Chapter 63: Lu Jinchuan Wants to Avoid Suspicion

Wen Ying glanced sideways.

While he was supporting the old lady, Wen Ying happened to catch a trace of brownish lipstick on the collar of his white shirt...

Wen Ying quickly withdrew her gaze.

Before Lu Jinchuan and Su Nian came back from shopping...

Were they kissing?

Or—

Something even deeper...?

No wonder he seemed to be in a pretty good mood—

Turns out he had just returned from a nest of tenderness.

"You two stand together. Come on, Yingying, take his arm." The old lady's voice brought Wen Ying back to her senses.

Wen Ying didn't ask any further.

To ask would only be asking for humiliation.

She could only pretend she hadn't seen it.

As she raised her head, she noticed the old lady pointing her phone at the two of them. Beaming with joy at the sight of them standing together looking like a match made in heaven, the old lady said, "Grandma will take a few pictures of you two and send them to your Great-Aunt."

Wen Ying never expected that her first photograph with Lu Jinchuan would be taken under such circumstances.

"As you please." Lu Jinchuan didn't refuse, which surprised Wen Ying a little.

But then again, it made sense.

In the past, whenever she wanted to take a photo together, he hadn't had the slightest interest.

Now that Grandma was asking, he naturally had to go along with Grandma's mood.

As for taking Lu Jinchuan's arm...

Wen Ying didn't move.

Lu Jinchuan glanced at her thoughtfully, offering no expression of his own.

He checked his wristwatch twice, hinting that he wanted this over with quickly.

Looking frustrated at their lack of romantic synergy, the old lady stepped forward herself and placed Wen Ying's hand on Lu Jinchuan's arm. "That's more like it! You two, give a smile."

Feeling the solid muscles beneath her palm, Wen Ying calmly looked toward the camera.

Both of their expressions were very plain, lacking any real smile.

After the old lady urged them to smile a few times to no avail, she had no choice but to take the pictures as they were.

The more she snapped, the happier she became, clicking away for numerous shots until Lu Jinchuan lowered his arm first.

Wen Ying withdrew her hand as well.

The old lady cradled her phone, chatting with her younger sister and saying cheerfully, "I've sent them to your Great-Aunt, and I've sent them to Jinchuan too. Forward them to Yingying."

Lu Jinchuan nodded slightly and prepared to head upstairs.

Only then did the old lady remember to remind him, "Your Great-Aunt's grandson had a second child, and they're holding a hundred-day banquet this weekend. They've invited the two of you as a young couple."

Wen Ying remained silent and looked at Lu Jinchuan.

Great-Aunt was on the same page as Grandma and had treated her quite kindly over the past couple of years. Even if they were divorced, congratulatory gestures were still expected.

As for whether to go or not—

That depended entirely on Lu Jinchuan.

Lu Jinchuan turned his head back slightly. "Alright, send the invitation to us when the time comes."

Since he had said so, Wen Ying wouldn't object.

Seeing that he was about to head upstairs,

Wen Ying immediately followed after him.

When the old lady saw this scene, she smiled from ear to ear.

The young couple had only been married for three years; wouldn't it be wonderful if they were a bit more clinging to each other?

Just as Lu Jinchuan stepped into the study, Wen Ying stopped in her tracks.

"President Lu, I'll take a few minutes of your time."

Lu Jinchuan looked back, detecting a distinct and palpable politeness in Wen Ying.

He chuckled softly, presumably finding it amusing. "Something the matter?"

"About my grandmother's courtyard house, I need a definitive answer from you." Wen Ying stood at the doorway, not beating around the bush.

Lu Jinchuan could do whatever he wanted.

However, she would not allow his affairs with Su Nian to be brought to her grandmother's doorstep.

That was her bottom line.

Lu Jinchuan loosened his tie, noting the tension in Wen Ying regarding this matter. "Alright, you don't need to worry about it anymore."

Wen Ying was stunned for a second. "Really?"

"She and her mother can choose something better," Lu Jinchuan said leisurely.

Wen Ying was somewhat surprised that Lu Jinchuan had actually backed down.

From her perspective, He Su had clearly been deliberately making things difficult, so logically, he shouldn't have given up on disgusting the Wen family...

Unable to figure it out, Wen Ying instinctively asked, "Did you pay for it?"

Lu Jinchuan looked at her nonchalantly and seemed to smile, his expression carrying a hint of mockery.

He probably thought she was asking a question with an obvious answer.

It was clearly an evident fact.

He had always been generous when it came to Su Nian.

Sensing she had said too much, Wen Ying felt a sense of relief wash over her. "Fine, I get it."

As long as they didn't bring trouble to her and her grandmother, how much money he spent on Su Nian was none of her concern.

That was his freedom.

"Should we buy gifts for Great-Aunt separately?" Wen Ying asked out of habit.

Lu Jinchuan looked at her meticulous manner. "No need, I've already taken care of everything on my end."

"Very well." Wen Ying asked no more.

She turned to leave.

Lu Jinchuan suddenly remembered, "I'll send you the photos."

Wen Ying hesitated and looked back. "Huh?"

Lu Jinchuan had already taken out his phone. The old lady had sent him six pictures; he long-pressed to select multiple items, tapped forward, and scrolled down to find Wen Ying's WeChat.

Just as he was about to tap one-click forward, Su Nian's incoming call suddenly popped up on his phone screen.

He glanced indifferently at Wen Ying and, without the slightest hesitation, closed the door on her to take the call.

He had no desire to let Wen Ying overhear or interrupt their conversation.

Wen Ying: "..."

She pressed her lips together.

Without lingering, she turned and walked away.

Even when the old lady asked her to stay for lunch, she declined, citing matters at the company.

Meanwhile.

After finishing her call, Lu Jinchuan picked up his coat and went out.

He had completely forgotten about sending the photos to Wen Ying.

_

The weekend.

Early in the morning, Lu Jinchuan called Wen Ying. "Send me your address. I'll pick you up to go to Great-Aunt's place."

Wen Ying looked at her small apartment and had no intention of letting him come over. "No need, I'll go by myself."

Lu Jinchuan's tone was unhurried, devoid of any discernible emotion. "Grandma requested it. I must go with you."

Wen Ying was silent for a moment. "Downstairs at Feixi."

The call was promptly and cleanly hung up on the other end.

Wen Ying tidied up and took the subway there.

As it turned out, Lu Jinchuan had just arrived.

Today, Zhao Ke was driving the Maybach that Lu Jinchuan usually drove himself.

Lu Jinchuan was sitting in the back seat, head bowed as he looked at his iPad.

Wen Ying pondered for a moment. Given how awkward their relationship currently was, sitting together would likely feel extremely uncomfortable, so she moved to open the front passenger door.

At that moment, Lu Jinchuan looked up.

"Sit in the back."

Wen Ying's movement was halted, but she didn't make a fuss. Calmly turning around, she settled down in the seat beside him.

Zhao Ke glanced at Wen Ying.

His look carried a profound meaning.

Noticing this, Wen Ying looked up.

To her surprise, she spotted a lipstick and a compact mirror resting on the glove compartment right above the front passenger seat.

...Someone frequently touched up their makeup here.

So that was it.

The front passenger seat was his girlfriend's exclusive spot.

She was not qualified.

It wasn't that he wanted to sit with her.

Wen Ying turned her head to look out the car window, her expression calm and waveless.

Great-Aunt's family had booked the entire second floor for her great-grandson's hundred-day banquet.

The guests coming and going were all prominent figures of high status and prestige.

When getting out of the car,

Wen Ying went to the trunk to retrieve the prepared gift.

She discovered there were three brocade boxes.

She hesitated slightly.

Lu Jinchuan walked over, took two of them, and handed them to her.

Wen Ying withdrew her gaze from the remaining brocade box, which looked distinctly different from the others.

Receiving a phone call, Lu Jinchuan slipped one hand into his pocket and said to Wen Ying sideways, "You go on up first."

Wen Ying nodded and turned around.

In truth, she understood what Lu Jinchuan meant.

There would likely be many familiar faces here today; if he appeared together with her, their marital relationship would naturally be exposed.

Furthermore,

If word truly got out that he had a history of marriage with her,

How would Su Nian—his current girlfriend who was currently basking in the limelight—conduct herself?

Lu Jinchuan simply wanted to... avoid suspicion.