CH 86

Chapter 86: The Lu Family

It wasn’t without reason that Lu Zheng changed his attitude so quickly.

After Chang Qing left, he always paid attention to his movements consciously or unconsciously. Finding someone to watch Chang Qing wasn’t just to safeguard him, but to also satisfy his other selfish desires called concern.

Originally, this was enough, and Lu Zheng felt that it was enough. But he didn’t know if it was because he was thinking about it by day and dreaming about it by night but he began to have some dreams. Some of them about Lu Xuan and some of Chang Qing.

In the dream with Lu Xuan, he was apologetic and told Lu Xuan about his troubles and asked for his forgiveness.

What did Lu Xuan in the dream say? He still had a tolerant expression, and he, in turn, eased his anxiety.

This was his eldest brother. He had always tolerated his actions and even took the blame for him. Even in his dreams, he was still the same as before. He had never changed. This made Lu Zheng feel even more despicable, but along with the emergence of this kind of self-awareness, another thought in Lu Zheng’s heart gradually became clear.

Although it was shameless, it was also true. If Chang Qing must be with someone, he was obviously the best candidate.

As for what others would say, this was really not within Lu Zheng’s consideration. What he considered was whether or not he could cross the hurdle in his heart and Chang Qing’s thoughts on the matter.

He had a fever that day, and Chang Qing came to see him. He remembered clearly what he had said at that time.

He just had a fever, he wasn’t drunk. His mind might be a little fuzzy, but he was definitely awake. He knew how much he had hurt Chang Qing with what he had said.

He read the reports on Chang Qing handed in by his secretary. He knew about Chang Qing’s life outside, getting up early, taking a walk twice a day, and going to the vegetable market to buy vegetables… It seemed that he was living a good life alone. But he was smiling less and had more of a calm expression on his face instead. Sometimes he would look at the pigeons landing in the square in a daze. That was a lonely state.

Lu Zheng could see that although he lived a good life alone, he obviously didn’t like living alone.

Lu Zheng liked to see his true smile. When everyone pretended to walk out of the shadow of his eldest brother’s death but was actually in a complete mess, only he could show that kind of unforced smile. Lu Zheng could only return to normal so quickly because of Chang Qing.

Chang Qing has a kind of power that can make people feel warm and at ease.

Lu Zheng wanted to ask him, wouldn’t he be sad if he let him go?

He must feel hurt too, and he may feel that it was impossible to come back again.

Lu Zheng didn’t want him to show that kind of lonely expression. Why did he have to push him away?

Chang Qing was happy in the Lu family, and he and Lu Hua were also happy. Why did he have to push him away? To let him go?

Is it because of his selfishness? Looking at himself in this way he was also very selfish, pushing everything onto Chang Qing.

When Lu Zheng woke up from the high fever, he felt like blushing. He didn’t understand how he could have said, “I don’t want to see you anymore.”

It was like stabbing Chang Qing with a knife.

After waking up, Lu Zheng went to another extreme. He began to want Chang Qing more.

He was already a responsible man. So he was also capable of being responsible for Chang Qing for a lifetime.

That’s what Lu Zheng thought, but he didn’t have time to find Chang Qing to explain it clearly.

Now it’s finally all out.

Lu Zheng looked at Chang Qing’s face. The corners of his lips curled up, and he said with some seriousness: “I’m seriously seducing you now.”

Chang Qing took a breath, then glanced at Lu Zheng, and said softly: “Then let’s see what you are capable of.”

Lu Zheng laughed, patted Chang Qing, and said, “Okay, I’ve talked to you so much, let’s talk about what we should talk about, then go to bed.”

Chang Qing gave a low “en” and then said, “I’m not moving back.”

Lu Zheng didn’t force him to move either. He smiled and his voice was much softer, “It’s fine not to move back in but you have to change your place of residence.”

Chang Qing was stunned for a moment, “Why?”

Lu Zheng said solemnly: “It’s too small, get a bigger one.”

Chang Qing was unable to understand what that had to do with anything and said, “I don’t need to have a big place to live alone in.”

Lu Zheng looked at him and said slowly, “It may be two people in the future.”

Chang Qing: “…hahahaha, it makes sense. If you change to a bigger place, you can invite friends over for a party.”

Lu Zheng frowned, “Where did you get so many friends?”

Chang Qing gave him a look and said airily, “There are a lot of things you don’t know.”

Lu Zheng smiled. His sharp eyes seemed to have softened as he spoke with a hint of warmth, “Alright, I don’t care if you want to make friends. I’ve already chosen a house for you. I’ll leave the keys at your door. Go get them yourself.”

Chang Qing saw that he had no intention of talking anymore, so he nodded and said, “I’m going to bed, good night.”

Lu Zheng replied “Good night.”

When Chang Qing returned to his bedroom, he saw a box on the table with a bunch of keys inside and an address on the bottom. Surprisingly, it was a river view room in Jasper Garden, on the topmost floor with the most open view of the turquoise bay and the snow-white sandy beach.

Chang Qing held the key and remembered that he had said that he wanted to live in a house by the sea.

The corners of his lips curled up slightly, and then, with a sudden realization, he pressed them down a little nervously.

Does he have a crush? Chang Qing thought about it carefully and found that he really seemed to have a small one.

At least he couldn’t be as indifferent as he was to Qiao Zhenran.

Chang Qing was a little irritable again. He opened the drawer and took out a photo album and a small box that was in the drawer.

This was Lu Xuan’s photo album, as well as the three rings, that he was holding.

Chang Qing held up the photo album and looked at the handsome and gentle Lu Xuan in the photo, his dark eyes looked at him so tenderly even through the photo.

Chang Qing was a little sour. He really did like that man. He was the gentlest, most innocent, and most easily teased man he has ever seen. Sometimes when he glanced at him, he could feel that he was loved. This feeling is so wonderful, like soaking his whole heart in warm water. This soft warmth gave a sense of security and dependence that can make him settle down.

Chang Qing opened the box, and all three rings fell into the palm of his hand. Among the three, two were Lu Xuan’s size, a little bigger than his ring. He looked at them for a long time, then put on the one that belonged to him. Stretching out his fingers, he looked at the golden ring on his slender white finger. He slumped onto the table as if he had no strength left.

“I wish you were still here, Lu Xuan. I think it would be nice if we were together.”  Chang Qing told Lu Xuan in the photo.

He licked his dry lips, and said softly: “Maybe give me a little more time, and I would fall in love with you completely, but fate plays tricks, and we have no fate with each other. Now that your brother said that he would chase after me, I really think …It’s a bit ridiculous, but…I don’t seem to be very disgusted. Will you be angry with me? If you want to be angry, be angry with me. Don’t get angry with Lu Zheng. He has been very restrained and said he wouldn’t see me again……Although I don’t know why he’s changed now.”

“Also, there are some things that I didn’t tell you. In fact, I’m not Chang Qing. I’m not him. I lied to you. I didn’t explain it to you from the beginning, nor did I plan to. At that time, I was tempted by you, so I continued to play the role of ‘Chang Qing’ to get along with you. Now that I think about it, you should love him very much, right? I’m not a good person, taking your love for him and trying to catch you….. I’m not saying this to deny anything. I do have feelings for you. I’m not trying to make excuses. I just think that maybe I’m not the one you fell in love with in the first place.”

Chang Qing sighed, he didn’t know what he was rambling about so he simply shut up.

He looked at the photo of Lu Xuan. His eyes gradually became firmer, and he said softly, “I’m sorry, ah. I’ll persevere, and I won’t let your brother go astray.”

He put the photo album back, and didn’t take off the ring on his finger again.

In the early morning of the next day, Lu Hua noticed Chang Qing’s changes immediately. She got up late this time, so she simply asked Ah Jian to ask for leave from school, so she could wake up with Chang Qing.

After she finished washing, she put on a rabbit fur sweater. It looked warm and fluffy, and was indescribably beautiful. When she sees Chang Qing again, she won’t jump into his arms so easily.

The family sat at the dining table, and Chang Qing was still sitting with Lu Hua, so as soon as Chang Qing raised his hand, Lu Hua caught a glimpse of the ring on his finger. She was a little surprised and asked, “Qing Qing, where did you get this ring?”

Lu Zheng and Lu Shi’s eyes immediately fell on Chang Qing’s left ring finger, and they saw a luxurious and restrained ring.

Chang Qing said softly: “It’s my wedding ring. I put it up before and didn’t wear it. Now I’ve found it again so I put it on.”

Lu Hua said, “It’s pretty.”

Chang Qing smiled and said nothing.

Lu Hua thought for a while, and couldn’t help but sigh and asked, “Qing Qing, will you get married in the future?”

Chang Qing glanced at her but didn’t say anything.

Lu Hua said: “You will definitely remarry. You’re only 22 years old.”

She was in a bad mood when she thought of it. In her opinion, Chang Qing was already a member of her family, and it was awkward for him to marry someone else.

Chang Qing comforted her and said, “Not for awhile.”

Lu Hua pouted, “You said not for awhile. That means that you will later.”

Chang Qing paused, for some reason, he really wanted to see Lu Zheng’s expression, but he held back and didn’t raise his eyes to look at Lu Zheng. He said softly: “There is no guarantee for the future. If I see someone I like then maybe I will.”

Lu Hua was very depressed, “Forget it, it makes me sad to talk about it. Let’s not talk about it, let’s just eat.”

Chang Qing touched her head, “Don’t think so much about it.”

Lu Zheng suddenly spoke up just then, “Even if he remarries, he will still be a member of the Lu family, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

Lu Hua’s eyes widened, “Eh?”

Lu Shi: “?!”

Chang Qing’s heart almost stopped beating.