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

The black Maybach had just driven into the gates of the Yuhe Duke's Mansion.

Li Quan hurriedly came forward, his face serious. "Young Master, the Chairman said you need to go to the Lu Family Ancestral Hall when you return."

Lu Xiyan's eyes darkened, he nodded, gave Jiang Yao a few instructions about company matters, and then told him to go back to the company first.

He went upstairs, and a text message came through on his phone.

[Xi Yan, Xianxian really likes the gift you gave me, thank you.]

Lu Xiyan smiled and dialed the number.

The call was quickly answered, "west Yan?"

Her voice was gentle and soft, tinged with laughter.

"Looks like the little guy is pretty easy to bribe." He said gently, "Say some nice things about me to get closer to him."

He thought, that kid always talks about how great his dad is, but he'll marry his mom sooner or later, and when they become family, the little guy won't be too averse to his identity.

Anning laughed and said, "He really wants to see you."

"And what about you?" Lu Xiyan asked as he entered the bedroom, phone in one hand.

"I miss you too, so much." An Ning's voice was soft and gentle, like a feather brushing against his heart.

"I'll come find you after I'm done with these next couple of days." Lu Xiyan smiled, his handsome lips curving upwards. "After you've handed over your work to Dong Chenghai, take a few days to rest and then come to Ou Teng."

"Putting me right under your nose?" An Ning asked with a smile, "Aren't you afraid of what people will say?"

"Who dares to say that?" Lu Xiyan said indifferently.

"Then, what about your grandfather..." An Ning hesitated before speaking.

"I'm here, don't worry," Lu Xiyan said in a deep, gentle voice. "Just don't go back on your word."

"I promise I won't go back on my word." An Ning's voice was clear and firm, reaching Lu Xiyan's ears through the receiver. "This time I'm serious. Xiyan, I've thought it through. As long as you still want me, I have nothing to be afraid of."

"Afraid?" Lu Xiyan asked, "Afraid of what? Why be afraid?"

There was a two-second silence on the other end, then a laugh and said, "It's nothing."

Lu Xiyan frowned slightly. She was probably afraid of the rumors that would circulate six years ago. Now that she was divorced and had a child, their status was not considered equal by outsiders, and some of the things said might be even harsher than what was said six years ago.

"You don't need to worry about these things. If anyone says anything unfounded, just pretend you didn't hear it and don't take it to heart," Lu Xiyan said softly. "When I, Lu Xiyan, love someone, I don't need to listen to other people's opinions."

"Mmm," Anning replied obediently. "I don't listen to what others say, I only listen to what you say."

After hanging up the phone, Lu Xiyan took a shower, changed his clothes, went downstairs, and had the driver take him to the Lu Family Ancestral Hall.

......

When Lu Xiyan arrived, Lu Lixiao was already standing in the ancestral hall.

When the lights were off in the ancestral hall, the light was slightly dim. Lu Lixiao stood with his back to the camera, his posture still upright even though he was over seventy years old.

"grandfather."

Lu Xiyan, dressed in a sharp dark suit, had regained his usual aloof and arrogant demeanor. He stood slightly behind and to the side of Lu Lixiao, watching his back.

"Kneel down." Lu Lixiao did not turn around.

Lu Xiyan did not speak, but knelt down in front of the rows of ancestral tablets of the Lu family.

"Have you clearly seen the memorial tablet in front of you?" Lu Lixiao still didn't turn to look at him, but his voice carried an imposing authority despite its lack of anger. "Do you still recognize who he is?"

"I see clearly." Lu Xiyan's expression remained unchanged. "My father."

Lu Lixiao suddenly turned his head and asked sharply, "Then how can you face your father?!"

He pointed at Lu Ling's memorial tablet, "Have you forgotten how your father died, forgotten that your mother fell into a coma because of it! Look at yourself, how can you face your parents!"

Lu Xiyan raised his eyes and stared at the two characters "Lu Ling" on the memorial tablet. "My father died because of me. It was my fault."

"You mean, it has nothing to do with that woman An Ning?" Lu Lixiao was furious. "You're still defending her? Wasn't it her who caused you so much trouble? If it weren't for her, your father would have been home safely long ago, and wouldn't have perished in the plane crash! If your father hadn't died, your mother wouldn't still be in a coma!"

"Have you forgotten what the doctor said! The doctor said your mother won't last much longer if things continue like this! Isn't that a lesson enough for you?!"

Seeing that he showed no remorse, Lu Lixiao became increasingly agitated, "Don't you see what kind of woman she is? Four years ago, for just thirty million, she sold you out! You're only worth thirty million, Lu Xiyan!"

"Her motives are impure; she has ulterior motives! How many times do I have to tell you before you listen!"

The fierce roars echoed through the ancestral hall until the last echo faded away. Lu Xiyan looked firmly at the memorial tablet in front of him. "She wasn't that kind of person. She must have had her reasons for what happened four years ago."

Lu Lixiao's face darkened upon hearing this. "Her predicament? What predicament could a woman with such malicious intentions have? Did I force her to do that? Did I throw that thirty million at her and force her to do it?!"

"Cough cough cough cough—" Lu Lixiao got angrier and angrier as he spoke, and his breathing became difficult. He coughed violently.

"Grandpa!" Lu Xiyan quickly said, "That's not what I meant."

Lu Lixiao stopped coughing and asked him, "So what do you mean? You just think she's kind and innocent, and has no desires for you, right?"

"You don't understand her," Lu Xiyan said. "I know exactly what kind of person she is."

"What do you know? You only dated this woman once and you fell for her, completely manipulated by her. How many women have you even seen?" Lu Lixiao sneered. "Didn't she play you enough four years ago? Haven't you seen her true colors yet?"

He asked angrily, "Lu Xiyan, how many more times do you want to fall for her and lose your life before you're satisfied? Will you be happy when I die because of her, just like your father did?!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiyan's hand, which was hanging by his side, trembled violently, and his eyes turned dark red.

Lu Lixiao's words were like a knife stabbing into his heart.

He was already deeply troubled by Lu Ling's death, but he never blamed An Ning for his father's demise. He blamed himself, believing that his own obsession had led to his father's accident. His mother's coma was also indirectly caused by him.

During those years, he wondered countless times why it was his father who suffered the accident, not him.

He even thought that if he could do it all over again, he would rather give his own life for his father's.

But fate cannot be reversed, and my father ultimately died because of him.

Lu Lixiao's words stung him even more now.

Is he satisfied?

He was not satisfied at all, and even felt extremely regretful.

Every minute and every second before he reconciled with Anning was agonizing.

It was only during those few days at Dianhai, when he was with Anning, that he felt a moment of peace, and his heart, which had been so still and undisturbed, finally found a place to settle down.

"Of course you wouldn't die because of her." Lu Xiyan's voice was hoarse as he stared at Lu Ling's memorial tablet, saying each word clearly, "Even if someone dies, it will be me who dies."

The sound wasn't loud, but it was clearly audible in the quiet ancestral hall.

Lu Lixiao was furious, but when he saw Lu Xiyan's dark red eyes and trembling hands, he ultimately refrained from saying anything more provocative.

He sighed deeply, "Xi Yan, promise your father that as long as you break off all ties with An Ning, I'll pretend that nothing happened these past few days, and I'll give the Cheng family an explanation."

Lu Lixiao looked at him, waiting for him to speak, but two minutes later, Lu Xiyan remained kneeling upright without uttering a word.

"Fine, you'll kneel here all day and reflect on your actions!" Lu Lixiao turned his head, his face dark with anger. "I'll wait until you've thought it through. You'd better know what to do and what to give up."