Chapter 27: Stolen Goods Should Not Be Returned

Xu Xingyue’s words successfully led both Mr. and Mrs. Xu to mistakenly believe that Lu Yao was coveting the jade pendant around Xu Xingyue’s neck, which was the reason for their dispute.

Mr. Xu’s face darkened instantly.

"Lu Yao, you really have no shame." Mr. Xu spoke up, his anger boiling over. "I haven't even settled the score with you for what happened last night, and here you are, running back home to act arrogant again. Get on your knees."

Whenever Mr. Xu thought about being forced by Xiang Zhihua to kneel and apologize to Lu Yao in front of so many people the previous night, it felt as though a lump was stuck in his throat, unable to be swallowed or spat out.

Lu Yao looked at Mr. Xu coldly. "Is Mr. Xu trying to regain the face you lost at Young Master Xiang’s jewelry banquet last night by taking it out on me?"

"You!" Mr. Xu glared at Lu Yao, his face flushing with a mix of shame and rage.

"Yaoyao, how can you talk to your father like that?" Mrs. Xu looked at Lu Yao with dissatisfaction. Did this girl really think that because she had latched onto the Xiang family, she could stop showing them any respect? "Apologize to your father at once!"

"Mrs. Xu, my father went to prison three years ago." Lu Yao dodged the hand Mrs. Xu reached out toward her. "May I ask who this 'father' you are referring to is?"

In her past life, Lu Yao’s biological father had been an alcoholic and a gambler. He had gone to the Xu family to extort money, revealing the truth that she and Xu Xingyue had been swapped at birth. However, the Xu family did not let him go; instead, they had him sent to prison on charges of extortion.

"You scoundrel!" Before the look of embarrassment could fade from Mrs. Xu’s face, Mr. Xu raised his hand and struck Lu Yao hard across the face again. "Who gave you permission to question me in that tone?"

Since yesterday, Mr. Xu had been harboring resentment toward Lu Yao, and seeing that she still showed no signs of repentance or admission of guilt, he lashed out again. "Don't think that just because Young Master Xiang backed you up at the banquet yesterday, I wouldn't dare do anything to you. Once you leave the Xu family, you are nothing. You might even live worse than a dog; what do you have to be proud of?"

"Sister Yaoyao, just listen to Mom and apologize to Dad," Xu Xingyue said, a flash of gloating in her eyes. "Don't be so stubborn." Continuing this stalemate would bring her no benefit; instead, she would only end up suffering more.

"Give me back the jade pendant!" Lu Yao couldn't be bothered to argue with this family of lunatics. All she wanted now was to take the pendant off Xu Xingyue’s neck and leave. Everything else was secondary.

"Mom!" Xu Xingyue pulled on Mrs. Xu’s sleeve, looking nervous, hoping she would step in and say something.

Mrs. Xu patted her hand to soothe her, then looked at Lu Yao with a complex expression. "Yaoyao, if you really like jade ornaments, I can buy you one."

They couldn't afford to completely alienate Lu Yao. Based on how Mr. Xu had returned the previous night, it seemed Lu Yao had indeed attached herself to Young Master Xiang. If they could use her to get the Xiang family to invest in their business, it wouldn't be a bad thing—it was better than putting all their eggs in one basket.

"Why must you snatch things from Xingyue?" Mrs. Xu said, trying to maintain her patience. "She has a weak constitution and has only been by our side for a few years. Why can't you be more understanding of us?"

"Understanding whom?"

Cheng Gang, who had been waiting at the entrance for a long time, saw that Lu Yao had not yet emerged from the Xu residence, so he got out of the car to check on her. He wanted to see if it was because there were too many things that Miss Lu was taking so long. He hadn't expected to overhear exactly what Mrs. Xu had just said.

Mr. and Mrs. Xu were startled by the voice at the door. "Assistant Cheng!" Mr. Xu called out immediately.

"Miss Lu!" Cheng Gang didn't pay him any mind. As soon as he walked in, he clearly saw the five finger marks imprinted on Lu Yao’s fair face. His brow furrowed instantly. "What is the meaning of this?" Wasn't Miss Lu just here to pack her things? Why was she injured?

A flash of panic crossed Mr. Xu’s face. "Why are you here, Assistant Cheng?" At that moment, Mr. Xu hadn't connected Cheng Gang with Lu Yao. The angry expression on his face vanished, replaced by a fawning smile, looking every bit the opportunist.

Cheng Gang looked suspiciously at Lu Yao. "Did Miss Lu not tell you? Young Master Xiang asked me to come back to accompany Miss Lu while she packs her things to move into his place."

The expressions of Mr. and Mrs. Xu froze simultaneously. Both had been too focused on standing up for Xu Xingyue to consider why Lu Yao had returned from the Xiang residence so quickly. Now, hearing Cheng Gang’s words, they immediately understood that Lu Yao had truly gained favor with Young Master Xiang. They were struck with shock!

"Did you hear that? Give me back the jade pendant. Don't make me say it a third time!" Lu Yao’s gaze remained fixed on Xu Xingyue.

Mr. Xu’s face turned unsightly for a moment. "Stop this nonsense, Yaoyao." Because Cheng Gang was in the living room, Mr. Xu couldn't vent his anger directly at Lu Yao and had to lower his voice to scold her. "Don't you see there is a guest in the living room? Don't make a spectacle of yourself." He turned to Cheng Gang with a smile, trying to cover up their earlier dispute over the pendant. "I apologize, Assistant Cheng. These two sisters are used to acting up."

Lu Yao did not let Mr. Xu have his way. "I am not acting up. Xu Xingyue stole my jade pendant; shouldn't it be returned?"

"What jade pendant?" Lu Yao’s serious demeanor caught Cheng Gang’s attention. His primary task was to accompany Miss Lu to collect her belongings. Could it be that something of hers had been taken?

Mr. Xu glared at Lu Yao. "There is no jade pendant. What are you talking about?" He smiled, attempting to explain to Cheng Gang, "Assistant Cheng, don't listen to her nonsense. Yaoyao, the jade pendant around Xingyue’s neck is something she has worn since she was a child. Where would you get a jade pendant? Do you even have any money? If you like one, we will take you to buy one tomorrow. Stop making a scene here." He was worried about being embarrassed.

"That's right, Yaoyao. This pendant belongs to Xingyue; please stop fighting her for it, okay?" Mrs. Xu’s words made it sound as if Lu Yao was being intentionally unreasonable and making a scene.

"Assistant Cheng, can you do me a favor?" Lu Yao looked at Cheng Gang beside her and asked lightly.

A sharp glint flashed in Cheng Gang’s eyes. "Please, Miss Lu."

"Help me take the jade pendant off her neck." Lu Yao pointed suddenly toward Xu Xingyue. Since they wanted to rely on their numbers to bully her, she wouldn't mind letting Cheng Gang retrieve it for her personally.

"Very well!" Understanding dawned in Cheng Gang’s eyes, and he nodded in agreement without hesitation.

Mr. Xu’s face changed drastically. "Yaoyao, don't be willful. How can you let Assistant Cheng intervene in a matter between you and Xingyue? Assistant Cheng, please don't listen to her."