The setting sun streamed in through the window.
After a long silence, Luo Tianyu, who had been waiting for Lu Yunze’s answer, glanced outside and then took the initiative to speak.
“I won’t rush you for an answer right now. Go home tonight and think it over carefully.”
“Alright, Uncle Luo.”
Lu Yunze paused.
“Could you give me this photo?”
“Of course. I have no use for it anymore.”
Luo Tianyu’s lips curled up, restoring his usual geniality.
“But Lu Yunze, you need to understand that this kind of thing benefits all of us.”
Hearing those words, Lu Yunze’s steps faltered for a moment as he left the study, then quickened again.
Having this sprung on him in the evening, Lu Yunze’s state of mind was completely thrown off.
Even by dinner time, his head was still full of what Luo Tianyu had said to him.
“Lu… Brother Lu?”
“Ah, what is it?”
Lu Yunze snapped back to reality and realized Luo Yao had been staring at him.
“Why aren’t you eating? Something on your mind?” Luo Yao asked.
“Ah, no. I was just thinking about the piano competition.”
“Really?”
Luo Yao didn’t look convinced, her eyes still suspicious.
Lu Yunze instinctively tightened his grip on the photo in his pocket, trying to figure out how to brush this off.
Luo Heng, sitting on the other side, suddenly spoke up.
“Ah, Sis, stop worrying.”
“From what I know about this kid, he’s definitely got it in the bag. He’s probably thinking about how to blow that prize money on fun after winning first place.”
“Enough, enough, Second Brother, cut it out.”
“What prize money and blowing it? It’s still money—free money not taken is wasted.”
“Is it more than our allowance?”
Thanks to Luo Heng distracting Luo Yao, Lu Yunze managed to stay on the sidelines.
After quickly finishing dinner, he stood up.
“I’m heading back to my room.”
“Ah, oh.”
“See? I told you he thinks he’s already won. Why else would he be shy?”
“Second Brother, shut up.”
Among all the people, only one person’s gaze was fixed on Lu Yunze the entire time.
It was Jiang Sui, standing in the corner of the dining hall with the other servants, always on standby.
From the moment Lu Yunze started zoning out, she had narrowed her eyes slightly.
Lu Yunze returned to his room and stared at the old photo, muttering to himself.
His fingers gently traced his father’s face.
Lu Yunze closed his eyes.
The more he tried to calm down, the more Luo Tianyu’s words swirled in his mind.
“This is for your own good, and to live up to the bond between your father and me.”
“Are you really going to refuse me? Refuse your father’s final wish?”
“This kind of thing benefits all of us.”
Lu Yunze was very clear about what Luo Tianyu’s plan entailed.
After all, the Luo family did have suitable candidates.
But…
“If I agree, does it really benefit everyone?”
“Does it benefit me too?”
“Hm?”
Lu Yunze opened his eyes.
He could only hear her voice, not see her.
“Jiang Sui, where are you?”
“I’m below you.”
“Ah?”
Lu Yunze quickly looked down.
He found Jiang Sui poking her head out from under his bed, smiling at him.
“Young Master, I’m below you.”
“What are you doing?”
“I came to return the thermos.”
“How did you get in there?”
“What if I told you I dug a tunnel under the Young Master’s bed so I could get here anytime? Would you believe me?”
“No, just get out of there.”
Jiang Sui laughed twice at his speechless expression.
Instead of struggling to crawl out from under the bed herself, she reached out her hand to him.
Lu Yunze was taken aback for a moment.
Then he remembered that due to certain congenital factors, it was easy for Jiang Sui to get under the bed, but getting out again was hard.
Knowing her physical condition, she still chose to crawl in?
Lu Yunze had to admit, Jiang Sui had amused him.
After helping the little maid out from under the bed, Jiang Sui quickly noticed the photo he had placed on the table.
She picked it up and examined it closely.
One of the two people in it looked like a younger Luo Tianyu.
But the other…
Looked familiar and dear?
Jiang Sui tilted her head slightly, not thinking much of it.
“Is this the Young Master’s father?”
“Yeah, that’s him.”
“What kind of answer is that? Has the Young Master forgotten what his own father looks like?”
“That really surprises me.”
Lu Yunze gave a wry smile.
“I thought you’d be upset about missing the chance to punch him in the face.”
“Even though the photos were all deleted, I still remember that bastard dad’s face and name.”
As Jiang Sui said this, she actually raised her fist and cracked her knuckles.
“If I forgot, then when I run into him later, wouldn’t I miss the chance to punch him in the face?”
“The Young Master looks like he has something on his mind.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Yes, you do.”
“No, I don’t.”
Jiang Sui pursed her lips, leaned directly to his ear, and gently blew on it.
“You obviously do.”
Lu Yunze wanted to keep saying no.
But the girl’s warm breath made his whole body tingle, completely robbing him of the will to argue.
“Is it because of what the Old Master said to you?”
“Yeah, it is.”
“The Young Master might as well share it with me.”
Under normal circumstances, if she said this, Lu Yunze would have spilled everything.
But this time, he just couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Because Jiang Sui might also be dragged into it.
With her personality, she would easily sacrifice herself for others’ benefit.
Therefore, Lu Yunze chose to lie!
“It’s about the piano competition.”
“Oh?”
Jiang Sui raised an eyebrow.
“Because I’m not in a good state of mind, Uncle Luo called me in to scold me.”
“And… this photo?”
“Uncle Luo gave it to me to encourage me, hoping I’d do well and comfort my parents’ spirits.”
Lu Yunze looked at Jiang Sui.
Jiang Sui looked back at Lu Yunze.
Her pale violet eyes reflected his calm, unruffled expression.
The silence stretched on for a moment.
Finally, Jiang Sui broke the stiff atmosphere.
“That’s all?”
“That’s all.”
“I thought it was something serious. Turns out it’s just this little thing.”
“Could it be something big?”
Lu Yunze laughed self-deprecatingly.
Now that the “truth was out,” Jiang Sui clasped her hands behind her back and circled around him.
“If the Young Master doesn’t get first place, will he lose favor?”
“Because you didn’t follow the Old Master’s plan and disappointed him.”
“But even if the whole Luo family abandons the Young Master, I won’t despise you.”
Jiang Sui stopped behind him and gently placed her hands on his shoulders.
“Why?”
Lu Yunze couldn’t help asking.
“I believe the Young Master will always do his best to get things done.”
Her words, like a lullaby from a distant cradle, echoed in Lu Yunze’s ears.
“What I love to see most is the Young Master’s hardworking side.”
Especially the way he danced frantically in her palm to please her.
Just thinking about it made Jiang Sui feel a surge of emotion, like a tide rising within her.
“So, Young Master, don’t overthink it. Just do what you want to do.”
Before leaving, Jiang Sui gave him a smile that seemed encouraging yet meaningful.
The bedroom was left with only Lu Yunze again.
It was a long time before he snapped out of it.
Without realizing it, his mind was filled entirely with her.
“What a terrifying woman. Even without knowing the truth, she can say words that affect people’s emotions this much?”
Lu Yunze stroked his chin, the gloom on his face gradually clearing, softening again.
The next day.
Luo Tianyu’s study.
When Lu Yunze visited, Luo Tianyu had just boiled water and brewed tea.
The entire study was filled with the fragrance of tea.
“Perfect timing. Try my new tea leaves.”
He was going to have to drink tea he didn’t like again.
But Lu Yunze still took it with a straight face and took a sip under the other’s watch.
“How is it?”
“Very bitter.”
“Then it’s right. How can tea be good if it’s not bitter?”
Luo Tianyu refilled his cup and sat down across from him.
“Alright, tell me your answer.”
The geniality on the head of the Luo family’s face was completely gone, replaced by seriousness.
Lu Yunze took a deep breath and then spoke solemnly:
“Uncle Luo, after thinking it over last night, I still feel this is something I should decide for myself.”
Luo Tianyu’s fingers resting on the armrest of the chair twitched slightly, his tone indifferent:
“Why?”
“I think it’s best to be the master of my own life.”
Lu Yunze smiled gently.
“Even though you raised me, Uncle Luo, I can’t rely on you forever.”
“Otherwise, I won’t be able to live with myself, and outsiders will say I’m bringing shame to your Luo family.”
“If I say I don’t care about those outsiders’ opinions, will you still stick to your choice?”
“Yes, I will.”
“Lu Yunze, you’ve given up the best choice.”
“But I’ve chosen what I want most, and what’s definitely best for me.”
“How am I supposed to explain to your father…”
“The dead are gone, Uncle Luo. If my parents really have objections to my choice, that’s a private matter between them and me.”
That is, if they actually do appear in his dreams.
Luo Tianyu stared hard at Lu Yunze, as if trying to tear off his mask and expose his panic.
But Lu Yunze’s gaze never wavered, showing no flaw.
If Luo Tianyu forced the arrangement on him, Lu Yunze would just have to refuse with even harsher words.
“Have some tea.”
“Alright.”
Luo Tianyu’s expression suddenly softened.
“I wonder what Lu Yucheng would think if he saw you now.”
“He’d definitely be proud.”
Lu Yunze joked.
The stiffness in the study was swept away.
The usual relaxed atmosphere returned.
Neither mentioned the matter again, simply drinking morning tea and chatting about household matters.
Neither of them noticed.
Outside the study, a girl who had been eavesdropping on the entire conversation was now flushed with excitement.
‘I knew there was something fishy… But Lu Yunze refused Luo Tianyu.’
This was his first time resisting Luo Tianyu, resisting the Luo family.
A small step for him.
But a giant leap for Jiang Sui’s plan.
Now that he dared to refuse Luo Tianyu, he would dare to oppose him in the future.
Then the two would turn against each other, becoming outright enemies.
She couldn’t wait.
How she wished that scene would play out before her right now.
Lu Yunze raising a sword and pointing it at Luo Tianyu.
If it could be because of her, that would be even better.
Jiang Sui pressed her upper body completely against the door panel and took a deep breath.
Savoring it with rapture.