Chapter 83: So-Called Trouble
Lu Jingyao’s face darkened. “Mom, can you not jinx me?”
Mother Lu pretended not to hear her unlucky son’s complaint and turned to her husband. “Is my hair messy? How’s my makeup? She’s a career woman, and I can’t give her a bad first impression. If I look sloppy, what if she looks down on Jingyao?”
Father Lu expertly flattered her. “You look perfect. Absolutely flawless! And you’re not just a housewife—you manage two charity foundations. You’re the backbone of the Lu family.”
Mother Lu immediately beamed. “You look great too—not like a retired old man at all!”
The couple exchanged glances, feeling quite pleased with themselves.
Meanwhile, Lu Jingyao eyed them warily. “What are you two up to? Don’t scare her off.”
Mother Lu was displeased. “Your father and I aren’t monsters. Why would we scare her? Relax, we’re not those evil in-laws from the internet—we know our boundaries.”
Lu Jingyao still couldn’t relax. No one knew better than him how desperately these two wanted a grandchild.
Mother Lu’s eyes flickered with an idea, and she tugged on her husband’s arm. “Old Lu, tell him how much I’ve suffered all these years!”
Lu Jingyao looked skeptical. His mother had lived a life of luxury, never lacking anything. Even as her own son, he couldn’t imagine what she had suffered.
Father Lu, though initially hesitant about Yuyou not being from their social circle, quickly abandoned any objections. His son liked her, his wife approved—what was there to argue? He immediately supported his wife.
“We’re guests at this banquet, and we just want to chat with another guest. That’s not a problem, is it?”
“Exactly! Your dad is right!” Mother Lu nodded vigorously.
Lu Jingyao felt a headache coming on. “If you scare her away, I won’t get married. I’ll stay single forever!”
That hit the couple right where it hurt.
Mother Lu sighed in defeat. “Fine, we won’t bother her now. But you can’t keep avoiding us forever.”
Father Lu chimed in, “Sneaking around isn’t a solution. When are you bringing her home to meet us properly? You’re not getting any younger. You finally have a girlfriend—don’t hide her. Your mom prepared a meeting gift eight years ago; it’s practically antique by now.”
Lu Jingyao responded, “No rush. When the time is right, you’ll meet her.”
Mother Lu nearly jumped up. “No rush? You’re already 28! After 28, men lose their value!”
Lu Jingyao knew she was making that up.
She pressed on. “Your grandfather can’t sleep at night worrying about you being single! And all I see is you exchanging looks with Assistant Liu every day—do you know how worried that makes me?”
Lu Jingyao’s veins throbbed. “There’s nothing between me and Assistant Liu!”
Mother Lu snorted. “I don’t believe you—unless you bring that girl home.”
Lu Jingyao: …
Father Lu suddenly looked downstairs and frowned. “Honey, our future daughter-in-law seems to be in trouble!”
—
Earlier, Yuyou had been sitting comfortably on a sofa in the banquet hall, enjoying some fruit, when a shadow suddenly blocked her view.
“Mom, sister is here too,” said Gu Xueying’s voice.
Her words successfully summoned Mrs. Gu.
Mrs. Gu had been in low spirits recently due to her eldest son’s illness. Attending this banquet was an attempt by the Gu family to lift her mood.
Though she had seen photos of Yuyou before, this was her first time seeing the biological daughter who had been switched at birth.
Even though Yuyou was elegantly dressed for the banquet, Mrs. Gu found a thousand flaws in just three seconds.
Her hair was too loose—not dignified enough.
The dress, though beautiful, was too eye-catching.
Her expression was too stubborn—not likable enough.
“Sister, call Mom. You don’t know how much she misses you,” Gu Xueying urged.
Yuyou frowned at the mother and daughter. “I’m an orphan. My parents are dead.”
Mrs. Gu’s expression darkened as she glared at Yuyou’s bright, almond-shaped eyes. “Raised in an orphanage—no wonder you’re so wild.”
Gu Xueying hurried to smooth things over. “Sister, how can you say such things? You’ll hurt Mom’s feelings. Just apologize, and she won’t hold it against you.”
Yuyou glanced at Gu Xueying. “And who are you that I should care what you think?”
Gu Xueying’s face turned pale with embarrassment. She lowered her head and murmured, “I… I don’t mean any harm. I just don’t want things to get worse.”
Mrs. Gu immediately defended her adopted daughter. “Don’t bully Xueying! I’m telling you now—though you are my biological daughter, I’ve raised Xueying for so many years. She is just as much a Gu family daughter as you are.”
Gu Xueying’s eyes filled with tears as she looked at her mother with gratitude. “Mom, I don’t mind being wronged. As long as Sister agrees to a bone marrow match with Brother, I’ll do anything.”
Mrs. Gu was suddenly reminded of her real problem—only her youngest son was a suitable match for her eldest son’s bone marrow transplant.
But her youngest was frail, and she was unwilling to risk his health.
Asking Yuyou directly was beneath her dignity.
She hadn’t seen Yuyou enter with Lu Jingyao and assumed that, as an orphan, she had used some underhanded means to get in.
“Yuyou, how exactly did you get in here?” Mrs. Gu lowered her voice. “If you agree to the bone marrow match with Fengchuan, I’ll acknowledge you as my daughter and cover for you—so you won’t get kicked out.”
Yeah, well…YOU might get kicked out now.