Chapter 28: The "Miserable" Fate of Being Jilted 7

Inside the grand hall, the anger of everyone present had been goaded to its peak by Hen Queqian’s initial remarks. Yet, just as it reached the breaking point, the tension suddenly collapsed, leaving them all choked and gasping, their faces flushed as their fury took an abrupt, suffocating turn.

Even Luo Li was left coughing, caught between the urge to laugh and the inability to do so. Her beautiful eyes settled on Hen Queqian, and suddenly, she realized this was a perfect opportunity. Her expression darkened.

"You rebellious child... are you trying to be the death of me?" Hen Ruochen, both furious and anxious, caught a glimpse of Luo Li’s darkening expression and sensed disaster. He lashed out at Hen Queqian first, hoping to mitigate the damage.

Hen Queqian lowered her head, feigning grievance, and muttered in response, "How could I? I'm just an honest child, speaking the truth! Is that a crime now?"

"You... you!" Although Hen Queqian’s muttering was soft, there was not a single ordinary person in the hall; everyone heard her words with crystalline clarity. At that moment, Hen Ruochen was struck by a powerful urge to strike Hen Queqian down.

"Uncle Hen, there is no need to take your anger out on Young Master Hen!" Luo Li stood up, her face cold and her demeanor haughty. "In truth, my visit to the Hen family today is primarily for one purpose: to annul our engagement!"

If Hen Queqian’s refusal to marry Luo Li had been a ripple in a calm lake, these words from Luo Li were a tidal wave.

"What? Annul the engagement?" Hen Ruochen felt as though he could no longer keep up with the whims of the younger generation. First, one claimed they didn't want to marry, and now, the other demanded an annulment. He felt as if he were losing his mind.

A "good-for-nothing" being rejected was a colossal joke. The First Elder, Hen Ruofeng, and the Second Elder, Hen Ruogang, had been eager to ridicule Hen Ruochen for failing to even manage his own son’s betrothal. But then, a sobering thought struck them: the Luo family was renowned throughout the Tianfeng Empire. If this engagement were dissolved, the Hen family’s status in Jiuxiao City would plummet, and even the preeminent Ye family would no longer hold them in high regard.

Realizing this, the two elders rose in unison. Convinced that it was Hen Queqian’s words that had provoked Luo Li, they began to berate her. "Hen Queqian, are you even a member of the Hen family? How can you speak to Miss Luo like that? Get out of here and go to the ancestral hall to receive your punishment!"

"Miss Luo, please forgive us. Queqian has been spoiled by us, and she has offended you! But please, rest assured—Queqian was recently injured and has been somewhat traumatized; her mind is not quite clear. She will surely recover after some time!"

"That's right, exactly!"

The two elders shoved Hen Queqian aside, wearing fawning smiles as they attempted to explain the situation to Luo Li and her companion, hoping to appease her.

Pushed to the side, Hen Queqian pouted and glared at the two shameless elders. *They actually say my brain is broken? It’s your brains that are broken! Your whole family is broken... pui, pui—no, wait, that includes me too!*

"Elders, you are too kind! However, my primary purpose in coming here remains the same: I have come to break off the engagement."

"That is correct. My Luo Li has already been admitted to the Tianfeng Martial Academy. Elder Baizhu of the academy has decided that the moment Luo Li enters, she will be taken on as a closed-door disciple. If your Hen Queqian were not a good-for-nothing, Luo Li might have lowered herself to accept him. But now..."