Chapter 6: Critical Condition Notice

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

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

The two gazed at each other tenderly, as if they were the only two people left in the world. Not wishing to intrude, Madam Lu stood up, walked out of the hospital room, and closed the door.

Seeing that the others had left, Lu Huaining took the opportunity to pull her into his arms. He pressed his lips gently against her eyelids and spoke in a domineering tone, "No more crying. Your eyes are already swollen like walnuts. If you cry yourself blind, who will count your money for you? You little money-grubber, I will definitely get better. Just give me some time."

She heard his playful words, but could not bring herself to smile; she only felt a deep sense of sorrow. He pinched her cheek. "I don't like a bossy owner 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, he only wanted 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 as she whispered, "Huaining, I will be good to you from now on."

"How good?" Lu Huaining stroked her hair, resting his chin against the crown of her head, and chuckled softly.

"Just very, very good..." Xue Zhuining promised silently in her heart. She would love this man well, carrying the love that her mother had been unable to give him.

Lu Huaining pressed a kiss to her dark hair. "I'm tired. Go tell Grandma to get some good sleep. She isn't in the best health, and she’s been worrying so much over me; she shouldn't wear herself out. You should rest early, too. Stay and sleep with me like you did last night; I might just recover faster that way."

"Mm." She kissed his brow and gave him a gentle smile.

He let go of her, watching as she stood up, smoothed her clothes, and walked into the outer room. The door was left ajar, and he could hear her soft voice drifting in. After listening for a while, he finally succumbed to his exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep.

With Lu Huaining’s condition stabilized and the recurring hemorrhaging of the previous day stopped, the tension in Madam Lu’s nerves eased, and the energy she had forced herself to maintain dissipated. She was, after all, a weary 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 asked a nurse to bring a quilt, and only after the older woman was asleep did she walk back toward Lu Huaining. Madam Lu stared at her retreating back, 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. She carefully tucked them both in, clung to his arm, and felt comforted, enveloped by his scent.

She knew this man loved her, and she was determined not to let him down.

She couldn't sleep. Her fingers gently brushed his cheek, then traced down his neck until they stopped at his stomach. She didn't dare press her full weight against his abdomen for fear of causing him pain. The tension in her arm made her muscles ache, yet she could not bear to move her hand. She, too, had suffered from stomach pain—nothing serious, yet it was excruciating. He had vomited so much blood; how much pain must he have been in?

At that time, he must have been thinking of her, a thousand miles away, yet she had been unable to feel the agony of her lover.

She did not know when she finally fell asleep. The next morning, the doctor arrived while he was still asleep. She hurriedly rose to let the doctor perform the examination, washed her face, and went out to buy breakfast for herself and Madam Lu. After they ate in silence, they checked on Lu Huaining and, seeing his complexion had improved, felt their spirits lift. 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 had been pulled taut by a string, 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.

Madam Lu, a woman of such high standing, was naturally accustomed to demanding perfection. Because of her worry for Lu Huaining, she hadn’t changed her clothes since arriving; she looked disheveled, and her complexion was poor. Xue Zhuining feared that now that Madam Lu had calmed down, she would be filled with various grievances.

But things had reached a point where they could no longer be changed by personal effort alone.

She could sense the impression Madam Lu had of her from the very beginning, even though they had never met. People tend to unconsciously magnify the flaws of those they dislike. She smoothed her hair, feeling helpless—it was what it was; she would just have to deal with it as it came.

However, the look in Madam Lu’s eyes was calm, even tinged with a hint of warmth, which caught her by surprise.

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

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

Xue Zhuining was taken aback, then replied, "This is not your fault. It makes me uncomfortable to have an elder apologize like this."

"It seems Lanlan raised you very well. In truth, she was always a kind-hearted person; it was I who misjudged her." Madam Lu sighed, her tone apologetic. "It was my failure to teach him properly. I neglected Huaining in the past. His parents’ marriage was a mere facade, and because I hid the truth about his biological mother, his father was always cold toward him, and his supposed mother only put on a show of warmth. They were very strict, even harsh, demanding perfection in his studies and behavior. Admittedly, we did not give the child the care he needed. That he grew into such a cold and arrogant man is our fault."

Xue Zhuining lowered her eyes, remembering how he had once mentioned inadvertently that when he was ill as a child, he had to take his own medicine; the servants only watched their master’s mood, and no one truly cared for him. Her heart ached.

"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 returning to fix upon her. "Miss Xue, our two families once shared quite a history. I made mistakes in the past, and this time, I do not wish to repeat them."

As one grows old, the heart grows weary. Fighting for so much no longer has any meaning. All she hoped for now was the joy of a house filled with children and grandchildren.

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

Madam Lu remained silent for a long time before saying, "I don’t want to bring up the past again, and I believe you understand the difficulties of being in a high position like the Lu family. Regardless of anything, you are innocent. Furthermore, Huaining has wronged you; it is his responsibility to spend his life making amends. Since he cannot live without you, I will not make things difficult for you in the future. I am telling you all this today only to say that your relationship with Huaining cannot be made public yet. After all, the engagement between Huaining and Wanyi still stands. If it were made public now, it would only hurt the three of you. We must be cautious and consider our strategy."

Xue Zhuining bit her lip and said, "I understand."

Madam Lu sipped her tea, trying to calm her turbulent emotions. After a long moment, she added, "I heard that you are married."

Xue Zhuining’s heart skipped a beat, but she could only nod. Seeing the cold, sharp glint in Madam Lu’s eyes, her heart jumped.

The shadow on Madam Lu’s face lasted only an instant before she regained her calm, gentle demeanor. She looked at her and said, "I believe you must have had your own hardships, but please, do not hurt Huaining again."

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

Madam Lu nodded. "If you need any help, do not hesitate to ask. Huaining and I will not stand idly by. While the Lu family may not be able to command the winds and rain, we have the influence you can trust."

"Thank you, Madam." Xue Zhuining smiled in agreement, though it did not shake her inner resolve. Some things were better left as they were.

Madam Lu’s expression softened. "Miss Xue, if you want to stay with Huaining, there are many things you will need to face. Family factors are one thing; Huaining carries many responsibilities. His partner cannot be a woman who only knows how to manage a household. I am not asking you to have the same ability to control the big picture as he does, but you must be able to integrate into his circle. Formal social occasions are not just about showing off jewelry and gowns like they are on television; connections are built over clinking glasses. Leaders bring their wives on official visits—you’ve heard of 'first lady diplomacy,' haven't you?"

Madam Lu recalled her own youth and warned her, "Improve yourself and support your husband. While it sounds exhausting, if you don't do this, the distance between you will only grow. Two people may fall in love in a flash of passion, but for a long-term relationship, it takes management. Life with Huaining cannot be the romantic, idealized life of the wealthy that young girls imagine. Be prepared for that."

"I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Madam." Had this been four years ago, Xue Zhuining might have been daunted by such a life, but she was now calm enough to face it.

Madam Lu said, "I must ask you to endure a little longer. Once Huaining is fully recovered, I will find a suitable opportunity to make your relationship public. I will be quite busy in the near future; I leave Huaining’s care to you. You two may live as a married couple, spend time together, and see if you are truly a good fit. I will reserve my judgment for now, but please understand my concerns. As an elder, I only hope for my child to be happy—and for that happiness to last, without any major upheavals."

Xue Zhuining knew this was a significant concession from Madam Lu, and every word she spoke was reasonable and irrefutable. She pondered carefully and smiled, "Please rest assured. Since I have decided to be with Huaining, I am already prepared to face any difficulties that may come. Furthermore, I will work hard to improve myself so that I can stand by his side rather than hiding behind him, forever reliant on his protection."

"It is good that you think this way. It won’t be easy for you. If you need anything, call me directly. If I am unavailable, 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 rights and wrongs of the past, then perhaps letting go was the best way to seek redemption.