Hua Rui was puzzled, her doe-like eyes glistening with moisture as she looked up at Lu Jianshen.
In an extremely soft voice, she called out to him: “Uncle?”
“Don’t be afraid, Rui Rui, come with me!”
The man firmly took her hand and led her step by step along the stairs.
He called her Rui Rui!
Hua Rui lowered her head, allowing him to lead her away.
She had her own sense of propriety and upbringing.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, even if she was unwilling, she would not publicly let go of his hand and embarrass him.
She also understood the special nature of their relationship—the “childhood betrothal” known throughout their social circle.
The matching lock she had worn since childhood, she had always loved it dearly and never took it off.
Until one day, Mrs. Hua gently told her: “That was chosen for you personally by Shen Shen!”
So, she accompanied him down the stairs, walking to the center of the stage, facing the guests.
All the words were spoken by Lu Jianshen; she simply stood obediently by his side, her hand held tightly in his.
Until she heard his words:
“Today is the engagement ceremony between me and Hua Rui, the youngest daughter of the Hua family…”
Her hand began to fidget, but he held it even tighter, forcefully slipping a dazzling “pigeon egg” engagement ring onto her finger.
Her bright, doe-like eyes grew misty, and even Lu Jianshen’s hardened heart couldn’t help but soften slightly at the sight.
He leaned close to her ear: “Rui Rui, be good. Just hold on a little longer, and you can go home.”
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?” The girl’s voice was so gentle it could melt hearts.
“Haven’t you known since you were little?” Lu Jianshen even patted her back lightly to comfort her.
The girl fell silent.
The subtle interactions between the two on stage were noticed by everyone, appearing extremely intimate.
Who would have thought that Lu Jianshen, always revered by women as untouchable and above worldly affairs, would show such human affection in front of his little fiancée!
Hua Rui wasn’t unaware; she just hadn’t expected this moment to come so soon.
In her mind, it was all just a business alliance.
She had thought there was still room for change.
In her mind, the gentle and tall figure flashed by.
She was engaged now! What right did she have?
By the time she regained her senses, Hua Rui was already sitting in the car.
Beside her was the man she had just become engaged to, maintaining a polite distance, having long since released her hand.
Clearly, she should have stayed with him at the venue, toasting and socializing.
Hua Rui felt slightly apologetic: “Uncle, what about the event?”
“I’ve arranged everything, don’t worry!” Lu Jianshen glanced at her:
“And don’t be nervous. Your life won’t change much. It’s just that from now on, there will be some occasions where you’ll need to accompany me.”
“Mm, okay!”
Hua Rui pursed her lips lightly, her eyes drifting to the night outside the car window.
A chill swept over her, and she instinctively shrank.
A coat carrying the scent of fir wood was draped over her shoulders, and Lu Jianshen’s cool voice sounded in her ear:
“Turn off the air conditioning in the car!”
Hua Rui glanced at him timidly:
“Uncle, thank you! I’ll have the maid wash the coat and return it to you tomorrow!”
She addressed him as “you,” she was sitting so close to the car door she was almost pressed against it, and her tone with him remained polite and distant…
An inexplicable irritation stirred in Lu Jianshen’s heart!
The sparkling diamond ring on her finger was a unique pink diamond he had traveled to several countries to select especially for her, one of a kind in the world!
Was she completely turning a blind eye?
Among that stack of information, he had noticed one person.
He had once been Hua Rui’s high school art teacher.
During Hua Rui’s high school years, he had managed to earn a doctorate degree.
When Hua Rui went to the Central Academy of Fine Arts, he also applied for a position there and remained her teacher.
His name was Xie Mingchen.
While Lu Jianshen was flying all over the world and gaining fame far and wide, Xie Mingchen had quietly stayed by her side for a full five years!
He had neglected her too much. He had originally thought he didn’t care at all about that “childhood betrothal”!
“Uncle, Uncle, I’m here!” The girl’s sweet voice rang out.
Lu Jianshen snapped back to reality and stared at her small face for a while.
Hua Rui pursed her lips, then suddenly lowered her head silently, a blush spreading across her face:
“Uncle, is… is there leftover cream on my face? Sorry!”
The man replied gently, “No!”
He quickly got out of the car, walked around to Hua Rui’s side, opened the car door, and politely shielded the top edge with his hand:
“You can get out now!”
Hua Rui stepped out quietly. Her steps were light and soft, making no sound as she walked.
“I’ll walk you in!” Lu Jianshen walked beside her, keeping a perfectly appropriate distance.
The path leading to the Hua family’s old mansion was a beautiful little flower-lined walkway.
Hua Rui inadvertently caught sight of Lu Jianshen’s hands again—those perfect, artistic hands, bare and unadorned.
“Uncle, I’m sorry, I didn’t give you a ring today.” She glanced at the diamond ring on her own finger.
“It’s fine. Whenever you feel like it.” The man’s tone was indifferent.
He knew that this engagement was mainly the idea of both families’ elders.
As for the person involved—the little girl kept in the dark—the reason she hadn’t been told was that she didn’t want to get engaged.
Hua Rui lowered her head, feeling guilty.
Everything had been proceeding step by step, but she had been a bit willful.
“Then, let me draw one for you first, as an apology, okay?”
Lu Jianshen stared into her beautiful, large eyes and softly said, “Okay!”
He was used to being sharp and didn’t know how to be gentle with someone.
Facing the delicate girl before him, he wanted to try to shed his hard shell.
But every word he spoke still sounded devoid of warmth.
He felt somewhat annoyed. Seeing that they had already reached the entrance of the Hua family home, he forced himself to say a few more words:
“Go home and rest well. There’s no hurry to draw it.”
“Then, Uncle, are you going to leave again soon this time?”
Lu Jianshen had planned to fly to the United States tomorrow to attend an important investment meeting.
But looking at his little fiancée before him and thinking about the ring she hadn’t yet drawn for him, he said in a deep voice:
“I won’t leave for now. There are still some matters to attend to.”
“Then, I’ll give it to you tomorrow. I’ll also give you the clothes tomorrow!”
“I’ll wait for you.” Lu Jianshen looked at the gentle, elegant classical beauty.
Just as Hua Rui was about to enter her home, the man behind her suddenly said:
“Ruirui, do you still want a sugar figurine?”
Hua Rui turned around and smiled sweetly:
“Uncle, you still treat me like a child! I’m already eighteen!”
Her little head thought for a moment: “But there’s a shop in Beijing opened by an intangible cultural heritage inheritor. The sugar figurines they make are very unique. Uncle, would you like to go see it?”
Lu Jianshen replied without hesitation, “Yes!”
“I have classes tomorrow morning, but I can go in the afternoon.”
“I’ll pick you up from school, and we’ll have lunch together!”
Hua Rui tilted her little head and thought for a moment: “Alright, it’s settled then! Uncle, see you tomorrow!”
Lu Jianshen watched until she entered the door and disappeared from sight before withdrawing his gaze.
He took out his phone:
“Dad, I won’t be going to the U.S. tomorrow. Let my older brother attend the investment meeting instead. I’ll participate remotely.”
“I have something to do, something important!”
…