Chapter 18: Chapter 18 What is She Considered to Be? Chapter 18: Chapter 18 What is She Considered to Be? “You—!”
Mrs. Fu’s eyes widened; she hadn’t expected the girl to dare say such a thing, and was choked up to the point of speechlessness.
Her chest heaved, clearly angered.
What does this Lu Sheng think she is, a country bumpkin, an illegitimate daughter not fit to be seen in public, and she has the nerve to talk back to her ?
Even telling her to relay the message to Old Mr. Fu—if she could persuade that old man, would she need to waste her breath on such an inexperienced young girl?
Mrs. Fu’s gaze turned icy in an instant.
She thought she could easily manipulate this country lass, get her to break off the engagement with just a few smooth words, but it seems she has underestimated her.
Of course, having come from such a backwater to a big city like Jiang City, and with this engagement potentially allowing her to suddenly rise to the status of a phoenix from the ashes, transforming from a shameful country illegitimate daughter to a pampered and sought-after heiress of a powerful family.
Anyone would do the math and realize they wouldn’t give up this opportunity easily.
“Lu Sheng! How can you speak to Mrs. Fu like that?” Jiang Ting’s eyes widened as she angrily scolded Lu Sheng.
Seeing Jiang Ting also looking furious, with disgust for Lu Sheng in her eyes, Mrs. Fu became calmer instead.
A calculating light shone in her frosty eyes.
Indeed, it was normal for this girl to not want to break off the engagement. But whether to break it off or not, is it really up to her to decide?
An illegitimate daughter, left alone by her deceased mother, had to listen to Jiang Ting for everything now that she was in the Lu Family, didn’t she? Jiang Ting had plenty of opportunities to make her life miserable.
Moreover, even if Old Mr. Fu didn’t agree to the annulment, how much longer could his sickly body last?
Once Old Mr. Fu passes away, who Fu Chen marries would be entirely up to her.
By then, if Lu Sheng still shamelessly fantasizes about marrying into the Fu Family, she could just have someone throw her out.
Just then, someone from inside the parlor announced that Old Mr. Fu was rested and asked to have Lu Sheng brought in to see him.
“I apologize, Mrs. Fu, I’ve gotten too used to life in the countryside, and if there is anything in my speech that has offended you, I ask for your understanding.”
Lu Sheng stood up, her tone both appropriate and innocent, “Since Grandpa Fu wants to see me, I shall go in first.”
Watching Lu Sheng turn away, Mrs. Fu felt even more frustrated.
But Lu Sheng didn’t even glance at her and walked straight toward the room.
To tell the truth, the likes of Fu Chen, even if they were to offer themselves to Lu Sheng, she would find it repellent—she truly looked down on him.
He and Lu Qianrou, on the other hand, seemed to be a good match.
As for Lu Sheng, she had just borrowed this body to arrive at the Lu Family and had not yet established a firm footing; currently, only her elder brother in the Lu Family had started to pay a little attention to her.
She needed to have something at her disposable—this engagement to Fu Chen happened to be a very good excuse; otherwise, Jiang Ting would probably try every means to drive her away.
When she no longer needed this excuse, she would find an opportunity to tell Grandpa Fu that Fu Chen held no affection for her, and she was unwilling to settle as well.
In fact, going back to the countryside wouldn’t be so bad, given that Lu Sheng had also led a secluded life before.
But choosing to live a reclusive life and being driven to the countryside by others, those were two different things.
She had always lived as she pleased and won’t let anyone who offends her get away easily.
What’s more, through borrowing a human’s body to be reborn, she could not only inherit the original owner’s memories but also feel the emotions that lingered from the original owner.
The original host died with deep incomprehension and resentment, not even knowing who or why she was strangled.
If she left the Lu Family so easily, wouldn’t it be exactly what Lu Qianrou wanted?
Because she feared her boyfriend would be stolen, hoping she was the only young lady of the Lu Family, and worried that the original host’s return would divide her father’s and brothers’ affection, she sent an assassin to strangle her “sister,” whom she had never met.
This Lu Qianrou, with an angelic face but a venomous heart, has no qualifications to legitimately enjoy the love of others.
Just like she said to Lu Qianrou before, she owes the original host, and she will reclaim it bit by bit for her.
The interior of the Fu Family’s main hall was designed in an antique style, showcasing a traditional Chinese classical aesthetic.
The air was filled with the scent of medicine, as if the smell had permeated the valuable mahogany furniture over the years.
As Lu Sheng stepped into the room, she coincidentally heard a few suppressed coughs.
Lifting her eyes, she saw an old man in a dark blue Tang suit with graying temples sitting on the bed. His eyes lit up when he saw her.
“…Shengsheng? You are Shengsheng, aren’t you?”
Old Mr. Fu looked very excited and immediately called Lu Sheng over, “Come here, sit with Grandpa, let Grandpa have a good look at you.”
“Grandpa Fu,” Lu Sheng also went up promptly and took a seat on the stool beside the bed, obediently calling out, “Hello Grandpa Fu, I am Lu Sheng.”
“Good, good.” Old Mr. Fu excitedly clasped Lu Sheng’s hand, his eyes brimming with tears, “Last time I saw you, you were a three- or four-year-old girl. I can’t believe how much you’ve grown in a blink of an eye, and how beautiful you’ve become.”
“I’ve been wanting to bring you and your mother to Jiang City, but your mother was unwilling, saying she just wanted to live a peaceful life, undisturbed.”
“I knew your mother was stubborn, but I didn’t expect her to be stubborn to this extent, to not tell anyone even when she fell ill, and then just…”
As he spoke of Du Ran’s death, Old Mr. Fu sighed deeply.
Lu Sheng also lowered her eyes, softly saying, “Grandpa Fu, actually, death was a release for my mother.”
Old Mr. Fu was stunned, “…Did your mother tell you everything?”
“Yes,” Lu Sheng nodded, “Before she passed away, she called me over to her bedside and told me many past events.”
“She said that my grandmother committed suicide by slitting her wrists after discovering that my grandfather had an affair. My mother couldn’t forgive my grandfather, so she completely broke off with him and moved from Beijing to Jiang City alone.”
“After arriving in Jiang City, she met and fell in love with Lu Chengye, my father, who was falling on hard times at that moment. She stayed by his side, encouraging him and helping him to regain his footing.”
“But when the Lu Family’s business started to get back on track, my father began secretly dating the young Miss of the Jiang Family, hoping to further enhance his business with the help of the Jiang Family.”
“My grandfather’s and Lu Chengye’s affairs led my mother to become very disappointed with men and marriage. She chose to divorce my father, then went to live in the countryside alone. But later, one day, Lu Chengye found her and forcefully…”
“I was an accident, but my mother didn’t abort me. Instead, she raised me, and we lived a simple yet happy life in the countryside.”
“It was only later that I learned that my mother was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer several months before, and the chances of cure were slim; she didn’t even want treatment.”
“Before she passed away, she told me that she had contacted you. She said that you and my grandmother were good friends, and you and she had an agreement to have your grandchildren be betrothed as children, so she asked me to come to Jiang City.”
Lu Sheng said, “I can tell that my mother truly hated my grandfather, and she would rather have me come to Jiang City than go back to Beijing. And indeed, she trusted you a lot.”
“I know my mother was worried that after she passed away, I’d be left with no one in the countryside. If I could marry into the Fu Family in Jiang City, at least I could receive your protection, Grandpa Fu.”
“But Grandpa Fu, I’m not a child anymore. I appreciate your keeping the promise, but marriage is not something that can be forced.”
Old Mr. Fu was taken aback, “Nannan, what you mean is…”