After vomiting several times, Lin Xi finally felt more at ease. She took a deep breath, washed her face, and tidied up her appearance before coming out.
"Mom, I apologize for my earlier behavior; I lost control for a moment," Lin Xi said, feeling embarrassed as she looked at Yun Shu, who was sitting on the sofa.
Yun Shu simply smiled and replied, "No problem."
She then gestured for Lin Xi to sit next to her, and Lin Xi immediately sat down, feeling extremely nervous. Her heart was pounding, and her breathing was uneven. However, what worried her the most was that her mother-in-law might ask about her vomiting.
But fate had its way.
In the next moment, her mother-in-law's voice sounded right next to her ear, "What happened just now? I saw you were vomiting quite severely. Do you need to go to the hospital?"
Oh my God! Lin Xi was startled. It seemed that her worst fears had come true.
"Mom, it's okay. I accidentally ate some eggs, and I've been a bit allergic these past few days," Lin Xi replied, trying to make her voice and tone sound perfectly natural, with no hint of any flaws.
"Be more careful next time; allergies are no small matter," Yun Shu earnestly advised, not thinking too much about it.
"Yes, Mom, I'll be more careful in the future."
Yun Shu didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point.
"If I remember correctly, yesterday was your two-year wedding anniversary."
"Yes!" Lin Xi obediently nodded.
"In life, you'll encounter all sorts of people. Some you may never meet in a lifetime, while others are passing encounters. Being able to become husband and wife isn't easy. Now that you're married and have the certificate, you should cherish this bond."
"People say it's better to destroy ten temples than to break one marriage. If you still love each other, you should put in some effort and hold onto it. As for Fang Qinglian, what are you afraid she might do? Not just me, but the entire Lu family, your grandfather, and your father, none of us like her, none of us agree with her being here. We are your strongest support."
Yun Shu's words made Lin Xi feel emotional, as if tears were welling up in her eyes.
Although her mother had passed away many years ago, and her father had never shown her an ounce of paternal love, she felt incredibly fortunate to have married into the Lu family.
They didn't despise her; instead, they cared for her, pampered her, protected her, and loved her.
She could never repay this kindness in her lifetime.
"Mom, I know, and I will cherish it."
"Do you truly understand?" Yun Shu suddenly looked at her with a sharp gaze. "I can see that you and Yunxi are hiding something. If you really understand, you wouldn't be so eager to mention divorce."
"Don't think that I don't know what you and Yunxi are planning. Grandfather is about to turn eighty, and he's not in the best health. If you dare to do anything to upset him, I won't forgive you, and I'll make sure all your thoughts are crushed and swallowed back."
Lin Xi suddenly raised her head, looking at her incredulously. "Mom, how did you know?"
As she spoke, her voice became as faint as a mosquito.
She kept her head down, unable to face her mother-in-law.
Yun Shu sighed. "Regardless of why Yunxi married you, it doesn't matter. Since you're married and have a certificate, you're a married couple. As husband and wife, you should cherish each other. Don't think I don't know what plans you and Yunxi have. If you know what's good for you, you'll drop all those thoughts. Chew them up and swallow them back into your stomach."
Lin Xi hesitated for a long time after Yun Shu left, considering whether to call Lu Yunxi and tell him that her mother already knew about their plans for divorce.
Torn by indecision, she was so exhausted that she fell asleep on the sofa.
As soon as Yun Shu left Lin Xi's house, she called Lu Yunxi. "I'll be at the old house in half an hour. You need to see me once I get home."
Lu Yunxi had a headache. "Mom, I'm still outside."
Yun Shu replied directly, "I know. You left your wife behind to accompany Fang Qinglian shopping, right? If you don't come, I'll go straight to the mall to find Fang Qinglian. If she causes any trouble again, don't blame me for not showing mercy. It's up to you to decide!"
"I'll come."
Lu Yunxi hadn't even had a chance to speak before Yun Shu decisively hung up the phone.
"Qinglian, go ahead and shop. Once you're done, I'll have the driver take you home," Lu Yunxi said gently.
Fang Qinglian immediately sensed something was amiss. "Yunxi, are you leaving first?"
"Yes, I have something urgent to attend to."
"Alright, then you go ahead. I'll take care of myself, so you don't have to worry."
"Okay."
Just as Lu Yunxi was about to turn and leave, Fang Qinglian suddenly spoke again, "Yunxi, wait!"
"What is it?"
Fang Qinglian wheeled herself over and reached out, her slender fingers meticulously adjusting the tie on Lu Yunxi's collar.
"There, your tie was a little crooked."
"Thank you!"
Watching Lu Yunxi's departing figure, Xiaoman muttered, "Miss, why didn't you stop Mr. Lu? You just let him leave like that."
"Because he gave me a wake-up call today."
"What wake-up call?"
"The day before yesterday, we had an argument about postponing the divorce, and he was very unhappy. Today, it's the same issue again. I need to give him some space and trust him a bit more. If I push too hard, it might backfire."
"Miss, aren't you afraid he'll fall in love with his wife?"
Fang Qinglian's eyes became complicated.
After a long pause, she finally spoke, "Yes, I'm afraid, of course."
"But then I comforted myself. They've been married for two years, and Yunxi hasn't fallen in love with her. It's only been this one week; their feelings can't have suddenly skyrocketed in these seven days! I endured for a full two years overseas, over seven hundred days, and I can't let all that effort go to waste. I must stay steady and not let myself get confused."
When Lu Yunxi returned to the old Lu family estate, Yun Shu was already waiting for him in the study.
It was around five o'clock in the afternoon, and the sun was setting.
The orange-red evening glow painted the sky, and one could see the beautiful sight of the setting sun from the window, Yun Shu's favorite time of day.
The room had an antique charm, with a faint hint of incense lingering in the air.
On the tea table next to them, the tea exuded a rich fragrance, refreshing and inviting.
When Lu Yunxi pushed open the door and entered, Yun Shu had just finished brewing the tea.
He sat down on the other side of the tea table, his long legs comfortably stretched out. Casually, he picked up a teacup and took a whiff. "Mom, your tea still smells so good?"
"So what if it smells good? Your father still prefers the tea that Ji Rou brews. He says the tea she makes is romantic and charming, full of love stories. The tea I make is just as dull as I am."
"Mom," Lu Yunxi frowned, "Why bring her up? What's the point?"
"Why? I'm not allowed to mention your father's old flame? You can flaunt your little lover everywhere you go, but I can't mention her? Lu Yunxi, you're quite something."
"Have you considered Lin Xi at all? She's like iron? Won't she feel uncomfortable?"