Chapter 16: Break off the Engagement
"You know my mom?"
Ling Wenhe leaned forward half a step, the uncertainty in his eyes gradually replaced by certainty.
He scrutinized Chen Yu again, especially the quiet contours between his brows and eyes, which looked extremely like the old friend in his memory.
"That's right," he said with a tone of emotion and a bit of probing. "You are Lin Lan's son, the eldest son of the Chen family, right?"
Chen Yu raised his eyebrows slightly.
His mother Lin Lan's name was mentioned, and coupled with the other party's certain expression, it was clearly not a random guess.
He nodded: "I am Lin Lan's son, but I am no longer..."
Before Chen Yu could finish, Ling Wenhe smiled. "I am Ling Wenhe."
His tone softened a lot. "Speaking of which, your mother and I are old acquaintances. Moreover..."
He paused, glanced at Wei Tianyi beside him, and then turned to Chen Yu. "My purpose for coming to Lanjiang this time is actually to find you."
"Find me?" Chen Yu frowned, taking half a step back, the sword in his hand ready to strike at any moment.
Zhou Mingxuan listened with pricked ears from the side, huge waves already surging in his heart.
He vaguely felt that this matter was not simple.
Not only was Chen Yu favored by Elder Wei, but he was also known by Ling Wenhe?Others might not know, but Zhou Mingxuan was the mayor's son after all.
This Ling family was a prominent family in the Alliance.
Zhou Mingxuan recognized this man—Alliance Senior Professor Ling Wenhe, who had made major contributions to mechanical modification and was a 5th Rank Awakened One, possessing a lofty status.
Such a figure came to Lanjiang to find Chen Yu?
Is this Chen Yu... that tough?
He wanted to eavesdrop more, but he saw Wei Tianyi stroking his beard, watching this turn of events with interest. "Let's go, talk upstairs."
The scene changed.
The three of them appeared in a room.
Ling Wenhe took a deep breath. "Your name is Chen?"
"Chen Yu." Chen Yu's tone was neither humble nor arrogant.
Ling Wenhe spoke sincerely: "Chen Yu, there is something you might not know yet."
"Back then, your mother and my wife made an engagement for you and my daughter, Ling Yue."
"Engagement?" Chen Yu was stunned. This was the first time he had heard of it.
His mother left early and never mentioned this to him.
"Yes." Ling Wenhe nodded, a look of apology on his face.
"However, the situation in the Ling family has changed a bit in recent years. Ling Yue... her personality is also mischievous, and she doesn't approve of these old-fashioned engagements."
"So she ran to Lanjiang on her own initiative, wanting to break off the engagement."
"My wife—oh, that's your Auntie Ling Xiao—and I only have this one precious daughter."
"We don't want to force her to fulfill the engagement either. But letting that child come to your door directly to propose breaking off the engagement is indeed inappropriate and too unruly."
"So it has to be us parents who do the talking. I came to Lanjiang personally this time, firstly to find her."
"Secondly, I also want to find an opportunity to discuss with you and your father about breaking off this engagement."
???
Is this a 'breaking off the engagement' trope?
However, Chen Yu didn't get the chance to shout the famous line "Don't bully the youth for being poor."
Ling Wenhe spoke very frankly, without any condescending attitude, and even discussed it personally with him, a junior.
He spoke with a hint of caution: "This matter was first raised by our Ling family, so we are in the wrong first."
"If you have any requests or need any resources, as long as it is within my ability, feel free to ask."
"I know you just awakened not long ago, and it is the time when you need resources to build your foundation."
"I see your swordsmanship is good, and military training is imminent. Your future is boundless, so you shouldn't let this old matter affect you."
Chen Yu's heart stirred.
Resources.
Just as he was dozing off, someone brought a pillow.
To perform excellently in military training and be selected by an Awakened Academy, his realm must be raised to Primary-Rank Mid-Stage or even High-Stage.
To raise his realm in a short time, taking medicine (elixirs) was an unavoidable hurdle.
Ling Wenhe's words hit right at his heart.
Moreover, the other party didn't look down on him because of his family background or strength, but instead actively offered compensation.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with this attitude; respect was given, and compensation could be paid.
Engagement? Woman?
It will only affect the speed at which I draw my sword!
Chen Yu said frankly: "Uncle Ling, you are too polite."
"The engagement was originally an agreement between your previous generation. Nowadays, free love is advocated."
"However, this marriage..."
"You don't want to withdraw?" Ling Wenhe asked in confusion.
"No..." Chen Yu shook his head and said slyly, "You have to add money."
Ling Wenhe froze, then laughed loudly: "Hahahahaha."
"Your temperament is exactly like your mother's!"
"Straightforward!" Ling Wenhe laughed heartily, the worry in his eyes dissipating a lot. "Don't worry, you name the resources, I guarantee you won't suffer a loss."
Wei Tianyi watched with interest from the side and spoke up at this moment: "Since it's about breaking off the engagement, it's only proper to visit the Chen family and tell them."
"Wenhe, coincidently the Chen family is holding a coming-of-age ceremony tonight. This old man guesses the Ling girl will also go. Why don't we go to the Chen family together?"
Ling Wenhe wished for nothing more: "That would be best. With Elder Wei accompanying us, it also shows our sincerity."
When Chen Yu heard the words "Chen Family Coming-of-Age Ceremony," he was stunned, and a light flashed in his eyes.
He looked up at the two men, his tone calm: "Uncle Ling, Elder Wei, there is no need to go to the Chen family."
"I no longer have any relationship with the Chen family."
"Hmm?" Ling Wenhe's laughter got stuck in his throat, and his brows furrowed instantly.
"What do you mean? The Chen family... aren't you the eldest son of the Chen family?"
Wei Tianyi also stopped stroking his beard, his sharp gaze landing on Chen Yu's face: "This old man heard... you severed ties with the Chen family?"
"Still at the awakening ceremony..."
Wei Tianyi slowly recounted the recent rumors about Chen Yu.
The more Ling Wenhe listened, the darker his face became.
At the end, Wei Tianyi changed the subject: "However, observing you... you are not like the rumors say."
Chen Yu laughed at himself: "Thank you for your appreciation, Elder Wei."
"Before my mother sacrificed herself, due to her background, we mother and son were not acknowledged by the Chen family."
"But after my mother left, I was taken back to the Chen family..."
His voice wasn't loud, but it struck clearly in the room.
"My stepmother Zhang Li took over the nest before my mother's first seven days had passed..." Chen Yu calmly recounted his experiences over the years.
"Although I am the eldest son, I have no status in the Chen family. Chen Chen, on the contrary, takes all the benefits."
Concealing the fact of his transmigration, Chen Yu smiled: "There is no point in staying in this Chen family."
The room was so quiet that the wind outside the window could be heard.
Ling Wenhe's face sank, his fingers unconsciously tightening around the teacup.
Both he and Ling Xiao held important positions in the Alliance and could not leave easily.
So neither of them came to Lanjiang often, and they didn't know that their old friend's son was actually living so difficultly.
And listening to Ling Xiao...
Chen Guodong often demanded cultivation resources from the military in the name of a martyr's family. It seemed this Chen family was truly not anything good.
"Outrageous!" Wei Tianyi shouted in a low voice. "Even a vicious tiger doesn't eat its cubs. Chen Guodong can actually treat his own biological son so harshly."
"Zhang Li, an outsider, dares to trample on the flesh and blood left by the main wife like this. The Chen family's reputation has been completely ruined!"
He had practiced the sword all his life and placed the utmost importance on the word "Righteousness."
He couldn't stand such shady and dirty things, especially when the other party was treated like this when he was just a half-grown child.
Ling Wenhe took a deep breath, his eyes looking at Chen Yu with a bit more pity: "Chen Yu, this matter... we didn't know the inside story."
"Since that's the case, it is even more necessary to go to the Chen family. You have suffered so many grievances..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.
With his and Elder Wei's identities, it would be as easy as turning over a hand to seek justice for Chen Yu and make the Chen family pay the price.
But Chen Yu shook his head, stood up, and with his back to the light outside the window, his figure was as upright as a sword: "Uncle Ling, Elder Wei, thank you for your kindness."
"But what the Chen family owes me, I will take back myself."
He turned around, his eyes surprisingly bright, without a trace of resentment, only pure sharpness: "I still have this bit of confidence."
Wei Tianyi looked at him and suddenly clapped his hands and laughed: "Good! Good! Good!"
"Truly good material! Bones are hard, spirit is even harder! A hundred times stronger than those soft eggs hiding under their family's wings!"
The more he looked, the more satisfied he became. "To practice the sword, first practice the heart. This heart of yours is more translucent than many 7th Rank Awakened Ones!"
"I even want to accept you as a disciple, but sadly I can see your ambition is not in the Way of the Sword."
Ling Wenhe also breathed a sigh of relief, showing genuine appreciation on his face: "Ambitious! If your mother knew, she would definitely be proud of you."
He thought for a moment and added: "However, being alone is not feasible."
"Regarding the resources, since I agreed, I won't change it. As for the Chen family..."
A trace of coldness flashed in Ling Wenhe's eyes: "This engagement must be broken!"
"For so many years, they have been using our Ling family's name to act like tyrants. This account must also be settled!"
Chen Yu looked at the frank gazes of the two men, his heart moved slightly, and he nodded: "Thank you, Uncle Ling, thank you, Elder Wei."
Wei Tianyi waved his hand: "Alright, stop saying these things. The Ling girl is probably already at the Chen family by now..."
"Are you going?"
Chen Yu pondered for a moment.
Originally, he was anxious to improve his strength, but now with Ling Wenhe promising to gift resources, there was no rush.
Chen Yu's mouth curled into a "Dragon King" smirk. "I'll go watch the show."
Meanwhile, outside the Chen family home, luxury cars were like clouds, and guests arrived one after another.
As one of the three major families in Lanjiang, there were rumors that the Chen family had latched onto the thigh of a military general.
So the scale of this coming-of-age ceremony was not small.
The scene looked lively, but in reality, every pair of eyes was weighing the Chen family's worth.
Those invited were either the heads of the Jiang and Li families or representatives of the financial groups monopolizing Lanjiang's resources.
Inside the Chen family main hall, the red mahogany long table glowed with an oily patina, and sandalwood smoke drifted in the air.
Sitting in the main seat was none other than Chen Guodong, and beside him was Zhang Li.
"Thank you all for gracing us with your presence. Gathering at my Chen family today is firstly for my son Chen Chen's eighteenth birthday, and secondly..."
Chen Guodong paused, adding a bit of deliberately raised confidence to his voice. "It is to announce a matter to everyone—"
"Chen Chen has awakened an SS-Class Natural Type ability!"
As soon as the words fell, a commotion arose in the hall.
Although they had heard rumors, hearing Chen Guodong confirm it personally removed any fluke from their hearts.
SS-Class Natural Type—in the entire Lanjiang... no!
In the entire Eastern Alliance, only one had emerged.
Chen Guodong enjoyed the crowd's surprise for a moment before continuing: "Not only is Chen Chen exceptionally talented, but what is even rarer is that he is extremely filial."
"These years, the ground in Lanjiang hasn't been peaceful. Although my Chen family has old ties with the military, we can't withstand the fluctuating hearts of people..."
The hint in his words couldn't be more obvious; he was not unaware of the underhanded methods of various forces.
Chen Guodong suddenly raised his voice, his eyes becoming sharp.
"Chen Chen has an SS-Class Natural Type ability, his future is boundless, and he has this sincerity towards the family!"
"So today, in front of all the prominent figures in Lanjiang, I officially announce—"
Chen Guodong looked around, his tone decisive. "Starting today, Chen Chen is the Young Master of my Chen family. After I step down, he will be the next head of the Chen family!"
"Who approves, and who opposes?"
(To be Continued)