Chapter Twenty-One: She Is Not Worthy of the Lu Family!

Every word uttered by Shen Qingli pierced Shen Jingrong, and for a moment, all eyes were drawn to her. Shen Jingrong forced a smile onto her face. "I just thought that since my sister has recovered and is out of the hospital, we should celebrate a little. I forgot to tell Master Lu and the others."

"Oh!" Shen Qingli acted as though she suddenly understood, then smiled sweetly. "Sister, you must be more careful in the future. If you have something to say, say it early. Otherwise, people might think your elaborate dress means you've forgotten your sister."

These words struck Shen Jingrong and Shen Father like a slap to the face, their expressions turning grim. Xie Jinchuan remained silent, but his presence was so imposing that no one dared ignore him.

Noticing the tense atmosphere, Old Master Lu quickly spoke up to ease the situation. "All right, all right. Since Qingli's well, isn't this a joyful occasion? Butler, serve the dishes!"

The butler immediately called for the food. Shen Qingli ignored the looks from her parents, focusing entirely on the delicacies before her. Seated beside her, Xie Jinchuan noticed where her attention lay and soon piled her plate high with food.

"Eat more—you’re as thin as a bamboo stalk. Anyone would think you hadn’t been fed before," Xie Jinchuan remarked quietly, causing a surge of delight in Shen Qingli’s heart.

His words were another blow to the Shen family. Old Master Lu watched the two and began to weigh his thoughts. Lu Ziyi, unwilling to be outdone, picked dishes for Shen Jingrong, then suddenly remembered something.

"Grandfather, now that Third Uncle is married, I'm not getting any younger. I want to marry Shen Jingrong."

His declaration brought both joy and anxiety. Shen Jingrong and Shen Father were naturally overjoyed. "Ziyi, do you really want to marry me?" she asked, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.

Lu Ziyi smiled. "Of course. You're nothing like certain people who chase after the powerful, and when they fail, switch to someone else. You're not like that at all! Since I promised to protect you for life, I mean to keep my word."

Across the table, Shen Qingli listened to Lu Ziyi’s greasy confession and felt almost nauseated. Seeing Shen Jingrong so moved, she rolled her eyes, and at that moment, the system’s voice echoed in her mind: [Prevent Shen Jingrong from marrying into the Lu family. Face-slapping score increased by thirty.]

Immediately, she tugged at Xie Jinchuan’s sleeve. He reached out, patting her back, and stated, "I do not agree to this."

The two, caught up in their own emotions, were doused by his words as if with cold water. Lu Ziyi was furious. "Third Uncle, what do you mean by this? Why not agree?"

Old Master Lu was about to speak, but a piercing glance from Xie Jinchuan silenced him.

"As a member of the Lu family, I also disagree," Shen Qingli said, setting down her chopsticks—she’d eaten enough, now she could start the fight.

"Sister, Ziyi and I truly love each other. Even if we were both at fault in the past, now that you’re with Third Uncle, can’t you let us be?" Shen Jingrong looked at Shen Qingli, aggrieved.

Her words hit both Shen Qingli and Xie Jinchuan’s sore spots.

"Sister, are you still angry at me?" Shen Jingrong lowered her head, resembling a child who had been wronged—a sight that would tug at any man’s heart.

"Shen Qingli, what gives you the right to disagree?" Lu Ziyi stood up, snorting coldly before suddenly realizing something. "I get it. Perhaps you still have feelings for me, and hearing that I want to treat your sister well, you’re upset and refused just to spite me!"

Shen Qingli’s mouth twitched. She glanced at Xie Jinchuan beside her, silently asking: How can your family be so stupid?

Xie Jinchuan raised his brows and allowed a fleeting smile before his gaze turned icy toward the pair across from him.

"Even today it’s clear—Second Miss Shen has no sense of propriety. Her own sister’s fate was uncertain, yet she dressed in red and green, showing no decorum."

Shen Jingrong’s expression shifted.

"Indeed. I’ve only just ‘died’ and it hasn’t even been three days, has it? Sister, couldn’t you at least pretend as Father does? Oh, wait—I misspoke. Father only wears black suits because that’s all he owns," Shen Qingli said coolly, her gaze full of irony.

Both Shen Qingli and Xie Jinchuan were united in their belief that a duplicitous person like Shen Jingrong had no place in the Lu household. If she were let in, who knows what chaos she might cause.

"Shen Qingli, what do you mean by this? It’s just clothes, and besides, you’re not dead. Why fuss over such things?" Lu Ziyi barked, but was immediately silenced by a cold look.

"Old Master, if it were only these issues, it would be nothing. But I have other matters regarding my sister..." Shen Qingli said, pretending to rummage through her bag.

She had barely started before Shen Jingrong cut her off.

"Sister!" Shen Jingrong, spotting the edge of a paper, grew flustered but forced a smile and helplessness onto her face. "Ziyi, Sister has only just woken up. It’s not the right time to discuss this—I can wait."

Seeing Shen Jingrong’s willingness to endure, Lu Ziyi felt a surge of indignation. He immediately turned to Old Master Lu. "Grandfather, I must marry Shen Jingrong! Please support me!"

Old Master Lu cleared his throat, about to speak, when Xie Jinchuan’s icy voice swept through.

"I think she is unworthy of the Lu family."

At that, everyone’s expression shifted. Shen Father frowned, his tone sharp. "Mr. Lu, you can eat recklessly, but you can’t speak recklessly. Why is my daughter unworthy?"

Seeing Shen Father’s protective stance, Shen Qingli let out a cold laugh. She remembered the words he had uttered during her feigned death—every detail faithfully recounted to her by Xiangcai.

Shen Qingli couldn’t help but pity the original host. With such a family, her misfortune was inevitable.

"Do I need to lay out every detail in front of all these people?" Xie Jinchuan’s tone was calm, but his words detonated like an atomic bomb, leaving Shen Jingrong utterly devastated.

Shen Father frowned; he knew his daughter’s nature, but was at a loss for words.

Shen Jingrong instinctively looked at Shen Qingli. Seeing the slight curve of the woman’s lips, she clenched her hands tightly in her lap.

That wretch! That wretch! To humiliate her so in front of the Lu family—she would never let her get away with it, never!

"Let’s leave the matter for a more auspicious day. Today is a family dinner—let’s eat and enjoy ourselves!" Old Master Lu said, clearly intending to sweep the issue under the rug.