Chapter Thirteen: Surprisingly, There's Even a Hint of Husbandly Charm!

Lu Zheng ironed his own shirt.

Gu Yao sat at the dining table, sipping her porridge while watching the man before her, his strong, lean upper body bare, head bowed as he diligently ironed his clothes. The morning sunlight streamed in, casting a soft, hazy glow over his clean, well-defined pectoral muscles, reminiscent of a Renaissance oil painting.

He actually had a certain "husbandly" charm! It was clear that Lu Zheng was quite practiced at this.

After breakfast, Xu Linze knocked on the door to pick up Lu Zheng. Once they left, Gu Yao breathed a sigh of relief. Lu Zheng’s presence was simply too overwhelming; when he was around, she always felt ill at ease. It was as if they belonged to two different worlds and shouldn't be sharing the same space.

After finishing her meal, she tidied up the table and retreated to her small study to continue her work.

Time slipped away, and more than a week later, Chen Pingan finally returned from out of town, bringing back a batch of samples. Since Gu Yao had just hired a pastry chef, she invited everyone to her home to use the new ingredients to prepare samples for the bakery corner. It was a chance to test the quality of the raw materials. They ended up making far too much, and after the group finished tasting, plenty remained. Gu Yao divided it among them and sent some to Shu Nuan.

There was still a bit left over. After a moment of thought, she realized she hadn't seen Han Yuncai in half a month, so she packed the remainder and headed to the Lu family estate.

It was three in the afternoon when she arrived. Usually, only the old matriarch would be in the estate at this hour. Upon arriving, Gu Yao went to Han Yuncai’s room, set the items down, and took two boxes of low-sugar pastries upstairs.

Just as she reached the door, she heard voices coming from inside the partially open room. They were intermittent and muffled, but it sounded like a young woman speaking. Gu Yao looked at the pastries in her hand, thinking that if there were guests, she should probably stay away for now.

Just as she turned to leave, the door was suddenly pulled open from the inside. A face with exquisite makeup appeared in the doorway: Lu Ning.

Both were startled, but Lu Ning recovered first and looked at Gu Yao. "Sister Yaoyao?"

Gu Yao composed herself and nodded. "Xiao Ning, I’m here to visit Grandma Lu. Is there a guest here?"

Lu Ning started to shake her head, but then she seemed to recall something. Her expression flickered with a moment of hesitation before she spoke.

"Liu Yuan is inside. Come on in." She stepped aside to make room.

Hearing the name Liu Yuan, Gu Yao’s eyes flashed; she didn't really want to go in. But seeing that Lu Ning had already cleared the way, she couldn't very well refuse and had to walk inside.

In the room, Han Yuncai was sitting on a chair by the bed, massaging the old matriarch’s legs. Liu Yuan stood by the window, chatting with the old lady with a look of feigned docility. Upon hearing footsteps, she turned to look, her bright smile stiffening the moment she saw Gu Yao.

The old matriarch was leaning against the headboard; her expression, previously indifferent, brightened the moment she saw Gu Yao. "Oh, my, Yaoyao is back! It’s been half a month, hasn't it? Come here, let me look at you!"

Gu Yao hurried forward and took the old lady’s hand. "I’m sorry, Grandma. I’ve been so busy lately that I only found the time today." She set the bag on the nightstand. "Grandma, these are desserts I’m preparing for my shop. I brought some back—they’re low in oil and sugar, so they’re safe for you to eat!"

The old lady’s smile deepened. "Good, good, good. I’ll try some in a moment. I know you’re busy; your mother told me. Don’t worry about coming back if you don't have the time, just take care of yourself!"

Gu Yao nodded earnestly. The old matriarch was a kind-hearted woman. Having been cared for by Han Yuncai for over a decade, she had developed deep affection for her, and naturally, she had always been fond of Han Yuncai’s daughter. Moreover, during those years in Haicheng, it was Gu Yao—someone with no blood relation—who had spent more time by her side than her own younger relatives like Lu Zheng and Lu Ning. As people grew older, they longed for the company of the younger generation. Consequently, she was often closer to Gu Yao than to her own grandchildren.

As the old woman and the girl chatted affectionately, Han Yuncai smiled from behind without interrupting. Liu Yuan stood to the side, her hand tightening around the strap of her handbag, her gentle face growing cold.

Suddenly, someone tapped her arm, and she snapped back to reality. Turning to meet Lu Ning’s puzzled gaze, the coldness instantly vanished. She quickly adjusted her expression and offered a slight smile to Lu Ning, who returned a faint, downcast look of her own.

"Gu Yao, long time no see." Liu Yuan’s voice suddenly cut into the conversation, causing both women to stop.

Gu Yao turned her head to meet Liu Yuan’s beaming gaze. The woman was dressed in a white short-sleeved top paired with a purple A-line skirt, wearing the latest season's small-heeled shoes. She wore a new bracelet from a luxury brand—simple attire, yet radiating the effortless elegance and confidence of someone who had never known hardship.

"Miss Liu, long time no see." Gu Yao nodded at her. They had attended the same high school and had known each other for a long time. Because of Lu Zheng, they were often compared by their classmates. Thinking back now, those discussions were likely all meant to lift up this little princess at her expense.

Gu Yao lowered her eyes, her expression polite but distant. Seeing Gu Yao’s demeanor, Liu Yuan’s smile deepened. She looked curious. "I heard you’re preparing to open your own company. Has the opening date been set? I’ll bring some people to cheer you on; I’ll make sure it’s not a quiet affair!"

Gu Yao looked up at her. The remark was arrogant and rude. If it were well-intentioned, no one would make predictions about a lack of customers before someone’s grand opening. But since she was a guest of the Lu family, Gu Yao kept her cool, though her tone remained cold. "Thank you, but the opening is still a while away. The exact date hasn't been set yet."

Liu Yuan seemed lost in thought for a moment and was about to speak again when a commotion came from the doorway. They all looked over to see Lu Zheng suddenly standing there.

The man looked stern, wearing a black mock-neck T-shirt that partially covered his sexy Adam's apple, making him appear both sharp and untamed.

Lu Ning was the first to speak. "Big brother, you're back!"

Lu Zheng walked in slowly, raised his eyelids to give her a glance, gave a grunt of acknowledgment, and stopped right beside Gu Yao. Lu Ning felt a bit intimidated by that look. She knew Lu Zheng didn't like her bringing Liu Yuan to the house, nor did he like Liu Yuan himself. But she and Liu Yuan were on decent terms, and when Liu Yuan asked to see the grandmother, she couldn't very well refuse.

Lu Zheng’s arrival seemed to carry an aura that instantly filled the previously spacious and cold room. Upon seeing him, Liu Yuan’s mood soared with excitement. She involuntarily brushed her hair back, adjusting her expression, but when she saw him stand beside Gu Yao, her face stiffened.

The rumors from high school resurfaced in her mind. She suddenly felt a sense of unease.