Lu Xiaoqiao watched several short dramas with her mother.
In her dreams, the female lead left and the male lead regretted it. The female lead did not leave, but the male lead cruelly forced her to go. The female lead left, and the male lead regretted it. Then the devoted second male lead finally won her heart.
It was exhausting.
When she woke up, she felt completely drained. Lu Xiaoqiao lay weakly on the dining table.
Suddenly, she felt a slap on her back. Lu Xiaoqiao instinctively sat up straight. Thanks to their natural family bond, she immediately knew who had hit her.
“You look awful,” Lu Xue scolded.
Lu Xue and Lu Xiaoqiao were the two daughters of the Lu family. Because of Lu Xiaoqiao’s name, Lu Xue had privately been given the nickname “Da Qiao,” meaning “Big Qiao.” However, Lu Xue had a proud and aloof personality, so ordinary people did not dare call her that to her face.
Their parents had a very simple way of choosing names. It snowed when Lu Xue was born, so they named her Lu Xue, meaning “snow.” When Lu Xiaoqiao was born, the artificial arch bridge in the courtyard collapsed.
As for how Lu Tu got his name, Lu Xiaoqiao could not even remember.
Anyway, their parents’ naming style was more or less the same.
When she saw Lu Xue, Lu Xiaoqiao looked around. “Where’s brother-in-law? Did you come back alone?”
Lu Xue sat down beside her without changing her expression. “Mm.”
“…”
That was it?
Just one “mm”?
So annoying.
Lu Xiaoqiao hated the way her sister talked. It was as if she was afraid people might actually understand what she meant.
There were chicken soup wontons for breakfast, and one chicken wing was still left. Her mother put it into Lu Xiaoqiao’s bowl.
Lu Xiaoqiao picked up the chicken wing and respectfully said, “Sister, you have it.”
“Mm, good girl,” Lu Xue said. “Eat it yourself.”
“Thank you, Sister.”
This was a routine they had followed since childhood.
Lu Xiaoqiao secretly pouted behind her bowl. Her sister had loved acting like a queen since they were little, while she had always been the little follower. It seemed she would have to be her sister’s little follower for the rest of her life.
Lu Xue did not seem to have much of an appetite. After eating two wontons, she said she had something to deal with at the company and left.
Lu Xiaoqiao had originally wanted to ask her sister to drive her part of the way. But she did not want her sister to know why Xie Xun was in the hospital, so she kept quiet.
On the way to the hospital, Lu Xiaoqiao took a taxi with Lu Tu.
She repeatedly reminded him not to let it slip that they were going to the hospital today.
“Is Daddy in the hospital?” Lu Tu asked worriedly.
“He’s just getting a checkup,” Lu Xiaoqiao said.
“Do you have to stay in the hospital for a checkup?”
“We’re using the medical insurance. They won’t reimburse us if we don’t stay in the hospital.”
Lu Tu understood.
After all, many of the elderly people in their neighborhood stayed in the hospital for a few days every year. They did not have any serious illnesses. They were just there for routine checkups.
“Mom,” Lu Tu said seriously, “using medical insurance like that is wrong. Our family can afford it, so we shouldn’t take advantage of the government.”
Those were words his grandfather often told him.
He remembered them well.
Lu Xiaoqiao praised him. “Mm, that’s right. Your dad has no shame.”
Lu Tu moved his lips as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he chose to remain silent.
It was better not to upset his mother.
Xie Xun’s bodyguards were standing outside the hospital room.
The spring weather was warm and pleasant, and summer was clearly approaching.
Laughter came from inside the room. When Lu Xiaoqiao arrived with Lu Tu, she saw Xie Yu sitting on Xie Xun’s hospital bed, showing him a drawing he had made at kindergarten.
Wan Bao’er was sitting on a chair beside them, leaning toward them as she smiled and admired the child’s drawing with them.
Xie Xun’s expression revealed little, but his eyes were focused seriously on the child’s drawing.
They looked like a happy and harmonious family.
Lu Xiaoqiao suddenly found the scene painful to look at. She pulled Lu Tu behind her, not wanting him to see what was happening inside the room.
“Xiaoqiao is here.” Wan Bao’er was the first to notice her. She stood up with a smile. “Come in.”
Lu Xiaoqiao wanted to sarcastically say that Xie Xun was not even hers yet, so why was Wan Bao’er acting like the lady of the house?
They were supposed to be getting divorced, yet she refused to leave. Instead, she kept flirting with a man who already had another partner.
Did she enjoy playing with fire that much?
Because she paused, Lu Tu poked his head out from behind her.
Xie Xun’s dark, unreadable gaze first settled on Lu Xiaoqiao, then moved down and met Lu Tu’s eyes.
“Have you seen enough?” Lu Xiaoqiao blocked Lu Tu behind her. “Let’s go.”
She was about to take Lu Tu and leave.
The man’s voice was deep and heavy. “Lu Xiaoqiao.”
Lu Tu looked up. “Mom, Dad is calling you.”
Lu Xiaoqiao rubbed his round little head.
Since they were already here, there was no point in leaving.
Lu Xiaoqiao took a deep breath, turned around with Lu Tu, and led him into the hospital room.
“Think carefully before you say anything.” She smiled, her warning clear. “If you hurt him, I’ll fight you to the end.”
She was warning Xie Xun not to reveal the fact that he had forgotten about his own son.
Xie Yu was still sitting on the bed.
Wan Bao’er reached out and said, “Little Aunt and your little brother are here. Why don’t we go outside first?”
Xie Yu refused. “No!”
Xie Xun’s deep eyes remained fixed on Lu Tu. His gaze followed him as he came closer, until Lu Tu finally reached the bedside.
Tilting his head, Lu Tu looked at him. “Dad, are you okay?”
With Xie Yu between them, father and son looked at each other.
Lu Tu waited a few seconds.
“Dad?”
“Mm.” Xie Xun lowered his eyes and reached under his pillow, taking out a small bamboo dragonfly. “Here.”
Lu Tu’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Dad!”
But before the bamboo dragonfly could reach his hands, Xie Yu snatched it away.
“Little Uncle, I want one too!”
The bamboo dragonfly was now in his hands.
Wan Bao’er smiled and tried to persuade him. “Your little uncle made it for your little brother…”
“I want it! I want it!” Xie Yu shouted.
Lu Xiaoqiao reached out, took the bamboo dragonfly back, and placed it in Lu Tu’s hands. She then smiled kindly at Xie Yu.
“If you want one, ask your little uncle for one. But don’t take your little brother’s. His mother really will hit you.”
“…”
The entire room fell silent.
Wan Bao’er and Xie Yu both looked at Xie Xun.
It was as if they were waiting for him to take their side.
Xie Xun’s long eyelashes lowered, hiding the emotions in his eyes. It was impossible to tell whether he had understood their pleading looks.
“Mm. I’ll make another one for you when I have time.”
He was responding to Lu Xiaoqiao’s warning.
“Mom,” Lu Tu said excitedly, completely unaware of the tension between the adults. “I want to go outside and try it.”
Lu Xiaoqiao happened to want to talk to Xie Xun alone, so she called the bodyguard outside and asked him to accompany Lu Tu in the hallway.
Wan Bao’er awkwardly cleared her throat. “Xiaoyu, let’s go back to the other room first.”
Xie Yu followed her out unhappily.
The hospital room quickly became quiet.
“You saw him,” Lu Xiaoqiao went straight to the point. “And you confirmed it. You really do have a son. He even looks a little like you. I wasn’t lying to you about any of this…”
Xie Xun suddenly said, “I want him.”
“…”
Go ask your long-dead ancestors for him!
Lu Xiaoqiao barely managed to hold back the curse on the tip of her tongue.
“Give him to me.” Xie Xun’s eyes were cold and dark. “I’ll sign the papers immediately.”
Lu Xiaoqiao stood beside the bed, looking down at him.
“What do you want him for? You already have a son. Only by staying with me can he have unconditional love and be spoiled without having to take anyone’s side. If he stays with you, he’ll have to suffer endless grievances and keep giving in!”
Xie Xun seemed to smile. “Did I ask him to give in?”
Lu Xiaoqiao said, “You just…”
Oh.
He had not actually asked Lu Tu to give in just now.
But Lu Xiaoqiao still felt uncomfortable.
She could not accept the idea that her child would become just like her and her marriage—always being the one who had to endure and give way whenever he faced that mother and son.