Taming The Hidden Bigshot By Kissing Him-Chapter 643 She Seems to Have Gone Mad

Lu Yingxue’s heart was filled with shock and disbelief.

How could she possibly be an illegitimate daughter?!

Her mother, though not of high birth, was well-known throughout the Imperial Capital as the noble daughter of the scholarly He Family.

Her father had fallen in love at first sight with her mother, married her, and they had her. But her mother had passed away in an accident many years ago.

She, a legitimate daughter by birth, how could she suddenly become an illegitimate child?

Then who exactly was her biological mother?

Lu Yingxue’s eyes swirled with overwhelming doubt and astonishment. She wanted to eavesdrop a bit longer, but discovered that Lu Bannong and Lu Yutong had already shifted the topic.

She had no choice but to let it go.

Yet this matter was deeply etched in her mind.

She was actually the illegitimate daughter despised by all!

Lu Yingxue took a deep breath. The pressing matter at hand was not wasting time.

She needed to bring Xiang Mingzhu properly to Lu Yutong, to satisfy her. It seemed Lu Yutong held multiple secrets of the Lu Family in her hands, clearly having come prepared.

She slowly walked to the secluded basement.

...

Half an hour later.

Lu Yingxue brought a washed, groomed, and gorgeously dressed Xiang Mingzhu to the living room.

Xiang Mingzhu’s once proud and radiant face had turned deathly pale, her eyes darting constantly. She looked timid and trembled all over at the slightest movement.

She was terrified into submission!

All her psychological defenses had been crushed by Lu Yingxue’s deliberate targeting over this time. Now, seeing the light of the outside world, she appeared dazed and vacant.

"Aunt, I’ve brought her. But Mingzhu seems to be too overwhelmed with guilt. She’s been despondent lately. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t console her. Father and I even got her several prescriptions. But don’t worry, her physical health is fine."

Her mental state, however, was another story.

Precisely because of this, Lu Yingxue dared to bring Xiang Mingzhu in front of Lu Yutong.

Lu Yutong stood up and slowly approached Xiang Mingzhu. She stretched out her hand to touch her face, but Xiang Mingzhu immediately flinched, her legs giving way as she collapsed to the floor.

"No... please don’t hit me."

"Mingzhu, I’m your mother."

No matter how much Lu Yutong hated Xiang Hai, she still held some affection for Xiang Mingzhu. She had once thought that going abroad would allow her to escape it all, but her heart still lingered on her daughter, her own flesh and blood. Among her children, Xiang Mingzhu resembled her the most.

She despised men, despised the son she had given birth to, but the last shred of tenderness she had was reserved for Xiang Mingzhu.

During the quiet of the night, she would wonder how that child was doing, though she never dared to return to the country.

"Mingzhu, I’m your mother." At this moment, Lu Yutong’s eyes were full of anguish. "I won’t hit you. Don’t be afraid."

"No."

Xiang Mingzhu clasped her hands over her head, crying and begging.

She seemed to be lost in her own world, unable to sense others’ emotions.

Lu Yutong gently stroked her hair, her eyes glistening red. Supporting Xiang Mingzhu to her feet, she said, "Don’t worry. Sit here for a moment, and I’ll take you away from here soon. From now on, we’ll live together."

"No!"

Xiang Mingzhu shoved her hard and scurried behind the sofa to hide.

Cowering, afraid to look at anyone.

Lu Yutong remembered vividly how lively and cheerful this girl had once been. She recalled Xiang Hai mentioning in phone calls how spoiled and willful Mingzhu was.

How had she become like this?

Lu Yutong cast a cold gaze at the Lu father and daughter. "What exactly have you done to Mingzhu? Why has she turned into this?"

Lu Yingxue answered innocently, "Aunt, we’ve already taken great care of her. Who knows what’s going on in her mind that she’s driven herself to this? Maybe she’s guilty over her past mistakes, or she’s pining over unrequited love for my fiancé, or maybe Zhao Chang has been tormenting her behind the scenes."

Lu Yutong’s face was filled with rage.

"Her situation with Zhao Chang, was it you..."

"Yutong." Lu Bannong interrupted her. "Her situation with Zhao Chang, we were unaware of it at first. At that time, Mingzhu was enamored with Zhong Yi but couldn’t have him, so she turned to alcohol. Who would’ve thought Zhao Chang would be audacious enough to take advantage of her? To protect Mingzhu’s reputation, I chose not to publicize it.

Besides, I thought since the Xiang Family had already gone bankrupt, it wouldn’t hurt for Mingzhu to have some support."

Lu Bannong’s words came across as dignified, as if he had Mingzhu’s best interests at heart.

He made no mention of how he had once used this arrangement to secure the Lu Family’s ten-year supply of Chinese herbal medicine.

"You’re always so hypocritical."

Lu Yutong said coldly, though helplessly. "From this moment on, I’m severing all ties with the Lu Family. Don’t bother me again, or I’ll drag you down with me. I’m taking Mingzhu with me."

She walked over to Xiang Mingzhu and coaxed her for a long time before Mingzhu finally calmed down.

"Mingzhu, let’s go."

Lu Yutong was patient, holding Xiang Mingzhu’s hand as they slowly walked out.

Outside the villa, it was freezing cold, but the moonlight was gentle.

The long-lost moonlight fell on Xiang Mingzhu, leaving her momentarily dazed. It felt as though it had been ages since she had last seen such a serene moonlit night.

"Mingzhu, let’s get in the car. Once you’re in a stable condition, I’ll take you abroad."

Lu Yutong could see that Xiang Mingzhu had severe psychological issues.

She also understood well that the Lu father and daughter must have done something to her. Yet, she had no evidence, nor the strength or confidence to confront the Lu Family. Exposing their misdeeds would mean reopening her own old wounds and reliving them in agony.

Lu Yutong frowned, her heart churning with discomfort.

But she didn’t notice the flicker of clarity in Xiang Mingzhu’s eyes.

Inside the villa.

Lu Yingxue stood where she was, her body radiating displeasure.

She restrained herself before Lu Bannong, then spoke carefully, "Father, is she really back just to make up for the motherly love Mingzhu missed? Why does it feel like she has other intentions?"

What she wanted to know the most right now was whether the illegitimacy claim was true or false.

Always conceited and proud, how could she accept being labeled an illegitimate child?

Lu Bannong’s expression turned cold. "As long as you don’t provoke her, there’ll be no trouble. Besides, there’s no real threat. If she wanted to reveal anything, she’d have done it long ago!"

"Then... about the past, is there still evidence?"

"How could there possibly be evidence!"

"What about witnesses?" For some reason, a growing unease gnawed at Lu Yingxue.

Things were becoming increasingly complicated.

She felt as though too many things were slipping beyond her control.

Lu Bannong narrowed his eyes slightly. "What witnesses? Even if there were any, they wouldn’t testify. Don’t worry about those matters. Just focus on the Zhong Family. I heard there was trouble at the housewarming party?"

"Zhong Yi moved Ye Ying into the new villa, and Qiao Xi showed up. Lu Yan, that idiot, failed to harm Qiao Xi and ended up with his left leg broken. He’s already been sent to the hospital—out of sight, out of mind."

"Useless fool."

Lu Bannong sneered.

Lu Yingxue hesitated. "Father, it seems Zhong Yi knows it was me who drugged him at the engagement party. Today, he... openly broke ties with me. He said from now on there’d be only business dealings between us, and claimed he wouldn’t give up his position as heir. Do you think he..."

Smack!

Lu Bannong slapped Lu Yingxue across her right cheek.

"You’ve disappointed me!"

"Ah!"

Lu Yingxue cried out, clutching her cheek, and fell to the side.