Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Speech

Opening all the boxes and seeing the jewelry, clothing, and even a robot inside, Lu Xiao had to admit that her aunt and uncle were probably incredibly wealthy.

Any single item here was far from cheap.

Even if she didn’t pay much mind to jewelry and clothing—her life was the same with or without them—it didn’t mean she couldn’t recognize quality when she saw it.

Everything Selena had sent her was purely handmade and custom-tailored. The craftsmanship alone must have cost a fortune, to say nothing of the fact that the materials for the jewelry and clothing were all top-of-the-line.

These were the kinds of things that money couldn’t necessarily buy.

Lu Xiao realized her grandmother was probably right. Her aunt wasn’t just well-off; she had impeccable taste.

The clothing, jewelry, and bags all came in matching sets. Neither the colors nor the patterns were flashy, but they exuded an understated elegance.

They suited Lu Xiao’s personal tastes perfectly. Clearly, Selena had taken the time to get to know her before sending these gifts.

Every single gift had been chosen with careful consideration.

She had to admit, in that moment, Lu Xiao was genuinely moved.

Sometimes, it wasn’t about what people said, but what they did.

’Who would have thought that Selena, after only our second meeting, would send such valuable gifts that were so perfectly suited to my tastes? Perhaps this is what family is,’ she thought.

After looking through the jewelry and clothing, Lu Xiao turned her attention to the robot her uncle Kelin had sent.

The small, snow-white robot stood about half as tall as a person and even had a fuzzy exterior, making it look especially adorable.

According to the instruction manual, it was a home-use robot that combined the functions of a household manager with simple first-aid capabilities.

Lu Xiao also looked it up online, since she didn’t know much about robots.

Her search revealed that it was the latest, most high-end model available. Not only was it incredibly expensive, but it was also a limited edition.

It was the kind of thing you couldn’t necessarily get even if you had the money.

Sitting on the floor surrounded by all the gifts, Lu Xiao felt she had truly underestimated the influence of Duke Galli Odello.

’The poorest person in this family is probably my father, Kelan,’ she mused. ’Though “poor” is likely only in comparison to my aunt and uncle.’

She took pictures of everything and sent them to Ares. “Today is such a great day! My aunt and uncle sent so many gifts I’m running out of space!”

After sending the message, Lu Xiao got up and carefully packed everything away. They were all such thoughtful gestures. She would not only treasure them but also put them to good use, making sure not to let their kindness go to waste.

Ares replied, “It seems everyone really likes my Xiao Xiao.”

Lu Xiao flopped onto her stomach on the bed, kicking her feet in the air as she smiled and typed back, “I know, right? But I like Ares the most. I wonder who Ares likes the most!”

Far away on the front lines, the commander Ares received her message, and a warmth softened his stern features. “I like Lu Xiao the most!”

The very instant he sent the message, Ares gave the order, “Kill them all! Charge!”

He would slaughter every last one of these mutant beasts, return to Lu Xiao in triumph, and lay his honors at her feet!

In that moment, everyone felt the surge of Major General Ares’s killing intent!

On Friday morning, Lu Xiao took the day off. She was scheduled to give speeches at Lu Huan’s and Lu Yu’s schools.

There was one in the morning and one in the afternoon. When Lu Xiao heard that the two school principals had even coordinated with each other about the schedule, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

In the morning, she went to Lu Huan’s school first. Having gotten the news, Lu Huan was waiting for her at the gate early.

As soon as she saw her, Lu Huan leaped forward and gave her a big hug. Lu Xiao returned it warmly and, looking at Lu Huan, who seemed to have grown a little taller, asked, “Did your teacher have you come out just to meet me?”

Lu Huan nodded. “She was worried you wouldn’t be able to find the auditorium, so she asked me to be your guide. She thought you might not be comfortable with a stranger.”

“Please thank your teacher for me when you go back. That was very thoughtful of her.”

“I will.” After a pause, Lu Huan leaned in conspiratorially. “Sis, are you nervous?”

Lu Xiao looked at her sister’s secretive expression and chuckled. “Why? If I am nervous, can you help me relax?”

Lu Huan pulled a lollipop from her pocket and offered it to her. “I heard that eating something sweet helps when you’re nervous.”

Lu Xiao stared at the lollipop for a moment, then accepted it with a smile. ’Well, at least it’s not as huge as the one Admiral Kelan gave me,’ she thought. ’I can actually finish this one.’

’Genetics are a powerful thing, aren’t they?’

Lu Huan was truly Admiral Kelan’s daughter; they even comforted people the same way.

“Okay, thank you. I’ll eat it.” She didn’t refuse her sister’s kind gesture.

She followed Lu Huan to the auditorium. The moment she stepped inside, she saw that it was packed. The word “packed” was an understatement; besides those in seats, people were standing, and the entire hall was a dense, swirling sea of faces.

Lu Xiao said instinctively, “Your school has a lot of students, huh?”

’Why are there males here?’ she wondered. ’Isn’t Lu Huan’s school an all-female academy?’

“Students from several other schools came, too.”

Lu Xiao hadn’t expected that, but she didn’t comment. After all, what’s the difference between speaking to one group and speaking to several?

Backstage, she naturally had to exchange pleasantries with the principal and teachers while she prepared.

When everyone met Lu Xiao, their unanimous first impression was how young she was.

Knowing she was young was one thing, but seeing it in person was another entirely.

Many of them couldn’t help but feel a pang of emotion. Their own young daughters were around Lu Xiao’s age, yet they were nowhere near her level of accomplishment.

It was just as the saying goes: comparisons are the thief of joy.

No comparison, no pain.

Lu Xiao was unaware of the impact she’d had on them. When the time came, she walked onto the stage under the watchful eyes of the entire audience.

With so many eyes on her, Lu Xiao couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.

But she quickly composed herself.

A desk and chair were set up on the stage. Lu Xiao walked over, sat down naturally, and then smiled as she greeted the audience. “Hello, everyone. I’m Lu Xiao, just an ordinary female of the Empire. Being invited here today to give this speech is one of the few highlight moments of my life, and I am deeply honored.”

Her introduction was humble and down-to-earth, immediately closing the distance between her and the audience.

She completely lacked the superior attitude some females adopted, as well as the arrogance of looking down on everyone.

She exuded a natural warmth, sitting there like a kind older sister simply chatting with her younger siblings.

In an instant, she captured the hearts of all the young Beastmen in the audience.

Applause instantly erupted.

Sitting in the back, Lu Huan watched Lu Xiao, who seemed to shine on the stage, her eyes filled with adoration.

The person sitting next to her couldn’t resist nudging her with an elbow. “Lu Huan, your sister is so gentle! I love her! Can you introduce me to her later? Please, I’m begging you!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep