Lu Yunze thought that the test from Luo Tianyu would have a second stage.
But after that infiltration mission, there was no news for a long time.
Luo Tianyu did not seek Lu Yunze out, nor did he send someone to inform him of anything.
In other words, the most important thing for Lu Yunze now was practicing the piano.
To prepare for the piano competition that was less than half a month away.
However, even during these somewhat monotonous days of practice, Lu Yunze’s life was not entirely smooth; occasionally, small incidents would occur.
“Brother Lu, may I come in?”
“Ah, sure.”
After receiving permission, Luo Yao entered the piano room and couldn’t help looking around.
“What’s wrong?”
Lu Yunze wiped the sweat from his face and asked.
“I just wanted to come see my hardworking Brother Lu.”
As she spoke, Luo Yao walked to the piano and saw the large hanging painting on the wall.
Especially when her eyes fell on the woman beside Luo Tianyu, Luo Yao’s expression and movements froze.
No one knew what she was thinking.
“I heard this is your mother, Luo Yao?”
Lu Yunze took the initiative to speak.
“Yes.”
Luo Yao came back to her senses, a hint of sadness coloring her expression.
“But I feel like I’ve almost forgotten her face. I didn’t expect there to still be a painting of her and father here.”
“By the way, what kind of person was your mother?”
Although it sounded like a simple question, it left Luo Yao momentarily troubled.
“It’s okay. I’ve also forgotten many details about my mother. Brother Lu is in a similar situation to you.”
Lu Yunze smiled bitterly.
“Sorry.”
If Luo Yao had turned around and asked him about his own parents, Lu Yunze would have found it difficult to answer.
Even though he deeply remembered their existence.
But the details about them, even the memories of living with them, seemed to be covered in a blurry filter.
He felt they couldn’t continue this topic.
Lu Yunze quickly smiled and said:
“You definitely didn’t come just for this, right?”
“As expected of Brother Lu.”
Luo Yao brought her hands from behind her back, holding a small thermos cup.
“Because I’ve seen Brother Lu practicing so hard recently, I brought you a summer heat relief remedy.”
“Sweet water?”
“It’s mung bean paste.”
Luo Yao’s eyes sparkled, seemingly expecting Lu Yunze to show a look of extreme gratitude.
But she waited for a while, and Lu Yunze’s expression was not what she had imagined.
Instead, he looked somewhat troubled.
“What’s wrong? Brother Lu doesn’t like it?”
“No, that’s not it.”
Lu Yunze paused here.
“Actually, I already had a drink, and I can’t fit any more in my stomach right now.”
“I see. Then Brother Lu, take it first. You can drink it when you want to.”
“How about I just not take it?”
“…”
A hint of coldness crept into Luo Yao’s smile.
“Brother Lu, you don’t have any secrets from me, do you?”
Until Lu Yunze said:
“How could that be? Since my good sister brought me something nice, of course I’ll accept it.”
Only then did Luo Yao’s smile return to normal, and she left with a bouncing step.
Bang.
Lu Yunze only breathed a sigh of relief after hearing the door close.
At the same time, a soft and seductive voice sounded beside him:
“I never thought Miss would have the same idea as me. How rare.”
Jiang Sui, who had been hiding behind the piano, sat on the piano body, crossing her long legs in black silk stockings, her slender calves dangling in the air.
“What’s so strange about her wanting to express her goodwill?”
“Strange, very strange.”
Based on Jiang Sui’s understanding of Luo Yao, she shouldn’t be this smart.
She should continue to play the role of a naive sweet girl, waiting for Lu Yunze to come to her willingly.
But in recent days, Luo Yao’s attention towards Lu Yunze had noticeably increased.
The frequency of their interactions had also clearly risen.
Lu Yunze might not have noticed, but Jiang Sui saw through her scheme at a glance.
This woman definitely had something up her sleeve.
Seeing that Lu Yunze was still holding that thermos cup, Jiang Sui pouted.
“Young Master seems to really like that thing. Even though I also gave Young Master mung bean paste.”
“It’s all care from you two. Is it strange that I accept it?”
“Strange, very strange.”
The little maid kicked off her leather shoes and rested her black-silk-clad feet on his thigh.
“What I want to ask is, between Miss’s and mine, which does Young Master prefer?”
“Is this a death question?”
Lu Yunze smiled wryly.
“It’s not a death question; I’m asking for Young Master’s opinion.”
Jiang Sui looked quite proud.
“If a maid doesn’t even know her master’s opinion, wouldn’t that be a failure?”
So, Lu Yunze, tell me your thoughts quickly.
Her gem-like eyes reflected his face, with no room for anything else.
She gently lifted her small foot, pressing it against Lu Yunze’s chin, forcing him to look up at her, not allowing him to look away.
If it were his former self, faced with this situation, he would probably be thinking of how to escape.
But Lu Yunze just kept a relaxed smile, caught her foot, and slowly lowered it.
“Of course it’s yours.”
This was not a lie, but a sincere answer.
In terms of care, Jiang Sui had always far surpassed Luo Yao in both speed and quality.
If he could give any other answer, he would feel he was betraying himself.
Jiang Sui narrowed her eyes slightly, as if testing the authenticity of this answer.
After a moment, she withdrew her foot and sat cross-legged.
“I knew it. Compared to mung bean paste, Young Master prefers to eat me.”
“Weren’t we just talking about mung bean paste?”
“Oh, were we talking about mung bean paste?”
Jiang Sui pretended to be surprised, lightly covering her mouth.
Lu Yunze gave her a look.
A sly glint flashed in Jiang Sui’s eyes again.
“Could Young Master trouble himself to put my shoes on for me? If they get dirty, I’ll have more work to do.”
“Speaking of which, I should go to work now, or I’ll get docked pay.”
Even though she could just get off the piano.
‘Lu Yunze complained internally.’
But he still picked up the small leather shoes from the floor and crouched in front of her.
With one hand holding her black-silk-clad foot, he slipped on the leather shoe and fastened the laces.
As soon as he finished, Jiang Sui jumped off the piano.
Her mischievous skirt bounced, revealing her firm and plump thigh.
Backless short-skirt maid uniform, black silk tights, and small leather shoes.
Her outfit made Lu Yunze exclaim:
“Bliss!”
Taking advantage of his daze, Jiang Sui snatched the thermos cup from his hand.
“Since Young Master prefers to eat me, let me take care of this for Young Master. Don’t worry, I’ll return it tonight.”
“Alright, just don’t get caught.”
‘What a little glutton.’
Lu Yunze complained internally.
Of course, he would never have guessed that Jiang Sui’s first thought after getting the thermos cup was to figure out which trash can to dump it in.
After parting with Jiang Sui, Lu Yunze spent the rest of the afternoon diligently practicing the piano.
Near evening, he finished the last piece, struck the final note heavily, and let out a long breath.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The sudden applause startled Lu Yunze.
He turned his head, thinking it was Jiang Sui or Luo Yao again.
Unexpectedly, it was Luo Tianyu who had graced him with his presence.
“Uncle Luo?”
“Good progress. You’re clearly more proficient than last month.”
“Haha, of course. Since you asked me to get first place, how could I dare slack off?”
Luo Tianyu also smiled.
“Done for today?”
“Almost.”
“Then let’s go. Follow me.”
Although he didn’t quite understand why he was suddenly being called, Lu Yunze tidied up and followed behind him.
There was still a little time before dinner.
The direction they were heading in didn’t seem to be the dining hall.
“Lu Yunze, have you seriously considered the matter of marriage?”
Why did Uncle Luo suddenly bring this up?
“I am taking your father’s place to take care of you, so I need to consider all aspects for you.”
Luo Tianyu continued:
“At your age, it’s time to think seriously about this kind of thing.”
“Uh…”
Lu Yunze looked troubled.
“Tell me, do you have someone you like?”
A familiar figure appeared in Lu Yunze’s mind.
But he was still very hesitant.
“I… I think so.”
“You either have or you don’t.”
“Then I do.”
Luo Tianyu was silent for a moment.
“What’s her name?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is she also in Central City?”
“I don’t know.”
“What is she like?”
“I don’t know.”
Luo Tianyu’s expression became unnatural.
“You brat, you don’t know anything about her. Are you deliberately messing with me?”
“Uncle Luo, I really don’t know.”
Lu Yunze was also at a loss for words.
“It’s been years since we last met. A girl changes a lot in that time, doesn’t she?”
The look Luo Tianyu gave him gradually became sharp.
“Can you still meet her?”
But he didn’t get angry on the spot; instead, he continued in a flat tone:
“I don’t know.”
“Since that’s the case, how about you just listen to my arrangement?”
“Uh… how could I trouble Uncle Luo like that?”
As they spoke, the two arrived at Luo Tianyu’s study.
The head of the Luo family stopped talking and rummaged through the desk drawer.
After a moment, he pulled out a photo and pushed it in front of Lu Yunze.
There were two people in the photo.
One of them was clearly a much younger Luo Tianyu.
The other…
“This is…”
“Father?”
Lu Yunze still remembered that face.
He never thought Luo Tianyu would still have a photo with his own father.
“I’ve been telling you since the beginning, given my relationship with Lu Yucheng, now that he’s gone, I have to take good care of you.”
Luo Tianyu sat down and crossed his hands.
“Since you’re lost, I’ll have to be the one to give you a push.”
“This is for your own good, and to not betray the bond between your father and me. What do you think?”
Lu Yunze looked at the photo, and after a long while, he raised his head to meet his gaze.
“What if… I say no?”
Luo Tianyu narrowed his eyes.
“Are you really going to refuse me, and refuse your father’s last wish? Lu Yunze.”
A sense of pressure descended upon the study once again.
Even though the sun was about to set.
Lu Yunze felt the air grow cold.