Chapter 23: Three Choices
Language is the flint and muscle of modern humanity. From a babbling child to the decision-making echelons of this country, everyone uses language to manipulate everything that is intrinsically linked to themselves. Chu Xiaodong was undoubtedly a master of this art. One moment he was speaking of Lu Li’s dangerous predicament, and the next he was asking about his feelings for Chu Jingyi. No matter how slow Lu Li was, he should have understood the meaning behind Chu Xiaodong’s words.
“I… want to marry Jingyi. She is the most perfect girl I have ever seen in my life.”
“Only my Jingyi?” his prospective father-in-law asked calmly.
“…” Sweat beaded on Lu Li’s back. This was the second time he had endured pressure from this politician.
“Little Lu, my understanding of you has always been somewhat skewed.” The connection on Chu Xiaodong’s end cut out briefly, then returned. “Ever since you and Yibao started dating, I stopped all my investigations into you. My understanding of you comes entirely from my usual phone calls with Jingyi. Every time Jingyi mentions you, she only has good things to say, never a single bad word. Even when I, her own father, question you, she will argue with me and even get angry at me.”
“On one hand, I feel a bit sad, and on the other, I feel a bit gratified. I’m sad that a grown daughter cannot be kept at home, but I’m gratified that she has someone she truly likes.”
“So, of course, I very much hope you can become my daughter’s husband. Likewise, I can also understand that outstanding young men will always have women who admire them gather around. I will not force you to do anything, Little Lu. I can give you three choices.”
“First, marry into the Chu Family. Get engaged to Jingyi after graduation, and thereafter, the entire Chu Family will fully support your career and protect the personal safety of you and your sister. A Shenzhou Aristocratic Family will be your eternal backing.”
This first choice alone made Lu Li’s eyelids twitch. This was a grand gift that no ordinary person could refuse, allowing a penniless poor boy to leap into the ruling class in a single bound. All he had to do was wholeheartedly marry that lovely girl whose heart and eyes were filled with him.
“Second, you refuse the first option. In that case, it would be best for you and my Yibao to cut off contact. Out of consideration for your personal safety, I can send you and your friends to study in Australia and provide you with a considerable settling-in fee. That way, the Yan Family will no longer have any interest in you.”
“Third, you refuse the first two options. Then you will both cut off contact with my daughter and receive no promises from me. You will have to bear the pressure from the Yan Family all on your own.”
After hearing Chu Xiaodong’s three choices, Lu Li’s twitching eyelids turned into a wildly beating heart. Chu Xiaodong was ruthless. He said he wouldn’t force him, but in reality, he had only left him a single path.
Lu Li didn’t reply for a long time. Chu Xiaodong then said, “I know these three choices are too heavy for a young man. How about this: you think it over carefully, and when I return to Chuanhai for the New Year, you can tell me your choice then. Before that, if there are any developments regarding the Yan Family, I will contact you again.”
Beep, beep… The call ended.
Chu Xiaodong had been mistaken about only one thing in their conversation today: these three choices were not heavy for Lu Li. In fact, he had made his decision long ago—he would marry Chu Jingyi honorably and openly, not by marrying into the Chu Family. He would not give up Yameng, Baili, or Hupo, nor would he give up his Silly Goose.
For a poor boy from the Low-Rent District to marry a daughter of an Aristocratic Family as an equal sounded somewhat inconceivable. But what was even more inconceivable was that he, a seventeen-year-old boy, had already earned thirty million from scratch.
People have many misunderstandings about Rebirth. Perhaps they think knowledge and experience are the greatest advantages of being reborn, but for Lu Li, youth was the greatest and most unique advantage of Rebirth.
He put his phone back in his pocket and continued his morning run.
It might sound a bit cliché, but Lu Li genuinely wanted to make Chu Xiaodong see him in a new light one day in the future. There were still five years until he graduated from university and truly stepped into society… Five years was enough time to change many things.
The moment Monday’s school bell rang, it was as if the distant shooting, Aristocratic Families, and choices had all been sent away, and the ordinary, tedious school routine enveloped him once more. For Lu Li, life wasn’t much different; he still got along great with the girls. Yet, there were some slight differences. At the very least, Hupo was now spacing out more and more often. Only when Lu Li called her name would Wen Hupo dazedly snap back to reality, her cheeks then turning noticeably rosy. Lu Li felt that she must be thinking about some indecent things.
After lunch, Wen Hupo went to the activity room to paint, while Lu Li accompanied his Silly Goose and An Baili for a walk on the sports field. The midday sun was strong, its golden light falling on the girls’ fair skin, making it seem almost dazzling.
The Silly Goose was talking about the arrangements for the semester when she suddenly saw a group of people up ahead approaching them. When they got closer, they realized it was Wen You and a group of first-year students.
Lu Li didn’t speak. It was the Silly Goose who spoke first, planting her hands on her hips and scolding, “Wen You from Class Three, Year One, are you gathering a crowd to cause trouble again?” The Silly Goose had quite an imposing aura. A group of little brats who had just entered high school naturally didn’t dare to make a peep; they all looked expectantly at Wen You. Lu Li had to admit, compared to an ordinary person, Wen You did have a bit of backbone. He took a deep breath and looked directly at Lu Li. “Senior Lu, you didn’t have to take our issue to our parents, did you? Aren’t those methods a bit too dirty?”
Seeing someone take the lead, the first-year students behind him straightened their backs slightly, muttering, “Yeah, yeah,” and “That’s right.”
The Silly Goose was furious. “You openly violated school rules and regulations. It’s only right to call your parents. How did that become Lu Li being dirty?”
Wen You pouted. “Miss Chu, you’re biased towards him. I won’t argue with you.”
Just as Lu Li was about to reply, An Baili, who was holding his left hand, suddenly shouted angrily, “You’re the one who’s dirty!” Both Lu Li and Chu Jingyi were stunned, not expecting the usually meek and timid An Baili to dare speak out like this in front of others.
An Baili gripped Lu Li’s hand tightly. Lu Li could feel the girl’s palm sweating; clearly, she was extremely nervous too.
“How am I dirty?” Wen You saw his goddess berating him and hurriedly defended himself, “I swear to God, I haven’t used any dirty tricks. I just want to compete with him fairly!”
“Isn’t trying to steal someone’s boyfriend dirty? Pfft, you’re morally corrupt!” An Baili shouted. “Lu Li and I are sweet as can be. What kind of demon are you to come here and talk about fair competition? Aren’t you morally corrupt? Aren’t you shameless?”
Well said. Chu Jingyi secretly gave a thumbs-up.
As soon as these words were out, the first-year students were rendered speechless. The vast sports field fell silent. Wen You was stunned for a long moment before his face flushed red. “You two aren’t even married, you might not even be boyfriend and girlfriend. How-how am I poaching?”
In the next second, An Baili did something that made him stare with furious rage. The girl stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around Lu Li, and took the initiative to kiss him. It wasn’t just a simple kiss; An Baili passionately sent her small, fragrant tongue into Lu Li’s mouth. When she was done, she wiped the corner of her lips and looked coldly at the dumbfounded Wen You. “Everything has already happened between him and me, and in the future, I will belong to no one but him. Now, does this still not count as poaching?”
Wen You stood frozen on the spot, at a loss. He never thought the goddess in his heart would be willing to do such a thing, to make such a declaration, for another man.
Lu Li said, “Scram.”
This word was a way for Wen You to save face. He glanced at An Baili in disbelief and turned to leave in a rather pathetic state, and the crowd of first-year students also scattered noisily.
Only after everyone had left did An Baili go limp in Lu Li’s arms, as if her bones had suddenly been removed. “Hooo… so nervous… How did I do just now?” Her eyes were shimmering with a watery light—the light of love. Lu Li nodded gently. “You did great.” “Hehe…”
Chu Jingyi watched the two of them, her heart shaken. She never expected An Baili would be willing to go this far for Lu Li… If it were her, could she do the same?
The Silly Goose fell into deep thought.
