Saturday remained a day of brilliant sunshine.
By mid-February in Rongcheng, the temperature began to climb steadily, and clear, sunny days were becoming more frequent.
That evening, Lu Yanqing had an appointment to see a movie with Xie Siyu. However, Married to You had been released three years ago; without a re-release, it wouldn’t be showing in standard theaters. She searched through several cinemas online and eventually settled on the theater within her own family’s shopping mall, based on the viewing environment and public reviews.
Jianghai Lanyuan was closer to the mall in the development zone, so the first thing Lu Yanqing did upon arriving at the Group headquarters was contact the general manager of that branch.
“President Lu, as per your instructions, the theater manager has reserved Hall 2.”
At 10:00 AM, Lu Yanqing finally received a definitive reply. She exited WeChat, set her phone down on her desk, and flipped to the first page of her documents. Several minutes passed, yet she couldn’t take in a single word. Her mind kept drifting back to the image of Xie Siyu holding her hand last night, refusing to let go.
By necessity, they had shared a bed for the second time.
Knock, knock.
There was a knock at the office door. Lu Yanqing’s thoughts snapped back to the present. She quickly composed her expression and said, “Come in.”
“Oh, it’s you. Is something the matter?”
Lu Yanqing looked up to see a familiar face. Her gaze shifted downward to the employee ID badge on the woman’s chest: Financial Supervisor, Zhang Xiaomei.
Zhang Xiaomei was flattered and surprised that Lu Yanqing actually recognized her. Not wanting to be impolite by staring, she quickly lowered her gaze and placed a financial report in front of her. “President Lu, this is the funding request for the next quarter submitted by Director Zhou of the Sales Department. It requires your review and signature.”
Director Zhou had been pushing for it urgently, and since CEO Xie was currently in a meeting in the downstairs conference room, Zhang had come to find Lu Yanqing instead. After all, Lu was also the Executive President of the Group.
“One moment.”
Lu Yanqing examined the document carefully. Once she confirmed everything was in order, she signed it directly.
As Zhang Xiaomei left with the documents, the secretary, Jiang Xiaoxiao, entered carrying materials related to a co-branding event scheduled for half a month later. Seeing Lu Yanqing watching Zhang Xiaomei’s departing figure, Jiang offered an explanation: “Supervisor Zhang is a distant relative of CEO Xie. She was recommended to the Finance Department by CEO Xie two years ago.”
This wasn’t a secret within the company; quite a few people knew about it.
“Is that so?” Lu Yanqing’s lips curled into a slight smile.
To be able to work under Jiang Lingyue and rise to department supervisor within two years, the woman likely possessed genuine talent.
At 7:00 PM, Lu Yanqing and Xie Siyu finished dinner at a Chinese restaurant on the fourth floor of the development zone mall. Timing it perfectly, they took the elevator up to the cinema on the sixth floor.
“The shopkeeper said it’s a bestseller.”
While Lu Yanqing was in the restroom, Xie Siyu had gone to a nearby drink shop and ordered a taro milk cap. Since Xie didn’t care much for sweets, she only bought one.
Lu Yanqing dried her hands, tossed the paper towel into the trash, and took the milk tea Xie Siyu handed her. She inserted the straw and took a sip; the texture of the taro was wonderfully dense and smooth.
“It’s not bad. Want a taste?”
As soon as she said it, she realized that she and Xie Siyu weren’t exactly on “sharing a drink” terms. Fortunately, the awkwardness didn’t last long.
Xie Siyu shook her head in refusal, saying gently, “As long as you like it.”
The two of them entered Hall 2 one after the other. The manager had selected the best seats for them dead center in the fifth row and had meticulously prepared various snacks.
However, less than ten minutes into the movie, Lu Yanqing’s phone began vibrating incessantly in her bag. It was impossible to ignore. It was a call from Auntie Li at the ancestral residence.
“Eldest Miss, the Old Madam fell in the courtyard her right leg is suspected to be broken, and she hit her forehead on the steps. Her face is covered in blood.”
“Young Master Yanzhao’s father and I are on the way to Huakang Hospital. Your father has been notified. Please get to the hospital quickly. I’m really afraid that…”
Lu Yanqing bolted upright, her elbow knocking over the popcorn bucket on the armrest. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped her phone. She bit her tongue to force herself to stay calm, her voice trembling slightly. “Alright, I’m coming right now.”
Her grandmother was only two years younger than her grandfather and was four months away from turning eighty. As the saying goes, falls are the greatest dread for the elderly because their bones are fragile; a fall could lead to paralysis or, worse, be life-threatening.
“I’m so sorry. My grandmother fell and is being rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. I’m afraid I’ll have to postpone this movie again.”
Popcorn scattered across the floor, the rich buttery scent lingering in the air. Upon hearing the news, a flash of shock crossed Xie Siyu’s eyes, and she stood up immediately. She took hold of Lu Yanqing’s trembling wrist and reassured her softly, “The movie can be watched anytime. Let’s go to the hospital first.”
It was around 8:00 PM, and the development zone was bustling. Traffic was heavy, and they were stuck for five minutes at the most crowded section of the commercial street. After a hurried forty-minute drive, they arrived at Huakang Private Hospital.
In the emergency department, the light above the operating room was on.
Lu Yanqing rushed to the door, finding her father, mother, second uncle, second aunt, and even Lu Yanzhao who usually spent his nights in bars all present.
“You’re here? Your sister is on shift tonight; she should be on her way,” Lu Hongshen said, his eyes rimmed with red. He had arrived just as his mother was being taken off the ambulance. The sight of the piercing red blood on her face still made his legs shake. He nodded slightly to his daughter, explaining his younger daughter’s absence. “We’re keeping this from your grandfather for now.”
Lu Yanqing hummed in agreement. Her grandfather’s condition had just stabilized; it was best to keep him in the dark about the fall.
She scanned the surroundings but didn’t see Auntie Li. “Where is Auntie Li?”
Shen Ruohua didn’t understand why her daughter was asking for the maid and replied casually, “She went back to the old house to fetch some things.”
Lu Yanqing pretended not to notice her mother’s impatience. Her cool gaze swept over the stunned Lu Yanzhao. Normally, if she were the last to arrive, he would have mocked her, but today he was uncharacteristically silent.
Recalling what Auntie Li had said on the phone, Lu Yanqing took a step toward her second uncle, Lu Hongyi. The movement tugged at Xie Siyu behind her, and she suddenly realized that the woman had been holding her hand ever since they got out of the car.
“Was Second Uncle at the old house tonight too? The lighting is poor at night; what was Grandmother doing out in the courtyard?”
Lu Hongyi’s brow furrowed. Hearing Lu Yanqing’s tone which sounded like she was interrogating a criminal he shouted loudly, perhaps out of guilt or some other emotion: “I was at the old house tonight to bring mother some ginseng!”
“How should I know why she fell in the courtyard?”
Leaning against the corridor wall, Lu Yanzhao snapped the cigarette in his hand, remaining silent. He had followed his father back to the old house tonight on a whim; he never expected something like this to happen. He had sent Auntie Li back for the time being. It was so dark then that she likely hadn’t seen the struggle between his father and grandmother.
There were no surveillance cameras in the courtyard. As long as his grandmother didn’t say anything when she woke up, no one would know the truth.
Xie Siyu stepped up to Lu Yanqing’s side, her thumb brushing against Lu’s palm in a silent gesture to calm her. Her gentle voice echoed in the empty corridor: “Loud noises are prohibited in the hospital. Yanqing is only asking out of concern for Grandmother. If Second Uncle doesn’t know, just say so.”
She then added, with a soft, poised air: “Being the loudest doesn’t make you the one in the right.”
Lu Hongyi’s face soured. He turned his head away. “Your grandmother is still in surgery; I don’t have the energy to argue with you.”
His hands, hidden behind his back, were clenched into fists, betraying his panic. Truthfully, he was terrified. He was afraid his mother might never wake up, but he was also afraid she would. He didn’t know how much she had heard of their conversation; he had been too careless, never imagining she would wander into the courtyard late at night.
Beside him, the second aunt stepped in to play peacemaker. “The Old Madam is a good person; she will surely pull through this.” She walked over to Lu Yanqing and patted her shoulder gently, noting that everyone was in a bad mood and that sharp words were understandable.
Lu Hongshen also spoke up: “Your aunt is right. We’ll wait until your grandmother wakes up.” He didn’t want to suspect his brother, but after years of being siblings, he knew him well. He could only hope this truly had nothing to do with him.
The surgery ended two hours later. The doctor announced that the Old Madam was out of danger. Her right leg was fractured; even after she was discharged, she wouldn’t be able to walk for long periods. The head wound wasn’t severe; the heavy bleeding was due to a nicked vein.
The group kept watch outside the Intensive Care Unit until 3:00 AM, when the Old Madam, wearing an oxygen mask, finally opened her eyes. However, she was only conscious briefly before falling back asleep. The lead doctor said this was normal, as the anesthesia hadn’t fully worn off, and she would be more alert by tomorrow.
Lu Yanqing wanted to stay the night, but her father insisted: “Your second uncle and I will stay. Auntie Li is here too. You and Siyu go back and rest; come back tomorrow.” He added, “Your mother can’t handle staying up all night.”
Unable to argue, Lu Yanqing drove her mother back to the Lu family’s old villa.
Xie Siyu already suffered from insomnia. By the time they returned to Jianghai Lanyuan, the car’s display read 04:55.
Back in the apartment, Xie Siyu took off her cashmere coat and draped it over the sofa arm. Seeing Lu Yanqing head for the kitchen and expertly open the fridge to take out a carton of milk, she felt both touched and pained. “You don’t need to warm any milk.”
Lu Yanqing turned around with the milk in hand, looking at Xie Siyu with a complex expression. “If you drink some, you’ll at least sleep a bit better.”
She recalled that while sharing the bed last night, a certain someone seemed to have slept very soundly. Why did she think that? Because she had pinched Xie Siyu’s face and even tickled her waist, yet the woman hadn’t reacted at all. Was it because of the alcohol?
Xie Siyu, naturally unaware of Lu Yanqing’s antics from the previous night, walked into the kitchen and took the milk from her. “Then I’ll warm it. You go wash up in the master bedroom first.”
“Excluding shower time, President Lu will only get two hours of sleep before having to get up again.”
Lu Yanqing finally let out a small laugh, no longer arguing over who would warm the milk. “Don’t set an alarm. Sleep in tomorrow morning; I can handle the morning meeting alone.”
“Okay,” Xie Siyu smiled tenderly. She clipped the corner of the milk carton and poured it into a stainless steel pot, her gaze following Lu Yanqing until she disappeared into the master bedroom.
Actually, neither milk nor sleeping pills were as effective as sleeping by her side.
Waking up in Lu Yanqing’s arms this morning, seeing their long hair intertwined like climbing vines… at least in that moment, the missing piece of her heart felt whole.