“You’re talking nonsense!”
Lu Qianqian’s eyes widened in disbelief. She quickly turned to her father.
“Dad, he’s lying, right? This is clearly our house! I study art I want that courtyard!”
Lu Zhengguo’s expression turned extremely ugly in an instant. Even the hand holding his teacup trembled slightly.
This was the hardest secret for him to speak of
He had built his life on his ex-wife’s support, only to later drive her son away from home.
Facing his daughter’s questioning gaze, Lu Zhengguo avoided eye contact, not even daring to look at Lu Zhaoye. In a low voice, he said,
“That’s enough! Stop arguing! The west courtyard… let them move in there for now.”
After saying that, as if he couldn’t bear to stay any longer, he stood up with his hands behind his back and walked heavily toward the study.
That attitude was, without a doubt, an admission.
Lu Qianqian and Xu Wenli’s faces flushed red, then pale like they had been slapped in public.
They had always carried themselves as the lady of the house and the pampered young miss, never expecting that the house they lived in had actually been left behind by Lu Zhaoye’s mother.
Lu Qianqian’s eyes reddened with anger, and she was about to say more when Su Wan suddenly smiled at her gently. That smile sent a chill down Lu Qianqian’s spine.
“Qianqian, don’t rush to get angry. Oh right, about last night… your sister-in-law should have a proper talk with you sometime.”
As she spoke, Su Wan deliberately touched the back of her head.
Lu Qianqian’s face instantly turned deathly pale.
Meeting Su Wan’s all-knowing gaze, she shuddered in fear. How could she still dare argue about the studio? She shoved her bowl aside and ran off as if she had seen a ghost.
Watching her flee in panic, Su Wan curled her lips into a smile.
No rush, Lu Qianqian we’ve got plenty of time to “talk.”
Only Xu Wenli remained in the dining room, her face ashen.
Su Wan nodded politely to her.
“Mom, we’ll be going now. We still need to tidy up for the photos. Don’t forget to have someone clear out the west courtyard tonight it’s a keepsake from Brother Zhaoye’s mother, after all.”
With that, she affectionately hooked her arm through Lu Zhaoye’s sturdy arm, waved the household registration booklet in her hand, and walked out of the Lu family’s gate like a victorious little peacock, head held high.
Once outside, even the air seemed fresher.
Lu Zhaoye’s bicycle had been polished to a shine, gleaming coldly under the sunlight, every spoke bright and clean.
Holding the handlebars with one hand, he swung his long leg over and steadied the bike.
He glanced back at Su Wan and patted the rear seat. “Get on.”
Su Wan didn’t hesitate. She slipped the booklet into her pocket, pushed off lightly with her toes, and nimbly hopped onto the back seat.
Then, as naturally as breathing, her slender arms wrapped around the man’s lean waist, her whole body pressing against him.
In that instant, she clearly felt the muscles under her palms tense sharply like heated iron, hard and scorching.
Lu Zhaoye stiffened. His grip on the handlebars tightened, the knuckles turning pale, his breathing hitching.
“Brother Zhaoye, let’s go,” Su Wan urged softly from behind, her voice carrying a teasing sweetness.
“Hold on tight.”
His voice came out hoarse. He pushed hard on the pedal, and the wheels spun rapidly.
On the early spring streets, gray brick houses lined both sides, with willow trees just beginning to bud.
A warm breeze blew toward them, carrying the scent of coal smoke and fresh earth.
Lu Zhaoye rode fast and powerfully. His broad, solid back was like a wall, shielding Su Wan from most of the wind.
He wore a simple white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, revealing firm, well-defined forearms. With every push of the pedals, the muscles in his thighs flexed beneath his work pants, full of explosive strength.
Sitting behind him, Su Wan leaned her cheek against his back, her skirt fluttering in the wind.
She tilted her head slightly, letting dappled shadows pass over her face, smiling brightly her eyes brimming with the unrestrained joy of being reborn.
Along the way, they passed many neighbors.
Originally, Lu Zhaoye had been worried about last night’s incident, afraid Su Wan would feel embarrassed under others’ scrutiny. He pedaled fast, almost wishing he could sprout wings and fly straight to the Civil Affairs Bureau.
But the person behind him was completely carefree.
“Oh, Aunt Zhang, out buying groceries?”
“Uncle Li, enjoying the sun?”
With one arm around Lu Zhaoye, Su Wan waved cheerfully at neighbors by the roadside, smiling openly and confidently.
It was as if the scandal that had rocked the entire Guanghua Street yesterday had never happened or had happened to someone else.
Seeing how unconcerned she was, Lu Zhaoye slowly relaxed his tense back.
He eased his speed. When people cast curious looks their way, he simply nodded calmly in acknowledgment.
Watching the two of them one tall and imposing, the other delicate and beautiful riding through the streets together, the neighbors couldn’t help but burst into chatter.
“My goodness, this Su Wan really has guts! She just broke things off with the second son yesterday, and today she’s already hugging the eldest brother’s waist?”
“What’s wrong with that? After what Lu Ming did last night, would you still marry that disgusting man?”
“But isn’t this too fast? She doesn’t look sad at all more like she struck gold. She used to be so shy, couldn’t even speak loudly, always blushing. How did she suddenly become so… fiery? Could the shock have messed with her head?”
A few gossiping women gathered together, cracking sunflower seeds as they whispered.
“I’m telling you, something’s off! Maybe she really snapped from the shock. One’s a ‘living demon’ who kills without blinking, the other’s a ‘crazy woman’ what a pair…”
“Perfect match! Like a turtle spotting its bean they’ve got eyes only for each other! The Lu family’s in for some entertainment now!”
The wind carried their gossip away behind them.
Su Wan heard it, but acted as if she hadn’t. Instead, she tightened her arms around Lu Zhaoye even more, her smile deepening.
A crazy woman with a demon king?
Not bad that title sounds powerful. Perfect for putting anyone in their place.
With a squeak, the bicycle came to a steady stop in front of the red-brick Civil Affairs Bureau.
Su Wan jumped off, naturally linked her arm through Lu Zhaoye’s, and pulled him inside.
The hall wasn’t crowded. They went straight to the counter, and with a “slap,” Su Wan placed the two household registration booklets in front of the staff member.
“Comrade, we’re here to get our marriage certificate.”
The staff member, a middle-aged woman with glasses, took the booklets, glanced through them, then looked up to size them up.
A delicate young girl and a grim-faced, imposing man no matter how you looked at it, they didn’t quite match.
“Fill out these forms.” She handed over two sheets of paper.
Just as Su Wan picked up a pen, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.
Lu Zhaoye’s large hand was warm and rough, his grip firm enough to hurt slightly.
He looked down at her. In his deep, dark eyes, complex emotions churned. His voice was low, tense with an unusual seriousness.
“Su Wan, I’ll ask you one more time.”