Chapter Nine: Will You Come Away With Me?

To the world, you may be only one person; but to someone, you are the whole world.

Lu Huaining gave a faint smile and said, “Come here. I need to talk to you.”

They gazed at each other with tenderness, as if the world had been reduced to nothing but the two of them.

Madam Lu did not wish to intrude. She rose, went outside the room, and quietly closed the door behind her.

Seeing the others leave, Lu Huaining drew her into his arms and pressed a gentle kiss to her eyelids. In a domineering tone, he said, “No more crying. Your eyes are swollen like walnuts. If you cry yourself blind, how are you going to count money then? Little miser, I’m going to be fine. Just give me some time.”

She heard his teasing, but could not smile. Her heart only ached. He pinched her cheek and went on, “But I don’t like a landlady with puffy eyes. If you want to stay by my side and count money, then rest properly, smile more, and don’t cry. Understood?”

His body was suffering, and yet all he wanted was for her to be happy.

“Yes.” Xue Zui Ning suddenly opened her arms and wrapped them gently around his waist, burying her cheek against his broad chest. “Huaining, I’ll be good to you from now on.”

“How good?”

He stroked her hair, resting his forehead against the crown of it, and let out a soft laugh.

“Very, very good,” Xue Zui Ning silently promised in her heart. She would love this man properly, and for the absence left by her mother as well.

Lu Huaining pressed a kiss to her dark hair. “I’m sleepy. Go tell Grandma that she should get some proper rest. She was never in good health to begin with, and now she’s worried herself over me. She can’t wear herself out. You should rest early too. If you keep me company like you did last night while I sleep, maybe I’ll recover faster.”

“Mm.” She kissed his brow, then smiled faintly.

He let go, watching as she rose, straightened her clothes, and walked out of the room into the outer area. The door was not locked, and her soft voice drifted back in indistinctly. He listened for a while, but in the end could not resist sleep and sank into a deep slumber.

Lu Huaining’s condition stabilized. Unlike the repeated bleeding of the day before, he no longer worsened, and Madam Lu’s taut nerves finally eased. The energy she had forced herself to keep up vanished like mist, and she was now only a weary elder. After hearing Xue Zui Ning relay Lu Huaining’s concern, she felt much better and lay down on the sofa in the outer room.

Xue Zui Ning asked a nurse to bring a blanket. Only after Madam Lu had fallen asleep did she go back to Lu Huaining’s side. Madam Lu watched her retreating figure in silence, deep in thought.

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

After washing up briefly, Xue Zui Ning returned to Lu Huaining’s side and lay down. Carefully covering them both, she held his arm, completely surrounded by his scent, and only felt warm.

This man loved her; she knew it, and she was unwilling to fail him.

She could not sleep. Her fingers lightly traced his cheek, then followed the line of his neck downward until they stopped at his stomach. She did not dare place her full hand there, afraid of adding even the slightest pressure. The tense posture made her arm ache, but she still did not want to move her hand away. She had experienced stomach pain before—not severe, but unbearably hard to endure. He had vomited so much blood; how much pain must he have been in?

At that time, he must have been thinking of her, far away by miles and miles, while she herself had been unable to feel the suffering of the man she loved.

She did not know when she finally fell asleep. The next morning, when the doctor came in, he was still not awake. She hurriedly got up to let the doctor examine him, then washed her face and went to buy breakfast for herself and Madam Lu. After the two of them finished eating quietly, they went to check on Lu Huaining and saw that his complexion had improved somewhat, which lifted their spirits too.

Madam Lu turned to glance at Xue Zui Ning and said, “Miss Xue, come outside with me. We need to have a proper talk.”

Some things could not be avoided; what had to be solved must be faced head-on.

At her words, Xue Zui Ning felt as though a string had lifted her heart into the air, leaving it swaying unsteadily. Quietly clenching her fists, she followed Madam Lu to the outer room and sat opposite her.

Time slipped by silently, yet both of them understood without saying it.

A woman as lofty as Madam Lu was naturally used to exacting standards in everything. Since her arrival, she had not changed her clothes once, and they were wrinkled from sleep; her complexion was also rather poor. Xue Zui Ning feared that once Madam Lu calmed down, she would feel displeased in every possible way.

But things had come to this point, and personal effort alone could no longer alter them.

Xue Zui Ning could feel even before meeting her that this had always been Madam Lu’s first impression of her. People unconsciously magnify the flaws of those they dislike. She casually smoothed her hair and, with no other choice, thought: since it has come to this, I’ll take things as they come.

Still, Madam Lu’s gaze upon her was calm, even carrying a trace of gentleness. That surprised her somewhat.

Xue Zui Ning steadied her breathing, keeping a proper smile on her face as she waited for the other woman to speak.

“Yesterday Huaining told me everything. Many things were far beyond what I expected. First, I want to apologize for his disgraceful behavior, and on behalf of the Lu family, I also apologize to you and your mother. Though I understand, no apology can make up for the suffering you endured.”

Xue Zui Ning was somewhat startled, then replied, “This is not your fault. It makes me embarrassed as a junior to have an elder apologize to me like this.”

“So it seems Lanlan truly raised you well. She was always a generous soul, only I misjudged her.” Madam Lu sighed and said with remorse, “It is this old woman who failed in discipline. In the past, I truly neglected Huaining. The so-called marriage was nothing but a shell with no heart in it. Moreover, I concealed the truth of Huaining’s birth mother, so his father was always cold toward him, and the woman who was his nominal mother only showed warmth on the surface. As a result, we were strict with the child, even harsh, demanding discipline in both his studies and his conduct. It is true that we gave him far too little of the care a child needed. The cold, proud temperament he has now is our fault.”

Xue Zui Ning lowered her eyes, remembering how he had once mentioned to her in passing that when he fell ill as a child, he had to take his medicine on his own, and the servants only watched the master’s expression; no one truly cared for him. Her heart ached.

“I do not want to interfere much in the two of you. After all, as a grandmother, I still want my grandson to live well.” Madam Lu let out a long sigh, her gaze settling on the door to the inner room before returning to Xue Zui Ning. “Miss Xue, your family and ours were once quite connected. I have done wrong before, and this time I think I cannot make the same mistake again.”

As one grows old, the heart grows old too. No matter how much one fights, it loses meaning. What she hoped for now was only the joy of a home filled with children and grandchildren.

Xue Zui Ning stared wide-eyed at Madam Lu, her heart pounding wildly. With such kindness, she did not even know how to respond, how to explain her disappearance without a trace for four years.

After a long silence, Madam Lu said, “I no longer wish to speak of the rights and wrongs of the past. I also believe you understand how difficult it is for the Lu family to stand where we do. Anyone would be in the wrong, but honestly, you are innocent too. And besides, Huaining owes you, and repaying that debt for a lifetime is his responsibility. Since he cannot be without you, I will not make things difficult for you in the future. I told you so much today only because I want to tell you this: your matter with Huaining still cannot be made public. After all, Huaining’s engagement to Wan Yi is still in place. If it is exposed now, it will hurt all three of you. Think it through carefully before deciding on a course of action.”

Xue Zui Ning pressed her lips together. “I understand.”

Madam Lu took a sip of tea, trying to calm the turmoil in her heart. After a while, she said again, “I heard that you’re married.”

Xue Zui Ning was alarmed, but could only nod. When she saw a chill enter Madam Lu’s eyes, her heart gave a sudden leap.

That shadow over her expression lasted only an instant before she regained her composure and gentleness. Looking at her, she said, “I believe you must have your own reasons. I only ask that you do not hurt Huaining again.”

After thinking for a moment, Xue Zui Ning replied, “I understand what you mean. As for my own matters, I will deal with them as soon as possible and won’t bring unnecessary trouble to you.”

Madam Lu nodded. “If you need any help, just speak up. Huaining and I will naturally not stand by and do nothing. Though the Lu family cannot summon wind and rain at will, we still have abilities worthy of your trust.”

“Thank you, Madam.” Xue Zui Ning agreed with a smile, though it did not shake the resolve in her heart. For many things, this was enough.

Madam Lu’s expression softened somewhat. “Miss Xue, if you are going to walk this road with Huaining, there will still be many things you must face. Family circumstances are one aspect. Huaining bears a great deal of responsibility, so his partner naturally cannot be a woman who only knows how to keep house and raise children. I am not asking you to possess the same ability to control the whole situation as he does, but you must integrate into his circle. Formal social occasions are not, as television would have it, merely scenes for showing off jewelry and dresses. Connections are built amid the clinking of glasses. When leaders visit abroad, they all bring their wives. You must have heard the term ‘first-lady diplomacy,’ yes?”

Thinking of her younger self, Madam Lu instructed her gently, “Improve yourself and support your husband. Though it may sound tiring, if you do not do this, the distance between you and him will only grow. Two people can fall in love because of a single surge of passion, but lasting love depends on maintenance. Life with Huaining will never be the kind of romantic, dreamlike existence a young girl imagines when she thinks of the wealthy elite. Be mentally prepared.”

“I understand. Thank you for the reminder.” If this had been four years ago, Xue Zui Ning might well have feared such a life. But now, she had long since learned to face it calmly.

Madam Lu said, “For now, I’ll have to wrong you a little longer. Once Huaining has recovered, I’ll find the right opportunity to make your relationship public. I’ll be rather busy in the near future, so I’ll leave Huaining in your care. You may live together in the normal way a husband and wife would, to adjust and see whether you are truly suited. I reserve judgment for now, but please understand my concerns. As an elder, I only hope the child will live happily, and that the happiness will last, without dramatic highs and lows.”

Xue Zui Ning knew this was already Madam Lu’s greatest concession. Every word she had said was reasonable and beyond reproach. She considered it carefully, then smiled. “Please rest assured. Since I’ve decided to be with Huaining, I’m naturally prepared to face whatever difficulties may come in the future. And I will work hard to improve myself, so I can stand beside him rather than shrink behind him and depend on his protection forever.”

“It’s good that you think that way. You’ve had a hard time. If you need anything, call me directly. If that’s inconvenient, you can call the butler.” With that, Madam Lu handed over the contact information and then went to look in on her sleeping grandson for a while.

If all that existed now was punishment for the right and wrong of the past, then perhaps letting go was the best way to atone.