Chapter 11: You Are My Entire World

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

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

The two of them gazed at each other tenderly, as if the world consisted only of the two of them.

Not wishing to intrude, Madam Lu stood up, walked outside the ward, and closed the door behind her.

Seeing that all outsiders had left, Lu Huanning pulled her into his arms, pressed his lips softly to her eyelids, and said in a domineering tone, "No more crying. Your eyes are swollen like walnuts. If you cry yourself blind, how will you count your money? You little money-grubber, I will get better. Just give me some time."

Hearing his playful words, she could not manage a smile; her heart only ached. He pinched her cheek. "But I don't like a boss lady with swollen eyes. If you want to stay by my side and count money, you need to get some good rest and smile more. No crying, understand?"

Though his body was racked with torment, he only wished for her happiness.

"Mm." Xue Zuining suddenly opened her arms, wrapping them gently around his waist, burying her cheek against his broad chest. "Huanning, I will be good to you from now on," she whispered.

"How good?" Lu Huanning stroked her hair, resting his chin against the crown of her head, and let out a soft laugh.

"Just... really, really good..." 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 some good rest. Her health is already frail, and she's been worrying herself sick 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 get better faster that way."

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

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

With Lu Huanning's condition stabilized and the recurrent bleeding of the previous day halted, the taut nerves of Madam Lu finally relaxed. The energy she had forced herself to summon up now dissipated, and she was, after all, just a tired elderly woman. 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, waiting until Madam Lu had fallen asleep before walking back toward Lu Huanning. Madam Lu stared at her retreating figure, lost in thought.

That silhouette was so familiar, evoking memories of Zhong Yilan from 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 familiar scent, and felt a profound warmth settle over her.

This man loved her; she knew it, and she was even more determined not to fail him.

Unable to sleep, her fingers gently traced his cheek, then drifted down his neck, finally stopping at his stomach. She did not dare to rest the full weight of her hand upon his abdomen, fearing she might cause him the slightest discomfort. Holding her arm in that suspended, tense posture made her muscles ache, yet she could not bear to move her hand away. She had suffered from stomach pain herself—though not severe, it was agonizingly difficult to endure. How much pain must he have been in when he vomited so much blood?

At that time, he must have been thinking of her, thousands of miles away, yet she had been utterly oblivious to the agony her beloved was suffering.

She did not know when she finally drifted off to sleep. The next morning, when the doctor entered, he was still asleep. She hurried up to let the doctor examine him, washed her face, and went out to buy breakfast for herself and Madam Lu. The two of them ate in silence, then went to check on Lu Huanning. Seeing that his complexion had improved somewhat, their spirits lifted noticeably. Madam Lu turned her gaze to Xue Zuining and said, "Miss Xue, come outside with me. We need to have a proper talk."

Some matters cannot be resolved by mere evasion; those that must be addressed require facing the difficulties head-on.

Hearing this, Xue Zuining's heart felt as though it had been hooked by a string, dangling precariously in mid-air. Clenching her fists in secret, she followed Madam Lu out to the outer room of the ward and sat down opposite her.

Time slipped away in silence, each of them harboring unspoken thoughts.

Accustomed to standing at the heights of society, Madam Lu naturally expected strict standards in everything. Because of her anxiety over Lu Huanning, she had not changed her clothes since her arrival, and her sleep-rumpled appearance and pale complexion suggested that now, with a moment of calm, internal displeasure might well be brewing.

Yet, things had reached a point where individual effort alone could no longer alter the course of events.

Even without ever having met her before, Xue Zuining could easily imagine Madam Lu's first impression of her; people naturally tended to unconsciously magnify the flaws of anyone or anything they disliked. She smoothed her hair with a resigned hand. *What's done is done,* she thought. *I'll deal with whatever comes.*

To her surprise, however, Madam Lu's gaze was calm, even tinged with a hint of gentleness.

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

"Huanning told me everything yesterday. Many of the facts were entirely beyond my expectation. First, I want to apologize for his shameful behavior, and on behalf of the Lu family, I apologize to you and your mother—though I know full well that the suffering you endured cannot be undone by mere words of apology."

Slightly taken aback, Xue Zuining replied, "This is not your fault, Madam. To have an elder apologize to me makes me, as a junior, deeply embarrassed."

"It seems Lanlan truly raised you well. In truth, she was always a generous and forgiving soul; it was simply my own poor judgment that blinded me," Madam Lu sighed, her voice filled with regret. "It was my failure in upbringing. In the past, I truly neglected Huanning. What was called a marriage between his parents existed in name only, and furthermore, I had kept the truth of his biological mother a secret from him. As a result, his father always treated him with cold indifference, while his supposed mother reserved her warmth merely for outward show. Because of this, they were exceedingly strict with the child—harsh, even—demanding perfection in his studies and conduct. Admittedly, the care and concern a child needed were things we failed to provide. If he has developed such a cold and aloof disposition now, the blame lies squarely with us."

Xue Zuining lowered her gaze, recalling how he had once casually mentioned to her that when he fell ill as a child, he had to fetch his own medicine while the servants simply watched the masters' moods, with no one genuinely caring for him. A wave of sorrow washed over her heart.

"As for the two of you, I have no desire to interfere excessively. After all, as a grandmother, all I want is for my grandson to live a good life." Madam Lu sighed deeply, her gaze resting briefly on the door to the inner room before returning to fix intensely upon Xue Zuining. "Miss Xue, our two families once shared quite a deep bond. I made mistakes in the past, but this time, I know I cannot afford to make them again."

As people grow old, their hearts age as well. Contending for dominance holds no further meaning; all she looked forward to now was the joy of being surrounded by her children and grandchildren.

Xue Zuining stared wide-eyed at Madam Lu, her heart pounding. Confronted with this unexpected magnanimity, she hardly knew how to respond, nor how to explain her four years of total disappearance.

After a long silence, Madam Lu continued, "I have no wish to dredge up the rights and wrongs of the past, and I trust you can understand the immense pressures borne by those in high positions within the Lu family. Anyone would struggle, but to be fair, you were innocent as well. Besides, Huanning wronged you, and spending a lifetime repaying that debt is his responsibility. He is so dependent on you that I will not make things difficult for you henceforth. Speaking with you at length today is simply to let you know that your relationship with Huanning cannot yet be made public. After all, his engagement to Wanyyi still stands; once made public, it would bring harm to all three of you. We must consider this carefully before deciding on a strategy."

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

Madam Lu took a sip of tea to calm the tumult in her heart, then added after a moment, "I heard that you are married."

A shock rippled through Xue Zuining, but she could only nod. Seeing a flash of cold severity in Madam Lu's eyes, her heart skipped a beat.

The gloom on the older woman's face lasted only an instant before she quickly regained her composed and gentle demeanor. Looking at Xue Zuining, she said, "I trust you had your own compelling reasons, but I ask that you do not hurt Huanning again."

After a brief pause, Xue Zuining replied, "I understand what you mean. As for my personal affairs, 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 speak up. Huanning and I will certainly not stand by idly. Though the Lu family cannot bend the wind and rain to our will, we still possess the capability to earn your trust."

"Thank you, Madam." Xue Zuining offered an answering smile, though it did not shake her inner resolve. For many things, this current state of affairs was already enough.

Madam Lu's expression softened further. "Miss Xue, if you are to walk the path alongside Huanning, there will be many challenges you must face together. Family factors are one aspect, but Huanning carries heavy responsibilities. His partner can hardly be a woman whose world is confined solely to managing the household and raising children. I am not demanding that you possess the same ability to command the entire situation as he does, but you must integrate into his circle. Formal social occasions are not like the scenes in television dramas where people merely flaunt jewelry and evening gowns; networks of influence are built amidst the clinking of glasses. Whenever state leaders visit abroad, they bring their spouses. Surely you have heard the term 'spouse diplomacy'."

Recalling her own youth, Madam Lu offered this word of advice and admonition: "Elevate yourself and assist your husband. Though it may sound 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 fairy-tale existence of the upper class that young girls imagine. You must prepare yourself mentally."

"I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Madam." Four years ago, Xue Zuining might have shrunk back in awe of such a life, but now, she faced it with complete serenity.

Madam Lu continued, "Let us ask you to endure a little longer. 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 rely on you to take care of him. The two of you can interact normally as husband and wife, use this time to adjust to one another, and see if you are truly suited. I reserve my judgment for now, but please understand my concerns. As an elder, I only wish for my children to find happiness—and for that happiness to endure without dramatic upheavals."

Knowing this was already the utmost concession Madam Lu could make, and recognizing the undeniable logic in her words, Xue Zuining carefully considered her reply before saying with a smile, "Please rest assured. Since I have decided to stay with Huanning, I am naturally prepared to face whatever difficulties may lie ahead. Moreover, I will strive to better myself so that I may stand by his side, rather than cowering behind him and relying forever on his protection."

"If you can think this way, then all is well. It has been hard on you. If you need anything, call my phone directly; if I am unavailable, you may call the housekeeper." With that, Madam Lu handed over her contact information, then went back to check once more on her sleeping grandson.

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