Volume One, Chapter 19: An Apology Should Come with a Sincere Attitude

Lu Ning stood where she was, looking at them with an expressionless face.

Heh, did they really think she was still the same Lu Ning from before?

They had never once asked for her opinion, yet they dismissed everything with a casual wave of their hands, as if they were bestowing some great favor upon her.

She did not care for it anymore.

Lu Liu felt a bit guilty; he dared not meet Lu Ning’s eyes, waiting for his second brother to step in.

As the head of the family, Lu Nanfeng continued, "Ningning, through this competition, you have proven your strength. No one will be able to replace your position in the team in the future."

Surely, this would put Lu Ning at ease.

Qin Xiang’s expression darkened instantly. She was filled with extreme resentment.

She had worked so hard, so why could Lu Ning snatch her spot away so easily? Even if she lacked talent, her dedication was no less than Lu Ning’s.

Lu Liu also looked at Lu Ning with a glimmer of hope. Although he didn’t speak, he also wanted Lu Ning to join the team. They had already offered her a way out; surely she wouldn't continue to be stubborn.

Lu Ning’s gaze was icy. "I refuse."

Lu Liu was taken aback. "Why?"

"Because I only participated in this competition because the other side insulted my parents, not because I wanted to join the team."

"But you were clearly practicing in private. Wasn't that for the sake of coming back?"

Lu Ning couldn't have become this skilled overnight. She must have been practicing in secret; if not to rejoin the team, then what was it for? Lu Liu did not believe her, staring straight at her.

Lu Ning’s face was pale and delicate, her eyes incomparably cold. "It wasn't."

Lu Liu’s heart sank. He couldn't help but blurt out, "Lu Ning, do I have to apologize to you in person for you to forgive me?"

Lu Ning stopped in her tracks. "It’s not a matter of forgiveness. There is more than one team in this world besides the Lu Family Team."

She loved competing, but she would not be confined to the Lu Sky Team. The implication was clear.

"Sister Ningning, I know you hate me!" Qin Xiang suddenly cried out, her voice filled with sobs.

Almost everyone looked toward Qin Xiang.

Qin Xiang walked toward Lu Ning, her tone humble. "Sixth Brother really wants you to join the team. If my presence is what makes you unhappy, then I will quit the team immediately. I will never fight you for this position!"

Lu Ning was impatient. "You’d better shut up. I’m not joining the team because I don't want to. It has nothing to do with anyone else. Stop trying to flatter yourself."

"I knew it, you’re still angry. It’s my fault for being overconfident and taking your place. I thought that by picking up the opportunities you didn't want, I could work hard to prove myself and contribute to the Lu family, but I’m just too stupid!"

Qin Xiang sniffled, her voice sounding so well-behaved that it was heart-wrenching to watch.

Lu Nanfeng felt a pang of sympathy for Qin Xiang’s sensible behavior. "Xiangxiang, it’s your Sixth Brother who went too far and hurt Ningning. It has nothing to do with you."

Lu Liu, caught in the crossfire, felt even more frustrated. He looked at Qin Xiang’s pitiful act, but his heart remained unmoved. He was starting to regret letting Qin Xiang join the team. Qin Xiang was only suited to be a well-behaved little sister, not a partner in building a career!

Seeing that Lu Liu was unmoved, Qin Xiang steeled herself. She suddenly pulled out an eyebrow razor and aimed it directly at her wrist. "Sister Ningning, if I die, I won't fight you for this position anymore. Don't worry!"

Lu Ning stepped back in shock. Had Qin Xiang gone crazy? Whether she joined the team or not, what did it have to do with this woman? Wasn't Qin Xiang the one who least wanted her to join? Now she was actually using self-harm to force her—was she out of her mind?

Lu Liu was also startled. "Xiangxiang, calm down. This has nothing to do with you."

Qin Xiang burst into tears and smiled. "Sixth Brother, it’s all my fault. Maybe I shouldn't have picked up the opportunities Sister Ningning didn't want in the first place; then I wouldn't have made her angry. Anyway, I’m already so satisfied to have grown up in the Lu family all these years—I’m willing to die!"

Lu Liu softened instantly, his earlier annoyance fading.

Lu Nanfeng looked at Lu Ning anxiously. "Ningning, how can you bear to watch your sister get hurt?"

Lu Liu frowned. Although he knew what Qin Xiang was doing was inappropriate, wouldn't everything be fine as long as Lu Ning agreed to join the team? All Lu Ning had to do was nod her head.

Lu Ning spoke in a cold, indifferent tone. "Are you all misunderstanding something?"

Lu Nanfeng was stunned. "What do you mean?"

"First, I’ve made it very clear: I’m not joining the team simply because I don't want to. It has nothing to do with any of you. Second, what is the difference between Qin Xiang using self-harm to force me to compromise and me using self-harm to force the great King to marry me?"

This mockery was sharp and on point. The teammates who had intended to speak up fell silent; it did seem to make sense.

Lu Liu couldn't help but interject, "Regardless, Xiangxiang is family." Even if Qin Xiang was terrible at the game and lacked a sense of responsibility, she was still just a young girl.

"Does that have anything to do with me? Whether Qin Xiang harms herself or commits suicide, it has nothing to do with me. Stop playing this moral kidnapping game!"

"Lu Ning, her father saved your life! How can you provoke her like this!" Lu Liu was so angry that he lashed out, swinging a slap toward Lu Ning.

Lu Ning was caught off guard, never expecting her Sixth Brother to actually hit her. Aside from her Fourth Brother, who had a temper, none of the other brothers had ever laid a hand on her.

But the slap did not land on her face.

Ji Chiqian stood to the side, catching Lu Nanfeng’s hand. His expression was cold and stern. "According to the Law on the Protection of Minors, this is your second violent offense. Under the law, the victim can report this to the police and file for a personal safety protection order."

Lu Ning turned her head, staring at him in a daze. Why was he here?

Lu Liu gritted his teeth. "Who are you? This is our family business; as an outsider, you have no right to meddle!"

Lu Nanfeng recognized who Ji Chiqian was, but he hadn't expected him to appear here.

Ji Chiqian spoke with calm composure. "Even an outsider like me can't stand to watch, which shows just how excessive your behavior is." His eyes were cold; these people had actually tried to hit her again! He was reaching the limit of his patience.

Lu Nanfeng frowned. "Dr. Ji, you’ve misunderstood. This time is different."

"How is it different? Your fake sister drags the team down, plays disappearing acts, and puts on airs. It was Lu Ning, the real sister, who stepped up and won the competition, forcing the other side to apologize. You don't treat her well, and yet you still raise a hand against her? Where is your dignity? Tell me!"

Lu Nanfeng was rendered speechless, realizing for the first time that his behavior toward Lu Ning had been excessive. He looked at Lu Ning with a hint of guilt. "Ningning, that’s not what I meant. I just didn't want Xiangxiang to do something foolish and hurt herself!"

Lu Ning pressed her lips together.

Ji Chiqian’s tone was sarcastic. "You don't want the fake sister to get hurt, so you choose to hurt the real sister? What kind of ridiculous logic is that!"

Lu Nanfeng’s guilt deepened. He looked at Lu Liu. "Apologize to Ningning immediately! Who told you to hit her!" Lu Nanfeng himself had been shocked by his younger brother’s actions.

Lu Liu stood frozen, guiltily hiding his hand. He hadn't expected himself to actually go through with it. He looked at Lu Ning with a guilty conscience. "I... I was just so angry at what you said, that’s why... that’s why."

He didn't know why he had been so enraged, or why he had acted without hesitation, just as he used to scold her whenever he pleased. After all, no matter how badly he treated her in the past, Lu Ning had never held it against him. This time should be no different, right? At the very least, he wouldn't do it again in the future.

Lu Ning’s cheek was still throbbing with a dull pain, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her heart.

Her eyes filled with mockery. "And so?"

She finally realized that she had been a punching bag in front of her Sixth Brother, which was why she had been looked down upon.

"If you are going to apologize, you should at least show some sincerity."

Ji Chiqian grabbed Lu Ning’s hand, then swung and delivered a heavy slap to Lu Liu’s face.