Chapter 56 Are You Willing to Let Go?

She seemed to become entirely more confident. She smiled at Su Yang without saying anything more, then turned her gaze to Lu Yan.

Lu Yan was focused on picking through the food in his bowl.

“Lu Yan, isn’t it a bit much to have such a standoff with Uncle Lu and the others?” Chen Haixia opened her tin lunchbox, acting as if she were merely making casual conversation.

Lu Yan paused, chopsticks in mid-air. “What’s wrong with it?”

“The whole village knows you were accepted into the Research Institute in the capital and that you’re living a good life now. People envy Uncle Lu for being able to follow you to the city and enjoy the benefits. But now you’re telling them to go back—how is he supposed to save face?

“And with Aunt Qian’s blunt personality, who knows what rumors those villagers will spread after a few words?” Chen Haixia said, her tone seemingly full of concern for Lu Yan.

Lu Yan’s expression didn’t change at all as he replied, “It seems you like to worry about other people’s business.”

His voice was calm, but anyone could hear that he was telling her she was meddling.

Chen Haixia’s face turned pale, but since she knew what kind of person Lu Yan was, she didn’t mind. She smiled, “It’s nothing, just a friendly reminder.”

Lu Yan nodded, as if he understood, “That won’t be necessary.”

Chen Haixia took a deep breath. “Lu Yan, there’s no need for that tone between us, is there?”

Sensing the tension, Su Yang hurried to smooth things over: “Hey, you two come from the same village—don’t you know his personality by now? That’s just how he talks.”

Lu Yan glanced at Su Yang, then pointed at an empty table in front. “Go sit over there for a bit. I have a few words to say to Comrade Chen Haixia.”

Hearing that, Chen Haixia’s irritation disappeared, replaced by anticipation. She wished Su Yang would leave quickly and tactfully.

Su Yang, holding his lunchbox, walked away.

Only then did Lu Yan speak in earnest. “Chen Haixia, this is where things end between us. Ever since you accepted that two thousand yuan matchmaking fee, I owe you nothing anymore. From now on, when we meet, we are just colleagues.”

Chen Haixia froze in shock at those words. It took her a long while to recover, as if all her pride and dignity before Lu Yan had been shattered in that instant.

“Lu Yan…” she began, but he raised a hand to stop her.

“That’s enough. No one else knows about this matter. This is my last gesture of respect. Also, if you see my wife again, don’t say anything that could cause her to misunderstand. Otherwise, you won’t even have today’s dignity left.”

With that, Lu Yan picked up his lunchbox and left.

Only Chen Haixia remained, motionless.

Yes, Lu Yan was exceptionally clever. Whatever he wanted to know, nothing could escape him. When he offered you dignity, you had to catch it, or else the consequences…

Chen Haixia understood this about Lu Yan.

He really had fallen for that woman. But why?

Tears welled in her eyes. Lu Yan’s departing figure blurred then sharpened again before her. This was her first time experiencing his ruthless retribution—cold and precise, not a single unnecessary word, each one hitting the mark.

She’d seen other women experience this before and had only felt satisfaction. But now…

Afraid someone might notice, she quickly composed herself and, as usual, finished the rest of her meal.

After all these years, she would not let her efforts be for nothing.

When Lu Yan returned to the office, Su Yang hurried after him. “What did you say to your fellow villager just now? She didn’t look too happy.”

Lu Yan straightened the documents on the desk, glanced at Su Yang, and said, “If you have so much free time, you’d better prepare for the next project.”

Su Yang’s attention immediately shifted. “Another new project so soon? Is it an external assignment?”

Lu Yan nodded. “Yes, the last design proposal has just been approved.”

Su Yang immediately pulled a long face. “Another business trip? My daughter is just over two months old. How long will it take?”

Lu Yan paused in his tidying. “Hire a nanny. How long it takes isn’t up to me—it depends on the project’s progress.”

Su Yang looked at his calm expression. “Don’t you mind?”

“Mind what?” Lu Yan didn’t immediately catch on.

“Your wife and child.” Su Yang felt that Lu Yan was a bit heartless—once he got involved in a project, nothing else seemed to matter. Otherwise, how could he not have known his wife had borne him a son for four years?

Lu Yan said nothing.

At the end of the workday, he didn’t want to linger a moment longer than necessary. He left the research institute quickly, caught the bus, and arrived home.

An’an was sitting on the sofa, playing with a Rubik’s Cube and finding new ways to solve it.

As for his wife, there was no need to guess—she would naturally be in the kitchen. Lu Yan glanced at his son, didn’t disturb him, and went straight to the kitchen, where he saw Shen Qingyi busy at the stove.

Suddenly, oil splattered from the pan. Shen Qingyi quickly took two steps back, withdrew her hand, and pinched her earlobe a couple of times.

After the burning sensation subsided, she was about to resume cooking when she sensed a shadow behind her.

She could feel the faint presence of a man—he was standing just behind her. When she turned around, she met his refined and gentle face.

“I’ll take over,” Lu Yan said, turning to wash his hands.

By the time he turned back, his sleeves were rolled up, and the pale, slender hands—so accustomed to holding a pen—took the spatula from Shen Qingyi.

He stood behind her, half encircling her as if waiting for her to step aside. Even with some distance between them, Shen Qingyi could hear his breathing for some reason.

He was so tall. Without thinking, she ducked beneath the arm holding the spatula.

Once she’d slipped out, she patted her own face. How foolish—she could have stepped to the side, but she’d panicked and fled instead.

Lu Yan’s lips curved ever so slightly, but he said nothing as he quickly tossed the vegetables in the pan.

Shen Qingyi left the kitchen and finally breathed a sigh of relief. Why had he come home so early today, and how had he appeared behind her so silently?

She wandered over to the vine chair beside the grape arbor, sat down, and reclined, gazing up at the pale moonlight in the sky.

Lu Yan’s image appeared in her mind—always so reserved, tall and distant. Even when he was right before her, he always felt unattainable.

“Mama, I feel like Papa’s home,” An’an’s voice brought her back to reality.

She sat up and waved him over. “He wouldn’t be back so early—it’s just your imagination.”

An’an obediently walked over and rested his head on her hand, murmuring, “I knew it couldn’t be so soon. Look at your watch, how much longer do we have to wait?”

Shen Qingyi only smiled and didn’t move.

An’an blinked, then heard the sound of stir-frying from the kitchen. Excited, he said, “Is it Papa?”

Before Shen Qingyi could answer, he dashed into the kitchen, and when he saw Lu Yan, he cried out happily, “Wow, it really is Papa! Mama just lied to me!”

Lu Yan dished up the cooked food. “What did she lie about?”

“She said you weren’t back yet!”

Lu Yan smiled. “Papa didn’t work overtime today. Go wash your hands; we’re about to eat.”