Royal Road
Chapter 173
Chapter 173: Jiang Che: Thanks to my good brother Chen Feng for his assistance
“Presumptuous! Who dares to slander my Xiao family like this!” Xiao Qingshan’s face was ashen as he looked outside the living room, where a group of people was approaching.
Though the accusation was true, it was still a slap in his face!
“Uncle Xiao, I hope you’ve been well…” Chen Feng entered the living room with a group of Shadow Dragon Guards, wearing a playful smile as he looked at Xiao Qingshan standing in the center.
To be honest, he didn’t have a good impression of this man. When the Chen family was destroyed, it was this old man who prevented Xiao Qingge from getting close to him, otherwise, they might have had children by now.
“You are… Chen Feng?!” Xiao Qingshan stared blankly for a moment before speaking, clearly dazed.
It was him! Although he hadn’t seen Chen Feng in six years, he still looked familiar. His face no longer had the greenness of youth; instead, it bore a mature and stable demeanor shaped by years of experience. But what was he doing here after disappearing for so long?
“I didn’t expect Uncle Xiao to recognize me. I’m flattered,” Chen Feng said with a hint of sarcasm, his earlier rudeness subdued. Despite his dislike for Xiao Qingshan, he couldn’t be disrespectful to Xiao Qingge’s biological father.
“What are you doing here?” Xiao Qingshan asked, his face dark and gloomy. The matter with the Jiang family was nearly settled, and now Chen Feng’s return would complicate things, making Jiang Che suspect foul play.
“Of course, I’m here for Qingge. Do you want me to watch her being pushed into the fire pit by you?” Chen Feng said, his eyes full of affection as he looked at Xiao Qingge sitting on the sofa.
“You’re not dead?” Xiao Qingge looked at Chen Feng in disbelief. She never expected such a turn of events. Did her father lie about Chen Feng’s death in the norther region?
“Of course I’m not dead. Otherwise, who is standing in front of you?” Chen Feng said, amused by her reaction. He understood her confusion, given his six-year absence, which made everyone think he was dead.
“If you weren’t dead, why didn’t you stay away? Why come back now?” Xiao Qingge said, her expression complicated. She had asked her father to unilaterally break off the marriage two days ago and had come to terms with her new reality. Now, Chen Feng’s sudden return disrupted everything.
If Jiang Che became angry, thinking she had lied, he might target the entire Xiao family. This thought made her resent Chen Feng even more, as his return jeopardized her family’s safety.
“Of course, I came back for you. After all, we have a marriage contract,” Chen Feng said. “And I heard you were coerced by the Xiao family to marry Jiang Che…”
“Our engagement has been annulled, and I have nothing to do with you now!” Xiao Qingge’s cold voice cut him off. She couldn’t let Jiang Che think she was hiding something. If he got angry, the consequences would be severe.
“Qingge, this joke isn’t funny…” Chen Feng said with a wry smile, thinking she was just upset due to his long absence.
“I’m not joking. I have nothing to do with you now!” she said sternly. “You can leave now; the Xiao family does not welcome you!”
Her anger was palpable. If Chen Feng had returned sooner, she might have been more forgiving. But his late return left no room for reconciliation.
“But…why?” Chen Feng was stunned by her hostility. He had imagined many scenarios for their reunion, but never this level of indifference and disgust.
“Why? Because of you, my daughter has suffered for the past six years!” Mother Xiao interjected, yelling at Chen Feng. Unable to vent her frustration on Jiang Che or her daughter, she directed it all at Chen Feng.
“How dare you be rude to Lord Tiansha! Slap your mouth!” A middle-aged man beside Chen Feng moved to strike her but was stopped by Chen Feng.
“Are you saying Qingge has no feelings for me at all, and this marriage contract only shackled her?” Chen Feng asked, bewildered.
“That’s right. Do you think Qingge could truly like you?” Mother Xiao said disdainfully. “Our Qingge will only marry a man like Young Master Jiang. You’re dreaming!”
Chen Feng’s face darkened. Since becoming one of the four thrones of the God of War, no one had dared speak to him like this.
“Am I wrong? Finding a few actors to pretend, do you really think you’re important?” Mother Xiao continued, her voice dripping with scorn.
Ignoring her, Chen Feng turned to Xiao Qingge. “Qingge, have you really never liked me?”
“Am I not clear enough? I don’t like you. The engagement bound me, and I’ve wanted to break it off for years. I heard of your death two days ago and unilaterally divorced. We have nothing to do with each other anymore,” Xiao Qingge said impatiently. She was already unhappy because of Chen Feng’s sudden arrival, and now he kept asking questions non-stop.
To make him give up completely, Xiao Qingge decided to be blunt. She turned to Jiang Che, “Young Master Jiang, I agree with you, I didn’t want to deliberately hide anything about Chen Feng from you, so please don’t blame the Xiao family for this.” Xiao Qingge said apologetically.
Originally, she still had some control over the situation, but Chen Feng’s interference left her no choice but to jump into the fire. She only hoped that Jiang Che wouldn’t blame the entire Xiao family because of this.