Chapter 86

The bend in Xiao Luyan’s heart jumped out again, blocking her wave after wave of discomfort. She really wanted to cross over it, but she always lacked that one powerful encouragement.

“Hiss.” Lu Yuezhi let out a muffled grunt.

Xiao Luyan abruptly let go, her expression somewhat panicked.

Lu Yuezhi thought she had been scared: “It doesn’t hurt. I was just calling out casually.”

It did hurt a little, and she didn’t know why Xiao Luyan had suddenly increased her strength. But as soon as she saw the slightly uneasy look on Xiao Luyan’s face, how could Lu Yuezhi bear to let her blame herself.

“It really doesn’t hurt.” She shook the hand that had just been gripped back and forth, proving it was perfectly fine.

The more she shook, the more Xiao Luyan’s heart swayed. That bend still loomed there, but the smile in Lu Yuezhi’s eyes gradually gave her energy.

She lowered her gaze and stayed silent for a moment, as if wrestling with it.

Lu Yuezhi also looked down, wanting to ask after her in concern, when her brain suddenly jolted awake: Restrain yourself!

So she stiffly raised her head and said in a slightly faint voice: “It’s so late, and you’re not sleeping. You won’t have any energy for work tomorrow.”

Xiao Luyan lifted her eyes and met Lu Yuezhi’s warm gaze, but it seemed to lack something compared to before.

She paused: “You should sleep early too. Good night.”

“Good night.”

Lu Yuezhi was still busy. Besides editing photos in the studio until late, she occasionally had to attend some social engagements. The Cultural Heritage Bureau’s submission results came out, and Lu Yuezhi successfully made the cut.

Xiao Luyan had actually learned the result a bit earlier than her, but considering Lu Yuezhi’s previous attitude, she didn’t mention it.

Sure enough, when Lu Yuezhi told her the news, her eyes held a smile, along with an indescribable sense of pride.

It wasn’t arrogant self-satisfaction, but the vibrant energy unique to young people—a outlook on the future and affirmation of the past.

From that uninhibited smile, Xiao Luyan felt vitality and fighting spirit, thinking that Lu Yuezhi’s drive in pursuing her career was no less than her own.

That was good. She sincerely felt happy for Lu Yuezhi.

If there was anything not good, it was that Lu Yuezhi’s social engagements had increased. The Cultural Heritage Bureau organized events every few days, saying it was to let the newly selected photographers understand more and cooperate more smoothly.

The Cultural Heritage Bureau’s projects rarely highlighted individuals; they emphasized collectivity. But the advantage was that everyone who participated got a share, and their names would be recorded in those works, adding to their resumes while getting them known in the industry.

Lu Yuezhi hadn’t been keen on these things before, and she didn’t particularly like them now. But this was the path she had chosen herself. To get good results, she had to bear the corresponding costs.

Fortunately, the Cultural Heritage Bureau had some cultural foundation. Though the gatherings were frequent, forcing drinks wasn’t common. Occasionally, she came back with a bit of alcohol breath, purely because others drank too much.

Xiao Luyan had worked overtime for three consecutive days. This day, she finally got off work on time. She picked up her phone, wanting to ask Lu Yuezhi what time she would get off today.

She had no social engagements tonight, or she would have said so already.

Lu Yuezhi: 【Not sure when I can get back. Have to revise a set of photos temporarily.】

Uncertainty again!

This time, however, Xiao Luyan didn’t flare up. Instead, it was thick disappointment.

Lu Yuezhi hadn’t gotten off work on time in a long time. They… hadn’t had a proper dinner together in quite a while either.

Even breakfast was just ten hurried minutes together.

Not enough. Far from enough!

Xiao Luyan spaced out, nostalgic for things that had been commonplace before. She even wanted to relive them right away.

The thought of going back to an empty home made her anticipation for getting off work dissipate instantly. Xiao Luyan leaned idly back in her chair, not in a hurry to leave.

She didn’t want to go home, wasn’t hungry, but her mind wouldn’t stop.

She repeatedly recalled many things after meeting Lu Yuezhi, especially after they got married and moved under the same roof. She had become familiar with many details in the house now, knowing where some decorations were bought and how many adjustments it took to place them there.

That home really seemed to have half of her in it.

Her lips curved up unconsciously. Just reminiscing filled her heart with warmth. She simply closed her eyes, letting herself fully relax.

Lu Yuezhi’s innocent face appeared before her eyes, those eyes always reflecting herself, as if her world really only had one Xiao Luyan.

Xiao Luyan pursed her lips bitterly, her thoughts interrupted.

That bend was still there, but this time, she kind of wanted to go around it.

She thought that even if Lu Yuezhi was self-indulging, at least this moment’s feelings were real. She shouldn’t demand perfection excessively. Perhaps that kind of relationship she expected didn’t even exist in this world.

True feelings had always been scarce in her world. Encountering such pure sentiment was already very rare. If she nitpicked, she would be too idealistic.

Demanding perfection? Idealism?

Weren’t those the words netizens complained about Virgos the most? How had they fallen on her now?

Xiao Luyan couldn’t help but chuckle. Lu Yuezhi hadn’t demanded this of her, yet she kept troubling herself.

She took a deep breath, trying to convince herself: No need to be so particular. Perfect things were basically nonexistent in this world.

She had handled so many artifacts, no matter how valuable, they all had flaws. But surviving through the ages to the present was perfection in itself.

With that thought, that bend didn’t seem so blocked anymore.

Xiao Luyan steadied her mind and drove to Lu Yuezhi’s studio.

She rarely came here, and the longest stay had been on opening day. Coming now was a bit abrupt, but she really wanted to have dinner with Lu Yuezhi.

Carrying takeout, Xiao Luyan parked and sent Lu Yuezhi a message.

Lu Yuezhi wondered why Xiao Luyan had suddenly come over, and even brought food. She had just gotten takeout from Xiao Tao and, upon seeing the message, decisively gave it back to Xiao Tao.

“Take today’s dinner.”

Xiao Tao was a bit confused, but since the boss insisted, she really took it. She thought Lu Yuezhi was a good boss—often worked overtime herself but rarely dragged employees along without reason, and was generous, frequently sharing tasty food.

She hadn’t expected even dinner to be shared now. Had the boss leveled up to ironman?

The studio was very quiet, but Lu Yuezhi had no heart to continue. Before, she had been focused solely on finishing the edits quickly. Now that Xiao Luyan was coming, she only wanted to see her quickly.

She had been too busy lately, so busy that she didn’t even have a chance to look properly at Xiao Luyan. She could only keep consoling herself that this was a form of restrained subtlety, but she still wanted to very much.

As soon as Xiao Luyan’s message arrived, Lu Yuezhi dashed out.

Seeing the person carrying a bag in one hand and food in the other, she couldn’t care less about restraint, smiling as she went to welcome her.

“I’ll take it.” Lu Yuezhi reached out with both hands.

Xiao Luyan only handed over her bag: “Thanks for the trouble.”

Her bag wasn’t heavy, and she hadn’t felt right letting Lu Yuezhi carry it before. But Lu Yuezhi always smiled and took the initiative to share the load, and it gradually became habit.

Lu Yuezhi took it naturally but still wanted to make Xiao Luyan more comfortable.

Xiao Luyan gently dodged: “It’s not heavy. Let’s go.”

Lu Yuezhi didn’t push and walked side by side with her toward the studio.

“How did you think to come at this time?” Xiao Luyan had only messaged asking if she wanted to eat together, then drove over. Lu Yuezhi hadn’t had a chance to ask in detail.

Xiao Luyan’s hand tightened on the food box, her tone casual: “On the way, so I came to take a look.”

Getting off work on the way? Lu Yuezhi thought that didn’t make much sense, since she knew exactly where home was.

Xiao Luyan looked straight ahead, her ears hidden in her long hair: “Finished talking business with a client. It’s pretty close to here.”

So that was it. It really was on the way.

Lu Yuezhi looked down at the things in her hand. Though it was takeout, the restaurant name showed it wasn’t casual. It really seemed like something brought along after entertaining a client.

She hadn’t expected Xiao Luyan to remember her after her engagement and bring food. Lu Yuezhi’s smile became even brighter.

“Then won’t you be too full?” She had thought they would eat together, but now it seemed more likely Xiao Luyan would watch her eat.

It was also possible Xiao Luyan would set down the food box, sit for a bit, and then head back first.

At that thought, Lu Yuezhi felt a bit disappointed.

But no matter what, Xiao Luyan’s arrival was a surprise. No matter how long she stayed, it was delightful.

Once at the studio, Lu Yuezhi finally took the food box from Xiao Luyan’s hand.

She hefted it—quite heavy, much more than she imagined.

Bringing so much, she couldn’t finish it. While sighing, Lu Yuezhi sped up her tidying.

Xiao Luyan sat on the sofa in Lu Yuezhi’s office, looking around.

She had been here before, so it wasn’t unfamiliar. But last time it had been bustling with people, far from this quiet now.

The desk was a bit messy, but not the kind that irritated. Xiao Luyan recalled Lu Yuezhi’s mild OCD and curved her lips.

Lu Yuezhi happened to come in and saw her smiling.

“What did you see?” She was curious, without a trace of tension or unease.

As if nothing here needed hiding, this complete openness further solidified Xiao Luyan’s earlier self-persuasion.

As long as Lu Yuezhi was one hundred percent now, why demand the future. There weren’t that many “must be you” in this world.

With less stubbornness, Xiao Luyan relaxed more.

She took the food box from Lu Yuezhi’s hand, and the two sat side by side on the sofa to eat.

Lu Yuezhi had originally worried she wouldn’t eat much, but unexpectedly Xiao Luyan had a good appetite.

“The client today was hard to deal with?”

Xiao Luyan paused: “Why do you say that?”

“You look like you haven’t eaten much.” She must have been focused on the discussion, or she wouldn’t be hungry until now.

Her ears hidden in long hair grew a bit hot. Xiao Luyan hummed and continued eating.

Lu Yuezhi felt sorry for her and sighed.

Xiao Luyan’s hand shook as she looked at her: “What’s wrong?”

“You’re really working hard.”

Seeing that familiar, nostalgic gaze of concern, Xiao Luyan’s heart stirred. She felt coming tonight was pretty good.

That nonexistent client was pretty good too, at least letting her relive Lu Yuezhi’s care.

She glanced at the desk: “Aren’t you working harder?”

Busy for so many days, eyes all red like that.

But Lu Yuezhi didn’t think much of it: “I like doing this. Once I’m immersed, it doesn’t feel hard.”

She thought for a moment and swallowed the other reason temporarily.

Su Yiqui’s work had already started. Though she hadn’t deliberately asked about progress, from Xiao Luyan’s recent mood, the shoot seemed to be going smoothly.

On one hand, smooth shooting meant shorter collaboration time, which was good. On the other, Su Yiqui’s resume got richer, so she had to step it up.

Xiao Luyan didn’t know she still remembered this and had deliberately not mentioned it lately.

“Day after tomorrow is Grandpa’s place. You remember, right?”

“I remember. I’ve already scheduled that day’s work.” No engagements, no overtime.

Xiao Luyan smiled, a bit happy.

Regular visits to the Wu Family weren’t anything to look forward to. But Lu Yuezhi not working overtime that day meant they could eat together and chat a bit. That was what Xiao Luyan wanted now.