Lin Ting frowned.
Perhaps because of how frequently she had been running into Lu Hesheng lately, her body had developed a reflexive habit: her feet obeyed her brain, and she walked over without thinking.
A stern voice full of authority rang beside her: “You brat, who are you talking to? That attitude!”
An elegantly dressed elderly lady in a shirt dress slowly approached, holding a thick book that she lightly tapped against Lu Hesheng’s arm.
She scolded him with a laugh: “No respect at all! Am I the grandma here, or am I not?”
Lin Ting’s eyes widened—she recognized the woman as a literature professor from Jing University.
She hadn’t expected her to be Lu Hesheng’s grandmother.
In an instant, Lin Ting’s cheeks flushed red. Her steps wavered, almost turning to flee in embarrassment.
She realized she had misread the situation entirely; it was all her overthinking.
Lu Hesheng, lightly admonished by his grandmother, didn’t look annoyed at all. Instead, he smoothed the book’s pages and accepted her scolding with a smile.
Seeing Lin Ting attempt to retreat, he reached out a long arm, grabbing her bag strap and raising an eyebrow invitingly:
“Junior, running away now?”
“Since we ran into each other, just get in the car. I’ll give you a ride.”
Lin Ting tried to resist, stammering: “I didn’t mean to…”
But Lu Hesheng had already opened the car door and, without waiting for her consent, ushered her inside.
Click—the car door locked.
As Lin Ting sat down, watching the scenery fly past the window, a deep pang of regret welled up inside her.
Grandma sat in the front passenger seat, glancing around the slightly dull interior.
Her eyes fell on the hanging safety charm. She reached out to touch it: “You little rascal, so sentimental, huh?”
“It looks a bit faded. I didn’t think this was the type of thing you’d be attached to.”
Her voice had barely fallen when she suddenly looked at her grandson, lowering her voice:
“Quick, tell me—whose gift was this young lady’s?”
Lu Hesheng kept his hands on the wheel, focused on driving, his voice casual:
“Can’t remember. Probably someone who gave it to me for my seventeenth birthday.”
“At the time, I thought the design was nice, the meaning good, so I just kept it. Too lazy to take it down.”
Lin Ting’s heartbeat sank. He had no idea it was her gift.
Grandma glanced at him, immediately losing interest, and began muttering:
“I was so looking forward to your return from abroad…”
“And now, in this one month back, you’re either busy with that lousy job or off fooling around with that brat Shen Xiao.”
She sighed, voice tinged with longing: “When will you settle down and bring a proper girlfriend home for grandma to see?”
“If things go well, love is good, even better if you get married right away and give grandma some chubby grandchildren to play with… then my days won’t be boring…”
Lu Hesheng coughed twice, looking at Lin Ting in the rearview mirror.
“Grandma, there’s someone in the back. Mind your words, don’t scare her.”
Grandma stopped mid-sentence.
Then she turned, smiling warmly at Lin Ting: “Oh, what a memory I have!”
The young lady’s face was fair and delicate, quiet and calm, naturally endearing.
Her tone softened completely: “Don’t be afraid, dear. Grandma just talks a lot.”
“You’re at Jing University too, right? Which college? What year are you in?”
Lin Ting struggled to resist such warmth, sitting up politely and answering each question with care:
“Hello, Grandma. I’m in the College of Finance, a senior this year.”
Lu Hesheng seemed to remember something, glancing at Lin Ting’s evasive eyes through the mirror:
“Grandma, my junior here will soon be recommended to Jing University for graduate studies.”
“You have a wide network—could help her look for a mentor in the Finance College who’s academically excellent but doesn’t overwork students, lay some groundwork.”
Grandma readily agreed: “That’s easy. Finance College, right? I know quite a few old professors there. I’ll ask around.”
Lin Ting’s heart skipped a beat.
She wondered if Lu Hesheng knew something… But his tone sounded so casual, so kind-hearted…
She quickly waved her hands, flustered: “No, no, really, thank you, Grandma! But there’s no rush for that.”
Grandma, thinking the young lady was shy, even left her WeChat contact.
The car stopped in a quiet alley outside a well-kept residence.
Lu Hesheng spoke: “Alright, Your Highness, we’re at your doorstep.”
Grandma smiled, opening the door, but turned back, reminding her grandson: “Hesheng, make sure the young lady gets inside safely. Got it?”
Lu Hesheng nodded reluctantly, unusually obedient: “Got it. You go ahead.”
Lin Ting watched silently, entranced.
It was the first time she had seen Lu Hesheng in front of family, completely shedding his usual cold and distant demeanor.
He could be patient and gentle.
The car door slammed shut.
The interior instantly fell silent.
Lu Hesheng looked down at his phone, typing a few words.
The next second, he turned, resting an arm on the steering wheel, fingers tapping idly, chin propped up:
“Tell me, where to?”
The seemingly casual gaze hid a subtly dangerous edge.
Lin Ting felt that if she said “back to school,” he could very well dump her right then and there.
So she tossed the decision back to him: “I haven’t decided… you choose.”
Lu Hesheng replied without hesitation:
“Alright then, let’s go see some ghosts.”