NOVEL WEB Chapter 3 - A Pure Beauty
“Huh? I… I'm alright, Mom!” Zhang Xiaoloong heard his mother's call and looked at himself again. In this short period, he had lost quite a bit of weight and even had some gray hair, making his heart ache.
He shifted his gaze to Lu Dashan, who seemed ready to take advantage. Despite his good nature, Zhang Xiaoloong couldn't help but display some anger and mockery in his eyes. “Uncle Big Mountain, are you here to see me? Thanks for remembering!”
“You… You really woke up?” Lu Dashan stammered.
“What? Does Uncle Dashan think I should lie in bed for the rest of my life? So he can openly bully my parents and ask for lottery money from you, right?” Zhang Xiaoloong felt an indescribable anger inside him. He could endure many things, but he couldn't tolerate someone taking advantage of his illness to harm his parents.
“Look at what you're saying…” Lu Dashan was at a loss for words.
He was the type to bully the weak and fear the strong. Looking at Zhang Daniu and his wife, he had less confidence now, and the first thing that came to his mind was making some money. But with Zhang Xiaoloong suddenly recovering and confronting him, he naturally lost the confidence to ask for money.
“Am I wrong?” Zhang Xiaoloong didn't want to give any face to the other party. Although he was polite, he wanted Uncle Big Mountain to understand that today he wouldn't accept any nonsense. Even if they had an engagement, and even if they were to return any engagement gifts, they wouldn't pay any ransom. How dare they come after him like this?!
Zhang Daniu was in a jubilant mood now. Despite still catching his breath, he felt a sudden surge of energy. “Lu Dashan, my son is right. We'll return the engagement gifts, and we won't pay for the lottery.”
“Alright.” Liu Mei's focus was on her awakened son. She had completely forgotten about their previous disagreements. “Xiaoloong, don't argue with your Uncle Big Mountain anymore. Let's consider this matter settled.”
Lu Dashan's face turned a mix of green and red due to the father and son's outburst. He looked down and was about to leave. However, as he pondered, the anger in his heart refused to subside. He couldn't help but mutter, “What's the point of waking up now? I heard from my daughter that you haven't submitted your college application for two months, so your eligibility has probably been revoked by now. I thought you were the top scholar in Jin subjects, the Literary Star? Now, you're nothing.”
“Nonsense!” Zhang Daniu grew anxious again upon hearing this.
His son, who had been in a vegetative state, had never even considered submitting the college application. Now, as it was about to be brought up, Zhang Daniu sensed that something was amiss.
“Am I talking nonsense? If you don't believe me, go ask around.” Lu Dashan became alert, as if he had found an opportunity to gain the upper hand since Zhang Xiaoloong had likely missed the college application deadline. “Why don't you ask your precious son? I, Big Boss, might not be well-versed, but isn't your son supposed to be the top scholar? How could I not know?”
“Xiaoloong, you really haven't submitted the application?” Both Zhang Daniu and his wife looked at their son with anxiety.
Instead of giving a direct answer, Zhang Xiaoloong coldly glanced at Lu Dashan and said, “Uncle Big Mountain, you seem quite concerned about me. Even if I can't take the exam this time, do you not realize that I can try again next year? If I manage to pass once, I can do it again.”
“Tch, you act as if the university is your family's property…” Lu Dashan muttered to himself while looking at Zhang Xiaoloong, who exuded confidence. Though he was grumbling, he felt quite frustrated inside, feeling that he had messed up this time.
He couldn't help but notice that when Zhang Xiaoloong woke up this time, his eyes were brighter than before he fainted. Though he couldn't put it into words, he sensed that Zhang Xiaoloong was someone capable of great things.
He deeply regretted his actions now. Had he come a day later, he could have preserved the reputation of “Zhang Xiaoloong was on the verge of death, but they didn't mention breaking off the engagement.”
In this manner, the marriage between his daughter, Xiaoya, and Zhang Xiaoloong was set in stone. With Zhang Daniu's temperament, if Zhang Xiaoloong disagreed, he would have used force to make them marry.
However, Zhang Daniu and his wife hadn't used force against him; they had already given him considerable face. Did they still expect him to intervene on their behalf?
It seemed that his daughter wasn't destined for such good fortune. Otherwise, why would she allow him to interfere with something that was initially favorable?
Just as Zhang Xiaoloong was about to speak, his chest suddenly felt a familiar warmth, almost like what he had experienced on the bed earlier. The thought of the small black cauldron reappearing and frightening his parents sent shivers down his spine.
“Mom, I think I'll go back to my room and rest for a while…” Zhang Xiaoloong blurted out, not caring about anything else. He turned around, rushed to another room, and slammed the door shut.
Lu Dashan assumed that Zhang Xiaoloong no longer wanted to talk to him, feeling embarrassed, he turned around and left.
“Dad, why are you here?” A clear girl's voice was heard at that moment.
Everyone's eyes lit up. The girl was tall and slender, her jet-black hair casually resting on her shoulders. With her delicate and pretty face slightly blushing, her big watery eyes carried a hint of confusion. Wearing a cloth skirt, she appeared both innocent and cute.
If she hadn't addressed Lu Dashan as “dad,” no one would have believed it. This was Lu Xiaoya, who had left for Yanjing to attend college less than two months ago.
“Xiaoya? What brought you back?” Lu Dashan looked at his daughter in surprise. She was supposed to be at the Yanjing school right now.
“With the school having three days off, and five Sundays in between, I took the chance to come back and visit,” Lu Xiaoya said, oblivious to their expressions. She turned to Zhang Daniu and his wife, asking, “How's Big Brother Xiaoloong? Is he doing better?”
“He's, um, doing better,” Liu Mei replied, looking at the increasingly beautiful Lu Xiaoya. She couldn't help but feel a bit regretful about the canceled marriage. “Xiaoloong said he's tired, so he went to rest in his room for a while. Xiaoya, please have a seat. Auntie will get you some water.”
Lu Xiaoya's face lit up with joy. “Is Big Brother Xiaoloong awake? That's wonderful! I was just about to share some good news. I went to Yan University to explain Xiaoloong's situation, and they promised to grant him a year off from school. If Xiaoloong is already recovered, then… well, you know!”
“Really?” Zhang Daniu and his wife couldn't contain their excitement.
“Absolutely true,” Lu Xiaoya giggled. “I rushed here to tell you without even going back to the village first!”
“Oh my, this… Thank you so much!”
Zhang Daniu was overjoyed, lost for words. Liu Mei even wished she could bring out all the delicious food in the house to properly thank Lu Xiaoya.
Having a college student in a village was no small feat, let alone a top-performing one! Now, not only was their son cured, but the university matter was also resolved: it was truly a double celebration!
Lu Dashan noticed Zhang Daniu and his wife's happiness and was concerned that his presence might dampen their spirits. He quickly informed his daughter and left.
“Daughter, whether you can become a part of the Zhang family will depend on you. Father will support you wholeheartedly!” Lu Dashan thought as he discreetly withdrew.
“I don't want to go to university anymore.” The harmonious atmosphere was disrupted when Zhang Xiaoloong suddenly emerged from the room and uttered those words.