At the barbecue restaurant, Lu Jianshen chose the best seat.
It offered privacy while allowing them to enjoy the view outside.
This visit was somewhat spontaneous.
He had originally planned to take Hua Rui to another high-end restaurant under Lu Holdings—Oriental Feast.
He would handle the grilling, while the young lady focused on eating.
Although Hua Rui seemed timid when speaking to him, she was completely at ease when it came to food.
Her eating manners were elegant, yet not in an overly refined or pretentious way.
She didn’t hold back, nor did she complain about eating too much or needing to lose weight…
Hua Rui ate heartily, savoring each bite unhurriedly while sweetly praising the person feeding her:
“Uncle’s grilling skills are top-notch!”
“Was Uncle a barbecue master in a past life? Why is it so delicious!”
“Uncle, you should eat too. Sorry for letting you witness a true foodie…”
…
Lu Jianshen was amused by her and grilled with even more enthusiasm.
Besides, this was the first time in his life he had taken a girl out to eat alone.
Many of his “firsts” had been given to Hua Rui.
The first time he held her (when she was born), the first time he was peed on, the first time he helped choose betrothal gifts, the first time he created a private photo album for a girl, the first time he helped select an engagement ring…
He had long heard that Hua Rui was a foodie, deeply interested in gourmet food and even enjoyed cooking herself.
“If Rui Rui loves good food, then Uncle will take you to taste delicacies from all over the world!”
“Yay!” Hua Rui gave a big thumbs-up with her greasy little hand.
“Second Brother, what a coincidence!”
A charming and beautiful woman suddenly appeared at the entrance of their semi-private booth.
Hua Rui looked up, and the woman in her line of sight was also looking at her.
It was the woman she had seen on the day of the engagement—Liu Ruyan.
Lu Jianshen nodded briefly but didn’t stop grilling.
“I heard Uncle Lu mention this restaurant, so I came to try it. I didn’t expect to run into you two,” Liu Ruyan said politely.
“Hello, Hua Rui. I’m Liu Ruyan, Second Brother’s childhood friend.”
Lu Jianshen paused and looked up.
“Ruyan likes to joke. Childhood friends are a group—I can’t claim to be the only one. For example, Wuque is also a shared childhood friend.”
He glanced at Hua Rui.
Hua Wuque was Hua Rui’s brother. By bringing him up, Lu Jianshen’s intention to clarify was unmistakable.
Liu Ruyan pursed her lips slightly, her heart churning as she looked at the dazzling pink diamond on Hua Rui’s finger.
“Second Brother truly dotes on your little wife. Hands that handle billions every day are now grilling meat here. Tsk tsk.”
Those hands, with perfectly defined knuckles, were fair and smooth like jade.
Lu Jianshen didn’t respond. Instead, with his elegant hands, he picked up a piece of grilled beef, dipped it evenly in sauce, and brought it to Hua Rui’s lips.
“Rui Rui, try this piece. It’s just the right temperature!”
“I can do it myself!” Hua Rui’s fair face flushed.
She accidentally caught Lu Jianshen’s unwavering gaze, which reminded her of a strict school principal.
In a moment of impulsiveness, she quickly took a bite. “Mmm, Uncle, perfect!”
The corner of Lu Jianshen’s lips lifted as he turned to Liu Ruyan. “Ruyan, why don’t you sit down and try Second Brother’s cooking?”
“Oh, no, no,” Liu Ruyan replied. She wasn’t foolish enough to stay in such an awkward situation.
“Second Brother, I heard from Uncle Lu that you’re returning tomorrow. I’ll pack tonight and stay at the Lu Residence. Looks like I’ll be hitching a ride on your plane again tomorrow!”
Before Lu Jianshen could answer, Liu Ruyan smiled, “I won’t disturb you two anymore. Someone is waiting for me over there. Goodbye!”
If Hua Rui hadn’t been there, Lu Jianshen would likely have lost his temper.
So brazen, and so dismissive of Hua Rui!
Hua Rui saw the serious expression on his face and the icy, cold gaze in his eyes.
It was as if he had turned into a block of ice, chilling anyone who approached even before they got close.
She felt a little scared. In her beautiful deer-like eyes, a faint mist began to form.
Summoning her courage, she looked up and called out timidly, “Uncle!”
The man seemed not to hear her. He took out his phone and made a call:
“Book me a first-class ticket to Italy for tomorrow. I’ll send you the time!”
After hanging up, he made another call: “Mom, I won’t be coming back to the old house tonight. Have Butler Wang send all my things to Wangjing Mansion.”
Mrs. Lu was puzzled, “Why aren’t you coming back all of a sudden? You’re finally home, and I haven’t spent enough time with you yet!”
“I can’t talk now. I’m with Rui Rui!”
“Oh, with your little wife. Why don’t you both come back and stay? You’re apart so often. If it doesn’t work out, just live together and see if you can have a baby first…”
Lu Jianshen quickly hung up the phone.
Fortunately, the little one was obediently eating her meat and hadn’t heard.
He was 25 years old, but the little one across from him was only 18!
In Lu Jianshen’s eyes, Hua Rui still looked like an innocent, carefree baby.
He wanted to spend as much time with her as possible, pampering her like a little child.
As for having a baby with her? That was something for the distant future, far too remote!
Right now, the little one wouldn’t even let him hold her hand and was very resistant to the engagement. So, he could only silently accompany her and wait for her…
Hearing his decisive actions over the phone, Hua Rui couldn’t help but look at the man before her with newfound respect.
Was this the self-awareness of an engaged man? He would never allow any ambiguous relationships to linger around him.
She giggled, the dimples at the corners of her lips appearing, looking very playful and adorable.
“Silly girl, what are you laughing at?”
Lu Jianshen’s Adam’s apple moved almost imperceptibly.
“Nothing. Oh, Uncle, look!” She handed the drawing to Lu Jianshen.
The hand was drawn beautifully! It was almost indistinguishable from his real hand.
The ring was drawn on the middle finger. Its unique pattern design was simple yet stylish.
“Deep in the woods, one sees the deer?” The man’s sharp eyes fixed on her flower-like little face.
“Mhm!”
“Deep in the woods, one sees the deer; deep in the sea, one sees the whale; upon waking from a dream, one sees you!”
Hua Rui seemed startled.
Lu Jianshen’s eyes darkened. He had overthought it. Judging by her expression, the little one hadn’t considered any of this at all!
“Just something I came across casually!” he brushed it off. “Thank you, Rui Rui. I’ll treasure it!”
What he actually wanted to say was, “I hope one day, you will be the one to put this ring on my finger!”
After the meal, Hua Rui took Lu Jianshen to the sugar figurine shop.
It was indeed different from other sugar figurine shops. The owner was an elderly man in his sixties, clearly very familiar with Hua Rui.
“Little Rui’er, craving sugar figurines again?”
Hua Rui smiled brightly and sweetly, “Grandpa Tang, I don’t want to see ordinary sugar figurines. I want to see the series ones. Can I, please?”
“This old man doesn’t just show them to anyone!” The old man glanced at Lu Jianshen. “Who is this? What is he to you?”
Hua Rui glanced at Lu Jianshen. “He’s my little uncle, we’re all family!”
Little uncle? The old man squinted at the man before him.
Having lived half a lifetime, he couldn’t be fooled by the way a man looked at a young girl.
Besides, the girl had come before, accompanied by a man she called Teacher Xie.
The way that man looked at her was also fresh in the old man’s memory.
“Tell the truth!”
…