Chapter 40

Subsequently, Xiao Yuan brought the prepared porridge. This time, Lu Yuner hadn’t spoken first. Instead, the young master Su took the initiative to get up and come to the table to eat.

Su Qingwan sat obediently and docilely at the table, slightly lowering his head as he drank the porridge. Although he didn’t make a sound, his slightly trembling eyelashes betrayed his nervous mood at this moment.

Until now, he felt as if he was in a dream, seeming unreal. To confirm this wasn’t an illusion, he would occasionally steal glances at Lu Yuner.

At this time, Lu Yuner was playing the role of a tool, quietly accompanying him as he ate. Noticing his gaze, Lu Yuner calmly allowed him to look, meeting his eyes and asking, “What’s wrong?”

“No… nothing.” Su Qingwan, embarrassed at being caught, slightly lowered his head, a hint of blush creeping up his ears and cheeks, his hand holding the spoon trembling slightly unnaturally.

But Su Qingwan actually knew that Elder Sister Yuner didn’t like him and wouldn’t come to see him on her own initiative. This visit must have been due to that person using some means.

Everything at this moment was forced.

He shouldn’t have been contentedly enjoying this moment of happiness, but his heart was selfish and contradictory.

Thinking about the insurmountable gulf between them, a hundred bitter tastes surged in his heart, and the pain in his chest grew increasingly intense.

At the same time, because of his desire for the moment with Elder Sister Yuner, the guilt and unease in his heart also escalated.

Meanwhile, Lu Yuner, supporting her chin with one hand, fell into deep thought as she watched Su Qingwan drinking porridge.

In the days since her soul transmigration, to be honest, she had never lacked romantic prospects. She had seen all kinds of men, but after expressing her refusal, they all stopped there, not interfering with each other.

Su Qingwan was the first one who, after being gently rejected, inexplicably continued to entangle with her.

Although pursuing status and power is rather superficial, in this world, it’s the most practical and feasible. Various treatments differ according to status and rank, and everyone’s various encounters will also follow different trajectories due to power.

Power can grant more possibilities, so everyone pursues it eagerly.

With such a noble status as the young master Su, getting what he wants should be as easy as lifting a finger, but Lu Yuner was still a bit puzzled and confused.

For instance, this matter of liking her.

Although matters of love have always been about mutual willingness, if one side has too much power, even after being rejected, it’s not impossible to take by force.

Since ancient times, regardless of gender, forced marriages have often occurred, and there are many who would stop at nothing for love.

However, up to now, she had never seen the young master Su use any power to force her into anything, which also shows her importance in his heart.

Although he had never hurt her, it was him who was now entangled with her. Yun Qinwang had promised her that this matter wouldn’t be forced, but as Manager Chen said, nothing is greater than bloodline. So if all variables arise from the young master Su, she has no choice at all.

If every time such a thing happens, she has to come again, and moreover, human hearts are unpredictable, she doesn’t dare to refuse, disregarding the lives of everyone in the Lu family.

In the long run, she would be nothing more than a puppet.

Weighing the pros and cons, considering thrice, Lu Yuner’s gaze towards Su Qingwan gradually became profound, a hint of complexity flashing in the depths of her eyes.

A moment later.

“I’ve finished drinking.” Su Qingwan obediently put down his spoon.

As soon as he spoke, he suddenly felt a warmth approaching. Looking up, he saw the stunningly beautiful face magnified at close range in front of him, the fine hair on her face clearly visible.

His nose caught a faint familiar cold fragrance. His thin back suddenly straightened, his whole body tense, a blush spreading from his cheeks to his ears.

“Don’t move, Young Master Su, there’s some soup stain here on your mouth corner.” Lu Yuner took the handkerchief for wiping mouths and slowly, bit by bit, approached Su Qingwan, carefully wiping the soup stain left at the corner of his mouth. “Let me wipe it for you.”

As she spoke, the two were very close, warm breath lingering on his face. Clearly feeling Young Master Su’s body stiffen, a hint of subtlety flashed in Lu Yuner’s beautiful eyes. This was her deliberate action, and she hadn’t expected such a test.

Sure enough!

The youth’s pure shyness was fully exposed before her. Combined with their simple interactions in the past, it was clear that Young Master Su was pure and guileless, which made him easy for her to control.

“Young Master Su, do you still have intentions towards me?” Lu Yuner looked at him, her gaze gentle and clear. “I want to hear the truth.”

Su Qingwan suddenly froze. Indeed, his pretense had been too clumsy, and she had known everything all along.

After a few seconds of silence, he looked back at her steadily. Although he had been rejected before, when expressing his liking again, his heart still pounded. Gathering courage anew, he spoke with particular sincerity: “Yes, I still like Elder Sister Yuner.”

As he finished speaking, the air in the entire room instantly froze, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

A moment later.

Lu Yuner leaned back, put down the handkerchief, and said seriously: “I have no romantic feelings for Young Master Su.”

At these words, Su Qingwan’s face instantly paled a shade. At the same time, he felt his heart being pricked again. He lowered his eyelashes painfully, showing a sad and dejected expression, his tone low as he gritted his teeth: “I know.”

Lu Yuner changed her tone, “However, I can give it a try with Young Master Su.”

“Really?” Upon hearing this, Su Qingwan raised his head abruptly as if receiving an unexpected favor. His heart skipped a beat at her words, and his bright phoenix eyes burst with joy that nearly overflowed.

Seeing him so excited, Lu Yuner’s heart inexplicably twinged, and she even felt a bit conflicted. But she had no choice but to make this decision at present. Since she had decided, there was no room for regret. She took a deep breath: “It’s true, but I have conditions. If Young Master Su can accept them…”

“I’ll agree to any conditions.” Su Qingwan’s eyes curved like the moon as he smiled bashfully.

He was now immersed in overwhelming joy. All along, what he wanted was just a chance, just a chance to get close to her. Now that Elder Sister Yuner had said this, he would agree to anything.

“Are you that happy?” Never having seen him smile so foolishly with joy, Lu Yuner couldn’t help but ask.

Su Qingwan instantly reined in his smile, gazing at Lu Yuner very seriously and affectionately, slowly speaking: “Happy, very happy, extremely happy.”

Hearing him repeatedly modify the degree of happiness, Lu Yuner somewhat regretted asking this question, but still, with a serious attitude, she explained in advance: “You also know that I have no romantic feelings for you, which to some extent is unfair to you. If this result is not what you desire in your heart, no matter what, you must completely let go of all thoughts about me and live your own life contentedly. Secondly, this is after all a matter between you and me, I don’t want to involve others or interfere with others’ thoughts. Lastly, in the spirit of gender equality, during our interactions, I have the right to call a stop at any time. Of course, you can also make requests, as long as they’re not excessive. Do you agree to the above conditions?”

These conditions proposed by Lu Yuner were quite reasonable for both parties, and of course, were also based on her understanding of Young Master Su’s nature. Regardless of whether he would change after hearing them, she had to state her principles.

After listening, Su Qingwan frowned as if dissatisfied. He looked at Lu Yuner pitifully, “Stop at any time? If by chance you call a stop after just one day of interaction, isn’t that too unfair to me? At least make it after a month?”

This was unexpected. Lu Yuner paused, thought for a moment, “Alright.”

He had thought that bargaining with her would displease her, but unexpectedly she agreed. He only regretted not asking for a few more months. However, it was enough that Elder Sister Yuner agreed to try interacting with him.

Within a month, he would definitely make Elder Sister Yuner fall in love with him.

Su Qingwan pursed his lips and smiled, his bright eyes gazing at her without blinking, filled with undisguised love.

After this matter was laid out, it seemed to allow Su Qingwan to openly vent and express the affection he had long suppressed in his heart.

Lu Yuner felt a bit uncomfortable being stared at like this. She slightly averted her gaze and said, “That’s enough for today! You should rest now, I’ll take my leave.”

Su Qingwan smiled gently and nodded obediently, “Alright.”

It was late, indeed time to rest.

Then he called Xiao Yuan in, intending to see her out of the mansion, but Xiao Yuan said: “Manager Chen said that it’s late now, and a guest room has been prepared for Dr. Lu to stay overnight in the mansion. Tomorrow after breakfast, they will send you back to the Imperial College.”

Su Qingwan beside was obviously delighted, but still looked at Lu Yuner with anticipation.

Hearing this, Lu Yuner’s eyes deepened. From the tone, everything had been arranged in advance. It seemed she couldn’t leave tonight. But she soon returned to normal and smiled, “Thank you for showing the way.”

Yun Qinwang’s mansion had never had guests visit before, so naturally no one had ever stayed overnight.

But logically, all outsiders are guests, yet Lu Yuner was arranged in a room on the west side of the separate courtyard, less than fifty meters from Qinghua Garden, which can be said to be very close, very close.

Obviously this point was not in accordance with the rules. After Lu Yuner thought about it to no avail, she looked around in the light. The room was clean and tidy, and also very spacious.

Lu Yuner came to the window and could see the mansion still brilliantly lit. But in contrast to the present, she felt like a little bird trapped in a cage now, with no freedom to speak of.

Rather than being controlled by others, it’s better to take the initiative herself. However, when facing Young Master Su in the future, she needs to be more cautious.

The lights were still on in the study on the east side of the North Courtyard.

Su Bai sat calmly in the chair, brushed the tea foam with the lid, and took a sip of tea, saying: “Is everything arranged properly?”

“Everything has been arranged. Dr. Lu should be resting by now, and the young master has taken his medicine and eaten today, so you don’t need to worry. However, I’ve noticed that the young master really falls for Dr. Lu’s ways…”

Chen Si paused slightly, looking thoughtfully at Su Bai, and continued: “If you don’t mind me saying, the estrangement between you and the young master over these years, perhaps Dr. Lu can help you resolve it. Why don’t you give it a try?”

They say a mother knows her child best. Today’s invitation to Dr. Lu was actually Yun Qinwang’s idea, also to confirm a certain guess in her heart, and the result was clearly all within her grasp.

Su Bai put down her teacup, half-lowered her eyelids, then pursed her lips and smiled.