After returning home with the child, her ex-husband knelt down and gently coaxed her.

It was almost 11 p.m. when dinner ended.

Qichuan City's nights are different from Jinghai's. Here, people work at sunrise and rest at sunset. By this time of night, most of the lights have been turned off, with only a few streets in the city center still lit by warm yellow lights.

After leaving the restaurant, the two strolled along the street with streetlights.

The unprecedented ease and comfort made Anning feel as if it were all a dream.

Her right hand was tightly gripped in the palm of a large hand. Lu Xiyan's palm was dry and warm, and the warmth seeped into her heart through her skin.

The streetlights cast long shadows of them. An Ning tilted her head slightly, and the man's exquisite and sculpted profile was silhouetted against the warm light, creating a scene reminiscent of a masterpiece that was impossible to look away from.

Four years have passed, but his handsome appearance remains unchanged.

His demeanor has changed; he is now much more composed and self-controlled, reserved yet powerful.

An Ning was engrossed in watching when the headlights of a vehicle in front of her flashed by.

A black Bentley slowly drove up and stopped across the street.

Lu Xiyan's deep gaze swept over the familiar license plate number, his steps faltered, and his eyes darkened.

An Ning followed his gaze and saw a car from Jinghai.

Such an eye-catching license plate number indicates a top-tier luxury car.

An Ning felt a surge of panic.

They are from the Lu family.

"Wait for me a moment."

Lu Xiyan pointed to the milk tea shop a few meters ahead, "Let's go get something to drink, I'll come find you later."

After saying that, as if still worried, he added, "Don't run around."

"I know," Anning nodded with a smile. "I'll wait for you to come back."

......

In a private coffee shop that was about to close late at night, the owner served the last two customers before closing time. He was about to tell them that he was already closed, but they gave him a stack of red bills, which inspired him to quickly make two more cups of his signature coffee to serve them.

"Did Grandpa send you?"

Lu Xiyan was relaxed, a smile playing on his lips, and asked directly.

The man sitting opposite him was dressed in a dark suit, handsome, and exuded the air of a wealthy scion.

Lu Wei'an didn't answer his question. Instead, he looked out the window and surveyed the surroundings. He smiled and said, "This is indeed a good place. Although it's a small town, it looks quite peaceful."

He turned to look at Lu Xiyan, "Your phone has been switched off the whole time, and I can't get through to you. Are you neglecting both work and family matters and planning to stay here?"

Lu Xiyan knew that as long as his phone was on, he would be bombarded with countless phone calls. He could ignore the Cheng family's calls, but he had to deal with the old man's calls, so it was better to turn it off for peace and quiet.

"Are you here to take me back?"

"Do you think I can even touch you?" Lu Wei'an chuckled. "In the entire Lu family, who would dare to touch you, my second young master?"

The coffee was served, and Lu Wei'an took a sip, seemingly quite satisfied.

"west Yan, your broken engagement has enraged Grandpa. He's throwing a tantrum at home. If I hadn't told him I was coming to find you, Grandpa would probably be here right now."

He looked out the window. "In that case, the girl might be put in a difficult position by her grandfather."

"I won't let Grandpa make things difficult for her." Lu Xiyan's eyes were deep and firm. "I'll go back and explain to Grandpa."

"How do you explain this?" Lu Wei'an asked. "Are you going to continue your engagement with Cheng Wanwan or cancel it outright? If you continue, what will happen to the girl? If you cancel it, have you considered the consequences? Will the Cheng family let this go? Will Grandpa agree?"

He took a sip of coffee, sighed softly, and said, "That's why I came here this time to advise you to think things through before going back. Think twice before you act, and don't make a decision you'll regret."

"I've made my choice." Lu Xiyan looked at him, his voice firm and unwavering. "Whether Grandpa agrees or not, I'm going to marry Anning."

Upon hearing this, Lu Wei'an raised an eyebrow and smiled, "The Lu family doesn't want it anymore?"

He laughed and said, "Actually, we can all see that Grandpa intends to pass the position of successor to you. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths to push for your engagement with the Cheng family. He's doing this simply to find a reasonable excuse for you to take over the Lu family."

"But you and I both know that since we're grooming you as our successor, your marriage is not up to you. Even if it's not Cheng Wanwan by your side, it has to be someone who is good enough to be a daughter of another prominent family in the Lu family."

What Lu Wei'an didn't finish saying was—it definitely wouldn't be An Ning.

As long as the old man is alive, he will not allow a girl from an ordinary family to enter the Lu family.

His words were very straightforward, but they were all true.

Once Lu Xiyan returns to Jinghai, he will have to make a choice.

He either needs to get engaged to Cheng Wanwan to smoothly take over the Lu family.

He could choose to give up everything in the Lu family and pretend that the Lu family didn't exist, but even if he was willing to give up, the old man would not let it go.

If Anning follows him, she will only suffer endless hardships.

Either way, one will face enormous pressure.

"Actually, I knew this day would come," Lu Wei'an said with a smile. "Although we're not blood brothers, I know you pretty well. Feelings are something that people can't control. Even though you've been separated for four years, even though she hurt you, you still can't let her go. As long as she appears in your world, you'll surrender."

Listening to his insightful views on love, Lu Xiyan suddenly smiled and asked, "What about you and your sister-in-law?"

The "sister-in-law" he mentioned was Lu Wei'an's secret lover, but Lu Wei'an never publicly acknowledged the relationship.

Lu Wei'an quickly stopped him, "You're not married yet, you can't call her sister-in-law, my father and grandfather will be unhappy if they hear it."

"You've been with her for almost ten years now, aren't you going to give her a proper status?" Lu Xiyan asked.

Lu Wei'an smiled helplessly, looking at the brown liquid in his glass. "I'm just an illegitimate child, I have no right to pursue my own feelings. From the moment I was brought back to the Lu family, I haven't been living for myself."

"That's why Grandpa favors you even more, and even wants to give you the position of successor. As for me, I am just a means for my father to pursue his career, and also a tool for Grandpa to inspire your fighting spirit."

Lu Wei'an looked up at the man opposite him who looked completely different from him, yet bore some resemblance. "But Xi Yan, I've always treated you like a younger brother. I've never wanted to compete with you for anything."

Lu Wei'an was caught in the vortex himself, feeling utterly helpless.

His mother tried her best to be gentle and graceful in her words and actions within the Lu family, just so she could have a place in the family.

His striving for excellence and perfection in everything he did was simply to please Lu Jin.

"If you want the position of successor, I'll help you."