Chapter 61: Meeting the Parents?

In the end, Liu Zhuyin never figured out whether I actually threw that punch or not.

However, I could tell that she still leaned towards trusting Ning Yuanzhou more.

It was just that recently, constrained by my attitude, she didn't dare to ask about it directly.

There was no disappointment left in my heart.

Only bitterness.

Five years of a relationship, yet she didn't trust me.

Instead, she chose to believe Ning Yuanzhou, a man who had once abandoned her.

I had nothing more to say to her.

"About... about the liver donor..."

Liu Zhuyin looked at me tentatively.

As soon as those words left her mouth, I frowned.

She hastily swallowed the rest of what she was about to say.

"I'm fine. You should get some rest early."

Knowing that I was angry, she hurried away.

This walking on eggshells around me felt utterly ridiculous.

Was she afraid of angering me?

Was it truly because of me, or was it because upsetting me might cause her to lose the liver donor?

I couldn't figure it out.

"Brother-in-law, you've got this!"

Liu Hanyue gave me a thumbs-up, winked, and left.

But I knew this matter was far from over.

Knowing Ning Yuanzhou as I did, if he had simply conceded so easily, things would have been too simple.

And I wasn't afraid.

I had already given him his ultimatum anyway.

I would let him think it over for a few days.

If he couldn't figure it out, I would simply invite Miss Grace over.

When that time came, we would see what excuses he had left to make!

For the next few days, apart from organizing the documents for the foreign investment project, I spent my time painting in the studio.

To my surprise, Luo Mingzhu came rushing over in a panic.

"Brother Chen, did you miss me?"

As soon as we met, the young girl affectionately linked her arm through mine, calling me "brother" over and over again.

"Did you turn into a hibernating bear these past two days?"

I glanced at her, asking somewhat irritably.

"Huh? What do you mean by that? How did I become a bear?"

"If you weren't hibernating, why is your mouth sweet enough to have been dipped in honey?"

"You aren't trying to trick me into doing something for you again, are you?"

This girl had her schemes written right across her forehead.

"Oh, come on, no!"

"Am I really that bad in your eyes?"

"It's just... it's just..."

One second she was acting all defiant, and the next, her tone softened.

As expected!

This girl was up to something.

"What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?"

I sighed, continuing to paint while waiting for her response.

"It's not really that big of a deal. It's just that my cousin must have said something behind my back to my parents."

"They want to meet you... to talk about the project."

Now, it was my turn to be surprised.

Luo Mingzhu and I were working together; why did her parents want to see me?

What kind of logic was that?

But after giving it some thought, it became clear.

Luo Tianming must have been slandering me in the Luo family, claiming I was trying to marry into a wealthy family!

Just divorced Liu Zhuyin one moment, and immediately hooked up with Luo Mingzhu the next.

Anyone with malicious intent would think that way.

"Sigh..."

I sighed inwardly. What a mess this was!

"Um... Brother Chen, please don't misunderstand."

"My parents are very easy to get along with, so don't put any psychological pressure on yourself."
"Actually, I didn't want you to meet them either; it feels so awkward."

"But they insisted, otherwise... otherwise..."

She didn't finish, but I understood completely.

"They're uneasy and worried I harbor ulterior motives."

"If they can't meet me, they won't let you collaborate with me anymore."

Luo Mingzhu forced an apologetic smile. "What do they know anyway? I know the real you!"

"You're the kindest person I've ever met in this world!"

This girl really knew how to sweet-talk.

Actually, meeting them didn't matter much to me either way.

However, the project was about to gain momentum, and if Luo Mingzhu ran into trouble now, Ning Yuanzhou would undoubtedly reap the benefits while playing the innocent victim.

Everything I had done up to this point would be in vain.

"Fine then, let's meet them."

I didn't take it too seriously; they probably didn't harbor any malicious intentions beyond that.

Some things, once explained clearly, could prevent misunderstandings.

"Great... then we'll go to my place in a bit. My parents want to host you at home."

I smiled. At their home, huh?

It seemed her parents really did treat Luo Mingzhu like the apple of their eye.

They were certainly thorough in their considerations.

"Alright."

As soon as I nodded, Luo Mingzhu blinked her eyes again.

"Um... I bought some gifts. How about you present them to my parents when we get there?"

Luo Mingzhu's words made me burst out laughing.

"Why? I'm not going there to flatter your parents."

"Buying gifts would make it look like I'm trying to curry favor."

"There's no need."

"I won't have any contact with them afterward anyway; you're the one I'm collaborating with."

Buying gifts would only complicate things and make me look insincere!

"T-that... alright then."

Unable to argue with me, Luo Mingzhu had no choice but to agree.

I was just about to pack up my easel and head to her place with Luo Mingzhu when, unexpectedly, Liu Zhuyin showed up.

Lately, she had been clinging to me rather heavily.

I kept running into her everywhere.

Upon seeing Luo Mingzhu, Liu Zhuyin furrowed her delicate brows slightly, though she didn't say anything at first.

"Yichen, I ordered a new paintbrush from abroad. It was hand-carved by a master craftsman."

"I waited a full month for it! It only arrived today."

"Take a look and see if you like it."

When Liu Zhuyin took out the paintbrush, even I was surprised.

It was indeed crafted by a master.

An internationally renowned master at that.

I had always been too reluctant to buy one myself.

Even though it looked unassuming, a brush like that cost a small fortune of several hundred thousand!

I hadn't expected Liu Zhuyin to be so generous.

Lately, I had begun to look at her in a new light.

In the past, she never took me seriously.

Now that she did, she actually managed to accurately capture my preferences.

I was amazed by her change.

Yet I also felt helpless in the face of it.

She had told me before that she didn't know how to nurture a marriage.

I had never argued with her about it.

The truth was, she wasn't incapable.

She simply hadn't wanted to.

If she had treated me like this from the very beginning, what marriage couldn't have been sustained well?

If she had only shown me the care she reserved for Ning Yuanzhou, how could we have ever reached this impasse?

"Thank you."

"But I'm used to my own brushes."

"I don't want to change."

I politely declined.

Lately, she had been constantly giving me gifts.

Yet I turned every single one of them down.

Liu Zhuyin didn't seem surprised; she just managed a bitter smile and nodded.

"Alright then, I'll keep it safe for you. Whenever you want it, just come and get it."

Her humble attitude sometimes filled me with a sense of guilt.

Yet when I recalled every single detail of those past five years, my heart would grow cold all over again.

What was in the past had no need for a return journey.

Besides, even she couldn't clearly define the feelings she held for me.

And I couldn't see through them either.

"Do you have time? Um... there's a project matter I'd like to discuss with you."

She extended an invitation, but I shook my head and refused.

"For project issues, just tell Sun Tao and have him organize the documents for me."

"I don't have time right now; I'm going to Luo Mingzhu's house as a guest."

As soon as I gave my calm reply, Liu Zhuyin froze.

"Going to her house as a guest?"

Luo Mingzhu immediately planted her hands on her hips.

"That's right! Going to meet my parents!"

"What? Do you have a problem with that?"

Liu Zhuyin's eyes widened, as if she had completely misunderstood the situation.

"Meeting her parents?"

"Yichen, what does this mean?"

"You... you..."

"You and her..."

She stammered, leaving her words unfinished, but I understood her implication completely.

"I've said it before, stop projecting your own tainted perspective onto others."

Leaving those words behind, I turned and walked away without looking back.

Luo Mingzhu giggled as she followed closely, turning back to make a funny face at Liu Zhuyin.

It made Liu Zhuyin's pretty face flush red with anger.

Yet she didn't dare to chase after us, nor did she dare to block my path!