Yang Jiashu looked completely clueless.
Lu Qingyan couldn’t bear to watch.
He glanced sideways at Jiang Nanshu, "Your fourth brother might have returned to the villa already; I’ll take you back, okay?"
"Jiashu, call your driver to pick you up; we’re not going the same way."
"Got it. Make sure you and Sister Nanshu stay safe on the road."
Once he finished speaking, he began making the call.
Lu Qingyan went to bring the car around.
Sitting in the driver’s seat, he tilted his chin up toward Jiang Nanshu, "Get in."
Jiang Nanshu sat in the passenger seat, her mind preoccupied with tomorrow’s visit to her foster mother’s house.
[Should I invite Lu Qingyan along? It could be a good opportunity to develop our relationship.]
[What if he doesn’t want to go? No matter, I’ll just ask and see.]
She cleared her throat softly, her voice saccharine, "Ah Yan."
Lu Qingyan’s eyebrows lifted slightly; the corners of his mouth curved into a smile as he focused on driving, his eyes, however, twinkled, "What’s up, Nannan?"
"Tomorrow, I want to visit my foster mother. I want to cut ties with that bunch of paupers once and for all, so they stop bothering me. Would you be willing to come with me?" As she mentioned her foster mother, Jiang Nanshu wrinkled her nose in disgust.
[She has leukemia and only treatment can save her life. It’s just a matter of money, right? Once I throw a few million at them as severance, they can afford her treatment.]
Lu Qingyan replied lightly, "Yeah, sure."
He showed no sign of discontent regarding Jiang Nanshu’s comments.
His voice was gentle, "You really have changed quite a bit."
[Have I not become vicious enough?]
"In the past, your money only ever got swindled, now you’re thinking of financially assisting your foster parents. Quite filial of you," he commented nonchalantly.
[Brother, I just called them paupers and you’re still praising my filial piety. Obviously, you must like me. Love is blind; this is awesome.]
"Thanks for the compliment."
Lu Qingyan continued, "I’ll take you there tomorrow."
The car stopped in front of the white estate’s entrance.
Jiang Nanshu got out.
Lu Qingyan closed the car door and walked her to the entrance, "Go on in. I’ll go check on Xiao Xu."
Her gaze fixed on his stunningly handsome face, with sparkling eyes, she said, "Bow your head; I have something to tell you."
Lu Qingyan bowed his head, and Jiang Nanshu, standing on her toes, quickly kissed his thin lips.
Before Lu Qingyan could react, she ran inside, waving with a radiant smile, "Ah Yan, see you tomorrow."
Only after her cheerful figure had vanished,
did it hit him like a bolt from the blue that Jiang Nanshu might actually like him as well.
His heartbeat thundered like a drum.
Under the night sky, the red tips of his ears stood out vividly.
He took a deep breath and started walking toward the neighboring villa.
Halfway there, he turned back; he had forgotten his car.
However hard he tried, his lips curved up-ward involuntarily.
Not until Shang Xu looked at him with curious grape-like eyes, "Uncle, what are you smiling about?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Qingyan reverted back to his aloof demeanor in a second.
He glanced at Shang Xu, "What time is it now? You should be in bed."
Shang Xu sat on the sofa, his little arms propping up his chin like a little adult, "Sigh, whenever I think of Sister Nanshu being with you, I can’t sleep at all."
"Call me ’Auntie Mom’."
Shang Xu pouted, "No."
Lu Qingyan looked at him indifferently with his dark eyes, "Then you can just stay in the villa and study tomorrow. I was going to take you out for fun."
Caught between studying in the villa and going out for fun,
Shang Xu embarrassingly chose the latter.
His eyes as red as grapes, as if suffering immense injustice, he sobbed, "Wuu wuu wuu, I, I want to be with you and Nan... wuu wuu wuu, Auntie Mom. Uncle, can you take me, and also bring Little Ha? Little Ha can’t live without me."
Lu Qingyan’s eyebrows twitched slightly, "You can only bring either Little Ha or yourself. Your choice."
He toddled over to Housekeeper Shang with small steps, his voice soft and milky, "Housekeeper Grandpa, I’m leaving Little Ha in your care."
Housekeeper Shang’s wrinkles smoothened, his gaze affectionate, "Alright, young master, you go have fun, I will take good care of Little Ha."
Shang Xu, satisfied, scampered over and hugged Lu Qingyan, "Uncle, can I sleep with you tonight?"
Lu Qingyan intended to refuse.
But Shang Xu’s eyes were full of confusion and anticipation.
Lu Qingyan’s heart softened, "Just for tonight."
"Woo-hoo, yay!" Shang Xu cheered, raising his little arms in celebration.
Mr. and Mrs. Jiang were in the living room.
They were a bit anxious upon hearing that Jiang Nanshu was going to visit her foster mother’s home in the countryside.
Mr. Jiang could no longer focus on his newspaper and said to Jiang Nanshu, who was having breakfast at the dining table, "Nannan, do you want dad to accompany you? Your mom and I have never formally visited them."
Mrs. Jiang nodded elegantly, her demeanor every bit that of a fine lady, "We should indeed visit. No matter what, they raised Nannan for sixteen years."
[If they wanted to visit, they would’ve done so long ago, and wouldn’t have delayed it just because I didn’t go back then. It’s still a lack of concern, after all. The old Jiang Nanshu was just dispensable.]
Jiang Nanshu smiled obediently on the surface, "No need for that, Dad and Mom. The foster mother’s place is quite poor, with limited living space, and it’s in the countryside; you two won’t be used to it. I’ve got Brother Qingyan coming with me, and we may even be back this afternoon."
Mr. and Mrs. Jiang felt somewhat awkward.
"Alright then... I am relieved when you go out with Qingyan," Mrs. Jiang said hesitantly and continued with instructions, "Remember to be courteous when you’re away, and don’t trouble Qingyan too much. Leave a good impression on him. If you really marry Qingyan in the future, you’ll be part of the Lu Family and enjoy their fortune."
Jiang Nanshu placated, "Mhm, sure, once I’m in, I’ll steal the Lu family’s projects for Big Brother. Grandpa Lu even promised to give me the Half Mountain Villa, worth over ten billion. I’ll move you all in there when the time comes, and you can take whatever you want!"
Mr. Jiang’s face paled with shock, "Don’t! My dear girl, don’t joke around!"
She really dared to say it.
If the Lu family heard it again, who knows what they might think about the Jiang family.
Just as the thought crossed his mind,
Housekeeper Qian’s voice came from behind, "Master, Young Master Lu has arrived."
Mr. and Mrs. Jiang: "..."
They turned their heads to see him.
Lu Qingyan was expressionless.
It was hard to know how much of Jiang Nanshu’s words he had overheard.
Mr. Jiang: "... Oh the calamity."
"Cough, Qingyan, you’re here? Waiting for Nanshu? She’s still having breakfast. Come, sit in the living room."
"Thank you, Uncle Jiang."
No sooner had Lu Qingyan taken a seat than a servant brought tea.
"I’m finished eating. Brother Qingyan, let’s go." Jiang Nanshu linked her arm intimately with Lu Qingyan’s, and said to Mr. and Mrs. Jiang, "Dad, Mom, we’re heading out."
Mr. Jiang gave Housekeeper Qian a meaningful look, and she immediately placed the prepared gifts in the trunk of Lu Qingyan’s car.
Mrs. Jiang followed them out, "Nannan, remember to give these gifts to your foster parents as thanks for their years of care."
Jiang Nanshu responded sweetly, "Mhm mhm, I will."
[Have you ever wondered how your biological daughter ended up being raised in the countryside, while Jiang Leyi just happened to appear?]