“Huh? Okay,” Lu Shaoyang came back to his senses in a daze. He retracted his gaze from Shen Hanxing and Ji Yan. He was heartbroken as he clenched his fists and looked at Su Ling with increasing guilt and a complicated eye. After a long while, he said, “Let’s go up.”
Lu Shaoyang was handsome and wore a white suit. He looked like the Prince Charming that girls dreamed. Su Ling also wore a white dress and a crown full of diamonds. Her exquisite face revealed a happy smile.
Seeing the two of them on stage, Su Ling’s father could not help but exclaim, “Look at these two kids! They are a perfect match.”
Lu Guo laughed and echoed, “That’s right, Shaoyang and Su Ling were childhood friends. Now that they are engaged, our families can unite as one. Don’t worry! After Su Ling marries our family, we will take good care of her. She will feel as if she was at home.”
The parents of the Lu and Su families were happy. The host smiled and handed the microphone to Lu Shaoyang, motioning for him to give a speech.
“I am grateful that everyone attended my engagement party.” Lu Shaoyang took the microphone and looked at the ground. The smile on his face disappeared, and his voice was deep as he spoke. Su Ling, who stood beside him, instantly sensed something was wrong. A bad feeling rose in her. She lifted her hand and tried to stop Lu Shaoyang. “Brother Shaoyang, you…”
Lu Shaoyang avoided Su Ling’s hand. He seemed to have made up his mind. Suddenly, he lifted his head and stared at the front of the hall seat. “Su Ling, I know that you have had a crush on me for a long time. But I’m sorry. I’ve always treated you as my sister. I have no feelings for you at all.”
“No, Brother Shaoyang. Don’t…” Her bad feeling came true. Su Ling felt that her world had collapsed. Her face was pale, and tears kept rolling down her face. “Why? Brother Shaoyang, why did you say that? Today is our engagement ceremony. So many guests are here. Don’t… don’t do this, okay?” She had been looking forward to the engagement ceremony for a long time! Lu Shaoyang had never considered her reputation when he said that in public. His action had made her the laughingstock of everyone who attended the engagement ceremony.
“What’s going on?” Su Ling’s father was unhappy about it and shouted, “Lu Guo, you have to give me an explanation for this!”
“B*stard, get down here!” Lu Guo was also furious. The marriage between the Lu and Su families was going well, yet Lu Shaoyang suddenly changed his mind. Lu Guo’s face was also gloomy and frightening. He threw the wine glass as he roared, “what nonsense are you talking about? Have you lost your mind?”
“President Su, don’t be angry. Shaoyang may have been confused for a moment. We will talk to him about it,” Mrs. Lu was extremely anxious. She tried her best to comfort Su Ling’s father, “Shaoyang is still young and has a rebellious mentality. Don’t worry. Later, we will make him apologize to Su Ling.”
On the stage, Lu Shaoyang did not look at his parents. He said to Su Ling, “I know you will be sad because I say something like this at a time like this. But Su Ling, I’m as sad as you are.” He covered his chest with a pained expression and said, “I can’t go against my heart. I know that the person I love is not you. A marriage without love will not end happily. Su Ling, you are so gentle and considerate. You will understand my thoughts, right?”
Su Ling cried until her vision blurred. She wiped her tears away. It was the first time Su Ling knew how painful being heartbroken was. She looked at Lu Shaoyang with tears in her eyes. “Brother Shaoyang, are you saying I must give in because I am sensible, gentle, and considerate? When you made such a decision, did you consider me?” Before he went on stage, he did not even let her know he would do that. She had loved Lu Shaoyang for so many years. He treated her worse than Shen Hanxing, who had repeatedly rejected him. Why would she compromise by his side for so many years if it were not because she loved Lu Shaoyang for so many years?
……
“Su Ling, I’m sorry. But I’m afraid that if I continue to be silent, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. This time, I’m the one who let you down. You can hate me,” Lu Shaoyang’s hand holding the microphone trembled slightly. His eyes were red.
Such a scene suddenly appeared at the engagement ceremony, startling the guests. Everyone could see the flashes from the camera of major news media, trying to capture the first-hand news as soon as possible.
