Lu Ning stood there, expressionless, looking at them. Hah, did they still think she was the same Lu Ning as before? They never asked for her opinion, casually brushed everything off like they were bestowing her with some great favor. She no longer cared.
Lu Liu, feeling guilty, avoided looking into her eyes, waiting for Second Brother to speak up.
Lu Nanfeng, as the head of the family, continued, “Ning Ning, after this match, you’ve proven your strength. From now on, your position in the team is irreplaceable.”
He thought this would make Lu Ning feel reassured.
Qin Xiang’s face darkened instantly, filled with unwillingness. She had worked so hard, yet Lu Ning took her position effortlessly. She might not have talent, but her efforts were no less than Lu Ning’s.
Lu Liu also looked at Lu Ning expectantly. Though he didn’t say anything, he still hoped she’d join the team. Now that they’d given her a way out, she shouldn’t keep being stubborn, right?
Lu Ning’s gaze was icy. “I refuse.”
Lu Liu’s defenses crumbled. “Why?”
“Because the reason I participated in the match was solely to make that man apologize for insulting my parents, not because I wanted to join the team.”
“But you clearly practiced secretly. Isn’t that to return to the team?”
Lu Ning couldn’t have become so strong overnight. She must have been training behind the scenes. If it wasn’t to rejoin the team, then what for?
Lu Liu didn’t believe her and stared directly at her.
Lu Ning’s fair face remained cold and detached. “No.”
Lu Liu’s heart sank. He couldn’t help but ask, “Lu Ning, do you need me to personally apologize before you’ll forgive me?”
Lu Ning paused. “There’s no such thing as forgiveness or not. There are plenty of teams in this world besides Lu Tian Team.”
She loved gaming, but she wouldn’t be confined to Lu Tian Team. Her meaning was clear.
“Sister Ning Ning, I know the one you really hate is me!”
Qin Xiang suddenly shouted, her voice trembling with tears. Everyone turned to look at her.
She walked toward Lu Ning, sounding pitiful. “Sixth Brother really hopes you can join the team. If it’s because of me that you’re unhappy, then I’ll quit the team right now and never fight for this position again.”
Lu Ning grew impatient. “You better shut up. I’m not joining the team simply because I don’t want to. It has nothing to do with anyone else. Stop trying to make yourself the center of everything.”
“I knew it… you’re still angry because I overreached and took your spot. I thought I could pick up what you abandoned, prove myself through hard work, and contribute to the Lu family… but I’m too stupid!”
Qin Xiang sniffled, her voice soft and pitiful, easily evoking sympathy from others.
Lu Nanfeng looked at her, heart aching at how sensible she seemed. “Xiang Xiang, it’s Sixth Brother’s fault for upsetting Ning Ning. This has nothing to do with you.” Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
Lu Liu, now a scapegoat, grew even angrier inside.
He looked at Qin Xiang’s pitiful act, but there was no ripple in his heart. He was beginning to regret letting Qin Xiang join the team. She was only fit to play the obedient little sister, not to do serious work.
Seeing Lu Liu unmoved, Qin Xiang gritted her teeth and suddenly pulled out an eyebrow razor, pointing it at her wrist. “Sister Ning Ning, if I die, I won’t fight you for the position anymore. You can be at ease!”
Lu Ning was startled, taking a step back. Was Qin Xiang crazy? What did her joining the team have to do with this woman? Wasn’t Qin Xiang the one who most hated seeing her join the team? Now she was using self-harm to force her—was she insane?
Lu Liu was also shocked. “Xiang Xiang, calm down. This has nothing to do with you.”
Qin Xiang smiled through tears. “Sixth Brother, it’s all my fault. Maybe I shouldn’t have tried to take the opportunity Sister Ning Ning didn’t want. Then I wouldn’t have made her angry. Anyway, growing up in the Lu family all these years, I’ve already been very, very grateful. I’d even be willing to die.”
Lu Liu instantly softened. Though he’d had complaints about Qin Xiang, at this moment, they faded a little.
Lu Nanfeng anxiously looked at Lu Ning. “Ning Ning, are you really willing to watch your sister hurt herself?”
Lu Liu frowned. Although he knew Qin Xiang’s behavior was a bit over the top, if Lu Ning just agreed to join the team, everything would be fine, right?
So as long as Lu Ning agreed, there would be no problem.
Lu Ning spoke coldly, “Aren’t you all misunderstanding something?”
Lu Nanfeng was taken aback. “What do you mean?”
“First, I’ve made it clear. I don’t want to join the team simply because I don’t like it. It has nothing to do with any of you. Second, Qin Xiang using self-harm to force me to compromise—what’s the difference between that and me slitting my wrist to force King to marry me?”
Her sarcasm hit home.
The teammates who were about to speak all shut their mouths. She did have a point.
Lu Liu couldn’t help but speak, “No matter what, Xiang Xiang is family.”
Even if Qin Xiang was terrible at gaming and irresponsible, she was still a little girl.
“What does that have to do with me? Whether Qin Xiang self-harms or kills herself has nothing to do with me. Stop using morality to blackmail me.”
Lu Liu, furious, slapped Lu Ning across the face.
Lu Ning was caught off guard. She hadn’t expected Sixth Brother to actually hit her! Except for Fourth Brother, none of her brothers had ever raised their hand against her. But this slap never landed on her face.
Ji Chiqian appeared beside her, blocking Lu Liu’s hand with a cold, sharp expression. “According to the Law on the Protection of Minors, this is already your second act of domestic violence. According to the law, the victim can call the police and request protection of personal freedom.”
Lu Ning turned her head, dazed, looking at him. Why was he here?
Lu Liu gritted his teeth. “Who the hell are you? This is our family matter. You’re an outsider. You have no right to interfere!”
Lu Nanfeng recognized Ji Chiqian but hadn’t expected him to appear here.
Ji Chiqian spoke calmly, “Even as an outsider, I can’t stand it. That should tell you how disgusting your behavior is.”
His eyes were filled with coldness. These people dared to lay a hand on her again. He was running out of patience.
Lu Nanfeng frowned. “Doctor Ji, you misunderstood. This time is different.”
“What’s different? Your adopted sister held everyone back, vanished, and acted like a diva. It was your real sister who stepped up, won the match, and forced the other side to apologize. Instead of treating her better, you lay a hand on her? Have you no shame?”
Lu Nanfeng was speechless, finally realizing how overboard they had been with Lu Ning. He looked at Lu Ning, feeling guilty. “Ning Ning, I didn’t mean it that way. I just didn’t want Xiang Xiang to hurt herself.”
Lu Ning pressed her lips.
Ji Chiqian’s voice was laced with mockery. “So, to stop your adopted sister from getting hurt, you chose to hurt your real sister? What a load of crap.”
Lu Nanfeng’s guilt doubled. He turned to Lu Liu. “Apologize to Ning Ning! Who told you to hit her!”
Even Lu Nanfeng had been shocked by his Sixth Brother’s behavior just now.
Lu Liu stood frozen, hiding his hand, guilt written all over his face. He hadn’t expected himself to actually hit her. Looking at Lu Ning, he said weakly, “I just got too angry after hearing what you said, that’s why I… I did it.”
He didn’t know why he’d lost control like that, as if it was natural for him to lash out at her—just like before when he scolded her at will. In the past, no matter how harshly he treated her, Lu Ning never fought back.
She probably wouldn’t this time either.
Lu Ning’s cheek still stung faintly, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her heart. Her eyes were filled with sarcasm. “So what?”
Only now did she realize she had always been the family’s punching bag, which was why they looked down on her.
“An apology should have the proper attitude.”
Ji Chiqian grabbed Lu Ning’s hand and slapped Lu Liu hard across the face.