In the elevator, Xue Luan had been taken advantage of by Lu Chen, and she still felt unsettled. Hearing her father's voice, she gave a playful pout, and suddenly leaped forward, her long, slender legs kicking towards Xue Baitao.
Xue Baitao hadn't expected his daughter to attack without any warning, but his face remained calm and affectionate. He took a subtle step back, effortlessly dodging her kick, though the gust from her leg stirred his clothing.
Xue Luan never expected to land a hit, so she followed with a shout, leaping into the air and unleashing a series of rapid kicks. Xue Baitao blocked each one with ease, and finally, with a quick tug on her leg, he sent her sprawling, ending up in an awkward split on the ground.
Clapping his hands, Xue Baitao sat back down in the garden pavilion, calmly sipping his tea. As Xue Luan huffed and stomped over to him, he smiled and said, "What's got you so worked up, my dear? Did someone really manage to bully you?"
Sitting across from him, Xue Luan's mind was filled with thoughts of Lu Chen's dismissive attitude towards her. He had seen her naked, yet acted as if he didn't care at all. The thought of him looking down on her gnawed at her pride, making her fume with anger.
Her small hands clenched into fists, and she ground her teeth. "Father, I've found you a son-in-law," she announced.
Xue Baitao, in the middle of sipping his tea, grunted in acknowledgment, but then, realizing what she had said, his eyes widened, and he sprayed his tea out in surprise. Luckily, Xue Luan had anticipated this and managed to avoid the splash.
With a face full of disbelief, Xue Baitao touched his forehead, muttering to himself, "Strange, I don't have a fever, so why am I hearing things?"
Xue Luan walked over, grabbed her father's arm, and shook it playfully. "Dad, what nonsense are you talking about?"
Xue Baitao laughed heartily. "I was starting to think I'd have to take care of my daughter for the rest of her life! So, you've finally decided to settle down, eh? Tell me, which young man has caught your eye? I'll send someone to arrange the proposal right away."
Xue Luan pouted. "Dad, stop bringing up those spoiled rich boys. They're all so pathetic. Even if I never marry, I'd never settle for someone like them."
Xue Baitao chuckled. "Of course! My daughter deserves the best. The man you choose must be extraordinary. When will you bring him home to meet your stepmothers and me?"
Xue Luan rolled her eyes at how eager her father seemed. "He already has a girlfriend. Are you still okay with that?"
Xue Baitao blinked in confusion, then laughed. "A girlfriend, huh? So what? Do you think my daughter can't win him over?"
Xue Luan's lips twitched. "If he dumps his girlfriend for me, I wouldn't even want him."
Xue Baitao looked like he had been struck dumb. The old man stood up straight and stared at Xue Luan, wide-eyed. "You… You're not thinking of being someone's second wife, are you?"
Xue Luan's icy facade momentarily cracked, a glint of cold light flashing in her eyes. "That depends on whether he's lucky enough to deserve me."
Xue Baitao was perplexed. From the way she talked about him, it seemed like Xue Luan wanted to tear the man apart, but at the same time, she was talking about making him her husband. Rubbing his temples, Xue Baitao sighed. "This girl… You never let me rest easy. It's not like the old days, you know. A few decades ago, I could marry both your mothers, but nowadays, that's illegal."
Xue Luan sipped her tea calmly. "I was just giving you a heads-up. I never said I was actually getting married."
With that, she turned and walked towards her bedroom.
Watching his daughter leave, Xue Baitao shook his head, his eyes flashing with sharp insight. He clapped his hands, and suddenly, a strong, well-built man appeared beside him, bowing respectfully. "Master, what are your orders?"
Xue Baitao opened his mouth to speak but then reconsidered. Waving the man off, he sighed. "Forget it. Let the girl handle it herself for now. There's no rush to investigate the guy. My girl's already 25—about time she had some romantic feelings. I need to tell her stepmothers about this quickly."
---
Lu Chen and Liu Jie got out of the car, ready to enter the hospital when Liu Jie tugged on his arm. Lu Chen blinked, puzzled. "Hmm?"
Liu Jie smiled. "It's my first time visiting someone. I can't go empty-handed, right?"
Without waiting for a reply, she pulled Lu Chen into a nearby mall. After a short while, they emerged, Lu Chen carrying a flower basket, and Liu Jie holding some health supplements.
The corridor in the hospital was quiet, and their footsteps echoed softly, creating a rhythmic sound as they walked.
Reaching the VIP ward, Lu Chen knocked gently on the door. Soon, a young, pretty nurse opened it—one of the private nurses he had hired earlier.
After setting their things down, Lu Chen saw He Suyan lying quietly on the bed. She was dressed in a hospital gown, and her complexion had improved since the morning.
The nurse silently left the room. Liu Jie, seeing He Suyan's burn scars for the first time, was momentarily frozen in shock. Her eyes reflected a mix of fear and sorrow. From the remaining half of her beautiful face, Liu Jie could imagine just how stunning He Suyan must have been before the fire. The tragedy of it stirred sympathy in her heart. Now, she understood why Lu Chen had taken her in. Even as she looked at He Suyan, Liu Jie couldn't help but feel a twinge of compassion.
"This poor woman…" Liu Jie whispered softly.
Lu Chen nodded. "Yes, a single fire destroyed everything for her. You might not know, but she's He Suyan—the famous idol."
Though Liu Jie wasn't particularly familiar with celebrities, He Suyan's name was practically legendary, even to her. She had seen He Suyan's performances before. The thought that this disfigured patient had once been a famous idol made her sympathy grow even deeper.
The room's atmosphere felt heavy. To lighten the mood, Lu Chen reached for one of the apples they had bought and began to peel it with a small knife. The apple spun effortlessly in his hand, and the peel fell in long, unbroken spirals. Liu Jie watched, entranced, as if witnessing a little magic trick.
When Lu Chen handed her the perfectly peeled apple, she blinked in surprise. Smiling, she accepted it and teased, "I didn't know you had such a skill."
Lu Chen chuckled. "I have plenty of secrets. There's a lot you don't know about me."
Nibbling at the apple, Liu Jie smiled playfully. "Oh? What else are you hiding? Spill it!"
Grinning, Lu Chen replied, "I'll tell you everything when you become my wife. Not just physically, but everything—body and soul."