Chapter 87

This Friday was the day they had to go back to the Wu Family for dinner. Xiao Luyan had specially asked about it the day before yesterday, so Lu Yuezhi naturally wouldn’t forget.

After getting married, the place they visited most was the Wu Family. At first, Lu Yuezhi thought it was because Wu Hengnian’s health wasn’t good, so he needed more time with family. Later, she realized it wasn’t entirely that, because compared to the Wu Family, they went to the Xiao Family far less often—and the Xiao Family hadn’t mentioned it even once.

Even He Yunqing occasionally complained that Xiao Luyan was too busy and they hardly saw her. But Lu Yuezhi didn’t dare say that to Xiao Luyan; she could only nag a bit when “caring” about her daughter’s career progress.

Lu Yuezhi, of course, ignored it. She had no desire to bring Xiao Luyan back to the Lu Family. But the Xiao Family didn’t even mention it? Or had they said something that Xiao Luyan just hadn’t told her?

She was a little curious. But thinking of Xiao Luyan’s usual style, Lu Yuezhi dismissed the idea of prying. She knew family internal dynamics like these were bound to be complicated. Her own mother got smug just knowing a little, which showed how many people were eager to snoop.

Lu Yuezhi sighed. She wanted to know too, but not to show off that she knew more than others.

Xiao Tao was cleaning and passed by Lu Yuezhi’s office. She poked her head in and asked, “Weren’t you supposed to leave early today? Why do you look unhappy?”

The boss had been staying late most nights lately. It was rare to see her planning to head out early, so why the sigh?

Lu Yuezhi curled her lips. “I’m happy. Why wouldn’t I be?”

She slung her bag over her shoulder and walked out, glancing at her phone. “I’m off. The rest is up to you all—sorry to trouble you.”

Xiao Tao gave a thumbs-up OK. “No slacking, guaranteed.”

Lu Yuezhi still smiled. “Don’t overdo it either. Have a great weekend.”

Xiao Tao didn’t stop just because Lu Yuezhi had left. The work wasn’t tiring, and Lu Yuezhi wasn’t demanding. In fact, she was coming to cherish this job more and more.

The job market was tough right now. As an art graduate from an ordinary school, finding work had been hard. She didn’t want to scam parents at a tutoring center, so she lowered her expectations and took a front desk gig.

She’d thought it’d just be odd jobs, but Lu Yuezhi turned out to be generous. She didn’t act superior even when Xiao Tao wanted to chat photography tips. The work wasn’t heavy, her boss and colleagues were easy to get along with, and she was learning skills. For Xiao Tao, it was a pleasant surprise.

The more surprised she was, the more she wanted to treasure it. With that thought, Xiao Tao was full of energy and in no rush to clock out.

The Wu Family was in the western suburbs of Sea City. Whether coming from Deyounian or the photography studio, they had to pass a busy intersection. To avoid getting stuck in traffic, Xiao Luyan hadn’t let her come pick her up.

At the end of her workday, Xiao Luyan saw Lu Yuezhi’s message that she’d already set off. Her lips curved slightly upward.

No sign of those three uncertain words—her mood was pretty good.

Cheng Yanran came to pick up some files and saw her master looking down at her phone, so she waited quietly for a bit.

Xiao Luyan swiftly packed her things. Seeing her standing there like a post, she smiled and asked, “Standing there like a wooden post—what are you doing?”

Cheng Yanran hadn’t expected her master to tease her right off the bat. She froze for a second.

“I…” Her eyes flicked to the desk.

Xiao Luyan understood and handed it over casually. “You could’ve picked it up Monday morning just the same.”

Cheng Yanran took the files. “Didn’t want it hanging over my weekend.”

Xiao Luyan had never had strong feelings about weekends before. To her, if there were no unavoidable social obligations, weekends meant working from home. She might squeeze in a brief relaxation with friends now and then, but that was it.

She didn’t treat those two days as anything special.

Perhaps because she was in such a good mood today, her curiosity stirred. “How do you usually spend your weekends?”

“Sleeping in.” Cheng Yanran reminisced blissfully. “Until I wake up naturally, then binge some shows, eat delicious food, and chat with my girlfriends if there’s time.”

Xiao Luyan was puzzled. “That’s it?”

Was that worth looking forward to? Judging by Cheng Yanran’s eager expression, it apparently was.

“Because it’s total relaxation—complete freedom.”

Relaxation? Xiao Luyan thought about it. She quite liked that feeling too. Whenever she was at home with Lu Yuezhi, it felt that way.

Seeing her master unconsciously smile again, Cheng Yanran guessed her emotional state had improved lately. Especially these past couple days—she’d clearly noticed her master’s mood was much brighter, not like the constant frowns before.

“Actually, no matter what you do, it depends on your mood. Anything that makes you feel happy—even small, everyday things—can be plenty appealing.”

Cheng Yanran’s words gave Xiao Luyan pause. Hadn’t that impulse to drive to the studio come from just such little things?

As it turned out, after going there for dinner, her mood had indeed improved a lot.

Xiao Luyan grabbed her bag and headed out. “Then have a pleasant weekend.”

Cheng Yanran watched her master’s elegant figure recede into the distance before snapping back to herself. Her master was a bit off today, but it was a good kind of off.

When they arrived at the Wu Family, Lu Yuezhi’s first question was, “Was work tiring today?”

This time, Xiao Luyan didn’t hand her the bag. She smiled faintly. “Not at all.”

Lu Yuezhi pondered for a moment. She wanted to ask about the shooting progress. She’d deliberately not asked lately, but she actually cared a lot. It was a project Xiao Luyan valued so highly—she couldn’t bring herself to be indifferent.

But she was afraid of hearing about Su Yiqui. That would just annoy her.

Xiao Luyan saw she seemed preoccupied. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Lu Yuezhi smiled and took her hand, leading her inside.

Right after they got married, probably to reassure the family, Xiao Luyan would make deliberate intimate gestures—like linking arms or leaning in very close.

Over time, with repetition, it became habit.

But today, being suddenly led by the hand made her tremble slightly.

Her heart rate spiked unexpectedly, her palm heating up fast. The abnormal reaction startled her, and she instinctively wanted to pull away.

Lu Yuezhi thought she wasn’t feeling well. “Why are you so hot?”

The weather had cooled a lot. Even staying in the car the whole time, it shouldn’t be this warm.

Her free hand lifted, as if to press against her forehead and check her temperature.

Xiao Luyan’s breathing grew heavier too. Remembering the last time she’d done that, her palm burned hotter.

Suddenly, Xiao Luyan pulled hard, and their hands came apart.

Lu Yuezhi was a bit surprised and stared at her blankly.

Xiao Luyan averted her eyes, reining in the chaos. “Maybe because there are more family members at home today.”

Lu Yuezhi mulled it over. “So you’re irritated?”

Xiao Luyan didn’t care if the excuse fit; she just nodded. “Yeah.”

She was indeed a bit restless, yet she couldn’t quite put her finger on why.

Lu Yuezhi waited silently for a moment, in no rush to keep going. Xiao Luyan had no idea what she was waiting for, so she asked, “Why aren’t we walking?”

Lu Yuezhi smiled. “Waiting for you to be less irritated.”

Xiao Luyan raised a brow.

Her hand was taken again, this time a bit looser, like it was just loosely hooked.

“Better now?” Lu Yuezhi checked and found it wasn’t as hot.

Xiao Luyan’s ears began to heat up—thank goodness her long hair covered them.

“Yeah, let’s head in.” She stepped forward first, ending up as if she were the one leading Lu Yuezhi.

When they returned, Wu Wanqian eyed them over as usual before telling them to go keep Wu Hengnian company.

Wu Hengnian’s spirits were good. The recent quiet recuperation had clearly helped.

After chatting about recent events, the topic shifted to Old Master Quan’s Birthday Banquet. The date had been changed recently and was now set for next week.

“You two leave early that day—don’t be late,” Wu Hengnian said mildly.

“Got it,” Xiao Luyan replied just as mildly.

Lu Yuezhi didn’t chime in, waiting quietly for him to say more. She figured such an important event wouldn’t just get a single reminder not to be late, right? Last time at Quan Ruiyu’s engagement banquet, he’d said more than that.

Sure enough, Wu Hengnian spoke again. “I might not last till the end that day, so you two don’t leave early.”

Still that mild tone, like suggesting an extra dish for dinner.

Xiao Luyan was equally nonchalant. “Understood.”

Lu Yuezhi waited a bit more, but nothing followed.

Wu Hengnian turned to her instead. “Yuezhi, you’re quiet today.”

Lu Yuezhi smiled. “I don’t know Grandpa Quan, and I’m not familiar with the banquet details. Didn’t want to butt in and say something wrong.”

Wu Hengnian nodded. “No need for you young ones to worry about it. Just show up.”

This time, Lu Yuezhi was convinced: the banquet was important, but for them, they really didn’t need to do anything special.

Remembering Xiao Luyan’s explanation from before, she felt a pang of guilt. Back then, she’d been too angry and thought Xiao Luyan was lying to her.

Seeing that aggrieved expression in her mind, Lu Yuezhi felt worse than Xiao Luyan had.

After dinner, Wu Hengnian said he didn’t want to hear opera tonight and told them to stroll the garden themselves.

Lu Yuezhi wasn’t in the mood. She was still figuring out how to apologize.

“What are you thinking about?” Xiao Luyan found herself increasingly unable to tolerate the person beside her being distracted.

Lu Yuezhi had been absentminded ever since they left her grandfather’s study.

Lu Yuezhi stopped and turned to look at her.

Her gaze shifted several times before settling on regret and tenderness.

“I’m sorry.”

Xiao Luyan paused, not understanding the sudden apology. But her heart inexplicably fluttered, a faint panic gathering.

She tried to steady her voice. “Why apologize out of nowhere?”

“It’s not out of nowhere.” Lu Yuezhi shook her head. “Last time you said the banquet wasn’t a big deal, but I didn’t believe you. I even accused you of brushing me off.”

The more Lu Yuezhi thought, the more regretful she felt. “I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that or doubted you. I was mad at the time, so I said things without thinking.”

Xiao Luyan remembered that moment—yes, there had been grievance and discomfort, but it wasn’t all Lu Yuezhi’s fault.

“It’s my fault too for sending you to Paris first, isn’t it?”

True, but Lu Yuezhi couldn’t bear to hold it against her. She still remembered the emotion in Xiao Luyan’s eyes back then and couldn’t help lifting her hand to caress her cheek.

Would this belated comfort make up for it?

Her hand had just risen, not yet touching, when a low chuckle came from nearby.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt.” Wu Wanqian had appeared there at some point.

Lu Yuezhi quickly lowered her hand. In front of elders—especially Xiao Luyan’s parents—she needed to stay proper.

Xiao Luyan was a bit surprised by her arrival but didn’t react much.

“Mom, why are you here?” It sounded a little annoyed at the interruption.

Wu Wanqian still wore her elegant smile. “Public space—anyone can come, right? I know I interrupted, but you two should watch your propriety, shouldn’t you?”

Lu Yuezhi caught the warning beneath her “well-meaning” reminder, and her heart sank.

Xiao Luyan had no patience to argue. She brushed it off with a few words and left with Lu Yuezhi.

On the way to get the car, Lu Yuezhi couldn’t hold back. “Your relationship with your mom… doesn’t seem great?”

She’d sensed it before but thought she was overthinking. Not until Xiao Luyan told her about Quan Ruiyu did she realize the family’s indifference to the harassment was cold indifference.