Chapter 10: Fairy Sister

The little bird’s wife heard her words and exclaimed: “Oh my, how strange! A human who can actually understand us!”

At that moment, a clever idea struck Su Zhiyi. “Then we’re good friends now, right?”

The two little birds nodded happily in response. “Yes! From now on, we’re good friends!”

“Then, my dear friends, could I ask you for a small favor?”

The little bird’s wife immediately nodded. “Of course! Just tell us what you need help with.”

Su Zhiyi looked at them with a gentle expression. “Then I’ll trouble you to keep an eye on that person named Lu Qingyu.”

The little bird’s wife chirped curiously: “Is she the girl you slapped?”

Su Zhiyi nodded. “Yes, that’s her. If she does anything suspicious or has any schemes, please fly back and tell me right away. Thank you so much!”

The little bird’s wife chirped again: “No problem! We’ll go right away!”

After saying that, the two birds swiftly flew off to track Lu Qingyu.

Back to the present

After learning about their disgusting plan, Su Zhiyi instantly felt a wave of nausea and disgust.

She then turned to the two birds and thanked them. “Thank you so much for telling me all this. After you finish eating, please continue to keep watch over them.”

After speaking, she placed a handful of millet into a small porcelain bowl and set it on the windowsill for the two little birds to eat.

Su Zhiyi’s beautiful starry eyes were now filled with intense anger.

She felt a cold chill run through her. That damned Jiang Keke actually dared to use such filthy methods to get Lu Hanchuan.

Fine, then let’s play this game properly!

Su Zhiyi decided not to tell Lu Hanchuan about this for now, to avoid making him worry. She would take care of everything, and he could step in afterward to clean up the mess.

To keep Lu Hanchuan from noticing her abnormal state, she barely interacted with him over the next two days.

Every day, she only exchanged the most basic polite greetings.

Other than seeing each other during mealtimes, the rest of the time Su Zhiyi stayed in her room.

Her change in attitude made Lu Hanchuan deeply upset.

Every time he wanted to reach out to her and ask what was going on,

A voice in his heart would warn him—don’t ask. Isn’t it better this way?

But his heart kept reminding him constantly that he couldn’t endure this kind of change.

It made him feel like dying from the pain.

And yet, even so, Su Zhiyi still made sure he soaked his feet on time every day using the water from the space.

Of course, each time she prepared the water herself, then handed it to Nanny Sun and asked her to deliver the footbath to Lu Hanchuan.

In the blink of an eye, it was already Grandpa Lu’s birthday. Early in the morning, many guests had arrived at the house.

At that moment, while everyone was chatting in the living room, they looked up and saw Su Zhiyi slowly descending the staircase, as graceful as a fairy.

The cheerful conversations came to an abrupt halt. Just then, a very childish voice rang out: “Mommy, I see a Fairy Sister! She’s so beautiful!”

As soon as the little boy finished speaking, he flailed his short legs and ran straight toward Su Zhiyi’s thigh.

Afraid that the little one might fall, Su Zhiyi instinctively reached out to catch him.

But she had underestimated the weight of the chubby child. He crashed into her with such force that she stumbled, nearly falling over.

Just then, Mother Lu shouted: “Zhizhi!”

As her voice fell, she ran toward them—but someone was faster. A man stepped forward and caught Su Zhiyi in his arms.

At that moment, the little chubby boy also realized he’d caused trouble and quickly ran back to his mother’s side.

Su Zhiyi, still in shock, looked up at the man in front of her—her eyes filled with panic and worry. It was Lu Hanchuan.

Their gazes met. Time seemed to freeze in place.

Just then, the chubby boy’s mother scolded him loudly: “Lu Zehao! How many times have I told you? Don’t be so reckless! What would’ve happened if you had knocked over your little aunt?!”

The little boy burst into tears out of fear and regret. “Mommy, I’m sorry. Zhuangzhuang was wrong. I’ll be careful next time.”

While Zhuangzhuang’s mother was reprimanding him, Su Zhiyi had already shyly stepped out of Lu Hanchuan’s arms.

Looking at his suddenly empty embrace, Lu Hanchuan felt like a piece of his heart had been ripped away, leaving a hollow void.

He forcefully suppressed his emotions and hobbled toward the sofa with his cane.

Just then, Lu Hanchuan’s cousin from his eldest uncle’s family, Lu Hanting, walked over with a smile and helped him sit down on the couch. “Hanchuan, Hanshi originally wanted to come today too. But who would’ve thought that Professor Han suddenly called him away. That guy was so unwilling when he left!”

Lu Hanchuan merely nodded slightly at the words. Lu Hanting didn’t mind and continued to smile warmly at him.

Meanwhile, Mother Lu, holding Su Zhiyi’s hand as they walked toward the sofa, smiled and said: “Speaking of Professor Han, wasn’t he also Qingqing’s teacher?”

A girl with a trace of heroic spirit in her features responded with a smile: “Yes, Second Aunt. Professor Han saw me a few days ago and complained that Hanshi doesn’t listen to him. He even told my mom to keep a tighter rein on him.”

A woman with a kind face and a slightly plump figure responded with a helpless smile: “Oh, what can I do? He’s grown up now and has his own thoughts. I’ll just let him figure things out for himself.”

At that moment, Grandpa Lu chimed in: “Ji Yin is right. The kids are grown now and full of their own ideas. As long as they’re not doing anything harmful to the country or committing crimes, let them handle their own lives.”

Grandma Lu joined in with a laugh. “You old man, always talking about crimes and arson. You’re just overthinking it.”

At that moment, the little chubby boy who had nearly knocked over Su Zhiyi quietly came up to her side.

Lifting his small head, he spoke in his soft baby voice: “Fairy Sister, I’m sorry. Zhuangzhuang almost knocked you over. Please forgive me.”

Su Zhiyi looked at the soft, squishy little dumpling in front of her.

Her heart softened. Then she crouched down and gently reached out to stroke his chubby round cheek. “Good boy, I’m not angry. You don’t have to blame yourself. I know you didn’t do it on purpose.”

Just then, another childish voice chimed in: “That’s not right, little brother. She’s Third Uncle’s fiancée. We should call her Third Aunt, not Fairy Sister.”

Hearing Yingying say “Third Aunt.” a gentle tenderness filled Lu Hanchuan’s downcast eyes.

Everyone around burst into delighted laughter at those words. Then Mother Lu praised her with a warm smile: “Yingying is absolutely right. You all should be calling Zhizhi Third Aunt.”

Upon hearing that, Su Zhiyi lowered her little head shyly, her face blushing pink.

Afterward, Mother Lu led Su Zhiyi to formally meet everyone.

From Eldest Uncle Lu Zhendong’s family of eight, she met:

Lu Zhendong’s wife: Qi Sumei

Their eldest son: Lu Hanting

Hanting’s wife: Yu Fei’er

Their daughter: Lu Ying (Yingying)

Their younger son: Lu Zehao (Zhuangzhuang)

Their second son: Lu Hanjing

Hanjing’s wife: Chen Hua

Then from Third Uncle Lu Zhenxi’s family of four, there was:

Lu Zhenxi’s wife: Ji Yin

Their eldest son’s wife: Lin Zining

Their second daughter: Lu Hanqing

The chubby little boy who had nearly knocked over Su Zhiyi earlier was Lu Zehao, second son of Lu Hanting from the eldest branch. He had just turned four this year.

The little girl who corrected his way of addressing Su Zhiyi was his older sister Lu Ying, who had just turned six.

The entire Lu family was very fond of Su Zhiyi. Her sweet looks, gentle temperament, and soft-spoken manner won everyone over.

“Sorry, I’m late.”

Just then, an apologetic voice sounded from the doorway.

Everyone looked over and saw the eldest son of the third branch, Lu Hanzhou, arriving.

They all greeted him with warm smiles.

He walked over to Grandpa Lu and, with a gentle smile, said: “Grandpa, happy birthday. This is a gift for you—I hope you’ll like it.”

Grandfather Lu reached out and took the gift. “You rascal, I finally get to see your face again.”

Lu Hanzhou replied: “Things have been a bit hectic lately. I’ll try to find more time to come back and visit you.”

“No need for that. This old man doesn’t have the spare time to entertain you anyway.”

At that moment, Grandpa Lu wore a proud little expression—it was honestly quite adorable.

Everyone laughed heartily again at the scene.

Lu Hanchuan, meanwhile, was watching Su Zhiyi as she stood surrounded by a group of people, her eyes curved with laughter.

On his usually cold and emotionless face, a trace of tenderness appeared—so subtle it was almost impossible for others to notice.

Just then, Lu Hanting, who was beside him, teased him with a grin. “So that’s why you’ve always refused to meet with Regimental Commissar Yu’s daughter. Turns out you’ve been waiting for this little girl all along, huh?”

“Big Brother.” At those words, Lu Hanchuan immediately withdrew the softness from his face.

Seeing Lu Hanchuan return to his usual icy expression, Lu Hanting chuckled and looked at him with amusement. “Alright, I get it. I won’t say anything inappropriate in front of your little wife.”

Just as everyone was engaged in cheerful conversation, a sudden, anxious cry rang out—Yingying’s distressed voice came through loud and clear…