LHKE Ch39

Lu Changting came downstairs with two empty bowls and handed them to the servant to take to the kitchen. Liu Xiezhi put down the book he hadn’t turned a page of and breathed a sigh of relief. “Looks like your conversation went well?”

“Mom, thank you.” Lu Changting knew that for Lu Shiyuan to make such a big compromise, Liu Xiezhi must have persuaded him many times during this period.

Liu Xiezhi smiled. “Your father, though he doesn’t say it, cares deeply about you and couldn’t bear to see you in a difficult situation.”

She pulled him to sit down and chatted casually about family matters, asking about his work, life, and also about Shen Li.

When Lu Changting spoke of Shen Li, his eyes filled with a gentle smile. Seeing this expression, Liu Xiezhi was momentarily reminded of a younger Lu Shiyuan. When you love someone, just thinking about them fills your eyes with clear affection and joy.

Time passed gently until it was past ten. Feeling a bit tired, Liu Xiezhi said, “Your room has been cleaned. You can stay the night if you want, or go back if you’d prefer.”

Just like when he was a child, Liu Xiezhi patted his head. “Though you have someone to take care of you, you must also learn to care for yourself and the people around you.”

“I know,” Lu Changting responded softly. “I’ll…head back to the villa tonight.” He touched his nose, feeling a bit embarrassed for once. “He’s waiting for me at home.”

“Then go ahead.” Liu Xiezhi, though sentimental about her son growing up and having his own family, was happy that Lu Changting held someone so dear. “Drive safely.”

“Take some sweet soup with you,” she said. “Let him have a taste.”

After escorting Liu Xiezhi upstairs, Lu Changting went to the kitchen to pack the sweet soup, then left the Lu family home and drove back to the villa.

By the time he returned, it was almost midnight. The cool night breeze blew away some of the summer heat. The lights in the entryway were left on for him. After changing his shoes, Lu Changting went upstairs. Seeing the light coming from the room, a faint smile appeared on his lips.

The room was air-conditioned and kept cool. A young man sat cross-legged on a soft carpet, holding a watermelon and eating it with a spoon while watching a movie.

On the projector screen, a scene played of a boy crouching to fix a bike chain, while the boy beside him looked down with a gentle expression.

Lu Changting pushed the door open, and the young man looked up at the sound, his eyes curving into a smile. “You’re back.”

“Not asleep yet?” Lu Changting handed him the food container and glanced at the screen. “Why are you watching this again?”

Shen Li was watching Yun Hu Bu Xi. Not long ago, they had watched this movie together, and now Shen Li was watching it again—he must really like it.

Lu Changting glanced at the sunny boy on the screen in his blue and white school uniform, thinking to himself, I must have been more handsome than him back in the day, right?

He was a top student, good at basketball, played the piano—he excelled in everything. Why didn’t Shen Li pay more attention to him?

“Just passing the time,” Shen Li replied, oblivious to the faint jealousy in Lu Changting’s heart as he accepted the food container. He paused. “Sweet soup?”

The soup he brought back from home was no longer cold. Inside the transparent container, he could see softened red dates and white fungus. Shen Li thought to himself, At this hour, where could anyone buy sweet soup?

“Yeah, the housekeeper made it.” Lu Changting sat down beside him and stole a bite of the watermelon Shen Li had just scooped. Only then did he feel satisfied.

Shen Li placed the sweet soup on the coffee table and said, “I left half a watermelon in the fridge for you.” But despite his words, he scooped another piece and fed it to him.

Lu Changting smiled, took the bite, and kissed him. “I’m going to shower first.”

After finishing the remaining half of the watermelon, Shen Li patted his stomach, turned off the half-watched movie, and went downstairs to put the sweet soup in the fridge. He washed the spoon, put it away in the cabinet, and disposed of the kitchen waste before returning to the room.

By the time Lu Changting finished showering, he was only wearing loose sleep pants, drying his hair in the bathroom. Shen Li came in to brush his teeth, and when he casually looked up, he found that Lu Changting had been watching him the entire time.

The mirror was foggy with moisture, faintly reflecting the man’s sharp features a few steps away. Shen Li’s heart began to race under his gaze, and he instinctively looked away.

Lu Changting turned off the hair dryer and casually hung it on the wall hook. He walked over and hugged Shen Li from behind. The freshly dried hair felt soft and dry, brushing against his neck and causing a slight tickling sensation.

Shen Li put down his cup after rinsing his mouth and turned around, only to be greeted by a kiss that carried the refreshing scent of mint toothpaste.

Lu Changting carried Shen Li to the bed, where he sank into the soft blankets. His chest heaved with heavy breaths, his lips flushed, and his face slightly red.

As Lu Changting caressed his waist and kissed his ear, his voice hoarse, he whispered, “Let’s find a time for you to meet my parents, okay?”

Shen Li was a bit slow to react, which allowed Lu Changting to catch the fleeting trace of panic and uncertainty in his eyes.

“They… found out?”

Seeing Shen Li flustered for once, Lu Changting couldn’t resist teasing him. “You’ve already taken their son for yourself—don’t they deserve to meet you?”

“Who took who for themselves?” Shen Li glared at him, still bearing the ambiguous red marks on his shoulders and collarbones, all of which were Lu Changting’s doing.

Lu Changting chuckled. “Fine, I took you.”

He then asked, “So, when are you going to take me to meet your mom?”

Shen Li pulled the blanket over himself, clearly not wanting to entertain the conversation.

Lu Changting patted him through the blanket, but Shen Li stayed buried underneath. With a sigh, Lu Changting lifted the blanket and joined him under it.

“What are you afraid of?” Lu Changting asked.

Shen Li didn’t answer, but instead moved closer and wrapped his arms around his neck, as if seeking comfort.

Lu Changting stroked his head and said seriously, “They’re actually pretty open-minded.”

Shen Li, calming down a bit, pushed aside his panic for the moment and asked quietly, “Can you tell me about your parents?”

“My mom’s name is Liu Xiezhi.” Lu Changting pulled the blanket off and adjusted their position so they could lie down more comfortably. He continued at a leisurely pace, “She’s a well-known Pingtan artist.”

“She likes peace and quiet, usually spends most of her time at home reading or practicing the piano,” he explained. “She’s a gentle person.”

“My dad used to oversee the overseas market for the family business. Now he’s retired early and spends his days enjoying life with my mom. They’re always together, sometimes going out to have tea or play chess with friends.”

“He’s pretty laid-back, so if he does anything to offend you, I’ll apologize in advance.”

“That’s not necessary,” Shen Li said softly. “Whatever they do, it’s ultimately for your own good.”

The thought of meeting Lu Changting’s parents weighed heavily on Shen Li, making him anxious. He couldn’t even feel happy about being introduced to his partner’s family, because he was too preoccupied with the worry that they might not like him.

He sighed and gave Lu Changting a light bite. “When did you come out to your family?”

“After my last business trip,” Lu Changting replied, lowering his head to give him a playful bite as well. He gently nibbled on Shen Li’s ear, his voice teasing, “You bewitched me, and the very next day, I came out to my mom.”

“What bewitchment…” Shen Li’s ears turned red, unsure whether it was from embarrassment or from being bitten.

“That Last Kiss cocktail,” Lu Changting whispered into his ear, voice low. “What did you put in it, hmm?”

“Rum, brandy…” Shen Li hadn’t expected Lu Changting to bring up something from so long ago. Then he remembered that it was only after clearing things up with Xiang Wan that Lu Changting came out to his family. The reason was obvious, though unspoken. Closing his eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbed as he softly added the last ingredient, “Lemon juice.”

Lu Changting chuckled. “I thought you only put lemon juice in it.”

Shen Li buried his face in his chest, shifting the conversation back. “Whenever you feel it’s right, take me to meet your parents.”

He added, “And let’s find a time for you to meet my mom, too.”

Lu Changting laughed softly. “Alright.”

When would be the right time? He thought to himself, no need to pick a special day. The engagement banquet for Chu Jinghong at the end of the month seemed like the perfect occasion—a good day for weddings, and a good day to meet the parents.