Ten years later
Fu Wenwen and Lu Chengsen had already retired early, handing over all the family business to Lu Ze'an to manage. They returned to Honghe Village with the older generation, living in the rural courtyard that Fu Wenwen had personally designed and built.
The couple lived a retired life, spending their days petting cats, walking hand in hand in the woods, and fishing. Their lives were leisurely and carefree.
The older generation also enjoyed a relaxed old age following them. Old Master Lu had fallen in love with fishing and had become an unlikely friend with Zhu Wende. They spent their days playing chess and fishing together, leading incredibly comfortable lives.
Fu Jing and Mother Fu, bored, decided to open a small restaurant in the village. People came from far and wide daily to eat her cooking.
Lu Jingyao and Luo Siqi stayed at the Lu family home, occasionally visiting for a stay and to maintain their health.
The Lu family was no longer what it once was. In ten years, the Lu family had grown exponentially. Lu's Group was involved in various industries, and no project managed by Lu Ze'an had ever failed to be profitable.
For the Lu family, money was merely a string of numbers.
However, no matter how wealthy the Lu family became, they maintained a simple lifestyle, with no outsiders involved.
As for Lu Xiyue, she had grown into a stunning nineteen-year-old young woman.
Her appearance had perfectly inherited Fu Wenwen's beauty. When Mother Fu took them out, everyone mistook them for three sisters, not realizing they were from three generations.
Lu Xiyue's biggest problem was that Lu Ze'an still refused to accept her.
Over the past decade, Lu Ze'an had become the "elite talent" spoken of by many. Lu Xiyue had also worked hard to keep pace with him, and her possessiveness towards him had never waned, only grown stronger.
Everyone assumed that Lu Xiyue would eventually outgrow her feelings for Lu Ze'an, believing it was just a childish game, and that her possessiveness stemmed from not wanting him to be snatched away by others.
Lu Xiyue proved them wrong, demonstrating that she had always harbored intentions towards Lu Ze'an.
The older generation, initially shocked, eventually found it somewhat acceptable. Later, watching Lu Xiyue being rejected by Lu Ze'an time and again, they felt sympathetic towards her.
"Why is this girl still so persistent! Look at An'an, it must be tough for him. Every time he has a hint of romance, Yue Yue stirs things up."
"Youth is a wonderful thing. Young people nowadays fight for their love. But every time I see Yue Yue rejected by An'an, I can't help but laugh..."
"Don't let Yue Yue hear you, or she might pull out your beard."
"Oh, it's just that seeing her like this pains me. Yue Yue has many good young men around her, yet she only becomes brothers with them."
"That proves those boys aren't good enough; they can't handle Yue Yue."
"What kind of person do you want Yue Yue to find? You dismiss those boys for not being able to handle Yue Yue, and then you sympathize with him for being bothered by her when she disrupts his romantic prospects..."
"Which side are you on?"
"...On your side."
"Hmph."
When they asked Fu Wenwen for her opinion, her answer was always the same. "Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes; let them have their way. When they grow up and can make their own decisions..."
When they asked Lu Chengsen for his opinion, he grinned. "Of course, I stand with our little princess. I've disliked that boy since I first saw him. He's definitely not a good son-in-law."
"..." Fu Jing glanced at Lu Chengsen and snorted softly.
Meanwhile, Lu Xiyue, the subject of their discussion, was currently riding her motorcycle unhappily, speeding along the mountain road.
She had been rejected by Lu Ze'an once again. He had said he only saw her as a sister, always looking at her dotingly, as if she were a naughty child.
Lu Xiyue was angry.
No matter how many times Lu Ze'an called, she hung up. Eventually, annoyed, she turned off her phone.
This man truly didn't know what was good for him.
How was she being naughty! She had meticulously planned this for ten years. Throughout these ten years, Lu Ze'an had continued to dote on her, but this was not what Lu Xiyue wanted.
As the motorcycle sped, it hit a stone on the ground, skidded, and crashed into the guardrail. Lu Xiyue was thrown into the air.
Suddenly, countless green vines grew wildly from the ground, as if sentient, weaving into a huge net that caught Lu Xiyue.
Standing unharmed in an unfamiliar forest, looking at her motorcycle exploding not far away, Lu Xiyue sighed heavily.
"It's over, Mom's going to scold me again."
Frustrated, she ran a hand through her hair and left the spot, her figure darting rapidly through the woods, like an elf in the dark night.
Arriving at a populated area in the city, Lu Xiyue took a taxi to a bar.
She wanted to break her rule and have a drink.
The sudden appearance of a beauty in a bar always caused a stir. Men stirred with desire, wanting to approach Lu Xiyue and strike up a conversation.
"Hello, beautiful. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Chen Zhiming, and I work at Lu's Group."
"...Scram." Lu Xiyue glanced at the man, especially when she heard Lu's Group, which reminded her of the man who had angered her.
"Beauty, don't be like that! You look lonely and want to drown your sorrows. I can keep you company..." Chen Zhiming reached out to Lu Xiyue. Just as he was about to touch her, a hand reached out and grabbed his.
"Scram." Lu Ze'an glared fiercely at Chen Zhiming, warning him to leave.
"Lu... President Lu..." Chen Zhiming was about to retaliate, but seeing Lu Ze'an's face, he instantly became frightened and dared not speak.
Lu Xiyue, seeing the man who shouldn't be here, turned her head away with a cold expression.
"Yue Yue, stop messing around and come home with me." Lu Ze'an looked at Lu Xiyue before him. In this bar, men were eyeing her everywhere, coveting her body.
"Brother, I'm not messing around. I'm already 19. I can't even come to a bar for a drink without you interfering!" Lu Xiyue glanced at Lu Ze'an indifferently, deliberately calling him "brother" loudly.
She hadn't called him "brother" in ten years.
Hearing the word "brother," Lu Ze'an felt as if a boundary had been drawn, separating them.
His eyes darkened.
"I'll drink with you!" Lu Ze'an didn't leave but sat down with Lu Xiyue, accompanying her for drinks.
Lu Xiyue drank glass after glass, her gaze towards Lu Ze'an becoming increasingly hazy. Seeing this, Lu Ze'an knew she had had enough.
He picked up Lu Xiyue and carried her to his suite.
"You tell me, why won't you accept me? I like you so much, can't you just be my Lu Ze'an?"
Without waiting for Lu Ze'an to answer, Lu Xiyue hugged him and passionately kissed him on the lips.
Back at home, Fu Wenwen, who had been watching TV with Lu Chengsen holding her for the past ten years, paused her hand slightly. Then, she continued to absentmindedly stroke Xiao Xue.
"Lu Chengsen," Fu Wenwen called out softly.
"Hmm?" Lu Chengsen hugged his wife and kissed her affectionately.
"I love you."