Plunder-Chapter 353: Approaching the Truth

"Xiaolu!"

Zhu Jingxuan waved at Xiaolu.

His face was all smiles, his slightly plump figure stood tall and straight, and it was clear that he had been handsome in his youth.

Xiaolu stood still, looking at this blood-related man with a sense of unfamiliarity.

"Xiaolu, it’s really great to see you again."

Zhu Jingxuan approached Xiaolu.

"What’s the matter?"

Xiaolu’s hands were in her pockets, and her body instinctively stepped back; she coldly put distance between them.

Zhu Jingxuan immediately realized it, the smile on his face paused, replaced by a look of guilt.

"Xiaolu, Dad is sorry. It was Dad’s fault back then. Dad shouldn’t have abandoned you and your mom. If you don’t want to forgive Dad, Dad can understand. Dad is old now and just wants to use the rest of his life to make it up to you."

Xiaolu laughed.

It was as if she had heard a massive joke.

"Make it up? What can you make up to me?"

Xiaolu asked mockingly.

Zhu Jingxuan seemed not to catch the mocking tone; he still counted on his well-laid plans.

"Xiaolu, no matter what, you are my flesh and blood. Dad will prove it to you with actions. However, Dad has a small request. Dad hopes you can give me a chance, not shut me out completely, okay?"

He began making requests to Xiaolu.

Xiaolu just looked at him, saying nothing.

But her gaze was piercing; Zhu Jingxuan felt guilty, and after making eye contact with Xiaolu for a while, he lost the standoff.

"It’s like this, Dad wants to have a meal with you tomorrow. How about it? You have a younger brother; he’s a little younger than you. Dad wants you to meet each other; in the future, you two can look out for each other."

Xiaolu remembered Sister Rong’s words; she warned Xiaolu to stay away from Zhu Jingxuan.

Yet somehow, Xiaolu smiled and agreed, "Alright."

Seeing Xiaolu agree, Zhu Jingxuan was overjoyed.

He rubbed his hands together excitedly, "Then it’s settled. Dad has made a reservation and will let you know right away. Xiaolu, seeing you again, Dad is so happy. I didn’t expect my daughter to have grown up so much and to be so beautiful."

Zhu Jingxuan’s calculating eyes began to size up Xiaolu.

She looked at Zhu Jingxuan expressionlessly, "I have something else to do, I’ll be going now." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

She turned around and immediately left Zhu Jingxuan’s side.

As soon as Xiaolu left, Zhu Jingxuan returned to his Mercedes.

In the back seat sat a glamorous woman.

"Will she agree?"

Yu Lingling asked sadly.

Zhu Jingxuan sighed heavily, "Whether she agrees or not, we must try. She’s our only way out now. No matter the cost, I have to keep Yangyang alive."

Early the next morning, while Xiaolu was still in a dream, Zhu Jingxuan’s phone call came.

"Xiaolu, Dad has sent the location for lunch later to your mobile phone. Remember to come early, your brother is so happy to hear that you’re coming."

"Got it."

Xiaolu responded to him with her usual indifference.

Sister Rong told Zhou Chucheng to help investigate, but she wasn’t sure if Zhou Chucheng could find out the truth.

There’s a saying, "No venture, no gain," so she decided to go along with the plan and get closer to Zhu Jingxuan to find out what he really wants.

This so-called family banquet was set for noon at Jinhua Hotel.

Xiaolu arrived half an hour later than the agreed time.

She had just reached the hotel entrance when she saw Zhu Jingxuan anxiously waiting there.

"Xiaolu, you’re finally here. Your Aunt Lingling and your brother have been waiting, let’s go to the private room."

Xiaolu didn’t speak but followed Zhu Jingxuan inside.

The door to the private room opened, and inside sat a middle-aged woman dressed glamorously, who looked much younger than Sister Rong, with a delicately maintained face.

"Xiaolu, come in."

Yu Lingling stood up, her face lit with a welcoming smile. She pulled out a chair beside her, gesturing for Xiaolu to sit.

Xiaolu’s gaze swept over Yu Lingling, ignoring her hospitality.

Instead, she pulled a nearby chair and plopped down.

Yu Lingling stood awkwardly in place, her eyes turning to Zhu Jingxuan.

"This spot is quite good; Xiaolu, just sit here."

Zhu Jingxuan forced a laugh.

Across from Xiaolu sat a man whose physique and age seemed seriously mismatched.

Logically, he couldn’t be much younger than Xiaolu.

Yet, he looked too frail, his face as pale as paper.

His whole presence emitted a sickly air, causing a gut feeling of discomfort in anyone who saw him.

"Yangyang, this is your sister Xiaolu."

Zhu Jingxuan took the initiative to introduce Xiaolu to Zhu Chenyang.

"Hello, Sister, I’m Yangyang."

The man spoke with a childlike innocence as if he were a seven or eight-year-old child.

At that moment, Xiaolu was certain that Zhu Chenyang’s intelligence might not be normal.

Indeed, Zhu Jingxuan confirmed it for her.

"Yangyang had a severe illness as a child. A high fever damaged his brain, so his intelligence will always remain at the age of eight," he explained.

Xiaolu remained silent, but her gaze towards Zhu Chenyang suddenly became complex.

This man, who had stolen her father’s love from her since childhood, this man who lived a seemingly normal life despite his abnormality—she was supposed to hate him.

But Xiaolu found that she could not hate him.

"Xiaolu, have some dishes. Auntie didn’t know what you liked, so I just ordered some at random," said Yu Lingling as she got up and used the serving chopsticks to offer Xiaolu some food.

As Yu Lingling was about to place the food into Xiaolu’s bowl, Xiaolu blocked her with a hand.

"No need, I can do it myself."

She again chose to reject.

This woman who had stolen her mother’s husband, Xiaolu was not planning to show her any kindness.

Yu Lingling froze there, while Zhu Jingxuan hurriedly picked up Zhu Chenyang’s bowl, "You serve Yangyang, Xiaolu is used to being independent."

She’s used to being independent?

When Xiaolu heard this, it felt as if her heart was pricked by a needle.

She had been fatherless since a young age. Other kids had fathers, but she did not. Therefore, when she went to school, she was often bullied, and people called her a wild child.

There was never a man’s embrace where she could act spoiled; when she cried in grievance, Sister Rong would only tell her to be strong.

"Sister, eat."

Zhu Chenyang picked up a shrimp ball with his chopsticks and extended it toward Xiaolu.

He sat there, seemingly unable to stand up.

With such a distance between them, he could only lift the shrimp ball unless Xiaolu stood up herself; otherwise, the shrimp ball would not reach her bowl.

"Yangyang, Sister will serve herself," Zhu Jingxuan said.

Yet, Zhu Chenyang, as if he hadn’t heard it, stubbornly held onto the shrimp ball.

"I’ll serve Sister."

Yu Lingling’s gaze shifted back and forth between Zhu Chenyang and Xiaolu.

She was a clever woman, knowing this was not the time to speak much.

Xiaolu stood up.

She reached out her bowl, and the shrimp ball landed in it.

"Yangyang is great!" Zhu Jingxuan cheered for Zhu Chenyang, giving him a thumbs up.

It was the simplest act, yet he received praise from his father.

And she? She had grown up under Sister Rong’s suppression, only occasionally receiving praise by proving herself.

Her heart was very uncomfortable; she accepted the shrimp ball, but she did not eat it.

This family dinner left Xiaolu with mixed feelings.

She had not cared about not having a father, but in this world, it’s not the lack but the inequality that hurts.

Seeing Zhu Jingxuan’s care for Zhu Chenyang, she couldn’t hide the pain in her heart.

After dinner, Xiaolu proposed to leave.

"Sister, let me take you."

Zhu Chenyang volunteered to accompany Xiaolu.

Zhu Jingxuan immediately set Zhu Chenyang in his wheelchair and pushed him outside.

Zhu Chenyang suddenly reached out and grabbed Xiaolu’s hand, "Sister."

He called out again, his voice childlike and milky.

Xiaolu instinctively shook him off.

Zhu Chenyang was ill, but still, he was a man in his twenties; regardless of his childish demeanor, she couldn’t view him as a child.

Fortunately, Zhu Chenyang did not mind.

"Get in the car, I’ll take you home," Zhu Jingxuan offered to take Xiaolu home, and she did not refuse.

"Goodbye, Sister."

Zhu Chenyang waved his arms, bidding her farewell.

Xiaolu got into Zhu Jingxuan’s car.

The car headed straight for the hospital. On the way, Xiaolu kept silent while Zhu Jingxuan started making intermittent conversation with her.

"Yangyang was very smart and sensible as a child. If it hadn’t been for that accident, he would never have ended up like this. I often think if it was because I made mistakes back then, and if Heaven wanted to punish me, it should target me, not Yangyang. He is innocent," he said.

Xiaolu did not intend to join in on this topic.

"Xiaolu, you can choose not to forgive your father, but both you and Yangyang are your father’s children, we are a family. Yangyang likes you very much, and your dad hopes you can like him too."