Chapter 28 The Gift

Chapter 28 Gifts

It was already late when they returned to the Fu family villa. Fu Nanyu naturally took the suitcase from the car, while Lu Jingtang trailed behind him like a lost robot vacuum.

Part of the path back to the house was paved with cobblestones, making it impossible to roll the suitcase. Fu Nanyu lifted it, his arm muscles bulging. He glanced back at the sheepish Lu Jingtang, who meekly offered, "Maybe... I can carry it myself?"

Fu Nanyu looked at her sternly. "Can you lift it?"

Lu Jingtang smiled, her eyes curving. "I could go call Second Brother." With that, she made to dash into the house, leaving Fu Nanyu behind.

"Come back!"

Fu Nanyu frowned, calling her back, and lifted the suitcase with one hand. "I've got it."

Inside, the family was watching TV on the sofa. Hearing the commotion, they turned around. "Youyou's back?"

"Auntie Xi, I'm back." Lu Jingtang pulled off her scarf, about to run over, but Ye Xixi hugged her, examining her carefully before smiling contentedly. "Good, you've put on a little weight after a month away."

Hearing this, Lu Jingtang looked at the others in panic, seeking reassurance. "Did I really gain weight?" She had indeed been eating a lot of sweets every day in Rongcheng. Though she wasn't heavy at all, her round face made any weight gain immediately obvious, like a steamed bun.

Fu Shengzhou couldn't resist teasing her. "Yeah, you've gained weight. When you walked in, I almost thought it was Mid-Autumn Festival."

"Chen Ma, I need a mirror and a scale!"

Lu Jingtang glared at him and turned to Chen Ma with a pitiful look for help. The whole room burst into laughter, and even the usually stern Fu Nanyu had a faint smile.

After weighing herself and discovering she hadn't gained weight but had actually lost four pounds, she said triumphantly, "Haha, little bro, see? I didn't gain weight—I lost four pounds!"

Hearing this, Fu Nanyu frowned and walked over, glancing at the scale. "Hah, after eating so much meat, you're barely ninety pounds. What are you so proud of? Planning to volunteer as a cadaver in Third Brother's lab?"

She understood—Fu Nanyu was calling her a skeleton...

Chen Ma, hearing she had lost weight, grew anxious. "Oh no, how did you lose weight? That won't do. I'll have the kitchen make you some tonic soup."

"Ah... there's no need." Lu Jingtang couldn't stop her, and could only let Chen Ma go prepare the soup.

After dinner, Lu Jingtang opened her suitcase in front of everyone. The suitcase was so overstuffed it resembled a balloon ready to burst. When she unzipped it, it sprang open and almost smacked her in the forehead.

A warm, large hand covered her forehead and pulled her back. Fu Nanyu's low, pleasant voice came from above. "Be careful."

"Okay, okay." She nodded, feeling a bit dizzy and looking a bit strange.

Fu Nanyu asked, "What's wrong with you?"

Lu Jingtang thought his hand felt very warm, but found it awkward to say so. Instead, she said, "Brother, your hand is kind of scorching my forehead."

Fu Nanyu's mouth twitched. "..."

The suitcase was filled with packages large and small. Ye Xixi pointed at the soy-braised beef brought by her grandmother and asked, "What's this?"

Lu Jingtang said, "That's soy-braised beef my grandmother made herself. It's really great with rice."

Ye Xixi showed no sign of disdain and handed it to Chen Ma, instructing, "Chen Ma, put this away. We'll have it for breakfast tomorrow."

Lu Jingtang breathed a sigh of relief and distributed gifts to everyone. "This is for Uncle, this is for Auntie Xi, and these are for Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and Little Brother."

"How lovely! You're so thoughtful, Youyou." Ye Xixi's gift was a handmade ceramic jewelry box, which she admired for a long time.

Lu Jingtang said, "I brought gifts for Grandpa and Grandma too."

Fu Xiaqing was pleasantly surprised, and Ye Xixi hadn't expected her to think of the elderly couple. She said, "That's perfect. Since you weren't in the capital for New Year's, take the gifts over tomorrow and give them your New Year's greetings. Your eldest brother can go with you."

The grandfather and granddaughter had parted on bad terms last time, so this was a good opportunity to smooth things over. Lu Jingtang agreed, and Fu Nanyu nodded as well—that was settled.

Fu Xiaqing patted Lu Jingtang's head. "You must be tired. Go take a shower and rest early."

Lu Jingtang was indeed exhausted. The next day, she woke up at noon and hurriedly got up to freshen up and change clothes. By the time she went downstairs, Fu Nanyu was already waiting in the living room.

"Sorry, Big Brother, I slept in. Let's go quickly," she apologized.

Fu Nanyu glanced at her. "Have breakfast first. We'll go after you eat."

Lu Jingtang said, "No, it's too late already."

Fu Nanyu said slowly, "Do you think there's any difference between being three hours late and three and a half hours late?"

"Good point, Fu Nanyu."

When they arrived at He Manor, Grandpa Fu and Old Master Li were playing chess in the pavilion. Lu Jingtang greeted them obediently. "Grandpa, hello, Old Master Li."

Grandpa Fu nodded, then shot a sidelong glance at Fu Nanyu, his aged voice cold and authoritative. "Now that you've brought her, some people may go."

Fu Nanyu's jaw tightened, his expression cold and stern. Though Grandpa Fu had publicly dismissed him, he didn't say anything or turn to leave. Even when a servant brought tea, he didn't even look up.

Lu Jingtang glanced at him uncertainly, then at Grandpa Fu.

Grandpa Fu looked over and said firmly, "You come sit. Let him stand there by himself."

Lu Jingtang hesitated for a moment. Fu Nanyu said softly, "Don't be afraid. Go sit."

Seeing that Grandpa Fu was clearly displeased, she walked over and sat beside him. Grandpa Fu continued playing chess while asking her, "How is your grandmother's health?"

"She's doing well," Lu Jingtang nodded.

The two elderly men played chess without further conversation. Gradually, Lu Jingtang's attention turned to the chessboard. She knew a little about chess—back when she lived near the nursing home next to the orphanage, she often secretly watched the elderly play and had slowly learned the game herself. At first glance, it seemed Grandpa Fu had the advantage, but Old Master Li knew how to sacrifice strategically and was gradually maneuvering Grandpa Fu's pieces into a trap.

Just as Grandpa Fu was about to make a move, Lu Jingtang restlessly tapped the table's edge. Catching her reaction, Old Master Li raised his thick eyebrows and smiled. "You know how to play chess?"