chapter 15

Today is my twenty-fourth birthday.

Because it’s my zodiac year, my family took it very seriously and held a grand celebration.

Everything was harmonious, except for the moment when I walked gracefully downstairs hand in hand with Xu Sixian, and Cheng Song accidentally broke a wine glass.

This time, my parents went abroad to find a doctor for me.

They didn’t want me to suffer through the ordeal, so every year they would take my medical records and search for doctors everywhere, then bring them back to China to treat me.

This time, they really found a reliable medical team overseas and spent a fortune to bring them here.

The attending physician, Smith, said that thanks to my years of rehabilitation, there was still hope for a full recovery.

With careful treatment recently, my complexion has gradually become rosy, and I can stand for longer periods of time.

Today is my birthday, and I’ve made up my mind to stand through the entire event.

“Xiaoshu.” While helping Xu Sixian fasten his cufflinks, I said, “You look really good today.”

He seemed to have completely transformed, from a boy into a young man, standing tall and bright as the moon.

His brows were like spring mountains, his eyes deep and dark, his temperament gentle and noble, like a young master from a distinguished family.

I caressed his cheek, and Xu Sixian turned his hand to hold my fingertips.

“You’re the most beautiful,” he said earnestly, wanting to kiss me but afraid of smudging my lipstick, so he restrained himself and gently brushed my earlobe. “I belong only to Miss.”

We went on stage side by side, and everything went smoothly.

He used to worry that he’d make a mistake and embarrass me, but I didn’t care.

There aren’t that many rules-if you stand high enough, even if you eat with chopsticks in your left hand and a knife in your right, people will praise you for being unconventional and free-spirited.

I mentioned the annulment of the engagement with just a simple sentence. No one made a fuss, no one was surprised; everyone wore polite smiles, clearly having guessed it long ago.

Even the Cheng Family, whose faces were pale, forced smiles and remembered to congratulate me, saying, “Xiao Song doesn’t have such fortune. We hope Lingyue finds a better match.”

Only Cheng Song.

At one moment, he suddenly broke free from those holding him and rushed in front of me.

His eyes were bloodshot, hysterical: “Why? Why exactly? I was supposed to be your escort! Everything he has should have been mine! How am I inferior to this penniless pretty boy? What is he anyway? I could crush him with a finger before! Why do all of you treat me like this?”

Security immediately dragged Cheng Song away.

“Lingyue, you love me, you still love me, don’t you?” He came to his senses, tears streaming down his face, and suddenly knelt with a thud. “You were so good to me before, I didn’t cherish it. I was wrong, I truly know I was wrong. Please forgive me!”

The guests nearby looked uncomfortable and couldn’t help but whisper among themselves.

I was already furious and wanted to slap him, but Xiaoshu held me back.

I glanced at him and saw that he was angry too.

His lips pressed tight, his eyes dark.

But I knew he wasn’t angry at Cheng Song for insulting him; he was upset that Cheng Song ruined my birthday.

He had been looking forward to spending our first birthday together.

I calmed down.

If I kept responding to Cheng Song, it would only give others a show to watch.

“Throw him out,” I said simply. “From now on, the He Family will not receive anyone from the Cheng Family.”

My mother watched calmly from the side and said, “Lingyue is my only daughter. Her wishes are the wishes of the He Family.”

With those words, the Cheng Family lost all hope. Some glared angrily at Cheng Song, as if they wanted to tear him apart.

I wasn’t being merciless.

Inviting the Cheng Family was to show others that the annulment wouldn’t affect business.

Even if the Cheng Family would no longer enjoy the He Family’s protection after today, the He Family wouldn’t actively target them either.

But now I’ve changed my mind.

Once, twice, but never a third time.

It seems the last lesson wasn’t enough, letting Cheng Song go mad in front of me again.