An’an’s lashes fluttered once she heard that. What? Xue Niang and Lu Yan came from the same place?
Noticing the stunned look on An’an’s face, Xue Niang let out a chuckle before she continued to explain, “He is a few years older than me, we’re from the same village. He treats me just like his little sister. I was sold to this Underground Palace twenty years ago and because of my young age, I was treated like a money making machine. He came that day when he was not even twenty years old, but was already addressed as Master Yan by everyone. He recognized me at first glance and picked me.
“He wanted to take me out of this place and let me live a normal life, but how would I even survive outside by myself? I didn’t have a home, I wasn’t educated and those jerks had ruined my body by that point. It was impossible for me to even get pregnant after they’d done so many despicable things to me. So I chose to stay here, and he even bought me some shares of the Underground Palace. I’ve been leading a carefree life ever since.”
An’an had also been sold to the human peddlers when she was young, if it weren’t for Lu Yan, she would have ended up even worse than Xue Niang.
An’an’s gaze turned gentle and was somewhat filled with pity. “Xue Niang, why are you telling me this?”
Xue Niang looked in An’an’s eyes. “Because I can see that he loves you.”
She was referring to Lu Yan.
“I’ve known him for such a long time, I can definitely tell what kind of person he is. He has had multiple batches of women by his side and his life had been spent in debauchery, seemingly not caring about any woman in his life. All except for you.
“His eyes are filled with only you when he looks at you. He would smile when he’s with you, he kisses you, even bends down to put on your sock and shoe for you. He even doesn’t allow you to wear short skirts, and he treats you so differently.
“I know that he loves you.”
An’an’s heart melted once she heard Xue Niang’s words. She knew that he loved her as well.
Walking in front, Xue Niang held her hand. “Men like him aren’t as good as other men at saying honeyed words but he’s definitely trustworthy. I have no doubt that he will dote on his woman for the rest of her life once he falls in love with her. He will give you everything that your heart desires. Make sure to treat him well, he definitely deserves all of the gentleness the world can offer to him.”
Lu Yan had gone through the tough vicissitudes of life. He knew what was real and fake, the differences between kind and evil. With the sword of justice in his hand, he definitely deserved all of the gentleness the world could offer.
An’an nodded to signal that she knew it and she would do it. “Xue Niang, do you know about his family?”
“I know a bit. Even though they weren’t well off, he used to have a really happy family. I remember that his parents had a loving relationship. He was a really filial son.
“When winter came and other children had leather gloves, he used to steal glances at them and his father could tell that he was envious of them. His dad told him one day, Dad is going to get you a pair of leather gloves too.
“His father went out early in the morning and didn’t come home that day. The police came knocking on their door the next day and told him that his father had stolen a pair of leather gloves. Because of that he was sentenced to three years in jail. However, his father died in jail just in the second year of his sentence. He didn’t even get the chance to meet his father for the last time.
“Well, as for his mother… she was a beautiful woman with a tough fate. After his dad passed away, they were left to fend for each other. He was too young back then to understand that the village head was coveting his mother’s beauty. He threatened Lu Yan’s mother, saying that he would send Lu Yan to work in the mines as child labor and used that to sexually assault his mother.
“When he came home from school one day, he saw the village head pinning his mother underneath him in bed. It was only then he realized what had happened.
“The incident spread within the village, everyone pointed fingers at Lu Yan, calling him a thief and adulterous slut’s son. His mother couldn’t take all of it and felt too ashamed to face him. In the end, she jumped into a river and committed suicide.
“From that day onwards, he became an orphan. He picked up his backpack, going to the city to try to achieve something. Since then, he has transformed from a beggar to become a powerful man.”
So it was like that…
The young Lu Yan had to experience his entire family breaking apart and passing away at such a tender age, so he became so quiet and learned to shoulder everything by himself.
An’an’s eyes turned red and watery.
They suddenly heard a deep voice from behind. “What are you two talking about?”
An’an lifted her eyes to see Lu Yan.
Lu Yan had taken a cold shower and changed into a new outfit. His fringe was wet and he just let them down, he was extremely suave and filled with masculine charm.
Xue Niang turned back to look, only to see the man’s deep-set eyes glaring at her.
Seeing his piercing glare, Xue Niang instantly lowered her head guiltily. She knew that he didn’t like it when people talked about his family. From the day that he picked up his backpack and stepped out of the village, he had never talked about his family ever since. It was a thorn in his heart he never wanted to touch again.
Lu Yan averted his eyes to land his gaze on An’an’s face. He stretched out his hand. “Come here.”
An’an walked over, placing her hand in his. Her hand was slightly cold while his was warm. He held onto her hand tightly and he scolded, “Standing here so openly to chat, you’re waiting for Delia to spot you?”
An’an stuck her tongue out, admitting that she was too careless.
“Let’s go, I’ll take you out.”
He held her hand and took her out.
Xue Niang stood behind and watched the two leave. Lu Yan was tall and suave while An’an was just like an ice princess who wasn’t that easy to get along with. However, she behaved totally differently in front of him, she would stick her tongue out and was so playful in front of him. Though they had a 20 year age gap, they were so suited for each other.
…
The two didn’t take the lift, but rather, the stairs.
An’an followed behind the man, she looked at him while he had one hand in his pocket, his shoulders broad and strong. He gave her all the sense of security she needed.
“Lu Yan, was Xue Niang’s memories… about your parents true?”
Right after she asked that, the man’s hand squeezed her hand tight and it hurt.
He didn’t turn back to look at her, continuing with steady footsteps his voice turned stern. “I don’t want to talk about this. Don’t mention it anymore.”
So he wasn’t willing to talk about his family.
An’an was reminded of Blood Eagle. Being the legend in the armed forces with countless achievements, he was the commander of the Blood Forces but he wasn’t a soldier. He could never put on his uniform because of his family background. After all, his father was a thief.
“Lu Yan, I believe your father is not a thief. He didn’t steal anything.”
Right after she said that, the man stopped walking.
Letting go of her hand, he turned around to look at An’an, pursing his lips into a firm line. “What did you just say?”
His gaze spelled danger.
He was glaring at her.
An’an wasn’t afraid at all. “People who are loyal to their country all have firm beliefs. They would never succumb to their inner demons and even though I don’t know what you firmly believe in, but to be able to raise a son like you, your dad must not be a thief!”
