âWhat are you talking about?â Qu Zhisheng berated. âQu Lingâer, I only asked you to have a meal with your Uncle Luo, but you beat him up and sent him to the hospital. Youâre really something! Uncle Luo said that as long as you apologize to him in person, he will forgive you this time. Otherwise, he wonât let you off!â
âHmph! Just a meal? How dare you say that!â Qu Lingâer felt a lump in her throat. Even now, he was still lying to her. âQu Zhisheng, you know full well if itâs just a meal or not. Do you think Iâm a fool? Youâre throwing a birthday party for one daughter, but making me accompany that b*stard! Donât you know what kind of person that Luo guy is? Youâ¦â
Qu Zhisheng interrupted her guiltily. âQu Lingâer!â It would be disastrous if someone heard what she said.
âDo you feel ashamed? You sold one of your daughters in exchange for the bright future of the other. Do you think youâre very noble as a father? Do you think that I deserved to be sold by you just because I am very obedient?â
Qu Lingâer might have suffered in silent acquiescence in the past. But today was her birthday; the anniversary of her motherâs death! It was one thing that Qu Zhisheng had been indifferent to her all these years, but now he actually wanted to sell her to an old man in exchange for business. It was really disgusting!
Qu Xinru quickly tried to smooth things over, âQu Lingâer, youâve misunderstood Dad. He sent someone to pick you up, but he couldnât get through to you!â
Qu Lingâer did not believe a single word from the Qu family!
Qu Zhisheng lowered his voice and said, âLetâs go home first. Weâll talk when we get home.â
Qu Xinru echoed, âThatâs right, Qu Lingâer, letâs go home first. There must be some misunderstanding. Dad even bought you a birthday gift todayâ¦â
âThatâs your home, not mine.â Qu Lingâer turned to leave.
âQu Lingâer!â
Qu Xinru frowned and said with a worried face, âQu Lingâer, heâs just graduated from his third year of high school. He canât decide his own life at all. If you fall in love with him, it wonât end wellâ¦â
Hearing this, Qu Zhisheng also chided, âQu Lingâer, are you going back to spend the night with that boy? Youâre really shameless!â
Just as Qu Lingâer was about to retort, someone suddenly came over and looped a hand over her shoulder.
She instinctively thought that it was Old Leopard. Just as she was about to speak, the other party said, âDidnât you say that you would look for me immediately after this is over?â
Qu Lingâer turned to look. ââ¦â This was the man in the wrong car. Why was it him again?!
Luo Yichen could not take it anymore. He lived nearby and was on his way to get supper as he was famished. In the end, he bumped into Qu Lingâer again and overheard their conversation. He was baffledâhow could such a nice young lady have such a family? He was feeling chivalrous again, so he decided to save the damsel in distress.
âWho are you?â Qu Zhisheng questioned bitterly.
Luo Yichen wore a black T-shirt with black sweatpantsâcoupled with a black mask and a black baseball capâhe was dressed in all black.
Qu Lingâer looked at Luo Yichen and suddenly thought of the man she had met after busting up Luo Xiao. So she had already met him three times in a single day?
Luo Yichen had one hand on Qu Lingâerâs shoulder and the other in his pocket. He gave Qu Zhisheng a cold-eyed stare. âStay away from her. Donât touch my girl.â
Qu Lingâer did not want to continue arguing with Qu Zhisheng, so she tugged at Luo Yichenâs sleeve and said, âTake me away.â
Luo Yichen nodded. âAlright. Iâll let him off today for your sake.â
Qu Lingâer: ââ¦â Whatâ¦
Qu Zhisheng watched as Luo Yichen led Qu Lingâer away. He railed angrily, âQu Lingâer, if you are capable, leave and donât ever return to this home!â
Qu Lingâer didnât even turn her head. âGladly!â
Qu Xinru quickly comforted her father. âDad, donât be angry. Qu Lingâerâs household register is still at homeâshe will come back eventuallyâ¦â
Qu Zhisheng gritted his teeth. He could not care less if Qu Lingâer wanted to degrade herself. She was a looker and would always be desired by men. The more she degraded herself, the easier it was to control her!
Qu Lingâer followed Luo Yichen until they were out of the sight of the father-daughter pair. Then, she stopped and pulled away from Luo Yichen. âThank you. Youâve helped me again.â
Looking at the earnest face of the young girl before him, Luo Yichenâs heart softened and he said, âIâm hungry.â
âHuh?â Qu Lingâer looked at Luo Yichen in confusion.