Chapter 7: Love is a luxury

  She is indeed right.

  She just wants to be in control of her own life, choose her own marriage and spend the rest of her life with someone she loves. What's wrong with that? Even if it's in front of her grandmother, she's not wrong.

  "You." Leng Long's face turned red with rage, his veins bulging. He raised his whip and struck Leng Xi again, even harder this time. "I let you off easy, I let you off easy. In front of your grandmother, you dare to be so disobedient."

  Under the lash of the Cold Dragon Whip, each strike on Leng Xi's body felt like a burning fire, scorching pain, yet Leng Xi still bit his lip, holding back tears, stubbornly refusing to admit fault or cry out in pain.

  She suddenly missed Ling Han so much. Ling Han's overbearing ways. Ling Han's tenderness. All of it made her miss him so much.

  It's because now is the moment that decides her marriage. With just one careless move, it will be decided who she'll spend the rest of her life with. So she crazily misses Ling Han, misses the person she wholeheartedly loves, misses the heartbeat that belongs to him, misses the breath that belongs to him...

  It turned out she really loved him. She loved Ling Han so much that she couldn't extricate herself. But did Ling Han know? Did he know her love?

  Leng Xi suddenly felt a suffocating sensation in her chest. It was very uncomfortable. It wasn't physical pain that made her feel this way, but heartache...

  Lonnie and Meishan in the next room heard the sound of beating from the study. They were very pleased to hear that Lengxiang was being beaten. They seemed to be relieved and comfortable, as if they had vented their anger.

  "Nier, didn't you hear? That little slut finally got beaten up. It's all her fault, just like her mother, a total slut." Meishan said with a sideways glance at the next room, as if relieved.

  "Hmph, she's getting what she deserves. Marrying a rich loser is still a bargain for her." Leng Ni said coldly, her eyes filled with hatred. Her face was still hurting from the slap she received from Leng Xi earlier. She wished she could crush Leng Xi to pieces. This small revenge was far from enough to alleviate the hatred in her heart.

  "Right, mom. What kind of person is that little woman's mother anyway? How come it sounds like... you don't seem to like her very much." Colleen seemed to have caught onto something and asked.

  Mei Shan's mouth twitched slightly, full of malice. She said coldly, "I don't just dislike her... I hate her..." As she mentioned Leng Xi's mother, He Quan, Mei Shan's eyes overflowed with viciousness and hatred.

  But she was stopped halfway through her words. She remembered 19 years ago, that bloody scene, and the woman's painful screams.

  Every one of He Quan's mournful cries was a thrill that Mei Shan had never experienced before. Watching the woman in pain made her happy.

  "What exactly happened between you and Leng Xi's mom?" Leng Nie asked curiously, looking at her mother with a venomous gaze.

  Mei Shan's eyes flashed for a moment, and she withdrew her thoughts. She forced a smile and said, "Nier, there are many things you don't understand now. When you become a parent yourself, you'll naturally come to understand." She clearly didn't want to tell her daughter about everything that had happened decades ago.

  Leng Ni wasn't a fool either. She naturally knew that her mother didn't want to say much more. She didn't want to ask any further questions either. The things she wanted to know, she would be able to find out through other means anyway. She responded with a single sentence: "Brother is still in prison until now, and who knows when Father will rescue him back." Leng Ni was a shrewd person, knowing the right measure, grasping people's hearts, and skillfully changing the subject at just the right moment.

  Hearing Ronnie say that, Megan also became worried and let out a sigh of concern. After all, they were her own flesh and blood, and seeing them suffer still pained her as their mother.

  No matter how much Long Dragon scolded her, Leng Xi clenched her teeth tightly and refused to admit her mistake, because she was not wrong in the first place.

  The dragon was furious and out of breath. He fought with all his might, but finally had to stop in despair.

  The creek is really stubborn. Just like He Quan's wife, she's also stubborn and unyielding. Indeed, He Quan's daughter can't escape the same fate as her mother.

  Leng Long personally witnessed the bloody battle that year. He is a survivor. He understands very well. Love is a luxury thing. For someone like Leng Xi who has no power or influence, it's not something he can afford to play with.

  Leng Long finally couldn't bear Leng Xi's stubbornness anymore. He threw down his whip and fell to his knees with a thud, kneeling in front of his grandmother's portrait. Wiping away tears, he lamented sorrowfully: "Old mother, it's my fault. I couldn't even educate your favorite grandson properly. She knew she was wrong but still committed the mistake again, right in front of you. And yet she refused to admit her mistake. It's all because of me, a useless son. I should die, I should die."

  Leng Long suddenly changed his earlier strong stance, kneeling in front of his grandmother and crying loudly.

  Leng Xi's whole body ached and trembled uncontrollably. She bit her lip, trying not to let the painful cry escape from her throat.

  "It's okay, don't worry. I'll go down tomorrow to accompany you. Oh, my son is going to die...". Liang Long cried more and more sorrowfully, with tears streaming down his face. He kept knocking his forehead on the ground until it was bleeding.

  Leng Xi saw this and couldn't bear it in her heart. She comforted Leng Long, "Dad, don't be like this..."

  "It's not that Dad wants to die, but Dad has no choice but to die... Xi'er, do you know the current situation? The shareholders' meeting is in two days. In the past, Dad did many bad things to make a living. Once the shareholders' meeting is held and those things are exposed, your father, I, and even the entire Leng family will not be able to live in peace... Dad will be driven to jump off a building..."

  Jian Leng Xi finally spoke up. Leng Long hastily seized the opportunity. Jian Feng Shi Dui said with a sorrowful tone.

  Leng Xi blinked, stunned and confused. "Dad, what exactly did you do? How could it be so serious? Isn't the company you're in Ling Han's company? Ling Han will..."

  "Stop thinking about it, Xi'er. Stop thinking about it. Ling Han is not your destination. He's a ruthless and cunning businessman, known for being cold-blooded and merciless. Even if he treats you well, it's just a game to him. Someone like him who gets what he wants whenever he wants it, doesn't need any particular kind of woman. Will he care about you? I'm afraid you're just his plaything. Don't forget, that day in front of so many people, he almost sold you out." Leng Long said with a heavy heart.

  Leng Xi's heart ached sharply.

  It's just for fun. Ling Han was just playing with her.

  She who didn't cry from such severe beatings, actually got teary-eyed after hearing these few words. Tears uncontrollably overflowed her eyes.

  "Besides, Ling Han won't help me anyway. I not only used the company's funds but also sold many valuable things from the company. With Ling Han's personality, he will never let me off." Leng Long said, wiping away his tears. In front of Leng Xi, he only mentioned his minor mistakes, and the more serious ones he couldn't bring himself to say out loud, or else Leng Xi really wouldn't help him.

  He was very familiar with He Quan's character, and naturally also understood Leng Xi's character. They both had a common problem, that is, they were too kind-hearted and couldn't bear others' bitter pleas.

  "It's that serious? Isn't this going to land us in jail?" Leng Xi worriedly asked.

  "Yes. Now the only way is to raise funds as soon as possible. Before the shareholders' meeting. To repay those that should be repaid to the bank, so Dad can avoid disaster."

  Leng Xi frowned. Leng Long continued, "Now, the betrothal gift from the Xie family's young master is 100 million. As long as you're willing to marry him, Father will be saved." Leng Long grasped Leng Xi's hand excitedly, his aged eyes full of entreaty.

  But Xie Fei actually gave them 200 million.

  Leng Xi swallowed hard with difficulty. "But that's my lifelong happiness. Is there no other way?"

  "No, there's no other way. Oh dear mother, it seems I've really reached the end of my life. Poor you, who have worked hard all your life to raise me and Creek. Rather than being driven to death by those people, I'd rather die in front of you now." Cold Dragon said with tears streaming down his face, then rushed straight towards the wall, ready to knock himself out.

  Leng Xi's heart was urgent, she quickly went to pull Leng Long. "Dad, don't do this... Grandma, she..." Leng Xi choked back her words. She didn't want Grandma to be sad, and she didn't want Dad to die.

  "Let your grandma be disappointed at the spring then. It's nothing big." Leng Long said, and was about to rush forward with a strong momentum.

  Leng Xi's heart sank. In a state of urgency, she grasped Leng Long tightly and cried out, "Dad, I promise you, I promise."

  Leng Long was taken aback. He suddenly came to his senses and looked at Leng Xi, seemingly not daring to believe what he had just heard, asking, "Xi'er, what did you say? You agreed to marry Xie Fei?"

  Leng Xi bit her lip, desperately holding back the tears that were welling up in her eyes and the tremble in her throat. Under Leng Long's expectant yet sorrowful gaze, she lowered her head and nodded slightly. Tears fell like scattered pearls.

  She was raised by her grandmother with her own hands. She doesn't want to make her grandmother worried. Doesn't want the family to be separated and broken.

  Maybe this is her fate. Ling Han was just a dream of hers. She should face reality. In life, not everyone's marriage goes as they wish. Not everyone can be with the one they love. She should accept her fate.

  Leng Long was overjoyed and got up, wiping away the tears from his eyes and embracing Leng Xi as they walked to the living room. He asked Leng Xi if he was cold and also called Mei Shan to help Leng Xi apply medicine. The places where he had been beaten were all covered by clothes, so it wouldn't affect tomorrow's wedding.

  The whole afternoon, Leng Xi was in a daze. It seemed as if her body was no longer hers. She was dragging along just an empty shell of herself.

  The next day, Leng Long didn't let Leng Xi go to work at the company. He told her to rest at home.

  Leng Xi is like a wandering soul, dazed and confused. Whatever Leng Long says goes, and the hope in her heart has been extinguished. Her world is dark and devoid of light. She seems to have lost her soul, feeling empty and hollow.

  Xie Fei really came to pick him up as scheduled this morning.

  He came in when Leng Xi was not wearing makeup and still had a plain face. Xie Fei was stunned and asked, "How did you..."

  "Take me away, I have only one condition, don't hold a wedding and don't get a marriage certificate." Leng Xi's eyes were empty and his gaze was dull, but his words were firm.

  Xie Fei was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay, okay, as long as you're willing, whatever you say is fine, hurry up and get in the car." Xie Fei couldn't wait any longer, he was eager to tease her mercilessly.

  The scenery outside the car window passes by in front of her eyes, but she doesn't take a look. For someone who has lost color, what scenery is there to speak of?

  Suddenly, a villa flashed before her eyes. She caught it sensitively and quickly lifted her spirits. She leaned on the car window and looked in that direction. Unexpectedly, the villa had slipped out of her line of sight.

  That is Ling Han's house. It is Ling Han's villa.

  Is he inside? Is Ling Han inside?

  "Stop the car! Stop it quickly!" Leng Xi suddenly stood up, extremely sorrowful and agitated as she shouted at the driver. "I told you to stop the car! Stop it!" She was going to find Ling Han, even if it meant sacrificing her own life.