Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Back home, Lu Yao was visibly distracted. He sat on the living room carpet, Nian Nian nestled against him, while Cream played nearby.

"What's wrong? You seem worse after coming back from the hospital." Xia Shiyue dropped down beside Lu Yao. "What happened?"

Lu Yao turned to Xia Shiyue, hesitating before speaking. "No, I'm not unwell. I just feel a little strange."

Xia Shiyue asked, puzzled, "Strange? How so?"

"It's Fu Yanhuai," Lu Yao began, then trailed off. "Fu Yanhuai… he's a bit strange."

Xia Shiyue immediately sat up straight, alert. "What do you mean? How is he strange? Did he say something to you?"

Lu Yao looked genuinely perplexed, but after mulling over his thoughts, he could only manage a vague, "I just feel like he's different from before."

Xia Shiyue also grew confused. He carefully considered Lu Yao's words before cautiously suggesting, "Maybe he's turned over a new leaf."

"No," Lu Yao still couldn't pinpoint exactly what was off about Fu Yanhuai. "It's something else. Never mind, maybe I'm overthinking it."

Nian Nian, hearing their conversation, lifted his head and reached up with a series of wordless murmurs, wanting Lu Yao to pick him up.

Lu Yao fell silent, dropping the topic. He lifted Nian Nian, who then grandly settled himself between Lu Yao and Xia Shiyue.

Nian Nian twisted his neck to look at Xia Shiyue, then twisted back to gaze at Lu Yao.

Xia Shiyue almost laughed. "What? You want to chime in too?"

Nian Nian wrapped his arms around Lu Yao's neck and began fiddling with the buttons on his shirt. Lu Yao kissed the child's cheek, making Nian Nian giggle with delight, immediately letting go to laugh uncontrollably.

Nian Nian was a clingy yet lively chubby toddler. Watching him, Lu Yao gradually felt his mind calm.

The two played with Nian Nian for a while longer before heading out. Xia Shiyue remarked to Lu Yao, "You really are a great dad."

Lu Yao said softly, "When I was very young, I used to think that if I ever had a child, I'd give them all my love. Then, as I grew a little older, I forgot I'd ever had that thought."

Xia Shiyue continued, "And then you had Nian Nian."

Lu Yao smiled. "Yes."

As a child, he had envied how Lu Qianxing could be pampered in front of Guan Qinglu. Whenever Lu Yao approached her, she only ever met him with dissatisfaction and scolding.

Lu Yao wouldn't let Nian Nian experience that. Nian Nian would grow up happy.

In the end, Xia Shiyue and Lu Yao chose the shop across from Fu Group headquarters. They had a lot of work ahead of them, and the two sat in the unfinished shop reviewing Fu Yanhuai's proposal.

Xia Shiyue flipped through the pages critically, skimming to the end before flipping back. He closed it with a hint of disdain. "Did Fu Yanhuai really make this himself? Not some assistant or subordinate doing it for him?"

Lu Yao didn't know either. "Whoever made it, if it's good, we'll use it. If not, we can always ask Uncle Xia for advice."

Xia Shiyue had an idea. "I'll say I made it and show it to my dad."

He picked it up confidently. "His feedback will definitely be impartial, and I won't be taking credit for something that isn't mine."

Lu Yao didn't object, but he hesitated momentarily.

Fu Yanhuai was a proud man. If he found out his work was being judged by someone else, he'd probably be upset.

"Lu Yao?" Xia Shiyue waved a hand in front of his face. "What are you thinking about?"

Lu Yao hesitated. "Maybe we should show it to Dad instead."

Xia Shiyue hadn't expected that. "Uncle Fu? That works too."

Lu Yao took the proposal back, his expression showing a hint of regret. Xia Shiyue quietly confirmed that Fu Yanhuai must have done something—Lu Yao was acting unusually.

"Let's head back first. Aunt Wen said she's personally making soup tonight, so we shouldn't eat out."

Lu Yao nodded. He and Xia Shiyue walked out of the shop one after the other. Unconsciously, Lu Yao glanced up at the top floor of Fu Group headquarters—Fu Yanhuai's office.

Today, unusually, it was pitch black. The lights were off.

Lu Yao froze. When he'd gotten into the car earlier, Fu Yanhuai had said he still had work at the company and wouldn't be riding back with him.

But Fu Yanhuai wasn't in his office. He hadn't gone back to the company.

Had Fu Yanhuai lied to him? Why?

Lu Yao couldn't think of anything worth Fu Yanhuai going to such lengths to hide from him now. Puzzled, he murmured, "Did he go home instead?"

Xia Shiyue, who had walked ahead, turned back after a few steps. He studied Lu Yao's expression. "Little Deer, what's really going on with you?"

His tone turned serious. "What exactly did Fu Yanhuai say to you? You've been distracted ever since you got back from the hospital."

"He didn't say anything," Lu Yao replied, his unease growing. He pressed his lips together. "It's like... Fu Yanhuai is deliberately keeping something from me."

Xia Shiyue's gaze turned sharp. "Is he cheating?"

Lu Yao thought for a moment. "He wouldn't need to go to such lengths for that."

They were already divorced. Fu Yanhuai could be with whoever he wanted—Lu Yao had no right to interfere.

Xia Shiyue grabbed Lu Yao's arm. "Come on, let's go back first."

By the time they returned, it wasn't even dinnertime yet, but Lu Yao's thoughts were racing.

Xia Shiyue closed the bedroom door and sat on the bed, staring at Lu Yao.

"Walk me through everything that happened at the hospital today. In detail."

Lu Yao recalled, "From the morning on, he was acting strange. His demeanor was different—more intense, yet not quite."

Xia Shiyue listened, completely bewildered.

Lu Yao continued, "Then he went for the medicine. After that, it was like he was deliberately trying to keep his distance from me. He passed me the medicine through the car window. He said he had work at the company and left first, but just now... his office lights were off."

Xia Shiyue went quiet, rubbing his chin. "That does seem odd. But don't assume the worst. Maybe he simply finished work early and went home."

Lu Yao's neck tingled strangely again. He reached up to touch it. "You think that's all?"

"At dinner, you can check with Aunt Wen," Xia Shiyue suggested. "She'll definitely know what's happening."

Lu Yao's expression lightened instantly. "Good point."

Rather than worrying about it, he could just ask his mother. She'd know what Fu Yanhuai was doing.

"Fu Yanhuai?"

Wen Zheng scooped a spoonful of soup for Lu Yao and asked in surprise, "Little Deer, why are you suddenly asking about him?"

Lu Yao took the soup bowl, "Thanks, Mom. I just feel like he's been really busy lately."

Wen Zheng sat down and cautiously probed, "Did he upset you again?"

"Not at all," Lu Yao felt awkward bringing up Fu Yanhuai out of the blue and mumbled vaguely, "Just wondering."

Wen Zheng glanced at Fu Jizhong, who pretended not to notice her look. He leaned over to pull Nian Nian's baby high chair closer, "Come, Nian Nian, eat with Grandpa. Time to eat!"

Wen Zheng turned away unhappily, "There was a project at the company recently, but it's almost done. Work-wise, he shouldn't be too busy."

"Oh, I see."

Yet Lu Yao couldn't shake the strange feeling in his heart and couldn't help asking another question, "What about other things? Has he been... acting strangely in any way?"

Wen Zheng looked puzzled, "No... not that I know of."

Fu Yanhuai didn't seem like someone who would have issues, but Wen Zheng still took mental note. She smiled at Lu Yao, "Let's eat first. Try the soup I made and see if it's good."

Lu Yao also realized he was being odd and masked it by taking a sip of the soup. He looked up at Wen Zheng with bright eyes, "Mom, the soup is delicious."

Wen Zheng gazed at him fondly, "Go on, eat up."

Xia Shiyue, sitting beside Lu Yao, jumped in, "Uncle Fu, I have a proposal here. Could you and Little Deer take a look at it for me?"

Fu Jizhong readily agreed, "Of course! Where is it? Let me see. Very good, Shiyue. Old Xia always praises your diligence, and it's true."

Xia Shiyue immediately said, "Right here, here."

In one quick motion, Xia Shiyue pulled out the proposal from who-knows-where. Nian Nian, sucking on his pacifier, watched as the proposal passed from Xia Shiyue's hands to Fu Jizhong's.

Wen Zheng gently chided, "We're eating, and you're bringing out these things."

Fu Jizhong found the bobbing pacifier adorable and chuckled, pinching Nian Nian's cheek, "What are you looking at? You can't understand this yet. Grandpa will teach you when you're older."

Nian Nian watched curiously as the pages of the proposal turned one by one, just like the storybook Lu Yao read to him at bedtime.

Fu Jizhong's smile was warm when he first opened it, but as he carefully read the first page, his expression became unreadable.

Fu Yanhuai's style was distinctive. He recognized at a glance that the planning approach was arranged by Fu Yanhuai.

After finishing, Fu Jizhong tentatively asked, "Did you write this, Shiyue?"

"No," Xia Shiyue answered honestly. "It was generously provided by a helpful friend. Uncle Fu, what do you think of the proposal?"

Fu Jizhong pondered, "Though a bit rough and not very detailed, the overall direction is solid. Have you already secured a location?"

Xia Shiyue nodded, "Yes, we chose a spot on the commercial pedestrian street in the financial center."

Fu Jizhong's expression became more guarded. He adjusted his posture, "That's a good spot. Very good."

It sounded close to Fu Group's headquarters. Could Fu Yanhuai have picked the location?

The table fell silent, with only Nian Nian chewing away and trying to grab the proposal.

Nian Nian kept wriggling, and Lu Yao straightened him up, "You can't eat anything yet. Sit still."

Nian Nian fussed in protest. Fu Jizhong soothed him, "Oh, want something tasty? You're too little to eat. How about Grandpa holds you?"

Lu Yao watched helplessly as Fu Jizhong took Nian Nian into his arms. Surprisingly, Fu Jizhong was the one who spoiled Nian Nian the most in the family—even Wen Zheng didn't indulge all his demands.

Nian Nian kept staring at the proposal on the table. Fu Jizhong held him closer to the table, "What do you want to grab?"

Nian Nian huffed and puffed as he grabbed a corner of the proposal and lifted it excitedly, waving it at Lu Yao, "Mm-mm!"

Lu Yao paused for a moment before taking the proposal from Nian Nian's hands and scooping him up into his arms.

He explained to Fu Jizhong, "Nian Nian likes bedtime stories. He probably wants me to read to him."

Fu Jizhong understood, "Oh, I see."

Wen Zheng acted like she didn't hear and went back to her soup. It seemed she really needed to find out what Fu Yanhuai was up to lately.