Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Lu Yao sat stiffly beside Fu Yanhuai, his hands and feet unsure where to rest. Though his neck likely still ached, his mind had ceased to register physical discomfort.

Fu Yanhuai ate little, merely sampling each dish before setting down his chopsticks. His life adhered to strict standards; eating late at night was a rare exception.

Though the late-night snack was small, Fu Yanhuai didn’t finish it. Even so, Lu Yao found a hint of sweetness in the gesture.

Lu Yao had never known the dynamics of a normal family. In the Lu household, Lu Qianxing and Guan Qinglu would often sit intimately, a picture of maternal affection and filial piety. Lu Zhongguang was rarely home, but when he was, the trio would chat and laugh over meals, while Lu Yao sat silently on the side, finishing his food before retreating to his small room to do homework.

Not wanting this rare moment with Fu Yanhuai to be dull, Lu Yao racked his brain for a topic Fu Yanhuai might find acceptable. “I’ll be resigning tomorrow.”

Fu Yanhuai turned his head at that. “What do you plan to do next?”

He knew Lu Yao hadn’t finished university but wasn’t aware of the specific reasons. If Lu Yao needed it, he could offer some career assistance.

Lu Yao quickly replied, “I’ve made a friend at this shop. I’ll be working with him next…”

Since Lu Yao had a plan, Fu Yanhuai didn’t press further. Instead, he asked, “Is that friend also a beta?”

“An omega,” Lu Yao answered, surprised by Fu Yanhuai’s interest in such a trivial detail. Still, he added, “He’s a very kind person.”

As long as they weren’t alphas or betas, Fu Yanhuai didn’t mind. “Whether it makes money or not doesn’t matter. If you like it, do it. Keep some distance from the Lu family. You should be able to tell they aren’t sincere with you.”

Lu Yao managed a strained smile. Fu Yanhuai had only met his family a few times, yet even he could see such an obvious truth—his family truly didn’t care for him.

Lu Yao sidestepped the latter part of the comment. “It’s something I enjoy doing. I like being a pastry chef.”

Lu Yao wasn’t lying. He genuinely found making pastries interesting, especially watching cakes and bread slowly puff up in the oven. He found the sight adorable.

Fu Yanhuai had no interest in meddling in Lu Yao’s family affairs. At this point, Lu Yao was little more than an amusing toy in his eyes.

“This Friday, I’ll be returning to the old residence until Monday. You’re coming with me.”

Fu Yanhuai’s tone was always commanding, catching Lu Yao off guard. “What should I prepare? Do the elder Fus wish to see me?”

If the two elders wanted to meet him, he likely wouldn’t need to stay that long. Lu Yao doubted the Fu family’s old residence would even have a room for him.

“No,” Fu Yanhuai stated. He had decided to experience something akin to a normal married life, needing the contrast to gradually learn and confirm his own feelings, and to understand what role Lu Yao truly played in his life. “It’s a spur-of-the-moment decision. Don’t be nervous. You don’t need to prepare anything. They’re probably very busy and we won’t see much of them.”

Once confident that Fu Yanhuai could stand on his own, Fu Jizhong had retired without hesitation to enjoy his life. Though he had reservations about his son’s marriage, he didn’t interfere.

Lu Yao, who had been blushing earlier while looking at Fu Yanhuai, now had a hint of worry in his eyes. He quietly said, “Alright, I understand.”

Having said his piece, Fu Yanhuai rose to go upstairs and rest. Lu Yao sighed softly and began clearing the dishes from the table.

To his surprise, the butler was still in the kitchen, not yet asleep. Lu Yao, preoccupied, was startled when he walked in. “Butler?”

Puzzled, he added, “Why are you here?”

“I’m here to brief you on Mr. Fu’s schedule for the week,” the butler calmly said, taking the dishes from him. “Mr. Fu will be returning to the old residence this Friday.”

“Mr. Fu just told me,” Lu Yao said gently to the butler. “I’ll be mindful when we’re there.”

The butler had received the answer he sought and nodded with satisfaction. “Though you haven’t spent much time with Master and Madam, this visit should show you how easygoing they both are.”

Yet Lu Yao remembered clearly how stern Fu Yanhuai’s parents had appeared during the initial marriage discussions.

He couldn’t help but ask one more question, “Do you know what Master and Madam like?”

He didn’t hold much hope for the answer, as even if he knew, he might not be able to afford it. But going empty-handed would be too impolite.

The butler mused, “Master doesn’t have any particular preferences, but Madam enjoys small pastries.”

Fu Jizhong’s hobbies were varied and expensive, but more importantly, his attitude was entirely influenced by Wen Zheng, who held absolute authority within the household.

Lu Yao’s eyes brightened slightly. The butler encouraged him, “Master and Madam aren’t actually dissatisfied with you personally. Their dissatisfaction lies with the marriage itself—it was too hastily arranged.”

Fu Yanhuai, deeply influenced by his parents, hadn’t behaved like other dissolute scions who changed partners constantly. Instead, he chose to compensate the beta he’d used to vent his pheromones with a marriage. Unfortunately, his compensation was hollow—a marriage that existed only in name, devoid of equality.

Facing Fu Yanhuai’s parents did make Lu Yao nervous, but having overcome many difficulties, he wasn’t one to shrink away.

“Thank you,” Lu Yao said sincerely. “I’ll do my best.”

Reassured, the butler finally left. Lu Yao tossed and turned for a long time before falling asleep in his room; too much had happened recently.

The next day, Fu Yanhuai went about his business as usual. Lu Yao had mentioned his resignation to Fu Yanhuai the previous night, so he no longer needed to sneak out through the side door.

Running into Lu Yao in the living room was a novel experience, but Fu Yanhuai was in a hurry, leaving no time for conversation.

For Lu Yao, however, this was significant progress. Since he wasn’t going to work today, Lu Yao planned to arrive at the shop according to Ma Song’s schedule.

With ample time on his hands, perhaps due to his changed mindset, even the walk to the shared bike station felt pleasant, the roadside scenery quite lovely.

Meanwhile, as Lu Yao set out, Xia Shiyue lay lazily on his couch, legs crossed.

Kevin’s favorite type of client was someone like Xia Shiyue—generous, easygoing, and pleasant to work with.

Holding up a sample garment, Kevin exaggeratedly praised Xia Shiyue, “This color will absolutely complement your skin tone. With my years in the business, don’t you trust my eye? Anyone with fair skin can definitely pull off this color.”

Xia Shiyue, remotely overseeing his coffee shop venture, hummed distractedly. “Just leave two. I’ve been so busy lately, no time for any events. Who knows when I’ll even wear them.”

Noticing Xia Shiyue’s lack of interest in clothes today, Kevin wasn’t in a rush to close a sale. Instead, he shifted to gossip he knew Xia Shiyue would enjoy. “Young Master Xia, have you met Mr. Fu’s partner?”

As expected, Xia Shiyue was intrigued. He moved his phone aside, his eyes shifting from the screen to Kevin’s face. “Which Mr. Fu?”

Delighted by the reaction, Kevin eagerly continued, “Who else? Is there a second Mr. Fu so famous in the capital? The other day, I went to take Mr. Fu’s measurements, but who would have thought, Mr. Fu asked me to stay and measure someone else too.”

Kevin grew more animated, and Xia Shiyue sat up fully on the sofa. “And then? He asked you to measure his partner? That beta?”

“Exactly!”

Kevin’s face lit up. “I don’t think he’s like the rumors say, and he seemed to have a pretty good relationship with Mr. Fu.”

Xia Shiyue’s inner gossipmonger was thoroughly stirred. He cleared his throat. “Everyone else, out. Kevin and I need a moment.”

Once the other busy people in the room had left, Kevin leaned in conspiratorially. “It’s just that when I left, I felt like Mr. Fu and that beta had an argument.”

Xia Shiyue perked up. “What did they argue about? How strange—I can’t imagine Fu Yanhuai arguing. What happened?”

Kevin thought for a moment. “Well, it wasn’t really an argument. Mr. Fu just seemed displeased. But that gentleman has such a good temper—a small face, big eyes, like a little deer.”

Xia Shiyue’s heart suddenly tightened with alarm.

Both skeptical and intrigued, he probed further, “Do you know the surname of Mr. Fu’s partner?”

Kevin gave Xia Shiyue a strange look. "Wasn't this gossip thoroughly hashed out when Fu Yanhuai got married? Outsiders might not know, but the major families are all well aware. His surname is Lu, named Lu Yao."

"??!"

Xia Shiyue was so shocked he was speechless. "You... you..."

Kevin was startled. "You didn’t know about this?"

Xia Shiyue truly didn’t know. At that time, he was busy arguing with his family about starting a business. When they refused, he even ran away from home and stayed abroad for two months.

After the initial shock, Xia Shiyue sensed something didn't add up. "Wait, that doesn’t make sense."

He muttered to himself, "Fu Yanhuai is so rich—just the crumbs from his table could support a hundred Lu Yaos. How come Lu Yao is still..."

Lu Yao lived very frugally; sometimes he couldn't even afford a steamed bun for breakfast.

Kevin didn’t catch it clearly. "What did you say?"

Xia Shiyue gritted his teeth and pounded the armrest of the sofa. "What a scumbag!"

So wealthy yet unwilling to spend on Lu Yao, forcing him to work so hard every day. And here he was yesterday, lying through his teeth praising their relationship.

Xia Shiyue had long disliked Lu Yao’s supposed husband. Fu Yanhuai clearly didn’t care about Lu Yao at all.

Xia Shiyue demanded angrily, "What did they argue about?"

Kevin was at a complete loss. "I... I really didn’t hear."

Xia Shiyue suppressed his anger. "Never mind. My dad’s home anyway—go collect the payment with him. I have something else to do. I’m leaving."

Xia Shiyue’s sudden shift left Kevin utterly confused. Scratching his head, he followed.

Lu Yao was too kind-hearted; he’d definitely suffer dealing with Fu Yanhuai.

Xia Shiyue seethed. If Fu Yanhuai kept treating Lu Yao this poorly, he’d take Lu Yao and run off together!