Meng Xi'er knew who the "her" he was referring to, she stopped in her tracks and didn't move.
She had long known how much he hated her, but what she didn't expect was his current intolerance of even being around her.
"There's no other way." Mrs. Lu said, "Xixi's parents have both died, and she just came out of prison. Where else could she go? You surely can't have her sleep on the streets, right?"
Lu Yebai coldly snorted, but said no further. However, as if recalling something, he asked again, "You're not seriously thinking about making me marry her, are you?"
Standing in the distance, Meng Xi'er's heart inexplicably began to race.
She had long given up on him.
Her days and nights in the prison had made her forget about him.
How much he despised her, the scars on her body could tell.
Yet, her heart instinctively began to race for him, each of his words causing her heart to flutter.
"Lu Yebai, I, Meng Xi'er, like you and aim to marry you!"
It was the vow she declared loudly in front of everyone in her reckless youth.
Wanting to be the wife of Lu Yebai, wanting to marry him, was the most beautiful dream she had when she first met him.
Back then, Meng Xi'er was naive. Pampered by her father since childhood, she hardly knew what rejection was, because no one ever refused her. She shamelessly pursued him, confessed to him, bought him concert tickets of his favored singer, made wishes in temples for Lu Yebai to like her, even waiting at the school gate every day after class to walk home with him...
She really did everything she could in the past. As long as she could please him, she was willing to give her everything.
How was it possible to like someone to such an extent?
To the point where she herself was at a loss.
Gently pressing her hand against her chest, Meng Xi'er could feel it twitching there. Remembering the past at this moment, it seemed so desperate and ridiculous.
The voice of Mrs. Lu came from downstairs.
"Yebai, the engagement you had with her was made in front of the entire city. Now that Xixi is out of jail, if our Lu family were to cancel the engagement, it would tarnish our reputation." Mrs. Lu said, "If anyone is to break off the engagement, it should come from her, not you."
Hearing this, Lu Yebai didn't respond but the mockery in his eyes as he glanced at his mother deepened.
He always knew how much his mother cared about their family's reputation, but he didn't expect it to be to this degree.
Recalling the words she had said in front of Meng Xi'er, the mockery in his eyes became even more evident.
Seeing her son silent, Mrs. Lu yawned as if she were tired,"I'm tired and about to head to bed. You should go to sleep soon as well."
Lu Yebai watched his mother ascend the stairs, then withdrew his gaze. Suddenly, as if he spotted something, his eyes fixed on the area near the staircase.
There was a small piece of clothing hem peeping out in the dim light falling on the stairwell.