Chapter 17: He Personally Prepared the Brown Sugar Water

Ning Lu’s heart pounded fiercely as Lu Yanfeng entered carrying a tray. Her palms were slick with cold sweat, her clothes dampened halfway through, blurring the line between nervousness and the pain coursing through her body.

Seeing Ning Lu standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, Lu Yanfeng hurriedly set down the tray.

“Why are you standing there?” He strode over and gently took her hand, guiding her to sit down.

Feeling her hand icy cold, he turned to find her pale, drawn face. His heart clenched tightly—Ning Lu must be feeling awful.

“I was just about to close the glass door,” Ning Lu said, forcing a calm facade.

Without hesitation, Lu Yanfeng scooped her up effortlessly and laid her on the bed, tucking the blanket snugly around her.

Before she could fully register what was happening, she was back in the warm, familiar embrace of her bed.

“If you’re not feeling well, you can call me anytime. If it’s inconvenient to call the maid, just call me directly.”

His voice was soft as he picked up a cup from the tray and handed it to her.

Ning Lu caught a familiar scent and looked up at Lu Yanfeng in surprise.

“I heard from Sister Yu that drinking some brown sugar water is good for a woman’s health…”

Lu Yanfeng hadn’t done anything like this in a long time; he wasn’t sure how it tasted.

“Feng Shu, did you really go downstairs just to make brown sugar water?” Ning Lu asked quietly, a hint of astonishment in her tone.

“Yes. I was worried you were feeling too uncomfortable, so I even called the family doctor. He should be here soon,” he said, glancing at the watch on his wrist.

A strange surge of emotion welled up inside Ning Lu, her eyes burning with unshed tears. For the first time, she truly felt someone cared for her.

During the time she had spent with Lu Yanfeng, she occasionally experienced the warmth of a father’s love, even a kind of tender familial affection she had long missed.

Lu Yanfeng noticed the moisture gathering in her eyes and felt an inexplicable sting in his chest.

“What’s wrong?” he asked anxiously. “Is the pain too much?”

Ning Lu shook her head, sniffling. “No…”

“Should we go to the hospital?” Lu Yanfeng appeared flustered by the sight of her tears.

“No,” Ning Lu tightened her grip on his sleeve. “I’m just… a little moved.”

“Moved?” he asked, puzzled, scanning her face to make sure she was really alright.

She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and forced a small smile.

“I’ve never had parents. I grew up living with relatives who were always too busy to take care of me. Even when I was in terrible pain, no one ever helped me…”

Her voice grew faint, overwhelmed by memories of Aunt Yue’s harshness. The weight of these emotions crushed her; normally strong and unwilling to complain, she now showed a vulnerable side she didn’t understand herself.

“Were you sick? And they still had no time for you?” Lu Yanfeng’s anger flared at the thought.

“This is the first time someone’s made me brown sugar water.” Ning Lu cradled the cup, a faint smile curving her lips.

She drank the warm liquid steadily, her eyes glistening with tears and streaks still wet on her cheeks.

Lu Yanfeng’s heart was deeply stirred, a strange ache tightening his chest as he felt immense tenderness for her.

“It’s alright. From now on, there will always be someone to make you brown sugar water,” he whispered gently, patting her back soothingly.

Ning Lu nodded vigorously, “Thank you, Uncle Feng.”

With Lu Yanfeng’s comfort, her pain gradually lessened.

In a shadowed corner of the balcony, Lu Hongyu watched the entire scene, a complex wave of emotions washing over him.

Recalling their childhood, Lu Yanfeng had always been busy with work, often away on business trips or at the company.

Lu Hongyu had learned helplessness, understanding their father but still yearning for even a touch of paternal warmth.

Seeing Lu Yanfeng comfort Ning Lu now, a strange sorrow stirred deep within Lu Hongyu’s heart.

Only after Lu Yanfeng left Ning Lu’s room, turning on a small nightlight and quietly closing the door behind him, did Lu Hongyu retract his gaze and return to his room.

He took a cold shower, his emotions slowly settling.

As he pushed open the bathroom door, he caught sight of Lu Yanfeng sitting on the sofa.

A flicker of something unreadable crossed Lu Hongyu’s eyes. He dried his hair with a towel and tossed it into the laundry basket.

“Is there something so late?” His voice was neither warm nor cold.

Lu Yanfeng slowly rose and approached him, thoughts stirring in his mind.

“I just secured that plot of land on the outskirts today. Tomorrow it will be transferred to your name,” Lu Yanfeng said calmly, his expression serene.

“Why?” Lu Hongyu asked, puzzled.

That land had been Lu Yanfeng’s obsession for half a year, a project he had painstakingly acquired to build the world’s largest ski resort.

Lu Hongyu had thought Lu Yanfeng was anxious to keep it, yet now he was handing it over.

“Nothing much. Just thinking about how much I owe you from childhood,” Lu Yanfeng replied, patting Lu Hongyu’s shoulder.

Memories of Lu Yanfeng comforting Ning Lu flickered through Lu Hongyu’s mind.

“Whatever you want, just tell me. Don’t take too much from your brother,” Lu Yanfeng added seriously.

“I’ve known all my life that money was used to silence me. What if I want more?” Lu Hongyu joked half-heartedly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“What do you want?” Lu Yanfeng asked earnestly.

“Dad, are you worried I’ll take things away from my brother, or do you actually care about me?” Lu Hongyu said with displeasure, a cold glint in his eyes.

“We’re family. No matter how hard things get, it’s all for you and Lu Sui. From now on, the Lu family will be in your hands,” Lu Yanfeng said solemnly, sighing softly.

“Fine,” Lu Hongyu raised an eyebrow, reluctantly agreeing.

His words said one thing, but his heart thought another.

He felt some brotherly bond with Lu Sui, but it was fleeting.

“Get some rest,” Lu Yanfeng said, then turned and left.

Once the door closed behind him, Lu Hongyu dialed a familiar number.

The person on the other end was roused from sleep.

“Young Master?” A sleepy, hoarse voice answered.

“Is Lu Sui after my things again?” Lu Hongyu’s voice dropped low, displeasure etched across his face.

“Huh?” A Jiu sat up, pulling back the covers. “Recently, someone from Lu Sui’s side seems to be looking for a little girl…”

A cold light flashed in Lu Hongyu’s eyes as he immediately thought of Ning Lu’s sister.

“Keep a close watch and find out if he’s after Ning Lu’s sister.”

“Didn’t Ning Xiang go back already?” A Jiu sounded confused.

“She hasn’t been heard from in days,” Lu Hongyu said grimly.

“Understood. I’ll check it out.” A Jiu hung up immediately.