"Is Su Lin serious this time?" Su He asked the man beside her while eating fruit.
She had seen the scene on the balcony very clearly.
Su Lin had always been indifferent to the opposite sex, not even willing to stand too close for photos. Yet today, he was hugging and holding Han Yutong without any hesitation, showing that he was truly smitten!
Lu Yanbei pinched her chin, making her shift her gaze back to him. "You've been staring at those two all day. Don't forget, your husband is right here!"
Su He giggled when she saw his jealousy. "You're even going to be petty about this!"
Lu Yanbei snorted and, when no one was looking, gave her a hard kiss.
Su He's face instantly flushed, and she nervously glanced around. "You, you... we're outside, what if someone sees?"
"We've been married for three years, how can you still be so shy..." Su He's reaction pleased Lu Yanbei, and the corners of his mouth curved into a handsome arc.
"I'm not like you, doing things without regard for the occasion..." Su He was too embarrassed to finish the sentence.
The two of them were engrossed in their affectionate display, completely unaware of the little one who had just woken up.
Little Lu Ziyi, having just woken up, yawned several times. His eyes were misty and watery, making him look exceptionally cute. He watched his mommy and daddy kissing not far away, feeling very confused.
Why did Daddy always like to bite Mommy?
Did Mommy have something delicious in her mouth?
The little one stood up, holding onto the side of his crib, watching with great interest without making a sound.
Su He was startled when she discovered his presence and quickly pushed Lu Yanbei away. "Duo Duo... Duo Duo is awake!"
Lu Yanbei, who was still relishing the kiss, cursed inwardly and reluctantly stood up, helping his wife straighten her slightly disheveled skirt. Su He, blushing, walked to the crib and scooped up the little one. "My baby, why didn't you call for Mommy when you woke up?"
"Mama..." Smelling the familiar scent of his mother, the little one reached out and hugged Su He tightly around the neck.
Lu Yanbei, his face dark, moved closer and pulled the child out of Su He's arms.
The little one's mouth turned down, and he was about to cry.
"Be a man, no crying!" Lu Yanbei said sternly.
The little one sniffled, tears welling up in his eyes, but he dared not let them fall.
*Sniffle sniffle*, Daddy is so fierce!
Seeing her son being wronged, Su He glared at Lu Yanbei with concern. "He's still little, why are you being so fierce with him!"
"You can't spoil boys!" Lu Yanbei's patience was limited. He was already unhappy that his son took up so much of his wife's time. And now, the child had interrupted his "good deeds" multiple times. It was already a great act of restraint that he hadn't punished him.
Su He didn't expect his jealousy to be so intense, and she found it both amusing and exasperating. "How old is he? He can barely speak clearly, and you're already pushing for independence. Isn't that too soon!"
Lu Yanbei pursed his lips and remained silent.
He knew she had a point, but he still felt a pang of discomfort. His wife, whom he had finally managed to marry, why should this little fellow monopolize her?
If it weren't his own son, he would have liked to pack him up and throw him out.
He had endured for a long time and finally waited until the child was a full year old.
"Grandpa called the day before yesterday, saying he misses his great-grandson," Lu Yanbei said, not wanting to argue with Su He and thus finding another way.
Su He knew how much Grandpa Lu cherished his great-grandson. The old man would come to stay for a few days every other week and would spend his days trying to entertain his grandson. He would buy toys or take him out to play. The saying "affection for grandchildren is deeper than for one's own children" couldn't be more fitting.
However, Su He worried about the old man's health. "Grandpa just recovered a bit, we can't overwork him. I can take the child to visit during the day, but we must return at night."
"It's too tiring to go back and forth. I don't want you to be exhausted," Lu Yanbei said, holding the child in one arm and pulling her into his embrace with the other. "Besides, with Aunt Li and the others looking after him, what are you worried about?"
Su He knew his possessiveness was strong, but the child had never been separated from her since birth. How could she feel at ease leaving him to others?
Seeing her silence, Lu Yanbei's hand on her arm involuntarily clenched into a fist. "Wife, you promised to make up for our honeymoon. When can you fulfill that promise, hmm?"
Their honeymoon trip had to be canceled because Su He was kidnapped and injured at the wedding.
This incident had always been a knot in Su He's heart, and she felt very guilty.
Lu Yanbei, wanting to enjoy some private time, had to use this to evoke her pity.
Indeed, Su He hesitated.
Choosing between her husband and her son was a very difficult decision, but she had to admit that she had indeed neglected Lu Yanbei after having the child.
She owed him more than just a honeymoon.
Sometimes, when the child cried, she had to drop everything and attend to him. Several times, she had agreed to Lu Yanbei's plans first, only to break her promise.
Su He felt deeply guilty.
"Just these few days, it will also help him break his nighttime feeding habit," Lu Yanbei pressed on.
And so, little Lu Ziyi was packed up by his parents and sent to the Lu family's old residence.
* * *
Nancheng, Qi Family
Old Master Qi was critically ill, and several medical notices had been issued. Members of the Qi family from various branches rushed back to be by his side and show filial piety.
The old man looked at everyone in the room, but his gaze remained fixed on the hospital room door.
The person he was waiting for had still not appeared.
"Why hasn't Su Chen arrived yet?" Qi Siyuan's face was grim as he reprimanded his wife. In his opinion, Su Chen's refusal to acknowledge his lineage was all her doing.
Back then, if she hadn't, out of jealousy, caused the death of Su Chen's mother, Su Chen wouldn't have held such a grudge and refused to acknowledge even his own father.
"How would I know?" she replied indifferently.
"Can't you see that the old man is waiting for him? Hurry up and call him!" Qi Siyuan said, exasperated.
"You call him yourself!" For her to ask the legal wife to beg an illegitimate son, what was he even thinking?
The two of them were in an arranged marriage with no emotional foundation.
She desired the honor of being the eldest daughter-in-law of the Qi family; everything else was irrelevant to her.
Qi Siyuan was furious but dared not vent his anger in front of the old man. He could only quietly retreat from the room and secretly contact Su Chen.
Unfortunately, Su Chen still refused to answer his calls.
Su Chen had no intention of acknowledging his lineage, and Old Master Qi's death had nothing to do with him.
Ultimately, the old man passed away with regret, without waiting for his most cherished grandson. The old man had made his will long before. After much deliberation, he left the position of heir to the eldest grandson of the eldest branch, Qi Fei.
Qi Fei was not exceptionally outstanding, but he was steady in his conduct, and it was not a problem for him to safeguard the Qi family's assets.
Old Master Qi's original intention was to have Su Chen inherit the position of family head. With his ability and decisiveness, he could definitely lead the Qi family to greater heights. However, Su Chen had no interest in dedicating himself to the Qi family.
As soon as this will was announced, it immediately caused dissatisfaction among the other branches.
Especially the fourth branch, who felt extremely unbalanced.
When the old man was alive, he clearly doted on their branch the most. Why, in his final moments, did he hand over the reins of power to the eldest branch? This will was surely problematic!
Thus, shortly after Old Master Qi was buried, internal strife erupted within the Qi family.
With the family disunited, the Qi family naturally had no energy to deal with Su Chen, an outsider. On the contrary, this allowed Su Chen to live his simple life in peace.