Inside the room— 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Zhong Niangyao looked at Li Yiqiu, who sat across from her, raised her eyebrows, and asked with a smile, "What? Weren’t you supposed to apologize to me? Why are you silent now after entering the room?"

She didn’t want to let Li Yiqiu and Zhong Mengxuan in at all. However, the two of them just stood at the door, causing the servants to start whispering among themselves.

She didn’t care what those people said, but she was worried that the situation could reach the ears of Old Sir Zhong and Old Madam Zhong, which would then worry the old couple.

So, now it had come to this.

Seeing Zhong Niangyao’s demeanor, Zhong Mengxuan couldn’t help but speak out, "Zhong Niangyao, my mother is still your elder! What kind of attitude is this? You can’t even call out a proper title."

"An elder?" Zhong Niangyao blinked her large eyes and asked with a beaming smile, "You mean, the elder who wants my life?"

This was giving Zhong Mengxuan a taste of her own medicine; she had the nerve to pick at her here. It was already gracious enough for her to let these two in, and yet here they were, being picky.

Moreover, she was not fooled; she could easily tell that their reason for coming here was because they needed something. If they couldn’t even approach her with a petitioner’s attitude and were now lecturing her, they shouldn’t blame her for being harsh.

As expected, as soon as Zhong Niangyao spoke, the atmosphere in the room immediately became awkward.

Li Yiqiu’s face was all embarrassment, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to say.

As for Zhong Mengxuan, she looked no better. She had wanted to lose her temper, but, seeing Li Yiqiu shaking her head repeatedly, she forced herself to suppress her anger.

"Alright, our relationship is clear," Zhong Niangyao leaned back, looking nonchalant, "so speak freely. Small talk really doesn’t suit us here; it’s too awkward."

"And I’m really not in the mood to play your harmonious family drama here."

"Nianyao, I came here today truly intending to apologize sincerely." Li Yiqiu’s face was earnest, "I misunderstood the situation before. Yes, I did many things, but it was all for my child, not to deliberately harm you. I hope you can understand a mother’s heart."

Hearing this, Zhong Niangyao sneered, "Li Yiqiu, you’re not a fool—you know how dangerous it is to extract ’Heart Blood’. So perhaps it wasn’t intentional, but you still disregarded my safety, focusing only on your son."

"What, your child is a child, and other people’s children aren’t?"

Li Yiqiu’s face turned even paler.

However, she still reached out, firmly pressed Zhong Mengxuan’s hand next to her, and stopped her from speaking.

"You didn’t come here just to apologize today," Zhong Niangyao looked at Li Yiqiu and Zhong Mengxuan, "Nothing comes without a reason; what do you really want?"

Biting her teeth, Li Yiqiu finally spoke, "Nianyao, the date for the Zhong Family and the Lu Family’s dinner has been set, right? At that time, it will be grandma, grandpa, and big brother’s family going, right?"

"Yes!" Zhong Niangyao nodded, "Grandpa has already decided on that."

Originally, she had planned for just Old Sir and Old Madam to go. However, Old Sir said that, without her parents, it might not look formidable enough if it were only them, so they decided to also bring along the first household.

Of course, this only included Uncle Zhong Minghao, Aunt Zheng Silin, and cousin Zhong Jinghao, not Zhong Mengfan.

Although they had kept Zhong Mengfan’s matter confidential and hadn’t let it spread, there are no walls in the world that can block all winds. Moreover, considering the status of the Lu Family, almost the foremost family in the Imperial Capital, they could find out anything they wanted.

Regardless of whether they knew about Zhong Mengfan’s matter or not, they couldn’t let Zhong Mengfan appear in such a formal occasion.

As for the second household, not to mention the things Li Yiqiu had done before, just the embarrassing identity of Zhong Mengxuan made it impossible for them to join.

Li Yiqiu clenched her teeth and finally said, "Nianyao, can we also go along? It’s merrier with more people! If we can’t all go, just let Mengxuan represent us to show our family’s importance to this matter."

With that statement, Zhong Niangyao immediately understood Li Yiqiu’s and Zhong Mengxuan’s purpose for coming here.

She raised her head, looking mockingly at Li Yiqiu, "Do you think, Mengxuan going along is appropriate?"

"Why wouldn’t it be?"

Zhong Mengxuan, hearing such obvious belittlement, couldn’t help but retort immediately, "Zhong Niangyao, don’t look down on me. What about me isn’t fit for society?"

"What kind of status do you think you have? Don’t you have any self-awareness?" Zhong Niangyao coldly looked at Zhong Mengxuan, sparing no mercy in her tone, "Are you sure you wouldn’t feel awkward sitting at the same table with the Lu family?"

"Even if you’re not embarrassed, have you thought about what grandparents would feel?"

Li Yiqiu’s face looked unpleasant; she sheepishly smiled, wanting to say something, but opened her mouth and couldn’t find the words.

"Zhong Niangyao, why exaggerate so much?" Zhong Mengxuan couldn’t hold back and spoke, "I’m just going along; I won’t say a word throughout. Isn’t that enough?"

"Now it’s not like you have to contribute anything; it’s just about following along for a meal. Why are you being so stingy?"

Hearing Zhong Mengxuan’s shameless words, Zhong Niangyao felt like laughing, "Are you there for a meal? You’re just looking to leverage my position. Zhong Mengxuan, don’t think I’m unaware of your thoughts. You want to go so that the Lu family knows we’re close, in order to secure your position with Lu Chenran."

"I’m not stupid; I can see through that."

She hadn’t anticipated that Li Yiqiu and Zhong Mengxuan blocking her today was for this reason. However, they probably must have tested Old Sir and Old Madam, which is why they came directly to her.

Facing the accusation, Zhong Mengxuan’s face turned red and purple, "Zhong Niangyao, just say if you agree or not?"

"No," came the firm response.