Xiao Zhan stared intently at Mu Wanrou, slowly calming down a bit... It was true, he couldn't recognize his daughter, so it was normal for them not to recognize him.
But who exactly was Tao Tao's so-called father?
Looking at Mu Wanrou's face, which was both familiar and strange, his voice trembled violently with excitement and anger, even carrying a hint of hurt:
"Wanrou! It's me! I am Xiao Zhan!"
"Don't you recognize me?! We..."
He tried to awaken Mu Wanrou's memory, emphasizing the 'relationship' between them that, to him, was incredibly important.
When Mu Wanrou clearly saw the man's face outside the iron gate, she was struck as if by lightning, her face instantly turning pale.
Xiao Zhan? How could he be here?
Thinking of the marriage certificate she had once obtained with Xiao Zhan, she now felt a bit of regret... However, if it hadn't been for that, she wouldn't have met Lu Cheng.
So what was the situation now?
Did Xiao Zhan know she had returned to the Mu Family, and was he here to extort money?
A series of questions and panic instantly flooded her heart.
Back then, she had only paid him to help get a marriage certificate to deal with her family; it wasn't a real marriage at all!
Now, he suddenly appeared. If Lu Cheng found out... How would Lu Cheng see her?
Would he... despise her because of this, and not want her and Tao Tao anymore?
No! This must not happen!
She had finally achieved this stable and happy life; she would never let anyone destroy it!
She had no feelings for Xiao Zhan to begin with, and coupled with her extreme fear of losing her current 'happy life,' she almost instinctively made a choice.
Just as Mu Wanrou was in a state of confusion and helplessness, a steady and strong arm gently embraced her shoulder.
Lu Cheng walked out of the villa, still wearing his unhurried smile, as if everything was under control.
He walked to Mu Wanrou's side, and with an extremely natural movement, shielded both her and Tao Tao, who was startled and curiously looking outside, behind him.
Then, his gaze calmly turned towards Xiao Zhan, who was yelling like a madman outside the iron gate:
"Sir, who are you looking for?"
"Shouting loudly at my doorstep seems a bit impolite, doesn't it?"
Mu Wanrou felt the familiar and comforting aura from Lu Cheng, and the churning panic and unease in her heart miraculously subsided a bit.
With him here, everything would be fine.
She took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound calm, but the end of her words still carried an undisguised tremor. She looked up at Lu Cheng and explained:
"Brother Cheng, I... I don't know him..."
"He... he might have mistaken me for someone else..."
She carefully observed Lu Cheng's expression, afraid that he might see through her.
"Don't know? Wanrou! How can you say you don't know me?!"
When Xiao Zhan heard Mu Wanrou's cold and heartless words, it was as if a basin of ice water had been poured over his head, chilling him from head to toe!
He simply couldn't believe his ears!
She actually said she didn't know him?
The woman who had given him hope when he was at his lowest!
The woman he had sworn to protect for a lifetime!
How could she... how could she be so heartless?
Yet, what did she call this man? "Brother Cheng"?
His emotions completely spiraled out of control!
Xiao Zhan pointed at his own nose, then at Mu Wanrou, and roared furiously at Lu Cheng:
"Look closely! My name is Xiao Zhan! She is Mu Wanrou!"
"We are husband and wife! We are the legal husband and wife!!!"
To prove his words, Xiao Zhan suddenly pulled out a slightly wrinkled red booklet from his embrace.
This was the only thing he had carried with him for the past three years!
It constantly motivated him, reminding him that in the distant East, his wife and daughter were still waiting for him!
For these three years, countless times in despair, he had relied on this item to keep going.
He'snapped' open the marriage certificate, almost thrusting the page with their joint photo in front of Lu Cheng and Mu Wanrou.
"This is our marriage certificate! Black and white! Nationally certified!"
"Look closely! My name is Xiao Zhan, she is Mu Wanrou. We are husband and wife, we are the legal husband and wife!"
"Wanrou! How can you say you don't know me? Have you forgotten?"
Lu Cheng looked at Xiao Zhan's hysterical appearance and then glanced at the marriage certificate.
A highly mocking curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Someone actually carries a marriage certificate with them every day to show off? Truly incredible.
He gently patted Mu Wanrou's arm, which was stiff with nervousness and fear, his tone still so gentle, as if comforting a frightened kitten, yet carrying an undeniable command:
"Wanrou, don't be afraid."
"You take Tao Tao inside first."
"I'll handle things here."
Mu Wanrou looked up at Lu Cheng's gently smiling face, then at Xiao Zhan, whose face was distorted with anger outside the iron gate, and at her daughter, Tao Tao, who was in her arms, looking out with curious wide eyes.
Although her heart was still filled with unease, not only worried that Lu Cheng would despise her, but also worried that Xiao Zhan's crazed state might harm Lu Cheng.
But... Tao Tao was also here now. It was better not to let Tao Tao see what was happening between the adults.
She nodded at Lu Cheng, hugged Tao Tao, and almost fled, not looking back, quickly walking into the villa.
Once Mu Wanrou and Tao Tao's figures had completely disappeared behind the villa's heavy door, the gentle smile on Lu Cheng's face instantly vanished.
It was replaced by an icy indifference, a condescending gaze, like examining an ant.
He opened the iron gate, slowly walked out, and came before Xiao Zhan, who was trembling with anger and unwillingness.
He looked Xiao Zhan up and down, his eyes filled with undisguised contempt and disdain.
It was as if he was looking at a dirty piece of trash, not worth his breath.
On the contrary, Xiao Zhan was enraged by Lu Cheng's silent disdain!
He stared intensely at Lu Cheng, his voice cold and piercing, as if coming from hell.
"Now, leave Wanrou immediately! Leave my daughter!"
"If you're smart, I can still leave you and your whole family with intact corpses..."
He tried to intimidate Lu Cheng with his usual tough-guy threats, which had been effective abroad.
However, before he finished speaking, Lu Cheng suddenly let out a 'pfft' and laughed.
The laughter was filled with undisguised mockery and scorn.
He laughed heartily as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.
While laughing, he tilted his head slightly, looking at him with the gaze one would give to trash... and said in an extremely mocking and contemptuous tone, "Where did this wild dog come from?"
"Barking at someone else's doorstep?"
"Is your mother... in the wholesale business?"
"How dare you bark at me like that?"