Chapter 12

At dusk, Han Meng and Han Xianfei went out together, one looking preoccupied, the other radiant.

As Han Xianfei entered Ziyunlou, he still had a smile on his face: "It's been a long time since I've eaten at Ziyunlou."

Han Meng casually ordered a few dishes, handed the menu to Han Xianfei, and then sat there in a daze.

Han Xianfei noticed his daughter's unusual behavior: "What's wrong? She's usually very talkative at home, but she doesn't talk or laugh when we're out?"

Han Meng lowered her head and said, "Dad, I lied to you. I invited other people today."

Han Xianfei didn't seem to care, pointing to the appetizers that had just been served on the table: "Hey, what's the big deal? I ordered so many dishes, the two of us can't possibly finish them all, there are still so many dishes that haven't been served yet!"

Han Meng said guiltily, "The person I invited... might be someone you don't want to see... When you see them later, try not to get angry..."

Neither of the two parties she invited knew about it. She worried that not only would she not be able to resolve their old grudges, but her actions would also exacerbate the conflict. In that case, even if her engagement was successfully canceled, she would probably still feel bad.

Han Xianfei smiled and said, "Honey, do I have such a bad temper, or are there just some people in the world whose looks are infuriating?"

However, as soon as he finished speaking, the smile on his face froze the instant he saw Lu Wen.

There really are people in this world whose looks are infuriating.

It has always been said that Lu Wenxian disliked Han Xianfei, but in fact, he had always disliked Lu Wenxian, mainly because he couldn't understand his senior brother's strange temper.

Back then, Han Xianfei's family was poor, and with so many people in the family, they were afraid they couldn't support him, so they sent him to study under a somewhat famous kung fu master.

The master had many disciples. Han Xianfei originally thought that he would be like other ordinary disciples, train for a few years, work as a bodyguard for a few years to earn some money, and then leave the master's school to make a living on his own.

However, to his surprise, his master valued him highly and taught him many unique skills. Although his master did not say it explicitly, his various actions of valuing him made many disciples believe that he was the successor chosen by his master.

Han Xianfei wasn't stupid, and of course he could sense it. He had originally prepared himself mentally to inherit his master's mantle, but things didn't go as planned...

“I want to be worthy of Tang Ying, I don’t want to miss out on her, so I can only…”

"You betrayed your master's trust of so many years just for a woman."

I have no regrets!

At the dinner table, after decades, these two fellow disciples got into an argument again, and since they had both been drinking, they dared to say anything.

Lu Wen: "I just saw that you were the one who issued the challenge. I thought you had repented, but I didn't expect you to still be so stubborn!"

Han Xianfei: "I'm stubborn? I'm successful now, with children. If I hadn't gone into business back then, would I be where I am today? Didn't you also start your own business? And you say I don't respect my master or martial arts? Well, what about you!"

Lu Wen: "Isn't the reason I opened the martial arts class to pass on my master's unique skills?"

"Stop arguing! Stop it!" Han Meng slammed her hand on the table and stood up, looking around with a furrowed brow. "I don't understand what you're arguing about! Isn't it better this way?"

She spoke so loudly that even the waiter serving dishes to the private room was startled and almost dropped the plate in his hand.

Why do you all have to argue about who's right and who's wrong?

"My father was poor when he was young, so in his eyes, marrying the person he loves and having a comfortable family is the most important thing; while Uncle Lu's background, even if not rich, has been comfortable since childhood, so learning martial arts is his dream and becoming a martial arts master is your lifelong goal."

"None of you are wrong. Different people have different paths to take. Of course, you can't have your cake and eat it too."

"My dad gave up martial arts and his master's favor for my mom, my brother, and me. Uncle Lu, you also gave up something for martial arts, didn't you?" Han Meng looked at Lu Wen with a sincere expression.

Lu Wen fell into deep thought, gazing down at the wine in his glass, and in a daze...

I don't know if it was the effect of the alcohol, or if I really thought of her.

Han Xianfei pulled his daughter down to sit, and half-drunk, he served her some food: "Hey, Mengmeng, stop talking, stop talking, eat your food."

Han Meng ate her food quietly for a while. Ziyunlou had several signature dishes that were indeed very good. As she ate, the complicated emotions she had been experiencing gradually dissipated.

"Dad, Uncle Lu is actually a pure-hearted person, could you please..."

Han Xianfei interrupted her: "Dad will go order some hangover soup."

After saying that, he got up and left the private room.

But when Han Meng looked at his back as he walked, she noticed that he wasn't swaying like a typical drunkard; instead, every step he took seemed normal.

Come to think of it, people who are constantly out socializing are used to drinking without getting drunk.

At this moment, Lu Wen suddenly raised his head, his eyes not showing much drunkenness: "Miss Han Meng, while your father is away, Uncle Lu has something to say to you."

Han Meng paused for a moment, then said, "Please go ahead."

"He probably didn't tell you the real reason for the marriage alliance between our two families, did he?"

Han Meng nodded: "Every time we bring up the engagement, we end up arguing."

Lu Wen smiled and pondered, "This marriage was forced upon you by your father, but he certainly didn't do it to reconcile with me or the Lu family."

“My junior brother is a real romantic. You are his and his wife’s biological child, one of the people he loves most. How could he possibly sacrifice you to please me or the Lu family?”

Han Meng frowned: "So what exactly is the reason?"

Lu Wen hesitated for a moment before saying, "I promised your dad I wouldn't tell you. How about this, I'll tell you about one of my experiences."

"I really like wearing jade thumb rings, and my favorite is the one that my mother left me. But no matter how careful I am, as a martial artist, I always bump into things and break the jade thumb ring several times. Each time, I could only beg others to repair it. In the end, I had no choice but to give it to a friend who doesn't practice martial arts."

"I don't know if you understand, this is all I can say."

Lu Wen sighed, a strange sadness lingering between his brows. However, when Han Xianfei returned to his seat, he returned to normal, but stopped talking and silently picked up some food for himself.

The three of them did not speak until they had almost finished eating and drinking and the night had grown deeper.

However, just as Lu Wen was about to leave, Han Meng thanked him.

Lu Wen had walked about ten steps when Han Xianfei hesitated and said, "Senior brother, please wait."

I don't know if the people in front heard it.

Back at the Han family mansion.

To verify her hypothesis, Han Meng, accompanied by her maid Yu Zhi, went to the family ancestral hall late at night.

The entire ancestral hall was spotless, except for the incense burner and candles in front of the memorial tablets, which looked like they were used frequently, and there wasn't a speck of dust on the tablets.

If she remembered correctly, Han Xianfei often came to the ancestral hall.

She wondered if Han Xianfei would come here in agony every time the original owner committed suicide, repeatedly begging his ancestors to bring the original owner back to life?

But……

As if possessed, she reached out and touched the unburnt incense on the incense burner.

Then, just like watching a movie, I saw many, many scenes.