Outside the car window, snowflakes swirled in the air, but Lu Shiyan paid them no mind. His expression was troubled, as if he were caught between anticipation and dread. Several times, he took out his phone, glanced at it, then put it away again.
Only when the car pulled up to the marital home and he saw the lights on inside did the tension in his body finally ease. The moment the car stopped, he hurried out and strode toward the door.
I watched as he straightened his clothes, then deliberately slowed his movements before opening the door, his face settling back into its usual indifferent mask.
As he changed his shoes, he called my name.
"Su Wan, after all this time, you finally decided to come back? Do you even know how these past few days—"
The living room lights were on, but the person waiting for him wasn't me.
It was his father.
Lu Shiyan looked up, meeting his father's gaze. His expression froze. "Dad? Why are you here?"
"Your uncle is at the old mansion, so I came to talk to you. What, Su Wan still hasn't returned?"
Old Master Lu frowned at him. Clearly, my disappearance hadn't raised any concern in either of them.
Of course not. Since childhood, Lu Shiyan and I had been inseparable. Even when we argued, I was always the one to make amends. In their eyes, even running away from the wedding was just a tantrum.
Sooner or later, I'd come crawling back.
Not wanting to lose face, Lu Shiyan made an excuse. "Tomorrow is her grandmother's birthday. She wouldn't miss it—she must already be at the Su family home."
Old Master Lu casually lit a cigarette. Through the haze of smoke, his voice was calm. "When she comes back, make sure to coax her properly. Have a child for your grandfather as soon as possible. He's regained some clarity recently, and he's been getting close to that bastard."
"Didn't Uncle always hate Grandfather?" Lu Shiyan's eyes sharpened with wariness.
A mocking smile curled at Old Master Lu's lips. "What does hatred matter compared to profit? The moment your grandfather showed signs of improvement, he rushed back to the country. What else could it be for but the family assets? I heard your grandfather is already arranging a marriage alliance for him."
"Marriage alliance?" Lu Shiyan's face paled. He strode toward the sofa. "Has the match been decided?"
"Either the Jiang or the Fu family."
The Jiang and Fu families were powerful, on par with the Lu family. The Su family, though wealthy, paled in comparison to these century-old dynasties.
If not for my childhood bond with Lu Shiyan, his marriage alliance would have been with one of them.
Lu Yanchen already had his own successful business overseas. With the backing of a powerful marriage alliance, he would leave Lu Shiyan in the dust.
Lu Shiyan gritted his teeth. "A bastard like him—how is he worthy?"
Old Master Lu gave him a dismissive glance. "Ten years ago, of course not. But do you know how much Lu Yanchen's listed company is valued at now?"
"How much?"
"One hundred billion. And that number is still rising!"
Lu Shiyan slumped back onto the sofa. He knew his uncle had been doing well, but he hadn't expected this.
One hundred billion—not far off from the Lu Corporation's valuation.
The Lu family's wealth had been accumulated over generations, their influence built over decades. They ranked second in the domestic real estate industry.
Yet Lu Yanchen had started from nothing. In just over a decade, he had reached this level. At this rate, surpassing the Lu family was only a matter of time.
If the old master handed the Lu family to him, his net worth would skyrocket—not just domestically, but globally, easily placing him among the top ten richest.
"How… how did this happen?" Lu Shiyan's expression was dazed, his face filled with unease.
"You've made a series of foolish mistakes recently, angering your grandfather. He already feels guilty toward Lu Yanchen. If he takes this chance to hand the Lu Corporation over to him—"
Lu Shiyan cut him off sharply. "He wouldn't! Grandfather would never give the entire Lu family to him!"
"Even if he doesn't, if Lu Yanchen takes the lion's share, you—the legitimate eldest grandson—would be forced to bow to a bastard. Wouldn't that be a joke?"
Seeing that the atmosphere was sufficiently tense, Old Master Lu poured on the pressure.
"Though his net worth surpasses yours, you have two advantages. First, unlike him, you're not physically disabled. Second, the old master likes Su Wan. If you two can have a child soon, the old master will surely transfer company shares to you for the child's sake—and Su Wan's."
He stood. "I don't need to spell out the rest, do I? Treat Su Wan well. Cut ties with Su Ning'an. Tomorrow is your best opportunity."
Lu Shiyan escorted his father to the door. "Dad, I know what to do. I won't make any more mistakes."
I sat on the balcony, stretching out my hand to catch the falling snowflakes. Watching them drift through my palm, a cold smile curved my lips.
Lu Shiyan, it's too late for regrets now.
How could a dead woman give you a second chance?
I had already accepted what I'd become—unable to live, unable to die. All I could do was watch as an observer, waiting to see if retribution would ever come for Lu Shiyan.
After his father left, Lu Shiyan was visibly troubled. It seemed Lu Yanchen's return had shaken him deeply.
He dialed my number over and over, but the automated "power off" message only fueled his agitation.
In the dark of night, I heard his whisper:
"Su Wan… just how long do you plan to keep this up?"
Even now, he still refused to take responsibility. To him, everything was my fault.
Restless, Lu Shiyan repeatedly ran his fingers over the prayer beads on his wrist, as if the motion could calm him.
My soul resided within those beads, granting me a deeper connection to his emotions than before.
But after witnessing his entanglement with Su Ning'an, every touch of his filled me with disgust.
The next day.
Lu Shiyan dressed carefully in a dark suit, pairing it with the tie I had once given him. Carrying the gift for Grandma, he arrived at the Su family home.
His assistant asked tentatively, "President Lu, has Madam returned?"
A chill passed through Lu Shiyan's heart, but his reply was cool. "She must have gone straight to the Su family's old mansion. She cares so much about the old lady—with her illness, Su Wan would definitely visit early."
As for why she hadn't contacted him, it had to be because I was still throwing a tantrum.
The birthday banquet was set for the evening, so the mansion was still empty of guests.
Su Ning'an had been waiting for him since morning. The moment she saw him, she rushed over.
"Brother, you're finally here!"
Taking in his black suit, she pouted. "Brother, why are you wearing black again? It makes you look so old and stuffy. I gave you that custom-made suit last month—why aren't you wearing that one?"
That suit matched the pattern on Su Ning'an's dress—clearly, she had wanted them to look like a couple.
Remembering his father's warning from the night before, Lu Shiyan removed her hand from his arm.
"An'an, you're not a child anymore. Men and women should maintain boundaries to avoid gossip."
Su Ning'an was taken aback by his sudden coldness. Just yesterday, he had been so attentive to her.
"Brother, I just—"
"That's enough. I'm going to see Grandma first."
For once, Lu Shiyan ignored her sulking, walking away briskly without noticing the venomous glare Su Ning'an shot at his back.
He hurried into the courtyard, stopping a servant.
"Has the young lady returned?"
Assuming he meant Su Ning'an, the servant nodded. "The young lady arrived early this morning. Didn't you see her?"
Lu Shiyan's heart leaped with joy. Of course Su Wan wouldn't neglect Grandma, no matter how angry she was.
He quickened his pace toward the inner chambers.