Chapter 194: Kissing Behind Our Backs
Father Lu casually remarked, “With our blockhead of a son, what does it matter if they go in and out together? Their relationship hasn’t progressed. He probably still calls her ‘Miss Xu’.”
Mother Lu sighed.
Just then, Director He found an excuse to pull Xu Youyou aside, asking in private, “Youyou, where did you take Xiao Lu?”
Xu Youyou didn’t hide anything. “I took him to visit Mother Xu.”
Director He’s expression stiffened.
“Xiao Lu is a good kid. Since he’s here, it’s only right that Director Xu sees him too—after all, it concerns your entire future,” Director He whispered.
Xu Youyou hadn’t thought that far ahead. She simply said, “Aunt He, Mother Xu always wanted me to make friends. Right now, we’re just friends.”
Director He clicked her tongue. “You’re pretending to be clueless! If he really just wanted to see snow on Huangshan, wouldn’t it be better to hire a professional guide? Why come to you? Can’t you see what he’s thinking?”
Xu Youyou thought about Lu Jingyao’s personality. It still seemed a bit strange, and she didn’t dare assume too much. She simply replied, “Aunt He, just treat it as a normal friendly visit. Overthinking will only bring unnecessary trouble.”
But Director He added, “Normal friends’ parents don’t come bearing fifty million yuan.”
Xu Youyou’s eyes widened slightly. “Fifty million?”
Director He explained, “Lu’s mother brought a check for fifty million yuan, wanting to donate to the orphanage. I refused, but she insisted. She said their family regularly does charity work, and this money should be used to improve the children’s lives and renovate the orphanage. She practically forced me to accept it.”
Honestly, earlier, when Lu’s parents were making all sorts of comments about the orphanage, Xu Youyou had felt somewhat annoyed.
But now, knowing they were willing to donate such a large sum, those words suddenly felt justified. After all, they were the benefactors. Fifty million wasn’t just for renovation—it was enough to build two new buildings. If all they did was give some advice on the renovations, that was hardly a big deal.
Meanwhile, inside the house, with no outsiders around, Mother Lu eagerly questioned her son, “She even took you to see her former director. That’s practically the same as introducing you to her mother. Have you two made it official? Your lips are red—did you sneak off to kiss her just now?”
Lu Jingyao: !!!
Normally composed and emotionally reserved, he was caught off guard by his mother’s bluntness. His usually pale face flushed slightly as he hurriedly lowered his voice. “Mom, don’t say nonsense. We… we didn’t do anything like that…”
It was rare to see Lu Jingyao stumble over his words.
Mother Lu gave him a disapproving look. “Oh, please. Don’t act like you don’t like kissing. What young man doesn’t? Your father loved it when he was young!”
Father Lu coughed loudly. “Enough of that. Why are you telling our kid these things?”
Lu Jingyao’s face burned. He couldn’t stand being in the room any longer.
But the moment he stepped outside, he spotted Xu Youyou, who was also taking a breather in the courtyard.
Worried that his parents might have said something inappropriate, he quickly explained, “My parents can be a bit… uninhibited. If they said anything that made you uncomfortable, just ignore them. If needed, I’ll talk to them.”
Xu Youyou, seeing the usually calm and composed Lu Jingyao looking slightly flustered, couldn’t resist teasing, “Do you li—”
But before she could finish her sentence, a bodyguard suddenly rushed over, looking troubled. “Boss, there’s a big group of people outside saying they’ve come for you.”
Xu Youyou frowned. “For me? Who are they?”
The bodyguard’s expression became even stranger. “They claim to be your future in-laws and husband. They’ve brought a large group of relatives, saying they’ve come to take you home and register your marriage before the New Year.”
Xu Youyou: ?
She had no idea she had in-laws or a husband. Before she could process it, a commotion erupted at the orphanage’s entrance, and a rowdy group of people barged in.
They were all bundled up in thick puffer jackets. Leading them was a middle-aged woman wearing a chunky gold chain over her jacket, with large gold earrings dangling from her ears. Strangely, she had rolled up her puffer jacket sleeves, deliberately showing off two shiny gold bracelets.
Behind her were three short, stocky men, all no taller than 1.65 meters, with identical shifty-eyed expressions.
Further back was a crowd of curious onlookers—relatives, no doubt.
The four people at the front were staring at Xu Youyou like she was a product on display, their eyes gleaming in a way that made her uncomfortable.
“You must be Xu Youyou? So pretty! No wonder my son has been obsessed with you all these years. But you’re a bit short—if you were taller, that’d be better,” the middle-aged woman commented. Her praise seemed forced, while her nitpicking came naturally, as if blaming Xu Youyou for seducing her son.
Xu Youyou frowned. At 1.68 meters, she was actually taller than the two short men beside the woman. Where did she get the nerve to criticize her height?
“This is my youngest son, Wang Xiaohu. Do you remember him? You were elementary school classmates. He’s liked you since then. Now, finally, you two can be together—such a perfect match! It’s fate!” the woman declared.
Xu Youyou felt like she had just missed an important plot development. How had things suddenly escalated to marriage talks?
“I’m not interested in him,” she stated bluntly.
The woman immediately countered, “Feelings can grow after marriage. A girl’s prime years are short—you have to seize a good husband when you find one! A woman’s career means nothing. A good marriage is what truly matters!”
Xu Youyou almost gagged.
“Oh, right! I heard you run a big business in Shanghai. In our family, daughters-in-law are expected to stay home. Just hand your business over to my son. Women shouldn’t be working so much anyway!”
Xu Youyou was so furious she almost laughed. These people weren’t just eyeing her—they wanted her money too.
There was no point in being polite. She turned to the bodyguards and ordered, “Throw them out.”
As the bodyguards stepped forward, the middle-aged woman suddenly screamed, “What are you doing?! Are you trying to assault me?! I’m telling you, Xu Youyou is my daughter-in-law! I’m here to finalize the engagement!”
