Sure enough, the red light on the 360 - degree surveillance camera on the bedroom door was flashing, indicating that it had already started working.
Alas, what's meant to come will always come. There's no escaping it.
Xu Qingqing let out a deep sigh. Then she slowly got out of bed and went to the dressing room where there were no cameras to change her clothes.
Thinking that she was going to make a cake later, Xu Qingqing changed into a simple white home - wear. She casually tied her hair into a bun and went out without any makeup to wake up Lu Chuanbai.
"Time to get up!"
Xu Qingqing naturally lay on top of Lu Chuanbai and reached out to pat his face, trying hard to act like a gentle wife. "Lu Chuanbai, you don't want to be seen as a lazybones in front of the national audience, do you?"
"Got it." Lu Chuanbai slowly opened his eyes. He reached out his hand from under the quilt to hug Xu Qingqing and softly said, "It would be great if you could always be as gentle with me as you are in front of the cameras."
Xu Qingqing: "..."
Xu Qingqing's face darkened. She struggled out of Lu Chuanbai's embrace.
What did this guy mean!
It was as if she wasn't gentle on normal days. He always knew how to undermine her.
Xu Qingqing then went to wake up the two children and urged them to brush their teeth, wash their faces and have breakfast.
Next came the cake - making. To prevent last night's disaster from happening again, Xu Qingqing did everything herself and only arranged for Lu Chuanbai to assist on the side.
Thankfully, last night's practice was useful. Although Lu Chuanbai got his face covered in flour and cream, the cake turned out to be as perfect and beautiful as expected.
"Wow, we finally made it! Sure enough, Lu..."
Xu An'an got too excited and almost forgot to change her words. Fortunately, Xu Yiyi helped her out. "Since Dad participated less, the cake turned out prettier."
"You're right!" Xu An'an stuck out her tongue guiltily.
"Are you two making fun of Dad?" Lu Chuanbai lovingly flicked the two children on their heads.
"How can you rub salt into Dad's wounds?"
"The kids are just telling the truth."
The task was successfully completed. Xu Qingqing was in the mood to joke around. She put the cake into the cake box that Xu An'an had made by herself.
"Let's go and send the cake to Teacher Wang."
Xu Qingqing had informed Teacher Wang in advance, and Teacher Wang said that he didn't mind being filmed.
The camera crew followed the Xu family to the hospital. Xu An'an carried the cake box on her head and walked familiarly to Teacher Wang's ward.
"Teacher Wang, we've come to see you."
When Teacher Wang received the cake that Xu An'an had made for him, his eyes obviously turned red.
The cold - faced teacher, who was known for his poker face and rarely smiled, was smiling happier than ever.
Teacher Wang liked kids. To be recognized by them made him feel extremely honored.
After getting home, the family of four started to prepare the ingredients for the hot - pot dinner. Xu's mother even specially brought them the crispy pork that she and Xu's father had fried and the thick sauce they had brewed.
The scene was extremely warm.
However, in contrast to the warm and harmonious atmosphere here, the atmosphere in the Lu family mansion was as cold as frost.
The step - mother was pacing back and forth in the living room. Father Lu was looking at the report sent by the police station, his face as cold as the ice on a river in the coldest winter, showing no trace of warmth.
"I know you're angry at Feng Lin, but it's his first mistake. Give him a chance to redeem himself!" The step - mother pleaded for her son.
"Are you really willing to see Feng Lin suffer in prison?"
The step - mother felt tired after pacing around for a long time. She sat down and took a sip of water to moisten her throat, then looked pitifully at Father Lu, who remained expressionless.
"He deserves it! That's what he gets!"
Father Lu angrily threw the tablet on the table. Unable to stand the step - mother's constant nagging in his ear, he turned around and was about to go back to his study.
"You're clearly being partial!" The step - mother angrily accused Father Lu and criticized his various unfair treatments.
"You're so tolerant towards Lu Chuanbai, but so harsh towards Lu Fenglin! Every time Lu Chuanbai disobeys you, you don't care, but when Fenglin speaks a bit too harshly, you scold him non - stop!"
"Lu Chuanbai became the president of the Lu Group right after graduating from university, while Fenglin was arranged by you to start from scratch in a small company!"
"Before you say he deserves it, ask your conscience. Have you really treated these two children equally? If you had noticed his efforts, he wouldn't have gone astray!"
The step - mother's accusations made Father Lu stop in his tracks. It seemed that, as the step - mother said, he always felt that he owed Lu Chuanbai because of his ex - wife's death, and he wanted to give him the best of everything.
He naturally thought that the Gu Group was Lu Chuanbai's, and that Lu Fenglin had his mother's love and didn't need his father's extra care. But he seemed to be wrong...
This thought only lasted for a moment. Father Lu continued walking forward, his cold voice echoing: "A mistake is a mistake. No matter the reason, he has to reflect on it."
After he had reflected, he would go find Lu Fenglin himself and apologize to him.
The reserved Father Lu didn't say the latter part.
But the step - mother thought that Father Lu had given up on Lu Fenglin. A glint of gloom and anger flashed in her eyes.
Damn Lu Fenglin. When he got out, she must strengthen the control over him and make sure he never acted recklessly again.
Since Father Lu was unreliable, she had to save Lu Fenglin herself.
Her son must never be a person who made mistakes. Her son should be like Lu Chuanbai, always right!
The step - mother opened her WeChat Moments. Since she married into the Lu family, in order to expand her network, she had added as friends all the powerful and noble people who were willing to give her their WeChat IDs, regardless of whether they looked down on her or not.
She saw in the Moments that there would be an antique treasure - hunting competition tomorrow. Many antique lovers would participate.
She could sign Father Lu up first. While he was participating in the competition, she would find a way to rescue her son.
After signing up, the step - mother went upstairs to inform Father Lu. At this moment, Father Lu was wearing his reading glasses and looking through documents.
Hearing the study door being pushed open, Father Lu didn't even need to guess to know it was the step - mother.
Father Lu said coldly, "If you're here to plead, don't come in. I won't change my mind."
"I'm not here to plead." The step - mother's attitude changed. There was no longer the anger on her face, but a kind smile instead.
The step - mother pushed the door open and walked in. She started to massage Father Lu's shoulders. "You're right. A mistake is a mistake. Fenglin really should reflect on himself."
"He made you very angry. I heard that there will be an antique treasure - hunting event soon, so I signed you up. Go and hang out with your friends, relax. Holding in your anger is bad for your health."
Father Lu looked up in slight surprise. He glanced at the smiling step - mother, took off his reading glasses and looked at her again.
Every time Lu Fenglin caused trouble, the step - mother would cry and make a scene for him to solve it. What was going on this time?
She even helped him sign up for the antique treasure - hunting event.