Lu Jianshen sat on the sofa, intently reading emails on his phone.
His distinct, elegantly pale fingers gently swiped across the phone screen, his eagle-like eyes carrying the commanding presence and steady composure of someone focused on work.
Only a warm-toned nightlight was on in the restroom.
It helped with sleep and also ensured that if the little angel on the bed suddenly woke up, she wouldn’t be afraid of the dark due to the unfamiliar environment.
The surroundings were completely silent.
The little bundle on the bed seemed to stir, extending a jade-like arm and habitually reaching for the pink bell by the bedside.
Her voice, half-laced with sleepiness, was infinitely soft and delicate: “Auntie, I want 37-degree soda water!”
The man on the sofa quickly put down his phone: “Rui Rui, are you awake? I’ll get you some water!”
Why was there a man’s voice? Hua Rui snapped awake instantly.
Everything around her was unfamiliar. She looked around—no auntie, none of the familiar things from her room…
The fear of never having left home before, combined with the grumpiness of waking up in the middle of the night, washed over her all at once.
The little girl hugged the blanket and curled into a ball, crying softly.
Lu Jianshen suddenly felt at a loss.
He asked Aunt Zhou outside the door to fetch water, then took a big stride to the bedside and took hold of those soft, pale little hands:
“Rui Rui, Uncle is here, don’t be afraid!”
“Don’t touch me! Wuwu…” The little girl sobbed, trembling.
Lu Jianshen quickly withdrew his hand: “I won’t touch! Can Rui Rui calm down first?”
“Where is this?” Hua Rui timidly scanned the room again.
Her delicate, fair face was covered in little teardrops, her deer-like eyes glistening with moisture, and her cherry lips pressed tightly together.
Lu Jianshen gently stroked her long hair:
“Rui Rui is still on the plane, in the restroom. This is France, Uncle’s Rose Manor. Have some water first, calm down, and then Uncle will take you home, okay?”
After saying this long string of words, Lu Jianshen let out a soft sigh of relief.
So, he could also be so “eloquent” in front of a girl.
Hua Rui obediently drank the water Lu Jianshen handed her.
Seeing both Lu Jianshen and Aunt Zhou by the bedside, she felt much more at ease, and her emotions slowly settled.
“Uncle, could you step out? I’ll change my clothes, then go home with you!”
Seeing that she had calmed down and the mistiness in her deer-like eyes had mostly cleared, Lu Jianshen felt relieved.
“Call me when you’re dressed!”
“Mhm!”
By the time she called out that crisp “Uncle,” Hua Rui was already standing in front of Lu Jianshen.
The little girl was slender and petite, barely reaching Lu Jianshen’s shoulders. Her slightly wavy long hair cascaded down, and her delicate, exquisite face looked like a flawless doll.
He took the doll’s little hand: “Little one, let’s go home!”
Hua Rui tried to pull her hand back, tugging a few times without success.
She admitted she had a hidden motive!
In the “Ten Commandments” she had set for him, holding hands was the only thing not written into the rules.
Because every time that man held her hand, she felt a sense of security she had never experienced before!
Obediently letting him hold her hand, Hua Rui’s unease gradually faded away.
The man didn’t speak, leading her all the way to the waiting car, where he opened the door like a gentleman: “Get in!”
The two of them still sat in the back seat.
The awkward silence returned.
Even their joined hands quietly let go! Of course, it wasn’t because Lu Jianshen was unwilling.
He was worried that the little girl would resent him, then reject him, throw a tantrum and refuse to stay with him.
“Where’s Teacher Xie?” the little princess spoke first.
Lu Jianshen’s gaze remained calm.
In a foreign land, the first person the little girl asked about and searched for must hold an extremely important place in her heart.
However, Lu Jianshen was no ordinary man!
He absolutely did not possess such a narrow-minded disposition; he had the confidence of one standing atop Mount Tai.
“A car has already been arranged to take him to the hotel to rest. Teacher Xie needs to report to the university tomorrow!”
“Mhm.” Xie Mingchen had already told her about his plans to further his studies in France. For Hua Rui’s sake, he had arrived in France early.
She was still lamenting that it would be a long time before she could attend Teacher Xie’s classes again.
“Rui Rui?” Lu Jianshen turned slightly, looking at the little girl curled up in the seat.
Hua Rui unconsciously caught sight of his hands—slender, gentle, with distinct knuckles, strong and well-shaped.
Just moments ago, those flawless hands had been tightly holding her small hand.
His broad, warm palm carried a comforting strength, filling her heart with an indescribable sense of comfort and trust.
Her snow-white face gradually flushed with a rosy hue once more, and her deer-like eyes took on a faint trace of shyness.
Lu Jianshen admired this masterpiece of divine creation, his sharp eyes tinged with a deep, primal desire.
He shifted his gaze slightly, using his formidable self-control to forcefully suppress the surging emotions within. Soon, his expression returned to normal.
“This here is Uncle and Rui Rui’s shared home! Rui Rui, don’t be afraid. This month, I will spare as much time as possible to accompany you and help you achieve your first little dream!”
“And also take Rui Rui to try French delicacies!” The little princess’s deer-like eyes now sparkled with starlight-like joy.
“Of course!” Lu Jianshen was also infected by her cheerfulness, his tone becoming lighthearted: “Whatever Rui Rui wants to eat, Uncle will take you to eat!”
“Can we go see the lavender fields?”
“That will have to wait until the design is finished!” Though gentle, Lu Jianshen indulged her in a planned manner.
Hua Rui secretly pouted. As expected, Uncle wasn’t easy to fool^_^
“Now I want to drink Romanée-Conti!”
“You’re allowed soda water or warm milk, nothing else late at night!”
“Uncle, you’re so strict! Just like my old dean of students!”
“Call me ‘Dean’ then, let me hear it?”
“……”! No way!
“Hmm?”
“Dean Lu!” (∩_∩)
“……” Sounds awful!!! “Better not call me that!”
The little girl grinned: “Uncle Lu!”
“!!!” Pushing human limits……
The little princess particularly enjoyed teasing the usually aloof yet trying-to-be-gentle Uncle Lu.
Seeing his face about to darken, she quickly softened her voice obediently: “Uncle!”
“Mhm! That sounds much better!”
When it came to what sounded pleasing, Lu Jianshen felt that nothing would be more pleasing than hearing her call him “Jianshen” or “husband” with her own voice!
Seeing the little princess before him, as lovely as a flower and brimming with innocence,
and then imagining her calling him “Jianshen,” Lu Jianshen nearly laughed out loud. How inappropriate! When had he become so affected?
……
The atmosphere between the two clearly grew livelier. Combined with Hua Rui’s bright and playful nature, cheerful laughter soon filled the car.
The driver, stealing glances at the perfect pair in the back through the rearview mirror many times, thought to himself: A Mr. Lu like this is truly a rare sight in one’s lifetime!
When they got out of the car, Lu Jianshen gallantly opened the door for Hua Rui and extended his hand.
Hua Rui stared at those hands for a moment.
She could refuse the person before her, but she truly couldn’t resist those overly perfect hands.
After hesitating for a while, the hands remained still, quietly waiting for her.
Slowly, she extended her small hand.
The corner of Lu Jianshen’s lips lifted, and a brilliant smile bloomed across his face.
An unprecedented comfort!
His large hand took her small one, and together they walked toward the main entrance of Rose Manor…