Chapter 157: Where Is Our Family’s Blade?

Lu Qingyue had been listening for a while, feeling completely baffled. She couldn't help but interrupt anxiously, "Dad, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Seeing her being sold while still helping count the money, Lu Jiachen sighed silently. He ignored her and turned his attention to Cheng Xingye, speaking calmly once more. "You've seen our home. These are our circumstances. While we can’t compare to your family, we can certainly provide for Dian-dian for the rest of her life."

He paused, set down his teacup, and spoke more plainly. "As parents, we don't really ask for our children to be wealthy or powerful; we only want them to be safe and happy. I’m telling you this because I’m afraid she is too simple-minded and will be bullied in that elite circle of yours."

This was him taking precautions—the most straightforward expression of a father's concern. A vast disparity in family backgrounds is rarely a good thing, and as parents, they naturally had more to worry about. Although Xi Yu had remained silent, she watched him quietly, clearly sharing Lu Jiachen's sentiments.

Cheng Xingye understood their concerns. He turned his gaze to the girl beside him. She was looking up at him, her eyes clear and bright, so pure that one could almost see straight into her soul. She truly looked completely defenseless.

Seeing her gaze, Cheng Xingye felt a pang of tenderness in his heart. He lowered his head and pursed his lips slightly. After a moment of quiet contemplation, he looked up and gave the girl's father a firm and sincere promise: "As long as I am here, no one will be able to bully her."

She was his little moon, the treasure he cherished above all else. As long as he was around, he would never allow anyone to lay a finger on her.

The young Master Cheng had just made this declaration, and seeing his future father-in-law finally showing signs of relenting, the little rascal beside him nudged his leg and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear: "But didn't you bully me last night?"

Cheng Xingye: "..."

...

The meeting proceeded in a relatively harmonious and gentle manner. After the four of them chatted in the living room for a bit, the housekeeper finished preparing dinner. Perhaps because there were distinguished guests, the table was piled high with food, including several of Lu Qingyue’s favorite dishes.

"Sit wherever you like, treat it like your own home," Xi Yu said, helping the housekeeper bring out the dishes and greeting him warmly.

Cheng Xingye replied with a polite "thank you" and was about to find a suitable seat when Lu Qingyue grabbed his arm and pressed him into the chair next to her. Lu Yi saw this, let out a cynical grunt, and sat in the empty seat opposite him, his eyes fixed on him with a malicious glint.

Ever since his sister started dating him, Lu Yi’s attitude had been quite subtle. Sometimes he seemed to be playing matchmaker, and other times he would intentionally interfere, as if terrified that his little cabbage would be snatched away too quickly. For instance, right now, while their parents were away, he lazily raised an eyebrow and reminded them with a meaningful smirk, "Don't do anything indecent under the table! I’m watching you today."

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

Cheng Xingye calmly avoided his gaze and poured a glass of juice for Lu Qingyue. Once everyone was seated, Xi Yu, as the hostess, naturally chimed in, "Help yourself to whatever you’d like, don't be a stranger."

Cheng Xingye agreed. However, since this was a meeting with his future in-laws, he hardly ate, spending most of his time talking with Lu Jiachen and Xi Yu. Lu Qingyue had been burying her head in her food at first, but noticing he hadn't touched his chopsticks, she took advantage of the others not looking and secretly placed a large chicken leg into his bowl. A moment later, she added a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs. Five minutes later, his bowl was filled with spicy shrimp, braised pork, steamed fish, and more...

Lu Jiachen: "..."
Xi Yu: "..."
Lu Yi: "..."
Cheng Xingye: "..."

The family was left speechless, yet Lu Qingyue remained oblivious. As she shoveled down some rice, she suddenly spotted some rare oysters on the other side of the table and immediately served him a portion, whispering solicitously, "Do you want to eat this?"

Lu Jiachen: "........."

The little "cotton-padded jacket" he once had was not only leaking, but it seemed to have been put on someone else entirely. He remained silent for a few seconds, unable to bear watching any longer, and announced he was going to cut some fruit before turning into the kitchen. Xi Yu, seeing that the meal was coming to an end and fearing her presence was making them uncomfortable, also found an excuse to leave the table.

With the parents gone, Lu Qingyue immediately let her guard down. No longer needing to be sneaky, she began feeding him directly with extreme affection.

Cheng Xingye: "..." He glanced at the food being held to his lips and looked at her speechlessly. "Chives and oysters?"

Lu Qingyue looked at him with a meaningful smile. "Eat up, it's good for your stamina."

Cheng Xingye: "..."
Lu Yi: "........"

Having been a "transparent presence" on the sidelines for a while, Lu Yi finally found an opening to interject. He rolled his eyes with a mocking sneer and teased, "Why are you feeding him such supplements? Did you drain him dry last night?"

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

Lu Qingyue choked, stammering, "Brother! That's my privacy, can we not discuss this?"

Lu Yi had only intended to tease them, but he suddenly froze at her response. He looked at the stammering little rascal, then shifted his gaze to the silent dog of a man beside her. Lu Yi knew his sister very well; she wasn't usually the type to be so evasive. And Cheng Xingye was always frank and open, never denying what he had done.

If they were both stammering or staying silent today, what did that mean? It meant someone really had been drained dry last night!

It wasn't that Lu Yi hadn't considered that they might have already slept together, but facing the reality that his sister had been "spoiled" by this dog still felt shocking and hard to accept. He scanned the two of them in disbelief, then suddenly slammed his hand on the table and stood up, storming toward the kitchen with a murderous look.

"Where is our knife?!"