During breakfast, Tan Qinyin suggested accompanying Chu Nanyu to his IV drip appointment at noon.
Chu Nanyu politely declined, “No need to trouble yourself. I can go alone.”
“You insisted on accompanying me when I went to change my bandages before. Why is it different when it’s your turn?” Tan Qinyin pouted. “You’re so hypocritical.”
“…”
Chu Nanyu looked at her, about to speak, when she thoughtfully added, “If you don’t want to trouble yourself coming back at noon, I can go to your company to meet you.”
“Alright,” Chu Nanyu sighed softly, no longer refusing. “It’s no trouble. I’ll come back for lunch, and we can go together afterward.”
“That’s more like it!”
Tan Qinyin let out a relieved sigh, her eyes softening. “Going to the hospital should be with family. Otherwise, it’s too lonely.”
Chu Nanyu’s gaze lingered on her face. As if thinking of something, his brows furrowed slightly.
Around ten in the morning, the sunlight was just right.
Tan Qinyin sat on the rooftop balcony, typing away on her laptop, but she was stuck on her writing. She stared at the screen, her nose slightly wrinkled in frustration.
Just then, Auntie Liang came upstairs and said there was a visitor at home. Upon hearing it was Chu Nanyu’s grandmother, Tan Qinyin immediately closed her laptop and hurried downstairs.
In the living room, Old Mrs. Chu sat gracefully on the sofa, elegantly sipping her tea.
Yesterday, over the phone, she had heard from Butler Li that her grandson had brought a beautiful “wife” home, nearly shocking her out of her wits. Today, she couldn’t resist coming over to see for herself.
Light footsteps echoed from the staircase. Old Mrs. Chu looked up, and the first thing she saw was a face that was both pure and radiant.
The girl wore a light apricot-colored knitted maxi dress, her hair casually pinned up with a clip, adding a touch of gentleness.
Old Mrs. Chu’s eyes sparkled—what a bright-eyed and lovely girl!
“Grandma!” Tan Qinyin quickly walked over and sat down beside Old Mrs. Chu, greeting her sweetly. “You’re here.”
The soft, warm “Grandma” made Old Mrs. Chu’s heart flutter, and a broad smile spread across her face. “Yes!”
Meeting her “granddaughter-in-law” for the first time, she observed discreetly, growing fonder with each glance.
But why did she seem somewhat familiar?
“I heard you were injured in a car accident. How are you feeling now?”
“I’m already much better. Thank you for your concern, Grandma.” Tan Qinyin’s eyes curved into a smile. “Are you here to see Nan Yu? He’s at work and hasn’t returned yet.”
Old Mrs. Chu waved her hand with a smile. “What’s so interesting about him? I came specifically to see you.”
She then asked kindly, “Child, how does A Yu usually address you?”
Tan Qinyin blinked and gently scratched her temple. “He usually calls me Yinyin.”
How tenderly he addresses her! That boy even calls his own sister by her full name!
Old Mrs. Chu patted her hand. “Yinyin, I brought two pots of peonies. I wonder if you’ll like them?”
Tan Qinyin’s eyes lit up. “Grandma, I love peonies the most!”
Old Mrs. Chu took her hand and stood up. “Come, let’s go take a look.”
“Alright.”
Tan Qinyin naturally linked arms with the elderly lady, supporting her as they walked to the courtyard outside the living room to see the peonies.
When Chu Nanyu returned home at noon, he had just driven through the gate when he spotted Old Mrs. Chu and Tan Qinyin playing chess on the stone table in the front yard pavilion from afar. His fingers on the steering wheel paused for a moment.
After parking the car, he walked over.
Tan Qinyin held a chess piece in her hand and greeted him softly, “Husband, you’re back.”
Hearing this form of address, Old Mrs. Chu, who had been pondering her next move in the game, instantly brightened.
Chu Nanyu gave a faint nod and looked at his grandmother. “Grandma, what brings you here?”
Old Mrs. Chu gazed at him meaningfully. “Of course, I came to see my granddaughter-in-law.”
Chu Nanyu glanced at Butler Li, who was standing silently to the side. Butler Li spread his hands innocently, indicating it had nothing to do with him.
After all, it was the old lady who had called him, so he had no choice but to passively report on the master’s current situation.
“Why are you looking at Old Li?” Old Mrs. Chu pointed at the peonies nearby and said bluntly, “You came back just in time. Carry those two pots of peonies inside for Yinyin.”
Chu Nanyu’s expression turned somewhat complicated, but he said nothing and obediently carried the peonies back into the house.
Before the game of chess could finish, Auntie Liang had already prepared lunch.
At the dining table, Old Mrs. Chu deliberately asked, “Don’t you usually have lunch at the company? Have you changed your habits and started coming home for meals now?”
Chu Nanyu replied, “I need to go for an IV drip later.”
Upon learning that Chu Nanyu had a fever yesterday, Old Mrs. Chu surprisingly showed no concern. Instead, she smiled cheerfully. “A fever is good. It’s not easy to get one occasionally.”
Chu Nanyu: “…”
After the meal, the “couple” planned to go to the hospital, so Old Mrs. Chu left first, specifically asking Chu Nanyu to see her off alone.
“Ayu, I really like this girl. Whose family is she from? When do you plan to officially marry her?”
Chu Nanyu fell silent for a moment. “I can’t marry her.”
“Why can’t you marry her?” Old Mrs. Chu frowned. “She keeps calling you ‘husband,’ and it seems you’re quite pleased with it, aren’t you?”
“What? Are you planning to take advantage of the girl and not take responsibility?”
“Grandma,” Chu Nanyu’s breathing grew slightly heavier. “It’s not what you think. There’s nothing between her and me. She’s just temporarily lost her memory and mistook me for someone else.”
Old Mrs. Chu snorted lightly. “Don’t try to fool me. If there’s nothing between you, why would the girl recognize you as her husband?”
“Also, don’t tell me you brought her home and went to all this trouble to play along just because you’re a helpful person? I don’t believe it!”
“She is Tan Qinyin from the Tan family in Nancheng,” Chu Nanyu suddenly said.
“So Yinyin is from Nancheng, then…” Old Mrs. Chu’s expression suddenly froze. “The Tan family of Nancheng?”
Chu Nanyu calmly uttered a few words. “She is also Lu Yanzhi’s wife.”
Meanwhile, at the Lu residence.
Lu Yanzhi returned to the old mansion for a meal.
“Why didn’t Yinyin come back with you?” his mother, Fu Wenshu, asked.
“She hasn’t been back to Nancheng for a while, so she went back for a short stay,” Lu Yanzhi put down his chopsticks and said, offering the prepared explanation.
Fu Wenshu nodded. “Then I’ll give Yinyin a call. I haven’t seen her for a few days and really miss her.”
As she spoke, she reached for the phone, but Lu Yanzhi quickly stopped her.
“Mom, just let Yinyin enjoy her time in Nancheng for a while. It won’t be too late to talk to her when she returns.”
Fu Wenshu eyed him suspiciously. “Did you and Yinyin have a fight?”
Lu Yanzhi lowered his gaze. “No, why would Yinyin and I fight?”
“That’s true. Yinyin has always been gentle.”
Since their marriage, their relationship had always been mild and harmonious.
Fu Wenshu snorted coldly. “But don’t think I can’t tell—there’s distance between you and Yinyin!”
She had seen her son in love before, burning so fiercely that he even defied the family for that woman! It was nothing like this lukewarm, tepid state.
She sighed and gently reminded him, “Yanzhi, since you’ve married Yinyin, treat her well and stop dwelling on those old, trivial matters.”
Lu Yanzhi tapped his fingers lightly on the table, feeling inexplicably irritable, though his expression remained unchanged.
“I know.”