Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Having stayed up late on New Year's Eve, Lu Yao woke up groggily for breakfast, and by the time he had changed, it was almost ten in the morning.

Fu Yanhuai patiently waited for him to finish eating. It was customary to wear new clothes for the New Year, but Lu Yao no longer had that concern—his wardrobe was already overflowing.

"I’ll go downstairs with you," Lu Yao said, looking up at him. "I’ll come back up if I get tired."

Fu Yanhuai paused for a moment before replying, "Alright. Just take a quick walk around, then come back up. No one will mind."

Lu Yao followed Fu Yanhuai down the stairs at a slow pace. Not many guests had arrived yet, but friends and acquaintances had already clustered together, chatting. Fu Yanhuai's conversations were all business-related, and Lu Yao listened quietly, having nothing to add.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with the guests, Fu Yanhuai turned to Lu Yao and said quietly, "There’s a dessert table over there. Go pick a few things you like and take them back to the room. It’ll get too crowded soon."

Lu Yao’s pregnancy was quite visible now, and his lightweight home clothes made him acutely aware of the attention he drew.

"Do I not need to greet anyone else?" Lu Yao asked softly.

"No," Fu Yanhuai replied gently. "Go ahead."

Lu Yao walked over to the tea table in the side hall. The kitchen had prepared many small pastries, but since he had just eaten breakfast, he wasn’t very hungry.

He meandered to the end of the table and back. Outside in the main hall, well-dressed socialites mingled, making Lu Yao acutely aware of the gap between himself and them.

Sighing, he picked up a small cup of yogurt and headed for the side staircase.

"Little Deer!"

Lu Yao had just been about to step onto the stairs when he heard the call. Turning around, he saw Xia Shiyue at the side hall entrance, making funny faces at him.

"Shiyue! Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?" Lu Yao’s face visibly brightened.

Xia Shiyue approached and lowered his voice. "I came with my dad. Fu Yanhuai’s being surprisingly nice today—he told me I could come find you."

So it was Fu Yanhuai’s doing. Lu Yao liked him a bit more, but then he frowned at Xia Shiyue. "Why are you whispering?"

Xia Shiyue stepped aside, gesturing toward the main hall. "In a setting like this, if I speak even a little too loudly, I’ll be the talk of the town till next year."

Though Xia Shiyue was used to such occasions, that didn’t mean he enjoyed them. Being able to slip away was a blessing.

"Let’s go upstairs then," Lu Yao suggested. "No one’s up there today."

Xia Shiyue climbed the stairs without hesitation. He had already greeted Fu Jizhong and Mrs. Wen on his way in.

"Shen Tai only brought Shen Changyu today. If Shen Jinyan were still around, he’d definitely be the one coming to the Fu household."

It took Lu Yao a couple of seconds to remember that Shen Jinyan had gone abroad for studies. By now, Lu Yao could face the thought of him calmly. He lowered his eyes. "The chance to study is precious."

If possible, Lu Yao would have loved to continue his own unfinished education.

Xia Shiyue seemed to realize he’d touched a sore spot and quickly changed the subject. "After the New Year, I might need to revamp my café."

Lu Yao looked at him curiously. "What’s wrong?"

Xia Shiyue slowed his pace to match Lu Yao’s as they climbed the stairs. He sighed. "Business… is barely staying afloat with my allowance."

Lu Yao’s heart sank. "Did… did you lose money again?"

Xia Shiyue nodded grimly. Lu Yao hesitated before asking, "So how are you planning to reform it?"

Xia Shiyue let out a long sigh. "I don’t know."

The mention of his café brought a wave of melancholy.

He flopped down in the media room, gloomy. "Maybe I’m just not cut out for entrepreneurship."

Lu Yao comforted him softly. "Don't say that. You’re just new to this type of business. It takes time to learn."

His pregnant belly made movements a little clumsy as he sat down. Xia Shiyue asked sadly, "Will you come back after the New Year?"

Lu Yao didn’t give an immediate answer. "Nian Nian’s been stable lately, but I haven’t talked to Fu Yanhuai about it yet."

Staying home all day, eating and sleeping, had gotten boring. The first few months had been due to his condition, but now Lu Yao felt ready to return to work.

Xia Shiyue admitted honestly, "I'd feel better with you around."

Lu Yao thought hard for another angle to console him. "At least this time, you've kept the café open longer than before. If you keep at it, maybe you’ll make it to six months."

Maybe by then, the business would pick up. Xia Shiyue brightened a little. "Persistence pays off. If I persist, I’ll succeed eventually."

Lu Yao relaxed. "Yes, you definitely will."

As Xia Shiyue browsed for a movie, he chatted idly. "If my café fails again, what do you plan to do?"

Lu Yao said shyly. "Open a dessert shop."

Xia Shiyue’s eyes widened. "So you like entrepreneurship too!"

That might be overstating it. Lu Yao cleared his throat. "I’d work as a pastry chef somewhere first to save up, then open a small place."

With desserts, what matters most is quality and taste—and Lu Yao genuinely enjoyed the craft.

"I think that’s great," Xia Shiyue said approvingly. "You could create your own brand. I’ll help promote it."

That was still far off. Lu Yao laughed. "It's just a thought for now. No need to think too much about it."

There was a soft knock at the door. Xia Shiyue frowned. "Who is it?"

A maid entered with a tray of fruit and snacks. "Mrs. Wen asked me to bring these. She said you and Mr. Lu shouldn’t rush downstairs and can stay here a while longer."

"Oh, Aunt Wen," Xia Shiyue mused. "She’s that kind of warm mother every kid dreams of having."

Lu Yao seemed distracted. "Yeah, she really is."

After the maid left, she quietly approached Mrs. Wen and said quietly, "Madam, I’ve delivered the snacks upstairs."

Mrs. Wen nodded in acknowledgment before turning back to the two women she was speaking with a smile. "One always worries more about the children at home..."

"Indeed. I heard Fu Yanhuai's partner is pregnant?"

"No need for formalities—it’s been five months now. Anyone can see Fu Yanhuai isn't exactly nurturing, so it is left to me and Old Fu to fuss over things."

The surrounding guests had mixed reactions, but they all offered congratulations. "This is wonderful news! How wonderful."

Mrs. Wen chatted with the society ladies for a long while before finally managing to excuse herself to catch her breath.

The maid took the opportunity to approach again. Mrs. Wen asked, "Is the Xia boy upstairs too?"

"Yes," the maid replied respectfully. "They’re both in the media room."

Wen Zheng couldn't help but murmur in relief, "Luckily Little Deer didn't come downstairs, otherwise we'd have our hands full."

She glanced around but didn't see Fu Yanhuai. She frowned and asked, "Where's Yanhuai? Where did he go?"

"Just saw him earlier—looked like he went to the balcony."

Wen Zheng's eyebrow gave a slight twitch. Keeping her cool, she said, "Alright, go ahead."

Without making a sound, Wen Zheng made her way to the balcony. Fu Yanhuai was leaning against the railing, on a phone call.

"How long will it take to draft the contract in detail?"

"No rush. I'll meet with you in person after the new year. Yeah, he's still in the dark."

Wen Zheng raised an eyebrow. Who doesn't know? And what don't they know?

She tapped lightly on the balcony's glass door. Hearing the sound, Fu Yanhuai turned and quickly ended the call with a few brief words.

"Mom."

Wen Zheng walked up casually, pretending nothing was amiss. "What brings you out here? More work?"

Fu Yanhuai replied flatly, "Yes, just a minor matter."

Wen Zheng eyed him skeptically. "That better be all it is."