Feigned Affection

Shen Yi ignored Lu Xinyi's pleas, a cold smirk on his face as if everything happening around him no longer mattered. At this moment, there was only one thought in his mind: to leave the Lu family, the place that had caused him so much pain.

"Tsk! Old man, stop acting like you raised me!" His voice was icy, each word spat out like a shard of glass. He glanced at Lu Xinyi, his eyes filled with detachment. "Miss Lu, you should stop talking too."

He took a deep breath, as if trying to exhale all the resentment in his heart. "Let me make this clear—I'm leaving today. I did eat your food when I was a child. You took me in when I was three, and I started working part-time at thirteen. That's ten years. At a daily rate of fifty yuan for meals, that's 180,000 yuan. Add in other miscellaneous expenses, let's round it up to 200,000. And then there's the leftovers you fed me—let's say 50,000. Plus rent at 1,000 yuan a month for fifteen years—that's 150,000. Total: 400,000 yuan. I'll pay you back slowly. I can even write you an IOU. Don't worry, the money will be clean." Shen Yi spoke calmly, counting on his fingers as if each number were a bullet aimed at the Lu family.

His words left the three people in the room stunned. They never expected Shen Yi to calculate this "debt" so coldly. Lu Jiang, in particular, was almost jumping with excitement. Is Shen Yi really leaving? This must be for real! He couldn't hide his glee, as if celebrating a great victory.

"You little brat, get out of here! And you'd better keep your word!" Lu Zhenhua's face turned red with anger, veins bulging on his forehead. He pointed a trembling finger at Shen Yi, wishing he could throw him out immediately.

Seeing Shen Yi's determination, Lu Xinyi grew even more anxious. Her eyes reddened, tears welling up as guilt and regret overwhelmed her. She became even more resolved to stop Shen Yi from leaving. "Shen Yi, you can't go! I admit the Lu family has wronged you all these years, but we'll make it up to you. Please, don't leave! I promise I won't treat you the same way again…" Her voice trembled with emotion as she took a step forward, her hands clenched tightly, her eyes pleading as if grasping at the last straw.

"Dad, you should calm down too. Shen Yi only lashed out because he's been wronged…" Lu Xinyi tried to reason with her father, her voice shaking.

"Shut up! If you keep defending him, you can get out too!" Lu Zhenhua roared, his anger out of control. He felt his authority had been challenged like never before. This is rebellion! How dare he insult me, hit me, and now declare his independence in front of everyone?!

"Dad… how can you say that? I'm only thinking of what's best for the family!" Lu Xinyi looked at him in disbelief, tears streaming down her face. She couldn't understand why her father was so stubborn, refusing to give Shen Yi a chance.

"Sis, stop trying! Shen Yi went too far today. He insulted Dad and hit him! He deserves to be kicked out!" Lu Jiang added fuel to the fire, a sly smile on his face. He knew that with Shen Yi gone, he could act even more freely in the Lu family.

Slap! Seeing Lu Jiang still holding her belongings, Lu Xinyi snapped and slapped him again. This time, she put all her strength into it, as if venting all her anger. "Lu Jiang! You stole from me! Don't you deserve to be punished?!" she shouted, her voice trembling with rage. "Why do you always punish Shen Yi for the smallest things, or even when he's done nothing wrong, but ignore Lu Jiang's major mistakes? Look at this!" She snatched the item from Lu Jiang's hand and held it up to Lu Zhenhua, her hand shaking.

Lu Zhenhua was left speechless. He examined the item and realized Lu Xinyi was right. His face turned grim, his lips moving but no words coming out.

"Hmph! Who knows whose this really is?" He glanced at Shen Yi, trying to shift the blame.

"Screw you, old man! Who are you looking at?! The evidence is right here, and you still want to pin it on me? I'm not like that scumbag Lu Jiang—I don't do dirty things like this!" Shen Yi shot back, his eyes blazing with anger as if he wanted to tear Lu Zhenhua apart.

"You! You little brat, I'll beat you to death today!" Lu Zhenhua's eyes turned red with rage as he pulled off his belt, ready to strike. His body trembled with fury, his steps unsteady.

"Come on, old man! Let's see who comes out on top today! I'm not afraid of you!" Shen Yi stomped out his cigarette and stood up, cracking his knuckles, his expression fearless as he stared Lu Zhenhua down.

Seeing the two of them on the verge of a fight, Lu Xinyi shouted in frustration, "Enough! Stop this! Aren't you embarrassed?!" Her voice echoed through the room, filled with despair.

Lu Zhenhua's face darkened. "Lu Xinyi! What's with your attitude?! Are you still siding with this brat?!" His voice was cold and accusatory.

"Dad, I'm not! Shen Yi, both of you, calm down! We're family. Can't we sit down and talk this out?" Lu Xinyi pleaded, her eyes darting between the two, filled with anxiety.

"No! I just want to leave this house. I can't stand it here anymore!" Shen Yi rejected the idea of reconciliation without hesitation. In his heart, leaving the Lu family was the only path to freedom. He turned to leave but was stopped by Lu Xinyi.

"Look at this… Look at this! Lu Xinyi, you're still protecting this brat! Why are you holding him back?! Do you want to be kicked out too?!" Lu Zhenhua's voice was sharp, his finger pointing accusingly at Lu Xinyi.

"Dad! Shen Yi! Can't you just talk this out?! Is this really necessary?" Lu Xinyi was also growing angry, glaring at her father. She felt trapped in the middle, torn between them, her heart filled with helplessness and pain.

Lu Jiang glared at Lu Xinyi, annoyed that she was still trying to stop Shen Yi from leaving. "Dad, I'm on your side! Shen Yi has to go! He just graduated high school, and he's already disrespecting you at university. If we don't kick him out, where's your authority? Next thing you know, he'll be walking all over you!" Lu Jiang added fuel to the fire, his face twisted with malice.

Lu Jiang's words made Lu Zhenhua nod in agreement. "Lu Xinyi, look at your brother—he's always supporting me! And you? Always defending Shen Yi! Whose side are you on?!" His voice grew louder, filled with accusation.

"I'm not on anyone's side! I just want us to get along!" Lu Xinyi sobbed, her shoulders shaking as tears streamed down her face.

"Miss Lu, I have no interest in your fake family affection. I just want to leave the Lu family and get away from this disgusting place! Watch this!" To emphasize his resolve, Shen Yi pushed Lu Xinyi aside, causing her to stumble. He strode over to the desk, grabbed the family photo frame, and tore it into pieces in front of everyone. The fragments fluttered to the ground like the shattered remains of their relationship.

Lu Xinyi's heart felt like it had been crushed as she watched the photo pieces fall. She remembered how Shen Yi had smiled so brightly when they took that photo, full of hope for their family. Now, everything was broken. Tears streamed down her face as her body trembled, her lips quivering. "Shen Yi… please… don't do this… I'll… I'll treat you better from now on…" Her voice was weak, filled with desperation.

"Thanks, but I don't need your fake pity! It's torture to me, understand, Miss Lu?!" Shen Yi narrowed his eyes, lit another cigarette, and took a deep drag. The smoke swirled around him, his expression resolute as if exhaling all his pain.

"You're all talk and no action! When you first brought me to the Lu family, you were nice to me for a while. But then what? Hah… You say nice things now, but you'll forget all about it in a few days." Shen Yi's laughter was filled with bitterness and self-mockery, his eyes revealing exhaustion and disappointment.