Chapter 5

She still remembered how the Lu family acted around him on her wedding day. They had all lowered themselves before him, like ministers before an emperor. Bending over backward to please him. Practically wagging their tails for his approval. Normally, during festivals or holidays, he’d send people to deliver gifts. This year especially, the gifts came almost every month. Yet he never showed up himself. She’d heard he’d been in a car accident and barely survived. That he was paralyzed. So why had he suddenly returned? Did something good happen in the Lu family again? Even though this big shot was supposedly in a wheelchair, they still invited him to add prestige? Rong Zheng thought about it. Lu Peichuan’s younger sister hadn’t dated anyone in two years, so it wasn’t a wedding. Old Master Lu’s birthday was still a month away. Too early for that. Forget it. A big shot’s affairs weren’t her concern. But the Lu family respected him so much. She shouldn’t be late. Rong Zheng sent Lu Peichuan a message saying she’d go to the old residence first. She told him Song Shiyan was back and asked him to come as soon as he could. Then she changed and left with Uncle Chen. #### *At the old residence* When Rong Zheng entered the living room, Lu Yunshan, the Lu family’s Old Master, was talking with Song Shiyan. The rest of the Lu family sat nearby, keeping them company. Lu Yunshan was usually stern and unapproachable. But in front of Song Shiyan, he was smiling kindly. Like an amiable old man. Sure enough, status determined everything. Seeing they were talking, Rong Zheng didn’t greet them. She walked to a seat in the corner and tried to make herself invisible. The moment she sat down, she felt a gaze on her. She looked up. It was Song Shiyan. He wore a black shirt. His deep eyes were fixed on her. His features were striking, but his face was too sharp. Dark and forbidding. It made people instinctively afraid. Just one glance and Rong Zheng’s heart sped up. It wasn’t anything else. His presence was just too overwhelming. Fear triggered a physical reaction. Yes. She was afraid of Song Shiyan. The day after she married Lu Peichuan, she saw him lose his temper with a hotel manager. He didn’t shout. He didn’t make a scene. He didn’t even speak. He just stared coldly. The pressure in his eyes was so heavy the manager broke into a cold sweat. The man knelt and kowtowed, begging for mercy. Then Song Shiyan said calmly to his assistant, “Teach him a lesson.” The manager was dragged away by bodyguards in suits. Later, Lu Peichuan told her the manager spent half a year in the hospital. And the reason? The breakfast didn’t suit Song Shiyan’s taste. That man was insane. Rong Zheng didn’t know why he was looking at her now. She’d walked in as quietly as possible. Did he still hear her? “Due soon?” His low, magnetic voice cut through the living room. Rong Zheng lowered her eyes. “Half a month.” “Mm.” Two seconds later: “Why didn’t Peichuan come with you?” Before she could answer, Bai Yuxiu, Lu Peichuan’s mother, spoke up. “There was an emergency meeting at the company. He’s running late. He’s on his way.” Since someone answered for her, Rong Zheng stayed quiet. She lowered her head and pretended to be invisible. Lu Yunshan kept chatting with Song Shiyan. Then Song Shiyan raised his hand and checked his watch. Lu Yunshan immediately turned to Bai Yuxiu. “Didn’t you say he was on his way? Why isn’t he here yet?” Bai Yuxiu’s expression stiffened, then she smiled. “Something must have delayed him.” She glanced at Song Shiyan and asked carefully, “Should we eat first?” Lu Yunshan nodded. “Yes, let’s eat. We can’t make Big Brother wait for his younger brother.” “It’s fine. I’ll take a walk in the garden.” Song Shiyan stood and walked toward the arched doorway to the garden. Rong Zheng stared at his long legs. Strong. Steady. No hesitation. Wasn’t he supposed to be paralyzed? Wasn’t he supposed to be in a wheelchair? Then why were his legs perfectly fine? She was still wondering when his steps stopped. He turned around and looked at her. Their eyes met across the room. Rong Zheng’s pupils trembled. Did he have eyes in the back of his head? Did he know she was staring? She immediately looked away. “I heard you’re quite good at making tea?” Was he talking to her? He didn’t say her name. She’d pretend he wasn’t. “Big Brother Song, do you want tea? I’m good at making tea too! I’ll make some for you!” Lu Xingyao stood up happily and walked to him. The assistant beside Song Shiyan raised a hand to stop her. Blunt and without tact. “Miss Lu. Mr. Song wasn’t talking to you.” Lu Xingyao’s face flushed red. “Big Brother Song, he’s bullying me.” Song Shiyan said nothing. He turned and left. Lu Xingyao tried to follow, but Lu Yunshan snapped, “Sit down!” She stomped her foot but obeyed and went back to her seat. Lu Yunshan looked at Rong Zheng, who still had her head down. “Xiao Rong. Go make tea for Shiyan in the garden.” Now that he called her name, she had to answer. Before she could speak, Lu Xingyao complained, “Why can she go but I can’t?” Rong Zheng: “…” Was making tea for this devil really an honor? She was about to refuse— “I’m heavily pregnant. It’s inconvenient. Why don’t we let Xingyao go instead?” “Consider yourself sensible.” Lu Xingyao stood up happily and ran to the garden. Lu Yunshan was about to stop her, but Bai Yuxiu cut in. “Dad, let Yaoyao go. If she wins Shiyan’s favor, it’s a huge benefit for the Lu family.” If Lu Xingyao caught Song Shiyan’s eye, the Lus would finally attach themselves to the Song family. Adopted ties weren’t enough. Lu Yunshan didn’t stop her. But imagination and reality were different. Less than 3 minutes later, Lu Xingyao ran back, eyes red. “Assistant Fang is too much! He wouldn’t let me near! And Big Brother Song — I called him so loud but he ignored me! Boohoo…” “What are you crying for?” Lu Yunshan scolded coldly. “You’re a grown woman. Crying over nothing. What kind of behavior is that?” He turned to Bai Yuxiu, clearly displeased. “This was your stupid idea.” Bai Yuxiu was embarrassed. She turned all her anger on Rong Zheng. “What’s the big deal about being pregnant? How is it inconvenient? What woman doesn’t get pregnant? You’re the only precious one? You can’t even make tea because you’re pregnant?” Rong Zheng kept her head down. Silent. Seeing her timid, useless look made Bai Yuxiu angrier. “Why are you sitting there like an idiot? Go make tea for Shiyan!” Stay and be Bai Yuxiu’s punching bag, or go make tea for Song Shiyan? Rong Zheng hesitated one second, then chose. She pushed herself up with the armrest and stood. Then she walked to the garden. Song Shiyan was intimidating. But he didn’t talk much. At least making tea for him meant peace and quiet.