Lu Jianshen was only allowed to return to the United States after accompanying his father, Lu Yuanting, and mother, Jiang Rou, to personally deliver the betrothal gifts to the Hua family.
From then on, the ten-year-old Lu Jianshen had his own “little wife”—Hua Rui, the two-day-old youngest daughter of the Hua family.
In his eyes, she was nothing more than a delicate, coquettish crybaby who only knew how to act spoiled.
Eight years passed in the blink of an eye!
When Lu Jianshen celebrated his eighteenth birthday and coming-of-age ceremony, Hua Rui was only eight years old.
At the peak of youthful vigor, he already held a master’s degree offer from a top university in the United States and served as his father Lu Yuanting’s right-hand man, managing the family business.
In high society, Lu Jianshen was regarded as a deity-like presence.
A dashing young man, outstanding and extraordinary. Majestic and imposing, his noble aura overwhelming.
His entire demeanor exuded a cold, aloof, and ascetic air. Taciturn and distant, he resembled a lofty deity, commanding an awe-inspiring presence that made others dare not look directly at him.
Youthful and ambitious, he commanded respect with ease.
In the business world, he assisted his father in several successful mergers and acquisitions. All of the Lu family’s strategic plans passed through his hands, and his precise investments left seasoned veterans in awe.
Despite his young age, he had already become a legendary figure in the business world.
Many in high society wished to marry their daughters to the Lu family’s second son. After all, what did that immature childhood betrothal amount to?
Especially since the little heroine of that childhood betrothal was still buying candy figurines by the roadside.
“Brother, brother, I want that candy figurine!” The eight-year-old Hua Rui tugged at Hua Wuque’s sleeve.
She was a little princess as delicate as carved jade.
Naturally blessed with a pair of soft, doe-like eyes—moist, misty, and utterly pitiable.
Her fair, tender face was flawless, adorned with adorable chubby baby cheeks.
Between her eyebrows was a pink peach blossom birthmark the size of a bean, giving the little girl a uniquely charming allure.
“Be good, Rui’er, brother will buy it for you right away!”
Hua Wuque had come to pick Hua Rui up from school.
He was a “sister-obsessed maniac,” utterly doting on this pink-cheeked little sister!
“Mhm, mhm, I want two—one for myself and one for Sister Xiaolu.”
Hua Wuque affectionately patted her little head:
“Then let’s hurry and buy the candy figurine so we can go home. Rui’er needs to dress up beautifully today because…”
Hua Wuque looked at the childish little girl:
“We’re going to Uncle Lu’s house today to attend the second young master’s coming-of-age ceremony!”
“Oh, okay!”
The little girl blinked her big eyes, staring intently at the candy figurine by the roadside, completely unaware of the look in her brother Hua Wuque’s eyes.
She knew she was Lu Jianshen’s “little wife,” but she had no idea what that meant and felt no fondness for that cold-faced “iceberg.”
So, over the years, since she could remember, she had only seen Lu Jianshen three times, and the number of times they had spoken: zero!
Lu Jianshen’s coming-of-age ceremony was held at a super five-star hotel owned by the Lu family.
The eighteen-year-old Lu Jianshen wore a light gray suit. Standing at a full 190 centimeters tall, he stood out prominently in the crowd.
Youthful and heroic, his features were as sharp and three-dimensional as if carved by a knife. His hawk-like eyes gleamed with the wisdom and distinction of a king.
Yet, his entire being radiated a sharp and distant aura. Approaching him felt like brushing against the chilling cold of a millennia-old iceberg.
Amidst the sea of people, his hawk-like eyes slightly narrowed. Among the thousands of guests, he spotted at a glance the little pink bundle dressed like a princess on the run.
The little girl had a peach blossom red dot between her brows, which made his eyes narrow slightly.
Everyone else was looking at him, admiring the extravagance and splendor of the Lu family, showering him with all kinds of compliments.
Only that delicate little princess, holding two adorable sugar figurines in her hands, was looking around as if searching for someone.
“Ah Shen, congratulations on stepping into adulthood. I’ve prepared several boxes of action movies for you.” It was Hua Wuque’s voice.
“Get lost!” Lu Jianshen rarely showed a smile, but it vanished in an instant.
“How long are you staying this time?”
Lu Jianshen replied calmly, “Very busy, just a few days. I need to oversee a few projects for the Lu family overseas, and I also have to squeeze in time for my master’s courses.”
“What about you?” Lu Jianshen looked at him. “Are the Hua family’s projects going smoothly with their listings?”
“Are you hoping they won’t go smoothly or something?”
The two brothers, who had grown up together, were chatting animatedly when Lu Jianshen suddenly rushed out.
The little girl holding the sugar figurines, who had been searching everywhere for the Lu family’s third daughter, Lu Xiaolu, suddenly tripped.
The sugar figurines in her hands flew to the ground and shattered into pieces.
The little girl was crying heartbrokenly when she saw a pair of large hands slowly picking up the broken sugar figurines from the ground.
The person crouched down. “Hua Rui?”
The little girl sniffled. “Yes, who are you?”
Lu Jianshen’s lips curved slightly. “Do you still want the sugar figurines?”
“But they’re broken!” Hua Rui cried, tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms in the rain.
“Come with me!”
Lu Jianshen took her to a quiet spot.
“Hua Rui, go wash your face first. By the time you come back, I’ll have new sugar figurines for you!”
“You’re not lying, are you?” Hua Rui’s bright, deer-like eyes were filled with doubt.
“I can’t speak for others, but I would never lie to you!” Lu Jianshen’s face remained cool, but his tone was unusually gentle.
While the servant took Hua Rui to wash her face, Lu Jianshen carefully glued the sugar figurines back together.
He never wasted time on such trivial matters.
In his world, his schedule was packed, and time was precious.
But these were Hua Rui’s sugar figurines!
That little girl who had peed all over him the moment she was born was his “little wife.”
He felt disdainful, yet he couldn’t bear to see the little girl sad.
At eighteen, he was long past the age of first love.
He had no interest in romance. Could it be because of that “little wife” he was unwilling to acknowledge but who had always existed?
“Uncle, where are the sugar figurines?”
At some point, the little girl had appeared, her beautiful big eyes fixed on him, full of anticipation.
Uncle? Lu Jianshen almost laughed out loud.
He looked at his own towering height of 1.9 meters, dressed in a mature suit.
And the little girl in front of him, barely 1.4 meters tall, wearing a puffy dress, was clearly an innocent little princess.
If he wasn’t an uncle, then what was he?
“Uncle Lu” scowled. “Here, you can’t eat them anymore, but you can play with them.”
Hua Rui happily took the sugar figurines. “Uncle, you’re amazing! Next time, I’ll treat you to sugar figurines too.”
Next time? Lu Jianshen’s eyes darkened. Who knew when next time would be!
Voices approached from a distance—it was Madam Hua, accompanied by the nanny, searching for her.
Lu Jianshen bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Madam Hua!”
Madam Hua beamed with a smile. This “son-in-law” she had chosen was indeed as she had expected—young and accomplished, and, most importantly, incredibly handsome, with a physique comparable to a supermodel.
“Shen Shen, did you bring little Rui’er here?”
Lu Jianshen replied expressionlessly, “Yes!”
Hua Rui ran up to her mother. “Mom, this little uncle helped me get my new sugar figure back!”
Little uncle?
Mrs. Hua, both amused and exasperated, glanced at Lu Jianshen. “Jianshen, she called you little uncle. Did you agree to that?”
Lu Jianshen replied calmly, “She can call me whatever she likes, as long as it makes her happy!”
…