Chapter 1: A Marriage Beyond One's Control

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 exchanged a tender gaze, as if they were the only two people left in the world. Not wishing 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 yourself blind, who’s going to count your money for you? You little money-grubber, I will get better—just give me some time."

She wanted to laugh at his playful remark, but she couldn't; she only felt a deep sense of sorrow. He pinched her cheek. "I don’t like a bossy wife with swollen eyes. If you want to count money by my side, you need to rest well and smile more. No more crying, understand?"

Though his body was racked with pain, he only wanted her to be happy.

"Mm," Xue Zhuining said, suddenly wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face in his broad chest. "Huaining, I will be good to you from now on."

"How good?" Lu Huaining chuckled softly, running his hand through her hair as he leaned his forehead against hers.

"Just... very, very good..." Xue Zhuining promised silently in her heart. She would love this man deeply, and she would love him enough to make up for the part her mother had missed.

Lu Huaining kissed her dark hair. "I’m tired. Go tell Grandma to get some sleep. She hasn’t been well, and she’s been worrying so much about me—I don’t want her to exhaust herself. You should get some rest too. If you sleep beside me like you did last night, I might recover even faster."

"Mm." She kissed his brow and smiled.

He let go of her, watching as she stood up, smoothed her clothes, and walked into the outer room. The door was left ajar, and her soft voice drifted in intermittently. He listened for a while, but eventually, overcome by fatigue, he drifted into a deep sleep.

With Lu Huaining’s condition stabilized and the internal bleeding stopped, the tension in Madam Lu’s nerves eased, and the energy she had been forcing herself to maintain dissipated. Now, she was just a weary elder. Hearing the concern Lu Huaining had expressed through Xue Zhuining, she felt a sense of relief and lay down on the sofa in the outer room. Xue Zhuining asked a nurse to bring a blanket, and only after ensuring the older woman was asleep did she head back toward Lu Huaining. Madam Lu watched her retreating figure in silence.

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 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 intention of failing him.

Unable to sleep, her fingers traced his cheek, then trailed down his neck until they came to rest over his stomach. She didn't dare press down, fearing she might cause him discomfort. Her arm grew sore from the strained posture, but she couldn't bring herself to move her hand. She had suffered from stomach pain before—it hadn't been severe, but it was agonizing. He had vomited so much blood; how much pain must he have been in?

At that time, he must have been thinking of her, thousands of miles away, while she had been completely oblivious to her lover's suffering.

She didn't know when she finally fell asleep. Early the next morning, the doctor arrived while Lu Huaining was still asleep. She quickly rose to let the doctor examine him, washed her face, and went to buy breakfast for herself and Madam Lu. After they ate in silence, they checked on Lu Huaining and found his complexion had improved, which lifted their spirits. Madam Lu turned to Xue Zhuining and said, "Miss Xue, come outside with me. We need to talk."

Some things cannot be avoided; one must face the difficulties head-on.

At these words, Xue Zhuining’s heart felt as though it had been hooked by a thread, suspended in mid-air. She clenched her fists secretly and followed Madam Lu into the outer room, sitting down across from her.

Time passed in quiet, unspoken tension.

As someone of such high standing, Madam Lu was naturally accustomed to demanding perfection. Because of her worry for Lu Huaining, she hadn’t changed her clothes since arriving, and she looked tired and disheveled. Xue Zhuining feared that now that Madam Lu had calmed down, she would be filled with displeasure.

But at this point, it was beyond anyone’s power to change.

Xue Zhuining knew that Madam Lu’s first impression of her—even before they had met—would be unfavorable. People naturally magnify the flaws of those they dislike. She smoothed her hair, feeling helpless; it was already like this, so she would just have to deal with whatever came her way.

However, the look in Madam Lu’s eyes was calm, even tinged with a hint of gentleness, which surprised her.

Xue Zhuining caught her breath, maintained a polite smile, and waited for the older woman to speak.

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

Xue Zhuining was taken aback. "This was not your fault, Madam. As a junior, I feel embarrassed to have an elder apologize to me."

"It seems Lanlan raised you well. In truth, she was always a kind-hearted person; it was I who misjudged her." Madam Lu sighed apologetically. "It was my failure as an elder. I was indeed negligent in my care for Huaining in the past. His parents’ marriage was a sham, and because I kept the truth about his biological mother from him, his father was always cold toward him. Even the woman he called 'mother' only put on a facade of warmth. They were incredibly strict, even harsh, regarding his studies and conduct. We gave him far too little of 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 that when he was sick as a child, he had to take his own medicine, and the servants only looked to their masters' moods—no one had truly cared for him. Her heart ached.

"I do not wish to interfere in your affairs. After all, as a grandmother, I only want my grandson to be happy." Madam Lu sighed deeply, her gaze lingering on the door to the inner room before returning to Xue Zhuining. "Miss Xue, our two families have a deep history. I made mistakes in the past, and this time, I cannot afford to make them again."

As one grows old, the heart grows weary. Fighting for more meant nothing; all she truly desired was the joy of a house full of descendants.

Xue Zhuining stared at Madam Lu, her heart pounding. She didn't know how to respond to such magnanimity, nor how to explain her own disappearance over the last four years.

Madam Lu was silent for a long time before continuing. "I do not wish to dwell on the past, and I believe you understand the difficulties of the Lu family’s position. Regardless of anything else, objectively speaking, you were innocent. Furthermore, Huaining has 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 am telling you this today only because your relationship with Huaining cannot be made public yet. After all, his engagement to Wanyi still stands; making it public would only hurt all three of you. We should carefully consider our strategy."

Xue Zhuining pursed her lips. "I understand."

Madam Lu sipped her tea, trying to calm her troubled emotions. After a long while, she added, "I heard that you are married."

Xue Zhuining’s heart skipped a beat, but she could only nod. Seeing the chill that entered Madam Lu’s eyes, she felt a sharp pang of anxiety.

The shadow on Madam Lu’s face lasted only a moment before she regained her composed, gentle demeanor. "I believe you must have had your reasons, but please, do not hurt Huaining again."

"I understand what you mean," Xue Zhuining replied. "I will handle my own affairs 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 not stand idly by. While the Lu family may not be all-powerful, we certainly have the capability to assist you when needed."

"Thank you, Madam." Xue Zhuining offered a polite smile, though it did not shake her inner resolve. Some things were best left as they were.

Madam Lu’s expression softened. "Miss Xue, if you want to stay with Huaining, you will have to face many challenges. Family factors are only one part of it. Huaining carries a heavy burden of responsibility. 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 yourself into his circles. Formal social occasions are not just about showing off jewelry and dresses like they are in the movies; connections are built over drinks and conversation. When leaders go abroad, they bring their wives. You’ve heard of 'spouse diplomacy,' haven't you?"

Recalling her own youth, Madam Lu advised her, "Improve yourself and support your husband. It may sound exhausting, but if you don't, the distance between you will only grow. Two people can fall in love in a moment of passion, but to make it last, it takes effort. Life with Huaining won't be the romantic, carefree existence a young girl might imagine. Be prepared for that."

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

Madam Lu continued, "I will have to ask you to endure a little longer. Once Huaining has recovered, I will find an appropriate opportunity to make your relationship public. I will be quite busy in the coming days, so I leave his care to you. You can spend this time acting as a married couple, adjusting to one another to see if you truly are a match. I am holding my judgment for now, but please understand my caution. As an elder, I only wish for the children to be happy—and for that happiness to be lasting, without the turmoil of great highs and lows."

Xue Zhuining knew this was a significant concession from Madam Lu. Every word she spoke was reasonable and indisputable. After careful thought, she smiled. "Please rest assured. Since I have decided to be with Huaining, I am prepared to face any difficulties that may come our way. Furthermore, I will strive to improve myself so that I can stand by his side, rather than hiding behind him and relying on his protection."

"I am glad to hear you say that. Thank you for your efforts. 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 once more.

If everything happening now was a penance for the wrongs of the past, then perhaps letting go was the best way to seek redemption.