Volume One, Chapter 36: Go Straight to the Wedding and Marry into the Lu Family!

Time slipped by. Fu Yuting felt as if her eyelids were weighted with lead, her consciousness drifting in and out of a shallow, muddled sleep.

That night, she barely truly slept at all.

Her phone continued to vibrate relentlessly on the bedside table, the persistent buzzing drilling into her ears. She had no idea how long it had been ringing before it finally dragged her back from the edge of her stupor.

With effort, she opened her eyes. Harsh light streamed through the gap in the curtains, declaring that it was already close to afternoon.

Her blurred gaze landed first on the hospital bed.

Bo Xingzhou was half-sitting at the raised head of the bed, several documents spread across his lap. The slight furrow of his brow and his focused expression softened the pallor of illness on his face.

He seemed not to have been disturbed by the phone, or perhaps he simply chose to ignore all outside interference.

Only then did Fu Yuting's attention shift to her own phone, still valiantly vibrating.

On the screen, “Lu Jingyan” flashed persistently, followed by a string of missed call notifications in red.

Instinctively, she glanced once more at Bo Xingzhou.

Fu Yuting took a deep breath, pressed the answer key, and at the same time lifted the thin blanket from her body, rising to leave for the quiet corridor outside the ward.

There were some matters that needed settling.

“Hello, Jingyan.” Her voice was hoarse from sleep and tinged with a deliberately maintained calm.

“Yuting?” Lu Jingyan’s voice came from the receiver, with no obvious anger—on the contrary, it was purposely softened, which only made Fu Yuting more alert. “You finally answered? Where have you been? I was so worried about you.”

Fu Yuting’s lips curved faintly. “My phone died, just managed to charge it now.”

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Then Lu Jingyan’s voice returned, still gentle and refined, yet carrying an undeniable command: “As long as you’re alright. Come back to the Lu household for dinner tonight, there’s something important to discuss.”

“Understood.” Fu Yuting lowered her gaze, her eyes unfathomably deep, and replied softly.

She turned and gently pushed open the door to the ward. Bo Xingzhou maintained his pose, reading his documents as if the phone call had never happened.

Fu Yuting spoke mildly, “I have something tonight.”

His fingers paused for a moment as he flipped a page, but soon returned to their steady rhythm. Only a fleeting shadow passed through the depths of his eyes.

He said nothing but gave a brief “Mm.”

—

A black sedan slowly pulled away from the hospital, leaving Bo Xingzhou and the quiet ward behind.

Fu Yuting leaned against the seat, the rushing scenery reflected on her pale face. The usually calm depths of her eyes now churned with icy undercurrents.

If it’s a game you want, then I’ll play along.

The car stopped before the imposing, ornate iron gates of the Lu estate. Fu Yuting took a deep breath, opened the door, and stepped out with the flawless, gentle smile befitting “Lu Jingyan’s fiancée.” Her gaze, however, was as still and deep as a tranquil pool.

Stepping into the brightly lit hall, Lu Jingyan greeted her at once, more attentive than usual. He naturally took her handbag, his voice nearly dripping with softness: “Yuting, you must be tired from the journey. You don’t look well—did you not rest last night?”

That concerned gaze seemed to pierce through her, laced with scrutiny.

“I’m alright, just had some personal matters to handle.” Fu Yuting unobtrusively withdrew her hand, her tone gentle yet shielded by a subtle distance.

Lu Ye approached as well, his smile warm: “Fu girl, you’re here! Come, have a seat. It’s good for young people to have their own space, but don’t tire yourself out too much.”

His words, though seemingly open-minded, were in fact a reminder—a subtle warning of her “future daughter-in-law” status and responsibilities.

“I’ve asked you both here to discuss your wedding,” Lu Ye said, lifting his teacup and speaking as if talking about the weather. “I’ve checked the calendar—next month, the eighth, is a most auspicious date. Why not simply hold the wedding then?”

Boom—

Fu Yuting felt as if something exploded in her mind!

Next month, the eighth?

A wedding, just like that?

This was no negotiation—it was a naked decree!

An order from the Lu family, beyond question!

She jerked her head up to look at Lu Ye. In his fathomless eyes, there was no room for discussion—only the certainty of total control.

Xu Qian looked at Fu Yuting, her eyes burning with undisguised jealousy and resentment.

“Uncle!” Xu Qian almost screamed, the pride of being the “future sister-in-law” instantly vanquished by jealousy and fury.

Fu Yuting was going to marry into the Lu family? And in such a hurried yet grand manner?

Why?!

She had been with Lu Jingyan for so long—when had the Lu family ever granted her such a title?

The stinging sense of disparity threw her into a frenzy. Realizing her outburst, she quickly shifted to a sickly sweet tone: “Sister might not be ready yet…”

“Miss Xu!” Lu Ye barked, his voice low but thunderous with authority. His sharp gaze swept coldly over Su Yu, carrying an unmistakable warning. “Family matters of the Lu household are no business of yours!”

Xu Qian was cowed into silence, her words stuck in her throat, her face flushing red as she glared at Fu Yuting with venomous, nearly bleeding eyes.

She cast a plaintive glance at Lu Jingyan, but this time, he didn’t look her way—the golden rims of his glasses framing a mask of calm.

Her hand under the table clenched so tightly her nails bit into her palm, pain keeping her collected.

She couldn’t afford to lose control here, nor directly confront Lu Ye.

But to simply accept this? Impossible!

Did Lu Jingyan really think he could brush her aside so easily?

Dream on!

As Fu Yuting watched the various performances in the room, she couldn’t help but marvel at her own past naivety.

Internally, she scoffed, though her face showed nothing. She put on a demure act. “Perhaps we should ask Jingyan.”

Just as Lu Jingyan was about to reply, the hurried sound of high heels came from the foyer.

All eyes turned.

Su Yu entered, clad in a flamboyant red dress, her face carefully composed, though a trace of pride leaked through.

Her appearance made the atmosphere even stranger.

A remarkable scene unfolded.

Xu Qian, only moments before seething with envy on the sofa, sprang up as if pricked by a needle, forcing a sycophantic, fearful smile.

As if nothing had happened the night before.

Even Lu Jingyan stepped away from Fu Yuting, his expression respectful, perhaps even deliberately so.

Almost in unison, the two greeted her, “Sister-in-law is here!”

Sister-in-law?

Fu Yuting’s heart lurched, her calm façade barely masking her shock.

She looked at Su Yu. Was she really Lu Jingyan’s older brother’s girlfriend?

This realization struck Fu Yuting like a bolt of lightning.

Su Yu basked in the respectful address, her chin lifting, pride nearly overflowing.

So this is what Bo Xingzhou had told the family!

She was secretly elated, believing it signified his recognition of her status—her elevation in the Lu household.

She cast a scornful glance at Fu Yuting, as if to say:

See, I am the true mistress here. And you? You’re not even married in yet.

Fu Yuting quickly forced down the storm in her heart.

So Su Yu was the future eldest daughter-in-law of the Lu family?

Why, then, did she harbor such hostility towards her?

And why had the mysterious eldest son of the Lu family—so influential that Su Yu dared show her open enmity—not yet appeared tonight?

Could it be that he was her enemy, someone so powerful he allowed Su Yu to act with such disregard?

The realization sent a chill down Fu Yuting’s spine.

So that’s it.

Her doubts seemed to find a logical answer.

No wonder Su Yu dared target her so brazenly—she had powerful support.

Was the eldest brother trying to suppress her, the future second daughter-in-law, to solidify his own branch’s position?

Or did he simply despise the Fu family and want to sabotage the marriage?

“Sister-in-law, you’re here.”

Fu Yuting swiftly regained her composure, raising a flawless smile and greeting Su Yu with clear, respectful tones.

Su Yu clearly relished being addressed so formally by Fu Yuting, feeling a gratifying sense of superiority.

She ignored her entirely, instead greeting Lu Ye affectionately.

“Uncle Lu!”

Lu Ye responded warmly, as if she were his own daughter. “Yu Yu, you’re here! Let’s eat then.”

And with that, they headed to the dining table.

Fu Yuting didn’t mind Su Yu’s snub. She had always been the sort to cut down anything in her way, be it gods or demons.

She inclined her head slightly, seating herself with elegance, as if nothing had happened.

The dining room was silent as a tomb.

The exquisite dishes had long gone cold, but no one seemed much inclined to eat.

The suffocating silence was shattered when Xu Qian abruptly stood.

“I—I need to use the restroom,” she stammered, stealing a glance at Lu Jingyan and then hurrying away with her head bowed.

Less than two minutes later, Lu Jingyan also rose, barely holding on to his composure. “I need the restroom too.”

Fu Yuting scoffed inwardly.

So, they couldn’t hold out any longer?

Her chance had come.

She needed evidence—she needed Lu Ye to see for himself, though she wasn’t sure if they were in collusion.

At that moment, Lu Ye was being monopolized by Su Yu, who was clearly trying to influence him.

Fu Yuting seized the opportunity. Like a graceful cat, she rose silently, leaving the engrossed pair behind, and slipped swiftly toward the restroom at the end of the corridor.

The soundproof high-end door was not fully closed, just ajar.

Inside, voices—deliberately hushed—filtered out clearly.

This was the moment she had been waiting for.