Chapter 3 The Male Lead Makes His Entrance

Chapter 3 The Male Lead Appears

As a junior, Lu Jingtang naturally had to pay her respects to Grandma Fu upon arriving at Hezhuang.

In the original novel, the female antagonist, desperate to marry the male lead, would certainly try to curry favor with Grandpa and Grandma Fu, acting sweet and compliant in their presence. However, the elderly couple seemed immune to her charms.

Grandma Fu possessed kind eyes and a refined demeanor, clearly a great beauty in her youth. Dressed in a dark blue qipao, her hair elegantly pinned up without adornment, she wore only a single, expensive jade bracelet on her wrist.

"Hello, Grandma."

When Grandma Fu turned and saw the bump on Lu Jingtang's head, she was startled. The old woman was kind-hearted, and no matter how complex Lu Jingtang's thoughts might be, in the eyes of the elders, she was just a child. Unable to suppress her concern, she asked, "Hmm... how did you get such a severe injury just from falling into the water?"

Lu Jingtang touched her head somewhat sheepishly. To be honest, even she was shocked when she looked in the mirror that morning—how could a kick from a high heel not leave a significant mark?

"It's alright, I accidentally bumped myself."

"It's almost lunchtime. Stay and have lunch before you go!"

As the two were speaking, Grandpa Fu walked in, hands clasped behind his back, his expression a little awkward as he spoke.

Grandma Fu cast a surprised glance at her husband. Had this old man had a change of heart? Why was he so unusually enthusiastic today?

Lu Jingtang ended up staying for lunch. There were only three people at the table, and the Fu elders were not ones for extravagance. The meal consisted of just four or five simple, home-style dishes, but the flavors were exquisite.

Not long after the three of them sat down to eat, the male lead arrived.

"Grandpa, Grandma."

Fu Nanyu wore a black shirt, his suit jacket draped over his arm. His gaze was cool and detached, and his gold-rimmed glasses exuded an air of asceticism—a refined aloofness, like a sacred, untouchable statue.

Lu Jingtang glanced at that cold, restrained face and couldn't help but think that such a person would probably never lose his composure.

In the original story, the male and female leads didn't even share a kiss scene—at most, they held hands.

But this is a romance novel—does the author really think it's reasonable not to include anything that sparks passion?

"Nanyu is here. Come, sit down. Grandma made soup herself today," Grandma Fu said cheerfully, asking the servant to bring another bowl and chopsticks.

Fu Nanyu sat down beside Grandma Fu. "I had some business to attend to and dropped by to see you."

As he spoke, he seemed to glance unintentionally at Lu Jingtang, who greeted him softly, "Big brother."

She then thoughtfully served each person at the table a bowl of soup, her large eyes brimming with eagerness.

Male lead, male lead, I'm calling you my big brother. You must ensure I live a safe and worry-free life, with plenty of wealth. It would be even better if you could introduce me to a few guys with eight-pack abs, slim waists, and long legs.

Fu Nanyu accepted the bowl, giving a low "hmm" in response, his expression unchanged.

After lunch, the servants brought in fruit and snacks. Lu Jingtang felt it would be impolite to leave right after eating, so she could only sit there, lost in thought.

Fu Nanyu and Grandpa Fu were discussing business matters, while Lu Jingtang sat with Grandma Fu on the recliner in the small pavilion, listening to opera.

The servants brought over several plates of exquisitely crafted, sweetly fragrant snacks and placed them on the small table. Lu Jingtang's mouth was watering.

Seeing that Grandma Fu had her eyes closed, absorbed in the opera with no intention of opening them, Lu Jingtang stealthily grabbed a piece from the edge, trying to make it look as though the plate of snacks hadn't been touched.

But before she could finish the snack in her hand, Fu Nanyu walked out, startling her.

"Big brother," Lu Jingtang said with an awkward smile, her left hand behind her back desperately clutching the crumbling snack.

Grandma Fu also stirred awake and, seeing that Fu Nanyu was about to leave, cheerfully poured him a cup of tea. "This is a new tea sent by the young master of the Li family. Have a taste before you go."

Fu Nanyu was good friends with Li Chen, the only son of the Li family, who, knowing Grandma Fu loved tea, had specially sent some over.

Fu Nanyu naturally sat down to drink the tea, while Lu Jingtang, still clutching that small snack, sat to the side, feeling like she was invisible.

After he left, Grandma Fu, seeing how relieved Lu Jingtang looked, couldn't help but laugh. "You used to cling to Nanyu all the time. Why have you become so afraid of him now?"

Lu Jingtang immediately made her position clear, "That was when I was young and didn't know any better. Now that I'm older, I shouldn't disturb big brother anymore."

Lu Jingtang's downcast eyes and soft, obedient demeanor softened Grandma Fu's heart, and she couldn't help but gently remind her, "You need to avoid certain foods because of the injury on your face. It wouldn't look good if a young girl ends up with a scar."

Lu Jingtang smiled sweetly. "I understand. Thank you, Grandma."

Lu Jingtang stayed at Hezhuang until the afternoon before returning. When Madam Fu saw how late she was returning, she worried that the old man had been furious and refused to let her go.

To be honest, she wasn't very fond of that Miss Ji either. The old man was getting senile—repaying a favor was one thing, but using her son's marriage as a gift? What kind of logic was that? She felt deeply sorry for Fu Nanyu.

And as for that Miss Ji, who knew if she truly liked her son? Her affection was like a diamond—priceless—but she never considered her precious son's feelings. She always acted as if she had been wronged and abandoned, as if the whole world had treated her unfairly.

The more Madam Fu thought about it, the angrier she became. The little figure in her heart was already gnawing on a handkerchief in frustration.

Just as Lu Jingtang entered, she happened to see Madam Fu furiously crushing a supposedly Dutch color-changing tulip worth tens of thousands with her bare hands.

Lu Jingtang: "...When poor people get angry, they crush instant noodles. When rich people get angry, they tear up banknotes."