Chapter Eighteen: Lu Huaiche Longed for An'an

The sudden burst of light made the old Master Lu, who had grown accustomed to the darkness, feel a bit uncomfortable. He instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes.

Only one thought crossed his mind:

It’s over.

I’ve been caught.

Lu Jinqiao said, “Grandpa, are you sneaking down late at night to get the cake from the fridge again?”

Old Master Lu still held the cake in his hand and turned to meet Lu Jinqiao’s gaze. At his age, he was experiencing firsthand what it meant to be “flattered.”

“Well, I just couldn’t sleep,” he replied.

“So you eat cake in the middle of the night? Have you forgotten your last check-up showed high blood sugar?”

Old Master Lu smiled sheepishly. “Well, it’s already come down…”

“Hmm?”

Reluctantly, Old Master Lu turned around and put the cake he had just taken out of the fridge back.

“No more eating, no more. It’s almost eleven o’clock. Why aren’t you asleep yet? Hmph, if An An finds out, she’ll definitely scold you.”

Lu Jinqiao said, “Grandpa, be good. If your check-up results are still fine tomorrow, I’ll reward you with a milk tea—70% sugar, with three toppings of your choice. How about that?”

Old Master Lu’s eyes lit up. “Are you serious?”

Lu Jinqiao nodded. “When have I ever lied to you?”

Only then did Old Master Lu happily return to bed.

There was a faint scent of herbs in the room, very subtle. If he hadn’t just come in from outside, he wouldn’t have noticed it.

The fragrance was the same as the sleep aid incense he usually used at home.

Thinking of this, Old Master Lu couldn’t help but smile.

This kid, saying he wouldn’t interfere, but secretly setting up sleep aids for him.

Since growing old, about five years ago, Old Master Lu had rarely been able to sleep through the night. Usually, he would fall asleep around ten or eleven, wake up at three or four, and then be unable to fall back asleep.

That went on for nearly a month. After that, every time he entered his room, he felt as if something had been burnt in the air, and lying down, his mind would involuntarily relax. He was able to sleep well each time.

Later, he asked Old Chen and found out that after Lu Jinqiao learned of his sleeplessness, he had found some incense to help him sleep.

At first, they weren’t sure if it worked and tested it several times before finally sending it over.

Today, his visit was sudden, and he hadn’t brought his own incense. The scent he now smelled could only mean Lu Jinqiao had been keeping it on hand.

Old Master Lu chuckled softly to himself and soon fell asleep, a smile still lingering on his face—a clear sign he was having sweet dreams.

The next morning, Lu Jinqiao woke Old Master Lu, and the two of them went for a full-body check-up together.

Old Master Lu asked, “Where’s An An? Isn’t she going for a check-up? And what about that kid Huai Che? Isn’t it his time for a check-up too?”

Lu Jinqiao replied, “An An will wait until next time when Huai Che is back on vacation, then they’ll go together.”

Old Master Lu nodded knowingly and asked a question he had meant to ask yesterday when he saw An An but had forgotten in the midst of their banter.

“Where did An An come from? You haven’t done anything wrong, have you?”

Lu Jinqiao sighed.

“Grandpa, do you really think I’m that bad a person?”

Lu Jinqiao explained, “An An was found by me outside the company. We’ve done DNA tests; she is indeed my child. But I’m certain I haven’t been fooled in recent years. Besides, when I asked An An, she said she has no mother.”

“Also, I checked before and found nothing suspicious.”

Old Master Lu fell silent.

This matter was clearly filled with doubts, yet they were powerless to do anything. The feeling was utterly dreadful.

However,

“If An An is our family’s child, then we must treat her well.”

“That’s only natural,” Lu Jinqiao replied.

Old Master Lu closed his eyes to rest.

The journey back was silent.

When Old Master Lu returned, he was clutching an oversized milk tea cup. Although Lu Jinqiao tried to persuade him to switch to a normal-sized cup, Old Master Lu adamantly refused.

Lu Jinqiao had no choice but to concede.

Then, Lu Jinqiao saw Old Master Lu acting like a child, holding his massive milk tea cup proudly in front of An An.

An An turned her head toward Lu Jinqiao.

“Daddy…”

Lu Jinqiao went over and picked her up with a helpless smile.

“Grandpa, stop teasing her. If you keep it up, I’ll have to take away your weekly three-cup allowance.”

Old Master Lu protested indignantly but had to yield to Lu Jinqiao’s “authoritative” tone.

Besides, if he teased An An any longer, he feared she might cry, which would be unfortunate.

After tidying up briefly, Lu Jinqiao prepared to head to the company.

“I’m off to work, Grandpa. Just don’t take An An off on wild adventures, okay?”

Old Master Lu retorted, “What are you saying! What do you mean by that?”

“And besides, you go to the company every day—is it as if the company can’t survive without you?”

Lu Jinqiao nodded. “You’re right. Then I’ll stay home and keep you both company.”

There happened to be no important meetings for him today.

Upon hearing this, Old Master Lu instantly regretted his sharp tongue.

Lu Jinqiao thought to himself that yesterday he had promised to get An An a small pet to keep her company.

Might as well take care of that today.

With that in mind, Lu Jinqiao turned An An around to face him.

An An said, “Hmm?”

Lu Jinqiao asked, “An An, do you want a puppy? Or a kitten? Shall we go pick one out today?”

Upon hearing this, An An happily hugged Lu Jinqiao’s head and planted a big kiss on his cheek.

“Daddy, you’re the best!”

Old Master Lu watched from the side, his eyes full of warmth.

He leaned over and said, “Grandpa wants one, too.”

An An leaned over and gave Old Master Lu a big kiss on the cheek as well.

* * *

“Come on, Huai Che, why are you daydreaming? Did you hear what I just said?”

“Hmm? What did you say just now?”

Lu Huaiche snapped back to reality and looked at the person in front of him.

“What’s up?”

The other person pouted, looping an arm around Lu Huaiche’s neck and leaning close.

“I said, my little sister’s birthday is coming, and I don’t know what to get her. I want you to help me figure it out.”

“Hey, you know I’m terrible at picking gifts for girls. Plus, she really likes you, so I thought maybe you could help me out. If worse comes to worst, I’ll just say it’s from you. She’ll be happy either way.”

The person rambled on, not noticing Lu Huaiche drifting off again.

At that moment, Lu Huaiche was thinking of the little gas tank he’d seen at home last time—the one he had made cry with just a single word.

Round, plump, cute, obedient, and well-behaved. Lu Huaiche felt there was no child more well-behaved than her.

Strangely, Lu Huaiche found himself missing An An.