Miao Xinyuan tilted her head in response, her hands linked in a nervous and somewhat anticipating fashion.
Lu Sr. set the brush down and sat down. He held up a cup of tea, sipped, and began. “You have parents and a mind of your own, so it hadn’t been my intention to interfere with your affairs.”
“But you are 28 now, Lu Yi. You are the next in line in the Lu Family, and you have a responsibility to carry on the lineage of the Lu Family. Previously, I have heard about you going out with a university teacher, so I looked into her antecedents. She was from a proper family, with passable background and looks, so I didn’t have a mind to interfere. However, it would seem like you have broken up with her. Am I right?”
“Yes, Grandpa,” admitted Lu Yi.
“In that case,” Lu Sr. returned the teacup to the table. “This is the daughter of your Uncle Miao, an outstanding army officer. You two get along with each other, and get the registration done at the end of the year. It’s about time you have a family of your own.”
Lu Yi frowned and gave no reply.
“What’s wrong?” Lu Sr. held the teacup up once more. “You have an objection to make?” Lu Sr. had put thoughts into his arrangement—Lu Yi was always slow when it came to love, and uninterested in lust. He was what others would call high IQ and low EQ. If he felt his partner tolerable, it wouldn’t matter to him who he married.
At least, that was what Lu Sr. and almost everyone thought of Lu Yi, a notion which Ye Shuyun used to share.
On the surface, that was how Lu Yi was, but they had forgotten one thing. Lu Yi had his own emotions too. Whom he married wouldn’t have mattered, had he not met anyone he truly liked. And like what Lu Sr. said, he was the next in line in the Lu Family, responsible for the continuation of the lineage.
However, he had met the one, and he wouldn’t yield.
Lu Yi looked up and looked at Lu Sr. with serious eyes.
“I’m sorry, Grandpa, but I couldn’t say yes to this.”
The teacup wobbled in Lu Sr. hand before he brought it to his lips casually. Miao Xinyuan’s face darkened a little.
“And why’s that?” asked Lu Sr. emotionless.
He needed a reason.
“I already have someone I like, Grandpa”, said Lu Yi, rising and looking his grandfather in the eye fearlessly.
A murderous intent spread from Lu Sr. He was someone who had taken lives and walked out from the mountains of corpses; the sight of him inspired fear from an average person. In his many years of ruling the Lu Family, this was the first time anyone had rejected him in the face.
Not once, but twice.
“Try going out with Xiaomiao. She suits our family well.”
Lu Sr. liked Miao Xinyuan as a granddaughter-in-law. She had the looks, wits, and a background that matched the Lu Family, capable of giving birth to a proper heir no less.
Lu Yi had wanted to say something, but Lu Sr. waved him off. “Alright, you may leave. By the way, Xiaomiao will be staying here for some time. Take good care of her.
With that, he shooed him off. He didn’t want to hear another ‘no’, or he might lose his temper.
Lu Sr. was used to having his way in the family. Anyway, he had set his mind on making his grandson marry the girl of his choice, and he wouldn’t take no as an answer.
When Lu Yi stepped out of the door, he saw Lu Qin at the doorway, regarding him with a smile and a poisonous look in his eyes.
So Lu Yi’s the only successor to the Lu Family, huh? And what about him? Wasn’t he a member of the Lu Family?
“Is it Lu Qin?” asked Lu Sr.
“Yes, it’s me, Grandpa,” said Lu Qin, hiding the emotions in his eyes before entering.
Lu Sr. never thought much of his second grandson. To be fair, Lu Qin wasn’t an average person, an elite when compared most, despite his occupation as an actor. Still, that was probably his best option.
People naturally loved their own children and grandchildren better than others.
Lu Qin knew that his grandfather’s opinion of him had improved a little, and he was convinced that he had made the right career choice. Lu Yi had been better than him in everything, and when their father died, his mother didn’t have the backing of a rich family like the Ye Family. This had been the only path he could think of.
He needed fame and money to compete with Lu Yi. Or better, get rid of him once and for all. Problem was, he was only at the start of his career. He needed a stepping stone, and he happened to have one in mind. One that was readily available. He prayed that she would live up to his expectations.
“How did it go? Your grandpa didn’t make things difficult for you, did he?” asked Ye Shuyun right as he came out of the room. She then noticed the woman standing beside him.
Had it been in the past, she would be elated to see a woman besides his son. However, the current situation gave her a headache. She knew something was off when the old man summoned Lu Yi. She had also heard rumors about a young woman hanging about him, but she knew for sure she wasn’t his young lover. The old man would sooner die than bear the shame of having a young mistress. Turns out she’s the granddaughter-in-law of the old man’s choice. A granddaughter that arrived a tad too late. She didn’t want her as much as her son didn’t.
“Hello Auntie, my name is Miao Xinyuan,” greeted Miao Xinyuan decorously. She looked handsome in her army uniform, the type Ye Shuyun would have liked in the past. Not just that, her personality and intelligence would have been a good match for her son. Even so, the more she looked at her, the more out of place she found her.
“Hi there, sweetie,” Yan Shuyun gave an awkward smile.
Her son was already married, so how could he marry another? Bigamy was against the law. Neither could he take her as a girlfriend. If he dared, she would break his legs.
“Um, Xiaowu, take Ms. Miao to her resting quarters,” said Ye Shuyun to the nanny at the side. She couldn’t speak openly to her son in her presence.
Miao Xinyuan took one last look at Lu Yi before leaving. She didn’t look too well, possibly from the rejection earlier.
She never had that much of an interest in Lu Sr.’s grandson, but she liked what she saw earlier. Plus, there was a certain magic to his words—I already have someone I like.
