"Yan Yan, I'm sorry... I didn't know my mother would treat you like this." Lu Jingyang looked at his beloved, her face drained of color, and blamed himself deeply.
It turned out that two days prior, Lu Jingyang had been coaxed by Zhao Yafen to visit relatives out of town. While he was away, she had used threats and inducements to force Song Yan to undergo a pregnancy termination surgery.
Upon his return, Lu Jingyang had thrown a huge tantrum, vowing to sever ties with his family.
Seeing her pampered son become so rebellious, Zhao Yafen was furious and slapped him. However, the harder she pushed, the more determined Lu Jingyang became to stay with Song Yan.
"Yan Yan, when I left, I stole the household registration booklet. Once I finish the divorce procedures, we can go register our marriage, okay?" Lu Jingyang held Song Yan's slightly cool hand with deep affection, sincerely expressing his feelings.
Song Yan gave a bitter smile and spoke weakly, "Jingyang, if you do this, Auntie will be sad..."
"She treated you that way, and you're still speaking up for her." Lu Jingyang was overwhelmed with emotion. The person he liked was indeed a kind-hearted little fairy.
"I just don't want you and your mother to fall out because of me." Song Yan's suppressed tears welled up in her eyes, her pitiful appearance enough to melt anyone's heart.
Lu Jingyang raised his hand, cupped her face, and gently kissed her forehead. "My Yan Yan is so good, I will definitely persuade my mother to accept you."
"Some things cannot be forced," Song Yan said softly, wrapping her arms around his waist. "As long as you are good to me, I will be content."
Where Lu Jingyang could not see, Song Yan's eyes were cold, devoid of any warmth.
After a moment of tender embrace, Song Yan proactively changed the subject. "Did you see the news a few days ago? About your brother being hospitalized."
Lu Jingyang nodded. "What about it?"
"Don't you think... the figure captured by the reporters looks familiar?" Song Yan opened her phone album and found the screenshot.
Lu Jingyang glanced at it and frowned slightly. "It does look somewhat familiar."
"It looks a bit like your ex-wife," Song Yan said, zooming in on the image and pointing to the plain side profile.
Lu Jingyang took a look, and it really did!
This photo was taken at the door of Lu Yanbei's hospital room, meaning she had been taking care of him while he was ill. How could they be involved?
Could it be... A sordid thought crossed Lu Jingyang's mind. But he quickly dismissed it.
Su He might like to cling to the powerful, but based on his understanding of Lu Yanbei, he was an absolute gentleman. Once, at a charity gala, a beautiful female celebrity accidentally sprained her ankle and used the opportunity to fall into Lu Yanbei's arms. He, however, took a step back, letting the female celebrity fall face-first.
Given that he showed no mercy to such a stunning beauty, how could he possibly be interested in Su He, a woman of humble origins?
"It must be a coincidence," he cleared his throat and explained. "You probably don't know my brother well. Since high school, there haven't been any female beings around him. Even the cats and dogs at home are male."
Song Yan: ...
It seemed Lu Yanbei was not just difficult to deal with.
"Besides, you know Su He isn't highly regarded in the Su family, and she has an adoptive father who makes a living by collecting trash. She must be short of money, which is why she took up nursing at the hospital to earn some extra cash," Lu Jingyang analyzed, assuming he knew best.
Song Yan remained silent.
Only he could come up with such a reason.
"Didn't she get the five million you gave her?" Song Yan murmured softly.
Mentioning this, Lu Jingyang's expression indeed turned ugly. "If it weren't for wanting to get rid of her as quickly as possible, I wouldn't have agreed so readily. I really went easy on her!"
Song Yan inwardly rolled her eyes.
Lu Jingyang was an idiot!
Su He asked for it, and he gave it. If it were her, she would have found a hundred ways to make her leave with nothing. If it weren't for maintaining her image as a fairy in his heart, Song Yan would have acted long ago.
"Fortunately, the one-month deadline is almost up. Thinking that I won't have to face Su He's annoying face anymore, I feel much better," Lu Jingyang said, hugging Song Yan.
Little did he know, in the not-too-distant future, Su He would return to the Lu family under another identity. From then on, his days of hardship would begin.
***
After a three-day observation period, Lu Yanbei was successfully discharged.
The reporters who had stubbornly guarded the entrance for three days still refused to give up. Seeing the Maybach Lu Yanbei was taking emerge from the garage, they swarmed forward.
"Young Master Yan, could you please tell us the reason for your hospitalization?"
"In the days you've been away from the company, Lu Corporation has encountered frequent issues. Is there a problem with internal management?"
"Lu Corporation's stock has fallen, and its market value has evaporated by hundreds of millions. Does Young Master Yan have any countermeasures?"
Lu Yanbei's lips were sealed, and he didn't even flutter an eyelid. His unflustered demeanor, combined with his stern features, was as brilliant as a diamond, captivating all eyes.
"Young Master Yan needs rest. Please make way," Cheng Jue said politely with a smile to the reporters, his tone however, leaving no room for doubt.
The reporters dared not block them and could only watch the car drive away with longing eyes.
After the car had driven a considerable distance, Cheng Jue asked, "Mr. Lu, are we returning to the villa or Imperial Garden?"
Lu Yanbei paused for a moment before replying, "Return to the villa."
There were some matters he needed to explain to the old master.
Forty minutes later, the car came to a steady halt in front of the Lu family villa.
"Young master is back." The butler, hearing the car engine, personally came to greet him. "The old master is waiting for you in the study."
Lu Yanbei responded with his uniquely languid voice and walked upstairs.
Upon seeing Lu Yanbei, Zhao Yafen unconsciously shifted behind a cabinet.
She had experienced her stepson's ruthlessness many years ago and still felt a lingering fear whenever she saw him. She always kept her distance, afraid of provoking him.
In the study, the grandfather and grandson confronted each other across a tea table.
"What did you say?" Old Master Lu thought his ears had deceived him.
"I said, I want to marry Su He," Lu Yanbei repeated patiently.
"Absurd!" Old Master Lu immediately slammed the table in anger. "Do you know what you're saying? Su Su is your brother's wife! What kind of distinguished young ladies do you not have, that you must fixate on her?"
"Don't you like her very much, Grandfather?" Lu Yanbei responded indifferently.
Old Master Lu choked. "Su Su is indeed a good girl, but she was married to your brother. What will people think if you two get together?"
"Does it matter whose permission I need to marry someone?" Lu Yanbei scoffed. "I am merely informing you of my decision."
"You!" The old master's eyes widened in anger. "Tell me honestly, were you two... a long time ago..."
"No," Lu Yanbei, understanding the implication of the old master's words, directly denied it. "We are only acquainted, and I don't dislike her."
After a pause, he added, "She is the only woman I can be near without feeling disgusted."
Old Master Lu patted his chest.
Fortunately, this grandson still had some sense and hadn't gotten involved with Su Su during his brother's marriage.
However, what did his last statement mean?
He hadn't dated any women for so many years, could it be that he had some hidden ailment?