The reason behind Shen Zhou and his group's actions was actually pretty easy to guess; it was nothing more than that little marriage. Just like Luo Jingxuan's analysis before, Shen Zhou wanted both career and love.
He did like Lu Wantang and was willing to pamper her. But marrying her wouldn't be worth it. The benefits she could bring to the Shen family and Shen Zhou were too minimal. Not to mention losing Mr. Lu's favor and the inheritance left by Grandma Lu to her "real granddaughter," her fake status, without strong financial support, would ultimately make her a mere laughingstock in the social circle.
In reality, ever since Su Yu had been brought up by Mr. Lu and had become a prominent figure in the social circle, Lu Wantang's reputation had been tarnished. Coupled with what had happened at the previous birthday party (although Shen Zhou and Lu Zifeng had issued a gag order, their subsequent actions were so dramatic that everyone in the social circle knew what had happened that day), marrying Lu Wantang was truly not a wise choice.
Although Lu Wantang was a pure victim in what happened that day, in the eyes of most people, "it takes two to tango" and "flies don't bite seamless eggs". Why didn't that person drug other people and didn't want to harm others? Isn't it your own fault?
Such accusations were unreasonable, but they were what most people thought. In wealthy and powerful families, family background and reputation were highly valued. Even if Lu Wantang wasn't at fault, she was caught up in such a controversy, and no "good family" would want her as their daughter-in-law.
Although Shen Zhou's parents clamored that they liked Lu Wantang more and would rather have Lu Wantang be their daughter-in-law, if the Lu family really agreed to let Lu Wantang marry Shen Zhou, they would most likely be unwilling and would even try to sabotage it.
It was impossible to say they had no feelings for Lu Wantang. After all, they had watched her grow up and loved her like their own daughter. However, they were businessmen, and their family background was deeply ingrained. No matter how they looked at it, Lu Wantang was not worthy of the title of "Mrs. Shen."
On the Lu family side, while Lu's father and mother were willing to marry Lu Wantang, they also knew that even if Lu Wantang married into the Shen family, she wouldn't be able to bring much support to the Shen family. Before Su Yu returned, Lu Wantang was the only daughter of the Lu family, and marrying her would be equivalent to marrying into the Lu family. After Su Yu returned, Lu Wantang first lost the advantage of being the only daughter of the Lu family, and later lost the favor of Mr. Lu, the only person in charge of the Lu family.
Lu Wantang's status and position in the Lu family were completely gone. Marrying her now would only make her a nominal relative of the Lu family, without receiving any substantial support from the Lu family. Even doing business with the Lu family wouldn't necessarily earn her more than others.
While the Lu family's company was ostensibly run by Lu's father and Lu Zifeng, the true decision-makers and the one who truly held the reins were still Old Man Lu. It was unlikely that Lu's father or Lu Zifeng would offer Lu Wantang's "husband" any advantage or significant funds. At most, they could give him a small sliver of their authority, but that was all.
Moreover, given Lu Zifeng's twisted feelings for Lu Wantang, would he be willing to let Lu Wantang enter into a marriage arrangement and would he be willing to help Lu Wantang's "husband"?
In other words, both Shen Zhou and Lu Zifeng were inclined to let Su Yu marry into the Shen family. The only one who disagreed was probably Lu Wantang. After all, whether in the original text or in the Lu Wantang that Li Xi had met, they were both determined to win Shen Zhou over.
However, Lu Wantang, seemingly as fragile and helpless as a white flower, is unable to reject Lu Zifeng's twisted feelings; she seems to be in love, admiring Shen Zhou's stature and longing for his unique love. In fact, she is the most calculating of the protagonists.
Did she love Shen Zhou? Of course she did, but not as much as others seemed to love her. Just look at how she kept saying she wanted to return Shen Zhou to Su Yu in order to annoy her. You can tell that to her, Shen Zhou was just an "object" that could be shirked. Even though she was certain Shen Zhou was hers when she said that, it didn't change the fact that she considered Shen Zhou an object that could be "given away."
Did she want to be Shen Zhou's wife? Of course she did. She'd known since childhood that Shen Zhou would be her future "fiancé" (the Shen and Lu families were long-standing friends, their elders had always interacted, and the old man's generation had even verbally arranged a marriage). It all came down to Shen Zhou's personality—a highly capable, second-generation rich kid, handsome, intelligent, and driven, a true bachelor. Most girls would be tempted, and Lu Wantang was no exception.
If possible, Lu Wantang wanted to become "Mrs. Shen" very much. Especially after Su Yu returned to the Lu family, this desire became more urgent. In order to achieve her goal, she even pressured herself and used Lu Zifeng, wavering between the two men. At first, she really thought that she could get engaged to Shen Zhou smoothly.
But the tug-of-war and shirking of responsibility by both parents made her realize that she was the one being abandoned. Since she couldn't become Shen Zhou's wife in a legitimate way, she would become his white moonlight and cinnabar mole, making him feel guilty and lingering over her.
She wanted Shen Zhou to know her generosity, her forbearance, and her need to do what she wanted. So she proposed that Shen Zhou and Su Yu get married, saying that this would give both parents a way out and smoothly allow the Shen family and Lu family to marry.
Of course, how she offered her advice while crying, how she heartbrokenly said it was okay, and how she was comforted by Shen Zhou's various attacks, only the person involved knew. Li Xi roughly imagined it, and it must have been sticky and sticky, with lots of "hmms and ahs".
Oh.
Li Xi had guessed their purpose, and after listening to Jing Limo's recollections, she had a rough idea of how they'd acted—most likely, they'd slipped the drug into the lemon honey water Su Yu had ordered. As for whether it was one of the three of them, or the wait staff or kitchen staff, who had administered the drug, that was unknown. Given their cautious approach, the evidence would have been destroyed long ago.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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