This flippant reaction ignited Father Lu's fury.
He quickly strode across the sofa, his index finger pointed directly at Lu Mingxi's face.
"I don't care what nonsense you're spouting, but marrying Qin He is impossible!"
"What has Qin He done to offend you?" Lu Mingxi's face turned cold. "Let me tell you the truth, I like her and intend to marry her. It's just that she's never agreed. If she agreed, not even the king of heaven could stop me!"
"If you marry her, where will the Lu family's reputation go!" Father Lu roared. "Everyone in Qingcheng knows she's Gu Qichen's woman. What are you trying to stir up trouble for by going after her?!"
"So you're afraid of Gu Qichen?"
"This isn't about who's afraid! She's carrying Gu Qichen's child. Why would you marry her? To raise a child for Gu Qichen?!"
Gu Qichen's child?
Lu Mingxi's pupils contracted. How did this get out?
"Who said she's carrying Gu Qichen's child?"
Father Lu was furious. "Last time you were in Jiangcheng, they announced it publicly at the Duke of Aberdeen's seminar!"
Lu Mingxi's expression suddenly changed!
"Gu Qichen announced it?"
"Yes, everyone present heard it. Now all of Qingcheng knows that Gu Qichen and Qin He will eventually get back together!"
Mother Lu chimed in from the side, "I will absolutely not accept a woman like that into the Lu family. I advise you not to do anything that will make your father and me angry. Once Qin He and Gu Qichen reconcile, we'll offend both families!"
Lu Mingxi's face turned cold. "Since I upset you so much, you shouldn't have handed over the Lu Corporation to me in the first place!"
Father Lu slammed the table, agitated. "Do you think the Lu Corporation was handed over to you just like that? If your brother hadn't passed away—"
At this point, both Father and Mother Lu showed expressions of grief.
Watching his parents' sorrowful faces, Lu Mingxi's gaze fixed on a photo frame not far away.
In that picture, his mother wore a formal gown, seated on an ornate high-backed chair.
His father stood behind her.
In front of them stood his younger brother, who had died many years ago.
His mother once said it was the most beautiful family photo, but he wasn't in it.
Lu Mingxi's expression subtly tightened. "If I had known it would turn out this way, I shouldn't have come back."
Father Lu roared, "If you don't want to come back, then don't! Who do you think you are? Your wings have grown strong, and you've forgotten your parents' kindness long ago!"
When Lu Mingxi was younger, these words would have pained him, but now, his ears felt rather noisy.
He covered his ears with one hand, feigning to dig them out.
"Since that's the case, I'll be going now."
Father Lu's angry shouts echoed behind Lu Mingxi, "Once you leave this door, don't ever come back! And if you dare to look for Qin He again, I won't just talk to you!"
Lu Mingxi left the Lu residence and, in a bad mood, drove around Qingcheng.
At this moment, he thought that only seeing one person could lift his spirits.
Lu Mingxi called Qin He.
"He'er, where are you?"
"Just got home. Is something wrong?"
"I'm coming to your place to see you."
The other end of the phone was silent for a few seconds before Qin He's wary voice sounded.
"Lu Mingxi, what do you want now?"
Lu Mingxi's hand gripping the phone stiffened slightly.
His gaze dimmed, but he chuckled frivolously, "I miss you."
Qin He's light laughter came from the other end of the phone. "Alright, go say that to your other girlfriends."
After hanging up, Lu Mingxi parked his car on a street in Qingcheng.
He rolled down the window and lit a cigarette.
As night fell, people on the street became hurried, each with their own destination.
Lu Mingxi leaned back against the seat, lazily watching the distant lights of countless homes.
If there was a future behind one of these windows, showing what would become of him and Qin He, how wonderful that would be.
...
A few days later, it was the weekend.
Qin He called Shen Yilin.
"Yilin, before the livestream today, make an announcement that this will be the last livestream of the year."
Qin He sat on the sofa, holding candies.
Shen Yilin responded, sounding a bit worried, "Sister, are you not feeling well?"
Qin He chuckled. "No, it's just that in about half a month, my brother is getting engaged, and I'll be busy these days."
"Okay, then I'll come over early today," Shen Yilin said.
Qin He hung up and looked at the array of pastries and candies on the table.
She tasted a few more and, with Ming Yuzhu beside her, commented, "This fruit flavor is too sweet. This chocolate one is too rich. Should we not include candies in the gift bags?"
Ming Yuzhu frowned. "Candies must be included. It's a Qingcheng custom."
Qin He shrugged. "Then you taste them and pick. I've tried over a dozen kinds."
Ming Yuzhu smiled gently. "I'm afraid I'll get fat if I eat too many sweets."
Qin He, who was lightly licking the sugar off her finger, immediately widened her eyes in disbelief.
"Don't you think I'll get fat too?"
"You can always lose it after giving birth. Eat more now," Ming Yuzhu said with a smile.
Qin He, indignant, tasted another seven or eight kinds of candies.
After selecting the candies for the gift bags, Qin He curled up on the sofa and messaged Xu Wanwan.
Qin He: [I almost died of sweetness for your gift bag candies. Can I get some compensation?]
Xu Wanwan replied quickly: [He'er, I'm picking out engagement outfits right now. Can you help me choose one?]
Before Qin He could reply, a dozen pictures popped up on WeChat.
She gritted her teeth.
The whole world seemed to be immersed in happiness. Recently, even her brother was extremely busy, determined to finish all the Qin Corporation's affairs in advance so as not to delay his engagement.
After picking out a dress for Xu Wanwan, Qin He felt quite resentful.
Her phone rang again. Qin He answered with annoyance.
"Speak, what else do you need me to pick out!"
There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by a low chuckle.
Qin He stroked the back of the sofa chair and slowly sat up, looking at the caller ID on her phone.
Gu Qichen.
Qin He said softly, "Gu Qichen, is there something going on in the West District?"
"No, I'm just checking on the baby's health as its father."
Qin He's face flushed, and her voice turned a bit fierce.
"You're only the nominal father!"
Gu Qichen was silent for a few more seconds.
"Then, as the baby's nominal father, I'll check on his recent condition."
Qin He deflated, knowing she couldn't win the argument.
She decided to just let it be and leaned back on the sofa lazily. "He's doing well. He might just have eaten too many candies recently."
A deep, mellow laugh came from Gu Qichen's end.
Qin He's mind flashed with the image of Gu Qichen laughing. She lightly patted her cheek, shook her head, and pushed the vivid memory away.
"How are things with the Joint Department?" Qin He asked about work.
"Not bad, but your master isn't too happy. He says now that he's decided to settle in Qingcheng, you've started slacking off."
Qin He felt a little guilty. "There's a happy occasion at home recently, so I've been busy."
Gu Qichen hummed in acknowledgement.
From the other end, an aged voice sounded, "Is that He'er on the phone?"
It was Grandma Gu.