Chapter 26 Loving You with My Life

To the world, you may be just one person; but to one person, you may be the whole world...

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Lu Huaining smiled gently and said, "Come here, I have something to tell you."

The two looked at each other with tenderness, as if they were the only two people left in the world. Not wanting to intrude, Madam Lu stood up, walked out of the hospital room, and closed the door behind her.

Seeing that the others had left, Lu Huaining pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips gently against her eyelids. "Stop crying," he said in a domineering tone. "Your eyes are swollen like walnuts. If you cry until you go blind, how will you count your money? My little miser, I will be fine; just give me some time."

Hearing his playful words, she couldn't bring herself to smile; instead, she felt a pang of heartache. He pinched her cheek and added, "I don't like a bossy wife with swollen eyes. If you want to stay by my side and count money, you must rest well and smile more. No more crying, understand?"

Though his body was suffering, he only wanted her to be happy.

"Mm." Xue Zhuining suddenly opened her arms to wrap them around his waist, burying her face in his broad chest. "Huaining," she whispered, "I will be good to you from now on."

"How good?" Lu Huaining stroked her hair, resting his chin against the crown of her head, and chuckled softly.

"Just very, very good..." Xue Zhuining promised silently in her heart. She would love this man well, even for the part that her mother had missed.

Lu Huaining pressed a kiss to her dark hair. "I'm sleepy. Go tell Grandmother to get some rest. She hasn't been well, and she's been worrying about me; she mustn't exhaust herself. You should get some sleep early too. If you stay with me like you did last night, I might recover even faster."

"Mm." She kissed his brow and smiled faintly.

He loosened his grip, watching her stand up, smooth her clothes, and walk into the outer room. The door was left ajar. He heard her soft voice drifting in for a while, but eventually, unable to resist the drowsiness, he drifted into a deep sleep.

With Lu Huaining’s condition stabilized and no longer suffering from the recurring hemorrhaging of the previous day, Madam Lu’s tense nerves finally began to ease. The forced energy she had summoned evaporated, and she became, once more, a tired elderly woman. After hearing Xue Zhuining relay Lu Huaining's concern, she felt much more at ease and lay down on the sofa in the outer room. Xue Zhuining had a nurse bring a blanket, and only after the older woman was asleep did she head back toward Lu Huaining. Madam Lu watched her retreating figure, lost in thought.

The silhouette was so familiar, as if it were Zhong Yilan from years ago.

Xue Zhuining washed up briefly and returned to lie down beside Lu Huaining. She carefully tucked the blanket around them both and held his arm, feeling warmed by the scent that surrounded her.

She knew this man loved her, and she had no wish to let him down.

She couldn't sleep. Her fingers traced his cheek, moving down his neck until they came to rest on his stomach. She dared not put the full weight of her hand on his abdomen, fearing it might cause him discomfort, and the tension in her arm made it ache, yet she could not bear to move her hand away. She, too, had suffered from stomach pain—not severe, but unbearable—and she wondered how much pain he must have been in after vomiting so much blood.

At that moment, he must have been thinking of her, thousands of miles away, while she had been unable to sense her lover’s agony.

She did not know when she finally fell asleep. The next morning, the doctor arrived before he had woken up. She quickly stood up to let the doctor perform the examination, washed her face, and went to buy breakfast for herself and Madam Lu. After they finished eating in silence, they checked on Lu Huaining and found his complexion had improved, which lifted their spirits. Madam Lu turned to look at Xue Zhuining and said, "Miss Xue, come outside with me. It is time we had a proper talk."

Some things cannot be avoided; when they must be solved, one must face them head-on.

At these words, Xue Zhuining’s heart felt as if it were being pulled by a string, hanging precariously in mid-air. She clenched her fists and followed Madam Lu out to the outer room, sitting face-to-face with her.

Time slipped by, both of them keeping their own counsel.

A woman of Madam Lu’s stature was naturally accustomed to demanding perfection. Because of her worry for Lu Huaining, she hadn’t changed her clothes since arriving, and her appearance was disheveled. Xue Zhuining worried that as Madam Lu’s composure returned, she would find cause for displeasure. But at this point, it was beyond the control of any single person.

Xue Zhuining realized that Madam Lu’s first impression of her—even before they had met—was likely negative; people tend to unconsciously magnify the flaws of those they dislike. She smoothed her hair, feeling a sense of resignation. It was already like this; she would just have to face the challenges as they came.

However, the gaze Madam Lu fixed upon her was calm, even tinged with a hint of gentleness, which took her by surprise.

Xue Zhuining adjusted her breathing, maintaining a polite smile, and waited quietly for the other to speak.

"Huaining told me everything yesterday. Much of it was beyond my expectations. I would like to apologize for his shameful behavior, and on behalf of the Lu family, I apologize to you and your mother. Though I understand that the suffering you endured cannot be undone by an apology."

Xue Zhuining was startled, then replied, "This is not your fault. As a younger person, I feel embarrassed to have an elder apologize like this."

"It seems Lanlan raised you well," Madam Lu sighed. "In truth, she was always a magnanimous person; I was the one who misjudged her." She added with regret, "It was my failure as an elder to manage things properly. I did indeed neglect Huaining in the past. His so-called marriage was a sham, and because I hid the truth about his biological mother, his father remained distant, and his 'mother' only showed him superficial affection. They were very strict, even harsh, with him regarding his studies and conduct. We gave him nowhere near the care a child needs. That he developed such a cold, arrogant temperament is our fault."

Xue Zhuining lowered her eyes, remembering how he had once mentioned in passing that when he was sick as a child, he had to take his own medicine, and the servants only cared about his father’s favor, leaving no one to truly look after him. Her heart ached.

"I do not wish to interfere in your relationship; as a grandmother, I only want my grandson to be happy," Madam Lu sighed deeply. Her gaze lingered on the door to the inner room before returning to Xue Zhuining. "Miss Xue, our two families have a long history. I made mistakes in the past, and this time, I do not wish to repeat them."

As one grows old, the heart grows weary. Fighting for so much no longer had meaning; all she wished for now was the joy of a full family.

Xue Zhuining stared at Madam Lu, her heart pounding. She did not know how to respond to such magnanimity, nor how to explain her four-year disappearance.

Madam Lu remained silent for a long time before saying, "I do not wish to bring up the past, and I believe you understand the difficulties of the Lu family’s position. Regardless, you are innocent. Furthermore, Huaining has wronged you; it is his responsibility to spend his life repaying that debt. Since he is so inseparable from you, I will not make things difficult for you in the future. I tell you this today only because your relationship with Huaining cannot be made public yet. After all, his engagement to Wanyi still stands. To make it public now would only harm all three of you. Consider this carefully before deciding on a strategy."

Xue Zhuining pursed her lips and said, "I understand."

Madam Lu sipped her tea, trying to calm her turbulent thoughts. After a long pause, she added, "I heard you are married."

Xue Zhuining’s heart skipped a beat, but she could only nod. Seeing a cold glimmer in Madam Lu’s eyes, her heart jolted.

The shadow on the older woman’s face lasted only a moment before she regained her calm and gentle demeanor. "I believe you must have had your reasons, but please, I ask that you do not hurt Huaining again."

Xue Zhuining replied, "I understand what you mean. As for my situation, I will handle it as soon as possible so as not to cause you any unnecessary trouble."

Madam Lu nodded. "If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask. Huaining and I will certainly not stand by idly. While the Lu family cannot do everything, we have resources you can rely on."

"Thank you, Madam," Xue Zhuining said with a polite smile, though her resolve did not waver. In many matters, it was better to keep things as they were.

Madam Lu’s expression softened. "Miss Xue, to walk this path with Huaining, you will face many challenges. Family factors are only one part of it. Huaining carries heavy responsibilities, and his partner cannot be a woman who only knows how to manage a household. I am not asking you to have the same ability to control the big picture as he does, but you must integrate into his circle. Formal social occasions are not like what you see on television—it’s not just about showing off jewelry and gowns. Connections are built over drinks and conversation. When leaders go abroad, they bring their wives. You’ve heard of 'spouse diplomacy,' I’m sure."

Recalling her own youth, Madam Lu cautioned her, "Improve yourself and support your husband. It sounds exhausting, but if you don't do this, the distance between you will only grow. Two people can fall in love in a flash of passion, but to make it last, it takes effort. Life with Huaining won't be the romantic, fairy-tale life a young girl might imagine. Be prepared for that."

"I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Madam." Four years ago, Xue Zhuining might have been intimidated by such a life, but now, she faced it with composure.

"I will have to ask you to bear with the current situation for a while longer," Madam Lu said. "Once Huaining recovers, I will find a suitable opportunity to make your relationship public. I will be busy in the near future, so I leave Huaining in your care. You two can spend this time together as a couple and see if you are truly compatible. I will reserve my judgment for now, but please understand my concerns. As an elder, I only hope for my child to be happy—and for that happiness to last, without the turbulence of great highs and lows."

Xue Zhuining knew this was a significant concession from Madam Lu, and her words were reasonable and unarguable. She pondered for a moment and smiled. "Please rest assured. Since I have decided to be with Huaining, I am prepared to face any difficulties that may come. Moreover, I will strive to improve myself so that I can stand by his side, rather than shrinking behind him and relying on his protection."

"I am glad you think so. Thank you for your hard work. If you need anything, call me directly. If I am unavailable, call the butler." With that, Madam Lu handed her a contact number and went to check on her sleeping grandson one last time.

If all of this was a punishment for the wrongs of the past, then perhaps letting go was the best way to seek atonement.