Lu Jinsheng took a few long strides and reached the woman's side. He wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her into his arms effortlessly, carrying her down the steps.
His smooth, fluid movements were as if he were holding a little doll. Shen Jianyi gave a light cough, hoping he could be a bit more reserved. After all, this was in the main building.
Sure enough, showing affection in the main building would invite Lu Ziqian's nagging. He had somehow appeared at the staircase.
"Jinsheng, stay for dinner tonight," Lu Ziqian said.
Hearing this, Lu Jinsheng frowned slightly. He leaned down and whispered in the woman's ear, "Do you want to stay?"
She originally didn't want to, but now she wanted to see what tricks Lu Ziqian would use to break them up.
Leaning against the man's chest, her clear eyes were filled with tenderness as she looked at him. "Sure," she replied.
Hearing their conversation and their agreement, Lu Ziqian was slightly stunned. Perhaps he didn't expect Shen Jianyi to be so agreeable.
Shen Jianyi left the man's embrace. When she turned around, her eyes regained their former coldness. Her expression was indifferent, showing no emotional fluctuations.
Lu Ziqian opened his mouth to say something, but his words were interrupted by the sound of the door opening.
Along with the sound of the door opening came a man's flippant voice.
"I wondered why we were called back for dinner today. So everyone's here," Lu Weiran said. He was wearing a pink flowery shirt and white casual pants, looking like a carefree playboy.
When Shen Jianyi saw this man, she was stunned for a few seconds, but quickly regained her composure and stood there expressionlessly.
According to Xia Liang, Lu Weiran couldn't be trusted. A man like him could be easily bought with a little benefit. He had almost caused her a great deal of trouble.
At first, Lu Weiran didn't see Shen Jianyi because she was completely blocked by Lu Jinsheng's tall and straight figure. But when he walked forward, he could see her clearly.
He froze in his tracks, his face showing disbelief. The ship had sailed so far out to sea. After facing the huge waves, she had actually managed to survive.
Seeing his stiff body, Shen Jianyi curled her red lips into a smile and drawled, "Long time no see."
That "long time no see" made Lu Weiran's face turn ugly. He was too nervous to look her in the eye when he spoke.
"Auntie's here too," he coughed twice to cover his nervousness. "Uncle will be here soon. It's been a long time since our whole family had a meal together."
"Right, a family dinner!" Lu Ziqian laughed heartily, his hand resting on the railing.
The atmosphere in the hall became a bit more lively, but this cheerful mood only lasted for a few seconds.
Lu Jinsheng asked coldly, "Since this is a family dinner, what's she doing here?"
Everyone's eyes fell on Lan Xi.
Before she could say a word, Shen Jianyi quickly interjected, "Isn't it because Weiran doesn't have a girlfriend yet? Father, you're really thoughtful. Miss Lan is gentle and generous. She's the perfect match for Weiran."
Hearing this, Lan Xi stared at Shen Jianyi with wide eyes. If it weren't for so many people present, she might have said something unpleasant.
This statement left Lu Ziqian at a loss for words. He couldn't very well admit in front of everyone that Lan Xi was here to steal someone. This really gave Lu Ziqian a headache.
...
It was time for dinner.
Lu Suowei didn't bring the two children. He said he was too busy with school activities, so Lu Ziqian didn't ask any more questions.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was extremely tense. Hardly anyone spoke.
Shen Jianyi was sitting on Lu Jinsheng's right. Lan Xi, arranged by Lu Ziqian, was sitting on his left.
At the moment, Lan Xi would always steal glances at him from time to time. She didn't say much, but her little fidgety movements never stopped.
In this awkward atmosphere, Lu Suowei suddenly stared at Shen Jianyi and said, "I heard that you left the banquet in a hurry last night, almost scaring Ziqian into the hospital."
He really knew how to bring up the wrong topic. It was already last night's business. They really didn't need his help to remember.
Shen Jianyi didn't take the bait. She looked nonchalant. "Really? Uncle didn't even show up last night. I heard from a friend that they saw you at the dock. I wonder if it's true."
His hand holding the chopsticks froze. The green vegetables he was trying to pick up dropped onto the table. At the same time, Lu Weiran also looked over. He wasn't sure if Shen Jianyi had been on the ship. All he knew was that it had been very chaotic on the ship and many people had fallen into the water.
Regarding what had happened on the ship last night, Lu Suowei and Lu Weiran didn't know that the other was there. Shen Jianyi's words just now really surprised Lu Weiran.
But for Lu Suowei, it was terrifying.
Apart from the sailors on the ship last night, the only people he had seen were Red Fox and Gun. Could the friend Shen Jianyi mentioned be Red Fox?
If that was the case, then everything made sense. No wonder Red Fox had appeared in front of him several times.
He coughed. "Really? I was in the hospital all night because my back injury flared up. Maybe your friend mistook someone else for me."
"Maybe," Shen Jianyi put down her chopsticks and wiped the corners of her mouth with a tissue. "It's not impossible for two people to look exactly the same."
Lu Suowei could only force a smile awkwardly.
There were eight hundred schemes among these people at the table. On the surface, they were having a meal together, but in reality, everyone was lost in their own thoughts.
Shen Jianyi was full after just a few mouthfuls. She sat there playing with her phone.
"Jianyi! Everyone is eating. Why are you always looking at your phone?" Lu Ziqian frowned. "Pay attention to your manners."
She ignored him as if she hadn't heard.
This only made Lu Ziqian even angrier. He clenched the porcelain bowl in his hand. "You should learn from Miss Lan. Look at how she conducts herself. That's how a young mistress of the Lu family should behave."
Just as he finished speaking.
"Smack!"
Lu Jinsheng slammed his chopsticks on the bowl. His eyes were filled with anger as he looked at Lu Ziqian.
Before he could say anything, Shen Jianyi beside him calmly propped her head up and said with a half - smile, "I really should learn from her. After all... not everyone can have fun in the abandoned factory in the back mountain."
Lu Ziqian didn't understand what she meant, but Lan Xi knew exactly what she was talking about. That dark night was a scar she never wanted to touch in her life.
Shen Jianyi was warning her not to forget those things because she was... dirty.
Lan Xi's face turned extremely ugly. She didn't dare to look up or respond. She could only lower her head and silently eat the rice in her bowl.
She shouldn't have come to the Lu family and humiliated herself. She thought that by currying favor with the Second Master Lu, she could easily overpower Shen Jianyi. But she didn't expect that the other woman was so domineering, even in the Lu family where there was a huge gap in status.
Lan Xi felt inferior. She could only swallow her grievances and turn them into hatred. One day, she would make Shen Jianyi pay ten times over.