While she was still watching him distractedly, Lu Zhaoye finished moving a box of clutter and straightened up, casually wiping the sweat from his forehead.
As if sensing the scorching gaze behind him, he paused slightly and turned around.
Just in time to catch Su Wan’s eyes before she could pull them away.
Their eyes met.
Su Wan looked like a thief caught in the act, her gaze darting around in panic.
“Uh… I, I was just looking at the wall paint it’s peeling a bit…”
Lu Zhaoye looked at her obviously guilty attempt to cover it up, and the corner of his lips lifted into a slightly roguish smile. His low, hoarse voice carried a hint of teasing.
“If you want to look, just look.”
He stepped closer, even deliberately straightening his chest a little.
“It’s your man. Look however you want no ticket required.”
Su Wan was choked speechless by his blunt words. Her face instantly turned bright red, like a cooked shrimp.
“Pah! Who’s looking at you!”
She glared at him in embarrassment, waving the broom in a half-hearted threat as she pouted.
“You’re shameless! Even the wall looks better than you! Get back to work, or we won’t finish before dark!”
Even though she was scolding him, her voice was soft and almost coquettish.
Lu Zhaoye chuckled, his chest vibrating with laughter. Seeing her reddened ears, he felt oddly pleased.
“Alright, back to work.”
He turned back around and continued moving the heavy cabinet but this time, he seemed even more energized.
Su Wan stared at his back, clutching her pounding chest, but the corners of her lips still quietly lifted.
…
They worked through the entire afternoon. By sunset, the once-abandoned west courtyard had been cleaned thoroughly and looked completely renewed.
When Lu Qianqian returned from work, she immediately saw the two of them busily working in the west courtyard as if they were settling in for good. She stomped her foot in anger.
She rushed into the main hall and grabbed her mother’s arm, complaining loudly.
“Mom! Are you just going to watch them take over my courtyard?! The west courtyard was supposed to be my art studio!”
Xu Wenli was already irritated and snapped back impatiently.
“What else can I do? Even your father agreed. Am I supposed to kick them out now? Your eldest brother… hmph, he’s grown wings now. I can’t control him anymore!”
“So that’s it?!”
Lu Qianqian gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with malice.
“No! Seeing that slut Su Wan in front of me makes me sick! And that Lu Zhaoye he’s just a thug! Why is he living in our house? We need to find a way to drive them out!”
“Enough nonsense!”
Xu Wenli interrupted sharply, rubbing her aching temples.
“What can you even do? They’re already married, already moved in. It’s done what, you want to undo it now?”
But Lu Qianqian wasn’t giving up. A dark glint flashed in her eyes.
“Hmph. If it can be undone, then it will be undone! There’s always a way. If I want something done, there’s nothing I can’t do!”
Seeing her daughter’s stubborn and vicious expression, Xu Wenli suddenly felt a chill.
She narrowed her eyes and studied her closely, then lowered her voice.
“Qianqian, tell me the truth… about what happened last night. Did you have anything to do with it?”
Lu Qianqian’s heart jumped violently. Panic flashed across her face.
She shook her head repeatedly.
“No! No, Mom, what are you talking about? How could I ”
“Still lying?!”
Xu Wenli slammed the table, her voice sharp.
“I raised you myself do you think I can’t see through your little tricks?!”
“You’re getting bolder by the day! Have you thought about the consequences?!”
“Your second brother has been causing trouble outside. I agreed to let Su Wan marry in so he would settle down and give the family an explanation. And you you picked this exact moment to stir up trouble?!”
She was so angry her chest rose and fell violently, her finger trembling as she pointed at her daughter.
Then suddenly, something clicked in her mind. Her eyes widened.
“Wait… Qianqian! Did you do all this because you were afraid Su Wan would marry your second brother and take the west courtyard?!”
Lu Qianqian’s face went pale instantly.
She tried to deny it, shaking her head desperately.
“No, it’s not like that! I didn’t I just ”
But her evasive eyes had already betrayed her.
“Slap!”
A sharp slap echoed through the room.
Xu Wenli’s entire body trembled with rage. She had used all her strength, stunning Lu Qianqian completely.
“You foolish girl! You’re so short-sighted! Just for a courtyard, you’d resort to such dirty tricks?! Are you trying to ruin the Lu family’s reputation?!”
Lu Qianqian covered her face, tears bursting out, but she didn’t dare make a sound.
Xu Wenli took a few deep breaths, staring at her daughter with growing frustration.
She knew her child well. Lu Qianqian was spoiled and willful, but not clever enough to plan something this ruthless and calculated.
Something was off.
“No…”
Xu Wenli narrowed her eyes.
“You don’t have the brains for this. Tell me the truth who gave you this idea?”
Lu Qianqian finally broke down completely, crying loudly.
“Mom… I was wrong… I just lost my head for a moment…”
She sobbed uncontrollably, refusing to reveal the person behind it, only clinging to her mother’s leg and begging.
“I just didn’t want Su Wan to move in… I wanted the west courtyard for my art studio… but Su Wan said she liked it and wanted to move in with my second brother…”
Even though Xu Wenli was furious, seeing her daughter crying like that softened her heart.
She pinched and hit her arms in frustration.
“You useless girl! You’d actually believe such stupid ideas?! Your second brother wasn’t going to marry Su Wan, he’d marry someone else eventually! Do you think the courtyard is worth him never marrying?! If your father finds out, he’ll beat you to death!”
After a few more hits, she saw Lu Qianqian’s arm already red and finally softened again.
She sighed heavily and pulled her up, her expression stern.
“Enough! This stays between us. Not a word to anyone. I’ll pretend I know nothing.”
“But listen to me no more nonsense. If this escalates, that Lu Zhaoye is not someone to mess with. I won’t be able to protect you.”
Lu Qianqian nodded quickly like pounding garlic.
“I understand, Mom. I won’t do it again.”
Xu Wenli wiped her tears, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.
“As for Su Wan and Lu Zhaoye… hmph. Since they’re already in this house, I have plenty of ways to deal with them. I’ll make sure they pack up and get out as far away as possible.”