Chapter 10 Torment

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

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

The two looked at each other with tenderness, as if the world had narrowed down to just the two of them.

Not wishing to intrude, Madam Lu stood up, walked out of the hospital room, and closed the door behind her.

Seeing the other people leave, Lu Huanning took the opportunity to pull her into his arms, pressing his lips softly against her eyelids. He said in a domineering tone, "Stop crying. Your eyes are as swollen as walnuts. If you cry them blind, how will you count your money later? You little money-grubber, I will get better. Just give me some time."

Hearing his playful words, she couldn't smile; instead, her heart ached. He pinched her cheek. "I don't like a boss lady with swollen eyes. If you want to stay by my side and count money, get some rest, smile more, and no crying. Understood?"

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

"Mm." Xue Zuining suddenly opened her arms to wrap them gently around his waist, burying her cheek in his broad, sturdy chest. She whispered, "Huanning, I will treat you well from now on."

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

"Just very, very well..." Xue Zuining silently promised in her heart that she would love this man deeply, making up for the absence of her mother's share as well.

Lu Huanning pressed a kiss to her dark hair. "I'm sleepy. Go tell Grandmother to get a good night's sleep. Her health isn't good to begin with, and she's been worrying over me; she mustn't wear herself out. You should get some rest early, too. Sleep with me just like you did last night—maybe I'll recover faster that way."

"Mm." She kissed his brow and broke into a sudden smile.

He released her, watching as she stood up, smoothed down her clothes, and walked out into the outer room. The door was unlocked, and her soft voice drifted in vaguely. He listened for a while, but eventually, unable to resist the pull of exhaustion, he drifted into a deep sleep.

With Lu Huanning's condition now under control and no longer plagued by the repeated bleeding of the previous day, Madam Lu's tightly wound nerves relaxed somewhat, and the energy she had forced herself to summon up dissipated. At that moment, she was simply a weary elder. Hearing Xue Zuining relaying Lu Huanning's concern warmed her heart considerably, and she lay down on the sofa in the outer room. Xue Zuining asked a nurse to bring over a blanket, and only after making sure Madam Lu was asleep did she walk back toward Lu Huanning. Madam Lu stared at her retreating figure, lost in thought without a word.

That silhouette was so familiar, resembling Zhong Yilan from all those years ago.

Xue Zuining washed up simply, returned to Lu Huanning's side, and lay down next to him, carefully tucking the covers around them both. She wrapped her arms around his arm, enveloped entirely by his scent, and felt a profound warmth.

This man loved her; she knew it, and she had no intention of failing him.

She couldn't sleep. Her fingers gently traced his cheek, then moved down his neck, finally stopping at his stomach. She didn't dare place the full weight of her hand on his stomach, terrified of putting any pressure on him. Holding her arm in that rigid position made her muscles ache, yet she couldn't bear to move her hand away. She had experienced stomachaches before—not severe ones, but excruciatingly unbearable. 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 utterly oblivious to her lover's agony.

She didn't know when she finally drifted off to sleep. Early the next morning, when the doctor came in, he was still asleep. She hurriedly got up to let the doctor examine him, washed her face, and went out to buy breakfast for herself and Madam Lu. After quietly finishing their meal, the two of them went to check on Lu Huanning. Seeing that his complexion had improved somewhat, their spirits lifted considerably. Madam Lu turned to look at Xue Zuining and said, "Miss Xue, come outside with me. We need to have a proper talk."

Some things cannot be avoided; what must be resolved requires meeting the challenge head-on.

At these words, Xue Zuining's heart felt as though it had been jerked upward by a string, dangling precariously in midair. Clenching her fists secretly, she followed Madam Lu out to the anteroom of the hospital ward and sat down facing her.

Time slipped away quietly, yet each was acutely aware of the unspoken tension.

As someone accustomed to a lofty status, Madam Lu naturally took strict standards for granted in all things. Because of her worry over Lu Huanning, she hadn't changed her clothes since her arrival; her attire was creased and her complexion far from well. She feared that once Madam Lu calmed down, a deep-seated displeasure would take root in her mind.

Yet, matters had reached a point where individual strength alone could no longer alter them.

Even without ever meeting her before, Xue Zuining could have anticipated Madam Lu's initial impression of her. People naturally and unconsciously amplify the flaws of anyone or anything they dislike. She instinctively smoothed down her hair with a helpless sigh. Things had already come to this; she would simply take each challenge as it arose.

To her surprise, however, Madam Lu's gaze was calm, even carrying a trace of gentleness.

Regulating her breathing to maintain a polite smile, Xue Zuining waited quietly for the older woman to speak.

"Huanning told me everything yesterday. Many of these facts completely caught me off guard. First, I want to apologize for his shameful behavior, and on behalf of the Lu family, I want to apologize to you and your mother—though I understand that the suffering you endured cannot be undone by mere apologies."

Taken aback, Xue Zuining replied, "This is not your fault. As a younger generation, I feel deeply embarrassed to receive such an apology from an elder."

"It seems Lanlan truly raised you well. In truth, she was always a generous and forgiving person; it was simply my own poor judgment." Madam Lu let out a long sigh, saying apologetically, "It is my fault as an elder for failing to guide him properly. In the past, I certainly neglected Lu Huanning. What they called a marriage was merely a shell without substance, and worse still, I had concealed the truth of Huanning's biological mother from him. As a result, his father always treated him with cold indifference, while his nominal mother's warmth was merely superficial. Consequently, they were extremely strict with the child—even harsh—demanding perfection in his studies and behavior. Admittedly, we failed to give him the care a child needs. The cold and arrogant demeanor he has developed is a fault that rests entirely with us."

Xue Zuining lowered her gaze, remembering how he had once mentioned to her quite casually that when he fell ill as a child, he had to take his medicine by himself, while the servants merely watched the masters' moods and no one truly cared for him. Her heart ached at the thought.

"I do not wish to interfere too much in the affairs between the two of you. After all, as a grandmother, all I truly want is for my grandson to live a good life." Madam Lu sighed deeply, her gaze resting for a moment on the door to the inner ward before shifting back to look intently at her. "Miss Xue, our two families once shared quite a deep connection. I made mistakes in the past, but this time, I know I cannot afford to make another."

As a person ages, the heart ages as well. Fighting over trivialities loses all meaning, and all that remains to be hoped for is the joy of a household surrounded by children and grandchildren.

Xue Zuining stared wide-eyed at Madam Lu, her heart pounding furiously. She hardly knew how to respond to such magnanimity, nor how to explain her four years of vanishing without a trace.

After a long silence, Madam Lu continued, "I don't wish to bring up the rights and wrongs of the past anymore, and I trust you can understand the immense difficulties of holding a high position like the Lu family's. Fairness aside, you are innocent. Furthermore, Huanning wronged you, and spending a lifetime repaying that debt is his responsibility. He is so utterly dependent on you that I will not make things difficult for you in the future. I am telling you all this today simply to let you know that the matter between you and Huanning still cannot be made public just yet. After all, his engagement to Wanyí remains in place. Once made public, it would bring harm to all three of you. It is better to weigh things carefully before discussing a strategy."

Xue Zuining pressed her lips together and said, "I understand."

Madam Lu took a sip of tea, trying to calm the turbulent emotions within her, and after a moment added, "I heard that you are married."

Xue Zuining's heart skipped a beat, but she could only nod. Seeing the cold flash in Madam Lu's eyes, her heart jolted.

The gloom on the older woman's face lasted only for a split second before her calm and gentle composure returned. Looking at her, Madam Lu said, "I trust you had your own compelling reasons, but I must ask that you do not hurt Huanning again."

After a moment's thought, Xue Zuining replied, "I understand what you mean. As for my personal matters, I will resolve them as quickly as possible so as not to cause you unnecessary trouble."

Madam Lu nodded. "If you need any help, do not hesitate to ask. Huanning and I certainly will not stand by idly. Though the Lu family cannot command the winds and rain at will, we still possess the capability to earn your trust."

"Thank you, Madam." Xue Zuining offered an echoing smile, though it did not shake the resolve in her heart; for many things, leaving them as they were was enough.

With a slightly softer expression, Madam Lu said, "Miss Xue, if you wish to walk this path with Huanning, there are still many challenges you must face. Family background is one aspect, but Huanning carries heavy responsibilities. His partner can hardly be a woman who only knows how to tend to her husband and children. I am not demanding that you possess the same ability to command the overall situation as he does, but you must integrate into his circle. Formal social occasions are not like the portrayals in television dramas—mere scenes for showing off jewelry and evening gowns. Connections are forged amid the clinking of glasses. Leaders bring their wives on state visits; I am sure you have heard of the term 'spouse diplomacy.'"

Reminded of her own youth, Madam Lu offered this advice and warning: "Elevate yourself and assist your husband. Though it sounds arduous, if you fail to do so, the distance between you and him will only grow wider. Two people can fall in love through a momentary burst of passion, but longevity requires cultivation. Life with Huanning will never be the romanticized fairytale of high society that a young girl might imagine. Prepare yourself mentally."

"I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Madam." Four years ago, Xue Zuining might have looked upon such a life with trepidation, but now, she faced it with utter calm.

Madam Lu continued, "Wrong you for a little longer for now. Once Huanning has fully recovered, I will find an appropriate opportunity to make your relationship public. I will be quite busy in the near future, so Huanning will depend on you for care. The two of you can interact normally as husband and wife to test the waters and see if you are truly suited for each other. I am reserving my judgment for the time being, but please understand my concerns. As an elder, my wish is simply for the children to be happy—and for that happiness to endure without drastic upheavals."

Knowing that this was already a massive concession on Madam Lu's part, and that every word she spoke was entirely rational and unarguable, Xue Zuining thought carefully before smiling. "Please rest assured. Since I have decided to stay with Huanning, I am naturally prepared to face any difficulties that may lie ahead. Moreover, I will strive to better myself so that I can stand by his side rather than cowering behind him and relying forever on his protection."

"It is good that you think this way. Thank you for your hard work. If you need anything, call my cell phone directly; if I am unavailable, you may call the butler." With that, Madam Lu handed over her contact information and went back to check on her sleeping grandson for a moment.

If everything happening now was a punishment for the rights and wrongs of the past, then learning to let go was perhaps the finest form of redemption.