Lu Chenyuan quickly finished showing Mo Qingli around the places where he and his siblings had once lived, then led her to Lu Mingye’s study.
The door to the study was slightly ajar.
Lu Chenyuan pushed it open.
A musty scent, mingled with the aroma of premium cigars and ink, rushed toward them.
Lu Mingye sat behind a massive mahogany desk, a symbol of authority.
He was reading a document, as if using it to mask his nervousness.
At the sound of the door, he looked up.
When his eyes landed on Lu Chenyuan, there was little reaction—as though his son had merely returned from a long trip.
Then his gaze moved past Lu Chenyuan and settled on the small child cradled in his arms.
Lu Mingye’s body stiffened instantly.
Almost reflexively, he removed his glasses and slowly rose to his feet.
His eyes fixed on Lu Shi’an’s delicate, porcelain-like face.
That face bore traces of Lu Chenyuan’s features, the contours of Mo Qingli’s beauty, and—most unmistakably—the indelible mark of the Lu family’s bloodline.
Lu Mingye’s lips trembled faintly.
He wanted to speak, but his throat seemed clogged, rendering him voiceless.
"Father."
Lu Chenyuan spoke calmly.
Mo Qingli also inclined her head slightly.
"Father."
Lu Mingye finally managed to tear his gaze away from the child and looked at Lu Chenyuan and Mo Qingli.
He studied his extraordinarily accomplished son.
Then the equally remarkable, dignified woman beside him.
And the harmonious picture the three of them made standing together.
A storm of complicated emotions surged in Lu Mingye’s chest.
Embarrassment. Shame. Helplessness.
But above all, a long-overdue flicker of regret.
"...You’re back," he finally managed, his voice hoarse and brittle.
"Yes."
"Have a seat." He gestured toward the nearby sofa.
Uncle Yu entered at just the right moment, carrying a freshly brewed pot of tea and delicate pastries.
The four of them sat across from one another, separated by the weighty coffee table.
The atmosphere grew stifling once more.
It was Lu Shi’an who broke the silence.
Sensing the tension, he squirmed in Lu Chenyuan’s arms.
Then, suddenly, the little boy stretched out a tiny hand, babbling in Lu Mingye’s direction.
Lu Mingye’s heart clenched as if gripped by that small hand.
Instinctively, he reached out—as if to take the child.
But halfway, his hand froze midair.
Then, awkwardly, he withdrew it.
He didn’t know how to face this grandson.
Mo Qingli noticed his discomfort—and his longing.
Smiling softly, she whispered to the boy in her arms,
"An’an, look. That’s your grandpa."
Lu Shi’an, of course, couldn’t respond. He simply stared with wide, innocent eyes at the unfamiliar old man before him.
The word "grandpa" struck something deep in Lu Mingye’s heart.
His eyes grew inexplicably warm.
Flustered, he turned away, lifting his teacup to take a large sip, trying to mask his emotions.
...
"Liu Mei and her child are living well now."
Lu Chenyuan spoke abruptly, his tone detached, as if stating an irrelevant fact.
Lu Mingye’s hand jerked, spilling tea unnoticed.
He looked up at his son, stunned.
Ever since Li Xiujian’s arrest—ever since Liu Mei herself admitted she had never loved him, that everything had been part of her mission, a calculated performance—
Half of Lu Mingye’s world had crumbled.
The love he’d been so proud of, the "true love" for which he’d hurt his family, had been nothing but an elaborate lie.
He’d become a complete joke.
Since then, he’d never contacted Liu Mei or her son again.
"The Yuanlong Charity Fund sponsored a community center near their neighborhood," Lu Chenyuan continued, his voice still calm.
"She works there now as a full-time social worker. The pay isn’t high, but it’s stable. The child attends public school, living just like any ordinary kid."
He was simply telling his father that the mother and son had been settled onto a safe, quiet path.
Far from the dramas of wealthy families. No longer a disturbance to anyone.
"I won’t interfere in their lives," Lu Chenyuan met his father’s gaze, offering a promise. "And never will."
Lu Mingye slowly set down his cup.
He studied his son.
This son was calmer—kinder—than he’d ever imagined.
He’d thought Lu Chenyuan would use this to humiliate him, to retaliate for his past foolishness and betrayal.
But he didn’t.
Instead, with the utmost composure and grace, he drew a final line under that mistaken chapter.
"Father." Lu Chenyuan looked at him, at the hair that had turned gray and the deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes without him noticing.
"Life is a long marathon."
"Nothing is truly over yet."
Lu Mingye was utterly speechless. He stared blankly at Lu Chenyuan.
Suddenly, he realized he might never have truly understood this son of his.
He’d always assumed Lu Chenyuan’s calmness was innate indifference.
That his strength stemmed from coldness.
Only now did he see—
Behind that composure and power lay a generosity and gentleness he, as a father, had never possessed.
A quiet strength born only from bearing mountainous responsibilities and witnessing the vastness of the world.
And how miserably, how laughably he had failed as a father.
A murky tear finally escaped, rolling down Lu Mingye’s aged cheek.
...
When they left the Lu estate, the sunset dyed half the sky crimson.
Lu Mingye insisted on seeing them to the gate.
He stood on the high steps, watching the black car glide away, disappearing around the bend of the tree-lined road.
Until it vanished entirely.
Then he turned, gazing at the grand, magnificent—yet hollow, silent—manor behind him.
For the first time, he felt unbearably alone.
And yet, strangely unburdened.
In the car, Lu Shi’an had fallen asleep, his breathing even.
Mo Qingli reached over, gently covering Lu Chenyuan’s hand on the steering wheel.
She said nothing.
But he knew—she understood.
He turned his hand, interlacing their fingers.
Her palm was warm and soft.
"It’s all in the past," he said.
"Yes," Mo Qingli replied softly, looking ahead.
The car merged into the glittering stream of traffic returning to the city.
An old era of the Lu family manor had come to an end.
villain is the number one simp for the book's leading female protagonist, Shen Wan'er. As expected, he later becomes a tool for the main character to show off and slap faces, ultimately meeting a tragic end with his family ruined and his life in shambles. Fortunately, he awakens the [Universal Pure Love System], which allows him to earn points by performing acts of pure love. To change his fate, Gu Yan makes a decisive choice to seek warmth and companionship with the book's biggest villain—Cold Qingqiu. ........... My name is Leng Qingqiu. To find the murderer who killed my parents years ago, I deliberately blinded myself so that everyone would lower their guard around me. Just as I was secretly accumulating power and capital according to my initial plan, a man walked into my world. "Lengleng, Qingqing, Qiuqiu, which nickname do you prefer?" I don't like any of them. You'd better leave quickly! "Why aren't you saying anything? How about I call you my baby wife?" Leng Qingqiu thinks to herself, this man is truly annoying! (Stubborn pure love warrior + single female lead + true pure love + 1v1)
【Prologue: The Beginning of It All – Use holy water to heal the saintess tainted by demonic energy, then converse with her.】 Shen Nian stared at his older sister sipping yogurt, lost in thought. So you’re telling me my sister is the saintess, and yogurt is the holy water? 【Main Quest 1: Brave Youth, Become an Adventurer! Reward: Rookie Adventurer Title.】 【Side Quest 1: Find the Adorable Kitty! Reward: 1000 Gold Coins.】 Shen Nian: "Wait, I’m a high school senior here—did some guy who got isekai’d accidentally bind his system to me?" Hold on, completing quests gives gold rewards? Titles even boost stats? Is this for real? (A lighthearted, absurd campus comedy—not a revenge power fantasy.)
orn and Humiliation】【Forced Love】 In his past life, Lin Ran was betrayed and murdered by his girlfriend and family, while the yandere female aristocrat, who had treated him as a mere plaything, avenged him by doing in his enemies. Upon seeing the yandere female aristocrat lying in the same coffin, ready to die with him, Lin Ran realized how profoundly mistaken he had been. Reborn, he abandoned the fickle campus beauty and wholeheartedly embraced the yandere female aristocrat's arms. "Ran! If I dig out your eyes and turn them into a specimen, you'll only be able to look at me!" Lin Ran: "Darling, kiss me!" "Ran! If I break your legs, you won't run away anymore, right?" Lin Ran: "Love, hold me tight!" "Ran! If..." Lin Ran: "Hush now! Love me more!" Luo Yao: ... Seeing his scumbag dad: "Take him out!" Seeing his stepmother: "Get rid of her!" Seeing his brother: "Eliminate him!" Seeing his white moonlight: "Send that to Southeast Asia!"
Explosive Plot Song Gua crossed over into another world, bringing along a whole crew of his doppelgangers—all of them mischief-makers. This was a world where everyone could choose a class. Song Gua became a "Bondweaver," capable of borrowing power, while his doppelgangers took on a wide variety of classes, covering just about everything. The number of doppelgangers grew day by day, each one a talented individual with a charming way of speaking. Under Song Gua's brilliant leadership, they would "greet" each other daily and engage in friendly "sparring," pulling off one major scheme after another on Earth. Sometimes they were bandits—stealing bosses, plundering mines, snatching resources. Sometimes they were saviors—descending like divine warriors to face world bosses threatening to massacre cities. Sometimes they even went undercover, infiltrating various major factions to stir up trouble from within, keeping their enemies constantly on edge. To prevent their doppelganger abilities from being exposed, Song Gua made them wear masks with mahjong tile patterns and don Taoist robes in various colors. "Remember, in front of outsiders, call me 'The Dice.'" "Got it! Boss!" "Not 'Boss'—it's 'The Dice.' Think about the vibe, pay attention to the vibe." "Yes! Boss!" "For crying out loud..." From then on, whenever they appeared, they would have their own theme song playing: ~Hey~ paying respects at the mountain stronghold at night~ whose arm is draped over whose shoulder~ gather your courage and follow along...
