After Breaking Up, I Married A Top Alpha Movie Star And Fell In Love - Chapter 13

In all fairness, the conditions offered by Huanhe could be considered generous, but unfortunately, Lu Mingchuan wasn’t actually there to talk business.

Before leaving, he had Xiao Bei order milk tea and little cakes for the colleagues in the CEO’s office and then let everyone off work early.

On the way back, Lu Mingchuan picked up Qiu Ye to head to the Qiu family’s ancestral residence.

It was a gray-and-white toned old mansion, situated in a district of Hong Kong where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, maintaining an air of quietude amidst the hustle and bustle.

Inside, the lighting was bright, the thin beige Venetian blinds were half-rolled up, and a faint fragrance of flowers drifted through the air.

Old Master Qiu was lying in a rocking chair, using a split-screen handwriting input to send messages to the family group: his darling grandson was bringing his other half to see him.

Sitting in Lu Mingchuan’s car, Qiu Ye felt an involuntary surge of nervousness as the Qiu residence came into view.

“We’re here.” Lu Mingchuan, sitting in the driver’s seat, reached over to unbuckle Qiu Ye’s seatbelt.

“It smells so good.” As soon as Qiu Ye pushed open the car door, he saw a courtyard full of jasmine.

Lu Mingchuan got out of the car and said, “These were Grandmother’s favorite flowers. Every single weeping jasmine plant here was hand-planted by Grandpa.”

“He’s old and loves a lively atmosphere. Now that you’re here, he’ll definitely be happy.”

The cascading green leaves were like a flowing green waterfall, with soft branches adorned with star-like white flowers.

The sweet floral scent diffused into a hazy mist, and even the breeze brushing past the corners of his clothes carried a touch of tenderness.

Qiu Ye looked up and saw many people he didn’t recognize standing on the steps, eyeing him with curiosity.

The thought that these people might have all seen that video made him feel like he wanted to sink into the ground.

Lu Mingchuan generously took Qiu Ye’s hand and waved toward his grandfather.

“Grandpa, I’ve brought Qiu Ye back.”

Old Master Qiu adjusted his gold-rimmed reading glasses. His black Zhongshan suit was pressed so perfectly there wasn’t a single wrinkle. He pointed at the gifts in Qiu Ye’s hands.

“Who told you to carry so many things?”

Qiu Ye bit his lip nervously. Countless possibilities of the elder being dissatisfied flashed through his mind, and a thin layer of sweat broke out on his palms.

“This brat doesn’t know how to cherish people at all.”

After saying this, Old Master Qiu swatted Lu Mingchuan’s arm and looked at Qiu Ye with a beaming smile.

Qiu Ye froze for a moment before remembering he hadn’t greeted him yet. He said, “Hello, Grandpa. I’m Qiu Ye.”

“Hello there.”

Old Master Qiu was delighted the moment he saw Qiu Ye. He smiled and looked at him: “You two just got back from Yunchuan; it must have been a tiring journey.”

Qiu Ye shook his head. To him, the trip to Yunchuan hadn’t felt like work; it felt more like relaxation.

“This is my old lady. If only she could have seen you, how wonderful that would be.”

“Grandmother, good afternoon.” Qiu Ye looked up at the foreign beauty in the wooden photo frame, suddenly remembering the weeping jasmine filling the courtyard.

Watching Qiu Ye bow to the wall full of photos, Old Master Qiu silently recited his lover’s name in his heart.

Look, even Ruirui’s child has started a family.

Old Master Qiu took Qiu Ye’s hand and introduced him to the various elders and juniors present today, acting with a familiarity as if Qiu Ye were a biological grandson he simply hadn’t met yet.

Lu Mingchuan knew his grandfather’s affection for Qiu Ye was an extension of his love for him.

The other relatives standing around all crowded in at once, leaving only Lu Mingchuan, who was holding large and small bags, blocked outside.

He stood at the door, his gaze fixed on Qiu Ye, who sat in the center looking obedient and helpless.

How can he be this cute?

While brewing tea, Old Master Qiu asked in a low voice, “Qiu Ye, I heard your mother calls you Qiuqiu.”

“Can Grandpa call you that too?”

Qiu Ye looked up at Lu Mingchuan, who had just stepped inside, then back at Old Master Qiu, and gave a shy “Okay.”

“It’s all his fault for being so busy, otherwise Grandpa would have met Qiuqiu much sooner.”

“Here, have some tea.”

“This is my favorite, Silver Needle white tea.”

Qiu Ye accepted the cup of white tea brewed by Grandpa with both hands and took a small sip.

It was sweet with a lingering aftertaste and an elegant aroma.

“You and Xiao Chuan both went to school at Nanhua. Were you together back then?”

Nanhua had a strict school spirit; no one dared to engage in blatant “early love.”

Qiu Ye was nearly choked by the fine tea, caught off guard. He explained, “We… we weren’t close back then.”

Lu Mingchuan moved the gifts from the trunk inside. His eyes darkened slightly as he changed the subject: “Grandpa, you’re overthinking it.”

“We weren’t even considered friends back then.”

Perhaps sensing the trace of resentment in Lu Mingchuan’s tone, Qiu Ye put down his teacup and tried to smooth things over: “He was the center of attention everywhere. I actually did pay attention to him.”

Lu Mingchuan sat down next to Qiu Ye, leaned in close, and asked in a deep voice, “Then what exactly were you paying attention to?”

Old Master Qiu couldn’t bear to watch and raised a hand to swat him: “You rascal, getting a bargain and still acting spoiled.”

“Grandpa, why did you hit me again?”

“Because you deserved it.”

Qiu Ye instinctively looked at the back of Lu Mingchuan’s hand. Fortunately, it wasn’t red; the force must have been light.

Noticing Qiu Ye’s concerned gaze, Old Master Qiu couldn’t help but laugh. He said, “If he ever bullies you in the future, just tell Grandpa.”

“Grandpa will protect you and stand up for you.”

Qiu Ye stunned for two seconds. It was the first time in his life he had heard an elder say such words to him. His nose suddenly felt a sharp sting of emotion.

So, this was what it felt like to be valued and cherished by family.

The Qiu family members surrounded Qiu Ye, chatting about daily life one after another, like a snapshot of every happy family.

“The two of you got married in a hurry, and there are many traditional etiquettes we have fallen short on.”

“Uncle Zhong, bring up the gifts I prepared.”

“Grandpa, we don’t lack anything, there’s no need…” Qiu Ye cast a plea for help toward Lu Mingchuan, unsure how to stop the old man’s kindness.

Lu Mingchuan smiled calmly and gave Qiu Ye a reassuring nod.

The gifts were laid out one by one.

From a set of six underglaze red peony-patterned lidded tea bowls, to a mutton-fat white jade ornament of twin lotus flowers on a single stalk, to a nine-panel miniature screen inlaid with gemstones depicting mountains and rivers.

“This is Grandpa’s meeting gift for your family.”

Looking at these treasures that might not even be found in museums, Qiu Ye thought back to the emerald set Lu Mingchuan had given Shen Miaoyin.

He truly felt he didn’t deserve this.

“Grandpa, this is too precious.” Qiu Ye frowned. He and Lu Mingchuan were just putting on an act; how could he accept such grand gifts?

Uncle Zhong put the items back into the cloud-brocade boxes and then produced several documents for review.

“You two don’t have a new home yet, right?”

“A detached villa at Yueying Lanan, plus a few storefronts on Jinli Street—all are handed over to you.” After Old Master Qiu finished, he signaled Uncle Zhong to bring his seal.

Yueying Lanan was a villa development by Huanyu Real Estate. With the surrounding development over the past few years, property prices had skyrocketed.

“Grandpa, this really won’t do.” Qiu Ye didn’t dare take them.

Hearing this, Old Master Qiu felt even more pained for him: “What do you mean ‘won’t do’ when it’s between family?”

Qiu Ye looked up again, his black eyes shimmering with a hint of tears as he turned to Lu Mingchuan for rescue.

“The villa is meant to be lived in anyway. The shops can collect some rent every month; consider it pocket money from Grandpa.”

“Just accept it.” Lu Mingchuan stood on his grandfather’s side.

“Thank you, Grandpa.”

The better the Qiu family treated him, the more guilt Qiu Ye felt, like a thief who had stolen someone else’s happiness.

While Qiu Ye was lost in thought, Lu Mingchuan placed a piece of honey-glazed smoked croaker belly into his bowl.

“This one has no bones. Try it.”

“Thank you.”

Old Master Qiu took all of this in. He lowered his head to sip a small bowl of matsutake shrimp ball soup, his eyebrows relaxing from the deliciousness.

After dinner, Old Master Qiu pulled a photo album out of an ebony cabinet and pointed out his little grandson during his kindergarten days for Qiu Ye to see.

Qiu Ye flipped through the album casually and eventually saw Lu Mingchuan during his high school years.

The Alpha was wearing a blue-and-white school uniform. Compared to his current appearance, he looked green and youthful, brimming with a sense of teenage vitality.

“Grandpa, why didn’t Mingchuan’s parents come today?”

Old Master Qiu took a sip of hot tea and replied, “They divorced when Mingchuan was very young. Ruirui went abroad for work, and that man surnamed Lu has remained single until now.”

“What are you chatting about?” Lu Mingchuan walked over carrying washed fruit.

“We’re looking at your photos.” Old Master Qiu took off his gold-rimmed glasses and pointed at a small head lying down in the album.

“Eh, isn’t this Qiuqiu?”

Qiu Ye leaned in, his eyes wide with surprise. He replied, “It really is.”

Old Master Qiu seemed to have found a fun game. He flipped a few more pages and found a side profile of Qiu Ye wearing a military training uniform.

Lu Mingchuan popped a blueberry into his mouth and gave Qiu Ye a guilty glance.

“Look, this is you too, right?”

Qiu Ye bit into a strawberry and discovered a photo of his own back.

His hair had been cut badly at that time, and he had been teased by Xu Zilang for a while.

“You two weren’t close back then, yet there are so many photos of you in the same frame. It’s truly a coincidence.”

Old Master Qiu’s smile became meaningful. In an instant, he seemed to perceive the whole truth. He quietly pulled Lu Mingchuan aside.

“Ruirui told me the gist of it over the phone. You brat tricked Qiuqiu into our family first, didn’t you?”

Lu Mingchuan watched Qiu Ye flipping through the album not far away and nodded. He said somewhat helplessly, “I wanted to take it slow, but we were caught by the paparazzi.”

Old Master Qiu gave a “tsk” and said, “I get it. What do you young people call it nowadays… something marriage, something love?”

Lu Mingchuan rubbed his forehead awkwardly and finished the sentence: “Marry first, love later.”

“Right, right, right.” Seeing a group of children who had finished eating and wanted to play, Old Master Qiu had the lights turned on in various parts of the house.

A little girl with twin ponytails lunged into Qiu Ye’s arms, wanting the pretty older brother to accompany her on the swings.

Qiu Ye asked the girl’s parents for permission, and only after getting their consent did he lead her to the courtyard.

“This child is cautious in everything he says and does; he must have suffered a lot in the Qiu family.” Old Master Qiu walked outside and looked down, touching the green leaves of the weeping jasmine.

Lu Mingchuan stood against the light, quietly watching Qiu Ye lift the little girl onto the swing. “In the future, he won’t.”

In the evening breeze, his voice was low and deep.

After saying goodbye to everyone one by one, Qiu Ye got back into the car.

“Qiuqiu, come visit Grandpa again next time.”

Qiu Ye leaned against the fully lowered car window, waving obediently. “Okay. Goodbye, Grandpa.”

During the first few minutes after the car left the Qiu ancestral home, Qiu Ye looked back several times, feeling as if it were all a dream.

Lu Mingchuan’s eyes curved slightly as he watched the road ahead. “Grandpa really likes you.”

Qiu Ye’s inner guilt deepened. He glanced at the items in the back seat and spoke up: “These things are too precious. It’s better if you keep them for safekeeping.”

Lu Mingchuan turned the steering wheel, his tone casual. “That’s their sentiment. Just keep them.”

“It’s not quite appropriate. Some of these are Grandmother’s collections from when she was alive. I think they are meant for your true partner. We are just…”

Qiu Ye’s voice faltered. He stared at the pedestrians on the crosswalk and did not continue.