Li Yanxing curled his lips slightly, standing there unmoving.
She got into character faster than he did—this woman Chen Yang was quite interesting.
Old Madam Li was rather surprised by her performance.
Li Shiming still refused to accept Lu Chiwan, his face stern as he questioned, “Which family’s daughter is this girl?”
He had rephrased his question, indirectly probing into Lu Chiwan’s background.
Seeing that Li Yanxing remained silent, Lu Chiwan answered generously on her own, “An orphan with no parents, not some young lady from a wealthy family. Unemployed, never went to school, relying on my husband to support me.”
“Uncle, is there anything else you’d like to ask?”
“You…”
Li Shiming’s expression darkened.
As the head of the Li family, he would never tolerate any junior defying him.
Having given birth to such an unreliable son like Li Yanxing was bad enough, but now some unidentified little girl dared to defy him too?
“Shiming, since Yanxing has finally come back, don’t be angry.”
“Since he likes Qingqing—it’s Qingqing, right?—and Mother has given her approval, just let it be.”
At the critical moment, Yao Meizhu stepped in to smooth things over.
Though she stood tall at around 1.72-1.73 meters, her demeanor was gentle and delicate, adept at playing the submissive role—clearly something she was accustomed to.
With Yao Meizhu’s intervention, Li Shiming’s expression softened slightly.
After all, he had called his son back for a reason—there were matters he needed to discuss.
“Everyone, sit down.”
After a moment of silence, Old Madam Li spoke with unquestionable authority, “I’ve asked the kitchen to prepare a meal. Since the family has finally gathered, we’ll discuss other matters after lunch.”
Li Yanxing wasn’t having any of it, his face full of impatience, “I’ve brought her for you to see as requested. Remember what you promised me.”
With that, he grabbed Lu Chiwan’s hand to leave.
“A Yan.”
Old Madam Li’s tone softened, “It’s been over half a year since you last returned. Now that you’re finally here, can’t you stay and have a meal with your grandmother?”
“I won’t interfere with your relationship with Qingqing, but I have some words for Qingqing. Your father also has company matters to discuss with you.”
“I’ve decided—you’ll both stay at the Old Mansion tonight and not return.”
“Ah!”
Lu Chiwan couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise.
Every member of the Li family looked fierce and intimidating. Just this short while felt like they were about to devour her.
If she stayed overnight, wouldn’t she be reduced to mere bones?
Old Madam Li smiled at her, “Qingqing, Grandmother likes you very much. Will you stay and keep me company?”
“Grandmother promises you, it’s just for one night.”
Lu Chiwan fell silent.
Li Yanxing, surrounded by swirling cigarette smoke, surprisingly didn’t speak.
After a moment, Lu Chiwan turned to look at him, her eyes smiling, “Hubby, I’ll do as you say.”
Old Madam Li was taken aback, letting out an almost imperceptible sigh.
If it was up to A Yan, then most likely…
“Fine…”
Just as Li Yanxing reached out to pinch the girl’s soft cheek and was about to speak, the smoke blew directly into Lu Chiwan’s nose.
“Cough, cough, cough.”
Lu Chiwan choked violently on the smoke. Without a second thought, she snatched the cigarette from his hand, crushed it, and threw it away.
Everyone was stunned.
They all stared at Lu Chiwan as if she were a monster.
Snatching food from a tiger’s mouth?
No—snatching a cigarette.
But snatching anything from him was unacceptable.
This young master had a cold, eccentric temperament, and his cruel, ruthless methods were appalling.
Normally, even Old Madam didn’t dare provoke him, and others kept their distance.
How could this young wife be so bold?
Li Yanxing was also taken aback, his eyes suddenly darkening as he instinctively prepared to strike.
Beside them, Li Zhining, who had been staring at the two, was so enraged by this scene that she nearly jumped up.
Hit her, beat this little bitch to death! Does she really think she’s the young madam of the Li family? She’s nothing but a plaything.
“Husband, could you not smoke in front of me from now on? I can’t stand the smell, it’s choking me and making me feel awful.”
Lu Chiwan tugged at Li Yanxing’s sleeve with both hands, pouting pitifully yet assertively as she acted spoiled.
She had forgotten everything.
But in her understanding, a married couple should be this intimate, and she should voice any requests she had.
She should act spoiled when it was time to be spoiled, and be shameless when it was time to be shameless.
What was wrong with a pretty girl like her acting a little spoiled with her husband and asking him to put out his cigarette?
Li Yanxing’s free hand had already pressed down on Lu Chiwan’s shoulder.
The young girl still held onto the corner of his clothes, her curved eyes bright and beautiful, like stars in the sky.
His heart suddenly felt a sharp pang.
Everyone watched intently.
But the expected scene did not unfold.
“Understood.”
Li Yanxing reached out to tidy his little wife’s slightly disheveled strands of hair, for the first time displaying ‘obedience’ in front of outsiders.
“Husband, you’re so good. I knew you were the one who cared for me the most.”
“Husband, shall we stay here for the night?”
Lu Chiwan’s mind was working extremely fast.
Li Yanxing’s earlier words had been interrupted by her before he could finish.
But she understood what he meant.
Yet he didn’t continue, which showed he was too proud to say it.
No matter, she would uphold her man’s dignity for him.
Li Yanxing nodded and ruffled the girl’s soft, fine hair as a reward. “Mm, if you want to stay here for the night, then as you wish.”
He gave her all the face she needed.
The young girl smiled even more happily, praising him generously, “Husband is the best.”
Each call of “husband” made Li Yanxing somewhat dazed.
Li Yanxing, who hadn’t returned for a meal in a year, stayed over for the first time because of Lu Chiwan.
Old Madam Li was overjoyed.
Li Yanxing was called away by Li Shiming to the study to discuss matters.
Lu Chiwan went with Old Madam Li to the South Garden.
The Old Residence of the Li Family was divided into four gardens: East, South, West, and North, each further subdivided into large and small courtyards.
Old Madam Li lived alone in the South Garden, and the Li family’s ancestral hall was also located there.
Li Shiming and Yao Meizhu lived in the North Garden.
The East and West Gardens were reserved for the younger generation.
Old Madam Li was biased and reserved the entire East Garden for her eldest grandson.
The other younger generations or visiting guests were accommodated in the courtyards of the West Garden.
“Grandma, these… are all for me?”
Pan Ma, Old Madam’s personal maid, came over holding several boxes and handed them to Lu Chiwan.
Lu Chiwan didn’t dare to reach out.
Old Madam Li held her hand and said with a smile, “Of course they’re for you. Now, tell Grandma quietly, how did you and A Yan meet?”
“Oh…”
“Grandma, our story is quite cliché.”
“It was love at first sight for both of us. To be precise, he was the hero who saved the beauty, and I fell for him at first sight of his handsome looks. It was love at first sight, and I decided to pursue him.”
“I chased him for a long time.”
This part was made up by Lu Chiwan herself.
The information Lin Mu had given her was too simplistic. Li Yanxing had told her to just make something up, as long as it passed muster.
“How long?”
“Um…”
Lu Chiwan thought about it. Saying she had chased him for too long would make her seem rather undignified.
She had already given her husband plenty of face, so she held up three fingers and waved them in front of Old Madam.
“Three years?”
Old Madam asked doubtfully.
Lu Chiwan shook her head.
“Three months?”
Lu Chiwan still shook her head.
Old Madam frowned, “Three days? Is my grandson that easy to chase?”
“Grandmother, it’s three hours.”
“…”