Chapter 192: A Visit
Xu Youyou became even more puzzled. She already knew that the Lu family trio was coming, but were they really here just to admire the snow, even giving up celebrating the New Year at home?
What was even stranger was that the first snowfall of the year hadn’t even started yet.
At that moment, Lu Jingyao and his parents were standing in the courtyard, accompanied by attendants who were unloading large bags and boxes from the car.
“The eastern courtyard wall needs some repairs; it should be raised a bit higher. Right now, it’s too low—any tall person could climb over with just one move,” Father Lu pointed at the wall, giving instructions.
Mother Lu added, “There still aren’t enough flowers in the courtyard, and the flower beds need proper landscaping. When spring arrives and the flowers bloom, the children will be surrounded by fragrance every day—how wonderful would that be?”
Lu Jingyao sighed helplessly. “Dad, Mom, this isn’t our own house. The renovations are the director’s responsibility.”
Mother Lu shot her son a glare. “You always have so much to say! Nagging all the time like a housekeeper. I was just being considerate—having a good environment will make the children happier. Am I wrong?”
Lu Jingyao: …
Father Lu quickly stepped in to soothe his wife. “Give him a break. He’s been chasing after someone for half a year with no progress at all. He’s just a grumpy old bachelor.”
Lu Jingyao: !!!
Xu Youyou, who was approaching, suddenly halted in her tracks. Did she just hear something… groundbreaking?
Mother Lu turned around and immediately spotted Xu Youyou. The slight frown she had just moments ago instantly vanished as she put on a warm, enthusiastic smile.
“Miss Xu, it’s been a long time! You’ve become even more beautiful since the last time we met.”
Xu Youyou’s face showed a trace of confusion. “Auntie, I don’t think we’ve met before…”
Mother Lu was only embarrassed for a second before quickly responding, “We saw you at the Lu family banquet on Linhuai Road. There were too many people at the time, so we didn’t get a chance to greet you properly.”
Father Lu, standing beside her, nodded with a chuckle. “Miss Xu is straightforward. That night, you said just a few words and—”
Before he could finish, his expression twisted in pain as he turned to look at his wife, who was now gripping his arm tightly. Clearly, he had said too much.
Mother Lu smiled and said, “It’s a joyous occasion today—let’s not mention people who might upset Miss Xu.”
Xu Youyou felt a warmth in her heart. Lu Jingyao himself had a somewhat aloof personality, but his parents seemed quite approachable.
At that moment, Director He, as Xu Youyou’s elder, stepped forward a bit late. After the young people introduced them, she exchanged polite greetings with the Lu family parents before turning her sharp gaze onto Lu Jingyao.
Director He was experienced in life—taking parents on a trip to Huangshan was understandable. But visiting before the New Year, bringing so many gifts… she could easily guess Lu Jingyao’s intentions.
“Mr. Lu, what do you do for a living? And how did you meet our Youyou?” Director He wasn’t familiar with the online world, so she didn’t recognize Lu Jingyao, who was a household name. She asked her questions as any concerned guardian would, though her expression carried an unmistakable hint of approval—her eyes clearly evaluating a potential son-in-law.
Mother Lu casually answered, “Oh, he just runs a small business, enough to make ends meet. I believe he and Youyou met through work—something about business dealings.”
Xu Youyou’s eyes widened slightly. Auntie Lu was being way too humble. If what Lu Jingyao did was a small business, then what were other people doing?
Director He nodded thoughtfully. Xu Youyou’s business had grown significantly, and if Lu Jingyao had business ties with her, then his company must be on a similar level. That meant he was at least a good match.
“Young people starting a business nowadays is no easy task. As long as they don’t lose money, it’s already a success. Mr. Lu must be very capable—thanks to your great parenting,” Director He said sincerely.
Hearing her son being praised for his upbringing, Mother Lu’s face beamed with pride. “Oh, Director He, you don’t have to call him ‘Mr. Lu.’ That’s too formal. Just call him ‘Little Lu.’”
Director He didn’t find the name inappropriate at all and immediately said, “Youyou, Little Lu and his parents came all this way. Don’t just let them stand in the courtyard—bring them inside for some tea.”
Xu Youyou glanced at Lu Jingyao’s expression and saw that he didn’t mind being called ‘Little Lu.’ Relieved, she led the family inside.
The orphanage’s tea wasn’t anything fancy—it had thick stems, broken leaves, and oversized tea pieces, nowhere near the premium teas the Lu family was probably used to. But none of them showed any sign of disdain. They simply drank the tea honestly, one sip after another.
Mother Lu, noticing how much Director He cared for Xu Youyou, smiled and said, “The first time I met Youyou, I thought she was an extraordinary young woman—independent, cheerful, and confident. Now I see she must have taken after you, Director He.”
Director He was proud of Xu Youyou’s achievements but remained humble. “This child was mostly taught by the previous director, Mama Xu. I had many other children to look after back then, so it was really thanks to Mama Xu’s guidance. If she were still with us, she would be so proud to see how successful Youyou has become.”
Mother Lu nodded, touched. “You and Mama Xu were both kind-hearted people. That’s why the children love you so much.”
Director He waved a hand dismissively. “This is just our job. It’s only natural. If Youyou has achieved something, it’s because she’s smart and hardworking.”
“When other kids wanted better grades, their parents would send them to tutoring classes and hire private teachers. But our orphanage couldn’t afford that, and Mama Xu and I weren’t very knowledgeable about school subjects either.”
“So poor Youyou had to figure things out herself. When she didn’t understand something, she would keep pestering the teachers with questions. One teacher even joked with me, saying he barely had time to drink water during recess because Youyou kept asking him to explain things. It’s thanks to her persistence that she got into a top university in Shanghai.”
Parents everywhere shared the same sentiment—they loved children who were smart and diligent. At this moment, Father and Mother Lu looked at Xu Youyou with even more admiration.
Director He, ever observant, then turned her attention to Lu Jingyao. “And what about Little Lu? How did he do in school?”
Mother Lu beamed with pride. “Oh, he could have gotten into any university in China, but at the time, his grandfather was undergoing medical treatment abroad. He was worried that no one else could take care of him properly, so he went overseas for college.”
“We originally wanted him to stay there for a master’s degree, but by then, his business was already successful, so he returned to China instead.”
Hearing this, Director He’s eyes lit up. She had thought Lu Jingyao looked intelligent, but now she realized—he was actually a top student!
She couldn’t help but think: If these two young people end up together, and they have children in the future… those kids will definitely be geniuses!
