19 Lu Family (2)

There was a moment of silence after the words escaped from my mouth. It wasn't intentional but the way I called the old man came out dull and flat as if I didn't hold any care of him.

I couldn't help it. I wasn't Li Fei and I couldn't feel the same compassion or love as the original host did towards Grandpa Lu.

I knew he was kind. A real figure of a father and a grandfather at the same time that Li Fei could ever wish for. He treated her right as if she was his own blood.

But, emotion couldn't be forced and my heart couldn't sustain even a sliver of it. It was just there lying dormant within me.

Before long, Grandpa Lu let out a heavy sigh and rigidly asked, "Are you alright?"

"Yes."

"..."

Short and concise. It brought the silence back as the whole family went speechless.

I was running short in my brain now. Did I answer wrongly? I was confused on how to respond. I was really okay. What more was there to talk about?

Feeling the gloominess brewing on the old man's face, I decided to add another comment to emphasize my previous answer, "I'm okay."

Grandpa Lu sighed although the frown on his forehead hadn't loosened yet.

"That's good then-"

Before Grandpa Lu could finish his sentence, Grandma Lu chimed in with impatience, "You don't need to talk so much to her! Let's get down to business quickly!"

The frown on Grandpa Lu's face only further deepened at his wife sentence.

I raised an eyebrow at this scene. The first flicker of expression on my emotionless face.

Perhaps the head of the family, Lu He Xin, saw the hesitation from Grandpa Lu, he threw in his support for Grandma Lu as well.

"Father. It can't be helped. This...has to be done," he said coldly.

From the corner of my eyes, I caught the satisfied look on Grandma Lu's face. Now I became curious what this 'business' about. Although I might have an idea.

"Grandpa..." Hua Ling meekly called. She was blinking her eyes pitifully while looking at Grandpa Lu.

Without knowing why, I suddenly got goosebumps. I looked around trying to locate the windows. I wondered if one of them was open, thus the chill I felt. After all, it was currently autumn.

Back at the Lu family discussion, I could see Grandpa Lu tightening his clutch on his walking cane. However, before long he relented and I could see him loosening up his grip.

In that second, I could see the sadness and unwillingness painted on his face. I wondered why. My question was soon answered though.

Butler Zhuang walked in with a document on his hand. Every step was steady as he approached me and laid down the document in his hand on the coffee table in front of me.

I glanced at him before looking down at the paper. Not shocking at all, it was a divorce paper. My reaction was rather bland and dull while staring at it.

"Sign it," the woman who was wearing a white cheongsam said, "Don't worry, we will compensate you well."

I retracted my gaze from the paper and looked on expressionlessly at the woman. She was without a doubt, the lady of the house, Lu Jia Xin. She was sitting right beside her husband. She was currently staring at me coldly.

I had to say, she was such a refined lady with an elegance of a noble. She suit the image I had in my head for a big house mistress such as Lu family.

"Here," she continued as she shoved a blank cheque towards me. "You can fill in any amount you want. This is the last deed we will grant you."

Mrs. Lu continued on her speech with arrogance which I had expected from the start. However, not even a glance I spared at the blank cheque she shoved me. Instead, I was merely looking at her while she proceed with her show.

I didn't know though, this simple action of mine staring at her silently was perceived as me looking at her with ridicule. I only knew this when the pretty lady suddenly reprimanded me.

"Li Fei! What is wrong with you? Why are you looking down on auntie's kindness like that? It's already good of her to compensate you after what you've done to this family for two years," Hua Ling coldly said.

I blinked and blinked. I was puzzled by the sudden outburst. It left a big question mark in my head.

This was new to me. A new knowledge for my social study. Apparently looking silently at someone equaled to looking down at that person.

A loud thud was heard from beside me all of the sudden. My body flinched and I could see Hua Ling zipped her mouth right away as well.

"Who's looking down on her?!" Grandpa Lu yelled as he pointed at Mrs. Lu, "Do not accuse someone without proof! Xiao Fei has only been looking on quietly and you suddenly said she's looking down on us?! How ridiculous!"

"Lu Meng! Why are you yelling at Ling'er?! If she said that slut is looking down on us then it is true! Ling'er never lie and it's not like that little slut is any good either! Don't you see how vicious she has been these two years?! If not for Tian Feng protecting our Ling'er, she could have died already in that slut hands!" Grandma Lu lashed out at her husband.

"You!! Such vulgar mouth! What 'slut'?! Why have I never noticed how unladylike you are after all these years? What a shrew! I really was blind! And what's with Xiao Fei being vicious?? She's not wrong. She only did what a sane wife would do when they see a mistress hogging their husband shamelessly! Hmph!"

Hua Ling turned pale at Grandpa Lu comment on her. She didn't know why this old man was so hard to please. She did everything right and respected him all this time but still, he didn't see her positively.

"What mistress?! It's always been Hua Ling who's beside Tian Feng. They're childhood lovers and you're the one who break it by bringing this slut as the third party! And no I don't have to be polite to this slut! So what if I call her a slut? Everyone knows she is!"

"Xiao Fei is a good child and she is well-suited for Tian Feng. That's why I arranged the marriage! It's our grandson who doesn't know what's good for him! Choosing a mere model like her. She only knows how to sell her body I told you!"

"Grandpa.." Hua Ling called weakly. I could hear her voice cracking and the tears welling up in her eyes.

"Don't call me grandpa! And don't deny the truth! It's a dirty business the entertainment industry. I won't say everyone acts the same but have you ever seen someone who's a hundred percent pure and innocent rise to the top? No! Without backing, they all flop," Grandpa Lu snorted derisively, "Who's the slut now?"

Everyone went silent at his remarks. But each and every face in this living room had turned dark, except me.

"Father, Hua Ling's backing is none other than Tian Feng. She couldn't possibly do that," Mrs. Lu retorted. Her eyebrows furrowed in disagreement.

And with that, the bickering continued.

I was dazed by this sudden farce. I felt dizzy with all the noise, one shout after another. It was like fireworks exploding in new year.

I couldn't help it. I didn't find it amusing at all. I felt very uncomfortable on the contrary. I felt like escaping. It was suffocating staying in here.

So, I looked at the divorce paper lying quietly on the table and picked up the pen on the side. I signed it without hesitation.

I was focusing on signing the paper with Li Fei's style of signature that I missed everyone's reaction as they saw me did it without complain and in a hurry too as if I couldn't wait to sign it and begone.

When I lifted my head, I saw the stunned look of everyone like they couldn't believe how easy I gave in. Then slowly, I saw the mixed reaction of everyone after that. From Hua Ling who showed how ecstatic she was as well as Grandma Lu to Grandpa Lu who became pale at the sight of the signed divorce paper.

All the while, Lu He Xin and his wife stared at me with suspicion and a tinge of puzzlement.

I didn't even bother with all the look they were showering me and just put down the pen. As soon as I did, I stood up and headed towards the exit.

However, remembering something, I halted my steps and turned back to the living room. When I walked back, I caught a glimpse of ridicule and disdain from Mr. and Mrs. Lu eyes.

But before they could speak a word of insult, I saw their widened eyes and foolishly dumbstruck face as they watched me ripped the blank cheque to pieces.

I was actually confused by their reaction. 'What's with the surprise look?' I thought.

Honestly, I didn't mean anything. I just felt like tearing the paper somehow to release some tension my body was feeling at the moment.

After I successfully turned the blank cheque to tiny confettis, I turned around and once again freed myself from this golden cage.