The man stepped into the room, his thin lips parting slightly as he narrowed his eyes at Xia Guoliang. With a chilling expression and a deep voice, he said, “Is this how President Xia educates his son, calling my soon to be wedded bride a bastard to his face?” He paused before continuing in a leisurely tone, “Heh, what is this? Once he marries into the Lu family, will you have him cursing me right along with him?”
Anyone with discerning eyes could hear the protectiveness in Lu Jinglin’s words.
Xia Guoliang naturally heard it too. He raised a handkerchief to repeatedly wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, bowing and scraping as he flatteringly apologized, “President Xia, this is all a misunderstanding! It was just my unfilial son running his mouth. He has been spoiled rotten by his mother since childhood, so he speaks rather bluntly and blurts things out without thinking. I will have him apologize to Little Xia right now!” With that, he turned and glared at Xia Lei. “How do I usually teach you? Is this how you speak to your cousin? Hurry up and apologize to Little Xia!”
Xia Lei glared resentfully at Xia Yuning. Although unwilling, he knew this was not the time to cause trouble, so he ground out through clenched teeth, “I am sorry.”
Lu Jinglin: “Not enough.”
“Ah? What?” Xia Guoliang froze before cautiously asking, “President Xia, what do you mean it is not enough?”
Lu Jinglin lifted his eyelids to give him a sideways glance, explaining in a casual tone, “Your sincerity is lacking.”
Xia Guoliang’s mouth twitched. He had not expected such a far fetched reason, but with no other choice, he glared at Xia Lei once more. “Did you not hear me? Apologize to Little Xia again, and this time be sincere!”
Just then, Lin Ying, the aunt who had remained silent the whole time, spoke up. “Old man, that loser, Xia Yuning, who does he think he…” Before Lin Ying could finish, Xia Guoliang backhanded her across the face.
“Shut your mouth! It is all because you spoiled Xia Lei rotten since he was a child that he turned out so undisciplined! He is a grown man, yet he behaves like this, what kind of spectacle is this?” Xia Guoliang immediately shifted the target of his anger.
Damn it! Did this woman have no concept of the situation? Causing trouble at a time like this, was she trying to offend Lu Jinglin beyond salvation? If they truly angered the Lu family, they would be completely finished!
Lin Ying had only wanted to save her son from such humiliation. Why should her son have to apologize to that loser? Who would have guessed that before she could finish defending him, Xia Guoliang would strike her.
Being slapped in public was a deeply humiliating experience. Lin Ying’s face turned ashen with shock and grievance, and she cried out shrilly to Xia Guoliang, “Old man! You hit me?”
“That is right! I hit you, so what?” Xia Guoliang barked, his face dark as thunder as he glared at her for making things worse. “Get out! Get lost! If you want to cry, go cry outside!”
He was already sick of her constant weeping, and crying at a critical moment like this only disgusted him further. Damn this useless woman; he had grown thoroughly sick of her.
“Dad!” Xia Lei also looked at Xia Guoliang with an ashen face, utterly unwilling to issue another apology to that loser.
“Did you not hear me?” Xia Guoliang repeated sternly.
The veins on Xia Lei’s forehead throbbed violently, but seeing his father’s terrifying expression, he had no choice but to turn back to Xia Yuning. “Xia Yuning, I am sorry! Your cousin was just running his mouth. I spoke without thinking and did not mean it. Please do not hold it against your cousin! Forgive me!” By the time he finished, his face had flushed beet red.
Lu Jinglin finally let Xia Lei off. He tilted his head, his deep gaze shifting to Xia Yuning as if awaiting his reply.
This farce had reached its climax, and Xia Yuning was thoroughly enjoying the show. He felt a mild sense of regret that he did not have a handful of melon seeds to snack on while watching.
Caught off guard by meeting Lu Jinglin’s gaze, he took a moment to collect himself.
Having just watched Xia Lei get put in his place, he was in a great mood and had no intention of bickering further with them.
The time to completely burn bridges with the Xia family had not yet arrived, and he still needed to leave them a shred of surface level decency.
Therefore, Xia Yuning turned to Xia Lei and offered a friendly smile. “Since Cousin did not mean it, I forgive you. However, next time, I suggest you use your brain before speaking, lest you offend someone you shouldn’t.”
Seeing that fake, friendly smile, Xia Lei felt it burning his eyes. He clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms, bleeding in secret as he forced the words through his teeth, “Cousin is right.”
With a dark expression, he pulled the still weeping Lin Ying away, abandoning any thought of greeting guests in the front hall.
Xia Guoliang managed a strained, ingratiating smile. “President Xia, I am truly sorry. My wife and son are simply too ignorant of manners.”
“President Xia speaks too lightly.” Lu Jinglin gave a cold, detached nod.
He glanced down at his wristwatch and said, “It is getting late. I will be taking him away now.”
Xia Guoliang hurriedly agreed, “Ah, yes, yes, please take care on the road.” He breathed a massive sigh of relief, thankful to finally send away this formidable Buddha.
Xia Guoliang eagerly offered, “I will see you out.”
“There is no need.” Lu Jinglin led Xia Yuning toward the car.
Before leaving, Lu Jinglin issued a final warning to Xia Guoliang. “I hope President Xia can keep a tight leash on his son’s mouth from now on. If something like this happens again, it will not be settled with a simple apology.”
“Yes, yes, yes! Rest assured, President Xia! Once I get back, I will properly discipline this unfilial wretch!” Xia Guoliang patted his chest repeatedly in a nervous guarantee, terrified of offending Lu Jinglin any further.