"It’s nothing, you can leave now. Ask Xu Jiawei to come in."

Lu Liang glanced at Xiao Chen, already used to her sporadic clueless moments.

Chen Jinchun left, and Xu Jiawei came in to check the schedule for the next few days with Lu Liang.

Towards dusk, he glanced at the time: "Let’s call it a day for now; we’ll head to Su City tomorrow."

Su Wanyu was returning from her hometown with the little one and messaged him in the afternoon, estimating a six-thirty arrival.

Leaving the company, Lu Liang switched to a different car and headed to the high-speed rail station, where Fang Shiyu waited at the exit. It wasn’t appropriate for him to show up, so he waited in the parking lot.

About ten minutes later.

Su Wanyu carried the little one, her steps light, in a white floral dress that gave off a youthful vibe.

Behind her was Fang Shiyu, helping with the luggage, holding two large suitcases.

"What did my mom ask you to bring over this time?"

Lu Liang took the little one from her arms, who looked drowsy, as if just waking up.

But she remembered Lu Liang, suddenly got excited, and slapped his cheek with her chubby little hand, making cooing sounds.

Lu Liang gently held half her fist, and the little one grinned widely, showing her pink gums with a few small white spots.

"Some homemade cured meat and fish, and some dried plums you loved as a child."

Su Wanyu sat in the back, took off her small purse and leaned on her palm, watching the father-daughter play.

"These things are so heavy, next time just mail them directly." Lu Liang suddenly felt a bit nostalgic for the unique smoked flavor.

Childhood can’t be revisited, but the memories of it remain vivid in his mind.

"Last week, I took my parents for a check-up in the city, and dad’s fatty liver has improved a lot. But he still needs to be cautious about consuming too much high-salt, high-sugar, and high-purine foods. Mom’s health is fine, just a bit of presbyopia, so I helped her get a pair of glasses..."

On the way back, Su Wanyu passionately shared the snippets of family life since Lu Liang left.

Lu Liang listened quietly, holding Su Wanyu’s hand and gently caressing the back of her hand with his thumb: "Yu, having you is really wonderful."

Although Lu Ya was at home, she didn’t stay at her parents’ every day. She had to take care of her in-laws in town and manage the family’s grain and oil shop.

Sometimes, their emotions might not be addressed promptly, hence why Lu suddenly thought of reclaiming a few mountain tops or even considered retreating to a monastery.

Lu Liang had considered bringing his parents to Modu, hiring more caregivers to ensure their later years were comfortable.

But his proposal was promptly rejected by Lu Ya, who bluntly said that while it might fulfill his sense of filial duty, it didn’t consider the fact that the older people get, the harder it is for them to leave their homeland, especially when they’re financially secure.

Back in the hometown, Lu Liang donated so much money that Lu walks boldly now, though he’s not that old, he’s highly respected.

Even though he’s now gone off to plant flowers on the mountain, he can come down any time and oversee the village’s affairs.

If they moved to Modu, their material life might be abundant, but spiritually, they’d be better off in their home.

Su Wanyu’s presence greatly compensates for this, representing Lu Liang well in fulfilling his filial duties.

"It’s not that good," Su Wanyu’s face flushed, suddenly unsure how to respond.

To her, it’s simply a normal thing, something she ought to do.

Lu Liang remained silent for a moment, trying to change the subject, and asked with a smile: "Speaking of which, when does Tongji start?"

"The semester starts on the 5th, but I need to go two days earlier."

Her interview for the teaching assistant position was successful; mainly responsible for translating foreign language documents to assist professors in academic research.

The plan is to work as a teaching assistant for a year while preparing for doctoral studies.

"Female~ PhD~" Lu Liang chuckled.

"What? Got a problem?"

"No, wouldn’t dare."

"Humph, you better not."

The family returned to Green City Huangwan. After dinner, the little one was handed over to the nanny at home.

At half-past eight in the evening, Lu Liang drove his Lamborghini out of the community, taking Su Wanyu for a spin along Pujiang.

They enjoyed the riverside scenery, occasionally stopping for snacks, cultivating their bond, preparing for the personal endeavor later that night.

Because for her, Lu Liang felt guilty.

He could dive right into bed, but he wanted to give her a sense of occasion, having fun and munching on snacks before progressing to the main event.

Huaihai Road, TXA bar.

The sports car stopped at the entrance, and Lu Liang led Su Wanyu inside. Upon entering, they became the center of attention.

He tossed the keys to the manager, who, realizing Lu Liang seemed without bodyguards, felt alarmed, as if a warning light blinked over his head, promptly raised the security alert.

Over a dozen tall security personnel automatically formed a protective circle around Lu Liang, building a human wall, vigilant, lest anything should happen to Lu Liang under their watch.

"So this is a bar?"

Su Wanyu’s eyes filled with curiosity, as it seemed different from what she imagined.

"You’ve never been?" Lu Liang led her, encircled by the security team, upstairs.

"Went once during my college days with classmates, but this place feels a bit different from where I went."

The bar she visited was very tranquil, with students on stage singing folk songs, and people quietly chatting below.

Unlike here, with pounding music waves non-stop, and Lu Liang’s appearance projecting spotlights on them.

She felt very tense and held onto Lu Liang tightly.

"The place you went to is called a ’quiet bar’; this is technically a nightclub."

Lu Liang chuckled, remembering that Su Wanyu seemed to have an alcohol allergy, and told the waiter: "Half a dozen beers, and a glass of lemon tea."

"I want to drink too." Su Wanyu didn’t want a soft drink; she wanted a few drinks with Lu Liang to feel closer.

Besides, her skin turns red when she drinks, but it just shows on her face, it doesn’t itch, and she doesn’t break out in a rash, so how can you call that an allergy.

"Alright, if you want to drink, then have a little bit."

Liang chuckled, made a phone call to Shiyu, and then pulled Wanyu out of the second-floor private room.

The two of them stood high above, looking down at the dance floor below, filled with countless young men and women, shaking their heads, indulging recklessly.

"How does it feel?" Liang asked with a smile.

"It’s okay." Wanyu smiled a bit reluctantly; she didn’t like the environment here.

She still preferred a quiet bar, with some snacks, drinking milk tea, chatting, and listening to music.

"Alright then, let’s go somewhere else." Seeing that Wanyu wasn’t enjoying it, Liang took her and left directly.

The manager looked baffled and hurriedly asked, "Mr. Lu, was there something we didn’t do well?"

He had just called the boss to inform them that Liang had arrived, and the boss was on their way.

If the boss came and couldn’t see Liang, he’d definitely be in trouble.

Leaving suddenly meant they weren’t having a good time, which was his negligence.

"No, everything’s fine."

Liang shook his head with a smile and asked, "How much is it?"

He remembered that opening a private room on the second floor cost tens of thousands, but he couldn’t quite recall how much.

"No need, no need, we’ve already had your car brought to the entrance." The manager quickly laughed along, not daring to morally bind Liang, only hoping the boss would accept this explanation.

"Thanks a lot then."

Liang didn’t stand on ceremony, drove away from Huaihai Road, and headed to a literary tavern at the Bund, booked a balcony seat that just happened to overlook Tangchen and Sinograin Tower across the river.

"Is this the kind of place you used to go to?"

"Yeah, something like this."

Wanyu vaguely sensed the unusualness in Liang tonight. She lowered her head, picked at her nails, and muttered softly, "Liang, you don’t actually have to do this."

Liang laughed silently, "Siqing is almost walking, and you still call me Liang?"

"It’s not that fast, at least half a year more."

Wanyu instinctively refuted, not realizing Liang was changing the subject, "Then what should I call you?"

"What do you think?"

"Lu Liang?" Wanyu blushed; she actually knew what she should call him but suddenly felt a bit shy.

"I’ll give you one more chance." Liang smiled, leaning his ear close to Wanyu’s mouth.

"Hu~husband..."

The voice was very small, like a mosquito buzzing by the ear, but Liang still heard it. He smiled happily, "Say it a few more times, I like hearing it."

"Husband... Husband..."

Wanyu went all out, calling out about ten times.

However, Liang didn’t blush; it was her face that started to turn red, and with her mouth dry and tongue parched, she sipped some alcohol, which made her even redder.

Quickly, she finished a bottle of beer.

Wanyu propped her cheeks with both hands, staring blankly ahead, her arms, neck, and cheeks as red as a boiled crab.

"Are you having an allergic reaction?" Liang asked, half crying, half laughing.

"No~ allergy."

"Then is it just your poor alcohol tolerance?"

"It’s just poor alcohol tolerance."

"Can you walk?"

"I can walk, see."

Wanyu suddenly stood up, walking in a straight line around the table like a normal person, feeling she wasn’t drunk at all.

"Then how about another drink?"

"Don’t want to drink, it’s so bitter, so nasty."

Wanyu stuck out her tongue, looking miserable.

"Let’s just go back." Liang recalled the first time he drank with her, and she seemed to always be like this.

Starting off between drunk and not drunk, her expressions and body movements more animated than usual, but her mind was clear.

Yet this clarity was only temporary, gradually turning into a truly drunk state as the alcohol fermented in her system.

"Okay~" Wanyu agreed obediently, she wouldn’t act up after drinking, only becoming more and more obedient until she was muddled.

On the way back, driven by Shiyu, Wanyu was already half-muddled, suddenly feeling very cold.

Liang held her in his arms, silent for a long time.

"In two years, I’ll give you an explanation."

In another two years,

He could settle down completely.

By then, Liang would make up for this shortfall.

Perhaps, who knows, by that time, if he would have the same feeling as he did now.

Or, if it would just be a momentary impulse, like all those promises he made to countless girls at the bedside before.