Chapter 26
During the weekend, Xue Wensong hadn’t gone to the office for the past few days, choosing to stay at home with Lin Lu.
He was handling emails on his laptop while Lin Lu lay on the sofa, giggling at something on his phone. Xue Wensong took the phone away and asked, “What’s so funny?”
“Looking at Weibo,” Lin Lu sat up and knelt beside Xue Wensong. “Those Weibo influencers have all posted apology letters.”
“They still need to compensate for the damage,” Xue Wensong glanced casually and put down the phone. Then he wrapped his arm around Lin Lu’s waist and asked, “Feeling better?”
Lin Lu nodded, blushing as he looked at Xue Wensong.
Seeing that Lin Lu wanted to say something, Xue Wensong put the laptop aside and placed his other hand on Lin Lu’s waist, asking, “What is it?”
“It’s just…” Lin Lu looked straight into Xue Wensong’s face. “You look really handsome with glasses.”
Xue Wensong smirked, then pulled Lin Lu into his arms with a firm grip, silencing his enticing lips. Amidst their intertwined lips, he asked, “Really better?”
“Huh?” Lin Lu’s eyes were clouded with confusion.
“The wounds on your body,” Xue Wensong clarified.
For the past few days, Xue Wensong had been applying medicine to Lin Lu’s wounds, so he knew better than Lin Lu about the condition downstairs. His question was implying something else.
Lin Lu, who was already quite astute, understood the implication. He wrapped his arms around Xue Wensong’s neck, leaned in, and whispered in his ear, “All better.”
The next moment, Xue Wensong lifted Lin Lu up and smirked, “Let’s go to bed.”
Lin Lu felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. However, just as he was about to respond, the sound of the keypad lock interrupted. Lin Lu froze, unaware that anyone else besides him and Xue Wensong knew the passcode to this room.
Before he could think further, the door opened, revealing an elegant middle-aged woman in a burgundy dress. Beside her stood a young man in a suit, carrying bags of items.
Seeing the two, the woman smiled in a way that couldn’t be described. “Oh my, it seems I’ve arrived at an inconvenient time.”
Lin Lu quickly got off Xue Wensong and was about to ask who she was when Xue Wensong lazily called out, “Mom.”
Lin Lu was immediately startled, rooted to the spot. He stammered, “H-Hello, Auntie.”
“Auntie?” Huang Shan raised an eyebrow. Lin Lu then realized the resemblance between the woman and Xue Wensong. She continued, “Or should I, according to local customs, ask for a name-change fee?”
“Huh?” Lin Lu looked at Xue Wensong in confusion.
“Of course, you should,” Xue Wensong said matter-of-factly. Then he placed his hand on Lin Lu’s waist and said, “Call her Mom.”
Mom?
Lin Lu finally realized that his relationship with Xue Wensong wasn’t just a simple romantic one. It was only at this moment that he truly felt the weight of this marriage.
He swallowed nervously, hesitated for a moment, and then tried to say something, but no sound came out.
Xue Wensong understood that Lin Lu was shy, considering how long it took him to even say “husband.” Naturally, he wouldn’t force him. Just as he was about to help Lin Lu out, he heard Lin Lu whisper softly, “…Mom.”
Xue Wensong couldn’t help but smirk.
“Ah, so obedient,” Huang Shan walked over and ruffled Lin Lu’s hair impatiently. Then she turned to her assistant and said, “Bring the stuff over.”
She stuffed all the items from her hands into Lin Lu’s, saying, “I didn’t know what you liked, so I bought you some clothes. And I heard you’re still studying, so I got you a computer. Take a look and see if you like them.”
“N-No need to spend so much,” Lin Lu panicked, trying to push the items back, but Xue Wensong held him back. “Just accept it, no need to worry about expenses.”
Lin Lu obediently placed the items on the coffee table and then went to the kitchen to prepare tea for Huang Shan and her young assistant. He asked, “Um… Mom, what would you like for lunch? I can cook.”
“Little Lu knows how to cook?” Huang Shan asked with a smile, suggesting a few simple home-cooked dishes.
“Alright, I’ll go to the supermarket first,” Lin Lu said after greeting them, then put on his coat and left.
As soon as the door closed, Huang Shan’s smile disappeared, replaced by a stern expression. She placed her teacup on the table, making a clear, crisp sound.
The assistant, though appearing calm on the surface, was trembling inside. He knew his boss’s anger was reaching its peak.
“What exactly is this Qin Ge Group? How dare they use my adorable daughter-in-law to mess with my son?”
“Hmm,” Xue Wensong replied expressionlessly. “I underestimated their shamelessness.”
“And you,” Huang Shan said disapprovingly, “getting married and not telling your family?”
“I was planning to bring him back for Chinese New Year.”
Hearing this, Huang Shan softened a bit. Xue Wensong hadn’t been home for many years. She said, “Let me handle this. You don’t need to worry about it. Just spend time with Little Lu.”
“No, I want to handle it too,” Xue Wensong said with a serious face. “Just being reprimanded isn’t enough. They need to know why they were reprimanded.”
Huang Shan found it surprising. “Are you planning to publicly acknowledge your relationship with the family?”
“…There’s no harm in it,” Xue Wensong replied nonchalantly.
Huang Shan smiled mysteriously, making Xue Wensong’s back tingle. She asked, “What’s wrong?”
“It seems you really like your little daughter-in-law,” Huang Shan sighed with satisfaction. “I’ve been trying to persuade you for so many years, and now you’re volunteering.”
“That’s because,” Xue Wensong paused, “now I have someone I want to protect.”
After lunch, Huang Shan left with her assistant. Lin Lu wanted to accompany them to the parking lot downstairs, but both Xue Wensong and Huang Shan insisted he didn’t need to. So, he only escorted his new mother-in-law to the elevator.
When he returned to the room, Xue Wensong was on the phone by the French windows. Lin Lu listened in for a while and realized Xue Wensong was talking to Qin Chuan, and the conversation was related to AT Entertainment.
After waiting for a while, Xue Wensong hung up the phone. Lin Lu quietly approached him from behind and wrapped his arms around Xue Wensong’s waist, asking, “What were you talking about?”
“Work stuff,” Xue Wensong turned around and hugged Lin Lu, pecking his lips. However, he noticed Lin Lu frowning and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Lin Lu pouted unhappily. “Why don’t you ever tell me about work stuff in detail?”
Xue Wensong ruffled Lin Lu’s hair. “You’re still young.”
Translation: You wouldn’t understand even if I did.
“I’m not that young anymore,” Lin Lu gently removed Xue Wensong’s hand from around him. “You never tell me about the social events you attend. If Qin Chuan hadn’t called me last time…”
“Darling,” Xue Wensong interrupted, “I just don’t want to bother you with work.”
“How could that be?” Lin Lu shook his head. “I don’t want a repeat of last time. From now on, wherever you go and whatever you do, you need to tell me.”
“How about I tell you all my bank card passwords too?” Xue Wensong chuckled. “My little stewardess.”
“That’s not necessary,” Lin Lu blushed. “I just want to understand more about what you’re doing…”
Xue Wensong kissed Lin Lu’s nose affectionately and said indulgently, “Alright, I’ll tell you everything.”
They sat down on the sofa, and Xue Wensong slowly began, “I contacted Qin Chuan to thank him and discuss matters regarding AT Entertainment.”
Curious, Lin Lu asked, “What’s wrong with AT Entertainment?”
“I asked if he’s willing to take over,” Xue Wensong said. “If he isn’t, I’ll find someone else to manage it, but he’s willing to take it over.”
Lin Lu found it puzzling. “Isn’t AT Entertainment his father’s company?”
“Yeah,” Xue Wensong nodded. “But I found evidence of his father’s tax evasion and reported it to the authorities. His father can only retire early now.”
Lin Lu’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected Xue Wensong to make such a big move while he was recuperating. He asked, “Will his father go to jail?”
“Since it’s his first offense, as long as he pays the taxes, fines, and penalties, he won’t face criminal charges,” Xue Wensong smirked. “But that’s still quite a sum of money.”
Lin Lu nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly felt curious. “Won’t Qin Chuan be angry that you went after his father?”
“He’s eager for his father to retire early,” Xue Wensong said with a light laugh. “And it’s not just his father.”
Lin Lu was puzzled. “Huh?”
“Do you know what your mom is doing right now?” Xue Wensong raised an eyebrow mysteriously.
“She said something about an auction just now…”
“Yes, guess what she’s bidding on?”
Lin Lu tilted his head, thinking. “Artwork?”
Xue Wensong chuckled. He knew Lin Lu had a simple mind, so he hadn’t told him many things. If you put Qin Ge and auction together, anyone slightly smarter would have already guessed it. Still, he patiently explained, “The Qin Ge Group’s recent major project is to establish a large financial center in the newly planned D-E Economic Zone, which includes a shopping center, residential area, office buildings, and high-end hotels. They’ve been preparing for this project for a long time, and they’re even soliciting investment.”
“Then what?” Lin Lu asked dazedly.
“To develop such a project, there’s a prerequisite, which is also the reason they’ve been raising funds,” Xue Wensong paused here, hoping Lin Lu would figure it out on his own. But seeing Lin Lu’s obvious confusion, he continued, “That is to secure the land first.”
Lin Lu suddenly realized, “Is Mom attending the auction for that piece of land?”
Xue Wensong didn’t answer directly; he just smirked, and Lin Lu immediately understood that it was a confirmation.
After a moment of bewilderment, Lin Lu finally grasped it but still found it strange, “But why does Mom want to bid for it?”
Xue Wensong didn’t immediately understand Lin Lu’s question and just made a puzzled “Huh?”
“Is she trying to cause trouble?” Lin Lu asked seriously. “Even if she disrupts the auction today, won’t they just reschedule it for another day?”
“…,” Xue Wensong sighed, realizing he had to follow Lin Lu’s train of thought.
“So, you think Mom’s going to cause trouble?”
“Otherwise?” Lin Lu tilted his head. “Or is she intentionally bidding to drive up the price?”
“…,” Xue Wensong sighed again, resignedly saying, “She’s going to secure that piece of land.”
“Huh?” Lin Lu’s mouth hung open, unable to process it for a while. “Does she… does she have money? It’s the Qin Ge Group, after all.”
Xue Wensong smirked, “Wait and watch the financial news tonight.”
