Chapter 14: Who Knows Why She’s Ignoring Me

Lu Youlin cast a look of utter disdain at his second daughter. His deep voice carried clear disapproval as he said, “You’re over thirty now—when are you going to start acting like it? I told you long ago to leave the entertainment industry, find a man of similar status and settle down. Instead, you walk around like neither human nor ghost.”

Lu Siyu wiped her mouth and raised her well-shaped brows at Lu Youlin with a coquettish grin. “Dad, what’s with the lecture? Weren’t you talking about Lu Tinghe? Why drag me into it? I’m a firm believer in not getting married. Why tie the knot? I only like little puppy boys!”

As soon as she said this, her alluring eyes swept toward Tang Yu, who was standing to the side. Tang Yu quickly averted his gaze, pretending not to notice.

Lu Siyu pouted, and the elegance on her face dimmed in an instant.

“Tang Yu.”

Startled at being suddenly called, Tang Yu responded quickly, “Yes, Master.”

“Are you sure that was a girl? That brat suddenly switched preferences? He finally likes women now?”

Tang Yu replied, “I’m sure, Master. That girl was really pretty, the sweet and pure type.”

Lu Siyu pulled herself together and poured herself another drink. With lips curved into a faint smile, she muttered to herself, “Oh, so that’s Lu Tinghe’s type? What’s he doing on a public bus with someone? Has he even been on a public bus in his life? Does he know how to pay the fare?”

Tang Yu: “……”

At that moment, the front door of the villa opened, and Madam Zhang, the housekeeper, led Lu Tinghe inside.

With his hands in his pockets and a casual demeanor, Lu Tinghe wore a roguish expression. “Oh, everyone’s waiting for me? Since when did I become this important?”

Lu Youlin shot his son a sideways glance. “I was afraid you’d be mistaken for a stalker and get arrested. Then I’d have to go down to the station to bail you out.”

Lu Tinghe turned his head and smirked at Tang Yu. “Didn’t I tell you to buy glue? You just turned thirty and you’re already in your senile phase? So forgetful?”

Tang Yu: “……”

Lu Siyu set down her wine glass and stood up, looping her arm around Lu Tinghe’s neck in one swift motion. “You little brat, your hair’s barely grown out and you think you can ignore your Big Sister? Since when did you start going for proper ladies? Couldn’t give me a heads-up? Am I dead to you?”

Lu Tinghe grabbed her arm with one hand. “Let go already. Stop taking advantage of me—I’m saving this chaste body of mine for my wife.”

Hearing that, Lu Siyu suddenly perked up. “Oh? What’s your wife like? Tell your sister all about her.”

Lu Tinghe replied, “It’s a man.”

Lu Siyu slapped him across the shoulder. “Get out here, you little punk!”

Lu Siyu was ten years older than Lu Tinghe. There was a seven-year age gap between her and their eldest sister, Lu Siqi. But while Lu Siqi had always been the proper and diligent type, Lu Siyu had more in common with Lu Tinghe—they knew how to have fun together.

Lu Youlin was getting a headache from their squabbling. “The two of you—when are you going to learn from Siqi?”

Lu Siyu was still hanging off Lu Tinghe’s neck. “Siqi’s so boring. You’ve practically turned her into a work machine!”

Lu Tinghe added, “Even Brother-in-law’s been dragged down by her. Can’t even get a peep out of him these days.”

Lu Youlin: “……”

As the three of them bantered, Madam Jiang Ning came down the spiral staircase.

Seeing her son and daughter tangled together, Jiang Ning rushed over and cupped Lu Siyu’s face in her hands.

“Aiyo, let me see—why have you gotten so skinny? Are you over your health limit again? Is your agent starving you?”

“No, no, I’m dieting on my own—want to look good on camera,” Lu Siyu said, affectionately wrapping her arms around Jiang Ning’s shoulders. “I just knew Mother loves me the most!”

Off to the side, Lu Tinghe interjected, “Mom, am I dead and turned into a ghost or something? Can’t you see me?”

Jiang Ning shot him a glare, her anger bubbling to the surface. “Seeing you just makes my blood boil! Your Father told you to go on a blind date, and you chose to pretend you were possessed by a ghost? Why not just smear some cream on your lips and act out a full-blown seizure while you’re at it? Now Madam Shen is going around telling everyone you’ve got something wrong in the head! I’m furious! You’re the only stain on my life’s reputation!”

Lu Tinghe barked a laugh and teased, “Isn’t the stain on your life Dad? He’s so ugly, good thing you gave birth to the three of us and we all turned out better looking than other.”

Lu Youlin: “???”

Jiang Ning retorted, “How is your Father a stain on my life? Sure, he’s a little ugly, but he’s loving and knows how to make money. Unlike you—there’s not even a shadow of a partner around you. When you die, no one’s even going to burn joss paper for you.”

Lu Tinghe tossed Tang Yu a shameless look. “Tang Yu can burn it for me.”

“He’s nearly ten years older than you. You sure you’ll go before him?”

Tang Yu: “……”

…

After a warm, home-cooked dinner, Lu Tinghe went upstairs to the second floor of the Lu Residence and started organizing his things.

He had just returned to the country recently and hadn’t yet had the chance to move everything from the Lu Residence to his place at Jing Wang Plaza.

Lu Tinghe opened a drawer and took out Stefan Zweig’s *Letter from an Unknown Woman*, flipping through it idly.

Just then, the bedroom door was pushed open without warning, and Lu Siyu swaggered in like she owned the place.

Lu Tinghe, clearly irritated, shot her a glare. “Lu Siyu, do you not knock before entering a man’s room? What if I was naked and changing? Wouldn’t that ruin your eyes?”

Lu Siyu walked right up and pinched his cheek. “I’ve seen every inch of you—how would that ruin my eyes? That body of yours is a sight for sore eyes, better than eating Tang Monk’s flesh.”

Lu Tinghe smirked playfully. “Oh yeah? Want me to strip for you? Think of it as a free collagen injection.”

Lu Siyu ignored the jab, her gaze landing on the book in his hand.

“Well, well, since when do you read this kind of stuff? It’s all about secret love—tragic stuff, too. The heroine really gets the short end of the stick.”

Lu Tinghe tilted his head with a snort. “Exactly. I don’t get what’s so great about it.”

Lu Siyu folded her arms and gave him a suspicious once-over. “You’re acting weird. What’s going on? Heshuo Technologies is about to go public, and you suddenly enroll in Jingdu University for a graduate program? Don’t think I don’t know just because I’m in the entertainment industry. With your level? You’re better off teaching than studying.”

Lu Tinghe casually stuffed things into his bag. “My level’s not enough—I just wanted to do some further studies, alright?”

Lu Siyu wasn’t buying it. She jumped up and perched herself on his desk, face full of mischief. “Come on, spill it. What’s this about the girl Tang Yu mentioned? Jumping off a bus just to ride with someone else? What’s the story there? You like her?”

Lu Tinghe tilted his head, the smile on his face unreadable. “What does Tang Yu know? It’s just an old classmate—don’t talk nonsense and damage her reputation.”

Lu Siyu leaned in, curiosity piqued. “Old classmate? From high school? Did you meet her back when you were in your senior year at Dijin High School? Don’t tell me you scared her off back then by acting all broody and mysterious?”

Lu Tinghe replied, “When Father recalled me from the UK, I was already in a foul mood. And he told me to keep a low profile—what else was I supposed to do besides stay quiet and mess around on my phone?”

“Quiet and on your phone?” Lu Siyu suddenly had a revelation. “Oh my god, I get it now—you were trying to be mysterious because you had a secret crush! Tell me—was it an unspoken love?”

Lu Tinghe laughed lightly. “It was very much spoken. I confessed to her before the college entrance exam. She ignored me—what can I say?”

Lu Siyu was stunned. “You’re kidding. With your face? Someone actually turned you down? What, was she scared off by how rich our family is? Ugh, I told Dad to keep a lower profile. But no—he just had to parade you around the moment you turned twenty. Great job, he scared off his own future daughter-in-law!”

Lu Tinghe zipped up his bag, his tone nonchalant and unreadable. “Who knows why she ignored me.”