My Husband's Eyes Have Been Looking Different Lately After Our Marriage of Convenience - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Why Is Lu Tingyun’s Gaze… A Bit…

The air seemed to thicken with a trace of awkwardness.

Damn this broken smartphone.

Cursing internally, Song Ai feigned composure as he retrieved his phone. He prayed it hadn’t been noticed, but when he looked up, he found Lu Tingyun staring at him with a complex expression.

Song Ai: “…”

He had forced the man to sleep with him, then turned a cold shoulder the next morning, and was even paranoid enough to book a checkup. From Lu Tingyun’s perspective, it really was a bit… impolite.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Song Ai lowered his eyes, feeling a bit guilty.

However, Lu Tingyun only said nonchalantly, “I just had a full-body checkup last week. Aside from a slight endocrine imbalance, everything else is very clean and healthy.”

Song Ai wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but it felt like the word “clean” was articulated with particular clarity.

After a beat, Lu Tingyun added, “If you need it, I can have Butler Wu send a copy of the report to you.”

Song Ai: “…”

His ears flushed a deep red from shame. He lowered his head and silently canceled the appointment, finding the last few bites of his noodles suddenly tasteless.

Having finally filled his stomach, Song Ai was about to get up and make a run for it when Lu Tingyun called out to him.

“Do you have plans this afternoon?” he asked, putting down his phone.

Song Ai didn’t really want to look at him; even if he didn’t have plans, they became “plans” now.

Lu Tingyun stared at him for a while. Although it had only been half a year since their first meeting, Lu Tingyun had a basic understanding of his wife. For instance… when his eyes started darting around, he was usually lying.

But that didn’t matter. Lu Tingyun didn’t expose him, saying succinctly, “It’s Grandma’s birthday tonight. She hopes I can bring you along. If you’re free, come back before six, or I can arrange for the driver to pick you up.”

Most people in the Lu family were unpleasant, but the old lady was the only one who treated him well.

Song Ai gave a non-committal “Oh,” neither agreeing nor refusing. Then, he walked toward the door without looking back.

He changed into a pair of outrageously flashy orange-and-blue fruit-patterned shoes and placed his green crocodile slippers neatly in the shoe rack. Just as he was about to push the door open, he realized one of his laces had come undone.

The more annoyed you are, the more annoying little things happen.

Song Ai flicked the shoelace, but it just flopped around, refusing to automatically thread itself or tie a pretty bow as he wished.

He was forced to bow to fate. However, he was too lazy to squat, so he simply bent 90 degrees at the waist and stretched his arms to reach.

Lu Tingyun heard the rustling at the door and looked up, happening to catch this exact sight.

Song Ai’s legs were slender and beautiful. Though his pants were loose, the fabric was thin; at this moment, static electricity caused them to cling to his skin, making the shape of his legs faintly visible.

Lu Tingyun’s gaze uncontrollably traced up from the ankles, finally landing where the loose hem of the shirt rose—revealing a narrow waist and the only part of Song Ai’s body that was full and perky.

Fair, delicate, and soft.

The sensation from last night seemed to reappear at his fingertips. Lu Tingyun tried to curl his hand and found his fingers were nearly numb.

Song Ai quickly tied a dead knot. Just as he was about to stand up, he felt a chill down his spine, as if he were being watched by something “unclean.” He instinctively looked back.

He didn’t see anything “unclean.” Instead, he locked eyes with Lu Tingyun.

Locking eyes wasn’t the problem. The problem was… why was Lu Tingyun’s gaze so strange? It carried an inexplicable stickiness and… a hazy focus?

Furthermore, that look felt familiar. Song Ai felt like he had seen it once before. But those dark brown eyes were usually cold enough to freeze someone to death.

The feeling only lasted an instant; Song Ai even wondered if it was his imagination. He asked bluntly, “What? Never seen a handsome guy before?”

Lu Tingyun: “…”

Lu Tingyun calmly retracted his gaze, his expression returning to normal. He said nonchalantly, “Aren’t you going to change your clothes?”

Song Ai looked down. He was actually still wearing the same pajamas from this morning!

Song Ai felt a bit numb. Honestly, wearing this out wasn’t a big deal—it was flashy, but that was his style. If nobody mentioned it, people might not think twice.

But unfortunately, because of last night… the shirt had become exceptionally wrinkled and messy, to a point where it was practically unpresentable. If outsiders saw it, who knows what rumors would start?

Song Ai valued his face above all else. He kicked off his shoes and bolted back upstairs.

When he reappeared, he had changed into another equally flashy outfit. The only noticeable difference was… it was neat.

…

Song Ai ended up dragging Wang Ruijing and the others to eat BBQ.

Big-Voice Li (Li Shang), his childhood friend who grew up with him, sat across from him and gave him a thumbs up. “Coming out for BBQ right after lunch, you’ve really got something.”

Song Ai tossed a piece of charred beef fat into his mouth. Crunch. He chewed and mumbled, “I didn’t eat lunch.”

Wang Ruijing, sitting next to him, was surprised. “The Lu family is so filthy rich; they really don’t give you food?”

Of course, that was impossible. It was purely because Song Ai woke up too late. By the time he went downstairs, it was past 10:00 AM. And because Lu Tingyun was there, he didn’t eat well, fleeing after half-heartedly finishing a bowl of noodles.

Now that several hours had passed, he was naturally hungry. But he was too lazy to explain, simply saying, “My treat. Eat or don’t eat, it’s up to you.”

Hearing this, Li Shang naturally picked up his chopsticks. He and Song Ai grew up together; his appetite had always been good. Even if it had only been two hours since his last meal, he could still eat. Consequently, he was relatively sturdier in build.

Wang Ruijing really couldn’t eat more, but he didn’t want to just sit there, so he asked tentatively, “I won’t eat, my mom made a giant braised pork hock at noon and almost stuffed me to death. How about I join you for a drink?”

Song Ai grabbed a piece of lettuce and stuffed it into his mouth to cut through the grease, shaking his head without a thought. “Forget it, not drink.”

…If it hadn’t been for drinking too much yesterday, that “sh*t” wouldn’t have happened. It made him feel incredibly awkward around Lu Tingyun now.

Wang Ruijing froze as he was about to signal the boss for alcohol. “What’s wrong? Didn’t you drink at every single meal before?”

Song Ai: “Can’t I quit?”

Wang Ruijing: “???” He also gave a thumbs up. “Then you’re really something.”

This group spent all day together. They didn’t visit brothels, gamble, or do drugs—their only vice was enjoying a bit of alcohol. Today this bar, tomorrow that nightclub. The first thing they did in a VIP room was look for a bottle opener. Every one of them could drink a thousand glasses without getting drunk. Quitting was like seeing a ghost.

“Speaking of which,” Wang Ruijing paused, “you drank so much yesterday, did anything really not go wrong?”

Why bring this up again?

Song Ai sipped his orange juice and said impatiently, “Does this Young Master look like something went wrong?”

He had specifically looked in the mirror before getting out of the car. Lu Tingyun was quite tactful; at least on his face and neck, not a single mark was left. ^_^

Wang Ruijing truly observed him closely. Seeing nothing, he felt relieved and didn’t ask further.

“What could happen to Brother Ai?” Li Shang dipped a piece of pork belly into the sauce and feasted. “He went back to the Lu house so early yesterday.”

At the mention of “the Lu house,” Song Ai guiltily wiped his mouth and didn’t say a word.

Li Shang’s dipping sauce was soon empty. He tried to sneak the untouched sauce from Wang Ruijing while he wasn’t looking, only for Wang Ruijing to slap his hand away with a smack. “I didn’t say it was for you!”

Li Shang pouted aggrievedly. He rubbed his chubby hand and remembered something. “Oh right, yesterday right after Brother Ai left, that kid Zhou Jibai followed suit.”

Wang Ruijing snorted coldly. “He was just there to pick a fight.”

Li Shang nodded in agreement. “I think so too. Every time Brother Ai is there, he has to show up to cause trouble—either cursing people or trying to out-drink everyone. It’s like he’s sick.”

Song Ai got annoyed just hearing the name. He waved his hand. “Enough, stop talking about that idiot. I want to ask you guys something.”

Wang Ruijing: “Go ahead.”

Song Ai spoke mysteriously: “For an elder’s birthday, what do people usually give as a gift?”

Hearing this, the other two looked at each other. Wang Ruijing reacted quickly. “Your family’s old lady, or the Lu family’s?”

Song Ai replied dryly: “The Lu family.”

Li Shang couldn’t wrap his head around it, frowning. “Why are you so invested in the Lu family’s old lady? Aren’t you and Lu Tingyun in a contract marriage? Does the contract require you to celebrate the elder’s birthday too?”

Technically, no. But…

Song Ai rubbed his earlobe, not knowing how to explain.

Half a year ago, when he just returned from the UK, Madam Song forced him into the alliance. With his personality, he couldn’t just obey, so he ran away from home.

But at that time, he hadn’t been in the country for too long and wasn’t used to mobile payments. He carried a large bag of cash thinking he was set, only to be robbed halfway by a group of thugs on motorcycles.

Without money, he could go nowhere. Song Ai walked aimlessly from day to night, from the city center to the outskirts. His feet were swollen and blistered, but he didn’t dare contact his friends, fearing Madam Song would track his location the moment he turned on his phone. Later, starving, he found a noodle shop and asked the owner if he could work in exchange for food.

The owner agreed on the surface, but secretly contacted the Lu family.

When the Lu family’s old lady walked in leaning on her cane, Song Ai realized the shop belonged to the Lu family. He had planned to slip away while the old lady had trouble walking.

However, the first thing the old lady said upon entering was: “You can divorce even after you’re married. Once the Song family’s crisis has passed, you can regain your freedom whenever you wish.”

Song Ai’s thoughts of slipping away stopped.

The old lady told him that the Song family had always operated in traditional industries. They had been hit hard by emerging industries and were facing bankruptcy. They needed a massive injection of funds to complete a structural upgrade, and only the Lu family had the strength and willingness to provide it.

The reason the Lu family was willing was purely because, at the start of Old Mr. Lu’s business, he had received support from the Song family by chance.

The old lady remembered this and was willing to lend a hand, but her son—the actual controller of the Lu Group—disagreed. Risk-wise, investing that money in any other enterprise was far safer than the Song family.

After several discussions, the Lu family proposed one condition: an alliance. Furthermore, they required Song Ai to move into the Lu house long-term. Only this way would the Song family’s interests be firmly bound to the Lu family. Even if the investment failed, and the Song family went bankrupt, Song Ai—the only son—was still in the Lu family’s hands. The Song family’s real estate, equipment, and even technology could then be absorbed by the Lu family.

The two families settled everything at the meeting table. The only thing they didn’t expect was Song Ai’s fierce resistance.

When the old lady learned he had run away and heard from her staff that his tracks were found, she decided to show up in person. She knew the child felt wronged—having done nothing wrong yet becoming a tool for the elders’ ambitions. The result of this alliance was that everyone else was fine, while a freedom-loving bird was trapped in a cage.

Even if her words were futile, they were at least a comfort.

Song Ai knew this too. If the old lady were truly that powerful, she wouldn’t have deferred to her son’s alliance demand. But she was kind-hearted, and Song Ai happened to be the type who could be persuaded by kindness but never by force. Her words might not have been useful, but they were pleasant to hear.

Once he felt “pleasant,” he decided to just let things be. Besides, he was starving and exhausted. Having been a pampered young master for over twenty years, he hadn’t suffered much. If they wanted an alliance, fine—at least he could continue being pampered.

It was no big deal.

Song Ai convinced himself to sign the certificate with a stranger, convinced himself to move into the Lu house alone, and convinced himself to live like a widow until now… oh wait, until yesterday, before 1:00 AM.

Explaining all this history was too exhausting. Song Ai decided not to bother. He finished the last of his orange juice, having made a decision. He tossed out a casual excuse:

“The contract doesn’t require it. I’m just someone who respects my elders and loves the young.”