Volume One, Chapter Six: Beginning to Retract Her Favor

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Lu Ning took a taxi back to the Lu residence. As she entered the hall, she heard Qin Xiang’s voice, filled with warmth and laughter. But as soon as she appeared, the atmosphere stiffened considerably.

Lu Ning walked through the hall expressionless, intending to go straight to her room.

Lu Bei suddenly raised his voice, “Lu Ning, stop right there! You come home and don’t even greet your elders? Is this the attitude you’re going to have now?”

“Don’t think that just because some school doctor has your back and talks about calling the police, you actually have support. Once you leave the Lu family, you’re nothing!”

Lu Bei grew angrier as he spoke, standing up abruptly. “You think we’re biased toward Qin Xiang? Have you even considered how much you’ve wronged her? Her father saved your life; we’re just helping you repay that debt!”

Lu Ning felt utterly exhausted listening to him. She stopped in her tracks and glanced toward the sofa. “Second Brother, Fourth Brother, I’m home.”

Surely that would suffice.

Lu Nanfeng said, “Dinner’s ready.”

“You all eat, I’m not hungry.”

After saying that, Lu Ning turned and went upstairs.

“Second Brother, look at her attitude. She’s getting more and more unruly!” Qin Xiang said.

“Fourth Brother, don’t get mad. It’s all Xiangxiang’s fault. Maybe if I leave the Lu family, Ningning won’t be so defiant.”

“Don’t say nonsense. If anyone’s leaving, it’s Lu Ning. Why should you?”

Lu Ning heard their voices behind her as she quickened her pace up the stairs and locked her door. Leaning against it, she stayed there for a long moment, her eyes slightly moist.

She looked up at the ceiling, holding back her tears. This time, she wouldn’t cling to the nonsense of sibling affection anymore.

The next day, Lu Ning went to school as usual.

Qin Xiang rode in the same car with her.

Qin Xiang cautiously asked, “Ningning, are you still angry?”

“Qin Xiang, acting all the time, everywhere—don’t you get tired of it?”

Lu Ning leaned back and closed her eyes, refusing to respond.

Qin Xiang’s expression darkened, but with the driver present, she habitually put on a pitiful look and smiled up at him.

The driver instantly felt that the young lady was too much, bullying Qin Xiang all the time. He resolved to talk to Second Young Master about it later.

At school, Lu Ning focused on her lessons and took notes diligently; after all, she had forgotten much.

Even though Qin Xiang’s little entourage and supporters chirped around her, Lu Ning paid them no mind.

She had too much to do to waste time on these people.

—

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That evening, back at home.

Lu Ning saw Sixth Brother Lu Liu sitting on the sofa, his face sour.

Qin Xiang ran over coquettishly, “Sixth Brother, you’re back! I’ve missed you so much!”

Lu Liu’s mood lifted somewhat after Qin Xiang’s coaxing.

Lu Ning glanced at their interaction then headed upstairs.

Lu Liu looked up. “Lu Ning, Fourth Brother says you’re getting more disobedient. I didn’t believe it at first, but now you won’t even call me Sixth Brother?”

Lu Ning sighed helplessly. Here we go again.

Not wanting to waste time, she turned and obediently said, “Sixth Brother.”

“That’s better. By the way, I’m back to reorganize the team. Second Brother and Fourth Brother have agreed. You’ll join too.”

Lu Ning gripped her backpack tightly. Here it comes—Sixth Brother said the same thing last life.

To please him, to gain the brothers’ attention, she agreed without hesitation, training hard, even letting her college entrance exam suffer.

And what did she get in return?

Lu Liu said, “Lu Ning, you’ve proven yourself. Now give your spot to Xiangxiang, let her experience the joy of being champion.”

“Lu Ning, I’m the team captain. If I say substitutions, it’s done.”

Last life, she was bitterly replaced by Qin Xiang.

If not for her fighting to get into the finals, how could Qin Xiang have taken her place at the last moment?

She handed over the easily won championship glory to Qin Xiang.

What was all her effort worth?

So this time, she would never repeat the same mistake.

Lu Ning’s gaze was clear: “Sixth Brother, I want to focus fully on my exams. I don’t want to be distracted by gaming.”

She outright refused Lu Liu’s offer.

No—more accurately, it was a command.

Sixth Brother’s words weren’t a discussion but a notification.

“Lu Ning, did I hear you right? You actually refused my invitation?”

Lu Liu’s expression darkened. He never expected her to say no.

After all these years, Lu Ning had always obeyed him without question.

Lu Ning met his gaze calmly, “If it’s an invitation, I can refuse.”

She looked directly at Lu Liu, seeing his displeasure and awkwardness.

But none of it concerned her.

Lu Liu angrily warned, “Lu Ning, you better think carefully before answering. Don’t be stubborn, or I won’t give you another chance, and you’ll be begging me!”

He had heard from Fourth Brother about recent events—Lu Ning even gave the gold trophy he gave her to Qin Xiang as an apology.

That trophy was from the year he became a professional player, a championship win of great significance.

How could she casually hand it over?

Qin Xiang tugged at Lu Liu’s sleeve cautiously. “Sixth Brother, don’t be angry. Joining your team is my dream. Ningning will agree once she thinks it over.”

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If Qin Xiang hadn’t spoken, it would have been fine. But as soon as she did, it ignited Lu Liu’s fury.

He felt Lu Ning was ungrateful, daring to reject him!

Lu Liu glared fiercely at Lu Ning. “This is your one and only chance. Decide now—do you want to join our family team or not?”

Lu Ning suddenly found it amusing. Turns out Sixth Brother was a paper tiger, completely manipulated by Qin Xiang.

Qin Xiang feigned concern. “Ningning, just agree quickly. Don’t make Sixth Brother angry.”

Lu Ning looked at her. “Qin Xiang, since you dream of joining the team, I’ll give you my spot.”

With that, she returned to her room.

She took out her backpack and began her homework. Much of it was rusty; she had to catch up quickly.

Until the servant knocked on the door, “Miss, dinner is ready.”

“Bring it up here.”

“But Second Young Master and the others are waiting in the dining room for you.”

Clearly, they didn’t want her eating alone in her room.

Lu Ning clenched her pen, realizing she still hadn’t escaped the Lu family’s control and would have to play along for now.

She got up and went to the dining room.

Second Brother, Fourth Brother, Sixth Brother, and Qin Xiang sat at the table.

Because the Lu family was large, the table was long.

Lu Ning sat silently in the farthest corner, quietly taking her plate and eating.

The atmosphere was somewhat tense.

But soon Qin Xiang’s coquettish laughter lifted the mood.

Lu Liu glanced at Lu Ning and deliberately said, “Xiangxiang, we’ll teach you to play games later. You’re smart; you’ll learn quickly. You’re no worse than some people!”

Qin Xiang’s eyes lit up with delight. “Sixth Brother, I’ll work hard and won’t hold you back!”

Lu Ning heard this but remained indifferent. Let Qin Xiang join. When the revival match fails, Lu Liu will never get to compete again.

She kept her head down, eating quietly, no longer making faces or throwing tantrums like before.

Because she simply didn’t care anymore.

She finished eating calmly, stood up, and said, “I’m done. You all can continue.”

If she didn’t greet them, she might get lectured again.

Lu Nanfeng looked up, finding Lu Ning no longer jealous or sulking, but rather cold and distant.

Softening, he said, “Ningning, are you really not going to join the family team? You have a real talent for gaming. If we all work together, we could win the championship!”

Lu Ning, here’s a way out for you.