Until she saw the space, her vision went black; now it was all gray and hazy.
Where were the promised green vegetables and fruits?
Even the clear, sparkling spirit spring water was gone. She bit her lip.
Just now, the space had said the intimacy level was 0.
That meant the space’s functionality could improve through Lu Xiuyuan’s intimacy.
She must have been too harsh earlier.
That was why there was no intimacy at all, even though the two of them had spent the whole night together.
And yet she hadn’t gained a single point of intimacy!
Meanwhile, Lu Xiuyuan had returned to the old family house after finding Xu Zhixia wasn’t in the bridal room that morning.
His stepmother’s face was immediately seen by Lu Tiantian, who shouted at him:
“Brother, did you argue with that woman again? You’re not thinking about divorce, are you?”
Before Lu Xiuyuan could reply, his mother shoved a bun into Tiantian’s mouth:
“You can’t stop talking even while eating.”
Mumbling with the bun in her mouth, Lu Tiantian said:
“Exactly! It must be a fight. Yesterday when my brother came back, he didn’t even smile. All the kids in our class whose parents divorced acted like this.”
She felt grown-up, but her parents still treated her like a child.
Actually, she understood everything.
In her eyes, how could Xu Zhixia possibly be worthy of her brother? He was so handsome.
So many girls liked him, especially the girl next door, Su Ruan. She had always assumed they would get married.
Then, out of nowhere, Xu Zhixia appeared.
Xu Zhixia had a bad temper she wasn’t gentle and kind like Su Ruan at all.
Lu Xiuyuan stopped beside her.
“Shut up.”
Lu Tiantian hurriedly swallowed the bun and quickly said:
“See? I was right. Only if I was right would my brother be embarrassed and angry.”
Lu’s mother glanced at her son, then moved the tofu on the table to make space:
“Xiuyuan, you haven’t eaten yet, have some food.”
Lu Xiuyuan looked at the three people at the table all staring at him, probably planning to interrogate him later.
He had no appetite.
“I’m not eating.”
He went straight upstairs.
Lu’s parents exchanged a glance. Could it really be divorce?
In recent years, the behavior of the young daughter-in-law had been a bit extreme, but it was still a marriage. Lu’s mother frowned.
If she had known, she never would have let them marry.
Now they had become a pair of resentful spouses.
Seeing Lu’s mother’s pitiful look, Lu’s father immediately stood:
“I’m going to work.”
If he didn’t leave now, he would be scolded again.
Lu’s mother washed a plate of fruit in the kitchen and took it straight to her son’s room.
She set the fruit on the table and looked at Lu Xiuyuan, who was focused on his book:
“Tell me, what’s going on with that girl? If you can make it work, then fine. If not, just forget it.”
“If you keep this up, when will I ever see my eldest grandson?”
Lu Xiuyuan sighed, rubbed his brow, and closed his book.
“Don’t listen to Tiantian. There’s nothing going on.”
Lu’s mother frowned at him.
Yesterday when he came back, he didn’t seem right his eyes were bloodshot, and he was giving off a ‘stay away’ vibe.
And he hadn’t come back last night.
She had thought they’d reconciled.
It seemed it wasn’t that simple.
“Don’t worry about your grandfather. I’ll talk to him. He can’t hold you back forever.”
After all, her children were all close she had four, three boys, the youngest being Lu Tiantian.
Lu Xiuyuan was the third, the most independent, and her favorite.
The old man, however, used him as a pawn, forcing his war buddy’s granddaughter onto him.
It caused her son to fail to have a grandson for four years.
This time, whether divorce affected future promotion or not, she decided to let them divorce.
Lu Xiuyuan said nothing.
The more he stayed silent, the more anxious his mother became.
Finally, her son had a holiday, but he still had to endure this how could she tolerate it?
Seeing her about to blow up, Lu Xiuyuan said:
“Grandpa is still in the hospital. Mom, aren’t you afraid of making him sick?”
Lu’s mother snapped:
“Grandpa, grandpa, always grandpa! Is it your marriage or your grandfather’s?”
Lu Xiuyuan pressed his lips together and stayed silent.
His mother, furious, went to pack her things. Once ready, she grabbed Lu Xiuyuan and left.
“Is it too much for me, as a mother-in-law, to go see my daughter-in-law?”
Lu Xiuyuan frowned. His mother was fuming; if he stopped her now, she might explode.
Xu Zhixia probably hadn’t returned yet.
He said in a calm voice:
“She’s young, don’t scare her. Talk things through she’s not what you think she is.”
Lu’s mother almost laughed in anger. She hadn’t even met her yet, and he was already shielding her.
She was active, but still no grandson.
She led Lu Xiuyuan to the bridal room, the blazing sun outside leaving her parched.
She collapsed onto the sofa, exhausted.
Lu Xiuyuan: “I’ll get you some water.”
Just then, from upstairs, a fluttering “butterfly” appeared.
The “butterfly” flapped its wings and flew straight at Lu Xiuyuan.
It suddenly noticed someone lying on the sofa.
Xu Zhixia’s scalp tingled instantly.
She hurriedly adjusted her clothes.
Earlier, after feeding Mother Xu and herself, and taking a shower, she had dressed lightly.
Hearing the sound of the door opening in the courtyard, she knew Lu Xiuyuan had returned and quickly ran downstairs.
Lu Xiuyuan, surprised, quickly grabbed a white lace sofa cover and draped it over her.
But Mother Xu’s eyesight was sharp; she noticed that the young girl had “marks all over her body.”
It was clear they were caused by force.
Seeing the pattern, she immediately understood what had happened.
Her rehearsed speech got stuck in her throat.
How could anyone say they had a bad relationship?
How could they claim divorce?
Who spread this rumor? If this is “bad,” then what counts as “good”?
They could barely contain themselves around each other.
No wonder her son kept denying it.
But her son was cruel such a delicate girl, yet he left her with no unmarked skin.
Remembering the sheet in the courtyard just now, she looked at her son with complex feelings, unsure what to say.
Later, when no one was around, she would have to talk.
She worried whether her presence would interfere with them producing a grandson.
Wait, they were so intense how was there still no child?
Could one of them have a problem?
Her thoughts ran wild, and she even wanted to drag someone to the hospital immediately.
Covered by the sofa sheet, Xu Zhixia instantly regained her composure, lowering her head slightly in embarrassment.
She hadn’t met her mother-in-law often, and this was the first time it had been so awkward.
Lu Xiuyuan had already stood in front of Xu Zhixia, his tall, imposing body shielding her completely.
“Mom, you should go back first.”
Mother Xu glared at him, finally understanding what it meant to have a daughter-in-law and forget about one’s mother.
“Xiaxia, find some time with Xiuyuan. Let’s go to the hospital together.”