Chapter 200: Umbrella and Fireworks (4/6)

Liu Anran only gave a bitter smile.

He really wanted to tell Liu Xie that they didn’t need to act anymore, but he had to indulge her.

Then, that cockroach crawled up from the floor again.

“Lady Liu, although I can’t afford to provoke you, I should still remind you not to think of things so simply.”

The guy, who had just taken one punch from Liu Anran, climbed back up, making Liu Anran’s brow furrow.

“Since the Liu family could kick him out, it means things have reached an irreversible point. For you to still expect your parents to show him any mercy is a bit too delusional.”

Then, he looked up at Master Liu on the high platform, seemingly seeking his approval. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

As soon as he spoke, he froze on the spot.

The expression of the man on the platform was wrong.

It should have been coldness or approval, but definitely not pity — especially not pity directed at him, like the pity one felt for someone about to die.

It was like a butcher’s last look at a living creature on the chopping block in a slaughterhouse.

‘How could he have that expression?’

“Why do you think that after I am no longer the Liu family’s Second Young Master, I will never receive their help again?” Liu Anran looked at the man with cold eyes.

This guy actually climbed back up after taking a beating in front of a crowd.

Under normal circumstances, shouldn’t he have just spat out some harsh words and left immediately?

“Are you joking? You have no relation to the Liu family anymore. Why on earth would they still help you?”

Only now did the arrogant smile on his face truly begin to spiral out of control.

In any other situation, he would have dismissed Liu Anran’s words as the nonsensical rambling of a dying man.

But things were different now. Master Liu stood on the high platform watching coldly, and Madam Liu stood behind the two of them. The meaning was clear.

There was a high probability that what Liu Anran said was true.

But how could it be like this?

“I truly have no more relation to the Liu family,” Liu Anran said, as if to let the man die in peace. “But that doesn’t mean I cannot receive support from them.”

He looked coldly at the man before him, who now resembled a stray dog. “You are truly a waste of my time.”

“Do you think the Liu family is stupid? Why would they support someone like you, who has no status and no ability?”

“No one makes a losing trade. I indeed no longer have a relationship with the Liu family; from now on, I only have a relationship with her.” Liu Anran grabbed Liu Xie’s hand.

“I am no longer the Liu family’s Second Young Master. I am the Eldest Miss’s fiancé.”

“Huh?” This was Liu Xie, whose name had suddenly been mentioned.

The man in front of them, no longer showing even a trace of arrogance, stared blankly at Liu Anran.

“This… how is this possible!”

“This is the second thing I wish to announce,” Master Liu’s booming voice rang out, once again drawing the attention of all the guests. “Due to the inconvenience of the adoption relationship, we severed our familial ties to allow their romantic relationship to develop.”

But Master Liu did not stop there. “But you, disregarding his honor and dignity to humiliate him — isn’t that the same as slapping the face of the entire Liu family?!”

His natural authority silenced the entire banquet hall. The expression on the man standing before Liu Anran and Liu Xie was a sight to behold; in just a few moments, he went from radiant confidence to utter darkness.

He realized the situation was real and could not be faked.

Furthermore, he had truly and deeply offended the Liu family.

“I originally thought someone bold enough to provoke me at a time like this was a man of great skill, but it turns out you’re just seeking death.” Liu Anran pulled Liu Xie, whose brain hadn’t quite processed everything yet, into his arms. “You can leave now. We won’t be seeing each other again.”

After saying that, he turned away with Liu Xie, no longer sparing a single glance for that piece of filth.

“Anran, I’m sorry. Your sister insisted on coming, and I couldn’t stop her…”

“It’s fine, she didn’t interfere with anything.” Liu Anran waved his hand.

This was indeed unexpected, but Liu Xie’s arrival had actually helped him. Perhaps if she hadn’t shown up to shed those tears, this guy wouldn’t have been so eager to jump out.

Moreover, their parents had been kept in the dark and hadn’t informed him that Liu Xie already knew part of the truth.

“You haven’t answered me yet. What is going on?” Liu Xie didn’t understand. “What were you talking about just now? Fiancé? Was that in the script?”

Liu Xie had heard something incredible, and it definitely wasn’t in the plan.

Wasn’t the script supposed to be about Liu Anran using himself as bait to lure someone out? Why was she suddenly involved even after the matter was resolved?

She felt like things weren’t that simple. She had been kept in the dark about certain things until now.

This feeling did not sit well with her.

So, she feigned a fierce tone, yet her voice remained gentle, as if she were terrified Liu Anran would run away again.

As Liu Anran held her arm, she used her other hand to grip his as well.

It seemed she was actually enjoying the role-play.

“The thing is…” Liu Anran’s gaze shifted slightly. Madam Liu took that as her cue to leave, walking away to greet the other guests.

The guests seemed to look away, but the two could clearly feel that everyone’s eyes were still on them.

“If it’s not convenient to talk here, we can talk at home,” Liu Xie said, glancing around.

“I will go home with you. Back to our home,” Liu Anran said. “But I won’t make you wait anymore. You’ve waited long enough.”

He took out his phone and pulled up a picture of a DNA test result — a real one, of course.

“Those two aren’t my parents. Everything I’ve done until now was just to lure that man out.”

“Didn’t you already say that yesterday?” Liu Xie whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear.

But Liu Anran didn’t seem to be listening.

Things were going south; this guy was getting too into character.

“I know I could have told you sooner. I’m sorry. I was just afraid the other party was too cautious, and that your behavior after learning the truth would alert them.”

Liu Xie listened in silence.

“That… doesn’t matter, right?”

She smiled slightly, like brilliant sunlight flowing through her golden hair. “As long as you don’t leave me, nothing else matters, right?”

“As long as you aren’t truly suffering, and it’s not a situation where I can’t help you at all.”

“Sister…” Liu Anran’s gaze suddenly grew more determined. “This kind of thing won’t happen again, because the two of us will be firmly bound together.”

“This is the second purpose of what I’ve done.”

“Liu Xie, please be with me.”

Liu Xie froze. She stared at the boy who was now kneeling on one knee before her, gently holding her fingertips.

Only now did she understand what he meant by “fiancé.”

“Are you crazy? I’m your sister!” Liu Xie instantly broke character.

“Not anymore.”

Liu Anran didn’t have a ring, but he had his tie.

The Prada tie was gently tied around the young girl’s wrist.

This was the most modest thing he had produced for a grand occasion since Liu Xie had taken him in.

Fiery red maple leaves fell frantically outside the window, as if trying to create an atmosphere for him.

The sunlight outside was blinding, and the shadows of the eaves fell on the wall like distorted petals.

Liu Xie wore a blue and white French ruffled dress and canvas shoes that were equally unsuitable for the occasion. Mud spots marked the white edges of her shoes. She wasn’t delicate enough to care about such small stains; they might have even been there since last month.

She resisted the urge to step back, but the tip of her right shoe gently poked at the noble carpet, mud spots and all.

All the light in the room seemed dim and obscure, save for the one window blooming toward them, letting the outdoor sunlight fall perfectly upon the two of them.

Liu Anran looked up, and that streak of sunlight happened to meet her gaze.

He saw Liu Xie’s other hand twirling a strand of hair; the soft locks escaped her green fingers only to fall back in again.

Liu Xie’s eyes were like the surface of water, rippling as they reflected the sunlight.

The boy saw the glimmer of an angel, carrying the fragrance of leaves after a rain.

In the pursuit of love, it seemed everyone was hesitant and wavering, neither daring to advance nor willing to retreat.

Silence is a virtue, but to remain silent before the one you love is a form of cowardice.

A slight smile curved the corners of Liu Anran’s mouth.

He spoke, his voice loud enough for everyone in the banquet hall to hear, like a declaration.

“Liu Xie, I love you!”