RES Chapter 108

The date for the meeting with Elder Lu was quickly set.

Unlike what Chi Qiu thought, Elder Lu didn’t lose his temper at all when he saw him.

On the contrary, the old man called him closer in distress and held Chi Qiu’s wrist: “I’ve heard about your family’s affairs. Lanyan this child is straightforward. Like your grandfather, she doesn’t know how to consider things. Once she encounters people with bad intentions, she’ll be at a disadvantage and suffer losses.”

He sighed and said: “It’s because I’m getting older and less informed, so I don’t even know that you’re being wronged.” After saying that, he even glared at Lu Ming.

Chi Qiu didn’t know about the old man’s small movements and hastily explained: “Grandpa, everyone is helping me, I’m not really wronged.”

Elder Lu lowered his head as he pondered, hesitating to speak. He considered it for a while, but said nothing more about their decision. Although he did not want them to divorce, in the end, after listening to Chi Qiu’s explanation, he was speechless to refute, only nodding and agreeing.

This was the affairs of young people, after all. He, as an old man, couldn’t be thinking so wishfully.

Because of Chi Qiu’s grandpa’s face, Elder Lu could get mad at Lu Ming, but he could not say a harsh word to Chi Qiu.

Naturally, Chi Qiu did not say anything about Lu Ming’s deceitful marriage. The reason he gave to Elder Lu was simple; he only said that he and Lu Ming got married too hastily and needed to reconsider and start over.

Perhaps such a reason completely showed that the two had not broken up and there was still hope for remarriage, so Elder Lu frankly accepted the reality.

Only, he had a request.

“Xiao Qiu, Grandpa’s health is getting worse every day, many things are beyond my ability. You also know that Lu Ming’s father is not capable enough. He is now looking forward to your divorce…” He sighed with chagrin and said helplessly, “I am planning to pressure him and also intend to send the Zhen family out of the company one by one. This way, whether the company comes to the hands of Lu Ming or Yinliang in the future, I am more at ease.”

Lu Ming, who was standing on the side, guessed what Elder Lu meant, and he was blunt about it: “Grandpa, you made a mistake in letting the Zhen family into the company.” Once an opening was made and a precedent was set, the rear couldn’t be blocked.

Elder Lu coughed.

Chi Qiu was so frightened that he quickly pulled the corner of Lu Ming’s clothes.

Lu Ming frowned; obviously he was complaining to Elder Lu about him allowing Zhen Zhen to enter the door back then. But he listened to Chi Qiu and Chi Qiu told him not to say anything, so he didn’t say it.

And Elder Lu was equally regretful: “Back then, she took Yinliang to kneel in front of my door to admit her mistake. When I heard Yinliang’s cries, my heart softened all of a sudden. I thought I would raise Yinliang by my side and drive her far away, but I couldn’t resist the fact that the bloodline was unbreakable. But my soft heart did hurt you and your mother’s heart. So, I can also understand your heart when you refuse to come to me later on…”

As time went by, Elder Lu, who had always been strong, unexpectedly loosened his mouth for the first time: “It was because I was confused and did something wrong back then that your mother and you had a hard time.”

“…”

Lu Ming gritted his teeth. Now that he no longer had his emotional indifference as his armor, the struggling emotion on his face was clear at a glance.

But Lu Ming didn’t speak again.

The three went silent one by one until the tea on the table was no longer steaming hot. Chi Qiu touched the edge of his teacup and took a sip of the cold tea before he sat straight uneasily.

A moment later, Elder Lu touched the thumb ring on his thumb and said in a heavy voice, “Xiao Qiu, Lu Ming, I want to ask you one thing.”

“Grandpa, please say it!” Chi Qiu tightened his nerves in order to ease the atmosphere.

Elder Lu looked at the wisp of incense by the wall as his old voice spoke very slowly: “I hope that the news of your plans to divorce will be kept secret for the time being. Give me a little time. I have a plan in mind and I need to deal with a few things.”

He turned his eyes to Lu Ming and in his sad eyes, there were countless meanings: “I also hope that you will be satisfied with the result of how I handle this.”

Lu Ming was stunned. He lowered his eyebrows; his heart had guessed something but he was not sure about it

 

Elder Lu didn’t ask them to stay for long and they were soon sent off.

Chi Qiu sat in the car on the passenger side confused. He understood the meaning of Elder Lu, but did not understand what Elder Lu meant by ‘the result of how I handle this’. However, Chi Qiu felt that this was not something he should be concerned about, so he did not ask questions.

On the way, Chi Qiu was craving and wanted to eat oranges.

Lu Ming drove directly to the mall and the two pushed the shopping cart together, strolling in the spacious aisles of the supermarket.

Generally speaking, their shopping style was that Chi Qiu said what he wanted to eat and what he wanted to use. Lu Ming led Chi Qiu over and told him where it was in the same way, which Chi Qiu would then take and put them in the basket. This boring action had become a little game for them today. Chi Qiu never tired of it and he unknowingly bought a lot of things.

When checking out, Lu Ming’s eyes caught sight of the condoms on the shelf. He stood calmly, not even moving before taking a box from the shelf and putting it on the checkout counter.

The cashier habitually scanned the barcode: “Do you want a bag?”

“Yes.” Lu Ming took the lead and put everything into the bag.

Chi Qiu wanted to help him carry the bags, but Lu Ming refused: “You hold me to walk.” He held the shopping bags in one hand and touched Chi Qiu’s arm with the other, “Otherwise, if I’m lost, you have to post a missing person notice.”

“You really like to talk nonsense now.” But Chi Qiu really liked this approach. He smiled happily and walked with Lu Ming on his arm, “I just heard you take something from the shelf, was it a lollipop?”

“Well, it was indeed a lollipop. But I didn’t take it, it was the person behind us.”

“Was there someone behind us?”

“Yes.” Lu Ming was dead set on lying.

Chi Qiu couldn’t understand; he clearly did not hear the sound of a cart behind, ah. But he thought, Lu Ming is not blind, so he must be right.

 

When the two arrived home, it was already three o’clock in the afternoon.

Lu Ming sorted out the things they bought by himself and put them in their proper places one by one.

Auntie Zhang, on the other hand, pinpointed the time and brought a glass of water and a plate of pastries, as well as several bottles of medicine: “Sir, it’s time to take the medicine in the afternoon. You should eat something to pad your stomach first. If not, your stomach will hurt.”

Chi Qiu thanked obediently and touched the pastry plate.

Lu Ming helped him pick up a piece of handmade pastry that was not too sweet and put it in Chi Qiu’s hand: “You said it was delicious last time.”

“I’m tired of eating them all.” Chi Qiu continued to touch the desserts on the plate, and when he touched a piece of mung bean cake, he wiggled his hand: “This one is not sweet, and it’s also delicious.”

He unwrapped it and graciously gave Lu Ming the first bite.

“It’s really not sweet and really delicious.”

“Don’t think I don’t know, you only like to eat sweets.” Chi Qiu set the rules for Lu Ming, “But eating too many sweets is not good for your body. We can’t eat too many sweets in the future.”

In the past Chi Qiu was unable to control him, did not dare to control him, but now it was Lu Ming who blatantly invited him to control himself.

“Okay, I’ll correct it.” Lu Ming wiped the corner of his mouth, feeling especially delicious. Because what Chi Qiu gave him was, in a way, sweet.

And to Auntie Zhang, it was dog food.

 

Auntie Zhang looked at them with a smile, as if she was watching an urban idol drama. Seeing that Chi Qiu had almost eaten, she went to get the medicine bottle on the table.

Lu Ming stopped her: “I’ll do it.” He picked up medicine bottles of different sizes and poured out the amount of each medicine accordingly.

Auntie Zhang nodded, not forgetting to urge: “Sir, before taking the medicine, always remember to drink a sip of water to moisten the throat, otherwise it is easy for you to choke. I still have soup stewing in the kitchen, so I will go to work first.”

“Auntie Zhang has worked hard.” Chi Qiu who listened to Lu Ming pouring medicine, obediently stretched out his hand. “Actually, I can adapt very quickly, I can do these little things by myself.”

Lu Ming refused: “I like helping you, can’t I?”

This was a good thing to say and Chi Qiu pretended to be gracious after obtaining the gains: “Okay, then I’ll give you this chance.”

Lu Ming took the opportunity to kiss him and said with a smile, “Thank you.”

The days that followed went by quickly.

Outside the window, autumn hiked towards winter and everything was depressing. The north wind in the early morning often knocked on the floor-to-ceiling windows of the living room, and the midday sun became the most precious thing in this season.

At night, those who love each other would embrace each other and sleep. It was just that the condoms that were put in the drawer early in the morning were brand new and there was no chance to take them out and use them.

After all, Chi Qiu studied hard every day. At night, he was inevitably drowsy. It was already good enough that Lu Ming could kiss him a few times.

Of course, the most important thing was that Lu Ming couldn’t bear to tire Chi Qiu at all.

Many times, Chi Qiu would be so tired that he would doze off even during the day. He often fell asleep holding the tablet in the afternoon sun in the front yard. He didn’t even have time to pause the audio…

Most of the materials given by Chi Lanyan and Ji Feining were too confusing. As long as Chi Qiu didn’t understand, he would keep looking up for more materials or ask Lu Ming who was able to understand it, until he understood it.

Lu Ming was deeply distressed, but he fully supported Chi Qiu’s efforts.

When he saw Chi Qiu taking a nap, he would carefully draw out the tablet Chi Qiu was holding in his hand and bend down to kiss Chi Qiu on the lips.

Chi Qiu sometimes pretended to be asleep, but Lu Ming could always see through it easily, because often a kiss could make Chi Qiu’s ears red, turning into a red cherry falling on a branch in the sun.

 

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T/N: Happy Lunar New Year to everyone celebrating it. May this year of rabbit bring you and everyone around you happiness and prosperity.

 

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