Chapter 39 Lu Huaining, You Are Not Allowed to Die!

To the world, you may be just one person; but to one person, you may be the entire world.

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Lu Huaining smiled gently and said, "Come here, I have something to tell you."

The two exchanged a tender gaze, as if they were the only two people left in the world. Not wanting to intrude, Madam Lu stood up, walked out of the hospital room, and closed the door behind her.

Seeing that the others had left, Lu Huaining pulled her into his arms. He pressed his lips softly against her eyelids and said in an overbearing tone, "No more crying. Your eyes are already swollen like walnuts; if you cry yourself blind, how will you count your money? You little miser, I will definitely get better. Just give me some time."

Hearing his playful words, she couldn't bring herself to smile, feeling only a profound heartache. He pinched her cheek. "I don't like a bossy lady with swollen eyes. If you want to stay by my side and count money, you need to rest well and smile more. No more crying, understand?"

Though his body was suffering, all he wanted was for her to be happy.

"Mm." Xue Zhuining suddenly opened her arms and wrapped them gently around his waist, burying her face in his broad chest. "Huaining, I will be good to you from now on," she whispered.

"How good?" Lu Huaining stroked her hair, pressing his forehead against the crown of her head, and let out a soft chuckle.

"Just... very, very good..." Xue Zhuining promised silently in her heart. She would love this man deeply, carrying the portion that her mother had missed out on.

Lu Huaining kissed her dark hair. "I'm sleepy. Go tell Grandmother to get some good sleep. She hasn't been in good health, and she’s been worrying so much over me—she shouldn't wear herself out. You should rest early too; if you stay with me like you did last night, I might recover even faster."

"Mm." She kissed his brow and smiled faintly.

He let go of her, watching as she stood up, smoothed her clothes, and went to the outer room. The door was left ajar. He listened to her soft voice drifting in for a while, but eventually, unable to fight the drowsiness, he drifted into a deep sleep.

With Lu Huaining’s condition stabilized and the internal bleeding having ceased, the tension in Madam Lu’s nerves eased, and the energy she had forced herself to maintain evaporated. Now, she was simply a tired elder. After hearing Xue Zhuining relay Lu Huaining’s concern, she felt much more at ease and lay down on the sofa in the outer room. Xue Zhuining had a nurse bring a quilt, and only after the older woman was asleep did she walk back toward Lu Huaining. Madam Lu stared at her retreating figure, lost in thought.

That silhouette was so familiar, as if it were Zhong Yilan from years ago.

Xue Zhuining washed up briefly and returned to lie down beside Lu Huaining. Carefully tucking them both in, she held his arm, feeling enveloped by his scent and warmed to her core.

She knew this man loved her, and she had no intention of failing him.

Unable to sleep, she gently traced his cheek with her fingers, moving down his neck until she stopped at his stomach. She dared not rest the weight of her hand there for fear of causing him any discomfort, and though the strained position made her arm ache, she did not want to pull away. She had suffered from stomach pain herself—not severe, but unbearable—and he had vomited so much blood; how much pain must he have been in?

At that time, he must have been thinking of her, thousands of miles away, yet she had been unable to feel the pain of her beloved.

She didn't know when she finally fell asleep. Early the next morning, the doctor arrived while he was still asleep. She hurriedly got up to let the doctor perform the examination, then washed her face and bought breakfast for herself and Madam Lu. After they finished eating in silence, they checked on Lu Huaining and, seeing his complexion had improved, felt much relieved. Madam Lu turned to look at Xue Zhuining and said, "Miss Xue, come outside with me. It’s time we had a proper talk."

Some things cannot be avoided; when they must be resolved, one must face the difficulties head-on.

At these words, Xue Zhuining’s heart felt as if it were being pulled upward by a thread, dangling in mid-air. She clenched her fists secretly and followed Madam Lu to the outer room, sitting down across from her.

Time passed quietly, yet both remained unspoken.

A woman of such high standing as Madam Lu was naturally accustomed to demanding strict standards from everyone. Having not changed her clothes since arriving due to her worry for Lu Huaining, her attire was crumpled and her complexion poor. She feared that once Madam Lu regained her composure, she would find much to be displeased with.

But things had reached a point where no individual could change them.

She understood that Madam Lu’s first impression of her—even before they had ever met—would likely be negative; people unconsciously amplify the flaws of those they do not like. She smoothed her hair, feeling helpless. It was what it was; she would just have to deal with whatever came her way.

However, Madam Lu’s gaze was calm, even showing a hint of gentleness, which surprised her.

Xue Zhuining steadied her breathing, maintained a polite smile, and waited quietly for the other to speak.

"Huaining told me everything yesterday. Many facts were truly beyond my expectations. I would like to apologize for his shameful behavior, and also apologize to you and your mother on behalf of the Lu family. Although I understand that the suffering you endured cannot be undone by an apology."

Xue Zhuining was taken aback and replied, "This is not your fault. I feel very embarrassed as a junior to have an elder apologize like this."

"It seems Lalan raised you well. In truth, she was always a kind-hearted person; it was I who misjudged her." Madam Lu sighed apologetically. "It is my failure in discipline. I was indeed negligent in my care for Huaining in the past. His parents' marriage was merely a facade, and because I hid the truth about his biological mother, his father remained distant, and his 'mother' only showed him superficial warmth. They were very strict, even harsh, with him regarding his studies and behavior. Admittedly, we did not give him the care a child needs. That he developed such a cold and arrogant temperament is our fault."

Xue Zhuining lowered her eyes, remembering how he had once mentioned in passing that when he was sick as a child, he had to take his own medicine, and the servants only cared about his parents' moods, with no one truly looking after him. Her heart ached for him.

"I do not wish to interfere too much in your affairs. After all, as a grandmother, I only want my grandson to be happy." Madam Lu sighed deeply, her gaze lingering on the door to the inner room before shifting back to look intently at her. "Miss Xue, our two families once shared a deep connection. I have made mistakes in the past, and this time, I do not wish to repeat them."

When one grows old, the heart grows weary. Fighting for so much has lost its meaning; all she wished for now was the joy of seeing her children and grandchildren flourishing.

Xue Zhuining stared at Madam Lu, her heart pounding. She did not know how to respond to such magnanimity, nor how to explain her four-year disappearance.

Madam Lu remained silent for a long time before saying, "I do not wish to dwell on the grievances of the past, and I believe you can understand the difficulties of holding such a high position as the Lu family does. Regardless of who is to blame, you were innocent. Furthermore, since Huaining has wronged you, it is his responsibility to spend his life making amends. Since he is so inseparable from you, I will not make things difficult for you in the future. I am telling you all this today only to let you know that your relationship with Huaining cannot be made public yet. After all, his engagement to Wanyi still stands; making it public would only hurt the three of you. We should consider our strategy carefully."

Xue Zhuining pursed her lips and said, "I understand."

Madam Lu took a sip of tea, trying to calm her tumultuous emotions. After a long while, she added, "I heard that you are married."

Xue Zhuining’s heart skipped a beat, but she could only nod. Seeing the coldness in Madam Lu’s eyes, her heart jolted.

The shadow on Madam Lu’s face lasted only a moment before she regained her calm and gentle demeanor. Looking at her, she said, "I believe you must have had your reasons, but please, do not hurt Huaining again."

Xue Zhuining thought for a moment and replied, "I understand what you mean. I will handle my personal affairs as soon as possible so as not to cause you any unnecessary trouble."

Madam Lu nodded. "If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask. Huaining and I will certainly not stand by idly. While the Lu family may not be able to command the wind and rain, we have the means to be worthy of your trust."

"Thank you, Madam," Xue Zhuining said with a polite smile, though her inner resolve remained unshaken. Some things were best left this way.

Madam Lu’s expression softened further. "Miss Xue, to continue on this path with Huaining, you will face many challenges. Family factors are one thing, but Huaining carries many responsibilities. As his partner, you cannot simply be a woman who stays at home to look after the household. I am not asking you to have the same ability to control the big picture as he does, but you must integrate into his circle. Formal social occasions are not just about showing off jewelry and gowns as they are on television; connections are built amidst the clinking of glasses. You have heard of 'spouse diplomacy,' haven't you?"

Madam Lu recalled her younger years and cautioned her, "Improve yourself and support your husband. It sounds exhausting, but if you don't, the distance between you will only grow. Two people can fall in love in a flash of passion, but to make it last, it takes management. Life with Huaining cannot be the romanticized 'high-society' life a young girl might imagine. You must be mentally prepared."

"I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Madam." If this had been four years ago, Xue Zhuining might have been daunted by such a life, but now, she could face it with a calm heart.

Madam Lu continued, "I will ask you to endure for a little while longer. Once Huaining has recovered, I will find an appropriate opportunity to make your relationship public. I will be quite busy in the near future, so Huaining will be in your care. You can spend time together as a couple and see if you are truly a good fit. I am reserving my judgment for now, but please understand my concerns. As an elder, I only hope the children will be happy—and that this happiness will last, without any major ups and downs."

Xue Zhuining knew this was a massive concession from Madam Lu, and her words were reasonable and irrefutable. After careful reflection, she smiled. "Please rest assured. Since I have decided to be with Huaining, I am naturally prepared to face any difficulties that may lie ahead. Furthermore, I will strive to improve myself so that I can stand by his side, rather than hiding behind him and relying on his protection."

"I am glad to hear you say that. Thank you for your hard work. If you need anything, call me directly. If I am unavailable, you may call the butler." With that, Madam Lu handed over her contact information and went back to watch her sleeping grandson for a while.

If everything happening now was a punishment for the grievances of the past, then perhaps letting go was the best way to seek redemption.