She turned slightly hearing those footsteps that were approaching. A soft smile curved her lips as she saw her grandsons walk in.
"You are both up so late today, more than usual!" she said warmly, though a hint of playful sarcasm lingered in her voice, she wondered how come they were waking up now! It ain't their norm! "What an honour."
"Morning, Grandma," Ting Cheng grinned as he walked over and planted a quick kiss on her cheek, "Don't I always wake up early to see your beautiful face? It's just today I slept in a little bit longer than usual."
"Don't sweet-talk me, boy," she replied with a chuckle, patting his cheek fondly. Her eyes softened further as she turned to Zi Zhen, who bowed his head respectfully.
"Morning, Grandmother."
"Ah-Zhen," she said gently, reaching out to touch his arm, "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, I did, Grandma!" His answer was short, but his tone carried a respectful softness reserved only for her.
Behind them, a deep, commanding voice echoed from the far end of the room.
"Look who finally decided to grace us with their presence."
Old Master Lu, dressed in an iron-grey Tang suit with subtle black embroidery, sat at the head of the table, reading the morning brief on his tablet.
He set it down and removed his reading glasses, sharp eyes appraising his grandsons.
Despite his age nearing mid-sixties, his build remained imposing. Broad shoulders, deep chest, and weathered hands that still carried the grip of a warrior.
His slightly silver hair was cropped short, accentuating the deep-set lines of power and authority carved into his face over the decades.
"Grandfather," Zi Zhen and Ting Cheng greeted in unison, bowing slightly. They were notified last night by their men that he was back.
"Come, sit," Old Master Lu gestured firmly, though a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, "You boys are growing taller every day."
"And broader," Old Madam Lu added fondly, her eyes lingering proudly on Zi Zhen's lean physique as he pulled out a chair, "You train too much, Ah-Zhen. Eat more fish today. Ting Cheng, help your brother serve the rice."
"Yes, Grandma." Ting Cheng immediately moved to the rice pot, scooping steaming ladles of fragrant jasmine rice into individual bowls.
As the maids poured warm tea into delicate porcelain cups, Old Madam Lu sat down next to her husband, her elegant hands folding over each other in her lap.
"When did you get back last night?" she inquired, Old Master Lu quietly, brushing invisible lint from his shoulder.
"Past one in the morning I guess," he replied gruffly, reaching for his tea, "Business in the Lower District took longer than expected."
"Past two in the morning.... Busy 'business!'"
Neither of them mentioned that the "business" was a covert rescue operation for Lu Ting Zhou, their youngest grandson who had been kidnapped.
To Old Madam Lu and others, they thought everything was well since they went out to the charity gala together and probably dealt with work before coming back.
"Was it successful?" she curiously inquired, pouring him a second cup gazing at her husband.
Old Master Lu's eyes flickered with faint exhaustion but he nodded, "It was handled." His tone carried the finality of a man who never shared unnecessary details.
Ting Cheng placed a bowl of rice in front of his grandfather before settling into his own seat, "Grandpa, you should rest today. You haven't slept properly in five days."
"I will rest when I'm dead," Old Master Lu shot back with a faint smirk, "Until then, this family still needs its patriarch alert."
Zi Zhen remained quiet, eyes lowered respectfully as he began to serve his grandmother her rice, his movements precise and elegant.