Chapter 324 - 274: The Dad with Double Standards

Xue Jianfeng coughed so violently that tears streamed from his eyes.

’When Yu Minlan paused just now, I held my breath along with her, and this is what you come up with?’

’That’s still a compliment!’

"Uncle Xue, let me get you a glass of water," Yu Minlan said, gently patting Xue Jianfeng on the back.

Xue Jianfeng threw the cigarette in his hand to the ground and stamped it out. Waving his hand, he said, "*Ahem*, can’t you say something I actually want to hear?"

"Uncle Xue, I honestly can’t think of anything," Yu Minlan replied, looking helpless.

Lin Ruoxi had absolutely no pride when it came to Xue Rui. She placed herself in an incredibly humble position, single-mindedly wanting to cling to his side. Whatever Xue Rui wanted, Lin Ruoxi would give...

From her perspective, a lack of self-respect and self-love could be considered a flaw. However, Xue Jianfeng was probably asking about flaws that would negatively impact Xue Rui, and Lin Ruoxi’s devotion was a clear benefit to him...

"Oh, wait. Does being introverted count?" Yu Minlan asked hurriedly.

Xue Jianfeng thought about it. ’Introverted?’

’For an unattractive person, maybe that’s a flaw. But for someone who looks like Lin Ruoxi, being introverted means she has a clean social circle, which gives the family peace of mind.’

He shook his head slightly. No, being introverted didn’t count as a flaw.

As Xue Rui walked past, he overheard the phrase "does being introverted count." He suppressed a laugh and pulled Lin Ruoxi a few steps ahead.

He didn’t know the full story, but he could guess what Xue Jianfeng was asking about.

’If I were a father and I knew my son was dating a beautiful girl, spending every day with her, and everyone was singing her praises...’

’...and then my wife went and gave her a house...’

’A girl who’s only in her teens has all the men and women around her completely mesmerized.’

’Such overwhelmingly positive opinions... just thinking about it is terrifying. How skilled at deception must this girl I’ve never met be?’

In reality, Lin Ruoxi was just a pitiable little pushover, and it wasn’t that she was without flaws...

But people always have a soft spot for beauty, are forgiving of kindness, and respectful of talent...

When you added it all up, was it any wonder that only her good qualities seemed to shine through?

Xue Rui saw the old woman walking into her room with a cane, so he and Lin Ruoxi changed direction to go have a little chat with her.

When the old woman saw Xue Rui walk into her room and brazenly pull up a chair to sit across from her, she shot him an irritated glare.

Xue Rui grinned. "What are you so angry about, old lady?"

"You’re asking a question you already know the answer to," the old woman said coldly.

"Well, look at you. Barely literate and already using such fancy phrases," Xue Rui teased.

The old woman was so enraged she snatched up her cane to hit him, but Lin Ruoxi quickly jumped in front of Xue Rui, her voice crisp as she cried out, "Grandma!"

The old woman sighed and plopped down on the bed. She’d always known this day would come, but she never thought it would be so soon.

Her cane rapped against the marble floor tiles, THUD, THUD. She was completely helpless when it came to Xue Rui.

Her granddaughter had given everything to Xue Rui; he had her wrapped completely around his little finger.

"Grandma, I was the one who wanted to give it to him," Lin Ruoxi mumbled. She knew this was why her grandmother was angry; she had been upset about it all morning.

"Your granddaughter has sullied my pristine innocence. You tell me, what’s to be done about it?" Xue Rui said, crossing his legs with the imperious air of a debt collector coming to call in a marker.

The old woman’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. ’Pristine innocence? What innocence does this punk have to speak of?’

She didn’t expect Xue Rui to show any restraint, but this shameless act of his—profiting from the situation while playing the victim—was just asking for a beating. Subconsciously, she raised her cane again.

"Grandma, if you need to let off some steam, you can just... just hit me," Lin Ruoxi said, standing obediently in front of Xue Rui. Then she added in a small voice to him, "Rui, I’ll make it up to you."

The old woman’s head buzzed. ’What has gotten into my granddaughter?’

She gave Xue Rui a cold smirk, swung the solid wood cane with all her might, and lashed out viciously at Lin Ruoxi’s legs.

’Holy shit!’ Xue Rui screamed internally. ’This old woman is fucking ruthless!’

When Lin Ruoxi saw her grandmother swing the cane, she squeezed her eyes shut and her body went ramrod straight, as if preparing to take the hit.

Xue Rui thought to himself, ’This girl is too earnest for her own good. She actually plans to take the hit. Isn’t that just forcing my hand?’

The old woman had taken advantage of Lin Ruoxi’s one-track mind to put him in check.

With a sharp CRACK, Lin Ruoxi’s body shuddered violently, but she felt no pain.

She slowly opened her eyes to see Xue Rui grimacing as he gripped the cane in his hand.

"Rui, does it hurt?" Lin Ruoxi bent down with a panicked expression, hurrying to check his hand.

’How could I be so stupid? Rui loves me so much, how could I forget he would block it for me?’

For some reason, even as her heart ached for him, a wave of warmth spread through her chest.

The old woman had felt a flash of triumph when her cane connected with Xue Rui’s hand. ’I knew the punk would have to block it!’ she had thought.

But now, seeing her granddaughter’s heartbroken tears, she suddenly regretted hitting Xue Rui.

’The current situation is extremely disadvantageous for me,’ she realized. ’If I try to hit Xue Rui, Lin Ruoxi protects him. If I try to hit Lin Ruoxi, Xue Rui takes the blow for her...’

’This makes me the villain trying to break up the happy couple. Under this external pressure, my granddaughter’s heart will only grow closer to Xue Rui’s.’

"How can you be so stupid? What was the point of all that studying?" the old woman muttered under her breath.

Xue Rui couldn’t help but chuckle. ’Illiterate people always think education is the solution to everything.’

"Sigh. I’m not one to take a loss lying down. Don’t anyone try to stop me today." Xue Rui raised the cane, posturing as if he were about to return the blow he’d just received.