Boss Lu: A reborn life is destined to be without regrets!
Chapter 122 - 107. Stepmom

Chapter 122: 107. Stepmom

On the last day of the National Day holiday, Mr. Lu’s schedule was packed.

The night before, he had given his senior in school a one-on-one explanation of many live-streaming sales techniques. After seeing Fairy Miao’s outstanding comprehension and ability to apply knowledge in new ways, he finally felt relieved.

Early in the morning, he got out of bed, drove his golf car to the front of Building 6, Unit 2, and sent Guan Yongyi a WeChat message.

"I’m here."

"OK, be right there~"

A few minutes later, a short-haired girl with a backpack-style cat carrier appeared at the entrance to the building.

She had arranged with Lu Jincheng to go with him that morning to have Mian Mian vaccinated.

"You didn’t bring an airline-approved carrier?"

Guan Yongyi opened the car door, sat in the passenger seat, took off the cat carrier from her back, cradled it in her arms, adjusted her seat, and buckled her seatbelt.

Lu Jincheng watched her natural movements, and casually asked,

"Short trips aren’t suitable for airline carriers. I looked it up online; the shaking can make little kittens feel insecure," Guan Yongyi turned her head to explain.

Today she wore a solid color long-sleeve sweater and loose, wide-leg denim jeans, her face without a hint of makeup and with familiar black-framed glasses, exuding a youthful vibe.

"Give it here, let me see if Mian Mian has gained weight."

Lu Jincheng took the cat carrier from Guan Yongyi’s hands, bent down, and through the transparent circular window waved at Mian Mian.

The ragdoll cat in the confined space was very well-behaved, curled up and with its big blue eyes spinning around, filled with curiosity about the unknown.

"Let’s go, or we’ll be late for our appointment. We’ll take Mian Mian out at the clinic; you can have a longer look then."

Guan Yongyi looked at her wristwatch.

"Ok, ok, ok."

Lu Jincheng handed back the bag, released the handbrake, and started the car.

"It’s the first time I’ve seen you dressed in such a sporty style."

Since he had known Guan Yongyi, her style had always been extremely sophisticated, sometimes simple and elegant with a retro Hong Kong feel, sometimes with a dashing, neutral British look.

The clothing style was secondary; she also had an air of distinctiveness about her, notable from a distance.

In short, it was all about capturing attention.

"...My lint roller hasn’t arrived yet, so I had to wear this. Other clothes are inconvenient."

Guan Yongyi pursed her lips, lowered her head again to look at the solid-color sweater, and pinched a few cat hairs between her slender fingers.

She cracked open the car window a sliver, released the hairs, which danced away in the wind.

Damn playboy.

Why is he scrutinizing me so closely?

But then, has he always been paying attention to what style of clothes others wear?

"This style suits you too, like a short-haired schoolgirl next door who studies diligently."

Lu Jincheng steered with one hand while resting the other on the car window, his tone casual.

As an expert, finding a conversational entry point at any time and place was a basic skill.

And today, the most natural way in was through her outfit.

The reason was simple.

Anyone who has owned a cat knows that a free-roaming little kitty sheds countless hairs every day.

To maintain the usual level of sophistication, the time and energy spent must increase exponentially.

Starting from this point, finding common ground was an easy way to have a lively conversation with a girl.

"Smooth talker."

Guan Yongyi turned to glance at him, curiosity in her voice, "Didn’t I seem like that before?"

"Before, it was too exquisite. For example, your style of mixing soft and hard textures with contrasting colors, walking next to an 18-year-old guy like me, it looks like..."

Lu Jincheng approached a red light, pressed the brake, and grinned, showing his white teeth.

Contrast is a common technique in Hong Kong style fashion, and Guan Yongyi not only mastered it but also had a wardrobe full of dramatically contrasting colors to mix and match at will.

"Looks like what?"

The short-haired girl leaned forward, looking at him.

Having her dressing habits pointed out piqued her curiosity.

"Like—a young mom."

Lu Jincheng said with a laugh.

"...Oh."

Guan Yongyi took a deep breath, her lips curving slightly downwards, tightly closed into a thin line, her eyes hidden behind her glasses filled with speechlessness.

What nonsense is he talking about!?

Does that mean my clothes aren’t pretty, or that they make me look old?

Or is he just saying whatever comes to mind?

But whether it’s close friends or other people, everyone always says I look good!

Who’s a young mom!

So annoying!

She clenched the seat belt tightly, pursed her lips, stewing in her own irritation for a good ten seconds, realizing the man had no intention of continuing the conversation or explaining.

I just said ’Oh.’ Can’t you tell I’m not pleased?

So, she grew even more irritated and picked up the thread of their conversation, coldly retorting,

"Is that so, then why don’t you call me that?"

"Mom."

Lu Jincheng, without changing his expression, called out on the spot.

A joke, what scene hadn’t Mr. Lu seen before that she could put him on the spot?

What is shame?

Non-existent.

"..."

Guan Yongyi instantly blushed and froze for a few seconds.

Once she recovered, she pinched Lu Jincheng hard, a sulky voice emanating from her side,

"That’s not right, do you have no shame at all!"

"Hehe."

Lu Jincheng laughed, shook his head and turned up the car stereo as a response.

The quips and repartees had their immediate effect, and Guan Yongyi realized he was joking. Her emotions swayed and ebbed away with the incoming breeze.

"In your company, though the road is long, I’m never weary~"

Lu Jincheng’s playlist also included many Cantonese songs, such as this currently playing "Strolling Life’s Road," which happened to be her favorite type.

Neither of them spoke, allowing the upbeat melody to echo through the car.

Guan Yongyi found a comfortable position, leaned back against the leather seat, and squinted her eyes.

"Let the gale blow, let it challenge us both"

"Tiny raindrops scatter with determination as I forge ahead~"

The faint smell of the new car coupled with the fragrance and the cool natural breeze felt like returning to the bamboo mat beds of childhood.

Everything was relaxing.

So, she followed Deng Lijun’s voice and hummed softly.

The song ended, and Guan Yongyi was the one to break the silence, "You actually listen to such old songs, eh."

"I usually don’t, but I played it especially for you."

"Why? You’re not going to tell me it’s because I’m like your mother, are you?"

"Hahaha, so clever—I didn’t know you had it in you."

Lu Jincheng first turned around, nodded, and paused for a moment.

Seeing that Guan Yongyi was about to show a thoroughly unimpressed face again, right before she burst out, he brought the conversation back to a lighter tone and said with a laugh,

"But actually, no. It seems like you’ve been under a lot of work pressure recently, and it suits you to listen to this kind of song, to recharge a bit."

This song, "Strolling Life’s Road", was lively and energetic, with particularly inspiring lyrics—like a fueling station for some when they were down.

Even on a long and winding journey of life, one could find the lightness of bamboo staff and straw sandals outdoing a horse.

"How did you know?"

Guan Yongyi lifted her left hand, brushing the hair at her temples behind her ears, eyes sparkling with a different light.

"That case has been stagnant, and you were just browsing through the case database incessantly. I’m not blind, you know."

Mr. Lu curled his lip.

"Lu Jincheng, you peeked at my phone!"

Guan Yongyi feigned anger, raising her voice, yet her tone carried a hint of cheer.

"I noticed in the rearview mirror; you can’t blame me for that, can you?"

"Hmph."

The short-haired girl fell silent, reaching out to rub her cheeks.

The heat from her palms slowly increased as she tried to control her expression.

"Why are you driving so fast? You should cherish a new car more."

After calming herself down, Guan Yongyi glanced at the dashboard, noticing the little rocket surpassing 100 km/h, and frowned.

She had been there when Zhou Sinin picked up this Golf and obviously knew its origins.

"Women truly are unreasonable. Weren’t you the one rushing to make it to our appointment on time just a moment ago?"

"I don’t care."

The banter between them continued back and forth until they soon arrived at the pet hospital.

...

"Mian Mian has really gained weight, a whole round!"

After arriving at the hospital, Lu Jincheng took the cat carrier and carefully lifted the kitten out, examining her closely.

Over a month old, Mian Mian was right at the stage of growing, and thanks to her mother’s endless doting—plenty of cat food and treats every day—it was clear she had grown larger since they first got her.

The process of registering, taking Mian Mian’s temperature, and subcutaneous vaccination was not complicated.

"Your little kitty is quite healthy and beautiful, come on~"

The doctor, holding the dazed Mian Mian, handed her over to Guan Yongyi, who was eagerly looking on.

"Is yours a show-quality breed?"

"Yes."

Lu Jincheng nodded.

"She’s lovely. Half an hour of observation will do, and remember not to bathe her in the next few days."

The doctor advised.

"Got it, thank you."

Guan Yongyi held Mian Mian close, right hand gently grooming her, listening attentively.

"No problem; young couples like you are best suited for raising purebred cats, with economical means and patience to boot."

The veterinarian said with a smile, standing up and walking out of the observation room, leaving the room in silence.

Little, little couple?

Guan Yongyi looked downward, avoiding the man’s gaze next to her, focusing on the ragdoll cat in her arms, with the doctor’s reference echoing in her mind, her ears burning.

Wait a minute, who’s a couple with him!

Could we really look that alike?

"Hey, did you hear what the doctor just said?"

There was plenty of time left in the half-hour observation period.

Lu Jincheng, with legs crossed, leaned back in his chair playing with his phone nonchalantly, seemingly indifferent as he took a jab at her heart for good measure.

"I didn’t hear."

Guan Yongyi gripped her fingers tightly, still looking down, expressionless.

...

After the observation period ended, they naturally went for lunch together.

Sushi Ran was like the ceiling of urban Japanese restaurants, and the quadruple-digit price per person made many people back off.

"Yes, I’ve received the text. We’re scheduled for the 8th in the morning, right after the holiday ends, the court will convene."

The two chatted while eating, bringing up the counselor’s case again.

"Are you confident?"

"Not really."

Guan Yongyi shook her head, not feeling optimistic.

"I don’t understand; why do you have to resolve it through legal means?"

Lu Jincheng asked.

"Huh?"

Guan Yongyi widened her eyes, thinking she had misheard.

We are law students; if not through legal means, then through what should we resolve issues?

"You’re a law student, too—are you in favor of substantive justice or procedural justice?"

Lu Jincheng posed a classic question.

"..."

Before Guan Yongyi could thoroughly ponder the question, Mr. Lu continued on his own.

"From the counselor’s perspective, the point is to get the divorce over with quickly."

"If the court proceedings are too slow, then find another way to speed things up. Why wait for them?"

"Why not play some out-of-court strategies, force the other party to give way and agree on a compromise. Is it that hard?"

Guan Yongyi didn’t reply.

She blinked thoughtfully, her eyelashes fluttering.