Chapter 14: Climbing the Social Ladder

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Xu’s father’s words were almost pointing directly at Lu Yao’s nose, urging her to marry that fool from the Huang family.

“Isn’t this invitation for Xu Xingyue?”

Lu Yao was not stupid. She picked up the invitation list on the table and glanced at it. It clearly stated in bold characters: “Third Miss of the Xu Family.”

She no longer had any ties with the Xu family, so everyone knew very well who the “Third Miss” referred to.

“Are you asking me to take Xu Xingyue’s place?”

Lu Yao’s question was blunt, without any attempt to hide her feelings.

In her previous life, when she returned to the Xu family, Xu’s father had been eager to take her to the Huang family.

Even if she had refused and resisted, in the end, she could not escape being married off to the Huang family, replacing Xu Xingyue.

In this lifetime, although many things had changed, the matter of her replacing Xu Xingyue was still happening.

Couldn’t things be different this time?

“You are already part of our Xu family,” Xu’s father said irritably to Lu Yao. “What’s this talk about replacing someone else?”

The Xu family had raised her for fifteen years; it was not for nothing.

Even if it meant her taking Xu Xingyue’s place to die, it was deserved.

What’s wrong with her replacing Xu Xingyue?

In fact, it was a blessing she had earned in her past life.

“That’s right, Yao Yao, didn’t your mother tell you before? You will always be our daughter.”

Xu’s mother glanced at her husband and quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “There’s no such thing as replacing someone else. Don’t overthink it!”

Lu Yao sneered coldly.

Was she the one overthinking?

Wasn’t this just the hypocritical and cruel nature of the Xu family?

When they needed her, she was their daughter; when they didn’t, she was less than livestock.

The Xu family was just that fickle.

“I can agree to this.”

Lu Yao understood clearly that even if she refused, the Xu family would not let her off so easily.

In fact, they would resort to all sorts of dirty tricks.

Hadn’t she suffered enough from this in her past life?

Since that was the case, why suffer through it again?

“But you must agree to one condition of mine!”

Xu’s father and mother were momentarily stunned. They had worried that Lu Yao might refuse.

They were already thinking about how to force her to marry into the Huang family if she refused, fulfilling their agreement with the Huangs and securing their investment in the Xu Corporation.

But unexpectedly, Lu Yao agreed so readily.

This made both Xu’s father and mother breathe a sigh of relief.

However, when Lu Yao mentioned her condition, Xu’s father frowned.

“Speak!”

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Xu’s father pondered for a long time. Although he was displeased that Lu Yao would make demands, he understood the saying: “You can’t catch the wolf without letting go of the lamb.”

Since Lu Yao was willing to agree so readily, there was no need to ruin things over minor issues.

As long as her request was reasonable and not excessive, what harm could it do for the Xu family to agree?

After all, the greatest beneficiary would still be the Xu family.

With this in mind, Xu’s father’s remaining resentment vanished.

“On the day of the banquet, I hope no one will keep watch over me.”

In her past life, the Xu family had feared she would run away, so they kept someone watching her twenty-four hours a day.

Whenever she even thought about escaping, they would drag her before Xu’s father.

This time, since Lu Yao was attending voluntarily, the Xu family had no reason to monitor her.

That way, she could prepare to save herself during the banquet.

Xu’s father was taken aback. He had indeed planned to have someone watch her.

On the day of the Huang family banquet, with so many people around, to ensure the plan’s success, he had to keep an eye on Lu Yao.

But seeing her resistance, he knew he could not openly oppose her.

“Fine!”

He would not openly assign someone to watch her, but secretly it would be another matter.

As long as Lu Yao didn’t find out, who could prove that he hadn’t sent someone to monitor and follow her in secret?

*

In the kitchen, Aunt Wu could not help but advise Lu Yao after thinking about what she had just endured in the living room.

“Miss Yao Yao, why are you so foolish?”

“That Huang family is no good place—why did you agree to attend?”

Mr. and Mrs. Xu were truly heartless.

Although Lu Yao was not their biological daughter, they had raised her for fifteen years.

Aunt Wu had some understanding of the eldest son in the Huang family.

He was not only foolish but also fond of violence.

If Lu Yao was married off to the Huang family, it would be like throwing her into a fire pit.

Lu Yao’s face bore a detached smile.

“It’s alright, Aunt Wu. It’s all in the past.”

No matter the grievances and fears, hadn’t she already experienced worse in Baiyan Village last life?

She was only attending a banquet and had never agreed to marry that foolish son of the Huang family.

As for the alliance between the Huang and Xu families, whoever the Xu family wanted to marry off was their business, not hers.

In the end, she definitely wouldn’t be the one married into the Huang family.

Seeing Lu Yao’s indifferent attitude, Aunt Wu’s concern deepened.

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If this were her own child, how could she allow her to suffer so much?

She felt heartbroken beyond words.

“Why don’t you try pleading with Mr. Xu again?”

Aunt Wu hesitated before speaking. “After all, they raised you for fifteen years; perhaps there’s still some affection.”

Everyone in their circle knew what kind of person the eldest son of the Huang family was.

He had already killed several girls who were married into the family.

If Miss Yao Yao got entangled with him, she would surely have no happy days ahead.

The thought made Aunt Wu worry even more.

Lu Yao smiled faintly without replying.

The matter was settled and would not change.

Even if she wanted to back out, Xu Shenghai would never agree.

It was better to use this banquet as an opportunity to find a reliable supporter.

In the future, the Xu family would no longer be able to manipulate her at will.

With this realization, Lu Yao’s mood lightened from the initial heaviness.

“Aunt Wu, you’d better go buy the vegetables quickly.”

Taking the dishcloth from Aunt Wu’s hand, Lu Yao began to busy herself, urging her on.

“Let me clean up here.”

Sigh!

Aunt Wu sighed deeply.

Her heart was filled with unspeakable sorrow.

Such a good girl—how could she have encountered so many troubles?

*

“Dad, are you really going to let Lu Yao take Xingyue’s place at the Huang family’s birthday banquet?”

In the afternoon, Xu Yanran returned from work and, upon hearing that her father planned to bring Lu Yao to attend the Huang patriarch’s sixtieth birthday, found it hard to believe.

“Did Lu Yao agree to this?”

This shortsighted man couldn’t really think the Huang family was some paradise, could he?

Who in this circle didn’t know that every time the Huang patriarch held a birthday banquet, he would pick a granddaughter-in-law for his foolish grandson?

How many times had this happened now?

The fifth time, wasn’t it?

That meant the four previous chosen brides had already been sacrificed.

That was why at this banquet, everyone was scrambling to hide their daughters.

Yet Lu Yao was recklessly rushing toward danger.

Clearly, she was desperate, trying to climb the social ladder.