I Became the Alchemy Master by Picking Up Trash-Chapter 151 - 149: Apology Gift

Chu Yu and Chu Ying hurried over, seeing Ye Lan sitting across from Li Xing with a doting look as she watched her eat, occasionally using a handkerchief to wipe Li Xing’s mouth, showing an intimate attitude.

The two exchanged glances, both utterly confused.

"Yun Yi, what’s going on here?" Chu Ying pulled Chu Yunyi aside and asked in a low voice.

"I guess mother might have mistaken Li Xing for Yun You."

Chu Ying: "Ah? This..."

Chu Yu’s face was displeased: "Lan Er, it’s getting late, the banquet is about to end, let’s go back!"

After saying this, Chu Yu was about to grab Ye Lan’s arm, but suddenly remembered his son’s cold gaze from last night, the Wind Cone pointing directly at his throat that haunted his nightmares, and he awkwardly pulled back his outstretched hand.

Ye Lan sat still, glancing sideways at Chu Yu, and said coldly:

"I’m crazy, not blind. I can see the guests are enjoying themselves, there’s no sign of this ending. They haven’t left, so why should I go back? Oh—I get it, you’re afraid I’ll do something inappropriate and embarrass you, so you’re rushing to kick me out, right?"

Chu Yu’s features resembled Chu Yunyi’s by seventy to eighty percent, and in terms of looks, he was quite handsome. But even a few millimeters change in the proportions of his features made his appearance vastly different.

To Li Xing, Chu Yu had a narrow forehead and brows pressing down on his eyes, his appearance not that of a gentleman. Coupled with her inner sympathy for Ye Lan, it made her even more disgusted by Chu Yu’s opportunistic and aggressive demeanor. Hearing Ye Lan directly confront Chu Yu, Li Xing felt exhilarated.

Since Ye Lan went mad, she hadn’t spoken more than five sentences to Chu Yu in over a decade. Today, she was not only able to look at him and speak, but she said so much in one go. Although it was unpleasant to hear, it was coherent and logical; this made Chu Yu feel very conflicted, both happy and afraid.

"Lan Er! Are you well now?"

Ye Lan sneered: "If I were well, would you be disappointed?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Although the guests had recovered from the shock of Ye Lan’s appearance and the banquet hall had long resounded with lively noise, even with just a guess, Chu Yu knew many were still secretly paying attention to their conversation, with several spiritual powers faintly probing towards them.

Chu Yu gritted his teeth internally, but outwardly maintained a gentle and warm demeanor; at all costs, his persona of a loving husband mustn’t crumble.

"Lan Er, what are you saying? I would rather exchange my life for your full recovery; if you’re well, I’d be overjoyed, not disappointed."

Ye Lan looked expressionlessly at Chu Yu until he felt uncomfortable all over, then she snorted coldly:

"One shouldn’t even listen to your words without two ounces of vermillion, full of nonsense!" Turning to Li Xing, Ye Lan spoke gently: "Yun You, don’t just listen to dogs barking, eat."

The sound of coughing and snickering erupted simultaneously from various spots in the banquet hall, Chu Yu’s face turned iron blue, and his fists clenched tightly. Unable to vent his anger on Ye Lan, Li Xing became the scapegoat.

"You’re Li Xing, right? Why impersonate my daughter and deceive my wife? If your impersonation worsens her condition, can you bear the responsibility!"

Li Xing perked up at this, having been frustrated about having no opportunity to intrude on matters of others’ families, it was unexpected of Chu Yu to bring trouble upon himself.

She was about to commence her retort but was preceded by Chu Yunyi.

"Father, it was Mother herself who mistook Li Xing for Yun You, it has nothing to do with others. Seeing Mother so happy, I asked Li Xing to play along to cheer her up; even if there was deception, it was with good intent. At the end of the day, we should be thanking Li Xing instead."

Chu Ying: "Yes, big brother, I know Li Xing. She isn’t that type of person, you really misunderstood."

Since Chu Yunyi said it wasn’t Li Xing’s fault, what could Chu Yu do? He immediately went along: "Is that so? Then I really wronged Miss Li, my apologies!"

Li Xing sneered: "No need to apologize, just compensate me."

Chu Yu didn’t expect Li Xing to dare speak to him like this, and momentarily didn’t know how to respond.

Ye Lan signaled Li Xing to lean in and mysteriously covered her mouth with her hand, though speaking loud enough for everyone present to hear:

"He might lack morals, but he’s not short on money, ask him for some!"

Again, scattered chuckles rang out in the banquet hall, with quite a few people secretly engaging in conversations on their light-brains, donning intriguing expressions.

Though Mrs. Chu was known to be mad, her attitude towards Chu Yu hardly resembled that of a wife cherished by her husband. Could the rumors be true, that Chu Yu wasn’t as loving as he appeared? In that case, the Chu Family missing daughter case and Ye Lan’s illness make one ponder deeply.

Chu Yu’s face was so dark it could drip ink, yet Chu Yunyi slightly lowered his eyes, a barely noticeable curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Chu Yu: "Later, the Chu Family will specially send a gift to Miss Li. I must attend to other guests, so please excuse me. Yun Yi, take good care of your mother."

Chu Yu flung his sleeves and left, while Ye Lan’s eyes stayed glued on Li Xing, not sparing her husband a glance.

Until the banquet ended, Li Xing remained by Ye Lan’s side, with Ye Qingting, Cui Tianxiao, and Qi Ming coming over to greet Ye Lan as well. It wasn’t until Ye Lan was noticeably tired that she was persuaded to leave for rest at Chu Yunyi’s firm insistence.

Before leaving, Ye Lan didn’t forget to hold Li Xing’s hand, urging her to eat more and to return to see her when school let out for holidays, making Ye Qingting suspect that it might be a sign of his aunt’s return to reason.

After leaving the Chu Family and returning to the dormitory prepared by Tianyi Institute for them, Li Xing indeed received two packages, one being a reward from the First Legion, the other a gift from the Chu Family—the latter included five pieces of medium-grade Energy Stones and a Space Button filled with exquisite pastries, personally delivered by a Chu Family servant.

The servant informed her that the Energy Stones were compensation from Chu Yu, while the pastries were specifically ordered by Mrs. Chu and the young master for her.

The pastries still retained the warmth of the oven, indicating they were likely rushed by Ye Lan from a pastry master. In contrast, the five Energy Stones given by Chu Yu seemed perfunctory.

Li Xing smirked, "Chu Yu really doesn’t consider me, a country person with no background or connections, worth his notice."

Taking a photo of the Energy Stones with her light-brain, she posted it on her social media profile:

//Today I received a token of gratitude from Chu Yu, the Family Head, five pieces of medium-grade Energy Stones, so happy! But compared to Energy Stones, I prefer low-grade Crystal Stones, after all, I have Hui Hui to raise—how can a master not satisfy its preference? Is anyone willing to exchange?//

This post had only just gone up when Star Fans immediately began leaving comments. Thanks to the military competition, Li Xing was now considered an internet celebrity.

//I’ll swap with you! One medium-grade Energy Stone for five thousand low-grade Crystal Stones!//

//Wow, shameless! Exchanging with you is no different than going to a shop! Goddess, keep the Energy Stones, let’s become friends, I’ll send you low-grade Crystal Stones, for free, for life!//

//Tsk tsk tsk, as a thank-you, they only gave five medium-grade Energy Stones? Chu Yu is too stingy!//

//The Chu Family did not handle this with propriety...//

//When is Chu Yu retiring, hurry and let Young Master Chu take over.//

...

In no time, the post had garnered hundreds of comments, with discussions gradually shifting from Crystal Stones to Chu Yu’s character and various tabloid news. Some even exposed him for keeping mistresses, sharing all sorts of paparazzi photos, with the gossip growing ever juicier.

Li Xing, after watching for a while, closed her light-brain in high spirits and went to sleep.