That was when they were about five or six years old, and the little girls loved playing house.
The reason Lu Meng brought up pink diamonds was simply because she had seen her father give her mother pink jewelry when he returned from a business trip.
At that age, she was especially obsessed with pink diamonds, which was why she made such a request.
As for wanting someone four years older than her, that was also influenced by her parents.
Actually, at first, her answer was—I don't want to find a husband.
After all, she had a father and mother who loved her very much, and she felt she didn't need a husband since her parents would always be there behind her.
But under Lin Nuo's clingy pestering, she reluctantly said: "Four years older than me."
Back then, what did she know about love? Her understanding of love was exactly like Shao Tingyuan and Lu Ling's, so she was completely looking for someone based on their template.
Who would have thought that years later, Lu Bofan just happened to be exactly four years older than her.
That really was fate.
During the days when Lu Bofan was away on his business trip, Lu Meng's life didn't change much.
She went to school for classes as usual, and in her free time she was busy with translation work.
This time, the content was more complex than anything she had taken on before. Some words and phrases required repeated deliberation to translate properly, which caused her to delay submitting her draft.
When trapped by work, she liked to relax her mind by baking desserts.
Skillfully taking the tray out of the oven, the cookies were baked to a golden brown, and the rich, sweet aroma of butter practically rushed to her nose.
Auntie Ye praised her: "I didn't expect you to be so amazing, good at everything."
Lu Meng was different from the other rich young ladies she had seen. She had no spoiled airs about her at all, and she wouldn't arrogantly lose her temper at servants like them.
On the contrary, she had a great personality, and unlike President Lu who always had a cold face, she was smiling every day, especially easygoing and gentle.
Lu Meng baked quite a lot of cookies and had Auntie Ye distribute them to the others.
She also packed some up to give to Lin Nuo and her colleagues.
On that warm afternoon, she ate freshly baked butter cookies with a cup of black tea to cut the richness.
Unlike her comfort, Lu Bofan, far away in a foreign country, had gone nearly twenty-four hours without rest.
After several days of nonstop work, Assistant Wen was radiating exhaustion, yet he couldn't help looking at the tall, outstanding figure walking ahead.
Lu Bofan seemed not to know fatigue. His appearance was elegant and free of any weariness as he spoke indifferently with his business partners, his steps steady, still standing out among a crowd of elites.
The man glanced sideways at him without saying anything, but Assistant Wen understood and resignedly followed. Fortunately, they would be able to return home tomorrow.
Lu Bofan didn't know what his assistant beside him was thinking, nor was he interested in guessing.
After finishing up, he returned to the hotel and opened his phone to see Lu Meng's social media post.
He had never been in the habit of checking social media before, but she would post.
Lu Meng didn't post often. Lu Bofan tapped open the photo—it was a plate of golden cookies: [Everyone who's tried them says they're good.]
He pulled off his tie and typed a comment with one hand: [Is there a share for me?]
When Lu Meng saw the message, she thought he was joking and replied below: [Is there anything President Lu wants that he doesn't have?]
Lu Bofan still wasn't used to chatting in the comments, so he went back to the chat interface: [I've never had what my wife made.]
After sending the message, he poured himself a glass of wine and leisurely waited for her reply.
Lu Meng stared at the word "wife" that he had sent so openly, and couldn't help but curve her lips. Without any modesty, she said: [That really is a pity. I make them especially well.]
Lu Bofan leaned back into the sofa, his long legs crossed as he typed: [So, may I have the honor of trying some?]
He was so persistent about the cookies that Lu Meng curiously asked Auntie Ye, "Does Lu Bofan like eating cookies?"
"Probably…"
Her answer made Lu Meng curious: "Probably?"
Auntie Ye had practically watched Lu Bofan grow up. At the mention of this, she couldn't help but sigh: "President Lu was raised very strictly as a child, even when it came to food."
"Once, a classmate's parent made cookies and shared some with him. That was probably the first time he craved cookies, so he ate them."
"When Chairman Lu found out, he put him in confinement. After that, President Lu never ate snacks again."
"So I'm not even sure whether he actually likes them or not."
After hearing what Auntie Ye said, Lu Meng's heart seemed to skip a beat. She had thought that as the eldest son of the Lu family, Lu Bofan must have been doted on growing up.
She looked at the cookies she had portioned out, typed and deleted several times, and finally asked: [What flavor of cookies do you like?]
Lu Bofan didn't ask what she was hesitating about, and simply followed her lead: [You can make them all?]
Lu Meng: [Of course. When I was studying abroad, I made them almost every day. Everyone who tried them said they were good.]
Lu Bofan stared at her message, and the exhaustion on him seemed to dissipate unconsciously, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes without him realizing it: [Just the ones from your social media post.]
Soon, he received her reply—
[No problem. I'll wait for President Lu to come home together with the little cookies.]
The next day, after finishing class, Lu Meng went to the supermarket to buy ingredients for the cookies.
Auntie Ye was puzzled: "Didn't you just make some yesterday?"
Lu Meng loosely pinned her long hair up at the back. She washed her hands and gave a muffled "mm": "President Lu wants to try my cooking, so I'll reluctantly agree to it."
"But I won't make them often."
The woman's tone carried a hint of cuteness. Auntie Ye went along with her: "You're right."
Although the madam and President Lu hadn't been married long, their relationship seemed very good. Auntie Ye saw it all and felt happy for the young couple.
Lu Meng didn't know what she was thinking and lowered her head to prepare the ingredients.
Besides original-flavor cookies, she also planned to bake some cranberry and chocolate ones.
Paired with a cup of black tea in the afternoon, it would be quite pleasant.
Baking cookies didn't take much time. After putting everything into the oven, Lu Meng went to the study to handle work.
She was too focused and didn't even hear the commotion downstairs.
The moment Lu Bofan walked in, he smelled a rich buttery aroma. He handed his coat to Auntie Ye, but his gaze couldn't find a certain figure.
"Where is she?"
Auntie Ye said with a smile: "The madam is in the study. It's about time to eat. You go call her."
Lu Bofan didn't know what she was smiling at, but gave a faint "mm."
Lu Meng heard the noise and looked up. Seeing the man appear at the door, she belatedly said: "You're back."
Lu Bofan leaned there lazily: "Are you done with work?"
She glanced at the time outside and suddenly startled: "My cookies!"
She walked over quickly. Lu Bofan circled her wrist: "Auntie Ye already took them out."
Lu Meng's heart sank, and her footsteps slowed. She didn't pull her hand free from his either. "You've tried it?"
"Not yet. Let's go eat first."
Lu Meng had been so busy she'd completely lost track of time. It was already seven in the evening.
After the two finished dinner, Lu Bofan unhurriedly tasted a cookie. He didn't give a perfunctory response—rather, he evaluated it quite seriously: "Very good."
Lu Meng tilted her face up slightly. "Of course. If you think it's not good, then there's something wrong with your taste."
Lu Bofan didn't find this robber's logic of hers unreasonable. A very faint smile lingered in his dark eyes. "From what I can see so far, my taste is excellent."
It was already evening, so he didn't eat much of the cookies.
She had made quite a lot. While tidying up, she casually said to Lu Bofan, "Can you finish all of these? I'll take some back for my mom."
Lu Bofan's tone was flat: "I can finish them."
He went to the guest room to shower. When he returned to the bedroom, his gaze paused on their large bed.
She had already changed into a newly bought four-piece bedding set. It was pink.
The originally cold, austere room seemed to have been invaded by a softness that made one shed their exhaustion. Not only that—Lu Bofan noticed that many objects belonging to a woman had appeared in the bedroom.
Her skincare products, her camisole nightgown, a fig-scented aroma diffuser, lip balm and hand cream on the book on the nightstand.
And when he'd come back, he'd discovered that flowers had been planted in the yard.
Unlike his routine, dull, flavorless life, it was clear that she loved life deeply.
Lu Bofan's heart suddenly softened. It was just that when he saw that soft pink bed, he still rubbed his brow and did some mental preparation.
When Lu Meng came out of the bathroom, she saw the man looking somewhat headache-stricken.
Her footsteps paused, and she realized something too. "You said yourself that I'm in charge."
Lu Bofan looked over and saw that the woman's face was full of a wary expression that said, If you dare slack off, don't sleep in the same room as me.
"I didn't say I disagreed."
Lu Meng lifted the blanket, her gaze secretly sizing up the man beside her the whole time.
His expression was indifferent—no joy or anger could be discerned.
Lu Bofan noticed her gaze, put down his tablet, and looked over with what seemed like a hint of helplessness. "What do you want to say?"
Lu Meng was quite serious: "I'm afraid that if President Lu gets displeased, he'll make me roll out—person and blanket both."
"….."
Lu Bofan suddenly discovered that his wife was a bit mischievous.
Lu Meng was waiting for his answer when she saw the man lean over and press toward her. Her heartbeat abruptly lost its rhythm.
Lu Bofan tucked her stray hair behind her ear. His fingertip brushed her cheek inadvertently, and in that instant, a strange tingling sensation shot straight into her brain.
He seemed not to have noticed her odd reaction. A very faint smile surfaced in the depths of his eyes. "I said you're in charge."
Lu Meng's breathing subconsciously grew lighter. Looking at the man so close at hand, she suddenly asked, as if possessed: "Then can I make you roll out—person and blanket both?"
"….."
Lu Bofan looked as if he'd been angered into laughing. He pinched her jaw. "So cruel to me?"
Lu Meng knew he wasn't angry. She gave a stubborn "mm," and before she could say anything else, the man's kiss fell just like that.
She closed her eyes almost instinctively, but the deep kiss she'd imagined didn't continue. Her eyelashes trembled slightly. Puzzled, she opened her eyes and met his smiling gaze.
Realizing she was being teased, heat rushed to her cheeks. Flustered and a little indignant, she tried to push him away, but Lu Bofan caught her wrist and pressed it into the bedding as he kissed her hard.
At first, Lu Meng still had some pride and tried to break free, but his kiss was too deep, his breath stealing hers bit by bit between their lips and teeth.
Her pushing hands somehow found their way around his neck. Her breathing was a mess, her tongue went numb from the kiss, and her whole body burned hotter with every passing second.
They barely spoke when they made love—the air was filled only with broken, incoherent sounds.
But this time, he actually asked her mid-way: "Still want me to get out?"
"…"
The temperature in the room was nearing the point of no return. Lu Meng, stubborn as she was, refused to soften even though her voice was trembling: "If you're not going to do it, then get out."
Lu Bofan had never been spoken to like that.
But he wasn't angry at all. After all, his wife had said it herself—
He was her husband. How could they sleep in separate rooms?
Tears welled at the corners of Lu Meng's eyes from the intensity. Just when she thought it would end like every other time, Lu Bofan suddenly pressed against her and asked, "That hour you owe me—are you paying it back today?"
What hour?
Her mind was foggy; she couldn't remember any of it.
Lu Bofan lifted her waist to remind her: "The first day of our marriage."
She had left him behind to deal with work, wasting their wedding night.
Lu Meng's fingertips dug into the taut muscles of his back, her scattered consciousness led entirely by him: "How do I pay it back?"
Lu Bofan only rasped out two words: "Hold on tight."
Everything drowned in the soft bedding. As the lingering warmth of their satisfaction still hung in the air, Lu Meng angrily accused him: "You never wanted to sleep on the four-piece set I bought, did you?"
The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. He was so hypocritical—acting considerate on the surface, letting her do whatever she wanted, but the moment everything was changed out, he went and dirtied it.
Lu Bofan lifted his eyelids to look at her, a hint of amusement in his voice: "Are you sure what's on it is mine?"
Lu Meng didn't want to talk to him anymore. When she came out of the bathroom, the pink four-piece set had already been replaced.
She was furious. Without a word, she turned her back to him and closed her eyes.
The lights went out, and the world fell into silence.
But a warm chest pressed against her from behind. She instinctively tried to pull away, but the man gently kissed the skin at the hollow of her neck.
"From yesterday until now, I've only rested two hours."
Lu Meng paused mid-movement, but still said stiffly, "You don't seem that tired to me."
"I am tired."
Lu Bofan's voice was faint as he uttered two words, "But I got to eat your cookies."
Lu Meng was stunned, not understanding the connection between the two.
"The cookies were delicious. I really liked them."
She opened her eyes in the darkness and asked hesitantly, "So… you're not tired anymore?"
"Mm."
Lu Meng didn't struggle anymore, just muttered loud enough for him to hear: "Don't think I don't know you're trying to win me over. My cookies aren't laced with magic potion that can wipe away your fatigue in an instant."
Lu Bofan said nothing, only let out a soft chuckle, low and warm, sinking into the lingering heat of the night.
And the last bit of irritation in Lu Meng's heart seemed to vanish in that instant, clean and complete.