The embarrassment and grievance brought by Wang Meijuan were strangely soothed by a large part in Lu Tingchen's stiff yet powerful embrace.
Su Wanwan was crying her heart out. Leaning against his arms, her nose was filled with the fresh and pleasant scent of cedar from him, mixed with a hint of faint tobacco. She could hear his steady heartbeat, which came through the fabric of his shirt, one after another, tapping on her chaotic mind, bringing an unprecedented sense of security.
Lu Tingchen's body was always a bit stiff. It was obvious that he was not used to such long periods of close contact with others, especially when playing the role of a comforter. But he didn't push her away. Even when her crying gradually subsided, the hand on her back clumsily patted her twice more.
"All right?" His voice came from above, still in the same undulating tone, but it seemed a little lower and softer than usual.
Su Wanwan withdrew from his arms, feeling embarrassed. Her eyes and nose were red from crying, like a rabbit that had suffered a lot of injustice. She didn't dare to look at him. With her head lowered, her voice still carried a heavy nasal tone: "Sorry, I got your clothes wet..." "
Lu Tingchen lowered his eyes and glanced at the dark water stain on the shirt on his chest. He said nothing but handed her a clean handkerchief.
"Thank you..." Su Wanwan took it, held it in her hand, and the warmth she had drawn from him still lingered on her fingertips.
"From now on, no one from the Su family will disturb you anymore." " Lu Tingchen spoke up, his tone calm yet resolute, "I will handle this matter thoroughly."
Su Wanwan suddenly looked up and asked, "What are you going to do?" After all, she is my aunt..." She was worried that Lu Tingchen would resort to overly drastic measures.
"Don't worry," Lu Tingchen saw through her concerns and said indifferently, "Just make them clear about their position and the price of crossing the line." His gaze fell on her still red-rimmed eyes, his expression slightly darkened. "My Mrs. Lu, not everyone can come and cause trouble." "
"My Mrs. Lu"...
These words were uttered by him in that calm and unflustered tone, yet they seemed to carry a scorching heat, unexpectedly imprinted on Su Wanwan's heart, causing her chest to tremble and her cheeks, which had just cooled down, to quietly burn again.
He... What does he mean by that? Is it just to save face for the Lu family, or...
Before she could sort out her jumbled thoughts, Lu Tingchen had already changed the subject: "There's a charity auction dinner tonight and I need you to accompany me."
"Ah?" Tonight?" Su Wanwan was somewhat surprised. She was in a low mood now and really didn't want to go to such a place where she needed to pretend.
"Um." " Lu Tingchen looked at her and said, "Don't want to go?"
"... No." Su Wanwan shook her head. She knew that this kind of occasion was one of Mrs. Lu's duties.
"Just take it as a way to relax." " Lu Tingchen, rarely, explained one more sentence, "Just show up. If you don't like it, you can leave early."
His thoughtfulness made it impossible for her to refuse.
In the evening, the styling team arrived on time. Perhaps to make up for the grievance in the afternoon, Lu Tingchen personally chose a sky blue strapless long dress for her. The lines were simple and smooth, making her skin look as white as snow and as fresh and elegant as the sky after the rain.
He also took out a velvet box, inside which was a diamond necklace. The main diamond was a rare blue one, crystal clear and complementing the color of the dress perfectly.
"Too expensive..." Su Wanwan subconsciously refused.
It goes perfectly with a skirt. Lu Tingchen didn't say a word and put it on for her himself. The cold diamond clung to the skin below her collarbone and was quickly warmed up by the body temperature. Occasionally, his cool fingertips brushed against the back of her neck, causing a slight shudder.
Looking at the self he had dressed up with his own hands in the mirror, Su Wanwan's heart rate uncontrollably accelerated once again.
At the dinner party, as expected, there were once again a gathering of celebrities and the clinking of glasses. Su Wanwan held Lu Tingchen's arm and tried hard to play the role of the elegant and proper Mrs. Lu. After what happened in the afternoon, she seemed to have a better understanding of the gaze and pressure carried by this identity, and could also feel more the world that this man beside her had unconsciously created for her.
He still didn't talk much, but when someone came over to exchange greetings, he would naturally bring her into the conversation. Before her wine glass was empty, he would signal the waiter to refill it with juice. When she had been standing in high heels for a while, he would lead her to the lounge area to sit down.
This meticulous care has drawn envious glances from many socialites and ladies.
"Mr. Lu and his wife are truly in love." "
"Mrs. Lu, is this necklace the 'Deep Blue Heart' at the auction?" "Mr. Lu is really generous." "
Su Wanwan could only keep smiling, but her heart was filled with a mixture of emotions. How much of all this thoughtfulness and luxury is genuine and how much is just acting?
Halfway through, Su Wanwan went to the bathroom to touch up her makeup. Just as I stepped out, I heard a familiar and repulsive sound at the corner of the corridor.
It was Zhao Jing and several young ladies who were on good terms with her.
"... "Love?" Just acting! Do you really believe it?" Zhao Jing's voice was full of sarcasm. "Just a fake. Do you really think you've become a phoenix by flying onto a branch?"
"Sister Jing, you can't say such things randomly!" " Someone chimed in.
"Am I talking nonsense?" " Zhao Jing sneered, "Just wait and see. That mess from the Su family will drag her down sooner or later!" Let's see if she can still enjoy the glory of Mrs. Lu at that time! Tingchen was just having some fun for a moment..."
Vicious words hissed into Su Wanwan's ears like venomous snake's tentacles. The grievance and embarrassment that had just subsided in the afternoon welled up in her heart again, making her shiver all over and her face pale.
She was at a loss when a warm big hand suddenly wrapped around her waist.
Lu Tingchen appeared by her side at some point, his face terrifyingly cold. He didn't even look at Su Wanwan. He directly put his arm around her and strode towards the group of women who were talking animatedly.
When Zhao Jing and the others saw Lu Tingchen suddenly appear, they fell silent at once, and a look of panic appeared on their faces.
Lu Tingchen stood still in front of them, his gaze sweeping over Zhao Jing like an ice blade. His voice was not loud, but it instantly froze the air around him.
Miss Zhao, it seems that the lesson from last time wasn't enough. Do you need me to remind your father that Zhao's recent project is still waiting for Lu's approval?"
Zhao Jing's face turned deathly pale in an instant: "Tingchen, I..." I didn't mean that...
"Besides," Lu Tingchen wouldn't listen to her explanation at all. He looked coldly at the others, "I don't want to hear any more false rumors about my wife." Otherwise, I don't mind having each of your family businesses run into a little "trouble"."
Those few young ladies were so frightened that they dared not breathe and kept nodding their heads.
Only then did Lu Tingchen lower his head to look at Su Wanwan in his arms. His tone instantly softened, with a clear sense of protection: "It's okay now. Let's go home." "
He held her in his arms and left the stage straight amid all the astonished or inquisitive gazes, leaving behind a deathly silence and Zhao Jing's face as pale as paper.
Inside the extended Lincoln, the atmosphere was quiet.
Su Wanwan watched the dazzling lights rapidly receding outside the window, feeling extremely frustrated in her heart. Although Zhao Jing's words were harsh, they were like a thorn that pierced into her deepest fear - impostors, just for fun, will be dragged down sooner or later...
Don't take those people's words to heart. Lu Tingchen's voice broke the silence.
Su Wanwan turned her head, her eyes slightly red: "What she said is the truth, isn't it?" I do... It's just a fake. The Su family is indeed a trouble." Her voice carried self-mockery and a sense of powerlessness.
Lu Tingchen stared at her. In the dim light of the carriage, his eyes were deep and indistinguishable.
Suddenly, he reached out his hand, not touching her face but gently lifting her chin with his knuckles, forcing her to look at him.
"Su Wanwan," he called her by her full name, his voice deep and clear, "Listen up for me."
"Whether it's a fake or not, I have the final say." "
"Whether the Su family is in trouble or not is up to me to judge." "
"As for playing around?" " He gave a sneer and gently stroked her chin with his thumb, bringing a tingling sensation. "My time, Lu Tingchen, is precious. I have no time to play such a boring game."
His gaze was too aggressive and his words too direct. Su Wanwan was completely stunned, her heart pounding like a drum, and she stared at him blankly.
"Right now, you just need to remember one thing," his knuckles tightened slightly, his tone carrying an unquestionable strength and a hint of... What does a commitment mean? You bear Mrs. Lu's name, so you belong to me, Lu Tingchen. Whoever embarrasses you is slapping me in the face.
"So, stand up straight." " He let go of his hand, leaned back in his chair, and resumed his usual indifferent posture, as if the almost confessing words just now had not come from him. "If the sky were to fall, I would hold it up."
Su Wanwan touched the chin he had touched, where the warmth and strength of his fingertips still lingered. Looking at his perfect profile, she felt as if a huge rock had been thrown into her heart, causing a tempest.
He said... Is she his man?
He said... If the sky were to fall, would he hold it up?
This... Is this considered an admission of her identity? Or another form of contract?
The car was driving smoothly on its way home. The cabin was silent, but something was quietly changing. It could no longer return to that pure and cold transactional relationship as before.
What Su Wanwan didn't know was that after they left, on the terrace of the dinner party, Lu Meilin was looking at the anonymous photo she had just received on her phone - in the photo, the real Su Mingwei was gambling extravagantly in a Macau casino, and the scene was crystal clear.
She smiled contentedly and forwarded the photo to a number noted as "Media Friends".
The storm has never truly moved away.