Lu Zeyan rarely feared anyone.
Not competitors. Not board members. Not market crashes.
But when the private number of Lu Chengyuan, his grandfather, flashed on his phone…
He almost didn't answer.
"Zeyan," came the deep, commanding voice.
"…Grandfather."
"I saw the photo."
Zeyan closed his eyes. "It's being handled."
"I zoomed in. Twice. The girl looks fertile."
"Excuse me?"
"You looked relaxed. You never look relaxed. Are you finally—what do the kids say—'in love'?"
Zeyan stood up from his desk. "It's a misunderstanding."
"Good. Then you won't mind bringing her to dinner tonight."
Zeyan stopped breathing. "…Dinner?"
"I've already had the chef prepare pigeon soup. It's good for expecting mothers."
"There is no pregnancy."
A pause.
"Well then," Grandfather said, amused, "you'd better hurry up."
Click.
Meanwhile...
Xu Yinyin was in the office breakroom, mixing five sugar cubes into her tea and adding chili oil "for flavor."
Lu Zeyan stormed in.
She looked up. "Oh no. Who died?"
"You're coming to dinner tonight. With my grandfather."
She froze. "Did he see the photo?"
"He thinks you're pregnant."
She spat out her tea. "Preg—?"
"And he wants pigeon soup ready for you."
"…Does he want a name for the baby too?"
"He probably already picked one."
Yinyin clutched her head. "So what do we do?!"
Zeyan fixed her with a dangerous look. "We go. We smile. We pretend."
"Pretend what?"
"…That we're together."
Silence.
Then she grinned. "Can I wear a fake bump?"
"Absolutely not."
"Too late. I already ordered one online."
Later that night…
In the grand Lu estate, under glittering chandeliers, Xu Yinyin sat at the long dining table, glowing like a firecracker in a cherry blossom dress.
Across from her, the legendary Grandfather Lu stared at her like she was both a blessing and a bomb.
He finally said, "So. Xu Yinyin."
"Yes, sir?" she chirped, buttering a mantou like it owed her money.
"I like your spirit."
Zeyan coughed.
Grandfather nodded. "She reminds me of your grandmother. Wild. Untameable. Caused three scandals before our wedding."
"Aw," Yinyin said. "Can I call you Grandpa?"
He grinned. "Only if you give me a great-grandchild before I die."
Zeyan dropped his chopsticks.
Yinyin beamed. "I'll get started after dessert."
"WHAT—"
Zeyan choked. Grandfather laughed until he cried.
And in that moment, surrounded by duck, tea, and utter humiliation, CEO Lu Zeyan realized something terrifying:
This girl… was now family.