My Husband's Eyes Have Been Looking Different Lately After Our Marriage of Convenience - Chapter 31

Chapter 31: His Body Felt Like a Puppet…

The man forced his gaze away.

Even though fresh air was trickling through the crack in the door, it still felt stiflingly hot.

He stood up and poured a glass of water, but drinking it did nothing to help.

He glanced out the window; it was pitch black. Although it was already past nine, he wasn’t the least bit sleepy. He fell into a state of indecision: continue working, or go back to rest?

Strong willpower pushed him back into his seat to review a document for errors, but reality often defeats ideals. His finger scrolled the mouse up and down a dozen times without absorbing a single word. Instead, he impatiently shifted his legs several times.

Forget it.

A state of extreme inefficiency was better off abandoned.

Lu Tingyun shut down his computer, smoothed the wrinkles in his clothes, pushed himself up from the armrests, and walked toward the door.

Leaving the study, his brain issued the command to return to his own bedroom, shower, and sleep. His body’s response, however, was to stand perfectly still, staring at the door he had just seen.

A warm, dry spring night.

Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.

But Butler Wu said Song Ai was already asleep. He had read some “educational” articles online; in this situation… it seemed his only option was to endure the “dry simmer.”

With his reason still intact, Lu Tingyun forcibly suppressed those thoughts and turned toward his own room.

After a quick cold shower, he stepped out of the bathroom, and the bedroom was instantly filled with the scent of camellias.

It was a dizzying sensation—strange yet addictive. He shed his fatigue and lay on the bed, his fingers instinctively clutching a corner of the sheet. He rolled over and buried his face in the pillow.

A few days ago, a servant had come upstairs with fresh sheets. Just as they were about to pull back the duvet, the person in charge stopped them.

“Sir, are you not changing them today?”

“No.”

The servant understood and prepared to retreat with the sheets, only to hear him add: “…For the time being, do not change them unless I explicitly order it.”

The servant gave him a strange look but followed protocol with a “Yes, Sir.”

…

He allowed his senses to inhale the familiar scent.

Lu Tingyun had long since realized something was wrong with him.

His body felt like a puppet, with the strings attached to Song Ai’s every move. This was a situation completely contrary to the previous twenty-some years of his life.

He had never paid such close attention to a person’s behavior.

He had never craved someone’s lips so much.

He had never been so greedy for someone’s skin.

He felt he was likely falling into a bottomless abyss, yet he was utterly powerless to stop it.

…

The Next Day

Because he went to bed early, Song Ai woke up early too.

He originally wanted to lounge in bed and play on his phone, but his stomach gave an unexpected growl, so he quickly got up to wash. He was downstairs within ten minutes.

As soon as he got down, he saw Lu Tingyun sitting in the dining room, unhurriedly eating breakfast.

Since he had been eating with Lu Tingyun more frequently lately, he had become completely accustomed to sitting at the same table. Almost without thinking, Song Ai walked straight over and sat opposite him.

The dining table was a standard long rectangular style. Although they were at the same table, they were practically worlds apart, requiring a raised voice to be heard.

With a full night’s sleep, Song Ai was in a good mood, so he gave a habitual greeting: “Morning.”

The other man looked up at him. His tone was faint, but his eyes were resentful. “Morning.”

Song Ai finally noticed the dark circles under Lu Tingyun’s eyes and was shocked: “Holy crap… did you not sleep well?”

“Not sleeping well” was an understatement; he had barely slept at all.

Lu Tingyun pursed his lips and only hummed a “Mhm.”

Song Ai clicked his tongue in wonder. For someone as disciplined as Lu Tingyun, how could he stay up late?

Out of curiosity, he probed: “A grown man like you doesn’t play games or binge shows. What were you doing up late?”

Seeing the culprit seemingly holding back a smile, Lu Tingyun’s gaze grew even more resentful. “I’m not allowed to stay up?”

Song Ai pressed a fist against his curving lips, acting very magnanimous: “You can, of course you can. But I suggest doing it less. Watch your health.”

Hearing this, the resentment in Lu Tingyun’s eyes suddenly vanished. He gave a quiet “Mhm” and didn’t say more.

Song Ai also suddenly realized something, and his cheeks turned bright red. Damn it, why did he tell him to “watch his health”?? That topic felt a bit… off.

Song Ai also fell silent, served himself a bowl of fresh shrimp porridge, and lowered his head to eat quickly.

A strange atmosphere hung over the two of them.

When the meal was nearly finished, Song Ai was about to get up when Lu Tingyun suddenly asked, “Are you going out again?”

Song Ai nodded as if it were a matter of course. He was idle because he had nothing he could do; if he didn’t go out to play, what would he do?

“Is something up?” Song Ai asked instinctively.

Lu Tingyun also nodded, looking down. “I need to pay a visit to the Shen family today. If you don’t have any particularly important plans, could you… accompany me?”

The Shens again?

Song Ai dropped back into his chair. “Still talking about the partnership?”

“Yes.”

“Is it a must-go?”

Lu Tingyun didn’t speak, simply grabbing a wet wipe to clean his hands.

Song Ai checked his phone for messages. Perhaps because it was still so early, not a single person had messaged him.

Forget it. He’d “sacrifice his life” to accompany the gentleman. Besides, he actually wanted to see how Miss Shen was doing.

“Alright, when are we going?”

The moment Song Ai agreed, Lu Tingyun’s expression seemed to brighten considerably. Even the dark circles under his eyes seemed to fade slightly. “We can leave as soon as Butler Wu finishes preparing the gifts.”

“Oh.”

Song Ai thought it would just be a moment, but after lounging on the sofa playing Candy Crush for half an hour, he still hadn’t heard the signal. He stood up in frustration, “Are we going or not?”

Lu Tingyun happened to be coming down the stairs then, wearing a casual black Polo shirt. He looked toward the door and explained, “It should be ready soon. It’s our first time visiting the Shen home; the gifts must be thorough to show sincerity.”

Song Ai followed him out and saw that the trunk was completely stuffed. There were countless square and flat boxes stacked neatly and orderly.

He had seen Ms. Song give gifts when visiting others before, but aside from expensive alcohol, tobacco, and antiques, it was at most one or two pieces of calligraphy the other person liked. There was never this much.

The Lu family was indeed wealthier and more powerful.

The two got into the car. Song Ai leaned lazily against the seat playing games, his legs taking up most of the back space, but the other man said nothing, only glancing at him from time to time.

Having just cleared a level, Song Ai reached up to tug at his collar. Strange—the sun wasn’t that strong today, so why was it so hot?

He was so engrossed in his new game that he didn’t notice the heat was actually radiating from the person sitting next to him.

…

At the Shen Residence

Clearly, their visit had been announced in advance. As soon as they stepped out of the car, someone came to greet them.

The Shen estate looked even grander than the Lu family’s old house. The overall style leaned toward a “New Chinese” garden—it had the convenience of modern architecture with the beauty of a Suzhou-style garden.

The butler led them to the reception hall, but Old Man Shen was nowhere to be seen.

The butler said, “The Old Master is still tending to his vegetable garden. I apologize for the wait. Our young lady is already on her way.”

Lu Tingyun handled it gracefully. “Of course.”

Once the butler left, Song Ai asked impatiently, “Old Man Shen grows his own vegetables?”

Lu Tingyun explained: “It’s likely just a hobby. Many older people have similar humble interests. When my grandfather was alive, he loved fishing.”

“I see.”

Song Ai swung his legs, about to ask more, when he caught sight of an elegant figure entering from the doorway.

“I am so sorry! Once my father gets into his vegetable garden, he loses all track of time. I’ve sent someone to get him; he should be here in a few minutes. I’ll keep you two company in the meantime.”

Song Ai looked up and saw a pretty, delicate face.

He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he felt Miss Shen looked a bit more haggard than she had at the engagement party. At the very least, she didn’t seem as radiant… Had she already found out about Zhong Shaoxuan?

While speculating, he saw Lu Tingyun stand up, so he followed suit.

Shen Yin looked flattered and quickly gestured for them to stay seated. “Please, don’t be so formal! Please, sit.”

Once they sat back down, she looked at Song Ai and said, “President Lu, speaking of which, I should call you ‘Senior.’ I assume this is your spouse?”

The word “spouse” made Song Ai’s face flush. That word was a bit… too intimate.

Lu Tingyun, however, accepted it quite well. His lips curled up naturally as he nodded and introduced him: “His name is Song Ai. He also attended your engagement party.”

“Hello, I’m Shen Yin,” she said with a smile. Her glass-like eyes shifted as if she’d thought of something. “If you don’t mind me asking, which ‘ai’ is it?”

Song Ai was about to answer when Lu Tingyun beat him to it. His tone was very casual, as if he had introduced himself this way many times before.

“The ‘Ai’ from ‘Aiai Tingyun’ (The mist lingers over the floating clouds).”

Song Ai was stunned by the combination.

Shen Yin, however, gasped and covered her mouth, looking delighted. “It really is! I thought it sounded familiar… Senior, you and your spouse are truly a match made in heaven!”

The curve of Lu Tingyun’s lips deepened. He didn’t speak, but the smile in his eyes was almost impossible to hide.

Only Song Ai was completely out of the loop. Wait… is that actually an idiom?

…

The three of them chatted for a while before Old Man Shen walked in with his trouser legs rolled up. Though he clearly had difficulty moving—walking slowly and even shaking occasionally—his face looked very spirited.

Old Man Shen first looked at Lu Tingyun, said nothing, then noticed Song Ai. He squinted and asked, “You are a junior from the Song family, aren’t you?”

Song Ai wondered how he knew and nodded.

Old Man Shen smiled. “You look very much like your mother.”

Song Ai asked, “You knew my mother?”

Old Man Shen nodded, then shook his head. “Not exactly. More accurately, I knew your father.”

Hearing those last words, Song Ai’s breath hitched for a second.

The word “father” was practically a taboo in their house. It wasn’t mentioned at home, and no one mentioned it outside. Song Ai couldn’t remember the last time someone had talked to him about his father.

Finally meeting someone who knew him, Song Ai hesitated, not knowing if he should ask. He wanted to know, but didn’t dare ask.

It was a case of “the closer to home, the more timid one feels”—he was afraid asking would only lead to more heartbreak.

Lu Tingyun seemed to see through his hesitation. He placed a hand on the small of Song Ai’s back. The warm, steady palm offered a strengthening power.

Lu Tingyun said, “Ask if you want to.”

Song Ai looked up at him, and no longer wavering, he turned back to the old man. “How did you and my father meet?”

Old Man Shen took the tea Shen Yin handed him. He looked out through the open sliding doors. It wasn’t noon yet; the sunlight was bright but warm, reminding him of that upright, warm-hearted young man.

“I founded my company at thirty-two. In my forties, the company’s transition failed, and I faced bankruptcy. Little Yin was born that same year. The pressure was too much; I just wanted to hide. One day, I was passing the Taihu River and stood by the bridge, motionless. Your father thought I wanted to end my life. He ran over and talked my ear off trying to convince me to look on the bright side… haha… he was only in his twenties then, a very passionate and kind young man. Later, I pulled through the crisis and invited him to my house for dinner. That was when I truly got to know your father.”

When the old man finished, perhaps remembering that the young man was no longer in this world, he couldn’t help but sigh.

Lu Tingyun looked down silently and realized that his wife’s eyes were already wet. The corners of his eyes and nose were tinged pink, and his narrow shoulders were trembling slightly, though he was trying his best to suppress it.

Despondent and pitiful.

He was a completely different person from the prickly, rebellious “hedgehog” he usually portrayed.