Lu Chiwan was anxious to take a look, but her phone was already locked.
“Lin…”
Li Yanxing was so angry he yelled at her, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he forgot her name.
Fortunately, Lin Mu was quick-witted and interjected, “Chiwan, once we arrive at the Li family, don’t speak too much and don’t be afraid. Brother Yan will back you up.”
“Oh.”
“But…”
Lu Chiwan blinked her eyes, “Brother, you call him Brother Yan, and I call you brother. Isn’t that a bit confusing?”
“Why don’t you call me sister-in-law instead? It’s not good to be confused.”
As she said this, the young girl nervously clutched the bag in her hand, clearly harboring her own little schemes.
Li Yanxing laughed in exasperation.
This little thing really knows how to push her luck.
Was she finding ways to assert her status?
Lin Mu didn’t dare answer that question. As they spoke, the car had already entered the manor and came to a stop in the courtyard.
The servants in the courtyard opened the car door, bowing their heads and not daring to make a sound, “Young Master.”
Li Yanxing got out of the car first.
“Husband, help me carry my bag.”
Lu Chiwan followed him out of the car and immediately leaned close, wrapping one arm around Li Yanxing’s while waving her bag with the other, sweetly coquettish.
Li Yanxing: “…”
The servants collectively stepped back in shock. How dare she ask Young Master, the Little King of Hell, to carry her bag? Was she insane?
Lu Chiwan tilted her head to look at him. If he didn’t take it, she wouldn’t withdraw her hand, stubborn to the core.
Li Yanxing, who had never been swayed by anyone, compromised. He reached out and took the bag from Lu Chiwan’s hand, allowing her to hold his arm as he led her inside.
The living room was packed with people.
The Li family itself was a large clan. When they heard that this ruthless, unfeeling young master had actually brought home a wife, the entire family gathered out of curiosity, wanting to see who had the ability to tame the Little King of Hell.
Of course, it was also because Old Madam Li had notified everyone in advance to come see her granddaughter-in-law that they could gather so completely.
When Li Yanxing and Lu Chiwan stood before the crowd,
Everyone looked at each other, and finally, all eyes converged on Lu Chiwan’s bright and striking little face, envy evident in their gazes.
Old Madam Li carefully examined the young girl before her.
Lu Chiwan held Li Yanxing’s arm, openly accepting everyone’s scrutiny, her clear eyes soft yet resolute.
“Husband.”
Lu Chiwan spoke first, her warm, soft voice uniquely sweet, “It’s my first time visiting your home. Could you introduce everyone to me?”
Li Yanxing lowered his gaze, looking at her in surprise.
He had initially thought she was foolish, but she actually understood etiquette quite well.
However, he didn’t speak.
He was the type of person—the more others wanted him to do something, the less he would do it.
“No need. They’re just some unimportant people.”
The expressions of several elders present turned somewhat unpleasant.
“Big Brother, what do you mean by unimportant people? If we’re talking about unimportant, she’s the one who’s unimportant!”
“A nameless, unentitled outsider who suddenly barged into our Li family!”
A sharp voice rang out, the accusatory meaning unmistakably clear.
Lu Chiwan lifted her eyes and glanced around briefly.
Although the living room was crowded, only a few elders were seated, while some younger members stood beside the sofas. The girl who had spoken was about her age, with almond-shaped eyes that could be considered pretty and alluring.
But her sharp attitude was detestable.
Lu Chiwan smiled faintly, preparing to respond.
Li Yanxing let out a cold sneer, toying with the women’s handbag in his hand as he spoke mockingly, “How is my Li family’s young madam an outsider?”
“If we’re talking about outsiders, then… an illegitimate daughter certainly qualifies as one.”
“You!”
The girl’s face flushed with anger, but when she looked up and met Li Yanxing’s icy gaze, she immediately withered, closing her mouth in self-inflicted embarrassment.
“Enough, it’s rare for you to come back, why cause trouble?”
Old Madam Li, who had been observing Lu Chiwan, finally withdrew her scrutinizing gaze and smiled with both kindness and authority, “Child, I am A Yan’s grandmother. What is your name?”
“Grandmother can call me Qingqing.”
Lu Chiwan hurriedly answered.
She wanted Li Yanxing to change her name for her—”Qingfu” was just too unpleasant.
Her parents must, must, must have been threatened to give her such a name.
“Grandmother, I’m sorry I didn’t have time to prepare a gift for you. Please forgive me.”
“And please forgive me as well, all esteemed elders.”
Lu Chiwan spoke with graceful composure, showing no signs of stage fright, as if she were truly a well-bred young lady. Her demeanor was a hundred times better than that of the Li family’s illegitimate daughter, Li Zhining.
“Come here.”
The Old Madam beckoned to Lu Chiwan.
Lu Chiwan glanced sideways and whispered softly, “Husband~”
Li Yanxing: “…”
“Grandmother is calling you. With me here, no one dares to touch you.”
“Okay.”
Bolstered by a certain lord’s support, the young girl’s eyes curved into beautiful crescents as she boldly walked up to the Old Madam.
The Old Madam discreetly observed their interaction, the smile in her eyes deepening.
“Qingqing, this is your Second Granduncle.”
“Third Granduncle, and…”
The Old Madam personally introduced the various members of the Li family.
Lu Chiwan obediently followed along, addressing each one respectfully.
Finally, the Old Madam took out a red packet first, glanced at Li Yanxing who remained cold and aloof, and said with a beaming smile, “Today is my granddaughter-in-law’s first visit to our home. You all should show your appreciation as well.”
The two granduncles sitting nearby looked somewhat embarrassed, as they hadn’t prepared anything.
They had thought they were coming to watch a spectacle, never expecting Li Yanxing to actually bring a wife back.
“The young master has returned.”
“Has he brought our Li family’s young madam back?”
“Let me see, which family’s daughter is this? So extraordinarily beautiful, how can she be this pretty?”
A stunning woman in a cheongsam, arm-in-arm with a tall, imposing man with a cold demeanor, came downstairs.
Lu Chiwan looked up and, seeing the man’s features somewhat resembled Li Yanxing’s, immediately knew his identity.
Li Shiming, the current head of the Li family, the family patriarch, and Li Yanxing’s father.
The graceful, socially adept woman beside him was the current mistress of the Li family, Li Yanxing’s stepmother Yao Meizhu.
“Mom!”
Li Zhining ran over, tugging discontentedly at Yao Meizhu’s sleeve, “Why are you praising her? She’s just a nameless vixen.”
“Nameless?”
Li Yanxing let out a light scoff. Unnoticed, he had lit a cigarette, his features growing even colder amidst the swirling smoke.
Though it was somewhat comical that he still held Lu Chiwan’s handbag in his other hand.
Of course, no one dared laugh at this lord.
“As long as I, Li Yanxing, acknowledge her, she, Lin Qingfu, is the young madam of the Li family.”
“Those I don’t acknowledge are nameless bastards.”
He emphasized the word “bastard” heavily.
Li Zhining’s eyes reddened with grievance, and she could only turn to Li Shiming for help.
She was the only daughter in the family, and Li Shiming doted on her immensely. Facing his eldest son’s lawless behavior, he coldly rebuked with a stern face, “What nonsense are you spouting? What bastard? Your younger brother and sister’s names are recorded in the family tree.”
“But I do not approve of this woman you brought back.”
“Such a major matter as marriage, and you didn’t even inform the family. Where is this girl from? What does her family do? She must pass the elders’ evaluation before she can enter our Li family.”
“Otherwise, do you think the Li family is a place where any random stray cat or dog can enter?”
“Stray cat or dog?”
Li Yanxing let out a low chuckle, raised his foot, and kicked the coffee table in front of the elders, sending it shaking with a deafening noise.
Frightened, the elders instantly stood up, clutching their chests, and hurriedly complained to the Old Madam, “Sister-in-law, Yanxing is becoming more and more ill-mannered.”
“I think Shiming is right. Marriage is no small matter. We must first inquire about this girl’s background and identity. Only if she is qualified can she enter our Li family and be recorded in the family tree.”
“Don’t care for it.”
Li Yanxing sneered coldly and glanced at Lu Chiwan.
Lu Chiwan reacted extremely quickly, immediately trotting over to stand by Li Yanxing’s side, forming a united front.
Then, she raised her eyes and spoke softly, neither submissive nor overbearing, “Uncle, it doesn’t matter if you don’t accept me. As long as A Yan and I share true love, that’s enough.”
“I love him, and he loves me. Whether I’m recorded in the family tree or not is unimportant.”
“Whether I’m a member of the Li family or not is also unimportant. What matters is that my husband is Li Yanxing.”
Her tone was neither hurried nor slow, gentle yet firm, without a trace of anger from being humiliated. Instead, it made those furious elders seem like clowns putting on a ridiculous show.
Li Yanxing glanced at her sideways.
Her husband being him is enough?