20 Refusal

On the way back, Lu Yu sneezed several times in the car. Song Jianli felt terribly guilty; the air conditioning inside was set quite high, making it so warm that Lu Yu was nearly falling asleep.

“Sorry, next time I’ll check the weather before going out. Are you feeling unwell, Sang Sang?” Song Jianli reached out and gently touched Lu Yu’s forehead to check his temperature.

Lu Yu wasn’t running a fever, just a few sneezes, which had startled Song Jianli.

As soon as they arrived at the guesthouse, Song Jianli brought out fresh clothes and some cold medicine. Lu Yu didn’t feel any discomfort yet.

“The seaside weather is always like this. I’m not that fragile, Jian Ge. It’s fine,” Lu Yu reassured him with a comforting smile.

At the villa entrance, Song Jianli held an umbrella over Lu Yu as he walked him to the door, then handed him the cold medicine. “Take another dose after dinner.”

“All right, Jian Ge, you should go back; your shoulders are all wet.” The Lu family dined at half past five, and they must be home by now. Lu Yu didn’t want them to see Song Jianli.

Song Jianli let Lu Yu go in first and only turned to leave after watching him close the door.

Lu Yu had changed into the new clothes from the guesthouse and had taken the car back, so aside from his shoe soles, not a single part of him was wet.

He changed his shoes at the door and was greeted by the rich aroma of food.

Turning back after changing, he saw Lu Chengming standing by the window with his arms crossed. That window faced the front door, so Lu Chengming had seen Song Jianli come back with him.

Lu Yu’s heart skipped a beat. He instinctively wanted to avoid him but couldn’t pretend not to see him, so he braced himself and called out, “Dad.”

Lu Chengming glanced at him but said nothing. Even with Lu Yu’s head lowered, he sensed the displeasure. He always felt Lu Yu was unworthy of Song Jianli, in every sense.

It was fine when Lu Yu was young, but after the Song and Lu families began business cooperation, Lu Chengming increasingly thought Lu Yu was beneath Song Jianli.

Song Jianli was the sole heir to the Song family business, while Lu Yu was just an unremarkable nobody.

Fortunately, Auntie came out announcing dinner was ready and everyone should wash their hands, breaking the tense silence between father and son.

Lu Yu lowered his head and went to the coffee table, placing the medicine and the Polaroid camera down, then went to the kitchen to help Auntie bring out dishes as usual.

Today, it was Aunt Xiu who cooked, which surprised him. “Aunt Xiu? Where’s Aunt Hui?”

“She had some family matters, so the eldest young master asked me to cook tonight,” Aunt Xiu explained, following Lu Jinlü’s instructions.

Lu Yu nodded. “Is there anything I can help carry over?”

“Thank you, young master. Once I add some seasoning, could you help me bring this dish over?” Aunt Xiu continued stirring in the wok.

She scooped half a spoonful of sliced garlic and was about to add it when she suddenly remembered, “Oh dear, I almost forgot—you don’t eat garlic, young master.”

Lu Yu: ?

Had he ever mentioned that?

Maybe. But why would he say that? He wasn’t picky at all. It seemed like he said it for someone else…

How strange. For whom, though?

“I can eat it now. Go ahead and put it in. Don’t bother with me,” Lu Yu waved his hand.

Aunt Xiu reluctantly added the half spoonful of scallions instead, and soon a fragrant aroma filled the air.

Lu Yu helped carry two plates to the table. While bringing the second dish, he heard footsteps on the stairs from the kitchen and saw Zhuang Ningyue sitting at the dining table.

Lu Chengming must have stepped out to take a call; he wasn’t in the living room.

“Mom,” Lu Yu greeted softly.

Zhuang Ningyue glanced at him and responded with an indifferent “Hmm.”

Lu Yu turned to continue helping Aunt Xiu, but laughter came from the coffee table.

Looking over, he saw Lu Xiangyi and… a stranger?

Wasn’t Lu Xiangyi the only guest? Who was this younger-looking person?

Lu Yu stared at him suspiciously.

Just from his features, he resembled Zhuang Ningyue about seventy percent, with delicate, not fully matured features. Lu Yu quickly lowered his eyelids and searched his memory for any recollection.

Could he be a child of one of his mother’s relatives?

Clearly, this person was as unfamiliar to Lu Yu as the suddenly appearing “older brother.”

Before Lu Yu could ponder which relative he might be, he saw the man pick up the Polaroid on the table, handling it as if it were some fascinating toy, turning it over in his hands.

He even tried to take a photo of Lu Xiangyi.

Was it acceptable to touch the host’s belongings without permission the first time visiting their home?

How rude!

Lu Yu stepped forward and snatched the Polaroid back. “You’re so rude. Don’t you know you have to ask the owner before touching their things?”

Though he was a bit angry, having never lost his temper before, it sounded more like a lecturing elder than a scolding.

At least, it held no menace; no one could tell he was upset.

Lu Linxing was momentarily stunned when the camera was taken from his hands, then put on a harmless expression. “Second brother, you’re so fierce! I was just looking. You can’t be that stingy—you can’t even let me see it?”

“You…” Lu Yu suspected he misheard and was about to confirm the way he addressed him.

But then he remembered his illness.

Right, he would forget who people were sometimes.

So this person was his younger brother?

Lu Linxing smiled brightly. “Second brother, is your Polaroid the limited edition one nationwide? It’s so beautiful. I really wanted to buy one before.”

Lu Yu pressed his lips together, realizing the other coveted his Polaroid, but it was one he and Song Jianli had drawn together.

Besides…

Why would he give something he also liked to a “stranger” claiming to be his brother?

“Hmm.” Lu Yu hid the camera behind his back.

Lu Linxing was stunned this time. Didn’t Lu Yu understand? He said he wanted it.

“Second brother, I’ve wanted it for a long time. I missed out when it was first released. Please give it to me, okay?” Lu Linxing softened his tone, blinking and speaking in a pitiful voice.

He didn’t really want it that badly, but if Lu Yu had it, then he wanted it.

He knew Lu Yu spoiled him, never refusing any of his requests. If Lu Yu had it, Lu Yu would give it.

Who could resist such charm? Besides, no one liked Lu Yu anyway.

Lu Yu frowned; it was strange how he dared to ask so boldly.

“Second brother?” Seeing Lu Yu distracted, Lu Linxing called him again.

He even reached out to take the Polaroid from behind Lu Yu’s back.

Lu Yu immediately stepped back, leaving Linxing’s hand empty.

“This is mine.” Maybe he was a distant cousin? Or a biological brother? But biological brothers didn’t behave this way toward their elder siblings.

Unfortunately, Lu Yu couldn’t check his phone now to confirm their relationship.

“You’re not giving it to me?” Linxing looked truly incredulous.

He got whatever he wanted from Lu Yu. Sometimes just mentioning he liked something, and Lu Yu would rush to give it to him.

But now, after openly asking, Lu Yu directly refused.

Why?

Was Lu Yu still angry about last night?

But it wasn’t the first time he’d said those things. Why would he be upset just because of last night?

And now, in front of everyone, especially Lu Xiangyi, he was made to feel so embarrassed…

Lu Yu shook his head firmly in refusal.

Within seconds, Linxing’s eyes reddened.

“Mom, Mom…” Linxing ran past Lu Yu to Zhuang Ningyue’s side, throwing himself into her arms and began to cry loudly.

Lu Yu: …

Is he crying because he was refused the Polaroid?

But why would he give something he liked to a “stranger” just because that person said he was his brother? That was too far-fetched.

This person, as unfamiliar and unreasonable as his “older brother,” why was he so illogical?

Zhuang Ningyue, who had witnessed the entire farce, looked a bit troubled. She seemed surprised that Lu Yu hadn’t given the item to Linxing.

She gave Lu Yu a meaningful look that stung.

Mom, did I do something wrong…

Zhuang Ningyue hesitated. She couldn’t force Lu Yu to hand over the camera—not only would it appear too biased, but Lu Xiangyi was watching.

She just couldn’t bring herself to say it.

So she gently coaxed, “Xingxing, dear, I’ll have someone buy you one at a high price tomorrow. Stop crying, okay?”

That tone and those words were unlike anything Lu Yu had ever heard.

Lu Yu stood alone, warm light from the ceiling above, the chandelier over the table casting a translucent glow. All eyes were on Linxing, who looked like a stray dog outside a shop window, while Lu Yu clutched the Polaroid like a hot potato.

Back inside, his father had indiscriminately scolded him for not caring for his younger brother, saying a broken toy should just be given away.

Given… and just given?

“Your eldest brother is coming down now. Stop crying. Mom will buy you one tomorrow,” Zhuang Ningyue said, turning to see Lu Jinlü descending the stairs and soothing Linxing.

Lu Yu’s fingers clenched tightly, knuckles whitening. He met Lu Jinlü’s gaze but quickly looked away in panic.

With this “older brother,” there was yet another “stranger” in the house.

Linxing had feared Lu Jinlü since childhood. Hearing Zhuang Ningyue’s words, he held back his tantrum so dinner could proceed peacefully. He glanced back at Lu Yu with a look full of resentment and confusion. He thought Lu Yu was angry about last night, but now he was angry too and wouldn’t forgive Lu Yu easily!

Lu Yu put the Polaroid into the bag with the medicine and, under everyone’s watchful eyes, braced himself and sat down beside Lu Jinlü.

“Did something happen?” Lu Jinlü wasn’t stupid; the uncomfortable atmosphere at the table was palpable.

Zhuang Ningyue replied kindly, “Nothing serious. Your two younger brothers just had a little quarrel.”

Lu Jinlü glanced at Linxing. Though it was called a quarrel, given Lu Yu’s nature, it was unlikely he would pick fights.

Following Lu Jinlü’s instructions, Aunt Xiu rearranged the dishes on the table. Lu Yu picked up his bowl and ate in silence, his chopsticks never leaving the few dishes in front of him.

Lu Jinlü didn’t move his chopsticks. He stared at Lu Yu until Lu Yu could no longer eat, then stiffly asked, “Brother… is something wrong?”

He still couldn’t comfortably call a stranger “brother.”

So the single word was soft and brief.

Lu Jinlü remained silent, but Zhuang Ningyue spoke up, “Aunt Xiu, please swap those two dishes with the ones in front of the eldest young master. Jin doesn’t eat scallions or garlic.”

Lu Yu: ?

So it was his “older brother” who didn’t eat scallions or garlic. Aunt Xiu even got that wrong.

No wonder Lu Jinlü hadn’t touched his food. Though it was strange—if he didn’t eat them, he could have just told Aunt Xiu or had the dishes without scallions and garlic placed in front of him.

Why was he staring at Lu Yu? He didn’t even know Lu Jinlü didn’t eat those.

Lu Yu lost his appetite. He put down his chopsticks and said to the people at the table, “I’m done eating.”