Chapter 6: Well Struck!

It was Lu Feng who had broken his promise to Tian Chuying, causing her to lose face in front of everyone. Yet, after a few words from him, he appeared upright, noble, and beyond reproach, while Tian Chuying was reduced to the villain.

Tian Chuying felt something was amiss, but she could not put her finger on what exactly. Facing Lu Feng’s handsome, almost radiant face, the grievances in her heart were smoothed away bit by bit. She nodded and said, "It’s my sister who is being too difficult; this isn't your fault. But why did you say there is nothing between us? You personally told me last night that we could be together. Have you forgotten that?"

Last night, Tian Chuying had scrubbed herself clean with five buckets of water, dressed up, and snuck out to find Lu Feng. Having been reborn, she was bold and passionate. Lu Feng had seen delicate, soft, fierce, and beautiful women, but this was his first encounter with such uninhibited behavior, and he felt a stir of attraction.

"I haven't forgotten. But we haven't officially started yet, and with so many people watching, I had to clarify things to save your sister some face."

Tian Chuying pressed, "Then, setting those matters aside, are we a couple now?"

Lu Feng looked troubled. "Chuying, I haven't told my mother yet. It would be deceitful to start without speaking to her first. I need to get her approval."

Tian Chuying’s face darkened. "You don't want to take responsibility for me?" They had been intimate last night, after all.

Lu Feng replied, "That’s not what I meant..."

Not far away, Tian Xiang watched them with cold eyes. It seemed the fool, Tian Chuying, had no intention of falling out with the scumbag; she was completely bewitched. One was willing to hit, and the other was willing to take the blow. Fine, let them be locked in their own misery. With a roll of her eyes, Tian Xiang walked away.

Hu Honglian, who had been blocked in the lobby, heard that her daughter was safe and rushed in to find her. The two met in the hallway. "Xiangxiang, my sweet girl, are you alright? Are you hurt?" Hu Honglian pinched her daughter’s shoulders, looking her over.

Tian Xiang shook her head. "Mom, I’m fine."

The mother and daughter went to the outer lobby and sat in the waiting area. Hu Honglian took out a wrapped lunchbox, and Tian Xiang quickly briefed her on the situation.

"You slapped Lu Feng!" Hu Honglian was shocked. That was fierce—it reminded her of herself in her younger years.

Tian Xiang didn't know how to explain the scumbag situation, so she simply said, "Mom, Lu Feng is a hypocrite and a bad person. He deserved it."

Hu Honglian nodded. "Well done!"

My daughter is a reasonable person; even if she scolds someone, she has a good reason for it, let alone hitting them. Hu Honglian took out a spoon. "You must be starving. Eat first, then we’ll leave." It was nearly one o'clock, and Tian Xiang was indeed hungry. The braised pork with preserved vegetables from the Sanli Alley Bridge Restaurant was tender and not greasy, and it tasted divine with plain white rice.

As Tian Xiang ate, Hu Honglian said smugly to the two young women at the reception desk, "I told you my daughter wouldn't hit people for no reason. Since they aren't pressing charges, it must mean the other party was in the wrong..."

Earlier, when Hu Honglian had tried to find her daughter, she had even shown them her "Excellent Employee" badge, but they still refused to let her in, making it seem like her daughter had committed a grave crime, which had sent Hu Honglian into a frenzy. Now that everything was fine, she was triumphant.

The two girls smiled awkwardly but couldn't help but gossip internally. *Not hitting people for no reason?* She had walked up and slapped him across the face without saying a word. It was only because Lu Feng was a good person who let it go once things were cleared up that this hadn't escalated further. Because Lu Feng frequently published poems and articles in the *Red Star Daily*, he was a local celebrity in the Red Five Street area, and many young women knew him.

Hu Honglian didn't realize the girls were rolling their eyes at her. Seeing them stay silent, she felt even more smug.

Tian Xiang noticed. "Mom, come over here."

"Coming."

Just as Hu Honglian turned to go to her daughter, she bumped straight into Lu Feng, who was approaching the lobby. The twenty-two-year-old was sporting a side-parted hairstyle, wearing glasses, and dressed in a shirt with green military-style trousers. Standing at five-foot-ten, he looked clean, refreshing, and was the type of man who easily charmed mothers-in-law.

The more Hu Honglian looked at him, the more she felt it was a pity. If Old Lady Liu could introduce such a fine young man to her daughter, then all the clothes she had made for her over the past two years were worth it. It was just... Hu Honglian gritted her teeth, hating that wretch Tian Chuying even more. Fortunately, with this scene, it would be impossible for Tian Chuying to marry into the Lu family. She just wondered which family would end up with such a good son-in-law.

Hu Honglian had no idea that Lu Feng was a philandering "Chen Shimei." She just thought he was perfect, as if he were glowing with gold. What a waste. She sighed, knowing it wasn't meant to be, but Lu Feng took the initiative to walk over and call out to her.

"Auntie, you’re Comrade Tian Xiang’s mother, right?"

"Oh! How did you know?" Hu Honglian had seen him once before but had kept her distance, only watching from afar.

Lu Feng smiled. "You two look very much alike, especially the eyes." Large, bright, with long, curled lashes.

Hu Honglian crossed her arms. "Yes, and what of it?" Her daughter had just slapped him, and she still held some hostility toward him.

Lu Feng bowed to her. "Auntie, yesterday’s events caused negative repercussions and hurt both you and Comrade Tian Xiang. I am here to offer my sincere apology."

*An apology!* Hu Honglian was startled. She had expected him to complain about her daughter’s violence and demand compensation. Who knew he would come to apologize?

Hu Honglian asked, "Are you serious?"

Lu Feng smiled. "Of course. Although I only learned of the situation afterward, the damage was done. As one of the parties involved, I failed to notice the problem in time, and I bear joint responsibility. Auntie, if you have any needs, feel free to come to me. If I can, I will do my best to make amends."

*Make amends!* My goodness, listen to him. Hu Honglian was overjoyed. Lu Feng was actually a very good man! It seemed yesterday’s incident wasn't his fault at all; it was all Tian Chuying’s deception.

"Oh my, so it was all a misunderstanding. Since everyone was deceived, maybe we could..." *Maybe we could reconsider the match!* With just a small apology, Hu Honglian was tempted again.

Fortunately, she didn't say it out loud. Tian Xiang, who had been burying her head in her food, sensed something was wrong. She looked up, startled, and immediately put down her spoon.

"Mom, what are you saying to him!" Tian Xiang was terrified. Facing a master manipulator, she was afraid her mother would be played by this scumbag.

Hu Honglian replied cheerfully, "It's nothing. Little Lu is very sensible; we just chatted a bit." Even though she had the urge to restart the match-making, she knew she had to check with her daughter first. She had been a bit impulsive just now, and thankfully, her daughter had interrupted before she could finish her thought. Hu Honglian beamed, her loving gaze shifting back and forth between Tian Xiang and Lu Feng.

As a mother and daughter, how could Tian Xiang not understand? She nearly jumped up, so angry she wanted to roar at the scumbag, "Why did you come over here to bother my mother? Get lost, right now!!!"