Lu Xiao did not pay attention to the young man immediately but gave Qin Youling a look.
Qin Youling's face looked somewhat ugly. The youth before her was Qin Kai, the son of Third Uncle Qin Shengbin.
Qin Kai coming over to cause trouble at this time was obviously instigated by Third Uncle.
"Out of the way!" Qin Youling shouted.
Qin Kai didn't move an inch, his disdain even more apparent on his face.
"I mean, Eldest Miss Qin, I definitely won't stop you if you want to go in."
"But him, he really can't get in."
"Today is Grandpa's birthday, and all the guests are close friends and family. What is this guy? Does anyone recognize him?" Qin Kai pointed at Lu Xiao, contempt filling his eyes.
Anger surged in Qin Youling's chest.
Now she, Qin Youling, didn't even have the right to bring someone back with her?
Even if she brought back a beggar, you have no right to stop her.
"Eldest Miss Qin, this fellow can't be your new boyfriend, can he?"
"For goodness' sake, you bear the Qin surname; can't you stop picking up trash?"
"But then again, I can't blame you. My father had poor taste in women back in the day, and it seems to run in the family." Qin Kai's words grew more and more offensive.
Qin Youling almost couldn't contain the rage inside her.
She knew she would be targeted upon her return, but she hadn't expected Qin Kai to go this far.
Even, to insult her own mother.
Just as Qin Youling was about to retaliate, Lu Xiao beside her suddenly stepped forward and swung his arm.
"Slap!" A crisp slap echoed.
The imprint of five fingers was clearly visible on Qin Kai's face.
Not just the guests, even Qin Youling was startled by Lu Xiao's action; she didn't expect him to strike directly.
But frankly speaking, it felt quite satisfying.
"You dare to hit me!!" Qin Kai roared in rage after a two-second freeze, blood vessels in his eyes bulging.
He'd grown up without even his mother raising her voice at him, and today he had been slapped by trash.
If word got out, would he, Qin Kai, still have any dignity left in the Qin Family? Could he even hold his head up in Hai City?
"Where the hell is everyone? Hold him down!"
As soon as Qin Kai's words fell, several men in black suits, big and burly, began to close in.
The guests stepped back, pointing and murmuring towards Qin Youling and Lu Xiao.
"Qin Youling must have found herself a real idiot."
"He dares to hit Qin Kai in public; where does he get the courage from?"
"Seems like Eldest Miss Qin's freshly minted boyfriend is done for."
Many people pursed their lips and shook their heads. While Qin Youling might be the Qin Family's rightful heir, in all of Hai City, it was well-known that her uncles were the ones truly in power.
Even Qin Youling had to endure and bear the harassment from her uncles.
A so-called boyfriend stepping up and slapping Qin Kai was truly brainless.
How many lives does he think he has to throw them away like this?
"What are you dawdling for, get him!" Qin Kai commanded.
Lu Xiao glanced at the five bodyguards rushing forward, not considering them a threat; this was a matter of seven or eight seconds to resolve.
"Enough!" At that moment, a roar came from the doorway.
The bodyguards immediately stopped, standing respectfully to one side.
Lu Xiao glanced at the middle-aged man who came out, in his forties or fifties, with short hair and a black suit and a powerful aura.
"Dad! That bastard slapped me!" Seeing his own father, Qin Kai immediately began to complain.
Qin Shengbin felt a knot in his heart.
I told you to disgust Qin Youling a bit, not to curse her out, and least of all to insult Qin Youling's mother. If word of this reaches Grandfather, it won't be as simple as a slap.
"Youling is back?"
"He's your boyfriend, isn't he?"
"The old man has been waiting for you all morning; hurry inside." Qin Shengbin directly ignored Qin Kai and warmly greeted Qin Youling and Lu Xiao.
Qin Kai almost doubted his own hearing.
"Dad, he just hit me!!" Qin Kai shouted again.
"Keep it down, it's Grandpa's birthday, what are you making a fuss for!" After saying this, Qin Shengbin personally led the two inside.
At the mansion entrance, Qin Kai almost exploded on the spot.
What fuss am I making? Oh, so now it's all my fault, is that it?
You told me to block the door, you told me to cause trouble, and now that I've been hit, now that I've been bullied, you blame me for making a fuss?
What kind of father are you!
"What are you looking at!" Sensing the mocking gazes around him, Qin Kai bellowed, then stormed inside.
...
The Qin Family Old Mansion was huge, and it took nearly five minutes to reach the main hall.
But at that time, the hall seemed to be in disarray.
"Third Uncle, what's happened?" Qin Youling immediately asked.
Qin Shengbin's face was full of confusion; everything had been fine just a moment ago—he had no idea either.
"Quick, Grandpa's heart has stopped, go get the defibrillator!" a roar came from the hall.
The faces of Qin Youling and Qin Shengbin changed abruptly, and they dashed into the hall.
Lu Xiao followed quickly.
Pushing through the crowd, Lu Xiao finally saw the situation inside.
The long table that was meant for food had been cleared, and an old man with white hair was lying on it.
The old man's eyes were shut tight, his complexion somewhat blue.
Without guessing, this must be Qin Youling's grandfather.
At that moment, the old man's clothing had been opened, and the Qin family's medical team was performing CPR.
"Grandpa!!" Qin Youling cried out as she rushed forward.
As for the other members of the Qin family, they didn't seem too sad; not a single tear was shed. They just stood there expressionless, watching and waiting.