Chapter 197 - Do I like You?

"So please, can you wait for me?"

Xiong Zhi turned serious too. She was prepared to wait for him. She was a mature twenty-three years old inside. She knew they were too young to focus on love. They were still many things in their way. To truly have a good ending, they need to smoothen their paths and took care of the hindrances. Xiong Zhi understood it.

She smiled sincerely. She had never been this happy before. Linfeng finally considered her to the future he wanted to take.

"Of course. I already planned to wait for you after all."

Thump.

Thump.

Two hearts were beating loudly and strongly. It was unlike the hearts in the past were both of them were waning and dying.

Xiong Zhi gripped on Linfeng's hand tighter.

'I already promised to myself that I will never let go of this hand. '

Linfeng gripped her hand too.

'I should not let her wait for long. She will..understand it.'

Linfeng was more confident to the path that he would take.

The sun arrives as the sleep finally kicked in towards the two.

********

However, as the two talked their hearts out, in different places, discussion about their desires were brought out too.

After the play, Lu Yin Ze went directly to Lu Mansion with Master Lu. Of course, on the way, all kinds of praises were said by Master Lu.

On the car,

"I know my grandson is multi-talented. If you want to enter Hollywood I can support you." Master Lu once again brought out this offer to Lu Yin Ze.

Lu Yin Ze just smiled to his grandfather.

"I am not really cut out for acting. I will just study business and help to grow the Lu Empire."

Master Lu happily patted Lu Yin Ze's shoulder.

"My grandson had grown up. In any case, I'm still alive. Do what you want while I can still manage the Lu empire. I will wholeheartedly support you."

Lu Yin Ze looked at his grandfather with gratitude.

"Thank you, grandfather. "

Then he added.

"You are spoiling me too much. I might turn to a spoiled brat." He joked.

Master Lu just waved.

"That's what I'm doing. I am spoiling my grandchild who I did not pamper for eight years. So, child, anything you want would be given to you by this grandad of yours. "

Lu Yin Ze looked gratefully at his grandfather. He really felt loved when he was with Master Lu.

"Is there anything you want?" Master Lu probed.

Lu Yin Ze pretended he was thinking.

"Hmm..there is maybe."

"Oh. What is it?" Master Lu was like I child waiting for an answer to his mystery.

Lu Yin Ze smiled.

"You can guess it grandpa."

"Oh? We are playing games now?"

Lu Yin Ze smiled.

"Hmm. A villa?"

"We have many villas grandpa."

"Hmm. A business?"

"I have still the Lu Empire to study and manage. I can't do any business now."

"Then, a toy? A very expensive one?" Master Lu wasn't really sure.

Lu Yin Ze laughed.

"I'm not into toys."

"Hmm. It's a bit hard. You don't have any hobbies. Oh! Reading! Do you want to have a face-to-face meeting with your favorite authors?"

Lu Yin Ze shook his head.

"Nope. I only read because I don't have a choice."

Master Lu suddenly realized something.

Lu Yin Ze had been locked up for eight years. He had nothing to do in that four walls but just to recover and to pass time.

He don't have any habits. His only wish was to be freed from that place. Master Lu desires to spoil Lu Yin Ze got stronger.

"Then child, tell me what you want. I am getting older so my ideas had died out."

Lu Yin Ze smiled at Master Lu.

"Actually, I have so many things I want. But now I only want those I treasure and those who treasure me to be happy. We have been blessed to live in such a place with no war after all."

Lu Yin Ze had been affected a lot by the play. Especially he had been playing as Ethan. He came to understand Ethan's thoughts and feelings. Those huge responsibilities on Ethan's back suffocated Ethan. He had done such a decision that he regretted until he died. It was tragic. Lu Yin Ze had a thought that he would continue to treasure those around him that took care of him and loved him.

"Grandpa, I wish to visit mom." Lu Yin Ze's eyes were determined.

Master Lu was stunned.

He had never pressed Lu Yin Ze to visit his daughter's grave. As he was afraid that Lu Yin Ze would be pained.

Since the day his daughter died, the two grandsons of his never visits her once.

This put a lot of ache in Master Lu's heart. Because he knew that his daughter would like to see her children.

Master Lu observed Lu Yin Ze intently. He was not shaking or crying. He was stable.

"Alright. Whenever your ready, tell me." Master Lu consented.

"Thanks, grandpa. Thanks a lot." Lu Yin Ze really meant those words. He would never be at this peaceful, smiling, and participating in the play without his grandfather.

"So that's it? Anything you want to add?" Master Lu returned to spoiling him.

Lu Yin Ze smiled.

"For now, that is."

Master Lu was still not giving up. That's one wish was not enough. His grandson needs to be spoiled.

Suddenly, he got an idea

"Oh! How about women?"

Lu Yin Ze was stunned.

"I'm not into women, grandpa."

"You're into boys then? That man who acted as Ser Francis is a fine man. But he is on a smaller side."

"Grandpa! What are you thinking?!"

The car already arrived at Lu mansion.

Master Lu was supported by the butler as they walked to the Lu Mansion entrance.

Master Lu was laughing.

"Ha!Ha!Ha! I thought your not into women?"

"That's not what I mean. I am not yet ready to be in a relationship." Lu Yin Ze had no choice but to answer.

"Oh. " Master Lu stopped walking when they were in the living room.

"So then, when you are ready? Don't worry. If you like someone, even that girl from the Xiong family, I promise I will pull all strings to let you have her."

Lu Yin Ze was stunned.

"Grandpa! Xiong Zhi is just my friend. Besides, you should not do that grandpa. It would make people hate you."

"Ho.ho.ho." Master Lu raised his eyebrow. He would be hated?

"Fine though. But grandson, if you like her, don't hesitate. I am full support."

Lu Yin Ze sighed.

He hugged his grandpa to bid good night.

"We are just friends really."

"Grandson."

Lu Yin Ze looked at his grandfather who suddenly used a serious tone.

"Do you like her?" Master Lu had watched the play. Lu Yin Ze was not a professional actor. But when he played as Ethan, he could acted out the emotions properly. Including those eyes of deep admiration and the feelings of confusion.

His grandson had not known anything aside from 'that' place. So how could he pull out those emotions? Master Lu had gone through such an experience after all. He could somehow guess what his grandson truly felt. But he tested Lu Yin Ze once again.

Lu Yin Ze was stunned. What this question? It came out of nowhere.

"I..." ' I don't like her' These words were the words he should say to stop his grandfather from having thoughts to barge in Xiong mansion and asked for Xiong Zhi's hands.

But he couldn't say it.

"I..like her as a friend." So he chose to say this instead. It was the truth.

Master Lu looked at his grandson.

Then he sighed. If his grandson was really adamant to protect his friend from him, then it must probably more than the 'like' that his grandson was talking about.

But he let it passed.

"Alright. I won't do anything, I promise. But little Yin, do you know how I manage to win your grandma?"

Master Lu looked from the direction of the garden of Lu, where mostly blue roses where planted.

"Actually, your grandma is already in love with someone else."

Lu Yin Ze was stunned. This was the first time he was hearing this story.

Master Lu's eyes were a bit far.

"But in the end, that person chose his path than your grandma. I was just a second man. I am never her first. So I've only had a small chance to be with her."

Master Lu closed his eyes. The memories of the past were bitter and sweet.

"So if you want to know how I manage to win your grandma's hand. Talk to me. Your grandpa is the best man to advise you. "

Master Lu bid goodnight to the still stunned Lu Yin Ze.

His grandpa had never been the first man? There was actually a story like that between grandpa and grandma?

Lu Yin Ze walked to his room. He changed clothes and dropped his body to his bed. His mind was still running about the high success of their play. It was very enjoyable to participate in the play. What's more enjoyable was the experience and the fun after the play. They celebrate all together, tell stories to one another, and laughed at each other.

Lu Yin Ze smiled. He really enjoyed this day. He would never forget this day. The feeling of accomplishment was still surging on his body.

He turned sideways and saw a frame. It was the big picture that Song Xuantin gifted him.

He stood up and uncover the frame.

Because he was afraid that someone might saw the picture, he put it into his room beside his bedside then cover it with a cloth.

As soon as the picture was revealed. Lu Yin Ze's eyes laughed.

It was funny to see it for a second time. Like he was seeing it for the first time. He could clearly see the looks of others in the table to them. He could see clearly and understand the meaning behind those slowly smirk that was coming out of Gu Zhen's mouth. He smiled at Song Xuantin whose face was showing a serious expression as she was trying hard to solve a problem. He stopped for a while and took his time to study Xiong Zhi's subtle expression of blissful. Then he saw his....

His expression that was looking towards the girl opposite of him.

His expression...

Lu Yin Ze touched the painting. He was actually trying to touch someone's face.

It was Xiong Zhi.

Lu Yin Ze's expression was the same as his expression in the painting.

"Do...I really like you?"

Lu Yin Ze had come to understand a certain feeling. A feeling that he wanted to dive deeper but afraid to touch it.