Although she had been a bit nervous during the car ride, now she couldn’t help but peek inside, trying to catch sight of that familiar figure coming out.
Su Zhe was drinking an iced coffee he had just bought at the airport Starbucks, with another cup in his hand that he had intended for Su Lu.
But when he offered it to Su Lu, she was already reaching out to take it, then hesitated, as if she had thought of something, and shook her head, "I won’t drink it."
Su Zhe thought she was saving it for the little stinker coming out of the passenger exit and said, "Drink it, if he wants one later we can just buy another."
But Su Lu still smiled and shook her head, "Really, I won’t drink it, brother, I’m going to quit coffee."
Su Zhe raised an eyebrow, "Why the dramatic decision?"
Su Lu just smiled with her eyes curved, offering no explanation.
At that moment, Su Zhe took a couple sips of his iced coffee. He wasn’t as enthusiastic about looking inside, occasionally glancing over nonchalantly.
One by one, passengers started coming out, and after a while...
A young, clear voice called out from a distance, "Bro!"
Su Zhe then looked up to see a tall, lean figure dragging a large suitcase out.
Dressed in a loose T-shirt, which made him look even slimmer, a big white pair of headphones hung around his neck.
He wore a baseball cap on his head, with silver earrings glinting in and out of sight. The veins on his arms were distinctly visible.
He walked out with his suitcase, smiling at Su Zhe, eyes and eyebrows resembling Su Lu’s charm.
But at the moment his gaze met Su Lu’s, the smile vanished, his brow furrowed, and what was cheerful and happy in his expression turned instantly cold and impatient.
Su Lu watched him quietly, a shallow smile on her lips.
"Xiao Yi." She reached out to help him with his suitcase, "Long time no see."
But Su Yi moved his suitcase aside, not letting her touch it. His voice was calm, without any fluctuation, "Why are you here?"
Su Zhe frowned from the side, "I brought her here. What, do I need to seek your permission in advance to meet your approval?"
Su Zhe’s voice became even more chillingly calm.
Su Yi had always known his older brother’s temperament, and immediately felt tension at these words, "I... I didn’t mean that."
"What do you mean, then?" Su Zhe countered, "You haven’t been home for so long, and Lulu and I come to pick you up, and you can’t even call her ’sister’? Did all those years of education go to waste?"
Su Yi frowned helplessly, "Brother—"
Su Zhe looked at him indifferently, "Hmm?"
There was an intimidating tone in his voice.
Su Yi let out a sigh, turned to Su Lu, and said with a frown and impatience, "Sis, long time no see."
Su Lu slightly pursed her lips and nodded slightly, "Yes, long time no see. You’ve lost weight."
Su Yi didn’t respond to her, simply turning to Su Zhe and extending his hand, "Bro, is that coffee for me? Thanks."
Su Zhe handed him the cup of coffee, pouring cold water with a cool tone, "It was for Lulu, she said to keep it for you, so you’re getting it cheap."
Su Yi took the coffee, sipping it and mumbling, "It’s just a cup of coffee, what’s the big deal. Anyone could buy it. Why does she have to ’keep’ anything..."
"Oh, so you’ll take it then." Su Zhe gestured for him to give it back.
Su Yi quickly avoided them.
The three of them left the airport.
When getting into the car, Su Yi habitually took the passenger seat, while Su Lu paused for a moment then settled herself into the back seat.
She wasn’t exactly not sad, it was just something she had become accustomed to already, Su Yi was the only blood relative in this world that she knew of, her one and only younger brother.
Yet, from a young age, under Su Yukan’s upbringing, Zhu Xinyan’s influence, and Su Jiao’s instigation.
He didn’t feel any affection for his biological sister, on the contrary, he saw his own sister as an enemy, just like them.
When he was younger, he didn’t understand, so he naturally acted somewhat imitatively.
As he grew older, Su Yi wasn’t unaware, nor did he fail to understand Su Lu’s situation and stance, it wasn’t that he genuinely disliked his sister. But after resisting her for so many years, it had become a habit; to suddenly show closeness to Su Lu now...
Su Yi couldn’t do it.
Just as Su Yi was used to treating her in this manner, Su Lu was used to this attitude of Su Yi.
She took out her phone and started fiddling with it in the back seat, and after some thought, she sent a message to Cheng Youran.
Su Lu: ’Are you free the day after tomorrow or the day after?’
Cheng Youran: ’The day after, why?’
Su Lu: ’I’m coming to your workplace for a check-up.’
Cheng Youran: ’What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?’
Su Lu thought for a bit and decided not to reveal the news of her pregnancy through text to Cheng Youran, whether it was a surprise or a shock, it should at least be said face to face, right?
So, she replied: ’Nope, just a routine check, we’ll talk the day after tomorrow.’
Cheng Youran: ’Okay. See you the day after tomorrow then, bring something tasty, or else no deal.’
Su Lu smiled and replied: ’Got it, you glutton.’
Just after sending the reply, she glanced up and saw Su Yi in the passenger seat furtively glancing her way.
Upon noticing her looking up, he immediately turned his head away, pretending as if nothing had happened.
He started making conversation with Su Zhe on his own initiative, "Bro, why did you suddenly ask me to come back early?"
"You were planning on coming back already, weren’t you?" Su Zhe said indifferently.
Su Yi nodded, "Aunt Zhu had asked me over the phone when I was coming back to the country, saying that I should return home sooner to start my career."
Hearing this, Su Lu felt a tightness in her heart and couldn’t help but think about the threatening words Zhu Xinyan uttered at the Hai City Police Station. Zhu Xinyan had explicitly stated she would find a bargaining chip to continue threatening her; Su Yi was a suitable one...
Since Su Zhe didn’t respond to his initial question, Su Yi asked again, "So, why did you suddenly ask me to come back early? Are you planning to involve me too?"
Su Yi asked with a smile, dimples appearing on his cheeks.
Just as Su Zhe brought the car to a stop at the red light, he turned his gaze to Su Yi and said with an even calm, in a tone as cool as ever, "Oh, it’s nothing major, just that I’m planning to separate from the Su family and drive those three out of my mother’s house. You’re considered part of the Su family too, so it’s normal for you to be there. If you wish to be part of their family of four, then pack up your things as well and move out of my house."
Su Zhe said this so casually that Su Yi, while listening, still had his smile with dimples on display.
Only the smile gradually stiffened and vanished as he listened.
He struggled to force a smile, "Bro, why suddenly...why out of the blue..."
Su Zhe said calmly, "Things were never ’out of the blue,’ who are you trying to deceive?"