Chapter 156: Congratulations, Your Daughter Is About to Marry into a Wealthy Family

Cheng Xingye seemed to have made a call to someone. When they finished getting ready and headed downstairs, Lu Qingyue noticed he had changed cars.

Usually, he drove a flashy sports coupe, but for today’s visit to the Lu residence, he had switched to a Volkswagen Phaeton so understated it was almost invisible. At a glance, he looked nothing like the heir to a multi-billion dollar corporate empire; he looked more like a salaryman drained dry by ruthless capitalists.

Though puzzled, Lu Qingyue didn't think much of it, pulled the door open, and settled into the passenger seat.

Fifteen minutes later, the car pulled up to the gate of a large villa. When Cheng Xingye opened the trunk and pulled out over a dozen gift bags, she finally understood why he had changed cars. She stood there, bewildered, watching as various bags piled up at the young master’s feet, a small question mark appearing over her head.

"What are all these for?"

Cheng Xingye closed the trunk and replied lazily, "Can't show up empty-handed on my first visit."

In truth, he had prepared these things long ago. He just hadn't known what her father liked, so he had bought some standard cigarettes and liquor. Fearing the brand might not be to his taste, he had simply bought every high-end brand common on the market.

But Lu Qingyue thought, *Isn't this a bit too showy?*

The two bottles of Moutai alone must have cost tens of thousands, not to mention the heap of flashy brands she hadn't even recognized.

Before she could get a clear look at how much he had brought, the main gate opened, and Xi Yu came out to greet them first. "You're here?"

Cheng Xingye, who had been leaning against the car talking to Lu Qingyue, straightened up instinctively at the sound. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Lu."

Ever since he had stayed over last time, Xi Yu had held a very good impression of him. She walked up with a bright smile, but upon seeing the mountain of gift bags at his feet, she exclaimed in surprise, "Just you coming is enough, why bring so many things? You’re very thoughtful!"

Before he could respond, she turned around and shouted toward the house, "Lu Yi! Come out and carry these!"

Cheng Xingye: "....?"
Lu Qingyue: ".....?"

Just like that? Shouldn't there be a bit more polite refusal? In most other households, a prospective mother-in-law would usually offer a few polite pleasantries before accepting. But the word "polite" didn't exist in Xi Yu's dictionary. Otherwise, she wouldn't have raised a daughter with such a thick-skinned personality as Lu Qingyue.

Lu Yi, hearing his mother call from inside the house, threw on a down jacket and stepped out, looking confused. When he saw what he was expected to carry, he raised his eyebrows in silence. "You're calling me for this little bit of stuff? Lu Diandian, are your hands just for show?"

No sooner had he spoken than he received a sharp rap on the head. Xi Yu had stood on her tiptoes to strike him, glaring with dissatisfaction. "Why are you ordering your sister around?! Our Lu family has always had a tradition of favoring the boys—so the boys carry the heavy things, and the girls carry the light ones."

With that, she and Lu Qingyue each picked up a small bag, leaving the dozen heavy ones for Lu Yi, all while warmly ushering Cheng Xingye inside. "Let's go in and sit down! Just let him bring the rest in."

Lu Yi: "..... I shouldn't have been born into this family!"

...

Once the world where only Lu Yi was hurt had been achieved, the other four sat down on the sofa. Of course, the harmony was only skin-deep.

For the Lu family, there was a fundamental difference between raising a daughter and raising a son. A daughter was a little rabbit, and a son was a little brat. Now that their little white rabbit had been targeted, as a father, it was hard to swallow that bitter pill.

From the moment he sat down, Lu Jiachen’s scrutinizing gaze remained fixed on the young man across from him, only shifting away when Xi Yu gave his leg a gentle nudge under the coffee table.

After warning her husband, Xi Yu smiled and pushed a teacup toward Cheng Xingye, starting the conversation casually. "What does your family do?"

Cheng Xingye leaned forward slightly, taking the cup with both hands, his expression calm and composed. "My family runs a company; we do some business."

Seeing his poised and elegant demeanor, and noting the Volkswagen he had driven today, Xi Yu assumed it was just a normally wealthy family. She followed up, "Oh, what kind of company?"

*What kind of company...*

Dingli's reputation was too great; he was afraid of scaring his future mother-in-law. Cheng Xingye rubbed the rim of his teacup, wondering how to respond modestly. But before he could decide, Lu Yi, who had just finished hauling the bags in, panting, chimed in, "His family owns the Dingli Group. Congratulations, your daughter is about to marry into a wealthy family."

The room went silent.

Cheng Xingye had intended to keep a low profile to avoid unnecessary trouble. Now that Lu Yi had spilled all his family background, he had no choice but to sit there awkwardly, observing the reactions across from him with a neutral expression.

Xi Yu was clearly stunned. Who didn't know Dingli, the leading medical device enterprise in the country?

Lu Jiachen, however, remained relatively calm. After a moment of surprise, he turned his gaze toward him. "Dingli Group?"

He gave a seemingly casual smile, as if making small talk. "Coming from a family like yours, don't your parents plan on having you marry into another prominent family?"

He stared intently at his face, watching every micro-expression. If it were a regular company, he wouldn't say much, but the person across from him was the crown prince of the Dingli Group. This was no longer just the "wealthy class." Although free love didn't strictly require matching social status these days, the gap between their families was so vast he feared Lu Qingyue would inevitably be bullied or looked down upon by his family after marriage. He had to probe his true intentions.

Was he just playing around before returning home for a strategic marriage, or was he sincerely pursuing a relationship with marriage in mind? He had to find out for his daughter.

The words "strategic marriage" from his future father-in-law made Cheng Xingye’s heart sink. Even Lu Yi, who had secretly helped set them up, sat quietly by the side, waiting for him to explain.

Cheng Xingye couldn't lie and say his parents had never thought of such things. After all, Dingli's official account had once high-profilely reposted an interview draft from the Ye family, tacitly acknowledging the rumors of a union between the two.

He straightened his back, meeting Lu Jiachen’s gaze squarely, and promised solemnly, "They might have had that intention before, but I can guarantee that they will never have such thoughts again."

He dared to make such a claim partly because he was steadily gaining real power, and partly because of the shift in Guo Mengyun's attitude. He had heard from Xiao He that Guo Mengyun had indeed investigated the Lu family's background privately and had even gone to the Jiang University teaching building to see her. After a few contacts, she seemed to genuinely like Lu Qingyue. Cheng Li’s attitude, however, remained ambiguous; it was still unclear how he felt about this future daughter-in-law.

At his age, Lu Jiachen was not like Lu Qingyue, an innocent little cabbage easily swayed by sweet talk. The old fox narrowed his eyes, staring at him for a few seconds. Seemingly nonchalant and non-committal, he only asked, "Can your word be counted? As far as I know, Mr. Cheng is a man of very firm methods; otherwise, Dingli wouldn't have reached such heights today."

Cheng Xingye pursed his lips in silence, not yet knowing how to answer. Cheng Li’s iron-willed personality was indeed famous throughout the circle. But not everything could be kept firmly in his grasp—such as his son’s heart and his marriage.