Volume 1 Chapter 21: Peculiar
Lu Yuan saw Li Xuzhou standing behind Ruan Yu and didn’t react for a moment, her hand holding the teacup frozen mid-air, not bringing it to her lips.
In just a few seconds, Ruan Yu witnessed Lu Yuan’s expression rapidly shift, her face a riot of colors, her exquisite makeup nearly crumbling.
Though startled, Lu Yuan had weathered many storms over the years and quickly composed herself, as poised and elegant as ever.
Judging by appearances alone, one would think she was a kind-hearted noblewoman.
“Why didn’t you tell Mom? Really.” Lu Yuan walked over, took Ruan Yu’s hand, and chided her, just like a real mother speaking to her daughter.
“Mr. Li, please come in.” Lu Yuan beamed warmly, as if she had never met Li Xuzhou before or warned him to stay away from her daughter, her tone natural.
Li Xuzhou, of course, didn’t dwell on it, acting as though none of the previous incidents had happened as he entered with Ruan Yu.
After ushering Li Xuzhou inside, Lu Yuan shot a glance at a nearby maid, signaling her to tidy Ruan Yu’s room and avoid drawing attention to anything unusual.
The maid, who had also been with the Ruan family for many years, immediately understood Lu Yuan’s meaning and excused herself to prepare fruit for them, heading upstairs.
Lu Yuan first had Ruan Yu sit down, intending to take the seat beside her for subtle reminders, but the tall man deftly slipped into that spot instead.
Lu Yuan’s expression stiffened for an instant before quickly returning to normal as she sat to the side.
“This child Ruan Yu must have caused you trouble at your home, right?”
Lu Yuan assumed Ruan Yu had successfully climbed the social ladder and had come to discuss the Xiangshan project with them, so she sent a message to Ruan Zhen urging him to return quickly.
“Not at all. Everyone at home likes her very much.” Li Xuzhou unfastened the hidden button on his suit jacket.
Hearing this, Lu Yuan’s smile deepened.
Ruan Yu propped her head up, watching Lu Yuan play the role of a good mother—a performance she had never shown in the past twenty years. With Li Xuzhou’s arrival, it seemed she had seamlessly learned how to be a mother. How novel.
Li Xuzhou patted her lower back discreetly, signaling her to sit up straight.
Reluctantly, she straightened up and shifted slightly farther away. Li Xuzhou’s lips curved upward. Ruan Yu had asked him in a video call earlier this week if he had time to accompany her home, and he had specifically adjusted his schedule for today.
He had initially thought Ruan Yu wanted him to meet her parents. During the video call, he had even asked if she was homesick, but she had skillfully dodged every question about her family. When he pressed further, she leaned closer and asked if he wanted to see her body instead. As the conversation grew increasingly inappropriate, Li Xuzhou had no choice but to give in.
But from the moment he entered, everything felt peculiar—Lu Yuan’s actions, words, and expressions, even though nothing seemed outwardly wrong.
He glanced subtly at Ruan Yu and noticed she wore the expression of someone watching a spectacle, not like someone visiting her parents but more like a little fox borrowing a tiger’s authority to show off.
She had even quietly psyched herself up before entering and stiffened when Lu Yuan touched her…
Recalling all this, his brow furrowed. Li Xuzhou leaned back, crossed his left leg over his right, and folded his hands on his knee, assuming the demeanor of an aloof master.
Ruan Yu didn’t hide her expression, smiling as she looked at Lu Yuan as if to say, “Keep acting. I’m watching.”
Lu Yuan was not provoked by Ruan Yu. A maid brought tea and snacks along with some fruit. Lu Yuan smiled and said, “I didn’t know Mr. Li would be visiting this time, so I didn’t prepare in advance. I hope you won’t mind.”
Li Xuzhou returned the smile, and the two began discussing the current economic situation.
When he turned his head, however, he noticed that Ruan Yu seemed repulsed by the snacks. She had rushed home excitedly in the morning without eating breakfast, yet now she showed no interest in the food and appeared rather unhappy.
Ruan Yu was indeed unhappy, quietly fuming at herself. She didn’t want to see Li Xuzhou and Lu Yuan chatting and laughing so easily, but it was her own fault for not telling Li Xuzhou the truth. Moreover, she had been the one to invite him home. It was only natural for them to engage in polite conversation. Li Xuzhou had received an elite education and was well-mannered—he couldn’t possibly scowl at Lu Yuan, could he?
To her surprise, Li Xuzhou abandoned any further pleasantries with Lu Yuan, his smile fading as he glanced at the sulking Ruan Yu and remarked coolly, “Indeed, I’m not used to this. It looks like feed for horses on a farm.” Seeing Ruan Yu’s face instantly light up, he knew he had guessed right. He then raised his teacup toward Lu Yuan, whose expression had darkened.
“My apologies, I tend to speak directly. If you enjoy it, that’s wonderful. Please, take your time.”
He had a vague idea in mind, and this was just a small test. He hoped Ruan Yu would trust him a little more and leave everything to him.
Still, it was already a good sign that she had brought him home as her support. Feeling somewhat relieved, he patted Ruan Yu’s head. The little troublemaker smiled and settled back into her seat.
Lu Yuan noticed the unusual atmosphere between the two and thought the Xiangshan project might be promising.
“Mr. Li, is there something important you came for?” Lu Yuan asked, struggling to maintain her composure.
“Not at all. I’m just here as Miss Ruan’s driver, to bring her home.” As soon as he said this, two pairs of eyes turned toward him—one tired and somewhat clouded, the other light and glassy, sparkling brightly.
Lu Yuan didn’t know how to respond and could only say, “I’m sorry for the trouble Ruan Yu has caused you.”
Li Xuzhou didn’t reply. After a moment of silence, he asked, “I heard Miss Ruan completed her studies at Yale in just three years. Coincidentally, my cousin is also a student at Yale and is graduating this year.”
Lu Yuan was taken aback, unsure why he had brought this up. Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her skirt, a sign of nervousness. “Y-yes, Xiao Yu has always been clever and quick to learn…” This wasn’t a lie—Ruan Yu had never given her much trouble with her studies since childhood. She had a strong learning ability, grasping concepts almost immediately, and many tutors had praised her. But why was Li Xuzhou asking about this?
Had Ruan Yu said something to him? Lu Yuan glanced in Ruan Yu’s direction, wearing an expression of maternal pride and affection, though Ruan Yu could see the underlying threat in her eyes.
Li Xuzhou interrupted her gaze, subtly shielding Ruan Yu. “Could I take a look at Miss Ruan’s diploma?”
“Why would you want to see her diploma, Mr. Li?” Lu Yuan forced a smile. “I’m not sure where she put it. It would be quite troublesome to find.”
Remembering something, she added, “You can check it on the school’s official website. Would you like me to look it up for you now?”
Li Xuzhou shook his head. He had learned what he wanted to know and didn’t need to ask further. He glanced at the time. “It’s getting late. I’ll take Miss Ruan back first.” The way he said it made it sound as if he and Ruan Yu were the ones who belonged together.
Ruan Yu remembered she had come back for a reason. “My passport is here, right? Let me take it with me.”
Lu Yuan thought to herself that this was bad. If Ruan Yu left now, who knew when they’d be able to get hold of her again? Her attitude suggested she might already know something.
No, she couldn’t let her return to the Li Residence. She needed to keep her here and properly discipline her until she became obedient. Otherwise, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Steadying her nerves, she spoke gently, “You just got back—why leave so soon? Stay a little longer. Ruo Yan misses you too. Xiao Yu, go back to your room and chat with Ruo Yan for a while.”