LHKE Ch20

Wan Qing has been staring at the time in the lower right corner of the computer for quite a while, feeling puzzled.

It’s not time to leave yet, but their boss actually left early?

Although it seemed understandable to leave early after finishing all the work, it’s still Lu Changting we’re talking about. Lu Changting who worked overtime even when he was sick yesterday.

The company’s chat group had already started buzzing with discussions. Wan Qing was idle at the moment, so he peeked at the screen while waiting to leave work.

Someone suggested whether the boss wasn’t feeling well. Wan Qing silently thought that Lu Changting hadn’t coughed much today, had eaten on time, took his medicine, and even drank honey pomelo tea for health. He seemed quite energetic.

Someone else said maybe he went to visit his younger sister’s workplace. Wan Qing thought this guess was reasonable, but wasn’t the recent filming location for Lu Changting’s drama in City B? And the boss still had work arrangements for tomorrow, so this back and forth, wouldn’t it be too rushed for just one night?

Then someone mentioned if he went on a date. WeChat messages kept popping up one after another, all filled with the lamentations of female colleagues.

“Lu CEO isn’t single, right?”

“No, I don’t agree. Lu CEO belongs to all of us!”

“Oh, just the thought of Lu CEO being snatched away by someone else breaks my heart.”

“Get real, someone like Lu CEO, an immortal, won’t descend to earth for love.”

“I have a date with Lu CEO today.”

“Another one gone mad.”

“Oh, actually, it’s me who Lu CEO asked out.”

“In dreams, everything’s possible.”

Wan Qing watched as the chat got more and more absurd, shaking his head with a smile.

The young CEO who hadn’t yet settled down, handsome and capable, despite usually wearing a stern and aloof demeanor at the company, was both competent and charismatic. He handled things decisively and efficiently, kept a low profile without any scandals, completely fitting the image of the dream lover for young ladies.

It’s inevitable that female colleagues at the company would always be curious and gossip about his love life.

Even he was curious about what kind of person could earn Lu Changting’s admiration.

The discussion in the company’s chat group was lively, but Lu Changting, the subject of the conversation, was oblivious to it all.

He neither went to visit his sister’s workplace nor had a date. After finishing work, he simply left early and went home to the Lu residence.

The advantage of being in a family business is that if those in high positions are willing to delegate authority, they can enjoy leisurely lives at home. Upon his return to the country, his father, Lu Shiyuan, eagerly handed over the management of several subsidiary companies to him. Later, his grandfather also entrusted the Lu Group to him. His father seemed quite pleased with himself for having such foresight, showing no intention of sharing the burden. He even said that raising a son was for the purpose of retiring early, and he couldn’t stand the disturbance of having him at home, so he promptly sent him to stay at the Fengchun Villa…

Within the family, his status was the lowest, while naturally, his mother, Liu Xiezhi, held the highest position.

So, when it came to coming out, Lu Changting decided to first discuss it with Liu Xiezhi.

Once he confirmed his feelings for Shen Li, he needed to resolve the issues on his end before pursuing Shen Li without any concerns. He had already rejected Xiang Wan’s advances, and naturally, he needed to explain things to his parents as well.

Thinking long-term, since he had decided to be with Shen Li, it was better to resolve any potential issues with their parents in advance rather than dealing with them later. Lu Changting stood in front of Liu Xiezhi’s study door for quite some time before finally knocking.

Liu Xiezhi hailed from the Bright Moon Pavilion. Being the pearl in the palm of the master of the Bright Moon Pavilion, her background could be said to be both good and not so good. The Bright Moon Pavilion wasn’t the largest theater in S City twenty-something years ago; it was just a troupe called the Bright Moon Opera Troupe. Many people came to watch performances, attracted by its reputation. A young Lu Shiyuan fell in love with Liu Xiezhi at first sight and frequented the Bright Moon Opera Troupe for several months, but he didn’t dare to privately seek her out, fearing to offend the beautiful lady.

Later, the two encountered each other by chance at the Temple of the Matchmaker on the Terrace of Hills, where they became acquainted.

The name “Lu Changting” was derived from the Terrace of Hills, showing Lu Shiyuan’s deep love for Liu Xiezhi.

He had privately inquired with Liu Xiezhi about the chance encounter incident before. Liu Xiezhi just smiled and said to leave fate to the heavens, but it’s better to hold it in one’s own hands.

Lu Changting deeply agreed.

So, he also wanted to grasp his fate with Shen Li in his hands.

In the afternoon, Liu Xiezhi received a call from Xiang’s mother and already knew about the matter between Lu Changting and Xiang Wan. Seeing him return home, she wasn’t surprised.

However, she was slightly taken aback when she noticed that Lu Changting had specially bought her favorite pastries. When he said, “Mom, I have something to tell you,” his tone was solemn, as if he was about to tell her that he was in a romantic relationship rather than that the blind date didn’t work out.

“You may speak,” Liu Xiezhi set down the book in her hand.

Lu Changting contemplated his words and said, “I’ve tried getting along with Miss Xiang. She’s very nice, dignified, and generous. The problem lies with me.”

“I already know about this matter,” Liu Xiezhi said gently. “It’s okay. If you feel it’s not suitable or you don’t like it, you can tell us directly. There’s no need to force yourself.”

Lu Changting looked at her and said in a serious tone, “If it’s because of my orientation, you wouldn’t force me either, would you?”

Liu Xiezhi was momentarily stunned. This question came too suddenly, causing her to hesitate for a moment.

She looked at her increasingly mature and steady son carefully for a while before smiling lightly. “Whether it’s about your orientation or whether you like it or not, your father and I won’t force you.”

“Your father and I hope you can marry and have children, but that’s just our hope. It doesn’t mean you have to marry and have children.”

“We respect everything about you.” Liu Xiezhi paused before continuing, her tone becoming more serious. “But that doesn’t mean we can easily accept that you like men…”

She wasn’t entirely unprepared for this. After all, Lu Changting had been single for years abroad, without even a female friend by his side… But despite her speculation, being confirmed by his own words, she still found it somewhat difficult to accept.

Moreover, before this, Lu Changting had agreed to the blind date with Xiang Wan.

Her tone shifted, becoming more serious. “You tell me, since you like men, why did you agree to the blind date?”

Lu Changting lowered his eyes and brows. “I thought maybe I could try to walk the path you and Dad hoped for—marrying and having children.”

He didn’t want to blame his own faults on his stubbornness with Shen Li. In fact, his thoughts at that time were quite contradictory. He pondered for a long time, asking himself whether he liked Shen Li, whether he could ignore societal norms, and whether he could withstand all the pressure to protect this person.

In reality, even now, he wasn’t so sure whether he liked women or men.

But what he was sure of was—that he liked Shen Li.

“Mom…” Lu Changting bent his straight spine. “I’m sorry.”

Liu Xiezhi understood his unspoken meaning. Lu Changting was telling her that he had tried, he had thought it through, and he had made a decision—he was going to walk a different path.

Even though rumors were fearsome, and even though there might not be a happy ending.

“No need to apologize, you haven’t done anything wrong.” Liu Xiezhi picked up her tea and took a sip. She appeared calm, her tone steady, but her hand holding the teacup trembled slightly.

She wanted to say more, but after thinking it over, it all boiled down to “Can you change?” “Do you know how difficult this path is?”… Lu Changting understood the reasoning. He had made his decision, laid all his cards on the table. He had thought through all the problems. By telling them, he hoped for their tolerance and acceptance, not argument and reproach.

She rubbed her temples, feeling tired and powerless. “I’m a bit tired. Can we talk about this another day?”

Lu Changting fell silent for a moment. In the end, he didn’t persist in discussing this topic further. “Rest well. I’ll come back another day to see you.”

He should have stayed for dinner, but he had just come out, and even if his parents were open-minded, sudden news like this needed time to sink in. Staying for dinner now would only burden Liu Xiezhi further, so it was better not to stay.

Leaving the house, Lu Changting drove back to the Fengchun Villa, ordered a sumptuous takeaway, ate and drank to his heart’s content, took a shower, and went to bed.

He had been busy for many days. Now that a weight had been lifted off his heart temporarily, he could finally sleep well.