Chapter 12: “Save your poor little brother!”

Looking into the little girl’s eyes, which were filled with deep trust in him, Lu Hanchuan’s heart instantly melted into a puddle. He nodded and promised her: “Yes, I will protect you!”

Hearing his response, Su Zhiyi smiled with satisfaction.

Two adorable dimples appeared sweetly and cutely in Lu Hanchuan’s eyes.

He lowered his gaze, clenching his fingertips tightly, forcing himself to suppress the itch in his heart.

Just at that moment, a loud shout came through: “Brother Hanchuan, Brother Hanchuan, I’m here!”

Lu Hanchuan instantly let out a breath of relief. Lu Hanshi had arrived just in time.

If he stayed any longer, he was afraid he truly wouldn’t be able to control himself and might end up doing something that would scare Su Zhiyi.

He cleared his throat, his voice slightly hoarse as he introduced: “That’s my third uncle’s youngest son, Lu Hanshi.”

Upon hearing that, Su Zhiyi gently nodded. “Oh.”

Lu Hanchuan looked at her obedient expression and suddenly had the urge not to go outside.

“Brother Hanchuan! Come out quickly!” Lu Hanshi’s voice called out again.

This was followed by Mother Lu’s voice, scolding playfully: “You little rascal, what are you yelling for? Hurry over here and sit!”

Hearing Mother Lu’s words, Su Zhiyi couldn’t help but feel a bit shy.

It was true—they had already been inside for quite a while. No wonder Mother Lu might overthink it.

Would the others also be thinking the same?

At that thought, Su Zhiyi shyly raised her hand to cover her little face.

Seeing such an adorable gesture, Lu Hanchuan couldn’t help but reveal a doting smile.

But because her face was covered, Su Zhiyi didn’t get to see the affection in his eyes in time—what a pity!

Lu Hanchuan then looked at the soft, delicate girl in front of him and said: “Then I’ll go out first.”

Upon hearing that, Su Zhiyi lifted her little head, her cheeks slightly flushed as she looked at him. “Okay, I should go out too.”

Just as Lu Hanchuan stepped out of the room, a dark figure lunged toward him.

It startled Su Zhiyi, who was behind him. She immediately reached out and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist from behind.

The moment Su Zhiyi hugged him, Lu Hanchuan seemed to be frozen in place, unable to move at all.

Feeling the soft touch on his back, his heartbeat became completely uncontrollable, thudding wildly in his chest.

Looking down at the pair of pale, slender arms around his waist, he suddenly felt a wave of fear.

Just a second before Lu Hanshi was about to pounce on Lu Hanchuan, he was thankfully yanked back by Lu Hanting, who stood beside him.

What followed was—being force-fed a massive bowl of dog food.

At that moment, Mother Lu also hurried over, looking flustered and muttering as she walked.

“Aiyo, you little brat! If you hurt Zhizhi, just watch how I’ll tan your hide!”

Su Zhiyi finally realized that Lu Hanshi hadn’t actually managed to pounce on Lu Hanchuan.

Only then did she feel relieved enough to withdraw her arms from around Lu Hanchuan’s waist.

When she looked up and saw the teasing smiles on everyone’s faces, she immediately felt a little embarrassed and reached up to touch the tip of her nose.

Although no one made any jokes aloud, the gentle “auntie smiles” on their faces spoke volumes.

At that moment, Lu Hanchuan’s cold voice rang out: “Lu Hanshi, how old are you already? Still so reckless!”

Though his voice wasn’t loud, everyone present could feel the anger in his tone.

Lu Hanshi scratched the back of his head awkwardly, looking sheepish as he said: “Brother Hanchuan, don’t be mad. I just haven’t seen you in so long, and I got a little too excited.”

Seeing that Lu Hanchuan still looked cold and stern, Lu Hanshi quickly wiped the grin off his face.

He immediately straightened up and said seriously: “Brother Hanchuan, I’m sorry!”

The others, seeing this, all smiled and chimed in, pleading on Lu Hanshi’s behalf.

But Lu Hanchuan remained expressionless, his face stern and serious.

Just then, he suddenly thought—would this cold and distant appearance of his make Su Zhiyi feel uncomfortable or repulsed?

The moment the thought crossed his mind, he panicked a little and quickly turned around to look at Su Zhiyi behind him.

As soon as he turned, Su Zhiyi’s little face lit up with a gentle smile.

Seeing her smile, Lu Hanchuan finally felt at ease.

He let his gaze sweep over her from head to toe, and after confirming that she wasn’t hurt, only then did he completely relax.

Everyone present could clearly feel that this little girl named Su Zhiyi was indeed Lu Hanchuan’s most cherished one.

Their gazes couldn’t help but shift toward the newly arrived pair—Jiang Keke and her grandfather—who were currently chatting with Grandpa Lu.

At that moment, Lu Hanqing cleared his throat and then smiled as he turned to Lu Hanshi, who stood beside him with a helpless expression.

He reminded him with a chuckle: “You little brat, haven’t figured it out yet? Hurry up and apologize to Sister Zhiyi, or you can’t be sure Brother Hanchuan won’t give you a beating.”

Only then did Lu Hanshi come to his senses and immediately began to plead: “Save me, Sister-in-law! Please help me beg Brother Hanchuan for mercy—I really didn’t do it on purpose! It won’t happen again, I swear!”

As he spoke, he clasped his hands together and put on a pitiful expression while looking at Su Zhiyi.

Su Zhiyi was instantly amused by his exaggerated look of misery.

Then, with her eyes curved into crescents, she looked at Lu Hanchuan standing in front of her.

She didn’t say a word, just smiled at him quietly. Then, mimicking Lu Hanshi’s pose, she clasped her hands together with a pleading expression on her face.

Lu Hanchuan looked at her adorable little expression, and the corners of his lips couldn’t help but curl into a faint smile.

Everyone around was stunned for a moment as they looked at him in surprise.

Then, their eyes turned to Su Zhiyi with admiration written all over their faces.

Lu Hanqing even gave Su Zhiyi a big thumbs up and said: “Impressive, Sister Zhiyi.”

Hearing Lu Hanqing’s words, Lu Hanchuan quickly wiped the smile from his lips.

At that moment, Ji Yin also chuckled and said: “Alright, alright, everyone go sit by the sofa and chat.”

As she spoke, she grabbed one of Lu Hanshi’s ears and started dragging him toward the sofa.

Her mouth didn’t stay idle either. “You little rascal, when will you ever learn to be more steady?!”

Lu Hanshi’s pitiful cries rang out for all to hear: “Aiyo! Grandpa, Grandma, help! Please save your poor little Hanshi!”

Grandma Lu laughed with a “you deserved it” expression and said: “I’m not helping. You had it coming.”

The atmosphere in the living room immediately lightened up with Lu Hanshi’s cries filling the air.

Everyone couldn’t help but think to themselves that from now on, the one person not to mess with was definitely Su Zhiyi.

Just then, Old Master Jiang’s voice rang out with a question: “Old Lu, is this girl Hanchuan’s fiancée?”

Grandfather Lu smiled and nodded. “Yes, that’s Little Su. She’s a very good child.”

At that moment, Su Zhiyi happened to follow behind Lu Hanchuan and arrived at the sofa area.

Out of courtesy, Lu Hanchuan turned to Old Master Jiang and greeted him softly: “Grandpa Jiang.”

Old Master Jiang nodded in acknowledgment and then turned his gaze to Su Zhiyi, who stood beside him.

Su Zhiyi didn’t shy away in the slightest. With a gentle smile, she met his gaze and greeted him politely: “Grandpa Jiang.”

Just as Lu Hanchuan instinctively wanted to shield Su Zhiyi behind him, afraid she might feel pressured—

Old Master Jiang suddenly broke into a warm smile and praised: “Not bad. She’s a very good child.”

As soon as his words landed, Lu Qingyu’s face immediately showed clear disapproval.

When she turned her head and saw Jiang Keke’s face, full of grievance and sorrow, she couldn’t help herself.

She opened her mouth, unable to hold back, and spoke up in defense of Jiang Keke.