiao Xin, their biological daughter?

No matter how angrily or reluctantly Qiao Xin felt, the reality now laid before her eyes: marrying Lu Ming was her only choice.

"Impossible! I can't just accept my fate like this! Qiao Yi, I won't let you continue to be so smug!"

Both daughters of the Qiao Family were married into the Lu Family, and although there was a generational gap, this was hardly an issue in such large families.

Because of these two marriages, the Qiao Family's stock prices had been rising for several days, soaring red.

Qiao Yi had stayed with the Lu Family for two days before returning to the Qiao Family.

It wasn't because she suffered any discomfort at the Lu Family, but because the atmosphere there was just too odd and awkward.

Qiao Yi was now sure that the man from that night was Lu Yanchuan, but it was exactly for this reason that she felt even more unable to face Lu Yanchuan.

Every time Qiao Yi sat down to eat with Lu Yanchuan, she felt incredibly uncomfortable. Moreover, with Old Mr. Lu's strange comments, she found it unbearable.

So, Qiao Yi took the opportunity when Lu Yanchuan and Old Mr. Lu were not at home to sneak back to the Qiao Family.

Zhang Wenjing took Qiao Yi's hand and sat down on the sofa. Every glance at Qiao Yi made her sigh, and another glance would bring tears to her eyes.

"Mom, if you have something to say, please just say it. Don't cry, okay?"

Zhang Wenjing glared at Qiao Yi annoyedly but held back her tears.

"I'm just worried about whether you're being treated well at the Lu Family. If they treat you badly, you must come back and tell me!"

Qiao Yi felt extremely helpless. She understood why Zhang Wenjing was acting like this.

The relationship between the Qiao and Lu families couldn't be damaged. The best solution was to solidify the alliance with a marriage. Qiao Yi had to choose someone from the Lu Family to marry, and if it hadn't been for the last-minute switch to Lu Yanchuan, she would have had to marry Lu Ming no matter how unwilling she was.

This was the conclusion Zhang Wenjing had reached regarding the marriage alliance.

In her heart, the pampered and cherished Qiao Yi should marry someone she liked and live a good life.

Not to trade her entire life for a marriage alliance.

"Mom, don't cry. I haven't been treated poorly at the Lu Family. Lu Yanchuan is very kind to me, Grandpa Lu is also very kind, you really don't have to worry about me."

The incident where Qiao Xin drugged her was something Qiao Yi had no intention of telling Qiao Benqing and Zhang Wenjing.

Firstly, because Lu Yanchuan had saved her in the end, and secondly, she had no concrete evidence. She could easily be counter-accused by Qiao Xin.

Qiao Yi would not do something that was not worth the risk.

Seeing that Qiao Yi's words were sincere, Zhang Wenjing felt much better.

Although she knew that, given the relationship between the Qiao and Lu families, even if Lu Yanchuan didn't like Qiao Yi, he wouldn't treat her poorly. However, she didn't want her daughter to be unhappy.

With her worries halved, Zhang Wenjing inquired why Qiao Yi had come back home.

"It's nothing much. I just hadn't been home for several days after the wedding, and I missed home a little."

"It's good for you to stay home for a few days. Your father is planning to host a reception in the next few days. You can help entertain the guests at home, and then you can go back after the reception ends."

The pre-wedding party was held the day before Qiao Xin's wedding. Qiao Yi was more than happy to see the expression of Qiao Xin reaping what she sowed, so she naturally agreed.

During dinner, Qiao Xin noticed Qiao Yi at the table and her face immediately soured.

"How come, you've only been married into the Lu Family for a few days and you're back already?"

Due to the presence of her parents, Qiao Xin didn't say anything too harsh, but she sat down next to Qiao Yi with a sarcastic tone.

"Don't you like me coming home to see you guys? Yanchuan actually didn't want me to come back. But I missed mom and dad, so I'm here for a few days before I have to return."

Lu Yanchuan really didn't care whether she came home or not. In fact, since the wedding, they had barely seen each other.

There might be some issue with the Lu family company; Lu Yanchuan has been leaving early and returning late these past few days, and they don't sleep together at night.

However, she couldn't tell Qiao Xin this, or else who knows how she would be mocked.

Qiao Xin, looking at Qiao Yi's sweet expression, became infuriated.

She should have been Mrs. Lu, Third Young Master's wife! How dare Qiao Yi steal her place and then flaunt it in front of her!

"I'm full."

Qiao Xin dropped her chopsticks and left. Zhang Wenjing gave Qiao Xin a puzzled look, not understanding why she was upset.

It was Qiao Benqing, however, who cast contemplative glances back and forth between Qiao Xin and Qiao Yi.

The two days passed in a flash, and the day of the Qiao Family hosting the party quickly approached.

During these two days, Lu Yanchuan didn't make a single phone call. Qiao Yi enjoyed the peace and even hoped that they could continue living quietly and stably like this.

But it was Grandpa Lu who had called several times asking Qiao Yi when she would return, although she had been brushing him off.

The Qiao Family has always been a well-respected family in Capital City, and now with two marriages connecting them to the Lu Family, they are doubly related by blood.

Although this party was just a small gathering hosted by Qiao Benqing, everyone of note in Capital City attended without fail.

Especially when Lu Yanchuan appeared, it caused quite a stir.

Qiao Yi was changing clothes in the room when she heard Zhang Wenjing urging her outside.

"Yiyi! Yanchuan is here, waiting for you downstairs. Hurry up!"

What? Lu Yanchuan is here? Wasn't he busy with the company's affairs? How does he have the time to come look for her at the Qiao Family's place?

Qiao Yi finished changing into her party dress and descended the stairs, spotting Lu Yanchuan amidst the crowd at a glance.

This man, standing there, was naturally the center of attention.

Lu Yanchuan seemed to sense Qiao Yi's gaze and turned his head to look at her.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, Qiao Yi's cheeks flushed as she unconsciously turned away from the lust-filled gaze of his eyes.

"Excuse me."

Lu Yanchuan shook off the several business partners clinging to him and strode to the bottom of the staircase, waiting for Qiao Yi to come down.

Qiao Yi's heartbeat quickened under Lu Yanchuan's gaze.

"If I don't come to pick you up personally, do you plan to not return to the Lu Family at all? Huh?"

Qiao Yi felt inexplicably guilty at his pointed "huh?" but then became annoyed.

"Mr. Lu, I think we should clear some things up between us. Although we have some... memories from before, it does not affect the purely contractual nature of our marriage. I won't cling to the position of Mrs. Lu indefinitely, whenever you find someone you like, we can divorce at any time."

"Of course, I also hope you won't use this marriage, which only exists in name, to restrict my freedom."