Every word they said felt like a stone thrown into Lu Zeqing’s heart.

Heavy.

Vague memories slowly surfaced, and even the emotions from those memories began to spread within him.

In primary school, during a heavy rainstorm, students in the corridor waited for their parents to bring umbrellas. The original owner, carrying his backpack, braved the downpour to run home. He needed to return early to cook so that he would have time to do his homework in the evening.

After entering junior high school, classmates’ parents arrived in the classroom one after another, waiting for the teacher to hold a parent-teacher meeting. The original owner has no parents, and his seat is always vacant during these times.

Finally, the long-awaited college entrance examination arrived.

Parents were waiting nervously outside the examination room for their children to come out, but the original owner calmly walked out of the examination room alone. He thought, perhaps he was finally free.

He no longer needs a legal guardian and no one can restrain him.

Seeing the three people hurting because of him in front of him, Lu Zeqing felt like a thorn had been stabbed in his heart, which hurt a little. Throughout his life, Lu Zeqing has been least afraid of pain. However, he didn’t know how to face them or respond to them.

If the Qi family told him that they did not want him to return to the Qi family, Lu Zeqing could handle it and leave calmly. He could be indifferent. But…

The Qi family never gave up searching and have always been waiting for him to come home.

For the first time, Lu Zeqing deeply realized that he had never thought about family affection. He was used to no one loving him, but he had always loved himself well. Now, suddenly, someone told him…

That he is loved.

Lu Zeqing didn’t know how to respond so as not to let down the Qi family’s expectations and overly enthusiastic family affection.

It seems… No one taught him how.

“Qingqing, Mom isn’t forcing you. Sorry, Mom didn’t mean to pressure you. Please, don’t cry.”

Is he crying?

Lu Zeqing slowly raised his eyelashes, tears fell on the back of his hands, it seemed as if he was scalded. He clenched his fingers, and his heart felt like it was being pressed down by a big stone, making him unable to breathe.

He had always been on his own, not even remembering the last time he cried.

Tears dampened his eyelashes, and his light-colored eyes shimmered with glistening moisture, almost obscuring his vision.

Lu Zeqing stood up.

“Sorry.”

He bowed deeply to Lu Nianchu and Qi Huai. His mind was a little confused. Lu Zeqing didn’t like to make decisions without thinking clearly.

The words came to his lips but he couldn’t open his mouth.

“I…”

“Qingqing, mom didn’t force you, you don’t have to apologize.”

Lu Nianchu sniffled.

“Mom hasn’t been able to stay with you all these years and watch you grow up. This is a regret that can never be made up for in a lifetime. Mom shouldn’t ignore your feelings just because of the pain in my heart. I didn’t want to be like this…”

“I want to talk to you carefully. I thought I could control my emotions. Your dad and I have agreed to give you time and wait until you are willing to accept us before taking you home. But now, it’s embarrassing for you.”

“I…” Lu Nianchu couldn’t continue, her nails dug into her flesh, but she didn’t notice. “I’m sorry, did Mom leave you a bad impression?”

“No.”

Lu Zeqing bit his lip, tears falling disobediently, and he took a deep breath. The defense mechanism in his heart erected a barrier. He was afraid that he would not be able to control his emotions if he stayed here. He tried his best to sound calmer.

“Excuse me. I need a moment. I’m so sorry!”

Lu Zeqing needs to think carefully.

His thoughts were confused.

He needs to figure out how to face it and how to respond. He did not deny this heavy family affection, which made him want to quit, and he also ignored the deepest longing for this family affection in his heart.

Lu Zeqing didn’t know if he could accept or respond to them calmly.

This was more difficult to solve than any problem he had encountered before.

“I’m really sorry.”

The tip of Lu Zeqing’s nose was red, and his eyes were also red.

He turned around in embarrassment and pushed open the heavy door. His departure was not as steady as when he came.

Lu Zeqing went to the bathroom and washed his face. He looked at himself in poor condition in the mirror, took out a tissue and wiped off the water droplets on his face little by little.

His skin is very white, and he rarely loses control like this. It can be seen at a glance that he has cried.

——Buzz.

The phone vibrates along with the WeChat notification sound.

Lu Zeqing took out his phone from his pocket and tried unlocking it several times without success. Finally, it was locked for another thirty seconds.

He guessed that Jiang Siyu couldn’t find him.

Lu Zeqing stared at the unlock countdown on his phone. The next second, Jiang Siyu’s call came in.

He didn’t answer.

Lu Zeqing was afraid that he would find something was wrong by hearing his voice. Perhaps he was overly emotional just now and his voice had a strong nasal sound.

“Why didn’t you answer?”

Lu Zeqing raised his eyes and saw Wei Yang’s face in the mirror. He came out of the cubicle and stood next to Lu Zeqing, with a smile on his lips and washed his hands slowly.

“Kicked out?” There was a hint of schadenfreude in his voice, “I really don’t know what you think.”

Lu Zeqing ignored him and turned to leave when Wei Yang’s voice sounded behind him.

“I just saw you went in there.”

Lu Zeqing paused.

“Do you think that by just giving a necklace worth one or two million yuan will make the Qi family take another look at you?” Wei Yang sneered, “You are overestimating your abilities. How many people want to hug this big tree of the Qi family? Do you have a chance?”

Lu Zeqing’s eyes narrowed. How could Wei Yang know about the necklace?

“Why are you staring at me like that? Since you dared to do something, why be afraid about others’ opinion? It’s already spread on Weibo that the necklace you give them must be fake.”

“The suit was given to you, but you bought the necklace yourself? Do you have that much money in your account?”

Lu Zeqing ignored Wei Yang, unlocked his phone and saw Jiang Siyu’s WeChat.

[Y]Where are you going?

[Y] I didn’t see you.

[Y] Why don’t you answer the phone?

Lu Zeqing replied.

[Coke without ice] Wait for me, I’m in the restroom.

[Y] Mn.

Lu Zeqing washed his face again and ignored Wei Yang.

Wei Yang had no intention of letting him go just like this. He had suffered so many losses at the hands of Lu Zeqing, and he always wanted to get it back.

Before he could get closer, Lu Zeqing’s eyes fell on him coldly.

“Don’t mess with me now.”

Wei Yang was almost frightened, and looking at the blush at the end of Lu Zeqing’s eyes, he guessed that the Qi family had probably thrown him out. He just went up to the second floor and saw Lu Zeqing entering inside.

He didn’t know what he did inside, but it took him a long time to get out.

“I didn’t mess with you, but netizens on Weibo are scolding you. Who let you and Qi Nan enter the same jewelry store? It seems that you snatched that necklace from Qi Nan… Ah!”

Before Wei Yang could finish his words, Lu Zeqing threw him over his shoulder and threw him to the ground.

Lu Zeqing grabbed Wei Yang’s arm, forced him to face the floor, and clamped his hands behind his back.

“It hurts… Ah! Lu Zeqing, you motherf###er. Let me go!”

Lu Zeqing not only didn’t let go, but also increased his strength. Wei Yang even heard his own bones cracking, and cold sweat broke out instantly.

“Lu Zeqing, let me go.”

Wei Yang started to struggle, Lu Zeqing grabbed his hair, and Wei Yang’s face was pressed to the ground and rubbed hard.

“Even if I beat you to a pulp right here, no one will see it,” Lu Zeqing threatened menacingly. “If there’s another time, I won’t show mercy.”

Lu Zeqing withdrew his hand and washed it again as if it was dirty.

Wei Yang immediately stood up from the ground, his specially styled hair was in a mess, and his clothes were all wrinkled. Lu Zeqing didn’t even look at him, wiped his hands and left the bathroom.

*

Lu Zeqing descended the stairs, and at a glance, he saw Jiang Siyu in the banquet hall—tall, with long legs, and a striking appearance that was hard to ignore.

At this moment, a young man stood in front of him.

Lu Zeqing composed himself and walked towards Jiang Siyu. The young man lowered his gaze, ears turning red.

“Sorry! It wasn’t intentional. I, I…” The young man held an empty wine glass, and the spilled wine covered the floor. Jiang Siyu frowned, his expression cold.

“I really didn’t mean to.” The young man’s ears turned even redder, his heart pounding. He had initially intended to bump into him, and just as it was about to happen, Jiang Siyu dodged, causing the wine to spill.

“What’s going on?”

Upon hearing Lu Zeqing’s voice, the coldness in Jiang Siyu’s expression suddenly dissipated. “Where did you go? Why were you gone for so long?”

“I just wandered around on the second floor,” Lu Zeqing made up a random excuse, avoiding direct eye contact with Jiang Siyu, afraid of revealing anything.

“Do you want to go out for a walk?”

Lu Zeqing took the initiative to invite him.

“Mn.”

Jiang Siyu walked away from the young man. When he saw Jiang Siyu was about to leave, the young man took a step forward and blocked his way.

“I can compensate you. Mr., Mr. Jiang, please don’t be angry. You can ask me to do anything.” The young man gathered his courage and repeated.

Lu Zeqing: “?” What’s going on now?

Jiang Siyu narrowed his eyes at him. “Anything?”

Upon receiving the reply, the young man suddenly became happy and his face turned red. “Uh-huh.”

Lu Zeqing couldn’t understand, but was shocked. What was this?

Jiang Siyu smirk, his tone harsh.

“Get out of my sight.”

The young man froze on the spot. Before he could react, Jiang Siyu took Lu Zeqing’s hand and walked out.

There will be a cake-cutting session later, and they cannot leave now. The two plan to go for a stroll in the garden outside first.

Lu Zeqing said nothing because he was afraid that Jiang Siyu could hear his nasal voice.

The two walked side by side in the back garden, with the cool breeze blowing across their cheeks. Lu Zeqing watched the shadows stretched under the street lights, and his thoughts slowly drifted away.

Jiang Siyu didn’t ask anything; he just walked forward with him. Suddenly, they noticed someone sitting in a wheelchair under the scenic bridge. Upon approaching, they realized it was an elderly lady.

“Do you want to go over?”

Lu Zeqing held onto the wheelchair’s handles.

“Yes.”

Lu Zeqing pushed the wheelchair over the small wooden bridge, and there were no other people around. Typically, an elderly lady with mobility issues would have a caregiver with her.

“Why are you alone?”

“I came out to enjoy the cool air.”

Lu Zeqing felt a little strange. The other guests probably wouldn’t bring their elderly mothers to the banquet, so it could only be…

Grandma Qi.

The celebrant tonight.

Just now on the second floor, Grandma Qi wasn’t there. Lu Zeqing guessed that Grandma Qi might not know about this matter for now. Perhaps they were afraid she couldn’t bear it due to her old age, or maybe they hadn’t found the right time yet.

Lu Zeqing’s heart tightened, hesitating whether to stay with Grandma Qi for a while. Alone here, he was uneasy leaving her. “They might not be able to find you if you’re alone here.”

Grandma Qi chuckled.

“Young people like you prefer lively places, so why hide here for peace and quiet?”

Glancing at Jiang Siyu behind her, Grandma Qi smiled.

“Are you young folks hiding here for some romance?”

“It’s not like that.”

“Don’t lie to me.” Grandma Qi smiled.

“When my son was young, he also secretly dated. When I caught him, he was too embarrassed to admit it. But that girl was bolder. She is my daughter-in-law now.”

Lu Zeqing didn’t know how many children Grandma Qi had, but this description didn’t sound much like CEO Qi Huai. He didn’t seem like a person with a shy personality.