Lu Zhi Hao's thumb stroked her cheek softly. "Ignore them," he murmured, leaning down to press another gentle kiss to her lips. "Let them see how a man should treat his wife."
Despite herself feeling down, Ruyi let out a soft laugh, leaning into him again as her eyes fluttered closed. She felt relaxed and no longer stressed.
— — — — — —
The door closed softly behind them, leaving the quiet intimacy of their parents' room.
Lu Ting Cheng shoved his hands into his pockets as they walked down the wide hallway, his steps casual and almost lazy. "Well," he spoke up after a moment, his tone teasing but low enough not to carry far, "I guess Dad's still got game, huh?"
Zi Zhen didn't respond immediately. His gaze was fixed ahead, his expression calm but unreadable as always. Finally, he spoke in his flat, clipped tone, "Don't joke about them like that."
Ting Cheng rolled his eyes with a small grin, "Relax, Ah-Zhen. I'm not insulting them, I'm just saying… It's good to see them like that, you know? It's calmer than seeing a chaotic family..."
Zi Zhen glanced at his older stepbrother briefly. There was a flicker of agreement in his eyes before he turned away again. "She was worried about losing the baby; at least now she can rest."
"Yeah," Ting Cheng said softly, his teasing dropping away as he reached out to ruffle Zi Zhen's damp hair, "You care too much, little bro."
Zi Zhen swatted his hand away with an annoyed glare, smoothing his hair back in place, "Don't touch my hair."
Ting Cheng chuckled, ignoring his glare as they walked through the hallway leading down to the main floor.
The scent of freshly prepared dishes drifted faintly from the dining wing, reminding both of them that breakfast had long passed and lunch was waiting for them.
They walked through the hallway, side by side. Despite their constant banter, their movements were in sync, calm, balanced, and silent like shadows moving through the mansion.
At the bottom of the stairs going up, Ting Cheng bumped his shoulder lightly against Zi Zhen's, "Come on. Let's eat before Dad comes down and forces us to deal with the company documents, I want to have some leisure time without worrying about the company."
Zi Zhen allowed a faint smirk to cross his lips before it faded just as quickly, "I will review the underworld clearance files after lunch. Am too busy to even have some 'me' time to relax, so lucky you."
"Yeah, yeah. Workaholic, always working!" Ting Cheng grinned teasingly, as if he wasn't the same, he threw an arm loosely around his brother's shoulders for a moment before letting go as they walked towards the dining room.
Outside the large windows, the gardens basked under the bright noon sun. But inside, within the grand halls of the Lu mansion, the two brothers carried with them a silent understanding, each day could bring war or peace, but family remained their only unwavering constant.
The grand dining room smelled of steamed vegetables, savoury bone broth, and freshly baked flatbreads.
Sunlight streamed through the wide windows, glinting off polished mahogany and ivory inlays lining the walls.
Old Madam Lu, dressed in a light plum silk cheongsam embroidered with pale peonies, stood at the head of the table instructing the maids.
Despite her age, her posture remained straight, her movements graceful and purposeful.
"No, no, place the dumplings there," she directed softly, moving a porcelain bowl a few inches to the left, "And keep the soy dipping sauce closer to the rice bowls, Ting Cheng likes it next to him."