The image of her face—pure and elegant like a blooming lily—rose once more in Lu Zhoushan’s mind. The corners of his lips lifted unconsciously.
He knew he would probably never again experience that breathtaking feeling of love at first sight.
After all… no one else was her.
Old Master Lu immediately lost his temper when he heard him speak.
“You little brat! At least give it a try! You’re already this old and still don’t have a girlfriend. You’re nothing but trouble. Back when your elder brother was your age, Yaozu was already—”
“Enough, enough.”
Unable to bear the nagging any longer, Lu Zhoushan cut him off.
After thinking it over, he realized there was no avoiding the topic, so he explained,
“Dad, when I said I won’t be going on any more blind dates, I meant that I think this blind date went very well. I’d like to keep getting to know her and see where things go. Since all of you want me to get married soon, then I should treat this relationship seriously. We can’t rush things and end up becoming a resentful couple.”
Fed up with being lectured, Lu Zhoushan spoke more than usual, his expression unusually earnest.
The housemaid brought him a cup of hot tea. After talking for so long, his throat had gone dry. He drank the entire cup in one gulp, looking noticeably more refreshed afterward.
I’d better sound convincing, he thought.
If Dad doesn’t believe me, he’ll just arrange another blind date. Who knows how much trouble that’ll be? I have no interest in meeting any other women.
After all…
He had already met the very best one.
The thought made him smile again.
Old Master Lu stared at him in shock.
Only then did he realize his youngest son had been completely serious.
Just look at that smile whenever he mentioned the young lady.
The old man clicked his tongue.
Since the day this boy was born, he had never once seen him smile like that.
The old father’s cloudy eyes suddenly lit up.
“You really mean it?”
Lu Zhoushan nodded.
“I do.”
Still somewhat doubtful, the old man asked curiously,
“What makes this girl so special that you fell for her so quickly?”
His son had gone so many years without showing interest in any woman, yet on his very first blind date he met someone he genuinely liked.
If this wasn’t fate, it certainly arrived with astonishing speed.
Lu Zhoushan answered calmly,
“She looks refined. She’s educated too—a cultured young woman.”
The description was rather vague, almost like polite compliments.
Old Master Lu looked disappointed.
“That’s all?”
Lu Zhoushan smiled again.
Her lily-like face appeared in his mind once more.
Admiration filled his voice, and his eyes shone with unmistakable warmth. At that moment, he finally looked like an ordinary young man instead of someone perpetually frail and sickly.
“She’s incredibly beautiful—the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. People talk about lotus-like beauty and enchanting eyes… but even those descriptions don’t do her justice.”
Seeing his normally cold and reserved youngest son say something like that left Old Master Lu speechless.
So…
His son was actually captivated by a pretty face.
Looking at him now, it was obvious he had completely fallen for the girl’s beauty.
This rascal!
When choosing a daughter-in-law, Old Master Lu cared most about character.
So after hearing his son’s words, he honestly couldn’t decide whether he should be pleased or worried.
That evening, Jiang Decai returned home.
Hearing his wife happily recount their daughter’s successful blind date—and learning that Xiaoci had taken a liking to the young man—he felt both relieved and a little melancholy.
“Our little cabbage is about to be carried away,” Jiang’s father sighed. “Before we know it, our daughter will be all grown up. We won’t be able to keep her with us.”
Jiang’s mother shot him a playful glare.
“Listen to yourself. We were the ones worrying about her marriage. Now that she’s finally found someone she likes, you’re unhappy instead.”
Jiang Defu laughed softly, though there was still a trace of sadness.
“It’s not that I’m unhappy. I just can’t bear to let her go.”
Jiang’s mother sighed as well.
She put away the knitting needles after finishing the scarf she’d been working on all day and said quietly,
“Whether we can bear it or not, we still have to let her go. As long as whatever lies ahead—whether it’s mountains of blades or seas of fire—doesn’t drag our daughter into it, that’s enough.”
Jiang Defu nodded silently.
Jiang’s mother picked up the newly knitted scarf and walked into her daughter’s room.
“Xiaoci, come take a look. Mom knitted you a new scarf today. It’s red—such a festive color. It’ll suit you perfectly.”
Although the family was well off, Jiang’s mother adored her daughter. Whenever it came to personal items, she always preferred making them herself.
Jiang Xiaoci held the rose-colored scarf around her neck.
The stitches were fine and neat, the wool wonderfully soft.
Against the rosy scarf, her delicate features looked even more radiant.
She smiled sweetly.
“Thank you, Mom.”
Jiang’s mother was momentarily captivated.
“Silly child, why are you thanking your own mother? Our Xiaoci has truly grown up… and become so beautiful.”
Unlike the peaceful warmth of the Jiang household, the Lu family home was bustling that evening.
Everyone had returned home, and since Lu Zhoushan was recuperating there, the entire family gathered together for dinner.
Because of his poor health, Lu Zhoushan still ate very little.
Normally, Grandma Lu would always urge her youngest son to eat more.
Tonight, however, she didn’t nag him much.
There was something far more important—and much happier—occupying her thoughts.
Everyone in the family had learned that Lu Zhoushan’s blind date had gone exceptionally well, and that the young woman was beautiful besides. Naturally, they were delighted.
For the eighth time that evening, Grandma Lu asked,
“Second Son, tell your mother honestly. Do you really think that young lady is so wonderful?”
Leaning lazily against the back of his chair, Lu Zhoushan picked up his chopsticks and replied leisurely,
“Mom, how many times do I have to say it? She’s beautiful. Is it so strange that I think she’s wonderful?”
Having already gotten over his earlier shock, Old Master Lu calmly sipped his soup.
Father and son even looked surprisingly alike in both posture and mannerisms.
Lu Yuanshan and his wife quietly ate while listening, smiling to themselves.
Grandma Lu smiled before asking another question.
“Besides being pretty? What else?”
Still unhurried, though clearly growing impatient, Lu Zhoushan answered,
“She’s well-mannered, educated, and courteous. I think everything about her is wonderful. Are you satisfied now?”
Grandma Lu glared at him.
“This child… getting impatient with your own mother now?”
Even so, she couldn’t hide her happiness.
Her son had remained unmarried until this age, yet his very first blind date had introduced him to someone he genuinely liked.
No matter how one looked at it, it was wonderful news.
Lu Yuanshan chuckled and stepped in to smooth things over.
“Mom, stop asking him. If you keep pressing, Second Brother will get annoyed. Since he likes her, just let him spend time with her properly.”
His wife smiled as she agreed.
“Exactly, Mom. It’s rare for Second Brother to take a liking to someone. Let’s not interrogate him anymore. Once they’re getting along well, he can bring her home at the right time. Then we’ll know everything we want to know.”
Lu Zhoushan remained silent, lowering his gaze and letting the others continue talking.
Grandma Lu became even more pleased.
“That’s right. Second Son, make sure you treat that young lady well.”
Then she ladled him another bowl of soup.
“Drink more.”
“I put bull penis in it.”
In Grandma Lu’s opinion, bull penis was excellent for restoring masculine vitality.
Perhaps it would strengthen her frail youngest son enough that he would no longer look so sickly.