She nodded and asked again, "Why?"
Lu Shifeng replied, "It's a reward. You've done very well during this time."
She was speechless, so that's how it is. She resisted the impulse to throw the ring at his face. What reward? This man really is arrogantly shameless! However, she dared not offend him, so she had to feign a smile and put it on.
The ring, as smooth and lustrous as jade, made her skin look like jade too—fine, fair, and striking.
Lu Shifeng took her hand, studying it carefully. "Xie Jian said your skin is fair, so wearing white jade would be perfect, and indeed it is."
She was puzzled, "Xie Jian?"
"He's the man who helped you when you were hit by a car, my secretary."
She recalled the man in a black suit, just like Lu Shifeng, wearing the same expressionless face. No wonder they were superior and subordinate.
She mocked him inwardly, thought for a moment, and asked again, "Did he choose this ring?"
He said, "I only knew you liked roses, but not what kind of material you preferred."
Her heart stirred slightly, "Do you really care about what I like?"
He gave her a glance, "You are my wife. Making you happy is my responsibility."
His voice was calm, so natural, as if he were stating that flowers blossom in spring and the moon shines bright in autumn. Yet, her heart rippled slightly, perhaps this man... wasn't as bad as she thought.
But just as this thought emerged, she snuffed it out.
He had bullied her so many times and made her suffer for so long; how could such sweet words buy her over?
She lowered her head, pondering how to make use of his rare kindness to get greater benefits. After a moment, she lifted her head with a gentle smile, "Thank you for the ring; I really like it. However, since the ring was chosen with an outsider's input, it's not solely from you, which makes me a bit sad."
A woman's heart is too hard to predict.
Lu Shifeng asked, "How can I make you not sad?"
Su Xingyu paused for a moment, gathering courage to look at him, "Lu Shifeng, since you say I've performed well recently, can you reward me with something I truly want? I'm willing to exchange all my jewelry for it."
Looking at her cautious demeanor, he narrowed his eyes dangerously, "No photos allowed."
She was disappointed but had expected this answer, so she shook her head and said softly, "I know you don't like me taking photos; why would I be so thoughtless to ask for that? I've just been too bored staying at home, and I wanted to help out at my friend's magazine. I promise not to take photos, okay?"
Ultimately, she still wanted to go out and work.
Lu Shifeng wasn't pleased, "A young lady should behave like one."
That phrase again!
Su Xingyu felt like tearing apart his stern face, but she suppressed her anger and continued softly, "Not every wealthy woman does nothing. I've heard that Miss Zhuang from the Zhuang Family works at Blade Group, right? People outside praise her for being dignified and courteous, intelligent, and capable. If I work, I surely wouldn't embarrass you."
The Zhuang Family owned a large-scale cosmetics business, yet the oldest daughter Zhuang Heng had no interest in cosmetics and studied photography from an early age, ending up as the chief photographer at Blade Group.
Blade Group was the Lu Family's own enterprise. Su Xingyu had done her homework and thought this example would be convincing.
But Lu Shifeng remained displeased, "She's not married; it's different. Married women should focus on husband and children."
Su Xingyu felt like hitting him again, grinding her teeth, she asked, "If Miss Zhuang gets married, and you lose such an excellent chief photographer, wouldn't you regret it? Or if she married you, would you also forbid her to work after marriage?"
"She won't work after marriage," Lu Shifeng said.
"What?" Su Xingyu was stunned.
"Zhuang Heng and I talked," Lu Shifeng was slightly impatient, "Her views align with mine: women should stay home and serve their husbands and children after marriage."
Su Xingyu: "…"
Lu Shifeng, what kind of people do you know?!
She seriously doubted if she was transported back to some ancient time that emphasized the three obediences and four virtues!
The conversation ended unhappily.
Su Xingyu felt gloomy, but she continued enduring her grievances, welcoming him home every day, serving him tea, managing the household. Her mood was poor, her spirit even worse, and she lost a lot of weight in just a few days. One day while going downstairs, her body weakened and she fainted.
The thin, pointed end of the high heel couldn't hold her; she rolled down the stairs, and her head bled profusely.
The butler and maid urgently sent her to the hospital and notified Lu Shifeng.
Lu Shifeng hurried to visit and reprimanded, "How could you be so careless?"
She was very weak, "I don't know, I just fainted suddenly."
By her side, Mrs. Gui said, "The doctor mentioned that the madam is fine, just low blood sugar combined with emotional stress."
"Emotional stress?" Lu Shifeng's voice sank.
Mrs. Gui dared not speak further.
Su Xingyu cautiously glanced at him, her expression turning sorrowful.
"I provide for your food, clothing; what do you have to be stressed about?" he said.
Tears faintly welled up in her eyes, she bit her lip, "Yes. It's my fault. I can't control the urge to go out and work. I'm just too bored, and once I have free time…" She choked up, paused, "Sorry, I'll try my best to control it."
Lu Shifeng gazed deeply at her.
Su Xingyu was anxious; falling down the stairs wasn't an accident at all, but a carefully plotted ploy of self-harm. Since Lu Shifeng had always refused to let her go out to work, she had no choice but to try another way. These days, she had been putting on a gloomy and despondent look, even complaining to Mrs. Gui about her inability to go out and work, feeling pitiable, and eating less, which worried Mrs. Gui greatly. After this fall, Mrs. Gui sent her to the hospital and explained the situation to the doctor, who, finding no serious illness, naturally attributed the fainting to emotional problems.
Now, it depended on whether Lu Shifeng would be moved to compassion.
Su Xingyu seized all her acting skills, holding back tears to appear pitiful.
Even Mrs. Gui couldn't help but speak up bravely to Lu Shifeng, "Master, please let the madam go out and work. The madam got married before finishing college and doesn't know of life's dangers outside. Why not let her try this? Once she understands how tough working is, she'll appreciate your good intentions."
Lu Shifeng contemplated for a while, "Do you really want to work that much?"
"Absolutely!" She raised her teary eyes, looking hopefully at him.
Lu Shifeng finally relented, "Okay, but there's one condition: no touching the camera."
"Thank you, Lu Shifeng! I know you're the best!" Su Xingyu, having achieved her goal, smiled through tears, even forgetting to feign illness, and gave him a big hug.