Lu Dingzhong’s sudden change in attitude caught not only Lu Rangchen off guard — Cheng Liru hadn’t seen it coming either.

Father and son were always on edge with each other, their interactions carrying the tension of drawn blades.

Now that tension had reached its breaking point, each man’s gaze locked in a battle of wills where neither would yield.

Caught between the two of them, Cheng Liru was instantly at a loss, unsure of what to say.

It was Lu Rangchen who broke the silence first. His tone was lazy and mocking as he said, “How old am I now? Do I really need your approval to date someone? What am I, still nursing?”

The remark was enough to choke on.

All the more so for Lu Dingzhong, a man accustomed to occupying positions of authority.

Yet Lu Dingzhong still held himself in check.

Seeming to recognize that his earlier words had been off-key, the middle-aged man composed himself somewhat and said, “Let me ask you this — if you’re with her, what happens to Lin Zhi? Does your engagement with her just not count anymore?”

Coming from anyone else, such a statement might have drawn mockery for being feudally antiquated.

But said in front of Cheng Liru, the words still carried weight.

Cheng Liru had nearly forgotten about this as well. Only when he brought it up did the matter of Lin Zhi come back to her.

Lin Zhi and Lu Rangchen had been promised to each other since childhood. The Cheng and Lin families had always been close, their ties deepening over the years — intertwined interests, emotional bonds — both sides occupying the highest priority. So naturally, both sets of parents were happy to see the two children together.

Cheng Liru had in mind for Lu Rangchen to return to the Cheng Family and take over the family business. But if his situation with Lin Zhi fell apart, the road ahead within the Cheng Family would certainly not be easy.

Mothers always love to plan on behalf of their sons — even when the son has no need of it, she would still worry.

So when Lu Dingzhong brought this up, Cheng Liru wavered instantly.

Lu Dingzhong continued, “You get involved with someone’s daughter, have your fun, enjoy yourself, then toss her aside and go back to Lin Zhi — have you considered that she is your mother’s friend’s child?”

Cheng Liru’s heart sank the moment she heard those words.

Whether it was Lin Zhi or Zhu Yunque — she couldn’t stand to see either of those girls wronged.

She was about to say something when Lu Rangchen let out a derisive laugh and spoke first. “You really have a talent for twisting things around.”

“……”

“I haven’t said a word yet, and you’ve already decided that whatever I have with her is just casual.”

The older one is indeed the wiser.

Even when met with that retort, Lu Dingzhong remained composed and methodical. He said it wasn’t a matter of deciding — it was the wisdom of someone who had lived long enough.

“Love on an empty stomach is all well and good.”

“But the moment a life of wealth and indulgence disappears, you’ll understand that love is nothing — it doesn’t even come with a clear expiration date.”

The words fell with the force of a gavel, carrying something of the authority he wielded in lecture halls — a veiled and overt threat aimed at Lu Rangchen.

But Lu Rangchen simply wasn’t susceptible to that approach.

It had been the thing he despised most about him, from childhood to now.

When Lu Zhitao had developed depression, he had worn that same all-knowing expression, insisting on sending her to the hospital for inpatient treatment, convinced that as long as she was confined there, given medication and injections, she would get better.

What gave him the right.

What gave him the right to be so certain.

What gave him the right to so casually seize control of another person’s life.

Lu Rangchen suddenly found the whole thing deeply exhausting.

He set his chopsticks down on the table, gave a quiet, dismissive laugh, and stood up.

The chair legs scraped against the floor with a sharp squeak, and both pairs of eyes latched onto him as though tethered there, rising in unison.

Lu Rangchen looked at Lu Dingzhong and turned his words back on him with biting sarcasm. “As someone who has lived more life than me, I’ll admit I don’t have your experience — after all, you’ve always had a keener touch when it comes to matters of the heart.”

Everything he said dripped with insinuation.

Like a blade driven straight into the chest, without a trace of mercy.

At that, Lu Dingzhong’s composure finally cracked.

A man of such polished success in the outside world — how could he tolerate his own son addressing him with such contempt? His first instinct was to look at Cheng Liru, convinced she must have told Lu Rangchen something.

Cheng Liru no longer had any desire to conceal it.

Every trace of bewilderment and helplessness vanished from her expression. She simply lowered her gaze to the gleaming white rice in her bowl, saying nothing.

Regardless of whether the rumors about Lu Dingzhong were true or false, the affection between the two of them was clearly no longer what it once was.

Lu Rangchen had nothing to say about it.

Nothing to involve himself in, either.

They were all grown adults who should be accountable for their own actions. No one could sweep away the snow at another person’s door.

Before leaving, Lu Rangchen dropped only one cold, parting remark—

“Think whatever you want. Either way, I am not marrying Lin Zhi.”

—

That meal ended in discord, as everyone had feared it might.

By the time Lu Rangchen left the house, the sky had gone completely dark.

At this hour, he had no idea what Zhu Yunque was doing.

He suddenly missed her terribly.

The feeling was the same as always, yet somehow different in a way he couldn’t quite name.

Lu Rangchen only knew he felt restless — restless in a way that made him want to see no one but her.

Even just to talk.

To hold her.

As if only then would this night feel less unbearable.

Having thought it, he acted on it — car key in hand, he set his first destination as the ground floor of her building.

Autumn in Nancheng was quite cold.

Fallen leaves lay scattered along the roadside.

Lu Rangchen leaned against his car and smoked a few cigarettes before finally calling her.

Something must have been going on at her end, because Zhu Yunque took a long time to answer, and even when she did, her voice was quiet.

She offered a soft greeting and asked what was wrong.

Honestly, her tone was quite tender.

The problem was that Lu Rangchen was a demanding person.

When he cared for someone, he always hoped that person would think of him every moment, that they would be eager for him, attentive to him.

The way he was eager for Zhu Yunque. The way he was attentive to her.

But clearly, that wasn’t the case here.

Lu Rangchen caught the slight strain in her voice, and through the ambient sound came what seemed like cheerful conversation — lively, warm, the sound of good company.

Which only made him feel like the one intruding.

Before Zhu Yunque could finish her next sentence, Lu Rangchen lowered his gaze, curved his lips in something barely-there, and said in an offhand tone, “Your mother’s there with you.”

For some reason, Zhu Yunque sensed that Lu Rangchen wasn’t quite himself right now.

It was an unhappiness she had never seen in him before.

Something unfamiliar.

And yet it was a real part of him.

A part she could never have glimpsed from her previous position in his life.

Zhu Yunque held her phone and pressed her lips together. “We have guests.”

Lu Rangchen made a sound of acknowledgment. “Alright, go take care of things then.”

He was about to hang up when Zhu Yunque stopped him. “What are you up to?”

It had been a busy day for Zhu Yunque, and she hadn’t been in much contact with Lu Rangchen. She’d been less clingy than usual, it seemed.

It was only now that she had a moment to think of him.

Lu Rangchen’s tone gave little away, but Zhu Yunque felt that something was different about him tonight. He said, “Nothing much. Just smoking.”

The two of them together —

Lu Rangchen could always keep his cigarette cravings under control. But without her nearby, he couldn’t.

Strange, that.

Zhu Yunque was quiet for two seconds, then couldn’t help asking, “What’s actually going on with you?”

But Lu Rangchen only laughed. “What do you mean, what’s going on? I’m just smoking.”

He paused, then added, “Coming out for a bit later?”

He always had a way of saying things that drew her in, wrapped in the most casual of tones.

Zhu Yunque’s heart gave a little flutter, but she glanced at Feng Yanlai, deep in animated conversation with their guests, and found herself unable to make the move.

All she could say was, “Not tonight. Mom wants me to pack up at home. I’m heading back to school tomorrow.”

A brief pause on the other end. “Bought your ticket already?”

Zhu Yunque murmured yes. “Morning, tomorrow.”

Lu Rangchen gave an easy, unhurried reply.

Zhu Yunque’s voice turned soft. “You head back to school early too, alright?”

Lu Rangchen laughed at that. “That eager to see me, huh?”

Zhu Yunque smiled faintly, but with family around, she didn’t dare say anything too forward.

Lu Rangchen knew her well enough not to push. In his usual breezy manner, he said, “Alright, hang up — I’ve got things to do.”

“What things?”

“Meeting up with Li Tie.”

Not wanting her to worry, Lu Rangchen gave his signature roguish laugh. “Relax. Your boyfriend’s a very well-behaved man.”

Zhu Yunque couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips.

Lu Rangchen always seemed happy to indulge her, and added another line: “Be good. I’m thinking of you the whole time.”

With those words, Zhu Yunque’s heart finally settled.

The two of them hung up.

When she came out of the bedroom, Zhao Qijia and his mother were already standing at the front door, preparing to leave, and Feng Yanlai had put on her coat — clearly intending to see them down.

Seeing Zhu Yunque emerge from her call, Feng Yanlai waved her over. “Put on a coat and come along — think of it as sending off an old classmate.”

At that, Zhao Qijia’s gaze fell on her.

Their eyes met briefly, then slid apart.

Zhao Qijia’s mother smiled and said, “Oh, don’t bother, it’s so late — no need to walk us out.”

Feng Yanlai made polite protests. “You’ve come all this way, a few extra steps don’t matter. Besides, I want to take her to the supermarket to pick up a few things — she’s leaving tomorrow, after all.”

The door was pushed open.

Zhu Yunque wasn’t the type to dismiss someone’s invitation, so she unhooked her coat from the rack and put it on.

The four of them went downstairs.

Along the way, Feng Yanlai and Zhao Qijia’s mother had no shortage of things to talk about.

From what Zhu Yunque could gather, Feng Yanlai was hoping Zhao Qijia might help connect her with some business opportunities on campus.

She stayed quiet for a good while.

Then Zhao Qijia took the initiative and spoke, keeping his voice low enough for only the two of them to hear. “That was Lu Rangchen calling you just now, wasn’t it?”

Zhu Yunque’s brow furrowed slightly, and she looked up at him.

Zhao Qijia said, “Don’t worry — I won’t say anything to your mother. I just think, if the two of you are already together, I should be the one to put some distance between us.”

The plane ticket back to the capital had been bought by Feng Yanlai.

She had deliberately booked them seats next to each other.

Add to that tonight’s dinner, and her intention to play matchmaker was more than obvious.

Zhao Qijia hadn’t really wanted to come, but after thinking it over, he decided to come and ask outright — whether he still had any chance. He’d told himself, just maybe — just maybe Zhu Yunque really was like Feng Yanlai said, and not seeing anyone. But now, looking at things, the chances weren’t good.

When Zhu Yunque had answered that call, the way she had lit up — that hidden spark of eagerness and anticipation — it couldn’t be faked.

Zhu Yunque had no intention of deceiving him either. She gave a quiet acknowledgment and said they were together.

The heart he’d been holding in suspense sank without surprise.

Zhao Qijia smiled bitterly, then let out a breath of relief. “Alright. I understand.”

Zhu Yunque looked at him with sincerity. “You’ll find someone better than me.”

Zhao Qijia smiled, about to say something, but by then the four of them had reached the entrance of the residential compound. His mother’s car was parked there, and Feng Yanlai was seeing her off to it.

The woman smiled and said, “Don’t worry, tomorrow I’ll have Qijia drive over early to pick up Yunque — that way you don’t have to make the trip yourself.”

The words had barely settled when Zhao Qijia’s lips parted.

He was about to say something, but Feng Yanlai cut him off, saying, “That sounds perfect — the two of them can travel together, and it’ll put my mind at ease. Saves me from having to take Yunque myself too.”

Feng Yanlai had one defining trait: her voice was bright and carried far.

The more open and empty the space, the more clearly every word rang out.

So it was that Lu Rangchen, parked nearby, had just finished his cigarette and was about to get in the car — when he caught the conversation drifting over from that direction.

The surrounding streetlights were dim.

Lu Rangchen’s eyesight wasn’t exceptional, yet a single glance upward was enough for him to spot Zhu Yunque standing beside Feng Yanlai — and beside Zhu Yunque, Zhao Qijia.

Both of them were dressed in that clean, studious style.

At first glance, they looked rather well-matched.

Well-matched enough that Lu Rangchen went rigid, his gaze narrowing to something dark and dangerous.

Just then.

Zhu Yunque happened to glance in his direction, and immediately caught sight of that familiar silhouette — tall, slender, the kind of figure she could pick out anywhere, in any crowd.

Lu Rangchen was standing right there.

Standing at the boundary between light and shadow, lean and graceful, with a quiet defiance about him.

Standing there, eyes fixed directly on her.

She wasn’t imagining it.

Zhu Yunque felt her heart jolt at that gaze.

In that single second — surprise, helplessness, guilt, a pounding rush of feeling — every emotion came surging forward at once.

She nearly forgot to breathe.

But the eye contact lasted less than a second. She saw Lu Rangchen curve the corner of his mouth in a cold, mocking half-smile directed at her, and before any of the others could notice, he turned away with a blank expression, his long strides carrying him to his car in a single smooth motion. The door slammed shut.

“……”

Zhu Yunque’s throat constricted as if something were lodged there.

All she could do was watch, helplessly, as Lu Rangchen’s car tore into the dark night — furious, trailing no room for second thoughts — and disappeared.

It was the first time she had ever felt his anger so viscerally, so directly.

Anger so consuming, so completely, unmistakably — ignited by jealousy over her.