Chapter 4: Longing Finally Meets Reunion

Grandma Lu heard Father Lu’s question and couldn’t help but shake her head with a smile. “Xiao Chuan is just nervous, ignore him. Once Zhi-girl arrives, he’ll come out on his own.”

Then she let out an unconscious sigh. “I’m just afraid he’ll end up pulling a cold face and driving the girl away.”

Just as she finished speaking, Mother Lu’s voice came from the doorway. “Dad, Mom, Lao Lu, I’ve brought Zhizhi back!”

At her words, everyone quickly stood up. Then they saw Mother Lu enter with a beautiful young girl, Su Zhiyi, who wore a sweet smile on her face.

Behind them was Su Junyi, carrying the luggage.

Mother Lu beamed as she introduced Su Zhiyi to everyone. “Dad, Mom, Lao Lu, this is Zhizhi.”

Su Zhiyi curved her brows and eyes with a bright smile and greeted politely: “Hello Grandpa Lu, Grandma Lu, Uncle Lu. I’m Su Zhiyi.”

Grandpa Lu and Father Lu both looked at her with satisfied expressions and nodded approvingly.

Grandma Lu, with a loving look, stepped forward and took Su Zhiyi’s small hand. “Oh my, you’re so pretty. One look and I can tell you’re a good-natured child.”

“Zhi-girl, don’t you worry. If Xiao Chuan ever dares to bully you in the future, just come to Grandma. I’ll help you teach him a lesson.”

Su Zhiyi nodded with slight embarrassment upon hearing that.

Seeing her bashful and shy appearance, everyone instantly felt at ease and were filled with joy.

It was as if they could already see a chubby little grandchild waving at them.

Su Junyi had visited the Lu family a few times before, so he was fairly familiar with them.

He noticed his little sister was feeling shy, so he looked at Grandma Lu with a bright grin. “Oh come on, Grandma Lu, I’ve been here for quite a while and you still haven’t noticed me?”

Only then did Grandma Lu turn to him and tease: “You little rascal, of course I saw you long ago!”

“But really, if no one had said anything, who would’ve thought you had such a delicate and soft little sister like Zhi-girl?”

Su Junyi grinned widely in response, showing his white teeth as he chuckled foolishly.

Seeing her elder brother’s goofy expression, Su Zhiyi couldn’t help but joke too. “Exactly! My mom always says maybe I was swapped at birth.”

“But since my brother looks so much like my dad, they can only reluctantly accept that he’s really their son.”

As she finished speaking, she even shrugged her little shoulders in mock helplessness.

Everyone was immediately amused by her adorable gesture and burst out laughing.

At that moment, Su Junyi, a little embarrassed, picked up the woven sack beside him. “Aunt Lu, I’ll take these snacks to the kitchen first.”

Mother Lu nodded at his words. “Alright, thank you for the trouble.”

Su Junyi grinned. “It’s no trouble at all!”

Then he carried the sack and walked toward the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Lu Hanchuan, still hiding in his room, had felt his heart pounding uncontrollably the second he heard the girl’s sweet voice.

But when his eyes landed on his injured leg, his quickened heartbeat gradually began to slow again.

Even if he could see her again now, what difference would it make? He could no longer give her the beautiful future she deserved.

A sharp pain gripped his heart, making it hard to breathe. He closed his eyes tightly.

A moment later, when Lu Hanchuan opened his eyes again, he had once more become that cold and indifferent man, aloof and emotionless.

Meanwhile, Su Zhiyi appeared relaxed as she chatted with the elders, but deep down, she was feeling a little nervous too. Just the thought of seeing once more the man who had loved her so deeply in her previous life filled her with excitement—and an aching, swelling feeling in her chest.

At that moment, Su Junyi, who had been chatting with Grandpa Lu, suddenly looked around the living room in confusion. “Grandpa Lu, we’ve been here for quite a while already. Why haven’t we seen Hanchuan?”

Hearing Su Junyi’s question, Su Zhiyi also couldn’t help but grow puzzled.

Before Grandpa Lu could answer, Grandma Lu’s face showed a flash of distress. “Sigh, it rained a little last night, and Xiao Chuan’s injury was hurting badly. He only managed to fall asleep around dawn.”

When Su Zhiyi heard Grandma Lu’s words, her voice was tinged with deep concern. “May I go check on Brother Lu?”

Grandma Lu nodded with delight. “Of course you can.”

Grandpa Lu, Father Lu, and Mother Lu were all watching her with smiles at that moment. Mother Lu even helpfully raised her hand to point out which room belonged to Lu Hanchuan.

Su Zhiyi’s face flushed slightly. She nodded and stood up, then began walking toward the room Mother Lu had pointed to.

Just a few steps away from the door, the door suddenly opened from the inside.

What met her eyes was Lu Hanchuan’s slightly cold and handsome face.

His bone structure was striking—prominent brow ridge, high nose bridge, and a sharp jawline that gave off a distinctly stern aura.

As Su Zhiyi looked at him, Lu Hanchuan also lifted his gaze toward the girl he had longed for over the years.

Her baby fat from three years ago had already faded, revealing a more refined and beautiful face. Her face was small enough to be completely covered by just one of his hands.

Her round almond-shaped eyes sparkled with liveliness and charm. Her nose was delicate, and her lips were soft and pink—looking as if they’d be very pleasant to kiss.

The words he had originally intended to use to drive her away instantly got stuck in his throat. Not a single one could come out.

But when he noticed the slight redness around the girl’s eyes, panic welled up in his heart. “Did I almost scare her to tears? Am I really that frightening?”

His expression grew more severe, and his brows furrowed even tighter.

To others, it looked as though he was becoming increasingly impatient and was about to lose his temper.

Looking at his current expression, and then at Su Zhiyi standing frozen in place with red-rimmed eyes and a pitiful look on her face, the Lu family couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat on his behalf.

It had taken them so much effort to bring back the girl he had yearned for all these years—and this brat was standing there like a block of wood without saying a word!

And with that completely impatient expression on his face, no less!

Everyone inwardly cursed Lu Hanchuan for his utter lack of tact.

Finally, Su Junyi couldn’t take it anymore and spoke up, mocking him. “Hey, Han… Hanchuan, could you ease up a little? My sister’s not one of your soldiers!”

“If you keep this up and scare my Zhizhi off, don’t come crying later!”

Su Zhiyi’s face flushed red instantly when she heard that and snapped back to her senses.

At that moment, Lu Hanchuan finally managed to steady his emotions and once again turned his gaze toward the soft, delicate girl standing before him.

After a brief flicker of darkness in his eyes, he slowly and coldly uttered just two words:

“Sorry.”

Two words! Just two words! And then—nothing!

Su Junyi was instantly dumbfounded. Oh my god, bro!

After everything I said, couldn’t you at least say something nice?! Even those two words sounded like they were carved out of ice!

The Lu family all wore expressions of deep frustration, like they were mentally shaking him and shouting, You brat! If you scare her off now, you’re dead meat!

Although on the surface, Lu Hanchuan still looked cold and slightly impatient, in reality, he was cursing himself inside.

What the hell is wrong with this mouth of mine? Can’t I say something nicer for once?!

But then he thought of his injured leg. Forget it. Maybe it’s better this way. If she can’t stand it, she’ll give up on me and leave on her own.

As that thought passed through him, a flash of sorrow—so brief no one else could catch it—crossed the depths of his eyes.

Su Zhiyi, amused by everyone’s expressions, let out a soft giggle.

Then she spoke in a gentle voice: “It’s alright. I’m not afraid of Brother Lu. If he weren’t a little strict, how could he possibly manage someone like my brother, the troublemaker?”

Hearing her words, the Lu family grew even fonder of her.

On the side, Su Junyi, who was watching the drama unfold, was left speechless: “…”

Looking at her with her bright, curved eyes and that sweet little expression, Lu Hanchuan finally felt reassured. At least he hadn’t made her cry. He quickly averted his gaze, a little flustered, and hobbled off toward the sofa with the help of his crutch.

It was only then that Su Zhiyi noticed—he was still walking with a crutch.

She quickly stepped forward to his left side, gently supporting his arm as she said softly: “Brother Lu, let me help you.”

The moment her hand touched him, Lu Hanchuan froze in place and shuddered slightly.

After quickly regaining his composure, he couldn’t bring himself to reject her and replied with his usual slightly cold tone: “Thank you.”

Su Zhiyi didn’t mind his icy attitude in the least and smiled faintly. “You’re welcome.”

Once she had helped him to the sofa and made sure he was seated properly, Su Zhiyi very naturally sat down right beside him.

Everyone in the room couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—What a perfect golden couple.

Grandma Lu glanced helplessly at Lu Hanchuan, who still wore that cold, emotionless expression, and then laughed as she joked: “Zhi-girl, I think you should call him Big Ice Cube. He’s cold to everyone, like he’s trying to freeze people to death.”

The others all nodded in agreement, though their grins were stretching wide enough to reach their ears.

Just then, Su Zhiyi suddenly turned toward the still-expressionless Lu Hanchuan, and called out playfully: “Brother Ice Cube!”