Lu Tingchen has recovered well after the operation and has returned to his home in a top-class apartment from the hospital to recuperate. Sunlight streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling Windows and fell upon him, reducing his usual coldness to some extent. Su Wanwan was carefully changing the dressing on his arm, her movements gentle and focused.
The doctor said you are recovering well, but you still need to rest more and not overwork. She lowered her head, her voice soft and soft, with an unshakable determination. During this period of meticulous care, she seemed much more natural in front of him. Occasionally, she even showed a hint of "restraint" that she herself didn't notice.
Lu Tingchen lowered his eyes to look at her serious profile, his long eyelashes casting a small shadow under his eyes. He made a "mm" sound as a response, but his gaze fell on her slightly pursed lips.
After changing the medicine, Su Wanwan turned around to tidy up the medicine box. Lu Tingchen's gaze casually swept over her slender figure, his eyes deep and profound. The investigation report that Qin Hao sent this morning about "Su Mingwei" going on a shopping spree and attending parties overseas recently still lay quietly in his drawer, forming a bizarre contrast with the thrifty and even somewhat overly cautious woman before him.
He knows, always knows. Keeping her might have initially been just a way to go along with the mistake and comfort her grandfather. But now... He felt that this "mistake" seemed more interesting than the "correctness".
At this moment, his personal mobile phone vibrated. It was a message from Grandpa, reminding him that he must bring "Mingwei" to the family dinner tonight to celebrate his recovery.
Lu Tingchen frowned slightly. He was about to decline, but thinking of the old man's expectant eyes, he still replied, "OK."
There's a family dinner at Grandpa's place tonight and I need to attend. He put down his phone and informed in a calm tone.
Su Wanwan paused as she tidied up the medicine box, and her heart tightened subconsciously. Here it comes again, the kind of occasion where one has to wear a mask and dance on the tip of a knife. Especially after Zhao Jing's provocation last time and Shen Zhe's unexpected appearance, she felt even more guilty.
"Must I go?" Your body..." She tried to make a last-ditch effort.
"Never mind." " Lu Tingchen interrupted her, seemingly seeing through her unease. "It's just a family dinner. Relax." Just follow me."
His tone was uneventful, yet strangely reassured her a little.
In the evening, the stylist showed up on time. Su Wanwan chose a low-key yet elegant lotus pink long dress. Her makeup was light, trying to make herself look "like" the rumored Su Mingwei whose taste sometimes deviates, without being too impolite.
Lu Tingchen looked at her and, rarely, commented, "The color is nice."
Just three simple words, yet they made Su Wanwan feel a little warm in her ears.
The Lu family's old residence was brightly lit tonight. As soon as they arrived, Grandpa Lu happily invited Su Wanwan over and carefully inquired about Lu Tingchen's recovery. He was full of praise for her, clearly extremely satisfied with this "granddaughter-in-law".
However, the warm atmosphere was soon broken. Aunt Lu Meilin came over holding a wine glass, her smile warm but not yet deep in her eyes: "Wanwan is really getting more and more like Mrs. Lu." I heard that I helped Tingchen handle some documents a while ago? What a virtuous wife! Unlike the one in our family who just knows how to buy and buy. By the way, Mingwei, the haute couture store you used to go to has a new collection recently. Didn't you go and have a look?
Here we go again. This kind of seemingly casual chat is actually a test with hidden wit.
Su Wanwan kept smiling, her heart ringing with alarm bells. How could she know which store "Su Mingwei" often goes to? She gritted her teeth and tried to muddle through: "I've been busy taking care of Tingchen recently and haven't paid much attention to these things." "
"True, Tingchen's health is the most important." " Lu Meilin nodded, but then suddenly dropped a bomb. "Come to think of it, I seemed to see your mother at a charity dinner last week. She looked so good." Didn't she say she was not feeling well and had been recuperating all along? It seems to be all right?"
Su Wanwan's blood almost froze instantly! Her mother passed away many years ago! Lu Meilin could only see Su Mingwei's mother, her aunt!
This is an extremely dangerous trap! If she admits it, it will be a huge flaw. If she denies it, it would seem inhumane and not match the identity of "Su Mingwei".
She felt that everyone's eyes were focused on her, and her palms began to sweat. Just as her mind was racing but going blank, a warm big hand naturally wrapped around her waist.
Lu Tingchen came to her side at some point and said calmly, "Auntie, you must have been mistaken." My mother-in-law has been recuperating abroad recently and hasn't returned to China for a long time. His tone was resolute, exuding an unquestionable authority. Then, he gently pinched Su Wanwan's waist, gesturing for her to keep quiet.
Lu Meilin's smile froze for a moment, then she concealed it: "Oh?" That might be my mistake. When one gets old, their eyesight deteriorates."
A crisis was defused by Lu Tingchen in a casual manner. He put his arm around Su Wanwan and chatted calmly with other relatives, as if what had just happened was just an insignificant little episode.
Su Wanwan leaned against his side, feeling the warmth and strength coming from his palm. Her heart was beating like a drum, but it was no longer pure tension; instead, it was mixed with an indescribable sense of reassurance and... Palpitations.
After the meal, the men went to the study to discuss business while the women had tea in the side hall. Su Wanwan finally found an excuse to come to the garden for some fresh air. The cool night breeze made her relax a little.
Suddenly, a warm suit jacket was draped over her shoulders.
She was startled and turned her head to meet Lu Tingchen's deep eyes.
"Scared you?" " He asked, his voice sounding particularly low in the night.
"None..." No." Su Wanwan pulled her coat tighter. The fresh scent of cedar still lingered on it. "Why are you out?" "
Come out and see if some frightened little rabbit is hiding here crying secretly. His tone carried a very faint hint of teasing.
Su Wanwan blushed and retorted in a low voice, "I'm not crying at all." "
"Well, braver than I imagined." Lu Tingchen seemed to curl the corner of his mouth. He leaned against the railing, facing her, and the moonlight outlined his superior profile.
After a moment of silence, he suddenly spoke up, "Don't take Auntie's words too seriously."
Su Wanwan lowered her head: "I'm just..." I'm afraid of embarrassing you."
"Disgraceful?" Lu Tingchen seemed to have heard something interesting. "Mrs. Lu's existence itself is enough to bring honor."
This sounds like a joke, yet also like... Flirting? Su Wanwan's heart skipped a beat and she didn't dare to think deeply.
Another night wind blew, and she involuntarily shivered.
Lu Tingchen looked at her and suddenly reached out his hand, spreading it out. Lying quietly on top was a delicately packaged fruit candy, the kind used for plating at banquets.
"Have something sweet to calm down." " His tone remained unwavering, but his eyes seemed somewhat gentle under the moonlight.
Su Wanwan stared blankly at the candy in his palm and then at him. This man, who was cold and noble in front of others, was now treating her like a child by giving her candy?
A strange emotion welled up in my heart, sour and bittersweet, yet with a hint of sweetness. She carefully picked up the slightly cool candy from his palm, her fingertips inevitably touching his warm skin, and quickly withdrew it as if she had been electrocuted.
"Thank you..." She peeled off the wrapper and put the sweet candy in her mouth. Sure enough, she felt her tense nerves relax a lot.
Lu Tingchen looked at her slightly puffed cheeks and her contented subtle expression, his eyes deepening a little.
"From now on," he suddenly spoke, his voice deep and clear, "When encountering such a problem again, if you don't want to answer, there's no need to answer." Or..."
He leaned slightly closer to her, his breath almost brushing past her earlobes: "Just tell me directly. I'll handle it."
Su Wanwan, with sugar in her mouth, froze on the spot, her heart pounding like thunder. He was too close, so close that she could make out the gaze beneath his long eyelashes, deep as if it were about to suck someone in.
What he said... What does it mean? Is it merely maintenance or... Some kind of hint?
Before she could sort out her thoughts, Lu Tingchen had already straightened up and resumed his usual sense of distance, as if the approach and whisper just now were merely her illusion.
"Let's go. It's time to go back." His tone was calm, as if it had just been as simple as handing over a tissue.
Su Wanwan followed him back in a daze. The sweet and greasy taste of the candy in her mouth melted and spread all the way to her heart, stirring up a pool of spring water.
And she had no idea that when she was disturbed by a candy, Lu Tingchen's personal mobile phone received a new message from Macau: "The target has been identified. It's confirmed to be Miss Su Mingwei. The situation is a bit complicated. Please ask for instructions."
Lu Tingchen swept across the screen expressionlessly, his fingers moving slightly, and replied with four words: "Keep a close eye on it and stand by."
The real storm is brewing quietly beneath the sweet illusion.