"Wroof! Wroof!"
Inu barks and jumps in pure happiness with his tail wagging when he sees the wooden boat touch the deck. He was eager to see his favorite human again.
However, the person who got off the boat first was his arch-nemesis.
Lu Tian ignores the little fluff ball's aura full of hate that was thrown at him. He turns to the lake and reaches down to help his wife.
Placing her palm on top of his, Yue Ling steps onto the wooden deck. She was quickly greeted with the eyes of everyone and her entire being turned shy. Not because they saw the proposal, but because they bear witness to the scene of her and Lu Tian almost falling off the boat.
"Wroof! Wroof!"
Ignoring all the people around, Inu pounce at his favorite human. It has been a week since he last saw her, but for some reason, not seeing her for a day feels like ten years.
"Inu! My baby!"
Yue Ling squats down and welcomes her fur baby with open arms. She hugs his small, yet chubby and fluffy figure and sighs a smile.
"Mommy misses you so much!"
Lu Tian felt the taste of vinegar in his mouth. He wanted to separate the Samoyed from his wife, but seeing how happy she is, he decides to wash the taste in his mouth away.
He looks at everyone standing in wait and he gives them a meaningful look.
"Thank you all for helping with the preparations."
Hearing his words, Yue Ling looks up at him then to everyone. Now she understood why everyone was acting so strangely around her. It was all because of this.
Madam Lu's jaw dropped to the ground and she quickly covers her mouth revealing only her eyes.
In front, next, and behind her, everyone else was no different.
Each person stares at Lu Tian and was in disbelief at what they heard. Did the man known for his ruthless ways actually thank them?
Even as his parents, Madam Lu and Old Lu glance at one another then back to their oldest son.
Is this man really their Lu Tian? Wait a minute, is he smiling?
It was a very small and unnoticeable smile, but it was not small enough to escape their eyes.
"Ho, ho. What is there to thank? We were more than happy to help."
Unlike everyone else, Grandfather Ji was the only one who didn't find Lu Tian's behavior strange. He walks up to the young man and nods his head approvingly as he places one hand on Lu Tian's shoulder.
"I am glad that you included us to witness this unforgettable moment."
At first, he was reluctant to come as he was still in the hospital and didn't know the reason. However, the second Lu Tian explained his place, he (Grandfather Ji) jumped out of the hospital bed and demanded to be discharged. Well, more like a free pass to go out then return to the hospital.
He cannot let a moment like this pass or else he will regret it even in the afterlife.
Ji Jingxu rolled his eyes at the old man. He was there when everything happened at Imperial Military Hospital.
To be more precise, the old man didn't demand anything. It was more like he threatened to turn the hospital upside down if Doctor Dong didn't let him leave.
Shaking his head, he looks at Lu Tian and gestures a polite nod. After they encountered each other at the hospital the other day, he has gotten a little use to man's coldness.
"Grandfather is right. Thank you for letting us be a part of this moment."
His words fell and he walks over to hat with his older sister. Like Inu, he too misses her.
After Ji Jingxu, everyone else congratulated and thanked Lu Tian for allowing them to witness the proposal. It was a night not meant for them, but one they will never forget.
Now, they can't wait for the big wedding day to come.
"Aiya, I cannot wait to tell everyone that my daughter-in-law is Yue Ling. I can already imagine the envious look on those old women's faces."
Madam Lu exclaims excitedly as she and Madam Zhao walks side by side to the cars.
"Same here. I will spread this news like there is no tomorrow. I finally have such a beautiful and talented daughter-in-law."
Madam Zhao giggles in response and Madam Lu was dumbfounded. She (Madam Lu) scoffs in disbelief and pinch her sister-in-law's arm.
"Yah! Who is your daughter-in-law? Yue Ling can only be my Lu family's daughter-in-law. When did you have a son? Hm? Isn't Ya'Er your only daughter and child? Hm?"
Being yelled at, Madam Zhao didn't fell anything. She continuously rolls her eyes and waits for the woman to finish speaking.
"Aiya, why are you being so loud? I am walking right next to you."
She heaves a sigh and leans towards Madam Lu to whisper secretly.
"I only said 'daughter-in-law' as a cover-up."
A giggle escapes her, and she covers her mouth as if to hide her words.
"My Zhao family's Ya'Er has finally found someone worth keeping. He is one hundred, no, he is one thousand times better than that cheating Wei brat."
Hearing this, Madam Lu's eyes widen, and she searches through the group until her eyes landed on Zhao Ya'Er's figure that was near the front.
Seeing that her niece was not along, her eyes lit up and she snickers at Madam Zhao with excitement.
"You are right. Assistant Xu is sometimes weird, but he has a pure heart. He is definitely a keeper."
Both middle-aged women giggle like two high school girls gossiping over irrelevant news. Neither was aware of the attention they were getting from those nearby.
Old Lu and Uncle Zhao shook their heads and decide to ignore their wives. The two middle-aged men follow closely behind but discussed in their own matters.
Yue Ling smiles as she watches the two women chat away like no one else in the world matters. She held onto her grandfather's arm while Ji Jingxu held the old man's other arm.
Next to his wife, Lu Tian and Inu follows at the same speed, but when he heard his mother and aunt, he shook his head with a sigh.
"Don't mind their words. Those two likes to chat about everything."
Yue Ling smiles at him and shook her head.
"It's alright. I said I didn't mind."
Another sigh escapes Lu Tian and he looks ahead. Good thing he had asked his wife in advance. If he hadn't, who knows how much trouble he will be if words got out about their relationship.
An knowing his mother and aunt, the two women can never wait to brag to the entire world.
As everyone reached the parking lot, Yue Ling and Lu Tian said their goodbyes and walked towards their car. However, realizing something, Yue Ling turns around.
"Inu, come. Let's go home."
Instead of following the couple, the little guy had followed Grandfather Ji. When he heard the very familiar voice, he turns to look at his favorite human.
However, he couldn't help but look back at his second favorite human, who was already sitting in the car.
He held a reluctant look and glance between Yue Ling and Grandfather Ji as he sounds a sad whimper of not knowing what to do now.
Yue Ling chuckles and walks over to him. She squats down and gives him a big hug.
"Alright, you can stay a few more days with yeye and Jingxu."
Her words fell and the Samoyed jumps into the backseat of the old man's car. He positioned himself between Grandfather Ji and Ji Jingxu, but once he found a comfortable spot, his head snuggles on the old man's lap.
"Ah Ling don't worry about him. Jingxu and I will take care of him."
Grandfather Ji chuckles each word, but deep inside he felt nothing but heartache when he saw Inu's behavior.
He was sure that Inu's reluctance to leave his side is because the little guy can sense his illness and knows that death is not too far away from him (Grandfather Ji).
Oblivious to her grandfather's thoughts, Yue Ling waves goodbye to them and enters her and Lu Tian's car.
Lu Tian closes the passenger door and walks over to the driver's side. Before entering the car, he looks at Grandfather Ji and both men nod their heads in a silent understanding. He then enters the car and starts the car.
One by one, a long line of cars exit the parking lot and heads in the direction of their homes.
