The meeting room on the third floor was transformed into a small tea room.
Lu Jinnan drank a few cups of the winery’s freshly opened wine in the evening, he was washing the tea set with hot water, and wanted to drink a cup of tea to relieve his hangover.
Lu Xiao walked over and said, “Grandpa, I’m here.”
He took the teapot from Lu Jinnan, poured the excess water in it into the tea wash, and put the tea leaves in.
Lu Jinnan let go and watched him busy.
Everyone in the Lu family was restless, and only the old guy sipped tea and gazed at paintings. Lu Jinnan hadn’t been overseas in a long time when Lu Xiao was a child, and he would periodically keep him in the study to drink tea and play chess. Lu Xiao remembered to soak a pot of Dahongpao, poured a cup, and placed it in front of him.
Lu Jinnan seemed to recall the past, and couldn’t help but say with emotion, “The last time you made me tea was when you were in the second grade. Time passed by so quickly.”
He got emotional, stretched out his hand with the palm down, and said, “Come to Grandpa.”
Lu Xiao was sitting face to face with him, but when he heard the words, he walked up to him and sat down.
Lu Jinnan touched his head, his palms are warm and soft, a pair of hands that only those who have been pampered for a long time have.
When Lu Xiao came up to see him just now, surrounded by Lu Yuelin and a group of cousins, Lu Jinnan didn’t show too much enthusiasm. In fact, Lu Xiao can understand his intentions. As the head of the family and a respected elder, he has been keeping the water for so many years, trying his best not to let his sons feel that he favors one over the other.
It was not until the dead of night and the crowd dispersed that he was able to show a moment of tenderness in front of his most beloved grandson.
Lu Jinnan casually asked, “Did you have a good time tonight?”
Lu Xiao nodded, “Very good, my friends also had a good time.”
“Among your friends, there is a child who looks very stable and is worthy of deep friendship.” Lu Jinnan said.
Lu Xiao was stunned: “Which one?”
Lu Jinnan said: “The child who has been with you all the time.”
Lu Xiao realized that he was talking about Ye Cheng, and he was very happy.
He cleared his throat and said, “Grandpa’s vision is always accurate.”
Lu Jinnan took a sip from the tea cup and sighed: “If our Lu family has such a descendant, I don’t have to worry about it every day.”
Lu Xiao remained silent, thinking that he might be a member of our Lu family in the future.
Lu Jinnan said, “How are your grades now? Are you sure you can get into a domestic university? Your mother said you don’t want to go abroad.”
“I will be admitted to university, grandpa.” Lu Xiao stared at him and said.
Lu Jinnan patted his shoulder and looked a little relieved.
“You don’t know, I’m annoyed by these little bastards.” He shook his head and said, “Do you know why your aunt didn’t come today?”
Lu Xiao wondered, “Why?”
Lu Yuelin’s wife is the daughter of a real estate tycoon. She has a pungent and arrogant personality. Whenever she is at a family gathering, there will be quarrels. It’s good not to come.
Lu Jinnan said sadly: “Because your uncle plays around outside, he even got a one-year-old girl now. Your aunt is angry and wants to divorce him. And your third uncle, who does things without thinking and listens to the words of outsiders, last year, he owed more than 200 million yuan.”
Lu Xiao understood now, no wonder the third uncle dared not even come to see Lu Jinnan.
It seems that none of their families can be relied on.
Lu Jinnan said: “You are different from them. Your generation must read more, and you must not fall into the hands of women and enemies. These two bastards will never learn to eat a lot and gain wisdom.”
Lu Xiao didn’t agree, but comforted him: “Grandpa, it’s human nature to make mistakes. The uncle and the third uncle are both old and young, and they will naturally correct it.”
Lu Jinnan couldn’t help but glance at him with a little approval in his eyes.
If he said this in front of the eldest or third child today, those two people would definitely be busy taking credit, and they would stomp on the second child’s whole family. But Lu Xiao’s character seems to be born with the shadow of Lu Jinnan. He knows how to behave in such a big family. Although he usually behaves unruly, he always makes people miss the point.
A long time ago, Lu Jinnan felt that Lu Xiao was very similar to him when he was young, but his words and deeds were too impetuous and needed to be settled and polished. However, when he returned to China this time, the feeling that Lu Xiao gave him was very different from before, as if he had become a lot more responsible.
Lu Jinnan retracted his thoughts and said, “Having said that, but now the most troublesome person is your father. I know you and your father have always had a bad relationship, but as you grow up, you should understand a lot of things. It can’t be measured by emotion.”
His words made Lu Xiao feel vigilant.
Sure enough, he knew that Lu Jinnan would not look for him for no reason.
Lu Jinnan went on to say: “For example, about your parents, your mother has already told me all about it. This is indeed inappropriate for Yaoshan, and I also promised to punish him severely and let him get the punishment he deserves. . But your mother still thinks she can’t forgive, so she plans to divorce him.”
He paused and said, “In your father’s overseas companies, your mother’s holdings are only 4% less than his. Do you understand what that means?”
Lu Xiao’s pupils shrank, he always thought that Meng Li was not involved in anything in the company.
Lu Jinnan said calmly: “This is what I asked you to come over to talk about, Xiao Xiao, what do you think of this matter?”
Lu Xiao’s head gradually became clearer, and he roughly understood Lu Jinnan’s purpose.
He went around and said a lot, but in fact, he was not willing to divorce Meng Li and Lu Yaoshan, which was of the same nature as his uncle and aunt’s divorce. It is no longer a matter of personal marriage, but involves various interests of both parties.
Not to mention how much property Lu Yaoshan will be divided in this divorce, in case Meng Li wants to take revenge on him, although it won’t cause much trouble, it will be enough to worry him for a while.
Lu Xiao knew what kind of answer Lu Jinnan wanted to hear, and also knew that as long as he got the answer, he could go to Meng Li to negotiate. No wonder Meng Li’s face was so ugly just now, and he would say such words when he sent him over. In the end, she still felt that she owed Lu Xiao too much, and in order not to let him get involved, she was even willing to exchange her own happiness.
Lu Xiao frowned and looked at the half cup of tea thoughtfully.
Lu Jinnan didn’t urge him, just looked at him quietly.
The wall clock ticked, and the tea room fell silent.
In the end, Lu Xiao’s clenched fist slowly loosened, and he said in a deep voice, “I support their divorce.”
When the words fell, he clearly saw the chill in Lu Jinnan’s eyes.
Lu Xiao didn’t avoid his gaze, looked him in the eye and said, “However, I also know my surname is Lu.”
Lu Jinnan’s eyes flashed, and he squinted his eyes to examine him.
Lu Xiao said calmly: “Grandpa, you haven’t lived with my parents for a long time, maybe you don’t know my mother that well. She lived too depressing a few years ago, and now she has nothing else to do but find a way out. It will not have any impact on the Lu family. As long as the news about the divorce is not made public, the stock price will not fluctuate too much, and it is naturally difficult for shareholders to have any objections.”
“So, are you willing to follow your mother?” Lu Jinnan’s expression softened, and he snorted from his nose.
But Lu Xiao shook his head and said, “I said, I know what my surname is. If you can give me a chance, then I will never be like my father and never let you down.”
The last sentence made Lu Jinnan look at him carefully again. Lu Xiao let those extremely oppressive eyes stare at him, without giving in or being timid.
The two looked at each other for a few minutes, and Lu Jinnan suddenly laughed.
At first it was a slight smile, and then it became louder and louder, and even his shoulders were shaking.
“You really belong to my Lu family,” Lu Jinnan looked at him with a complicated face, “you know, your father said the exact same thing to me more than ten years ago. Then, I handed over the company in California to him.”
Most of Lu’s overseas properties are in California. How unpopular Lu Yaoshan was in the past, how much he is envied ten years later.
The face of the young man in front of him was full of progress, just like Lu Yaoshan at that time.
He took a step forward and stepped into the vortex that he should have entered after many years. And he didn’t show the slightest flinch, knowing the consequences.
For the first time, Lu Jinnan thought that maybe he underestimated the child’s feelings for his mother, and underestimated his mind that was much higher than his peers. Beneath his irritable exterior is a calm heart.
Lu Jinnan rubbed his brows and said, “Okay, you can go back to rest first. I will consider this matter again.”
Lu Xiao didn’t try any further, got up and said goodnight to him, opened the door and walked out.
The wall lamp in the corridor was dazzling with dim yellow light. He took two steps and saw Meng Li standing at the corner.
Meng Li didn’t give him any time, she hugged him and let out a small cry.
Lu Xiao realized that she should have heard their conversation outside the door.
He glanced at the camera above, but still didn’t push Meng Li away, silently letting her vent.
This reminded him of when Meng Li came to the cinema to pick him up many years ago. At that time, she hugged him and cried like this, but now he is much taller than her, enough to hold her in his arms to prevent her from being wronged any more.
The little boy who could only fight and cause trouble grew into a big tree that she could rely on.
At the end of the dim corridor, Lu Xiao saw Ye Cheng standing under the light and shadow.
Ten minutes later, the two sat side by side by the pool.
It was late at night, and the laughter of a few hours ago were all gone, leaving only sporadic cat meowing and insect chirping.
The night sky is like a black velvet blanket, dotted with bright stars.
One, two, three…
As if you can reach out and pick it up.
After Ye Cheng heard Lu Xiao’s words, he was quiet for a while.
He felt in a trance that his rebirth was like touching the butterfly effect, changing the direction of so many things unknowingly. Therefore, Lu Xiao contacted these five or six years earlier, to bear the burden that should not have been shouldered at his age.
He said: “I think your grandfather is right. According to your idea of taking over the company, studying abroad is indeed more suitable for you.”
When he said this, he thought he should be rational. Because of Lu Xiao’s grades, it is better to study management abroad than to study for an undergraduate degree in China. But when he really said it, a burst of reluctance surged in his heart uncontrollably.
If he really wants to go abroad, how many times can they meet each year?
Just imagining not seeing him for a week, Ye Cheng felt like he was about to suffocate.
Lu Xiao suddenly became unhappy, twisted his arm, and said angrily, “Do you want me to get mad at you? Do you know how much effort I have done to study with you? I don’t want to go abroad.”
After he finished speaking, he turned his head and used the back of his head to face Ye Cheng like a child.
Ye Cheng unexpectedly breathed a sigh of relief, tugged at his sleeve and said, “Okay, I see.”
“You don’t know,” Lu Xiao turned back, with a trace of grievance in his dark eyes, “You don’t know how much I like you.”
He held Ye Cheng’s hand with his backhand, bowed his head with dignity, and placed a kiss on the back of his hand.
“Ah Cheng, I think I fell in love with you the first time I saw you.”
That year, the Baize Lake was breezy, and the little boy was sunburnt, like a lump of charcoal.
“Why are you sitting here all the time?”
“Hey, I’m talking to you.”
“Don’t cry, little sister, you won’t be pretty if you cry again. Here, this is for you.”
That summer was the beginning of all love.