It began to drizzle outside as they left the hospital.
Lu Yanbei personally drove Tang Jiaojiao home and selflessly took care of his mother-in-law, who had difficulty walking, attending to her more diligently than Su Chen, the adopted son.
Tang Jiaojiao observed all this, her eyes crinkling into a smile.
This son-in-law, the more she looked, the more satisfied she became.
Su He followed, holding an umbrella and feeling conflicted.
She was naturally touched by Lu Yanbei's willingness to humble himself and treat her family so well. Moreover, he didn't seem to be just putting on a show; he was meticulous and thoughtful in every detail. If he were only seeking a substitute, there would be no need for such attentiveness.
Perhaps she had misunderstood him?
Su He bit her lower lip, glancing at him from time to time.
Tang Jiaojiao, seeing this, directly urged the young couple to leave upon their arrival. "It's getting late, so I won't keep you for dinner. The company's annual meeting is starting soon, don't be delayed."
Just as Su He was about to speak up and offer to stay and take care of her, Tang Jiaojiao winked and ushered her out the door. "Su Chen can take care of me here."
Su Chen, who had intended to chat with Su He for a moment, had no choice but to give up when he saw this.
Su He was ushered out by Tang Jiaojiao and led into the elevator by Lu Yanbei. Neither of them spoke from beginning to end. However, Su He could feel Lu Yanbei's concern for her.
He held her hand the entire way and thoughtfully held the umbrella for her, ensuring her dress didn't get wet. As a result, his own clothes were half soaked, forming two different shades of color.
Su He couldn't help but blame herself.
Was she being too dramatic? Had she given him a cold shoulder and sulkily refused to attend the company's annual meeting based on her suspicions?
After getting into the car, Su He pondered how to break the awkward silence between them. Unexpectedly, Lu Yanbei spoke first. "Are you still feeling dizzy?"
Su He's cheeks flushed slightly.
He knew perfectly well she was lying, yet he asked so earnestly.
"No, I'm not dizzy anymore," Su He replied softly after taking a deep breath.
"I'll take you home to rest first," Lu Yanbei said as he drove.
Su He mustered the courage to look at him. "It's almost seven o'clock, will we have enough time? How about I go to the hotel and wait for you?"
Lu Yanbei glanced at her after hearing her words.
He knew she was compromising with him.
"If you don't want to go, then don't. There's no need to force yourself," he said, his voice hoarse.
Su He shook her head. "I promised I'd attend the annual meeting... and I practiced the dance for several days in advance..."
Lu Yanbei's lips curved upwards slightly as he heard her murmur, a hint of a smile playing on them.
The annual meeting was still held at a five-star hotel; Lu's company had booked out the entire venue.
As they alighted from the car, many senior executives were already waiting at the entrance.
Lu Yanbei got out first and then unhurriedly walked to the other side to personally open the car door for Su He. They had never witnessed such courtesy extended to anyone else.
Su He stepped out, holding up her skirt, feeling inexplicably nervous.
The last time she attended a company anniversary celebration, she was merely an observer, sitting in a corner, like an outsider. Today, she was attending as Lu Yanbei's wife, and every move would be scrutinized, with any slight misstep magnified infinitely.
"Don't be nervous, just follow my lead," Lu Yanbei said, putting his arm around her waist to encourage her.
Su He took a deep breath, looked up at the man beside her, and smiled charmingly at him.
She raised her arm, looped it through his, and deliberately lifted her chin, accepting the probing glances from all directions.
"CEO Lu actually brought a date? That's a rare sight!"
"What date? I heard it's CEO Lu's wife; they're already married!"
"No way? When did CEO Lu get married? How come there was no news?"
"That's what everyone's been saying at the company; it must be true."
Among the crowd, many were whispering.
"Mrs. Lu looks a bit familiar."
"I think so too!"
"Of course, she looks familiar! She attended the company's anniversary celebration not long ago!"
"Could she be the ex-wife of CEO Lu's younger brother?"
"That's too..."
"Alright, everyone, stop talking. If CEO Lu hears, he'll be unhappy again."
Despite their whispers, they didn't hesitate to curry favor with Lu Yanbei.
Lu Yanbei maintained a cool, indifferent demeanor, nodding occasionally, but his gaze was exceptionally tender when directed at his wife.
From the entrance to the banquet hall, people continuously approached them to greet them.
"CEO Lu, we've heard so much about you!"
"And who is this?"
"This is my wife."
"Greetings, Mrs. Lu!"
Su He's cheeks were about to freeze from smiling as Lu Yanbei held her hand.
After circulating and greeting everyone, Su He's legs ached, making it difficult to stand.
Lu Yanbei sensed her discomfort and asked, "Are you tired? I'll help you to the lounge to sit for a while."
Su He glanced at the surrounding crowd and said, "You go ahead with your business; I'll go by myself."
Lu Yanbei couldn't possibly let her, and with a swift movement, he bent down and picked her up. "Nothing is more important than you."
With so many people watching, he actually did this in public.
Su He's face instantly turned bright red.
"Put me down; I can walk myself," Su He pleaded softly, burying her face in his chest.
Lu Yanbei, however, didn't release her. "You've been walking in high heels all this way; what if you twist your ankle?"
Seeing that she couldn't persuade him, Su He could only cower in his embrace like an ostrich.
This scene was witnessed by everyone, their expressions a mixture of astonishment.
Was this still the Lu Yanbei they knew?
How could the legendary cold-faced king of hell possess such tenderness?
They must be seeing things; they were mistaken!
The young women, however, clutched their hearts, filled with envy.
"A princess carry, ahhhhh... Boss is too manly!"
"I wish I could transmigrate into the boss's wife, sob sob ~"
"To be carried in a princess carry by the boss in public, I could die without regrets!"
"Stop dreaming! That's exclusive welfare for the boss's wife; we can just ship the couple!"
Under the envious gazes of the young women, Su He and Lu Yanbei disappeared at the end of the corridor.
Laura arrived a bit late and only saw Lu Yanbei's retreating back. As for the girl he was carrying, she only caught a glimpse of a black skirt hem.
"Who is the girl Lu Yanbei is carrying?" she asked someone nearby.
"I heard she's CEO Lu's darling; her surname is perhaps Su?" a man in a suit replied with a smile.
Laura bit her lip, remembering the woman who had answered her call that night.
She was curious to see what that woman looked like, to have caused Lu Yanbei to lower his guard and treat her with such devotion.
Laura put down her wine glass and strode towards the lounge.
"Now this will be interesting!" someone in the crowd said.
Someone looked at the speaker, puzzled.
Then, the woman, who claimed to be an insider, recounted how Laura had been fervently pursuing Lu Yanbei.
One was a wealthy daughter from abroad, and the other was a girl from an ordinary family. Who would win between them was truly worth anticipating.
Laura stormed to the lounge and pushed open the door, only to be stunned.
"Su? It's you!" Seeing Su He's unfamiliar yet familiar face, she couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.