Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Noticing the instant aging of the petite face and how her slight form looked like she might collapse at any moment, Lu Zhanxiu frowned and replied in his normal, clear voice, “Mrs. Lu, are you reading too much into this?”
Not understanding what he meant, Yan Susu asked, “What?”
“I need a wife to whom I don’t feel aversion so as to ward off unnecessary trouble, and you need to be rid of that ferocious dog. We are both benefiting from this arrangement. All you need to do is to play the role of Mrs. Lu and not cause me any more trouble.”
Marriage was the long-term, steady relationship that would benefit both parties.
Yan Susu was shocked.
Continuing in his calm and steady voice, Lu Zhanxiu said, “How would the facts that you have a fiancé, have given birth before, and will probably not conceive again be of concern for me? I already have a son, and I don’t need any more.”
His words, delivered so calmly, felt like a bucket of ice water splashing down on Yan Susu’s head, chilling her to the bone.
“Mrs. Lu, do you intend to remain standing outside until you turn into stone?” Curtly, Lu Zhanxiu roused the woman, who was too busy wallowing in emotion.
Still in a daze, Yan Susu looked at him. Sensing that beneath that harsh expression, he was honest, not patronizing or disdainful, her original feeling of being chilled to the bone was mysteriously replaced by one of being touched.
Six years ago, when her situation came to light, her fiancé hated her, her grandmother was disgusted with her, and her father was non-communicative…Those people, the ones who were supposedly her closet relations, could not even compare with this stranger…
“Mrs. Lu, are you tearing up?”
“No…” Yan Susu turned her head away quickly, not wanting to appear weak in his presence.
Losing his patience, Lu Zhanxiu grabbed her hand and led her into the dining room.
Although his hands were a little rough to the touch, they were big and very warm. For some reason, Yan Susu no longer felt lost; instead, she felt reassured and safe.
“Sir, Madam, lunch is ready,” announced the housekeeper. She then apologized and explained, “Madam, since we don’t yet know your food preferences, please make this first meal an exception…”
Before she had the chance to complete her sentence, Lu Zhanxiu raised his head and glared icily at her. “Since you realize that Mrs. Lu might not like the food, why not make amends now?”
“Yes, sir. Madam, what would you prefer to eat, and do you have any food allergies? Please let me know, so this never happens again.”
Yan Susu waved her hand a little agitatedly, saying, “No…no need to bother. I am not picky about food…”
“Why are you so jumpy?” Lu Zhanxiu grabbed her hand and placed it on the table. In his exceptionally pleasant voice, he said, “You are Mrs. Lu, the wife of the CEO of Dihuang and the daughter-in-law of the Lu family. So pull yourself together from now on and act your part.”
“Got…got it…” Yan Susu swallowed hard, stammering in her state of anxiety.
Seemingly unaware of her anxious state, Lu Zhanxiu released her hand and resumed eating his lunch.
His motions were so elegant that they could have been incorporated into a guidebook for dining etiquette.
After looking around for a while and finding no trace of Lu Xingguang, Yan Susu finally gave up and asked, “Where’s the kid?”
“Madam, to answer your question, the young master takes his lunch at school. He will be back in the evening.” Seeing that the Master had not replied, the housekeeper took the initiative to respond politely.
“Then can I go pick him up from school this afternoon?” Yan Susu ventured with caution, looking warily at Lu Zhanxiu.
She herself had a stepmother, and she was fully aware of how scary it was to suddenly have a strange woman joining the family, competing for her father’s attention, and, worse, to have to call this woman “mother.”
That was why she wanted to get Lu Xingguang’s approval, even though it was a tad too late.
By this time, Lu Zhanxiu had finished his meal. Putting down his cutlery, he dabbed elegantly at the corners of his mouth before responding in a leisurely manner, “Let’s go together.”
The housekeeper was stunned. Did the Master just announce that he was going to pick up the young master? This was something that had never happened before! Anything that concerned the young master had always been managed only by herself and the secretary…
At that point, the housekeeper could not help feeling an added level of respect for the newly minted Mistress.
Shaking her head anxiously, Yan Susu declined. “No, there is no need. I want to do it on my own. I need to talk to him.”
The other day, when they were at the police station, she could clearly sense that Lu Xingguang was scared of Young Mr. Lu.
If Young Mr. Lu was there as well, wouldn’t Lu Xingguang put on his best behavior and pretend to like her, even if he really hated her?
Having to accept a complete stranger who had suddenly barged into his life was already tough enough; if the boy had to pretend to like it as well, then he would be very miserable indeed!