024
“Dad, you have to tell me what’s going on, right?” Lu Zhengyang said aggrievedly.
Seeing him so pitiful, Old Master Lu’s heart softened since he was the youngest child. He said, “How long have you been dating? You’re unstable, and she’s still a student. Bringing her home so hastily, who can be reassured?”
Lu Zhengyang was delighted and scooted closer to the old man: “Dad, I’m not a child anymore. I’m serious about Xuanxuan.”
“Hm?” Old Master Lu looked over questioningly.
He quickly added a sentence: “Of course, Xuanxuan is serious about me too. Couldn’t be more true!”
“Let’s wait and see.”
His tone softened, and Lu Zhengyang seized the opportunity, pressing: “Then how about bringing her home for the New Year?”
“I said we’ll see. Also, go ask your mom first.”
“Dad, you clearly know Mom has a preferred candidate for daughter-in-law. How would she like Xuanxuan? Besides, do you really want me to repeat Big Brother’s tragedy?” Lu Zhengyang intended to poke the old man’s old scar.
Before he finished speaking, Old Master Lu’s face changed: “Don’t talk nonsense!”
“It’s true…” Lu Zhengyang protested in a low voice, but seeing his dad’s face was really ugly, he shut up immediately.
“You go back first. I need to think about this matter.”
Lu Zhengyang hurriedly thanked him: “Dad, you’re so good!”
He left with light steps, but after he left, Old Master Lu sighed deeply. What kind of ill-fated affinity was this? If they hadn’t broken up Lu Chengyang and Tian Jing back then, Yu Ningxuan wouldn’t be here falling in love with Lu Zhengyang. If they approved of them being together because of past lessons, what status would Lu Tian have in the Lu family?
“Let’s go, to the hospital.”
Late at night, Old Master Lu’s car stopped downstairs at the hospital. Lu Chengyang was preparing to sleep but was awakened by a knock on the door. Opening it to see Old Master Lu, he asked in surprise, “Dad, I can be discharged tomorrow. Why did you come to the hospital to find me so late?”
Lu Chengyang recovered well and could be discharged tomorrow, but he still needed to communicate with the doctor about his physical condition and come to the hospital for regular check-ups.
Old Master Lu gave him a deep look, looking exhausted. In an instant, Lu Chengyang suddenly understood what had happened. He asked anxiously, “Dad, you know everything?”
“Yes. I recently found out Tian Jing is the daughter the Gu family lost. She has Lu Tian by her side, so I had someone check. Anxu had dinner with them tonight. I made an excuse for him to bring Jingdong and Lu Tian over. That child… is very good. She looks very much like Tian Jing.”
Lu Chengyang wanted to reveal a proud smile, but thinking that Lu Tian’s upbringing had nothing to do with him, he could only smile bitterly: “Dad, Lu Tian doesn’t know about this yet. Don’t…”
“I know. I just wanted to know what you think.” Facing his eldest son, Old Master Lu treated him more like a peer friend, gentle and calm. After so many years, Lu Chengyang was no longer the rich second generation who was controlled by his parents in everything.
“She is my daughter. I owe her a lot, and I want to make it up to her.” Lu Chengyang’s eyes felt hot, and he emphasized hard, “Dad, she is my only daughter. If it weren’t for that car accident, she should have grown up carefree.”
“We all owe her…” Old Master Lu pinched the bridge of his nose. If it weren’t for the car accident, the Lu family had originally planned to accept her. But the accident almost cost Lu Chengyang his life. At that time, they stubbornly believed that Tian Jing brought bad luck to Lu Chengyang. Since their son had lost his memory, it was better to let them separate completely and let Lu Chengyang start a new life.
Fairly speaking, giving Tian Jing 200,000 wasn’t treating her poorly, but none of them expected Tian Jing was already pregnant, and more than twenty years later, she saved Lu Chengyang’s life.
“Tian Jing came to see me. She said she would explain my identity to Tiantian recently. Dad, I’m terrified she will blame me…” Lu Chengyang held his head in his hands, looking at the ground, water drops falling to the floor with a patter.
Old Master Lu sighed and patted his shoulder: “We will make it up to her properly in the future.”
——
Lu Zhengyang sent Yu Ningxuan back to the Yu family. Yu Ningxuan sat in the car unhappily. Not until she was downstairs at her home did she summon the courage to ask: “Zhengyang Gege, does your father dislike me?”
“How could that be? My dad explained to me just now. He thought I was abducting a young girl and was afraid you wouldn’t want to marry an uncle like me later,” Lu Zhengyang pretended to be relaxed.
“Really?”
Lu Zhengyang raised his hand to promise and kissed her cheek along the way, his eyes gentle and affectionate. Yu Ningxuan felt settled in her heart. If that was the case, then after graduation, it would be fine.
“Little girl, grow up quickly. I can’t wait to marry you and take you home.”
Yu Ningxuan leaned in his arms, incredibly happy. Suddenly remembering something: “You haven’t proposed to me yet. Why should I marry you?”
“Then shall I propose to you now?” Lu Zhengyang joked.
“Keep dreaming. Not even a bouquet of flowers, I won’t agree,” Yu Ningxuan said half-jokingly. Actually, no matter what Lu Zhengyang proposed with, she would agree. She had fallen in love with this man.
“What gift do you want for your birthday?” Lu Zhengyang asked meaningfully.
When he mentioned birthdays, Yu Ningxuan remembered the deep lake-blue diamond necklace Old Master Gu gave Lu Tian. That was originally intended as a birthday gift for her. She tried her best to persuade herself not to care, but the shadow of the diamond necklace lingered before her eyes.
“Who asks people in advance what gift they want? You’re too insincere.”
Lu Zhengyang suddenly turned his head and kissed her deeply: “Then does this count as sincere?”
Yu Ningxuan pretended to push him but didn’t push him away, subsequently indulging in the kiss.
…
After reluctantly parting with Lu Zhengyang, Yu Ningxuan returned home. Gu Yalan was preparing small clothes and shoes for the baby in her belly. Hearing the noise of her return, she teased: “Did Zhengyang bring you back?”
“Yes.” Yu Ningxuan’s voice carried sweetness, smiling gently as she went to Gu Yalan’s side to help organize the small clothes.
“You two get along well. Maybe by New Year’s, you can meet the parents.” Gu Yalan planned enthusiastically for her daughter.
Mentioning this, Yu Ningxuan said unhappily: “We met his father at dinner today, but his father seemed unsatisfied with me. Zhengyang said his father thinks I’m still a student and too young.”
Gu Yalan was startled. She stopped organizing the clothes and pulled Yu Ningxuan to tell the story. When she heard Lu Tian was also present, she snorted coldly: “Maybe that damn girl badmouthed you in front of Old Master Lu.”
Yu Ningxuan was puzzled: “What could she say?”
“Say your moral character isn’t good, that you’re vain, things like that. Old people hate that kind of girl the most. If she casually says some bad things, the old man will definitely think you covet the Lu family’s power.” Gu Yalan analyzed self-righteously.
“But Zhengyang said it’s fine…” Yu Ningxuan became uncertain again.
Gu Yalan sighed: “Then let him deal with his family. By the way, Grandma’s birthday is in a few days. What gift have you prepared?”
Yu Ningxuan’s birthday was close to Grandma Gu’s, which was one of the reasons Grandma Gu liked her.
“I haven’t prepared anything yet.” Yu Ningxuan told the truth.
“You child. Luckily I prepared. I hired someone to knit a cashmere scarf by hand. When the time comes, say you knitted it. Giving it to the old lady will guarantee she’s happy.” Gu Yalan took out an exquisite red cashmere scarf like a treasure.
Yu Ningxuan touched the soft cashmere scarf and whispered: “Mom, do we have to curry favor with Grandma? I feel weird fighting like this.”
“What’s weird? It’s just maintaining appropriate contact. If we cut ties with the Gu family, people will talk.” Gu Yalan disapproved.
“But, I don’t like fighting with Lu Tian. After all, we aren’t part of the Gu family.”
Gu Yalan threw the cashmere scarf back into the box and glanced at her: “What do you mean fighting? You’re just young and thin-skinned. It depends on who the old lady likes. Grandma likes you, so you go show filial piety in front of the old lady and repay her love for you over so many years. This is what you should do!”
Yu Ningxuan felt something was wrong with what she said but couldn’t think of any rebuttal, so she could only lower her head and acquiesce, almost pulling the cashmere scarf out of shape.
Similarly, Tian Jing also put some thought into Old Madam Gu’s birthday. This was the first time celebrating the old lady’s birthday, so the gift had to be somewhat novel. Lu Tian asked her to prepare an extra portion. She didn’t know what the old lady liked, but she knew the old lady didn’t like her much. She didn’t need to eagerly curry favor.
Moreover, she had things to worry about now. Lu Chengyang knew Tian Jing had told her the truth, but she hadn’t replied to the message he sent.
“Mom, how should I reply to him?” Lu Tian deliberately asked her.
Tian Jing glanced at it and laughed: “Reply however you want. Weren’t you quite decisive before?”
She wouldn’t put in a good word for Lu Chengyang. If he wanted to recognize his daughter, he had to work for it himself!
“Then I’d better not reply.” This fit her character better. She even ignored the messages sent by Meng Jingdong.
“Up to you. You’re in charge of this matter.” Tian Jing said easily.
Lu Tian relaxed even more. Putting on airs was still necessary.
“Actually, if you nod, life in the Lu family isn’t bad. The two elders have no grandchildren, only two grandsons from their daughter. For so many years, they must have been hoping for a grandson or granddaughter. Once you appear, they will definitely be happy beyond measure.” Tian Jing couldn’t help saying a few words seeing her unmoved.
Lu Tian was very curious: “Mom, do you really not hate them?”
“It’s okay. I can understand their feelings at that time now.”
Rationally speaking, Tian Jing hoped Lu Tian would maintain a not-too-distant relationship with the Lu family. It would help raise her status in the Meng family. Moreover, the Lu family had a huge business, which could give Lu Tian more security in the future. Lu Chengyang had no children and guaranteed he wouldn’t have any in the future. He would definitely treat Lu Tian like a treasure. Coupled with Lu Tian’s life-saving grace, even Old Madam Lu wouldn’t say anything, right?
After listening to Tian Jing’s analysis, Lu Tian confirmed that she had really let go.
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