Chapter 158 Each with their own ulterior motives
Both families had their own ulterior motives.
Lu Jianhong wanted to use the Huo family's business connections to stabilize his crumbling family business, while Old Master Huo's cloudy old eyes were always fixed on the Luo family's unfathomable political resources.
He often instructed Huo Wenyan: "You must marry Kang Ning."
Huo Wenyan also patted his chest and assured his grandfather that he would definitely make Lu Kangning fall in love with him.
That's why Lu Kangning's refusal infuriated Huo Wenyan so much.
The old man had a clear plan in mind.
Minister Luo may look down on the Huo family, but what if Lu Kangning himself is willing to do so?
The Huo family has put in a lot of effort over the years to achieve this.
From deliberately arranged encounters to meticulously designed childhood sweetheart scenarios, and the "arranged marriage" that is mentioned from time to time.
The scandals that have recently erupted in the Lu family have finally alarmed Minister Luo, who is far away in Beijing.
A late-night phone call instantly soaked the back of Lu Jianhong's shirt.
“Mr. Lu,” the voice on the other end of the phone was unhurried, yet it made Lu Jianhong’s knees go weak, “I can make you rich, or I can make you lose everything. Be honest, Kangning doesn’t need you to chase fame and fortune, it just needs you to maintain a good reputation.”
The sound of papers turning over came through the receiver. "Otherwise, Corning's file can be transferred to another family at any time."
Lu Jianhong's Adam's apple bobbed violently, and cold sweat poured down his back. "Minister Luo, I assure you..."
Although he verbally promised that the Luo family would quiet down, Lu Jianhong was unwilling to watch his family's business decline, so he secretly approached Old Master Huo.
The old man took a sip of tea: "The Huo family can lend a hand. But that girl Kang Ning has to be accepted into the Huo family."
Lu Jianhong's bitter smile froze on his face: "Grandpa is joking. Kang Ning's marriage... how could it be my place to make a decision?"
"Useless thing!" Old Master Huo smashed his teacup. "After raising her for fifteen years, you still can't control a little girl?"
Broken porcelain shards splashed onto Lu Jianhong's trouser leg. "Let her think you're desperate, understand? Let her see the Lu family's current situation—banks are pressing for repayment, stock prices are plummeting—and then tell her that only the Huo family can save them! Any sensible and filial daughter would feel sorry for her parents!"
So the Lu couple began a clumsy performance.
Xie Yutong spent her days in tears, while Lu Jianhong often sighed at the dinner table about the company's predicament.
But they didn't notice that Lu Kangning's gaze was becoming increasingly sharp.
She knew how her female friends from similar backgrounds were treated.
Lu Kangning recalled the experience of her best friend Xiaohe, who came from a similar family background.
Just because she fell in love with a boy from an ordinary family, all her credit cards were immediately suspended, and she was locked at home to reflect on her actions.
Xiaohe's parents made it clear to her that the only way was through an arranged marriage, and she should forget about free love.
Even though she had clearly rejected the Huo family, her parents didn't dare say a harsh word or cut off her financial support.
All of this made Lu Kangning suspicious of his own background.
She was prepared and left a secret pouch for Fan Huaiyuan.
She knew that Fan Huaiyuan's background was revealed by the anchor named "Qian Nian Gang Tong Wang".
That mystical livestreamer always infuriated Lu Jianhong.
Perhaps this mysterious person who can predict the future is the key to uncovering the mystery of her origins.
Yesterday, after Huo Wenyan slapped Lu Jianhong and Xie Yutong, their reactions were even more puzzling.
Lu Kangning clearly remembers that their first reaction was not to check her injuries, but to look around in panic, as if they were afraid of being seen by someone.
That fear was definitely not out of heartache for his daughter.
After returning home, Xie Yutong disregarded her swollen cheeks and chose to cover the scars with foundation.
Lu Kangning felt a chill in his heart.
She obediently stayed in the room.
At night, I would take out my tablet, put on my headphones, and pretend to be studying English listening comprehension, but actually I would secretly watch the live stream of "Qiannian Gangtongwang" in my room.
Fan Huaiyuan kept his promise and followed the instructions written in her brocade pouch to come to the live broadcast room.
Just as she wished, Fan Huaiyuan was chosen by the anchor as her destined person.
Lu Kangning was stunned to hear a story from a thousand years ago from the anchor.
Lu Jianhong and Xie Yutong are the reincarnations of Lu Xuan and his wife from a thousand years ago, and they are destined to have no descendants.
She was an adopted child.
Lu Kangning's fingers tightened suddenly.
The anchor's voice continued, but it seemed to be through a thick layer of frosted glass, becoming blurry and distant.
The cold moonlight from outside the window spilled onto the floor as Lu Kangning slowly took off his headphones.
She suddenly remembered when she was eleven years old, she had a high fever that wouldn't go down, and Xie Yutong stayed by her bedside for three days and three nights.
It turns out that his concern was simply because he was afraid that something might happen to his adopted daughter, and he wouldn't be able to explain it to the Luo family.
All the warm fragments of my memory shattered into sharp shards of glass at this moment.
Lu Kangning walked down the stairs expressionlessly, his footsteps particularly clear in the quiet living room.
Lu Jianhong and Xie Yutong froze on the spot as if a pause button had been pressed, their whispered conversation abruptly ending.
Xie Yutong quickly wiped her eyes with her hand.
Lu Kangning was all too familiar with this action; every time, she could see her mother peeking at her reaction through the gaps in her fingers.
Lu Jianhong immediately grabbed the financial statements from the coffee table and deliberately sighed heavily: "The cash flow next month is probably going to be tight..."
Lu Kangning's lips slowly curved into a cold smile.
In the past, when she saw her parents like this, she would always soften and go forward to comfort them, and even feel guilty for refusing the arranged marriage.
But at this moment, she only found it laughable.
"Have you had enough of acting?"
Her voice was soft, but it made Lu Jianhong and Xie Yutong's hearts skip a beat.
“Ningning? What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Mom knows we shouldn’t have locked you up at home, but you really shouldn’t be with that stray dog who was kicked out of the Fan family… Your mom and dad are just worried that you’ll be deceived by that scumbag. You’re still in high school, you can’t let that blondie hold you back.”
With tears welling up in her eyes, Xie Yutong stepped forward, wanting to take her daughter's hand, and spoke earnestly.
Lu Kangning deftly dodged, leaving Xie Yutong's hand awkwardly hanging in mid-air.
She smiled faintly, "Yes, I'm still young, but how can we talk about engagement so openly?"
Lu Jianhong's Adam's apple bobbed. "It's just a pretense with the Huo family. Ningning, you know the family is in trouble right now. It's just a temporary measure... just to appease the Huo family."
"Is that so?" Lu Kangning sneered, his gaze fixed on Lu Jianhong's evasive eyes. "Give me back my phone. Also, I'm going out tomorrow."
An uncompromising tone.
Lu Jianhong and Xie Yutong exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion on each other's faces—Lu Kangning seemed like a completely different person.
"Ningning, you're not thinking of going out to see that Fan Huaiyuan! He's given you some kind of bewitching potion..."
Lu Kangning had already turned and walked upstairs: "Don't worry, I'm not going to see Fan Huaiyuan."
She stopped halfway down the stairs, a cold glint in her eyes as she turned back. "I'm going to see a Taoist master."
"A Celestial Master?!" Lu Jianhong's voice suddenly rose.
Celestial Master... those are the two words he fears hearing most right now!
He has fallen to such a state of being ridiculed by the entire internet, all thanks to that Taoist priest called "Millennium Newly Connected to the Internet"!
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