Chapter 232

Chapter 232

In April, Paris still carried a hint of chill. Lu Mingzhu changed into a red knitted dress.

As she stepped out, she saw Xie Junyao waiting at the door.

He wore a black cardigan over a white shirt, standing against the light, his figure tall and straight, his appearance striking, with clear black-and-white eyes that sparkled with vitality.

"Mingzhu," he stepped forward and took Lu Mingzhu's hand.

Lu Mingzhu said unhappily, "We didn't get to eat."

She was absolutely livid.

Xie Junyao then said, "How about I make you some noodles? If the Guan Family comes, let me handle it myself."

"Noodles are definitely needed, but to let you face the Guan Family alone? No way." Lu Mingzhu understood Xie Junyao's intention, but she didn't want to agree, "I’m dying to see what the Guan Family’s got up their sleeves now!"

What a load of rubbish!

Pulling out the whips over the tiniest spat.

If they hit the table today, would they hit me directly tomorrow?

Together, they headed to the kitchen to whip up some noodles.

Xie Junyao fried four golden, slightly crispy eggs, sprinkled some chopped green onions into the pan after taking them out, then added sliced mushrooms, onions, beef cubes, and sausage slices to stir-fry, added water to boil, put in angel hair pasta, seasoned with salt and a blend of spices, added two handfuls of tender greens, blanched them, and then divided them into two large bowls, finally placing the fried eggs on top.

The dish was a hit, with spot-on color, aroma, and taste.

They carried the bowls into the living room, and Lu Mingzhu gave Xie Junyao a thumbs up while eating.

After finishing the noodles and rinsing her mouth, a maid entered and announced, "Master Xie, Miss Lu, Miss Guan's parents have arrived, along with Miss Guan and her brothers Guan Fei and Guan Yu."

Xie Junyao said coldly, "Let them in."

He made no move to get up.

In the past, no matter who the visitor was, they would have gone out to greet them.

Lu Mingzhu said to Xie Junyao, "Whatever they pull, don’t you dare step in—let me deal with it."

Soon, Guan Shanhai and his spouse, along with Guan Fei, Guan Cui, and Guan Yu stormed into the living room, only to be taken aback when they saw Xie Junyao and Lu Mingzhu sitting on the sofa, looking at them coldly.

Someone—it wasn’t clear who—barked out loudly, "Xie Junyao, you must give me an explanation today! My good daughter came to play with you, and you let someone whip her, do you even remember I’m your brother’s classmate?"

It was certain that the speaker was Guan Cui's father, Guan Shanhai.

"Was it you who hit my sister?" A young boy rushed to Lu Mingzhu, reaching out to slap her to avenge Guan Cui, but before his hand could extend, Lu Mingzhu kicked him away.

The bodyguards initially wanted to step forward but were stopped by Lu Mingzhu's gaze.

However, they hovered nearby, poised to intervene at a moment’s notice.

With a yelp, the boy was sent sprawling to the ground, doubled over in pain, clutching his stomach like a wounded shrimp, "Dad, Mom, she hit me, it’s killing me!"

The wife of Guan Shanhai’s face changed.

Not just her, but Guan Shanhai and the siblings Guan Fei and Guan Cui as well.

They seemed not to expect Lu Mingzhu to act first without a word, as swift as lightning.

"You whipped my daughter, and now you dare to hit my son?" Guan Shanhai's wife was furious, pointing at Lu Mingzhu and scolding, "Who are you? State your name, daring to strike a member of the Guan Family?"

Her voice was piercing, devoid of any noblewoman's grace.

Although each of them was dressed splendidly, appearing to live a life of ease...

Lu Mingzhu raised her chin defiantly. "What does it matter if I hit such ill-mannered people? In front of me, they only get a beating, but elsewhere, they might get killed and it wouldn't be unjust. Do you dare to go?"

"They don't dare," Xie Junyao said.

In fact, he wasn't really familiar with the Guan Family.

Most of their time abroad was spent in Britain, only occasionally visiting France. He vaguely remembered that the Guan Family could establish themselves here thanks to his brother's help, so they would visit the Xie Family around the Spring Festival every year. If Xie Junyao and his brother came to Paris for work or vacation, they would also visit.

Apart from that, there was no other contact.

Guan Shanhai's face was gloomy, his voice low. "Who are you?"

Lu Mingzhu sneered. "What? Don't you recognize your creditor?"

At these words, not only the Guan Family but also Xie Junyao and the bodyguards were stunned.

Xie Junyao suddenly remembered what she had said to Guan Cui, calling Guan Shanhai by name and saying Guan Cui wasn't qualified to speak to her. "Mingzhu, do you know Mr. Guan?"

"Owes my family 200,000 silver dollars, 1,000 taels of gold, and $30,000. How could I not recognize him?" Lu Mingzhu said coldly, looking at Guan Shanhai, her voice clear. "Guan Shanhai, you swore you'd repay as soon as you returned to the country. What? Because you owe too much, you only enjoy life abroad, not daring to return to the country?"

Guan Shanhai was panting heavily. "You are... you are Lu Mingzhu!"

Lu Mingzhu sneered. "How rare, after more than a decade, you still recognize someone you once called a good sister."

Guan Shanhai's wife was aghast. "Husband, she, she, she is Lu Mingzhu? Your mother's goddaughter?"

Guan Fei, Guan Cui, and Guan Yu were all taken aback.

Lu Mingzhu had such ties with them?

200,000 silver dollars, 1,000 taels of gold, and $30,000—equivalent to all the funds of their family!

Guan Cui covered the whip marks from Lu Mingzhu, her expression inscrutable.

Guan Shanhai couldn't believe the reality before him, clutching at a faint hope, he asked Xie Junyao, "Junyao, tell me, who is she? How could she be here?"

"She's my fiancée; where else would she live but here?" Xie Junyao said coolly, but his next words precisely struck Guan Shanhai: "Although the news of my engagement was not deliberately publicized, close friends and relatives who should know already know. Since you claim to be a classmate and friend of my brother, Mr. Guan, don't you know that my fiancée is the daughter of Mr. Lu Yanzhi, the tycoon of Shanghai?"

Under his icy, stern gaze, Guan Shanhai involuntarily stepped back.

Guan Shanhai's wife and Guan Fei remained silent.

Lu Mingzhu thrust out her right hand, palm up. "Repay the money. I want it now."

"There are many with the same name in the world," Guan Shanhai said.

"Don't want to repay?" Lu Mingzhu scoffed. "What? Like a grandson, you begged my parents for money to go abroad, but in front of me, you want to act like a grandfather? Your mother is my godmother, we are of the same generation, you are not qualified. I don't know how the law in France is, but with the IOU in hand, I guess the judge will rule in my favor. I just wonder if your family will be disgraced standing in the defendant's seat."

Guan Shanhai couldn't help but say, "You are my mother's goddaughter!"

"So what?" Lu Mingzhu's voice was sharp. "If it weren't for my godmother, do you think you could have borrowed hundreds of thousands from my father so easily? A son who doesn't repay his debts, and grandchildren with no upbringing—if my godmother knew about this in the afterlife, what do you think her reaction would be?"

"Lu Mingzhu, we were once like siblings. Don't go too far," Guan Shanhai said. He didn't want to repay the debt; he knew the consequences all too well.

Lu Mingzhu didn't waste words. She withdrew her hand. "Then you and your wife can wait to face the judge! I must have anticipated meeting you abroad, as I actually brought the IOU you both signed and sealed all those years ago."

"Mr. Guan," Guan Shanhai's wife couldn't help but tug at the hem of her husband's sweater.

If they had to repay this debt, their family would be left destitute.

If only they had known better! Why did they let Guan Cui come to find Xie Junyao after receiving the tip from the butler? It was all because they were stuck in the countryside, cut off from the news, unaware that Xie Junyao was engaged and that his fiancée was none other than Guan Shanhai's god-sister, Lu Mingzhu.

What a mistake!

They were filled with regret.

Guan Shanhai bit his lip, his pride shattered.

His tone softened. "Mingzhu, you don't seem to be short of money. Can you give us some time? You know I'm not capable, supporting a family of five, with expenses everywhere, and still having to pay for the education of three children. We're struggling to make ends meet. I really can't repay you in such a short time."

"Struggling to make ends meet?" Lu Mingzhu asked.

Guan Shanhai nodded.

Lu Mingzhu suddenly burst into laughter. "Guan Shanhai, do you think I'm a fool? Look at your wife—dressed in Chanel, carrying a Hermès bag, four rings on her fingers, a jade bracelet on her left wrist, earrings, a diamond brooch, and a necklace, all complete. And wearing Italian handmade leather shoes—is this what you call 'struggling to make ends meet'? And look at you, and your two sons. Aren't you all dressed in expensive suits and leather shoes? Oh, and your daughter even has a horse named 'Little Eyes'? Junyao has a horse named 'Little Ears,' so you named yours 'Little Eyes.' Quite clever with names, aren't you?"

Guan Shanhai turned and glared fiercely at Guan Cui.

Guan Cui, feeling wronged, bit her lip and whimpered, "Dad, my wound hurts a lot!"

Guan Shanhai and his wife immediately panicked. "Does it hurt a lot? Let's go, we'll take you to see a doctor. You're a girl; such a deep wound might leave a scar."

The family tried to seize the opportunity to leave.

Lu Mingzhu saw through their ploy and called them out directly. "Don't think you can get away without repaying your debts. If you don't come to me, I'll bring a bunch of bodyguards to collect the debt myself. And if anything gets damaged in the process, I won't compensate. No gold, silver, or dollars? That's fine. Jewelry, clothes, shoes, horses, and even your house can all be used to pay off the debt."

"They have a farm," Xie Junyao added.

Lu Mingzhu clapped her hands and laughed. "Perfect! Once seized, I'll have the local servants manage it. All the grain harvested each year will be donated to those in our country who can't afford to eat. I'm sure they'll be grateful and say I've done a great deed."

Guan Shanhai's steps faltered.

He turned back, his eyes fixed on Lu Mingzhu, realizing she wasn't joking.

"You're pushing our family to ruin!" Guan Shanhai's wife screamed. "Your family is so wealthy. Why are you so obsessed with the little money we owe? My mother-in-law adored you when she was alive. When she took you as her goddaughter, she even gave you a set of gold tableware and a longevity lock. Is this how you treat her own son?"

Lu Mingzhu coldly replied, "Repaying debts is a matter of honor. My godmother loved me, and I fulfilled my duty to care for her until her death. Unlike you, her so-called 'real' son and daughter-in-law."

Guan Shanhai and his family had been abroad for ten years without returning. The Guan family's godmother had no other children. It was the original body who performed the funeral rites and kept vigil.

The IOU was originally in Lu Mingzhu's father's hands. Guan Shanhai had borrowed the money from him!

Under the pretense of pursuing education.

Those with some capital loved sending their children abroad to study—some unmarried, some married, of varying ages. Guan Shanhai was quite old by then, taking his wife and three children abroad.

After the Guan family's godmother passed away, Lu Mingzhu's father casually handed the IOU to the original body, who stored it safely at the bottom of her jewelry box.

Lu Mingzhu discovered it while organizing jewelry to mortgage to the bank. Finding it useless in daily life and unable to locate the debtors, she tossed it into her space, fearing it might be forgotten or damaged if left outside.

For many years, I hadn't thought about it until today when I saw Guan Cui and learned that her father was Guan Shanhai.

There was also an IOU from the renowned scientist Zhou Yuntao.

He didn't ask Mr. Lu and Mrs. Lu for money; they insisted on giving him a large sum of US dollars and gold bars, for which he wrote an IOU on the spot. Later, he sent some money to Mr. Lu.

Whether it was fully repaid or not, Lu Mingzhu wasn't entirely sure.

It probably wasn't fully repaid; otherwise, Mr. Lu would have mentioned it to the original body.

However, Lu Mingzhu never intended to ask for the money back and even wanted to give him money. Unfortunately, after parting in the capital, he truly vanished into the scientific research field.

Guan Shanhai gritted his teeth and said, "I'll go back and figure out a way to raise the money."

He didn't want to stand in the defendant's seat, nor did he want Lu Mingzhu's bodyguards to enter his home and do as they pleased, because their family's jewelry and antiques were quite valuable. Selling them to overseas Chinese could fetch a hefty sum of money, which Guan Shanhai had bought with his own discerning eye over the years, appreciating in value, and some were brought from home when they moved abroad.

At that time, their family had no cash, but they had plenty of antique paintings and calligraphy works, all inherited from their ancestors.

He hid these treasures in the lining of his suitcase, unknown to his wife and children.

"Three days," said Lu Mingzhu.

Without a deadline, he would surely drag it out forever.

Guan Shanhai said bitterly, "Three days it is! Let's go; let's not make a scene here!"

After scolding his children, he strode out.

His wife called after him, hurriedly following, with their three children trailing behind, though Guan Cui's wound was oozing blood, her brows furrowed in pain, and Guan Yu was clutching her stomach, hunched over and limping.

Lu Mingzhu's kick was merciless.

And she was wearing pointed leather shoes, heh!

Lu Mingzhu would endure anything but losses. The money she reclaimed would be used later to buy food and save people, earning her some gratitude. Why let this family default?

Lu Mingzhu decided to ask Mr. Lu for all the IOUs upon returning home and go door-to-door to collect debts.

If the debtor was dead, the debt was void; if they couldn't repay, they would work it off; if they could repay but dared not, she would brandish her godfather's reputation.

"They're gone, Junyao, let's go find that abandoned castle," Lu Mingzhu said, completely unfazed by the Guan family's affairs, taking Xie Junyao's hand with enthusiasm. "Once we confirm it, we'll buy it directly. How much money do we need to bring? Is the money from the Guan family enough? If not, I'll use the box of cash my brother gave me."

Her brother was indeed extraordinary; that box contained a full $500,000 and £500,000.

Xie Junyao smiled, "We won't even spend £10,000."