Tall windows were opened allowing the cool wind and sunset's light to enter the Lu Mansion.
The big fireplace was lit providing warmth for the persons who were in the enormous dining area.
Lu Yin Ze was having dinner with Old Lu.
Since Lu Yin Ze was in the hospital, Old Lu did not have a chance to visit this grandson of his. Now Lu Yin Ze was on his side, Old Lu took all the chances to always be in his grandson side. He wanted to make up for the lost time. His grandson's mother was gone. His older brother and father were still around but they are worse than dead.
Only he, Old Lu, was the person that his grandson could rely on.
As much as he has life left on him, he wanted to accompany this lonely child.
"My grandchild, how's school?"
Lu Yin Ze was not blind to his Old man's effort for him. Even though the Old Man always asked this every day at dinner, he was not annoyed. He was feeling grateful for it.
"It's better. One of my friends who always talks a lot was surprisingly busy today. My ears do not hurt. " Lu Yin Ze happily told his story for today. He was not the type of person who talked a lot. He was actually wanted to keep everything on himself.
But he likes to tell the story to his grandfather. It was to put him at ease and to make him happy.
As he expected, Old Lu laughed.
"Ha. Ha. Ha. A young lady but talk like an old woman haha!"
The old woman at the moment sneeze.
"Are you okay?" Gu Zhen on the other line heard Song Xuantin's sneeze.
Song Xuantin just laughed it off.
"Someone is probably talking about me. You know, my face can't be easily forgotten-." Song Xuantin quickly shut her mouth.
Shit. She talked too much. Being silent for days made her mouth wants to talk. It's okay if what's coming out of her mouth was useful things. But it was all about nonsense. She can't do that with Gu Zhen.
She should call Xiong Zhi and vent out later.
"Right. I'm done copying the codes." Song Xuantin diverted the topic over.
****
Lu Yin Ze just smiled. He thinks that old women have better mouths than Song Xuantin has.
"Oh. How about your Xiong friend?"
Lu Yin Ze smiled at the mention of Xiong Zhi.
"I gave her the food that you chose, grandfather. She loves it."
"Ha. Ha! Of course, the Lu's gifts must be extravagant. "
Lu Yin Ze shook his head while still have that small smile.
"It's not a gift. I just want to share my food."
Old Lu laughed. He thought that his grandson was just shy.
"Did you already invited them? You should still give out invitations. "
Lu Yin Ze halted for a moment. Then continued eating. After properly chewing the food, he answered.
"I haven't invited them. I think they would not be free for this weekend. They are very busy."
Old Lu was not happy with this. It was his grandson's first time celebrating his birthday outside the hospital.
"Why can't come? Even I'm not close with the tiger Xiong, he would still let his granddaughter attend your party. Are they thinking I'm too old and should not be taken lightly?" Old Lu was like a sleeping lion in the business industry. He was on top of the chain. Even he had been silent in these past years, it does not mean that he was a pushover. Even those 'legendary families' still need to curry favor for him.
And right now, this sleeping Lion's bottom line was his youngest grandson.
Old Lu was thinking that he would visit Old Xiong one of these days.
Lu Yin Ze was stunned.
"Grandfather, I haven't properly asked them. I'm just preparing for the worst in case they can't come." Lu Yin Ze said this to ease Old Lu's worries.
"Besides, I want to invite them as my friends. I'll handle this matter personally." Lu Yin Ze wanted to clearly tell Old Lu to not do anything rash. His grandfather was so imposing. He understands that the intention was good, but things might be misunderstood by other people.
Old Lu understands what his grandson meant. Even though, they only live together for months. Old Lu understands him well because Lu Yin Ze has the same attitude as his daughter.
"Fine. Young ones should handle matters for young ones. I won't interfere. But if you need help, especially how to deal with the Xiong, ask me. We are not afraid of Xiong."
Old Lu said with an imposing manner.
Lu Yin Ze give a helpless smile.
'She is not a rival, grandfather, but a friend. A friend.'
He wanted to tell him that but he remain silent. His grandfather wants to have the last say in every convo.
Suddenly he remembered that matter about Xiong Zhi's favor earlier.
'Right. I forgot to ask her more about it.'
He looked to his grandfather and asked.
"By the way, father. Did we acquire a big land recently?"
Old Lu wipes his oily lips with a napkin.
"A big land? We are buying lands every time and everywhere. They are all big."
Lu Yin Ze expected this. So asked more.
"How about the land that related to Xiong?"
Old Lu shook his head.
"We don't buy land from Xiongs. Nor fight for land with them."
Lu Yin Ze just furrowed his brows.
Xiong Zhi asked him earlier if he knew a land that Lu's acquired recently. If it's something Xiong Zhi knew, it was somehow related to Xiong. Or that land was a big controversy that even a young miss of Xiong took note of it.
Or maybe Xiong Zhi was mistaken that they acquired the land?
It seems like he needs to search more.
Lu Yin Ze was about to ask Old Lu if he could visit the company when Old Lu suddenly spoke.
"But if you're talking about the land we purchased under our name but we don't own, we have those. There is a land that your brother purchased recently under our name but belong solely to him. I think that land was supposed to be bought by Xiong. But they back out. Surely, your brother knows how to exploit one's owns fully. Tsk. Tsk. Like father, like son."
Lu Yin Ze suddenly turned silent. Just a mention of his brother and father made him grip the spoon and fork tightly. Strong emotions and unpleasant memories started to stir within him. It's been a month already. But the suffocation and lingering fear were still fresh in his heart.
Old Lu knew he messed up. He noticed that Lu Yin Ze stopped eating and his lively personality was gone. It changed to gloominess. Old Lu wanted to smack his mouth for being unruly. His youngest grandson was still on trauma.
"I-I ordered something from Britain. It is a high-quality fish ch.i.p.s. You can share it with your friends." Old Lu was fl.u.s.tered. He wanted to get off the subject and return the peaceful atmosphere from before.
"Mmm." Lu Yin Ze just nod. But he did not touch the food anymore. He was completely a different boy from earlier.
Old Lu sighed. He wasn't in the mood to finish the dinner either.
He stands up.
"I'm done eating. You should rest. Just give a call to Butler Ding if you need anything."
Lu Yin Ze stands up as well. His silver hair was hiding his expression.
He bowed to his grandfather.
"Have a good rest as well grandfather."
Old Lu used his walking stick to left the dining hall. Lu Yin Ze was about to assist him. But Old Lu just waved at him to nevermind him and rest. He just called another butler to help him to his room.
Old Lu knew that his youngest grandson suffered a lot. During the first week, Lu Yin Ze got a fever. Old Lu was so worried that he invited all kinds of prestigious doctors he trusts to check on Lu Yin Ze's health. He doesn't trust that hospital that kept him imprisoned for years.
With the help of the modern high tech medical tools and top doctors, the result came out quickly in three days. The doctors told him that they found an unusual drug in his blood. It's not poisonous but it weakens the body's immune system and made his blood lose platelets. They also found another component that seems to react with that drug. But it was too little. It has acidic properties that could destroy the body's organs. Since with that drug combined, it cancels out this little component in his body. This was the first time that they learned of this component. But they suspect it was dangerous and probably poisonous.
It will take the time to identify this little component and the drug.
Not only that, one of the prestigious psychiatrist mentioned that Lu Yin Ze probably suffered from the severe post-traumatic stress disorder. Since he was in a fever, he was shivering non-stop and hallucinating. PTSD can be cured easily with proper care and time. But to be left it untreated for a long period of time it will be difficult to cure. It's a surprise that Lu Yin Ze can still have a sound mind after being locked up for a decade. Mostly, the people who suffered, in this case, were suicidal and was driven to craziness.