After the True Heiress Travels Back
Chapter 220: Could it be that he was forced to confess under duress?

Chapter 220: Chapter 220: Could it be that he was forced to confess under duress?

The bracelet Madam Xiao gave was of excellent quality; one could tell at a glance that it was quite valuable.

It certainly wasn’t something that could be summed up by her understated comment, "It’s not that precious."

Even so, Shi Yaoguang didn’t refuse it.

Graciously accepting the jade green bracelet, Shi Yaoguang smiled at Madam Xiao and asked for her opinion.

"Madam Xiao, this Immortal Peach Longevity Picture was prepared by Elder Xiao as a birthday gift for you. What do you think of the painting style? If there’s anything unsatisfactory, you can suggest changes..."

Madam Xiao looked at the half-completed Immortal Peach, her satisfaction beyond words.

Upon saying this, she immediately shook her head and said, "No, no, no, what could I possibly find unsatisfactory? I couldn’t like this longevity picture more."

Shi Yaoguang smiled, "As long as you like it."

After speaking, Madam Xiao then turned to Xiao Cenyang, "Old Xiao, Miss Shi is here, and you didn’t even give me a call? Had I known she had arrived, I wouldn’t have wasted so much time outside."

Xiao Cenyang was somewhat helpless, "Wasn’t I trying to give you a surprise?"

Madam Xiao gave him a reproachful look, "I don’t expect any surprise that pleases me from you, not giving any shock would be good enough."

Xiao Cenyang now felt aggrieved, "You say the gifts I give don’t meet your expectations, that’s really unjust to me."

At this, his not-so-kind gaze fell on Cheng Lingdang.

Cheng Lingdang subconsciously bristled, looking at him warily.

"Wife, how could I not know what you want the most?" Xiao Cenyang said with a face full of smiles. "For your birthday this time, in addition to this Immortal Peach Longevity Picture, I’ve prepared an even bigger surprise for you."

Madam Xiao looked at him with some suspicion, "Could there be a bigger surprise?"

"Of course!" Xiao Cenyang said, his eyes falling on Cheng Lingdang’s face, "Little Lingdang, come here."

Cheng Lingdang didn’t want to go.

But...

Threatened by Xiao Cenyang’s gaze, she didn’t dare to disobey.

So, moving forward timidly, she spoke in a faint voice, "I... I can stay right here. Grandfather, what do you need me for?"

Xiao Cenyang took Madam Xiao’s hand, his face full of contentment: "Wife, let me tell you, the best gift for our birthdays isn’t anything else, it’s our little Lingdang."

Madam Xiao was at first stunned, then her face showed wild joy, "Are you saying that little Lingdang is willing to learn from us?"

Xiao Cenyang smiled knowingly, "Whether it’s true or not, why don’t you ask little Lingdang yourself?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Xiao eagerly looked at Cheng Lingdang, "Little Lingdang, are you really willing?"

Cheng Lingdang still harbored a slight resistance inside, but what was unraveling was more significant.

Her grandparents always had the wish to accept a disciple and pass on their legacy, but... due to the tradition of treasuring their own, they still hoped to accept a trustworthy person as a direct disciple.

This was probably akin to ancient customs where certain skills were passed down to daughters, not sons.

However...

If they really couldn’t find a way, they weren’t opposed to changing their minds.

In their last lives, Xiao Cenyang and Madam Xiao didn’t manage to persuade Cheng Lingdang, so they ended up accepting Shi Yiqing as a disciple.

Shi Yiqing had always leveraged her status as their direct disciple to gather various resources.

Yet.

When trouble arose in the Xiao Family, Shi Yiqing showed no sense of responsibility.

She was the person who benefited the most from the Xiao Family, but when the family fell, she was the first to turn her guns around, pointing the blame at the Xiao Family.

Even from an outsider’s perspective, Shi Yaoguang couldn’t help but feel it was unfair for the Xiao couple.

Fortunately, none of that had happened yet.

Set facts could change.

Since there was an opportunity to change, she had to seize it.

Thinking this, her gaze fell on Cheng Lingdang.

Cheng Lingdang shivered again, her voice tremulous, "Shi... Brother Shi, why are you staring at me like that?"

Shi Yaoguang revealed a kind smile that nevertheless seemed to pierce into one’s soul, and beckoned her over with a curl of his finger.

Cheng Lingdang obediently moved closer.

"Brother Shi?"

Shi Yaoguang extended his hand and patted her on the shoulder.

Cheng Lingdang immediately felt an immense pressure.

Just as she wanted to say that he was using too much force, she heard Shi Yaoguang say with a smile, "Lingdang, have you ever heard a saying?"

"What saying?"

"When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a man, it always first frustrates his spirit and will, exhausts his muscles and bones, starves his body..."

"What does that have to do with me?" Cheng Lingdang objected instinctively.

Shi Yaoguang watched her with a smile, "It has everything to do with you, because... you are that child favored by Heaven."

Cheng Lingdang: "???"

She suddenly had a look full of question marks.

But Shi Yaoguang didn’t bother to explain, instead, he spoke to the Xiao madam, "Lingdang told me that she would be very happy to become your direct disciple."

Cheng Lingdang looked incredulously, her eyes wide with disbelief, "Brother Shi, how... how can you say that? When did I ever say such a thing?"

Shi Yaoguang regarded her with a calm gaze, his tone undeniably firm, "If I say you’ve said it, then you have said it."

"I... I can’t object?"

"You can."

"Phew~ That’s a relief."

"You can, but I can’t guarantee what will happen if you refuse."

As he said this, Shi Yaoguang took out a stone of unknown material from his pocket and gently squeezed it in front of her.

The next moment, when he reopened his hand.

In his palm was only a small pinch of powder, the color of which matched exactly the color of the stone he had just held.

Cheng Lingdang shuddered at once, and her gaze at him carried a hint of fear.

"Brother Shi, you’re not serious, are you?"

With a grief-stricken face, she looked supremely wronged, "If I don’t agree, are you going to force me into submission?"

Shi Yaoguang blandly denied it, "Of course not."

"I have given you the chance to choose. If you don’t want to, I won’t force you."

"But you should know that I don’t do things without reason. If I’ve asked you to do this, there must be a rationale behind it. If you really don’t want to, I’ll find another way."

Hearing this, Cheng Lingdang immediately became serious, "What do you mean by this, Brother Shi? Could it be that... if I don’t agree, my grandparents are in some danger?"

Shi Yaoguang gave her a meaningful glance.

The look in his eyes sent a chill through Cheng Lingdang’s heart.

Worried about the safety of her grandparents, she dared not delay for a moment and immediately agreed.

"I’m willing! I’m willing!"

In an urgent tone, she said to Xiao Cenyang and the Xiao madam, "Grandpa, Grandma, I’m willing to learn from you, please don’t find anyone else!"

Seeing this, Shi Yaoguang’s lips curved slightly.

Meanwhile, Xiao Cenyang and the Xiao madam were still somewhat stunned.

Just like that...

She had agreed?

Although Xiao Cenyang had morally blackmailed Cheng Lingdang with the intention of presenting a fait accompli, he also knew that this granddaughter of his was not someone easily manipulated.

His strong demands would not necessarily be met with compliance.

Even so, he still wanted to try.