The next day.
Lu Chengzhou returned to the bedroom from the gym, but Gu Mang was still asleep.
Gu Mang’s cell phone, which was on the bedside table, rang suddenly. She frowned and opened her eyes.
Lu Chengzhou glanced at the caller ID and said softly, “It’s a call from Grandma. Go to sleep, I’ll answer it.”
He stroked her face softly. His palm was warm and comfortable. Gu Mang fell asleep again.
Lu Chengzhou took the cell phone and walked to the balcony. He passed by the coffee table and picked up his cigarette box along the way. He knocked out a cigarette and bit it in his mouth.
He accepted the call and he heard his grandmother’s voice. “Ms. Gu, come early in the afternoon. Grandma’s waiting for you.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard the crisp metal sound of the lighter igniting.
The old lady was silent for two seconds. “Where is Ms. Gu? Why are you the one answering the phone?”
She sounded disappointed.
Lu Chengzhou glanced into the bedroom. His dark eyes were warm. “She’s sleeping.”
The old lady went silent again. She moved her phone down to look at the time. Upon seeing that it was already 11am, she frowned.
After a few seconds, she thought of something and her eyes widened. Then, her whole face became radiant.
She moved the phone back to her ear and said with a smile, “Oh okay, that’s good. Young people should sleep more. Grandma shall not bother the two of you. Remember to bring Ms. Gu here early in the afternoon.”
Lu Chengzhou said nothing. This was the first time that his grandmother had hung up first.
Lu Chengzhou raised his eyebrows slightly and walked into the bedroom with the phone in hand. Just then, the phone vibrated. He looked down and glanced at it. Lu Shangjin had sent a message.
“Gu Mang, I’ve been deployed to the capital. If you have nothing on tonight, come over to my place for dinner. Your Aunt Lin is going to cook.”
Lu Chengzhou already knew that Lu Shangjin had been deployed to the capital. He had been in the capital for ten days, but he only contacted Gu Mang after settling down.
Lu Shangjin had achieved remarkable distinction in the political world in the past few years in Ming City. It was no surprise that he had been promoted.
Lu Chengzhou turned back to the balcony and used Gu Mang’s cell phone to give him a voice call.
The call was answered very quickly. “Gu Mang.”
“It’s me,” Lu Chengzhou said. The lit cigarette was tucked between his slender fingers.
Lu Shangjin was stunned. After two seconds, he said, “Gu Mang can come to my place for dinner, but you cannot. If Grandma finds out that you came to my place and chose not to attend the family banquet, she will be angry.”
Lu Chengzhou flicked the ashes of his cigarette away. “Sixth Uncle, bring your family with you and come along with me to the Lu Residence tonight.”
“Are you crazy?” Lu Shangjin couldn’t believe he would say such a thing. “If I return will the banquet still go on?”
“At 4pm, Gu Mang and I will go to your place,” Lu Chengzhou said concisely, “We will head to the Lu residence together.”
Lu Shangjin was speechless.
…
The Lu family was old fashioned. They had a family gathering every month.
Needless to say, the gathering during the Mid-Autumn Festival, a day that symbolizes harmony and reunion, was very grand. In previous years, Lu Chengzhou had appeared at family banquets so infrequently that his appearances could be counted on one hand. He decided if he wanted to go back purely based on his mood.
Since morning, a procession of luxury cars had driven into the Lu Manor one after another. All the immediate and associated members of the family were present. Not a single one was absent.
The entire Lu Residence was extraordinarily lively. There was a horse ranch, shooting range, golf course, and mini theme park at the back of the Lu residence.
Some of the men were riding horses and playing golf. There were a few people at the shooting range. The younger members of the family were playing in the theme park and there were servants looking after them.
The ladies rested in the lounge and chatted with one another.
“I heard that Chengzhou will come today with a woman.”
“Everyone knows it’s Gu Mang, the woman who operated on grandma.” Lu Xi sneered slightly.
“Of course, I know her. I heard from my husband that she broke new records during Capital University’s military training.”
“She is not from a very good background. I didn’t expect Old Madam to like her.”
“Yeah, although she does have some abilities, she is still far behind the influencers in the capital.”
Lu Xi poked at a piece of fruit slightly and smiled. “Things are hard to predict. Who knows if she will step into the Lu family in the future.”