Chapter 371: I’m not! I didn’t!

That was a middle-aged man, slightly overweight, with a square face, looking extremely serious.

Hu Lianglu’s expression was cold as she sat silently, listening to the man speak.

Liu Manman poked Xia Yu’s shoulder: “Didn’t expect that Liangliang would go for older men.”

Xia Yu turned his head to stare at Liu Manman.

“What!” Liu Manman felt somewhat uneasy under his gaze.

“Didn’t expect you to be such an idiot,” Xia Yu replied.

“Who are you calling an idiot!” Liu Manman slapped the table.

Before Xia Yu could explain, he noticed a new situation developing at Hu Lianglu’s table.

A middle-aged woman also arrived at Hu Lianglu’s table, and upon seeing Hu Lianglu, her face darkened.

The three chatted for a while before starting to argue.

Liu Manman excitedly poked Xia Yu again: “They’re arguing, arguing! The original wife and the mistress are arguing!”

Her gleeful expression annoyed Xia Yu, who grabbed her face.

“You’ve played with Hu Lianglu several times, aren’t you being too happy about this?” Xia Yu asked Liu Manman.

“Where did I show happiness!” Liu Manman slapped Xia Yu’s hand away. “Isn’t it normal for the original wife to catch them? After a few days of waves, they’ll forget everything and start anew!”

Xia Yu couldn’t help frowning, looking Liu Manman up and down: “Didn’t expect you to be this kind of Liu Manman.”

“I’m not this kind of person. I just have a childhood friend who likes playing this game, so I have experience,” Liu Manman patted Xia Yu’s thigh, telling him to keep quiet as another situation developed.

Looking toward Hu Lianglu, Xia Yu saw the three arguing more fiercely. Earlier, due to the distance, Xia Yu couldn’t hear what they were saying, but now their volume was loud enough to reach him.

“…We work hard outside for what? How can you be so ununderstanding…”

“…What am I to you, a dog? You pet me when you’re happy and feed me, but when you’re busy, you just leave me aside to survive on my own…”

After listening to a few sentences, Liu Manman tilted her head toward Xia Yu, signaling with her eyes: seems like it’s not a love triangle?

Xia Yu responded with the same eye language: You’re such an idiot.

Standing up, Liu Manman was about to act, but recalling Xia Yu’s strength, she silently sat back down.

She continued watching Hu Lianglu’s situation.

The three’s argument attracted the waiter, and under the waiter’s reminder, Hu’s father looked around, noticing everyone staring at him, his face becoming even more embarrassed.

“Let’s go, outside!” he said to Hu Lianglu.

The three walked outside and continued arguing.

Xia Yu and Liu Manman moved to a position closer to the glass wall to observe their situation.

“Should we go help?” Liu Manman asked Xia Yu.

“How do you plan to help? Go beat them up?” Xia Yu asked.

Liu Manman didn’t speak; she didn’t know how to help either.

She had already determined that the middle-aged man and woman were Hu Lianglu’s parents, and their family matters were hard for outsiders to help with.

However, while helping was difficult, stopping the argument was relatively simple.

Liu Manman watched closely, seeing if Hu Lianglu could handle it. If not, she would go pull Hu Lianglu away.

The three argued for another three minutes before the situation escalated further. Hu’s father started grabbing Hu Lianglu’s arm, trying to make her obey, while Hu Lianglu resisted.

Liu Manman immediately sensed something was wrong. She pulled Xia Yu and rushed outside: “Quickly, it looks like it’s going to get physical.”

“Don’t worry, Hu Lianglu will be fine,” Xia Yu also quickened his pace outward.

Hu Lianglu would be fine, but Hu’s father might be in trouble.

After all, Hu Lianglu learned underhanded moves and didn’t know how to control her strength.

Xia Yu and Liu Manman were still a step too late. Hu’s father, with a bad temper, had already taken the wrong path.

After tugging with Hu Lianglu for a couple of seconds, facing the onlookers’ gazes, Hu’s father’s anger flared. He forcefully pulled Hu Lianglu’s arm: “Today, whether you want to or not, you’re coming home with us!”

“I won’t go!” Hu Lianglu was no longer the weakling who couldn’t even defeat a physically weak hooligan. She twisted her arm and broke free from Hu’s father’s grip.

“Don’t come looking for me anymore!” Hu Lianglu stepped backward.

This made Hu’s father, who had just issued a threat, lose face. Seeing the onlookers pointing and whispering, his anger surged. He took two large steps forward and reached out to slap Hu Lianglu’s head.

The surrounding onlookers couldn’t help but cry out.

Hu’s father, as an overweight middle-aged man with a thick waist and broad shoulders, versus Hu Lianglu, a slim high school student—how could she withstand a direct slap to the back of her head?

Fortunately, Hu Lianglu had been on guard. Hearing the onlookers’ cries, she ducked to avoid Hu’s father’s slap, skillfully turned around, and kicked out.

These actions had become second nature to Hu Lianglu. By the time she realized what she had done, Hu’s father was already on his knees, clutching his crotch.

Although Hu Lianglu had pulled back most of her strength at the last moment, the remaining bit was still enough to temporarily incapacitate Hu’s father. He slowly collapsed to the ground, his mind recalling the sound of his wife cracking eggs that morning.

After a couple of seconds, Hu’s mother, who had been shocked, finally reacted. She let out a scream and rushed to Hu’s father’s side.

Raising her handbag, Hu’s mother started hitting Hu’s father: “You bastard, do you want to kill Lulu!”

Although Hu’s mother had started the argument, she only intended to scold Hu Lianglu and pressure her into returning home, never expecting any physical confrontation. Recalling Hu’s father’s full-force attempt just now, Hu’s mother couldn’t imagine what would have happened to her daughter if that slap had landed.

“What are you doing!” Hu’s father grabbed his wife’s bag, glaring angrily at her.

“You dare glare at me!” Hu’s mother then stomped on Hu’s father’s leg with her foot.

She was wearing high heels, and Hu’s father experienced pain no less than what Hu Lianglu had just delivered.

As Hu’s mother prepared to stomp a second time, Liu Manman, who had arrived, held her back: “Auntie, calm down, calm down.”

While holding Hu’s mother back, Liu Manman “accidentally” stepped on Hu’s father’s hand.

Hu’s father’s face twitched, but he couldn’t say anything.

Xia Yu also pulled Hu Lianglu away. After separating the three, there was a moment of silence.

Finally, Xia Yu coughed: “Uncle, Auntie, what are you doing?”

Although Xia Yu had overheard the entire story, he still pretended not to know.

As the pain gradually subsided, Hu’s father’s anger also slowly faded.

Recalling his actions just now, he felt somewhat frightened, but he didn’t show any regret, maintaining a cold face: “Come to take this troublemaking girl home!”

“I won’t go back,” Hu Lianglu replied coldly.

“I’m your father!” Hu’s father shouted.

“I’m still your mother!” Hu Lianglu instinctively retorted. She only realized afterward that Hu’s father wasn’t actually cursing her.

Hu’s father pointed at Hu Lianglu, his hand trembling with rage.

His anger surged, and he started walking toward Hu Lianglu again.

Hu Lianglu shifted her legs, assuming a stance suitable for attacking.

Looking at the foot that had just kicked him, Hu’s father recalled the delicious eggs from that morning and silently suppressed his anger.

With nothing more to say, he pretended to be aloof, acting as if he didn’t want to speak.

At this moment, Hu’s mother spoke: “Lulu, it’s almost New Year. Come back with us.”

“I won’t go back,” Hu Lianglu’s tone wasn’t as confrontational toward her mother as it had been toward her father, but it was still firm.

“That’s your home!” Hu’s mother’s tone, which had softened, became sharp again.

“That’s not my home,” Hu Lianglu’s tone also sharpened.

“If that’s not your home, where is?” Hu’s mother was about to confront Hu Lianglu but was held back by Liu Manman.

Hu’s father, not being held back, took a couple of steps forward, but the lingering pain made him stop.

“Yeah, where else is your home!” Hu’s father could only respond verbally.

Hu Lianglu turned her head to look at Xia Yu.

Xia Yu instinctively felt something was wrong and wanted to dodge, but there was nowhere to hide nearby.

Indeed, Hu Lianglu raised her hand, pointing at Xia Yu: “Ask him!”

Hu Lianglu had originally planned to answer An Siyao’s house, but she realized her parents didn’t know An Siyao, so this explanation wouldn’t resolve the trouble. Therefore, she shifted the responsibility to Xia Yu. She didn’t realize that this response had significant issues.

Hu’s father and mother immediately turned their gaze to Xia Yu. Hu’s mother hesitantly asked, “Do you know each other?”

“We’re friends,” Liu Manman answered for Xia Yu.

“Oh,” Hu’s father and mother nodded. They had assumed Xia Yu and Liu Manman were helpful strangers, not friends with their daughter.

They sorted out the situation: their daughter was friends with the young man in front of them, and when they asked their daughter where her home was, their daughter told them to ask the young man.

In conclusion, they needed to ask: what was the relationship between their daughter and this young man?

“Ah,” the surrounding onlookers were the first to understand. No wonder the girl didn’t want to go home—it was because of this situation.

Although Hu’s father didn’t entirely blame Xia Yu for Hu Lianglu’s refusal to go home, he felt there must be some connection.

Moreover, their daughter was still a high school student!

Hu’s father’s anger surged again, and he raised his fist, charging toward Xia Yu.

Xia Yu wanted to explain, but Hu’s father gave him no chance.

Helplessly, Xia Yu could only act first.

Xia Yu took a small step back, dodging Hu’s father’s punch, and grabbed his arm. With a twist of his palm and a trip of his foot, he pinned Hu’s father to the ground.

After being subdued with Xia Yu’s skilled technique, Hu’s father was stunned for two seconds before becoming even more convinced of his suspicion.

I said, how come Lulu suddenly became so skilled, her sweeping kick as nimble as a monkey’s—definitely this brat taught her!

He blamed Xia Yu for everything, threatening him: “Let me go now, or I’ll be ruthless with you!”

Xia Yu frowned, not understanding where Hu’s father got the confidence to say that. If not for being Hu Lianglu’s father, according to Xia Yu’s temper, he would have given him another beating.

“I will never approve of your relationship with Lulu!” Hu’s father threatened again.

“???”

Xia Yu was about to explain when Hu’s mother approached again. After hitting Hu’s father twice with her handbag, Hu’s mother helped Xia Yu up: “Good kid, are you okay?”

Facing Hu’s mother’s gaze, which looked like she was seeing her future son-in-law, Xia Yu helplessly explained: “It’s not what you think. Hu Lianglu has plans to go to District 26 with my girlfriend, so she doesn’t want to go back with you.”

“Your girlfriend?” Hu’s father and mother caught the key point.

They looked at Hu Lianglu, who coldly replied with her hands in her pockets: “You’re lying.”

Instantly, Hu’s father and mother regarded Xia Yu as a scoundrel who had lured away their daughter without intending to take responsibility.

Fortunately, Hu Lianglu spoke quickly and immediately added, “You haven’t confirmed your relationship with Yaoyao yet. Yaoyao told me you two haven’t confessed your feelings to each other.”

Confused, Hu’s father and mother: why was it necessary to specifically clarify whether they had confirmed their relationship? Was their daughter interested in this girlfriend or this boyfriend?

Finally, Hu’s mother made the decision: “It’s also good to travel with friends. Come back before New Year, okay?”

Hu Lianglu nodded.

“That’s good.” Saying so, Hu’s mother pulled Hu’s father, who still had things to say, and hurriedly left.

In the car, Hu’s father looked unhappily at Hu’s mother: “Why did you do that? I haven’t clarified everything yet. How can a girl travel with strangers! It’s so easy for her to be taken advantage of!”

“How is it being taken advantage of? You men just like to be conceited, thinking only of your own happiness,” Hu’s mother shot back.

“No, listen to me…”

“Listen, listen, what can you listen to? Go investigate, and what you hear is true?” Throwing her handbag forward, Hu’s mother crossed her legs. “Forget that for now. What was wrong with you just now? You have the nerve to take out your anger on your daughter after being upset outside. Are you going to pick up a brick one day and hit me on the back of the head?”

“No, hear me out…”

After Hu’s father and mother reached an agreement and drove away, Xia Yu also drove, taking Hu Lianglu and Liu Manman back to An Siyao’s villa.

Sitting on the sofa, Xia Yu pondered. His experience told him that Hu’s father and mother wouldn’t be so easily pacified.

Fortunately, everything that needed explaining had been explained.

Thinking about this, he looked at Hu Lianglu again. Besides combat skills, he needed to teach Hu Lianglu how to speak properly.

Teaching her himself was impossible, but perhaps it was feasible to have Yu Ningmeng do it.

As Xia Yu plotted, Hu Lianglu came to sit beside him.

Xia Yu warily watched Hu Lianglu, preventing her from causing any more trouble.

Hu Lianglu didn’t do anything. She just sat quietly for a while, then stood up and left.

Before leaving, she softly said, “Thank you.”

This surprised Xia Yu somewhat. He hadn’t really helped Hu Lianglu much—just casually mentioned that Hu Lianglu was going to District 26. It shouldn’t be enough to make the fierce Hu Lianglu say thank you.

For ordinary people, “thank you” is just a common expression of gratitude. But for some, saying “thank you” is seen as trampling on their self-esteem. Because “thank you” is an acknowledgment of someone else’s help, and those people cannot accept needing someone else’s assistance.

Xia Yu had assumed Hu Lianglu was this kind of person, but now it seemed she wasn’t.

This girl’s true character was much better than her hooligan-like appearance.

In comparison, Zhong Yunxin was truly unworthy.

Putting this matter aside, Xia Yu began thinking about what Hu Lianglu had said earlier.

“You haven’t confirmed your relationship with Yaoyao yet. Yaoyao told me you two haven’t confessed yet.”

He recalled his memories after meeting An Siyao. Indeed, there was no scene of confession.

What should he do? Should he make up for it? It felt a bit strange to do so now.

Xia Yu pondered deeply.