"Don’t worry, if you’re tired, just go rest and don’t mind others," Lu Zechuan whispered to Xia Mian as they walked inside.
Xia Mian responded with a quiet "hmm," but didn’t take it to heart.
Once inside the hall, Xia Mian saw a tall woman gesturing dramatically in front of Mrs. Lu.
Mrs. Lu was laughing heartily, amused by her.
Upon hearing the commotion, the woman slightly turned her head and saw Lu Zechuan and Xia Mian.
However, her gaze lingered on Xia Mian for just a second before shifting to Lu Zechuan, "Ah Chuan, you’re back!"
Lu Zechuan glanced at the woman and then at Wu Mei, who was seated beside Mrs. Lu, and replied indifferently, "Sister Fang, why didn’t you mention you were returning to the country?"
Wu Mei chimed in, "She just got back today. As soon as she got off the plane, she wanted to come here to see her grandmother first."
Lu Zechuan nodded, "You all sit, we’re tired and won’t be staying long."
Leaving those words behind, Lu Zechuan pulled Xia Mian upstairs.
The woman finally realized something was amiss, and with her beautiful phoenix eyes slightly widened and her hands on her hips, she shouted, "Who is she? What right does she have to live in our Lu Family?"
Before her words were fully out, Mrs. Lu’s expression had already turned stern, "Lu Zefang, you’re being rude!"
Upon seeing her daughter being scolded, Wu Mei immediately stepped in to smooth things over, "Oh, mom, Fangfang just returned. She hasn’t grasped the situation yet. Forgive her ignorance!"
Wu Mei had seen Mrs. Lu’s protective behavior towards Xia Mian. Lu Zefang had just returned to the country and immediately caught Mrs. Lu’s ire, which wasn’t a good omen.
"Since you ask who she is, I’ll tell you clearly: she’s Ah Chuan’s fiancée." Mrs. Lu kept a serious and solemn expression.
Standing on the staircase, Lu Zechuan looked down at Lu Zefang, "It’s my request that she lives at the Lu Family, mind your words!"
With that, Lu Zechuan held Xia Mian’s hand and headed upstairs.
Lu Zefang, scolded by both Mrs. Lu and Lu Zechuan in succession, felt her face turn pale and her smile vanish.
She flew back from abroad, didn’t even go home, and came straight to the mansion to see her grandmother, only to be treated this way by her?
Feeling aggrieved, Lu Zefang pouted, "Grandmother, I didn’t know what’s going on, that’s why I asked! Why is everyone being so fierce!"
Lu Zefang tugged on Mrs. Lu’s arm, acting spoiled.
After all, she was her own granddaughter, so Mrs. Lu’s expression softened a bit, "Are you planning to stay here for the night or return home?"
Was Mrs. Lu suggesting closing the door to guests?
Lu Zefang bit her lip lightly, "Grandmother, I haven’t seen you for so many years. Why don’t I sleep with you tonight?"
Mrs. Lu was biased towards males over females. When Wu Mei gave birth to Lu Zefang, Mrs. Lu merely took a glance and wasn’t particularly pleased.
Later, when Lu Zechuan was born, Mrs. Lu’s entire focus shifted to him.
Unhappy, Wu Mei gave birth to Lu Zeming, but unfortunately, Mrs. Lu’s attention remained solely on Lu Zechuan.
In a fit of anger, Wu Mei sent Lu Zefang abroad, thinking that since Mrs. Lu didn’t like girls, she would never see her granddaughter again!
However, as time passed, Wu Mei came to understand some things. Arguing with the elderly wouldn’t bring any benefits.
Thus, she called Lu Zefang back, hoping to ease tension before relations became too strained.
After all, she didn’t want to see the Lu Family’s assets eventually fall entirely into Lu Zechuan’s hands!
Wu Mei’s mind was working intricately, constantly casting sidelong glances at Mrs. Lu, who lightly patted Lu Zefang’s hand and said tiredly, "It’s better not to sleep with me, as I like peace and quiet in my old age. If you’re staying, I’ll ask Sister-in-law Zhang to prepare a room for you."
With Mrs. Lu making her intention to send guests away so apparent, even if Lu Zefang wanted to stay, there was no face to keep her.
"Then I won’t disturb you, grandmother. You get some rest. Mom and I will go back first, and I’ll see you again tomorrow!" Lu Zefang stood up and gave Mrs. Lu a gracious smile.
Mrs. Lu gave a soft "hmm," and let Sister-in-law Zhang help her upstairs.
Outside the Lu Family Villa, Wu Mei’s face immediately grew dark, "Really, who is close with whom? In front of outsiders, she belittles you just to save face?"
Old bat! Really disrespectful!
Lu Zefang squinted slightly, "Mom, what’s the background of that girl?"
Lu Zechuan had always kept a distance from females, but earlier, his attitude towards Xia Mian was expressing his fear that she’d suffer even the slightest grievance!
"She comes from a humble background, hasn’t seen much of the world, and before getting married, she’s eager to live with the man’s family. What good can she possibly be?" Wu Mei disdainfully rolled her eyes, lacking any goodwill towards Xia Mian.
Previously, when visiting Shen Man at the hospital, Wu Mei inexplicably couldn’t speak and visited several temples with Lu Zhenhua before a monk helped dispel her Silence Spell.
"From a humble background? Doesn’t seem like it..." Lu Zefang’s eyes narrowed, her red lips curling slightly, "Since she entered, she hasn’t looked us in the eye, clearly not having regard for us!"
Is she already pretending to be the Lu Family’s young mistress before even entering the family?
Wu Mei’s face turned nasty, "Her eyes are practically on top of her head, thinking little of anyone, except Lu Zechuan, who is cherished despite being raised without a mother!"
Lu Zefang glanced back at the second floor of the villa, speaking slowly, "Mom, let’s go!"
Having been abroad for so many years, Lu Zefang understood the dangers of reckless words.
Especially since they hadn’t yet left the Lu Family premises and already started disparaging Lu Zechuan’s fiancée. If they heard them, wouldn’t they keep a record?
Wu Mei replied softly with a "hmm," and followed Lu Zefang out the door.
Opening the car door, Lu Zechuan sat in the driver’s seat, while Wu Mei took the passenger seat.
Lu Zefang started the car and drove away from the Lu Family Villa.
Not five hundred meters out, Wu Mei’s phone started ringing.
Upon checking her phone, Wu Mei’s brow furrowed deeply.
The call was from her mother, and the urgent ringtone echoed in the cramped car cabin, sounding almost ominous.
Taking a deep breath, Wu Mei gathered her thoughts before answering.
As soon as the call connected, Mrs. Wu’s voice boomed on the other end, "Wu Mei, how are you messing up at the Lu Family? Your ungrateful nephew clearly has no regard for you! How can he do such a dastardly thing to Ah Yong?!"