Chapter 13
Resolving Yun Duo’s Issue
Everyone sat down at the dining table in the restaurant.
The moment Lu Jingshan picked up his chopsticks, he went straight for the braised pork knuckle, only to have it knocked away by Lu Tingchuan midway.
“Dad, Dr. Su said you can’t eat this right now.”
Wang Qin quickly added fuel to the fire, “He even sneaked some yesterday. You talk to him, he never listens to me.”
Lu Jingshan glared angrily, “Who sneaked food! Watch your words! The doctor said I’m much better now.”
Lu Tingchuan didn’t buy it, “Then bring me your medical report, let me see it.”
Lu Jingshan froze, fumbling with his words, unable to reply.
Wang Qin exposed him again, “Your dad skipped his routine check-up this time.”
At that, Lu Tingchuan’s face darkened. Jingshan had no choice but to give in, “Fine, fine, I’ll go tomorrow!”
“Then I’ll go with you tomorrow,” Tingchuan said firmly.
Ye Zheng chuckled, “Better not. If you go, a whole pack of fans will follow. How’s the doctor supposed to examine him then?”
Xia Shi chimed in, “I’ll go.”
“That used to be fine, but now you’re famous too. You all stay out of it. I’ll go,” Ye Zheng decided.
It was the truth. Tingchuan had no choice but to repeatedly thank him.
Yun Duo stayed quiet, her heart aching as she watched Tingchuan talk while naturally peeling shrimp and serving soup to Xia Shi, his manner so intimate it was clear he’d long been used to it. The caramelized bananas on her plate should’ve tasted sweet, but they were bitter enough to bring tears to her eyes.
After dinner, Xia Shi helped clear the table and volunteered to wash the dishes, giving Tingchuan a meaningful glance. He followed her into the kitchen.
Cooking wasn’t Tingchuan’s forte, but washing dishes wasn’t something he could mess up too badly. As the couple worked together, they talked quietly.
Xia Shi glanced toward the living room—Lu Jingshan was happily playing with little Lu Xuan. With a sigh, she said, “Don’t always bring up the past and label your dad. If you treated him more warmly, he wouldn’t be so scared of saying the wrong thing around you.”
Tingchuan froze for a second, pausing in his washing. “I know.”
“Last time we came back, Yu Shuo called you. You were on the phone for almost an hour. During that time, Dad sat with me in the study. He kept saying he had a bad temper, that he was too strict with you when you were little. He said he was sorry.”
Tingchuan’s chest tightened. His father had never said such words to him. For a moment, his nose stung, and his voice came out unnatural. “I understand.”
“Dad also said there was nothing between him and that Miss Xiao Li. But your mom didn’t believe him, and neither did you.”
Here, “mom” wasn’t Wang Qin, but Tingchuan’s biological mother.
Tingchuan’s hand slipped, a plate nearly fell, but Xia Shi caught it in time.
His throat tightened, but he couldn’t find words. In his past life, his stubborn pride had kept him from ever returning home. Later, he and Xia Shi had been set up, chased by paparazzi driving the wrong way on an overpass, and they’d crashed. Xia Shi died. He was left half-paralyzed in the hospital.
Back then, the only one who stayed by his side day and night was his aging father, Lu Jingshan, who even learned jokes to cheer him up.
Reborn again, Tingchuan had vowed not to repeat the mistakes of his unfilial past. Whatever the truth of his parents’ affairs, his father’s stern discipline was not unforgivable. Jingshan was still his father, and he would always be his son. He had tried hard to mend their relationship, to treat Jingshan well—but the matter of Xiao Li was a thorn he never touched. Not speaking of it didn’t mean he forgot. Nor did it mean he didn’t care.
Seeing his expression, Xia Shi regretted bringing it up. This father and son seemed harmonious on the surface, but a thorn remained buried deep.
She remembered vividly the first time Tingchuan had taken her home after they’d registered their marriage in the U.S. Jingshan had wept openly at the sight of the son he hadn’t seen in years, a son he only knew of through TV news. While speaking, he stole nervous glances at Tingchuan, terrified of saying the wrong word and angering him.
By now, the dishes were almost done. Tingchuan dried his hands, pulled Xia Shi into his arms, and held her in silence.
She froze, unsure whether to move.
“Tingchuan!”
“I know you want me to untangle this knot. I’ll look into it, I’ll investigate.” Tingchuan released her, face calm again, and took her hand. “Let’s go. We’ve been washing too long, or they’ll come in here.”
Xia Shi paused. “And about Yun Duo—”
Tingchuan smiled faintly, “Don’t worry.”
When they returned, everyone was seated in the living room. Yun Duo sat with her head bowed, clutching a cup of tea. The trembling ripples showed how her hands shook.
As soon as Tingchuan and Xia Shi sat down, Jingshan said, “Don’t worry about what people say online. You two are brother and sister. Sending you home is normal. Now that Xiao Chuan has released the evidence, hasn’t the online narrative flipped? Don’t dwell on it. Young people—what hurdle can’t be crossed? And if you don’t want to stay in entertainment, then don’t. Xiao Chuan, is it hard to arrange that?”
“No difficulty at all. Since Yun Duo has made up her mind, leave the rest to me.”
Wang Qin sighed in relief. After all, Yun Duo had signed a three-year contract and only a few months had passed. She’d just accepted a new drama—it wasn’t the right time to quit.
“Thank you, Xiao Chuan!”
“Don’t mention it, Auntie. We’re family. Yun Duo is my sister—this is what I should do.”
That last line was deliberately said for Yun Duo. Her hand trembled, tea spilling from her cup.
Xia Shi glanced between Yun Duo and Tingchuan. There was clearly more here than she knew.
It was getting late. Lu Xuan’s bedtime was fixed between nine and ten. Tingchuan and Xia Shi got ready to leave. Ye Zheng followed them out. After the elevator, they split for their cars, but Ye Zheng pulled Tingchuan aside.
“Are you free Monday night?”
“For what?”
“The teacher gave me that calligraphy piece. I had it mounted—I’ll bring it over. And, well, Yuan Yuan wants to see her brother Xuan again.”
That last part was the real reason.
Xia Shi laughed, “I’ll be free that night. Tingchuan might not be—it depends on when his dubbing finishes.”
Ye Zheng didn’t mind. “As long as you’re home.”
Xia Shi teased, “More importantly, as long as Xuan is home, right?”
Ye Zheng chuckled, “Exactly.”
They set the plan without even asking Tingchuan’s opinion. By the time they got home, little Xuan had fallen asleep in Xia Shi’s arms.
Tingchuan carefully carried him. It wasn’t the time for a bath—waking him would only bring a tantrum. He drew warm water while Xia Shi gently wiped him down and changed him into pajamas.
When Xuan was sound asleep, they quietly left the room. Xia Shi pulled Tingchuan aside.
“What’s going on with Yun Duo?”
“I gave her two choices. We’re registered as siblings; marriage between us is impossible. If she insists on being with me, it would only bring pain to Dad and Auntie. I feel nothing romantic for her. Even if she tried to break them apart, there could never be anything between us. So either she gives up those feelings and we both act like it never happened, keeping this family as it is… or I’ll make the choice for her.”
Xia Shi frowned. “That’s not two choices. That’s just one.”
“Since there’s no possibility with me, there’s no reason she should give up her career in entertainment. I told her, if she thinks it through, she can talk to Dad and Auntie herself. She has one week. If she can’t choose, then I’ll choose for her. I’ll terminate her contract.”
“She’s signed with Qin Tang. If she stays, it’s not just the same circle but the same company. Too many chances to cross paths. I don’t want to give her any false hopes.”
“And the company?” Xia Shi pressed. “You’re a major shareholder—terminating a contract is easy. But she has a script in hand. How do you explain that?”
“The drama was our company’s investment. That role was meant for a newcomer anyway. If it’s not her, it’ll be someone else. We have plenty of actresses waiting for roles. She’s barely known, has no fanbase, only a minor supporting role in Director Zhang’s film. Replacing her won’t matter.”
Xia Shi thought: That’s exactly Tingchuan—cutting off every last hope.
Before she could say more, Tingchuan leaned close, “So, Your Majesty, finished your judgment?”
Her eyelid twitched. “I feel sticky and uncomfortable. I’m taking a shower.”
“Mm. While you were with Xuan, I ran a bath for you. How about…” his lips curved, “we shower together?”
Before she could refuse, he had already lifted her off her feet.
******** Harmonious scene omitted ********
Author’s Note:
No explicit scenes—strict regulations! Later chapters will have “meat soup and scraps.”
Spoiler: It only gets sweeter, sweeter, sweeter, with all kinds of high-energy sugar overload ahead!
