I suddenly looked at Lu Yanchen. Who was the "she" he was talking about? Could it be me? The old man sighed. "I've seen you've been hiding your true potential for so many years. While they certainly made a mistake this time, you have to consider the Buddha's side. The child she's carrying is your own blood. If anything goes wrong, you know Shi Yan's current situation."
Lu Yanchen said calmly, "It's not even a fully formed child yet, so how can we know if it's Lu's? Besides, Lu Shi Yan's tumor and kidney failure are only in the early stages, not serious. He's still fertile. If the tumor is under control and doesn't spread, we can find a top specialist to perform surgery on him. After a year or two of recuperation, he'll be fine."
Old Man Lu stared at his face. "Yanchen, you weren't so aggressive before."
"Because I kept giving in, Su Wan died so tragically. Do you think we're not responsible for Su Wan's death? Everyone is responsible for her death!"
I suddenly looked up at the man who had argued for me. Why?
When everyone else gave up on me, he was the only one who looked for me. Even after I died, he was the only one who remembered me. His appearance in Jindian wasn't a coincidence; he was there for me.
Could it be that he lit those three thousand eternal lamps in the temple just for me?
My mind raced with questions, and my heart was in turmoil.
I couldn't understand why my uncle, someone I'd barely interacted with, would defend me so strongly.
Lu Yanchen's face grew agitated when he mentioned me, but he quickly calmed down. His voice was cold and clear: "I gave in, handed the Lu family over to him, and what happened? What happened to Lu Shiyan? He can't even manage his own lower body, so what right does he have to run the Lu family?"
I'd never seen my uncle's emotions so volatile before. Even his fair earlobes flushed with anger. The old man's previously tense temper instantly waned. "Shi Yan certainly wasn't fair in what happened to Su Wan, but you can't blame him entirely. It was Wan's bad luck that she ran into a criminal. Even if Shi Yan was half-hearted, he didn't want anything to happen to her."
"A man who can't even protect his own wife, how can you imagine someone so irresponsible protecting the company? I'm afraid he'll abandon the Lu family and run away if anything goes wrong in the future. Dad, I let him go and gave him time to grow. But the facts prove that not only has he failed to reach the level I hoped for, his life is a complete mess! Are you sure you want to leave the Lu family in the hands of someone like him?"
Lu Yanchen's voice was deafening, and the old man remained silent for a long moment, probably utterly disappointed in Lu Shi Yan. "Well, it's Lu Shiyan who's wrong, and there's nothing wrong with what you're doing. The Lu family will be handed over to you from now on."
The old man finally made a decision. Lu Shiyan had been so well-protected in the past that everyone was deceived by his superficial appearance.
My death, and everything that happened to the Lu family afterwards, revealed him to be a coward.
Even if he had taken the entire responsibility immediately after being caught with Su Ningan in the greenhouse, instead of blaming Su Ningan, the old man wouldn't have been so disappointed.
Everyone makes mistakes, but for a family head to be unaware of their mistakes and lack accountability is a grave offense.
Lu Shiyan was completely cut off from the inheritance. Lu Yanchen showed no sign of joy. "I gave him a chance, but he didn't cherish it. I'm just taking back what's mine. From now on, I have the final say in the Lu family. Dad, you're not in good health, so you should get some rest."
After Old Man Lu finished his negotiation with Lu Yanchen, his gaze shifted to me. "Have you had enough of the drama?"
Nervously, I looked at him and explained, "Dad, I was just defending myself. If I tolerate it this time, there will definitely be a next time."
"Look at how nervous you are. Did I say I blame you?"
I blinked, confused, and Old Man's expression softened. "Mrs. Lu isn't just any old white rabbit. Facts have proven that being too kind isn't a good thing, so it's understandable that your kindness can be a bit harsh. I don't blame you for this. It's just that you two should have sent me a letter in advance, leaving an old man like me worried about you young people. I wanted to live two more years, to have the chance to see your child born."
I was shocked. I expected Old Man to scold me, but he simply blamed us for not telling him about our plan. "I'm sorry, Dad."
"Seeing you and your wife have such a harmonious relationship, I'm relieved. My son has a cold personality and weak legs, but he's a responsible man. You guys should live well and try to give me a grandson soon."
My face flushed with shame, but Lu Yanchen remained calm.
"Wanwan is still young; it won't be too late to raise her for another year or two."
I gave him a grateful look, and Lu Yanchen continued, "Leave all the Lu family affairs to me from now on."
"Go."
The old man waved his hand; this time, he truly delegated his authority.
The moment Lu Yanchen walked out of the study, it was a testament to the transition between old and new power, the moon setting and the sun rising.
From now on, he was the heir to the Lu family. When we returned to the room, he saw I was so worried and asked, "What's wrong? Don't worry about what the old man said. I was just trying to comfort him. He's old and won't live long. If you don't want to have children, no one will force you when he's dead."
No, brother, are you really that indifferent to family affection?
How can you calmly say that no one will force me when the old man dies? I'm afraid he'll be struck to death by thunder.
Lu Yanchen took my hand. "If you really don't want to have children, it doesn't matter if you don't have them in this lifetime. Just be yourself."
I met the seriousness in his eyes; he didn't give a single perfunctory word. "But you're the heir to the Lu family. If I don't have a child, the Lu family will..."
"It doesn't matter. Power and money can't be taken away. Why should I care about my afterlife after I'm dead? Besides, Lu Shiyan already has a child. If his child is smart, just give him the whole family."
He replied calmly, "So don't put too much pressure on yourself. Life is hard. I have only one condition for you."
I blinked and whispered, "What?"
"Never mention divorce, Wanwan. Stay with me. Let me take care of you."
At that moment, I felt like he was looking through me, at someone else.
I wanted to know more about Su Wan.
"Yanchen, I just heard you and Dad talking about Su Wan. You seem to care about her a lot?"
Lu Yanchen pulled me into his arms. "So, do you want me to care about her?"
I felt a little flustered and asked uncertainly, "Who is that person you like?"