A week had passed since the infamous coffee incident, and tensions between Shen Ziyu and Lu Zeyan had cooled — on the surface, at least.
That morning, the Lu family decided to pay a formal visit to the Shen residence to present the betrothal gifts — a traditional gesture of sincerity for the upcoming marriage. Lu Zeyan, of course, refused to attend.
"I'm not parading myself like some groom-for-sale," he muttered, slamming his bedroom door shut. He didn't want to see Ziyu or worse, endure another argument with his father.
So, it was just the Lu couple — Madam Meifen and Mr. Mingyuan — along with their son, Lu Jianhong, who made the visit around noon. When the Lu family's car pulled up at the estate, the staff immediately sprang into organized panic.
The Shen household was not ready for this visit.
The head maid nearly had a meltdown. She instructed a maid to inform Ziyu immediately. The maid rushed through the halls, shouting at half-asleep staff and begging someone to wake Ziyu, who was still blissfully unconscious under a silk blanket.
After a barrage of urgent knocking and increasingly tearful pleas, Ziyu finally stirred, bleary-eyed.
"What's the emergency?" she mumbled.
"They are people here!" the maid gasped.
"Who?"
"The Lu family! I dont know why they are here but they brought betrothal gift. And they're downstairs!"
Ziyu blinked. "Oh. Right. That was today. I forgot".
"Young Mistress... are you saying you're actually getting married?" the maid outside Ziyu's door asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
"Yes!" Ziyu shouted back without hesitation.
The maid dropped to her knees in shock.
Just then, another maid walked by and paused at the sight. "What happened to you?" she asked, eyeing her disheveled colleague.
Still dazed, the first maid whispered, "She said— she's getting married".
And just like that, the news of Ziyu's marriage began to spread like wildfire throughout the Shen residence.
She showered, dressed quickly, and made her way to the parlour — where the Lu couple and Jianhong were already seated, sipping tea. And like the maid described there were servants holding red trays with gifts on them.
"Apologies for the delay," she said, offering a slight bow. "I wasn't expecting such punctuality."
Mrs. Lu smiled warmly. "You're glowing, dear. We don't mind at all."
"I see the bride's aura is strong today," Mr. Lu joked.
Ziyu smirked. "I try."
Just as everyone was settling into polite conversation, the energy in the room shifted.
The staff—dozens of them—began gathering silently in the background. The atmosphere was awkward. The maids were unusually silent, their eyes downcast. Some stared at the gifts being brought in with teary eyes, others clasped their hands in front of them solemnly. A few even looked like they were mourning.
"Is something wrong?" Madam Lu asked gently, noticing the mood.The head maid bowed deeply. "Forgive us, Madam Lu. It's just... it feels like you're here to take our Young Mistress away", her voice trembling.
Some of the servants began crying.
Lu Jianhong looked visibly uncomfortable. "We're not kidnapping her…"
Another maid muttered, "You might as well be."
More sniffles followed. Someone blew their nose loudly.
"Everyone, please. I'm not going anywhere just yet", Ziyu said trying to lighten the mood.
Before anyone could respond, Zhang Luming entered the parlour, holding several thick folders.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," she said breathlessly. "I was just bringing the reports Miss Ziyu asked for."
She bowed slightly to the Lu family and stood off to the side. She had been assigned a research task last week—mapping out industry trends and identifying power players across broadcasting, entertainment, and marketing, all for the impending launch of LUXA.
She placed the documents discreetly on a nearby table before standing behind her, as she is a bodyguard and personal assistant. But events kept happening one after the order.
Mr. Shen stormed into the house, face red with fury. He had just stepped out of a business meeting when the head maid's panicked call reached him: "They're taking our Young Mistress away!". He Qinglu slowly trailed after him with a leather briefcase and a few documents.
He stood beside Zhang Luming who was both surprised and confused at the situation.
"Don't worry, you will get use to it soon", he adviced like he was a senior from a higher class than her, which technically he is.
He saw Lu Jianhong standing near the tea table and marched straight toward him. Without a word, he grabbed Jianhong by the collar.
"Is it YOU?!"
"Dad!" Ziyu gasped, rushing forward.
Jianhong looked more startled than offended. "Mr. Shen, please—"
"What? No!" Jianhong sputtered.
Ziyu placed a hand on her father's arm. "You need to calm down Dad".
"The head maid told me that the Lu family came with betrothal gifts for a visit. Did they force you to marry him", Mr. Shen asked Ziyu in a panicked tone
"I agreed to this marriage, remember? No one's forcing me.", She said flatly.
Mr. Shen froze. His grip loosened.
"…You agreed?"
Murmurs filled the room. Several maids gasped audibly. Another dropped to their knees in despair. One fled the room in tears. Mr. Shen sank heavily onto the couch, face pale.
Madam Lu cleared her throat. "Mr. Shen. It's a pleasure to see you again."
He gave a stiff nod but didn't speak. He looked like a man who'd just been punched in the stomach, staring at the wedding gifts like they were radioactive.
Eventually, he stood again—only to grab Jianhong by the collar a second time.
"Wait. Where's the groom?"
Meifen sighed. "Zeyan didn't come."
"Why not?!"
Ziyu exhaled. "We got into an argument. He damaged my racecar. He's… not exactly eager about the engagement."
That sent Mr. Shen into another rage.
"THE ROYAL BLUE RACECAR I GAVE YOU FOR YOUR 16TH BIRTHDAY?!"
Ziyu nodded, wincing. "Yes. I've already sent it for repairs. I asked them to paint it jet black this time."
"Jet black?!" Mr. Shen looked physically ill. "You loved that color, to the point you asked the car be painted royal blue"
"I'm aware," she said coolly. "And I've made peace with the trauma, so let's move forward".
Reluctantly, he sat down, still muttering under his breath. After a tense pause, the Lu couple finally presented the betrothal gifts, a servant reading out the scroll's list, red trays filled with:
Deeds to a new apartment
A luxury car
Boxes of gold accessories
Vehicle certificates
High-end rare jade sets,
Investment documents,
Shares in Luchen Tech.
Ziyu arched a brow. "Impressive."
Mr. Shen squinted. "Is that all?"
The head maid folded her arms. "Exactly".
The servants nodded solemnly behind him, some clearly unimpressed.
Ziyu smiled faintly. "Well, if my father insists on more, I'd like to request something practical."
Everyone turned to her.
"It is more like a formal request".
She looked to Jianhong. "Luchen Tech can support my company, LUXA, by supplying 400 of your top-tier desktops and systems. Additionally, I'd like to propose a tech investment — not for sentiment, but for synergy."
The room fell silent.
"You'll get your daughter-in-law," she added. "But I'll get a business partner too."
Jianhong nodded. "Done."
Mrs. Lu blinked. "Just like that?"
"She's sharp", Jianhong chuckled under his breath, sipping tea. "You don't negotiate with someone like her. You sign the check."
Mrs. Lu beamed. "She's perfect."
Mr. Shen hearing all these praises could not help but feel proud of his daughter.
The meeting continued with a light lunch. They gathered around the long dining table and waited for food to be serve with cutlery as Mr. Shen and Ziyu do not fancy the idea of leaving them waiting on a table when it does nothing but collect dust.
"Let's get the marriage certificate next week," Madam Lu said, "and hold the ceremony in a month."
But Mr. Shen shook his head. "Impossible. We have major business in a month."
Ziyu frowned. "What business?"
"I'll tell you later," he muttered.
They eventually agreed to push the wedding ceremony to three months later. The chatter went on for a while, with Mr. Shen talking about Ziyu's accomplishments growing up.
At 5 PM, the Lu family stood to leave. Mr. Shen, still emotionally rattled, managed a polite goodbye. Jianhong hesitated at the doorway.
"Ziyu, if you need anything — for the wedding or for LUXA — don't hesitate."
She nodded with a faint smile. "Thank you".
Mr. Shen walked Ziyu back inside, shaking his head. "I have only three months to spend enough time with you but you will be busy".
"You'll survive", Ziyu commented.
"You didn't keep your promise to come and take care of me. You were only back last week Wednesday but now you are leaving again", Mr. Shen complained jokingly. Ziyu started laughing at his behaviour. Then the mood got serious again.
He stopped and looked at her.
"You really want this?"
She paused, then said, "I want to see where it leads."
He didn't say anything more—just nodded.
"I have somewhere to be," he said abruptly. "I'll be back by nine."
She watched him walk out, his retreating figure putting a smile on her face, before she finally stepped in. The house slowly returned to order, with everyone arranging the gifts that were left for Ziyu.