Chapter 18: There is not a single normal person in the whole family
Meng Anran hugged her brother's waist, sat steadily in the back, and whispered about what happened at school today.
After listening to this, Meng Yushu was silent for a long time before saying, "Qingcheng has really changed a lot... Do you know why the Meng family went bankrupt?"
Meng Anran nodded.
At that time, the Meng family was also considered a wealthy family, but they had only been rich for more than ten years and could not compare with other large families in Beijing who had been engaged in business for generations.
Meng Zhen has watched her family become rich, and she has never chosen to stay at home to eat, drink and have fun, like a rich lady who has everything handed to her.
Instead, she chose to improve herself. She hoped that even without the help of her family, she would have the ability to support herself, realize her life value, and help the family business to a higher level in the future.
So since high school, she would sign up for classes to learn a skill or work part-time to earn some pocket money during every long vacation.
But unexpectedly, I accidentally bumped into someone I shouldn't have offended.
That person is Lu Yi.
Meng Anran learned that she was not the biological daughter of the Lu family when the Meng family went bankrupt, and began to plan to escape from the Lu family. Naturally, she knew how ridiculous the real reason for the Meng family's bankruptcy was.
"Qingcheng has always blamed the Meng family's bankruptcy on her sister's restlessness and tendency to run away. After the bankruptcy, her sister has been under a lot of pressure. Qingcheng always speaks harshly to her, but she never refutes him and endures it silently."
Meng Yushu sighed, her heart sinking as she spoke of the crucial point. "Qingcheng's temper has been getting increasingly violent. She even hit my sister that time. In an effort to protect her, Qingcheng pushed me, causing me to hit my head on the wardrobe and sustain a concussion. It was close to the Gaokao (National College Entrance Examination) at that time, and although I didn't miss the exam after being discharged from the hospital, I performed poorly. My parents discussed this with my homeroom teacher and decided to let me repeat a year."
Meng Anran never intended to ask Meng Yushu this question, probably because he had never cared about it.
After listening with her lips pursed, she asked, "Don't you hate Lu Qingcheng?"
"I never blamed her." Meng Yushu's voice was a little lost. "After all, she's the sister I've doted on for seventeen years. How can family members hold grudges overnight? It's just... no one expected her to leave so decisively."
Meng Anran looked at her brother's back and could sense his emotions.
They treated each other sincerely for seventeen years, but in the end, he was betrayed.
Compared to betrayal for personal gain, betrayal for emotional gain is more painful and difficult to accept.
Lu Qingcheng doesn't look like the biological daughter of the Lu family, but her personality is quite similar to that of the Lu family.
There is not a single normal person in the Lu family.
…
The Lu family’s three-story European-style mansion stood halfway up the mountain. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the off-white marble exterior wall, giving it a faint gold edge.
The broad lawn was meticulously trimmed, the water droplets from the fountain reflected the fragmented light, and the entire mansion exuded an inviolable luxury and majesty.
Lu Qingcheng stood in front of the iron gate, looking at this building that symbolized wealth and status, and the resentment in her heart gradually dissipated.
She curled up the corners of her mouth, revealing a smug smile, and walked in on her high heels.
"What are you standing there for? Go make some tea!" As soon as she entered the room, she arrogantly ordered Aunt Liang, the servant standing beside her.
Aunt Liang bowed slightly and whispered, "Yes, Miss."
She turned and walked towards the kitchen, her steps light and quick.
Ever since the return of this real daughter, the servants of the entire Lu family have been walking on thin ice whenever the master and the mistress are not at home.
Picky and irritable, if things don't go his way, he'll throw things at best, or even point at someone and curse.
Aunt Liang couldn't help sighing while making tea.
Although Miss An Ran is also picky, she will ask them to change the tea if it tastes bad, and ask the chef to redo the dishes if they are not to her liking, but at least she will not insult them at will.
But what about Lu Qingcheng now?
They threw cups and smashed plates, looking at them as if they were ants, as if they were not paid servants but slaves who could be beaten and scolded at will.
"Not ready yet?!" Lu Qingcheng's angry voice came from the living room.
Aunt Liang's hand trembled and she almost knocked over the teacup.
She quickly quickened her pace and walked over with the tea.
Lu Qingcheng leaned lazily on the leather sofa, tapping the armrest impatiently with her fingertips.
On the first day of school, I wanted to establish my authority in the new school, but I was contradicted by a few ignorant poor guys. In the end, I even ended up in the Academic Affairs Office and was punished.
When she thought of the contemptuous looks of the people around Meng Anran, she felt so angry that her teeth itched.
She took the teacup handed to her by Aunt Liang, took a sip, and the next second, she suddenly smashed the teacup at Aunt Liang's feet!
"What the hell? It's so disgusting!" she screamed.
Aunt Liang subconsciously took half a step back, but the scalding hot tea still splashed onto the back of her hand, instantly burning it red.
She gasped in pain but dared not make a sound. She just lowered her head and her fingers trembled slightly.
"I'm sorry, miss. I'll go make it again right away..." She squatted down and picked up the broken pieces on the ground tremblingly.
"What are you arguing about?" A deep male voice suddenly came from the stairs.
Lu Qingcheng's whole body froze, and when she looked up, her face turned pale instantly.
Why is Dad at home?
Lu Zhong was wearing a neat suit and walked down the spiral staircase with a gloomy expression.
His sharp gaze cut into Lu Qingcheng like a knife, with anger boiling in his eyes.
When he came in front of Lu Qingcheng, he raised his hand and slapped her.
"Look at you, you don't look like a daughter of an aristocratic family at all." His voice was low, but it carried an undeniable sense of oppression. "You caused trouble at school on the first day of school and even got punished! You've brought shame upon the Lu family!"
Lu Qingcheng covered her face, her eyes instantly reddened, and she trembled, "Dad, they were the first..."
Snap——
Before she could finish, Lu Zhong slapped her hard on the other side of her face.
"You still dare to be stubborn?" He said coldly, his eyes as cold as ice, without a trace of warmth. "I agreed to keep you, not to let you embarrass yourself like a shrew!"
Lu Qingcheng staggered and tears welled up in her eyes.
She opened her mouth but didn't dare to argue.
She has witnessed the indifference and ruthlessness of this family these days. In Lu Zhong's eyes, the reputation and status of the Lu family are more important than anything else.
And she is just a puppet, and the only way for her to live a stable life is to be obedient and follow the arrangements of her family.
"Butler!" Lu Zhong said sternly, "Follow the family rules! Teach her the rules!"
The butler nodded respectfully: "Yes, sir."
Lu Qingcheng was trembling all over, her nails digging deep into her palms.
She hated those who laughed at her, hated her father's ruthlessness, and even more hated Meng Anran who had occupied her life for seventeen years!
If it weren't for Meng Anran, how could I be like an outsider, having to learn even the most basic manners from scratch?
Yes, it’s all Meng Anran’s fault!
This is all Meng Anran owes her!
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