Chapter 279 - Lu Family's Ancient House
Lu Xingyan was caught off-guard. She never thought that it was Han Xukun, himself, who would expose their small connection to her father. But... she was talking about her father. It would only be a matter of time before he would finally notice what was happening between her and Han Xukun. She was hesitant to hold the boy's hand under her father's scrutinizing gaze.
He could see how reluctant she was so Han Xukun reached out to hold her hand before he finally faced Lu Yifeng. "I want to court your daughter, uncle Yifeng."
"Court..." The older man looked baffled by his words.
"I know that you are not allowing her to date but I am willing to wait for her until she will graduate. I will not make a move on her until there." The boy was sincere with his words as he looked at the older man with a serious gaze.
Lu Yifeng was quiet for a few seconds which only made the youngsters more anxious than they already were. "What do you think about this, Xingyan?"
Lu Xingyan thought that her father wouldn't allow him at all but she was surprised by the words he said. She never thought that he would ask for what she thought of it.
"Do you feel the same for him?" Her father continued to ask.
She pursed her lips. She could feel Han Xukun's hold tighten around her hand as he waited for her to say something. His warm hold was enough to give her the courage to give her father a reply. "Yes. I have feelings for him, dad."
A sigh came from her father after he heard her words. He massaged the bridge of his nose as he tried to think of what to do.
"You don't have to worry, dad. I promise not to date, not until I graduate," Lu Xingyan added.
"Han Xukun, Xingyan, you both are still young."
"That's why we will not rush. I also want to enjoy my youth, dad," she replied earnestly.
"And what if you both ended up loving someone else in the future?" Lu Yifeng asked, crossing his arms as he looked at them with one brow raised.
Lu Xingyan turned to Han Xukun to which he ended up looking back at her. A small smile appeared on his lips before he turned to her father and replied, "If Lu Xingyan ended up falling for someone after graduation, I will step back. She has the right to love anyone she likes. I don't have the right to stop her since… I am not her boyfriend."
She felt a pang in her chest but she couldn't help but agree more with his words. What he said was right. Since they were not dating each other, they have no right to stop each other. "I will not stop Han Xukun too. Our relationship will only start after I graduate from college, that is if we still have feelings for each other."
Lu Xingyan had always been a good girl who obeyed her parents since she was young. Lu Yifeng had always known that since he had watched her grow. He hated to admit that his daughters were growing. He had always been an overprotective father but right at that moment, he saw that one day, they would grow and have lives of their own. He cast his eyes at Han Xukun. He was a decent boy and as long as he was willing to give his daughter the freedom she deserved then he would have no problem with him.
"What should we do, Yifeng?"
Lu Yifeng felt the weight of an arm around his shoulders. He eyed his side and saw Han Xukun's father, Han Qinshan, standing beside him.
"Our children are in love with each other," Han Qinshan said with a smile.
"And what about Han Xukun's engagement with my brother's daughter?" He brushed off the other man's arm from his shoulder.
"Lu Mengjie and I have no feelings for each other, uncle Yifeng," Han Xukun cleared up. "Also, I am not yet engaged to her. Father is still trying to convince uncle Xian Yu."
Lu Yifeng turned to Han Qinshan, crossing his arms. "And now, you will have to convince me."
"Oh come on, Yifeng. Our kids love each other, don't you think that reason is enough to engage them?"
Lu Yifeng narrowed his eyes. That reason may be enough to convince him but what stopped him from giving his permission to engage their children was Han Qinshan's real intention. "It looks like you are eager to engage your son with a Lu daughter."
"Dad, I think it's too early for us to be engaged with each other," Lu Xingyan inserted herself between the two fathers.
The two men turned to look at her. On the other hand, Han Xukun quietly allowed the girl beside to speak whatever was in her mind. Just like her, he didn't want to be in another arranged marriage even if the person he would be engaged with was a girl he liked. He didn't want to give her restrictions and besides, they may be attracted to each other but their feelings were not deep enough so the future for them was yet unknown.
Lu Xingyan released Han Xukun's hand before she went to her father's side. "Just like what I said earlier, I don't want to rush my relationship with Han Xukun."
"Why not? Don't you love my son?"
She faced Han Qinshan and looked at him with a serious gaze as she replied, "I don't think my feelings for him are deep enough to be called love."
Han Qinshan was surprised to hear what she said. He never thought he would be hearing such words from her. Weren't youngsters supposed to be easily blinded by their feelings?
On the other hand, Lu Yifeng couldn't help but feel proud of his daughter. She knew what she was doing. He didn't have to worry about her being blinded by young love. Unlike others, she was not reckless with her decisions, she has always been a responsible girl who didn't give her parents a chance to worry.
"Well then, that settles things. We will be taking our leave now," Lu Yifeng said as he placed his hand on his daughter's shoulder. "I'm grateful for the help you offered to save my daughter."
"If you're so grateful, then how about giving her to my son?"
Lu Yifeng's eyes darkened and the room suddenly became chilly. He had a murderous glare aiming at the other man.
"Well?" The side of Han Qinshan's lips curled up, his eyes taunting him.
Lu Xingyan held her father's arm to hold him back as she saw how he was about to jump and attack Han Xukun's father. "Dad, please…"
"It would be advantageous for the Lu family to have the Han family on their side, don't you think so?"
Han Qinshan was not a normal man but instead, he was the ruling King in the Azure Republic. Aside from that, he had the biggest group in the underworld. He was the only person who rivaled Lu Yifeng's brother, Lu Xian Yu when it came to the underground world.
The Azure Republic was not open to the world but that didn't mean that they were behind the latest technologies although firearms were not allowed in the small country since they valued and practiced traditional martial arts. Since the country was not open to the world, no one could enter the place so easily without a special permit given by one of the seven great families.
"Mr. Han, I am thankful that you helped but don't you think that you are asking too much? The ones who came and saved me were my father and your son." She turned to Han Xukun and continued, "I am indebted to you so you should be the one making the decision. Do you want to have an arranged marriage with me?"
Han Xukun ended up having a staring contest with her. He could tell what she was trying to do. He wanted to have her and he could take advantage of the situation but that wouldn't be the answer that Lu Xingyan would like to hear. She asked him since she knew that he knew what she wanted. He sighed inwardly. He could feel the pressure coming from both their fathers' stares. He was in a tight spot but he stood calmly as he met the intensity of their gazes. "I have already told you my decision earlier. I will wait until you graduate, until then we will not press this relationship. Also, it's too early for us to be engaged."
Lu Xingyan couldn't help but inwardly sigh in relief when she heard his answer. For a second there, she thought that he was going to say the opposite.
On the other hand, Lu Yifeng was pleased to hear Han Xukun's words. It only gave him a better impression of the boy. He was different from his father and that was a good thing. "Those words came to your son. Let's not force our children onto each other."