My Wife is a Frustrating Genius!!! - Chapter 32

“You’re full of shit!” Wang San jumped up, pointing at Cheng Yi’s nose as he started cursing.

Lu An, standing nearby, saw his mistress being insulted and immediately stepped forward, slapping the other man hard across the face.

“Ouch!” Wang San covered his cheek, grimacing as he glared at Lu An. “You damned servant! How dare you hit me!”

“Insulting my Young Mistress deserves a beating!” Lu An frowned, staring intently at Wang San. If the man uttered another disrespectful word about his young mistress, he was determined to give him a thorough thrashing.

Seizing the moment, Cheng Yi glanced at Lu An. “So righteous!” she thought to herself, resolving to give everyone extra bonuses at the end of the month.

“Is your stomach no longer hurting?” Lu Jiahe stared intently at the woman in his arms. Having seen Cheng Yi’s earlier condition, he found it hard to believe her stomach pain had been feigned.

Cheng Yi comfortably nestled in Lu Jiahe’s warm embrace, shaking her head at him before tugging at his collar and whispering in his ear, “Have Lu An bring Cui’er here as a witness. Tell him to instruct Cui’er not to reveal she knows us.”

She had originally considered summoning Que Ke Ya directly, but since Lu Jiazheng was also present, she feared he might recognize Que Ke Ya, which would work against them. Therefore, it was better to have Lu An bring Cui’er instead. After all, among everyone present, aside from their small group, no one knew about Cu’ier’s connection to them.

“Alright, I understand. Rest for a while.” Lu Jiahe grasped her intention and tightened his arm around Cheng Yi’s shoulder before beckoning Lu An over.

“What are you two whispering about over there?” Wang San’s father, seeing that Lu Jiahe showed no concern about his servant striking a guest, loudly interrupted their conversation.

After listening to his young master, Lu An blinked, then stood straight and fixed his gaze on Wang San and his father.

“Considering our former classmateship, I’ve held my tongue until now, but today Wang San has repeatedly disparaged my wife’s status in front of me.”

Lu Jiahe spoke with a stern expression. Cheng Yi looked up at him and accidentally noticed his nostrils flaring wider in anger.

“Our Lu family has neither the time nor patience to continue this dispute with you. Why not summon someone from the shop to testify about what actually happened today?”

Old Master Lu watched his youngest son, stroking his beard as he nodded. This was the first time he had seen his usually mild-mannered son display such firmness.

“Well said.” Lu Zhengliang also felt that allowing the Wang father and son to continue making a scene was pointless, so he instructed Lu An to fetch someone from the restaurant where they had eaten lunch.

“Wait!” Wang San immediately interjected. “How can we trust Lu An to go alone? What if he bribes the restaurant staff to lie for them?”

Lu Jiahe glanced at him disdainfully, having never encountered such a shameless man before. “What do you suggest then?”

“Hmph!” Wang San snorted and walked up to Lu Jiazheng. “Young Master, would you please accompany Lu An to ensure they don’t engage in any underhanded schemes?”

Nearly everyone in Bianjing knew about the rivalry between the two Lu brothers and Lu Jiahe, which was precisely why Wang San requested Lu Jiazheng’s involvement.

His plan seemed perfect in theory, but reality was likely to deliver another stinging slap to Wang San’s face.

Ever since Lu Jiazheng was frightened by Cheng Yi pretending to be a ghost that day, he had been speaking up for Lu Jiahe and Cheng Yi in every matter, terrified that Old Lady Cheng might come for his soul in the middle of the night if he said anything wrong.

Initially, Cheng Yi and Lu Jiahe were somewhat worried when they heard Wang San’s suggestion. However, when they noticed Lu Jiazheng casting a reassuring glance their way, they grew curious about his intentions.

“Of course, I’d be delighted,” Lu Jiazheng said to Wang San with a subtle, inscrutable smile, then flicked his folding fan and left the estate with Lu An.

“Hmph!” Wang San, brimming with confidence, sat back down in his chair. “Let’s see how you keep up the act once the person arrives! I’ll make sure you apologize to me personally!”

The Lu family frowned collectively at Wang San’s words. Lu Jiahao was especially irritated. He had been planning to sneak out for some fun that evening!

“Father, I think it’s highly likely that Jiahe is at fault here. Otherwise, Wang San wouldn’t have brought his father to cause a scene at our estate so late. Why not just have Jiahe and Cheng Yi apologize to him and be done with it?” Lu Jiahao whispered to Lu Zhengliang.

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhengliang’s frown deepened. In the past, he would have firmly believed that Lu Jiahe was incapable of such behavior and would have driven the Wang father and son away. But Cheng Yi was different. If the two of them were truly at fault, they ought to apologize. However, if they were innocent, they deserved to be cleared of any blame.

“What? Don’t you trust your younger brother?” Lu Zhengliang glared darkly at Lu Jiahao. He had always known that the eldest and second sons often bullied Lu Jiahe, but out of consideration for Diao Yuqing, he had never intervened much. However, ever since Cheng Yi’s remarks that day, he had begun paying more attention to Lu Jiahe.

Lu Jiahao quickly denied it. “No, Father. Look at Cheng Yi, she’s no pushover. She even dares to defy you and Mother, let alone outsiders.” As he spoke, he sneaked a glance at the couple embracing on the chair.

Lu Zhengliang scrutinized his second son. His eyes filled with disappointment. “If you don’t wish to stay here, go to the back and find your mother.”

As a grown man, Lu Jiahao understood the meaning behind his father’s gaze. Eager to secure a larger share of the family inheritance, he had no choice but to remain and endure the situation.

Yiju was not far from the Lu estate, and within a little over ten minutes, Lu Jiazheng and Lu An returned with Cui’er.

“This humble girl pays her respects to Master Lu and Master Wang.”

Cui’er understood why she had been summoned so late. Although she wasn’t entirely clear about what had happened at noon, Que Ke Ya, who couldn’t keep a secret, had recounted the entire incident to her that afternoon.

“Hmm,” Lu Zhengliang examined the young woman before him. “Did my son and daughter-in-law have a dispute with Young Master Wang at your shop at noon?”

Cui’er shifted her gaze to Wang San. Though she had trouble recognizing faces, she was certain that the young man sitting opposite her employers must be the troublemaker Lu An had mentioned.

“Yes, Master Lu.”

Lu Zhengliang glanced at his youngest son, silently praying that the two hadn’t actually caused trouble. “Then, tell us what happened at noon.”

“Yes, Master Lu.” Cui’er straightened up, wearing an expression of innocence and honesty, as if to say she would never tell a lie.

“This afternoon, Miss Cheng originally brought a lunch she had personally prepared to find Young Master Lu, but who would have thought that Young Master Wang insisted on dragging Young Master Lu to our restaurant to eat.”

To make up for splashing dirty water on Lu Jiahe earlier, Cui’er privately decided to add fuel to the fire in this matter.

“I couldn’t bear to see Miss Cheng standing alone under the scorching sun, so I told her which private room Young Master Lu was in. Later, sounds of argument came from inside. Miss Cheng was so angry she wanted to leave, but since this was her first time meeting Young Master Lu’s classmates, she thought about paying for the meal. Unexpectedly, Young Master Wang, seeing that Young Master Lu and his wife were easy to bully, relentlessly criticized Miss Cheng and even the Lu family.”

“In the end, Young Master Wang deliberately inflated the bill. Miss Cheng, realizing she didn’t have enough money to cover the price he demanded, fell silent.”

“I didn’t expect Young Master Wang to come to the Lu residence so late to cause trouble. As a woman myself, I deeply understand how hurtful Young Master Wang’s words were to Miss Cheng. So, when Young Master Lu came looking for me, I hurried over to tell the truth to you, Master Lu.”

Marvelous.

Cheng Yi narrowed her eyes, staring at Cui’er with a look of approval. She thought to herself that she hadn’t misjudged this person, Cui’er quite resembled her younger self.

Meanwhile, Lu Jiahe was utterly stunned by Cui’er’s account. If Cheng Yi hadn’t secretly pinched the tender flesh at her waist to keep her alert, she would have surely lost her composure.

After hearing the young girl’s narration, Lu Zhengliang closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and sighed. “Master Wang, Young Master Wang, the facts are laid out before you. Do you have anything else to say?”

Knowing his son’s nature, Master Wang rose angrily upon hearing Lu Zhengliang’s words, flicked his sleeves, and left the Lu residence.

Seeing this, Wang San panicked. He glanced at the waiter, then at Lu Jiazheng, and shouted, “You’re lying! I only said a few words to her, when did I deliberately inflate the price?”

Everyone present, hearing Wang San admit to criticizing Cheng Yi, turned their gazes toward her.

The scorching sun, the hand-prepared lunch, the humiliation.

The words Cui’er had just spoken replayed incessantly in Lu Zhengliang’s mind.

Lu Zhengliang was in agony. Cheng Yi standing under the blazing sun was equivalent to his precious granddaughter being roasted by fire!

“Damn you, you bastard!”

Overwhelmed by protectiveness for his granddaughter, Lu Zhengliang grabbed a chair and was about to hurl it at Wang San. Fortunately, Lu Jiazheng and Lu Jiahao stopped him in time, or Wang San might have shed blood in the Lu residence that very night.

“I didn’t do it!” Wang San, his neck flushed red, clutched his chest and promptly fainted.

Master Wang, who had just summoned people from home to carry Wang San back, entered and heard his son’s words. With a dark expression, he ordered his men to carry Wang San home from the main hall of the Lu residence, then bowed respectfully before Lu Zhengliang.

“Master Lu, I deeply apologize for tonight’s incident. When I return home, I will definitely discipline this wretched boy with our family rules.”

As the head of the household, Lu Zhengliang naturally wouldn’t engage in direct conflict with Master Wang. “Hmph! Shouldn’t you be apologizing to my son and daughter-in-law? What’s the point of saying this to me?” He shot a contemptuous glare at Master Wang.

Master Wang understood the implied meaning in the other party’s words and immediately walked up to Lu Jiahe and Cheng Yi, cupping his hands respectfully. “Young Master Lu, today’s incident was my third son’s fault. I blame myself for failing to discipline him properly and hope you both can forgive him.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Jiahe lowered his gaze to look at Cheng Yi. “This matter is for you to decide.”

Cheng Yi slowly pushed herself up from Lu Jiahe’s embrace. “Cough, cough!” She feigned weakness as she looked at the elderly man before her. “Forget it, Master Wang. I’m not an unreasonable person. Let’s leave today’s matter at that. I only hope you’ll discipline him properly when you return home and ensure he doesn’t bully me and my husband in the future.”

Everyone present, except Master Wang fell silent upon hearing Cheng Yi’s words.

“Of course, of course.”

After the conflict was resolved, Cheng Yi followed Lu Jiahe back to her room.

“Lu Jiahe, I feel like something bad is going to happen.”

Lu Jiahe looked at Cheng Yi in confusion upon hearing this. “What is it?”

“I feel like your father is believing the rumor about my pregnancy more and more.”