The Byoukidere Is Her Sweetie
Chapter 309: 309: Just Want to Show Off My Love Series: Lu Sheng Chasing Husband (First Update)

Chapter 309: 309: Just Want to Show Off My Love Series: Lu Sheng Chasing Husband (First Update)

Between conversations, Luo Changfang came over.

“Mother, the people from the Lu family have arrived.”

Aside from having conflicts with the Jiang family, the Lu family had some business dealings with both the Xue and Qiao families, with relationships that were neither good nor bad.

The Lu family arrived with four people, with the grandma leading the way, and her daughter-in-law Yao Bixi following with her children.

Nan Qiunan and Beijiu Ru, the two elderly madams, hadn’t appeared at the same event for a long time, as if they had an agreement; whenever Xu Jiuru was present, Lin Qiunan would not be, and vice versa.

“Jiuru.”

Lin Qiunan stepped forward, “It’s been a while since we last met.”

Decades ago, they were good friends.

One was raised in a small southern town, the other a northern girl, Xu Jiuru came from a scholarly family, while Lin Qiunan’s father was known as the father of the steel industry. One soft, one tough, yet these two got along just fine.

Decades had passed, and times had changed.

“You, being so important, are so busy, how could I possibly see you?” Xu Jiuru spoke casually and familiarly, as if catching up with an old friend, “Unlike me, an old lady who spends her days gardening and brewing tea, almost so idle that it’s making me ill.”

Unlike Xu Jiuru, who was elegantly and expensively dressed, Lin Qiunan looked much plainer, but her demeanor and speech betrayed a high-status confidence and ease.

“Don’t be unaware of the blessing you’re in. I would also like to garden and brew tea, but my Xinglan sleeps all day long, and even if I don’t want to toil, I must.”

Suddenly, the conversation turned to Lu Xinglan, who yawned, struggling to keep his eyes open.

The Lu family’s eldest grandson had a peculiar disease where he slept excessively, which was well-known. Rarely awake, there weren’t many in the Imperial City who had seen him in person.

Lu Xinglan bore some resemblance to his deceased grandfather, possessing a striking and refined appearance, similar in style to the Imperial City’s most beautiful woman, Jiang Zhi.

“There’s also Shengsheng,” the topic shifted to Lu Sheng, with Xu Jiuru’s face breaking into a smile, “Chairman An from Zhongwei just praised her at my place yesterday. He said that for the construction project in Wen City, none of our families were a match, but Shengsheng took a trip to Wen City and secured it.” She looked toward Lu Sheng, speaking with a warm and tender voice, filled with affection, “Shengsheng, tell Grandma Jiang, what tactics did you use to seal the deal in one visit?”

Feigning ignorance.

Lu Sheng replied openly, “Underhanded tactics.”

Xu Jiuru laughed, “No businessman is not scheming.” She looked at Lin Qiunan, praising, “Qiunan, your Shengsheng has a real knack for business.”

Was this praise, or was it a backhanded compliment?

Lin Qiunan responded, “She still has a long way to go compared to your Lin and Li.”

Everyone knew these two did not get along.

Both looked like they could shoot fire from their eyes, yet they could still chat and joke; both were sly old foxes.

Chen Huiling realized it was nearly time, “The engagement banquet is about to begin, the two Old Madams should take their seats first.”

Members from the Four Great Families sat together at the banquet; this time, Mr. Qiao from the Qiao family, Qiao Hongzhou, took the seat of honor as he was the oldest. Next was the host, Xue Maoshan; Xu Jiuru and Lin Qiunan were seated side by side.

During the meal, Qiao Hongzhou casually asked, “Shengsheng, you must be over twenty this year?”

Lu Sheng replied, “Grandpa Qiao, I’m twenty-three.”

“Have you got a boyfriend?”

Mr. Qiao was quite traditionalist, rarely one to joke or laugh; it was unusual for him to inquire about personal matters of the younger generation.

Lu Sheng hesitated, then her mother Yao Bixi spoke for her, “Not yet; I don’t know what she busies herself with all the time. Such a grown person and not a single prospect in sight.”

The way she said it made it sound almost like a matrimonial advertisement.

Dissatisfied, Lu Sheng placed her hand under the table and tugged at Yao Bixi’s clothes.

“Young people are all like this; it’s the same with my Nanchu.” Why suddenly mention Qiao Nanchu… Ah, it was leading to match-making, “Shengsheng, what do you think of Nanchu?”

Lu Sheng: “…”

Qiao Nanchu: “…”

Xu Jiuru’s expression changed slightly.

Everyone knew that the Jiang and Lu families were at odds. What exactly was Mr. Qiao implying by playing matchmaker?

Honestly speaking, Lu Sheng actually wasn’t very familiar with Qiao Nanchu. Because of the discord between the Jiang and Lu families, and since Qiao Nanchu was close with Jiang Zhi, there wasn’t much private interaction between the younger generations of the Lu family with the Qiao and Xue families. The main reason was that Lu Xinglan was preoccupied with sleeping, leaving Lu Sheng to attend to business.

It wasn’t right to say they didn’t know each other, after some thought, Lu Sheng answered, “Grandpa Qiao, I already have someone I like.”

Across from her, Qiao Nanchu added nonchalantly, “So do I.”

That put an end to any matchmaking…

Xue Maoshan poured himself a drink, “You old man, why bother with such worries? Looks like you’ve been slapped in the face.”

Zhou Qingrong’s face darkened as he glared at his grandson.

After that, no one else tried to play matchmaker.

Lu Sheng lost her appetite for the festivities and called her mother aside.

“Mom, what was that all about just now?”

Yao Bixi feigned ignorance, “What do you mean by that?”

Having weathered the business world alongside Lin Qiunan for many years, Lu Sheng had a keen eye and felt something was off with Yao Bixi, “You clearly saw that Grandpa Qiao was making an effort to set them up, so why did you go along with it?”

Yao Bixi justified herself as if it were obvious, “I think Nanchu is not bad, and you’re single. If you could really foster a match, it wouldn’t be a bad thing.”

Lu Sheng still felt something was amiss.

“When I used to talk about dating, didn’t you say I was too young?” A thought suddenly struck her, “Mom, do you know something?”

Yao Bixi averted her gaze, pretending to look away, “Know what?”

Lu Sheng didn’t want to beat around the bush, “Do you know who my heart belongs to?”

Yao Bixi then fell silent.

Indeed, she knew. Not many people were in the know, just a few, and Lu Sheng guessed, “Did my brother tell you?”

Yao Bixi was surprised, “Your brother knows too?”

That little rascal, he had even helped to keep it secret.

Seeing her reaction, Lu Sheng could guess most of it, “You don’t approve of Zhou Qingrang, do you?”

Yao Bixi went silent for a short while.

“Yes,” she stated plainly, without beating around the bush, “How many years can his health keep him by your side? You don’t think about the future as you dive headlong into this, but I’m your mother—I have to think about it.”

Lu Sheng had anticipated her mother’s opposition, which is why she preferred to act now and seek forgiveness later.

“Have you gone to see him?”

This was what Lu Sheng feared the most, worried that her family would hurt Zhou Qingrang, who was already covered in wounds. A single word, a single attitude, could be like rubbing salt in his wounds.

Yao Bixi acquiesced.

Lu Sheng’s expression grew increasingly grim, “What did you say to him?”

“Zhou Qingrang is a smart man, he understands without having to say anything.”

“Mom!”

She wanted to lose her temper, to yell at her mother, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it, knowing that any mother would do the same.

In others’ eyes, Zhou Qingrang truly wasn’t an ideal match.

She took a moment to compose herself and calmly said, “Mom, let me lay it out straight for you.”

Yao Bixi only knew that she had thrown herself into the relationship, but not how deep she had gone.

She laid it out plainly, “My feelings for Zhou Qingrang aren’t just a fleeting passion, nor are they the kind that will fade over time. Over the years, I’ve seen all sorts of people, but it was Zhou Qingrang who made me want to settle down, to get married and have children, to live through the mundane days of life.”

Some people might love many others over the course of their lives, constantly seeking, choosing, and enjoying the thrill of the new. Others might never meet their true love and settle for someone ‘okay,’ ‘just so,’ or ‘not displeasing,’ making do until it becomes familial love, and before they know it, a lifetime has passed.

And then there are people like her. Whether out of laziness or due to a lack of deeper feelings, they love once, using up all their energy without reserve.

After that, they never have the strength to love anyone else again.

“If he won’t be with me, I would probably wait for him forever—not intentionally, but because it’s truly hard to find another Zhou Qingrang.”

“Shengsheng,” Yao Bixi spoke solemnly, “A lifetime is a very long time.” She was only twenty-three years old and had many more landscapes to see, many wonderful people yet to meet.

“Mom, do you think you’ve loved my dad for a long time?”

Yao Bixi didn’t answer.

She and Lu Jingsong had fallen in love at first sight. At that time, she was nineteen, and now, after more than thirty years, looking back, it still feels like yesterday.

“See, it’s not that long,” Lu Sheng said with a smile, “I am your daughter, like you.”

Yao Bixi had nothing to counter with.

“I’m leaving.” After saying this, Lu Sheng waved her hand and took off.

“Where are you going?”

She turned back, “To see your son-in-law.”

Yao Bixi: “…”

A little angry, she shouted, “Put on a coat before you go!”