Su He entered her fingerprint, and the door lock beeped softly, opening slowly.
The lights in the room were on, but Lu Yanbei was nowhere to be seen.
"I wonder if he's eaten yet..." Su He changed into her slippers and tiptoed to the study door.
The computer in the study was on, and Lu Yanbei was standing by the window on the phone.
Hearing the movement behind him, he turned and glanced at Su He, said something, and hung up the phone.
"Have you eaten dinner?" Su He asked nervously.
"Just got back," Lu Yanbei replied curtly.
"There are dumplings in the fridge, shall I cook a bowl for you?" This was Su He's first time skipping work, and her conscience was a little uneasy.
Lu Yanbei liked pasta, and she usually kept some on hand for emergencies.
"Use less seasoning, no scallions," Lu Yanbei said after a moment's thought, stating his requirements.
"Give me ten minutes." Su He immediately turned and went to the kitchen.
Lu Yanbei watched her leave, his gaze lingering for a while before retracting.
The phone call just now was from Old Master Lu, asking him to come back when he had time. Rumors about him and Su He had recently spread within their circle, and many people were watching. The old man felt that a suitable time must be found to make it official; otherwise, keeping it a secret would be bad for the reputation of the Lu family and Su He.
Lu Yanbei, of course, wished they could announce it immediately, but only if Su He agreed first.
In the past, he had used deception to coax her into getting married. Now, how could he ask her to openly move in the circle as Mrs. Lu?
She probably wouldn't agree.
Lu Yanbei felt a surge of frustration.
In the kitchen, Su He was busy by the stove with a spatula. She wasn't dressed up elaborately, nor did she have any fine makeup on. She was just wearing the most ordinary apron, but she looked pleasing to the eye no matter how he looked at her.
The dim, yellow light warmed his heart.
This was the warmth Lu Yanbei had longed for since childhood.
After some hesitation, Lu Yanbei had formulated his words and planned to resolve the matter quickly.
After the dumplings were served, Su He also prepared a dipping sauce.
Lu Yanbei sat at the dining table, delaying his action.
Su He took off her apron and was about to go back to her room to shower. Seeing that he hadn't picked up his chopsticks, she suddenly became hesitant. "Is it not to your taste? Shall I stir-fry two more dishes?"
"Sit down, let's talk," Lu Yanbei squeezed his chopsticks and looked up at her.
Su He pulled back her legs and quietly sat down opposite him.
"My grandfather's health has been fluctuating again recently," Lu Yanbei began carefully.
Su He's heart clenched. "Is he alright?"
"Temporarily stable. However, the doctor said it's due to his depression." Lu Yanbei picked up a dumpling, put it in his mouth, and chewed slowly.
Su He pursed her lips, not responding.
She knew that what he was about to say was the main point.
As expected, Lu Yanbei dropped a bombshell the next second. "Grandpa only has me as a grandson. I've been unmarried, and he thought... I like men!"
Su He's eyes widened.
Was this kind of secret something she could hear?
Seeing her expression, Lu Yanbei knew she had misunderstood. However, he didn't correct her and intended to go along with it. "To reassure him, I need a wedding."
Su He licked her lips. "You mean... to go public?"
"Grandpa is getting old, and as grandchildren, we can only try our best to appease him," Lu Yanbei offered his reasoning.
"But we'll get divorced in two years. If Grandpa finds out, won't the situation be even worse?"
"We can hide it then. Let's solve the immediate problem first," Lu Yanbei subtly guided.
Su He scratched her fingernail, hesitant.
She was quite satisfied with their current way of interacting; it didn't involve too much burden. But once it went public, she couldn't be lazy anymore, and there would inevitably be many social engagements.
What she disliked most was dealing with those people and making polite conversation.
These were minor issues. What was more critical was that she would have to face all sorts of doubts. She had been criticized for years for marrying Lu Jingyang, a fake second-generation rich kid. Now, switching to Lu Yanbei, the gossip would only be more intense.
Lu Yanbei was like the moon in the sky, cold, noble, and unattainable.
What right did she have to pluck this high-flying flower?
The spittle from bystanders alone could drown her!
"It will just be a simple ceremony, not many people will attend the wedding," Lu Yanbei said nonchalantly, knowing she had psychological burdens.
Su He still didn't agree.
There was no turning back once the arrow was shot. She had to think carefully.
Lu Yanbei didn't force her but gave her enough time to sort herself out.
After finishing a bowl of dumplings, Su He was still struggling with whether to agree or not.
In the three years she had been married into the Lu family, the old man had taken good care of her. He hadn't skimped on her food and clothing, and he even prepared gifts for her birthdays and every festival.
If she wanted to paint, he had a dedicated studio prepared for her. If she said she wanted to live somewhere closer to her company, he would have the housekeeper find a suitable place for her in advance. If she disliked her biological father's family, he would try to minimize their contact.
It could be said that besides her adoptive parents, the old man was the kindest person to her.
She would never forget this affection.
It was precisely because she didn't want to deceive the old man that she had been hesitant to agree.
"Let me consider it for a few days," Su He didn't want to make a hasty decision.
"Okay," Lu Yanbei agreed generously.
However, before Su He could make up her mind, news of Old Master Lu being admitted to the hospital reached her.
She and Lu Yanbei drove to the hospital in the middle of the night. The old man was already in the emergency room.
"What happened?" Lu Yanbei asked with a grim expression.
The housekeeper dared not hide anything and explained in a low voice, "The master has been complaining of chest tightness recently but refused to take his medicine. After dinner tonight, the master went for a walk in the garden. He fainted before completing two laps..."
"The doctor said it might be heart disease."
Lu Yanbei stared at the emergency room door, his thin lips tightly pressed.
Su He was also terrified and felt guilty.
She had said she would come to see Grandpa when she had time, but she had broken her promise.
Without her supervision, he would surely not take his medicine obediently. Over time, how could his body endure?
The more Su He thought about it, the more frightened she became, her palms sweating.
She silently prayed that Grandpa would be alright.
Half an hour later, the emergency room door opened, and Old Master Lu was pushed out.
"Grandpa," Su He and Lu Yanbei hurried forward.
Old Master Lu smiled weakly at the two of them. "It's an old problem, nothing serious..."
Saying this, he blamed the housekeeper for making such a fuss. "I told you not to call, disturbing them in the middle of the night..."
Su He stepped forward and held the old man's hand, her face full of guilt. "Grandpa..."
"Don't cry, girl, Grandpa is fine..." Old Master Lu said with a smile, full of warmth. However, when his gaze met Lu Yanbei's, his expression immediately changed. "Listen to what people outside are saying about you! You're almost thirty, and you don't even have a girlfriend. How dare you come back?"