Chapter 75: Heartbeat 1

Qin Ruyan shook her head, “I’ve already started recruiting people. I just didn’t expect the opening to be so well-received.”

The studio’s Weibo account gained over 10,000 followers today alone, all asking for new designs and pre-orders. They were willing to wait.

Lu Jingchen didn’t force her. He slipped his fingers between hers, intertwining their hands, and they walked inside together.

In the living room, Zhang Qiyao had told Lu Maoxuan that they were coming back, so the old man was in a good mood. He sat in the living room, sipping tea and glancing towards the door from time to time.

Zhang Qiyao smiled, “Grandpa, it’s all thanks to my sister-in-law. She said she wanted to come back and see you and Dad, so my brother came back.”

The old man chuckled, “It’s different now that your brother is married. My granddaughter-in-law is great.”

Lu Jingchen and Qin Ruyan just reached the door when they heard this. He raised his eyebrows slightly and glanced at Zhang Qiyao.

Qin Ruyan coughed softly. She was afraid that Zhang Qiyao would say more nice things about her and bad things about her brother, and she would be deducted allowance again.

They walked in, and the old man was the first to see them. He stood up from the sofa and walked towards them with a smile.

“You’re here! Come, sit down.” He pulled Qin Ruyan’s hand towards the sofa.

Lu Jingchen let go of her hand and followed behind.

“Grandpa, I’ve been busy lately and haven’t had time to come see you,” Qin Ruyan said apologetically.

After they got their marriage certificate, she was busy with the studio and investigating her parents’ case. She really hadn’t had time to visit the old man.

The old man waved his hand, “You young people have your own things to do. As long as you think of me and come see me when you have time, that’s enough.”

The old man didn’t even give Lu Jingchen a smile. He kept chatting with Qin Ruyan. His granddaughter-in-law was beautiful and polite, sending him good morning messages every day on WeChat. She was much more considerate than his own grandson.

Lu Jingchen looked at his grandfather and his wife, not annoyed. He casually sat down next to Zhang Qiyao.

Zhang Qiyao’s body stiffened. Lu Jingchen found it amusing. He glanced at the two who were happily chatting before lowering his head and speaking in a low voice.

“Has Ji Feng been bothering you lately?” He had accidentally learned about the entanglement between his sister and his good friend.

Zhang Qiyao looked at him with a mournful face, “Brother, my dear brother, can you please help me? I don’t even dare to go out much these days.”

Whenever she went out for too long, Ji Feng’s people would find her and report back to him. She was really scared.

Lu Jingchen sat up straight, tapping his fingers on his thigh, but didn’t speak.

Zhang Qiyao was very perceptive and poured him a cup of tea, then brought it to him. “Brother, have some water first.”

Lu Jingchen tilted his head and looked at her, took a sip, then spoke slowly.

“Our Lu family always does things with courage and conviction. Since you dared to sleep with him after drinking, why don’t you take responsibility?”

Zhang Qiyao couldn’t help but twitch her lips. “It’s me who’s at a loss here! I didn’t even ask him to take responsibility, how dare he ask me to take responsibility?”

Lu Jingchen put the cup down on the table before speaking. “That’s where you’re wrong. You don’t want him to take responsibility, which means you don’t think you’re at a loss. But Ji Feng wants you to take responsibility, so it seems like he’s the one at a loss.”

Zhang Qiyao opened her mouth, but suddenly realized that her brother was standing on the opposite side of her. She closed her mouth and stopped talking.

Lu Jingchen smiled. His sister was simply blinded by her emotions. He saw clearly that if she didn’t have feelings for Ji Feng, how could she be at his mercy?

Outside, Lu Huaijin and Zhang Wanyu received a message from their daughter, saying that their daughter-in-law and son were coming over. They rushed over as quickly as they could.

“It’s all your fault,” Zhang Wanyu said, her voice tinged with reproach as she saw Lu Jingchen’s usual car parked outside. “I told you to leave earlier, but you wouldn’t listen. Now Jingchen and Ruyan are already here.”

Lu Huaijin chuckled helplessly. “I’ve been so busy lately, and I stayed up late last night. Yaoyao told me about this at the last minute. I’ll be more mindful of time in the future. Don’t be angry. Let’s go inside. The kids are here too, and I need to save some face in front of them.”

The couple had been married for many years and shared a deep bond. Lu Huaijin had been busy with work in his younger years and felt a sense of debt to Zhang Wanyu. Now that he had retired, they lived together, spending their days accompanying the old man and their evenings at their own home.

Zhang Wanyu was just teasing him, of course. How could she really be angry with him? “Alright, I’ll be generous this time and not hold this against you.”

Lu Huaijin lowered his head and smiled, then took her hand and led her inside.

When they went in, Qin Ruyan was playing chess with the old man, while Lu Jingchen sat beside her, and Zhang Qiyao sat next to the old man.

The two exchanged smiles and walked over.

“Dad rarely encounters a worthy opponent these days,” Lu Huaijin said, glancing at the chessboard.

They didn’t know much about Qin Ruyan, but they didn’t doubt their son’s judgment. They had no prejudice about her background, after all, their son had only found love at the age of 29. They were overjoyed.

Their impression of Qin Ruyan was still based on their first meeting. She was beautiful, with a refined air in her every move. Her eyes were clear and bright, and when she stood there silently, it made people want to approach her. However, if she didn’t want you to, you wouldn’t be able to take a step closer.

Moreover, their little devil of a son was completely smitten with this girl.

Zhang Qiyao had never spoken so highly of any other girl in all these years. He still remembered his daughter saying, “My brother is truly blessed to have married Ruyan,” after the two had gotten their marriage certificate.

Now, he watched her play chess with his father, her moves decisive and precise, each step perfectly placed, yet never gaining an advantage, always trailing by half a move or a move.

He smiled. His daughter-in-law was incredibly intelligent.

“Grandpa, you won again.” Qin Ruyan sighed with relief as she placed her final piece. It was so difficult. She couldn’t win, but she couldn’t lose too badly either.

The old man smiled. At his age, he had seen so many people, how could he not see that she was deliberately letting him win?

Qin Ruyan stood up, bowing slightly. She also greeted Lu Huaijin and Zhang Wanyu. “Dad, Mom.”

The two nodded, and Zhang Wanyu walked over and took her hand affectionately.

“We were planning to invite you out shopping a long time ago, but Yaoyao said you two opened a studio and were very busy, so we didn’t want to bother you.”

Qin Ruyan felt a little ashamed. “I should have come to see you. I’ve been a bit busy lately and haven’t had time.”

Zhang Wanyu smiled. “You two go ahead and take care of your business. When you have free time, send me a WeChat message or call me. Let’s go shopping together.”

She was also very satisfied with Qin Ruyan. She was beautiful, polite, and she was her daughter-in-law. The Lu family was naturally protective of their own.

Qin Ruyan nodded. “I’ll definitely accompany you shopping after these few busy days.”