Lou Mengling's Home Banquet

Saturday, at the Lou Family Estate.

The sun shone brightly over the lush green lawn.

Lou Mengling personally stood at the entrance to welcome the guests.

The first to arrive were Lu Chenxiao and Lu Chenjin.

The second son, Lu Chenxiao, wore his signature white lab coat, his expression cool and detached, as if he had just stepped off an operating table.

The fourth son, Lu Chenjin, sported a flashy racing jacket, his hair dyed a striking silver-gray, exuding an air of rebelliousness.

Next came Lu Chenyan.

As a top-tier celebrity, he had disguised himself simply with a cap and mask, yet his star power remained unmistakable.

The three brothers gathered together, the atmosphere between them subtly tense.

Their mother had already hinted at the news—today, their eldest brother would be bringing home the "legendary" woman they had all heard about.

Before long, a car pulled into the estate.

The door opened, and out stepped Lu Ruoxi.

She wore a simple long dress, her demeanor serene, like a piece of polished jade.

Behind her was Su Yang, carrying a fruit basket. He looked slightly nervous but greeted everyone politely.

"Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother."

Su Yang had recently become a sensation in the tech world after winning the WAIC championship.

His background as a "small-town overachiever" only added to the mystique surrounding this rising star.

His story had broken beyond academic circles, inspiring countless people and turning him into a motivational icon.

Naturally, the Lu family knew of him.

"Su Yang? What are you doing here?" Lu Chenyan removed his mask, surprised.

Lu Chenxiao and Lu Chenjin also cast scrutinizing glances his way.

"I... I came with Ruoxi," Su Yang replied, scratching his head.

"I brought him," Lu Ruoxi said calmly. "Mom knows."

Lou Mengling walked over with a smile, taking Su Yang’s hand.

"You didn’t need to bring anything. Come inside, no need to be nervous."

Lou Mengling taught at Jingzhou University and often visited her daughter, so she was well acquainted with Su Yang.

She adored this earnest, sincere young man whose eyes lit up whenever he looked at Ruoxi.

Whether he was a tech prodigy or not didn’t matter to her.

The three Lu brothers exchanged glances but said nothing more.

If their mother approved of their sister’s choices, they had no objections.

Just then, another black car rolled into the estate.

All eyes turned toward it.

The door opened.

Lu Chenyuan stepped out first. He was dressed more casually today, in a relaxed suit, his usual corporate sharpness softened into a more approachable warmth.

He circled the car and opened the passenger door with gentlemanly grace.

A foot clad in an elegant high heel emerged first.

Then, Mo Qingli appeared before the crowd.

She wore a tailored emerald-green dress, her wavy hair cascading over her shoulders, her makeup flawless.

Standing beside Lu Chenyuan, she didn’t cling to him but matched his presence effortlessly—her aura strong yet perfectly complementary.

In that instant, Lu Chenxiao, Lu Chenyan, and Lu Chenjin—three brothers with wildly different personalities—shared the same thought:

So, it’s her.

Of course, it’s her.

Unexpected, yet somehow inevitable.

The only woman who could stand beside their eldest brother was someone like her.

"Mom," Lu Chenyuan said, holding Mo Qingli’s hand as they approached Lou Mengling.

"Auntie, it’s a pleasure to meet you," Mo Qingli greeted with poised elegance.

"Oh, wonderful, wonderful!" Lou Mengling beamed, clasping Mo Qingli’s hands, her satisfaction evident.

"Come inside, everyone. No need to linger out here."

The last car arrived belatedly.

It was Lu Qianqian.

She wore practical outdoor attire, her skin tanned a healthy shade of wheat, her short hair adding to her no-nonsense demeanor.

The spoiled, restless look in her eyes was gone, replaced by a quiet strength born of hardship.

When she saw the joyful scene in the courtyard, she paused.

Especially when she noticed Lu Ruoxi and Su Yang, as well as the striking Mo Qingli standing beside her eldest brother.

There was no jealousy in her heart, no resentment.

Only genuine happiness for them.

"Mom! Big Brother! I’m back!" She ran over and enveloped Lou Mengling in a tight hug.

"My dear, it’s so good to have you home," Lou Mengling murmured, her voice thick with emotion. Of all her children, Lu Qianqian had always been the one who worried her the most.

Lu Qianqian pulled back, scanning the living room.

When her gaze met Lu Ruoxi’s, the air between them stilled.

The real and the fake heiress.

This was the first time they had faced each other in a formal family setting since the truth had come to light.

There were no imagined daggers drawn, no awkwardness or bitterness.

One girl was serene as still water, the other bright as flame.

Their eyes locked—not with hostility, but with a quiet understanding.

"Ruoxi, congratulations on your WAIC win. I saw the news—you’re amazing," Lu Qianqian said sincerely.

"Thank you," Lu Ruoxi replied with a soft smile. "I heard about your journey too. You’ve done something incredible yourself."

With those simple words, the past was laid to rest.

Both had found their own paths, no longer shackled by the hollow title of "Lu Family Heiress" or the need to compete for fleeting affection.

Lou Mengling watched, her eyes glistening.

The family dinner was warm and harmonious.

For Lu Chenyuan, it was the first time since his transmigration that he had experienced such pure familial warmth—free of schemes, free of strife.

Just love and lighthearted chatter.

What pleased him most was that Lu Ruoxi and Lu Qianqian’s first formal reunion had unfolded in a way he never expected.

As everyone settled at the table, Lou Mengling slipped a translucent jade bangle from her wrist.

She took Mo Qingli’s hand and slid it onto hers.

"Qingli, this is my gift to you," Lou Mengling said warmly.

"Don’t feel pressured. This bangle is a Lou family heirloom—it has nothing to do with my ex-husband’s side. Even if one day you decide my A-Yuan isn’t good enough, that’s fine. I’ll still consider you my honorary daughter. The bond between the Lou and Mo families will remain."

Her words were immaculate—conveying the highest approval while giving Mo Qingli both respect and an out.

Mo Qingli felt the bangle’s smooth warmth against her skin, her heart touched.

"Thank you, Auntie."

Lu Chenyuan watched, mildly exasperated.

Why did it feel like his mother was trying to marry him off as soon as possible?

Midway through the meal, as the mood peaked, Lu Chenyan suddenly set down his wine glass with a sigh.

"Looking at all of you, I suddenly feel like a failure," he said.

The table turned to him.

"Think about it," Lu Chenyan chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Big Brother is now the tech titan of Xia, our nation’s pillar, shielding us all. Second Brother is a medical prodigy. Fourth Brother is a racing champion who brings glory to the country."

"Even my two sisters—Ruoxi is destined to be a genius who leaves her mark in the annals of science, and Qianqian is now an angel walking the earth, bringing love and hope to the world."

"And me?" He spread his hands. "I'm just an ordinary actor. Laughing and joking in front of the camera every day, as if I'm the least valuable, least impressive one in the family."

His words carried a tinge of despondency.

But it was the truth of how he'd been feeling lately.

Especially after the incident where his agent was bribed, Lu Chenyan had come to deeply realize the fragility of his career and had begun questioning his own worth.

"Third Brother, how can you say that?"

The first to object was Lu Qianqian.

She set down her chopsticks and looked at Lu Chenyan earnestly.

"This past year, I've been to many poor, chaotic places. Once, in a rundown little town in Southeast Asia, there was no electricity—just a small community center running a movie on a generator."

"That day, they were showing The Dream Chaser, the one you starred in."

"I saw a local boy there, barefoot, watching with rapt attention. When the movie ended, he turned to his mother and said, 'Mom, when I grow up, I want to be like the big brother in the movie—brave, strong, and never giving up.'"

Lu Qianqian's eyes shimmered.

"Third Brother, you might not realize it. But in so many places we never see, you’ve given countless people strength and dreams in your own way. That kind of value is no less than anything the rest of us are doing."

Lu Chenyan froze.

He stared blankly at Lu Qianqian.

He realized that his little sister, who once only trailed behind him whining for attention, had truly grown up.

Her perspective, her vision—it far surpassed anything he’d imagined.

Suddenly, his self-pity seemed laughable.

The dining table fell silent.

Everyone was deeply moved by Lu Qianqian’s words.

After a long pause, Lu Chenyuan spoke slowly.

"Chenyan."

"Eldest Brother." Lu Chenyan immediately straightened his posture.

"Have you seen Moonwalk?" Lu Chenyuan asked, seemingly out of nowhere.

Lu Chenyan blinked, then nodded. "Yes, it’s a sci-fi classic."

"What do you think its greatest value is?" Lu Chenyuan pressed.

"Well…" Lu Chenyan thought for a moment. "It ignited dreams of space exploration in countless people, advanced the industrialization of global cinema, and… also created enormous commercial value…"

He trailed off mid-sentence.

He seemed to understand something.

Lu Chenyuan looked at him, knowing he’d caught on.

"Exactly. Any industry, when mastered at the highest level, can create immeasurable value—commercial, social, even civilizational."

"Your current position is good. But your thinking could be broader."

Lu Chenyuan’s gaze deepened.

"Transitioning from acting to directing is one path. But with the Lu family behind you, you could do far more."

"Establish your own entertainment company, consolidate resources, set industry standards, and export our Xia culture and values to the world. That’s another direction."

"Eldest Brother, you mean…" Lu Chenyan’s breathing grew rapid.

"Once you’ve made up your mind, go find Ren Qian. Have her help you assemble the initial team," Lu Chenyuan said calmly.

"The rest—management, expansion—you’ll have to figure out yourself. But don’t worry. The Lu family isn’t afraid of trial and error. I’ll back you up."

Those words were like a beam of light, instantly illuminating Lu Chenyan’s lost path.

The gloom in his eyes vanished without a trace.

In its place burned a fierce, ambitious fire.

Lou Mengling watched her children.

The eldest, steady as a mountain, guiding them all.

The others, each shining in their own fields, learning to support and uplift one another.

This was family.

This was the home she had always dreamed of.

A smile of utter contentment and peace graced her face.