Conquering the Male Supporting Character – CH 035

Chapter 35. Picking Flowers

The one who pushed open the door to Lu Yuan’s study was his aide, Liang Yue, the firstborn son of the personal maid who had served Lady Zhou since childhood.

Young and with a robust, chubby face, he was usually well-liked by Lu Yuan and Lady Zhou.

Lu Yuan usually woke up early without needing to be woken, but last night, to celebrate Lu Xiao’s return from the imperial examinations, he had drunk a bit too much and knew he would have difficulty getting up early, so he had instructed Liang Yue to wake him.

As the sun rose high in the sky, Liang Yue pushed open the study door and softly called, “My Lord?”

Unfortunately, there was no answer, so he went into the inner room on the second floor.

But to his surprise, upon entering the inner room, he saw two people lying on the floor.

The one pinned beneath was naturally Lu Yuan, while a woman lay on top of him, her upper body exposed. A large pool of blood covered the woman’s head and Lu Yuan’s chest! Liang Yue screamed in terror, then turned and ran towards Lady Zhou’s quarters, his lips trembling as he ran, muttering incoherently, “My Lord is in trouble, My Lord is in trouble…”

Lady Zhou had just gotten up, clutching her chest, feeling a strange palpitation she’d been experiencing lately.

She had been living in fear these past few days, worried that Lu Xiao’s health could not handle the strain at the examination hall, and had rarely slept soundly. She had only managed a good night’s rest last night, but this morning she still felt a tightness in her chest.

Liang Yue rushed over, his forehead covered in sweat, and was still flustered when he was brought into the room.

“Madam, Madam, My Lord, My Lord is covered in blood!”

Hearing this, Lady Zhou’s face paled, and she stood up, about to leave, still clutching her chest.

She had only taken a few steps when she swayed and fainted.

The room erupted into chaos.

A quick-thinking maidservant stepped in, shouting, “Quickly, send someone to fetch a physician for Madam!”

Upon receiving the message, Lu Wan hastily tied her hair up and rushed over, instructing A-Miao on the way, “Be quick-witted. When you get to Mother’s, restrain everyone present. Do not let them enter or leave or say anything out of turn.”

“A-Yu, you hurry! Go and fetch a physician to Mother’s. Remember, do not make too much of a commotion.”

A-Miao and Ah Yu knew their mistress was worried about the matter spreading and alarming the other household, so they nodded quickly and headed towards Lady Zhou’s side.

The servants’ messages were vague and unclear. Lu Wan felt like she was being roasted on a hot plate. What did they mean by Father being covered in blood and Mother fainting again?

Last night, the family was all smiles; how could things have turned out like this so early this morning?

She pursed her lips, quickened her pace, and soon led A-Yun to Lu Yuan’s study.

Lu Yuan had a refined taste; this study was simply a small, detached house nestled in a bamboo grove. The first floor held books, and the second floor had a couch. On summer nights, enjoying the moon and the bamboo was a unique experience.

The study was in a somewhat secluded location, and few people came here, so even when Liang Yue shouted, no one came.

The bamboo house was empty at this moment.

Listening to her own heartbeat, Lu Wan walked step by step to the second floor. The first thing she saw was her father lying on the ground.

Her heart skipped a beat. She gripped A-Yun’s hand tightly, took a few breaths to catch her breath, and then dared to approach for a closer look.

Father would be alright; he would be alright, she forced herself to reassure herself.

But when she reached Lu Yuan’s side and looked closely, she realized his chest was still rising and falling slightly, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She knelt and checked his breathing; it was long and steady. Clearly, he was alright.

She also checked the strange woman’s breathing and found it, though weak, was still present.

“Push her away,” Lu Wan coldly ordered A-Yun.

At the same time, she gritted her teeth and propped him up, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him vigorously. “Father, Father, wake up! Father!”

Startled, Lu Yuan groaned softly twice, his eyelids barely moving before he saw his beloved daughter.

“Ah Wan, what are you doing here?” He yawned, somewhat bewildered, then realized he was lying on the ground fully clothed, with a large pool of blood on his chest, and he was also startled.

“Someone reported to me early this morning that Father was covered in blood, and Mother fainted from fright.” Lu Wan pointed to the unconscious woman, who had a hole in her forehead. “That blood is probably all hers.”

“Your mother fainted?” Lu Yuan immediately stood up, his face tense, and was about to rush out when Lu Wan grabbed his sleeve.

“Why are you stopping me? I need to see your mother first.” Lu Yuan was anxious, coughing twice in his haste.

“Father, Mother probably just had a stroke from anger. You should see how to handle this.” Lu Wan realized she was being overly anxious, displaying an unusual calm.

She calmly considered the situation, finding something strange about it.

Lu Yuan was not interested in being polite; he just wanted to see Lady Zhou as soon as possible. So, he spoke softly, coaxing his daughter, “Father will go see your mother first, and we will deal with this matter when you get back, alright?”

“Father!” Lu Wan suddenly called out to him, startling Lu Yuan.

Seeing the calm and indifferent expression on Lu Wan’s face, he knew his daughter was probably thinking about something, so he suppressed his temper and explained before she could speak.

“I’ve already recognized this woman. She’s a concubine that the Old Madam forced on me years ago. Maybe she saw me alone here last night and wanted to climb into my bed.” Lu Yuan felt a little awkward and frowned; after all, he was talking to his daughter about his own private affairs.

“Your mother told her long ago to let her choose her own marriage and even gave her some money and silk, but she just would not leave. Now she’s scheming against me like this. This lowly thing deserves to die. I need to see your mother first; that’s the proper thing to do.”

“But if she were trying to seduce Father, why were you two lying here fully clothed?” Lu Wan’s mind raced. She lowered her voice, “I am afraid someone will be here soon.”

Lu Yuan was somewhat confused. He was about to speak when Lu Wan stopped him.

“Father, do you have any spare clothes? Please change first,” Lu Wan deftly instructed A-Yun. “Put this person under the bed first.”

“Mother was just a little anxious; she will be alright. Father, please trust me this once. Go and change out of these blood-stained clothes, alright?” Lu Wan was on the verge of tears, her eyes reddening, tugging at Lu Yuan’s sleeve, looking at him with pleading eyes.

“Besides, if Mother wakes up and sees this blood, she will probably be frightened and panicked.”

She now had a preliminary idea in mind; she just wanted Lu Yuan to change his clothes quickly.

If she had not come, Father would have woken up and heard that Mother had fainted and might have rushed out covered in blood, perhaps even bumping into someone along the way.

Then, if someone spread the news that there was an injured woman in his study, it would be hard not to speculate, with truth and falsehood intertwined.

Some might speculate that Lu Yuan, in a fit of lust, had forced himself on a maid or possessed some other perverse fetish.

This would not only cause her mother to faint from anger but also ruin her father’s reputation.

Her father now only held a minor official position as a compiler, frequently associating with scholars and literati, who were known for their aloofness; it would be easy for them to distance themselves from and despise him.

Most importantly, her brother had just participated in the imperial examinations, and his reputation would be inevitably affected.

This was truly killing three birds with one stone.

If you also consider her reputation and the possibility that Xie Yu might propose marriage to her, then it would be killing four birds with one stone.

Lu Wan felt a chill envelop her entire body, a chill that penetrated to the bone. She never imagined that someone would be so cruel as to plot against her family.

If the heart had been any crueler, and this woman had simply died…

Lu Wan shuddered, her face turning pale, almost unable to imagine the consequences of not coming.

By now, Lu Yuan had calmed down a bit. He had panicked upon hearing that Lady Zhou had fainted, but his daughter’s words made sense; if he, in his disheveled state, frightened Madam further, it would not be good.

“I will go now,” he said, stroking Lu Wan’s hair and forcing a smile. “Wan is right; Father panicked just now.”

After tidying up the place briefly, Lu Wan instructed A-Yun to stay behind and watch over the place, so no one would find out.

She planned to secretly take the woman out later, find someone to treat her, and see if she could pry anything out of her.

Since the Old Madam had placed the concubine there, the scheme against their family was most likely related to the Old Madam, but to be on the safe side, she still wanted to get concrete evidence.

Just as she expected, she and her father had barely left the bamboo grove when they bumped into Lu Zhen, leading several young ladies towards them.

The group was chatting and laughing when they came into Lu Wan’s icy gaze.

The two groups, heading in opposite directions, brushed past each other, but Lu Wan had glanced at Lu Zhen out of the corner of her eye and did not detect any unusual expression on her face that indicated that her plan had failed.

It seemed that Lu Zhen was unaware of the situation.

They hurried into Lady Zhou’s bedroom, and Lu Wan and Lu Yuan rushed to Lady Zhou’s bedside.

The physician was packing his medicine chest nearby, a hint of joy on his face.

“Congratulations, My Lord! Madam is pregnant.” Lu Yuan’s expression immediately brightened with joy, but when he noticed that Lady Zhou was still asleep, his brows furrowed with worry. “Why has my wife not woken up yet?”

“Madam has been overly worried lately and was also frightened; it is just a case of anger affecting her heart. I’ve already prescribed medicine; taking it on time will be fine,” the physician said with a smile. He also felt lucky to have diagnosed a pregnancy today; the master’s reward would surely be generous.

Seeing Lu Yuan sit down on the bedside, beaming with joy, and take Lady Zhou’s hand, Lu Wan smiled slightly, but her brows remained furrowed. It seemed she would have to put this matter aside for now.

Pregnant women should avoid emotional fluctuations; she could not let her mother take any risks.

By the time Lu Ling and Lu Xiao arrived, Lady Zhou had already woken up.

She did not have much expectation for the pregnancy; after all, she already had one son and two daughters, but since she was pregnant, she would simply give birth.

“So, someone tried to take advantage of you while you were drunk but ended up injuring themselves in the dark?” Lady Zhou swallowed spoonfuls of medicine that Lu Yuan had been diligently feeding her, her brows furrowing slightly.

Seeing her displeasure, Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow, deliberately smirking as he joked, “Perhaps I was still thinking of you in my drunken state and dared not touch anyone else, so I bravely resisted and hurt someone.”

Hearing this, Lady Zhou almost choked, slapping him lightly with a look of disgust.

“You are a father of several children now, and you still do not behave properly.” Lu Ling covered her mouth and laughed, while Lu Xiao also smiled and turned his face away, his actions showing he could not bear to watch.

Only Lu Wan, standing to the side, was filled with complex emotions. She clutched her sleeve, forcing a smile, but the smile did not reach her eyes.

Father and Mother knew nothing.

Actually, she thought it was for the best.

However, she could not let the person who intended to harm her family get away with it this time, just like last time, after a mere scare.

She had made up her mind; a dark shadow flickered in her bright, beautiful eyes as her thoughts raced, focused solely on avenging both old and new grudges.

But no sooner had Lu Wan returned to her Tingyin Pavilion than someone came to report that Lu Yuan had arrived.

Although she did not know what her father was doing here at this time, Lu Wan hurriedly went to greet him, only to see Lu Yuan’s face frosty, a stark contrast to his earlier joy and happiness with Lady Zhou.

“Has Ah Wan noticed something?”

Lu Yuan did not sit down but stood before her, his gaze sharp and fixed on her, a departure from his usual nonchalant demeanor.

She’d been discovered.

Lu Wan sensed something was wrong, but still wanted to struggle a little longer.

She looked up, feigning confusion. “What are you saying, Father? I do not quite understand.”

Lu Yuan rubbed his temples, walked over, and sat down, resting his elbows heavily on the table. His gaze remained fixed on her, a look of helplessness on his face.

“Ah Wan, I am your father.

The pillar of our family, the one who should shelter you and your mother from the wind and rain. You are still young; if you have anything on your mind, you should tell me immediately.”

Lu Wan did not dare meet his eyes, slowly lowering her head, staring silently at the tips of her shoes.

Her Suzhou-style embroidered shoes were decorated with delicate peach blossoms, pink and exquisite, inlaid with tiny pearls—the elegance of a noblewoman.

Seeing that she still did not speak, Lu Yuan slightly raised his face, then let out a long sigh.

After a moment of silence, he stood in front of her again, gently stroking the top of her head, softly repeating…

“You should have told me, after all, I am your father.”

“I am your father”—he repeated this sentence twice, like two heavy hammer blows to Lu Wan’s heart, both sore and numb, making her even more afraid to look up.

But Lu Yuan would not let her off the hook.

“Even if you do not tell me, I’ve already guessed a thing or two. There are countless dirty tricks in aristocratic families; how could I be unaware of such petty schemes? Otherwise, how could our family have lived peacefully under her nose all these years?”

“Then why were you running around so much this morning?” Lu Wan thought to herself, head down.

As if he could hear her thoughts, Lu Yuan coughed lightly, trying to smooth things over.

“This morning I was just too worried about your mother, and with a hangover, it is understandable that I was a little dizzy.”

He struggled to maintain the dignity of a father. “Perhaps I would have thought of it as soon as I left the house and then gone back to change my clothes.”

Her father was so good at making excuses for himself. Lu Wan, still with her head down, suddenly chuckled.

Hearing his daughter laugh, Lu Yuan felt a slight sense of relief.

He did not know what his daughter had experienced in the realm Yuanguan had described that made her now so guarded. But seeing it, he felt nothing but heartache and pity.

As a father, he could not protect his children; he had to make their own plans. How much of a failure was he, this father?

It was time. After all, Wan had returned, and he did not need to remain confined to the mansion any longer.

Lu Yuan blinked hard, coughed to cover his embarrassment, and then turned and walked out.

“I will handle it. Wan, rest well.”

There were some things he needed to be ruthless about now.

Lu Wan, left standing there, hesitated for a moment before slowly reaching out to touch the spot where Lu Yuan had gently placed his hand. The warmth of her father’s palm still seemed to linger there.

It was warm and slightly sour, and she felt a surge of joy.

Then let Father go first.

She smiled, a slight sense of relief washing over her: after all, if Father could not manage, there was always her.

Lu Wan let go, but what happened next nearly made her teeth pop out.

Seriously, Lu Yuan’s behavior was just too ruthless.

When she received the news, she was sitting at the table, arranging the early spring flowers, planning to put them in a vase in her mother’s room to cheer her up.

A-Yu, her face flushed with excitement, gesticulated wildly as she recounted the news she had gathered:

“I heard that the Master, leading a dozen strong and healthy guards, stormed straight into the Old Madam’s Tingsong Hall, hacking and slashing at anyone who stood in his way…”

Lu Wan glanced at her with disdain. What an exaggerated and outlandish description!

However, once A-Yu started talking about gossip, she became almost completely absorbed in her own world, her little mouth chattering even more enthusiastically:

“At that time, the Master had that concubine thrown in front of the Old Madam’s bedside, sternly accusing her of having an affair with an outsider and plotting to harm her master!”

Father was turning the tables on her…

Lu Wan paused, then, smiling, picked up a budding white magnolia branch and trimmed a cross at the end.

“The Old Madam was momentarily stunned, and the Master ordered his men to smash her bedroom. Just then…”

A-Yu gasped, “The Old Master came back!”

Another budding camellia was placed in the vase. Lu Wan adjusted her position before looking at A-Yu, who was staring at her expectantly.

“Continue.”

Receiving such an insincere response, A-Yu pouted but could only continue:

“The Old Master was initially furious, but he was rendered speechless by the various pieces of evidence presented by the Master. Even the concubine admitted that the Old Madam had promised her all sorts of benefits. It is said that the Old Master was stunned for a long time, and finally, with a livid face, he could only ask the Master: ‘What exactly do you want?'”

She became even more excited. “The Master straightened his back and made a request: he wanted to live separately!”

This meant separating the family! Lu Wan’s eyes lit up.

She had long wanted to avoid any further involvement between her family and Lu Ming’s group, especially with Noble Consort Lu and her son in the palace—two unpredictable threats.

Most importantly, the Old Madam’s branch of the family actually harbored ambitions for the throne.

Throughout history, how many princes, who failed to become Emperor but still coveted the throne, had actually had a good ending? It was never easy.

Even if Zhou Huai was benevolent, he could not withstand the machinations of Noble Consort Lu and her ilk, who were vying for the throne, causing trouble and creating unrest. He would inevitably harbor resentment later.

It was better to distance himself from such greedy people sooner rather than later.

“What did Grandpa say?” Lu Wan added a crabapple blossom to the vase with interest, finding it more fitting.

“The Old Master said,” A-Yu’s tone softened, “that if we want to separate the family, he has to die.

Then the Master had the main gate opened, and in front of everyone in the street, he threw out the concubine and then arranged for people to spread the word.”

“But now, the capital is waiting to see our family make a fool of themselves.” Lu Wan’s hand trembled slightly, and she accidentally cut the flower stems a little too short. She did not mind, and a muffled laugh escaped her lips.

She had not expected her father to be so reckless.

He insisted on airing the family scandal, determined to embarrass Lu Ming and force him to give an explanation.

“Take this vase of flowers to Mother’s. Remember to find a suitable person.”

She turned around and carefully instructed, wiping her pale fingertips with a handkerchief. She seemed to hesitate for a moment before giving the order, “Have someone prepare the carriage; I am going to the Xie residence.”

After hearing A-Yu’s crisp agreement, she went to the dressing table.

It had been several days since she had seen Xie Yu, and Lu Wan was starting to feel apprehensive.

Last time, they maintained a facade of peace but parted on bad terms. She had not dared to approach Xie Yu, fearing he would bring up marrying her again.

But strangely enough, she had repeatedly checked with Xiao Bai these past few days, and Xie Yu’s favorability rating had not decreased; in fact, it had increased slightly, now reaching 75.

A 75-point favorability rating, while not quite at the level of being deeply in love, was definitely above average for a romantic relationship.

Especially since favorability ratings were like that—the higher they went, the harder it was to increase.

She had not seen Xie Yu for several days, yet his rating had still increased by 5 points—this was quite puzzling.

Through her reflection in the mirror, Lu Wan watched A-Miao combing her hair and thought with a wry smile, “Could it be that Xie Yu has been constantly reminiscing about all my good qualities these past few days, trying to win me over?”

Upon arriving at the Xie residence, she bumped into Xie Yu, who had just returned. He seemed to have come in a hurry, still wearing his purple robes and jade belt from court.

His round-necked robe, five-patterned hat, scholar’s cap, and fish-shaped pouch—his noble and dignified attire perfectly suited his status as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

“Ah Wan?” Xie Yu smiled upon seeing her, his voice gentle, like a spring breeze. “Why are you here?”

As if nothing had happened that day.

Lu Wan breathed a sigh of relief; she had truly feared Xie Yu would give her a hard time.

She pointed to the box A-Yun was carrying. “I saw the magnolias were blooming, so I picked some, carefully fried them, and wanted to bring them for you to try.”

Xie Yu’s gaze lowered, a hint of guilt in his eyes, and he gently took her hand.

“It’s my fault. I’ve been busy with official duties these days and have not seen you much. You even had to bring this yourself.”

These words left Lu Wan somewhat bewildered, not even understanding what he was feeling guilty about… She was the one who rejected Xie Yu, losing face, and did he not feel hurt?

She looked up at Xie Yu’s lowered eyelashes and whispered, “I thought you were angry.”

Xie Yu did not speak, but gently pulled her into the mansion, stopping midway to softly brush a strand of hair from her temple.

“How could I be angry with you? That day, I did not think things through and brought it up rashly, inevitably making you a little unhappy.”

Lu Wan felt even more guilty.

He was probably being rejected the first time he proposed to a woman, yet upon seeing her again, he still considered her feelings, taking all the blame and making excuses for her.

But guilt aside, she would never agree to marry Xie Yu.

The more guilty she felt, the less she could agree.

What wealthy and respectable family would allow their beloved daughter to become a second wife, to perform the rites of a concubine before the memorial tablet of the first wife? She could not harm Xie Yu.

The man she cared about noticed the change in Lu Wan’s expression. His other hand, which had not been holding hers, clenched tightly, his white fingertips almost digging into her flesh.

No, he had to control himself.

He could not let the person before him become suspicious of him.

Xie Yu led her calmly to his study, gently instructing her in a clear, melodious voice, “Wait for me a moment; I will change into casual clothes and come back.”

“Why does this study smell of alcohol?” Lu Wan inhaled, noticing a faint scent of plum blossoms. She looked at him with some confusion; had he been drinking last night?

Hearing this, Xie Yu did not flinch, his eyes smiling as he met her gaze.

“I’ve been busy these past few days and have not had a chance to visit you, so I took the honey-preserved plum blossoms you gave me, intending to mix them with some wine for a small drink, but I accidentally broke them.” He sighed deliberately, a hint of melancholy in his eyes. “What a pity about the honey-preserved plum blossoms that you worked so hard to make, Ah Wan.”

Having not seen her, he was gazing at the gifts she gave him at night, or perhaps he was drinking while thinking of her? Feeling suddenly moved, Lu Wan blushed and turned her face away. “It’s nothing special. In a couple of months, when the cherries and bayberries are in season, I can make wine for you.”

“I would like that,” Xie Yu said, walking into the inner room to change out of his outer robe, his voice drawn out, carrying a hint of ambiguous allure.

“Next year, if we can make plum blossom wine together, then there’s no need to regret a little.”

“If Ah Wan was married to him by then, they could have brewed plum blossom wine together,” Xie Yu thought with a slight smile.

Outside, Lu Wan’s smile vanished instantly. She did not answer but silently opened the box and took out a plate of magnolia petals.

Next winter, she might already be back.

How could she promise Xie Yu a next year?

Seeing her lack of response, Xie Yu’s smile faded. He straightened his slightly wrinkled clothes and emerged from the inner room.

His moon-white, wide-sleeved robe, its pure white color, exuded a refined and aloof air. If a breeze stirred his sleeves as he walked, he would appear even more ethereal, like a banished immortal.

“Why did Ah Wan not answer just now?”

Xie Yu stood before Lu Wan. He was considerably taller than she was and, being accustomed to interrogating prisoners, unconsciously became serious as he focused his mind. He finally could not resist the veil of mystery, wanting to dismantle the fog of uncertainty and see Lu Wan’s true feelings.

Lu Wan’s eyelids twitched sensitively, sensing an impending storm.

But she had already devised an excuse before coming, so she was not afraid of his questions.

Her delicate, pale fingers slowly grasped the moon-white sleeve, gently pulling it down, making it impossible for Xie Yu to ignore.

When he lowered his head, Lu Wan looked up at him, her bright eyes brimming with sincerity, her long eyelashes trembling slightly like startled butterflies.

“Something has happened at home. Father is thinking of dividing the family property. Nobody knows how long this will last. How can I promise you a year from now?”

The second half of the sentence was spoken especially slowly, as if the speaker was extremely cautious and shy. Xie Yu looked down at her, his clear eyes calm and undisturbed. Seeing a blush gradually spreading across her cheeks, he softly murmured an “Mmm.”

He smiled and slowly pulled Lu Wan into his arms. Seeing that she did not struggle, he gently stroked her back, a gesture that was both comforting and affectionate.

“I know,” he said, his smile fading from Lu Wan’s sight, but his tone remained gentle. “You do not need to worry about this, Ah Wan.”

Lu Wan’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that he still wanted to interfere in the Lu family’s affairs?

Surely not. She’d already gone this far, and he was already in such a hurry to marry her? Thinking of his 75% favorability rating, Lu Wan began to suspect that his actions were not due to deep affection for her, but rather possessiveness.

As she thought this, she suddenly felt something warm brush against her ear, and a warm breath ruffled the stray hairs beside her ear.

Lu Wan froze instantly, holding her breath. Her cheek, so close to his, was rapidly burning hot.

How could he be so close?

The culprit glanced at Lu Wan’s earlobe, which had instantly turned bright red, and chuckled softly. He’d only meant to tease her; he had not expected such a strong reaction.

It was just a brush against her cheek.

Realizing Xie Yu was mocking her, Lu Wan felt both ashamed and angry. She lightly punched his chest and heard him groan.

Suddenly, Lu Wan recalled the gruesome wound on Xie Yu’s chest. She quickly felt for the spot where she had hit him, feeling a bit short of breath.

“Did I touch your wound?”

Xie Yu gently shook his head, then took her hand and placed it on his chest, lowering his voice as he gazed at her.

“The wound is here.”

The steady, strong heartbeat beneath her palm made Lu Wan feel her own heartbeat quicken, almost matching Xie Yu’s.

“Are you lying to me? I did not hurt you here just now.” She pouted slightly, a hint of displeasure in her voice.

Xie Yu leaned in again, pulling her into his embrace. His long, slender, white fingers traced the jade-colored silk sash around her waist, finally resting on her waist.

The warmth of his touch seemed to penetrate the smooth, soft fabric, traveling from his fingertips to Lu Wan’s skin.

Lu Wan immediately deflated, like a cat whose fur had been stroked, her eyes moist, and she nestled obediently into his arms.

But Xie Yu would not let her go. He deliberately lowered his head to press his cheek against hers, gently brushing against her delicate skin, and whispered in her ear, “Ah Wan, these past few days, I’ve missed you terribly.

Even the wound in my heart aches a little more.”

Nonsense, she would not take the blame for this.

Lu Wan’s face flushed, and she turned her head slightly, her reason instinctively trying to resist the temptation of the handsome man before her.

But Xie Yu would not let her go, chuckling softly in her ear, then gently pressed against her, carefully feeling the warm, flushed skin on Lu Wan’s cheek, and sighing contentedly, “So good.”

Lu Wan lowered her eyelashes, her eyes brimming with tears, her whole body both shy and weak, yet her hands gripped his lapel tightly, feeling slightly dizzy.

From the side, they looked like lovers whispering sweet nothings to each other.

Xie Yu’s heart also fluttered. As if bewitched, he gazed at her for a moment, then tentatively pecked at her delicate, ruby-red earlobe. He felt the person in his arms tremble violently, then become even softer and more delicate.

He was tempted and wanted to continue, but Lu Wan, exasperated, covered his mouth and nose.

“How could you do this?” The young woman, her eyes reddening slightly, puffed out her cheeks and playfully scolded him, her eyes shimmering like the gentle spring river.

Xie Yu’s eyes and brows were filled with a joyful smile and an overwhelming tenderness, even concealing his usual aloofness.

This unattainable flower, coveted by the ladies of Luoyang, had finally been touched by the warmth of the world.

Lu Wan’s gaze darted away, and just as she was about to pull her hand away, she felt a gentle peck on her palm, tender and affectionate.

Her face flushed crimson, not with the forced shyness she usually displayed, but with a genuine blush.

Lu Wan quickly withdrew her hand, but the soft touch lingered. She complained softly, “Why are you like this?” Her voice was much lower than before, the tone soft and gentle, like a kitten’s paw lightly scratching someone’s heart.

Xie Yu raised an eyebrow, his displeasure from the past few days vanishing completely. Slowly and subtly, he pulled Lu Wan tightly into his arms. The corners of his lips curled up, overflowing with joy.

“I love you; that’s why I am like this. It stems from affection but stops at propriety. What’s wrong with that?”

Lu Wan was somewhat indignant. Just a few days ago, she was the one in control; how could the dynamics have shifted so quickly?

She looked up at him, beginning to scrutinize him intently.

Her slender fingertips boldly traced his face, gently outlining his gentle, refined features, feeling the mist that seemed to shroud the rolling spring mountains.

Everyone said the Xie family had a jade-like young man, whose name perfectly matched his appearance—a peerless gem.

Now, this rare gem was nothing more than hers.

Now, it was Xie Yu who felt somewhat uncomfortable. Although he had been gazing at her gently with downcast eyes, his expression unchanged, his jade-white earlobes gradually turned red.

Noticing this, Lu Wan laughed even more heartily. She threw herself into Xie Yu’s arms, burying her face in his chest, and chuckled at him softly.

The handsome young man, holding his beloved, was also laughing, but the curve of his lips grew increasingly cold and unrestrained.

Perhaps he did not need to wait any longer, he thought.

The Lu family was about to split, and he could lend a helping hand; Ah Wan was not indifferent to him, so he could be bolder.

By the end of the year at the latest, she would bear his surname, manage the household affairs, bear children, and grow old together in love.

It would not have been in vain for all the time he had spent planning this.

Author’s Note:
Lu Wan: Something’s happened in my family, I can’t get married now. (Feigns a wronged expression)
Xie Yu: With the Lu family in trouble, she can marry me sooner… (Smirks)
Author’s perspective (from God’s point of view): This is the legendary “sending someone to their death from afar,” isn’t it? (Weary cigarette.jpg)

Lately, I keep seeing comments urging for a crematorium¹. A crematorium without emotion—the temperature isn’t high enough to scatter the ashes! What do you think, is that all? (Runs away covering face.jpg)