Chapter 200 - 200 The Lu and Shen Families
200 The Lu and Shen Families
Lu Lin coughed lightly and said, “Xixi, Grandpa said he misses you. Would you like to get in touch with him via a video call?”
When Zheng Huai heard Lu Lin offer to set up a connection for Shen Xi to get in touch with Lu De, he exploded. How could he allow something like that to happen? He quickly pulled Shen Xi aside and said, “Xixi, you haven’t met Grandpa yet, have you? His name is Shen Hui; he’s your father’s father. He shares the same surname as you!”
Lu Lin secretly mocked Zheng Huai, calling Lu De whilst he was busy convincing Shen Xi. Since the Shen family had learned of Shen Xi’s existence, there was no need for him to act covertly anymore.
Zheng Huai noticed what Lu Lin was doing and immediately sent a brief message to Shen Hui explaining the situation before calling his grandfather.
Shen Xi watched her two cousins, feeling a headache coming along. She massaged her nose bridge, waiting for the inevitable. How did looking for Guan Lei turn into this?
Just as thoughts of escape drifted through her mind, Lu De answered the phone.
“Xixi, do you miss Grandpa?” Lu De chirped, bright and friendly, overflowing with his love for Shen Xi.
Meanwhile, Shen Hui had just read Zheng Huai’s message and was frothing with barely controlled anger. He had thought the Lu family did not know of Shen Xi’s existence and that they had time to build a relationship with her. Who could have known that the dastardly Lu family already knew of Shen Xi and even concealed that fact from him, allowing the younger generation of the Lu family to cosy up to her?
The Lu family was too despicable! Shen Hui was so angry his face resembled an overripe tomato. He accepted Zheng Huai’s call, and as soon as the line connected, Shen Hui saw Lu De smiling brightly as he spoke to Shen Xi through the video call.
For the first time in more than ten years, the heads of the Lu and Shen families confronted each other through a video call.
“Lu De, have you no shame? How dare you ask Xixi to call you Grandpa! Aren’t you afraid of being struck by lightning?” Shen Hui roared over the phone.
Asking Xixi to call Lu De ‘Grandpa’… If that was not a wolf’s ambition, Shen Hui did not know what was. Did he intend to take Xixi as the successor of his Lu family? That was out of the question. He would not allow such a thing to come to pass.
Lu De eyed Shen Hui with contempt. “Xixi is my granddaughter. What’s wrong with asking her to call me ‘Grandpa’?”
“Nonsense! Xixi is my granddaughter! Your Lu family can continue dreaming if you think I’d let you snatch a child of our Shen family,” Shen Hui seethed.
Zheng Huai swiftly turned the camera to face himself, urging, “Grandpa, you should try to be civil. Xixi is listening!”
Shen Hui composed himself as best he could. He took a deep breath and spoke, his tone transforming into one of unusual gentility. “Xixi, I’m your Grandpa. Ignore my outburst. I’m not usually so impolite, but I could not help myself before someone so shameless.”
Shen Hui’s jab was not lost on Lu De, and he flew into a rage. “Who are you calling shameless? If anyone is shameless, it has to be you and your whole Shen family. Your son seduced my daughter! Hah!”
Shen Hui’s amiable demeanour evaporated as if it had never been there, and another round of harsh words was aimed back and forth.
Shen Xi watched the proceedings as her grandparents bickered over the phone. She sighed, feeling awkward. Where were her parents when she needed them?!
She did not know how things had spiralled into this. All she wanted to do was check on Guan Lei to see how he was doing and whether his wounds still hurt.
“Xixi, Grandpa will help you move your things home. I’ll have you back in our Shen family compound before dark!” Shen Hui hung up as soon as he said his piece, not giving Shen Xi a chance to refuse.
“Xixi, wait for Grandpa! Grandpa will save you soon. I’ll help you carry your luggage home!” Lu De rejoined, hanging up without saying goodbye.
Shen Xi sighed once more. She had not even had the chance to say her piece before her grandparents arranged everything.
Sighs were her greatest companion at this point. She was at school. Why would she need them to pick her up to go home? Those two stubborn old men just wanted to find an excuse to see someone they missed. No matter how much they blamed their children for what they did, they were still parents to her parents and now grandparents to her.
Shen Xi put the entire debacle out of her mind. She would go home for now. Before she returned, however, she did not forget to make her displeasure known to the culprits. Neither Lu Lin nor Zheng Huai dared to meet Shen Xi’s gaze, each staring at the ceiling guiltily.