His hawk-like eyes fixed intently on the soft and lovely young girl, Lu Jianshen nodded: “It’s us.”
Hua Rui’s face flushed almost imperceptibly: “Uncle, did Grandpa Tang make these?”
“I made them! The business dinner ended late, so by the time I finished, it was already this hour.”
After a pause, Lu Jianshen added: “Something came up suddenly during the day, sorry, I didn’t want you to have any regrets!”
A strange, indescribable feeling stirred in Hua Rui’s heart.
She lowered her head, gazing at the pair of sugar figurines placed together, and said softly:
“Thank you, Uncle!”
It was getting late!
Lu Jianshen took a deep breath: “It’s late, go to sleep. I’m leaving now!”
“Mhm!” Hua Rui didn’t look up. Lu Jianshen couldn’t see her expression.
Those beautiful deer-like eyes were already brimming with a hazy mist; she didn’t dare lift her head.
She thought to herself, it was probably just because she couldn’t bear such a farewell scene!
As Lu Jianshen reached the stairwell, Hua Rui looked up: “Uncle!”
Lu Jianshen turned back. The bright and beautiful young girl Hua Rui waved her hand: “Safe travels, Uncle!”
Warmth spread in Lu Jianshen’s heart: “Rui Rui, I’ll come back to see you again as soon as possible!”
“Mhm, I’ll wait for you to take me to eat meat!” The girl’s voice was charming and melodious.
Eat meat? Hua Wuque’s eyes lit up slightly.
After Lu Jianshen left, Hua Rui couldn’t fall asleep for a long time.
She placed the pair of sugar figurines in a prominent spot where she could see them at a glance.
In just two short days, it felt as if two years had passed.
She was no longer just the young girl Hua Rui; she was also the fiancée of Lu Jianshen, the second young master of the Lu family, the wealthiest clan.
She had originally resisted this arranged childhood marriage! She had even been afraid to meet that unsmiling, ice-cold Lu Jianshen!
However, after their brief time together, she discovered that this uncle was actually more like a quiet yet attentive, warm-hearted older man.
Thinking and thinking, the young girl Hua Rui drifted sweetly into dreamland.
On the same night, at the Lu family mansion.
After the Liu family driver dropped Liu Ruyan off at the Lu residence, he left.
The Lu family butler arranged for Liu Ruyan’s luggage to be settled.
“Auntie, where is Second Brother?”
Liu Ruyan looked around but didn’t see that familiar figure.
“Oh, Shen Shen accompanied the old master to a business dinner. A foreign head of state has arrived.” Jiang Rou replied with a smile.
Liu Ruyan proactively linked arms with Jiang Rou:
“Second Brother is truly beyond the reach of people like us. Even if we ran, we couldn’t catch up.”
“No need to chase. Men should go all out and strive. As for girls, they still need to mind the home. We come from prominent families, and there are many rules in the household!”
The more Liu Ruyan listened to Jiang Rou’s words, the more something felt off.
She was a career-driven businesswoman, completely unlike the home-minded type Jiang Rou described.
Was Madam Lu’s remark clearly indicating a preference for domestic women?
Then what about that eighteen-year-old girl Hua Rui, still in university, the young miss of the Hua family, said to have been pampered like a princess—what could she possibly amount to?
“Auntie, Second Brother’s fiancée Hua Rui seems quite the domestic type!” Liu Ruyan’s face wore a somewhat polite smile.
Mentioning Hua Rui, Jiang Rou’s eyes softened with a gentle smile:
“Rui Rui, ah, I’ve watched this child grow up. Though she seems delicate and pampered, she’s actually quite capable!”
“Oh?” Liu Ruyan’s mouth twitched, forcing out a faint smile.
“She’s held her own art exhibition, and many high-end brands feature her designs. Ruyan, come take a look—this hat I love the most was designed by Ruirui…”
Jiang Rou continued to praise Hua Rui endlessly, while Liu Ruyan listened half-heartedly.
She hadn’t expected Jiang Rou’s attitude toward Hua Rui to be like this. It was a bit surprising!
After all, Jiang Rou also came from a prestigious family, once the top socialite of her time, with exceedingly high standards. It was said ordinary people couldn’t even catch her eye.
Someone like Liu Ruyan, despite her privileged background, had worked tirelessly for years just to become somewhat familiar with Jiang Rou.
As for being liked or even appreciated by her—that felt almost like a luxury!
Liu Ruyan retreated to a quiet corner, took out her phone, and dialed the number she knew by heart.
At that time, Lu Jianshen was on his way to the sugar-figure shop.
The man glanced at the caller ID on his phone, muted it, and didn’t answer.
The second call, the third…
Lu Jianshen frowned and finally picked up.
“Need a designated driver?” Liu Ruyan asked in a sultry tone.
“I have a driver,” the man replied flatly.
“How about a female driver?” the woman teased.
“Ruyan, if there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.” Lu Jianshen’s expression had already turned cold.
“Uncle Lu has already returned. Where are you?”
A flicker of impatience flashed in Lu Jianshen’s hawk-like eyes. He decided to be direct: “I’m picking out a gift for Ruirui!”
Ruirui? “…”!!! Liu Ruyan felt as if something had caught in her throat.
“I’m at the Lu Residence!” she said, a hint of resentment in her voice.
“I’m not coming back. Tomorrow, you can contact the Lu Residence’s steward about the private jet. I’m heading to the airport early in the morning—we’re not going the same way.”
Lu Jianshen felt it necessary to make things clear to her. It was a matter of basic courtesy.
“One more thing,” Lu Jianshen paused, his cold, proud face expressionless:
“Ruirui is my fiancée! Any disrespect toward Ruirui is disrespect toward me, Lu Jianshen! Ruyan, you’re a smart woman.”
The man hung up.
For a moment, Liu Ruyan was stunned.
She was a fiery woman, of course, but also a proud one from a good family, capable and praised since childhood.
As a woman who could navigate the business world, she naturally understood boundaries.
But tonight, she felt… she had lost her composure…
Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, she picked up her phone, searched for a while, and dialed.
When the man answered, he was annoyed: “I just fell asleep! What’s with you people not sleeping at night and bothering me for fun?”
Liu Ruyan sneered: “Come out and have a drink with me at the bar!”
“Who do you think you are? I’m sleeping! I’m hanging up…”
“Hua Wuque! If you don’t come out, I’ll invite Lu Jianshen instead. He’s your good brother-in-law, after all!” Liu Ruyan snapped irritably.
“President Lu just left the Hua family. You think you can get him out? Only a fool would believe that!”
Hua Wuque was about to hang up when he suddenly heard the woman’s voice soften on the other end:
“I’m feeling down, Wuque. Have a drink with me, please? I’m begging you!”
Hua Wuque, Lu Jianshen, and Liu Ruyan were childhood friends of similar age and knew each other well.
That woman, Liu Ruyan, had always been strong-willed and rarely showed such vulnerability.
Hua Wuque paused: “Fine, get ready. Should I send a driver to pick you up?”
“I’m at the Lu Residence,” the woman replied softly.
The Lu Residence?
Twenty minutes later, a limited-edition sports car pulled up at the entrance of the Lu Residence.
“Come out. I’m at the gate.”
Hua Wuque lit a cigarette.
The car felt stifling, so he opened the door and stood in the night, savoring the flickering pleasure of the cigarette’s glow.
Before long, Liu Ruyan, dressed in a seductive and alluring manner, walked out. The two got into the car and set off…
On the second floor of the Lu residence, by a certain window, a pair of intelligent eyes watched helplessly as Hua Wuque picked up Liu Ruyan and drove away.
The woman’s brow gradually furrowed…