Be Careful, Scum Dad! Mommy Is Back!
Chapter 403: But I Have a Condition

Chapter 403: Chapter 403: But I Have a Condition

Cheng Cang’s gaze shifted toward her following Shang Lvxing’s words.

Shang Lvxing deliberately paused for a moment, intent on observing whether she would show any emotional reaction.

The thoughts of these two men were remarkably aligned at this moment.

Compared to them, Lu Xining appeared to be the calmest of the three, quietly waiting for Shang Lvxing to continue.

Shang Lvxing: "He said, wait for him."

Back then, when Ji Muye learned this from Zhuang Tian, he was only a few steps away from Lu Xining. Yet instead of telling her these words himself, he had Shang Lvxing deliver them—words tinged with ambiguity?

Cheng Cang raised an eyebrow.

In his mind, he gave Ji Muye’s tactics a perfect score.

This was clearly to test the rival first: on one hand, to see if Shang Lvxing would relay the message; on the other, presumably to warn him. Even in Ji Muye’s absence, Lu Xining was still his, and Shang Lvxing better keep his thoughts clean and not entertain any other ideas about her.

But Shang Lvxing—was he really just a straightforward man?

Cheng Cang’s dark pupils fixed on Shang Lvxing’s eyes. Regardless of other traits, in certain aspects of pride, this man was no less than Ji Muye.

Shang Lvxing would likely disdain hiding or manipulating Ji Muye’s message, but men who constantly hold their heads high and refuse to lower themselves are often far from winning a woman’s heart.

As a fellow man, Cheng Cang could see a kind of obsession in Shang Lvxing—a stubbornness that extended beyond conduct and into emotions.

While Cheng Cang analyzed Shang Lvxing’s character, Shang Lvxing’s attention remained firmly fixed on Lu Xining, his gaze intent.

After hearing Ji Muye’s message, Lu Xining simply nodded.

Her focus, however, was on another item Shang Lvxing had brought over, the material resembling the one she had just used to replicate fingerprints.

"What is this fingertip cover?"

Seeing no trace of joy or emotion on her face from Ji Muye’s message, a strange sense of satisfaction began to ripple through Shang Lvxing’s heart.

In a steady voice, he replied, "Danrus’s fingerprint."

Lu Xining exchanged a glance with Cheng Cang, then feigned confusion and looked at Shang Lvxing, asking, "Who is Danrus?"

"Aren’t you investigating the Chu Family’s past?"

Shang Lvxing saw through her superficial façade and continued, "Danrus, Meng Lai, Rexiva, and Yilijite—they’re all enemies of the Chu Family. The people you’re looking for are them, aren’t they?"

A pang struck Lu Xining’s heart. She blinked, her gaze momentarily falling to the carpet before raising her eyes to smile at Shang Lvxing, though a trace of caution began to bloom internally.

Even she had only learned about the Chu Family’s matters from Cheng Cang in the past few days. How did Shang Lvxing know so much, and in such detail?

This reminded her of how she had been unable to break into the Royal Cruise’s network earlier—the shields blocking her system felt so precise and familiar that they called to mind Haozi, whom she hadn’t contacted in a long time.

Her skills in computing, in breaking into a fully secure network swiftly and efficiently without leaving a trace, were all taught by her mentor, Haozi.

Though her skills didn’t match Haozi’s, she had still learned a great deal from him, surpassing beginners and less gifted individuals.

At the same time, she also understood Haozi’s habits in computing. The system that had shielded her earlier felt eerily reminiscent.

Now, she couldn’t reach Haozi, and yet he seemed to share some inexplicable connection with Shang Lvxing. At this very moment, Shang Lvxing had coincidentally brought Danrus’s fingerprint—this linkage felt a little too coincidental.

Shang Lvxing’s gaze, clear and penetrating, locked onto Lu Xining’s eyes. Neither of them was the type to show their emotions openly.

When she remained silent, he knowingly asked, "All these years, I’ve been searching for Aunt Chu Yan and have learned much about the Chu Family."

"Your grandmother’s fate back then may have been concealed by your grandfather, but the sudden closure of the cottage, along with your grandfather’s abrupt withdrawal from all philanthropy and charitable activities, these changes were visible to everyone. Those who cared to investigate could find out what had happened."

At this moment, Cheng Cang interjected into the conversation, "Impossible."

He expressed doubt and disagreement toward Shang Lvxing’s statement.

"Her grandfather sealed all information immediately back then. Apart from those directly involved in the incident, it would’ve been impossible for anyone else to know about it. Has Mr. Shang’s abilities truly reached such heights?"

Chu Yan had been sent abroad by her father, Chu Zhan, when she was very young.

Later, she was deceived by a romantic notion into returning to the country, yet even she didn’t know the truth about her mother’s experiences.

How could Shang Lvxing uncover these events through information that had long been purged by the Chu Family and the aristocracy?

Unless...

Narrowing his eyes, Cheng Cang stared at Shang Lvxing and enunciated each word deliberately, "Apart from members of the Chu Family, the only ones who could access details of the incident are the accomplices of those criminals..."

His tone heavy, Cheng Cang uttered two words: "Co-conspirators."

He followed with, "Mr. Shang, may I ask which of these categories you belong to?"

The room plunged into a sudden silence.

Lu Xining also stared at Shang Lvxing, who was momentarily speechless. His face showed no signs of panic or unease; instead, he raised his eyes to meet hers.

Not only did he refuse to answer Cheng Cang’s question, but he also directly shifted the topic to Lu Xining. He asked her, "What about you? Is that what you think of me too?"

Lu Xining pressed her lips together and responded truthfully, "What do you want to hear from me? That I trust you or that I don’t?"

"..." Shang Lvxing remained silent for a long time.

She picked up the fingerprint glove he had brought and carefully examined it.

Compared to her hastily assembled miniature fingerprint replication device, this was far more refined.

"I won’t harm you."

This was Shang Lvxing’s response to Lu Xining.

And she replied, "I trust that you won’t hurt me, but the people around me are equally important. Shang Lvxing, you’re still hiding things from me."

Lu Xining’s voice carried unwavering certainty.

There was a subtle freeze in the man’s gaze.

She continued, "Shang Lvxing, can you tell me—is the Royal Cruise’s network system designed by Haozi?"

Knowing he wouldn’t offer the truth, Lu Xining persisted, "You often give me the impression of sincerity, as though you genuinely want to help me accomplish something. But at other times, you exude a kind of vagueness, as if shrouded in mist, impossible to see through."

She glanced at Cheng Cang, seated on the single sofa, and said, "You’ve both told me that we’re on the same side, so I’ll speak frankly."

"Tonight, I’ll attempt to retrieve the ’Deep Sea Heart.’ Shang Lvxing, you’ve mentioned how important the items inside are. If I succeed and manage to extract them, I can hand them directly to you."

Lu Xining’s demeanor suddenly turned fierce as she continued, "But I have one condition."