As soon as Su He finished speaking, familiar footsteps echoed from the main entrance.
Lu Yanbei pushed the door open and walked in.
He had come directly from the company, not even having time to change his clothes. He was still in his white shirt and black trousers, with the tie clip Su He had chosen for him, a chain style.
His suit jacket was draped over his arm, and he carried a briefcase in his other hand. His hair was slightly disheveled, giving him a travel-worn appearance.
"Honey!" Su He turned around joyfully and rushed towards him.
Lu Yanbei opened his arms and embraced her. "Be good, we have guests."
"One is my best friend, the other is my brother. Neither of them are outsiders," Su He tiptoed and offered him a kiss on his cheek.
Seeing his wife so enthusiastic, Lu Yanbei naturally wouldn't let her down. He lowered his head, capturing her lips, and returned a passionate French kiss.
Jiang Xiaoxiao and Su Chen's unresolved issues were abruptly interrupted by a public display of affection.
These two really knew how to show their love, regardless of the occasion.
"Alright, we know you're in love. If you don't come over soon, the food will get cold," Jiang Xiaoxiao said, clearing her throat as she watched their affectionate display.
Su He released Lu Yanbei's neck and casually pursed her lips.
"Don't just stand there, sit down," she said, taking on the role of hostess.
Su Chen and Jiang Xiaoxiao exchanged a glance, then looked away, each taking a seat at opposite ends of the table.
Lu Yanbei went to the kitchen to wash his hands and, incidentally, to get bowls and chopsticks for Su He.
The titan of the business world, now transformed into a homebody, was quite a change.
"Thanks to my husband, you all get to enjoy a treat!" Su He scooped a bowl of chicken soup for each of them. "Try it, I stewed it for four hours."
"You actually know how to cook?" Su Chen looked at her with surprise.
When had the little princess of the Su family ever done such things?
He had assumed the meal was Jiang Xiaoxiao's doing.
"Don't look down on me!" Su He glared at him, annoyed.
Lu Yanbei, however, didn't hesitate. He picked up a small spoon and brought the soup to his mouth, bite by bite, without any reservation.
Seeing Lu Yanbei drink the chicken soup with a straight face, Su Chen hesitated for a moment before taking a small sip from his bowl. It didn't taste gamey as he'd expected, and it was surprisingly good.
Jiang Xiaoxiao, naturally, had the most normal reaction.
After all, she had lived and eaten with Su He for so long that she was already won over by her cooking.
Su He, having tasted quite a bit in the kitchen, wasn't hungry at all.
She propped her head on her hand and gazed at Lu Yanbei as he ate.
Some men, no matter what they do, look so handsome!
Ah, it was simply intoxicating!
Lu Yanbei, under her intense gaze, remained unruffled.
Such composure was indeed rare in this world.
The four of them quietly finished lunch, after which Su He ushered Lu Yanbei into the bedroom to rest. She knew he had been suffering from insomnia again lately and hadn't had a good night's sleep. His top priority here was to catch up on sleep.
"I'm not sleepy," Lu Yanbei said with a wry smile.
"Even if you're not sleepy, you need to lie down. Assistant Cheng said you can't even concentrate during meetings," Su He said with mock seriousness.
Lu Yanbei mentally made a note to reprimand Cheng Jue later, planning to send him to manage a branch in Siberia once he'd accumulated enough offenses.
In reality, Lu Yanbei knew Su He's intention was to prevent him from clashing with Su Chen and creating an awkward situation.
"You underestimate my magnanimity," Lu Yanbei leaned down and pinched her cheek.
"I'm just worried about your health," Su He grumbled.
"Then do you want to sleep with me?" Lu Yanbei asked, taking her hand and looking at her with a half-smile.
"I can, but I need to settle those two first," Su He sighed.
Lu Yanbei raised an eyebrow. "Even a wise judge can't settle household disputes! Let them resolve their own issues, and you shouldn't get involved."
"I don't plan to get involved," Su He blinked. "I'm just curious, and I want to spectate."
Su He was, after all, quite fond of gossip.
Lu Yanbei: ...
"Be good, just ten minutes," Su He planted a kiss on his cheek as a form of appeasement.
Lu Yanbei helplessly rubbed his forehead, conceding to her request.
After all, he doted on his beloved.
*
Outside, the living room was unusually quiet.
Su He peeked out, surprised not to find either of them.
As she was wondering, Jiang Xiaoxiao walked in from outside. "What, were you planning to eavesdrop? You'll be disappointed!"
"What's going on? Where's my brother?" Su He looked around, unable to find Su Chen.
"He left," Jiang Xiaoxiao said calmly.
"You two resolved things so quickly?" Su He scratched her head.
Jiang Xiaoxiao stepped forward and hugged her. "Miaomiao, I know you wanted to set us up. But between him and me... it's not what you think. Anyway, I'll be moving out in a couple of days..."
"Why move out when you're living so comfortably?" Su He asked, confused.
"I'm very grateful for everything you've done for me. But you're married now, and you can't possibly abandon your husband to stay here with me..."
"But..."
"Don't worry, I can take care of myself. My wound is almost healed, see? I can jump and run now..."
Su He's expression turned serious.
She knew Jiang Xiaoxiao was afraid of being a burden to her.
But what were friends for? Wasn't it to help and support each other during difficult times?
Why was she being so polite?
"I know what you're going to say," Jiang Xiaoxiao said, cutting her off before she could speak. "I'm not as fragile as you think. Don't you remember, I'm known as a strong woman. How could I be defeated by such a small matter!"
"I've already walked through the gates of hell once; there won't be a second time."
Su He was gradually persuaded.
"Where do you plan to move? If you're not comfortable settling elsewhere, you can still give me rent each month." Knowing she wasn't someone who liked to take advantage, Su He decided to negotiate in a different way.
Jiang Xiaoxiao smiled and shook her head again. "You really don't need to worry about this, I have a place to go."
Su He was left speechless.
After a while, she ventured a guess, "Did my brother arrange it for you?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao: ...
"So, he's planning to keep me hidden away like a treasure?" Su Xiaohe, the gossip monger, had a question mark written all over her face.
"You're overthinking it," Jiang Xiaoxiao said, clutching her stomach and trying hard to suppress her laughter.
Because if she laughed, it would pull at her incision and hurt.
Besides, her imagination was truly wild.
She had already said they weren't that kind of relationship, yet Su He was talking about keeping her hidden away.
"He introduced me to a new job, as compensation." Fearing Su He would continue to speculate wildly, Jiang Xiaoxiao decided to tell her in advance.
Su He, however, looked unconvinced.
The two who were just at each other's throats, and now they've reconciled so quickly?
This was completely off the beaten path!
*
Jiang Xiaoxiao was a decisive person. Since she had decided to move, she immediately packed her bags and called for a ride-hailing service.
Su He's pleas for her to stay were in vain, so she saw her off at the door.
"Thank you for your hard work these past few days," Jiang Xiaoxiao said to her as they bid farewell, clearly reluctant to part. "You and President Lu must have a good life together, and aim for two babies in three years!"
"I can have two babies in less than three years!" Su He was always unreserved in front of Jiang Xiaoxiao.
Unfortunately, Lu Yanbei, who had come out for a drink of water, happened to overhear this.
"Is Ah Miao hinting at something?" he asked, leaning against the doorframe with a devilish smile.