The car finally purred to a stop before the imposing, neo-classical facade of the Lu family estate. Rain still fell softly, glistening on the manicured hedges and the grand marble steps.
"Grandma is back" Lu Quinzue stated, his earlier teasing replaced by a cool, businesslike tone, though his eyes still held a lingering warmth as they rested on her flushed face.
"Don't forget. We need to sell this. Act like a real couple. Affectionate. Devoted." He extended his arm.
Xia Yingying took a deep, steadying breath, pushing down the riot of emotions Lu Quinzue had stirred. 'Contract. Performance. Grandma.' She summoned her poise.
"Sure" she replied, her voice regaining some steadiness. She looped her arm through his, her fingers resting lightly on the expensive wool of his sleeve, feeling the solid muscle beneath. The contact sent a familiar jolt, a reminder of the confusing tangle of obligation and attraction.
Before they even reached the massive double doors, a booming voice, astonishingly powerful for its age, shattered the tranquil evening air. "THAT SILLY, STUBBORN BOY! PROBABLY FORGOT HIS OWN GRANDMOTHER EXISTS! HE BETTER NOT BE KEEPING MY PRECIOUS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW LOCKED AWAY!"
Xia Yingying instinctively flinched, her grip tightening on Lu Quinzue's arm. Lu Grandma's voice was legendary – a force of nature capable of rattling windows.
"Good evening, Grandma," Lu Quinzue called out smoothly as the doors swung open, revealing the grand foyer. He strode forward, releasing Xia Yingying's arm to envelop the small, vibrant woman seated regally in a high-backed wheelchair in a warm hug.
"Ahzue! Where is your—" The elderly woman began, her sharp eyes scanning past him, and then they landed on Xia Yingying. The fierce expression melted instantly into radiant delight.
Stepping forward gracefully, Xia Yingying dipped into a slight, respectful bow. "Good evening, Grandma Lu," she said, her voice pitched sweetly, layered with genuine warmth and a practiced coquettish charm. Despite the soft tone, she held herself with innate, unshakeable elegance – shoulders back, head held high, a serene smile gracing her lips.
Lu Grandma beamed, reaching out with surprisingly strong, age-spotted hands to clasp Xia Yingying's. "Oh, heavens above! Look at you! A vision! No wonder my Ahzue finally stopped dragging his feet!" She patted Xia Yingying's hand vigorously. "Exquisite, truly exquisite. Like a porcelain doll carved by the gods themselves!"
Xia Yingying lowered her eyes demurely, a blush painting her cheeks – partly genuine pleasure at the effusive praise, partly performance. "You flatter me too much, Grandma. The honor is mine." As she spoke, her observant gaze took in details she'd overlooked before. The wheelchair was an elegant, custom piece, but it was undeniably there – a testament to limitations Xia Yingying hadn't known about in her previous, self-absorbed life. Despite the wrinkles mapping her face and the silver hair swept into a neat bun, Grandma Lu exuded formidable vitality, her eyes sharp and intelligent, her presence commanding the room.
"Flattery? Nonsense! That's the truth!" Grandma Lu declared. Her gaze then swept over Xia Yingying with an almost calculating glee. "Ah, but finally! Now that Ahzue has found such a perfect jewel," she squeezed Xia Yingying's hand, "it means…" Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper that was still remarkably loud. "...chubby great-grandbabies! Little feet pattering through these old halls! Soon, yes? Very soon!"
"Patience, my dear" a calm, weathered voice interjected. Lu Grandfather emerged from the library, a pipe in hand, his presence a soothing counterpoint to his wife's exuberance. He offered Xia Yingying a kind, dignified smile. "Let the young ones breathe."
As they moved towards the opulent dining room, Xia Yingying was enveloped by a symphony of enticing aromas – star anise and ginger, rich braised meats, delicate steamed fish, the earthy sweetness of roasted root vegetables. Her stomach gave an involuntary, traitorous rumble. She quickly schooled her features, maintaining the image of composed grace. 'No uncultured greed. Not here.'
"Come, Little Xia! Sit right here next to me!" Grandma Lu commanded, gesturing to the chair beside her wheelchair at the head of the long, gleaming mahogany table. Before Xia Yingying could even unfold her napkin, Grandma Lu began piling her plate with astonishing enthusiasm – succulent duck, glistening prawns, vibrant greens, fragrant rice. The mound grew precariously high.
"Eat! You're too thin! Need strength! Especially for—"
"Grandma!" Lu Quinzue's voice held a hint of warning and amusement as he took his seat opposite Xia Yingying.
Caught between embarrassment and genuine amusement at the grandmother's overwhelming affection, a small, unexpected laugh escaped Xia Yingying.
'She's lavishing more attention on me than Lu Quinzue ever has. Feels like Grandma is the ardent suitor in this charade.'
Lu Quinzue's sharp eyes caught the fleeting smile. He reached across the corner of the table, his thumb lightly brushing the heated curve of her still-blushing cheek. "What's so funny, Mrs. Lu?" His voice was a low murmur meant only for her, yet it carried in the sudden quiet.
Xia Yingying startled, meeting his gaze. "N-Nothing!"
"Nothing?" He raised a skeptical eyebrow, his thumb lingering for a heartbeat longer than necessary. "Then why the blush? It deepens whenever Grandma showers you with affection."
Trapped, Xia Yingying dropped her voice to a near whisper, leaning slightly towards him. "It's just… Grandma's attentiveness… it's rather intense. Almost… romantically enthusiastic. Like she's the one courting me." She bit her lip, fighting another wave of embarrassed laughter.
Lu Quinzue threw his head back and laughed, a genuine, rich sound that filled the dining room. "Grandma, do you hear?" he called out, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Yingying thinks you're trying to steal her away from me!"
Grandma Lu snorted, waving a dismissive hand. "Nonsense! But you listen, Little Xia!" she boomed, pointing a finger at her grandson. "If this lump doesn't appreciate you properly, you tell him! Loudly! Make him work for it! Grovel if necessary! Don't let his pretty face fool you into accepting less than you deserve!" She punctuated this with a glare at Lu Quinzue, who merely rolled his eyes heavenward, a long-suffering expression on his face.
Amidst the comfortable clatter of serving spoons and the delicious aromas, Lu Grandfather cleared his throat gently.
"Speaking of appreciation" he began, his voice measured and thoughtful, "when might we expect a proper celebration? A wedding ceremony befitting the Lu family heir?" His kind eyes rested expectantly on the young couple.
Lu Quinzue's momentary amusement vanished, replaced by cool reserve. He speared a piece of duck, his gaze fixed firmly on Xia Yingying, not his grandfather. "Not now, Grandfather. Public spectacles aren't currently advantageous."
Xia Yingying felt the weight of his stare, heavy and unreadable. She focused on the intricate pattern of her porcelain plate, the delicious food momentarily tasting like ash.
' Not now? . Advantageous?' The cold, contractual terms hung in the air. Yet, part of her – a traitorous, hopeful part – ached at the dismissal. She wanted the fantasy, the validation, the realness a public wedding might imply. She kept her expression carefully neutral, a mask of agreement.
"And what do you think, Little Xia?" Grandma Lu pressed, ignoring her grandson. Her eyes, sharp as flint, locked onto Xia Yingying.
"Shouldn't the world see the jewel my grandson found? Shouldn't you have your moment?"
Xia Yingying lifted her gaze, meeting Grandma Lu's fierce affection and Lu Quinzue's intense, guarded stare. She offered a small, conciliatory smile, directed at the grandmother. "Grandma… Ahzue is right" she said softly, the name feeling foreign yet intimate on her tongue. "The timing… it needs careful consideration. There are… complexities." She avoided Lu Quinzue's penetrating look.
Grandma Lu harrumphed, clearly dissatisfied. She tapped the arm of her wheelchair decisively. "Complexities? Six months" she announced, her voice brooking no argument. "I expect a proper wedding within six months. Flowers, music, the whole city invited! I want to see my grandson pledge himself properly to this treasure!" She pointed a finger at Lu Quinzue. "And I want to dance at my great-grandson's 1 year birthday soon after! Mark my words!"
Silence descended, thick with implication. Lu Quinzue finally tore his gaze from Xia Yingying's carefully composed face. Their eyes met across the table – hers filled with a turbulent mix of apprehension, a flicker of hope, and the crushing weight of the contract; his eyes dark, unreadable, holding a storm she couldn't decipher.
He held her gaze for a long, charged moment. Then, without a word, he picked up a large, glistening prawn from the central platter. With meticulous, deliberate movements, he began to peel it, his long fingers working with focused precision. He removed the shell, deveined it flawlessly, and finally, placed the perfect, succulent piece of shrimp directly onto Xia Yingying's already overloaded plate. The gesture was simple, domestic, yet profoundly intimate in the context of his grandmother's decree and the unspoken question hanging between them: 'What happens in six months?'