Chasing My Husband! The "Crown Prince" of the Beijing Circle Is Wildly Unruly! - Chapter 101

The Lu family New Year’s Eve dinner was in full swing.

As Lu Jingze and Wang Xinghe took their seats together, everyone’s attention was instinctively drawn to them. After all, this was the first time in the history of the Lu clan register that a male spouse had been officially recorded.

Curiosity rippled through the room. Everyone wondered how Wang Xinghe had managed to earn the recognition of Old Master Lu. Initially, some speculated that the Old Master was simply humoring his grandson out of doting affection, but they quickly dismissed the idea when they remembered that Lu Lixing’s current wife (the “Lu Madam”) had never been officially entered into the register.

Old Master Lu was never one for “loving the house and its crows” (favoritism by association). Only those he truly accepted were granted a place in the clan records. On the register, the space for a wife next to Lu Lixing’s name remained conspicuously blank to this day.

While the younger generation didn’t dare provoke Lu Jingze by staring at his husband, the elders and aunts watched Wang Xinghe with intense curiosity. Amidst the sea of inquisitive glances, one gaze was particularly sharp and piercing.

When Wang Xinghe looked up, he met the heavy, undisguised gaze of Lu Madam, filled with ridicule.

Choosing to ignore her, he turned his attention to Lu Jingze, intentionally drawing his focus. “A-Ze, the pecans and brazil nuts you brought back from North America last time were delicious.”

Lu Jingze, being sharp-witted, immediately realized that his “Brother” was trying to distract him so he wouldn’t be hurt by the Lu Madam’s venomous glare. He played along, whispering back, “If you like them, we can fly there anytime and pick them ourselves.”

Wang Xinghe’s eyes curved into a crescent smile. “Alright. Next time, let’s try making them in some different flavors.”

Lu Jingze gazed at him tenderly, his hand beneath the table gently squeezing Xinghe’s fingers.

Following the strict upbringing of a prestigious clan, the meal was conducted in dignified silence. Once the dinner concluded, it was time for the New Year’s greetings and the distribution of red envelopes (hongbao). Even the seniors who had gone to the National Banquet had left envelopes behind for the younger generation.

Everyone kowtowed and offered blessings to receive their gifts. Wang Xinghe accompanied Lu Jingze, performing the rites and collecting over a dozen red envelopes. Afterward, the family gathered around a large tea table for casual conversation where, as long as the topics weren’t inauspicious, almost anything was fair game.

Wang Xinghe didn’t understand business, so he didn’t intervene, choosing instead to listen quietly to the others.

While everyone was talking seriously, a crisp, childish voice broke the air, catching everyone’s attention.

“Pretty Brother…”

Wang Xinghe and Lu Jingze both turned toward the sound. A three-year-old boy, dressed in a traditional Tang suit, was staring at Wang Xinghe with wide, sparkling eyes.

Wang Xinghe was momentarily stunned. Whose child is this?

Just then, a nanny ran in, her face pale with worry. “Forgive me, Masters and Ladies! The Young Master woke up and ran out of the bedroom.”

The group’s focus shifted to the child standing behind Wang Xinghe. Lu Jinghong, Lu Jingze’s cousin, recognized the nanny and stood up abruptly. A man of 1.86 meters in a bespoke black suit, his cold face was etched with anxiety. When he saw it was indeed his child, he let out a silent sigh of relief.

“He’s over here,” Lu Jinghong gestured. The nanny looked as if she’d been granted a divine pardon and exhaled sharply.

As Lu Jinghong stepped forward to take the boy away, the three-year-old “milk-bread” tot spread his arms and grabbed Wang Xinghe’s arm tightly. “Pretty Brother, huggy!”

The room fell silent. Even Lu Jinghong looked embarrassed, and Wang Xinghe was at a total loss.

Lu Jingze chuckled and scooped the little boy up. “Starting young, aren’t you? You’ve got good taste.”

The little boy, cradled in Lu Jingze’s arms, looked longingly at Wang Xinghe and reached out again. “Brother, huggy!”

Lu Jinghong’s face turned pale. “Call him ‘Uncle’.”

The boy pouted. “Uncle… huggy!~”

Lu Jingze burst out laughing and glanced at Lu Jinghong. The latter looked helpless and sighed, turning to Wang Xinghe. “Could you hold him for a moment? This child is quite stubborn. If he doesn’t get his way, he’ll certainly throw a tantrum when we get home.”

Wang Xinghe didn’t think it was a problem and took the soft, chubby toddler from Lu Jingze. The child was well-fed and quite heavy. As Xinghe sat down with the boy in his lap, the child smiled brilliantly.

“Uncle, you’re glowing!~”

Wang Xinghe looked down with a smile. “Is it the crystal chandelier above us?”

The child shook his head. “No~ the others are glowing too, but their colors are different from yours!~”

“The Great-Grandpas have purple and red light. The Grandpas have red and purple too, and so do the Daddies and Uncles. But yours is different… Yours is white and gold. It’s really, really bright!”

The child’s declaration left everyone stunned. Great-Uncle, sitting at the head of the table, smiled and waved his hand dismissively. “It’s nothing to be alarmed about. If the child likes Xinghe, let him hold him a bit longer. Jinghong, sit back down.”

Lu Jinghong sat back, still a bit dazed. Lu Jingze, however, looked thoughtfully at the little “brat” clinging to his husband. He leaned in and whispered, “Look at that woman across from us in the pale-yellow silk cheongsam. What color is her light?”

The little boy, Dada, glanced at Lu Madam. He turned away with a look of distaste and whispered to Lu Jingze, “It’s very messy. It’s mostly dark gray and black. Dada doesn’t like her.”

Lu Jingze nodded meaningfully and rubbed the boy’s head. “Tell me, Dada, have you always been able to see these lights?”

Dada shook his head. “Not always. Sometimes I see them, sometimes I don’t.” He then snuggled deeper into Wang Xinghe’s arms. “I see them today! Dada likes Uncle!~”

Wang Xinghe felt a bit tickled by the boy’s pudgy hands. He smiled and shifted the boy’s position. “Look, your Daddy is watching you.”

Lu Jinghong was indeed watching his son, but he couldn’t deny that his gaze was also lingering on Wang Xinghe. He wondered if it was just his imagination, but he truly felt as though the man sitting there was bathed in a layer of soft radiance.

Lu Jingze liked Dada’s spirit. He reached out to pat the small head. “Why don’t you come over and play with Uncle more often in the future? Uncle has a little brother at home who is even smaller than you!~”

Dada’s eyes lit up. “Okay! Dada wants to go!”

“I’ll contact your Daddy later, and you’ll definitely come visit.”

“Yay!” Dada’s eyes curved with joy.

Young children tire easily; before long, Dada had fallen fast asleep in Wang Xinghe’s arms. Lu Jinghong didn’t delay and quickly moved to take him back.

“I hope he didn’t trouble you two. He’s at that age where he’s most mischievous,” Lu Jinghong said, feeling genuinely apologetic.

Lu Jingze smiled. “It’s fine, Cousin. We both like Dada very much. When you have time, bring your wife and the child to my manor to visit.”

Surprise flashed in Lu Jinghong’s eyes. “I certainly will.”

This was the first time Lu Jingze had ever invited a peer to his private manor. Not only was Lu Jinghong surprised, but even the steady Great-Uncle raised an eyebrow in interest. It seemed Wang Xinghe and Lu Jingze truly favored his little great-grandson.