Chapter 19: Words That Stir the Heart

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

Father Xu glared at her with a warning look, signaling her to hold her tongue.

"Mr. Huang, please don't be angry. She’s just a young girl, perhaps a bit shy since it's her first time meeting you."

"Apologize to Young Master Huang immediately."

Father Xu whispered this to Lu Yao, his voice low enough for only the two of them to hear. As he spoke, he kept a wary eye on Old Man Huang’s expression, terrified that the man might take offense at what Lu Yao had just said.

Lu Yao glanced at the expressionless face of Old Man Huang, then shifted her gaze back to Father Xu.

"Didn't you just say, Mr. Xu, that I needed to apologize to Young Master Zhao?" Lu Yao asked, stirring the pot. "Why are you suddenly asking me to apologize to Young Master Huang now?"

"With all these arrangements you’re making, who exactly should I apologize to first for it to be considered reasonable?"

"You!"

Father Xu had never expected Lu Yao to use such an innocent-looking face to say such embarrassing things. His complexion turned ghastly, and before he could scold her, Old Man Huang spoke up.

"So that’s how it is."

Old Man Huang’s expression toward Father Xu turned as cold as carved ice. "And here I was wondering why I’d been stood up so suddenly. To think you’d already found another buyer."

A flicker of gloom passed through Old Man Huang’s eyes. "Very well, Mr. Xu. You truly are something else."

"No, Mr. Huang, that’s not it!"

Father Xu felt an overwhelming urge to seal Lu Yao’s mouth shut. "You wretched girl!"

Seeing that his explanation was failing, Father Xu backhanded Lu Yao across the face. The sound was deafening, and within moments, her fair left cheek began to swell. The force of the blow was unmistakable; he had clearly made no effort to hold back.

Lu Yao’s ears rang from the slap, and it wasn't until she heard Father Xu suggesting that Old Man Huang take her away that the world began to sharpen again.

"Mr. Huang, this girl has always been full of tricks," Father Xu said with a fawning smile. "Don't believe a word she says. Once you take her back, be very careful—don't let her deceive you."

"That is no concern of yours, Mr. Xu."

Old Man Huang was not a man who was easily swayed. He had little regard for someone like Father Xu, who had reneged on his word and only crawled back when he realized he had no other options. Even if you agree to marry your daughter to my grandson, that doesn't mean I will grant you the investment.

Old Man Huang had not forgotten Father Xu’s earlier games.

"What are you doing?"

Lu Yao had not expected Old Man Huang to send men to seize her right here at Xiang Zhihua’s jewelry banquet. Her heart raced with sudden, sharp anxiety.

"Girl, be sensible and come with me quietly," Old Man Huang said, his tone as gentle as he could manage, not wanting to cause a scene at Xiang Zhihua’s event. "Otherwise, things might not be so pleasant for you in a moment."

"Yaoyao, don't forget what you promised me," Father Xu added immediately, still desperate for the Huang family’s investment. If he couldn't even handle Old Man Huang, the Xu family would truly be finished.

"Wife! Wife!" Huang Chen, standing beside his grandfather, called out toward Lu Yao as well.

By now, she was completely surrounded by the men Old Man Huang had sent. Even if she wanted to escape, she had no chance. Everyone at the banquet was stunned by the turn of events. It seemed that since Xiang Zhihua had embarrassed Old Man Huang on his birthday, the old man had no outlet for his rage and was now determined to humiliate the Xu family in retaliation.

Lu Yao cast a desperate, pleading look at everyone present, hoping someone would step in to help. But in a room full of strangers at such a high-stakes banquet, who would take such a risk? Unless they were tired of living in Hong Kong, no one would intervene.

Since no one would help, Lu Yao had to save herself. Without hesitation, she kicked out toward the groin of one of the guards, but he was a trained professional; he dodged the attack easily and pinned her arms behind her back.

"Young Master Xiang, should we intervene?"

On the second floor of the hotel, Cheng Gang watched the scene unfold and asked Xiang Zhihua for instructions. Although the Xu family's foster daughter wasn't their target for the day, Old Man Huang had dared to slap Xiang Zhihua in the face in such a public setting. Surely, no one could let that slide.

"Bring her up."

Watching from the second floor for so long, Xiang Zhihua had developed a sliver of interest in this girl. To dare to pour poison into the ears of that old man from the Huang family so brazenly—was she truly fearless, or did she just think the Xu Group wasn't dying fast enough?

Pinned down, Lu Yao’s eyes burned with resentment. She had lived a second life; was she truly unable to change anything? Why was she still so easily captured by the Huang family at such a critical event?

"You cannot take me away, Old Man Huang."

A ruthless glint flashed in Lu Yao’s eyes as she shouted at him, "I am already Young Master Xiang’s woman! I cannot marry your grandson!"

Her words were like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, stirring up a thousand waves. Everyone present gasped in shock. Even a veteran of the business world like Old Man Huang was so stunned that he couldn't speak for a long time.

"Is what you say true?" Old Man Huang asked, his expression growing grave as he regained his composure.

Not far away, Cheng Gang, who was leading his men over, was also shocked. He assumed that Xiang Zhihua, watching from the floor above, must have heard her as well. In all of Hong Kong, who didn't know that after Xiang Zhihua was kidnapped at twelve, losing his legs and an eye, he had rarely appeared in public? As for having a woman by his side—it was unheard of. He wouldn't even let a female mosquito near him.

Was Lu Yao joking? That was why everyone was so bewildered.

"Shut your mouth, Yaoyao!" Father Xu, terrified she would continue and make the situation unrecoverable, scrambled to smooth things over. "Mr. Huang, this girl is lying! She’s just joking with everyone. She’s always been at home—how could she have ever met some 'Young Master Xiang'? Don't listen to her nonsense!"

Father Xu regretted not taping her mouth shut. How could she say such shocking things? Was she trying to drive the Xu family to ruin on purpose?

"I am not lying."

Since the lie was already cast, Lu Yao had no intention of backing down. She gritted her teeth and continued, mixing truth with fabrication: "I spent three days with Young Master Xiang the very first day I arrived in Hong Kong. If you don't believe me, you can ask him to testify!"