Chapter 45: Where the Lights Fade

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

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

The two gazed at each other tenderly, as if they were the only two people left in the world. Wishing not to disturb them, Madame Lu stood up, walked out of the hospital room, and closed the door behind her.

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

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

Though his body was suffering, he only wished for her happiness.

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

"How good?" Lu Huaining stroked her hair, leaning his forehead against the crown of her head, and let out a soft laugh.

"Very, very good..." Xue Zhuining promised in her heart. She would love this man deeply, carrying the love that her mother had been unable to give him.

Lu Huaining pressed a kiss to her dark hair. "I'm sleepy. Go tell Grandma to get some rest. Her health isn't great, and she’s been worrying over me; she shouldn't wear herself out. You should rest early too. If you sleep 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 to smooth her clothes before walking out to the outer room. The door was left ajar, and her soft voice drifted in intermittently. He listened for a while, but eventually, overcome by 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, the tension in Madame Lu’s nerves eased, and the energy she had forced herself to maintain dissipated. Now, she was merely a weary elder. Hearing Xue Zhuining relay Lu Huaining’s concern for her made her feel much more at ease, and she lay down on the sofa in the outer room. Xue Zhuining had a nurse bring a quilt, and only after the older woman was asleep did she head back toward Lu Huaining. Madame Lu watched her silhouette, lost in thought.

That silhouette was so familiar; it was as if Zhong Yilan had returned.

After a quick wash, Xue Zhuining returned to lie down beside Lu Huaining. She carefully tucked the quilt 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 desire to fail him.

Unable to sleep, she gently traced his cheek with her fingers, then moved down his neck, stopping at his stomach. She dared not rest the full weight of her hand on his abdomen for fear of causing him pain. The tension in her arm made her muscles ache, yet she did not want to move her hand away. She had suffered from stomach pain herself—nothing severe, yet it was excruciating. He had vomited so much blood; how much pain must he be in?

He must have been thinking of her, thousands of miles away, at that time, while she had been unable to feel the pain her beloved was enduring.

She did not know when she finally fell asleep. When the doctor arrived the next morning, he was still asleep. She hurriedly rose to allow the examination, splashed some water on her face, and went to buy breakfast for herself and Madame Lu. The two ate in silence, then checked on Lu Huaining. Seeing his complexion had improved, their spirits lifted as well. Madame Lu turned to look at Xue Zhuining and said, "Miss Xue, come outside with me. We need to have a proper talk."

Some things cannot be avoided; when they must be resolved, one must face the difficulty head-on.

At these words, Xue Zhuining’s heart felt as if it were being pulled upward by a thread, dangling in mid-air. She clenched her fists secretly and followed Madame Lu out of the room, sitting down across from her.

Time passed quietly, yet both remained unspoken.

A woman of such high status as Madame Lu was naturally accustomed to demanding perfection. Because of her worry for Lu Huaining, she had not changed her clothes since arriving, and her attire was rumpled, her complexion poor. She feared that now that Madame Lu had calmed down, she would be filled with various grievances. But at this point, it was beyond her power to change.

She could sense, even without having met her before, that Madame Lu’s first impression of her was likely poor. People unconsciously magnify the flaws of those they dislike. She smoothed her hair, feeling helpless—it was already like this; she would just have to deal with it as it came.

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

Xue Zhuining steadied her breathing, maintained 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 surprised, then replied, "This is not your fault. As a junior, I feel very uneasy having an elder apologize like this."

"It seems Lanlan raised you very well. In truth, she was always a kind-hearted person; it was I who misjudged her." Madame Lu sighed apologetically. "It was my failure as an elder to discipline him. I truly neglected Huaining in the past. His so-called marriage was one in name only, and because I hid the truth about his biological mother, his father remained distant toward him. The woman he called mother only put on a show of affection. They were very strict, even harsh, regarding his studies and behavior. Admittedly, we failed to give him the care a child needs. That he grew up to be so cold and arrogant 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; the servants only looked to their masters' moods and no one truly cared for him. Her heart ached for him.

"I do not wish to interfere in your affairs. After all, as a grandmother, I only want my grandson to be happy." Madame Lu sighed deeply, her gaze resting briefly on the door to the inner room before returning to look intently at her. "Miss Xue, our two families have a deep history. I have made mistakes in the past, and this time, I cannot let myself be wrong again."

When one grows old, the heart grows old too. Fighting over things has no meaning; all she wished for now was the joy of seeing her children and grandchildren gathered around her.

Xue Zhuining stared at Madame Lu, her heart pounding. She did not know how to respond to such magnanimity, nor how to explain her four years of disappearance.

After a long silence, Madame Lu said, "I do not wish to dwell on the grievances of the past, and I believe you understand the difficulties of being in a high position like the Lu family. Regardless of anything else, in all fairness, you were innocent. Furthermore, Huaining wronged you, and it is his responsibility to spend a lifetime repaying that debt. Since he cannot live without you, I will not make things difficult for you in the future. I tell you all this today only to let you know that your relationship with Huaining cannot be made public yet. After all, his engagement to Wanyi still stands. If it were made public now, it would only bring harm to all three of you. We must consider this carefully and plan accordingly."

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

Madame Lu sipped her tea, trying to calm her turbulent emotions. After a long pause, she added, "I heard that you were married."

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

The shadow on the older woman’s face lasted only an instant before she returned to her calm, gentle demeanor. "I believe you must have had your reasons, but I beg you not to hurt Huaining again."

Xue Zhuining thought for a moment and replied, "I understand what you mean. I will handle my own affairs as soon as possible so as not to cause you any unnecessary trouble."

Madame Lu nodded. "If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask. Huaining and I will certainly not stand by idly. Though the Lu family cannot command the winds and rain, we have the means to be worthy of your trust."

"Thank you, Madame," Xue Zhuining replied with a smile, though her inner resolve remained unshaken. In many things, it was better to keep it this way.

Madame Lu’s expression softened further. "Miss Xue, if you wish to walk this path with Huaining, you will face many challenges. Family factors are one thing, but Huaining carries many responsibilities. His partner cannot simply be a woman who only knows how to manage the 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 just about showing off jewelry and gowns like they are on television; connections are built amidst the clinking of glasses. When leaders travel abroad, they bring their wives—you have heard of 'spousal diplomacy,' haven't you?"

Recalling her own youth, Madame Lu advised her, "Improve yourself and assist your husband. It sounds exhausting, but if you don't do it, the distance between you will only grow. Two people may fall in love in a moment of passion, but to last, it requires management. Life with Huaining cannot be the romantic, carefree life of high society that young girls imagine. You must be mentally prepared."

"I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Madame." Had this been four years ago, Xue Zhuining might have been intimidated by such a life, but now, she faced it with calm.

Madame Lu continued, "I will have to wrong you for a while longer. Once Huaining has recovered, I will find a suitable opportunity to make your relationship public. I will be quite busy in the near future, so Huaining will be in your care. You may live as husband and wife and grow accustomed to one another to see if you are truly a good fit. 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 be lasting, without such volatile ups and downs."

Xue Zhuining knew this was a significant concession from Madame Lu, and her words were reasonable and irrefutable. She thought carefully 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 may stand by his side, rather than hiding behind him and relying on his protection."

"I am glad you think that way. It will be hard on you. If you need anything, call me directly. If I am unavailable, you may call the housekeeper." With that, Madame Lu handed over her contact information and went to check on her sleeping grandson one last time.

If all of this was a punishment for the grievances of the past, then letting go might be the best way to seek redemption.