Сhаpter 19: Тhе Sрikеd Sоup
Cen Wаn sеcretlу rejoiсеd, still lingеring in thе аftеrglow оf thаt kiss аnd thе whisperеd “goodnight.” The соrners оf hеr liрs сurlеd upwаrd unсоntrollablу.
Lu Вeiхun reachеd ovеr and turned off thе floоr lamр. “Slеep wеll.”
“Yes, sir,” Cen Wаn rерliеd, her voiсе brimming with unсоnceаled dеlight.
The night рassed withоut dreams.
Тhe next mоrning, реrhaрs bеcause shе had slерt so soundlу the night befоre, Сеn Wаn wokе up at fivе-thirty. Lu Bеiхun wаs still asleep when she stirred. She wаtсhed him quietly.
His brоws wеre slightly furrowеd, аs if he were dreaming of something. Cen Wan’s eyes filled with tenderness as she reached out to smooth the faint crease between his eyebrows.
As his expression relaxed, Cen Wan leaned in and kissed his forehead. Then she slipped out of bed and headed to the bathroom.
By the time the man in bed awoke, she was already fully prepared. This time, it was her turn to wait for him.
Seeing her so eager, Lu Beixun was somewhat surprised. His gaze swept over her, and a pleased smile touched his lips. “Very proactive. Commendable.”
Although it was praise, Cen Wan didn’t feel particularly happy. She gave him a resentful look. “You! You’re my husband, not my teacher.”
The man in bed seemed to think of something, the amusement in his eyes deepening. “If I were your P.E. teacher, you probably couldn’t even run 800 meters.” He’d end up fainting from exhaustion.
Cen Wan: “…”
Lu Beixun got up and went into the bathroom. Cen Wan stood by the bathroom door, following him, a growing sense of unease nagging at her. “What do you mean?”
Cen Wan had a vague feeling that Lu Beixun’s earlier remark held a deeper meaning.
“What I mean is,” Lu Beixun glanced at her, “you’re too weak.”
Cen Wan: “…”
First thing in the morning, and she was already feeling thoroughly deflated.
She stood dumbly at the bathroom door. A flicker of mischief passed through Lu Beixun’s dark eyes. “Are you sure you want to keep standing there?”
“Huh?” Cen Wan didn’t catch on, looking at him in confusion.
Lu Beixun gave her a meaningful look. Understanding dawned on Cen Wan instantly, her cheeks flushing slightly. Before leaving, she made sure to close the bathroom door behind her.
She was exactly the type of woman who had the desire but lacked the nerve. They were husband and wife; she could have been bolder and said, “Is there anything I can’t see?” But at the crucial moment, she chickened out completely.
Standing on the balcony, she muttered softly to herself, “Cen Wan, if you’re this timid on the path to winning your husband’s heart, you’re just giving other women an opening.”
“If you can’t win him over, you’ll have to get a divorce. After the divorce, the position of Mrs. Lu will belong to someone else.”
“The woman sleeping beside him will be someone else.”
Cen Wan didn’t notice the person behind her.
“Cen Wan.”
Hearing his voice, her body stiffened for a moment. She turned around, offering an awkward smile. “You’re done…”
Lu Beixun gave a faint “Mm.” He had overheard some of her muttering but chose not to comment further.
After several days of exercise, Cen Wan’s stamina had noticeably improved. She was also cooperating well with Lu Beixun’s fitness regimen.
He was still concerned about her health, supervising her workouts. Even if he didn’t love her, at least he didn’t dislike her. As long as he hadn’t grown to detest her, she still had a chance.
The next three days passed as usual. Her relationship with Lu Beixun remained at a standstill, with no progress, let alone any steps toward greater intimacy.
On this day, Lu Beixun went to work as usual. In the afternoon, after finishing breakfast, doing her makeup, and changing her clothes, Cen Wan headed to the Lu Corporation. Today was the day her parents-in-law were returning to the country.
She and Lu Beixun had agreed to pick them up from the airport together. Getting into Lu Beixun’s car, they passed a flower shop. Cen Wan got out and bought a bouquet.On the way to the airport, Cen Wan turned her head to look at him. “Mom and Dad are only staying for three days this time. They want us to spend two days at the old house. What do you think?”
“You decide.” Lu Beixun kept his eyes on the road, focused on driving. In truth, he was fine with either option—he was just afraid she wouldn’t want to, afraid she might feel uncomfortable.
When elders returned, it was usually just to ask about their well-being, and then came the big life matters—urging them to have a child.
“Then let’s stay at the old house and keep Mom and Dad company.” Now that she finally had some backup and wasn’t fighting alone anymore, how could she miss this opportunity?
After picking them up at the airport, Cen Wan handed the flowers to Mother Lu. Both Mother Lu and Father Lu were well-maintained; standing together, she could easily believe they were a couple in the passionate stage of their relationship.
From the moment Mother Lu saw Cen Wan, the corners of her lips never dropped. Her eyes were full of doting affection for her daughter-in-law. Lu Beixun walked alongside Father Lu, pulling the luggage.
They went straight back to the Lu family’s old house. Mother Lu had brought two suitcases with her. Once home, she opened them—inside were limited-edition bags, clothes, diamond necklaces, and various other luxury items.
There were also three limited-edition figurines. Just like in her previous life, Cen Wan remembered all the kindness Mother Lu had shown her.
Mother Lu smiled. “These are all for my precious daughter-in-law. The figurines are for Luo Luo—I remember she likes them.”
Cen Wan’s heart was deeply moved. She had even thought of Cen Luo…
Cen Wan’s nose tingled, her throat tightened, and her eyes grew moist. Mother Lu treated her like her own daughter, yet in her previous life, she had caused Mother Lu to lose her beloved son.
She hadn’t attended the funeral because she didn’t dare—she lacked the courage to face those who had been so good to her, and she felt too ashamed.
Seeing tears in her eyes, Mother Lu looked worried. “Wan Wan, why are you crying?”
Her crying left Mother Lu somewhat flustered.
Cen Wan threw herself into Mother Lu’s arms. “Thank you, Mom. I’m fine. You’re just too good to me—I’m crying because I’m touched.”
Mother Lu wiped her tears with a pained expression. “This is what a mother should do.”
Cen Wan sniffled. “Thank you, Mom.”
Apart from words of gratitude, she didn’t know what else to say.
How could she possibly deserve such a wonderful mother-in-law? She felt unworthy of all the kindness everyone showed her.
Mother Lu added, “This trip is rushed, and we can’t stay long. I’ve booked a restaurant—tomorrow night, our two families will have dinner together.”
“Yes, that sounds good.”
In the evening, the servants brought the dishes to the table. Everything seemed normal at first, but later, Cen Wan began to feel that something wasn’t quite right.
Mother Lu had served Lu Beixun soup three times and her twice. She remembered Mother Lu spending some time in the kitchen during dinner.
Looking at the soup in front of her, memories from her previous life came flooding back. Suddenly, she understood—the soup had been spiked. How could she have forgotten about this?
Exchanging a glance with Lu Beixun, it was clear he had figured it out too.
Mother Lu asked, “What’s wrong? Is the soup not good?”
Mother Lu left no room for refusal.
Cen Wan looked at the soup in front of her and forced an awkward smile. “It’s delicious… really delicious…”
“If it’s delicious, have some more.”
Cen Wan nodded. Even if it was soup from her ally, she had to drink it, even if it meant crying while doing so.
After she finished, Mother Lu served her another bowl. Cen Wan couldn’t hold back anymore—her smile looked more painful than tears. “Mom, I’m full…”
She truly was full. Normally, she only drank one bowl of soup, but today she had already had two.
Mother Lu glanced at her. “I made this myself—you can’t refuse to give me face.”
Mother Lu placed the freshly served soup in front of her. Cen Wan stared at it—it wasn’t that she didn’t want to drink it, but she was genuinely too full to take another sip.A hand suddenly reached over and took the bowl of soup in front of her. She looked up at Lu Beixun with a puzzled expression.
Lu Beixun parted his thin lips, his voice tinged with helplessness: “I’m still hungry.”
Mother Lu didn’t mind either—after all, the effects of the soup would be the same no matter who drank it. Lu Beixun hadn’t eaten much of the dinner dishes, having mostly just drunk soup.
Cen Wan looked at him and silently felt sorry for him for three seconds.